Tom Tuttle, we have a brewery here in Pittsburgh that makes a German style lager, Hefeweizen, and a few seasonal beers. Throw a nickel in their cup indeed; I support this place at least once a week. : )

Two questions: has anyone been to the Hofbrauhaus in Cincinnati

and

has anyone ever tried Fat Tire beer? I heard its good.

btw, about to celebrate Oktoberfest this weekend:

http://www.pennbrew.com

[Good times!

(can't get the URL to work)

To nitpick...a Hefeweizen is a traditional German style, but it's technically an ale. Lagers are fermented using a bottom fermenting yeast as opposed to ales where the yeast is top fermenting. Additionally the temperature ranges are different, lagers are fermented (and aged, referred to as "lagering") at cooler temps than ales.

A few commercial examples (not that you can find them everywhere):

Octoberfests:
Paulaner, Hacker-Pschorr, Ayinger, Hofbräu, Spaten, Goose Island, Samuel Adams

Double Bocks:
Paulaner Salvator, Ayinger Celebrator, Spaten Optimator

God, how I love Ayinger Celebrator.

Yes, Peter, but you know it can never work

Andrew's got it covered on the classic examples. Great beer time of year. I forgot about Goose Island. Full Sail used to brew an ENORMOUS Fest beer. I mean really, steroids. Big and chewy, but so unlike the subtler versions as to be nearly out of style. Recognizable and wonderful, but silly strong.

We'll never catch the politics thread in number of posts, but the quality of life is much better here. Anybody drink any good or new beers with the onset of football season?

I did not know there was a Hofbrauhaus in Cincy. New reasons to travel to Ohio! I was very interested when Bigwill alerted me to the existence of the one in Vegas (which I've also not seen, yet). Is the one in Cincinnati also an authentic reproduction of the hall in Munich?

I've been to the one in Munich. Neener neener.

Fat Tire is the cash-cow of New Belgium Brewing in Fort Collins, CO. They make great beers. Fat Tire is reliable and can be quite good if you get it fresh. I've found that it is better on draught, and is a welcome site in places where it might be the only beer with character in bars that serve multiple variants of Budmilloors. I like the stronger styles they brew better, but Fat Tire is a pretty nice amber beer, with a depth of flavor (from the yeast) uncommon in mass-market American beer.

If I come to Pittsburgh, can I eat all the yummy food and stuff without having to drink Iron City?

Tom: I think the one in Cincy isn't a reproduction but its run by the folks in Munich. Actually, I think its in Kentucky but right across the river is Cincy. Many times I've pondered a road trip there.

I've been to the Hofbrauhaus in Munich also. Did you check out Augustiner Keller also? Ohhhhh, there's nothing like an evening at the bier garden.

My lady is from Cologne so, by birthright, she is forbidden to appreciate the Bavarian or Helles style lagers over the Rhineland beers. Its Kolsch all the way for her.

Yeah, if you find yourself in the Burgh, I definitely recommend that you shun Iron City for the Penn Brewery or the Sharp Edge Beer Emporium (fine Belgians, etc.). Sometimes I think Iron City goes down as smooth as broken glass.

Costco in my area has the Spaten Oktoberfest at $20/case - not bad. I like the Paulaner a little better, but wtf it's Costco. I would love to try HB Oktoberfest - never even seen it. Celebrator is tremendous and expensive.
IF ANYONE EVER HAS THE CHANCE TO BUY SOME KULMBACHER REICHELBRAU (the pale one) PLEASE, PLEASE GRAB ME AS MUCH AS YOU CAN CARRY!!! I had semi-erotic dreams about that beer for a long time - it goes great with mushrooms (mushroom appetizers, of course ).

screw that sissy german beer......I'm working on a keg of Arrogant Bastard ale right now. Oh wait, I need another pint......One of the benefits of being a bachlor with a kegerator......

Costco has kegerators for about $300. Kegs of many tasty micro brews are about $120. There's just something special about a fresh draft first thing in the morning after a hard night of partying.

Oh, time for another.....later.

Ok guys, since this weekend is Octoberfest I figure I might as well celibrate, but I haven't really ever explored many German beers. I'm too stuck on Belgians at the moment. Anyway, I have had Spaten Optimator, and Beck's dark before and I enjoy them both. However, I turn to you guys for some German suggestions. Preferably no Lagers or Pilsners though. Thanks in advance.