Let's talk good beer

Check out Downtown Crown Beer and Wine on Sam Eig Highway just east of Rio. They have 21 taps and a very good craft selection. (my son runs it so I welcome feedback - thanks)

thanks birks - went there saturday, good selection. seemed like they had a real good selection for growlers too - clown shoes space cake anyone? you just got your son an extra 30-50 dollar a week customer.

they also had 23 day old sculpin cans which was awesome bc ive been waiting for a new batch to come out here. ive stopped buying sculpin bc every can/bottle the last few months were from april.

prices were also really good for montgomery county where stores have to pay a 25% mark up for beers not in the govt distributor network which im sure is very limited. you can order stuff but if the county needs to get it from a rpiv distributor, it costs the markup.

sculpin at 16.99 vs 14.99 is reasonable given the 25% markup. the "craft beer store" a half mile form my house and also within montgomery county sells it at 24.99.

thanks birks - went there saturday, good selection. seemed like they had a real good selection for growlers too - clown shoes space cake anyone? you just got your son an extra 30-50 dollar a week customer.

they also had 23 day old sculpin cans which was awesome bc ive been waiting for a new batch to come out here. ive stopped buying sculpin bc every can/bottle the last few months were from april.

prices were also really good for montgomery county where stores have to pay a 25% mark up for beers not in the govt distributor network which im sure is very limited. you can order stuff but if the county needs to get it from a rpiv distributor, it costs the markup.

sculpin at 16.99 vs 14.99 is reasonable given the 25% markup. the "craft beer store" a half mile form my house and also within montgomery county sells it at 24.99.
Space Cake is the shit!

I am starting to dig sours. I feel this can't be good. I already spend redonkulas amounts on beer that the normal person would be astonished by. Sours just open a door of crazy expense that I have been able to avoid to this point. God help my wallet.

i spend $35 to $60 a week. considering how much more other people spend my money, I see it as a race to see who can spend my money quicker - me vs. wife* and kid.

- said by the guy who will never save a penny outside of his 401k

* she moved back in. we have a kid, really hard on the mind and conscience to split. i will never forget that month or so though. good times.


mike - ive been eyeing up sours for a bit now. can you recommend a good one avail in MD?

BD - just saw your post re DTC. spot on man. selection is not as great as perfect pour or bo brooks but for Mo Co it is such a huge find for me. i also have fenwick a block from my work. now that i know you cant get sculpin for less than 16.99 in Mo Co, my grudge for them has disappeared.

at DTC you have to search for freshness, found a 14 day old laguintas ipa and 30 day old sculpin on saturday.

untapped users - anyone get an email/notice about "noble brewing"? I guess you can buy home brewers beer? i wouldnt mind trying a pliny clone and seeing what home brewers are doing.

picking up 32 oz of alpine hoppy birthday for the season opener tomorrow from DTC ... if the keg hasnt kicked yet

picking up 32 oz of alpine hoppy birthday for the season opener tomorrow from DTC ... if the keg hasnt kicked yet

Its good stuff. With the sours I've been trying them when I'm at a place with flights. In the past I've been burned with sours and poured them down the drain. I guess its an acquired taste and I'm starting to get it. I picked up a 4 pack of Boulevard Tell Tale Tart over the weekend and enjoyed it.

I am drinking a Bell's Oracle as I type.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CB4QFjAAahUKEwjojumX3vzHAhUENz4KHbpcD30&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.beeradvocate.com%2Fbeer%2Fpro file%2F147%2F181802%2F&usg=AFQjCNGqe4dvw0MRshDSEN1iboXfUt2gdgIts delicious.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CB4QFjAAahUKEwjojumX3vzHAhUENz4KHbpcD30&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.beeradvocate.com%2Fbeer%2Fpro file%2F147%2F181802%2F&usg=AFQjCNGqe4dvw0MRshDSEN1iboXfUt2gdgIts delicious.

Damn that looks good.

I just tried Devils Backbone IPA for the first time yesterday at a company picnic, and it was great.

Went to a buddy's house over the weekend, who has similar craft beer tastes and a larger checkbook ;) He goes to New England twice a year to bring back stuff from Alchemist, Tree House, Hill Farmstead. For instance, he brought back 100 cans of Heady Topper, which is mind boggling. Even moreso for the cash he shelled out for it.

So I had 2 Heady Toppers, which is amazing...although I think I prefer Union's Double Duckpin more. Both are quality Double IPAs. Which reminds me that I haven't had a 120 from Dogfish Head in a while.

Had a Tree House Julius. Reminded me of Cigar City Jai Alai. The color is outrageous, looks like an Orange Julius (hence the name I assume).

He traded some Heady for Pliny The Elder, so I got to try. Bottled 7/31, the hops had already gone bad. At least that's what it tasted like. I know IPAs should be had fresh, but it could have been how it was treated during transport and whatnot. So I checked it into Untappd but didn't rate. I'd love to try it fresh.

Split a Foundation Wanderlust. A hoppy farmhouse ale. It was a goregous yellow-orange color, and quite tasty. Would make for a great summer session beer.

Split a Lawson's Sip of Sunshine and Noda's Hop Drop n Roll with my buddy's wife (since they were in her beer drawer). Both very good.

I brought a growler of Flying Dog's The Fear, their Imperial Pumpkin Ale. It was my first pumpkin beer of the year and the first time I've had it. Quite tasty.

Last beer I got to try was Hill Farmstead's Grassroots Brewing Brother Soigne, which is a saison with lime and blood orange, which made for a great way to end the evening.