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They don't distribute outside of Minnesota, though I assume they will after their brewery expansion. I ran across Surly 5 at dinner recently, which was a nice surprise. It's their Brett sour ages in red wine barrels. I remember not liking it when I had it originally, but sours have grown on me since then and it was wonderful.
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Mar 24, 2012 17:57
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Kudosx posted:Random question: did you actually try it in Minnesota, or did you get to try it at a random Surly event? Surly distributed kegs in Illinois for about a year back around 2008-2009. I don't know why or why they stopped. I never saw cans. I live a block from a really great beer bar (Poor Phil's in Oak Park, if you're ever in the Chicago area) that had Bender and Furious on tap for pretty much that full year and got a keg of Abrasive when it was released. About 9 months after Surly pulled out, I wandered in and they had Darkness on tap. They had been sitting on it for a year. Seriously, I love that place. I also have a sister in Minneapolis. When she visits, she usually brings me 4-packs of whatever's around and likewise, I've found a couple of good bottle shops in the Twin Cities that I usually stop in while I'm there.
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Mar 24, 2012 17:58
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Man if you guys all wanted abrasive so badly you should have said something a month ago. We were up to our rear end in it in Minneapolis and there's all kinds of stuff we don't get.
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Mar 24, 2012 19:11
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nuncle jimbo posted:Man if you guys all wanted abrasive so badly you should have said something a month ago. We were up to our rear end in it in Minneapolis and there's all kinds of stuff we don't get. I've been debating trading again or not, shipping is so drat expensive when trading a bunch of beers. I've only traded once, and it was $50 to ship a dozen beers. Factor that in with the cost of $60-$70 for the 12 beers, and you're looking at $10/bottle on average. I definitely am glad I traded, because I got to try quite a few beers which I wouldn't have been able to otherwise, but the cost involved has made me hesitant to do it again. Next thing I trade for is definitely going to be some Surly, or possibly some stuff from VT, or CCB.
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Mar 24, 2012 19:21
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Tigren posted:Woah, my bottle shop got some Drie Fonteinen Oude Geuze in. I've never seen any of their stuff before, but always seen their name talked about. Is this is regular release that I only need to grab one bottle of for now? funkybottoms posted:unless it says "vintage" across the top of the label, it is the regular version and should not be too difficult to get. Gueze by definition can't have a vintage since it's a blend of at least two years (pretty sure three) vintages of lambics. Gueze is pretty limited by default because of this.
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Mar 24, 2012 19:53
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danbanana posted:I don't know why or why they stopped. They couldn't meet distribution requests in Minnesota, so they decided to pull out of other states. To be honest, they still can't meet requests here as there's a rather long waiting list for restaurants and stores.
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Mar 24, 2012 20:21
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Darth Goku Jr posted:Gueze by definition can't have a vintage since it's a blend of at least two years (pretty sure three) vintages of lambics. Gueze is pretty limited by default because of this. 3 Fonteinen Oude Geuze Vintage
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Mar 24, 2012 20:27
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I just had a Lakefront Brewery biere de grade which was pretty drat good, nice and malty. Drinking an 08 Wake N Bake now and it has retained more coffee flavor than I've had from some 09 and even 10 Wake N Bake's I've had, they usually get super chocolatey. Last night I had a terrible loving beer, something along the lines of Bomb! Craft Lager. I did have it out of the can since I was at a bar that's not great for beer, but if you've ever wanted to taste diacetyl this is the beer for you.
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Mar 24, 2012 20:43
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Midorka posted:
I killed the 6 I got within a couple days, and tried one from the can, and you just don't get the aromas you get from sticking your face down into a glass of beer. The can says "The act of pouring it a glass smells nice, but it releases the essential hop aromas that we have worked so hard to retain." I have no idea what that even means. You *want* to release the hop aromas so that you can perceive them so they can contribute to the taste of the beer, not confine them so that you don't pick them up with your nose. Smell is a huge part of what makes things taste like things, I have no idea why you'd want to eliminate it as a factor. It's an awesome beer, I wish I had some to drink right now, but if I did I'd pour it into a glass and inhale deeply every time I take a drink. Also: In the event that Heady Topper is unavailable, Hill Farmstead Abner is a very acceptable substitute. There's no way in hell I'd be able to tell them apart in a blind test. Darth Goku Jr posted:Gueze by definition can't have a vintage since it's a blend of at least two years (pretty sure three) vintages of lambics. Gueze is pretty limited by default because of this. Sure it can, it only goes into the bottle once.
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Mar 24, 2012 21:08
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Phanatic posted:
Then the term 'vintage' is completely and utterly meaningless as everything ever goes into final packaging once.
