US v. UK, Round 12: Alcoholic Beverages

[Fonz]

US beers edge UK beers at present. I'm a connoisseur. I know what I'm talking about.

[BARON CORNY DOG]

I'm a connoisseur. I know what I'm talking about.

Congratulations!

[Goat Boy]

Where's fartpants when you need him?

[hookfinger]

I'm a drunk. I know what I am talking about.

[harvey k-tel]

I'm a drunk. I know what I am talking about.

Likewise.

What were we talking about?

[Nikki Gradual]

I was surpised when I was in America by how popular those low alcohol lagers are. What the fuck is that all about?

I was horrified after a work trip to Germany on checking out of my hotel to be told that I had taken a non-alcoholic beer out of the mini-bar.
1) In Germany of all places, why was there non-alcoholic beer taking up fridge space?
2) How could I, a seasoned drinker, not have noticed (and no it wasn't because I was already plastered)?

I was so embarrassed I didn't claim it on expenses because I didn't want anyone at work to know.

The shame.

[The Modernist]

Californian wine is hideously overpriced. Why bother?

[hookfinger]

Californian wine is hideously overpriced. Why bother?

Not necessarily, but some is of course. With a small amount of research you can find some excellent stuff at a good price range. Include Oregon pinots in there as well.

Exported to over there may change things.

[the masked man]

I'd take Belgium or the Czech Republic over either. Abstain.

[BARON CORNY DOG]

Californian wine is hideously overpriced. Why bother?

Presumably, you're talking about the price in your part of England. If so, the same could be said for English beer over here. That hardly disqualifies it from consideration.

[sloopjohnc]

As much as I have come to look at the modern "craft" jive with a jaundiced eye, I have to admit that it's been good for beer here. There's been an explosion of good, varied (in style and strength) beer.

I'd have to agree.

When I've taken UK friends to places where they serve good US craft beers, I think most of them have come away pleasantly surprised at the quality and selection.

I'm not a huge fan, but I think some bigger breweries like Sierra Nevada and Samuel Adams can make some good stuff too.

I don't really like their beers, but Anchor Steam just came out with an IPA. I had one last week and it's not bad.

[Matt Wilson]

I've drank more beer this year than in the last few years combined. There's so many great craft breweries here now that one can't possibly keep up with them. Even obtaining some of these beers is difficult.

http://www.beeradvocate.com/lists/top/

[bobzilla77]

Californian wine is hideously overpriced. Why bother?

Presumably, you're talking about the price in your part of England. If so, the same could be said for English beer over here. That hardly disqualifies it from consideration.

True. Here, it's French wine that's overpriced. Not the case in France!

[Nolamike]

Californian wine is hideously overpriced. Why bother?

Presumably, you're talking about the price in your part of England. If so, the same could be said for English beer over here. That hardly disqualifies it from consideration.

True. Here, it's French wine that's overpriced. Not the case in France!

Right. And Scotch is significantly more expensive than Bourbon here in the US - but I'm guessing the opposite is true in the UK.

[harvey k-tel]

NEWSFLASH!

IMPORTED PRODUCTS SOMETIMES MORE EXPENSIVE THAN DOMESTIC PRODUCTS!

[bobzilla77]

I readily concede that the UK has a greater proportion of discerning drunkards.

There are, of course, climate issues that could be responsible for different preferences, but I'm not about to defend our cold beer obsession.

Coors seems almost pathologically obsessed with demonstrating how cold their beer is. It's really bizarre.

Especially with those color-changing cans they have. Why would someone need a color-coding system on cans and bottles to identify whether the contents are cold, when simply touching the can or bottle answers the question, is beyond me.

Yeah I saw a comic doing a bit on Coors' thermometer cans last night, in which he made the observation: If you need to look with your eyes to see if your beer is cold enough, it's probably time to stop drinking.

At the high end, it comes down to CA's best wine vs Scotland's best whisky. These are the two drinks that are capable of being so amazing, people will pay ridiculous amounts for the best that can be had. It's hard for me to claim either one superior.

On the "every day drinking" side, Irish whisky vs bourbon; Guinness and Newcastle vs Sierra Nevada and our local Point The Way. Allowing that I've mostly had export versions of the British brands, I think it's close to even with maybe a hair more variety on the US side. That does lead to some really gross things once in a while - not into berry or honey flavored beer, nor the curiously popular US versions of white Belgian ale that are everywhere right now. But the freshness of locally made stuff is a big selling point.

I declare it a draw, I can be quite satisfyingly pissed in either spot and both places have some things that are truly special.

[toomanyhatz]

As scotch is my primary drink, I guess I have to go UK here, but I do think we win easily on beers. Far more variety. Despite the fact that I'll easily take a mainstream UK beer over a mainstream US one (Or a Japanese or Mexican one for that matter).

California wines are a varied batch too- some great, some overpriced, but good bargains can be had for sure. I imagine there's a few UK wineries? Or do they just import from France and Italy (and Spain, which is producing some good ones these days)?

I think there are good cases to be made for each.

And this is one for which Canada is not a viable third option.

[harvey k-tel]

And this is one for which Canada is not a viable third option.

I'll gladly concede that point, but I don't want you to think that there isn't a shitload of very good quality wines and beers produced up here. Even some spirits, but I haven't tried enough to say whether they're any good or not.

[toomanyhatz]

Canadian Club, baby!

Well, Canadian "scotch" is very cheap here, I'll give it that. And again, nothing great, but probably better than cheap US stuff.

I imagine there are some fine microbreweries too. I think I went to one in Victoria, in fact.

[The Modernist]

NEWSFLASH!

IMPORTED PRODUCTS SOMETIMES MORE EXPENSIVE THAN DOMESTIC PRODUCTS!

Hey smartass..what exactly do you think I'm comparing it to? Just to my make it clear it is overpiced compared to French, Italian, South American and new world wines all of which are IMPORTED