The OFFICIAL Craft Beer Thread

[sancarlos]

I did not know there are chains of brew pubs.

[DaveInSeattle]

I did not know there are chains of brew pubs.

McMenamins

McMenamins is a family-owned company in the Pacific Northwest serving our own handcrafted beer, wine, cider, spirits and coffee alongside good, honest pub fare since 1983. Steeped in art, history and a sense of place, locations range from neighborhood pubs to historic hotels where live music and history talks are the norm, and soaking pools, movie theaters and other fun prevail.

[rass]

I did not know there are chains of brew pubs.

The is Rock Bottom Brewery erasure.

[sancarlos]

Oh yeah. My short term memory is deteriorating as we speak. I’ve been to both McMenamin’s and Rock Bottom. Never mind.

[rass]

You and me both man. Tell you what, if I’m ever out there we’ll go on a tour and together we’ll rate these chains of pubs.

[sancarlos]

You and me both man. Tell you what, if I’m ever out there we’ll go on a tour and together we’ll rate these chains of pubs.

Fun!

[GoodKarma]

I did not know there are chains of brew pubs.

CB & Potts used to be; I think Ram is still around in Idaho and Oregon.

[The Sybian]

Any thoughts on Singlecut? They opened a taproom (The Singlecut Barn) within walking distance of our house. The local proprietors are trustworthy (they ran the wood-fired pizza and beer restaurant in town for several years before selling it), but are now linked with Singlecut.

I’ve had several, all were good to very good. Didn’t realize they had taprooms.

[sancarlos]

I did not know there are chains of brew pubs.

CB & Potts used to be; I think Ram is still around ways work. in Idaho and Oregon.

When I was in college at Colorado State, CB Potts was the place where my fake ID would reliably always work.

[mister d]

Singlecut is a wee but hipster for my taste, but have some solid brews. Especially nice for a neighbourhood spot.

This is interesting to me because I’d consider them much more of an older dude type of brewery, down to the owner. They don’t really chase trends or make the silly experimental stuff, just good solid IPAs. The only thing hipster about them is starting in Astoria.

[mister d]

(I know they aren’t older in terms of how long they’ve been around, just stylistically more Sierra than Other Half.)

[The Sybian]

Singlecut is a wee but hipster for my taste, but have some solid brews. Especially nice for a neighbourhood spot.

This is interesting to me because I’d consider them much more of an older dude type of brewery, down to the owner. They don’t really chase trends or make the silly experimental stuff, just good solid IPAs. The only thing hipster about them is starting in Astoria.

100% my take, but I’ll add I had a really good stout from them. I was so excited when they started to distribute in NJ, but I’ve probably bought 3 or 4 single cans in Nj over the 5+ years.

[mister d]

Always good but never pushing the edges of great.

[The Sybian]

Always good but never pushing the edges of great.

And never anything outside the box. That explains why my last Singlecut was pre-COVID. If it weren’t for Untappt, I’d never remember anything.

[DSafetyGuy]

I'll have to get over there in a couple weeks after the novelty wears off. Place was packed every time I drove by last night running the older one to/from rock climbing.

[DaveInSeattle]

I did not know there are chains of brew pubs.

CB & Potts used to be; I think Ram is still around in Idaho and Oregon.

There are still a fair number of Ram's in Washington, but the ones here in Seattle proper closed down.

[rass]

Osteria del Corso. Name is much fancier than the place. They have indoor bocce.

You glorious bastard I bet our anniversary dinner on that place and it came through. Thanks.

[The Sybian]

Decided to stop in at a hole in the wall wine store near my daughter's soccer practice field. Didn't expect much, but sometimes the crappiest stores are the best place for rare finds. Beer fridge only had macros of the Bud and Miller variety, but they had six feet of shelf space for bottles and craft cans. Very excited to find several bottles of Thomas Hardy 50th Anniversary (2018) and 2 bottles of Thomas Hardy 50th aged in Scotch barrels.

When I lived in Boston, I fell in love with barleywine at the brewpub near my apartment. Someone told me Thomas Hardy was a very similar tasting barleywine. Found some Thomas Hardy, and it was really damned close, then within a year, Thomas Hardy went out of production (1999). I've tried dozens of barleywines since, and none are on par, (I prefer English to American style). Cut to 2015, and someone bought the recipe and decided to start making it again. I've only seen one bottle, until yesterday, which I bought and cellared for 5 years. Going to try one of the bottles tonight, and if it's good, buy all of the rest next week. Already bought the two Scotch barrel bottles.

[wlu_lax6]

Anchor ceasing operations and liquidating
founded in 1896, sold to Sapporo in 2017

[The Sybian]

Anchor ceasing operations and liquidating
founded in 1896, sold to Sapporo in 2017

Very sad news, even if I don't particularly like their beer. Most histories of beer credit the one-time owner of Anchor, Fritz Maytag, as the father of the craft beer movement. He bought the brewery in the 1960s when he learned it was closing and revolutionized the brewing process to make higher quality beers.

[mister d]

Good news is they cashed out and Sapporo can eat it.

[GoodKarma]

Incredibly disappointing. I am still a fan Anchor Steam and I’ve had a few one-offs at Anchor taps that were excellent.

Last night I literally just booked a flight to SF in October for the Bengals game…specifically scheduled it so I could go to the Anchor taproom my first night in town. Hopefully someone buys the brand and keeps it going.

[The Sybian]

Incredibly disappointing. I am still a fan Anchor Steam and I’ve had a few one-offs at Anchor taps that were excellent.

