jenkinstl Posted February 11, 2016 #1 Share Posted February 11, 2016 My wife and I just returned from our first Azamara cruise, an 11 night cruise of the West Indies. We thought everything was great! My only disappointment was with the beer selection. I like India Pale Ale (IPA) which is the fastest growing craft beer in the US. There were no IPA's available at all. I suggest adding at least one IPA to the inventory especially for cruises leaving the US. The best choice would be Stone IPA. Stone IPA is ranked in the top one or two in the US and is widely available in bottles. The Stone Brewing Co. is headquartered in San Diego Ca. I'm hoping to see an IPA choice for our next Azamara cruise in Feb 2017 leaving from San Diego. http://www.stonebrewing.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skiptomylou Posted February 11, 2016 #2 Share Posted February 11, 2016 I agree. The "included free" beer choices are Budweiser, Bud Light and Becks...I would have thought Becks would be the choice, but to my surprise, Bud was better? Anyway, I would think that with the growing popularity and market share of IPA's across this industry, that Azamara would be a step ahead of the rest in offering one or two. Especially as Azamara increases its North America presence in cruise offerings. Please bring at least ONE IPA to the offering...I think you will be surprised at the reaction. Stone is a great idea!! :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Host Jazzbeau Posted February 11, 2016 #3 Share Posted February 11, 2016 I agree about an IPA, and Stone would be OK. But there are other great choices too. My favorite is Dogfish Head 90 Minute. Victory makes several super-hoppy choices. But for wide distribution and name recognition (without going to one of the formerly craft brewers who has sold out to the majors), I would suggest Sierra Nevada. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Antonintassie Posted February 11, 2016 #4 Share Posted February 11, 2016 I would also raise my hand ( or glass) to a wider included beer selection even one of the other international larger name brands .Perhaps it could be a regional choice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MNgardens Posted February 11, 2016 #5 Share Posted February 11, 2016 Regional choices were poor on our Australia and NZ cruise. Off the top of my head I can only recall two nights when they were the "house" wines. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tv24 Posted February 11, 2016 #6 Share Posted February 11, 2016 I agree, I agree, I agree! Especially regarding the all-inclusive, extremely restrictive beer menu. We do at time enjoy a beer with lunch and the inclusive choices were not acceptable. Happily we had a lot of OBC, so we had no problem paying for Guinness. But only 3 choices on the inclusive, emphasis on American? I think AZ could do better in this area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheLizardHouse Posted February 11, 2016 #7 Share Posted February 11, 2016 I'm not a beer drinker, but would have liked some cider options for our cruise in August. I can't see that there are any options, even for purchase. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoyaheel Posted February 11, 2016 #8 Share Posted February 11, 2016 We are likewise disappointed with the beer choices (we live in NC, and my husband is a homebrewer - we love good beer!) The worst is that our cruise will be Asia, so it's not like we can bring interesting options on board that we pick up in port;) But c'est la vie. We'll drink wine & cocktails for a couple weeks instead. We'll survive:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sanatee Posted February 11, 2016 #9 Share Posted February 11, 2016 Hear, hear! The OP is correct on the popularity of IPAs. Please add at least one, and Stone would be a great choice (but there are many great options that would fit Az distributor lists.) Also, it would be nice to offer a good non-alcoholic such as Beck or St Pauli Girl on the "included" list. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
margbem Posted February 11, 2016 #10 Share Posted February 11, 2016 We have just returned from the same cruise as the OP and would have liked to see Prosecco on the included list. It's not expensive, generally speaking and if they poured the gin and tonics slightly weaker they could afford the Prosecco! Also, the G&T's were always flat. How do they do that when pouring from small cans?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wuppis Posted February 11, 2016 #11 Share Posted February 11, 2016 On the ships of the german cruise line TUI, every ship is called "Mein Schiff", they start offering prosecco already for breakfast. I like to have to wake up (I don´t drink coffee) and I like it before the dinner. Like many others, especially women do. It´s very common also in European hotels, to start offering Prosecco the whole day and it´s included in the basic complimentary drink list on "Mein Schiff". And margbem is right, the price for a bootle of Prosecco must not be expensive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AllisonJames Posted February 11, 2016 #12 Share Posted February 11, 2016 I agree with everything posted! I just posted a question to Bonnie on this on the "What's really included" thread. Better beer and a sparkling wine option -- both so refreshing during the day, especially if its hot (which it won't be on my British Open cruise but I will drink beer and sparkling wine anyway:) Also a brandy option in the included beverage package. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenkinstl Posted February 12, 2016 Author #13 Share Posted February 12, 2016 Which Sierra Nevada IPA would you recommend? