|
Podima posted:Finally got the chance to get to the back and pop open my DFH Olde School (barleywine brewed with figs/dates) last night... blech. What an overly sweet mess that one was, to the point where I'm not even sure it's worth aging. Fiancee tried it and said it tasted exactly like the smells she associated with her grandma who always ate dates, so I suppose that's a "success" on DFH's part? Olde School ages wonderfully, if you ask me. In fact, the 4ish year old one I had was by far the best thing I've ever had from DFH. Why did I wait 4 years? Because it's awful fresh and was actually avoiding drinking the last one.
|
#
?
Dec 17, 2013 17:40
|
|
|
|
| # ? Jun 9, 2024 22:51 |
|
|
funkybottoms posted:i just can't stand reading that one dude's posts. whatever. I drank a 2012 and 2013 side by side over the weekend. I think the 2013 is a bit hot right now; the 2012 was super smooth and awesome. I think the 2013 also tastes less hot as it warms up. Other news, drank a 2013 Central Waters BBA Scotch Ale. This is drinking extremely well right now, a lot better than when it was fresh. One of the best of the style I've ever had.
|
|
#
?
Dec 17, 2013 18:01
|
|
|
I had a Hair of the Dog Doggie Claws 2013 last night and while I enjoyed it, I am in total agreement with the brewery in that it would taste a lot better aged. I had a 2011 Doggie Claws where the hop presence had been significantly reduced and tasted incredibly smoothed. Still, a great barley wine that ages well and unlike most of Hotd's offerings, at a reasonable price point.
|
|
#
?
Dec 17, 2013 18:07
|
|
|
Me in Reverse posted:I might be wrong here but based on your last post it sounds like you really like citrus/floral hops.. Daisy Cutter is more of a dank hop, maybe you're not into it? Amy recommendations for something with Chinook? Don't mind trading if I have to.
|
|
#
?
Dec 17, 2013 18:32
|
|
|
I have a big love affair with Olde School Barleywine, so much that I bought a ceramic coaster of it when I visited there. Maybe it's nostalgia, maybe it's just a good beer, but I love it fresh or aged.
|
|
#
?
Dec 17, 2013 18:35
|
|
|
Cbear posted:Amy recommendations for something with Chinook? Don't mind trading if I have to.
|
|
#
?
Dec 17, 2013 19:06
|
|
|
Stone Enjoy by.. 2.14.14 announced to be coming soon. Can't wait to give it a shot. With the way its worded, does this mean they're releasing it this month or january? Anyone remember from their earlier releases how it works?
Cromlech fucked around with this message at 19:09 on Dec 17, 2013 |
|
#
?
Dec 17, 2013 19:07
|
|
|
To everyone who talked up Ithaca's Flower Power in this thread, you're absolutely on point - this is an excellent IPA. Really nicely balanced combination of hops, including some hops I generally don't like as much when overdone.
|
|
#
?
Dec 17, 2013 19:22
|
|
|
Cromlech posted:Stone Enjoy by.. 2.14.14 announced to be coming soon. Can't wait to give it a shot. With the way its worded, does this mean they're releasing it this month or january? Anyone remember from their earlier releases how it works? Enjoy By releases ideally show up within a given market roughly 4-6 weeks before the enjoy by date.
|
|
#
?
Dec 17, 2013 19:25
|
|
|
Cromlech posted:Stone Enjoy by.. 2.14.14 announced to be coming soon. Can't wait to give it a shot. With the way its worded, does this mean they're releasing it this month or january? Anyone remember from their earlier releases how it works? It generally hits distribution about a month before the date on the bottle. So look for it in January. Also, send more to CO you jerks 
|
|
#
?
Dec 17, 2013 19:26
|
|
|
I love the idea of Enjoy By (and it doesn't hurt that it's pretty loving delicious), but on the flip side, what's the worst offense you've seen as far as bottling dates go? A few weeks ago Me In Reverse told where I could still get Enjoy By from 2012, which is what made me think of it. The worst thing I've personally seen is a case of Anchor Christmas Ale from 2008 that's still sitting in the cooler at a distributor near me. Can anyone beat that?
|
|
#
?
