The OFFICIAL Craft Beer Thread

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Mon Feb 09, 2015 4:00 pm

Founders Black Rye is great. If you like black IPAs and rye beers, this is really well done. It is a short term seasonal that they brought back after several years.

Bell's Expedition Stout is awesome. It is a really big beer and the bottles definitely need time to mellow. I have a 6-pack, drank one, and I am not touching the rest for another 6 months or a year. It might be ready to drink on tap. Still really good in its boozy state.

Don't listen to Cheddah on Old Rasputin. It is the perfect Russian Imperial Stout. Not the most interesting, but perfectly made. North Coast PranQster is a really good Belgian. Edmund Fitzgerald Porter is high quality. If it was me, I'd go Evil Twin Freudian Slip, as I am fascinated by the Mikkeller Brothers, and never had any Evil Twin. Plus it's a barleywine. That is a great beerlist. Enjoy.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Mon Feb 09, 2015 4:04 pm

GOnna try that rye for sure.

I've had Rasputin and i liked it a lot.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Mon Feb 09, 2015 4:23 pm

AB_skin_test wrote:Country Boy is a local brewer and I will probably try their special offering, but I haven't liked most of their stuff.

That's the one I'd go with. Looks like a single hop series, good ratings.

Rush2112 · Post by **Rush2112** » Mon Feb 09, 2015 4:40 pm

Avery is moving into new digs in a few weeks, tonight is their last night in the "alley" as they call it. Looking forward to trying some beers from the past this evening.

Current list

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Mon Feb 09, 2015 4:46 pm

Shit, there's atleast 5 I'd be really interested in.

P.D.X. · Post by **P.D.X.** » Mon Feb 09, 2015 5:05 pm

Rush2112 wrote:Avery is moving into new digs in a few weeks,

¿Donde?

Rush2112 · Post by **Rush2112** » Mon Feb 09, 2015 5:09 pm

mister d wrote:Shit, there's atleast 5 I'd be really interested in.

Which? The taster prices are reasonable.

PDX, the new brewery is in Gunbarrel, near Celestial Seasonings.

devilfluff · Post by **devilfluff** » Mon Feb 09, 2015 7:59 pm

Rush2112 wrote:Avery is moving into new digs in a few weeks, tonight is their last night in the "alley" as they call it. Looking forward to trying some beers from the past this evening.

Current list

Mayan Goddess. Hell fucking yes.

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Mon Feb 09, 2015 8:01 pm

Rush2112 wrote:
mister d wrote:Shit, there's atleast 5 I'd be really interested in.
Which? The taster prices are reasonable.

PDX, the new brewery is in Gunbarrel, near Celestial Seasonings.

I've always said, I can't believe nobody has ever made a beer with pink peppercorns and rosehips.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Mon Feb 09, 2015 8:11 pm

Both of the Smash beers, duganA, Collaboration, Mayan and a shot of the Chupacabra.

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Mon Feb 09, 2015 8:14 pm

mister d wrote:Both of the Smash beers, duganA, Collaboration, Mayan and a shot of the Chupacabra.

I like the idea of single hop IPAs. Like I said before, I recognize different hops, but don't know which is which. No Mephistopheles? How can a beer over 17% be bad?

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Mon Feb 09, 2015 8:20 pm

Yeah, that one too. I would drink every beer and party like a father of one again.

Rush2112 · Post by **Rush2112** » Mon Feb 09, 2015 11:27 pm

Had both the Smashes, the Vic was tasty, the Lemondrop had a nice nose, but NO finish.

Sadly both the Mayan and Chupacabra were gone by 5 when I got there, the Bourbkin was grand as was the Tweak. The Tweak could stand a year to mellow (glad I got two upstairs)
Also had a Eremitra (washed out at the bottom) and a Tarts Bliss. I generally like the Eremitras (had 7 of the 8) but this was too vinegar, I prefer funky sours.

Meph,Collab/DuganA, etc. I can buy off the shelf.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Tue Feb 10, 2015 7:29 am

They didn't have the Country Boy Alpha Experiment that I wanted to try. Ended up going with Country Boy's Amos Moses Stout. Very not good. That makes me 0/3 in Country Boy beers. Not a ringing endorsement to keep trying.

I had the Founders Rye which was good.

