This Is Not A CraigsList Notice

I took it tongue in cheek, as I believe it was intended, and my only real problem with it is that 1) it indeed shows that the rest of the world powers are laughing at the USA today because of our elected leadership (at, not with); and 2) thinking about what the response of BO would be if he received a formal communication from Her Majesty advising that the independence of the USA was indeed revoked (tongue firmly in cheek), I fear he would ask, "Do you prefer sugar and/or milk in your tea, Madam??"

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Originally Posted by rspears

I took it tongue in cheek, as I believe it was intended, and my only real problem with it is that 1) it indeed shows that the rest of the world powers are laughing at the USA today because of our elected leadership (at, not with); and 2) thinking about what the response of BO would be if he received a formal communication from Her Majesty advising that the independence of the USA was indeed revoked (tongue firmly in cheek), I fear he would ask, "Do you prefer sugar and/or milk in your tea, Madam??"

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I took it tongue in cheek as well - nor am I offended or upset with this. I've spent many days(months!!) in the England, have traveled the island literally from end to end along with the Orkneys - and folks, these people laugh at our US lack of worldliness**. This is a subject that I have had several warm discussions over a couple of pee temp beers with office managers, field engineers who worked for me and some 'locals'.

Now, as far as BO asking QE2 whether she wanted sugar and milk - I doubt very much that a man who has the audacity to present her with an iPod of his speeches has a clue as to how tea is offered.

** This brings up the US education system or lack thereof, but that's for another post/thread

Hey now, the Queen is a classy Lady. And some of the best beer in the world is on tap in England! Try a bottle of "old peculier". Some of the best thick stuff around!
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qnuX2uxWEb.../theakston.jpg

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Originally Posted by stovens

Hey now, the Queen is a classy Lady. And some of the best beer in the world is on tap in England! Try a bottle of "old peculier". Some of the best thick stuff around!

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I agree, Steve. I much prefer the darker ales, and especially stouts over the light lagers. I haven't seen Old Peculiar or any of the Theakston line here in my area, but will keep it in mind as I peruse the coolers! US beers changed over the years, becoming more and more bland in taste, and lighter and lighter in color primarily due to the rationing of grains during WWI & WWII to reserve them for feeding stock. Thank goodness we have so many micro-breweries!!

If you need some different and decent English beers, you need to travel way up North (Scotland and the Orkneys). Take a look here at some of their offerings - and consider that some of these names are in relationship to their alcohol content - this is one that I liked and it was actually cold enough for a Yank + http://www.sinclairbreweries.co.uk/b...ragonhead.html . Then there is Skull Splitter. Another that was 'just fine' is their Dark Island. Unfortunately have never seen these anywhere else but Northern Scotland and the Orkney's.

One of our local microbreweries, Boulevard Brewery, has become quite successful and have some great dark beers, along with a wide variety of wheat, lager and paler ales for those who are not quite into the darker stuff. Their Smokestack Series have some particularly good selections, with Dark Truth Stout at 9.7%, The Sixth Glass at 10.5%, and Long Strange Tripel at 9% - Boulevard Brewing Company » Smokestack Series FAQ

Microbreweries seem to the new fad these days. But you usually find some great tasting beers there too.

I too like a dark beer, (as lamin8er alluded to some posts back with the comment "bluuurgh"...poor begger just doesn't appreciate the 'finer' things in life...) and I too have tried many British beers.
But I have to say it; one of the finest dark beers I have ever tasted was American.
I was at a bar in Los Angeles, asked the barman for his darkest beer, and he gave me a stubby of a beer called 'Arrogant Bastard'.
It was bloody gorgeous.
So I had two more.
And then stood up to leave.
Crikey!
I don't know what the alcohol content was; but I'm glad I hadn't had any more, and I'm glad our motel was within walking distance!

Unfortunately I couldn't find it anywhere else...I'd have bought a crate!

Another top-rated dark beer is a New Zealand one called 'Stoke Dark'.
Well worth looking for.

(Just re-reading this; to a Kiwi a 'stubby' is a small bottle containing about 330 ml.)

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Yes, I've had Arrogant Bastard at some time in the past and it's a nice dark ale. It's a product of the Stone Brewing Company in Escondido, CA - 7.2% per their site. Johnboy, your "stubbies" are equivalent to our standard 12oz bottles or drafts/draughts. I'll have to add Stoke Dark to my list to watch for.