Dec 17, 2013 19:46
|
|
|
HatfulOfHollow posted:The worst thing I've personally seen is a case of Anchor Christmas Ale from 2008 I don't think this is an error. I'm pretty sure Anchor re-releases cellared versions of this annually. I've seen stores put out verticals from like 2006 on.
|
|
#
?
Dec 17, 2013 19:56
|
|
|
One time I randomly saw 2012 Sucaba and Parabola on the shelf right around when the fresh 2013 ones were due out. But that wasn't an error, it owned and I bought them both. They weren't marked up at all either.
|
|
#
?
Dec 17, 2013 20:07
|
|
|
danbanana posted:I don't think this is an error. I'm pretty sure Anchor re-releases cellared versions of this annually. I've seen stores put out verticals from like 2006 on. They may re-release it, but this case has definitely been in the cooler for over two years. Since I've been hitting that shop the case migrated down the pile to a spot on the floor in the corner. It's definitely been long forgotten and I'm sure most people don't even notice it. There's another shop I occasionally stop in (and even post about because it's hilarious), the Roger Wilco in Woodbury NJ, that still has Great Lakes Alchemy Hour, Victory Hop Wallop, and even more surprising: Weyerbacher bottles with the old label art. That place is such a disaster. But it's gotten a bit better. The last time I stopped in I didn't find a single broken bottle and they removed the wine racks that forced you to pull every bomber out to figure out what was hiding there. deedee megadoodoo fucked around with this message at 20:11 on Dec 17, 2013 |
|
#
?
Dec 17, 2013 20:08
|
|
|
HatfulOfHollow posted:I love the idea of Enjoy By (and it doesn't hurt that it's pretty loving delicious), but on the flip side, what's the worst offense you've seen as far as bottling dates go? A few weeks ago Me In Reverse told where I could still get Enjoy By from 2012, which is what made me think of it. The worst thing I've personally seen is a case of Anchor Christmas Ale from 2008 that's still sitting in the cooler at a distributor near me. Can anyone beat that? It was a case of Stone 13th Anniversary Ale (a 4 year old beer that says 'Do Not Cellar' on the bottle) not Enjoy By. But arguably that's worse. HatfulOfHollow posted:the wine racks that forced you to pull every bomber out to figure out what was hiding there. That sounds awesome, I bet you could find some hidden gems in there.
|
|
#
?
Dec 17, 2013 20:11
|
|
|
Wamsutta posted:This was my first year getting to try BCBS and I did find it sort of hot (I had it from a bottle). It didn't impede my enjoyment at all, but I'm probably going to age the rest of the 4pk. The single barleywine I was able to pick up, however, I plan to drink soon. BCBS is always a bit hotter than I'd like, but even 3 months on it makes a big difference imo. 7 Bowls of Wrath posted:I know its sort of out of season, but I really want to get my hands on some Grodziskie/Grätzer beers stateside, imported or brewed here. Are there any good candidates in the MD/VA area where I could get some? I've searched and searched, and most stores don't even know what I am asking for. I know that DC Brau put out a limited release of this style a year or so back, but it was keg only so I got to try it once. I think you'll have to keep an eye on the local menus. I've seen them at Pizza Paradiso, Churchkey, Meridian Pint, rustico, etc.
|
|
#
?
Dec 17, 2013 20:34
|
|
|
HatfulOfHollow posted:I love the idea of Enjoy By (and it doesn't hurt that it's pretty loving delicious), but on the flip side, what's the worst offense you've seen as far as bottling dates go? A few weeks ago Me In Reverse told where I could still get Enjoy By from 2012, which is what made me think of it. The worst thing I've personally seen is a case of Anchor Christmas Ale from 2008 that's still sitting in the cooler at a distributor near me. Can anyone beat that? The problem is that the Enjoy By gimmick only works when its a hype-beer. Even from a common-sense perspective, its easy to see why giving your own non-perishable product a one-month and change shelf life isn't a viable commercial strategy. The moment its not selling out instantly, you're pretty much guaranteed a ton of unsold or returned product because you wrote "this beer is not good after [close or passed] date" on the label. Its like trying to sell expired milk except beer doesn't *actually* expire, but putting that date on there tells virtually every potential consumer that it does. I honestly wish they'd just call it something else now and sell it regularly. The gimmick is past the Enjoy-By date.
|
|
#
?
