American Beers That Rival European Beers in European Styles

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by Harnkus, Sep 6, 2014.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. keithmurray

    keithmurray Pooh-Bah (2,967) Oct 7, 2009 Connecticut
    Pooh-Bah

    Sierra Nevada Ovila Quad was pretty good, I thought. Not quite as good as some of the Belgian standards, but respectable.
     
  2. keithmurray

    keithmurray Pooh-Bah (2,967) Oct 7, 2009 Connecticut
    Pooh-Bah

    I love that beer and wish it would become a year round offering
     
  3. steveh

    steveh Grand Pooh-Bah (4,174) Oct 8, 2003 Illinois
    Society Pooh-Bah

    This I'll agree with, it seems like Weizens are a little easier for U.S. breweries to get right -- probably because of the big, estery yeast. SN's Weizen is top notch. Now, about that Oktoberfest... :wink:
     
    TongoRad likes this.
  4. dennis3951

    dennis3951 Initiate (0) Mar 6, 2008 New Jersey

    It's not all that easy to get in NJ! I have to go to the brewery to buy it.
     
    TongoRad likes this.
  5. mindswoop

    mindswoop Initiate (0) Dec 22, 2011 Texas

    I live in Austin and drink lots of Live Oak when out. Their German/Czech style beers are phenomenal! They are in most bars and restaurants here and some of the most affordably-priced as well. Their Hefe is amazing but I think their Pilz is off the charts goods. It's so full of flavor and has the perfect balance of flavor/crispness...I think most pilsners are on the crisp side. Additionally, you can't find a brewer in the city that doesn't respect the hell out of the Live Oak guys...I know the @jesterkingbeer guys especially love their beers.
     
    javlin624 likes this.
  6. HuskyHawk

    HuskyHawk Initiate (0) Jun 5, 2014 Massachusetts

    Why does anyone care? And what exactly is the measuring stick? Traditionality and accuracy to style? Because if that is it, the American versions will lose. On the other hand, I sometimes like the American versions better because there are aspects of the traditional styles that I don't like. I hate clove flavors...so if I'm comparing an American Hefe with no clove flavors to a German one with lots of them (Paulaner say) I'm not going to like the German one better. Yet I'd acknowledge that the German one is closer to the mythical perfect example of the style. I like Allagash White better than most Belgian Wits because it has less Belgian yeast phenols.

    Drink what you like best.
     
    breadwinner and drtth like this.
  7. drtth

    drtth Initiate (0) Nov 25, 2007 Pennsylvania
    In Memoriam

    This is the elephant in the room.
     
  8. herrburgess

    herrburgess Grand Pooh-Bah (3,077) Nov 4, 2009 South Carolina
    Pooh-Bah

    Well, since it is U.S. -- and not German, Belgian, UK, or Czech -- brewers claiming in their marketing that they are producing German-, Belgian-, UK-, and/or Czech-style beers, then the onus falls on them to "prove" it. If they are producing, say, a 19th-century-style German Oktoberfest (that doesn't necessarily fit with what is currently found in the German market), then the burden of proof is on them to demonstrate as much. If they are simply producing American-style versions of these styles, then that's well and good. But that's not what they are saying in their marketing of these beers.
     
  9. yemenmocha

    yemenmocha Grand Pooh-Bah (4,116) Jun 18, 2002 Arizona
    Pooh-Bah

    I think this is an excellent point. Perhaps this sort of thing could have its own thread.

    As much as I hate the classification debates, this is one more that needs to be entertained. We have an American Wheat. Some or many of us know why it is different. We have American IPA. Same applies. I hereby vote that there be American Octoberfest as a style. Also perhaps American Helles. Or American Pils. On and on.

    If they aren't going to adhere to reasonable guidelines for style, it should be noted as such. The common self-styled connoisseur will happily accept it as such and probably declare the American styles to be superior. That wouldn't surprise me.

    Maybe I'm just being grumpy, but I'm tired of American "innovations" on styles being lumped into general style categories against rivals that do not deserve the insult of comparison.
     
    nodder, keithmurray, azorie and 5 others like this.
  10. herrburgess

    herrburgess Grand Pooh-Bah (3,077) Nov 4, 2009 South Carolina
    Pooh-Bah

    Just wanted to reply to a drtth response, but it disappeared. Something about "German-style" versions of Czech styles. Hmmm.
     
  11. drtth

    drtth Initiate (0) Nov 25, 2007 Pennsylvania
    In Memoriam

    I changed my mind about posting a reply. Its too late in the evenign to get sucked into a pointless argument.
     
  12. herrburgess

    herrburgess Grand Pooh-Bah (3,077) Nov 4, 2009 South Carolina
    Pooh-Bah

    So you are saying I have no point in what I posted? Thanks for posting so late in the evening to point that out.
     
  13. drtth

    drtth Initiate (0) Nov 25, 2007 Pennsylvania
    In Memoriam

    No, I'm really saying you are in an argumentative mood and not interested in exploring the issues. Otherwise there was absolutely no reason for you to post as you did in reply to my comment.
     
  14. herrburgess

    herrburgess Grand Pooh-Bah (3,077) Nov 4, 2009 South Carolina
    Pooh-Bah

    OK. Seemed to me that your initial quick -- if less-than-well-thought-out -- response was more argumentative than anything I posted. Still, more than happy to wait for your exploration of the issue I raised.
     
  15. Hoppsbabo

    Hoppsbabo Pooh-Bah (2,053) Jan 29, 2012 England
    Pooh-Bah

    Yeah, loads of great American style IPAs being brewed in the UK. Brewdog is certainly not the epitome of it all.
     
    rozzom and TongoRad like this.
  16. Harnkus

    Harnkus Initiate (0) Oct 31, 2013 New York

    That's ridiculous, and frankly something you have been fed. Anything can be surpassed from anywhere if the right materials are available. Ever have Weihenstephaner's Helles? It's average. Their Octoberfest is also fairly pedestrian. Their Hefe, while often considered the benchmark, is not a world beater.

    The brew solid beers, but they are not wizards.

    Stop drinking the Kool Aid
     
  17. herrburgess

    herrburgess Grand Pooh-Bah (3,077) Nov 4, 2009 South Carolina
    Pooh-Bah

    Is there a particular U.S.-brewed Helles you consider better than Weihenstephan Original?
     
    bushycook likes this.
  18. spicoli00

    spicoli00 Pooh-Bah (2,305) Jul 6, 2005 Indiana
    Pooh-Bah

    Schlafly quadruple
     
  19. BottleCaps80

    BottleCaps80 Initiate (0) Jan 12, 2013 Iowa

    Dancing Man
     
    cnbrown313 likes this.
  20. breadwinner

    breadwinner Initiate (0) Mar 6, 2014 California

    Yeah...you're just being grumpy.
     
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.