IamA Resident Beer Professor at a top craft beer bar AMA!

Are you as offended as I am that Redd's Apple Ale is allowed to call themselves an Ale?

yes, possibly more

Hey now, Redd's (while not good) is still grains (with apple flavor) and a top fermenting yeast. So unless you're a Reinheitsgebot, it is an ale.

If you do sign onto the purity laws, you can't call any of the American Lights beer because they use rice in their production to cut costs and decrease the heaviness.

Technically it is ale, true, but I still find it offensive!

Which is more offensive to you, the Apple Ale or Strawberry Ale?

I'm a sucker for Abita Strawberry Lager. No apple beer has ever impressed me.

I would have echoed this until my brewery ended up with 140 gallons of cider a couple months ago and the brewer incorporated some into a berlinerweiss. Shit was mad tasty

now that sounds awesome

What would you say to an English Real Ale drinker who has been told all their life that beer from the US is of a lower quality than British and German beer?

I'd tell them they are wrong. Seriously, the US scene has gone full blown experimental and produced some amazing products. European countries are really culturally stuck in their traditional beers. Go to Germany, good luck finding a Double IPA, go to Belgium, find something that's not fruity (from the yeast, not actual fruit)... not gonna happen. I love Belgians and hefeweizens and real ale, but the U.S. is expanding the beer scene and doing an amazing job at it.

As someone from Belgium I must disagree, there are plenty of non 'fruity' beers you just got to know them.

I feel like any beer that uses a belgian yeast strain has some sort of fruity property. I've been to Belgium beer hunting a few times. I'd love to learn some examples of non fruity beers though if you can give me some.

As a German, what is a 'Double IPA'? (never heard of the shortcut)

It's an extremely hoppy beer with very high alcohol, think 8% abv up to 10 or 11%

[deleted]

I bet she'd like some other belgians too! They have that fruitiness to them. See if you can get your hands on a St Bernadus 12, its "dark" but not bad more of a toffee color. It's sweet and has glorious dried, dark fruit profile with a hint of bubble gum.

Also, ease her into the fruited belgian beers. Start with lidemmans cause its back sweetened. Get her the framboise (raspberry).

For more casual drinking, see if you can find Lost Coast Tangerine Wheat, it's similar to blue moon but has a clean yeast instead of a wit yeast and it's real beer unlike blue moon.

Are you being snarky, or is Blue Moon not "real beer"? Serious question.

A bit snarky, but its full of flavoring agents and such instead of like real craft beer: grain, hops, yeast and possibly some spices but they are real spices

Do you pass judgement on the man who orders a Bud Light?

Nope, as long as he doesn't pass judgement on me for ordering a coffee stout.

Doing so would make us hypocrites. We've all been there...

There is a beer nerd scene right now that makes me sick to my stomach. Pompous, dicks passing judgement on everyone, looking down their nose at people that don't understand the difference in an ale and a lager. They bring a bad vibe to lots of craft beer pubs.

I love how the person with the most right to be a "beer snob" speaks out against this.

They're just so damn irritating!

The wine market would be much healthier without such people. It'll be a shame if the beer market ends up in the same boat.

agreed

As someone who does home brew myself, the logistics and organization it takes to make a beer with that little flavor to cover up mistakes and have it taste everywhere in the world it is manufactured and shipped is simply astounding...it isn't even like a heavier flavored coffee stout or belgian where the tastes or spices could cover up any minor mistakes or difference in ingredients either.

No doubt, the brewing process and science behind it is phenomenal

What is a popular craft beer that you just can't stand.

This won't be a popular replly. Dogfish head anything. I like their 60 minute, that's about it. A couple others are palettable but their beers are over the top and way too boozy. I think people who are really into them, like praise everything they put out, are more into it for the novelty more than anything. The 120 minute is just hard to drink.

That said, I highly respect Sam Caliogne (spelling?). He's a good dude and is willing to try some crazy stuff for the art of beer.

edit: I do really like their Theobrama (chili/chocolate beer)

You're just not off-centered enough to enjoy it. ;-)

Seriously, though, I tend to agree with you about DFH, except for their Indian Brown Ale. Man, that's stuff's good.

IBA is a solid beer, good call.

90min is my utility ipa. 60 is too hoppy, 120 has the consistency of cough syrup. 90 is a solid middle ground....

90 is solid, but its a bigtime east coast style IPA and I'm a west coast IPA fan myself. I like the dryness in west coast style that really pushes the hoppyness and bitterness to an extreme.