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoyaheel Posted February 12, 2016 #14 Share Posted February 12, 2016 (edited) Which Sierra Nevada IPA would you recommend? Depends on what you like - try them all (Costco in NC has a multipack of Sierra IPAs- 4way IPA -Five Hop, Ruthless Rye, Torpedo & Hop Hunter) My husband likes them all, but Torpedo is probably his "go to". Possibly because it's more easily/often available. (as a non-hop head - I'm thrilled that the craft beer movement in NC the past couple years has been heavily focused on farmhouse, saisons & sours - my favorite beers. My husband - the devoted hop-head - is still able to find LOTS he enjoys drinking, however) Edited February 12, 2016 by Hoyaheel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Host Jazzbeau Posted February 12, 2016 #15 Share Posted February 12, 2016 Which Sierra Nevada IPA would you recommend? I was thinking of their original Pale Ale, which would probably be the best common-denominator for a cruise ship. But I would happily go with Hoyaheel's DH on Torpedo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoyaheel Posted February 12, 2016 #16 Share Posted February 12, 2016 Sorry -I thought that was a request for a personal recommendation for a new IPA to try, not for a beer that Azamara should stock :p. I'm sure that supply is an issue for cruise lines, though Azamara would be smaller than most in terms of what they'd need....And like wine, there's no reason you'd need to have the same every day or every cruise. When we sailed Alaska on Pacific Princess a few years back, they stocked Alaskan Amber (Alaskan Brewing Co) and it was nice to have a local beer. And it was a good beer, too:D (which is to say, a beer I enjoyed - taste is subjective, as we all recognize) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenkinstl Posted February 22, 2016 Author #17 Share Posted February 22, 2016 Hoyaheel, No problem. I would just like to see at least one American IPA available on cruises leaving from the US. And why not one of the highest rated? If the link works, here are the highest rated at this time according to this widely used and respected web site. http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/style/116/?sort=brosD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Host Jazzbeau Posted February 22, 2016 #18 Share Posted February 22, 2016 Hoyaheel, No problem. I would just like to see at least one American IPA available on cruises leaving from the US. And why not one of the highest rated? If the link works, here are the highest rated at this time according to this widely used and respected web site. http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/style/116/?sort=brosD Sadly, I suspect that if this decision is made at all it will be heavily biased by distribution channels. The following "micro breweries" are all owned by Anheuser Busch: 10 Barrel Brewing Co, Blue Point, Elysian, Goose Island, Kona Brewing Co, Red Hook, Widmer Brothers. I suspect the IPA of choice will come from one of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenkinstl Posted February 22, 2016 Author #19 Share Posted February 22, 2016 Jazzbeau, Elysian Immortal IPA is great! Not a fan of the others though but have not tried a 10 Barrel Brewing IPA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Host Jazzbeau Posted February 22, 2016 #20 Share Posted February 22, 2016 (edited) Red Hook ESB was great -- but only before Bud bought them. Back then the label said ESB stood for "Extra Special Bitter" -- now under Bud it says "Extra Special Beer" and they have obviously cut down on the use of [expensive] hops. So I'm expecting all these brews to end up with rice in the recipe once the corporate bean-counters get down. [PS - ESB isn't beer anyway, it's ale!] Edited February 22, 2016 by Host Jazzbeau Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenkinstl Posted February 23, 2016 Author #21 Share Posted February 23, 2016 Thanks for the insight on Redhook. Their brewery is a 15 min. drive from my home. We used to go there often. I agree their ESB was great and their Long Hammer IPA was excellent too. Went down hill and we stopped buying. Didn't know the AB connection Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare 81Zoomie Posted February 23, 2016 #22 Share Posted February 23, 2016 Hoyaheel, No problem. I would just like to see at least one American IPA available on cruises leaving from the US. And why not one of the highest rated? If the link works, here are the highest rated at this time according to this widely used and respected web site. http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/style/116/?sort=brosD I am not a big beer drinker, but my DH is. His favorite is IPA. We don't have any Bud, Bud Light, or Becks in our beer fridge. We haven't been offered one at any of our friends houses for a long time either. I know my DH would be thrilled to see an IPA offered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skiptomylou Posted February 23, 2016 #23 Share Posted February 23, 2016 I was looking at cruise options on Celebrity and noticed that they seem to have a craft beer area on certain ships perhaps similar to a wine bar? Anyone experienced this? I would not suggest that Azamara do this, but I do think they would find that offering a couple high end IPA's would be well received. Bonnie, do you know if this has ever been discussed at Azamara? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
critterchick Posted February 23, 2016 #24 Share Posted February 23, 2016 The worst is that our cruise will be Asia, so it's not like we can bring interesting options on board that we pick up in port;) Maybe you can: http://craftbeerasia.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amyr Posted February 23, 2016 #25 Share Posted February 23, 2016 I was thinking of their original Pale Ale, which would probably be the best common-denominator for a cruise ship. But I would happily go with Hoyaheel's DH on Torpedo. Yes, yes, yes! My husband drinks Torpedo at home, but happily drinks the Pale Ale on our Celebrity cruises. Seems like if it's already on board X (and I assume RCI) then it shouldn't be too hard to put it aboard AZ? Sometimes you just want an IPA with your burger at the grill. You just do. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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