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air- posted:Sounds good. I'm also considering going over to Hudson, WI to see about New Glarus offerings. Hoping for Thumbprint Sour Wild... Go to Casanova Liquors, they fill any growler with anything from their taplist. Maybe not exciting to you but pretty neat for Minnesotans. Get a growler of anything hoppy form Toppling Goliath! Their IPA and their pale, PseudoSue, are amazing.
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Dec 13, 2013 00:50
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| # ? May 12, 2024 12:57 |
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My complete apathy towards struggling through crowds for BCBS paid off and I found a few today as well as some BCBW. Also found a bunch of year-old Old Ruffian for dirt cheap. 
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Dec 13, 2013 01:26
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Picked up some of the Sucks. Since the last time I had it two years ago my taste has changed a lot.. Still a nice flavored ale for the strength. Lagunitas has to have the most distinct flavor of any brewery right? Plenty of breweries have consistent texture or quality or even run through stuff like all English/Belgian/German or whatever ingredients but I've really don't know another brewery where every beer has the signature flavor
Bundt Cake fucked around with this message at 01:41 on Dec 13, 2013 |
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Dec 13, 2013 01:39
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Bundt Cake posted:Picked up some of the Sucks. Since the last time I had it two years ago my taste has changed a lot.. Still a nice flavored ale for the strength. Lagunitas has to have the most distinct flavor of any brewery right? DFH maybe? Only because it's kind of odd? I am a big fan of everything I've had from Lagunitas and they're definitely distinct.
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Dec 13, 2013 01:42
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Shrapnac posted:DFH maybe? Only because it's kind of odd? Yeah I mean many breweries have consistency in their philosophy on beer, but I really mean the flavor. I get what you're saying about DFH, and theres a brewer around here named Cody who does "Epic Ales" that I probably could pick out of a line up, but really theres something about the flavor itself for Lagunitas that seems the same from beer to beer. I guess its probably something a smart brewer could easily explain about ingredients, but I don't know what it is.
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Dec 13, 2013 01:47
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Bundt Cake posted:Picked up some of the Sucks. Since the last time I had it two years ago my taste has changed a lot.. Still a nice flavored ale for the strength. Lagunitas has to have the most distinct flavor of any brewery right? Plenty of breweries have consistent texture or quality or even run through stuff like all English/Belgian/German or whatever ingredients but I've really don't know another brewery where every beer has the signature flavor I get a lot of the same flavors from many Lagunitas beers, but the other night I had Hairy Eyeball from them, and it didn't have that distinct Lagunitas flavor. It was still a good beer, but it didn't remind me of everything else they make. Another brewery that I get a similar flavor profile across all their beers is Great Lakes Brewing Company. Pretty sure it's the house yeast, but I get a lot of the same notes from all of their beers.
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Dec 13, 2013 01:51
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Speaking of the whale chasing utopia of Chicago, tomorrow night/saturday morning is their annual trek to the small Michigan city of Marshall Michigan to wait in line for Dark Horse's BB Plead the 5th, along with about a dozen other beers being bottled. I've been getting things together because I'll be staying in Marshall tomorrow night and saturday night with some friends. I'm so glad I only do one of these stupid releases once a year in the Winter.
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Dec 13, 2013 01:57
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Crooked Stave Vieille (thanks, crazyfish) is wonderful. A hint of sourness, lots of saison breadiness, and the wood is really prevalent. I could drink a lot of this (although it is apparently kind of pricey...).
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Dec 13, 2013 03:07
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Do people really hold Utopias in high regard? I have a 2011 bottle that I haven't finished yet. It was opened on Christmas 2011 so two years ago, I just very very rarely even think about drinking it. Honestly part of that may be because I have it sitting in the dark in my basement.
