Whatcha drinking?

Isgrimnur · Post by **Isgrimnur** » Sat Jan 28, 2017 11:08 pm

Bespoke hurricane. Rum, rum, blue curacao, lemon juice, a splash of simple syrup.

LawBeefaroni · Post by **LawBeefaroni** » Sat Jan 28, 2017 11:39 pm

Kraken · Post by **Kraken** » Sun Jan 29, 2017 3:02 am

My packie apparently tapped into a hidden cache of Celebration Ale, so I'm buying it up as fast as I can afford to while it lasts.

Kraken · Post by **Kraken** » Tue Jan 31, 2017 10:09 pm

I had an opportunity to try three drafts on somebody else's dime tonight.

First up was Lord Hobo's Boom Sauce. Lord Hobo is a hipster bar in Cambridge (Inman Square). I found the bar to be overcrowded and overpriced (did I mention that it's in Cambridge? where $9 is the going rate for a pint). They have a large and thoughtful beer list, but it's a neighborhood bar that's far from my neighborhood and has no parking, so I'll probably never go back. Anyway, they're obviously not brewing beer there, so it's a contract job, and I figured they were just capitalizing on the Lord Hobo name. Well it turns out that Boom Sauce is a really enjoyable example of an East Coast IPA. I was tempted to stick with it all evening, but as long as somebody else was paying I thought I should explore a little.

Second was Blah Blah Blah double IPA from 21st Amendment. Kind of blah for a double, and changing to a West Coast style was jarring. Wished I'd gotten another Boom Sauce instead.

Finally I couldn't pass up a chance to try Jack's Abbey Kiwi Rising double IPL. Fruity, fresh, tropical, and totally wrong for a winter night. Should have had another Boom Sauce instead.

I might have liked the other two better if I hadn't started with the Boom Sauce. Dunno if it would be as good canned as it was on tap, but I'll probably buy a 4-pack to find out.

Sudy · Post by **Sudy** » Tue Jan 31, 2017 11:00 pm

Bourbon Aged Dark Ale - Innis & Gunn

So rich... so delicious.

disarm · Post by **disarm** » Tue Jan 31, 2017 11:21 pm

Kraken wrote:I had an opportunity to try three drafts on somebody else's dime tonight.

First up was Lord Hobo's Boom Sauce. Lord Hobo is a hipster bar in Cambridge (Inman Square)...Well it turns out that Boom Sauce is a really enjoyable example of an East Coast IPA...Dunno if it would be as good canned as it was on tap, but I'll probably buy a 4-pack to find out.

I've been pleasantly surprised by all of Lord Hobo's offerings that I've tried so far (all in the can from my local stores in CT). Boom Sauce is pretty good, but I think 'Consolation Prize' is probably my favorite of the bunch...a very solid DIPA with good citrus hop flavor that does an amazingly good job of hiding is 9.5% ABV. I've also gone through a 4-pack of 'Steal This Can,' but it's easily my least favorite. The only easily available offering that I haven't tried yet is their session IPA 'Hobo Life'... supposedly good as well, so I'll probably give it a shot very soon.

Sudy · Post by **Sudy** » Wed Feb 01, 2017 1:33 am

A decent sweetish toasty ale with just enough bitterness. Quite complex for what the indie packaging suggests.

Kraken · Post by **Kraken** » Wed Feb 01, 2017 3:14 am

disarm wrote:
Kraken wrote:I had an opportunity to try three drafts on somebody else's dime tonight.

First up was Lord Hobo's Boom Sauce. Lord Hobo is a hipster bar in Cambridge (Inman Square)...Well it turns out that Boom Sauce is a really enjoyable example of an East Coast IPA...Dunno if it would be as good canned as it was on tap, but I'll probably buy a 4-pack to find out.
I've been pleasantly surprised by all of Lord Hobo's offerings that I've tried so far (all in the can from my local stores in CT). Boom Sauce is pretty good, but I think 'Consolation Prize' is probably my favorite of the bunch...a very solid DIPA with good citrus hop flavor that does an amazingly good job of hiding is 9.5% ABV. I've also gone through a 4-pack of 'Steal This Can,' but it's easily my least favorite. The only easily available offering that I haven't tried yet is their session IPA 'Hobo Life'... supposedly good as well, so I'll probably give it a shot very soon.

I didn't realize that Lord Hobo is distributing beyond greater Boston, so that's cool. I'll have to see if my packy carries Consolation Prize.

disarm · Post by **disarm** » Wed Feb 01, 2017 10:06 am

It must be fairly widespread in southern New England. I've found Boom Sauce, Hobo Life, and Steal This Can in my local BigY grocery store in northeastern CT.

