Australian Beer

[Wil]

James Squire India Pale Ale is a cracker. Coopers Sparkling is a great beer too.

Hard to resist an ice cold V(ommit)B(omb) on a hot day.

Coors lite? eewwh...

[samb]

The only Australian beer I've seen in my town is fosters, I've tried it and I like it.

[gfoster]

Actually, the US has top notch world class beers... provided you stay well away from the big breweries. The microbrew explosion over here has resulted in incredibly good beers.

I live in a beer disneyland, here in northern california. If you get a chance, try Bear Republic or Russian River, both breweries are making astoundingly good products. There's hundreds of breweries across the country that I'd stack up against anything in the world. Heck, Vinnie at Russian River goes head to head with the Belgians with some of his Belgian style beers.

Canada has a few really good ones too (try La Fin du Monde).

Any country is a beer wasteland if you only drink the macrobrew crap.

-- Gary F.

[Colt45]

Actually, the US has top notch world class beers... provided you stay well away from the big breweries. The microbrew explosion over here has resulted in incredibly good beers.

As with many things "good" can be very subjective. I've had my share of micro brews, but by no means have tried anywhere near all there

is to be had - it would be almost impossible.

But what I have found, and this is just my opinion and a generalization, is that instead of simply producing a good beer in a certain style,

in an effort to sell their product some micros try to be "different". They produce beers that are too sweet, or too heavy, blueberry beer,

high alcohol, etc. I've tried too many that were simply out of balance.

So while it's true that the large breweries don't always produce the best beer, micro brew does not automatically mean great beer either.

I'm often amused by those who will eschew Bud but have no problem squeezing a lime in a Corona.

[thechenman]

I think it's a different marketing focus. Microbreweries have the flexibility to focus on niche markets, where the mega-brewers have to make a beer that will appeal to the masses. While Bud, Corona, Amstel, Fosters and what not are all very palatable beers that generally anyone can consume...the micro breweries like Great Lakes or Dogfish Head have specific audiences that they are addressing...so while their beers are great for some, they will certainly not appeal to most. I guess the exception would be the Boston Brewing Company.

[gfoster]

I think it's a different marketing focus. Microbreweries have the flexibility to focus on niche markets, where the mega-brewers have to make a beer that will appeal to the masses. While Bud, Corona, Amstel, Fosters and what not are all very palatable beers that generally anyone can consume...the micro breweries like Great Lakes or Dogfish Head have specific audiences that they are addressing...so while their beers are great for some, they will certainly not appeal to most. I guess the exception would be the Boston Brewing Company.

I despise flavored beers and as my friends in my brewing club can attest, I stand up on a soapbox and preach balance with nearly every breath

There are superb examples of well-balanced beer-flavored beers in the us microbrewery market. Generally these are regional breweries and are only available in small areas but some (like Big Sky brewing in Montana) have started becoming more available.

If you like brown ales, try Moose Drool (Big Sky) and let me know what you think. I think it's a superb example of the style (and I've had beer all over the world). Bear Republic's Red Rocket is a tremendously good American Amber loaded with beer-flavored beeriness. No blueberries to be seen Yes, micros are focusing on niche markets but the really successful micros aren't focusing on the chili-beer market or the snozzberry market, they are focusing on the "make beer that is extremely well crafted that we can be proud of" market.

The west coast tends towards inordinately high hopping levels which I don't particularly care for. However, if you are into hop bombs there are good ones on both the east and west coast.

Great Lakes brewing does the "wreck of the edmund fitzgerald porter" which is excellent.

I can go on and on (as my wife can attest). My point is that if you take the time to seek it out, there are tremendously good beers to be had, and don't judge a country (any country) by their macrobeers. I'd hate to think everyone judged Aussie beer by Foster's or VB for example

Oh, and nobody in my circle of friends even drinks Corona, let alone puts a lime in it... and I've been known on several occasions to send back a glass when I get served a frozen one.

-- Gary F.

[samb]

I despise flavored beers and as my friends in my brewing club can attest, I stand up on a soapbox and preach balance with nearly every breath

There are superb examples of well-balanced beer-flavored beers in the us microbrewery market. Generally these are regional breweries and are only available in small areas but some (like Big Sky brewing in Montana) have started becoming more available.

If you like brown ales, try Moose Drool (Big Sky) and let me know what you think. I think it's a superb example of the style (and I've had beer all over the world). Bear Republic's Red Rocket is a tremendously good American Amber loaded with beer-flavored beeriness. No blueberries to be seen Yes, micros are focusing on niche markets but the really successful micros aren't focusing on the chili-beer market or the snozzberry market, they are focusing on the "make beer that is extremely well crafted that we can be proud of" market.

The west coast tends towards inordinately high hopping levels which I don't particularly care for. However, if you are into hop bombs there are good ones on both the east and west coast.

Great Lakes brewing does the "wreck of the edmund fitzgerald porter" which is excellent.

I can go on and on (as my wife can attest). My point is that if you take the time to seek it out, there are tremendously good beers to be had, and don't judge a country (any country) by their macrobeers. I'd hate to think everyone judged Aussie beer by Foster's or VB for example

Oh, and nobody in my circle of friends even drinks Corona, let alone puts a lime in it... and I've been known on several occasions to send back a glass when I get served a frozen one.

-- Gary F.

The brewmaster!!! Gary, Im by no means a completely learned beer drinker, but i can tell the difference between a crap macro-lager and a "better" micro-lager... Im not too much in the know when it comes to styles of beer and what not, but I do agree... Corona does not mean "good" beer... and not all micro-breweries roll out beers that have a nice balance, while I can toss back a Coors and actually enjoy it. Id sure like to taste one of your brews.

[bunburyist]

Canada has a few really good ones too (try La Fin du Monde).

Any country is a beer wasteland if you only drink the macrobrew crap.

I vaguely remember that one....years ago in Ottawa. Has a similar effect as a cider from my home county called Monk's Madness. Subtley strong

I'd disagree about the macro breweries though - Germany and Belgium are stand outs. Beck's, Löwenbräu, Stella Artois, Duvel are all fine efforts.

If I'm on the lagers, Beck's and Heineken are defaults for me.

[gfoster]

I vaguely remember that one....years ago in Ottawa. Has a similar effect as a cider from my home county called Monk's Madness. Subtley strong

I'd disagree about the macro breweries though - Germany and Belgium are stand outs. Beck's, Löwenbräu, Stella Artois, Duvel are all fine efforts.

If I'm on the lagers, Beck's and Heineken are defaults for me.

Sorry, of those the only one I consider decent is Duvel (and Duvel is one of the top beers in the world, IMO). It's hardly a macrobrewery though, not on the "budweiser" or "VB" scale. As always though, drink what you like and like what you drink!

-- Gary F.