Headed East; Beer Recommendations please.

[ingchr1]

It seems a lot harder than rolling to the quickie mart to find the good beer.

It all depends upon exactly where you were at, which is probably the same all over the country. Where I'm at in NY it's very easy to get good beer most anywhere. I'm actually surprised often by the selection I see in stores and restaurants.

 

[HopLife]

I am near Surf City and Jacksonville. Next to Camp Lejune.

I have read a bunch of threads and articles about the differences between east and west in terms of having more of a hop profile out west. I have also read that the east can make just as hoppy of a beer as the west. So far the only one that stood up to my taste test is hopsecutioner. When I buy a beer named after hops or that says it has a ton of hops I feel that it should live up to the name.

Some people like a hoppy beer. It will not remove the enamel from your teeth, I associate that with bitterness. Hop flavors can be a great range of flavors some are quite pleasant and even sweet.

As for a grocer not being able to keep beer cold. I do not understand. If you were at my local quickie mart you would see that beer sits in the walk in cooler. I never get oxidized, old, or stale beer.

I guess the craft thing just isn't big in this little town or something.

Oh yeah, and if a topic is "old" you can read something else. These threads are where many of us find new beers to try. See OP.

 

[Spintab]

Dude...
Victory Hop Devil, Victory Hop Wallop, Smuttynose Big A IPA, Southern Tier Un*Earthly, Alchemist Heady Topper, Weyerbacher Double Simco

The problem is not that you are in the east, it's that you're not far enough north. New England has been making incredible IPA's since before the word "light" was only a twinkle in Jim Koch's eyes. It's just gotten kinda old. Honestly though, I've lived on both coasts and neither one is "better" than the other, your choices are just different. To get those choices, you need to go to a beer or liquor store. We don't buy good beer in convenience stores. Hell, I'm not sure I even did that when I lived in LA. We had BevMo there and 90% of the beer was warm on the shelves, just like here, which btw is not a bad thing. Non-rediculohoppy beers get better as they get older and aging quickens at room temp. Had a 2007 Hairy Eyeball the other night. It was not cold by any means when it was brought to me and holy cow was it good. Had a 10yr old barley wine homebrew recently that was also at room temp. Still good, quite yummy.

 

[sloose]

OK. I have arrived.

So far the East has not fared well.

First off, on the west coast I never have to buy beer that is room temp. Strange. Especially at 9 and 10 dollars for a six pack. Seems like a premium product would at least get refrigeration.

I tried Dogfish head 90 minute....Oxidized with minmal hop aroma or flavor. Weak

I tried Hoptical Illusion....less oxidized with minimal hop aroma or flavor. Weak I told my bro that if you put a beer out with this name but skimped on the hops so much, out west they would burn your brewery down.

I tried Henry Weinhards IPA... Better that expected...pretty weak, tastes just like hoptical illusion.

The beers out here seem heavy compared to my local affair, Ninkasi, Bridgeport, Lagunitas Pales and IPA. It is almost like they still think an IPA should be balanced...NOT ME, I want hops.

I will try Hopsectioner, or maybe just drink my brother's homebrew. I would get the Bell's two hearted but at $10.50 a six pack it is horribly overpriced. I am used to buying Sierra Nevada Torpedo for $7.99. And given the higher gravity and higher hop flavors, surely torpedo costs more to brew. Goodbye, Bells! Great beer but I am not going to subsidize their ineffeciency.

Harvey weinhards is Oregon iirc and it's blech boring. Bells two hearted is excellent stuff usually. If you can find long trail, their unfiltered IPA, IPA and pale ale are excellent. Way above average.

 

[histo320]

Highland - Gaelic Ale - my favorite all time beer. If you are in Asheville they give tours of their brewery that is very informative.

Asheville Pizza and Brewing Co. - you can't by this at the store but if you have a chance to get to downtown Asheville this is a must stop. Plus they have great pizza.

Sweetwater - 420 - a beer that I really miss since I moved to Illinois. It isn't overly hoppy but there is still enough to make you mouth hoppy - pun intended

Duck Rabbit - Milk Stout - a really smooth stout. One of the best stouts I've ever had.

If you are in the Triangle area you should try and stop by Triangle Brewing. I believe it is Chapel Hill, but they make some really unique beers. A Chipotle IPA and a Raspberry Coffee Stout are two that I remember.

