Okay, Help me step my beer game up

[Never_Scurred]

I've been playin that harp for a minute now and while our relationship has been good, i'm ready to take it to that next level of the the game. I occasionally drink the extra stout versions now and then since I love the stronger taste and whatnot.
Whats some other good dark beers I should be fucking with along the lines of Guinness? I am a beer noob, but I aside from the occasional Heineken (when the gas station runs out of Guinness cans), I only fucks with the dark beer. My motto is that if I can see through it, I don't wanna drink it so lemme know if there some other beers like this that I should be on the lookout for.

[Necronopticous]

Ironbeer.

[xris]

Sounds like you might like Boddington's. Personaly, I'm a big fan of Bass, and Victory Hop Devil.

[DEL]

Whats some other good dark beers

The best as far as I know is Rochefort (8 & 10) at around 9%
Perhaps second best is Gouden Carolus (Tripel @ 9%)
Tongerlo is very good
Val Dieu Brune or Tripel
St Feullien Brune and Chimay Bleue are safe bets
I'm about to try La Trappe Quadrupel @ 10%

I just went out to the 400 beers shop and bought all of the above.
I don't touch the watered down lagers they foist off on the general population.

Cheers,

DEL

[P_HAT]

Leffe brown/brune

Very original. Supa tasty.

[ZOM]

Another vote to Leffe - tasty stuff indeed.

Also, might be hard to obtain depending on where you live, but I can't recommend the dark "Erdinger" enough. It's a bit bitter but tastes great.

[GaijinPunch]

Just like w/ games, you should find what you like & stick with it. I'm more of an Ale man, than anything, but I enjoy the white Belgian beers as well.

[caldwert]

Never Scurred, I think you mentioned you live off of South Grand before? I think Randall's on Jefferson has quite the selection. There's also Lukas Liquors way out at Manchester/Clarkson I think, or you could hit Friar Tuck's in Crestwood right by Crestwood Mall.

[Never_Scurred]

Never Scurred, I think you mentioned you live off of South Grand before? I think Randall's on Jefferson has quite the selection. There's also Lukas Liquors way out at Manchester/Clarkson I think, or you could hit Friar Tuck's in Crestwood right by Crestwood Mall.

Funny you should mention Randall's...I got offered a job there once. Isn't it some liquor warehouse or some shit like that?

[Slump]

My personal favorite as of late is Old Rasputin. It's a 9% Russian Imperial Stout.

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/112/412/

[caldwert]

Never Scurred, I think you mentioned you live off of South Grand before? I think Randall's on Jefferson has quite the selection. There's also Lukas Liquors way out at Manchester/Clarkson I think, or you could hit Friar Tuck's in Crestwood right by Crestwood Mall.

Funny you should mention Randall's...I got offered a job there once. Isn't it some liquor warehouse or some shit like that?

I know its a store over there, granted I've never been in there. That Shell across from AB on Arsenal actually has a really good selection of everything in it, soda, chips, beer, you name it, it has it damn near.

[Never_Scurred]

Never Scurred, I think you mentioned you live off of South Grand before? I think Randall's on Jefferson has quite the selection. There's also Lukas Liquors way out at Manchester/Clarkson I think, or you could hit Friar Tuck's in Crestwood right by Crestwood Mall.

Funny you should mention Randall's...I got offered a job there once. Isn't it some liquor warehouse or some shit like that?

That Shell across from AB on Arsenal actually has a really good selection of everything in it, soda, chips, beer, you name it, it has it damn near.

Cosign. I only fuck with QuikTrip cause its down the street from my house and they carry Guinness where all them other hoosier ass gas stations don't.

[caldwert]

Hahahaha, you mean you don't drink Busch or Bud Light? I can picture the selection at some of the places. That Shell has shit in it I've never seen anywhere else, but can't speak on the dark beer selection.

[Never_Scurred]

Hahahaha, you mean you don't drink Busch or Bud Light? I can picture the selection at some of the places. That Shell has shit in it I've never seen anywhere else, but can't speak on the dark beer selection.

Nawl, I don't fuck with that shit. Furthermore, what it up with cats drinkin that Natty Light and Pabst Blue Ribbon like thats whats up?
Shit, gimme 2 bucks and i'll piss in a bottle for ya.

[caldwert]

Natty Light is the choice of frat bros. I actually started drinking Busch in college to be anti-establishment. PBR is the hipster choice. I don't mind either honestly, but a lot of people just follow the leader. I'm not wild about Schafly shit either, but a lot of people tell me how good it is. Back when I was out of control in college, Busch tasted like I was drinking burgers, so it went down right. Worst shit I've ever had was Natty Ice. Holy crap, it was you poured a beer through an old engine block, then bottled it up.

