Wine and Beer Enthusiasts

[AVBeatMan]

Whisky, rather than wine, or beer , or cognac?

Anyway, may you have a happy birthday and may you enjoy your Jack Daniels.

More than once, I have spent a birthday in the company of a bottle of Amarone, and very nice it was, too, I must say.

Ah, wine....I gave up drinking wine about 7 or 8 years ago as I developed a nasty "harsh" "raspiness" in my chest. After investigations it turned out that I have a condition called Barrat's Esophagus, where the lining of the esophagus becomes enflamed and the cells have a greater potential to turn cancerous. I now have to have an endoscopy every 3 years and so far have had 3 (all being fine). Anyway, of my own accord I stopped drinking wine (red) and "moved on" to other beverages. Since giving up the wine I no longer suffer any of the horrible "wheeziness" in my chest.

I used to love my red wine. I used to love the ritual of opening a bottle, decanting then leaving to breathe for an hour before pouring a first glass into a huge Dartington crystal glass. Smell, swirl in the glass and then take a generous sip. Bliss! I used to be a member of a couple of online wine clubs. My favourites used to be French, Spanish and Australian wines. I also found a lot of the Californian wines to be very nice too. I now limit myself to a couple of glasses with my brothers at Christmas....Ah, wine....!

 

[mobilehaathi]

Ah, wine....I gave up drinking wine about 7 or 8 years ago as I developed a nasty "harsh" "raspiness" in my chest. After investigations it turned out that I have a condition called Barrat's Esophagus, where the lining of the esophagus becomes enflamed and the cells have a greater potential to turn cancerous. I now have to have an endoscopy every 3 years and so far have had 3 (all being fine). Anyway, of my own accord I stopped drinking wine (red) and "moved on" to other beverages. Since giving up the wine I no longer suffer any of the horrible "wheeziness" in my chest.

I used to love my red wine. I used to love the ritual of opening a bottle, decanting then leaving to breathe for an hour before pouring a first glass into a huge Dartington crystal glass. Smell, swirl in the glass and then take a generous sip. Bliss! I used to be a member of a couple of online wine clubs. My favourites used to be French, Spanish and Australian wines. I also found a lot of the Californian wines to be very nice too. I now limit myself to a couple of glasses with my brothers at Christmas....Ah, wine....!

I’m surprised the half bottle of Jack doesn’t aggravate your Barrett’s Esophagus! Well, I hope you enjoy your treat and the rest of your birthday.

 

[mobilehaathi]

Tonight a Founders Breakfast Stout follows a very tasty citrusy single IPA called Danker Will Robinson.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I’m surprised the half bottle of Jack doesn’t aggravate your Barrett’s Esophagus! Well, I hope you enjoy your treat and the rest of your birthday.

The same thought crossed my mind.

Tonight a Founders Breakfast Stout follows a very tasty citrusy single IPA called Danker Will Robinson.

Don't know the IPA, but I hope you enjoyed the Founder's Breakfast Stout, which is a lovely drink.

 

[mobilehaathi]

Don't know the IPA, but I hope you enjoyed the Founder's Breakfast Stout, which is a lovely drink.

Ah, the IPA is from a small time brewer down the street from me; the breakfast stout is always excellent.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Ah, the IPA is from a small time brewer down the street from me; the breakfast stout is always excellent.

Agreed, the breakfast stout is always excellent; in fact, any and all of the stout offerings from the Founder's stable are always and invariably excellent.

 

[AVBeatMan]

I’m surprised the half bottle of Jack doesn’t aggravate your Barrett’s Esophagus! Well, I hope you enjoy your treat and the rest of your birthday.

It doesn’t affect it at all. I think wine is more acidic and I drink the JD “watered” down with a mixer and lots of ice.

 

[Gutwrench]

I’m late for the office so I’m making my gin & tonic to go.

Gotta run!

 

[D.T.]

I’m late for the office so I’m making my gin & tonic to go.

That would actually explain quite a bit ...

 

[Gutwrench]

That would actually explain quite a bit ...

Yes, it means I minimize my texting as I drive so my lap doesn’t smell like lime all day.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

It doesn’t affect it at all. I think wine is more acidic and I drink the JD “watered” down with a mixer and lots of ice.

I drink my wine with plenty (and I mean plenty) of water - one glass of water per glass of wine - so this is not an issue for me.

Tonight, my first tipple of the night was a bottle (the entire contents of which were consumed over several hours by your humble scribe) of sublime, gloriously splendid, St Emilion Grand Cru.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

And yes, a bottle of Pouilly-Fuisée winked at me. What can I say? Other than that I succumbed to this lure of exquisite temptation..

 

[rhett7660]

Tonight a Founders Breakfast Stout follows a very tasty citrusy single IPA called Danker Will Robinson.

I love the name of the IPA!

I did have a few glasses of a Moscato from the Twisted Winery. For some reason the sweetness of this is something I am drawn to. The wife doesn't like it, but man there is something about it that I absolutely love. I have tried others, but this one is still one of my favorites.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

A colleague served me a lovely dry Muscat - a reserve wine - from Romania today.

