For $3 you can a tall PBR and a shot of Beam at Bob 'n Barbara's in Philly. I think Tritone (just down/across the street) offers the same. I miss Philly. Some of it.

Ah, beer-snobbery. I'd get into homebrewing myself, but working in the juice industry, I spend my days preparing and bottling beverages as it is. I offset my own lack of ambition with the fact that my girlfriend's stepdad is one of NY's top homebrewers, and supplies me generously.

Fun Fact: while in Toronto last spring, I found that the best drink-value was a number of bars serving Hoegaarden Wit for $6-7 for a quart glass. Sure, it's like drinking out of a bucket, but even with the crappy exchange rate, that works out really well.

At least we can reach a common appreciation of booze, if not what constitutes sport.

@Paul Y: Amen, to all of it.

Hey Jonny, I need to, uh, borrow that bottle of Westvleteren 12. I just want to see how it fits in my little beer cellar (a modified short fridge), you know...just to see...in case I ever have a bottle of my own.
More seriously, how long do you plan on cellaring that one? It's such a tough decision when you can only get one bottle, rather than getting say 4 and forming your own opinions of how it tastes at 0 years, 2 years, 4 years, 8 years...something like that.

In Tampa, Florida, we have the Hub, a place where all the alcoholics hang out at, with drinks harder than well....you know. After a bit of time there, you'll think you're a dragon in no time.

@sandwich_pants: I've had it about a year. I'll probably drink it fairly soon.

That said, years ago people were making fake labels and importing them (illegally) into NYC. My buddy snatched up 2-cases for something nuts like $2.99 a bottle. That was a nice weekend.

"all we need is one more beer to teach the world to sing in harmony"

Oh man, Tuman's. I miss that place.

That's really sad.

@jonnylieberman:
Geez, nowadays you even need to schedule your pickup at Westvleteren using their beer phone and that is, of course, for a fairly limited quantity. Ah, for the days before the internet made everyone aware of the rare, yet attainable Belgian gems... I guess I'll just have to make due with Rochefort 10 and the bagillions of other great beers I have access too here in Michigan...

@sandwich_pants: I have a friend in Belgium and I asked him if he had any. He was amazed I even knew it existed...

Jonny -- My Dad has become interested in homebrewing beer in recent years, and for Christmas two years ago gave me a Mr. Beer kit, which I sadly have yet to unbox. Dad's stuff is terrific, but my beer palate is totally uneducated (probably killed off by my gin swigging...) Anyone who is a paid lecturer on any technically involved subject, including homebrewing, instantly earns my utmost respect and admiration, and reminds me why the Gawker blogs are so superior to most of the dregs [ironic pun fully intentional] found elsewhere on the Interwebs.

Old Style, now that's a Chicago tavern.

If you want some alcohol abuse humor/support go to
moderndrunkardmagazine.com Hilarious.

@FLB:
I think much of the world would be surprised at the quality and magnitude of the beer appreciation and brewing that exists in America today. Who can blame them though, when the loudest voice in American beer is Anheuser/Busch (from a commercial standpoint of course)

@jonnylieberman: Any chance that, in addition to homebrewing lectures, you might also give classes in beer appreciation? If so, where might someone find some information?

I thought pro wrestling was The Young & The Restless for dudes with mullets. Same difference I guess.

First the Subie, then the Bugatti Royale, Now beer snobbery?! Get out of my head.

@Paul Y: Oh, what I wouldn't give for a draft Hoegaarden in a frosted glass, in my part of the world, right now.

I was first exposed to it after sailing with my best mate across from Ipswich to Niewpoort, Belgium. It was a rough crossing and we were tired, grumpy and sunburnt.

We hobbled to a small cafe in a cobbled town square, and in our best French (piss poor) ordered Une Biere sil vous plait, before retiring to the courtyard table.

When the glasses arrived, they looked like glasses of milk, until i lifted one to find it was a very cold glass with the most delicate ever frosting of ice. Almost like snow. So well cooled was it that the frosting was stil there after 20 minutes in the 26deg summer heat.

And the taste. So much more of an event than the insipid London brewed lagers of home. Every glass would be a celebration.

We got deep, warm drunk that night.

OK, so the Jalopnik Road Trip will involve a tour of the Alameda DOTS, preferably in the Tornado-sine, but also possibly the back of an appropriately fired up Camino for that wonderful Nantucket sleigh ride experience; a lengthy beer appreciation course with Lieberman, and a side roadtrip to Akron or wherever the hell it is that Junkman dwells with his personal fantasy garage. Though not necessarily in that order. Preferably timed to the next LeMons.

So sorry...but the Czech beer Budweiser Budvar is definitely the world's best beer, with Pilsner Urquell a close second.

Fortunately the Canadians, or at least the French Canadians, are busy at Unibroue making Belgian-style ales that I can buy without having to sell a kidney.

@Littlecarrot: Yeah, see, that's like saying a stock Corvette is the world's best car and a Mustang GT is a close second.

No, really -- that's what it is like.

Continuing from these comments:

Hey, you, beer me...

Duff Beer for me!
Duff Beer for you!
I'll have a Duff!
You have one, too!

dude
1.080??
how about PLATO?
20 degrees plato?
no pro says 1.080...
you want people to think you are some homebrewer or something?

As a displaced Belgian in Michigan, I manage to guilt my relatives in to hand carrying a few beers I can not find locally across the pond whenever they get a chance to visit. I also make sure they bring over a few of the glasses of whatever beer they are bringing. Part of the charm of a good beer is drinking it out of the right glass. What makes it tough though is to decide the Belgian chocolate/Belgian beer balance.

I have to give a shout out to a US relative, working in the beer distribution business. He has been feeding my beer habit by giving me a case of Affligem Double.

@M0L0TOV:

Been there. Well actually "The HUB" part 2 Just after they moved it from it's orig location. It truly feels like a bar should feel. local, no frills and unlike most bars of central Florida non touristy. Not to mention the copious pours one get!

Everyone that visits and or talks about The HUB mentions the heavy handed pours. It's almost like a motto

@frank_rizzo:
Oh yeah, the drinks are pure gasoline. If you want no frills, go to the Tiny Tap off of Howard....they don't even accept debit cards.

@jonnylieberman: I'll find you, Beer Baron...

Hey guys, I'm a little worried about the beer supply! After this case, and then the next case, we've only got one case left! Yeah Barney's right! Yeah we need more beer!

Ha, I walked into my buddy's place the other day with a sixer of Hoegaarden and a sixer of PBR. You know, for balance.

Thanks for the (shared) COTD honors. I'll stop complaining about the 928 from now on.

@sandwich_pants: Seriously, make a float out of Bell's Double Cream Stout and vanilla ice cream. Best dessert, ever.

Living in Michigan does have redeeming qualities.

@jonnylieberman: I have respect for the Pilsner, but that made my head hurt.