 

[HopLife]

Harvey weinhards is Oregon iirc and it's blech boring. Bells two hearted is excellent stuff usually. If you can find long trail, their unfiltered IPA, IPA and pale ale are excellent. Way above average.

Weinhards does not sell well in my state even though it is our product. Few stores stock it anymore. I had never seen the IPA until I came out here, and yes I found that very strange. The brand went downhill after they were acquired by Bud.

I have had two hearted and I agree it is very good. But really $10.50 a sixer. I am searching for more good beers and the suggestions have been really helpful. I have not seen "long trail."

 

[HopLife]

Dude...
Victory Hop Devil, Victory Hop Wallop, Smuttynose Big A IPA, Southern Tier Un*Earthly, Alchemist Heady Topper, Weyerbacher Double Simco

The problem is not that you are in the east, it's that you're not far enough north. New England has been making incredible IPA's since before the word "light" was only a twinkle in Jim Koch's eyes. It's just gotten kinda old. Honestly though, I've lived on both coasts and neither one is "better" than the other, your choices are just different. To get those choices, you need to go to a beer or liquor store. We don't buy good beer in convenience stores. Hell, I'm not sure I even did that when I lived in LA. We had BevMo there and 90% of the beer was warm on the shelves, just like here, which btw is not a bad thing. Non-rediculohoppy beers get better as they get older and aging quickens at room temp. Had a 2007 Hairy Eyeball the other night. It was not cold by any means when it was brought to me and holy cow was it good. Had a 10yr old barley wine homebrew recently that was also at room temp. Still good, quite yummy.

I think I tried the sweatwater IPA thinking it was the smuttynose. I will have to find the real deal.

I prefer flavors that are not associated with aging, just my preference. I seem to really like hop flavors when fresh and still aromatic. After my first interaction with this thread I was told to start checking shelf dating to avoid old beer, something I have never done back home. There seems to be a lot more to know to find good beers. When I get back I will post some pics so you don't think I am coming way out of left field.

 

[sloose]

Weinhards does not sell well in my state even though it is our product. Few stores stock it anymore. I had never seen the IPA until I came out here, and yes I found that very strange. The brand went downhill after they were acquired by Bud.

I have had two hearted and I agree it is very good. But really $10.50 a sixer. I am searching for more good beers and the suggestions have been really helpful. I have not seen "long trail."

two hearted is $12.99 a sixer at my local place... if they have it at all. $`10.50 sounds like a good deal to me. I'm also in NJ and EVERYTHING is expensive here, especially beer and cigarettes (not that I smoke)

 

[HopLife]

two hearted is $12.99 a sixer at my local place... if they have it at all. $`10.50 sounds like a good deal to me. I'm also in NJ and EVERYTHING is expensive here, especially beer and cigarettes (not that I smoke)

Ouch... I know that NY/ NJ are expensive. But here in NC the economy and cost of living are similar to OR. I am used to 6.99 on sale and 7.99 standard price for good beer. Premium brands like Rogue, HUB and Ninkasi are generally 8.99 or on sale for 8.48. I have never in my life paid $10 for 6 12 oz standard gravity beers.

I see Lagunitas Daytime on the shelf at $9.49 in my local grocer and because of the high price we are one of the few areas that it is still available for distribution. Heard an interview with steele and he thought he had the last bottles available.

 

[HopLife]

Well, after trying appx 8 east coast beers with distribution in this little town I realize how open the east is. My bro brews an IPA, Pale, and Porter that stand well against dogfishead 90, Sierra Nevada pale, and Deschuttes Black butte. Considering my experiences at pubs, restaurants and grocery, there is plenty of room for both production brewing and brewpubs in this area. Within 60 miles there is only one brewery. Locally I would be looking at 10 to 12 competitors for similar population (plus more extensive distribution).

 

[Beerrific]

You also have to realize you are right smack in the middle of the Bible Belt. While there is not much competition, there is not that much demand either.

 

[Spintab]

Wait so are you looking to open shop out here? I can tell you from having lived in various places all along this coast, the east is thirsty. Make a kick a$& west coast IPA that we all can actually get and you'll do just fine.

I lived in AL for a few years and now Atlanta and laws def make things tough in the bible belt. There is demand tough. AL has changed its laws dramatically (except friggin home brewing) in the past few years and the state has exploded. Lots of new breweries c/w full taprooms but being new, they don't distribute far.

