Best beer cities in the world

Sergeant

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

Anchor Steam in the Bay area was my favourite beer.

Gorgeous beer. Easy get here now in off-licences.

Mr Benevolent

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

Anchor Steam in the Bay area was my favourite beer.

Keep meaning to try it.

sheesh

sheesh wrote: »

go for a light ale its like our larger.

I like corona so it's grand, it's more the fact you can't get pints of it rather than the drink itself.

Heroditas wrote: »

Why should beer be ice cold?

EDIT: wot Getz sed!

To me beer should be a cold refreshing drink its just not nice if its warm. That includes the beers that are served warm always in the uk, just not something I like. If I want a warm alcoholic drink I have hot whiskey.

Mr Benevolent

Kallie Many Lip wrote: »

To me beer should be a cold refreshing drink its just not nice if its warm. That includes the beers that are served warm always in the uk, just not something I like. If I want a warm alcoholic drink I have hot whiskey.

Just drink Coke, you're giving beer lovers a bad name.

Just so you know, your Mancard is now void.

Shenshen

WIZE wrote: »

Germany have the bestest Beer

I would agree. But I suspect since Germany exports relatively little of it, and usually the poorer quality stuff, it's not as widely known.
To highlight that : I'm from a small town in Germany, 70 000 inhabitants, with 10 breweries just in the town. Every little village in the surrounding area will have at least 1 brewery of it's own, many have 2 or 3.
Out of all of this, there is only 1 brewery that exports to outside of Bavaria. And that only exports 1 of the 4 or 5 beers they actually produce.

Benny_Cake

Kallie Many Lip wrote: »

To me beer should be a cold refreshing drink its just not nice if its warm. That includes the beers that are served warm always in the uk, just not something I like. If I want a warm alcoholic drink I have hot whiskey.

Try something like a chilled bottle of Sierra Nevada IPA or Goose Island, or even our own O'Hara's Pale Ale if you don't like your beer room temperature. You won't look at a Corona again!

Confab

Confab wrote: »

Just drink Coke, you're giving beer lovers a bad name.

Just so you know, your Mancard is now void.

No I will stick to Guinness and Smithwicks, nice beer, the right amount of gas and the right temperature (normally anyway).

Mr Benevolent

Benny_Cake wrote: »

Try something like a chilled bottle of Sierra Nevada IPA or Goose Island, or even our own O'Hara's Pale Ale if you don't like your beer room temperature. You won't look at a Corona again!

A good selection for a noob beer enthusiast. Not my glass of beer though, I find IPAs a bit on a bland side. Weissbeer, bocks, Belgians, etc are much better imo.

No I will stick to Guinness and Smithwicks, nice beer, the right amount of gas and the right temperature (normally anyway).

Consider your Mancard permanently revoked until you try something with a bit of taste and character. Might as well drink fizzy water.

I would agree. But I suspect since Germany exports relatively little of it, and usually the poorer quality stuff, it's not as widely known.
To highlight that : I'm from a small town in Germany, 70 000 inhabitants, with 10 breweries just in the town. Every little village in the surrounding area will have at least 1 brewery of it's own, many have 2 or 3.
Out of all of this, there is only 1 brewery that exports to outside of Bavaria. And that only exports 1 of the 4 or 5 beers they actually produce.

A very useful insight. I'm drinking Paulaner at the moment, first bottle was cold, second is room temp,. The second one is by far the better. Can you name a few breweries in your area that we may not have heard of? Are they any good?

Benny_Cake

Confab wrote: »

A good selection for a noob beer enthusiast. Not my glass of beer though, I find IPAs a bit on a bland side. Weissbeer, bocks, Belgians, etc are much better imo.

Agreed, they were the gateway beers that got me off Heineken though!

marco_polo

Kallie Many Lip wrote: »

sheesh wrote: »

go for a light ale its like our larger.

I like corona so it's grand, it's more the fact you can't get pints of it rather than the drink itself.

