Comments on: New York, Part 5 http://blog.ineedprozac.com/2008/10/12/new-york-part-5/ Prosaic Ramblings from an Everyday Chap Wed, 11 Aug 2010 09:43:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Russ http://blog.ineedprozac.com/2008/10/12/new-york-part-5/comment-page-1/#comment-66 Russ Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-66 American beer is a funny thing to a Brit. At first glance it's awful: the Budweisers and Millers of this country take care of that impression. Then there are the next tier: the things you mentioned (such as the Killan). Not particularly 'authentic', but they're not bad either, if taken on their own merits. Then there's the better stuff that you'll get if you manage to find a microbrewery: I would recommend http://www.bjsbrewhouse.com/, but they don't seem to be around where you are unfortunately. One nice thing about then is that they often do samplers, where you get a 3rd of a pint of something like seven beers, which can be fun. :) The other thing that is weird about beer in America is the strength issue. I've not yet been able to figure this out properly, but from what I can make out, it depends on what state you're in. In Texas most beers are 6%, which is actually strong by British standards and does somewhat contradict the general impression that American beers are weak. One thing is for sure: there is a lot more variety than the cats-piss American beers that the UK tends to get would suggest, so it's well worth sampling and experimenting a bit as there is a lot out there (if you were in TX I'd recommend a Shiner Bock, which despite being sold as an 'import' (at a higher price) is actually local. But I doubt you can get them up there. Enjoy! Russ American beer is a funny thing to a Brit.

At first glance it’s awful: the Budweisers and Millers of this country take care of that impression.

Then there are the next tier: the things you mentioned (such as the Killan). Not particularly ‘authentic’, but they’re not bad either, if taken on their own merits.

Then there’s the better stuff that you’ll get if you manage to find a microbrewery: I would recommend http://www.bjsbrewhouse.com/, but they don’t seem to be around where you are unfortunately. One nice thing about then is that they often do samplers, where you get a 3rd of a pint of something like seven beers, which can be fun. :)

The other thing that is weird about beer in America is the strength issue. I’ve not yet been able to figure this out properly, but from what I can make out, it depends on what state you’re in. In Texas most beers are 6%, which is actually strong by British standards and does somewhat contradict the general impression that American beers are weak.

One thing is for sure: there is a lot more variety than the cats-piss American beers that the UK tends to get would suggest, so it’s well worth sampling and experimenting a bit as there is a lot out there (if you were in TX I’d recommend a Shiner Bock, which despite being sold as an ‘import’ (at a higher price) is actually local. But I doubt you can get them up there.

Enjoy!

Russ

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