Re: Let's talk good beer
 

yeah, im tired today and I only had 1 beer last night. spent the whole day getting the house ready for the SB party. Then spent the SB juggling babies and toddlers and making sure nobody drew on my walls.

heady topper - to anyone who has tried it, does it kinda taste like space cake? I read space cake is a heady clone.

Re: Let's talk good beer
 

[url]https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/going-out-guide/wp/2016/02/08/hopheads-rejoice-and-get-in-line-hopslam-hits-d-c-on-monday/[/url]

tick tick tick tick tick tick tick

Re: Let's talk good beer
 

[quote=Chico23231;1139008][url]https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/going-out-guide/wp/2016/02/08/hopheads-rejoice-and-get-in-line-hopslam-hits-d-c-on-monday/[/url]

tick tick tick tick tick tick tick[/quote]
Yeah I'm gonna try to hit up on of the "tappenings" in Frederick on Thursday. Naturally the one day I commute to work is Thursdays, so I'll have to ditch the wife and kids to make it...

Re: Let's talk good beer
 

[quote=Chico23231;1139008][url]https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/going-out-guide/wp/2016/02/08/hopheads-rejoice-and-get-in-line-hopslam-hits-d-c-on-monday/[/url]

tick tick tick tick tick tick tick[/quote]

Perfect pour sold out in 4 hours. i should have asked how many cases they got.

Oh well.

Let's talk good beer
 

I've been on the hopslam hunt, just finally managed to get my hands on some. $20 for a sixer? Is it worth the hype?

I've got another sixer on hold with a different store too.

Re: Let's talk good beer
 

[url=http://www.bonappetit.com/drinks/beer/article/what-is-a-crowler-beer]Why the World Needs More Crowlers—Wait, What’s a Crowler? - Bon Appétit[/url]

crowlers .... 32 oz cans that you seal with a special crowler sealer. aim is to keep tap beer fresher longer then growlers. only 600 crowler sealers in use so im guessing it will be a while until we see one and that will probably be fills direct from brewers. i just cant see a craft beer store buying one any time soon.

------------------------------------------

mtk - good find. ive never had it and cant squeeze a trip to frederick to try it today. i read that troegs nugget nectar is a rival and some say better. DTC is supposed to get a new shipment of nugget nectar tomorrow.

is it worth it? my id always says YOLO. what, are you going to take that 20 to the grave with you?

---------------------------

should we start beer trading on here?

anyone live in vermont, maine ... or emerald triangle?

Re: Let's talk good beer
 

The beauty of a small town:

[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/0psmTcp.jpg[/IMG]

Got a sixer for $23...

Let's talk good beer
 

A local brewery in my area called Common Roots is doing crowlers now, they're awesome

Re: Let's talk good beer
 

I want those so bad here. Closest place is an hour away.

Let's talk good beer
 

Tasting my first Hopslam right now, pretty damn tasty. Worthy of the hype. I only wish it were Friday so I could have a few more lol

Re: Let's talk good beer
 

Didn't realize it was 10% abv! Had one tonight and was like whoa. Balanced. Great beer.

Re: Let's talk good beer
 

Yall are really pissing me off reading about the headiness of "the Slam". Im going by my beer store today after work. Never missed a the HopSlam release...the hype is real for this one.

Re: Let's talk good beer
 

I'll do a hunt for hopslam at lunch today. Need to fight the crowds at Costco anyways. If I find any OTM, I'll let you know. A buddy of mine had this year's nugget nectar and said he was underwhelmed. I may grab both...if I can find them.

Crowlers are cool because it's just a big can of fresh beer. No light, so they potentially last longer than a bomber, depending on the fill of course. I know rar and Burley Oak (Burley Can) both do them. I don't think any of the grower fills places will do them because of the added cost of labor and materials.

Re: Let's talk good beer
 

chico - i am also getting a lil salty. ...

just called Rodmans in DC .. they got some ... long lunch here i come!

