Beer Thread 3: Every Day We Stray Further From Buds Light

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Goons with Spoons > Beer Thread 3: Every Day We Stray Further From Buds Light

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Tigren: Oct 3, 2003

wattershed posted:

Best canned IPA:

I don't think they distribute very widely but drink it if you see it.

Have you had their other offerings? Their stout is fantastic and the lager ain't half bad.

# ¿ Mar 7, 2012 07:31

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# ¿ May 3, 2024 14:31

Tigren: Oct 3, 2003

SUPER HASSLER posted:

OK it looks like I'll be in the SF bay area in late April/early May. Moylan's/Russian River/21st Amndt are on my list, but where else should I make a point of visiting?

e: ↓ I miss Shiner on tap

I haven't been to either, but I'd replace 21st with Anchor just based on history/beer quality.

# ¿ Mar 8, 2012 02:10

Tigren: Oct 3, 2003

withak posted:

Everything Sierra Nevada makes is good.

Seriously. Just because they don't release poo poo in the same Pokemon vein as everyone else, people don't give them credit as a great brewery. I'd like to say that's one of the ways you can separate a beer snob from a beer nerd. A snob wouldn't give places like SN or Anchor the time of day, while nerds know that those kinds of places not only put craft brew on the map, they still pump out solid, if not amazing, beers in all aspects.

# ¿ Mar 17, 2012 09:20

Tigren: Oct 3, 2003

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?

# ¿ Mar 24, 2012 05:54

Tigren: Oct 3, 2003

Midorka posted:

Thanks for the West/St Bernardus info rage-saq. As for Maharaja I've only had the 2012 version but it had a nice balance of sweetness with a slight spice I notice as it warmed up reminding me of cinnamon. I found it interesting and a nice change from the hop-bombs I've been drinking.

On the topic of Sam Adams and their beers, I have a 2012 Imperial Stout and after having their 2010 or 2011 (I can't remember which) and drain pouring it after two sips I'm thinking maybe I'll hold onto the 2012 for 10 years, maybe it'll be drinkable then. Seriously their Imperial Stout is loving gross, too much raisin or fig flavor.

You seriously drain pour more beer than anyone I've ever heard of. Just enjoy your beer man, you think way too much about it.

# ¿ Apr 3, 2012 21:11

Tigren: Oct 3, 2003

wattershed posted:

I can't remember if we've discussed Green Flash's Palate Wrecker (aka Hamilton's Ale) in this thread yet...

It's a triple IPA, totally unbalanced and really really loving delicious. Fruity (pineapple, grapefruit, mango, orange) and quite dry, with an awesome aftertaste that's pure yeast. A little sticky sweet, but given how hoppy it is that's not exactly unwelcome.

They're distributing in 4-packs for around $10-12...very highly recommended if you see it.

Dry or sweet? These are opposite flavors.

# ¿ Apr 4, 2012 08:40

Tigren: Oct 3, 2003

wattershed posted:

Beer porn:

2012 Stone IRS. Only clocks in at 9.4% this year, down from the usual 10.5%. They're getting soft. Pussies.

My bottle reads 10.5% and is oh so delicious.

# ¿ Apr 21, 2012 08:20

Tigren: Oct 3, 2003

Midorka posted:

Their Imperial Stout is one their beers I hate. It's overly assertive with the dried fig flavor and I drain poured a 2010 (opened recently) and a fresher bottle from 2011. The fig was just too overly assertive in both and it's probably my least liked flavor in beer.

Stop wasting all the beer!

# ¿ Apr 25, 2012 11:23

Tigren: Oct 3, 2003

Midorka posted:

I don't understand why so many people love this, it's one of the worst beers I've had in recent memory.

Legit question: did you drain pour?

# ¿ May 26, 2012 08:55

Tigren: Oct 3, 2003

Midorka posted:

Well gently caress I've been looking for beers that use hazelnuts and gently caress if Frangelic Mountain Brown isn't a hazelnut coffee beer. There's hints of cocoa and caramel, but gently caress this is hazelnut all the way. I love this beer, I wish they did this one more than once.