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Mar 24, 2012 22:35
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Darth Goku Jr posted:Then the term 'vintage' is completely and utterly meaningless as everything ever goes into final packaging once. not to be a dick, but look up the meaning of "vintage"
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Mar 24, 2012 22:42
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I think I'm going to pick up a bottle of Saison de Lente tomorrow, so I can give Saisons a try. Saisons don't seem to be on tap very often anywhere around me... although I'm pretty sure that's how it is most places. It doesn't seem to be a style that you would drink every single day. I'm also hoping to stop by the bar and try a few Barleywines, but I'm not 100% sure that's going to happen with how my schedule looks for tomorrow. What do you folks think of Lindeman's ? I have also never tried a Lambic, and a few local stores get in several kinds of Lindeman's Lambics. How similar are Lambic's to Wild Ales? I tried to read the description of both, but I'm still a bit unsure of how similar they are to each other... although it seems like they are very alike. I've tried some of RR's Wild's and enjoyed them quite a bit, so I'm tempted to pick up a Lindeman's Framboise next time I go to the store. Kudosx fucked around with this message at 23:04 on Mar 24, 2012 |
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Mar 24, 2012 22:59
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Kudosx posted:I think I'm going to pick up a bottle of Saison de Lente tomorrow, so I can give Saisons a try. Saisons don't seem to be on tap very often anywhere around me... although I'm pretty sure that's how it is most places. It doesn't seem to be a style that you would drink every single day. Saison de lente is an excellent choice. Hope you enjoy it. Libdemans lambics are very very sweet compared to other lambics. Be prepared for that
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Mar 24, 2012 23:07
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Josh Wow posted:I just had a Lakefront Brewery biere de grade which was pretty drat good I don't know what's been up with Lakefront recently, maybe a new brewmaster or something, but their new bombers have been far better than any of their six-pack beers aside from their IPA, which was always pretty good. I've enjoyed their IBA, Fixed Gear, and Bridge Burner a pretty good amount. They're not exceptional, but they were all good beers at a good price (about five bucks a bomber). And they were a hell of a lot better than the beers I had from them prior to that.
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Mar 25, 2012 00:11
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funkybottoms posted:not to be a dick, but look up the meaning of "vintage" Yeah, and it's backing up my argument. From wiki, which matches any other site on the definition: wikipedia posted:Vintage, in wine-making, is the process of picking grapes and creating the finished product (see Harvest (wine)) . A vintage wine is one made from grapes that were all, or primarily, grown and harvested in a single specified year. In certain wines, it can denote quality, as in Port wine, where Port houses make and declare vintage Port in their best years. From this tradition, a common, though incorrect, usage applies the term to any wine that is perceived to be particularly old or of a particularly high quality. A wine is a vintage when it's all from a single year's crop. For ports and champagnes, many releases are a blend of several years worth of wines, so a vintage year is not put on it. Not to say these blends aren't excellent products. Exceptional crops lead to not needing blending, so there you go, a vintage champagne. Gueze by it's very definition of blending young with old batches of lambic cannot be from a single year. I'm all for the fluidity of styles in beer, and that's realy how the art of brewing progresses (IMO). It's just the style of gueze means such a specific thing that there is no way around it. Call it reserve, call it Grand Reserve, call it whatever, but 'vintage' is a profoundly misleading term.
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Mar 25, 2012 00:38
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Darth Goku Jr posted:A wine is a vintage when it's all from a single year's crop. For ports and champagnes, many releases are a blend of several years worth of wines, so a vintage year is not put on it. Not to say these blends aren't excellent products. Exceptional crops lead to not needing blending, so there you go, a vintage champagne. Gueze by it's very definition of blending young with old batches of lambic cannot be from a single year. I'm all for the fluidity of styles in beer, and that's realy how the art of brewing progresses (IMO). It's just the style of gueze means such a specific thing that there is no way around it. Call it reserve, call it Grand Reserve, call it whatever, but 'vintage' is a profoundly misleading term. I'm no expert, but I think it's *really* loving stupid to compare wine and beer. There are beers with like 15 different types of hops, and they sure as hell aren't all being harvested at the same time, let alone when the barley is harvested for the malt. The beer that even started this stupid rear end discussion says 'vintage' on the label, so get over it. Edit: In other news, it would be pretty cool if I could find a Gueuze to drink side by side with the Lindeman's Framboise I'm going to get. Kudosx fucked around with this message at 01:02 on Mar 25, 2012 |
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Mar 25, 2012 00:56
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I think most beers that use ingredients harvested all in the same season are called "harvest" ale. I guess "vintage" would be the European equivalent. edit: yeah, I wouldn't rely on any beer naming conventions to have consistent meaning from brand to brand like wine. CalvinDooglas fucked around with this message at 01:13 on Mar 25, 2012 |
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Mar 25, 2012 01:00
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Harvest really only means that the hops are probably from current-year and the beer is probably made sometime in late fall-winter. Even then, it's not like there are beer police detectives assuring the world that "X Brewing Company's HARVEST BEER" has anything to do with a harvest. So, I bought some Sculpin today..
