Craft lager conundrum

Victory Prima Pils may be my favorite*. It's plenty hoppy too (enough that it might not really even meet the style guidelines, but if that's the case, I don't really care).

*there are several excellent choices tho

 

There's nothing wrong with a quality, craft Helles or Pilsner anytime. The subtle characteristics they have are just as interesting and enjoyable as the more upfront and easy to discern taste spectrum of ales.

 

I'm 62 and drank plenty of Genny and UC back in the pre-craft day. Trust me, neither ever had any character to retain. They were just regional brewery's versions of BMC

 

OK, glad I'm not the only one thinking this way. I keep seeing people recommend Hoponius Union in these ale vs lager discussions. I've never had it, but from what I gather, it's a lager that's hopped like an IPA. Like the IPA man's lager? Doesn't that kind of seem like cheating in a way if you're trying to defend the merits of lager characteristics, but what you like about the beer is more commonly seen in ales?

Guess I'll never know til I try one...

 

Except that that's assuming ales are inherently hop-centric, compared to lagers. Neither malt nor hops are tied to lagers or ales. The brewing process is what distinguishes the two categories, not the ingredients.

 

Agree to disagree, I guess. If you put a can of Budweiser next to a can of UC, I don't think they'd be easily confused. But, that's just my opinion.

 

Oh and as for Hoponius Union, I love that beer. Personally I feel that you really get some essential qualities in it that you really only find in very well-crafted lagers—in addition to the amazing hops profile.

Don't give up! It's definitely worth seeking out.

 

Ales > lagers, save for doppelbocks or schwarzbiers normally, although the odd helles/maibock is good.

 

I recognize that by Genesee you are referring to the ‘regular’ lager but I just had to repeat a story about Genny Bock. I had it for the first time this year:

“I bought a 12 pack of Genny Bock in February while cross country skiing in Lake Placid. I bought the 12 pack at a Rite Aid for about 7 bucks. Genny Bock is a tasty American Amber Adjunct Lager and when you factor in the bang for the buck factor that beer is outstanding.”

Cheers!

 

I kept hearing over and over that lagers are more subtle, elegant, and it's harder to cover up brewing mistakes. I was told it's just a "phase" that I'm going through to love big IPAs, stouts, barleywines, etc. And eventually my palate will settle down for the sophisticated refinement of lagers. In my brain, I felt I had just escaped the world of lager beer. I was progressing away from lagers/aka, Bud Light and PBR, to a more sophisticated world of craft beer. I felt like even craft lagers were boring. Either training wheel beer or just brewed so your friends have something to drink when you drag them to a beer bar/brewery.

In all honesty, I still AM bored by a lot of lagers. I'm much more likely to go for an IPA or my other bold-flavor styles. But, I've also been mindblown by a few basic pale and amber lagers, and other beers like dopplebocks, Oktoberfests, maibocks, baltic porters, etc. I'm intrigued and excited to start developing a taste for those crisp subtle lager characteristics.

All in all, taste and style aside, I'd rather spend another buck or two or three on a sixer of lager or pale ale to support a craft brewery that I like (bonus if it's local). Even if it is similar to the amount of enjoyment I'd get from Bud Light or PBR.

 

Nothing wrong with 12 cans of Tecate and a lime or two on a hot summer day, although cramming a lime wedge into a can is a little tough

 

I already did that.

 

IMO Sam Adams' Double Agent IPL is superior to JA Hoponius Union....especially when the HU is 3 wks or older or from a stale keg (seemingly becoming more common around Boston). SA is a better deal too.

 

I . . . I can't—what?

 

jk, jk SunDevilBeer. A diversity of opinions is healthy, and I respect yours.

 

That's why there's high life

 

I couldn't disagree more. Sure a stale keg or dirty lines will have an effect. But 3 weeks? That's silly talk. I've had HU at many different ages and it does start to fall off at a point but I'm not playing into this nonsense. Freshness is important absolutely, but this shit jumped the shark a long time ago. It's also hardly less expensive.

Also I think double agent is a fine beer. I'm not picking on that. But better because of 3 weeks time...nonsense.

 

Well, that and Hoponius Union destroys the fucking shit out of Double Agent. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed Double Agent well enough, but HU is another animal entirely.

Just curious, but for the sake of comparison, have you had Ballast Point's Fathom IPL? Fantastic beer. Can't wait to see it in bottles.

 

I just spit out my BA Framinghammer