No offence but Corona is perhaps the blandest alcoholic drink on the entire planet, usually drank by people who fancy a beer but don't like the taste of beer.

Confab

Confab wrote: »

A good selection for a noob beer enthusiast. Not my glass of beer though, I find IPAs a bit on a bland side. Weissbeer, bocks, Belgians, etc are much better imo.



Consider your Mancard permanently revoked until you try something with a bit of taste and character. Might as well drink fizzy water.

Nothing worse than beer snobs, Funny you mention weissbeer one if the most awful things I've ever tasted and smells like crap.

Talking crap calling Guinness and Smithwicks fuzzy water they are damn nice and I've no interest in wasting my time trying all that stuff that I know will be rank. I know what I like and I know how I will feel after it the next day.

Mr Benevolent

Kallie Many Lip wrote: »

Nothing worse than beer snobs, Funny you mention weissbeer one if the most awful things I've ever tasted and smells like crap.

Talking crap calling Guinness and Smithwicks fuzzy water they are damn nice and I've no interest in wasting my time trying all that stuff that I know will be rank. I know what I like and I know how I will feel after it the next day.

No accounting for taste I suppose. Enjoy. I'm worse than a beer snob, I actually brew my own. Easy as hell and very satisfying.

Big Nasty

Kallie Many Lip wrote: »

Talking crap calling Guinness and Smithwicks fuzzy water they are damn nice and I've no interest in wasting my time trying all that stuff that I know will be rank. I know what I like and I know how I will feel after it the next day.

Benny_Cake wrote: »

Try something like a chilled bottle of Sierra Nevada IPA or Goose Island, or even our own O'Hara's Pale Ale if you don't like your beer room temperature. You won't look at a Corona again!

As Benny says the above beers are easy to drink with slightly stronger flavours than main stream beers and available in Superquinn for a reasonable price (6 for price of 5 - works out at approx €2 a bottle) - give them a chance, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Like you I always dreaded going to the UK as their beer is muck. I was wrong - the main stream beer they serve is infinitely worse than at home for some strange reason even though it's similar stuff. Try some proper ales and IPA's though and you'll fall in love. Can't do the warm stuff myself either mind you.

One_More_Mile

Kallie Many Lip wrote: »

Nothing worse than beer snobs, Funny you mention weissbeer one if the most awful things I've ever tasted and smells like crap.

Talking crap calling Guinness and Smithwicks fuzzy water they are damn nice and I've no interest in wasting my time trying all that stuff that I know will be rank. I know what I like and I know how I will feel after it the next day.

Each to ther own man, but to me thats like saying a cheese sandwich will do when a gourmet meal is available

Zebra3

Shenshen wrote: »

I would agree. But I suspect since Germany exports relatively little of it, and usually the poorer quality stuff, it's not as widely known.
To highlight that : I'm from a small town in Germany, 70 000 inhabitants, with 10 breweries just in the town. Every little village in the surrounding area will have at least 1 brewery of it's own, many have 2 or 3.
Out of all of this, there is only 1 brewery that exports to outside of Bavaria. And that only exports 1 of the 4 or 5 beers they actually produce.

Which town?

Seaneh

Shenshen wrote: »

I would agree. But I suspect since Germany exports relatively little of it, and usually the poorer quality stuff, it's not as widely known.
To highlight that : I'm from a small town in Germany, 70 000 inhabitants, with 10 breweries just in the town. Every little village in the surrounding area will have at least 1 brewery of it's own, many have 2 or 3.
Out of all of this, there is only 1 brewery that exports to outside of Bavaria. And that only exports 1 of the 4 or 5 beers they actually produce.

Hood River, Oregon, 6,737 inhabitants, 6 breweries and 8 brewpubs.

I think Hood river wins.

Fratton Fred

English beers should ne served cool, not cold, not warm.

You wouldn't serve a red wine cold, so why ale? The only reason is to hide the fact it is a mass produced fizzy concoction of chemicals.

