What Are Your Favorite "Balanced" beers?

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by SteveB24, Nov 10, 2014.

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  1. SteveB24

    SteveB24 Initiate (0) Aug 29, 2013 New York

    in recent months i've been kind of an "extreme" beer kick, trying lots of hop bombs and Imperial stouts. i'm beginning to crave beers that are in between, which i often are also better for sharing with newbie friends) which beers to you find go for a balance between hop and mat flavors and succeed admirably? i really like
    Alesmith evil dead red
    Stone lucky bastard
    Pliny
    Pseudoe
    Golden Nugget
    Hop stoopid, despite the name i find it to be a very nicely balanced beer.
     
    #1 SteveB24, Nov 10, 2014
    Last edited: Nov 10, 2014
  2. BergBeer

    BergBeer Maven (1,417) Aug 21, 2013 California

    Phew I personally wouldn't call any of those balanced but for my taste

    SNPA
    Duet - Alpine
    Old Brown Dog - Smuttynose
    DBA - FW
    Nut Brown - Alesmith
    IPA - Alesmith
    Bitter American
     
    #2 BergBeer, Nov 10, 2014
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  3. gopens44

    gopens44 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,560) Aug 9, 2010 Virginia
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Two Hearted
    Union Jack
     
    #3 gopens44, Nov 10, 2014
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  4. msscott1973

    msscott1973 Pooh-Bah (1,739) Dec 28, 2013 North Carolina
    Pooh-Bah

    It doesn't have a super high rating, but Bell's Christmas Ale is very balanced to me (and delicious).
     
    #4 msscott1973, Nov 10, 2014
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  5. mnredsoxfan69

    mnredsoxfan69 Initiate (0) Dec 27, 2013 Minnesota

    If I have an RIS in one hand and a IIPA in the other, that's balanced.
     
    #5 mnredsoxfan69, Nov 10, 2014
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  6. SteveB24

    SteveB24 Initiate (0) Aug 29, 2013 New York

    right, like if my head is in hot water and my legs are in cold water i'm warm :slight_smile:
     
    #6 SteveB24, Nov 10, 2014
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  7. mnredsoxfan69

    mnredsoxfan69 Initiate (0) Dec 27, 2013 Minnesota

    Are you telling me that's not how it works?:astonished:
     
    #7 mnredsoxfan69, Nov 10, 2014
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  8. bluehende

    bluehende Initiate (0) Dec 10, 2010 Delaware

    I would say Sierra Nevada Celebration

    super balanced to my taste
     
    #8 bluehende, Nov 10, 2014
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  9. tylerstravis

    tylerstravis Pooh-Bah (2,487) Feb 14, 2014 Colorado
    Pooh-Bah

    Odell IPA.

    When I think of balanced, this is the first beer that comes to mind. It may not be my favorite, but it has a perfect balance to it.
     
    #9 tylerstravis, Nov 10, 2014
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  10. herrburgess

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

    I must have a very different idea than most BAs of what it means for a beer to be balanced....
     
    #10 herrburgess, Nov 10, 2014
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  11. TonyLema1

    TonyLema1 Pooh-Bah (2,890) Nov 19, 2008 South Carolina
    Pooh-Bah

    Two Hearted and 90-minute come to mind
     
    #11 TonyLema1, Nov 10, 2014
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  12. gopens44

    gopens44 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,560) Aug 9, 2010 Virginia
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Taste great AND less filling?
     
    #12 gopens44, Nov 10, 2014
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  13. Donco

    Donco Pooh-Bah (1,639) Aug 12, 2013 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    "Balanced" to me is a seamless combination of the ingredients/components that went into the making of a certain beer. My top one has to be Parabola.
     
    #13 Donco, Nov 10, 2014
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  14. dbrelsfo

    dbrelsfo Initiate (0) Apr 17, 2013 Georgia

    Dreadnaught
    Pliny
    Founder's Harvest ale
    Sucks
    Mornin' Delight
     
    #14 dbrelsfo, Nov 10, 2014
  15. Travis_Slovacek

    Travis_Slovacek Initiate (0) Sep 29, 2014 Pennsylvania

    Yards ESB. Love it every time I crack one for how deliciously balanced it is.
     
    #15 Travis_Slovacek, Nov 10, 2014
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  16. GreesyFizeek

    GreesyFizeek Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,026) Mar 6, 2013 New York
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    What is your idea of a balanced beer, then?
     
    #16 GreesyFizeek, Nov 10, 2014
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  17. devindrinksbeer

    devindrinksbeer Initiate (0) Aug 30, 2014 Florida

    sam adams boston lager comes to mind just a light balance of malt and hops were neither seems to overpower. I recommend it to my friends who want to get into craft beer to start drinking sam over there usual bud light.
     
    #17 devindrinksbeer, Nov 10, 2014
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  18. herrburgess

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

    IMO, a well-balanced beer is one in which each essential element (malt, hops, yeast) works in harmony to such a degree that new dimensions of aroma and palate emerge -- especially the more you drink of it. (In other words, it's not a beer where one element dominates in any extended fashion.)
     
    #18 herrburgess, Nov 10, 2014
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  19. GreesyFizeek

    GreesyFizeek Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,026) Mar 6, 2013 New York
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I would tend to agree. While I love IPAs, by definition, they're not going to be balanced. A recent example of a really well-balanced beer that I've had was the new Sierra Nevada Vienna Lager.
     
    #19 GreesyFizeek, Nov 10, 2014
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  20. FaradayUncaged

    FaradayUncaged Initiate (0) Oct 24, 2014 Michigan

    This is my definition as well, which seems to be 'off' when it comes to the majority within this thread. I love IPAs, but they are far from balanced. Smooth, yes, but certainly more hops than malt (of course).

    "Balanced" wouldn't necessarily be my favorite, but as an example from memory, I'd say something along the lines of Brooklyn Lager.
     
    #20 FaradayUncaged, Nov 10, 2014
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