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Schpyder posted:I was thinking about it, but thanks to some goddamn crisis at work, I'll be there instead for most of the day. i've heard good things about vivant... i've also heard they'll be distro'ing in illinois soon. a while back i listed my favorite DIPAs. i criminally left surly's abrasive off the list. no, wait: i left it off the top of my list.
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Apr 21, 2012 02:45
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Oh well, Big Red Coq releases at Vivant on May 1, and a Coq party on Sunday the 6th! I will almost certainly be at one of those (probably the first, to get a couple packs, since they're canning it).
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No Colette or Levitation on tap, unfortunately. Ended up trying the La Chouffe Houblon, which was really interesting. Saw it at the store afterwards, but I held off, in interest of trying something new. The standout of the night was Ommegang Biere De Mars, which just reaffirms my opinion the Ommegang can do no loving wrong. Looking down the barrel of some Dupont Foret, Whirlwind Witbier and Jolly Pumpkin Bam Biere at the moment. I'm betting the Saturday morning I'm inevitably losing in order to partake wouldn't have been interesting anyways. Nothing good happens until after 10am, or so I'm told.
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Apr 21, 2012 03:14
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Bought some easy drinking beer tonight for me and the friends, Hoegaarden is surprisingly good and full-flavored despite the low ABV. The typical banana clove profile, but mild and the body is a bit creamy, I enjoy it. Palm is an easy drinking beer, something I would give someone used to Yuengling to try, I had one but it was after Hoptimium so it's not fair to judge. 21st Amendment's Monk's Blood was decent, a bit winey due to the dried figs, I feel it could have done without them. Hoptimium is a great value for hopheads, bitter from start to finish but smooth with good balance, one of my new favorite high IBU beers. Also Rogue's Voodoo Doughnut beer has finally made it to NJ, I don't know if I should just pass by as all the terrible things I've heard, or try it just to try it. I'll probably pass though, I know better ways to spend $12.99. Midorka fucked around with this message at 05:42 on Apr 21, 2012 |
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Apr 21, 2012 05:27
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Midorka posted:Also Rogue's Voodoo Doughnut beer has finally made it to NJ, I don't know if I should just pass by as all the terrible things I've heard, or try it just to try it. I'll probably pass though, I know better ways to spend $12.99. I seriously haven't heard of a single person who has liked this beer... I'd personally pass. Then again I'd probably say "no thanks" to any Rogue beer.
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Apr 21, 2012 06:01
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Kudosx posted:I seriously haven't heard of a single person who has liked this beer... I'd personally pass. Then again I'd probably say "no thanks" to any Rogue beer. That's how I feel on both accounts.
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Apr 21, 2012 06:04
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Man. Foret is haaaaaaard to pour. Other than that, amazing.
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Apr 21, 2012 06:05
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wattershed posted:Beer porn: My bottle reads 10.5% and is oh so delicious.
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Apr 21, 2012 08:20
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That is the sweetest growler that I have ever seen
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Apr 21, 2012 12:47
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so, Clown Shoes doesn't get much/any love here, including from me, but i've got to say that their Vampire Slayer stout is pretty drat good. nothing out-of-this-world, but a rich, chocolaty stout with a slight bit of wood and char flavor that hides its 10% really well, making it incredibly easy to drink. didn't care for Chocolate Sombrero or Blaecorn Unidragon nearly as much, but i'd recommend the latter to anybody who digs Storm King, Yeti, or similarly hoppy imperial stouts.
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Apr 21, 2012 14:17
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Drank Sierra Nevada's Estate homegrown organic ale last night, and boy did it taste fresh. Almost too fresh for me, I have never had a wet-hopped beer before I don't think, and while it went down very well the aftertaste kind of tasted like soap/suds. Would not buy again 
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Apr 21, 2012 14:36
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Podima posted:Question for the combined expertise of the beer thread: I have a bottle of DFH 75 minute that I'm considering saving till May 5th for my buddy's birthday. Would this be long enough to mess with the flavor, do you think? You'll be ok. 75 minute is really one of the best session beers out there right now. I'd drink that frequently given the opportunity. FreelanceSocialist posted:Where in the world did you get this idea? Rogue is the devil. Don't hate, much love for Dead Guy! Went to a party last night that had some DC Brau The Public, just a simple pale ale. First time having a real fresh pale ale so it had quite the hop aroma and crispness. Think I like this a lot more than SNPA.