 

[HopLife]

Wait so are you looking to open shop out here? I can tell you from having lived in various places all along this coast, the east is thirsty. Make a kick a$& west coast IPA that we all can actually get and you'll do just fine.

I wish. Just wanted to find other East Coast and Midwest beers that are friendly to my palate. I think my two favorite East of the rocky beers are Hopsecutioner and Two hearted.

 

[mewithstewpid]

Plenty of very good IPAs on the east coast. The 2XIPA, Sixpoint Resin, Otter Creek Black IPA, Middle Ages Impaled IPA and Smuttynose IPA to name a few.

I disliked smutty. Too dank for me

 

[meich75]

There are plenty of good breweries and beer stores with good selections in NC. The problem is none of them are in Jacksonville. You are in a military town so most of those guys just drink Miller Lite, I used to be one of them.

I live just outside Raleigh and there are 11 breweries and 5 craft beer stores within an hours drive (I live out the country). For hoppy beers try Death By Hops from Olde Hickory or Seeing Double from Foothills. For the best selections of beer if you make it up to the Triangle area you can try The Beer Dispensary, Tasty Beverage, Bottle Revolution, Sam's Quik Stop (biggest selection), or Triangle Wine (not Total Wine).

 

[HopLife]

Thanks guys, if I find some time I might compile all of the suggestions so future hop heads will have a nice long list of beers to look for on the shelves.

 

[Realispatt]

I used to live on 5th street in Surf City. You are correct, where you are is a horrible location for a craft beer lover. Forget a grocery store or gas station. Best bet is Swing Bridge beer and wine, but they are limited and winter is slow for then. They have a lot better turn over in the summer months as the tourist roll in. Im sure by now Wilmington has a decent store (been gone a few years).

Your in the south now, hell the state im living in just allowed sunday alcohol sales bout a year ago. Most are also still rooted in the three tier system. Most do not know anything about beer that is not bud light and do not care to ( with a few exceptions in various pockets). Take a weekend trip to Asheville. It will be the closest city in regards to what you are use to back on the left coast.

Check out Front Street Brewery in Wilmington for a brew pub. They always had solid beer and the food is on point. ( I recommend the black and blue burger). There are a few bars near it that have good craft selection. One of witch has/had the name copper in it. (Can't quite quite recall the name)

Check out The Thai Grille in Surf City, Ray does a good job of keeping a few good beers. If you go in the summer a very gorgeous blond and good friend of mine, Amanda will be working the bar, she is very plugged into craft beer and can give you more updated info.

I will agree that from what i gave tasted most East Coast IPA is more balanced and less punch in the mouth hops than the West Coast.

Last but not least if you do surf, go to the 6th street access in Surf City, there used to be a pier there. There is still underwater structure so the surf is slightly better, and less crowded. Get in with the locals during the winter time and they will take care of you in the summer. I really wish I could get back there, many fond memories.

 

[HopLife]

Last but not least if you do surf, go to the 6th street access in Surf City, there used to be a pier there. There is still underwater structure so the surf is slightly better, and less crowded. Get in with the locals during the winter time and they will take care of you in the summer. I really wish I could get back there, many fond memories.

The beach was pretty awesome. Very cool. Nope don't surf; Mountain bike and Motorbikes.

Thanks for the help everybody.

 

[upperNY01brewer]

Get you hands on some Ommegang from Cooperstown NY. They have a excellent line of Belgian style ales that are fantastic. Brooklyn Brewery also has a great line up especially their Brooklyn Blast.

 

[Coff]

Thanks guys, if I find some time I might compile all of the suggestions so future hop heads will have a nice long list of beers to look for on the shelves.

Im not sure where exactly you were at in NC but I wouldn't just generalize and say "the east doesn't have this..." Bc where I am from in Philly the things you experienced wouldn't fly. Philly happens to be on the east coast and our beer selection and local beer can rival any.

 

[pdxal]

Im not sure where exactly you were at in NC but I wouldn't just generalize and say "the east doesn't have this..." Bc where I am from in Philly the things you experienced wouldn't fly. Philly happens to be on the east coast and our beer selection and local beer can rival any.

You should come visit Oregon. When I visited Philadelphia I was homesick for all the options. Iron Mountain and Victory were OK, though. The Portland area alone has over 40 breweries. I would like to see Philly beer week when I can to compare more.