beer league

noby

Good man, knight. I guess I better put up my votes:


Beamish Red v Amstel
Guinness Draught v Temple Brau
Carlsberg v Belfast Lager
Beamish Stout v Rebel Lager
Miller v Chiller
Rebel Red v Heineken
Hersbrucker v MM Haus
Curim v Macardle's
Smithwick's v Shandon Stout
Bud v Mao Lager
Kilkenny v TSB
Fosters v Harp
MM Weiss v Coors Light


A few bland v bland ones there, but there'll be a lot of dross cut before the next round.

Saruman

Im not sure its fair to have a versus match with different types of Beer. I mean a Wheat beer against coors light? Its a slam dunk who wins that.

It should be beers of the same type, stout V stout, light V light etc.

noby

I think you might be over-analysing what essentially is a bit of fun.
We could get bogged down in categories, and sub-categories too. I mean to me it would be just as unfair to pit Guinness Special export against Guinness draught.

Ham'nd'egger

BeerNut wrote: »

Yeah. Wasn't that keen. They do a Holiday Porter as well, which is sublime, but I've not seen it around in ages. And their Black Lager is great.

Going OT here but I picked up the last 3 bottles of said Black Lager in Carvill's the other week for a little over €1 each! And bloody hell, it was a fine brew. Next time I have a few "Lager" drinkers in, I'll get some in from them and watch them squirm :P Gas to think, Jim Koch is now Americas biggest brewer; a far cry from his first beers in 1994...

BeerNut

Hamndegger wrote: »

Gas to think, Jim Koch is now Americas biggest brewer; a far cry from his first beers in 1994...

He does produce an awful lot of muck though. I'd take a Bud over Samuel Adams Winter Lager or Octoberfest any day.

My first round votes, and if I've totally missed the point of what I'm supposed to be doing here, let me know:

Beamish Red v Amstel
(not just sympathy vote for our late friend)

Guinness Draught v Temple Brau
(eech, both poor, but only one supports an Irish-owned brewery)

Carlsberg v Belfast Lager
(but even I have my limits on Irish-owned breweries)

Beamish Stout v Rebel Lager
(can't remember the taste of Rebel, but I know Beamish has no taste)

Miller v Chiller
(Miller: no natural ingredients were harmed in the construction of this beer)

Rebel Red v Heineken
(walkover)

Hersbrucker v MM Haus
(touch of diacetyl in Haus; big whack of musty yuck in Hersbrucker)

Curim v Macardle's
(substance over style)

Smithwick's v Shandon Stout
(had some rank Shandon in the last year, but at least it makes an effort)

Bud v Mao Lager
(do like a bit of the Mao with my nasi goreng)

Kilkenny v TSB
(not a fan of the TSB, but Kilkenny has literally no taste)

Fosters v Harp
(very funny, noby. ummm. errr. I think Fosters has given me the least-worst hangovers over the years)

MM Weiss v Coors Light
(Weiss is not as good as it once was, but still drinkable)

TheLoc

How has no-one mentioned Leffe? by far the best beer in Ireland (and its hard to find). They sell it on draught in pubs in england and I must say... I absolutely love it. Nothing better than starting the night with Spiced captain morgans rum straight and then leffe for the night and back to a shot or 2 of captain morgans. unreal.

BeerNut

Tesco, Superquinn and Dunnes all sell Leffe Blonde, which is also available on draught in the Bull & Castle in Dublin.

Saruman

I do not remember being overly impressed when i had leffe before. That was quite a while ago though and Beer was beer back then. Now i actually taste beer and enjoy the taste i might feel differently. Im sure i remember an overly sweet beer though.

I think i can get it in Centra across the road so i will check it out next time im in.
I got some Macardles yesterday to try and its a nice ale, probably one of the nicer Diageo brewed beers. I also stopped into my local before i headed home for lunch and had a Guinness. There was only one other person in there.

Guinness is not the best stout but i am partial to it every now and again and its the only stout they do (at my local to avoid confusion ). At €3.85 its also a bargain.

Back home then and had my Macardles and then spent the rest of the day pulling pints of my home made dry cider (see blog).

