The OFFICIAL Craft Beer Thread

Rush2112 · Post by **Rush2112** » Thu Aug 11, 2016 11:06 am

I'm jealous of your friend as well.

Have a college buddy that lives just outside Waterbury so he's trading Focal Banger/Heady for all sorts of shit. AND he still owes me for some beer that I sent him last year. He said he'd send me some Heady, and I told him he better send some Hill Farmstead for making me wait.

I do like some of the NE style, but the straight OJ ones are a one pint in my mind. I've been hard down the DIPA trail, so MALT as well as HOPS.

Now for a completely different style, about to put my Belgian strong in secondary. My lord that took a lot of adjunct sugar.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Thu Aug 11, 2016 11:23 am

Ever have Treehouse Julius? That's a super-duper-awesome OJ one.

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Thu Aug 11, 2016 12:27 pm

Rush2112 wrote:I'm jealous of your friend as well.

Have a college buddy that lives just outside Waterbury so he's trading Focal Banger/Heady for all sorts of shit. AND he still owes me for some beer that I sent him last year. He said he'd send me some Heady, and I told him he better send some Hill Farmstead for making me wait.

I do like some of the NE style, but the straight OJ ones are a one pint in my mind. I've been hard down the DIPA trail, so MALT as well as HOPS.

Now for a completely different style, about to put my Belgian strong in secondary. My lord that took a lot of adjunct sugar.

One of the Trilliums tasted like they poured in a little OJ before bottling. My friend said Cutting Tiles DIPA is Trillium's most sought after beer. It is single hopped with Mosaic and Mosaic dry hopped, and brewed with some honey. I thought it was way too sweet and fruity. It needed more malt backbone and an additional hop to break up the one-note flavor. That said I totally get why people love this beer.

I've never seen Gunhill, do they distribute? My friend isn't into the weed IPAs, so he gave me a can of All Dank Everything. I am most psyched for that one, but it's 3 months old. Hopefully it hasn't lost much.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Thu Aug 11, 2016 12:57 pm

I've only ever seen them on tap in the city.

Rush2112 · Post by **Rush2112** » Thu Aug 11, 2016 4:20 pm

mister d wrote:Ever have Treehouse Julius? That's a super-duper-awesome OJ one.

I have, and I enjoyed it. Typically I only like one (though I think I drank both cans I had back to back.)

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Sun Sep 18, 2016 6:59 pm

Ranked ...

1. Fiddlehead Mastetmind
2. Treehouse Green
3. Heady Topper
4. Industrial Arts State of the Art
5. Industrial Arts Vital(?)

3 vs 4 is the only slot that could be debated. Not including beer fests, this was as good as a day gets. All five easily make my top ~25 all time.

(It was a five year old's birthday party.)

Rush2112 · Post by **Rush2112** » Sun Sep 18, 2016 10:03 pm

Nice.

I really like Fiddlehead.

had some Trilliums last week when I was back in MA. Very good, but I think I am more of a DIPA fan. Need some malt.

Looking forward to GABF in a few weeks. First time I've been able to hit the member's session in quite a few years.

Rush2112 · Post by **Rush2112** » Thu Sep 22, 2016 2:48 pm

GABF brewery list..

Any suggestions for places that fly under the radar?

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Thu Sep 22, 2016 2:53 pm

IF West Sixth has their IPA, I'd say give it a shot. If it's one of their others be leery. I like a lot of their stuff but the IPA is a good go-to IPA.

govmentchedda · Post by **govmentchedda** » Thu Sep 22, 2016 2:55 pm

Tampa area beers:
I like J Dub's Poolside Kolsch and Passion Wheat out of Sarasota. You're my Boy Blue from Brew Bus out of Tampa. J Wakefield out of Miami is known for their sours. Funky Buddha Last Snow Porter is great, as is their Nib Smuggler Chocolate Milk Porter.

Post by **brian** » Thu Sep 22, 2016 3:05 pm

Vegas breweries that are there are not among our best. Of them, Tenaya Creek probably only one worth checking out. Great Basin out of Reno probably worth checking out though. Their stuff is always solid.

vandwagon · Post by **vandwagon** » Thu Sep 22, 2016 3:08 pm

As far as Maryland breweries:

I'm a big fan of Union Craft Brewing. I love the Duckpin pale ale and Double Duckpin double IPA. Everything I've had here has been good with the exception of the Old Pro, a sour-gose style, which just isn't my thing.

Flying Dog The Truth is an Imperial Double that is fantastic. That and the Double Duckpin are probably my favorite beers.

Jailbreak has a Hefeweizen called Feed the Monkey that I enjoyed the other week.

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Thu Sep 22, 2016 3:20 pm

Rush2112 wrote:GABF brewery list..

Any suggestions for places that fly under the radar?

