Re: Let's talk good beer
 

[url=http://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/local/2016/03/22/reports-deschutes-going-roanoke/82108596/]Reports: Deschutes brewery going to Roanoke[/url]

[url=http://www.richmond.com/news/latest-news-ap/article_2470c01c-b673-5910-90f5-41de17a17b7f.html]McAuliffe to make 'major' announcement in Roanoke Tuesday, possibly about Deschutes Brewery - Richmond Times-Dispatch: Latest-news-ap[/url]

Looks like we got the Deschutes's East Coast Brewery in Va. Ive heard great things...think I tried one of these but it was a long time ago. Looks like we will be getting them on a regular rotation on the east coast...hoorah beer!

Re: Let's talk good beer
 

Awesome, only 45 minutes down the road! This whole area is getting more breweries than I could have ever imagined 5-7 years ago.

Re: Let's talk good beer
 

That's awesome. Fresh Squeezed and Pinedrops IPA are awesome. Can't wait to try more of their wares.

Re: Let's talk good beer
 

Maine Dinner is being released at 7 pm today and I plan on following twitter and then clinking on the shops tweeting it and hope they deliver. its a long shot.

The online shipping france44 has surly's todd the axeman right now ..
---------------

made a run to rodmans this morning, nothing too spectacular unfortunately ... but did get a super fresh sixer of nanticoke nectar w a dob of 3-23-16.

also, ballast point now puts the dob on the bottom of their bottles and dont do that hard to find white ink julian date stamp on the label that was always blurred anyway .. took me about 2 months and looking at a zillion bottles to figure it out.

Re: Let's talk good beer
 

Going to a Grimm and Maine tapping this weekend. On the menu: Grimm Afterimage, Grimm Vacay, Maine A Tiny Beautiful Something, Maine Another One IPA.

Giddyup!

Re: Let's talk good beer
 

Really really enjoying the fat tire coming to the East coast. Good shit.

Re: Let's talk good beer
 

Got my hands on some maine beer I and III. The 'I" was awesome, one of my favorite beers excluding dipas/imperials.

highly recommend if you can find it. the III was like a better version of founders breakfast stout.
--------------------------------

what did you all think of enjoy by 4.20.16? I found this one to be really boozy tasting. normally stone does a great job of hiding the 9.8 abv.

is "enjoy by" an always evolving beer? every batch is slightly different?

Re: Let's talk good beer
 

Sometimes I prefer tasting the "A" in higher "ABV" beers. There's something the burn does to the palate that adds to the experience for me.

Re: Let's talk good beer
 

[quote=TheMalcolmConnection;1141506]Sometimes I prefer tasting the "A" in higher "ABV" beers. There's something the burn does to the palate that adds to the experience for me.[/quote]

were you also raised on 40 oz of malt liquor? that passion began there...

Re: Let's talk good beer
 

[quote=TheMalcolmConnection;1141506]Sometimes I prefer tasting the "A" in higher "ABV" beers. There's something the burn does to the palate that adds to the experience for me.[/quote]

Im with you, Im a fan of sipping a strong ale or barrel aged beer ... but i was not expecting it from "enjoy by" to that degree. im just trying to figure out if my taste buds were off that night or did stone tweak the recipe a bit. i think i did smoke a padron earlier that night ..

Re: Let's talk good beer
 

Sadly, yes. First drink of my life was OE.

But being real, if I have a high ABV beer, I take all things into account and I definitely want it to be smooth, but I like to know the percentage is "in there". Hard to explain. :-/

Re: Let's talk good beer
 

I had this one: [url=http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/64/177543/]Higher Math | Dogfish Head Craft Brewery | BeerAdvocate[/url]

Re: Let's talk good beer
 

[quote=over the mountain;1141510]Im with you, Im a fan of sipping a strong ale or barrel aged beer ... but i was not expecting it from "enjoy by" to that degree. im just trying to figure out if my taste buds were off that night or did stone tweak the recipe a bit. i think i did smoke a padron earlier that night ..[/quote]

[url=http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/43153/1056/]Double Bastard Ale | Arrogant Bastard Brewing Co. | BeerAdvocate[/url]

Double Bastard is just so good. the problem is, I have a hard time sippin.

Re: Let's talk good beer
 

LOOOVE that beer.

