Comments on: The Subject, For Once, Is Beer http://biggerthanyourhead.net/2009/11/07/the-subject-for-once-is-beer/ Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:43:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Bryce http://biggerthanyourhead.net/2009/11/07/the-subject-for-once-is-beer/comment-page-1/#comment-221162 Bryce Sun, 08 Nov 2009 17:21:18 +0000 http://biggerthanyourhead.net/?p=3241#comment-221162 Interesting piece. I hope you continue to explore beer. It's a great journey. You mentioned "malty" and "hoppy" almost as if they are interchangeable. Do I misunderstand? They're not. Hoppy refers to a beer's bitterness as well as the floral, herbal quality in the nose and taste from hops. Malty is the sweetness and graininess contributed by barley. You must try Three Philosophers from Ommegang. It's a beautiful beer. Interesting piece. I hope you continue to explore beer. It’s a great journey.

You mentioned “malty” and “hoppy” almost as if they are interchangeable. Do I misunderstand? They’re not. Hoppy refers to a beer’s bitterness as well as the floral, herbal quality in the nose and taste from hops. Malty is the sweetness and graininess contributed by barley.

You must try Three Philosophers from Ommegang. It’s a beautiful beer.

]]> By: Fredric Koeppel http://biggerthanyourhead.net/2009/11/07/the-subject-for-once-is-beer/comment-page-1/#comment-221066 Fredric Koeppel Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:09:57 +0000 http://biggerthanyourhead.net/?p=3241#comment-221066 Thank you, Benito, I have a bottle of Maredsous on hand. Thank you, Benito, I have a bottle of Maredsous on hand.

]]> By: Benito http://biggerthanyourhead.net/2009/11/07/the-subject-for-once-is-beer/comment-page-1/#comment-221049 Benito Sat, 07 Nov 2009 17:46:04 +0000 http://biggerthanyourhead.net/?p=3241#comment-221049 So glad to hear this! I hope you have fun with it. Two bits of unsolicited advice for the world of "serious beer": 1) Glassware can get crazier than with wine, to the point that individual Belgian brewers produce their own unique glass shape (you can try some of these glasses at the Flying Saucer). A generic wine glass generally works well, though the heavier, darker stuff really needs a brandy snifter. 2) Belgium is sort of the Burgundy of the beer world; serious, refined, traditional. Look for things like Chimay and Maredsous and build from there. Then you've got New World brewers that continued the monastic brewing tradition, like Unibroue in Canada. I can't wait to hear what you think about the Dogfish Head beers. Cheers, Benito So glad to hear this! I hope you have fun with it. Two bits of unsolicited advice for the world of “serious beer”:

1) Glassware can get crazier than with wine, to the point that individual Belgian brewers produce their own unique glass shape (you can try some of these glasses at the Flying Saucer). A generic wine glass generally works well, though the heavier, darker stuff really needs a brandy snifter.

2) Belgium is sort of the Burgundy of the beer world; serious, refined, traditional. Look for things like Chimay and Maredsous and build from there. Then you’ve got New World brewers that continued the monastic brewing tradition, like Unibroue in Canada.

I can’t wait to hear what you think about the Dogfish Head beers.

Cheers,
Benito

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