Dec 17, 2013 20:55
|
|
|
I still enjoy the Enjoy By gimmick, I'll admit it. Nobody else does it, it's a fantastic product, and it's something I can go out of my way to enjoy every few months. It's a small pleasure but I feel it adds to my enjoyment of the product. Enjoy enjoy enjoy enjoy enjoy enjoy enjoy
|
|
#
?
Dec 17, 2013 21:14
|
|
|
The gas station near me has SN Torpedo with bottle codes from mid-2012 on the shelf. But, well, it's a gas station.
|
|
#
?
Dec 17, 2013 21:17
|
|
|
I have no qualms with the Enjoy By gimmick, because 1) The quality of the product backs up the gimmick, unlike a lot of other gimmick brewers like DFH and 2) The gimmick is nothing more than a way to additionaly help ensure the quality of the product. Seriously, we're not talking about an energy drink IPA here (http://www.brewdog.com/blog-article/never-mind-the-anabolics).
|
|
#
?
Dec 17, 2013 21:19
|
|
|
Any gimmick that basically guarantees freshness and benefits the consumer is fine by me. I almost always pass up alpha king and arctic panzer wolf etc when I see them because who knows how old they could be.
|
|
#
?
Dec 17, 2013 21:22
|
|
|
LeafHouse posted:Any gimmick that basically guarantees freshness and benefits the consumer is fine by me. I almost always pass up alpha king and arctic panzer wolf etc when I see them because who knows how old they could be. Three Floyds has started bottle dating, so no longer will you need to  Just don't buy any FFF IPAs without dates on them.
|
|
#
?
Dec 17, 2013 21:42
|
|
|
LeafHouse posted:Any gimmick that basically guarantees freshness and benefits the consumer is fine by me. I almost always pass up alpha king and arctic panzer wolf etc when I see them because who knows how old they could be. I don't dislike fresh beer, I just don't think its a feasible long term business strategy because you're taking something that doesn't actually have a shelf-life and giving it one. This works when demand is so high the product is immediately purchased, but having the product around for this long naturally reduces demand. Moreover, the shelf life they give is only 5 weeks, which isn't necessarily reasonable to retailers that have to move the product. Is 3 month old Sculpin/Alpha King/whatever ideal? No, it isn't, but the beer hasn't "gone bad," really. In a perfect world, breweries would make the exact amount of beer that was in demand, but that's not really reasonable.
|
|
#
?
Dec 17, 2013 21:46
|
|
|
Angry Grimace posted:I don't dislike fresh beer, I just don't think its a feasible long term business strategy because you're taking something that doesn't actually have a shelf-life and giving it one. This works when demand is so high the product is immediately purchased, but having the product around for this long naturally reduces demand. I tend to agree, but I honestly don't see it sit on the shelves long because people still love it. Stone will continue to do it until batches start to sit and when they do so, they'll probably just rename it...
|
|
#
?
Dec 17, 2013 21:50
|
|
|
crazyfish posted:Three Floyds has started bottle dating, so no longer will you need to As did The Bruery, just a heads up to all here. By the way Eclipse is now in NJ and 50/50 is here. My store got a case, 6 bottles. Maker's Mark, Elijah Craig 12, Evan Williams, High West, Four Roses, and Buffalo Trace. Not sure what the boss is going to do with them though.
|
|
#
?
Dec 17, 2013 22:09
|
|
|
Midorka posted:As did The Bruery, just a heads up to all here. If it's anything like my area, the plan will be "try to sell them for $50 and they will sit on the shelves until the end of time because lol $50 bottle".
|
|
#
?
Dec 17, 2013 22:13
|
|
|
Anyone else in Atlanta score a bottle of Cinnamon Roll Wake n Bake? My brother and I got ours at Greens on Ponce, which has definitely become my favorite spot in the city not only for quantity and variety but also killer prices that are often up to a dollar less on regular shelf stuff than some of the other big shops in the city. Wish I could have picked up at least one more bottle for trading purposes but I can't complain....can't wait to drink it later tonight.
|
|
#
?
