East coast vs West coast

[Airborneguy]

My point was that there was 5x as many people on the east coast responding. I was talking in generalities.

You realize this statement alone subtly perpetuates the "argument" right? You're basically saying that we have an inferiority complex.

 

[Airborneguy]

I've viewed the East v. West thing similar to how I see pizza around the country. Here in NY, pizzas loaded with all kinds of crap aren't as popular. Why? Because the pizza is good enough not to need all kinds of toppings. Same thing with our beer. We don't need to over-hop to make good beer.

 

[D_Ranged_Eskimo]

No love for the dirty souf? Third coast?

We have Shiner, Saint Arnolds, Rahr Sons, Jester King, 512, Real Ale...

I'd have to say Colorado takes the cake, Denver, Boulder, Longmont, and Fort Collins are meccas! But there isn't a coast there, so the east gets my vote.

Sweetwater, Terrapin, Dogfish Head, Flying Dog, Clown Shoes, Allagash (which is freaking fantastic) just to name drop a few.

 

[geer537]

I am not a pizza connoisseur so I'll give you that one. But us West Coasters are not covering up poor malts, more like letting the hops shine. And personally I don't like overly malty beers.

I propose a swap. I can source a few of my Fav's around here and will send them in exchange for some on the East Coast that I can't find. Pliny is 3.5 hours away but there is a great bottle shop right down the street from my house. If they can't source it, I'll get something really tasty. I'd say 2 or 3 bottles- An IPA cause I love'em and 1 or 2 bottles of another style or 2. Any takers?

 

[D_Ranged_Eskimo]

I've viewed the East v. West thing similar to how I see pizza around the country. Here in NY, pizzas loaded with all kinds of crap aren't as popular. Why? Because the pizza is good enough not to need all kinds of toppings. Same thing with our beer. We don't need to over-hop to make good beer.

This is going to get ugly.

Chi town has the best pizza, hands down. Gino's East is a real pizza pie.

 

[asidrane]

I have to agree about Italy. I was shocked recently when I saw the Italian section in a beer "mecca" that I found recently in Brooklyn. Easily 4'x7' feet of shelf space just for Italian beers in single bottles.

What's the beer "Mecca" in Brooklyn, Eagle Provisions?

 

[D_Ranged_Eskimo]

I am not a pizza connoisseur so I'll give you that one. But us West Coasters are not covering up poor malts, more like letting the hops shine. And personally I don't like overly malty beers.

I propose a swap. I can source a few of my Fav's around here and will send them in exchange for some on the East Coast that I can't find. Pliny is 3.5 hours away but there is a great bottle shop right down the street from my house. If they can't source it, I'll get something really tasty. I'd say 2 or 3 bottles- An IPA cause I love'em and 1 or 2 bottles of another style or 2. Any takers?

Sure, what do you want from Texas?

And I really want to try Pliny, we don't get RR down here.

 

[geer537]

Sure, what do you want from Texas?

And I really want to try Pliny, we don't get RR down here.

In- I PM'd you so we can work out the details there. Pliny may be difficult but I'll work on it and get approvals before I send it.

 

[Airborneguy]

This is going to get ugly.

Chi town has the best pizza, hands down. Gino's East is a real pizza pie.

Different pizza, I always found that to be a strange comparison. To me comparing Chicago pies to NY pies is the equivelent of comparing chicken noodle soup to clam chowder. Yes they are both soup, but not really comparable because they are completely different. If I'm trying to make NY pizza, I don't make it 3 inches think. Likewise if I'm trying to make Chicago pizza, I don't make it thin.

While one can choose a prime rib over filet minon, can one really compare the two cuts? That's how I view the Chicago v. NYC pizza argument.

 

[Airborneguy]

What's the beer "Mecca" in Brooklyn, Eagle Provisions?

Too obvious huh?

 

[zman]

As a person who lives in one of the most frustrating beer areas in America (oklahoma), I thought I could weigh in on this subject from a very non-biased perspective. My personal opinion/observation is that the west cost has a severe hop obsession that ruins a lot of beer. Beers from the east coast or anywhere outside of the west coast, seem to be more balanced and have a specific style that they are going for other than hoppy. I know these are pretty generalized statements, but it seems like everytime I buy a beer and it is from California, Oregon, or Washington, it is too hoppy for the style and it drives me crazy.

To me it is like when a chef has to make everything spicy because they like spicy foods and to them hotter is better. This is not always a good rule and it seems to be the rule for most west coast brewers and their hops.

IMHO the best place for craft beer is Colorado. This may be a little biased since it is close to OK, but we can't even get some of the best Colorado brews because of our completely worthless and outdated liquor laws. Outside of there I would generally say east coast, but I sadly only get a lot of east coast beers when I am on vacation.

Either way, that's my 2 cents.

AS a Ny'er in Denver I say AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Airborneguy]

I am not a pizza connoisseur so I'll give you that one. But us West Coasters are not covering up poor malts, more like letting the hops shine. And personally I don't like overly malty beers.

I didn't necessarily mean it that way. I guess the way you described it is slightly better. Pizzas loaded with toppings are trying to showcase the toppings. Plain pizza is practicing the art of simplicity.

I propose a swap. I can source a few of my Fav's around here and will send them in exchange for some on the East Coast that I can't find. Pliny is 3.5 hours away but there is a great bottle shop right down the street from my house.

I just tried a Pliny less at than 2 weeks old from a swap. I wasn't blown away at all. What's the draw to the beer? I've had much better west coast IPA's. I think that beer has the whole "rare" reputation build up thing going on.

The only well-known west coast beer I've never had is Pizza Port. I'd workd out a trade for that if you're interested.