Re: Let's talk good beer
 

Next beer trip I'm partaking is Apr 21-24. Heading up to Massachusetts to raid Tree House of their wares. Staying near the brewery to hit them up 3 different time (Th, F, Sat AM). Wandering Friday between getting up and Tree House opening, will probably wander into CT for some Lawson's Sip of Sunshine, and over to Jack's Abby. Then Saturday, head into Boston after hitting Tree House one last time to visit Trillium, Cambridge and the Lord Hobo brew pub. Then Sunday on the way home, possibly hit Two Roads. I'm looking forward to it...

Anything else we should hit?

Re: Let's talk good beer
 

[quote=BDBohnzie;1141624]Next beer trip I'm partaking is Apr 21-24. Heading up to Massachusetts to raid Tree House of their wares. Staying near the brewery to hit them up 3 different time (Th, F, Sat AM). Wandering Friday between getting up and Tree House opening, will probably wander into CT for some Lawson's Sip of Sunshine, and over to Jack's Abby. Then Saturday, head into Boston after hitting Tree House one last time to visit Trillium, Cambridge and the Lord Hobo brew pub. Then Sunday on the way home, possibly hit Two Roads. I'm looking forward to it...

Anything else we should hit?[/quote]

I recommend a stop at Harpoon. Especially in April because it's located in the city's seaport district which is delightfully walkable along the water.

Lots of good beers on tap that you can't get bottled. Their brewpub doesn't serve a full menu, just fresh baked soft pretzels to go with your beer.

[url=http://www.harpoonbrewery.com/breweries/boston]Visit our Boston, MA Brewery - Harpoon Brewery - Harpoon Brewery[/url]

Re: Let's talk good beer
 

[quote=BDBohnzie;1141624]Next beer trip I'm partaking is Apr 21-24. Heading up to Massachusetts to raid Tree House of their wares. Staying near the brewery to hit them up 3 different time (Th, F, Sat AM). Wandering Friday between getting up and Tree House opening, will probably wander into CT for some Lawson's Sip of Sunshine, and over to Jack's Abby. Then Saturday, head into Boston after hitting Tree House one last time to visit Trillium, Cambridge and the Lord Hobo brew pub. Then Sunday on the way home, possibly hit Two Roads. I'm looking forward to it...

Anything else we should hit?[/quote]


[url=http://www.berkshirebrewingcompany.com/]Berkshire Brewing Company | Crafters of Fine Ales & Lagers[/url]


I recommend the "Steel Rail Extra Pale Ale" great stuff!!!

Re: Let's talk good beer
 

[quote=BDBohnzie;1141624]Next beer trip I'm partaking is Apr 21-24. Heading up to Massachusetts to raid Tree House of their wares. Staying near the brewery to hit them up 3 different time (Th, F, Sat AM). Wandering Friday between getting up and Tree House opening, will probably wander into CT for some Lawson's Sip of Sunshine, and over to Jack's Abby. Then Saturday, head into Boston after hitting Tree House one last time to visit Trillium, Cambridge and the Lord Hobo brew pub. Then Sunday on the way home, possibly hit Two Roads. I'm looking forward to it...

Anything else we should hit?[/quote]

my house on the way back to drop off your bounty.

Re: Let's talk good beer
 

[quote=BDBohnzie;1141624]Next beer trip I'm partaking is Apr 21-24. Heading up to Massachusetts to raid Tree House of their wares. Staying near the brewery to hit them up 3 different time (Th, F, Sat AM). Wandering Friday between getting up and Tree House opening, will probably wander into CT for some Lawson's Sip of Sunshine, and over to Jack's Abby. Then Saturday, head into Boston after hitting Tree House one last time to visit Trillium, Cambridge and the Lord Hobo brew pub. Then Sunday on the way home, possibly hit Two Roads. I'm looking forward to it...

[B]Anything else we should hit[/B]?[/quote]

a bong




National Beer Day Folks
[url=http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2016/04/07/booze-deals-and-brew-facts-how-to-celebrate-national-beer-day/]Booze deals and brew facts: How to celebrate National Beer Day | Fox News[/url]

hooray beer!

Re: Let's talk good beer
 

KBS available tomorrow at rodmans at 4 pm. limit 2 bottles per. there will be a line and i will hopefully be in it.

[url]https://twitter.com/RodmansDC?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor[/url]

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

got 2 bottles of KBS for $11 a piece. it was really well balanced for being 12.4 abv but my palette and experience just isnt there yet to drool over this beer. awesome beer and i can see why barrel aged stout ppl love it .. but give me a top notch dipa (pliny, lunch) over a top notch stout.

im guessing in a few years, ill get it.