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Apr 21, 2012 15:03
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air- posted:You'll be ok. 75 minute is really one of the best session beers out there right now. I'd drink that frequently given the opportunity. Rogue and Stone are both insanely overpriced compared to any local craft beer you can get almost anywhere in America, and with those you get the perk of it being local. There's not just one or two beer cities in America anymore, there's a half dozen really good microbreweries even in my parents' town of Greenville, SC. (Even DC, as you're saying, is having a beer renaissance with DC Brau, Chocolate City, etc., leaving aside the Northern Virginia and Maryland beers.) I sometimes get Rogue or Stone on tap when they're the same price as everything else, but otherwise I just don't get paying $20 for a 4-pack of good beer when there's sub-$10 six-packs of equally good beer everywhere these days. Completely changing subjects, if anyone's ever in the Berkeley, CA area, my two favorite beers of all time are Drake's Gold Medal IPA out of San Leandro, and the Red Spot, a beer by a company that owns a couple Berkeley bars but doesn't bottle them, sold at Jupiter and the Bear's Lair bars. I'm moving back to that area soon and am super excited to get back to the Bay Area beer scene. France doesn't have poo poo for beers.
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Apr 21, 2012 15:26
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berzerker posted:I sometimes get Rogue or Stone on tap when they're the same price as everything else, but otherwise I just don't get paying $20 for a 4-pack of good beer when there's sub-$10 six-packs of equally good beer everywhere these days. That's a really good point you bring up. Slight sidetrack, but I noticed that tap prices here typically range for $7-12 for a "full" pour (12-16oz glasses). Given the prices, unless there's a limited/draft-only type offering, I'm also less inclined to go with the larger craft breweries like Stone, New Belgium, etc. if there's a more local brewery available on the lineup. Drinking at a bar's become a treat for me nowadays seeing these prices out here. I was used to $4-5 pints in most places, and I'd infrequently buy a $7-8 glass at Common Table/Meddlesome Moth in Dallas.
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Apr 21, 2012 15:36
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air- posted:You'll be ok. 75 minute is really one of the best session beers out there right now. I'd drink that frequently given the opportunity. I dunno if I'd call a 7.5% IPA a session beer, but it is very good. quote:Don't hate, much love for Dead Guy! I think you missed the discussion about their shady business practices, mostly related to how they treat their employees.
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Apr 21, 2012 16:01
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Even apart from Rogue being dicks, Deadguy sucks rear end. Also it's crazy to me how few goons drink Belgians from Belgium.
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Apr 21, 2012 16:19
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Arnold of Soissons posted:Also it's crazy to me how few goons drink Belgians from Belgium. The thing about this, for me, is that I have no idea where to start really. I've enjoyed Delirium Tremens very much though and would love beers similar.
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Apr 21, 2012 17:04
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Arnold of Soissons posted:Even apart from Rogue being dicks, Deadguy sucks rear end. I love belgians, but they get pricey the further you go down that particular rabbit hole.
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Apr 21, 2012 17:12
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Midorka posted:The thing about this, for me, is that I have no idea where to start really. I've enjoyed Delirium Tremens very much though and would love beers similar. Start with St. Bernardus and Chimay, then go to Westmalle/Tripel Karmeliet/La Chouffe, also Gulden Draak, Duvel, and Orval at least these 
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Apr 21, 2012 17:22
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TenaciousTomato posted:Start with St. Bernardus and Chimay, then go to Westmalle/Tripel Karmeliet/La Chouffe, also Gulden Draak, Duvel, and Orval That's a great list to start with. Note that Bernardus makes a handful of great beers, Chimay makes three; Rochefort makes two A'Choffe makes three or four.
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Apr 21, 2012 17:28
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TenaciousTomato posted:Start with St. Bernardus and Chimay, then go to Westmalle/Tripel Karmeliet/La Chouffe, also Gulden Draak, Duvel, and Orval Well I can scratch most of those off the list, I've had Bernardus Triple and Quad, the triple I love (also is it tripel or triple?). Chimay I've been putting off for some reason. I've had Westmalle's Double I think, but I'm not overly fond of the style. Duvel gift sets will be hitting the market for Father's Day so I'll be picking another up. Orval is fantastic. I guess it just leaves Chimay, La Chouffe, Gulden Draak, and Chimay to explore.
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Apr 21, 2012 17:33
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Midorka posted:Chimay, La Chouffe, Gulden Draak Don 't forget Karmeliet! It is my favorite Belgian Tripel by far. Chimay Red is the dubbel, White is the tripel, and Blue is the 9% monster, Belgian Strong Dark Ale. All of them are really great though.
