Recent Beer Explosion in Austin, Texas

Must be a worldwide phenomena.
here in little Tasmania there are local brewers making their own style of beer 'popping up everywhere'
Not to mention Gin and Whisky.
So much so they are making waves as to the tax they have to pay.
Australia's booming craft beer industry is demanding a fairer deal from the Federal Government, saying the current tax regime is holding it back.
The number of craft breweries has more than doubled in the past five years to over 400 nationwide.

Kent I couldn't help asking, what was your preferred beverage pre adult life?:)
Never acquired a taste for beer and whilst my mates in those far away times would soak it up I couldn't see anything in the taste.

Richard, post: 434020, member: 833 wrote: Kent I couldn't help asking, what was your preferred beverage pre adult life? Never acquired a taste for beer and whilst my mates in those far away times would soak it up I couldn't see anything in the taste.

It's odd how tastes run and heredity may have something to do with it. Some folks love Brussels sprouts, for example, but I'm not one. As to beverage preferences as a kid, they probably were what in Oz is known as Sarsaparilla (Root Beer in the US) and a soft drink native to Texas known as Dr. Pepper.

Should one assume that all of those Seattle breweries are making beers and ales overloaded with citrusy American hops or are any of them making drinkable beers and ales?

So Texas is at least 10 years behind California as is usual.

gschrock, post: 434043, member: 556 wrote: Assumptions schmumptions. I imagine that with the wide variety of micro-breweries here there are at the very least some that meet any tastes. There are plenty here that use for example Hallertau and Saaz hops like the local one you cited. I'd have to defer that question to those participating.

So you IMAGINE that there are at least a couple of breweries in Seattle that actually make drinkable beer? Isn't that based upon an assumption?

Kent McMillan, post: 433999, member: 3 wrote: a recent multiplication of local breweries producing very good beers and ales gives me reason to reconsider

The micro brew thing has been going on in Portland for 30 years. Welcome to the bandwagon. As far as Seattle goes, more breweries doesn't necessarily mean better beer. After all, these are the same people who gave us Starbucks.

The beverage snobs should stick to wine, they are trying to ruin whiskey too.

SURPRISE! It's not wine!

Beer is not for snobs, drink what you like, if you don't like it then don't drink it. There is a wide range of varieties you can choose from.

gschrock, post: 434047, member: 556 wrote: If it is that important to you then please openly disparage anyone and anything.

Hey, I just thought it was amusing that you dismissed the idea of assumptions and then "imagined" instead.

Mark Mayer, post: 434046, member: 424 wrote: The micro brew thing has been going on in Portland for 30 years. Welcome to the bandwagon. As far as Seattle goes, more breweries doesn't necessarily mean better beer. After all, these are the same people who gave us Starbucks.

Starbucks coffee is undrinkable from their shop but the beans brewed myself are decent. I switched from their dark to their medium in the shop and it's even worse. I think they never clean the tank, hence the punky taste. 99% of their customers ask for some fru fru drink so their plain coffee doesn't receive much focus. My wife is insisting on organic French roast whole beans which I admit makes really excellent coffee in my siphon.

Dave Karoly, post: 434048, member: 94 wrote: Beer is not for snobs, drink what you like, if you don't like it then don't drink it. There is a wide range of varieties you can choose from.

I get the idea that in Karolyspeak "snob" is synonymous with the Indian word that translates as "Someone Who Knows the Difference". The craft beer scene has been overloaded with a style of beers and ales that seems to have sprung up in the Pacific Northwest that requires overloading the product with American hops to produce a very citrusy, resiny result. Similarly, California winemakers have traditionally contaminated their red wines with a jolly big dose of American oak flavor. I think it's as much a product of cultural isolation as genuinely debauched taste.

Kent McMillan, post: 434053, member: 3 wrote: I get the idea that in Karolyspeak "snob" is synonymous with the Indian word that translates as "Someone Who Knows the Difference". The craft beer scene has been overloaded with a style of beers and ales that seems to have sprung up in the Pacific Northwest that requires overloading the product with American hops to produce a very citrusy, resiny result. Similarly, California winemakers have traditionally contaminated their red wines with a jolly big dose of American oak flavor. I think it's as much a product of cultural isolation as genuinely debauched taste.

Ooh got me! BUUUUUURRRRRRRN.

That sounds like your posting is McMillan-speak for you must seek my approval for what you like.

I like bitter, hoppy beers, so sue me. I also like peaty Islay malts.

Another beer person referred to west coast IPAs as hop teas. Okay, whatever, I'm not requiring that you like it.

Dave Karoly, post: 434052, member: 94 wrote: Starbucks coffee is undrinkable from their shop but the beans brewed myself are decent.

You may know this already, but if you want a "coffee" at Starbucks do not order "coffee". Ask for an Americano. Servicable but rather expensive.

Uber Hoppy beer! because after a hot day in the field I want to drink something that tastes like baling hay ... if you could bottle that up!

Dave Karoly, post: 434052, member: 94 wrote: Starbucks coffee is undrinkable from their shop but the beans brewed myself are decent. I switched from their dark to their medium in the shop and it's even worse. I think they never clean the tank, hence the punky taste. 99% of their customers ask for some fru fru drink so their plain coffee doesn't receive much focus. My wife is insisting on organic French roast whole beans which I admit makes really excellent coffee in my siphon.

So TRUE! Their beans from the grocery store are always fresh and oily. Everything else I've tried is dry as a popcorn fart. I like the Italian Roast beans but if they aren't available, the French will do, but you just put a bit less in the grinder. Your theory about the SB coffee being horrible is spot on.

Beer, like whiskey, wine, women, song...etc., is a matter of individual (and very subjective) taste.

I prefer DARK Stouts, Single Malt (Laphroaig) Scotch, Wild Women, and most any music (except Disco & Rap).

Loyal

Loyal, post: 434059, member: 228 wrote: Beer, like whiskey, wine, women, song...etc., is a matter of individual (and very subjective) taste.

I prefer DARK Stouts, Single Malt (Laphroaig) Scotch, Wild Women, and most any music (except Disco & Rap).

Loyal

A local microbrewer makes a Rye Stout that is incredible, I could live on that stuff.

Then there's Old Rasputin from Fort Bragg, CA.

The world, particularly the U.S., is full of control freaks. I don't care if someone likes Pabst Blue Ribbon, more power to them.

A Belgian master brewer monk admired Budweiser's consistency in an article about beer.

Kent McMillan, post: 434024, member: 3 wrote: preferences as a kid, they probably were what in Oz is known as Sarsaparilla

I'd drink that and thoroughly enjoyed it. But tastes or manufacture has changed. It's ghastly stuff now.
As for Starbucks. Daughter took me out to one in Hawaii couple days after arriving and I actually enjoyed it.
Then tried some in Barnes and Noble SB. It was, well not sure what it was. I threw it out.

Peaty Malts is going to be my new fake name.