Comedy Rogue Hazelnut Brown option. It's actually one of their good beers if you haven't tried it.

# ¿ Jul 13, 2012 04:50

Tigren: Oct 3, 2003

ChiTownEddie posted:

Cherry wheat is horrific, I agree. Tasted like bad cough medicine to me.

Does anyone have a black IPA they can recommend? (Something available in Chicago) I adore IPAs but have not had a bipa I've liked.

I find Deschutes' Hop in the Dark to be a really solid dark IPA. It's got the hops and lighter body of an IPA with roasty, toasty flavors you'd expect from a porter/stout. It's not just an IPA colored black.

# ¿ Jul 22, 2012 06:38

Tigren: Oct 3, 2003

Angry Grimace posted:

I'm not sure what your point is. Coors is capable of making craft beer; "craft" has nothing to do with size.

Haha, actually, it does. Craft breweries are literally defined by production size.

Tigren fucked around with this message at 00:46 on Aug 4, 2012

# ¿ Aug 4, 2012 00:29

Tigren: Oct 3, 2003

Midorka posted:

Holy gently caress my poor wallet. Bourbon Barrel Aged Santa's Little Helper, many Fall seasonals I need to buy now before they're gone...etc.

Dang, where can I find a list like that for Northern California?

# ¿ Aug 10, 2012 16:02

Tigren: Oct 3, 2003

Midorka posted:

I just read that they said the barrels were costly, I guess they would be considering how rare Pappy's are in general (I've been on the list for a 12/15 year for the past year) but does it really make a huge difference what bourbon was in the barrel and for how long when it comes to taste? I mean if they used Buffalo Trace barrels (which I understand is what Pappy is, just aged longer, correct me if I'm wrong though) instead of 23 year Pappy and aged BCS Rare in it for two years would it have come out near the same?

I may be wrong on that but I thought select barrels of their bourbon was chosen to be aged and that they were the same recipe. I may be very wrong though.

You're wrong. Van Winkle is wheated bourbon, Buffalo Trace is very much a rye heavy bourbon. BT distills and bottles Van Winkle, but it ain't the same juice.

# ¿ Aug 29, 2012 18:55

Tigren: Oct 3, 2003

SUPER HASSLER posted:

Whooooops looks like an impromptu weekend trip to Portland (OR) is in order starting tomorrow. I don't know poo poo about this city yet beerwise. Where should I go if I want (a) neat bars to hang out at (b) tiny little breweries?

Neat bars: Apex, Green Dragon, Bailey's Taproom

Breweries: Cascade, Upright, HUB, Hair of the Dog, Lompoc, Amnesia

And many many more.

# ¿ Sep 28, 2012 23:43

Tigren: Oct 3, 2003

Perfectly Cromulent posted:

If you are into sour beers at all, you MUST go to the Cascade Brewing Barrel House.

If you like farmhouse ales, you should try The Commons and Upright Brewing.

Apex is a great bar if you want to drink German, some Belgian style beers, or hoppy California-style ales. They have a great patio out front. Not a ton of Oregon beers there, though.

Bailey's Taproom is one of my favorite beer bars. 20 rotating taps and heavily Oregon-focused. It's downtown, so it would be a good bar to do in conjunction with the Deschutes Portland Brewpub. The best stuff there is usually brewed at and limited to the Portland pub, so it might actually be worth visiting even though you are in Bend.

Belmont Station is a fantastic bottle shop with an attached Beer Cafe.

EDIT: All of the stuff that Tigren mentioned is really good. Not a big fan of Lompoc personally, but lots of people love them.

I don't love Lompoc, but they're better than Lucky Lab or McMenamins and 5th Quadrant usually has some pretty solid stuff.

# ¿ Sep 29, 2012 00:26

Tigren: Oct 3, 2003

wattershed posted:

Alpine in cans? Well sure, I would enjoy that...