Ok - has no one asked yet? What is your opinion on heady topper by the alchemist.

possibly best IPA on the market right now, sad I can't get it in Florida.

Do you agree that Monkeynaut is both the best named beer as well as the best can ever????

The label: http://i.imgur.com/47ik8O6.png

Tastes good too.

That's an alabama brewery right?

Yes. Hunstville.

Also opinions on Avondale?

Their sour brown, stout, tripel are all good imo.

I grew up in Auburn, I thought I remembered seeing that beer when I was there.

What differs an IPA from just a pale ale, both in taste and brewing process?

More hops.

It's going to be more bitter and often times it has more hop profile overall, so more citrus/floral/pine in the nose and flavor. Also, it will have a bit more alcohol in it.

Wait which one has more hops, the IPA or pale ale?

IPA

What do you think of Brewdog?

Also, your top 5 favourite US breweries?

Thanks

Every beer I've had from Brewdog I've really enjoyed. I like their style.

I'll throw a list off the top of my head:

• Ballast Point

• Lost Abbey

• Southern Tier

• Founders

• Wicked Weed

Southern Tier is my new favorite brewery. Nothing they've made has let me down. Love their 2XSTOUT (double milk stout), their 2xMAS (christmas beer) and their Hop Sun (summer wheat - nicely balanced with a good hit of hops). Also, their creme brulee stout is often my dessert replacement when I can find it. I honestly don't know why they aren't a more popular brewery.

They are big down here in South Florida, gotta love that Krampus at Christmas time from them!

No Cisco. Disappointing. I was hoping you'd rep the NE. ;)

Edit: founders breakfast stout and backyard bastard are as good as sex.

as good as sex with a last call hog, but I won't claim any beer is as good as sex with the right woman!

Have you also noticed that people who have developed a taste for higher quality beers also have gained a taste for higher end coffee?

All the brewers (home and pro) and bartenders I know are just as big coffee snobs as they are beer snobs.

Personally I've noticed this.

Up here (Boston) we have beer summits quarterly where you can go, sample shit and mingle with prospective distributors, breweries. Do you have/attend anything like that down in Sarasota? Personally, I love it.

I used to all the time, not so much anymore. I love them too! The challenge was figuring out the travel situation as I do not drive after a couple beers.

What's your opinion on Irish stouts? Is there anywhere else creating similar types of drink?

My most popular homebrewing recipe online is my irish stout recipe. I LOVE the style when the weather is 70 or below. Sadly, since moving to Florida and being stuck here for now I don't get the proper irish stout weather anymore very often.

There are plenty of American breweries producing irish stouts. I'm not a huge fan of Magic Hat but their seasonal stout is very similar to an irish stout.

One thing people don't realize. Guinness is one of the lowest calorie, dryest and least alcohol beers on the market. It's bone dry but since they carb with beer gas (nitrogen/co2 mixture) it has a thick mouthfeel that tricks you. It's a very light beer technically.

I actually knew that about Guinness. No one here in Ireland believes me when I tell them that :)

I'll look up that homebrew recipe, thanks for doing the ama!

God I love Ireland, need to get back asap. Best live music experience of my life was in a dank little pub in Dingle.

Its always the session in a small pub that's the best. Kerry is one of the best spots to be in Ireland to be honest. Glad you enjoyed yourself over here. Ireland has sparked a bit of a cottage craft beer industry the last few years as well. A lot of bars specific to craft beers have been cropping up in Dublin and Cork anyway.

That's awesome! Europe really should catch on soon, its too good not to.

What are your favorite beers from Michigan (shoutout to /r/michiganbeer) that are NOT IPA's?

Founders breakfast stout

Have you tried any Vermont beers? I moved here from CA and I was gobsmacked by the diversity and quality of the beers. Beers like the Hill Farmstead selections, Heady Topper, and Switchback. I think many aren't well known simply because the breweries keep the beer mostly in Vermont.

heady topper could be the best IPA ont eh market right now.

• Do you prefer ales or lagers?
  
• Blow off tube or airlock?
  
• Most successful beer you've brewed using fruit?
  
• When did you start homebrewing and why?
  
• What do you think about all the drama going on with BeerAdvocate? (people getting banned for using other websites, how they're the go-to for giving beer ratings that are being used in menus and in stores, how the bros have been acting a bit childish as of later, etc.)
  
• Thoughts on the issues with Rogue Brewing and how there seems to be a growing dislike of them?
  
• Favorite style overall? And your go-to beer of said style?
  