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Apr 21, 2012 17:38
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I don't know how hard it is to find, but if anyone sees St Bernardus Wit, they should buy it and drink it, because it is one of the best wit beers brewed.
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Apr 21, 2012 17:38
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TenaciousTomato posted:Don 't forget Karmeliet! It is my favorite Belgian Tripel by far. Chimay Red is the dubbel, White is the tripel, and Blue is the 9% monster, Belgian Strong Dark Ale. All of them are really great though. I don't think I've ever seen Karmeliet, but I'll look for it! Arnold of Soissons posted:I don't know how hard it is to find, but if anyone sees St Bernardus Wit, they should buy it and drink it, because it is one of the best wit beers brewed. It's easy to get here, $7.99 for a 750ml, but I fear the bottle is pretty drat old. I'm assuming it'll still taste decent though as there's no huge hop profile to go missing? Also how does it compare to Hoegaarden? I realized I love that beer last night, but it seemed a bit thick and on the sweet side compared to the only other Witbier I've had, Dogfish Head Namaste, which is rather bright and crisp. Oh I lied, I had The Bruery's Orchard White, which was very citrus and pepper. Hoegaarden seemed more banana and slight cloves compared to those two.
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Apr 21, 2012 17:46
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Midorka posted:It's easy to get here, $7.99 for a 750ml, but I fear the bottle is pretty drat old. I'm assuming it'll still taste decent though as there's no huge hop profile to go missing? Wit beer is probably best fresh, but it's a bottle conditioned beer with only a tiny amount of hops added for preservative effects, so it's not like it will be stale or skunked or anything. $8 for a 750 of something you could drink liters of winds up feeling kind of steep, but I'd recommend picking up a bottle just because it's plum wonderful. If you want other Belgians: anything from DuPont or anything from DeDolle, ever.
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Apr 21, 2012 17:53
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Drinking a Weihenstephaner Dunkel (Dark Hefe) for the first time. It is unbelievably delicious.
TenaciousTomato fucked around with this message at 18:01 on Apr 21, 2012 |
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Apr 21, 2012 17:55
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Arnold of Soissons posted:Wit beer is probably best fresh, but it's a bottle conditioned beer with only a tiny amount of hops added for preservative effects, so it's not like it will be stale or skunked or anything. $8 for a 750 of something you could drink liters of winds up feeling kind of steep, but I'd recommend picking up a bottle just because it's plum wonderful. Thanks for the advice! I'll probably wait for the Chimay gift set to buy that, but the wit I'll pick up soon!
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Apr 21, 2012 18:31
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berzerker posted:Rogue and Stone are both insanely overpriced compared to any local craft beer you can get almost anywhere in America, and with those you get the perk of it being local. Sorry, can't let this slide by here, aside from Rogue's tiny bottles, how are either of them overpriced? Most Stone bombers come in around $6.50, which is in the bottom 25% of the price range of what's on store shelves. Hell, I can get the Stone Saison du BUFF for literally $0.99 right now. I'm all for keeping things local but when I think expensive I think Allagash or Lost Abbey.
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Apr 21, 2012 18:53
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Yeah, I thought I was being crazy, but those Stone bombers aren't very expensive. I saw their smoked porter for $4.50 today and Ruination was $6.50. That being said, I still don't buy any of their beers just because I've never really had anything from them I thought was worth buying twice.
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Apr 21, 2012 19:14
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danbanana posted:i've heard good things about vivant... i've also heard they'll be distro'ing in illinois soon. If Vivant starts distributing to Chicago, I'll be really happy. They were my favorite stop on a recent trip through a bunch of Michigan breweries. wattershed posted:Sorry, can't let this slide by here, aside from Rogue's tiny bottles, how are either of them overpriced? I agree, Stone and Rogue are generally among the cheaper bombers out there. With Rogue, though, you often get what you pay for, since the majority of their beers fall squarely into the "mediocre" category. About the only one that still stands out for me is Shakespeare Stout, and that's largely because of nostalgia. Stone generally has much better quality than Rogue, but not a lot of variety. For cheap bombers, though, Lagunitas is right up there with Stone: Great quality for what you pay for, and Hop Stoopid is not only a great beer but probably the cheapest DIPA bomber on the entire market. Even when I was in Denmark, the imported Lagunitas beers were cheaper than almost all of the native Danish craft beers. By the way, those of you in the Chicago area should see if you can find some of the En Passant from Goose Island's innovation program. It's a rye mild ale with blood oranges that's really tasty, and it's only on draft for a short time. I know Revolution and Haymarket have it, as well as GI Clybourn (of course), but I'm not sure who else does. The brewers who worked on it did a great job. 