Twist off can? How does that work?

# ¿ Oct 10, 2012 18:40

Tigren: Oct 3, 2003

Paul Proteus posted:

Quick picture from a new house tasting from last week.

Thomas Hardy's oh my lord thank you, Shane.

The �lfabrikken Winter Porter was so infected it was hilarious. I didn't think you could make a spiced beer even worse, but this did.

Is that Le Terroir a new bottle? It's one of my favorite beers and I can't find it anywhere, nor can I find much about release information.

# ¿ Oct 19, 2012 19:06

Tigren: Oct 3, 2003

Glottis posted:

I got a "back in stock" notification from Bevmo saying they got The Dissident, by 10am it's completely scrubbed from all Bevmo stock checkers (not even saying out of stock). My local beer place says he got a case but already has 20 people on a list who want one, and to top that all off, he says he was told he wasn't allowed to sell them yet for some weird reason.

Seems like I'll miss out on that one this year, too bad.

Is your local beer place Bobby's? Cause he told me the same thing and I really want some. Also waiting on that drat Stone Mint Chocolate Stout.

# ¿ Nov 1, 2012 05:56

Tigren: Oct 3, 2003

Glottis posted:

Yep. I just wish there was more of the Dissident floating around.

Deschutes told me Original Gravity will be getting a case, as well as Whole Foods in Blossom Hill and Campbell.

# ¿ Nov 2, 2012 00:02

Tigren: Oct 3, 2003

Waldean posted:

South Bay tends to be awful for the Stone collaborations (except Bobby's).

South Bay seems to be awful for craft beer. To think, I moved here from Portland.

# ¿ Nov 2, 2012 01:57

Tigren: Oct 3, 2003

Glottis posted:

Yep. I just wish there was more of the Dissident floating around.

I called both Whole Foods today, and apparently they didn't get their cases. Bobby's isn't letting any of theirs go. Kelly's told me they didn't have any, then secretly let me have a bottle, so that might be an interesting route to try.

# ¿ Nov 2, 2012 20:47

Tigren: Oct 3, 2003

Haven't seen much talk about Sierra Nevada's Narwhal Imperial Stout. Black as night, dark brown head, slight hint of smoke, very roasty, and tons of chocolate and coffee. At 10% and $10/4pk, this is a steal and ideal for cheap aging. I've said it before and I'll say it again, SN puts out solid products with no hype and they consistently deliver.

# ¿ Nov 9, 2012 17:19

Tigren: Oct 3, 2003

americanzero4128 posted:

Has anyone in the Chicago area seen Stone Mint Chocolate Stout around here? I want to get a six pack or bomber to try but haven't seen it at the Binny's I go to, and they don't know if/when they'll get it in.

I'm 7 hours from the brewery and I still haven't seen it. loving Stone distribution!

# ¿ Nov 9, 2012 18:56

Tigren: Oct 3, 2003

wattershed posted:

Yeah, that Mint Chocolate Stout is delicious, finally saw a place that had some bottles but I admit I hadn't been on a search for it so it was nice to come across. It's impressively "real," if that makes sense. Doesn't taste like there was mint extract added, nor does it taste like a chocolate mojito. Too often those two flavors get muddled together but to Stone's/Ken Schmidt's credit the balance and blend are spot on.

At the same place I found the mint stout they also had Simtra with no bottle limit. I...stocked up. I consider it a way to transition myself off my Heady Topper supply when that runs out.

Is Knee Deep's Simtra normally limited by you? Or are you thinking of Citra from Kern River?

# ¿ Nov 9, 2012 20:20

Tigren: Oct 3, 2003

BeerPulse posted:

We have confirmed through Lagunitas that [Lagunitas Sucks Holiday Ale] will return this coming January. We aren�t sure if the name will be slightly tweaked or if the abv will be the same, as some Lagunitas beers fluctuate from batch to batch, but we do know we will be drinking this bad boy.