Heroditas

Since when has cellar temperature been considered warm??

bnt

The thing to understand about American beer (IMHO) is that yes, a lot of it is crap, but a lot of Americans get this, and have decided to do something about it. Denver I already mentioned, but I was also pleasantly surprised on a trip to Houston a few years ago. The local speciality is Shiner Bock, which was great, but my favourite after working in a friend's garden in a Houston summer was Saint Arnold Fancy Lawnmower - a Kölsch.

President Obama is brewing beer in the White House, for Pete's sake ...

Cookie_Monster

Seaneh wrote: »

You obviously don't know a thing about beer.

It was just a sweeping generalisation that gets said about Belgium a lot and a bit tongue in cheek. Like how all us Paddies are mad for the crack and drink nothing but Guinness.

Wasn't specifically directed at their beer, which can be quite nice.

Cookie_Monster

BraziliaNZ wrote: »

Heineken is lovely I think

I hate it, except the NZ made stuff which is actually nice and completely different. The stuff in the Brewery in Amsterdam is possibly the most vile beer I've ever tasted, apart from Amstel.

Last time came back to Ireland got a Heineken thinking I'd like it since I've been drinking it in NZ but only managed about 1/4 of the pint before I had to give it to someone else...

humbert

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

I hate it, except the NZ made stuff which is actually nice and completely different. The stuff in the Brewery in Amsterdam is possibly the most vile beer I've ever tasted, apart from Amstel.

Last time came back to Ireland got a Heineken thinking I'd like it since I've been drinking it in NZ but only managed about 1/4 of the pint before I had to give it to someone else...

Was it the little free sample at the end of the tour? It was seriously nasty. Had the nicest Heineken near the brewery but it's still not a beer I'd get excited about.

reeb

NZ has the most vibrant craft beer scene in the southern hemisphere, why on earth would you drink Heineken there

keithclancy

Favorite beer cities:

Cologne
London
Prague (During the international beer festival)
Munich (No during Oktoberfest)
Antwerp
Lille
Munich
Berllin
Tilburg

My favorite beers depend on the situation/weather/mood.

Out 'on the lash' in Amsterdam/Eindhoven wherever, just 'Beer' will do, usually this is Heineken/Bavaria/Amstel.

If i'm having a relaxing day out in the city i'll usually go for an Affligem Blond, Leffe blond, Blanche De Namur or a Hoegaarten or something.

In Germany I'll always go for whats local in the City, except in Dusseldorf, Alt Bier is feckin mingin.

My favorite German beer is Tegernsee Spezial
It really easy to drink and has a lovely taste.
http://www.biershop-bayern.de/index.php/tegernseer-spezial-9-flaschen.html

Bit difficult to get up north but I know two shops in Dusseldorf selling it.

Sometimes we'll go to bars (In Eindhoven) where beer exploration is the goal, e.g:
http://www.bierprofessor.nl/bierlijst

Get the menu and have a look through, have a list so we know what we've had before

Different strokes for different folks, I like to try everything once :pac:

Micky Dolenz

Can't beat Galway on a summers day.

keithclancy

Micky Dolenz wrote: »

Can't beat Galway on a summers day.

True ... but theres some weird folk in Galway, a group of lads called me a '******' for having a Paulaner and that they "didn't like my type round here"

:rolleyes:

You'll meet a$$holes everywhere I guess.

Mr Benevolent

keithclancy wrote: »

True ... but theres some weird folk in Galway, a group of lads called me a '******' for having a Paulaner and that they "didn't like my type round here"

:rolleyes:

You'll meet a$$holes everywhere I guess.

It's only because they watch too much Deliverance. Duelling Banjos is the official Galway song.

getz

to get a decent drink in the UK,you must go upnorth yorkshire lancashire,i notice that the beer that all a rage in the famous strangers bar in the houses of parliament is from a little known burnley brewer called moorhouse,their brewer scoop has just been installed on tap,and it was so popular with the ministers that it sold out in two days,

Snowie

Best city ive ever been to was Barcelona Patis is the most fvcked up :pac:

Leftist

Micky Dolenz wrote: »

Can't beat Galway on a summers day.

is that a genuine suggestion?