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Mar 25, 2012 01:11
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Hypnolobster posted:So, I bought some Sculpin today.. How much does Sculpin generally cost? I've heard it's kind of pricey compared to some IPAs. $18/6 pack kinda stuff?
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Mar 25, 2012 01:15
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Skipped the KBS release at my local bottle store today. They were giving tickets at eleven, then raffling them off at three. That seems like a good system to me, but I knew if I went that I'd be completely blotto by three, and sure it's a weekend, but drat. That's still pretty early. I love beer but I still haven't had anything worth waiting four hours for.
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Mar 25, 2012 01:18
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Manky posted:Skipped the KBS release at my local bottle store today. They were giving tickets at eleven, then raffling them off at three. That seems like a good system to me, but I knew if I went that I'd be completely blotto by three, and sure it's a weekend, but drat. That's still pretty early. I love beer but I still haven't had anything worth waiting four hours for. One of my local bottle shops also had their release today, but the email "announcement" was only sent to those who signed up to be on a list sometime last week. Got there within 5 minutes or so of them opening, which was a little bit later than I had wanted to, but there were no more than maybe 6 other people. I think it took them over 6 hours to sell out of... a case. With a one bottle a customer limit. A friend of mine went at noon, then went back 2 hours later and they sold him another one anyway.
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Mar 25, 2012 01:24
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Darth Goku Jr posted:Yeah, and it's backing up my argument. From wiki, which matches any other site on the definition: jesus loving christ, it just means the goddamn year it was bottled. sorry for the retarded argument, everyone else.
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Mar 25, 2012 01:34
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Wouldn't be the beer thread without the occasional hilariously pedantic argument!
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Mar 25, 2012 01:43
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Kudosx posted:How much does Sculpin generally cost? I've heard it's kind of pricey compared to some IPAs. $18/6 pack kinda stuff? I got it from Northcourt Beverage in Medina (ohio. I seem to remember you're from clevelandish sort of area?) and it was $10.99 for a 6 pack. This is the first bit of Ballast Point to show up here, I believe.
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Mar 25, 2012 01:51
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Hypnolobster posted:I got it from Northcourt Beverage in Medina (ohio. I seem to remember you're from clevelandish sort of area?) and it was $10.99 for a 6 pack. This is the first bit of Ballast Point to show up here, I believe. Oh, wow, for some reason I thought it was quite a bit more expensive than that. I also just found out about a new possible beer stop for me, thanks to you! Looks like I might be swinging by there tomorrow after I stop by Lizardville to pick up a bottle of Saison de Lente. Also: I live in Wadsworth, so we're basically neighbors. Cheers!
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Mar 25, 2012 01:56
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If anyone goes to Burlington Vermont I highly recommend going to the farmhouse tap and grill. Amazing beer selections, they even have an extensive cellar collection. I had hill farmstead society & solitude #3 dipa and stillwater Bordeaux barrel aged autumnal which is their amber farmhouse. Both amazing beers
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Mar 25, 2012 01:58
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lazerwolf posted:If anyone goes to Burlington Vermont I highly recommend going to the farmhouse tap and grill. Amazing beer selections, they even have an extensive cellar collection. I had hill farmstead society & solitude #3 dipa and stillwater Bordeaux barrel aged autumnal which is their amber farmhouse. Both amazing beers I'll add it to my list, thanks!
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Mar 25, 2012 02:15
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lazerwolf posted:If anyone goes to Burlington Vermont I highly recommend going to the farmhouse tap and grill. Amazing beer selections, they even have an extensive cellar collection. I had hill farmstead society & solitude #3 dipa and stillwater Bordeaux barrel aged autumnal which is their amber farmhouse. Both amazing beers How was the Society & Solitude? I'm curious if Hill Farmstead IPAs live up to the hype, as I've heard really good things about them. I know you said it was amazing, but how would you compare it to say... Heady Topper?
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Mar 25, 2012 02:22
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Sculpin for me is $9.99 / 22oz. And I still almost bought 2 at a time. This Founders Centennial IPA isn't too far off from Sculpin however, very similar palate to me.
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Mar 25, 2012 03:14
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Kudosx posted:How was the Society & Solitude? I'm curious if Hill Farmstead IPAs live up to the hype, as I've heard really good things about them. S&S finished very dry compared to heady. Both are solid beers but heady seems to have a coat your whole mouth feel.
