The ever-mobile Kiwi

[RK_Striker_JK_5]

Now I just have to learn to survive your winters.

*Hands over a snow shovel and pair of boots*

[Mikey]

Now I just have to learn to survive your winters.

*Hands over a snow shovel and pair of boots*

We just had a winter as mild as any I remember. What will really take some getting used to is the ubiquity of "light" lager-style beer and the (mercifully) complete absence of Vegemite.

[RK_Striker_JK_5]

Now I just have to learn to survive your winters.

*Hands over a snow shovel and pair of boots*

We just had a winter as mild as any I remember. What will really take some getting used to is the ubiquity of "light" lager-style beer and the (mercifully) complete absence of Vegemite.

Yes, but we must keep up appearances.

[Teaos]

I have really understood 'light' beer. What purpose does it serve? Why drink light when regular 5% isn't exactly lethal.

[Tsukiyumi]

Lower calories, I guess.

Pointless, imo.

[Nutso]

Lower calories, I guess.

Pointless, imo.

All this time I thought I was drinking less alcohol. Instead I was drinking health-beer. Ugh.

[Mikey]

I have really understood 'light' beer. What purpose does it serve? Why drink light when regular 5% isn't exactly lethal.

"Light" beer doesn't have any less alcohol than any other beer (except for Satan Ale, maybe, which is 14 proof.) The difference is lower calories and in some recent trends like Michelob Ultra, greatly reduced carb count. Also, with rare exceptions like the Dutch brand Amstel Light, it tends to taste like the Monty Python assessment of American beer: "like making love in a canoe.^*" Personally, I generally drink beers that aren't available in "light" varieties anyway, either seasonally-appropriate ones or more exotic types such as Hacker-Pschorr or Urquell.

^* -

That is, "fucking close to water."

[McAvoy]

Light beer is also easier to drink for some people. Generally I don't drink light beer myself. I lean towards darker beers. My favorite is St. George Porter. But there is this new brewery that just opened up literally down the street from me. Their stout is excellent too but I can only ge them in 22 oz.

The Big Three are a disgrace to beer.

[Tsukiyumi]

The Big Three are a disgrace to beer.

Agreed. I prefer heartier beers myself, stuff like Lawnmower and my personal favorite, Shiner Black.

[Angharrad]

I'm allergic to beer.

[Tsukiyumi]

I'm allergic to beer.

Bummer.

[mwhittington]

I prefer Samuel Adams Boston Lager, but Sierra Nevada's seasonal beers are pretty good, like their Celebration Ale and Summerfest. I'm not a big fan of their Pale Ale, although their Torpedo IPA is pretty good. The brewery is in Chico, Ca. which is only 20 min. from where I live. Their restaurant is really good.

And I won't even use the big 3 for cooking.

[Teaos]

I doubt anyone here knows it but the New Zealand beer tui is my favourite then Corona mainly due to its availability on ship.

[Tsukiyumi]

Chico, Ca.

That's where my mom was born.

I doubt anyone here knows it but the New Zealand beer tui is my favourite then Corona mainly due to its availability on ship.

Corona is great on a hot day. Lime doesn't hurt, of course. Never heard of tui.

[Mikey]

Depends on the season/weather and the accompanying meal for me. I find that beer is like wine in that the best beer for a meal is often one from that cuisine's nation of origin - Tecate or Dos Equis with Mexican food, Asahi or Sapporo (Ki-rin is Japanese Budweiser) with Japanese food, etc. I like witbier or Pilsner Urquell in summer, while fall or early spring often call for a Scottish heavy, porter, or amber ale and winter is for stouts, maibiers, and bocks.