Last night I literally just booked a flight to SF in October for the Bengals game…specifically scheduled it so I could go to the Anchor taproom my first night in town. Hopefully someone buys the brand and keeps it going.

I would think someone would buy the brand and keep it going. If nothing else, sell the rights to brand and the recipes.

[The Sybian]

Good news is they cashed out and Sapporo can eat it.

I was trying to figure out how much Fritz sold it for. Looks like he sold to a VC group in 2010 for an undisclosed amount, and the VC group sold it to Sapporo for $85 million. I do love seeing the major brands losing money on buying microbreweries.

[sancarlos]

Incredibly disappointing. I am still a fan Anchor Steam and I’ve had a few one-offs at Anchor taps that were excellent.

Last night I literally just booked a flight to SF in October for the Bengals game…specifically scheduled it so I could go to the Anchor taproom my first night in town. Hopefully someone buys the brand and keeps it going.

Big bummer. But, let me know when you’re available and maybe we can find a different good taproom.

[GoodKarma]

Incredibly disappointing. I am still a fan Anchor Steam and I’ve had a few one-offs at Anchor taps that were excellent.

Last night I literally just booked a flight to SF in October for the Bengals game…specifically scheduled it so I could go to the Anchor taproom my first night in town. Hopefully someone buys the brand and keeps it going.

Big bummer. But, let me know when you’re available and maybe we can find a different good taproom.

Yeah I was going to reach out once it got closer and I figured out my schedule. Six years ago when I was in the area doing some work for Stanford I went to Freewheel in Redwood City which I really enjoyed…is that close to you?

[sancarlos]

Incredibly disappointing. I am still a fan Anchor Steam and I’ve had a few one-offs at Anchor taps that were excellent.

Last night I literally just booked a flight to SF in October for the Bengals game…specifically scheduled it so I could go to the Anchor taproom my first night in town. Hopefully someone buys the brand and keeps it going.

Big bummer. But, let me know when you’re available and maybe we can find a different good taproom.

Yeah I was going to reach out once it got closer and I figured out my schedule. Six years ago when I was in the area doing some work for Stanford I went to Freewheel in Redwood City which I really enjoyed…is that close to you?

Freewheel is pretty close to me. Brian and I visited there once. Couple others nearby that I prefer, though.

[The Sybian]

Incredibly disappointing. I am still a fan Anchor Steam and I’ve had a few one-offs at Anchor taps that were excellent.

Last night I literally just booked a flight to SF in October for the Bengals game…specifically scheduled it so I could go to the Anchor taproom my first night in town. Hopefully someone buys the brand and keeps it going.

Big bummer. But, let me know when you’re available and maybe we can find a different good taproom.

Yeah I was going to reach out once it got closer and I figured out my schedule. Six years ago when I was in the area doing some work for Stanford I went to Freewheel in Redwood City which I really enjoyed…is that close to you?

Freewheel is pretty close to me. Brian and I visited there once. Couple others nearby that I prefer, though.

I strongly suggest deferring to San Carlos' recommendations on beer and food venues.

[GoodKarma]

Incredibly disappointing. I am still a fan Anchor Steam and I’ve had a few one-offs at Anchor taps that were excellent.

Last night I literally just booked a flight to SF in October for the Bengals game…specifically scheduled it so I could go to the Anchor taproom my first night in town. Hopefully someone buys the brand and keeps it going.

Big bummer. But, let me know when you’re available and maybe we can find a different good taproom.

Yeah I was going to reach out once it got closer and I figured out my schedule. Six years ago when I was in the area doing some work for Stanford I went to Freewheel in Redwood City which I really enjoyed…is that close to you?

Freewheel is pretty close to me. Brian and I visited there once. Couple others nearby that I prefer, though.

Ok…I’m always looking for something new. I’ll reach out a month or so before (game is Oct. 29) and we can set something up.

[sancarlos]

I strongly suggest deferring to San Carlos' recommendations on beer and food venues.

Well, thank you, sir.

[The Sybian]

I strongly suggest deferring to San Carlos' recommendations on beer and food venues.

Well, thank you, sir.

No, thank you!

[govmentchedda]

There is a Cheerwine Ale for sale in NC that looks a little hazy, and a little more pink than something like Blue Moon and it tastes EXACTLY like Cheerwine soda. I'm befuddled.

[Rush2112]

Up at my parent's house for the week. I grabbed a four-pack from the local (two towns/30 minutes away) brewery. NOBH as in no bittering hops IPA. Damn this is a fantastic beer and no one knows about Hex and Hop Brewing (they do beer and mead.)

[Rush2112]

Treehouse is expanding again, this time building across the street from SPAC in Saratoga Springs.

[EdRomero]

Friend gifted me this. Tasty.

https://trilliumbrewing.com/products/pl ... -over-boat

[The Sybian]

Goddamn I miss Trillium! Used to have an annual work trip to Boston and I'd bring an empty suitcase and go home with a suitcase full of Trillium on the Amtrak. Completely destroyed the wheels the first time I did this, but it was still worth it. Still have a couple bottles of a Trillium/Carton collaboration sour I was saving for a friend. Since that was pre-COVID, I think he passed his statute of limitations.

[wlu_lax6]

Flying Fish (NJ) files for chapter 11.

[The Sybian]

Flying Fish (NJ) files for chapter 11.

I never understood how they stayed in business with all of the much better breweries opening over the last 5-10 years.

[A_B]

I tossed all my beer making stuff. I just had a gallon kit mind you but it was beaten up. I probably made five to six batches with it but non in six or seven years probably.

[MaxWebster]

bought yesterday in Toronto - not sure when (if) I'll even drink it. Henderson's Rush Golden Ale.