Ready to Try New Beers

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by Joshio, May 31, 2016.

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  1. Joshio

    Joshio Initiate (0) Feb 25, 2016 Missouri

    Next week I'm driving out to a place that has the best selection in my area (I'm in Central Missouri). It's a bit of a drive and I want to make my trip count!

    I've been craving something dark and clean, not definable as sweet or bitter, just something in between -- mild but flavorful enough to differentiate from lesser beers. I don't like fruity characteristics and I tend to gravitate more towards toasted or roasted flavors. In theory, I prefer malt brews, but I find that a lot of the ones I try end up tasting overly sugary or caramel-y (which bothers me just as much as fruity/citrus flavors).

    Last time I went I tried:
    -Deschutes Black Butte Porter (liked the roast flavors, disliked the caramel soury-sweetness)

    -Murphy's Stout (a tad too bitter and bland overall, I actually prefer Guinness even if it is watery and flat)

    -Left Hand Milk Stout Nitro (too much of a soapy bitter flavor for my tastebuds)

    -Fuller's London Porter (pretty good; complex interesting flavors but ultimately too strong/overbearing for me personally. I also detected a bit of a wine/grape/alcohol taste that I found distracting)

    -Hofbrau Dunkel (this was the 2nd time I bought it; I like it as a nice mellow beer but I wish I could find something similar that was darker tasting)

    -Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stout (I really liked this one, it was noticeably clean, it went down smooth. I would like to try something like this that is less stout...something a little mellower. I also noticed that there was a small hint of a grape/wine flavor very similar to Fuller's Porter. Out of curiosity, is this a characteristic of English beers in general?)

    So......any hints? I know it's a hit and miss thing, but I enjoy trying new beers.
     
    #1 Joshio, May 31, 2016
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  2. rgordon

    rgordon Pooh-Bah (2,701) Apr 26, 2012 North Carolina
    Pooh-Bah

    Try Aventinus (wheat doppelbock) This is a great beer and a touch strong. World classic!
     
    #2 rgordon, May 31, 2016
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  3. Squire

    Squire Grand Pooh-Bah (4,385) Jul 16, 2015 Mississippi
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I was thinking along the same lines, Weihenstephaner Vitus Weizenbock.
     
    #3 Squire, Jun 1, 2016
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  4. Beervana

    Beervana Initiate (0) Apr 15, 2014 Canada (BC)

    For now, I think you'd be better off to avoid the porters/stouts and gravitate more towards dark lagers/schwarzbier. They should be darker and a little more roasty than the dunkel you tried while not having as much hop bitterness (floral flavours) or malt (caramel) sweetness you get from the stouts and porters
     
    #4 Beervana, Jun 1, 2016
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  5. akolb

    akolb Initiate (0) Aug 8, 2015 Colorado

    Grab New Belgium's 1554 Black Lager. A mildly roasty, not bitter at all shwarzbier that I enjoyed when I was getting into craft.
     
    #5 akolb, Jun 1, 2016
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  6. TongoRad

    TongoRad Grand Pooh-Bah (3,884) Jun 3, 2004 New Jersey
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Yeah- that's the yeast signature; English beers will have a fruitier feel to them, so that's what you're picking up on.

    I agree with the previous posters, that your tastes at the moment are leaning towards Schwartzbiers, which will give you the malt profile you desire with a clean yeast profile. Some other dark lagers may be worth trying, too- Urban Chestnut's Dorfbier has a pretty heavy toasted pumpernickel quality that you may enjoy.

    Some porters will be on the drier side, and not as caramelly- try Sierra Nevada's and if you like it you can start looking in that direction, too.
     
    #6 TongoRad, Jun 1, 2016
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  7. cavedave

    cavedave Grand Pooh-Bah (4,157) Mar 12, 2009 New York
    In Memoriam Pooh-Bah Trader

    I think if you experiment with other Dunkels you will find what you are looking for. Agree with all the preceding suggestions as well.
     
    #7 cavedave, Jun 1, 2016
  8. PapaGoose03

    PapaGoose03 Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,057) May 30, 2005 Michigan
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    I agree with the New Belgium 1554 above, and a similar beer that you might want to look for is Xingu (I believe it is pronounced shin-goo). http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/2480/1314/ The rating here on BA is just a notch above average, but I really liked it.
     
    #8 PapaGoose03, Jun 1, 2016
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  9. Realsambo

    Realsambo Initiate (0) Apr 15, 2016 Texas

    If you can find them, grab some Shiner beers. The bock and black lager are really good. The brewery as a whole has a nice, non aggressive line up to get into craft drinking. Cheers!
     
    #9 Realsambo, Jun 1, 2016
  10. Jacobier10

    Jacobier10 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,102) Feb 23, 2004 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah

    Ayinger Celebrator is excellent and has that "dark and clean" profile you are looking for. Definitely worth a try.
     
    #10 Jacobier10, Jun 1, 2016
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  11. zappoman

    zappoman Initiate (0) Apr 29, 2014 Illinois

    Founders Porter might be up your alley.
     
    #11 zappoman, Jun 1, 2016
  12. THANAT0PSIS

    THANAT0PSIS Pooh-Bah (2,275) Aug 3, 2010 Wisconsin
    Pooh-Bah

    Doppelbocks, Weizenbocks, and Founders Porter are all too sweet for what OP is asking for. Schwarzbiers are definitely the answer (Kostritzer is an easy-to-find German example). Maybe a very roasty porter like Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald would fit the bill as well.
     
    #12 THANAT0PSIS, Jun 1, 2016
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  13. cmurkar

    cmurkar Devotee (313) Apr 21, 2016 California

    Man, that's a great doppelbock. OP, get on this one asap.
     
    #13 cmurkar, Jun 1, 2016
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  14. sharpski

    sharpski Grand Pooh-Bah (3,100) Oct 11, 2010 Oregon
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Anchor Porter, Alaskan Smoked Porter, Sierra Nevada Porter and/or Stout, schwarzbiers in general.
     
    #14 sharpski, Jun 1, 2016
  15. unhyped

    unhyped Initiate (0) Feb 13, 2015 Oregon

    Not the darkest but English milds, ESB are a good option.
     
    #15 unhyped, Jun 1, 2016
  16. rgordon

    rgordon Pooh-Bah (2,701) Apr 26, 2012 North Carolina
    Pooh-Bah

    If available in your area try Lammsbrau Dunkel. It's an organic offering and is a fine German dunkel.
     
    #16 rgordon, Jun 1, 2016
  17. Tilley4

    Tilley4 Pooh-Bah (2,811) Nov 13, 2007 Tennessee
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I will third that Celebrator suggestion...

    Odell 90 Shilling Ale might float your boat...
     
    #17 Tilley4, Jun 1, 2016
  18. Invinciblejets

    Invinciblejets Pooh-Bah (1,710) Sep 29, 2014 South Carolina
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Makes me cringe suggesting this but I think you might like old chub. All malt.
     
    #18 Invinciblejets, Jun 1, 2016
  19. tillmac62

    tillmac62 Pooh-Bah (2,859) Oct 2, 2013 South Carolina
    Pooh-Bah

    If you really want to experiment, give Schlenkerla's Marzen rauchbier a try. It tastes like bacon cooking over a campfire.
     
    #19 tillmac62, Jun 1, 2016
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  20. Joshio

    Joshio Initiate (0) Feb 25, 2016 Missouri

    Thanks all!! I've yet to try a Schwarzbier so I'll look for some of those while I'm out and also I'll look into those other suggestions too, I know I've seen several of them there before.
     
    #20 Joshio, Jun 2, 2016
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