Whatcha drinking?

[mori]

I had not heard that and after doing some reading up on the subject, seems like a good deal for Harpoon. They have decreasing beer sales and excess brewing capacity that Clown Shoes can fill. Curious how this will affect Mercury/Ipwich Brewing when a large chunk of their business walks away with Clown Shoes. I just hope Clown Shoes can continue to make barrel-aged stouts and barleywines.

[Kraken]

Yeah, I don't know all the industry ins and outs but it seems like a win-win deal. Harpoon is big, but not evil-empire big. The market has left their flagship IPA behind, but their fall seasonal Flannel Friday was my go-to beer while it was available. I just wish the fall seasonals didn't disappear just as the weather finally turns autumnal.

Speaking of cold-weather beers, I drank my Night Shift Awake last night. It's a nice smooth porter with a strong roasted coffee flavor that isn't too bitter or too sweet. Quite tasty, I'd like to try it on tap. I see it has a 96 score on Ratebeer.

[EvilHomer3k]

After several years of trying to get it, my wife got me a bottle of Toppling Goliath King Sue. I love their psuedo sue. It is a wonderful piney ale. King Sue ramps up everything good about Psuedo Sue just to the point of too much until you have your second glass. It is one that needs a few sips to really appreciate. That said, they have some other IIPAs that I like better.

[mori]

After several years of trying to get it, my wife got me a bottle of Toppling Goliath King Sue. I love their psuedo sue. It is a wonderful piney ale. King Sue ramps up everything good about Psuedo Sue just to the point of too much until you have your second glass. It is one that needs a few sips to really appreciate. That said, they have some other IIPAs that I like better.

I am not a fan of Psuedo Sue or King Sue. I am just not a fan of Citra hops. I can tolerate that hop if it is blended in with another hop instead of being the solo act. But they do brew a lot of very special IPAs. They had an oak-aged double IPA at the taproom that was awesome but I forget the name. I never had anything like it before and it blew my mind.

[mori]

Bent Paddle Brewing Co. from Duluth, MN brews nothing but quality beer. This one is extra special. Black ale aged in oak barrels with vanilla beans and coffee added. How I understand there process is that they add cold press coffee just before bottling instead of aging with coffee beans or adding coffee during fermentation. Keeps the coffee flavors bright, fruity, and fresh. Definitely not a bottle to let sit around and let that coffee flavor fade away. They do not use the terms black IPA, porter, or stout to describe their various dark beer. I would describe this particular beer as a hoppy imperial porter (11.2% ABV) as it lacks the roasted malt qualities of a stout, and hoppiness is not at IPA levels but is definitely apparent. It is all well crafted and the result is delicious and worth the $22 a bottle. Only a breakfast/brunch beer if you are not planning on doing anything for the day.

[Jeff V]

Only a breakfast/brunch beer if you are not planning on doing anything for the day.

What if your plans are to drink a six pack of this?

[mori]

Each bottle is 750 ml so ...

[disarm]

I got my hands on a bottle of Sam Adams Utopias this evening. I've had the chance to try it once in the past (and posted here about it)...never expected that I'd manage to get a bottle of my own

[mori]

Big spender.

[Jeff V]

Each bottle is 750 ml so ...

And your point is...?

[ImLawBoy]

I might buy that more often if it didn't cost $12.99 for a six pack.

Where? I paid $15.99!

I figure with pints at $7 or so in the bar that's ok though.

Confirmed that this is $12.99/six pack at the FoodSmart on Armitage and Francisco. Also confirmed that it's not really worth the Three Floyd's premium to me.

[Scuzz]

This is really good. A little heavier than most winter ales but Oh so tasty.

[mori]

It is beaujolais nouveau time of year. Since these are young wines are only fermented in stainless for a month or two before release, there is often great variation from year to year and even from bottle to bottle. The 2017 Duboeuf I am drinking is very fruity with low tannins. Paired it with pasta and pork bolognese.

[Daehawk]

Am I the only one drinking non alcoholic stuff?

[Isgrimnur]

No.

[Jeff V]

It is beaujolais nouveau time of year. Since these are young wines are only fermented in stainless for a month or two before release, there is often great variation from year to year and even from bottle to bottle.

That's as much a problem as part of the charm. I bought this once, it was undrinkable. Never again.

[Jeff V]

Am I the only one drinking non alcoholic stuff?

