Wine and Beer Enthusiasts

[Scepticalscribe]

They were locally owned for many, many years, and were only recently purchased by Sapporo.

Their history is fascinating, and they are one of the few producers of a style of beer called California Common Beer, or Steam Beer.

Anchor Brewing Company - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

This is absolutely fascinating.

Thank you for sharing it with us.

 

[dmr727]

That is a very kind offer.

However, I'm not in the country just now, and won't be back until July.

If you are indeed close to London, we'll make it happen someday. I typically get out there at least once a month, and am happy to trade into a London trip in the name of fostering strong hops-based relationships between our two countries.

 

[rhett7660]

They were locally owned for many, many years, and were only recently purchased by Sapporo.

Their history is fascinating, and they are one of the few producers of a style of beer called California Common Beer, or Steam Beer.

Anchor Brewing Company - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

I wonder if this has anything to do with it. I know Stone Brewery was also purchased by Sapporo... but they haven't slowed down. I also know that the Stone Distribution is still under Gregg if I remember correctly, same with Arrogant Bastard Ale. I think... don't quote me on that lol.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I wonder if this has anything to do with it. I know Stone Brewery was also purchased by Sapporo... but they haven't slowed down. I also know that the Stone Distribution is still under Gregg if I remember correctly, same with Arrogant Bastard Ale. I think... don't quote me on that lol.

Arrogant Bastard sounds like something that Founders - an excellent American brewery - would have come up with.

 

[Silencio]

Stone Brewing has a second brewery in Virginia, which makes east coast distribution easy. Lagunitas did the same thing, opening their second facility in Chicago. I doubt Anchor ever tried going that route, given the uniqueness of their brewing process that must be difficult and prohibitively expensive to replicate from scratch.

 

[rhett7660]

Arrogant Bastard sounds like something that Founders - an excellent American brewery - would have come up with.

This was before Founders, not by much though and I can see the similarity with the use of Arrogant... This is a beer that is classified as an American Strong Ale. One of my favorites was one of the first if not thee first beer that kicked off the craft beer movement for me. I want to say Stone started one or two years before Founders. But Arrogant Bastard Ale is an amazing beer IMHO!

This is from their site...

This is an aggressive beer. You probably won’t like it. It's quite doubtful that you have the taste or sophistication to be able to appreciate an ale of this quality and depth. Arrogant Bastard Ale has revelled in its unprecedented and uncompromising celebration of intensity since 1997 and will never pander to the lowest common denominator. There have been many nods to Arrogant Bastard Ale…even outright attempts to copy it…but only one can ever embody the true nature of Liquid Arrogance.

 

[AlphaMirage]

All in good humour @AlphaMirage you did mention Yamazaki and I have never tried Japanese whisky how does it compare to Scotch? I do think there is a whisky thread somewhere...

Hi decafjava,

It has been a considerable stretch of time since I last drank Scotch, making it difficult to recall its distinctive taste. Nonetheless, I recently had the pleasure of experiencing Yamazaki whiskey, which left a lasting impression with its remarkable smoothness and delightful hint of sweetness.

If anyone could kindly help refresh my memory, I would be greatly appreciative. How would you describe the taste of Scotch?

 

[decafjava]

Hi decafjava,

It has been a considerable stretch of time since I last drank Scotch, making it difficult to recall its distinctive taste. Nonetheless, I recently had the pleasure of experiencing Yamazaki whiskey, which left a lasting impression with its remarkable smoothness and delightful hint of sweetness.

If anyone could kindly help refresh my memory, I would be greatly appreciative. How would you describe the taste of Scotch?

Well there is a smokiness I like - more or less depending on the brand - plus how can I say "peat" or earthy tones. I have a bottle of the Glenlivet I am slowly working through as I drink less whisky in summer. I am mostly a beer and wins guy tbh. Here is the thread btw:

Favorite whisky

 

[AlphaMirage]

Well there is a smokiness I like - more or less depending on the brand - plus how can I say "peat" or earthy tones. I have a bottle of the Glenlivet I am slowly working through as I drink less whisky in summer. I am mostly a beer and wins guy tbh. Here is the thread btw:

Favorite whisky

Thanks!