BD - if i can get 2 sixers, ill give you one. i live in montgomery village .. if not, i guess ill have to drink it?
-----------------------------

got 2 sixers of hopslam (26.99 each - ouch), sixer of troegs nugget nectar (i also heard this years batch was underwhelming) and sixer of alpine pure hoppiness.

Re: Let's talk good beer
 

[quote=over the mountain;1139184]chico - i am also getting a lil salty. ...

just called Rodmans in DC .. they got some ... long lunch here i come!

BD - if i can get 2 sixers, ill give you one. i live in montgomery village .. if not, i guess ill have to drink it?[/quote]

called my place bout 30 minutes ago...they got it yesterday. they said they should have enough through Sunday. I guess that a big order.

Re: Let's talk good beer
 

I trucked around to 3 shops and called several others. Got on the list at one, who were in the early stages of figuring out how they were going to allocate their lot. I'm not hopeful so late in the game.

OTM - I appreciate it but will pass. If I don't get in on the 6ers, I have a friend ready to trade already. Plus I'm gonna grab a pint or 2 out late tonight.

Re: Let's talk good beer
 

[quote=BDBohnzie;1139190]I trucked around to 3 shops and called several others. Got on the list at one, who were in the early stages of figuring out how they were going to allocate their lot. I'm not hopeful so late in the game.

OTM - I appreciate it but will pass. If I don't get in on the 6ers, I have a friend ready to trade already. Plus I'm gonna grab a pint or 2 out late tonight.[/quote]

This year it seemed like it was harder to get. Last year I got a case between DC and Virginia this year it was sold out every where I went. I only managed a 6er and 2 singles this year that I got in MD no less.

Re: Let's talk good beer
 

[quote=RedskinMike;1139199]This year it seemed like it was harder to get. Last year I got a case between DC and Virginia this year it was sold out every where I went. I only managed a 6er and 2 singles this year that I got in MD no less.[/quote]

First time I've gotten it and was told 1 six per person. Thought that was kinda weak...I wanted a 12. The owner told me they got 5 cases and that was small compared to the past couple years.


Another thing I didn't like was I had to ask the counter...they didn't have them out so u had to "know" they were out and the guy went to the cooler. When I asked a guy heard me and said "y'all have some?" And he grabbed a sixer as well.

Re: Let's talk good beer
 

Yeah. Seems that everyone is doing an Imperial/Double IPA similar to Hopslam these days, so the best way to get hype to your version is to cut the supply to raise the demand. Bell's has also expanded their distribution, so that could attribute to the seemingly lower supply as well.

My go-to watering hole near home at it on tap, so I went at Happy Hour on Friday and had 3 (!) drafts. Went back with a buddy later that night, and their keg was kicked, so I had some other goodies. Did find out that another place town was waiting a week, so I'll grab another draft or 3 next weekend as well.

Re: Let's talk good beer
 

I wasnt too fond of Hopslam. at 10% it was smooth but it seemed a bit muddled ... malt, bitter hop then sweet honey finish.

I only drank a few and will drink a few more this weekend but .. . idk, just not my style i guess. i prefer the pliny/space cake/lunch/enjoy by style of dipas better. more of a floral/citrus hop presence (west coast) .. hopslam just came off as bitter hops with sweet honey.

Re: Let's talk good beer
 

[url=http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/22951/212815/]Sound Check | Clown Shoes | BeerAdvocate[/url]

clown shoes coming out w a brand new american ipa. i dont know the hops or brewer log. DTC has it on tap. kinda expensive at 10.99 per 32 oz but im gonna try it.

i really like their galatica ipa.

----------------------

wholly snickies - DTC may have a keg of Maines Lunch today or tomorrow ...

Re: Let's talk good beer
 

[quote=over the mountain;1139330]I wasnt too fond of Hopslam. at 10% it was smooth but it seemed a bit muddled ... malt, bitter hop then sweet honey finish.

I only drank a few and will drink a few more this weekend but .. . idk, just not my style i guess. i prefer the pliny/space cake/lunch/enjoy by style of dipas better. more of a floral/citrus hop presence (west coast) .. hopslam just came off as bitter hops with sweet honey.[/quote]

I thought the can gave it a too alcohol-y taste

buddy of mine was at Bells brewery on business this week. Sippin it from the keg.

