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mysterious frankie posted:The Cantillon was an AMAZING example of a lambic, but it was overshadowed by my first Orval experience coming right before it. In hindsight I should not have placed those two back to back; the Cantillon, while great, was of a style which I am familiar, while the Orval was so weird & new that I could only describe its flavor mainly with colors & geometric shapes... actually rereading that, I'm wondering if maybe the yeast was infected with something psychotropic. To give you an idea re: Cantillon in Chicago, a store sent out an email to their list saying they got in bottles of Cantillon Grand Cru, Lou Pepe, and Rose de Gambrinus, and that this was only announced to their email list and not their website, facebook, or twitter. When I got there a couple hours later, there was only one bottle of Grand Cru and 3 bottles of Rose de Gambrinus left. Buy out the store's stock - some other Chicagoans will be more than willing to take it off your hands 
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Apr 14, 2012 18:07
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How available is Cantillon in Chicago, do you think? Do I sit on the batch I discovered, or can it be reliably found when needed?
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ShaneB posted:City Beer Store. Go here. Seriously. Awesome regular selection, and if you're ready to throw down for something special, an extensive cellar too.
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Apr 16, 2012 05:37
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danbanana posted:holy gently caress am i gonna be drunk a lot... While not my favorite beer of all time, I had a 12oz bottle of the 2008 vintage a couple months ago and it was intense. It was amazing but it took me well over an hour to drink the whole bottle.
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Apr 16, 2012 22:55
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Ubik posted:To be fair, sometimes people ask for the strongest or most unusual beer without having a clue whether they even enjoy the style, and bartenders often like to give recommendations and steer people in the direction of something they'll like. The bartender may have just worded his or her question poorly. Personally, I've generally had good service at the Map Room and enjoy stopping by once in a while. This has been my experience as well re: Map Room. I had been asked 'do you know what that is?' when I ordered a Van Hounsebrouck gueuze, but I felt like it was more like "it's kinda weird compared to everything you're probably used to drinking, are you sure you want this?" edit: Ubik posted:Speaking of witbier, I made a stop at Revolution Brewery for the first time in a while yesterday, and their Bottoms-Up Wit is still one of my favorite American-made examples of the style. Creamy in body but still refreshing, with nice wheat tartness and citrus aroma. I followed it with their Poetic Justice, an English bitter made with a newer variety of hop called Sonnet. Does anybody have experience with this one? Supposedly it's a relative of the Goldings lineage, and it definitely had some nice floral, earthy English hop character to it. Weird, I stopped in Revolution last night too. And I totally agree on the Bottom Up Wit; it's definitely my favourite of their offerings and I'll be very happy to see it come off the canning line later this year. crazyfish fucked around with this message at 00:38 on Apr 18, 2012 |
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Apr 18, 2012 00:25
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Kraven Moorhed posted:Wow. Just opened up one of the Backwoods Bastard I've been letting hang around since release half a year ago. Back then I really didn't like it, as the bourbon was far too strong for me. Since then, not only has it had time to rest, but I've (amazingly) developed a taste for bourbon in both beer and liquor form. So yeah. From struggling to finish the bottle to relishing every sip. There's not as much of an alcohol-y taste now, and the brown sugar sweetness has started to come to the forefront. More wood-y, too. This reminds me that I need to buy some Duvel again. Back around when I first turned 21 and knew exactly fuckall about beer, I bought a 4 pack of Duvel because I was amazed at its alcohol content. Of course, I hated it at the time and couldn't finish even a single bottle. Haven't drank it since, but I've been meaning to.
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Apr 18, 2012 03:15
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air- posted:Oarsman is oh so good The first time I had Oarsman I was pretty disappointed in it, but then again I really didn't know anything about what it was supposed to be when I bought it. Maybe I'll get a 6 pack of Oarsman and find another berliner to compare against.
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Apr 18, 2012 17:05
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I've had saisons on my mind as the warm weather beer of choice, but I'm singing a new tune now that I have access to Bell's.