BeerNut

Saruman wrote: »

its the only stout they do.

They also do Guinness Mid-Strength, Foreign Extra Stout and Special Export Stout. It's debatable whether Guinness Extra Stout is a different drink from Draught Guinness. It's certainly a very different drinking experience.

Saruman

BeerNut wrote: »

They also do Guinness Mid-Strength, Foreign Extra Stout and Special Export Stout. It's debatable whether Guinness Extra Stout is a different drink from Draught Guinness. It's certainly a very different drinking experience.

No no, i mean my local
Im well aware of other Guinnes stouts. They do not do any bottled Guinness.

BeerNut

Saruman wrote: »

No no, i mean my local

D'oh! Sorry

You could always ask if they'll start stocking bottled Guinness. Sometimes the expression on the bar manager's face alone is worth it...

Saruman

Might do, i should also ask them to get Galway hooker on tap.
Speaking of which, The Galway hooker website has a links/reviews page and you (might) feauture on there. The only thing is, their link brings you to www.thebeernut.net and that is in Russian. Would they have made a mistake with the link maybe?

BeerNut

That used to be the home page of one of the other Beer Nuts: George Lenker, an American journalist who wrote nice things about Hooker a couple of years ago (there's another American journalist using the name as well -- it's not exactly a masterpiece of originality as usernames go). Anyway, it looks like George let his registration lapse and some kindly Russian folks are "minding" it for him.

I suppose I could ask Aidan to change or remove it, but it's their site.

TheLoc

BeerNut wrote: »

Tesco, Superquinn and Dunnes all sell Leffe Blonde, which is also available on draught in the Bull & Castle in Dublin.

Yes but not in pubs. well besides the one you mentioned. I wish they did because Leffe is legendary.

BeerNut

TheLoc wrote: »

Yes but not in pubs.

Most pubs fear beers of that sort of strength, probably because an awful lot of Irish beer drinkers don't know how to handle strong ones.

oblivious

TheLoc wrote: »

Yes but not in pubs. well besides the one you mentioned. I wish they did because Leffe is legendary.

The George Bernard Shaw, past the bleeden horse pub in dublin has it on draft

TheLoc

Pity i'm in Limerick

Blisterman

Beamish Red v Amstel Beamish Red
Guinness Draught v Temple Brau Temple Brau
Carlsberg v Belfast Lager Belfast Lager
Beamish Stout v Rebel Lager Rebel
Miller v Chiller chiller
Rebel Red v Heineken Rebel Red
Hersbrucker v MM Haus Hersbrucker
Curim v Macardle's Curim
Smithwick's v Shandon Stout Shandon
Bud v Mao Lager Mao
Kilkenny v TSB TSB
Fosters v Harp Fosters
MM Weiss v Coors Light MM weis

noby

Beamish Red 4-0 Amstel
Guinness Draught 2-2 Temple Brau
Carlsberg 2-2 Belfast Lager
Beamish Stout 2-2 Rebel Lager
Miller 0-4 Chiller
Rebel Red 4-0 Heineken
Hersbrucker 2-2 MM Haus
Curim 3-1 Macardle's
Smithwick's 1-3 Shandon Stout
Bud 0-4 Mao Lager
Kilkenny 0-4 TSB
Fosters 2-2 Harp
MM Weiss 4-0 Coors Light


This is how it stands so far. If someone else votes, to sort out the draws I'll proceed to round 2.

mayordenis

Beamish Red v Amstel
Guinness Draught v Temple Brau
Carlsberg v Belfast Lager
Beamish Stout v Rebel Lager
Miller v Chiller
Rebel Red v Heineken
Hersbrucker v MM Haus
Curim v Macardle's
Smithwick's v Shandon Stout
Bud v Mao Lager
Kilkenny v TSB
Fosters v Harp
MM Weiss v Coors Light

I have no idea why this whole thing has turned into an irish only thing.

noby

mayordenis wrote: »

I have no idea why this whole thing has turned into an irish only thing.

Just to simplify the running of the knockout. Discussions on the league can, of course, continue on a worldwide scale; I'm just amusing myself with this.

