h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hi folks,

Logistics got complicated, didn't htey? So I'm going solo. I've got a load of American beers, and I'm gonna drink 'em until I run out, ger bored or fall asleep Feel free to join me if you wish...

So I'm underway with a Brooklyn lager. I was planning to rush through my lagers, but I'm rather enjoying this one. Comes out of the bottle a beautiful copper colour, not too much on the nose but a really rich flavour, totally refreshing. I'd love this on a hot day. What a wonderful start. This only gets because if I gave it the fifth, I'd have nowhere to go. Class in a glass.

Arthur Perkins Get that one in early.

Oh, and talking of pure class - this - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBLjx-Uuzyk - is the very definition of it, by the way.

Ok, moving on to the Boston Beer Company's Samuel Adams Boston Lager. Not quite as rich in colour as the Brooklyn but still looks marvellous. and totally different: the malts are warm and sweet, and there's barely a hint of bitterness. we don't really do 'craft' lagers in the UK - on the evidence of these two, perhaps we should.

Cracking beer. Imported by Shepherd Neame in the UK, apparently.

Anyone seen Fire In Babylon yet? I've got it but it's still in the case. Wife's not keen. She reckons it's all about cricket, which is a fair point.

I'm on to Blue Moon, which is a craft wheat beer from Toronto. It's very cloudy as you might expect but it's got a wonderfully delicate orange aroma. The taste is rather unusual - quite creamy, a bit spicy and that oranginess lingers around. I can't quite decide if I really like it or not. It's certainly unusual but I'm not really a wheat beer drinker so most wheat beers are a bit unusual to me anyway... I'd certainly buy it again, and for that it scores just above the average

Actually I'm full of wind after that one. Most unpleasant.

I've only got two brewers to go now, but a few more beers. I have three Sierra Nevada ales to sample, the first of which is their Pale Ale.

So I've got into my lighter ales much more lately, mainly because now I've stopped smoking I can distinguish hops (particularly aromatic hops) much more easily that I used to. It's opened up a whole new world of beers to me that I never really 'got' in the past. And I've learnt a lot more more about brewing processes so I understand a bit more how the different flavours come about. I'm still no expert and I still talk a lot of waffle as you're probably about to see.

This is a pretty perfect pale ale, to be honest. I wouldn't have appreciated it two years ago. It's just great hops and mellow barley. What more do you need? Really? The balance is terrific - no bitterness, just bit. The aroma is delicate and tempting. The simplicity itself is stunning and to be honest, from May to September at least, I wouldn't mind if I could drink nothing else. Sensational. No, really

All pretty strong beers, mind. Nothing much below 5% so far. The trend over here is for weaker and weaker beers, because drinks are taxed by ABV. I'm turning away beers for the hotel that are coming in at 3.2-3.4%, which is just ridiculous.

Anchor Steam Beer. This looks more mellow out of the bottle than the lagers I had earlier, and it is. It's got a very pure malt flavour but hops? Do they put any hops in it at all? There's no bite at all, it's ike drinking Ovaltine beer... but it works. It's delicious. I'm really hoping I get a bad beer soon, because this is all too good to be true so far

This thread is reminding me of a George Thorogood song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysXMAOgEIq4

I had eight American beers in the fridge, I'm playing cricket tomorrow so I won't be in, then we're having a party on Saturday. If I didn't drink them tonight, someone else would have drunk them for me!

Sierra Nevada Porter. This is chocolate barley. Delicious, sweet chocolate barley well brewed. And a good dose of bite there - it's got a real old kick to it, not in the slightest bit subtle, and heavier than some stouts I've had.

I guess this would take over when the IPA became lifeless around October time

Anchor Porter

Oo, now. This really pours like a dream. It's got a beautiful creamy head, great bite and tang. This is really, really, really good beer. And again - this is something of a theme for the night - there is nothing in this except good, basic ingredients. Totally idfferent style, and I love it

Okay, fine! Be that way!

I'll just have to find out what's in our beer fridge.

Homebrew. From May 1st.

There's also a lot of other things in there. Including two bottles of barleywine. And two from Ninkasi!

And it's all 2legs's fault!

I'd already tossed back an Independence Pale Ale and an Oskar Blues Dale's Pale Ale before I stumbled (literally) across this thread, so I'm up for a few more if you guys are

By the way Rich, Blue Moon is a kind of faux craft beer - it's a witbier brewed by Coors, but it's halfway decent. When you come to visit I'll buy you a pint of 512 Wit and you can find out what a witbier done well (outside of Belgium) is like

ok, first the home brew.

Thick, coppery, hard to tell on the nose, I'm so congested, but it seems a bit minty so that Cascade probably.

Wow, thick and rich, yummy.

Heaven, I'm in Heaven