The OFFICIAL Craft Beer Thread

[Rush2112]

The entire batch under-carbonated? What beer?

Single can. It was an IPA from a Denver brewery that I've had some good beers from before. I don't see a lot of under-carbed cans. I've seen a few under filled etc. but this the tab was weird when I opened it and it had some bubbles but absolutely no head.

Oh and I got a Veil 4 pack (first time I've seen in CO) that's fucking excellent. Silver Ferrari I think it's called.

[mister d]

The Veil is no joke.

[Rush2112]

I want more of the Veil beer, but at 20$ a 4 it's not a grab one for the night thing...

also this is interesting.

https://tastetrinbago.com/the-history-o ... caribbean/

[mister d]

Is that high for your area or just a threshold you won't cross. Most Other Half around here is a little above $20 per 4 pack, the really good local brewery usually lands around $17 and only sold at the source.

[Nonlinear FC]

The Veil is no joke.

The brewery is pretty awesome, too. Richmond is an underrated city in terms of food and brewery scene. Had a great 3 day weekend down there for my birfday during a few years back.

[The Sybian]

The Veil is no joke.

The brewery is pretty awesome, too. Richmond is an underrated city in terms of food and brewery scene. Had a great 3 day weekend down there for my birfday during a few years back.

Heading to Richmond for a soccer tournament this Spring, I need to try and work in a trip to Veil. Only Veil beer I had was a collab with Other Half. [checks Untappt app], completely forgot I had to NEIPAs from Veil, both were absolutely top shelf.

[Nonlinear FC]

The Veil is no joke.

The brewery is pretty awesome, too. Richmond is an underrated city in terms of food and brewery scene. Had a great 3 day weekend down there for my birfday during a few years back.

Heading to Richmond for a soccer tournament this Spring, I need to try and work in a trip to Veil. Only Veil beer I had was a collab with Other Half. [checks Untappt app], completely forgot I had to NEIPAs from Veil, both were absolutely top shelf.

I need to go back and look, we hit up 3 or 4 good breweries and restaurants. Particularly over in that area where Veil is... That's where our VRBO joint was, so we could walk to a bunch of spots.

*looking*

Scott's Addition is the area.

[A_B]

The Veil is no joke.

The brewery is pretty awesome, too. Richmond is an underrated city in terms of food and brewery scene. Had a great 3 day weekend down there for my birfday during a few years back.

Heading to Richmond for a soccer tournament this Spring, I need to try and work in a trip to Veil. Only Veil beer I had was a collab with Other Half. [checks Untappt app], completely forgot I had to NEIPAs from Veil, both were absolutely top shelf.

I need to go back and look, we hit up 3 or 4 good breweries and restaurants. Particularly over in that area where Veil is... That's where our VRBO joint was, so we could walk to a bunch of spots.

*looking*

Scott's Addition is the area.

Scott always coped better than his sister Jane.

[Nonlinear FC]

You warm up before that stretch?

[wlu_lax6]

The Veil is no joke.

The brewery is pretty awesome, too. Richmond is an underrated city in terms of food and brewery scene. Had a great 3 day weekend down there for my birfday during a few years back.

Heading to Richmond for a soccer tournament this Spring, I need to try and work in a trip to Veil. Only Veil beer I had was a collab with Other Half. [checks Untappt app], completely forgot I had to NEIPAs from Veil, both were absolutely top shelf.

If you like stouts....visit Hardywood

[mister d]

I... like stout....Hard...wood

[govmentchedda]

The Veil is no joke.

The brewery is pretty awesome, too. Richmond is an underrated city in terms of food and brewery scene. Had a great 3 day weekend down there for my birfday during a few years back.

Heading to Richmond for a soccer tournament this Spring, I need to try and work in a trip to Veil. Only Veil beer I had was a collab with Other Half. [checks Untappt app], completely forgot I had to NEIPAs from Veil, both were absolutely top shelf.

Do not skip The Answer brewery if you're in Richmond.

[govmentchedda]

The Veil is no joke.

The brewery is pretty awesome, too. Richmond is an underrated city in terms of food and brewery scene. Had a great 3 day weekend down there for my birfday during a few years back.

Heading to Richmond for a soccer tournament this Spring, I need to try and work in a trip to Veil. Only Veil beer I had was a collab with Other Half. [checks Untappt app], completely forgot I had to NEIPAs from Veil, both were absolutely top shelf.