Anyway, now that we have definite results, I've dumped all 32 remaining beers into a random list generator, and the resulting list becomes the draw for round 2. Same as before, vote for your favourite in each tie:

Wrassler's XXXX v Belfast Lager
Clotworthy Dobbin v MM Weiss
Guinness Foreign Extra v Temple Brau
Galway Hooker v Chiller
Beamish Stout v Hersbrucker
Beamish Red v O'Hara's Red
Brainblásta v Mao Lager
Porterhouse Red v TSB
Belfast Ale v Fosters
Shandon Stout v MM Plain
MM Rusty v Murphy's
Porterhouse Plain v Friar Weiss
Guinness Special Export v Oyster Stout
Guinness Extra Stout v Blarney Blonde
Curim v O'Hara's Stout (bottled)
O'Hara's Stout (draught) v Rebel Red

mayordenis

Wrassler's XXXX v Belfast Lager
Clotworthy Dobbin v MM Weiss
Guinness Foreign Extra v Temple Brau
Galway Hooker v Chiller
Beamish Stout v Hersbrucker
Beamish Red v O'Hara's Red
Brainblásta v Mao Lager
Porterhouse Red v TSB
Belfast Ale v Fosters
Shandon Stout v MM Plain
MM Rusty v Murphy's
Porterhouse Plain v Friar Weiss
Guinness Special Export v Oyster Stout
Guinness Extra Stout v Blarney Blonde
Curim v O'Hara's Stout (bottled)
O'Hara's Stout (draught) v Rebel Red

noby

Wrassler's XXXX v Belfast Lager
Clotworthy Dobbin v MM Weiss
Guinness Foreign Extra v Temple Brau
Galway Hooker v Chiller
Beamish Stout v Hersbrucker
Beamish Red v O'Hara's Red
Brainblásta v Mao Lager
Porterhouse Red v TSB
Belfast Ale v Fosters
Shandon Stout v MM Plain
MM Rusty v Murphy's
Porterhouse Plain v Friar Weiss
Guinness Special Export v Oyster Stout
Guinness Extra Stout v Blarney Blonde
Curim v O'Hara's Stout (bottled)
O'Hara's Stout (draught) v Rebel Red

guildofevil

Ok, I'll play.

Wrassler's XXXX v Belfast Lager
Clotworthy Dobbin v MM Weiss
Guinness Foreign Extra v Temple Brau
Galway Hooker v Chiller
Beamish Stout v Hersbrucker
Beamish Red v O'Hara's Red
Brainblásta v Mao Lager
Porterhouse Red v TSB
Belfast Ale v Fosters
Shandon Stout v MM Plain
MM Rusty v Murphy's
Porterhouse Plain v Friar Weiss
Guinness Special Export v Oyster Stout
Guinness Extra Stout v Blarney Blonde
Curim v O'Hara's Stout (bottled)
O'Hara's Stout (draught) v Rebel Red

BeerNut

mayordenis wrote: »

I have no idea why this whole thing has turned into an irish only thing.

So that as many people as possible have tried the beers. Me saying that my premier league beers are Angel's Share, Cantillon Geueze, Paradox and Black Shag isn't going to prompt much of a debate.

... or is it?

Wrassler's XXXX v Belfast Lager
(I can't believe anyone, least of all pale lager drinkers, like Belfast Lager)

Clotworthy Dobbin v MM Weiss
(Chocolatey goodness)

Guinness Foreign Extra v Temple Brau
(Stout all the way)

Galway Hooker v Chiller
(Another lager bites the dust)

Beamish Stout v Hersbrucker
(Race to the bottom here. I'll go for the one that isn't actually unpleasant)

Beamish Red v O'Hara's Red
(On texture alone, never mind the yawning flavour gap)

Brainblásta v Mao Lager
(I think I just don't really like lager)

Porterhouse Red v TSB
(Tough one, but I'll vote for cask over nitro on principle. Where's me sandals?)

