So, I'm here at work and the homebrew discussion [goats.com] has awakened a mighty thirst in me (it's been over 6 weeks since I've been in a bar and drank beer.) and also reawakened a self-consciousness about my lack of beery knowledge.

So, like anyone seeking knowledge in this modern age, I forewent the 'going to the library' process and marched straight to google. Where I found this [tourismvictoria.com]. And lo, I was scared. Bock? Porter? I thought 'dry' was a modifier describing flavor, not a type of beer unto itself.

Beer.com's obnoxious, Lager.com's being sat on, and Ale.com [ale.com] was... not what one'd expect.

Where's www.Beerdot.org? Where's www.ibdb.com? Where's www.PissWaterOrNot.com? And why hasn't Phillip coded them up? I would figure a beer information/hobbyist-community/database site would be a more alluring project than some I can think of [goats.com]. (Not that's that's not nifty, but it seems... out of character?)

Anyways, are there any hobbyist/appreciation sites out there that can give me the full education I need? Or would you inebriates like to fill me in personally? Either will do. ;)

Since it sounds like you need some background info into the sport of competitive beer 'tasting' I think you might find this [amazon.com] helpful. I received it a few years ago as a stocking stuffer, and it gives some great background info on breweries, beer styles, serving temps, and glassware. Things every beer pedant should know. I disagree with some of the ratings in the book, but it has quite a few brews in there, so it might give you some background on what you might like to try.

I learned the most about beers by taking one for the team, and belly-ing up to the bar; trying whatever I could. There were quite a few brew pubs where I grew up; and there was also a really great pub where I went to college that had an amazing number of beers on tap, with a highly knowledgeable bar staff. I'm not sure if you'd have anything like that in your area, but I could think of much worse things to waste your time with.

So I'd say, just get out there and pull a few pints. I highly recomend the hefe-weizen.

This guy [beerhunter.com] knows quite a bit about beer. A good place to start.

in my underage opinion,
most macro-brews are watered down and crappy.
Micro-brews and home brews are the way to go.

A friend of mine makes this AMAZING Honey Wheat Ale.

He lives in california and is a cop. Since the law in california is that a cop cannot have a beer lisence, he can only have "tasting sesions" and ask for "donations"

Stupid california crazyness.

There are sites that I know of (but forgot the URL) that have public tasting affairs, like at a county fair. $5 and you get to tastes an insane amount of beer, and free snacks sometimes.

Jackson's probably the best out there, at www.beerhunter.com. He really really knows his stuff.
I think beer drinkers are afraid of becoming too much like wine snobs to ever really do anything like what you're suggesting, but something more like IMDB and less like <A href="www.winespectator.com>Wine Spectator</a> would be more appreciated.

Jackson's probably the best out there, at www.beerhunter.com. He really really knows his stuff.
I think beer drinkers are afraid of becoming too much like wine snobs to ever really do anything like what you're suggesting, but something more like IMDB and less like <A href="http://www.winespectator.com>Wine Spectator</a> would be more appreciated.

Okay McGrue here's the down-lo from up north :

  There's Moosehead (www.moosehead.com) a brewery from Saint John NB, they make some of the finest Canadian brews according to the original tradition

There's Keith's (keiths.ca) from Halifax NS That also make fine beer in the same tradtition as they started with in 1820.

Two of our best presonally tested (repeatedly, I assure you ;-P) by yours truly and highly recommended!

  In International beer, I wouls also recommend :

Bitter : Ellezelloise, their Quintine
Massive Ale : Arcense's Hartog Jan grand prestige

Cheers and happy intoxication!

In Response to Magus (#9321):

If you're going to be pushing Canadian beer, don't forget Maudite [unibroue.com] - that stuff's amazing.

In Response to samayg (#9379):

Maudite and Blanche de Chambly are why we won't let Quebec separate.

In Response to jen (#9380):

vive Quebec
Vive jay sherman
Vive la Canadian Beer

There is actually something close to an internet beer database. www.ratebeer.com has taught me a lot about beer. beeradvocate.com isn't bad either.