Thank the heavens! Brown Shugga and Sucks. Both amazing, both in my life.

# ¿ Nov 14, 2012 21:11

Tigren: Oct 3, 2003

Perfectly Cromulent posted:

It's being released in Portland today, too. Work cannot end soon enough.

Are they serving the '12 on both CO2 and nitro?

I had 2011 Abyss on nitro at the Portland pub last year and it was one of the most amazing drinks I've ever had.

When are they releasing bottles this year?

# ¿ Nov 15, 2012 23:29

Tigren: Oct 3, 2003

This AB-InBev GI business is like your favorite band signing to a major record label. The music is the same, and it will probably be even more accessible, which is what you've been dying for the whole time they were coming up. But now that the time has come for the world to hear your special band that only you and a handful of "cool kids" have heard of, are you OK with letting go a little bit? Are you going to cry and decree they've sold out and stop supporting them? Or are you going to keep going to the shows and buying their merch because they're still a great band and a good group of guys doing the hard work and making great music even though they've got big wigs paying their bills now?

Until Goose Island's beers slip or they start solely making adjunct lagers there's no reason to stop supporting them. The guys making the beer and packaging them are still every day you's and me's.

# ¿ Nov 16, 2012 17:34

Tigren: Oct 3, 2003

Midorka posted:

I understand your analogy, I really do, I love Modest Mouse and they signed with Sony. Thankfully they still put out good music, but one thing you aren't taking into consideration is the appointment of a new CEO, which would be similar to the record label assigning a new manager for the band. It could potentially have some disastrous results.

Which very often happens in the music industry. It's hard for a dude who only manages local bands to book and schedule a nationwide tour or to hook up with big name bands. Do I care that Bill Bigwig is now their manager? Not until he starts booking my favorite indie band with Good Charlotte and marketing them to preteens. Why cut them off while they're still good and doing well for themselves? Just because they're making more money or have more resources at their disposal doesn't make them bad. Stop supporting them when their quality falls, not when their manager changes.

Just because the results could potentially be disastrous doesn't mean you have to knee jerk and stop drinking the beer. Maybe wait and see if it actually turns out to be disastrous? In the end this is the Internet and you're just a dude and I don't really care what you do or drink, I just thinking you're being a little silly.

# ¿ Nov 16, 2012 19:59

Tigren: Oct 3, 2003

Captain Shortbus posted:

I'm thinking about drinking my bottle of The Dissident tonight. Am I going to be really sad that it's the only bottle of I I was able to get?
This is why I hate super limited releases.

I'm torn giving you an answer here. On one hand, I'm a firm believer of try it fresh if you're gonna age it. But you only have one, so if you try it now you can't age it. But this year's The Dissident really needs to age before it's good. There's way too much oak and alcohol right now which almost completely covers up the rest of the flavors.

# ¿ Dec 5, 2012 05:15

Tigren: Oct 3, 2003

Glottis posted:

I managed to get 1 bottle of this year's Abyss. Apparently only five cases of the stuff went to the entire south Bay Area, which is crazy. Did Deschutes' capacity go way downhill this year? Last years Abyss was all over the place. I was interested to see that it's exactly the same recipe as last year, too.

I'd be willing to bet that Stone would be nowhere without Arrogant Bastard having such a "catchy" name.

loving Santa Clara Costco got a case, but my local couldn't get any. Dumb dumb dumb. Whole Foods are still expecting theirs soon.

# ¿ Dec 5, 2012 20:38

Tigren: Oct 3, 2003

I've been trying all of my typical bottle shops for the past few weeks looking for The Abyss with no luck at all. I walk into Safeway tonight and what do I see? A whole case just hanging out on the shelf. It makes no sense at all, but I guess I can't complain. Except why does loving Safeway get stupid limited releases and my local that's expecting Westvleteren can't?

# ¿ Dec 11, 2012 05:00

Tigren: Oct 3, 2003

air- posted:

^^ Go grab a beer with SUPER HASSLER if you can!