I'll put in a plug for Devil's Canyon brewery, from San Carlos, California. I'm partial to their scotch ale, but Rush, I think I've mentioned before that I think you'd have a soft spot for this offering of theirs:

Rush2112 · Post by **Rush2112** » Thu Sep 22, 2016 4:38 pm

Nice. We'll have to go next time I'm out your way.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Thu Sep 22, 2016 6:37 pm

NJ: Kane is spectacular across the board

NY: To the extent I know them, its all a pass ... none of the good ones on the list

MA: Lord Hobo solid, heard good things on Night Shift, Wormtown if their DIPA is there

MD: Agreed on Union Craft ... its not upper-upper but its strong in a Victory kinda way

Post by **Sabo** » Thu Sep 22, 2016 8:04 pm

Rush2112 wrote:GABF brewery list..

Any suggestions for places that fly under the radar?

The Brew Kettle's White Rajah IPA is fairly well known and regarded as a good example of a West Coast IPA. They also make a chocolate coconut stout called Kitka that's very tasty.

Rhinegeist's Truth IPA is excellent. They also have a rye IPA called Hustle that's damn good.

MadTree's Psychopathy is another really good IPA.

Almost anything from Great Lakes Brewing Co. is good, but their Edmund Fitzgerald Porter is arguably the best example of the style. If they have their Christmas Ale available, knock back a pint or two. Avoid the Commodore Perry IPA, which I think is very bland.

Willoughby Brewing Company makes an awesome chocolate peanut butter cup coffee porter. If you have a chance, get a pint.

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Thu Sep 22, 2016 8:56 pm

Rush2112 wrote:GABF brewery list..

Any suggestions for places that fly under the radar?

Second Kane. Everything they do is solid to great. They don't experiment much, but what they do is perfect.

Prison City out of Auburn NY had the #1 IPA on Paste's 247 (or whatever) IPA contest. Never even heard of them before. Haven't tried any of the other NJ breweries. Haven't been to Gaslight, but I think it is a restaurant with a small homebrew shop, and must make their own beer, too. Never even heard of Double Nickel.

I see Genesee Brewing Co on the list, their Cream Ale and Genny Ice are divine.

I'm sure you know Great Lakes well, but to add to Sabo's praise of the Edmund Porter, their Blackout Stout is outstanding, their DIPAs Chill Wave and Lake Erie Monster were both good, and their Elliot Ness Lager was one of the few lagers I actually liked.

I just looked at NY and NJ. I'll take a closer look.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Thu Sep 22, 2016 9:01 pm

Truth is a fine iPa but I don't consider it excellent.

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Thu Sep 22, 2016 10:01 pm

I was caught totally off guard by Weyerbacher's Sunday Mole Stout. I periodically check Beeradvocate to see what releases are coming out, and this wasn't mentioned anywhere. I saw it pop up on Beermenu at a few shops I follow. Same base as Sunday Morning Stout, with the coffee, but instead of bourbon barrels they threw in cinnamon, cocoa and peppers. I love these Mexican hot chocolate stouts. Drinking one now, and it needs some time for the flavors to meld. Really good flavors, but they all hit separately.

Good stores sold out almost immediately. Happened to be driving through Scotch Plains and stopped in at a store that seems to get the limited releases despite having 2 year old IPAs on the shelf. While every other store keeps these hidden with a one or two bottle limit, they had 5 4-packs sitting on the shelf.

In other news, Dogfish Head 120 hit stores this week. In NJ, anyways. I love that beer, but it tastes nothing like an IPA. I don't know how they get away with it, but they don't put the abv% on the bottle. It varies between 15%-20%, but it is sooooo tasty.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Thu Sep 22, 2016 10:10 pm

Gaslight is shit.

Rush2112 · Post by **Rush2112** » Thu Sep 22, 2016 10:49 pm

mister d wrote:NJ: Kane is spectacular across the board

MA: Lord Hobo solid, heard good things on Night Shift, Wormtown if their DIPA is there

Tried Kane last year, was planning on hitting again. We get Hobo (at least Steal This Can, and I think another) on the shelf. Haven't tried the Night Shift. I think Wormtown was where I had a mint IPA, worst beer I've ever had.

I highly recommend that y'all make a pilgrimage to the GABF at least once. It's incredible, and the events during the week often out weigh the fest.

Giff · Post by **Giff** » Wed Sep 28, 2016 4:05 pm

My hometown brewery, No Label, partnered with University of Houston to create a new beer called "Brew of H IPA". ESPN will be have a little segment about them tomorrow night during the UH/UCONN game. Carry on.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Wed Sep 28, 2016 6:10 pm

NJ finally has its (third?) true legit IPA. Brix City Just Another is very, very good. Just got the DIPA version today.

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Wed Sep 28, 2016 6:40 pm

San Jose-based Gordon-Biersch Brewery has partnered with the San Jose Sharks hockey team and is releasing a Sharks-themed/branded red ale, with the stupid name of "Chum". Hate the name, but I generally like GB beers. So, I look forward to trying this one.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Wed Sep 28, 2016 7:01 pm

Can we pretend you posted this a year ago so I can make a joke about it being a fall and winter seasonal?