Scuzz · Post by **Scuzz** » Wed Feb 01, 2017 1:03 pm

Kraken wrote:My packie apparently tapped into a hidden cache of Celebration Ale, so I'm buying it up as fast as I can afford to while it lasts.

My local grocery store has 12 packs of Celebration Ale all over the store. They have for quite a while now. Maybe we are getting everyone else's supply. I have a 12 pack in my fridge at home right now.

mori · Post by **mori** » Wed Feb 01, 2017 8:25 pm

This will be the first time in 10 years that I have not drank any Celebration Ale. Just too much new stuff I have to try to go back to an old standard. And I like to spend whatever I can at the good local breweries.

Rumpy · Post by **Rumpy** » Fri Feb 03, 2017 1:00 am

Young's Double Chocolate Stout. This one never gets old

Isgrimnur · Post by **Isgrimnur** » Fri Feb 03, 2017 10:44 pm

Sam Adams Maple Ale - decent, can't really taste the maple notes.

Pedernales Hefeweizen - a touch more bitter than I prefer.

mori · Post by **mori** » Sun Feb 05, 2017 12:27 am

4 Hands(St. Louis) Chocolate Milk Stout- "Chocolate flavored water that I could treat my kid with", in my best Jeff V impersonation.

Kraken · Post by **Kraken** » Mon Feb 06, 2017 10:44 pm

With a label this ugly Tim's Udderly Milk Stout had better be good. And it is a better than average example of the style, with chocolate and coffee flavor notes and no nasty aftertaste that many stouts pick up. Nothing unexpected here, just a satisfying winter brew at the standard $10/6 price point.

I had to pass on buying any Lord Hobo brews last weekend, even though my packy has Boom Sauce and Consolation Prize. $16 for a 4-pack is too spendy for me. Boom Sauce is good, but not that good.

Rumpy · Post by **Rumpy** » Fri Feb 10, 2017 1:14 am

Aventinus, a wheat doppel-bock. I had this years ago and really liked it, but didn't think I'd see it again, so I was overjoyed to see it back on the shelves here recently. At 8.2%, it packs quite a punch.

mori · Post by **mori** » Fri Feb 10, 2017 10:47 pm

Founders Frootwood a cherry ale aged in maple syrup bourbon barrels. I like it a lot more than a lot of people I have been hearing from. Not the next Canadian Breakfast Stout, but must be nice to have access to so many bourbon barrels that have since aged maple syrup to put a cherry ale in to use them up.

Z-Corn · Post by **Z-Corn** » Sat Feb 11, 2017 7:50 am

mori wrote:Founders Frootwood a cherry ale aged in maple syrup bourbon barrels. I like it a lot more than a lot of people I have been hearing from. Not the next Canadian Breakfast Stout, but must be nice to have access to so many bourbon barrels that have since aged maple syrup to put a cherry ale in to use them up.

I just saw this listed in the Founder's app as being on-tap and asked my wife if she wanted to go down sometime this weekend to get a pint of it. I didn't know they were bottling it too.

I've been a sucker for cherry in beers ever since I first tried Bell's Cherry Stout. It was in 1988 and Larry Bell himself used to drive it up from Kzoo to the specialty liquor store where I bought it (under aged!). It was only available in 750 ml recycled Champagne bottles. Made me start homebrewing because I wanted to make something that good...

mori · Post by **mori** » Sat Feb 11, 2017 2:44 pm

Z-Corn wrote:
mori wrote:Founders Frootwood a cherry ale aged in maple syrup bourbon barrels. I like it a lot more than a lot of people I have been hearing from. Not the next Canadian Breakfast Stout, but must be nice to have access to so many bourbon barrels that have since aged maple syrup to put a cherry ale in to use them up.
I just saw this listed in the Founder's app as being on-tap and asked my wife if she wanted to go down sometime this weekend to get a pint of it. I didn't know they were bottling it too.

I've been a sucker for cherry in beers ever since I first tried Bell's Cherry Stout. It was in 1988 and Larry Bell himself used to drive it up from Kzoo to the specialty liquor store where I bought it (under aged!). It was only available in 750 ml recycled Champagne bottles. Made me start homebrewing because I wanted to make something that good...

I bought a 4-pack of 12oz bottles and it was reasonably priced. I would not want to drink a 750ml bottle of this without help. The 12oz is just a perfect size for a solo effort.