Just coffee, because my employer frowns upon drinking coffee infused beer at work.

[Kraken]

It is beaujolais nouveau time of year. Since these are young wines are only fermented in stainless for a month or two before release, there is often great variation from year to year and even from bottle to bottle.

That's as much a problem as part of the charm. I bought this once, it was undrinkable. Never again.

Boo-juice is a seasonal novelty, the soda pop of wines. As mori said, sometimes they're good in a bright fruity way, and sometimes they demonstrate that wine is more than fermented grape juice.

As for me, I'm drinking as much Celebration Ale as I can afford to lay in before it disappears from the shelves. I'd also like to stock up on Troeg's Blizzard of Hops while that's available; my packie never buys enough. Picked up a 12-pack last week and I'll be surprised if there's any left by this weekend.

[Scuzz]

It is beaujolais nouveau time of year. Since these are young wines are only fermented in stainless for a month or two before release, there is often great variation from year to year and even from bottle to bottle.

That's as much a problem as part of the charm. I bought this once, it was undrinkable. Never again.

There was a time when we bought beaujolais nouveau's but I can't remember when I last had one. I think part of the problem was they did vary so much, and to me they seem like they should be a warm season light wine, not a winter wine.

[Jeff V]

Dechutes Chasin' Freebies Fresh Hop IPA. I seem to recall once blasting a Deschutes beer for coming up short on pineyness. Clearly they took exception to my comments. "Featuring experimental hop #437," I suspect it also contains sap from spruce trees. This is one harsh beer...it's going to take awhile to put down the six pack I invested in.

Fortunately Target has 12 packs of Celebration, so I'm all set for Football and Turkey Day. I can't image any of the guests at the party I'm attending tomorrow getting into this. Except maybe the guy who brought over A Bretter Day a few months ago.

[mori]

A collaboration between Evil Twin Brewing and Jackie O's Brewing. A stout that was described either as the hottest beer a person has drank, or its not too bad. I am in the not too bad as far as heat level is concerned. I would just call this an average Mexican Chocolate stout. Stone Xocoveza is far superior.

[Sudy]

Been too broke to drink for a while.


A colleague recommended this a while back. They were wrong.

[Jeff V]

They were wrong.

A few years ago, Guinness was in the booze barns here giving samples of this plus etched glasses. After a sample, I'm glad I never had to invest in a full bottle poor can. The free glass was nice though. I got it engraved for my son, who was 2.

[Isgrimnur]

Their black lager is also substandard compared to the local Shiner offering. Of course, not everyone has heard the good word out of Texas, so...

[Jeff V]

Of course, not everyone has heard the good word out of Texas, so...

Or maybe we just continue to be unimpressed. Their Oktoberfest was the worst of this year's lot among those I tried. Whenever I have a Shiner beer, I suspect they are dumping last year's stock on their out-of-Texas markets.

[Holman]

Respected local brewer's big, big Imperial IPA: Manayunk Brewing Company's Big Hoppa.



I don't believe I've ever had a 9% beer before, but that's this. There's definitely an alcohol sharpness present, but the hoppiness and beery bitterness are foremost.

Dangerously good strong beer.

[Isgrimnur]

Oktoberfest is not their strength. I've even passed on buying their bock, which is better than the swill that AB tries to pass off in Texas, but the black lager is their best offering I've had to date, and one I routinely consume.

[Jeff V]

I don't believe I've ever had a 9% beer before, but that's this.

Most so-called "session" beers are that low or lower. Great for parties or other occasions where you're feeling compelled to drink for hours on end. There's no shame in drinking such low alcohol needs, unless you're talking Bud light or Coors light or similar dreck.

[Holman]

I don't believe I've ever had a 9% beer before, but that's this.

Most so-called "session" beers are that low or lower. Great for parties or other occasions where you're feeling compelled to drink for hours on end. There's no shame in drinking such low alcohol needs, unless you're talking Bud light or Coors light or similar dreck.

You are a funny thing!

[Jeff V]

FTR, the booziest beer I've had is Eggenbacher Urbach 23...that's 23% ABV or the equivalent of schnapps.

[Sudy]

In reality the Guiness Blonde wasn't gross, but I really didn't care for it. No bitterness to balance out the maltiness (which I know at one time I didn't appreciate). So you're just left with this overly sweet beer. Still quite a bit better than random macro swill, but no, I didn't enjoy it.