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

firestone's imperial stout Parabola is out. I heard Mo Co got 5 cases total (6-9 bottles per case). Blackwell's online has it at $30 a bottle as well.

johns grocery in iowa city will ship 1 bottle of KBS for $7. they also have Praire BOMB, some surly and some toppling goliath offerings.

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

blackwells has KBS and firestone's parabola and sucaba. that is a stout lovers dream trio right there.

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

talked w the beer guy for johns grocery in iowa city. he said toppling goliath almost exclusively keeps their king sue and their world class stouts as available only through the brewery. they have gotten 2 cases of king sue in 2 years.

Re: Let's talk good beer
 

[url=http://foundersbrewing.com/latest-news/2016/announcing-maryland-distribution/]Announcing Maryland Distribution - Founders Brewing Co.[/url]

Founders finally coming into Maryland, starting as early as this May. Just a matter of time until Deschutes joins.

Re: Let's talk good beer
 

[quote=over the mountain;1141971][url=http://foundersbrewing.com/latest-news/2016/announcing-maryland-distribution/]Announcing Maryland Distribution - Founders Brewing Co.[/url]

Founders finally coming into Maryland, starting as early as this May. Just a matter of time until Deschutes joins.[/quote]

About god damn time.

Re: Let's talk good beer
 

Helluva trip to MA/CT this past weekend. Going to be a long time before I can save the scratch to do a similar trip, but it was well worth it.

Scored the following (pints, samples/flights, cans, bottles, bombers...some were brought home for later, others were had there):
NEBCO: G-Bot, Captain's Daughter, Sea Hag
Lawson's: Sip of Sunshine, Super Session #2
Tree House: Alter Ego, Haze, Eureka w/ Citra, Single Shot w/ Vanilla
Wormtown: Be Hoppy
Night Shift: Whirlpool, The 87, Santilli, Morph
Trillium: Coffee Pot & Kettle, Summer Street IPA (Regular and Double Dry Hopped), Fort Point Pale Ale (Regular and Double Dry Hopped), Publick House IPA
Beer'd: 8 Days A Week
Lord Hobo: Steal This Can, Hobo Life, Boomsauce, Consolation Prize
Cambridge Brewing: Brett Semetary, Sturdy Bottom, Business Time, Tall Tale Pale Ale
Jack's Abby: 3x Dry Hopped Hoponius Union W/ Azacca And Caliente, House Lager, Calyptra Session IPL, Excess IPL
Hill Farmstead: Walden, Sumner, Edward, Society & Solitude #3
Maine MO (dated 4/19)

Needless to say...I won't be buying another beer for a while. Tree House is pretty cool. Their beers are just epic. There is something about them. The mouthfeel is unmatched. The floral and bitter hops working together in symphony. Hoping to make a yearly pilgrimage.

Going to miss out on yet another RAR tall boy release (attending a wedding that day). Missed this past weekend's Manor Hill Hidden Hopyard Vol 2 (but have lined up a trade for it). May be scoring some of Burley Oak's These Hops Ain't Loyal too.

Re: Let's talk good beer
 

[quote=BDBohnzie;1142383]Helluva trip to MA/CT this past weekend. Going to be a long time before I can save the scratch to do a similar trip, but it was well worth it.

Scored the following (pints, samples/flights, cans, bottles, bombers...some were brought home for later, others were had there):
NEBCO: G-Bot, Captain's Daughter, Sea Hag
Lawson's: Sip of Sunshine, Super Session #2
Tree House: Alter Ego, Haze, Eureka w/ Citra, Single Shot w/ Vanilla
Wormtown: Be Hoppy
Night Shift: Whirlpool, The 87, Santilli, Morph
Trillium: Coffee Pot & Kettle, Summer Street IPA (Regular and Double Dry Hopped), Fort Point Pale Ale (Regular and Double Dry Hopped), Publick House IPA
Beer'd: 8 Days A Week
Lord Hobo: Steal This Can, Hobo Life, Boomsauce, Consolation Prize
Cambridge Brewing: Brett Semetary, Sturdy Bottom, Business Time, Tall Tale Pale Ale
Jack's Abby: 3x Dry Hopped Hoponius Union W/ Azacca And Caliente, House Lager, Calyptra Session IPL, Excess IPL
Hill Farmstead: Walden, Sumner, Edward, Society & Solitude #3
Maine MO (dated 4/19)

Needless to say...I won't be buying another beer for a while. Tree House is pretty cool. Their beers are just epic. There is something about them. The mouthfeel is unmatched. The floral and bitter hops working together in symphony. Hoping to make a yearly pilgrimage.

