What's the best beer then?

i emailed harpoon when i moved to chicago two years ago, they basically told me to go shit in my hat.

Does anyone know what a lambic is?

Oh, you wanted to know what it is? Spontaneously fermenting (the brewers don't add yeast) wheat beer from Belgium. Old & young lambics can be blended to make gueuze.

Fruity, clovey Hefewesseins make a good gateway beer because they have very little hop flavour.

Worst: Heineken, Hahn Ice (both water gas and hangover), West End (Worst End) and until you've had half-flat, warmish bottled XXXX from an inadequately rinsed plastic mug at the Gabba in Brisbane, you have not had bad beer.

Alas, fully carbonated, ice cold XXXX straight from the tap into a brand new chilled glass is not hugely better.

I tried my first hefe-weizen tonight -- from a brewery that claims to be the first maker of hefe-weizen in Germany -- and boy was it delicious.

My favourite when I go back to my parents is Castle eden, but it wasn't too special last time I had a pint. there was talk about the brewery being taken over, and I don't know what the outcome was.

No, not yet. Went over to my friend's house to see if he wanted to go to the liq store w/me, but before I could ask he offered me a Guiness and said I could have as many as I want--I'm not one to look a gift horse in the mouth.
Tonight sounds good though (I'm not a lush, I drink maybe once every two weeks and only 2-3 beers/time). Now the only question is which version of Chimay...I have a hard time leaving the store w/anything but the one w/the highest alc %.

I also really dig Sierra Nevada, a microbrewery in California I'm sure some of you US beer-heads are familiar with.

That's a little big for a microbrew. And it's somewhat overrated.

I like Sam Adams, Goose Island, Blue Moon. I've also gotta mention the very refreshing Bell's, since I went to school in Kalamazoo, where it's brewed. Kzoo represent!

goose island doesn't do much for me, i like bells amber. i think blue moon is owned and brewed by the coors family.

The cascade hops in Sierra Nevada Pale Ale (they make other beers) always tasted to me more of a grapefruit flavour.

Blue Moon is brewed by Coors, and its the best product that any of the big three american brewers make - not that that is saying much.

and what are peoples thoughts on the various Youngs beers?

Youngs Ordinary = very fine session bitter, I can't think of a bad word to say about it except that the pint of it I was served in the Clock Hose a few weeks ago had a sparkler in the bottom (ouch).

Youngs Special = I don't, any more because it's stronger than its taste justifies.

AAA = very very nice indeed on its day, the fruitiest of the three.

All that christmassy chocolate stuff I can live without.

Directors has been ok a couple of times, in the Endurance it was revolting.

Everything I've had since then has been utter rubbish. I believe from now on I'm going to try and stay away from the overcarbonated yellow stuff as much as possible (budget allowing).

I knew there was something missing from my life