I then did a sampler of six beers (they probably gave you almost 2 OZ for a quarter each) and the best ones of that were the Ommegang Hop House and the Bell's Expedition Stout. Would definitely drink both of those next time.

rass · Post by **rass** » Fri Feb 13, 2015 11:22 am

Since it worked for AB, I'll crowdsource the selection of the two beers that will accompany my dinner tonight (two being my likely limit before my wife has to drive me home).

list here

DSafetyGuy · Post by **DSafetyGuy** » Fri Feb 13, 2015 11:24 am

Green Flash West Coast IPA.

devilfluff · Post by **devilfluff** » Fri Feb 13, 2015 11:27 am

rass wrote:Since it worked for AB, I'll crowdsource the selection of the two beers that will accompany my dinner tonight (two being my likely limit before my wife has to drive me home).

list here

I'd be getting a Kane Silent Night and either the Enjoy By or Nugget Nectar.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Fri Feb 13, 2015 11:28 am

I'd try the Green Flash. But I like IPAs.

rass · Post by **rass** » Fri Feb 13, 2015 11:30 am

Had the Green Flash IPA.

And the Nugget Nectar, and the Boulevard Tank 7 Farmhouse Ale.

Not that you could have known that....

devilfluff · Post by **devilfluff** » Fri Feb 13, 2015 11:43 am

rass wrote:Had the Green Flash IPA.

And the Nugget Nectar, and the Boulevard Tank 7 Farmhouse Ale.

Not that you could have known that....

But can you really have too much NN?

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Fri Feb 13, 2015 12:04 pm

Dammit, I missed this. Was Enjoy By on when you went?

govmentchedda · Post by **govmentchedda** » Fri Feb 13, 2015 1:04 pm

Left Hand Milk Stout Nitro is good.

I'd probably try the Neshaminy Creek Punkless Dunkel and the Spencer Trappist Ale.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Fri Feb 13, 2015 1:24 pm

mister d wrote:Dammit, I missed this. Was Enjoy By on when you went?

Pretty sure he didn't need flash mob sourcing and that he'll be going soon and that he didn't go in the 42 minutes between his original post and yours. So you probably have some time.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Fri Feb 13, 2015 1:30 pm

Ohhh ... I saw "had (list of beers)" and just assumed I missed the trip. So embarrassing.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Fri Feb 13, 2015 1:31 pm

"Guys, the waitress is here! What beer should I get?"

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Fri Feb 13, 2015 2:00 pm

rass wrote:Since it worked for AB, I'll crowdsource the selection of the two beers that will accompany my dinner tonight (two being my likely limit before my wife has to drive me home).

list here

Kane without a doubt. I would probably try the 902 Black Dynomite.902 is a brewery that just opened in Hoboken. From what I read, just 3 dudes who home brewed deciding to quit their jobs and go for it. Being so new, it probably isn't that good, but I still feel like Hoboken is home, and I love black IPAs.

Never heard of Chimay Doree.

rass · Post by **rass** » Fri Feb 13, 2015 3:12 pm

The Sybian wrote:Never heard of Chimay Doree.

That was what caught the attention of the beer guy here at work.

Rush2112 · Post by **Rush2112** » Fri Feb 13, 2015 3:20 pm

It's a Belgian Pale. Easy drinking, low ABV, great "I'm Special" lawnmower beer basically. It's whats drunk by the monks at the Abbey. Only started being available outside the abbey a couple of years ago.

rass · Post by **rass** » Fri Feb 13, 2015 3:34 pm

Rush2112 wrote:It's whats drunk by the monks at the Abbey. Only started being available outside the abbey a couple of years ago.

That's almost exactly what he said. He hadn't seen it around here before.

Rush2112 · Post by **Rush2112** » Fri Feb 13, 2015 3:46 pm

rass wrote:
Rush2112 wrote:It's whats drunk by the monks at the Abbey. Only started being available outside the abbey a couple of years ago.
That's almost exactly what he said. He hadn't seen it around here before.

I've had it on tap. Was okay, wouldn't seek it out again, but I'm a trippel/quad/Flemish Red guy if I'm going Belgian.

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Sun Feb 22, 2015 12:25 am

rass wrote:
Rush2112 wrote:It's whats drunk by the monks at the Abbey. Only started being available outside the abbey a couple of years ago.
That's almost exactly what he said. He hadn't seen it around here before.

Just saw the Doree in the crappiest of liquor stores, so it must be pretty widely available now.

Picked up a couple bottles I am excited to try. Dogfish Head 120. Never tried it, and really haven't seen it on the shelves in a long time. 18% seems awfully boozy. What say you who have partaken?

And Clown Shoes Garden State Rhapsody. They are doing some series of beers for each state they distribute to, and only selling those beers in the state they are made for. In their words:

We blended 12 rye barrels of Undead Party Crasher Imperial Stout with 3 rye barrels of an experimental barley wine ale to create this NJ-exclusive beer.