He going to founders brewery today.

Re: Let's talk good beer
 

OTM - [URL="http://www.mtairyliquors.com/growler-board.html"]Mt Airy Liquors[/URL] has Lunch on tap now. $25.49 for 64/$12.99 for 32. I've been slammed all week but debating if I can re-arrange some stuff tomorrow to get over there.

Re: Let's talk good beer
 

BD - nice find. i kinda burned a bridge with DTC last night. this one girl bartender just sucks at filling a growler. she just lets it volcano and never uses a tube. i finally had to say something. as i watch the foam spewing out of the top, i ask her if she can not do that bc it oxidizes the beer to shit. she gives me a FU look and asks if i want it filled again. i say no.

i feel like an asshole.

but at the same time, if you work at a craft beer store pouring expensive beer ... maybe you should learn how and the reason why to do it the right way. use the tube, fill till it starts to foam up. stop go pour a pint for another customer, come back fill some more. done.

anyway, DTC said they have a very special Imperial IPA they are tapping today, a guy i know pretty well wouldnt tell me, i asked if its hopslam and he said it is way better but he wouldnt tell me.
---------------------

called DTC, figured they would tell me the name of this secret imperial once they tapped it .. they said they couldnt tell me the name bc the brewer made them promise not to so the brewer wouldnt get in trouble with other beer stores ... basically, you try it and if you like it, get a growler fill .... this is odd. i left my growlers at home.

Re: Let's talk good beer
 

Got a good stash right now. Surly Abraisive, Furious, and Overrated IPA; Toppling Goliath Golden Nugget; 2 week old Sucks, Wyerbacher Sunday Morning Stout; Jai Ali, Hopslam ,Flying Dog Cold Pressed Coffee Porter and a bottle of Space Dust.

Re: Let's talk good beer
 

Went to flying dog brewery today after my son's hockey game in frederick. It was ok.

Re: Let's talk good beer
 

[QUOTE=over the mountain;1139406]BD - nice find. i kinda burned a bridge with DTC last night. this one girl bartender just sucks at filling a growler. she just lets it volcano and never uses a tube. i finally had to say something. as i watch the foam spewing out of the top, i ask her if she can not do that bc it oxidizes the beer to shit. she gives me a FU look and asks if i want it filled again. i say no.

i feel like an asshole.

but at the same time, if you work at a craft beer store pouring expensive beer ... maybe you should learn how and the reason why to do it the right way. use the tube, fill till it starts to foam up. stop go pour a pint for another customer, come back fill some more. done.

anyway, DTC said they have a very special Imperial IPA they are tapping today, a guy i know pretty well wouldnt tell me, i asked if its hopslam and he said it is way better but he wouldnt tell me.
---------------------

called DTC, figured they would tell me the name of this secret imperial once they tapped it .. they said they couldnt tell me the name bc the brewer made them promise not to so the brewer wouldnt get in trouble with other beer stores ... basically, you try it and if you like it, get a growler fill .... this is odd. i left my growlers at home.[/QUOTE]
Don’t sweat it. You are paying good money for that beer, and you want it poured correctly. There is nothing wrong with that. Did you ever find out what IIPA it was? I never did make it to Mt Airy for Lunch.

[QUOTE=RedskinMike;1139460]Got a good stash right now. Surly Abraisive, Furious, and Overrated IPA; Toppling Goliath Golden Nugget; 2 week old Sucks, Weyerbacher Sunday Morning Stout; Jai Ali, Hopslam ,Flying Dog Cold Pressed Coffee Porter and a bottle of Space Dust.[/QUOTE]
RM - Nice haul. I have a buddy going to Minneapolis soon. Asked him to bring back any Surly he can. Sucks is always a good one. Jai Alai is awesome. Hopslam was good on draft, didn’t get it out of the can. I’ll be partaking in that FD Coffee Porter at some point. And can’t go wrong with Space Dust.