I need to go back and look, we hit up 3 or 4 good breweries and restaurants. Particularly over in that area where Veil is... That's where our VRBO joint was, so we could walk to a bunch of spots.

*looking*

Scott's Addition is the area.

Scott always coped better than his sister Jane.

She's done with (does confederate statues rhyme with Sergio)?

[Rush2112]

Is that high for your area or just a threshold you won't cross. Most Other Half around here is a little above $20 per 4 pack, the really good local brewery usually lands around $17 and only sold at the source.

That's must "have to have" beers run from 17-low 20s with a bit of a markup not at the brewery. I can hammer through a 4 pack so try not to go hog wild unless it's something special.

Sad I used to fly into Richmond every year for a conference in VB (I talked them out of flying directly as it was cheaper to go to Richmond and rent a car) now that conference moves around the country...Orlando and San Antonio the last few I've been to.

[Nonlinear FC]

The Veil is no joke.

The brewery is pretty awesome, too. Richmond is an underrated city in terms of food and brewery scene. Had a great 3 day weekend down there for my birfday during a few years back.

Heading to Richmond for a soccer tournament this Spring, I need to try and work in a trip to Veil. Only Veil beer I had was a collab with Other Half. [checks Untappt app], completely forgot I had to NEIPAs from Veil, both were absolutely top shelf.

Do not skip The Answer brewery if you're in Richmond.

I feel like you gave me solid recs when I put it out there back in the day. Agreed, now that you reminded me. We hit up The Answer for one of our meals... and beer. Place through me off, because the map shows a Vietnamese restaurant that you see from the main road, but The Answer is down the back side of that building.

[The Sybian]

The Veil is no joke.

The brewery is pretty awesome, too. Richmond is an underrated city in terms of food and brewery scene. Had a great 3 day weekend down there for my birfday during a few years back.

Heading to Richmond for a soccer tournament this Spring, I need to try and work in a trip to Veil. Only Veil beer I had was a collab with Other Half. [checks Untappt app], completely forgot I had to NEIPAs from Veil, both were absolutely top shelf.

If you like stouts....visit Hardywood

Funny, I debated buying a 4 pack of Hardywood's Christmas Morning Stout today. Went with the Hop Slam instead, as it tends to fall off really fast and my beer trading friend said he has a lot of stouts for me.

[govmentchedda]

The Veil is no joke.

The brewery is pretty awesome, too. Richmond is an underrated city in terms of food and brewery scene. Had a great 3 day weekend down there for my birfday during a few years back.

Heading to Richmond for a soccer tournament this Spring, I need to try and work in a trip to Veil. Only Veil beer I had was a collab with Other Half. [checks Untappt app], completely forgot I had to NEIPAs from Veil, both were absolutely top shelf.

Do not skip The Answer brewery if you're in Richmond.

I feel like you gave me solid recs when I put it out there back in the day. Agreed, now that you reminded me. We hit up The Answer for one of our meals... and beer. Place through me off, because the map shows a Vietnamese restaurant that you see from the main road, but The Answer is down the back side of that building.

That's An's mom's restaurant, which also has a fantastic beer menu that isn't just Answer beers. I believe that's where An got his start making beers before he expanded into the back location.

[Nonlinear FC]

Ahhh. That's right... I remember thinking at the time that I'd probably rather have the Mekong food, as I was feeling kind of full with all the beer I drank that afternoon.

[govmentchedda]

The tradeoff for the full menu of Vietnamese food at Mekong is limited Answer beer options (although they have quite a few other bottles and cans on offer). The tradeoff for the full beer menu of Answer is the food options are still quite good, but more like bar food, and the beers are either Answer beers OR a few guest taps.

[Rush2112]

There's another one that had/has really good pizza Tripple Crossing maybe?

[sancarlos]

The brewpubs around here seem to be leaning hard into sours. Is that the case elsewhere, too?

[Rush2112]

The brewpubs around here seem to be leaning hard into sours. Is that the case elsewhere, too?

Sours and pilsners.

[Nonlinear FC]

The brewpubs around here seem to be leaning hard into sours. Is that the case elsewhere, too?

My son is actually getting his degree in brewery science.

He has been talking about this trend for a couple of months now.

