My cry of anguish was more for the dry-hopping, which I *know* isn't supposed to add bitterness, but always tastes....*wrong* somehow to me.

I have yet to find an American-brewed beer that that tastes like an English bitter. A local brewpub waiter tried to convince me that their bitter was just like an English bitter. Not so much.

t gronk

This weekend I'm buying a replacement filter for our noisy air filter. We haven't been using it since we moved to the new place a year ago, since it has better natural air circulation/ventilation than the old one. But the Insomnia Fairy has at least TRIPLED her visits because now that there's not an air filter whirring away in a monotone drone in the background, every little noise wakes me up. Heater cutting on, heater cutting off, wind, rain, DH snoring...and I'm awake.

I feel like I should be able to train myself to sleep better, but this has gone on for a year now. So I'm going to do what I need to actually SLEEP even if I feel like a spoiled diva for needing such perfect conditions.

I'd agree, Ginger- I think a lot of it for me is that the English bitters I've had tend to be casked, so slightly warmer and not as carbonated. The CBC Bitter was definitely hoppier than an English bitter is but it was still pretty good. I feel like English bitters have a different mouthfeel (lighter) as well, but that may be just because of the cask aspect as well.

Yeah, if she had told me first, no big, Sox. But I hate when I don't know I'm supposed to be under the gun when I am. ALSO, better to tell me you got no gas in the car before Dumb Self-Indulgent Errand, not after. I don't drive. I don't know how big a tank is. I would eaten the chowdah instead.

Susan, I had that same problem after I went on the Wellbutrin, and I found that taking a benedryl helped to smooth that out.

Laura, healing~ma to her. You never know how tough those old ladies are; my grandmother is 95 and hasn't slowed down much even after multiple falls/breaks/surgeries. Maybe this will be the same.

I am Teppy in regards to the bitter/hoppy aversion. Yum malt.

I am also home now. I made it through the beginning of my last class and just couldn't take the headache and cough anymore. My department head, who I love on the level that Cash love's O's teacher right now, took my class for me so I could go home. I'm about to nap and hope the fever goes away.

I suspect it is the casks, although I have had a few bottled English bitters that came close. The bitters in the pubs are smoother and I think the hops make a big difference. By comparison with most American craft ales, bitter isn't bitter at all.

Thank you, Kristin. She is a tough one. I hope the nap helps you feel better.

My current favorite beer is Smithwicks. I don't know how it's characterized, other than as a "red" ale, at least in terms of its hoppiness or maltiness, but all I know is it's damn smooth and doesn't give me any of that nasty bite on the way down that so many beers do (I'm lookin' at you, Sam Adams and Goose Island!). I have yet to pick it for drinking at home (only have had it on draft at bars/restaurants), but I'll probably pick up a 6-pack for home consumption soon.