Guide to European Beer

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by RichardMNixon, Jun 29, 2012.

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  1. RichardMNixon

    RichardMNixon Maven (1,431) Jun 24, 2012 Pennsylvania

    So it just occurred to me that my local liquor store has as big a selection of single bottles from Europe as it does American craft beer, and I've never really got into it. I tried tonight but had trouble. I can look at an American beer and get a good idea of what it is, but for a lot of the European shelf I had no idea what I was looking at...

    Does anyone have any suggestions on how to find a good one or a particular style?

    Tonight I pondered a St. Bernardus Prior 8 for a while, then went with St. Peter's IPA instead because I thought it'd be safer. I'm always anxious about Belgian beers because I don't like wild yeasts, sours, or the cloves/banana flavor, but there's Belgians that don't fit that description, right? How do you spot them? Is it only hefeweizens that get the cloves/banana flavor? Or do most abbey ales taste like that?
     
  2. nicnut45

    nicnut45 Zealot (671) Jan 6, 2007 Illinois

    Check out the beer styles page on BA. It gives you a description of each style and the country it originated from. And guess what, there is a Belgian/french ales section!:wink: So you can find those Belgian stryles that dont fit the typical sour, clove, banana flavors you dont like. Check out the reviews on BA and pick out a beer you think you might like based on its description. And have fun!
     
  3. modern

    modern Initiate (0) May 31, 2012 Ohio

    I wish I could help you RichardMNixon, but I don't have much experience in this department either. I would love a bit more of an informative answer.

    Maybe nicnut45 was honestly trying to help with the somewhat obvious suggestion of researching the beer styles page. I think the fun of a thread is getting to interact with folks who have experience with whatever you might be interested in, instead of just reading a past account of that experience. Its hard to ask the beer styles pages follow up questions.
     
  4. RichardMNixon

    RichardMNixon Maven (1,431) Jun 24, 2012 Pennsylvania

    Thanks, the styles list is helpful. I'm also looking for a good metric to tell by the bottles though. I'd like to be able to peruse the rack and pick one out without carrying a reference sheet or hunting for a certain bottle, but then I also don't want to pay $12 for a beer I won't drink.

    Are there any other terms commonly applied to cloves/banana that I should look for in the descriptions? Are those phenols?
     
  5. Aml42000

    Aml42000 Initiate (0) Jul 21, 2011 Washington

    This is brief and likely incomplete, but on Belgian bottles you will likely see Saison, Wit, Tripel and Blonde on the label of those beers. On Abbey beers or Belgian Strong Ales, some will list Dubbel on the label while others like St Bernardus will list degrees Plato, while others like Chimay make a distinction in the name.

    Lambics and Gueuze will also carry the name, but Flanders wild ales will often show bruin, pale or rouge.

    I'm guessing your banana/clove issue are forms of yeast and/or wheat. If you don't like yeasts, Belgians might not be for you. you shouldn't force yourself into them as there is plenty of domestic craft to enjoy!

    Again- probably an incomplete primer, but maybe enough to get you started?
     
  6. hopsputin

    hopsputin Grand Pooh-Bah (4,403) Apr 1, 2012 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah


    I'd say this is definitely a good start. I will also agree that if you dot like the banana/clove flavor the Belgians might not be for you. Perhaps start off with something like a La Trappe Dubbel
     
  7. RichardMNixon

    RichardMNixon Maven (1,431) Jun 24, 2012 Pennsylvania

    Bummer, that's what I thought but I hoped I was wrong/uninformed. Thanks all for the suggestions.
     
  8. hopsputin

    hopsputin Grand Pooh-Bah (4,403) Apr 1, 2012 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah

    You could give German beers a go. A lot of them are malt forward of that's something that you like
     
  9. jmw

    jmw Initiate (0) Feb 4, 2009 North Carolina

    Aye, and what about UK brews! Belgians may not be a flavor that you will appreciate, but there are plenty of countries out there that American brewers owe their own interpretations to.
    Start with English/Scottish and German.
     
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  10. gustogasmic

    gustogasmic Initiate (0) Jan 13, 2012 Michigan

    And skunked by the time they make it to the states :slight_frown:
     
  11. Aml42000

    Aml42000 Initiate (0) Jul 21, 2011 Washington

    I'm guessing he won't run into the same labeling issues/confusion that he had with Belgians as UK beers generally say stout, porter, pale ale etc on the label. He should take a leap of faith and grab some Yorkshire Stingo whether he knows what it is or not.
     
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  12. knightlypint

    knightlypint Initiate (0) Apr 18, 2012 New Jersey

    Samuel Smith Stingo would be a great introduction, Fuller's 1845 too.
     
  13. jesskidden

    jesskidden Grand Pooh-Bah (3,145) Aug 10, 2005 New Jersey
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    How's that work? Do they open up the containers, cut open the stretch-wrapped pallets, pop open the cases and lay the bottles out on the deck on the voyage across the Atlantic? Seems like a lot of effort and the probability of rough seas would mean a lot of bottles rolling into the ocean.
     
  14. Providence

    Providence Pooh-Bah (2,652) Feb 24, 2010 Rhode Island
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    My advice on European beers is that labels that say the words Ayinger or Weinstephaner are awesome!
     
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  15. Bitterbill

    Bitterbill Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,036) Sep 14, 2002 Wyoming
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    I reckon they'd come across the pond in closed cases so I don't *think* light struck steps in until they make it to the retailer when they break up the cases.
     
  16. PancakeMcWaffles

    PancakeMcWaffles Initiate (0) Jun 15, 2012 Germany

    But if he grabs a Hefeweizen by Weihenstephaner he will get something he doesn't want. Weihenstephaner Hefeweizen is just full on "in-your-face" banana, fruity and a little sour.
    I would recommend some british ales, or stouts, most scottish ales I had so far were really good.
    The german beers, especially the lager/Pilsners that are sold in the US are usually pretty boring, there's much more interesting stuff than that!
     
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  17. hopsputin

    hopsputin Grand Pooh-Bah (4,403) Apr 1, 2012 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah


    Fish get thirsty too.

    Seriously though, you can absolutely get non-skunked German beers
     
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  18. Providence

    Providence Pooh-Bah (2,652) Feb 24, 2010 Rhode Island
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    This is true. I overlooked the part about his hatred for banana flavor.

    To the OP, scare up some Korbinian and Celebrator, both are phenomenal!
     
  19. Bitterbill

    Bitterbill Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,036) Sep 14, 2002 Wyoming
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    Ask gustogasmic. :wink:
     
  20. PancakeMcWaffles

    PancakeMcWaffles Initiate (0) Jun 15, 2012 Germany

    It can only happen at the retailer/the storage area... Even if you would leave the boxes open or lay some on top, the containers would probably still be closed and only let little light in, and most containers get sealed, so the crew of the ship should not be able to fool around with the beer!
     
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