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Dec 13, 2013 03:14
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I made the mistake tonight of being both a lover of saisons and the band Ween, and wound up ordering a Captain Fantasy on draft... what the gently caress? I have never held Short's in a high regard, but tonight sealed the deal. gently caress Short's. I'm honestly pissed off I paid $5 for a pint of this swill. Intense American hop bitterness that overshadowed the whole beer, little to no ester/phenols, astringent as gently caress... it literally tasted like an old Huma Lupa Licious that maybe was fermented with a Belgian yeast. It was loving whack for a saison. Seriously, anyone thinking about opening a brewery someday, learn a lesson from Short's brewery: if you have made over like 200 beers and none of them are great, you're loving doing it wrong. And if you have the balls to call your beer Captain Fantasy, and it's not in any way FANTASTIC... go gently caress yourself and your trademark trolling.
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Dec 13, 2013 03:33
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danbanana posted:Crooked Stave Vieille (thanks, crazyfish) is wonderful. A hint of sourness, lots of saison breadiness, and the wood is really prevalent. I could drink a lot of this (although it is apparently kind of pricey...).
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Dec 13, 2013 03:34
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Shrapnac posted:Do people really hold Utopias in high regard? Wait, you have a crazy expensive beer sitting around open for more than a year?  , there won't be a shred of carbonation left in that fucker. Get ready to taste full-on oxidation if you decide to try it again.
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Dec 13, 2013 03:48
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hellfaucet posted:Wait, you have a crazy expensive beer sitting around open for more than a year? Too be honest I didn't think it was very good as a "beer" in the first place and there wasn't a shred of carbonation in the thing to begin with. I just went and tasted it, it tastes almost exactly the same as it did when I opened it. Maybe slightly more bitter on the back end but that's about it. It's also a screwtop(once you break the bottlecap top) and been sitting in a closet in my basement with no light, it's not like it's been sitting open to the elements for two years. I would say that the flavors have probably mellowed a fair bit but it's not undrinkable, it just isn't, and probably never was, a beer.
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Dec 13, 2013 04:04
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It's a beer. It's way more of a beer than the awful high-ABV poo poo that Brewdog puts out. Is it fermented grain? Then it's a beer, I don't care what the ABV is even if you had to use some mutant hyper-specialized yeast to make that much alcohol. As long as you're not distilling it.
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Dec 13, 2013 04:07
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Phanatic posted:It's a beer. It's way more of a beer than the awful high-ABV poo poo that Brewdog puts out. Is it fermented grain? Then it's a beer, I don't care what the ABV is even if you had to use some mutant hyper-specialized yeast to make that much alcohol. As long as you're not distilling it. Ok, yes, it's literally a beer... literally. But you would never drink it as one. It's more analogous to a port or brandy in that you'd drink an ounce or two as an aperitif. It's far too cloying to drink more than that. My post may have come across as condescending but I really do appreciate that I had the privilege to have a bottle of Utopias as my own. It wasn't my own doing for sure, my girlfriend, or as I should more appropriately call her, my beer wrangler, since she seems to find every beer that I would love to try, got it for me and it was an incredible gift to get. My door is open to any goon who wants to try a bit of skunky, old, open for two years Utopias 2011 until it runs out, the bottle is very heavy and I can't really judge how much is actually left in there, just let me know.
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Dec 13, 2013 04:16
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Allagash bombers - what's a must get?
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Dec 13, 2013 04:17
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Cromlech posted:Allagash bombers - what's a must get? Depending on what you like, Curieux, Black, Four, Victor, Victoria, Hugh Malone, Fluxus, Interlude, Confluence... Allagash is good and if you like the styles they do, check it out.
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Dec 13, 2013 04:21
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Curieux is my favorite bourbon-barrel-aged beer ever, even if it's aged in cheap-rear end Jim Beam barrels instead of solid gold casks that once held a mixture of 23-year-old Pappy Van Winkle and the actual blood of Christ.
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Dec 13, 2013 04:22
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Utopias is almost more like a brandy than a beer. I finally got to have a taste tonight, $7 for a one ounce pour, which was absolutely enough for me. Three years ago I had been camping the Sam Adams booth at GABF and was three people deep when they ran out. So pissed. It lived up to the hype for me when I had it tonight. Smelled amazing, tasted like figs and raisins and was incredibly smooth. They even let me hold the bottle for a while. Oh! And I won some Sam Adams swag.  