[QUOTE=mredskins;1139496]Went to flying dog brewery today after my son's hockey game in frederick. It was ok.[/QUOTE]
What did you have? When I drink FD, I tend to stick with seasonal and rarities. I’m not a big fan of their year round stuff. I live about a mile from there and they host a monthly movie at the Weinberg Center. There is a sandwich shop around the corner from Flying Dog that you should check out next time [url=http://akafriscos.com/]a.k.a. Friscos | A Gathering Place for the Hungry[/url]. Good food and tons of great beers available.

Here’s what I’ve had lately: rar Pulp and Northeast Nectar, BP Mango Even Keel, Devil’s Backbone Cran Gose, Otter Creek Couch Surfer, Left Hand Hard Wired Nitro and Wake Up Dead Nitro, Alpine Hoppy Birthday, Duet, Pure Hoppiness, Burley Oak Bulletproof Tiger, Tree House Alter Ego and Single Shot, Fresh Union Double Duckpin cans.

Re: Let's talk good beer
 

BD - never did. they were very very tight lipped. i only had a 4 oz pour but it was very good. not a lot of malt/sweetness but not too bitter .. it really attacked my pallette in a great way. my guess is ocelot's (va) talking backwards. it is also 10.8 abv and DTC listed the 4 hops and it seems they were the same hops (if my memory is correct). Plus it looks like ocelot just did a fresh batch at the end of jan.

what i tried matches the reviews.

[url=http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/40090/209768/?sort=high&start=0]Talking Backwards Triple IPA | Ocelot Brewing Company | BeerAdvocate[/url]

i think DTC went outside the Mo Co gov and just said fuck it, were tapping it. no wonder they were very tight lipped. thats license suspension worthy. even the guy i talk with a lot couldnt tell me.

RM - nice haul, i have some surly furious coming my way along w some real fresh toppling goliaths pseudo sue.

M - yeah, i dont drink a lot of flying dog anymore. not sure why i stopped, just so many great beers out there now.

Re: Let's talk good beer
 

[quote=over the mountain;1139570]BD - never did. they were very very tight lipped. i only had a 4 oz pour but it was very good. not a lot of malt/sweetness but not too bitter .. it really attacked my pallette in a great way. my guess is ocelot's (va) talking backwards. it is also 10.8 abv and DTC listed the 4 hops and it seems they were the same hops (if my memory is correct). Plus it looks like ocelot just did a fresh batch at the end of jan.

what i tried matches the reviews.

[url=http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/40090/209768/?sort=high&start=0]Talking Backwards Triple IPA | Ocelot Brewing Company | BeerAdvocate[/url]

i think DTC went outside the Mo Co gov and just said fuck it, were tapping it. no wonder they were very tight lipped. thats license suspension worthy. even the guy i talk with a lot couldnt tell me.[/quote]
Pretty damn gutsy and completely not worth the potential trouble or hassle. Unless the county is trying to help get Ocelot into the distribution fold, but I highly doubt it.

Re: Let's talk good beer
 

Just had my pseudo sue arrive via fed ex to my office ..... with a big fat "this package contains alcohol" sticker on it.

Of course boss was literally right at the front desk when it came and passive aggressive jabs ensued.

Re: Let's talk good beer
 

[quote=over the mountain;1139659]Just had my pseudo sue arrive via fed ex to my office ..... with a big fat "this package contains alcohol" sticker on it.

Of course boss was literally right at the front desk when it came and passive aggressive jabs ensued.[/quote]

Where did you find Sue? I was only able to find Golden Nugget. Let me know how it is.

Re: Let's talk good beer
 

Sue - johns grocery in iowa city. dob 1-29-16. shipping bites at $23 plus so i got 3 4 packs and a 4 pack of surly furious to try and justify it. it was really really good. im trying to figure out what yeast and grain/barley they use. only draw back was no carbonation after the pour and i really need some life to a beer for me to put it as one of the best. i imagine that is do to shipping?