Micky Dolenz

Leftist wrote: »

is that a genuine suggestion?

Galway is a great drinking town, great atmosphere on the streets when the weather is dry. My favorite drinking town in Ireland by a country mile.

Leftist

Micky Dolenz wrote: »

Galway is a great drinking town, great atmosphere on the streets when the weather is dry. My favorite drinking town in Ireland by a country mile.

not really a qualification for best beer city in the world though is it. It's just a place you like.

Shenshen

Zebra3 wrote: »

Which town?

Only one to match the description, the town with the highest density of breweries on the planet : Bamberg.

Shenshen

Confab wrote: »

A very useful insight. I'm drinking Paulaner at the moment, first bottle was cold, second is room temp,. The second one is by far the better. Can you name a few breweries in your area that we may not have heard of? Are they any good?

Here's the lot from the town :

http://www.beerguide.de/bamberg/bamberg.htm

The most beer the town is most famous for is Rauchbier, smokey beer. And the most famous breweries for this is Schlenkerla, so their Rauchbier would be the only one you might occasionally find on a shelf in a speciality shop.

Personally, I favour Ungespundtes, or "U" for short (shortest way to order beer : "A U". That'll get you half a litre of cool fresh beer in my home town). It's very full-flavoured, and very good to drink as it's not as fizzy as Pils or Weizen would be.
Maerzen is lovely as well, but it's a seasonal beer, they don't brew it year-round.

reeb

Shenshen wrote: »

Only one to match the description, the town with the highest density of breweries on the planet : Bamberg.

They all make the same beer though. Wheres the fun in that?

BraziliaNZ

Snowie wrote: »

Best city ive ever been to was Barcelona Patis is the most fvcked up :pac:

Hi. It's Pastis, and it's French lol.

Shenshen

Seaneh wrote: »

Hood River, Oregon, 6,737 inhabitants, 6 breweries and 8 brewpubs.

I think Hood river wins.

Really? According to the interwebs, there are 3 breweries in that town, and the inhabintants number 7200.
No mention of any breweries located in surrounding villages.
Still a good average, though.

Cienciano

Micky Dolenz wrote: »

Galway is a great drinking town, great atmosphere on the streets when the weather is dry. My favorite drinking town in Ireland by a country mile.

Big difference between a drinking town and a beer town. Most places in Galway are the bog standard 8 or 9 beers you get in every pub in the country. And I'd taking drinking on the reeperbahn in hamburg on a sunny day miles ahead of galway!

Shenshen

reeb wrote: »

They all make the same beer though. Wheres the fun in that?

Er, no, they don't.

Faessla : Gold Pils, Zwergla, Weizla, Weizla Dunkel, Lager and Bambergator
Greifenklau : Lager, Pils and Rauchbier
Kaiserdom : Alt-Bamberg Dunkel, Rauchbier, Hefeweissbier (wouldn't recommend that particular brewery, though)
Keesmann : Herren-Pils, Helles, Weissbier, Bock, Sternla
Klosterbraeu : Bamberger Gold Pils, Schwärzla, Braunbier, Lagerbier, Bock, Braun's Weisse
Mahr's : Helles, Pils, "U", Gig, Bockbier, Mahrs-Weisse, Weisse Bock
Schlenkerla : Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier, Urbock, Helles Lagerbier, Weissbier
Spezi : Lagerbier, Märzen, Weizen, Bock, "U", Kellerbier

reeb

Serious question: Are there any craft beer bars in Galway along the lines of The Porterhouse, L Mulligan Grocer, The Brewdock, Against The Grain etc?

Shenshen

reeb wrote: »

Serious question: Are there any craft beer bars in Galway along the lines of The Porterhouse, L Mulligan Grocer, The Brewdock, Against The Grain etc?