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Dec 13, 2013 04:24
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Cromlech posted:Allagash bombers - what's a must get? Confluence > Interlude > Curieux > Tripel > Four (of the stuff that's generally available)
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Dec 13, 2013 04:25
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Thanks for that. My local place had Confluence on tap twice and I missed it.. Interlude seems right up my alley since I've been meaning to try a beer in that style for a while yet. Can't say I've had the balls to try anything explicitly barrel aged.. Bottle shop does have DBA and whatnot but after trying an "Oak aged" beer (namely, Great Divide Rumble) I've been hesitant. Really didn't like that beer at all. Unrelated, but I really don't like Old/Stock ales at all either - had Great Divide Hibernation and had to drain pour it. Just tasted metallic and overtly boozy to me. It stunk up the room too. I don't know; my palate probably isn't ready for it or something. Every "Christmas" or "Winter" beer I've had blows. To me, a Winter beer is just a Stout or Porter. I don't like the trend of these gimmicky seasonal beers. Seems I'm moving away from malts and towards hops/citrus/other dominated beers. I love Pilsners, Wits and IPAs nowadays, with Stouts and Belgians right under. I feel so not-beer-nerdy!
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Dec 13, 2013 04:37
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Preliminary VT report. I think I'm in love with Vermont and everything it represents already, and for a lot more than just beer; but that's a topic for a different thread. American Flatbread / Zero Gravity Brewing: Great stout/brown, even better pizza offered alongside it. I think it's the best pizza I've had so far on this journey, not that I've been trying to have a lot of pizza. Also, they have an incredible locale, all brick inside and featuring a lot of '70s Whole Earth Catalog-y decor inside, and even the customers seemed to be all bearded dudes and women with long Joni Mitchell-style hair. I felt I was in a timewarp, except I was drinking a fine brown instead of Narragansett or whatever. Vermont Pub & Brewery: Real nice place; the oldest brewpub in Vermont (founded 1988) and the 2nd oldest brewery in VT period (after the defunct Catamount Brewery). Their Burly Irish red ale is a killer session and I could drink lots of 'em. They also had a double IPA on tap called "Teddy Hopper" that was their tribute to the more popular Vermont IPA, but sadly they just ran out when I arrived. Farmhouse Tap & Grill: About 25 taps, but amusingly...  They must have had some kind of Stone festival just recently because nearly half of them were Stone taps (including Suede, which I enjoyed seeing because it's a 10 Barrel beer 3000 miles away from its origin in Bend, 10 minutes walking from my house). Still the rest were nearly all VT including a couple from Hill; I had James, a black IPA that I thought was quite good and hoppy without going too overboard. I also had a can of Heady, served to me with all the matter-of-factness of a PBR at a dive bar, which I loved. I'll save my opinion of it for later, but what I found interesting was that, according to the barkeep/manager, Heady is indeed a lot more available now in cans across VT than at near any time before. What he said to me was that apparently over 70% of Heady was getting bought in cans in the Waterbury storefront up to now. Given how more than one general travel guide to VT has all but said "Ohhh son you need to buy a case of this stuff while you're here" in their literature, I can believe it. I mean, I try to imagine if people tried to fill like 6 growlers of Hop Venom every time they visited Boneyard, and I'm sure that stuff would be pretty drat scarce too. (ps. Farmhouse had 3 or 4 Crooked Stave bottles on their list; how the 'ell did they get those?) SUPER HASSLER fucked around with this message at 04:40 on Dec 13, 2013 |
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Dec 13, 2013 04:38
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SUPER HASSLER posted:Preliminary VT report. I think I'm in love with Vermont and everything it represents already, and for a lot more than just beer; but that's a topic for a different thread. Cheers, that's exactly how I felt about VT too, down to the loving the Irish red at VBP. Glad you had a good time.