96/100 for me. comparison sake - pliny is 100/100, lunch is 92/100, sculpin 90/100, space cake 90/100 .. so for me, it is very high up there.

it was like a much much better and fuller bodied 51 rye. im surprised 51 rye hasnt blown up, im guessing it kinda too thin or something, but man, i miss that beer. just dont go to columbia/balt enough now a days.
------------
BD - confirmed it was Ocelots talking backwards. i couldnt hear every word he said but it was through MoCo. the guy kinda screwed him on a keg so he brought him this as a secret make up. I highly recommend anyone local tries this. worth a trip to VA.

Re: Let's talk good beer
 

mike or anyone - have you found any pliny or RR on line? or know a local home brewer who sells a clone?

Re: Let's talk good beer
 

[quote=over the mountain;1139681]
BD - confirmed it was Ocelots talking backwards. i couldnt hear every word he said but it was through MoCo. the guy kinda screwed him on a keg so he brought him this as a secret make up. I highly recommend anyone local tries this. worth a trip to VA.[/quote]
Good for MoCo. They need to do a better job getting new and different stuff into the county. Ocelot isn't too far from my office in Reston. I usually carpool but if I don't one day, I may wander over there. I want to do a run down the LoCo Ale Trail at some point, and could probably slide Ocelot into that mix.

No Pliny clones that I know of, but my buddy does a decent Zombie Dust clone. He's currently working on a Tree House Julius clone. His first batch wasn't too far off, but he's got a few things he wants to tweak for the next one.

Re: Let's talk good beer
 

OTM (or anyone in MoCo for that matter): Downtown Crown got a few cases of Manor Hill Citra Splendor, a helluva DIPA. Worth a try if you haven't had it.

Had a can of Hopslam last night. Completely different flavor from what I had on draft. Much sweeter. It wasn't offputting, but certainly will make me think twice before chasing it in cans next year.

Here's a list of what I've had lately, well since my last post: BP Pineapple Sculpin (muted Sculpin) and Watermelon Dorado (strange beer), Alpine Pure Hoppiness, Sam Adams Rebel IPA (not bad for a "mass-produced craft brew"), Oskar Blues IPA (on draft), Diamondback Omar's OPA (I do not recommend), Red Shedman Lunatic Fringe (Belgian IPA, better than FD's), Boulder Shake Chocolate Porter, Union Snow Pants, 4 Hands Alter Ego Black IPA, FD Rum Aged Gonzo Imperial Porter (2016), Cold Press Coffee Porter and Tropical Stout, Troegs Nugget Nectar (I felt this year's on draft was quite tasty), Tree House Julius, Ska Brewing Autumnal Molé Stout, Burley Oak Sour Trip, Cigar City Jai Alai, 3 Stars Citra and Lemon Peel Saison (will be my go-to summer beer), DFH Burton Baton, Clown Shoes Galactica (awesome DIPA), rar Northeast Nectar, New Belgium Citradelic (nice starter IPA for those wanting to make the leap), Sixpoint Resin

Now before you all go...damn he's an alcoholic...a good amount of these are shared, meaning I had a taste off a 12 oz or a nice pour off a 16/22 ounce. I get together with friends every other week and we share stuff we've collected. I'll have 1-2 beers a night depending on how I am, how hard the day was, etc. Last night, a buddy of mine dropped of a mixed 6er of New Holland Mad Hatter (2), White Hatter (2), Dragon's Milk and FW's new Luponic Distortion 001. But I'll save a good bit of it to share with those who haven't had them...except the Luponic. That sucker is mine.

I'm heading to the beach this weekend solo...told the wife that I've been balls to the wall for several weeks and needed to unwind (she gets her fair share of time away by herself). So I'm hitting a few places in Lower Slower DE on Saturday then Sunday my buddy got me and him into the OC Food/Bev Trade Show, where just about all the breweries, wineries and spirit makers will be. I've been forewarned that I should plan on taking my time getting home...which is fine since rar is on my way home.

Re: Let's talk good beer
 

Ballast Point Watermelon Dorado Double IPA and Oskar Blues Deviant Dale Imperial IPA

We are talking hops folks. The watermelon Dorado is dangerous, first it pours and has the body of a white ale and its 10%....but it's in freakin tasty. Awesome beer.

