'Big Beer' season winding down

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by fx20736, Apr 12, 2015.

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  1. fx20736

    fx20736 Initiate (0) Mar 7, 2009 New York

    Since last Autumn I have been on a great run of Barleywines, Imperial Stouts. Belgian Darks, Old Ales, etc.

    Now with Spring and Baseball arriving my taste buds are yearning for lighter fare. Between now and Memorial Day I will begin the transition toward lighter, less malty, lower abv stuff so by June I will be drinking Pilseners, Kolsches, Hefes and Summer Ales and some AALs as well.

    So April, like September will be a month where I drink a little bit of everything, finishing off my stock of dark heavies and introducing Bitters, ESBs, Bocks and Vienna Lagers which will train my taste buds for the Blondes of the Sun.

    Then when Labor Day arrives the Oktoberfests will start the trip back home.
     
    #1 fx20736, Apr 12, 2015
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  2. Relik

    Relik Zealot (603) Apr 20, 2011 Canada (NS)

    Or just enjoy beer of any style in any season, its one of the best things about modern brewing we are not constrained by seasons anymore.
    But i do find myself wanting more and more lagers.
     
    #2 Relik, Apr 12, 2015
    crazycatcouple, johnnybgood1999, utopiajane and 8 others like this.
  3. Shroud0fdoom

    Shroud0fdoom Initiate (0) Oct 31, 2013 Maryland

    Yup, it's time for Saisons, Amber Lagers, Witbiers, IPAs and Fruit Lambics. More on the Fruit Lambics though.
     
    #3 Shroud0fdoom, Apr 12, 2015
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  4. tbaker397

    tbaker397 Initiate (0) Nov 9, 2013 West Virginia

    To ne, it's full on IPA season now baby!!!
     
    #4 tbaker397, Apr 12, 2015
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  5. Giovannilucano

    Giovannilucano Pooh-Bah (1,975) Feb 24, 2011 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Its OFF FLAVOR STUDY season for me :grinning:
     
    #5 Giovannilucano, Apr 12, 2015
    wesbray, Shroud0fdoom and Greywulfken like this.
  6. bluehende

    bluehende Initiate (0) Dec 10, 2010 Delaware

    I enjoy the changing seasons of beers. I will certainly enjoy a good stout even on the hottest day of the summer, but I do enjoy my beers in season.
     
    #6 bluehende, Apr 12, 2015
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  7. fearfactory

    fearfactory Initiate (0) Aug 12, 2012 Massachusetts

    OP has it right, drinking seasonally enhances the experience. It also prevents palate fatigue, and a loss of interest, or boredom. Winter is dead to me!
     
    #7 fearfactory, Apr 12, 2015
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  8. Greywulfken

    Greywulfken Grand Pooh-Bah (5,815) Aug 25, 2010 New York
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I have noticed that my drinking trends are not affected by seasons so much as what's available and awesome at any given time of year. My perspective is, good beer is good all year.
     
    #8 Greywulfken, Apr 12, 2015
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  9. Carb-Overlord

    Carb-Overlord Initiate (0) Apr 25, 2014 Wisconsin

    I'm pretty sure most will agree that the best beer for any season is " Other People's Beer." .... unless that beer is Milwaukee's Beast.... then I'd rather drink hand sanitizer.
     
    #9 Carb-Overlord, Apr 12, 2015
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  10. Thirstygoat

    Thirstygoat Initiate (0) Nov 22, 2012 Illinois
    Trader

    Lately I've been drinking "transitional" beers. American Brown Ales, American Porters and similar beers with ABV under 7%.
    Scotch Ales or Bocks in that range also fit for the next couple weekends. It still gets cool most nights, sometimes 30s F.

    But I did start the lawnmower yesterday so a 6pk of SNPA can't be too far in my future.
     