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Dec 13, 2013 04:49
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funkybottoms posted:Confluence > Interlude > Curieux > Tripel > Four (of the stuff that's generally available) This is my exact list. Fresh confluence is one of my favorite beers on the planet.
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Dec 13, 2013 05:55
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Cromlech posted:Can't say I've had the balls to try anything explicitly barrel aged.. Bottle shop does have DBA and whatnot but after trying an "Oak aged" beer (namely, Great Divide Rumble) I've been hesitant. Really didn't like that beer at all. Grab something darker that has been barrel aged and give it a shot.
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Dec 13, 2013 06:03
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hellfaucet posted:I made the mistake tonight of being both a lover of saisons and the band Ween, and wound up ordering a Captain Fantasy on draft... what the gently caress? I have never held Short's in a high regard, but tonight sealed the deal. gently caress Short's. Shorts does make good beer, they just don't make good saisons. Shorts highlights from this year: -Cup a Joe (one of my favorite coffee stouts) -Anniversary Ale (a really unique offering of a style not prevalent enough) -Soft Parade is good (for a fruit beer.... haters gonna hate) -Freedom of '78 (maybe you'd like this Ween inspired beer instead?) -Hopstache (tons of grapefruit) -Black Cherry Porter Disappointments: -Captain Fantasy (haven't liked any of their saisons) -Bourbon Woodmaster (had a boozy acetone thing going on that was not good) -Controversius Maximus (wasn't a fan of the heavy maltiness) -Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster (the belgian aspect didn't do anything for me) Cup a Joe is hitting stores at the beginning of next week, you should definitely try it and see if Shorts is redeemed in your mind at all.
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Dec 13, 2013 06:09
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danbanana posted:Crooked Stave Vieille (thanks, crazyfish) is wonderful. A hint of sourness, lots of saison breadiness, and the wood is really prevalent. I could drink a lot of this (although it is apparently kind of pricey...). Have you had Surette yet? They're both basically the same beer IIRC from talking to one of the brewers, except Vieille doesn't age quite as long. Really delightful beer, although I think it's my least favorite out of Crooked Stave's regular offerings because I feel the rest of their lineup just offers far more or more interesting flavor. Still it's a fantastic saison. Also this might interest you:  And yeah, it is a bit pricey, which is my one gripe with Crooked Stave and why I do not drink their product all the time. Mainly because I can get a sixer of something or I can get a 350 and a half of a Crooked Stave brew. Mostly I end up drinking their beers on tap 
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Dec 13, 2013 06:38
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Bundt Cake posted:Picked up some of the Sucks. Since the last time I had it two years ago my taste has changed a lot.. Still a nice flavored ale for the strength. Lagunitas has to have the most distinct flavor of any brewery right? Plenty of breweries have consistent texture or quality or even run through stuff like all English/Belgian/German or whatever ingredients but I've really don't know another brewery where every beer has the signature flavor I picked up one of the 32oz Sucks yesterday and am currently enjoying it. Man this is some good stuff, so good that I know I won't have trouble polishing this thing off even though it's more than what I'd normally drink. On another note I'm going to a Ballast Point takeover event on Saturday and I can't wait. Here's the lineup: 1 Thai Chili Wahoo 2. Fathom 3. Chipotle Marlin 4. Smoke Screen Lager 5. Piper Down 6. Schooner Fresh Hop 7. Dorado 8. Sea Monster 9. Sculpin 10. Black Marlin 11. Big Eye 12. Brother Levonian 13. Longfin 14. Calico 15. Wahoo 16. Victory at Sea 17. Pale Ale 18. Boob Check 19. Serrano Pale 20. Black Eye 21. Homework #2 22. Nitro Sextant 23. Nitro Copper 24. BA Black Marlin 25. Habanero Sculpin Any reccomendations? Obviously gonna get a Sculpin because I've never had it fresh or on tap, but beyond that I'm really not sure. I've had Big Eye and liked it, but I think I'll probably be looking to drink one of the less common brews.
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Dec 13, 2013 07:19
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Habanero Sculpin and BA Black Marlin for sure.