I couldn't avoid Deviant Dales any longer, it cornered me in the beer store once I found out the beer I went for, Smartmouth's Notch 9 was out. Fairly decent, heavy beer worth a try.

Re: Let's talk good beer
 

Couldn't get into the Watermelon Dorado. Deviant Dale's is like the on OB beer I haven't had.

Had a helluva weekend 2 weekends ago. Hit up a few key spots in DE on Saturday (Fins Raw Bar, Mispillion River, Pickled Pig Pub, Crooked Hammock), then was able to sample 30+ beers at the OC Trade Expo. Hit Burley Oak and rar on my way home. Nothing really sticks out as epic from that weekend. I was able to talk to a few of the reps from local and national breweries. I grilled the FW rep about the hop lineup for Batch 001 of Luponic, but no dice.

My buddy's Round 2 of his quest to clone Julius/Sip of Sunshine should hit the keg this weekend. So I'll be helping empty the keg of Round 1.

Re: Let's talk good beer
 

[quote=BDBohnzie;1140997]Couldn't get into the Watermelon Dorado. Deviant Dale's is like the on OB beer I haven't had.

Had a helluva weekend 2 weekends ago. Hit up a few key spots in DE on Saturday (Fins Raw Bar, Mispillion River, Pickled Pig Pub, Crooked Hammock), then was able to sample 30+ beers at the OC Trade Expo. Hit Burley Oak and rar on my way home. Nothing really sticks out as epic from that weekend. I was able to talk to a few of the reps from local and national breweries. I grilled the FW rep about the hop lineup for Batch 001 of Luponic, but no dice.

My buddy's Round 2 of his quest to clone Julius/Sip of Sunshine should hit the keg this weekend. So I'll be helping empty the keg of Round 1.[/quote]

To be honest, Deviant Dale was a bit of a let down. Their line up is so strong, was a little surprised.

You guys mention RaR a lot...the beers awesome? Is their brewery worth the trip up to MD?

Re: Let's talk good beer
 

[quote=Chico23231;1141007]You guys mention RaR a lot...the beers awesome? Is their brewery worth the trip up to MD?[/quote]
Right now, it's my favorite brewery in MD. Their IPA Nanticoke Nectar is up there with just about anything you can get in the state in my opinion. I live about 2 hours away, so it's not something i can just up and go do. But any chance I get, I'll get over there.

If you're going to make your way up from Richmond, there are plenty of other breweries and brewpubs to visit between here and there to make your trip worth while. The only downside is there really isn't much around rar. Salisbury is 30 minutes away and has Evolution and 3rd Wave (in Delmar). OC/Berlin has several places to check out. But between Cambridge and the Bay Bridge, there isn't much. You'd be planning a Baltimore and/or DC trip and making a side journey down to rar.

Speaking of brewery journeys, a friend of mine is planning a MA/CT trip for next month. He's earmarked Two Roads, New England, Tree House (his crown jewel and the reason for the trip), Jack's Abby, Lord Hobo, Trillium, and Cambridge as the places we're hitting. Going to camp 2 nights and stay in Boston one night. I'm looking forward to it as it's 2 states I've never been to and hitting some quality breweries in the process.

Re: Let's talk good beer
 

Im not a big Rar fan. ive only had naticoke and chopdank but (if i remember correctly) it had an overly resiny sticky sweet thick unbalanced finish to it (not in a piney kind of way). i need to try it again though.

i amazed at how i dont quite like a sixer the first go around, then months later try it again and really like it.
-----------------------------------------

MTK - nice heady topper score. havent gotten my mitts on a can yet.

------------------------------------
i drank an imperial from manor hill (citra splendor) and i drank a 16 oz can and for some reason after i finished my glass i poured the empty can into my glass and at least 1-2 oz of thick whiteish glueey yeast finish poured out. ive never seen that much before. is this yeast active? is this yeast still breaking things down? the can dob was from mid feb.