[Never_Scurred]

Natty Light is the choice of frat bros. I actually started drinking Busch in college to be anti-establishment. PBR is the hipster choice. I don't mind either honestly, but a lot of people just follow the leader. I'm not wild about Schafly shit either, but a lot of people tell me how good it is. Back when I was out of control in college, Busch tasted like I was drinking burgers, so it went down right. Worst shit I've ever had was Natty Ice. Holy crap, it was you poured a beer through an old engine block, then bottled it up.

My coworkers insist on stocking up on PBR and Natty Light everytime we they an party. I'm like, hold on, you cats make $80k+ a year and y'all drink this nasty cheap shit? I'm good "walks in with two six packs of Guinness Extra Stout and some Vess Orange soda".
When I used to work at the city museum, I drank mostly Schafly, Rolling Rock and Honey Brown. They served them at the Beatnik Bob's area of the museum. That was an awesome job, buying beer at work while on lunch breaks, FTW.
With that being said though, I am very disappointed that the Applebee's on south kingshighway and chippewa decided to do away with Guinness. That plus some boneless buffalo wings with ranch and A-1 sauce on deck held a very special place in my heart.

[tearsofash]

IMO, Guinness Extra Stout is the only Guinness worth drinking. Also, Arrogant Bastard can be pretty good too sometimes. 1554 is kinda mainstream (Fat Tire guys), but it's pretty good, dark, and has a unique taste if you're looking for something a bit more colorful than Guinness or something.

Personally, since I don't have a job I end up drinking a lot of PBR since I do not have a job. It's pretty cheap, and it tastes cheap. Back when I had a job I'd buy a lot of Grolsch, Newcastle, Hoegaarden, Yazoo, ESB, Magic Hat, Terrapin, Sweetwater 420, and a few other things. Not too light, not too dark. Not really a huge fan of dark. My first experience with beer was with Extra Stout, and that's all I bought for a while after I turned 21, so I'm kinda burnt out.

[Never_Scurred]

IMO, Guinness Extra Stout is the only Guinness worth drinking. Also, Arrogant Bastard can be pretty good too sometimes. 1554 is kinda mainstream (Fat Tire guys), but it's pretty good, dark, and has a unique taste if you're looking for something a bit more colorful than Guinness or something.

Personally, since I don't have a job I end up drinking a lot of PBR since I do not have a job. It's pretty cheap, and it tastes cheap. Back when I had a job I'd buy a lot of Grolsch, Newcastle, Hoegaarden, Yazoo, ESB, Magic Hat, Terrapin, Sweetwater 420, and a few other things. Not too light, not too dark. Not really a huge fan of dark. My first experience with beer was with Extra Stout, and that's all I bought for a while after I turned 21, so I'm kinda burnt out.

I was waiting for someone to bring up Arrogant Bastard. I'm gonna have to look for that one.

[chempop]

I don't really drink beer any more. But when I did I was big into these. Don't let the color of your beer fool you, many that are light in color are actually the strongest flavored and pack a punch too.

Schneider Aventinus http://www.schneider-weisse.de/index.ph ... .aventinus
Rouge Brutal Bitter http://www.rogue.com/beers/brutal-bitter.php
Chemay http://www.chimay.com/en/three_strong_p ... es_217.php
Unibroue http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/unibroue-maudite/1921/
De Ranke XX bitter http://www.sheltonbrothers.com/beers/beerProfile.asp

If you ever get into Brandy let me know. I am nuts about Cognac.

[Davey]

Find a place that sells individual bottles. It's more expensive, but it's the best way to try out different styles and breweries. Also, it might not be a bad idea to keep track of the beers you try. After a while you forget what you liked and what you didn't; sometimes you even forget if you've had something before.

BeerAdvocate and RateBeer are good sites if you want to find out what's good.

It's hard to suggest specific beers because microbrews are often just distributed regionally or locally. But you should be able to find these at any beverage store with a decent beer selection:

Great:
- Arrogant Bastard
- Stone IPA (Stone Ruination IPA is better, but costs twice as much)
- Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout

Good:
- Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA
- Anchor Steam Beer
- Anchor Porter
- Sierra Nevada Stout

Here are some Ohio/Michigan beers that are pretty good, not sure if they're available where you are, though:
- Great Lakes Dortmunder Gold (Lager)
- Great Lakes Burning River (Pale Ale)
- Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald (Porter)
- Bells Two Hearted Ale (IPA)
- Bells Hopslam (Double IPA)
- Founders Breakfast Stout
- Founders Centennial IPA
- Founders Double Trouble (Double IPA)

So yeah, I like IPAs and stouts.

Also, once you've had some good stouts, Guinness will taste like water to you. That's the bad thing about beer snobbery: often times you'll find yourself in restaurants and bars that have nothing you really want.

[Slump]

Find a place that sells individual bottles. It's more expensive, but it's the best way to try out different styles and breweries. Also, it might not be a bad idea to keep track of the beers you try. After a while you forget what you liked and what you didn't; sometimes you even forget if you've had something before.