Going to miss out on yet another RAR tall boy release (attending a wedding that day). Missed this past weekend's Manor Hill Hidden Hopyard Vol 2 (but have lined up a trade for it). May be scoring some of Burley Oak's These Hops Ain't Loyal too.[/quote]

Your awesome bro! good job. Im going back up to Connecticut in mid July, might have to get up to Tree House...mapped it and like where its located...little off the grid and bout 1:45 from my spot in Conn. Ive been up to Conneticutt a couple times in the past year, Cambridge Brewing Co has been a go too for retail buying. Ive gotten multiple solid selections from them.

Re: Let's talk good beer
 

[quote=Chico23231;1142402]Your awesome bro! good job. Im going back up to Connecticut in mid July, might have to get up to Tree House...mapped it and like where its located...little off the grid and bout 1:45 from my spot in Conn. Ive been up to Conneticutt a couple times in the past year, Cambridge Brewing Co has been a go too to retail buying. Ive gotten multiple solid selections from them.[/quote]
Make a day of it. I'd recommend getting to Tree House on Wednesday and/or Thursday. Get your max on cans and growlers (they only fill their own). There is an awesome bbq joint near them, which is BYOB ([url=http://btsmokehouse.com/]B.T.'s Smokehouse[/url]) and a huge liquor store ([url]http://www.yankeespirits.com/[/url]) where you can get just about anything distributed in all of New England...I guess within whatever MA actually distributes. Largest liquor store I'd ever been in.

Re: Let's talk good beer
 

Nice recap BD. What is the can and growler limit for Treehouse?

RAR is having a tap takeover at DTC this friday. I hate going to DTC on fridays after work bc it is crowded w happy hour folk.

Wicked weed - anyone know how to get some of their beers?

Re: Let's talk good beer
 

[quote=over the mountain;1142495]Nice recap BD. What is the can and growler limit for Treehouse?

RAR is having a tap takeover at DTC this friday. I hate going to DTC on fridays after work bc it is crowded w happy hour folk.

Wicked weed - anyone know how to get some of their beers?[/quote]
TreeHouse: Can limit really depends on the batch yield. Like this week, they canned Julius on Tuesday and Sap on Wednesday. Each were a 6 can/per person limit on Wednesday. Today they canned Bright with a 7 can/pp limit, but lowered Julius to 2 cans/pp and Sap to 3 cans/pp. Tomorrow they'll can something else and that'll have a can limit and the others will be adjusted based on what is purchased today. We're pretty much figured out that the best time to hit TreeHouse is Wed-Friday. We were there Thursday and Friday so we missed out on really maxing out on Alter Ego and Haze.

Right now, Growlers are limited to 3 total bottles per person per day, and the limits are based on batch yield. So it could be 2 bottles per flavor, with 1 2L limit (so the other would have to be a 750mL bottle) or just 2 750mLs or 1 750mL. When I bought my 750mL of Haze last Friday, it was down to 1 750mL per person. And they only fill their own growlers per Mass law (looks like they are trying to change the state law: [url]https://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/food-dining/2015/06/03/old-system-byo-growler-longer-effect/Uk5GXQGOrCjgHb7lMwIrdK/story.html[/url])

Wicked Weed is just in North Carolina for the most part. They did start distro in Massachusetts recently. I saw some on my trip, but didn't get any. I've had a few of their beers from friends that have gone to North Carolina and it's good. Think funky like Burley Oak but better.

Re: Let's talk good beer
 

Beer camp is out and about. Cool concept this time.

Bourbon County Brand stout is also available at rodmans.

Re: Let's talk good beer
 

[quote=over the mountain;1143510]Beer camp is out and about. Cool concept this time.

Bourbon County Brand stout is also available at rodmans.[/quote]
Sierra Nevada is taking over all 22 taps at DTC tomorrow. Including all of the beer camps on tap. Debating on whether to take the plunge.