Ninja Edit: And your thoughts on beer cocktails?

both, lagers in summer, ales in spring/winter/fall

aluminum foil over top of my better bottle

black saison with brett and cherries aged in hungarian oak barrel

2006 when I moved to Germany, was bored and got into beer culture while searching new hobbies

I don't go to beeradvocate, sounds like homebrewtalk drama though which I despise so started my own site years ago

they charge too much for mediocre beer

Belgian IPA, Houblon Chouffe

I know you've had a lot of Cigar City being close to the Brewery, what is your favorite?

White Oak Jai Alai is definitely my staple favorite. I do love the Tocobaga out of a can a LOT. All their beers are amazing, never been let down.

As someone who knows nothing about beer can you explain some of the different types of beers and what makes them different?

Beer is basically malted barley, hops, water and yeast. The yeast eats the malted barley sugars and breaks it down into CO2 and alcohol.

malted barley can be kilned to caramelize the sugars and depending how long and temperatures and moisture in the barley and many factors the kilning process can produce hundreds of different varieties of malted barley. Some will produce chocolate flavors, some caramel, some toffee, some like raisins, some like honey and on and on. You can also do this to wheat, rye, oats and so on. This provides the brewer with almost limitless potential for flavor. Add in the hundred+ types of hops that have a ridiculous variety of flavors and then all the strains of yeast that produce different flavors at different temperatures, the potential beer you can make is ridiculously varietal.

So you have dark stouts that are chocolaty and roasty, you have dry IPAs that are crisp, refreshing and intensly bitter with resiny, citrusy and/or piney tons. You have brown ales that are simple and inviting with hints of toast or muffins. There is so much out there I really can't list them all.

Isn't there a large contribution from the yeast itself to the flavor profile? If I make the same recipe with drastically different yeast types, say a Belgian yeast and an English Ale yeast, wouldn't the beers come out very differently?

way different. English yeast and american east are usually very subtle if adding anything to the flavor profile. Belgian yeast defines the beer. Also temperature of fermentation effects what flavors the yeast impart big time. Hefeweizen yeast at cooler temps... all clove, warmer temps... all banana.

I love surprising my hophead boyfriend with new craft beer to try. He's an IPA guy. Problem is, I don't really know anything about beer and it's hard for me to find a pattern amongst what he has liked, especially because I don't drink. I'd love if it if you could make some recommendations for something new to try or guide me in the right direction on what to look for when scouting out new brews! I've gotten him the following so far:

Bear Republic - Racer 5 (loves)

Green Flash - West Coast IPA (loves)

Speakeasy - Big Daddy (loves)

Russian River - Pliny the Elder (thought it was okay, too high alcohol %)

Ballast Point - Sculpin IPA (loves)

Firestone - Double Jack (okay)

Heretic - Evil Cousin (likes)

Really appreciate any feedback! I've got a lot of respect for what you do!

shit, you've done a killer job picking out beers! If you can get Cigar City grab Jai Alai. Victory Hop Devil is delicious too. Both are more east coast style IPA and it doesn't look like you've given him any like that yet.

Why did you elect to teach instead of working as a contractor to revamp various bar/restaurants selections? I would imagine the money, and hours, would be better...

I don't do it for the money, the money is shit but I do get a great discount since I'm technically an employee. I'm an internet developer and own my own marketing business as a full time job.

Chimay or Duvel? Inquiring minds want to know...

Specifically Chimay White.

Chimay

Do you have an irrational disgust for anything Anheuser-Busch before it even touches your lips like every other craft beer aficionado?

No, I'm not a fan of any of their products but if they put out something new that's supposed to be crafty I'll go in with an open mind. Nothing has impressed me, that said, when they released the Budweiser American Ale it was not bad and had a noticible hop presence. Their main line of beers use tons of rice and/or corn in place of barley to make it lighter and flavorless, so if it's a new thing like bud platinum I won't even try it.

Really like your answer. I used to work for the Redhook Brewery and a lot of the beer elitists shunned my product the same day we got the rights to AB's distribution network. Great business decision, but the guys who wear robes to beer festivals would go out of their way to mock us.

Each beer should be judged on it's own merits.

Right on, I'm a fan of Longhammer, solid IPA.

I love beer myself, but mostly IPA's. I do the occasional stout or bock, but mainly stay the hoppy route. So my main question is, what would your favorite commercially available IPA be, and what would be the worst for you? (think larger chain grocers, etc.)

I love the blend of belgian and IPA, check out Houblon Chouffe and Stone's Cali-Belgique.