BeerAdvocate and RateBeer are good sites if you want to find out what's good.

It's hard to suggest specific beers because microbrews are often just distributed regionally or locally. But you should be able to find these at any beverage store with a decent beer selection:

Great:
- Arrogant Bastard
- Stone IPA (Stone Ruination IPA is better, but costs twice as much)
- Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout

Good:
- Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA
- Anchor Steam Beer
- Anchor Porter
- Sierra Nevada Stout

Here are some Ohio/Michigan beers that are pretty good, not sure if they're available where you are, though:
- Great Lakes Dortmunder Gold (Lager)
- Great Lakes Burning River (Pale Ale)
- Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald (Porter)
- Bells Two Hearted Ale (IPA)
- Bells Hopslam (Double IPA)
- Founders Breakfast Stout
- Founders Centennial IPA
- Founders Double Trouble (Double IPA)

So yeah, I like IPAs and stouts.

Also, once you've had some good stouts, Guinness will taste like water to you. That's the bad thing about beer snobbery: often times you'll find yourself in restaurants and bars that have nothing you really want.

And if you like the Dogfish 60 minute make sure to try the 90 minute, not nearly as bitter and has a more complex flavor in my opinion. Pale ale's are great but I always thought the 60 minute tastes like you're just chewing up s handful of hopps lol. Also, that watery Guinness bit is why I consider it great! There's no better low alcohol beer that lets yeah quaff down a few after work with a nice reuben and a side of fries and still get home without stumblin'.

[Davey]

I always thought the 60 minute tastes like you're just chewing up s handful of hopps lol.

I like 60 Minute IPA, but it's not one of my favorites. But it is widely available and is generally praised as a quality beer, so I figured I'd mention it.

Also, that watery Guinness bit is why I consider it great! There's no better low alcohol beer that lets yeah quaff down a few after work with a nice reuben and a side of fries and still get home without stumblin'.

In cases like that I'd rather go with something simple like Smithwick's or Amber Bock or Killian's. Although I do get Guinness on tap sometimes if my only other options are Bud Light, Coors Light, Miller Lite, etc., etc.

[louisg]

Death & Taxes or any oatmeal stout on tap!

[CMoon]

Too late to keep everyone jumping on this shit.

The first thing you need to find out is if you have a good local beer shop. If you don't, you're going to be rather limited and our recommendations won't mean much.

My best advice is to simply start trying new beers, especially 'craft beers' (IE not the obvious brand names you see everywhere.)

If you have a pub with many taps, you can often get them to give you samples if you're a regular.

[brentsg]

I'd head over to Lucas and build a couple mix-match 6 packs to see what you like. Even though it's "way over here" it's in my area, about 2 miles from my house.

Something else you might do is check out The Wine Merchant (http://www.winemerchantltd.com). There used to be one in my area and I was a regular for sure. They'd let you pull a bottle out of the fridge and crack it open as a sample. Man I miss that place.. I think there is still one on Olive though.

[Acid King]

My advice would be to find a bar with a decent selection and go from there. If you like Guinness, the two most obvious recs are Murphy's stout and Beamish, they're both the same style as Guinness. You might also like Young's Double Chocolate Stout, Rogue Shakespeare Stout, and Rogue Chocolate Stout. Also, get a Beeradvocate account and browse the Dry Irish Stout category and see what's god and you'll get some more ideas as to what you can look for when you're out.

[CMoon]

Bumping this as the most recent beer thread.

Super excited; made a pretty decent clone of double bastard. 5 gallons of 10% beer, fuck yeah! I've only been brewing for 8 months, so I feel this is a great accomplishment. Will definitely result in my having more posts in the 'I'm drunk' thread.

[Acid King]

I'm planning my next batch now. I was pretty excited to find out a homebrew shop opened only a few blocks away from my apartment, but it's only open on saturday and sunday so I haven't gotten a chance to check it out yet. I'm going to do a California common or a saison next because right now it's too hot in my apartment for anything else.

[CMoon]

I just bought the ingredients to make a Wee Heavy. OG looks like it will be 1.100, so I'm making the yeast starter today and planning a method I've heard about where you add a sugar solution as fermentation is winding down to get a second wind out of the yeast. I'm also using some smoked malt and some woodchips soaked in scotch.

[Slump]

Just found another Imperial Russian Stout I can recommend as a must try to anyone who like a good strong, dark beer - Stone Imperial Russian Stout (http://www.stonebrew.com/irs/). I've never seen an IRS from Stone so as soon as I saw it I decided to pick it up. Apparently it's one of their limited issue spring beers, who knew? Anyway, it's 10.5% and reminds me a lot of an Old Rasputin however it definitely has a stronger, bitter coffee taste when it hits the back of your tongue which I thought tasted pretty good. Give it a try if your up for one of the darkest beers money can buy!