Not in Galway itself, but close by I think.
We were in Clare the other weekend, and I had a Dooliners.
I would recommend it, very nice stuff.

reeb

Shenshen wrote: »

Er, no, they don't.

Faessla : Gold Pils, Zwergla, Weizla, Weizla Dunkel, Lager and Bambergator
Greifenklau : Lager, Pils and Rauchbier
Kaiserdom : Alt-Bamberg Dunkel, Rauchbier, Hefeweissbier (wouldn't recommend that particular brewery, though)
Keesmann : Herren-Pils, Helles, Weissbier, Bock, Sternla
Klosterbraeu : Bamberger Gold Pils, Schwärzla, Braunbier, Lagerbier, Bock, Braun's Weisse
Mahr's : Helles, Pils, "U", Gig, Bockbier, Mahrs-Weisse, Weisse Bock
Schlenkerla : Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier, Urbock, Helles Lagerbier, Weissbier
Spezi : Lagerbier, Märzen, Weizen, Bock, "U", Kellerbier

These are just lagers and wheat beers (with one smoked and an altbier thrown in for good measure). Which are very nice, but personally I prefer a little variety in what I drink.

Shenshen

reeb wrote: »

These are just lagers and wheat beers (with one smoked and an altbier thrown in for good measure). Which are very nice, but personally I prefer a little variety in what I drink.

Again, sorry, no. There are dark beers, Bock beers, Maerzen, U...
I'm not a big fan of lager, and cannot stand wheat beers. There are lots of others in that list, though.

reeb

Shenshen wrote: »

Again, sorry, no. There are dark beers, Bock beers, Maerzen, U...
I'm not a big fan of lager, and cannot stand wheat beers. There are lots of others in that list, though.

Bock and Marzen are lagers. German dark beers are typically schwarzbier - dark lager. What is U? You obviously know your beer, why not try something different? US beer is far more exciting than anything coming out of Germany.

marco_polo

reeb wrote: »

Serious question: Are there any craft beer bars in Galway along the lines of The Porterhouse, L Mulligan Grocer, The Brewdock, Against The Grain etc?

The Bierhaus on (Henry Street?) is about the closest thing to the above.

EDIT: Definately Henry Street http://www.tripadvisor.ie/Restaurant_Review-g186609-d2148525-Reviews-Bierhaus-Galway_County_Galway.html

Acidflash

reeb wrote: »

Serious question: Are there any craft beer bars in Galway along the lines of The Porterhouse, L Mulligan Grocer, The Brewdock, Against The Grain etc?

Shenshen wrote: »

Not in Galway itself, but close by I think.

The Oslo (brew their own stuff) , The Salt House, The Cottage, The Scholars Rest. The bierhaus has an ok selection too.

reeb

Cheers, forgot about the Oslo, glad to see theres a few others cropping up too.

marco_polo

Acidflash wrote: »

The Oslo (brew their own stuff) , The Salt House, The Cottage, The Scholars Rest. The bierhaus has an ok selection too.

Mmm didn't know there was that many only ever been in the Bierhaus, must seek out a few more of those when I am down there again.

Sergeant

reeb wrote: »

Serious question: Are there any craft beer bars in Galway along the lines of The Porterhouse, L Mulligan Grocer, The Brewdock, Against The Grain etc?

Plenty of them. Oslo, The Salthouse, Bierhaus. You can get Galway Hooker in plenty of bars.

Shenshen

reeb wrote: »

Bock and Marzen are lagers. German dark beers are typically schwarzbier - dark lager. What is U? You obviously know your beer, why not try something different? US beer is far more exciting than anything coming out of Germany.

Ok, I know you're just trying to troll now.
I've had beers in the US. There are a lot of rather drinkable small brews, but all of them incredibly similar in taste to one another. I think once US brewers stop being scared of producing anything that isn't "like" one of the big names, they might get somewhere.
For now, I prefer the variety of German and UK beers, as well as the small brweries in Ireland.