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Wed Sep 28, 2016 11:23 pm

mister d wrote:Can we pretend you posted this a year ago so I can make a joke about it being a fall and winter seasonal?

Yeah baby. A winner in Spring!

Rush2112 · Post by **Rush2112** » Mon Oct 10, 2016 4:46 pm

So Kane was pretty fucking delicious, had a bunch of barrel aged stuff, but I think I liked the IPA best, though it may have just been the difference between it and all the previous BA stuff I drank.

I also enjoyed Perrin's Vietnamese Coffee BA Stout, Navaja DIPA from Half Acre, Pentagram from Surly, and the various Shorts that they had. Also got to try Avery's Tweak fresh from the cask...fantastic, and laughed about them filling pitchers of the BCBS variants when the geeks go apeshit over them every year.

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Tue Oct 11, 2016 10:00 am

Have a friend, more like a father of a kid who runs on my sons team, who went on a beercation to Vermont. He has a Heady Topper and Focal Banger for me, with an outside shot at a Sip of Sunshine, 3 beers at the very top of my bucket list. He actually made an Excel spreadsheet of the beers he traded for and brought back, which is an amazing list. He suggested a bottle share night.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Tue Oct 11, 2016 11:07 am

Did he just go last weekend? If so, I either met him or one of the other guys last week at Wine Barrel in Maplewood.

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Tue Oct 11, 2016 1:51 pm

mister d wrote:Did he just go last weekend? If so, I either met him or one of the other guys last week at Wine Barrel in Maplewood.

Yes, was there some sort of event, or just talking up the customers?

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Tue Oct 11, 2016 1:53 pm

They'd gotten Lunch in and I guess we'd both made the cut so we were getting our secret bottles at the same time and ended up in a quick little conversation.

Ryan · Post by **Ryan** » Tue Oct 11, 2016 1:57 pm

I can't believe I'm saying this, but this is the worst Meg Ryan movie ever.

Giff · Post by **Giff** » Tue Oct 11, 2016 2:00 pm

Ryan wrote:I can't believe I'm saying this, but this is the worst Meg Ryan movie ever.

Someone's never seen Proof of Life.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Tue Oct 11, 2016 2:04 pm

Ryan wrote:I can't believe I'm saying this, but ...i... the worst ... Ryan ... ever.

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA BUUUUUUURRRNNN!!!!!!!

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Tue Oct 11, 2016 2:37 pm

mister d wrote:They'd gotten Lunch in and I guess we'd both made the cut so we were getting our secret bottles at the same time and ended up in a quick little conversation.

Thanks for the heads up, jerk. BTW, Maple Jesus is out in NYC and South Jersey, I don't know when it'll get to us.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Tue Oct 11, 2016 2:43 pm

Pretty sure broadcasting a hidden 1/2 case is not the best way to maintain a beer guy relationship.

I had this debate this weekend ... I think I'm oversensitive to maple in general, but I'm almost never a fan in beer.

rass · Post by **rass** » Tue Oct 11, 2016 7:31 pm

Kane Brewing Company wrote:We will be at Tiff's Burger & Alehouse in Union, NJ this Thursday 10/13 with Hop Lab - Motueka, Fall Saints, Citra Pale Ale, Head High, Overhead, Single Fin, and Sacre Coeur all on tap. Stop in for a pint.

Anything else as good as the Head High? I wussed on trying the Overhead a couple of weeks ago because I was at a kids soccer fundraiser and was feeling the one Head a High I had already had.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Tue Oct 11, 2016 9:45 pm

I like Head High better than Overhead if we're talking relative to type. The citra is great. The others I haven't had but if you ever find one of their browns/porters/stouts, get it because they're all great. Stirling had Driftline this weekend which they call a brown but no one I know would guess it isn't a porter. It's very nice.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Tue Oct 11, 2016 9:48 pm

Also ...

rass wrote:Anything else as good as ... Head...? I wussed on trying the ...v... a couple of weeks ago because I was at a ...d... ...raiser and was feeling the one ... High ...d...ad.

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Tue Oct 11, 2016 10:16 pm

rass wrote:
Kane Brewing Company wrote:We will be at Tiff's Burger & Alehouse in Union, NJ this Thursday 10/13 with Hop Lab - Motueka, Fall Saints, Citra Pale Ale, Head High, Overhead, Single Fin, and Sacre Coeur all on tap. Stop in for a pint.
Anything else as good as the Head High? I wussed on trying the Overhead a couple of weeks ago because I was at a kids soccer fundraiser and was feeling the one Head a High I had already had.

I like Overhead better than Head High, but I prefer DIPAs. Haven't tried any of the others, but my IPA crazy friend who only drinks the best of the best (Treehouse, Trillium, Alchemist, Grimm and the likes) just posted on Untappd that the Citra Pale Ale is the most perfect beer he's tasted. He specified it's not "the best," just the most perfect. He loves the New England style IPAs, which are cloudy citrus bombs.