In Houston and just picked up more of the Stone Mint Chocolate Stout. Planning to fill a growler of Karbach Bourbon Barrel Aged Hellfighter too. Phenomenal barrel aged porter.

I'm in California and we still haven't gotten Mint Chocolate Stout. We're never going to are we?

# ¿ Dec 22, 2012 18:02

Tigren: Oct 3, 2003

I still don't get why people go gaga over Pliny bottles. Ya, it's a good DIPA. Pretty stellar actually. But you're in California and have access to all sorts of DIPAs of the same caliber. Check out that Avery Maharaja next to the empty Pliny spot. Or the Bear Republic Racer X. Or Alesmith's YuleSmith. Or FW Double Jack. I don't want to Midorka this topic, but there's so much out there and even the seasoned craft drinkers won't touch anything besides hype.

# ¿ Dec 23, 2012 05:43

Tigren: Oct 3, 2003

nominal posted:

Does Speedway Stout improve much with age? I got a bottle for Christmas. I'd never had it before and am trying to decide if I should put it back for a while, but at the same time I'm pretty anxious to try it.

Split a Lil' Sumpin' Wild with my dad on Christmas day. I think it's the first "Belgian IPA" I've had where a strong hop presence and the spice, fruit, and bread notes from the yeast really play nice with each other, instead of one completely muddling the other or just generally clashing. Really enjoyable and fun to drink.

Drink it. They age beautifully, but if you haven't had it fresh, what do you have to compare it to? It's not rare though, so grab another bottle if you want to age.

21st Amendment is releasing a saison in January. In cans. Can't loving wait for inexpensive canned saison.

# ¿ Dec 27, 2012 06:51

Tigren: Oct 3, 2003

No Infinium this year?

# ¿ Jan 1, 2013 00:37

Tigren: Oct 3, 2003

danbanana posted:

Isn't Jester King TX-exclusive for regular distribution? I know they do special tappings and have a few weird distro spots (WLV in Chicago) but I thought they didn't regularly get out of Texas.

I just saw a couple Jester King bottles at my local in San Jose, so I guess they're getting around. They had Noble King and some other one.

# ¿ Jan 7, 2013 22:47

Tigren: Oct 3, 2003

funkybottoms posted:

oh, well, that's loving awesome. i had made a great trade with him previously through here (no idea about the BA stuff) and wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt, so i waited and kind of forgot about it for a while. he responded reassuringly last time he did respond but seems to have gone silent.

sent the Alpine dude a message, so i'll see what he has to say, but maybe i'll just avoid SoCal traders from now on... goddammit.

shipping is loving expensive, but having poo poo break is even worse. pack it properly and expect to spend anywhere from $15 to $50 depending on the distance and the size and weight of the box.

I had Jack pick up my Black Tuesday a couple years ago. It took a bit and he wasn't super communicative, but I did get it eventually. I don't know what to say about your situation, but I'll throw that out there.

# ¿ Jan 19, 2013 22:10

Tigren: Oct 3, 2003

My local got Barrel Aged Big Foot yesterday morning and sold out by the time I got off of work. Anyone tried it yet? I guess it's time to make my rounds.

# ¿ Jan 19, 2013 22:27

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# ¿ May 3, 2024 14:31

Tigren: Oct 3, 2003

Tigren posted:

Drink it. They age beautifully, but if you haven't had it fresh, what do you have to compare it to? It's not rare though, so grab another bottle if you want to age.

21st Amendment is releasing a saison in January. In cans. Can't loving wait for inexpensive canned saison.

Well, it's finally here and it's nothing to shake a stick at. I'd like to say it would make a good camping or lawn mowing beer, but it's a winter seasonal. Mild earthiness/Belgian funk, lemongrass, strangely sweet. Pretty underwhelming in general. Oh well. At least the can/box art is pretty good.

# ¿ Jan 25, 2013 06:01

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Goons with Spoons > Beer Thread 3: Every Day We Stray Further From Buds Light

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