I was very anti-sour because I tried it on a tour of New Belgium and really didn't like it. The Boy got some samples at a recent stop at a local and... Pretty good!

I think they are figuring out how to smooth it out a bit.

[govmentchedda]

The brewpubs around here seem to be leaning hard into sours. Is that the case elsewhere, too?

My son is actually getting his degree in brewery science.

He has been talking about this trend for a couple of months now.

I was very anti-sour because I tried it on a tour of New Belgium and really didn't like it. The Boy got some samples at a recent stop at a local and... Pretty good!

I think they are figuring out how to smooth it out a bit.

[+] spoiler

I don't think New Belgium is any good.

That being said, I welcome the move to pilsners, and away from IPAs.

[The Sybian]

The brewpubs around here seem to be leaning hard into sours. Is that the case elsewhere, too?

Sours and pilsners.

Yep, same here. I just don't like pilsners. I'll try one every now and then. Even from the best breweries, I just don't like them. I don't hate them, but just can't get into it. The sours started ramping up a few years ago, but now it's insane. Almost as many sours coming out as IPAs. The novelty of the Smoothie Sour has worn off for me, but probably more of a summer drink, so maybe that's it. Still enjoying the Berliner Weiss and kettle sours, but not as often. I think sours are really easy for the brewers to get creative with the added ingredients, so it makes sense.

[mister d]

I think they are figuring out how to smooth it out a bit.

Maybe I'm wrong, but wouldn't this turn off the hardcore Sour Heads?

[The Sybian]

The brewpubs around here seem to be leaning hard into sours. Is that the case elsewhere, too?

My son is actually getting his degree in brewery science.

He has been talking about this trend for a couple of months now.

I was very anti-sour because I tried it on a tour of New Belgium and really didn't like it. The Boy got some samples at a recent stop at a local and... Pretty good!

I think they are figuring out how to smooth it out a bit.

I'll second Chedda's comment on New Belgium. There are a lot of different styles of sours, and they go back 400 years, so I think people have it figured out. Try some different styles of sours, a lot of them are very approachable and easy to drink. It's a strange taste, and takes some getting used to. I had a couple friends who were dead set against sours, but I gave them some mild fruit bombs and they liked it. I swore off sours on the Swamp many years ago, but Rush gave me a few suggestions to ease into it (I think Rodenbach Flanders Red opened me to the idea). My first was Cuvee des Jacobins Rouge, which was like drinking a beer through a mouthful of Sourpatch kids, and I couldn't finish one. I wonder if I'd like it now...

[GoodKarma]

I’ve been on the anti-sour bandwagon for a while but there are a few breweries out here who do them well (Weldwerks, 4 Noses and Loveland Aleworks). And by well I mean mild enough for taste buds that don’t care much for sour things.

[Rush2112]

There are a lot of different styles of sours, and they go back 400 years... I swore off sours on the Swamp many years ago, but Rush gave me a few suggestions to ease into it (I think Rodenbach Flanders Red opened me to the idea).

Hilarious, back during the first rediscovery of sours when I was slinging beer some kid asked me about a Belgian sour and if it was any good. I was like they've been in business since 1680, they're just getting it dialled in.

But I agree. I like the "tart" sours (think black/raspberries) rather than the pucker/turn your stomach to yoghurt sours. My wife is one a fruited sour kick lately...and some are good, I'm just a one and done then back to the DIPA guy.

[Rush2112]

New Belgium's La Folie is pretty good, and their standard Voodoo isn't bad to bring to a party, but they aren't that great since they've expanded and now gotten bought out. As Karma mentioned we have much much better local offerings.

NonLinear is your son brewing at CU-Denver? They have an on-campus pub that usually has some pretty good stuff, though I haven't been down there since Boulder is moving away from the same systems.

[Nonlinear FC]

I like IPAs. Sorry, not sorry. I try other stuff and I'm always like, "why am I forcing myself to like stuff at this point."

To be fair, I really am much more of a wine drinker these days. I drink beer when my son and BIL come around because I know that's their jam. I also think it's fun to check out a local brewery or two when I'm traveling because you can kind of get a feel for the people and location.

I like trying stouts and sours and stuff at breweries in Flights. But it's pretty rare that I'm like, "oh, yeah, I'd like a pint of that."