Worst: Saranac IPA comes to mind

What do you think is the best beer by country? I'm specifically interested in those out of Belgium, The Netherlands, The USA, The UK and Germany

Belgium: Trappist brews, specifically Westmalle Triple, Rochefort 10, Westvleteren 12 and a big fan of Achouffe Brewery

Netherlands: Koningshoeven/La Trappe

Germany: Schlenkerla smoked beers

UK: Samual Smith Oatmeal Stout mmmmmm

US: Ballast Point Sculpin IPA

I just want a cheap good bear. What are my options?

Yuengling is fine, in a can. Green bottles let light through.

I'm a fan of New Belgium shift lagers in a can too. I think you can find it for $12/half case. I get a discount at my bar so not sure of price. I'm a BIG supporter of the new craft beer in a can thing.

Is the first step into becoming a great brewmaster growing a huge beard? Do you have a large beard?

I had a massive beard until a week ago. My girlfriend pitched a hissy fit when she walked in on my trimming it down.

Check out that sucker! Was in November: image

So its safe to assume beard = good beer.

assume away!

I've had a long time passion for beer, from cheap college days, to home brewing, to different tastings. While I like big, bold, heavy beers, I feel that my absolute favorite style of beer is what I call "Simple done perfect." Harp, for example. Nothing special, but it's just so well balanced and clean.

My question to you is what are some other beers that are very simple, but very well made?

Duvel, Guinness, Blue Point Toasted Lager, Cigar City Mamma's Little Yella Pils and Hotter than Helles.

Fanziskaner, bitburger, Kona long board.

I could go on and on, I got on a huge craft lager kick this summer in Florida and let me tell you what, for simple beers their are some real gems out there.

I'm a huge fan of Dunkelweizens but have so much trouble finding them! Heffes are a bit too light for my tastes. Are there any Dunkels you'd recommend I try to hunt down?

The easiest to find is probably Franziskaner Dunkel. Most big beer stores will carry it and its fantastic.

So, which beer is the best?

I try to keep a top 5 list but its always changing. That said, the top beer in the world is the Westvleteren 12. I've had around 40 of them over the years and just gave my last two to my girlfriend's dad for Christmas. (edit: 2007 was the best year of the 12 I believe).

See I've always thought this was funny. Westy 12 is labeled "the best beer in the world" but no love for St B's abt 12 which is the same recipe and they brewed it for the Westverleteren abbey for years.

Exactly

Do you have any qualifications like BJCP, Cicerone, Siebel etc, and what do you think of those programs?

Nope. I think they are cool but ask try submitting a beer to a homebrew comp. Every single BJCP judge will give you feedback that is different from the others. It's such a trivial thing I never submit to comps anymore.

As someone who is a huge craft beer nerd and would like to start homebrewing, do you have a recommendation on a kit to purchase?

Just for the record, from Chicago and love that Lagunitas is opening up here soon. Little Sumpin Sumpin changed how I look at beer!

Thanks for doing this AMA!

Well, the website sucks but owned by a good friend and killer customer service. This is a great starter kit:

http://www.hopsshack.com/store/E1003.html

Hi Professor!

I recently enjoyed a Goose Island Bourbon County Stout on tap. Delicious, spectacular aroma, but at an in-your-face14.2% ABV, I was only able to tolerate small sips, and in the end, I was unable to finish it. No worries though, I donated it to the drunks at the next table, who gleefully chugged it!

My wife was amazed to see me "defeated" by a beer.

What are your thoughts about this amazing stout?

I love it but can only drink a snifters worth if I'm trying to be a human the following day.

I've been big on the cask aged beers lately, despite their high prices. Founders, Bourbon County by Goose Island come to mind as current favorites. Any others you can think of that are worth giving a go?

Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale is so damn good and they have a few bourbon barrel brews in their line up.

Used to live by Blue Point Brewing on Long Island, any thoughts on Blue Point? Really like their toasted lager and hoptical illusion.

both of those beers are regulars in my drinking line up.

What sort of things do you teach at beer school? As in, why would I need to take your class?

We do pairings

we do style's classes, pick a style and sample different options that range to different extremes of that style, learn about the nuances that make it what it is and so on.

We have beer nerd show & tell where people bring in something unique and we all sample it while they talk about it, if they don't know anything about it I do my best to help break down what we are tasting and what the style is

we do private beer schools where a group of 6 can reserve a two hour class where I make up a menu, usually with a theme of some sort and teach them about what we are drinking and why the theme works. Last one I did pairs. Stout & a porter together what makes the styles different. IPA and a Belgian IPA, see what the yeast does to the style by comparing and so on.

