From: martin@lyra.cis.umassd.edu (Gary Martin)
Subject: Re: Name a beer! Any beer!
Organization: University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
	<rpaolino.215@polisci.pol.umn.edu>
Date: Fri, 10 Apr 1992 05:20:34 GMT

In article <rpaolino.215@polisci.pol.umn.edu> rpaolino@polisci.pol.umn.edu (Robert Paolino) writes:

   In article <1992Apr9.171456.1735@news2.cis.umn.edu> ewk@kraken.micro.umn.edu (Eric Kimmel) writes:

   >In <1992Apr3.211703.1@amherst.edu> mbfeld@amherst.edu writes:

   >>What is a good beer to drink?

   >>I am looking for a beer which
   >>(1) is no more than $5 per six, maybe less;
   >>(2) is (of course) very good;
   >>(3) has a flavor on the mild side, so that I can drink a few without being
   >>overwhelmed;
   >>(4) is either
   >>      (a) a brand that can be obtained at any well-stocked liquor store
   >>(although it need not be the kind of brand advertised on TV), or
   >>      (b) a brand that would be available in New England (Western
   >>Massachusetts in particular).
[Eric's recommendations of midwestern regional beers deleted]

   ... Monroe, WI brews are okay also.  But because the person posting is in 
   Massachusetts, let me suggest one originally from my home town.  Newman's 
   Albany Amber!!  Bill Newman now brews by contract in Utica (when he brewed 
   in Albany, it was available only on tap or in gallons and larger sizes in 
   local stores.  Newman's is fairly widely available in the Bay State.  It 
   goes for $4.59 in Albany--I don't know about the price in Western Mass, 
   probably a little more just because beer is more expensive in Massachusetts
   but worth it.  Better than Sam Adams.  That's not a slam on S.A., because I 
   enjoy that too.
 
There's about 5 sips left to the one I'm savoring right now.  It's my favorite
reasonably priced beer in this country, but it's perhaps not as widely
available in Massachusetts as you might suppose.  I've seen it nowhere in
the southeastern part of the state where I live, and in only two or three
stores in Boston.  I had trouble finding it in the Berkshires, just across
the border from NY, only about 30 miles from Albany.  The Amherst - Northampton
area might be a good bet, and it's certainly worth seeking out, but it 
isn't easily found.  I buy a year's supply each June when I go to the Albany
area for the Old Songs Festival.  (Got about 18 bottles left now - time for
rationing.)  

How would you describe the taste?  I'm a little unsure of the connection
between what I taste and the words I see thrown around, but I'll try.  See
if you agree.  It's not very hoppy at all - I'd call Post Road, or Sierra
Nevada Pale Ale or Sam Adams hoppy.  I'd call it malty, with a big, toasty
aroma, and a mild, but rich and flavorful taste, reminiscent of vanilla
(cream soda?).

I prefer it fairly cold, and find it to be much better in a mug than from
the bottle because the head and the aroma are really important components
of this beer in particular.  (Newman serves it very cold from the truck
at Old Songs. Well, not with ice crystals or anything, but colder than
you'd expect for a micro.)

I've also been enjoying Gilde Pilsner, from Hannover, selling around here
for $4.99 for 6, $14.99 for 24 at one of the more expensive stores in the
area, and perhaps cheaper elsewhere.  It's been a long time since I had
a good example of that style to compare it to, but it seems quite pleasant
and well-made.  Not amazingly interesting, but an easy drinking light-
weight beer for washing down spicy food.


--
Gary A. Martin, Assistant Professor of Mathematics, UMass Dartmouth
Martin@cis.umassd.edu