Belfast Ale v Fosters
(Another comedy classic)

Shandon Stout v MM Plain
(Those ropey Shandons mean no-go, I'm afraid)

MM Rusty v Murphy's
(In all honesty, I think I'll go with the chocolate malt hit)

Porterhouse Plain v Friar Weiss
(Tough -- I think I've enjoyed the Weiss more, though)

Guinness Special Export v Oyster Stout
(No contest)

Guinness Extra Stout v Blarney Blonde
(I do like the Blonde, but I love roasted barley more)

Curim v O'Hara's Stout (bottled)
(Second derby game. Stout FTW)

O'Hara's Stout (draught) v Rebel Red
(Gotta be the chocolate malt again)

slayerking

Heres mine....

Wrassler's XXXX v Belfast Lager
Clotworthy Dobbin v MM Weiss
Guinness Foreign Extra v Temple Brau
Galway Hooker v Chiller
Beamish Stout v Hersbrucker
Beamish Red v O'Hara's Red
Brainblásta v Mao Lager
Porterhouse Red v TSB
Belfast Ale v Fosters
Shandon Stout v MM Plain
MM Rusty v Murphy's
Porterhouse Plain v Friar Weiss
Guinness Special Export v Oyster Stout
Guinness Extra Stout v Blarney Blonde
Curim v O'Hara's Stout (bottled)
O'Hara's Stout (draught) v Rebel Red

mayordenis

BeerNut wrote: »

So that as many people as possible have tried the beers. Me saying that my premier league beers are Angel's Share, Cantillon Geueze, Paradox and Black Shag isn't going to prompt much of a debate.

... or is it?

You can take your logic and shove it :pac:

Nah it makes sense but I reckon the likes or Erdinger and Leffe (however sadly) are more well known my most in Ireland that Galway Hooker and Brainblásta.

But anyway I'm only rambling, I conceded that it's a better community idea.

Oh and Cantillon Geueze wouldn't be in amongst my favourites, it pushes the sourness that little too far from what I remember but then again I may have drank it early in the morning.

I haven't had Paradox but I've heard good things, and from what I have drank from Brew Dog it's unlikely to disapoint.

Can't say I know anyting of the other two, you win this round.

dereko1969

Wrassler's XXXX v Belfast Lager
Clotworthy Dobbin v MM Weiss
Guinness Foreign Extra v Temple Brau
Galway Hooker v Chiller
Beamish Stout v Hersbrucker
Beamish Red v O'Hara's Red
Brainblásta v Mao Lager
Porterhouse Red v TSB
Belfast Ale v Fosters
Shandon Stout v MM Plain*
MM Rusty v Murphy's
Porterhouse Plain v Friar Weiss
Guinness Special Export v Oyster Stout**
Guinness Extra Stout v Blarney Blonde
Curim v O'Hara's Stout (bottled)
O'Hara's Stout (draught) v Rebel Red

*after extra-time and penalties
** vegetarian (don't start on finings please) so don't be putting the fish into my temple of a body

only 4 away wins, be interesting to see if the away teams do better in the next round

BeerNut

mayordenis wrote: »

Oh and Cantillon Geueze wouldn't be in amongst my favourites, it pushes the sourness that little too far from what I remember but then again I may have drank it early in the morning.

So you won't be joining me for the 6.30am visit to the brewery next month?

mayordenis wrote: »

you win this round.

Unspeakably pretentious beersnobs FTW!

Except -- oh no! -- I didn't specify which barrel-aged version of Paradox (Islay, Speyside, Grain, Smokehead) is best. I'm a rank amateur!
/melts

knightmare

Wrassler's XXXX v Belfast Lager
Clotworthy Dobbin v MM Weiss
Guinness Foreign Extra v Temple Brau
Galway Hooker v Chiller
Beamish Stout v Hersbrucker
Beamish Red v O'Hara's Red
Brainblásta v Mao Lager
Porterhouse Red v TSB
Belfast Ale v Fosters
Shandon Stout v MM Plain
MM Rusty v Murphy's
Porterhouse Plain v Friar Weiss
Guinness Special Export v Oyster Stout
Guinness Extra Stout v Blarney Blonde
Curim v O'Hara's Stout (bottled)
O'Hara's Stout (draught) v Rebel Red