Group,

Okay, I guess I'm on a kind of quest, trying to broaden my culinary horizons. Since anyone posting on this forum is automatically assumed to have the requisite good taste--or they wouldn't be posting here--I'm sure that any edification that you can offer will be prized by all who read it.

After a day on a trout stream, is there a better beer or ale to drink than Whatney's Red Barrel, and if so, what is it?

-JP

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"I fish, therefore I am."

All beer is worth drinking after a day on a trout stream. As a general rule of thumb: the hotter the day, the lighter the beer.

In line wth Richard's suggestion, seems to me that Guiness (is that one n or two) after steelheading is quite appropriate. For warmer days, I'll take an IPA from almost any brewer, although I have to admit that Sierra Nevada Pale Ale is hard to beat most of the time. For really hot days, ice-cold wheat beer with a slice of lemon.

Jeff,

I'm also partial to Sierra Nevada Pale Ale on warm days, and likewise agree that it is wise to go lighter as the temperature rises. I've enjoyed SLO's fermented fluids since a friend of mine who graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo turned me on to them. I haven't had any in a long time, though, as none of the markets that I've found in my area carry them. Whenever I'm visiting the Central Coast, I make it a point to stock up.

-JP

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"I fish, therefore I am."

Since I'm sure it will be met with the requisite booing and hissing and such I'll forego any mention of my 2 favorites: Budweiser and/or Olympia and recommend you try Lost Coast Brewing Company's beers from Eureka. Their Downtown Brown is my favorite micro-brew and tastes much like a light porter. All of their beers are excellent and have great artwork on their labels.

When I'm being my usual crass self, Bud Light.
I like Sierra Nevada Pale Ale and Downtown Brown also

SLO Pale ale is particularly nice without being too hoppy
Also for a lager Warsteiner is good. Both are available at Trader Joes

Only One Brew does it for me after a hot day's angling: Pacifico Clara.

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Loyd-Just look at what you have started!

Flymaker,

Pacifico is one of my favorite salt water fishing beers. It accompanies fresh memories of recently caught corbinas most adequately.

-JP

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"I fish, therefore I am."

Then again, there are those of us who believe that the only Mexican beer worth quaffing is Negro Modelo. Nothing else south o' the border can stand up to it body-wise, yet it's not so heavy as to deaden enjoyment after a hot day on a boat or beach.

All:
Shouldn't we really have a "Fly Fisher's Ale" or something. You know-Some specially shaped bottle with a built-in insulation layer for keeping it chilled when stashed in the FF'ing vest ? How about 8 OZ curved pocket flask bottles. Some vests have 13 pockets! The "FlyFisher's Beer" bottles should have tethered twist-off caps & be sold in two-packs. The label should feature a classic Fly graphic, or insect-maybe even different flies or bugs for different brew batches: batching the hatch-sort of. I can envision one such beer being named "Upstream Dry" -a Pilsner of course. How about "Parachute Pilsner". Adams beer is already spoken for. I think "Damsel Dark" works.

One thing for sure-it is friday........Time to fish a little.
Rich

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Loyd-Just look at what you have started!

Being of Belgian blood I have a certain ingrained affinity for beer...
I tend to like the more full bodied beers but there is a place on hot days for the Sierra Nevda Pale Ale, as many here have mentioned.
For a real flavorfull beer it is hard to beat Mad River Brewing's "Steelhead Stout". This is a beer you can chew! thick and rich...
But living in Fort Bragg I also have a certain allegiance to the local: Northcoast Brewery and their great line of beers: Old 45 Stout is rich; Red Seal Ale is smooth and refreshing (much like SNPA); Rasputin is for the strong willed beer drinker! Highest alcohol content I have ever had in a brew (8.9%) and a great taste. Not everyone's cup-o-tea but worth a try. They also make a "lambic" (Belgian) style beer that is very much like the beers in Belgium, "Pranqster", yeasty and unusual.
When I am out traveling (fishing) I always try to find the best local beer. I am so pleased the microbrewery business has taken off here in CA!
In Belgium there are more than 130 licensed brewers! Think of this, in a country just about three times the size of Mendocino County! And here (Mendo County) we have a mere 3 or 4!

Remember: Beer is older than the pyramids!

I must say I am full agreement with everyone...beer is your friend anyway you slice it.

In a boat, in very hot weather, I like to drink beer during the fishing too...and I prefer beer in cans for boat drinking. Makes for more compact trash and no risk of broken glass in the boat. Tecate...with a little salt and a squeeze of lime on the rim, is my favorite hot weather light beer in a can. If bottles...I agree that Negro Modelo es la cerveza mas fina as far as Mexican beer goes.

Oddly enough I'll also drink just plain old budweiser in a can.

After fishing beer, to me, is better in a bottle. My favorites, in this order:

1. Lagunitas IPA
2. Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
3. Newcastle Brown (also a good warm weather beer)

Beyond what a few beers won't do, give me some bourbon...Maker's Mark preferably.

Marcus

2 hours north of the San fernando valley, where I reside, along highway 14 before it merges with Highway 395, resides the INDIAN WELLS BREWERY. There is actually the Brewery & a Resturant in the little pull out.
Anyway, I Always stop & Purchase some of their Wonderful MOJAVE GOLD Lager. it has become my Favorite Beer & A Must Have for any trips up the Eastern Sierras or onto the Kern Plateau.... I originally drank their Mojave Red Lager...which is a bolder Lager. But The "Gold" is a lighter colour & it isn't soo Strong in the Taste Dept.
The Brewery is always a Must stop heading up to go fishing. You can actually set in the Brewery,enjoy a Beer & eat a bowl of fresh buttered Popcorn (which I usually only eat at the Theatres). They have some interesting T-shirts & caps to buy & sell very tasty Root Beer & other Non alcohol drinks for the Kids (my nephew, Cody, loves their Rootbeer). Besides they sell those Sweet Banana Wax Peppers that I so love (put out by Schaubs(?) of Lone Pine)...The peppers have the spicy taste without the "Burn a hole thru your head" thing going...not that i don't like Hot Peppers....
Anyway I Always vist the Brewery on the way up to fish (& often on the way money to bring home afew precious 6-packs for special occasions & Special Friends....)
The Brewery is open 7 days aweek from 9:30 to 5:30.......


DEAN.....

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"Buy the Ticket, Take the Ride" Hunter S. Thompson

Dean, thanks for the tip re the Indian Wells Brewery. I just checked their web site and discovered their beer should also be available at Costco.