Rumpy · Post by **Rumpy** » Mon Feb 13, 2017 2:22 pm

Sudy, might be interested in this: An article in the Toronto Star about Stack and other Northern breweries.

https://www.thestar.com/life/food_wine/ ... north.html

Smoove_B · Post by **Smoove_B** » Sun Feb 19, 2017 9:20 pm

Finally got around to opening my birthday present:

First off, the package is totally awesome. It's all wood elf sneaky, which I like. One of the few Scotch boxes I'll keep. But the taste? Quite nice. I'm familiar with the Highland Park 12, so as a NAS bottling I was curious as to what this would be like. There's an initial sweetness that mellows out and turns into a warming chocolate/cherry. Finishes with a little spice and very light smokey aftertaste that lingers for quite a bit. Very smooth and goes down quite nicely. I can't say I recall tasting another Scotch with this chocolate/cherry thing happening, so that was a nice surprise. The internet is telling me I should sense vanilla, but I'm not getting any of it. Would recommend. Will drink more.

RunningMn9 · Post by **RunningMn9** » Sun Feb 19, 2017 9:34 pm

Nice.

tru1cy · Post by **tru1cy** » Sun Feb 19, 2017 9:45 pm

Buffalo Trace really liking this bourbon wouldn't rank it in my top ten but serviceable and quite enjoyable neat

Smutly · Post by **Smutly** » Sun Feb 19, 2017 10:04 pm

tru1cy wrote:Buffalo Trace really liking this bourbon wouldn't rank it in my top ten but serviceable and quite enjoyable neat

My go to bourbon is Eagle Rare, but Buffalo Trace does quite nicely in an Old Fashioned.

Rumpy · Post by **Rumpy** » Mon Feb 20, 2017 3:10 pm

During the last several years, Stone has made an expansion into Canada. They've finally arrived in my area. Last time I was at the store, noticed several of their beers: Arrogant Bastard, Double Arrogant Bastard, their Russian Imperial Stout and a few other things. Picked up some Arrogant Bastard in a can.

Kraken · Post by **Kraken** » Mon Feb 20, 2017 11:26 pm

Shipyard's Chocolate Milk Stout comes in 12-packs. I wish I'd known that at the start of winter rather than toward its end. It's a pleasant enough stout, a bit sweeter than I like but not cloying, remarkable mainly for coming in 12-packs. Will buy again if cold weather returns (gonna be in the 60s the rest of this week) since none of my favorite winter beers were sold in 12-packs this year.

Daehawk · Post by **Daehawk** » Thu Feb 23, 2017 1:19 am

I love this stuff. I thought I had fell in love with some crappy sangria knock off but it turns out its the real deal but with the alcohol removed.

Isgrimnur · Post by **Isgrimnur** » Tue Feb 28, 2017 11:17 pm

A decent IPA example. Nothing truly outstanding, but nothing to regret.

Good coffee notes for a dark lager. Less viscosity than a stout or porter, which is normally where you find these types of flavors and color. I could certainly enjoy a session with it.

mori · Post by **mori** » Sat Mar 04, 2017 7:51 pm

Hop Shovel IPA by Bear Republic. A West Coast style IPA with all the new fangled hops. Very nice beer and now I realize I do not buy enough Bear Republic beer.

Semaj · Post by **Semaj** » Sat Mar 04, 2017 9:50 pm

Isgrimnur wrote:

A decent IPA example. Nothing truly outstanding, but nothing to regret.

Good coffee notes for a dark lager. Less viscosity than a stout or porter, which is normally where you find these types of flavors and color. I could certainly enjoy a session with it.

You in Buffalo?

Sixpoint makes a Resin and a Hi-Res which are much better examples of IPA's... but the craft beer selection in town is large. Roarbach Space Kitty, Elysian Spacedust, Great Divide Titan, Firestone Union Jack (or Wookie Jack), Bells 2 Hearted, Lord Hobo Boom Sauce (or steal this can, or consolation prize), Ballast Sculpin, Great lakes (chillwave), Founders and Bear Republic are all easily grabbable...

and if you can find decent draft places, Sloop, Singlecut, big Ditch are all wonderful.

Guess working at 2 bars, one with 550 bottled beers and one with 73 taps helps with this eh?

Isgrimnur · Post by **Isgrimnur** » Sat Mar 04, 2017 9:55 pm

I am not. These were provided by my wife, brought home from her store.

Sudy · Post by **Sudy** » Fri Mar 31, 2017 2:55 am

Ycch. This is too much. Too much spice, too much sweetness. Too much oak. I was really hoping this would be a replacement for my beloved Rye Not, and my new go-to now that Flying Monkeys Deep Tracks American Brown Ale has sold out at my store. Thank goodness I didn't buy the 2nd can I was intending to.