Sounds pretty interesting. I may not have the patience to wait long on this one. I may get a second bottle to drink one, hold the other. Maybe I'll drink the one I have, then decide if it is worth it.

rass · Post by **rass** » Sun Feb 22, 2015 11:21 am

Oops. Forgot about this. I had the Kane Silent Night, and when I asked about the Enjoy By it was out, so our server recommended Victory DirtWolf instead. Both were very good, and stronger than they drank and so I stopped there.

Dinner itself was pretty fucking great, you local guys. Highly recommended.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Sun Feb 22, 2015 2:25 pm

Silent Night on at Stirling today too. Very good, but only a taste because I'm a very responsible young man. Alpine Hoppy Birthday (stupid name) was awesome. Might be my #2 APA behind Zombie Dust.

devilfluff · Post by **devilfluff** » Tue Feb 24, 2015 12:13 am

The Sybian wrote:
rass wrote:
Rush2112 wrote:It's whats drunk by the monks at the Abbey. Only started being available outside the abbey a couple of years ago.
That's almost exactly what he said. He hadn't seen it around here before.
Just saw the Doree in the crappiest of liquor stores, so it must be pretty widely available now.

Picked up a couple bottles I am excited to try. Dogfish Head 120. Never tried it, and really haven't seen it on the shelves in a long time. 18% seems awfully boozy. What say you who have partaken?

And Clown Shoes Garden State Rhapsody. They are doing some series of beers for each state they distribute to, and only selling those beers in the state they are made for. In their words:

We blended 12 rye barrels of Undead Party Crasher Imperial Stout with 3 rye barrels of an experimental barley wine ale to create this NJ-exclusive beer.
Sounds pretty interesting. I may not have the patience to wait long on this one. I may get a second bottle to drink one, hold the other. Maybe I'll drink the one I have, then decide if it is worth it.

I grabbed a couple bottles of GS Rhapsody. I keep hearing excellent things, but haven't tried it yet.

120 is good, but it can be kind of sweet and syrupy. It's a side effect of trying to balance out the metric shit ton of hops...

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Tue Feb 24, 2015 7:41 am

Found a Sam Adams Barrel Collection at Sam's club. Three different beers in big wine-sized bottle. All 9.5% ABV or higher. Looking forward to them.

It's the Thirteenth hour

"The 13th hour is the witching hour, and a time when strange brews can occur. With 13 ingredients, we combined the roasted chocolate and coffee flavors of a stout with the complex spicy character of a Belgian-style ale aged in oak for a deep, robust, and captivating brew."

Tetravis

"old & rich, this enveloping quad builds its force and character through interlacing layers of flavor. Its deep complexity begins with a molasses sweetness with notes of dark fruits like raisins and figs but develops further with an undercurrent of tart spice from its distinctive Belgian yeast for a truly transfixing brew..."

and New World

"This Tripel was born from the old world Belgian technique of barrel aging and the new world’s craft brewing innovation. With its pale golden color and uniquely refreshing taste, this big, flavorful, and complex brew has a subtle herbal hop character combined with the tropical fruit and spice notes of its special Belgian yeast."

Brontoburglar · Post by **Brontoburglar** » Tue Feb 24, 2015 9:24 am

The 13th Hour is really good.

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Tue Feb 24, 2015 9:57 am

devilfluff wrote: I grabbed a couple bottles of GS Rhapsody. I keep hearing excellent things, but haven't tried it yet.

120 is good, but it can be kind of sweet and syrupy. It's a side effect of trying to balance out the metric shit ton of hops...

Should I drink the 120 soon then? If it is just going to get more syrupy, I'd rather not hold onto it.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Tue Feb 24, 2015 10:04 am

I would suggest saving it for a time when someone else is around. I'm 0-2 getting through the last 2 I've tried.

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Tue Feb 24, 2015 10:06 am

mister d wrote:I would suggest saving it for a time when someone else is around. I'm 0-2 getting through the last 2 I've tried.

Definitely planning on that. No reason to drink an 18% beer by myself. We should get a tasting party going where everyone brings something similar. I have a 12-er of Amstel I can bring.

Rush2112 · Post by **Rush2112** » Tue Feb 24, 2015 11:51 am

Had a tasting party last night.

Heady, Terrapin Orange Dreamsicle, Stone, Left Hand Nitro, Avery Pump[KY]n, Almanac Blueberry Sour, Elysian Jasmine IPA, Deschutes Chasin' Freshies, Otto's,Ninkasi, Ballast Point DIPA, Hoppin' Frog Double Pumpkin, It was fun, but I can't do that shit on a school night any more.