I am not much of a beer drinker any more.
However, my favorite beer of all time is Samuel Smith’s Winter Welcome Ale.
I used to buy a case every Christmas before I learned about the thunder that wine brings!

I have to say I was somewhat disappointed with this episode for a number of reasons.

I love beer, I love craft beer. All varieties. I brew, I taste. I was into it seriously before wine.

The wine episodes have themes, unifying factors. This beer episode just lumps a bunch of drastically different beers into one lump category. I don’t think that would really help people get into tasting beer the way the show helps people get into tasting wine. Maybe an episode on IPAs, or hop head beers, or stouts, porters, brown ales, etc., Secondly, only sierra nevada is very widely commonly available (and the rogue a little less so). The other two beers are not so common. Thirdly, rauch’s are not really entry level beers and I don’t think are really on par with the other beers for level of consumption.

That being said I’m very happy that there was a beer library episode and I hope it could become a more regular thing. While WL’s beer selection is moderately sized, most of the beers there are solid brews, and there are enough good beers of different styles to put together some solid themed beer episodes. Obviously you don’t need any help with that (though I would be happy to do so!). My friend Ian and I make a point of doing one tasting every couple weeks and are always looking for new delicious beers.

I am so glad you did this episode!
I love wine AND craft beers with Rogue at the top of my list!!
Great job!!

I also enjoyed your beer episode: “Theme for next beer tasting – Names I.e. Arrogant bastard, Pisapale ale, etc, etc.

Great idea! Some personal beer favorites of mine include: Chimay (the blue kind), Fat Tire, and Smithwicks… Also Guinness, but I don’t know how a “beer geek” would look at me if I said that… Hey Gary, How about a Scotch show? Wine and Scotch are my 2 drinks… I would love to see you try some on the show! (If you like scotch, but you must considering your palette for fabulous drinks!)

-Kenny

Gary, if you have a beer guy doing the episode, share the camera, don’t stick him over on the side so far he might fall off! :),

Beer episode was a good intro to the wide variety of beers out there beyond the mass produced stuff.
Bringing on a Rauchbier was an act of bravery, because it is an acquired taste and I have seen people react awfully to what is a great beer because they were not prepared for it.

Next beer episode MUST BE
Belgian Beers!
Belgium is a land of hundreds of different beers from trappist beers made by monks, to lambics which ferment twice, to dubbels and triples and names like Gulden Drak and Delirium Tremens
Belgium is heaven on earth for beer fanatics, so you need to have a show on Belgian beers.

I recently saw this episode. While I was very happy to see beers highlighted, I was a bit irked when he started talking about swishing the beer in the back of the mouth to taste the bitterness. All parts of the mouth taste bitterness (or any other flavor) equally. The tongue map is a myth.

Catching up on old episodes (been here since 335), and this is probably in my top 3 most fav! Mmmmmm.. beer….

Nice selection there GV. you need to add this epsiode and a few others like 148 to the favorite episodes, or you have so many special episodes it would be cool if you had a link that has all of them, like the bordeaux trip, or when you have guests. but on the other hand its fun browsing through and discovering the Thunder on my own. Thanks for the episode

Great episode! Wine has enjoyed a status far and above that of the lowly working man’s drink of choice (beer), but I really think that with the burgeoning craft beer scene and all of the excellent imports available at good liquor stores, beer can be elevated to wine-like peaks of aroma and flavor.

To really geek out, check out beeradvocate.com….it’s the best and most comprehensive site that I’ve found to read about, chat about, and review craft beer(much like cork’d, but for beer). Find me on beeradvocate.com under my username….pmcadamis. I’m a part time oenophile, but a full time beer geek so feel free to hit me up with questions or concerns regarding the expanding universe of BEER!

Whether you’re popping corks or bottle caps, always experience and enjoy the good stuff with all of your senses. Beer is not just for Bud and Miller swillers. It can be a form of art just like wine or cheese.

The Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Marzen smells (and tastes) Exactly like bacon! Well, more accurately, bacon bits or Morningstar Farms fake bacon…not quite the real deal. Very interesting. I am surprised I never tried it before now! This would rock with some sharp cheese on stoned wheat crackers. Word.

So so glad to finally see the beer episode out here Gary!! I’ve been dreaming about it since I discovered you about a year ago. (I’m upset I didn’t find it until now, five months after the fact.)

Keep them coming Gary, these are some good beers, but there are so many more out there that I know will blow your socks off.

Two words: Oude Geuze. (Ask Alec, he’ll know)

This has to be one of my favorite shows! Got a good laugh and was nice change of pace from just wines.

â??I canâ??t drink beer.â? â??I canâ??t eat cheese.â? Gary, what kind of sissy crew do you have there?

Great Great episode!!! I love beer, I love wine!!!! Bring IT to us Gary!!!!

why on earth can’t americans pronounce rauch (smoke in german) the way it is supposed to?

I just found this episode and right at the beginning there is an issue with how he poured the beer…You ALWAYS pour down the center of the glass, that way you get the aromas and you allow it to oxygenate….Wow, this guy missed the boat there

I used to work for Sierra Nevada and loved the smell of Pale Ale cooking.

Oh man! I tried that smoked beer last summer. Without a doubt, the most shocking smell and taste I’ve ever experienced in a beer. I had to pass it around to my buddies and the general consensus was that the beer tasted like ribs! Now whenever we see it in a store, it’s referred to as “that rib beer”. Crazy stuff! I’d never buy it again, it’s not my thing, but it’s one of those beers you have to experience.

ha ha, I love you burying your face in your hands at the end. Im the exact same way when the Seahawks blow it. Im not into beer at all though. Ive yet to find a beer I can actually drink without shuddering. Ive had a fair share, and beer just doesnt do it for me, but the episode was fun and its always fun to learn something new anyway, like the smoked beer.

Let’s do another beer show. suggestions: Dogfish Head worldwide stout and/or 120 minute ipa, Avery Mephistopheles, Samichlaus lager, and you gotta do a chimay. p.s. sorry for your jets, one day last shall be first

Haha, fun watching you enjoy a few brewskis but whats better then that on a jets losing weekend than some brews. Nice ep.

Note: All of these beers look amazing!
If you want to try a unique beer go for the:
Innis & Gunn Rum Cask Finish Oak Aged Beer.
This beer is matured in rum casks for 60 days and then taken out of the casks and blended for another 47 days to get the ideal flavours.
This is a true experience in itself. A great nose and palate.

I hate beer (just not into the taste of hops), but that was a good show. The guest is as geeky about beer as GV is about wine. Really fun show, even though I’m unlikely to drink any of those offerings.

CKC here: Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier is brilliant. Gotta love Rachbiers.

I send Chris Lotz’s requests for Dogfish Head 120 minute IPA (or worldwide stout, but that’s not as interesting, IMO) and Chimay.