Have A Beer With Your Baccy!

[petes03]

Until the last year or so, I really loathed drinking beer wile smoking my pipes. But then I discovered some much better beer than the old swill I was used to.

In the last year or so, I've discovered that English/Balkan blends go well with a good Stout, Porter, or Coffee Milk Stout. I've also discovered that Va' and Va/Per's go nicely with a good Pale Ale or IPA.

Anybody else feel the same way, or am I alone on this one?

I know most prefer the hard stuff with their pipes, and I'm not above a good tumbler of Kracken with my pipe from time to time either. But I really prefer craft beer over the hard stuff.

 

[Perique]

I'm a big fan of a good IPA with a VaPer. So you're not alone there.
Terrapin Hopsecutioner and Lagunitas IPA are my current favorites. Dogfish Head 60 & 90 are right up there too.

 

[petes03]

I thought I wouldn't be alone!

I haven't tried Hopsecutioner, but I'm a Terrapin fan! As a matter of fact, I have some Terrapin Recreation Ale session IPA in my fridge right now.

I also like their Mosaic Red Rye IPA and their Hi-5 IPA.

I haven't had the Lagunitas IPA, but I've had their Brown Shugga, and it's pretty good.

Dogfish 60 ain't bad either.

 

[mephistopheles]

Petes03, I totally agree. For me, I enjoy drinking a locally produced beer called "The Poet" from New Holland Brewing Co. while I smoke. It's an oatmeal stout and it really pairs well with the blends that I've tried it with. It's super good with MM 965. I think it shines with kind of chocolatey aromatics though (1Q, BCA, Russ's Snowdrift, or a mixture of those). The contrast in flavors helps me get more out of both the beer and the smoke.
If you can find it in your area you should check it out. Here is a link to learn more about the properties of the beer or even just what it looks like: http://newhollandbrew.com/our-beer/the-poet/

 

[petes03]

I've actually had The Poet, it is very good!

I have to say, I actually bought it because of the Edgar Allen Poe reference.

 

[mephistopheles]

I'm surprised you've had it! That's awesome. It doesn't seem like a very popular choice around here, but that's fine with me as I'm not above hoarding the stuff. :lol: The literary reference peaked my interests as well and I thought the label was quite attractive when I spotted it in stores. I actually was given my first four pack as a gift to celebrate my own accomplishments as a poet. It really is good stuff. :D

 

[petes03]

I actually found it in six packs at a store in Chattanooga.

My wife doesn't drink, but she was a literature major in college, and Poe is one of her favorites. She actually found the Raven on the label pretty cool too.

I had quite a few different beers, and that one ranks among the top dark beers I've had.

I actually keep a record of the beers I've tried, and to date it stands at 176 different brews.

 

[captainprophesy]

I agree as well, since I'm predominantly an English smoker and predominantly a stout drinker, theyve always paired very well for me. I have a local brewery called Rok House Brewery that has a very nice stout called Skul Crusher that I thoroughly enjoy with a nice pipe, the owner/brewer is also a pipe smoker so we smoke together many times.

 

[jackswilling]

The statistics are so crazy bad for pipe smoking and drinking that I would just pick one or the other. I can easily live without alcohol. Non-drinking pipe smokers are at a low risk, drink and the risk is way beyond my level of comfort.

 

[jackswilling]

The statistics are so crazy bad for pipe smoking and drinking that I would just pick one or the other. I can easily live without alcohol. Non-drinking pipe smokers are at a low risk, drink and the risk is way beyond my level of comfort. Regardless, drinking and smoking seem to go hand-in-glove, notwithstanding the risk.

 

[mephistopheles]

That is really cool! You're keeping track like a professional wine taster over there, eh? I've tried maybe 15 or 20 common beers total (I'm a college student). The Poet is easily my favorite. I also like that cheapo Labatt Blue lager that you can find at most gas stations and grocery stores around here. You'll have to give me some recommendations. I'd be very grateful to find a few new beers, especially if they are anything like The Poet. :D

 

[petes03]

That's cool!

We have a few local breweries around here, but I've not had the opportunity to try many of their brews.

So far, the best local brew I've had is one called Chestnut Street Nut Brown Ale by The Chattanooga Brewing Co.

 

[cobguy]

Love an IPA with Va or VaPer! Firestone Easy Jack IPA is a new favorite.

 

[petes03]

@melhistopheles.

Yeah, I'm kinda weird like that! I do the same thing with tobacco and guns too.

I think to date I've tried a little over 120 different tobaccos, and I've shot over 170 different guns in about 50 or 60 different calibers.
As for some brews you might like, Highland Black Mocha Stout, Atwater Vanilla Java Porter, Young's Double Chocolate Stout, Left Hand Milk Stout, and The Duck Rabbit Milk Stout are some very good ones.

Also, if you like coffee, try you some Narragansett Autocrat Coffee Milk Stout. It tastes just like black coffee by itself, and is also very good when you add about 2 oz. of milk to the bottom of the glass before you pour it.

 

[petes03]

Also, Oskar Blues Ten Fidy Imperial Russian Stout is a good one, but be forewarned, it has a black coffee flavor that is "in your face" strong, and it's 10.5% abv!

 

[jkrug]

I too enjoy a good craft brew with a good bowl of tobacco. Seems the IPA's go nicely with Virginia and VaPers and the stouts and dark ales match up nicely with the English blends. I have to many trusty favourites to name them but the Young's Double Chocolate Stout you mentioned is among them for sure. I had a couple pints of Duck Rabbit Milk Stout last week when my wife and I were in Nashville...delicious!! I will have to try adding a couple ounces of milk to the glass before pouring to see how that is. Never tried it but it sounds intriguing for sure. I'm thinking creamy and smooth? I bet half and half cream would be pretty good too. ::

 

[warren]

If a beer is called for when I have an evening pipe it is always Guinness. Dull, dependable, always available Guinness. I do envy a bit you guys that are always up for new experience, I've gotten to the point what I enjoy most when relaxing is a dependable pipe, a reliable beverage and my comfortable chair.

 

[petes03]

@jkrug.

Yes it is smooth and creamy! I've only tried it with the Narragansett and with Highland Thunderstruck Coffee Porter.

It holds together pretty well with the Narragansett, but separates pretty quickly with the Thunderstruck. It's still good though.
@warren. Nothing wrong with good ole Guinness!

 

[ray47]

In my younger days, when I drank beer, I found that the beer made the tobacco taste too bitter. I did however find that wine went good with pipe tobacco. Nowadays I just drink coffee.

 

[greyfoxactual]

I found that Dos Equis Winter Bock (perhaps not to be found again sadly) went well with Anniversary Kake extremely well. If you can still find some floating around, or it pops up this winter, give it a go.