Re: Let's talk good beer
 

[quote=BDBohnzie;1143516]Sierra Nevada is taking over all 22 taps at DTC tomorrow. Including all of the beer camps on tap. Debating on whether to take the plunge.[/quote]

Yeah, im debating whether to go to rodmans tomorrow for Bourbon County Stout or DTC. Fridays are always super packed at DTC and I have my daughter with me so I just try to get in and get out. Plus [B]half the servers at DTC do not know how to fill a growler[/B], especially when its packed. They will just volcano fill it and over oxidize the crap out of the beer to the point it doesnt taste as good.

Little disappointed. the beer camp ruthless rye (trillium/lawsons etc) isnt getting great reviews .. BA has it at 88 w middle of the road comments.

ive been drinking nothing but imperial stouts and double ipas the past few weeks .. would love some nice light tasty 5.5 abv pseudo sue or something. maybe some 2 hearted i havent had in a while.

i might even go corona w lime slice. maybe a nice farmhouse ale or pils.

Re: Let's talk good beer
 

[quote=BDBohnzie;1143516]Sierra Nevada is taking over all 22 taps at DTC tomorrow. Including all of the beer camps on tap. Debating on whether to take the plunge.[/quote]

Damn, I may have to make the drive up and check it out.

Re: Let's talk good beer
 

Just being real, I love me some beer, but I'm getting tired of the IPA/Sour trend. I've had many great beers of both styles, but goddamn hipsters are driving some really shitty versions of both. IPAs were the thing a few years back and it's driving some palette-wrecking hops. When sours were the vogue thing, there were some unique and awesome offerings, now everything is swinging into the overdone direction.

Sad face.

This is aimed at no one in particular unless you're my favorite bar dowtown: HIGHER IBUS DOESNT MEAN BETTER. :(

Re: Let's talk good beer
 

[quote=BDBohnzie;1142383]Helluva trip to MA/CT this past weekend. Going to be a long time before I can save the scratch to do a similar trip, but it was well worth it.

Scored the following (pints, samples/flights, cans, bottles, bombers...some were brought home for later, others were had there):
NEBCO: G-Bot, Captain's Daughter, Sea Hag
Lawson's: Sip of Sunshine, Super Session #2
Tree House: Alter Ego, Haze, Eureka w/ Citra, Single Shot w/ Vanilla
Wormtown: Be Hoppy
Night Shift: Whirlpool, The 87, Santilli, Morph
Trillium: Coffee Pot & Kettle, Summer Street IPA (Regular and Double Dry Hopped), Fort Point Pale Ale (Regular and Double Dry Hopped), Publick House IPA
Beer'd: 8 Days A Week
Lord Hobo: Steal This Can, Hobo Life, Boomsauce, Consolation Prize
Cambridge Brewing: Brett Semetary, Sturdy Bottom, Business Time, Tall Tale Pale Ale
Jack's Abby: 3x Dry Hopped Hoponius Union W/ Azacca And Caliente, House Lager, Calyptra Session IPL, Excess IPL
Hill Farmstead: Walden, Sumner, Edward, Society & Solitude #3
Maine MO (dated 4/19)
[/quote]


Holy crap sounds like one hell of a trip!Compared to some of you I am only an amiture when it comes to the time and effort you put into your beer endeavors but I love it when I can just as much.
Heading to Canada this summer Prince Edward Island in Nova Scotia for a week.Have rent a cottage for a week on the ocean and am looking forward to trying some great Canadian stuff!

Re: Let's talk good beer
 

[quote=TheMalcolmConnection;1143528]Just being real, I love me some beer, but I'm getting tired of the IPA/Sour trend. I've had many great beers of both styles, but goddamn hipsters are driving some really shitty versions of both. IPAs were the thing a few years back and it's driving some palette-wrecking hops. When sours were the vogue thing, there were some unique and awesome offerings, now everything is swinging into the overdone direction.

Sad face.

This is aimed at no one in particular unless you're my favorite bar dowtown: HIGHER IBUS DOESNT MEAN BETTER. :([/quote]

I bought a 4-pack of guinness draught the other night...its like coming home

Re: Let's talk good beer
 

[quote=TheMalcolmConnection;1143528]Just being real, I love me some beer, but I'm getting tired of the IPA/Sour trend. I've had many great beers of both styles, but goddamn hipsters are driving some really shitty versions of both. IPAs were the thing a few years back and it's driving some palette-wrecking hops. When sours were the vogue thing, there were some unique and awesome offerings, now everything is swinging into the overdone direction.

Sad face.