    #10 Thirstygoat, Apr 12, 2015
  11. fx20736

    fx20736 Initiate (0) Mar 7, 2009 New York

    The 'I drink Imperial Stouts' in the Summer crowd either don't go outside or are just stupid. High ABV beers lead to dehydration-not good in the Sun or heat. Beers made with Darker malts taste better at warmer temps-not refreshing in the heat. The reason why Pilseners, Hefes, Kolsches and Summer Ales work in warmer weather is because they can be served cold and don't lead to dehydration problems like big ABV beers. Likewise, in the Winter who wants an ice cold beer when a nice Imperial Stout, Quadrupel or Barleywine served at slightly below room temp can provide lots of warmth from the high alcohol content?

    As for me, I spend all my free time in the Summer on my deck, in the yard or in the pool with a cooler of beer, covered in ice by my side.

    But to each his own. If you would rather spend your Summer in a dark room with the Air Conditioning blasting, playing Xbox and drinking Old Rasputin, go right ahead.
     
    #11 fx20736, Apr 12, 2015
  12. Fox82791

    Fox82791 Initiate (0) Jun 20, 2014 New York

    I frequently crushed big abv dark beers by the pool and in the backyard last summer and will do it again this year. I can appreciate a good ipa or wheat beer, but I'll gladly take a BCBS over that any day
     
    #12 Fox82791, Apr 12, 2015
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  13. eb1610

    eb1610 Savant (1,227) Jan 3, 2014 Massachusetts
    Trader

    I'm the same way. Started trading for all "lighter" beers about a month ago in preparation
     
    #13 eb1610, Apr 12, 2015
  14. mbeerdino21

    mbeerdino21 Initiate (0) Dec 24, 2013 New Jersey

    Like you said, to each his own. I have no problem sitting outside grilling and running around the yard with the kids while enjoying a nice BA Imperial Stout or Barleywine. Also love lounging in the kiddie pool with a can or 5 of TenFidy. I guess that makes me stupid...my wife definetly would agree with that.
     
    #14 mbeerdino21, Apr 12, 2015
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  15. papat444

    papat444 Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,961) Dec 28, 2006 Canada (QC)
    Pooh-Bah

    While i agree with the idea in general, there's always time for an impy stout :grinning:
     
    #15 papat444, Apr 12, 2015
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  16. MarshallBirdhouse

    MarshallBirdhouse Initiate (0) Feb 19, 2013 Kentucky
    Trader

    I'm going to drink a lot of water this summer because it usually gets kind of hot outside.
     
    #16 MarshallBirdhouse, Apr 12, 2015
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  17. Brolo75

    Brolo75 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,134) Aug 10, 2013 California
    Pooh-Bah

    On "cool" summer evenings I will sit out front and enjoy a Narwhal, Old Rasputin, Expedition stout or maybe even a Bigfoot or an Old Stock Ale, especially if there is a slight breeze. I am also prone to grill some carne asada with an Anderson Valley Barney Flats Oatmeal stout in my hand.
     
    #17 Brolo75, Apr 12, 2015
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  18. Chknwngbrwng

    Chknwngbrwng Zealot (710) Apr 16, 2011 Massachusetts
    Trader

    First days of maintaining 50 degrees during the day here in Boston MA. Nights are still jacket necessary however, so I find myself in the camp as some of you in that during the days I have off, and in the sun, I am drinking 'see thru' beers (IPA, APA, Lagers...) and at night I still feel like a Imp Stout. For instance, yesterday I worked only until 5p, so came home and drank Gubna. Then met a friend at the local bar that night and was enjoying BP Victory at Sea.
     
    #18 Chknwngbrwng, Apr 12, 2015
  19. Shroud0fdoom

    Shroud0fdoom Initiate (0) Oct 31, 2013 Maryland

    You Cicerone you! :sunglasses:
     
    #19 Shroud0fdoom, Apr 12, 2015
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  20. Plower

    Plower Initiate (0) Nov 23, 2014 Texas

    I'd hate to be the guy that is trying to follow some kind of tradition of only drinking certain styles in certain seasons. I don't just eat hamburgs in April, then Tacos in May, then Fish and Chips in June...why are you guys doing that with beer again? I'm not following...
     
    #20 Plower, Apr 12, 2015
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