Dec 17, 2013 22:14
|
|
|
My favorite "error" I've come across was a local shop had Rodenbach 2008 Vintage in their discount cart. Score!
|
|
#
?
Dec 17, 2013 22:17
|
|
|
Docjowles posted:If it's anything like my area, the plan will be "try to sell them for $50 and they will sit on the shelves until the end of time because lol $50 bottle". Well cost is $21.50 a bottle. They will likely be no more than $26 for whoever buys them. $50 is absurd though, I've seen them for $35 at the Foodery in Philly, a place where Speedway Stout was $20 last time I was there.
|
|
#
?
Dec 17, 2013 22:19
|
|
|
Midorka posted:As did The Bruery, just a heads up to all here. While the info is always welcome, The Bruery makes almost no beer that really needs actual bottle dating, though. I think the only hoppy thing they make is Humulus Lager and afaik that's draft only. Every once in a while I'm tempted to try an EC12 Eclipse but then I remember that I can buy six BCBS bottles for the same price and it will probably taste a lot better.
|
|
#
?
Dec 17, 2013 22:46
|
|
|
Midorka posted:Well cost is $21.50 a bottle. They will likely be no more than $26 for whoever buys them. $50 is absurd though, I've seen them for $35 at the Foodery in Philly, a place where Speedway Stout was $20 last time I was there. The last time I was in Chicago, the Eclipse stouts were around $30+ a bottle at Binny's, so those prices are a steal.
|
|
#
?
Dec 17, 2013 22:47
|
|
|
I'm interested in trying the 4 Roses and Evan Williams 50/50 but not at $30/bottle. I would much rather get multiple bottles I know I like then gamble on a single one. Do they make kegs of the 50/50 variants, or are they only in bottles?
|
|
#
?
Dec 17, 2013 22:50
|
|
|
Midorka posted:As did The Bruery, just a heads up to all here. Definitely have people line up at 5am and then open the doors to everyone free-for-all style several hours later.
|
|
#
?
Dec 17, 2013 22:53
|
|
|
crazyfish posted:Three Floyds has started bottle dating, so no longer will you need to Are there many bottle shops were FFF beers sit around? I have no qualms grabbing a non-dated FFF bottle because the vast majority of shops can't even keep them on the shelves. edit: Cigar City started bottle dating as well.
|
|
#
?
Dec 17, 2013 23:04
|
|
|
Bag of Sun Chips posted:Are there many bottle shops were FFF beers sit around? I have no qualms grabbing a non-dated FFF bottle because the vast majority of shops can't even keep them on the shelves. The bombers (even Dreadnaught and Panzer) sit at some lower-traffic stores. The 6 packs generally don't.
|
|
#
?
Dec 17, 2013 23:05
|
|
|
Me in Reverse posted:Definitely have people line up at 5am and then open the doors to everyone free-for-all style several hours later. Ah cmon man, I understand why you would be upset, but that wasn't my fault. I discussed the idea of tickets though to make it more fair and so people would know what they were going to be able to get before they came though, rather than a FFA.
|
|
#
?
Dec 17, 2013 23:17
|
|
|
Midorka posted:Ah cmon man, I understand why you would be upset, but that wasn't my fault. I discussed the idea of tickets though to make it more fair and so people would know what they were going to be able to get before they came though, rather than a FFA. I'm just busting your balls 
|
|
#
?
Dec 17, 2013 23:21
|
|
|
I'm going to be in Florida for the holidays. What should I look out for there that I wouldn't be able to get in Los Angeles?
|
|
#
?
Dec 17, 2013 23:36
|
|
|
Me in Reverse posted:I'm just busting your balls Gosh this thread is so serious
|
|
#
?
Dec 17, 2013 23:36
|
|
|
|
| # ? Jun 9, 2024 22:51 |
|
|
PopZeus posted:I'm going to be in Florida for the holidays. What should I look out for there that I wouldn't be able to get in Los Angeles? What part? Obviously Cigar City, but depending on where you go there will be other breweries and such to hit up.
|
|
#
?
Dec 17, 2013 23:36
|
|
