Premium beer with twist tops?

[Davey]

<img src=http://www.anchorbrewing.com/images/anchor_bottle.jpg align=left hspace=10>Last week I picked up a six pack of Anchor Steam after too long without. I've always loved this hoppy golden brew, but in recent times it seems like the price has been really high and seldom do I see it on sale. So last week it was on sale so decided to revisit an old friend and I canhappily report that it's still a wonderful brew. But what surprised me is that they've changed over to twist top caps. Wonder how long that has been for? Any regular drinkers of the Steam here? Guess the move to twist tops is inevitable for beers that are popular in bars and sold in the grocery store, but still seemed strange to me, and I have to admit that it probably made me think less of it. Not sure why though. Maybe just because I've always associated twist tops with non-premium beers.

Anyway, like I said, it's still good stuff. I also recently picked up some of that Blue Moon Ale that I used to really like a lot back in the old days, but I don't think it is very good now. Same general flavors, but just not nearly as deep and refined and flowery (and twist tops too). I think Swish is still a big fan though, so maybe it's just my faulty memory. Last time I was at the store a couple days ago I bagged a six of Tsingtao. Always good. Don't think I've ever had a bad Tsingtao. Almost like the Chinese version of Pilsner Urquell, one of my favorites. And of course, always requires the use of an opener ;)

Any big fans of Harold Budd here? Tsingtao and Harold Budd. Lately I've been incessantly listening to The White Arcades from 1988. Pretty addictive stuff. He's probably amongst the greatest minimalist/ambient composers for keyboard and piano of his time. This one was the result of a contract with Brian Eno's Opal Records and resulted in one of Budd's best albums, recorded in Edinburgh with Keith Mitchell engineering most of it, but with Robin Guthrie of the Cocteau Twins engineering a couple tracks along with Eno on a couple others. Beautiful music that I'm sure I'll be listening to for years to come. Many feel that it stands as a landmark album, at least for this type of music, and while I'm still rather new to it, I'm inclined to agree. I've got a bunch of his works now, including The Pearl with Eno and Daniel Lanois, and the latest one Avalon Sutra and some work with Hector Zazou and Eno's Ambient 2. Probably some others that I don't remember right now. Surprisingly, checking at AMG they only rate The White Arcades as 3 stars. Now that's just wacky :)

"This album is utterly gorgeous, a must-have for any serious fan of serious music" - Mojo

"The White Arcades contains some of the most haunting music you’ll ever hear" - Vox

Guess it's been oop for awhile now. I got my used copy awhile back from djangos. Took quite a long time on my alert list before it showed and I was able to act fast enough. But it apparently was just reissued internationally at the end of last month and is widely available again. That's always nice to see.

Anyone else with a Sunday story?

[Slosh]

Other than Spatening several tons of snow today, I've got nothing. One nice thing about being snowed in, however, is I finally get a chance to sit down and really listen to music, for a change. Most of the time I'm either driving, or on line, or generally doing something else. I got to listen to my little experimental lossless comp today for the first time . . . . .

Took It For A Twinkle - Holopaw
Hotcha Girls - Ugly Casanova
Une Annee Sans Lumiere - Arcade Fire
Jesus, Etc. - Wilco
Why - Andrew Bird's Bowl Of Fire
Cry Baby Cry - Julie Ritter
Confederate Cheerio Call - Richard Davies
Saint Simon - The Shins
Oh Comely - Neutral Milk Hotel
Blame It On The Tetons - Modest Mouse
Comfort Me - Sparklehorse
The Vulture - Clinic
Pilot - The Notwist
Spider In The Snow - The Dismemberment Plan
Lost On Yer Merry Way - Grandaddy
In Your Mind - Built To Spill
Boys, You Won't - The Wrens
Reservations - Spoon
Liberty Belle - Super Furry Animals
Bloods On Fire - Pinback
Are You On My Side - Rogue Wave
Broke The Furniture - Earlimart
The Earthquake Of '73 - Fruit Bats
Here I Dreamt I Was An Architect - The Decemberists
Lazy Feet 23 - Earlimart
The Warming Sun - Grandaddy

Not at all a bad way to spend a couple of hours on a snowy Sunday, I must say. :)

[Duds]

Big fan of Blue Moon here, but didn't know they are twist off caps? is that correct?

It may be because its made by Coors


<img src=http://www.anchorbrewing.com/images/anchor_bottle.jpg align=left hspace=10>Last week I picked up a six pack of Anchor Steam after too long without. I've always loved this hoppy golden brew, but in recent times it seems like the price has been really high and seldom do I see it on sale. So last week it was on sale so decided to revisit an old friend and I canhappily report that it's still a wonderful brew. But what surprised me is that they've changed over to twist top caps. Wonder how long that has been for? Any regular drinkers of the Steam here? Guess the move to twist tops is inevitable for beers that are popular in bars and sold in the grocery store, but still seemed strange to me, and I have to admit that it probably made me think less of it. Not sure why though. Maybe just because I've always associated twist tops with non-premium beers.

