Online Beer Tastings - Idea Submission Thread (2016 - 2021)

I agree with the idea of aiming at a slightly lower abv target this time. Dark lagers (broadly or some more specific group of them) seems like a good move to me.

 

Just my two cents - the broad "dark lager" category on BeerAdvocate that includes all of the above is extremely wonky classification. With your narrowed grouping of "Czech dark, Vienna, Dunkel, Schwarzbier," I'd also remove Vienna (based on typical color) and additionally open the door to any beer simply described as a "black/dark lager" by the brewer.

The downside is that the options for Czech-style dark lager, Dunkel and Schwarzbier are shockingly low - but some might see that as an upside. The "black/dark lager" part helps things by including lagers that aren't trying to specifically emulate those specific styles (or don't use their name) but still belong in the conversation (think Stella Midnight Lager, Death & Taxes, Baba Black Lager, Trösten, etc.). Whether or not you include "bottom fermented" porters to broaden things even further can be a topic of discussion.

 

I know. Apologies if my post read otherwise.

 

Thinking about the black/dark lagers more two things occur to me;

1. Any narrowing will likely mean some BAs can't participate since they won't be able to access the narrower style list (I know that I can personally access zero Czech dark lagers and schwarzbier is iffy)
2. Using the broad definition could make for an informative tasting that introduces the breadth of lager styles to those of us who aren't as well informed/experienced.

Just some thoughts if we go that way.

To toss out another suggestion, what about doing bocks?

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I like this idea. It'd give me a boost to explore those styles more.

The only genuine German beer I've had in either style was in the 2019 Costco Advent box, and it was (to quote my review) "unremarkable at best, and a struggle to get through at worst. Understand, this is not due to the smoke; it has nothing to do with liking or not liking smoke beer, but it is due to the underlying beer. It is just not very good."

I need to try some better examples!

 

english, robust, Baltic or american porters? It’ll cover low or high ABV, sweeter or pronounced I’d just like to keep adjunct out of it unless it’s coffee or chocolate because plain porters may be hard to find for some. Fuck a pastry if we do it this way.

 

Bocks were done in the fall of 2019, but I don't recall how many "spring" bocks were actually reviewed since it was out of season for them and the tasting also included Doppelbock, Weizenbock, and Dunkelweizen.

 

Technically could u not also add euro dark? And Dunkel? Being broad helps that category. Schwarzbier, Czech Dark, Dunkel or general euro dark. Marzen and festbier are too different on the srm. Benediktiner is at like a 10. Spaten is like 40. Rauchbier could be an exemption for those wanting smoke.

 

Yes, I can get them. I just never have.

 

I'd be all in on smoked beers. I just got one of those hand-held smokers and I'm looking to do some damage.

 

Came here thinking something along the same lines but expanding it to more of a Chocolate Lovers theme rather than restrict to a certain style. Open to all brews featuring chocolate ...n shit

That or the Red/Amber style for Feb. Never been done, underappreciated, and easy to obtain all around. You could even open this up to the Flanders style for those who want to get wild!

 

If there are going to be any seasonal maibocks available for people it'll happen in March/April, so a general bock tasting should be held off until then. I'll even volunteer to do the hosting honors.

 

Yaa. I have death & taxes in my fridge right now. But that's not a Czech style.dark lager. I did see that they made one a while ago (as did fieldwork, and it was.good) but I don't think its available right now.

 

I thoroughly enjoyed the April Saison Tasting and this weekend's Barleywine tasting... I don't intend to miss these in the future. Here's my suggestion for a full year of great tasting threads running every other week. All styles have been covered and I can post the details in a follow up thread if anyone else is interested in playing along...

02/12/21: Belgian Styles (Inspiration: Bruges Beer Festival)
02/26/21: Old Ales & Strong Ales (Inspiration: End of Winter Celebration)
03/12/21: Bitters, Blondes, and Non-American Pales (Inspiration: Orval Day)
03/26/21: Bocks & Reds (Inspiration: National Bock Beer Day)
04/09/21: Saisons (Inspiration: Allagash Saison Day)
04/23/21: German Styles (Inspiration: German Beer Day)
05/07/21: Pilsners (Inspiration: May 2020 Pilsner Tasting)
05/21/21: Rye & Wheat Beers (Inspiration: Widmer Hefe Day)
06/04/21: Sweet / Milk Stouts (Inspiration: World Milk Day)
06/18/21: Fruit / Field Beers & Fruited Kettle Sours (Inspiration: National Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Month)
07/02/21: New England IPA's (Inspiration: American Independence Day)
07/16/21: Berliner Weisse & Gose (Inspiration: July 2017 Berliner Weisse Tasting)
07/30/21: Non-American IPA's - Belgian, Dark, Brut, & English (Inspiration: National IPA Day)
08/13/21: American Pale Ales & Chile Beers (Inspiration: International Beer Day)
08/27/21: American & Imperial IPA's (Inspiration: End of Summer Celebration)
09/10/21: Dark Lagers, Pumpkin, & Smoked Beers (Inspiration: Oktoberfest)
09/24/21: Brett Beer & Wild Ales (Inspiration: Sour Beer Day)
10/08/21: Lambics (Inspiration: Zwanze Day)
10/22/21: Brown Ales & Oatmeal Stouts (Inspiration: International Oatmeal Day)
11/05/21: Non-American Stouts - English, Foreign, Irish, & Russian (Inspiration: International Stout Day)
11/19/21: American & American Imperial Stouts (Inspiration: Black Friday / BCBS Release)
12/03/21: American Pale Lagers, Cream Ales, & Steam Beer (Inspiration: National Lager Day)
12/17/21: Scottish Ales, Wee Heavy / Scotch Ales, & Winter Warmers (Inspiration: Winter Season)
12/31/21: Braggots, Gruits, Herb and Spice Beers, Malt Liquors, and Low ABV Beers (Inspiration: Unique Styles for the New Year)
01/14/22: Porters (Inspiration: Baltic Porter Day)
01/28/22: Barleywines & Wheatwines (Inspiration: Jan 2021 Barleywine Tasting)

Obviously, these are just suggestions and exact dates can be adjusted as needed (i.e. to accommodate specific releases like Bourbon County on Black Friday). I don't think I've left anything out but if you want to know where a particular style would fit just let me know!