 

[Silencio]

The first American "craft beer" I probably encountered was Sierra Nevada, which really got going back in the 1980s. There were a lot of other microbreweries around, but they managed to survive and scale up effectively.

Even in university, I tended to go for quality over quantity.

 

[Bodhitree]

On the odd occasion that I still drink alcohol, these days it’s either a Trappist beer or a half-liter of German hefeweize. The other day I tried the St Bernardus 12, it was a fine beer.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

On the odd occasion that I still drink alcohol, these days it’s either a Trappist beer or a half-liter of German hefeweize. The other day I tried the St Bernardus 12, it was a fine beer.

These are some of my own personal favourites, as well.

 

[rhett7660]

On the odd occasion that I still drink alcohol, these days it’s either a Trappist beer or a half-liter of German hefeweize. The other day I tried the St Bernardus 12, it was a fine beer.

SB 12 is an amazing sipping beer. Love that beer! LOVE IT! If you haven't tried it, try their holiday blend. Good beer with lots of spice!

 

[Scepticalscribe]

SB 12 is an amazing sipping beer. Love that beer! LOVE IT!

Agreed.

It is a superb beer.

 

[Bodhitree]

I don’t know if you heard the story, but back when the St Bernardus Abbey brewing facility was getting started, a brewmaster from the West Vleteren Abbey defected and took a strain of the West Vleteren yeast with him and helped set up St Bernardus. So St Bernardus and West Vleteren are closely related… I still consider West Vleteren to be the better beer, but they are reasonably similar.

 

[rhett7660]

I don’t know if you heard the story, but back when the St Bernardus Abbey brewing facility was getting started, a brewmaster from the West Vleteren Abbey defected and took a strain of the West Vleteren yeast with him and helped set up St Bernardus. So St Bernardus and West Vleteren are closely related… I still consider West Vleteren to be the better beer, but they are reasonably similar.

I did not know that!!! I haven't been lucky enough to try anything from Trappist Wesvleteren! I hope I am able to in the near future!

But this is a cool little tidbit of knowledge!

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I don’t know if you heard the story, but back when the St Bernardus Abbey brewing facility was getting started, a brewmaster from the West Vleteren Abbey defected and took a strain of the West Vleteren yeast with him and helped set up St Bernardus. So St Bernardus and West Vleteren are closely related… I still consider West Vleteren to be the better beer, but they are reasonably similar.

Yes, I was aware that St Bernardus 12 and the legendary Westvleteren are supposed to be quite close re taste, and that some actual links (whether of the theft variety or not, I cannot categorically say) are supposed to have existed.

 

[ovbacon]

Having some bubbles for my wife's birthday 🍾

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Having some bubbles for my wife's birthday 🍾

View attachment 2222123

I hope you both enjoy the bubbles and that your wife enjoys her birthday.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Perusing beer and wine sites.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

SB 12 is an amazing sipping beer. Love that beer! LOVE IT! If you haven't tried it, try their holiday blend. Good beer with lots of spice!

I'm not sure whether the "holiday blend" to which you refer is the beer they release especially for the Christmas Market?

If so, yes, that is a rich and spicy beer with a wonderful depth of flavour, and one that packs quite a punch, as it is even stronger than their usual SB 12.

 

[hulksmashsexy]

I love fruit sours. Like Mickey Boodle. But a 4 pack here in any where I am is $16. Anything similar but well cheaper like in a 12 pack.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I love fruit sours. Like Mickey Boodle. But a 4 pack here in any where I am is $16. Anything similar but well cheaper like in a 12 pack.

Belgium produces some wonderful cherry and raspberry (sour) beers.

 

[rhett7660]

I'm not sure whether the "holiday blend" to which you refer is the beer they release especially for the Christmas Market?

If so, yes, that is a rich and spicy beer with a wonderful depth of flavour, and one that packs quite a punch, as it is even stronger than their usual SB 12.

Yup... that is the one! I usually grab a few over the holidays. Good stuff!!

 

[hulksmashsexy]

Belgium produces some wonderful cherry and raspberry (sour) beers.

Brands that aren’t 16 a 4 pack?