[mister d]

I’m easily 90% or more IPAs too. Some pilsners in the summer and stouts/porters in the winter but most of my variety comes within hop choice or IPA style.

(If someone ran the numbers I wouldn’t be shocked if my 2022 was >50% Other Half IPAs. When something is available and so much better than the other choices it’s hard to not go with it.)

[A_B]

Yeah I didn't know IPAs were passe. I don't drink a lot of beer, but when I do I want to know it, so I tend towards IPAs when out.

[govmentchedda]

I don't know that they're passe as much as they've oversaturated the market.

[mister d]

And the people who don't like their prominence very explicitly and vocally don't like it.

[testuser2]

The wife got my a beer advent calendar from a place near the in-laws in Charlottesville. Numbered slots in a case for each day that had hand-picked beers from VA/local breweries. It had a few of the Hardywood stouts with the additives. They were well made, but not my thing. I generally dislike anything sweet and their stouts always seem mapley and sugar-sweet. I really like some of the Vibrissa beers and even hit their brewery in Winchester last week.

My go to has been any of the IPA's from New Trail. I'm not sure how far out you can find their stuff, but it should cover MD/NJ.

[Nonlinear FC]

And the people who don't like their prominence very explicitly and vocally don't like it.

Pretty much the height of hipster nonsense in this industry. "Oh, sure, they may have been the tip of the spear and helped explode craft brewing and the local brewery scene... But they're totally not what REAL beer drinkers like."

getthefuckouttahere

[Nonlinear FC]

The wife got my a beer advent calendar from a place near the in-laws in Charlottesville. Numbered slots in a case for each day that had hand-picked beers from VA/local breweries. It had a few of the Hardywood stouts with the additives. They were well made, but not my thing. I generally dislike anything sweet and there stouts always seem mapley and sugar-sweet. I really like some of the Vibrissa beers and even hit their brewery in Winchester last week.

My go to has been any of the IPA's from New Trail. I'm not sure how far out you can find their stuff, but it should cover MD/NJ.

Charlottesville and the surrounding area is REALLY good for breweries. Devil's Backbone has one of the coolest breweries/restaurants I've been to in many years. There's even a campsite on property. My son and BIL want to stay there this summer.

[The Sybian]

I’m easily 90% or more IPAs too. Some pilsners in the summer and stouts/porters in the winter but most of my variety comes within hop choice or IPA style.

(If someone ran the numbers I wouldn’t be shocked if my 2022 was >50% Other Half IPAs. When something is available and so much better than the other choices it’s hard to not go with it.)

My favorites are stouts, porters, and English barley wine, but it's hard to find a good barley wine these days. I had been drinking a lot of sours, but I have a few that have been sitting in my fridge for a long time. I like to try new beers and tend towards weirder things just to try them. I buy single bottles/cans a lot, or buy a 4 pack and trade a can with my friend. That said, probably more than 50% of what I drink is IPAs. Not my favorite style, but there are so many great local IPAs, and usually if I want a beer, I'm craving hops. I usually drink more stouts in the winter, but I have no problem drinking a thick, 10%+ heavy stout in August.

Back to the tartness level of sours, it's actually extremely easy to control (except for maybe wild ales, where the sour flavor develops due to using wild yeasts or exposing beer to natural organisms in the air as opposed to lab created yeast). You essentially infect your beer with a specific bacteria (lactobacillus) and as it eats the sugars, it excretes lactic acid instead of alcohol. You can measure the pH level as the bacteria does it's work and stop at whatever number you want. Or if you are like me and too cheap to spend $100 on the pH device, you taste the wort every few hours until you get the desired level of sour. Boil the wort to kill the bacteria, let it cool and add yeast to create alcohol. I don't think brewers boil wild ales after the infection, but I believe many continue to develop more sour flavor in the bottle, so probably not. It's a little weird tasting the wort in the souring phase, as the lactic acid is all you taste as it's pre-hops or fruit added.

[testuser2]

Charlottesville and the surrounding area is REALLY good for breweries. Devil's Backbone has one of the coolest breweries/restaurants I've been to in many years. There's even a campsite on property. My son and BIL want to stay there this summer.

That area is crazy with all the wineries and breweries. Bold Rock is down the street. We hit a few places down there over the summer during our last visit. Hazy Mountain is an insane facility for being brand new.