Anyway, like I said, it's still good stuff. I also recently picked up some of that Blue Moon Ale that I used to really like a lot back in the old days, but I don't think it is very good now. Same general flavors, but just not nearly as deep and refined and flowery (and twist tops too). I think Swish is still a big fan though, so maybe it's just my faulty memory. Last time I was at the store a couple days ago I bagged a six of Tsingtao. Always good. Don't think I've ever had a bad Tsingtao. Almost like the Chinese version of Pilsner Urquell, one of my favorites. And of course, always requires the use of an opener ;)

Any big fans of Harold Budd here? Tsingtao and Harold Budd. Lately I've been incessantly listening to The White Arcades from 1988. Pretty addictive stuff. He's probably amongst the greatest minimalist/ambient composers for keyboard and piano of his time. This one was the result of a contract with Brian Eno's Opal Records and resulted in one of Budd's best albums, recorded in Edinburgh with Keith Mitchell engineering most of it, but with Robin Guthrie of the Cocteau Twins engineering a couple tracks along with Eno on a couple others. Beautiful music that I'm sure I'll be listening to for years to come. Many feel that it stands as a landmark album, at least for this type of music, and while I'm still rather new to it, I'm inclined to agree. I've got a bunch of his works now, including The Pearl with Eno and Daniel Lanois, and the latest one Avalon Sutra and some work with Hector Zazou and Eno's Ambient 2. Probably some others that I don't remember right now. Surprisingly, checking at AMG they only rate The White Arcades as 3 stars. Now that's just wacky :)

"This album is utterly gorgeous, a must-have for any serious fan of serious music" - Mojo

"The White Arcades contains some of the most haunting music you’ll ever hear" - Vox

Guess it's been oop for awhile now. I got my used copy awhile back from djangos. Took quite a long time on my alert list before it showed and I was able to act fast enough. But it apparently was just reissued internationally at the end of last month and is widely available again. That's always nice to see.

Anyone else with a Sunday story?

[Davey]

Big fan of Blue Moon here, but didn't know they are twist off caps? is that correct?

It may be because its made by Coors
They were twisters on the 12-pack I bought a couple weeks ago. Might be a new thing as I haven't had it in quite awhile. Loved it back in the old days, not as much now. This batch was very underwhelming. The Coors influence seems to be slowly taking it's toll, but guess I should give it another chance just to make sure that my expectations weren't just too high based on memory of how good I thought it was. How long have you been drinking it?

[Duds]

Interesting. I actually havent bought any in a while, I kind of consider it a summer beer for me, so it has been since last summer. I may have to pick up a 6 or 12 pack to see if its the same or different. If its different, I can always fall back on the Sam Adams white ale.


They were twisters on the 12-pack I bought a couple weeks ago. Might be a new thing as I haven't had it in quite awhile. Loved it back in the old days, not as much now. This batch was very underwhelming. The Coors influence seems to be slowly taking it's toll, but guess I should give it another chance just to make sure that my expectations weren't just too high based on memory of how good I thought it was. How long have you been drinking it?

[Finch Platte]

Yadayada...but in recent times it seems like the price has been really high...yadayadayada.

Good beer prices have just been going up, up, up. Pisses me off.

fp

[Davey]

Good beer prices have just been going up, up, up. Pisses me off.
Yeah I know, I'm tempted to quit just to spite em. I stopped by the little liquor store near my house on the way home last night and grabbed a six of that Blue Moon just to see if it was any better than the last one, and it was "on sale" for $5.99 which is a decent price for boutique Coors (especially since everything else in the racks was at least $7.99), and so I put it on my card without really paying attention, but noticed later that I signed off on paying $7.49 ... what the fook is up with that? 8.25% sales tax + .04 per bottle VBR should've put it at about $6.75. What is this now, some hidden "handling" charge? These foreign national "convenience" store owners are really starting to piss me off!

[audiobill]

Yeah I know, I'm tempted to quit just to spite em. I stopped by the little liquor store near my house on the way home last night and grabbed a six of that Blue Moon just to see if it was any better than the last one, and it was "on sale" for $5.99 which is a decent price for boutique Coors (especially since everything else in the racks was at least $7.99), and so I put it on my card without really paying attention, but noticed later that I signed off on paying $7.49 ... what the fook is up with that? 8.25% sales tax + .04 per bottle VBR should've put it at about $6.75. What is this now, some hidden "handling" charge? These foreign national "convenience" store owners are really starting to piss me off!


