Controversial Beer Opinions (Round Two)

But just imagine if it was 8 ABV, hopped to hell with Simcoe, and replaced the Munich malt with caramel (of your choice) -- wouldn't it be terrificer?!

Oh, yeah -- guess all you need to do is reach for an American Brown Ale.

 

Don't forget juicy.

 

Maybe even hazy?

 

@jesskidden

Sorry I didn't specify "craft beer drinkers" on the craft beer forum we're on. I figured I was clear enough considering I doubt Bud Light chugging Americans ever compare Oktoberfest offerings. But with you lingering around, I'll be sure my posts are super specific from now on.

Also to everyone, I thought this thread was a fun tongue and cheek discussion. There's way too much hostility and nerdy anger in the responses. Lighten up!

 

NE IPA's in general is stupid and way overpriced. There's a few I've had not too bad.

 

Do you mean hazy as in I can still read through it, or the NEIPA version of hazy as in "That puddle at the city dump". I had a domestic Oktoberfest recently that looked like a dump puddle, except that it was on the brownish side.

 

Yes. Said like Bob Woodward!. Anyway, let American brewers go where they truly will- which is good- but some things are like the Old Testament.

 

wait a minute--didn't you prompt the response you got, with a post that could be described as "nerdy anger" i.e. a sarcastic "thanks for setting me straight"? It's all good, we're all big boys and girls, but when you give you can expect to get, in kind.

 

@southdenverhoo

I wasn't just referring to responses to my posts. I've notice more and more over-the-top insults and anger in threads. Craft beer is a hobby and these forums are for fun. Admittedly I was annoyed someone was nit-picky about my post but I don't think my sarcasm went too far.

 

Hmm, not sure -- let me ponder that a while.

 

Controversial opinions will bring out strong reactions from people, I think that’s all it is

 

Huh? I'm not sure what you're trying to say here. I haven't reviewed any beers on BA but I do use Untappd? And in the quote below I have tried many examples lately.

This is dumb. I just wanted to start a light hearted discussion because I actually prefer the bolder flavors from American craft Oktoberfest/Marzen offerings. I knew that would be controversial considering Germany's historic brewing reputation the so I put the comment in here. I had no idea my grammar and qualifications would come under scrutiny. So nevermind.

 

Only if hops provide some superior drain-cleaning ability.

 

I would point out, you started the snarky insults. (I saw your post before you edited it, BTW.)

 

Pretty sure your controversial opinion in this thread wasn't the first controversial opinion in this thread that touched a nerve.

On BA that trigger often can be a perception of disparaging German beers, or Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., or Belgian Lambic brewers, other things.

And I guess that is my controversial opinion of the day.

 

Better is subjective, but it’s a bit easier to be “better” 10 days old vs say 4-5 months. I get where your going and the head brewer of Red Oak studied and brewed in Munich for over 10 years, so he is classically trained and it shows in his beers, I’d submit that Old Mecklenburg to be quite similar, their beer lineup in completely classic, but I don’t know anything about their head brewer but I’d suspect he studied and brewed in Germany as well, but that would be speculation on my part.

Granted there’s brewers tweaking the hops and malt but they’re not hiding that, they promote it. It’s not easy going head to head with Old Mecklenburg, so they dry hop their Pils with Mosaic hops, I’m ok with that, they’re not competing head to head.

 

I'm assuming you're not including my response in that category since you replied to me in good spirits, but I want to respond in case it makes things better from your POV. I made sure to include a thing in my post so you understood that I wasn't trying to be hostile at all. In the case of some other posts, their tones might not be coming across as intended.

Also, this thread is a good place to make a controversial statement, but that doesn't mean that people can't push back on it. I actually see the pushback as an indication of a job well done on the part of the person making the "controversial" statement. In my mind, it's much worse to make a post and have nobody argue against it. When I get crickets here, it's a disappointment. I'm trying to push buttons (while being true to my POV though). So in the end, I think your post was a success in reviving this thread.

 

To be fair, its not as if american brewers don't have access to any of the historical knowledge gained over centuries of European brewing. They could be trained at German brewing schools, the us universities with brewing programs will certainly expose them to at least some of that knowledge chain, and many have collaborated with old world brewers.

All that said, having finally tried some of the German examples this year I can say that I prefer them to any of the American made versions I have access to

 

Don’t think this is controversial, but if you can’t handle any pushback on your controversial opinion, then maybe don’t bother posting to begin with?

 

That’s true they could have access to the info and knowledge if they wanted, I guess, but it doesn’t mean they use it, care enough to, find it necessary to, or have the equipment and experience to.

Quick small example...Kane brewing who many will say is the best brewery in NJ uses a mexican lager yeast for their lagers. “Because it is more forgiving and easy to work with than European strains” is what was said in an interview with Michael Kane I think a year or two ago. Maybe that’s changed since but it proves just cause you have access to resources/knowledge doesn’t mean breweries will use it. They made a decision that made sense for them and I think many breweries would also make decisions similar to this one. Cost benefit effort analysis???? Is that a thing.

edit: it was craft beer and brewing podcast episode #47. Around 26 minute mark, he gave lots of reasons but basically gist was the German strain was more work and not as easy to use for several reason. Good short snippet if anyone’s interested. He also said they use the Mexican strain across many styles. Of lager I’m guessing.