sancarlos wrote: ↑Tue May 26, 2020 5:43 pm
Rush2112 wrote: ↑Tue May 26, 2020 5:03 pm
SC, as for your past question about a fridge stocker what are you looking for? Something that you can get wherever? An easy drinker? Something that one or two would suffice or something to tip into if the fam is out of town?
I meant an everyday beer that isn't too pricey. I usually opt for an IPA and/or Euro pilsner for that. (Last time I was at Costco I bought a case of Stone IPAs and a twelve pack of Pilsner Urquel.) I usually have a few "special" nice beers in the fridge, too, but not as much quantity for that.
Even though I posted that quite awhile ago, my stock is again getting low now, so your input is appreciated.
It's amazing how difficult this is to answer now. With so many amazing new breweries opening in NJ and the addition of beers from small breweries in neighboring states, I buy almost exclusively from the locals. It's not a snobbery thing, but there are so many great ones, and they are making so many create and unique beers constantly, so I can't even come close to trying all the ones I want to try, so when I do buy, I don't even look at the more massed produced always available beers. And when I do buy an old classic, I always end up thinking of Mr. D saying "this beer is an example of how much better beer has gotten over the last 'x' years." I actually get a little sad when I see beers I used to track the release dates and hunt down sitting on the shelves for months. I usually think "that's one of my all-time favorites, I'll buy it next time," then the next time I go, there are 10 new beers I can't decide between, and I pass on the Bell's Hopslam or Troeg's Nugget Nectar or whatever. The local beers use less stable ingredients that are much better fresh than other beers, but don't travel well or stay good for long. The nationally available beers just don't taste as good, but they withstand travel and don't lose nearly as much over time.
That said, it's hard to think of a great nationally available beer off the top of my head. 5 years ago, I would have easily rattled off 15 suggestions. If you are looking for an IPA, I think Alpine is among the best. They are from CA, so I'd imagine it's available. For Belgians and lately some really creative brews, Allagash. Stone was always solid, especially with IPAs. I used to love watching Founders and Boulevard and several others for their annual limited releases. They were almost always great, but I just haven't kept up or even bought them when available. Backwoods Bastard used to be one of my favorites, and I'd stockpile it when it came out. Never needed to hunt for it, but it always sold out fast. When they started making it year round, I always knew I could find it, and I don't think I've bought it since. I also don't love it as much, and I still have some aging for over 5 years, and it's much better with age, so I'm not tempted to buy fresh bottles.
All that said, I made my first trip out to a store since early February and bought a sixer of an old classic I've been eyeing for years. Six Point Resin. It's a super-bitter (over 100 IBU), piney IPA that blew me away years ago when I first tried it. I still love the West Coast style of IPA, and it's very rare to see any locals making it. Six Point is HQ'd in Brooklyn, but I don't consider them local anymore since they turned into a huge operation. [I was going to say I thought they opened a huge brewery somewhere in NC or VA, but now I see they were bought out by a group that owns Southern Tier and Victory]. Resin was once a special beer to me, now it's a "I'm not sure I will finish another beer tonight, so if I have to dump half that's fine" end of the night beer. It tastes exactly as I remembered it, and it's just as good, but it just isn't close to being as good as the local stuff.
An honest to God cult of personality - formed around a failed steak salesman.
-Pruitt