Quite true, Davey.
It used to be that I would especially look fwd to any excuse to buy high quality beer at what used to be "american prices" whenever I visited the U.S. of A.. It was always significantly lower-priced than what we'd pay in Canada. On occasion I'd bring some home with me. Alas, that too is gone. The last couple of visits have proven that premium beer is premium priced (I'm talking gouging) on both sides of our border.

This doesn't mean that I've stopped drinking the premium stuff... it's just too good.

Currently, I'm enjoying a German Bitburg in the 500ml container. Too much refresing flavour to give up -- yet.

Cheers,

Bill

[dean_martin]

Killian's Irish Red! This is my favorite especially when I'm preparing steaks, burgers or any beef for the grill - drink a little, pour a little.

Tsingtao - tried this at a Thai place and now it's a favorite import along with Kalik (Bahamas) and Peroni (Italy).

Abita is a good hearty beer from Louisiana that comes in amber, raspberry & something called Turbo Dog. I prefer the amber.

[Duds]

Bought a six pack last night. This is a great tasting beer, it may be what you are looking for!!!


They were twisters on the 12-pack I bought a couple weeks ago. Might be a new thing as I haven't had it in quite awhile. Loved it back in the old days, not as much now. This batch was very underwhelming. The Coors influence seems to be slowly taking it's toll, but guess I should give it another chance just to make sure that my expectations weren't just too high based on memory of how good I thought it was. How long have you been drinking it?

[Swish]

Interesting. I actually havent bought any in a while, I kind of consider it a summer beer for me, so it has been since last summer. I may have to pick up a 6 or 12 pack to see if its the same or different. If its different, I can always fall back on the Sam Adams white ale.

I don't agree with Davey that it's declined in quality since Coor's bought them out, but to each his own. I also enjoy it in the summer, and take a nice wedge of a navel orange and squeeze it in the glass and pour the beer over it. It really doesn't taste like beer all that much, but it is refreshing. Kinda like Dos Equis with lime. I can't wait until summer.

Swish

[JoeE SP9]

Twist tops! Is that some kind of girly beer? Oh, I know. It must be one of those light beers. You know, watery and light on taste and flavor. My favorite beer has wired on cork tops. Chimay in the large corked top bottles is almost as good as Chimay on tap. Actually it's an ale but its so good who cares.http://forums.audioreview.com/images/icons/icon6.gif

[Swish]

Twist tops! Is that some kind of girly beer? Oh, I know. It must be one of those light beers. You know, watery and light on taste and flavor. My favorite beer has wired on cork tops. Chimay in the large corked top bottles is almost as good as Chimay on tap. Actually it's an ale but its so good who cares.http://forums.audioreview.com/images/icons/icon6.gif

Chimay. And we're girly men. Stick it where the sun don't shine junior.

Swish

[caniac]

Killian's is good stuff and it comes with twist-offs.

I usually alternate between Killian's and Sam Adams. Sometimes I forget the Sam Adams' aren't twist-offs. This usually results in a bloody hand and a lot of cussing.

[JoeE SP9]

Chimay. And we're girly men. Stick it where the sun don't shine junior.

Swish
Junior!? I started drinking when the legal age was still 18. I was only 17 then but in those days the NY bars didn't check very closely. Chimay is the name of the monastary where the ale is brewed. You should give it a try. If you are old enough and "man" enough. Opening the large bottles does require some skills. If you have ever opened a Champagne bottle (the French kind) you will know about wired on tops.http://forums.audioreview.com/images/icons/icon6.gif

[Swish]

Junior!? I started drinking when the legal age was still 18. I was only 17 then but in those days the NY bars didn't check very closely. Chimay is the name of the monastary where the ale is brewed. You should give it a try. If you are old enough and "man" enough. Opening the large bottles does require some skills. If you have ever opened a Champagne bottle (the French kind) you will know about wired on tops.http://forums.audioreview.com/images/icons/icon6.gif

well what it is, and I starting drinking when it was illegal to do so at my age back then. Calling us girly because we like Blue Moon once in a while was pretty ballsy of you, especially since you're basically a newcomer to this board and you know very little about me or the others. I prefer ales and mico-brews and currently have Fuller's ESB and some of their Vintage Ale in my fridge, along with some Brooklyn Brewery Chocolate Stout. I also drink scotch and vodka. Like I said in my first post, if you actually bothered to read it, Blue Moon doesn't even taste like beer to me, but it's a refreshing drink in the summer months. If you want to call that girly, then whatever. "Man enough" to drink Chimay? Please.

