Beer

@ncscswitch:

If it is “India Pale Ale” is it REALLY Canadian?  :evil:

I think the Hoosier state is close enough to Canada.  Close enough for Bobby Knight to get pissed and throw a chair at it.

@ncscswitch:

If it is “India Pale Ale” is it REALLY Canadian?   :evil:

:P
fair question.
It was developed and is brewed in Canada, so therefore blah blah blah.

@cystic:

@ncscswitch:

If it is “India Pale Ale” is it REALLY Canadian?   :evil:

:P
fair question.
It was developed and is brewed in Canada, so therefore blah blah blah.

The question is if the Canadians can brew the India Pale Ale style. Whether or not the style is orginally from the country in question is not really relevant.

It would be wise not to confuse your personal preference for a particular style as to whether or not the beers from any particular country are any good.  8-)

OK, so Canada is making an imitation India Pale Ale (the original, by definition, is from a sub-continent about 5000 miles away)

They are doing a Cover Band version of it.  And perhaps like Van Halen covering Pretty Woman it may be a quality work.  Or maybe like Manfred Mann’s Earth Band doing Springsteen’s Blinded By The Light it will be SUPERIOR to the original…

But Canada is still just being a cover band  :-P

@ncscswitch:

OK, so Canada is making an imitation India Pale Ale (the original, by definition, is from a sub-continent about 5000 miles away)

They are doing a Cover Band version of it.

While the cover band assertion has some validity you are incorrect that Inida Pale Ale is ‘from’ India. India Pale Ale was brewed in England for shipment to India. It was brewed at a higher strength and with more hops to withstand the long sea voyage and still taste like something and not have spoiled.  :-)

IPAs are popular today because they are much more flavorful brews than B/M/C. Great Lakes Brewing makes what I think is a nice one called Commodore Perry.

@dezrtfish:

I supose an IPA could be Canadian in the same way Budweiser Lager is American ;)

Bingo!!! :-) Or the same way Victory’s Storm King is ‘Russian.’

Bud’s style is Standard American Lager though. There can be confusion between American pilsners and European pilsners. The BJCP draws several distinctions.

Style is the more important aspect these days as opposed to country of origin. It isn’t American Beer that is ‘sex in a boat’ it is the Standard American Lager style that is.

@ncscswitch:

OK, so Canada is making an imitation India Pale Ale (the original, by definition, is from a sub-continent about 5000 miles away)

I’m glad Frimmel followed up on this, but I was going to say it is different compared to say…Champagne only coming from the Champagne region of France, Scotch only coming from Scotland, etc.

They are doing a Cover Band version of it.  And perhaps like Van Halen covering Pretty Woman it may be a quality work.  Or maybe like Manfred Mann’s Earth Band doing Springsteen’s Blinded By The Light it will be SUPERIOR to the original…

On this note, I think Derek & the Domino’s version of Jimi Hendrix’s “Little Wing” trumps the original.

But Canada is still just being a cover band  :-P

It happens everywhere.  All the major American beers are trying to be Pilsner Urquell specifically (the number 1 imitated beer in the world).

@dezrtfish:

@Jermofoot:

It happens everywhere.  All the major American beers are trying to be Pilsner Urquell specifically (the number 1 imitated beer in the world).

You know the funny thing about that is I’ve had Pilsner Urquell and I don’t like it at all…  It’s right up there with Grolsch on my list of no thank you beers.

Really?  I actually liked Urquell quite a bit.  The Saaz hops is really distintive (but of course, not over-powering).

@dezrtfish:

@Jermofoot:

It happens everywhere.  All the major American beers are trying to be Pilsner Urquell specifically (the number 1 imitated beer in the world).

You know the funny thing about that is I’ve had Pilsner Urquell and I don’t like it at all…  It’s right up there with Grolsch on my list of no thank you beers.

It’s all about what you are used to.  I actually love PU (hehe), but go for darker beers more often.  Summer definitely makes me want it more, though.

And I’ve had a special place for Grolsch in my early brewing days because the bottles do very well with home brewing.

I find the Urquell a bit too floral and bitter for my taste. I draw a distinction between hoppy and bitter. I like hops but not the way they use them in that brew. I like the S. Adams Halertau Imperial Pilsner but the Urquell doesn’t work for me. I find it puzzling but there it is.

And though I don’t like it the brewer in me does understand why so many do.

For Summertime consumption I have grown particularly fond of the S. Adams Summer Ale. It doesn’t usually garner lots of critical acclaim but I find it really suits my palette.

Anyone know of other similar summer brews and how they compare to the Sam version? More hops or lemon or yeasty flavors or what have you?

Summer screams for White/wheat bears.  They have good flavor without a heavy malt body and often have that light citrus note.  Sam makes a Heffewiesen (I probably killed that spelling) that is good if you like Heffes, and I like their White Ale is very taste.

I actually am not always a huge fan of Heffes, but when its hot and humid and your pushing the mower, its real nice.  (Of course, PU is great in the summer too, as noted above).

To mix the two discussions…

I brewed a clone of a commercial IPA…ummm, Portland IPA?  Damn, cant remeber.  It was a really nice citricy floral aroma/taste, not that typical “Americal IPA” hop kick-in-the-teeth you can see now-days.  That one was mild enough for a summer drinker as well.

Mot

Porters are good for Barbeque.

You might also try a beer with smoked malt or smoke flavor. No experience myself but I’m told those are good with food from the grill.

Alternately try The Brewmaster’s Table for ideas on matching brews to food.

Although a good idea is to match brews with the fare from the country the style orginated in.

The White Ale from Sam is more “spicy” as opposed to citrus, but its probably not what you are looking for.

What exactly is the beer profile suitable for gaming?

Anyone had “Double Bag” (cows on the label) from Long Trail or Sam’s Double Boch?  Now theres a couple of tastey beers with some kick!

I definately recommend the Double Bag then.

@frimmel:

For Summertime consumption I have grown particularly fond of the S. Adams Summer Ale. It doesn’t usually garner lots of critical acclaim but I find it really suits my palette.

I polished off my 6 pack last night. Tasty stuff.  :-D

As far as similar…I’d second motdc suggestion of wheat beers.  Especially for the citrus taste.

I love me Doppelbocks…mmm…Optimator.