Scuzz · Post by **Scuzz** » Fri Mar 31, 2017 5:13 pm

mori wrote:
Hop Shovel IPA by Bear Republic. A West Coast style IPA with all the new fangled hops. Very nice beer and now I realize I do not buy enough Bear Republic beer.

I have had the Racer 5, it was good. i will have to look for this beer.

Scuzz · Post by **Scuzz** » Fri Mar 31, 2017 5:15 pm

So we apparently have a new chain liquor store opening this weekend. Total Wine.....if the store is as good as it's ads I might be spending more of my beer and wine dollar there soon.

Isgrimnur · Post by **Isgrimnur** » Fri Mar 31, 2017 5:25 pm

It's a relatively substantial chain and is one of the power players in DFW.

Edit: Wiki

Total Wine & More is the largest U.S. independent retailer of fine wine. Total Wine & More was named Retailer of the Year by Market Watch in 2006, Beverage Dynamics in 2008, and Wine Enthusiast Magazine in 2004 and 2014.

Jeff V · Post by **Jeff V** » Fri Mar 31, 2017 9:47 pm

Since my wife assumed control of the budget a few months ago, I've been restricted to the best bang-for-the-buck, Trader Joe's 8.4% ABV Double IPA @ $5/6.

This weekend though, Binny's has $2 off on DYO six packs ($8 instead of $10). I couldn't resist, and since it's been awhile, had no problem selecting 12 that I haven't had before.

First up: Firestone Luponic Distortion. Urine-colored and an anemic 5.9% ABV, it's rather pungent and not something I'd buy again. I was able to drink a can of it without gagging though, so it can't be all bad.

Next up is Oddside Ales Hop Gobbler Extra Pale Ale. It's got the extra pale right...it looks like urine after you pounded a dozen or so Hop Gobblers. And at 5% ABV, you'll never realize you drank that many. The taste is ephemeral...in that when you taste it, any flavors that might be present dissipate almost instantly. Which is too bad, the split second I can discern a flavor, it seems good...but then it's gone.

mori · Post by **mori** » Fri Mar 31, 2017 11:10 pm

Scuzz wrote:So we apparently have a new chain liquor store opening this weekend. Total Wine.....if the store is as good as it's ads I might be spending more of my beer and wine dollar there soon.

I try not to spend much money at Total Wine. Their business practices are not the greatest. They will open the store with outrageous low prices to get people in the store and drive the locally owned competition out of business and before long, their prices are as high as what they replaced. I do go there a couple times a year to check it out and buy a bottle or two of liquor. But 98% of my booze money goes to locally owned businesses.

Jeff V · Post by **Jeff V** » Sat Apr 01, 2017 6:56 pm

Sierra Nevada "German Style IPA". I usually call foul on these contrived styles that don't otherwise exist in nature, and this is no exception. It tastes more like a kolsch-style beer, or something in the Dutch variety (at least the Dutch have a legacy of India trade where the style was conceived) A modest 6.1% ABV; this beer does not excite me.

Two Brothers Pinball Juicy Hop Pale Ale, Warrenville, IL. I had this super-low alcohol (5.4%) beer at their new Naperville restaurant a few weeks ago after starting with a far more potent offering. I liked it then, and I still like it in canned form. Fruity and tart, it'll be a nice summer beer. Not bad on a spring day though.

Maggie's Irish Ale by Saugatuck Brewery, Michigan. I've adored most of what I had from this brewery, until now. This isn't bad, it's just completely forgettable. Only 5.4% ABV, the flavor is ephemeral and leaves no real impression.

mori · Post by **mori** » Sat Apr 01, 2017 7:29 pm

Big Sky Brewing Shake-A-Day IPA out of Missoula, Montana. We are departing IPA and stout season so getting a new IPA is refreshing this time of year. Nice hop flavors but not punishing bitterness, and a Jeff V appreciated 7.5% ABV. I do not buy much Big Sky anymore as it seems they have been crowded out by the influx of local beers. I always thought they brewed good beer if you can find it fresh.

Jeff V · Post by **Jeff V** » Sun Apr 02, 2017 11:03 am

Voodoo Ranger 8 Hop Pale Ale by New Belgium. This is the first New Belgium beer I've had that lacked their signature funk, which makes this drinkable. But is it good? 8 hops are probably 5 too many...the flavor is unique, but in a muddled, confusing way. Still, I didn't gag, at 5.5% ABV, it was a good stand in for the glass of water I likely would have had instead.