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Docjowles posted:I finally got around to having their Belgian Style Yeti the other day at the taproom, loving outstanding. Regular Yeti, and especially oak aged, are bordering on too intensely bitter for me but the fruity-sweet Belgian character totally mellows it out and makes for an amazing beer. I think Belgian is my favourite variation on it, actually. I think the chocolate oak version is supposed to drop soon, so hopefully I can complete my yeti collection.
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Apr 18, 2012 23:57
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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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Mahoning posted:What do you recommend by Hoppin' Frog? I recently went to a grocery store (the largest grocery store in the world, sq/ft wise) that seems to have pretty much every Hoppin' Frog offering (at least 8 to 10 if I remember correctly). BORIS is their best beer. I haven't had the barrel aged version, but from what I've heard in this thread it isn't worth the extra money. edit: Denver people, are there any good bottle shops around 21st and Champa? I'm going to be in Denver on Friday and I was hoping to pick up some Colorado stuff I can't get in Chicago (Oskar Blues, Odell, etc.)
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Apr 23, 2012 15:20
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CalvinDooglas posted:Best shop near downtown is probably Argonaut, at Colfax and Clarkson. Thanks for the recommendations. I'm probably not going to have the time to do much more than hit a bottle shop as I'm playing a music festival near the aforementioned intersection and so my time in Denver is pretty much already booked solid.
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Apr 23, 2012 17:34
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CalvinDooglas posted:Which venue? I played out at most of the Downtown live music bars when I lived there. Downtown is pretty compact and easy to get around on foot; you can get to Argonaut and any of the bars within 20 minutes. I'm playing http://www.denvernoisefest.com/ at Old Curtis Street. Since I'm driving from Chicago I will have a car, but space is gonna be tight so my purchases are going to be limited. Also, is Ten Fidy findable at this time of year or is my timing wrong?
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Apr 23, 2012 18:19
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CalvinDooglas posted:Oh yes, I have played at Curtis Street. Hope you're accustomed to a tight stage fit and minimal sound-guy services. Sounds fine with me re: Curtis Street. My band is a duo and our setup only needs a single 1/4" into a DI. And thanks for the happy news about Ten Fidy. Been meaning to get my hands on it.
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Apr 23, 2012 21:06
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mysterious frankie posted:I thiiiink the Mutiny And The Mollusk is a collab between them and Half Acre... yep. I had a bottle of this. It's pretty good, and I think it could be even better on cask. Not sure it's worth braving a Friday night at Paddy Long's though. Last time I was there for a barrel aged beer night (including variants of Bourbon County), the place was wall to wall packed.
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Apr 24, 2012 19:15
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mysterious frankie posted:Nothing about the description makes me think it would be good. Does it taste like salty oyster juice + alcohol? It's like a dry stout with a nice salty brininess to it. It's something different for sure. I don't know if I'd seek it out unless you like dry stouts and oysters (together or separately) though.
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Apr 25, 2012 06:25
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mysterious frankie posted:312 is a good wheat. It's not a peerless example of the style, but it's so enjoyable and mild that it works pretty much whenever. Especially on a hot summer day. Used to prefer from tap at the pub, but that boat has sailed... We're all, uh, taking it in the can these days. Everyone seems to have a huge beer boner for Matilda (which is understandable because it is very good) but I maintain that their best year-round offering is Sofie. If it wasn't a $11 4-pack I'd drink it constantly.
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Apr 25, 2012 18:12
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Apparently Three Floyds is planning on opening a Chicago brewpub? http://www.chicagotribune.com/featu...0,7354010.story
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Apr 26, 2012 02:20
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Kudosx posted:I wish that Founder's Breakfast Stout was year round sometimes. I can't think of any other beer which I would rather have in the morning. I don't normally drink beer in the morning, but I was thinking how it would be awesome to wake up on my birthday and drink a FBS. Can you get Alesmith around you? Speedway Stout is pretty great, but it's not as coffee heavy as some of the others.