This is aimed at no one in particular unless you're my favorite bar dowtown: HIGHER IBUS DOESNT MEAN BETTER. :([/quote]

I think I try a good variety of beers and I have my favorites of each style .. but I lean towards the IPAs, DIPAs and pale ales. For other beers, i need to be in the mood for an imperial stout or strong ale.

i will drink a pseudo sue, sculpin, nanticoke nectar, dbl duckpin, clownshoes or galatica, maine another one or mo or lunch, 51 rye, etc. any day of the week.

I hear what you are saying about an over-flooded market but I dont look at it in a bad way. I think its good. Sure we can drop $10 on a new beer and find out its crap or not to our liking but thats the breaks.

20 years ago our choices of actual tasty beer were bass ale, yuengling, wild goose (now flying dog) and 1 other brewery i cant think of right now and that was it. literally I had 4 choices. i just drank a ton of bass ale when i could afford it.

im excluding stuff like becks, honey brown, heinkeken etc. which i also was forced to drink back then.
-----------------

Now that I think about it ... the cost of hops and the price being passed along to us the consumer kinda sucks. I could def do without all the heavy hoppy beers that suck and are just a waste.

Re: Let's talk good beer
 

[quote=TheMalcolmConnection;1143528]Just being real, I love me some beer, but I'm getting tired of the IPA/Sour trend. I've had many great beers of both styles, but goddamn hipsters are driving some really shitty versions of both. IPAs were the thing a few years back and it's driving some palette-wrecking hops. When sours were the vogue thing, there were some unique and awesome offerings, now everything is swinging into the overdone direction.

Sad face.

This is aimed at no one in particular unless you're my favorite bar dowtown: HIGHER IBUS DOESNT MEAN BETTER. :([/quote]
Yeah it's hard sometimes. Breweries are trying to keep up with trends, and oversaturate the market (IE Pumpkin beers in August). Sours are a big thing now and it almost seems that breweries are going out of season to brew stuff (Sours in winter, stouts in summer, etc).

The biggest thing is find a few beers you like and look at the hop profiles. I tend to gravitate towards beers that have Citra in it because I know I like the nose and flavor Citra gives a beer.

And then talk to the barkeep or the beer manager at your favorite watering hole about beer. Ask him if he's tried this or that and get a feel for what he's ordering. And if it's not to your liking and he's not willing to budge, find another watering hole.

My favorite watering hole has 20 taps (2 nitro) and once one keg goes, a different beer it put on (Here is the current list: [url=http://roasthousepub.com/draft-list/]20 Draft Beers - Roasthouse Pub[/url]). I've talked to the bartenders and beer manager enough to know that they do a great job bringing in different stuff. Going to be some hits and misses but overall there is something for everyone.

Top 3 beers on Beer Advocate right now, and 6 of the top 10, are Stouts. Could be because we're coming off the winter right now but it definitely shows that a good beer will get recognition no matter what the style is.

Re: Let's talk good beer
 

Ironically, I wrote that post slightly drunk last night...

I'll elaborate more since I'm coherent today. Bohnzie and OTM, I definitely enjoy many different aspects of many styles of beers. Thank God the craft beer movement is in full swing, because I think the trends also lead to lack of creativity. I have some friends (and the bartender at my favorite watering hole) say, "Hey man! Check this out. ULTRA hoppy!" I deeply respect their opinions, and after tasting it, my palate was absolutely ruined. Pure pine notes, zero balance. I don't want someone saying, "Taste this! It's DEFINITELY got the characteristics of THIS type beer." I want someone to say, "Taste this! DELICIOUS."

One of my top five beers is considered "hoppy" but it's hoppy with balance. Recently the bar has started putting a lot of Sculpin on tap (huge fan!) so I can now stop bitching about the over-hopped offerings. And Bohnzie, maybe that's why the new offerings are so bad. If they're rushing them out due to trends, maybe they're not letting them age properly or sacrificing quality for quantity.

Chico, mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Guinness. There's still a few macro-ish brews out there that hold a soft spot in my heart (Labatt being one of them for some reason).

Re: Let's talk good beer
 

Guinness is the gateway to craft beers. I know it's how I got started. Still an old reliable to this day. Good session beer with the low abv too.

Re: Let's talk good beer
 

[quote=TheMalcolmConnection;1143546]Ironically, I wrote that post slightly drunk last night...