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Mar 25, 2012 04:03
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Manky posted:Skipped the KBS release at my local bottle store today. They were giving tickets at eleven, then raffling them off at three. That seems like a good system to me, but I knew if I went that I'd be completely blotto by three, and sure it's a weekend, but drat. That's still pretty early. I love beer but I still haven't had anything worth waiting four hours for. How many cases did they get? My bottle shop I frequent got one case and sold them as single bottles @$5.49 a pop. I bought one and enjoyed the gently caress out of it with some maple bacon cheddar and I argue that one has not tasted KBS properly until they taste it with the maple bacon cheddar. It was heavenly to me. There's a few other stores that probably got some in, but money is tight right now due to a recent move to a new place so I couldn't get more than one right now, but KBS is definitely worth every penny. Edit: Since I couldn't find any Left Hand Nitro Milk Stout I got some regular Milk Stout and it's pretty drat good. Sweet lactose up-front with a nice dark chocolate and roasted coffee finish. This reminds me a lot of left-over cocoa puffs milk and some fresh coffee. This is such a breakfast beer and I think I'm in love with it. Midorka fucked around with this message at 06:00 on Mar 25, 2012 |
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Mar 25, 2012 04:59
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I had a dream last night that I found Troegs Nugget on clearance but then I got home and all the bottles were empty. Someone, interpret this dream for me. Also, the one good thing about working a part-time job at a beer store for lovely pay is Sculpin for $4/btl, Terrapin Hopzilla for $5/4pk, and first dibs on anything that comes off the truck (case of Hopslam? Yes, please).
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Mar 25, 2012 13:56
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Had company last night and someone left us with some free SN Pales!
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Mar 25, 2012 14:02
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FreelanceSocialist posted:I had a dream last night that I found Troegs Nugget on clearance but then I got home and all the bottles were empty. Someone, interpret this dream for me. Also, the one good thing about working a part-time job at a beer store for lovely pay is Sculpin for $4/btl, Terrapin Hopzilla for $5/4pk, and first dibs on anything that comes off the truck (case of Hopslam? Yes, please). I wouldn't buy a 4 pack of Hopzilla, at least not with the intentions of drinking it now. It's incredibly sweet and incredibly citrus heavy. I got through it, but it was definitely borderline cloying and the citrus was overwhelming at times. I don't know if it will age well but I don't think many people, outside of the Shock Top group, could drink a 4 pack of it and be happy.
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Mar 25, 2012 17:52
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lazerwolf posted:If anyone goes to Burlington Vermont I highly recommend going to the farmhouse tap and grill. Amazing beer selections, they even have an extensive cellar collection. I had hill farmstead society & solitude #3 dipa and stillwater Bordeaux barrel aged autumnal which is their amber farmhouse. Both amazing beers Seconding this. The Farmhouse has a fantastic tap list and Burlington itself has a slew of good local breweries. American Flatbread in Burlington is also worth a look. The pizza is decent though a little on the small side. Vermont Pub and Brewery has good food, and the Burly Irish ale was tasty. It fills up really fast on weekends though. Wife and I took a long weekend up there last year and I want to go back because I feel like I barely scratched the surface. Maybe I'll even manage to snag some Lawson's Finest next time.* *(This will not happen.)
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Mar 25, 2012 19:53
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Midorka posted:How many cases did they get? My bottle shop I frequent got one case and sold them as single bottles @$5.49 a pop. Only one case, if you won the raffle you were allowed to buy just one bottle for $12. I have no regrets skipping it.
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Mar 25, 2012 20:03
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Quiet Feet posted:Wife and I took a long weekend up there last year and I want to go back because I feel like I barely scratched the surface. Maybe I'll even manage to snag some Lawson's Finest next time.* I heard that most stores that carry Lawson's Finest in VT get a weekly shipment on *Fridays... so if you show up on the right day, you might just be able to find some! I also heard that it's usually gone by Saturday afternoon...
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Mar 25, 2012 20:22
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Manky posted:Only one case, if you won the raffle you were allowed to buy just one bottle for $12. I have no regrets skipping it. That's some pretty crazy price gouging, geez.
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Mar 25, 2012 20:27
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Midorka posted:That's some pretty crazy price gouging, geez. Yeah... if any places around me were to try to do insane price hikes like that, they wouldn't be in business for very long because nobody would shop there. It's nice to live in poor states sometimes!
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Mar 25, 2012 20:33
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Midorka posted:That's some pretty crazy price gouging, geez. It's my favorite place to go by far, and the owner is a great guy, but sadly their prices really, really suck. They don't really have any competition, at least not yet, no place around Lancaster gets anything like their distribution selection for stuff on tap or singles. Sure makes me miss Philly.
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Mar 25, 2012 20:44
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