One beer to represent 'Merica

Haha this is so true. It is more American then. Though lets not assume we all are OK with that being the case.

 

I'll drink a Sly Fox Pikeland Pils to that!

 

SNPA may have gotten the ball rolling, but if we're picking an American representative for a Best Beer competition I'll roll with Edward.

 

I drank an SNPA last night and I did enjoy drinking that particular beer. Having stated that, SNPA is not in the same league as Hill Farmstead Edward. If you are submitting a beer to win, it is preferable to select the best.

Cheers!

 

Pliny the Elder

 

Every time one of these debates rages I'm reminded of the things I've read about debates back in the 70s as to whether US vintners could produce world class wines that could show successfully in world class events with experienced wine judges. All kinds of people saying they could, others saying they could not, and often disagreeing with each other in public.

One man who expected that the answer would clearly be "no" organized an international tasting event now called "The Judgment of Paris" which produced results that both surprised many at the time and still tends to be ignored even today by many in the wine world despite ongoing often repeated results indicating that US vintners have been producing world class wines for years.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judgment_of_Paris_(wine)

So I just keep thinking, perhaps its time to move from simply giving opinions, asserting the correctness of those opinions and arguing with others who have different opinions to actually collecting some data. Just a thought.

 

I don't feel that's a fair comparison. Of course this depends on the format in which you consumed the Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. I'm of the mind none of Hill Farmstead's hop forward beers should be compared to beers that are widely distributed. All of Hill Farmstead's hop forward offerings are reviewed from growlers or on draft, all very very fresh. This isn't to say the results wouldn't be similar if Edward was compared to a fresh from the brewery SNPA, but the comparison in general is unfair.

I've had Edward before, including on draft at Parker Pie and from the brewery itself this past weekend. I also had their (higher rated) Mosaic Single Hop Pale Ale from a growler. If we're putting the "best" pale ale out there for competition, I'd place Trillium's Galaxy Dry Hopped Fort Point Pale Ale ahead of it. I imagine Treehouse has some pale ales that may out pace Edward as well, they're next on my list of breweries to try.

This isn't to say Hill Farmstead can't brew hoppy beer, they clearly can. In fact, their Walden still remains my favorite hoppy "session ale" at 4% abv, and it's not even close.

 

I have had SNPA on draft more times than I can count. I am fully aware of what SNPA on draft tastes like.

Cheers!

 

Big Bad Baptist, whats more American than religion, coffee, chocolate and whiskey?

 

The only reason I would ever nominate Bud Light Platinum. I'm going to go work out in my friends basement, get ripped, and hit on a bartender. 'Merica!

 

Anchor Steam. Not the most thrilling, sexy or limited beer, but it is a completely USA originated style. Everything else that is "American" in craft is just our take on European styles. Not that there is anything wrong with that. American craft beer innovation has spurred the rest of the world to start tweaking and experimenting with their centuries old processes.

 

Well I'd say a very simple Budweiser, it's what most outside the country might equate with the U.S. Your not asking for what's the best beers with that question.

 

In all seriousness I would have to say Mass Rising by Jack's Abby. Crisp, drinkable, widely available lager with loads of hops. It stands for a lot of what's happening in the American craft industry.

 

What's the freshest Sierra Nevada Pale Ale you've had? How fresh were those drafts? I imagine the turnover of a Sierra Nevada Pale Ale keg isn't anywhere near what Edward is at a bar. Shaun Hill is adamant about having his hoppy beer consumed < 1 week old. I can't say I've ever had a Sierra Nevada beer that fresh.

I'm of course nitpicking, and as I said myself, I imagine you would still prefer Edward over SNPA. But according to Shaun Hill, and the experimentation quoted below performed by Sixpoint, there is a difference in week old hop forward beer and those that are "aged", even if kept in the fridge or kegged. As a general point, separate from these two beers, I don't think it's a coinicidence that the majority of the top rated hoppy beers are not widely distributed.

 

There are a number of beer styles that are attributed to being ‘created’ in America beyond the California Common (Steam Beer) style:

· Cream Ale - e.g., New Glarus Spotted Cow

· Kentucky Common - e.g., Apocalypse Brew Works Ortel’s 1912

· Classic American Pilsner (Pre-Prohibition Lager) – Straub 1872 Lager

Cheers!

 

Do you know the freshness of every draft beer that you drink?

Cheers!

 

After reading through this thread id have ot agree with Anchor Steam or liberty ale for sure. not the best, but an style established here. Even Bud is a copy of a german style

happy fourth!

 

Nope, but I've had Edward and Mosaic Single Hop Pale Ale straight from the brewery/growler. I have not had a Sierra Nevada Pale that fresh (that I know of, it is possible a keg has made it to MA in less than a week).

 

Dogfish Head Red and White

 

Not a terrible beer either. Pretty complex nose from what I remember. On the east - coast we have cream ales which are similar in history, but way different in taste.