 

[NordeastBrewer77]

Chi town has the best pizza, hands down. Gino's East is a real pizza pie.

very true indeed. well played, sir.

 

[scottland]

You realize this statement alone subtly perpetuates the "argument" right? You're basically saying that we have an inferiority complex.

No, you missed my point. As I said, different strokes for different folks. For example, west coast IPAs are bigger, drier, more bitter, and more hoppy. East Coast IPAs are a little smaller, more balanced bitterness, a little maltier, and less hoppy.

West coast ambers: Much bigger, much more bitter, basically like an amber IPA. East coast ambers: much more balanced, more like an amber pale ale.

Is one better than the other? That completely depends on your tastes. That's why I find these threads silly. I could shout until my face turns blue that west coast beers are better, but if you don't like big, dry, hoppy beers, the point is moot.

 

[arturo7]

Chi town has the best pizza, hands down. Gino's East is a real pizza pie.

Too bad it's a casserole and not a pizza.



The East/West beer dialog is ridiculous, but not the pizza debate.

 

[geer537]

I just tried a Pliny less at than 2 weeks old from a swap. I wasn't blown away at all. What's the draw to the beer? I've had much better west coast IPA's. I think that beer has the whole "rare" reputation build up thing going on.

The only well-known west coast beer I've never had is Pizza Port. I'd workd out a trade for that if you're interested.

Man Pizza Port was awesome! Unfortunately its a good 7 hour drive for me to get it so I couldn't swap for that... Sorry! It was definitely a fun place to try because we were driving through for a family visit. If I can get the family to come up this way, I'll have them stop and pick some up then PM you.

I just like Pliny- it is a real hop bomb but pretty balanced as well. There are really some other great IPA's out there but you're right, they are not as hard to find- Highwater and Drakes to name a few.

 

[Coldies]

The only well-known west coast beer I've never had is Pizza Port. I'd workd out a trade for that if you're interested.

Send him the hot rocks lager. Great beer with some cool history behind the brewing. I just saw that geer357 can't get it for you. It's 5 minutes from my house and I also use to work there. Let me know if you want something and maybe we can work something out.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSiWfOkECTE]Making Hot Rocks Lager - YouTube[/ame]

 

[zman]

This is going to get ugly.

Chi town has the best pizza, hands down. Gino's East is a real pizza pie.

Not even going there....

 

[D_Ranged_Eskimo]

Too bad it's a casserole and not a pizza.



The East/West beer dialog is ridiculous, but not the pizza debate.

New York style is good, but it's not a pizza pie. It's more like a pizzokie from BJ's. Chi town pizza looks like a slice of pie and has to be eaten like one as well with a fork and knife; no option for folding.

 

[zman]

Too obvious huh?

This is where I go when back in NYC. Welcome to Wantagh Beverage

 

[zman]

new york style is good, but it's not a pizza pie. It's more like a pizzokie from bj's. Chi town pizza looks like a slice of pie and has to be eaten like one as well with a fork and knife; no option for folding.

yawnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn!!!!!!!!

 

[Mongrel]

I've viewed the East v. West thing similar to how I see pizza around the country. Here in NY, pizzas loaded with all kinds of crap aren't as popular. Why? Because the pizza is good enough not to need all kinds of toppings. Same thing with our beer. We don't need to over-hop to make good beer.

I'll give you the pizza. Having lived in NYC for 5 years, nobody can touch it (I'm looking at you Chicago). NW for beer, but I do miss being able to get a Rheingold every now and then.

 

[mcwilcr]

I don't see a great representation of east coast beverages but I see a trend among coastal breweries that I have exposure to that there seems to be a competition on who can make a beer that is so bitter it will make your teeth fall out. Don't get me wrong, I can enjoy a good hoppy beer but I am more interested in the aroma and flavor of it and not the addition of hops solely for the purpose of bittering. Personally, I'm pretty happy about the beer coming out of the mountain region where I reside. Of course, my opinion is biased by my location.

 

[D_Ranged_Eskimo]

yawnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn!!!!!!!!

Hah, I'll be honest, the best pizza in San Antonio is New York style, only because there isn't a Chi town pizza worth a damn in this city.

 

[zman]

I don't see a great representation of east coast beverages but I see a trend among coastal breweries that I have exposure to that there seems to be a competition on who can make a beer that is so bitter it will make your teeth fall out. Don't get me wrong, I can enjoy a good hoppy beer but I am more interested in the aroma and flavor of it and not the addition of hops solely for the purpose of bittering. Personally, I'm pretty happy about the beer coming out of the mountain region where I reside. Of course, my opinion is biased by my location.

Victory Brewing Co, Ommegang, Saranac?

 

[Airborneguy]

NW for beer, but I do miss being able to get a Rheingold every now and then.

Rheingold's been gone again for at least 5-7 years. I do remember being able to get it after I left the Army for some time, so between 10-7 years ago it was available.

 

[Airborneguy]

This is where I go when back in NYC. Welcome to Wantagh Beverage

Nice selection! There's a place similar to that n NJ by my in-laws house that I hit up every so often.

 

[Airborneguy]

Send him the hot rocks lager. Great beer with some cool history behind the brewing.

PM me. I've never heard of it. I'm sure we can work something out.

 

[mcwilcr]

Victory Brewing Co, Ommegang, Saranac?

I've had Victory beers but never Ommegang or Saranac. I tried a Hop Devel once and almost lost a molar.

 

[Coldies]

PM me. I've never heard of it. I'm sure we can work something out.

PM Sent check out the you tube video I posted about the beer. Pretty cool