Not much into the English brews as we enjoy (for some years now) a number of fine microbrew products up here. I have taken to drinking Newcastle Brown Ale when in restaurants that mainline on the boring Bud, Miller, etc. stuff. Somehow Newcastle has managed to get some stocking position at these boring bars. My first choice is a good Porter..........tough to beat Black Butte, though some others are good as well. But in a lot of places you ask for a Porter and the wait person goes blonde on ya.

I've got a good buddy who is an IPA freak, so I'll get some every once in awhile to have on hand for him. They're a bit too hoppy for my tastes, but I got to taste something interestin a couple weeks back. A young lad in the area was buying some parts from me, and needed some help disassembling a '39 Ford rearend (he didn't have the proper hub puller for the tapered shank hubs). So I told him to load the axle in the back of his truck and we'd blow it apart. Turned out what he thought was a '39 was actually a '37, but for what he's doing the differences weren't significant. Just before he was leaving he reached into an ice chest in the back and pulled out a six pack to "pay" me for the additional help. Quite surprised me. It was Bridgeport Kingpin Double Red Ale.................moderately hoppy compared to IPAs, smoother finish, overall, pretty tasty. What a wonderful world!!

Yesterday my wife and I returned home from a sixteen day trip to some Black sea cities.

We went across on Lufthansa Airlines in a coach-class seat only fractionally wider than my skinny rear end. That has nothing at all to do with the subject of this posting but I thought I'd throw it in anyway.

Well, the flight attendant came around with with her beverage cart and asked if we would like something to drink. Jane asked for diet coke and I said I'd like a beer. She said German beer? I said yes.

She brought me a can of "Warsteiner". I had never heard of the stuff, but I have to say that it was just about the nicest beer I have ever had, and I told her so. She came around later with another one which I accepted. When she came back to pick up empties Jane quickly interceded and said "no thanks" before I could open my mouth.

I googled "Warsteiner" and learned that they have been brewing the stuff since 1753.

I clicked on proper spot to find the place closest to Keller Texas where I might buy some. It said 360.7 miles away.

So much for that.


Jim

Jim,
Keller's in the DFW metroplex, and I'm surprised there's no one stocking Warsteiner in such a big place. It's got a regular spot in the store I frequent, but then they focus on carrying a wide range of import and micro brews. You might see if you can find a similar package store in your area. Than again, maybe my local is the one 360.7 miles from Keller!!

Ahhhh German beers. Every area has its own beers. We did a couple of industrial power plants for BASF - so I was able to sample some of the local products. Most are very nice though not all. What is nice are the spring and summer festivals, the young (and some not so) ladies carrying huge steins of suds, some dancing, young ladies ..... oh my .... the memories:D:D:D:D:D:D

Funny thing with beer is in America prior to the grain rationing that Randy mentioned nearly every area had thier own micro breweries. The beers were heartier is strength and color. With the war on, and most of our troops over seas, women took over the bulk of the work force, and with grain being rationed, were serve light watered down stuff. Until the late 70's this stayed the trend, with imports being the only alternative. I think companies like Sierra Nevada paved the way to reawakening the beer culture that is now thriving. We have several micro breweries here in my town alone. The west coast has several hundred! My biggest regret with the latest micro brew rage is the over hopping of beers. At first glance, hop lovers were really pleased by the extra punch. But this like everything else here is now a competition to see just how much hops one can shove into a beer. To balance this out triple grain amounts are being added and beers with 12-13% alcohol are being bumped out. Some of the newer breweries can hide their brewing mistakes by overdoing it with hops. It will mask all sorts of bad quality beer. One fine exception is DogFish 90 minute Pale Ale. This beer goes down smooth, with a nice hop balance, but be forewarned, two of these will set your head into a fog zone! :)
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vAatKOCAgS..._Min_3shot.jpg

We are truely blessed with lots of breweries, but unfortunately they are all pumping out strong alcohol brews and highly hopped brews right now, which takes me back to the previous staement of balance and this is where the british and germans are the leaders. It says a lot that certain breweries have been around for 300 plus years! A good ESB will quence your thirst, stimulate your palate, and leave you functioning for the drive home!
Here's one from Uncle Bob's neck of the woods
http://beerme.com/graphics/brewery/3/3535/1558.gif