re: Let's talk microbrews good beer
 

After reading an article on which 6 Munich breweries are permitted to serve beer at Oktoberfest (Löwenbräu, Spaten, Augustiner, Hofbräu, Paulaner and Hacker-Pschorr), I picked up a 6er of Polaner Oktoberfest Marzen yesterday. I can see why Oktoberfest can get out of hand. Drinking liters of it at a time will make anyone nice and happy. The Marzen has a nice smooth taste and goes down quite easy.

re: Let's talk microbrews good beer
 

While up in Maryland over Thanksgiving, I went to my uncles whos been a homebrewer for like 15 years. Got to sample some of his homebrews which where pretty solid while talking bout our favorite breweries. He then pulled out a couple of his favorite beers from these breweries, one was one bad mutherf*cker, called Pliney the Elder from Russian River Brewery outta Cali. I havent tryed looking for it here in Richmond, it might be tough, but apparently it can be found in Pennslyvania, Maryland and Delaware....if you like a solid double IPA do yourself a favor and pick it up if you can find it.

[url=http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/863/7971]Pliny The Elder - Russian River Brewing Company - Santa Rosa, CA - BeerAdvocate[/url]

re: Let's talk microbrews good beer
 

I've heard of but never tried Pliny The Elder, but have heard it's awesome. I have a bottle shop here that has some unique and rarer beers, and will have to look for that and see if they have any bottles of DFH's Bitches Brew.

re: Let's talk microbrews good beer
 

[quote=BDBohnzie;763684]I've heard of but never tried Pliny The Elder, but have heard it's awesome. I have a bottle shop here that has some unique and rarer beers, and will have to look for that and see if they have any bottles of DFH's Bitches Brew.[/quote]

I saw a bottle of Bitches Brew this weekend at a small city spot, passed it up for this:
[url=http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/30/53167]DuganA IPA - Avery Brewing Company - Boulder, CO - BeerAdvocate[/url]

Kinda glad I did, that beer above was incredible. Avery Brewry is simply amazing...never had anything i didnt like. Try immediately if your an IPA fan, effing great

re: Let's talk microbrews good beer
 

I have never found pliney the elder in maryland, been looking for years. Bitches brew was awesome. Get it while you can, they are sold out everywhere. Corridoor fine win sold out 60 cases of 750's in less then a week. Now they are hoping they can get two more but don't know if it will happen.

re: Let's talk microbrews good beer
 

[quote=RedskinMike;763856]I have never found pliney the elder in maryland, been looking for years. Bitches brew was awesome. Get it while you can, they are sold out everywhere. Corridoor fine win sold out 60 cases of 750's in less then a week. Now they are hoping they can get two more but don't know if it will happen.[/quote]

Im gonna send my uncle an email to see how he got his hands on Pliney...I looked on their distribution and the only thing east coast I saw was a major distributer out of Philly. The Pliney he had was out of a 22 oz, but think he had a nice stash of them, lives in the south-east part of the state right near the bay, so I have no clue how he got his hands on them.

re: Let's talk microbrews good beer
 

My brother left some Stone IPA at my house over Thanksgiving. I left it in the garage until I got home from work last week and didn't have any other beer to drink. Didn't like it at first, but it's grown on me. Not a huge fan of IPAs, but this stuff is good!

re: Let's talk microbrews good beer
 

Stone puts out some quality brews, I really like their Arrogant Bastard Ale

[url=http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/147/92]Arrogant Bastard Ale - Stone Brewing Co. - Escondido, CA - BeerAdvocate[/url]

re: Let's talk microbrews good beer
 

[quote=Mattyk;770187]Stone puts out some quality brews, I really like their Arrogant Bastard Ale

[url=http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/147/92]Arrogant Bastard Ale - Stone Brewing Co. - Escondido, CA - BeerAdvocate[/url][/quote]Agreed, great beer.

I'm sure it's been mentioned in this thread already (possibly by me) but I've really gotten into Heavy Seas lately, especially their[URL="http://www.hsbeer.com/beers/mutiny-fleet"] Mutiny Fleet beers. [/URL] The [URL="http://www.hsbeer.com/prosit-imperial-oktoberfest-lager"]Prosit Oktoberfest[/URL] is my favorite. I have a 22oz bottle in my fridge that I'll probably enjoy after I get home from a Christmas party tonight.

re: Let's talk microbrews good beer
 

I had a few Troegs Hopback Amber Ales last night. Delicious beer.

re: Let's talk microbrews good beer
 

Couple weeks ago had couple really good beers:

Southern Tier 2 x IPA [url=http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/3818/57908]2XIPA - Southern Tier Brewing Company - Lakewood, NY - BeerAdvocate[/url]
Pretty good, one of the better Southern Tiers Ive had

Great Divide Fresh Hop Pale Ale [url=http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/158/26233]Fresh Hop Pale Ale - Great Divide Brewing Company - Denver, CO - BeerAdvocate[/url]
F*cking excellent beer, always good. A really citrus-hoppy beer. I might have to move to Colorado just based on abundantly great breweries.

Then I had a couple disappointments:

Mad Hatter IPA [url=http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/335/2904]New Holland Mad Hatter India Pale Ale - New Holland Brewing Company - Holland, MI - BeerAdvocate[/url]

Smuttynose Shoals Pale Ale: [url=http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/141/186]Smuttynose Shoals Pale Ale - Smuttynose Brewing Company - Portsmouth, NH - BeerAdvocate[/url]
Really surprised by the Smuttynose, their pretty solid usually

re: Let's talk microbrews good beer
 

That fresh hop sounds tasty, I'll have to look for that one

re: Let's talk microbrews good beer
 

Got a chance to try brew dog sink the bismark which is 41%. Very pleased for what it was. More like rum with a strong hop profile but was easier to drink than liquor.

re: Let's talk microbrews good beer
 

I picked up a bottle of Sam Adams Infinium the other day. Probably have my hopes up WAY too much for it, but oh well; I think I'm going to save it for New Years.

[IMG]http://www.focusofswfl.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/SAMUEL-ADAMS-INFINIUM.jpg[/IMG]

re: Let's talk microbrews good beer
 

^^^ So I save this for tonight, popped the cork at around 10:30 or 11 and by the first sip I could tell that this is a headache in a fancy bottle. I've been WAY too excited about finally trying this and personally I'm disappointed and I can't say I'd recommend it. To me it tastes like a Trappist or a lambic (I'm not a big fan of either) with champagne literally mixed in. Very dry and kind of fruity. I wish I had stuck with the Heavy Seas Ocktoberfest that is still available at my liquor store. Oh well, Happy New Year!!!