Beer in Florida

[daveyoghurt]

As it's the weekend and my thoughts are turning towards some nice cool beer, I was wondering which is the best beer to enjoy in Florida? I know the old favourites such as Budweiser and Coors are top notch, but my favourite was a beer called Miller High Life - I've never seen it over here, much to my disappointment! When we stocked up for a couple of nights curfew due to last years hurricane I think we accounted for 7-11's allocation!

I also liked the beers that were at the Beer 'School' in Seaworld (can't remember what they were), though with only two beers per customer, those were beers to be savoured!

Any other favourites I should be seeking out?

 

[Cochise]

I hope Buds taste better than they do here, they are gassy and have an artificial taste.

 

[UKDEB]

Where are Kev and Matt when you need them?

 

[Boss Hogg]

Where are Kev and Matt when you need them?

...as if by magic!!

So many beers so little time!

I really like Yuengling, which I am pretty sure is America's oldest beer. Have tried high Life, which is quite good also.

One thing I've noticed this trip is just how many brands are now doing low-carb options, but of these my favourite is probably Michelob Ultra.


Having said this, any beer is better than no beer, so who cares!? I always think that a lot of American beer tastes similar, not that that is a bad thing, as I am not a bitter drinker. Also liking Budweiser Select, which I've seen this trip for the first time.

We've been to the school at Sea World, and I seem to remember that there was something like 75 different Anheuser products (including Smirnoff Ice, which they produce under licence over here), and I was suprised quite how manyof them I'd had. In fact I seem to recall that the only ones I'd not tried were non-alcoholic ones

One tip if you find beer to gassy which they teach on the beer school, is pour into the middle of a glass, and wait for the head to subside, and a lot of the bubbles will have gone.

Anyhoo, all this typing is making me thirsty, so time for a ice cold Mich Ultra from the fridge.

Happy drinking


Matt

 

[Cochise]

I am joining you BH, Heineken Premium is working its way down the glass.

Heineken Premium has been in Europe for a a good few years now and cost me the price of flights to my Mother in Laws each year to meet up with it. Thankfully Heineken got some sense and it came to the UK

 

[Scottish_Maleficent]

While in Florida, DH likes to drink Modelo Especial!! A Mexican beer apparently!!

 

[daveyoghurt]

Ah Matt, good to see another beer appreciator! Clearly you've done a lot of research, so where's the best place for a beer, be it atmosphere or selection of beers? (Bearing in mind that on principle English 'pubs' are to be avoided)!

 

[JANNYANS]

There is a restaurants called Hops which does -apparently - agood range of beers or at least they did their web site is down at present so cannot check but if it does come back online try this link


http://www.hopsonline.com/home/frame_beer.asp

 

[Goofyish]

I've just had a bottle of Michelob Ultra (Low Carb.) and found it very nice
I have been told that Sam Adams is nice too.

If you go to the Big River Grill on the Boardwalk you can sample their home brewed slection:

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Southern Flyer Light Lager - "light gold, light-bodied, extremely refreshing"[/font]
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[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Gadzooks Pilsner - "golden, medium-bodied, crisp finish"[/font]
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[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Tilt Pale Ale - 'golden color, medium-bodied, flavorful finish"[/font]
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[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Rocket Red Ale - "red in color, robust body, malty finish"[/font]
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[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Winter Seasonal Sweet Magnolia Brown Ale - "light brown, medium-bodied, subtle sweet finish"[/font]
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[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Summer Seasonal Wowser's Wheat - "light gold, light-bodied, effervescent finish"[/font]
​

 

[Richard Bruvofetc]

Budweiser

Sorry, but the real Budweiser, brewed in Czech republic since 1200 and something, tastes far superior to anything the Americans can produce. Unfortunately IMHO, American beers (lagers?) are purposely chilled, as they have no taste, gassy, and very low in alcohol. If I can find a place that does a "dark" beer then I'll choose that everytime. If I want to cool down, then I'll have a sprite or fanta.

 

[Boss Hogg]

and very low in alcohol. .

Not sure I'd agree with this Richard, all the American beers I've come across are 5%, which is as much as a lot out there - I know some, such as Leffe, are a lot more but I'd think that these were the exception not the rule. Do agree with you that a lot of US stuff tastes the same - if you like dark stuff, you'd like Yuengling I'd have thought, and also someone mentioned Sam Adams, which is also a darker beer and more akin to bitter than lager.

 

[Boss Hogg]

Ah Matt, good to see another beer appreciator! Clearly you've done a lot of research, so where's the best place for a beer, be it atmosphere or selection of beers? (Bearing in mind that on principle English 'pubs' are to be avoided)!

Quite agree about English pubs - don't like 'em at home, and certainly don't like 'em here.

I tend to like the sports bars over here - ESPN is good especially when a big game is on, we were in there once when a big baseball game was going, and the atmosphere was superb. We've also been to an Orlando Ale House at Florida Mall, really liked it here to - something like 20 odd beers to choose from!!

We're in Florida at the moment, and are going to EPCOT today, so the bars could be taking a bit of battering there!

 

[daveyoghurt]

Didn't realise you were out there at the moment Matt, awesome dedication! Made a note of the ESPN bar - should be good for the odd night whilst I'm over there, if you're thinking of doing trip reports when you come back maybe you could include a section on your beer-seeking exploits?

Richard - I think the American lagers are perfect for the climate, though I enjoy a drink I don't go overboard like I do at home, hangovers waste valuable coaster time! I prefer to have a nice cool drink and leave the serious drinking to back home, where I seek out pubs that serve Erdinger, Weissbrau and Ayingerbrau.

We have a Superbowl party every year and last time we imported beers from America especially, the Nevada Pale Ale and Texas Star beers went straight away, but the darker and stronger Sam Abrams wasn't very popular. Crazy Ed's Chilli beer was an outright disaster!

 

[SimonV]

Here are some good alternatives to the ubiqitous (and rather tasteless, IMHO) Bud, Coors, Miller, Icehouse brigade:

Anything by Sam Adams (very good range, from lager to ale)
Killians Red
Michelob Amber Bock
Negro Modelo (Mexican)
Dos Equis Amber (more Mexican)
Leinenkugels
Pete's Wicked Ale (from San Antonio, texas, but now all over the US)
Bell's Ales (a Michigan brewery, who do a magnificent range of British-style beers, including ports and stouts)
Anything from the Frankenmuth Brewery in Michigan (a range of German-based beers that are quite superb)
Anything by the award-winning Stone Brewing Co of California (look up http://www.stonebrew.com/)

For brew-pubs, the aforementioned Big River Grille (from Nashville, Tenn.) is pretty good (try the Rocket red), while Hops is a relatively new chain but with a good range of beers, including seasonal specials. Big Belly Brewery in downtown Orlando is also well worth seeking out.

Hope that's enough to keep you salivating for now..............!

 

[Cochise]

Simon

Pete's Wicked Ale sounds fantastic. I am a big fan of the darker ales like leffe. I will be searching them with energy in October

 

[Boss Hogg]

if you're thinking of doing trip reports when you come back maybe you could include a section on your beer-seeking exploits?

Likely to be the only way i do a report

Agree with Simon about Killians - have been having a few of these this trip, it claims to be Irish, but not sure if it is imported.

On a side note, managed 8 out of 11 countries today in our drinks around the world quest, and then only to stop and ride Soarin'.

Life is so tough!!

 

[SimonG]

hi canada in epcot do moosehead lager very nice to wash a steak down!Question why is stella the representative lager for England whats wrong with carling i was so dissapointed i had a guinness!