Swish

[Davey]

"Man enough" to drink Chimay? Please.
Yeah, that was pretty funny. Reminded me that I was introduced to Chimay by my girlfriend in the mid 80s who had just graduated from UW, and she and some of her girlfriends would drink it at a bar near campus there in Seattle. I always thought it was kind of a girly beer for that reason ;)

[JoeE SP9]

well what it is, and I starting drinking when it was illegal to do so at my age back then. Calling us girly because we like Blue Moon once in a while was pretty ballsy of you, especially since you're basically a newcomer to this board and you know very little about me or the others. I prefer ales and mico-brews and currently have Fuller's ESB and some of their Vintage Ale in my fridge, along with some Brooklyn Brewery Chocolate Stout. I also drink scotch and vodka. Like I said in my first post, if you actually bothered to read it, Blue Moon doesn't even taste like beer to me, but it's a refreshing drink in the summer months. If you want to call that girly, then whatever. "Man enough" to drink Chimay? Please.

Swish
I have found that twist of caps do not seal the bottles as tightly as they should. My comment was a refer to twist off caps not your choice of brews, unless you prefer light beers. In that case I offer no apologies. Light beers are wattery and light on taste and flavor.
I have tasted most of the brews mentioned and I like most of them. I haven't tried Blue Moon but I will do so soonest.

[Duds]

I honestly didn't know they were always twist tops, i guess its because i'm just in the habit of using an opener. Blue Moon wiht an orange wedge is awesome, very tasty, and definitely a refreshing summer drink!

By the way, how is that Brooklyn chocolate stout? I love their Brown Ale.

I'm a big fan of Sierra Nevada's Porter too. Excellent beer!


I don't agree with Davey that it's declined in quality since Coor's bought them out, but to each his own. I also enjoy it in the summer, and take a nice wedge of a navel orange and squeeze it in the glass and pour the beer over it. It really doesn't taste like beer all that much, but it is refreshing. Kinda like Dos Equis with lime. I can't wait until summer.

Swish

[Swish]

I honestly didn't know they were always twist tops, i guess its because i'm just in the habit of using an opener. Blue Moon wiht an orange wedge is awesome, very tasty, and definitely a refreshing summer drink!

By the way, how is that Brooklyn chocolate stout? I love their Brown Ale.

I'm a big fan of Sierra Nevada's Porter too. Excellent beer!

as you would expect. I'm not a big porter or stoudt fan, as I prefer ales, but they have their place with me. I heard the Sierra porter was good from several friends. I like their pale ale and their Celebration Ale, alhough I'm gettting a bit tired of the latter. Strong stuff and a bit spicy.

I reserve the Blue Moon for the summertime, along with the Mexican beers with lime. I prefer Dos Equis to Corona, but will drink either some of the time.

Swish

[Swish]

I have found that twist of caps do not seal the bottles as tightly as they should. My comment was a refer to twist off caps not your choice of brews, unless you prefer light beers. In that case I offer no apologies. Light beers are wattery and light on taste and flavor.
I have tasted most of the brews mentioned and I like most of them. I haven't tried Blue Moon but I will do so soonest.

not a "refer to twist off caps" as you're claiming here. Yes, light beers generally suck, but not all beers with twist offs are light or girly, as you put it, and I've never heard they don't seal correctly, although I would bet they lose something if they're stored too long. I suggest you edit yourself before hitting that "Enter" button.

Swish

[JoeE SP9]

not a "refer to twist off caps" as you're claiming here. Yes, light beers generally suck, but not all beers with twist offs are light or girly, as you put it, and I've never heard they don't seal correctly, although I would bet they lose something if they're stored too long. I suggest you edit yourself before hitting that "Enter" button.

SwishI was not suggesting beers with twist offs are light or girly. When I started drinking beer a "church key" was a necessity unless you had a large straight bladed screwdriver. Either one would open a can or bottle.The larger the blade the larger the hole you could make in a can in one thrust. By the way, cans were not aluminum back then.
The information about some twist offs not being sealed tightly is from Michael Jackson during one of his beer shows on PBS. Also, I have personally purchased a "six" of Bud that had loose tops on all six. I did return it for another six and those tops were sufficiently tight. I have experienced loose tops only that one time. Those bottles were the short fat bottles. I have tried not to buy them since.
The "girly" comment was in referrence to light beers and was written in jest. I do stand by my comments about light beer tasting watery and having a shortage of flavor and taste. In 41 years of beer drinking I have never tasted a light beer that appealed to me. I can say pretty much the same thing about malt liquor.
According to Mr. Jackson virtually all beers lose something if stored too long. This could be a way of justifying to a significant other drinking ones supplies and purchasing more. Honestly honey, dear, sweety, baby, etc if I hadn't drank it it would have gone bad!http://forums.audioreview.com/images/icons/icon7.gif