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Chespirito said:
.  It's like making some intense cream dish, but then not adding any acid to the mix, just overpowering cream flavor

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That's exactly my point though.  You think the Belgians are way too sweet (an opinion I share), and I think the West Coast brews (on average, we all know we can cherry pick) are too bold on the hops.

Nice thing though, there's enough beer styles out there for everyone

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ShockValue said:
Dead Head Brewer of any typical West Coast Brewery,

Many countries and regions of the world have their own distinct styles and flavors.  Belgium, Germany, Ireland, England, to name just a few.  The beers may be distinctly different, yet still have a certain flavor that ties them together that lets the drinker know and experience the origin of the brew.

Now, the United States, and especially the West Coast of the country is a relative newcomer to the brewing scene.  But they've come on strong and fast.  They're bold and brash.  Acknowledging tradition, while at the same time feeling free to experiment in the land of hops, grain, and yeast (among other countless strange ingredients that make an occasional appearance.)  There are countless micros around, and others that started as micros such as Redhook, Pyramid, Sierra Nevada, etc.  The country has come to know and love these beers.

But with this comes a desire to define themselves.  They ask, "What is OUR signature flavor?"

So far the only defining signature has been hopping the hell out of everything they create with some kind of citrus flavored hops (usually Cascade or some hybrid thereof.)  It's a signature, sure.  But is it the one that you really want to define yourselves by?  "To hell with malt."  "To hell with yeasty characteristics."  "To hell with subtlety."

Hefeweitzen NOW WITH BIG BOLD OVERPOWERING ORANGE FLAVORED HOPS
English Ale, NOW WITH BIG BOLD OVERPOWERING ORANGE FLAVORED HOPS
Porter, NOW WITH BIG BOLD OVERPOWERING ORANGE FLAVORED HOPS

It's like those guys with the little trucks that can blare their distorted speakers at 140dbs.  Sure, it's loud as hell, but does it sound good?  Personally I like loud music, but when you can hear the rattle of your license plate frame clearer than the musicians fingers rubbing on the low strings in between notes, then there's something wrong with the picture. 

There have been some amazing beers produced on the West Coast.  But please reconsider exactly what you're trying to accomplish the next time you decide to tripple hop your Kolsh.

Sincerely,
A concerned beer drinker.

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ShockValue said:
But please reconsider exactly what you're trying to accomplish the next time you decide to tripple hop your Kolsh.

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LiquidSmoke said:
half the problem is that people like you overgeneralize beer from a region.

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QFT.

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Chespirito said:
We're a ruthless people out here in California.  Go enjoy England, discuss the proper pinky finger position when sippin tea with the general London populace while drinking your lager.  Out here we like our beer strong, flavorful with no bullshit.  And there are numerous non hoppy beers, in fact Im drinking a west coast non hoppy beer right now by Alesmith (yea its 11 AM you wanna fight about it?) 

And frankly I find Belgian ales to be sickenly sweet most of the time, they are complex but come on Belgians learn to balance flavors.  It's like making some intense cream dish, but then not adding any acid to the mix, just overpowering cream flavor.  In fact when I was in Brussels at a beer festval I got into an argument with a brewer about this same issue, I believe I referred to them as pussies by the end as I was hammered.  Got to keep the reputation of US citizens as drunken slobs as accurate as possible

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YOU WANNA BRAWL OR WHAT BITCH

OT: I think you're drinking the wrong Belgian beers.

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caphillkid said:
And then comes along the kid who ridicules anyone and everyone and looks like a real moron on the Shroomery. 

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caphillkid said:
And I certainly never said I generally bought Budweiser if I wanted to drink 7 or more beers.

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caphillkid said:
Odds that I started homebrewing years before you too? 

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Sure
This makes you much better than me...

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LiquidSmoke said:
just give me an ice cold






and i'll be good.

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