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Apr 21, 2012 20:44
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http://mobile.mlive.com/advgrapids/pm_29290/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=ZP8LWgIJ They're saying fall for vivant in chicago.
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Apr 21, 2012 20:52
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RiggenBlaque posted:Yeah, I thought I was being crazy, but those Stone bombers aren't very expensive. I saw their smoked porter for $4.50 today and Ruination was $6.50. That being said, I still don't buy any of their beers just because I've never really had anything from them I thought was worth buying twice. I'm a pretentious beer geek, I hate the label and am not a fan of the name, but Arrogant Bastard is a well made, tasty beer that I would put among, if not at the top of Stone's offerings, personally. It's not necessarily a beer that lifts up your eyebrows and makes you say wow, but it is a tasty beer for any occasion.
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Apr 21, 2012 21:52
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White Rajah must be selling pretty well at my grocery store, cuz they now have it available in the cooler too.  And they're starting to get more and more Ballast Point bombers. Awesome IPAs for me!
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Apr 21, 2012 22:33
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Arnold of Soissons posted:I'm a pretentious beer geek, I hate the label and am not a fan of the name, but Arrogant Bastard is a well made, tasty beer that I would put among, if not at the top of Stone's offerings, personally. It's not necessarily a beer that lifts up your eyebrows and makes you say wow, but it is a tasty beer for any occasion. While I love Double Bastard, I just don't care much of anything about Arrogant Bastard. Ruination on the other hand.. that beer is awesome all the time. And I go crazy for their IRS. That sucker I can drink day and night. They also have one of the better brewery tour/dining settings you can come across and I can't wait till they get that hotel built.
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Apr 21, 2012 22:59
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RiggenBlaque posted:Yeah, I thought I was being crazy, but those Stone bombers aren't very expensive. I saw their smoked porter for $4.50 today and Ruination was $6.50. That being said, I still don't buy any of their beers just because I've never really had anything from them I thought was worth buying twice. I got 2 bombers of IRS and I think they were 6 or 7 bucks a piece. Hell, Sculpin bombers are like 8 bucks.
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Apr 21, 2012 23:14
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Recently tried Left Hand Ambidextrous and it was outstanding. Every aspect of it (Milk Stout, Oak Aged Widdershins, Wake Up Dead Coffee Stout) came through and I'm surprised it was still balanced without being super boozy. I'm really gonna have to stop myself from buying another sixer of Oarsman. I know nothing about berlinerweiss beers, so what else is worth picking up?
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Apr 22, 2012 00:32
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TenaciousTomato posted:Drinking a Weihenstephaner Dunkel (Dark Hefe) for the first time. It is unbelievably delicious. Weihenstephaner Dunkel is my favorite Weihenstephaner beer, and that's saying something.
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Apr 22, 2012 00:51
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Jack Skeleton posted:While I love Double Bastard, I just don't care much of anything about Arrogant Bastard. Ruination on the other hand.. that beer is awesome all the time. And I go crazy for their IRS. That sucker I can drink day and night. Apropos of nothing, they're apparently putting a Stone retail store in Oceanside, much more convenient for a lot of the coastal Orange County goons.
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Apr 22, 2012 01:23
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Victory Whirlwind Wit is pretty good. Compared to these Weihenstephanern being discussed, it's definitely a clean American style wit. A little thinner/lighter than, say, Allagash White, but still very refreshing. Light spices, Belgian sweetness and yeast; quenching.
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Apr 22, 2012 01:59
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air- posted:I'm really gonna have to stop myself from buying another sixer of Oarsman. I know nothing about berlinerweiss beers, so what else is worth picking up? DC gets all kinds of crazy poo poo, so you might be able to find stuff there that i'm unaware if, but you should be able to find Bruery Hottenroth and, with luck, this dude.
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Apr 22, 2012 02:39
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Ubik posted:If Vivant starts distributing to Chicago, I'll be really happy. They were my favorite stop on a recent trip through a bunch of Michigan breweries. Man, I just now I had a Zaison from Brewery Vivant (I guess they can it?), and it was really terrible. So bad I switched beers with someone at my table. That might be the restaurant equivalent of a drain pour.
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Apr 22, 2012 03:16
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