Diversity and Tolerance (the musical)

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What exactly delineates a beer, any beer, as an under-attenuated, sweet, sticky mess? I believe the only way to truly find out if a beer is an under-attenuated, sweet, sticky mess is to ask the brewer if it’s an under-attenuated, sweet, sticky mess as only the brewer knows exactly what is intended when crafting each batch of his/her beer.

I’m assuming The Bruery wanted to brew a big, sweet, sticky, boozy, bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout, otherwise they would have attempted to correct their beer’s perceived flaws during the crafting of the second batch and beyond. So, I guess I’m also wondering: what exactly is wrong with a brewery wanting to craft a big, boozy, sweet, sticky beer?

Oh, I get it (here comes the sarcasm)...

Every imperial stout that leans way toward the sweet side of balance = under-attenuated, sweet, sticky "mess."

However

Every IPA that leans way toward the bitter side of balance = A-OK

Every lambic that leans way toward the sour side of balance = A-OK

Every saison that leans way toward the spicy side of balance = A-OK


Every high-octane and/or barrel-aged beer that tastes "boozy" and "hot" is a bad thing? Really? What do you want, a magic show? How can a brewer possibly be expected to hide the booziness in a 19.5% ABV beer? No one is asking that of whiskey distillers, port, sherry or liqueur producers.



I believe all of this "big beer," "sweet beer" and imperial stout bashing is presumptuous and unfair. Then again, (with very few exceptions) I enjoy certain examples of every style of beer.

For example, I don’t much like bitter beer regardless of which hop varietal or combination of hop varieties is used to brew it. It doesn’t seem to matter how fantastic the aroma, if it tastes bitter, I don’t like it a whole lot. However, I don’t rejoice every time an IPA drops out of the Ratebeer Top 100.

Then again, I tend to be a fairly tolerant person toward all things... with the possible exception of intolerant people. Awe heck, the world is full of them and I can’t hate them all... or can I?

Nope, I can’t. That’s not me.

Well said, Eric.

This thread is messy, flabby, and just cloying.

I don’t dislike many ISs because they are "extreme", I dislike them because they are super sweet and I do not enjoy that in most beer. I can handle the sweetness if there is also some roasty, hoppy quality to balance.

Eric, you must be the guy that adds ten packs of sugar to your coffee.

I believe all of this "big beer," "sweet beer" and imperial stout bashing is presumptuous and unfair. Then again, (with very few exceptions) I enjoy certain examples of every style of beer.

+1
I completely agree. I have said a number of times over the past couple of years that I sometimes feel like the only person who enjoys a good barrel-aged imperial stout nowadays! We dovetail a little on your lack of enthusiasm for IPAs (I love ’em), but I would substitute Belgian tripel as a style I have a hard time getting excited about. Having said that, I recently have had two excellent tripels that I loved. For me beer is like food-- I love variety, creativity, comfort, and craftsmanship among all styles. I like the vibe of this thread!

Originally posted by miketd
Eric, you must be the guy that adds ten packs of sugar to your coffee.

You’ve got me pegged, Mike. What gave me away? Scotch Ale being listed as my favorite style?




Don’t tell anyone, but I really enjoyed that growler of Fat Heads Head Hunter IPA you sent. It rocked... shhhhh!

Originally posted by hopscotch

Originally posted by miketd
Eric, you must be the guy that adds ten packs of sugar to your coffee.

You’ve got me pegged, Mike. What gave me away? Scotch Ale being listed as my favorite style?




Don’t tell anyone, but I really enjoyed that growler of Fat Heads Head Hunter IPA you sent. It rocked... shhhhh!

My growler will be here any day now...

Originally posted by Savvy1982

Originally posted by hopscotch

Originally posted by miketd
Eric, you must be the guy that adds ten packs of sugar to your coffee.

You’ve got me pegged, Mike. What gave me away? Scotch Ale being listed as my favorite style?




Don’t tell anyone, but I really enjoyed that growler of Fat Heads Head Hunter IPA you sent. It rocked... shhhhh!

My growler will be here any day now...

Tomorrow, hopefully! I hate shipping growlers, so let’s hope it gets there in one piece.

Originally posted by hopscotch
I believe all of this "big beer," "sweet beer" and imperial stout bashing is presumptuous and unfair.

It is what all the cool kids do now days.

Imperial Stout = NY Yankees, LA Lakers, NE Patriots, Duke...

Long term success means contempt and a need to knock the big boys off their thrones. Big easy target for those whom feel slighted by the man. On ratebeer they appear often as the funky bunch.

Originally posted by BBB63

Originally posted by hopscotch
I believe all of this "big beer," "sweet beer" and imperial stout bashing is presumptuous and unfair.

It is what all the cool kids do now days.

Imperial Stout = NY Yankees, LA Lakers, NE Patriots, Duke...

Long term success means contempt and a need to knock the big boys off their thrones. Big easy target for those whom feel slighted by the man. On ratebeer they appear often as the funky bunch.

I have a long standing hatred of the Yankees, Lakers, Patriots, and Duke basketball. I love imperial stouts.

And I am not cool.

Originally posted by BBB63
Imperial Stout = NY Yankees, LA Lakers, NE Patriots, Duke...

Whew. It’s a relief to learn I’m not the only person who hates every single one of the franchises/clubs/programs you mentioned.

You were talking about Duke’s basketball program, right? I mean, their football program is pathetic and therefore un-hatable... much like the Chicago Cubs.

Zing!

Says the Baltimore Orioles/Washington Redskins fan.