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May 2, 2012 21:37
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Cervixalot posted:Chicago Beer Goon checking in. I picked up a pack of Hoptimum I stumbled upon at my local Whole Foods, and was mad giddy to bring it home. I felt sorta bad when, after cracking the first one, saw a sticker marked "Save for __insertnamehere___." http://www.beermenus.com/beers/avery-maharaja should be a good starting point.
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May 3, 2012 15:34
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mysterious frankie posted:What's a good barleywine to ease into the style with? I've had a few- one on tap from GI and a couple at festivals- and they just haven't jived with me. It's a style I'd like to explore, but I think I need to find something mild/approachable to start with. I'm a huge fan of Bell's Third Coast Old Ale, but that's more of an English style barleywine than an American. Actually, are 'old ales' the same thing as English barleywines, or does old ale imply the presence of brett?
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May 3, 2012 21:25
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escape artist posted:This is generally the reaction I have to every Stone beer (save Self-Righteous and Arrogant Bastard), so I'm not sure what I was expecting. Have you had their Imperial Russian Stout? It's definitely my favourite of theirs and probably among the best RISes out there.
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May 8, 2012 00:10
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escape artist posted:I've had the Belgo-Anise, which was good, but I haven't had the regular RIS. The regular is out now and you should definitely pick up a bomber or two. I haven't had the Belgo-Anise but I've heard that reviews of that variety were extremely polar.
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May 8, 2012 01:16
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I think there's a bubble, if only for the fact that there are no fewer than ten upstart breweries in Chicago yet to even open. Chicago is a beer city for sure, but I can't help but think that at only one out of the ten is going to produce anything memorable. edit: It was actually 12: http://www.redeyechicago.com/entertainment/restaurants-bars/redeye-12-chicago-breweries-on-the-brink-20120425,0,4468340.photogallery
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May 10, 2012 06:23
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Kudosx posted:I tried a Stone IRS the other day... and boy, it was absolutely amazing. It was sooooo smooth for a 10.5% beer, that I didn't notice the strength of it until I was finishing my first glass. Luckily for you, Stone IRS is very common Just to make sure though, I bought four bombers and I've got them stashed. I may have to buy a few more.
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May 13, 2012 00:05
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danbanana posted:Worth it. Probably the 2nd best bourbon-aged stout on the planet. Good to know. I've been watching Chicago stores like a hawk for when it hits.
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May 14, 2012 21:11
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danbanana posted:Goose Island pretty much invented the style in the U.S. and Bourbon County Stout is still the standard, if you ask me. The only less-than-stellar variation I've had is the Bramble, but that's almost entirely a different beer than the others. Rare is probably the best beer I've ever drank. Vanilla isn't far off. And the standard version is just... amazing. Revolution is having a guest tap takeover for FW on the 21st and while they haven't announced it, I'm pretty sure that Parabola and Sucaba are both going to be tapped. Which rules because Revolution is in stumbling distance of my apartment.
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May 14, 2012 23:49
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Arnold of Soissons posted:Even though I grew up an hour and change from Chicago, I had my first ever Goose Island today, Sofie. Good pick for your first. IMO Sofie is the best of their year-rounds. Never had it aged though.
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May 15, 2012 06:41
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wattershed posted:It happened, folks. His roommate killed him, drank all his top-shelf cellared brews, moved onto Limearitas, and is now posting from his account. Honestly, I think every beer has its place, even the big macro stuff. As I tell my friends, there's a big difference between a beer geek and a beer snob - I will happily drink most macros if offered to me (the only one I refuse is straight MGD; blecch).
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May 16, 2012 21:54
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Midorka posted:My favorite too. It's super creamy and loving awesome. The fruity notes compliment the regular Yeti so well. Absolutely agree. All of the Yeti variants are great, but the Belgian is by far my favourite.
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May 17, 2012 04:23
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ShaneB posted:Tapping of Saison-Brett at 5pm tonight here in Chicago. So hyped to finally try this, and straight from a Boulevard cicerone. Will probably see you there! Got my bike fixed up and ready to roll.