I'll elaborate more since I'm coherent today. Bohnzie and OTM, I definitely enjoy many different aspects of many styles of beers. Thank God the craft beer movement is in full swing, because I think the trends also lead to lack of creativity. I have some friends (and the bartender at my favorite watering hole) say, "Hey man! Check this out. ULTRA hoppy!" I deeply respect their opinions, and after tasting it, my palate was absolutely ruined. Pure pine notes, zero balance. I don't want someone saying, "Taste this! It's DEFINITELY got the characteristics of THIS type beer." I want someone to say, "Taste this! DELICIOUS."

One of my top five beers is considered "hoppy" but it's hoppy with balance. Recently the bar has started putting a lot of Sculpin on tap (huge fan!) so I can now stop bitching about the over-hopped offerings. And Bohnzie, maybe that's why the new offerings are so bad. If they're rushing them out due to trends, maybe they're not letting them age properly or sacrificing quality for quantity.

Chico, mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Guinness. There's still a few macro-ish brews out there that hold a soft spot in my heart (Labatt being one of them for some reason).[/quote]
I love a good Guinness...some of these stouts and porters craft breweries are putting out are neither sometimes...still good, but not what they are labeled to be...

Yeah, there is a different between ultra hoppy balanced and ultra hoppy INYOURFACETOBEBITTER!!! Some folks take the real bitter stuff and drink it and like it because BA has it rated as a 98 so it must be good. The beers I got into that really showed me that you don't have to be in your face bitter but can be super hoppy is Laguintas. They figured out how to hop the hell out of a beer but not taste like it.

But in all honestly, I think sheeple tend to go with the popular notion of a beer instead of really trying and determining whether they like it or not. Between BeerAdvocate and Untappd, you'll see a trend among the top beers, that their ratings don't fluctuate too much. Whereas lesser known beers will have a lot of leeway in ratings. Don't hate on a sub 85 beer just because a bunch of hipsters on BA didn't care for it because it wasn't "hoppy" enough.

It's funny you said "Taste this! DELICIOUS." because the small group of guys i drink with...that's what we do. We don't try to sell anyone on ABVs or hoppiness or whatever. We say, you have to drink this because it's good. And then we talk about it from there. And if we're trying something new, we'll compare notes. It helps that our palates are similar, and we'll disagree from time to time. But that whole selling it based on gimmick words bites.

Re: Let's talk good beer
 

[quote=BDBohnzie;1143644]I love a good Guinness...some of these stouts and porters craft breweries are putting out are neither sometimes...still good, but not what they are labeled to be...

Yeah, there is a different between ultra hoppy balanced and ultra hoppy INYOURFACETOBEBITTER!!! Some folks take the real bitter stuff and drink it and like it because BA has it rated as a 98 so it must be good. The beers I got into that really showed me that you don't have to be in your face bitter but can be super hoppy is Laguintas. They figured out how to hop the hell out of a beer but not taste like it.

But in all honestly, I think sheeple tend to go with the popular notion of a beer instead of really trying and determining whether they like it or not. Between BeerAdvocate and Untappd, you'll see a trend among the top beers, that their ratings don't fluctuate too much. Whereas lesser known beers will have a lot of leeway in ratings. [B]Don't hate on a sub 85 beer just because a bunch of hipsters on BA didn't care for it because it wasn't "hoppy" enough.[/B]

It's funny you said "Taste this! DELICIOUS." because the small group of guys i drink with...that's what we do. We don't try to sell anyone on ABVs or hoppiness or whatever. We say, you have to drink this because it's good. And then we talk about it from there. And if we're trying something new, we'll compare notes. It helps that our palates are similar, and we'll disagree from time to time. But that whole selling it based on gimmick words bites.[/quote]

Totally agree. I've just recently discovered Beer Advocate over the past few years and some of their ratings I just flat-out disagree with. People were hating on Voodoo Donut offerings, but I find those to be some of the most unique beers I've ever tried. Would I drink a bunch of them? Hell no, but part of drinking beer (sometimes ;)) is enjoying the experience.

Anyways, can you guys get Blue Mountain Barrel House in your area? It's about an hour northeast from here and they have a GREAT beer in Hopwork Orange. Sometimes you'll have an orange beer taste like "citrus", but you could give a blind taste test of this and people would instantly say "orange", not lime, not lemon. Really nice warm weather beer.

And while we're on the subject:
[url=http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/16352/121408/]A Hopwork Orange | Blue Mountain Brewery | BeerAdvocate[/url]