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Dec 13, 2013 07:23
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FYAD SECRETARY posted:On another note I'm going to a Ballast Point takeover event on Saturday and I can't wait. I had the Schooner last night and although it wasn't my favorite, it was straight-up the orangiest pale ale/IPA I've ever had. If you loving love oranges, drink it.
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Dec 13, 2013 07:32
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FYAD SECRETARY posted:I picked up one of the 32oz Sucks yesterday and am currently enjoying it. Man this is some good stuff, so good that I know I won't have trouble polishing this thing off even though it's more than what I'd normally drink. Habanero Sculpin. Thai Chili Wahoo. Schooner. And if you've never had it, Victory at Sea.
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Dec 13, 2013 07:47
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Definitely Habanero Sculpin, but if you plan on being able to actually taste anything else you should save it for last. It is intensely spicy and will completely wreck your palate.
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Dec 13, 2013 13:30
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Bag of Sun Chips posted:Speaking of the whale chasing utopia of Chicago, tomorrow night/saturday morning is their annual trek to the small Michigan city of Marshall Michigan to wait in line for Dark Horse's BB Plead the 5th, along with about a dozen other beers being bottled. I've been getting things together because I'll be staying in Marshall tomorrow night and saturday night with some friends. I'm so glad I only do one of these stupid releases once a year in the Winter. Chicago assholes, leave our state alone!!  Anyway am I remembering correctly that this one is available from the brewery only, no distribution?
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Dec 13, 2013 15:31
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Bag of Sun Chips posted:Shorts does make good beer, they just don't make good saisons. I'm glad I didn't give in and try Captain Fantasy. I kept thinking "hmm, 'pear saison' sounds really good!!" Mystery Stout was a really good one for me. I'd add Nicie Spicie to the disappointment list, but then again I'm not sure how disappointed you can be when a peppercorn beer tastes like chewing on a handful of peppercorns. Still, 
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Dec 13, 2013 15:39
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krustster posted:Chicago assholes, leave our state alone!! krustster posted:I'm glad I didn't give in and try Captain Fantasy. I kept thinking "hmm, 'pear saison' sounds really good!!" Mystery Stout was a really good one for me. I'd add Nicie Spicie to the disappointment list, but then again I'm not sure how disappointed you can be when a peppercorn beer tastes like chewing on a handful of peppercorns. Still, Yeah, BB Plead the 5th is brewery only, sadly. It's personally one of my favorite BB stouts (better than *gasp* BCBS and Black Note). I missed out on Mystery Stout this year but I've heard good things. I was in the Bellaire area for Thanksgiving and went to their "Release the Stouts" event, their Ectoplasmo (Belgian Stout w/ Raspberries) and Bim Bam Boom (Chocolate, Chili, and Orange Stout) were both very good.
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Dec 13, 2013 16:03
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Kasteel's Winter may be one of the best beers I've drank. Huge coffee/cocoa nose with a big cocoa and coffee front, with a huge caramel back that has a slight medicinal grape flavor. Hides every bit of the 11% abv. I'm definitely buying a few of these this Winter.
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Dec 13, 2013 16:04
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Chipotle Black Marlin is also spicy as poo poo. Mole Victory at Sea is awesome, though.
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Dec 13, 2013 16:26
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Guess I'll be in going to Ann Arbor next Monday... Will include: Sobrehumano Palena Ole (settle down not the Grand Reserve!) Biere de Mars Grand Reserve 2010 La Roja- Oval Label 2008 Lambic 2009 Stone-Nogne-Jolly Pumpkin Collaboration 2010 Oro de Calabaza- Oval Label If any A2 goons have been to this before, am I fool expecting that these will auction for reasonable prices?
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Dec 13, 2013 17:47
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i know this isn't the trading thread, but if any WI-area goons are gonna hit this event up, i'm very much ISO .
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Dec 13, 2013 18:07
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| # ? May 12, 2024 12:57 |
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Oh poo poo Sucaba 2014 is bottled. My wallet...
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Dec 13, 2013 19:20
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