This is delicious... I presume it's seasonal due to its presence on the clearance rack. I sure hope it's coming back next year....

[Kraken]

Lord Hobo's [url=https://lordhobobrewing.com/beer/consolation-prize/[/url] consoles me. In fact, [heresy] I like it better than Boom Sauce. [/heresy]. As an eminently quaffable DIPA, it's a good approximation of the perfect beer. I could drink way too many of these. 9.5% ABV would even get JeffV's attention.

[Carpet_pissr]

I don't believe I've ever had a 9% beer before, but that's this.

Most so-called "session" beers are that low or lower. Great for parties or other occasions where you're feeling compelled to drink for hours on end. There's no shame in drinking such low alcohol needs, unless you're talking Bud light or Coors light or similar dreck.

Dilly, dilly!!

[morlac]

My sister was in town visiting us from Guatemala. She brought my Christmas present:

Ron Zacapa XO Gran Reserva Especial. (can't link at work)

Best Rum ever!

[disarm]

Lord Hobo's [url=https://lordhobobrewing.com/beer/consolation-prize/[/url] consoles me. In fact, [heresy] I like it better than Boom Sauce. [/heresy]. As an eminently quaffable DIPA, it's a good approximation of the perfect beer. I could drink way too many of these. 9.5% ABV would even get JeffV's attention.

I agree that Consolation Prize is a great DIPA that hides its alcohol content well, and I don't think it crazy at all that you prefer it over Boom Sauce. I totally agree

[Jeff V]

Lagunitas NightTime "Fear the Dark." This dark ale is very well balanced. I've been shying away fro dark ales of late as many taste burnt or smokey (I can't stand smoke-flavored beer) but this beer retains bright hoppiness and the malt is just right At 8.2% ABV, it's something to keep you entertained all night long. It comes in bombers, but at $5. it's priced right.

[AWS260]

I woke up this morning to discover a whisky advent calendar waiting for me in the living room! My wife is awesome.

Day 1: Glenfarclas 25-year
Day 2: Buffalo Trace
Day 3: Bain's Cape Mountain (South African - never heard of it before)
Day 4: an anonymous 13-year-old Irish single malt from That Boutique-y Whisky Company, an independent bottler with a dumb name
Day 5: Jim Beam Double Oak
Day 6: Kavalan (Taiwan)
Day 7: Roe & Co. blended Irish whiskey
Day 8: Cardhu 12-year
Day 9: The Naked Grouse
Day 10: Scallywag 13-year
Day 11: Ailsa Bay
Day 12: Evan Williams White Label
Day 13: The Big Strand (Islay malt from an unnamed distillery -- very light-colored, so presumably quite young)
Day 14: Mackmyra (Sweden)
Day 15: The Lost Distilleries Blend, Batch 10
Day 16: Kavalan (again)
Day 17: Talisker 10-year
Day 18: Dalmore 12-year
Day 19: Wolfburn (a young single malt from a new Highland distillery)
Day 20: Kilchoman Sanaig
Day 21: Hudson Manhattan Rye
Day 22: The Macallan 12-year
Day 23: BenRiach 10-year
Day 24: The Half-Century Blend (50 years!), Batch 2

I'll try to update this post as I work through the calendar.

[ImLawBoy]

My local convenience store had a few bottles of the 2017 Goose Island Bourbon County Stout available, so I grabbed one. I think it's 1 pint plus .9oz or something like that. Cost $10.99, but at least it has a 14.7% ABV that might even cause Jeff to take notice. I have no patience for cellaring beer, so I'll probably crack this open over the weekend.

[Jeff V]

My local convenience store had a few bottles of the 2017 Goose Island Bourbon County Stout available, so I grabbed one. I think it's 1 pint plus .9oz or something like that. Cost $10.99, but at least it has a 14.7% ABV that might even cause Jeff to take notice. I have no patience for cellaring beer, so I'll probably crack this open over the weekend.

Seems really cheap...last year, didn't Binny's have a2 bottle limit at $75 per, or was that something else? At that price you should have bought a case and invited me over for a dozen bottles whilst playing a friendly game of pinochle.

[disarm]

I picked up these two this afternoon for $15 each... Bourbon County Stout and Barleywine Ale. I only got one of each though, so I'm now stuck deciding if I drink them soon, or allow them to age a bit first...