Doctor, help! I was on my way to a big meeting and my pants split because I've been drinking too much beer and outgrew them. WHAT SHOULD I DO?!!??

lmfao, go fuck yourself is what you should BL

In your explorations of beer, what snacks or light foods tend to go with what beers?

I accidentally found out that I like salted cucumber slices with Spaten Optimator. The flavor combination is particularly nice.

I do pairing classes often at my pub.

Big fan of cheese & beer pairings. A big IPA with a dank blue cheese is so so good. I like stouts with almonds/cashews and dark dried fruits (raisins, figs).

Tell you what's really fun, take a big imperial stout like rasputin and put a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream in there. Beer floats!!

What's the best beer to pair with Mouth Rape Jerky?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UW98XsDHwkE

A das boot of habenero IPA

Suggestion for a good Trappist ale that's not chimay or duvel?

Rochefort 10 is pretty gettable in the states and super good. St bernardus 12 is not a Trappist but it split off from the most amazing brewery in the world that is Trappist, st sixtus

Could you offer any advice on someone young who is interested in getting into the craft beer scene as a career?

Start bartending at a beer pub. You need experience. I was offered a job with a craft distributor just because they got to know me well at the pub I worked at.

[deleted]

IPA is the American staple craft beer right now. If you open a brewery, you must have an IPA. That said, some breweries are getting away with having a big stout as their staple, but only in colder climates. Novelty beers can be a good staple as well such as a barrel aged this or that with coco and chilis addedd and so on.

[deleted]

Try a nice amber ale or brown ale. Where do you live? If in Florida, I bet you'd like the Cigar City Madura. Yes, its brown and kind of dark, but it doesn't taste that way.

If you can get Troeg's Amber that would be ideal. But gotta be in the NE to find that.

Hipsters are hipsters weather its craft beer, pbr, vinyl or whatever. They take something that's really cool and act like they are the shit for being into it.

I drink to get drunk sometimes and I won't turn down a cheap lager.

I bought a kit to homebrew from www.Brewcrate.com. Do you know anything about them? It should be arriving in the next few days and my boyfriend and I are going to try our hand at home brewing. Have an specific tips when using a kit?

Never used that site. you will want to join a homebrewing community to get answers to your questions cause there will be a lot. I own http://www.homebrewchatter.com

How many times have you brewed the Vanilla caramel cream Ale and which is your favorite variation?

23 times and I prefer the mixture of 5 different aged variations I had blended together and sucked up through my butthole.

I personally prefer to add a sprinkle of cheese to each of my batches. I also ferment each batch in a dirty pothole, its as close as possible to the founders true recipe.

I agree completely

Opinion on lambics? Personally I can't stomach them. They are definitely an acquired taste in my experience...

Love them, best way to ease into them is to start with Lindemann's Framboise. It's backsweetened and has almost none of the tart/sour that a true Lambic has. Next go to Boon, then if you can get into that dive into some of the crazy sours and lambics out there.

Are you an actual doctor? A beer doctor, perhaps?

The username is a reference to the movie "What About Bob?"

DR. MARVIN, I'M SAILING!

Just let the boat do the work.

Just starting home brewing (got a kit). Have a couple of questions:

1) Can you recommend any sources that might help me learn to become a master like yourself? 2) It seems to me that the type/quality of malt is the difference between good beer and decent beer. Is this accurate? Is it feasible/cost effective to create your own malt?

Any tips on home brewing would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for the AMA!

Come hang at my homebrewing forum. Full of great homebrewers always happy to help! http://www.homebrewchatter.com

Stout and Porter recommendations?

My favorite is Flying Dog's Imperial Porter. What else should I try?

Samual Smith Taddy Porter to taste a true, traditional english porter that spawned all the different variations we see today.

If you can get your hands on a baltic porter do it, they are big porters that are lagered, very interesting style. Baltic Thunder by Victory Brewing Company should be accessible.

Founder Breakfast Stout, Left Hand Milk Stout, all good beers

How do you feel about shipyard's pumpkinhead or smashed pumpkin? My favorite Halloween seasonal being the later...

Pumpkinhead is good, smashed pumpkin is fucking awesome, smashed blueberry is over the top good.

What regions in the US do you think are producing great craft beer right now?

Any areas that you think have promise?

PNW and Cali, although new england is catching up and thanks to Cigar City there is huge growth in Florida right now.

Is that true drinking beer from plastic cup is unhleathy (alcohol doesn't affect to plastic)?

I doubt it, but I've never done any research on the topic. That said, beer is best drunk from glass or I even like craft beer right out of the can.