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May 17, 2012 20:30
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Jack Skeleton posted:Indeed, Stone IRS is probably the best bang for your buck IRS. So cheap and so easy to age. I typically end up with a case or two of each year. Cracked open a 07 and 08 the other night and was in pure heaven. I had the '07 on tap a few months ago and it was one of the best things I've ever drank.
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May 17, 2012 21:59
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ShaneB posted:Saison-Brett is pretty loving perfect. The keg version has pretty tame Brett, but it is an essentially perfect saison. I'm mentally comparing it to saison Dupont, but it's just a tiny bit creamier. I can't wait to hunt down bottles in a month. It's a very good saison but I was a little disappointed that there wasn't more brett. Agree that I'm gonna need to hunt down bottles though.
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May 18, 2012 03:06
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ShaneB posted:Did these get posted yet? The PtY video pretty much perfectly expressed my reaction to the first time I had Pliny the Elder.
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May 18, 2012 18:18
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danbanana posted:Ditto. The best place to age 120 is the drain in my opinion. Yuck.
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May 18, 2012 18:30
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The only one of those I've heard anything good about (mostly because I've had it) is the barrel aged gonzo though I don't think it's worth the significant price premium over the regular version.
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May 19, 2012 18:07
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Ubik posted:Any Chicagoons doing stuff for CCBW? I'm not sure what I can make it to, between being broke and having a brutal week in the cellar ahead of me, but if there's anything that's reasonably priced and exceptional I'll see what I can do. It's too bad that other guys at Goose got all the slots for pouring events, but I should be able to pour at some other events in the near future. I'll be at the Parabola tapping at Revolution on Monday, but my evening schedule has been changing a lot recently so I can't pin down if I'll even be able to do anything else.
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May 20, 2012 14:28
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So, craft beer week rules. I just came from revolution brewing in chicago where they tapped firestone parabola and 15, and I met someone there that told me about a Lagunitas gueuze (wtf?) at the map room, so I had to bike over. Worth the trip. Tastes like lil sumpin wild but funkier. Totally worth the $6 price of admission. Edit: i'd almost describe the style as a pale gueuze. Nothing like anything I've had before. crazyfish fucked around with this message at 02:29 on May 22, 2012 |
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May 22, 2012 02:18
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TenaciousTomato posted:There is a whiskey thread. Use it. I was a bit disappointed in Old Curmudgeon. Not to say that it isn't a good beer, but the Better Half version is significantly better and I guess that spoiled me on it, though if you're comparing apples to apples I think Bell's Third Coast is better.
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May 22, 2012 06:02
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Mahoning posted:I'm going to Michigan next month, then North Carolina in July. Can anyone throw out some good beers that are available in either state that might not be available in other places? I want to start making a list. Not knowing where you're from, I highly recommend anything and everything Jolly Pumpkin. edit: This is for the Michigan portion. crazyfish fucked around with this message at 19:58 on May 23, 2012 |
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May 23, 2012 19:48
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wattershed posted:High abv? Yes You forgot sours (or anything with brett in it that isn't hop-forward, really), though that can technically fall under anything already aged before it goes in the bottle.
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May 23, 2012 23:27
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| # ¿ May 11, 2024 10:44 |
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Midorka posted:I went to my local favorite craft bar and had a Bear Republic Ryvalry on tap which was decent, a prominent citrus flavor profile with mild bitterness and a banana and cloves finish, I enjoyed it but wouldn't buy it again. I then switched to $3 Left Hand Milk Stouts on nitro. The bartender said that it will stay nitro permanently, though the $3 price tag won't be permanent. This is going to call for some really drunk nights on Milk Stout before it goes back up to $6. Milk Stout is amazing by itself, but nitrod it's out of this world. Completely agree on the nitroed Left Hand Milk Stout. It was probably my favourite milk stout in the game before nitro, but afterward it's out of this world.
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May 27, 2012 20:18
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