 

[Huntn]

Anyone a fan of double IPAs? I recently tried Back Pew Sinner, 30 Pieces Double IPA and found it harsh and bitter and it’s in a can, which I tend to be prejudice against, although I’m told that cans are less expensive for startup brewerys and protect the beer from light better than bottles.

But I always thought canned beers tasted different than bottled beers. That could be my imagination, prejudice because I was raised on cans of Budweiser.

If you live in the Houston area, Back Pew is just the road in Porter, Texas.

http://www.backpewbrewing.com/ourbrews

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[mobilehaathi]

Anyone a fan of double IPAs? I recently tried Back Pew Sinner, 30 Pieces Double IPA and found it harsh and bitter and it’s in a can, which I tend to be prejudice against, although I’m told that cans are less expensive for startup brewerys and protect the beer from light better than bottles.

But I always thought canned beers tasted different than bottled beers. That could be my imagination, prejudice because I was raised on cans of Budweiser.

If you live in the Houston area, Back Pew is just the road in Porter, Texas.

http://www.backpewbrewing.com/ourbrews

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Over the years I’ve learned that I vastly prefer IPAs fresh (recently brewed) and on tap. It is very rare that I’ll find a bottle or can of IPA that I like. As for doubles, I find they tend to have fuller bodies and an element of sweetness that I don’t care for. There are a couple of exceptions, but they are rare. Some brewers also seem to go out of their way to overload on hops in a way that isn’t particularly palatable. Anyway, my preference (when it comes to IPAs) is for lower-alcohol singles straight from the tap at the location they were brewed, that seems to ensure the optimal conditions for my taste.

I’ve also been told cans are preferable storage containers to bottles, maybe because they block light? I honestly don’t know.

 

[Huntn]

Over the years I’ve learned that I vastly prefer IPAs fresh (recently brewed) and on tap. It is very rare that I’ll find a bottle or can of IPA that I like. As for doubles, I find they tend to have fuller bodies and an element of sweetness that I don’t care for. There are a couple of exceptions, but they are rare. Some brewers also seem to go out of their way to overload on hops in a way that isn’t particularly palatable. Anyway, my preference (when it comes to IPAs) is for lower-alcohol singles straight from the tap at the location they were brewed, that seems to ensure the optimal conditions for my taste.

I’ve also been told cans are preferable storage containers to bottles, maybe because they block light? I honestly don’t know.

Yes, because they block light. But they also have a coating to keep the beer away from the aluminum, and it has always seemed to me that canned beer tastes different. That could be psychological.

Have you tried a double IPA? The one I mentioned was bitter, for lack of a more accurate term. I just know I did not like it, describing it as harsh.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Yes, because they block light. But they also have a coating to keep the beer away from the aluminum, and it has always seemed to me that canned beer tastes different. That could be psychological.

Have you tried a double IPA? The one I mentioned was bitter, for lack of a more accurate term. I just know I did not like it, describing it as harsh.

I'm not a fan of canned beer, though I'll take it when there is no choice.

However, as you so rightly say, it could be psychological.

 

[Gutwrench]

Amber bottles block 99% of the light.
Cans don’t need room for air.
Other more realistic factors affect the quality, like how was the product exposed to heat in transit or storage before the consumer drinks it.

I doubt anyone in this thread or aside from a few hundred people world wide actually have the refined tastes to discern a true difference. Just enjoy what tastes good to you.

 

[mobilehaathi]

Have you tried a double IPA?

Oh, sure, occasionally I’ll have a half pint of a double at a brewery, but I prefer singles. I can’t even remember the last IPA I bought in a can or bottle. For what it’s worth, there are other styles of double IPAs that you might find more palatable (e.g. “East cost IPA”), which don’t typically go for huge bitter taste profiles.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

In recent years, I have enjoyed some of the IPAs produced by the Buxton Brewery, but I still prefer their stouts.

 

[D.T.]

Yes, because they block light. But they also have a coating to keep the beer away from the aluminum, and it has always seemed to me that canned beer tastes different. That could be psychological.

Have you tried a double IPA? The one I mentioned was bitter, for lack of a more accurate term. I just know I did not like it, describing it as harsh.

Some of the best IPAs on the planet come in can only (assuming it's not on tap)

The thing with IPAs, is the execution of the hops, the variety, the mix, staging, plus the other beer components make a for a really W I D E range of tastes.

 

[AVBeatMan]

Just drinking this now. Very nice, very smooth. It’s Muilpeer Blonde. A Belgium beer. Lovely.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Just drinking this now. Very nice, very smooth. It’s Muilpeer Blonde. A Belgium beer. Lovely.

I'd like to hear more about it; the label looks amazing.

My tipple this evening is Guinness Foreign Extra Stout.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

A Chilean Reserve - a Sauvignon Blanc - which is going down rather well. ("Caliterra Reserva" 2014).