The Beer Thread • Page 150

Yeah, I think you're right. I didn't have it until like a year and a half ago and when I finally did I was just like, "hmm." Certainly not bad, good even, but not something I plan to drink on the regular.

 

Pliny has definitely been overtaken by newer style IPAs, but back when everything was just west coast IPAs, it was for sure one of the absolute best. Blind Pig as well.

 

It is not 2014 version, this is a new batch brewed in 2016, I believe. My buddy had some on tap in January (they typically always roll some out in January) and he confirmed with the bartender that this was NOT the 2014 batch. It's been the worst kept secret and everyone knew when Founders announced their BA series this year and left one blank it was going to be CBS. The hype on that beer is insane, so I disagree and think that it does not live up to the hype; it's impossible for that. I'll grab some bottles of it this year, and I'm sure I'll like it a lot when i have it on tap. It's right at the sweetness cap for me.

It's less overrated and more that the market has outgrown Pliny. It's got mythical status for sure, but in the same way that people still prop up Sierra Nevada. It's more about what the beer did for the industry.

It's largely accepted that it's the 'first' double IPA to be brewed commercially with regularity. It also made hop extract a non-taboo thing as well. When it first hit the market it was the exact definition of unbalanced. Now, it's a big, sweet, malty and old-school hopped beer and I would choose numerous IPA's over it. But, it did a lot to push IPA's into being the most bought/loved style in American craft beer.

I'm fine never drinking another one, though.

 

Pliny still rules. Get a pint at Tornado while jamming some Slayer is the best. Blind Pig is better but still.

 

I'm realizing that I can't drink even 12 oz of 10+% abv beer in one go. For some reason, it makes me super sleepy and I usually fall asleep before even finishing it. Happened with palo santo marron last night; I was so tired I fell asleep with the lights on! Guess I gotta save those for sharing with my girlfriend.

 

Founders Brewing's 20th Anniversary party is the same day as I wedding I'm going to be at. Ugh. Really bummed, especially since they're selling their barrel-aged Eisbock in bottles.

 

anyone going to to Zwanze Day?

 

Their eisbock would be awesome. I've only had one eisbock ever, I think.

I would but it's just so god damn much money.

 

I had their barrel aged bock when I went a couple of months back and it was fantastic. I can imagine that this one will also be fantastic.

The Raspberry Eisbock from Kuhnhenn was so good.

 

Been lucky enough to have CBS the last three years (beer humble brag) and imo it completely lives up to the hype. It's so mapley and sweet without being obnoxiously sweet. Blows away KBS to me.

Also thrilled that Sweet Repute is coming back, that beer is magical.

 

I'm really excited to hopefully finally try CBS. Been wanting it since I first got into craft beer.

 

Ugh, such a sore subject. I never miss it. I am due to give birth 3 days prior... so either way not happening this year.

 

cheaper than a ticket to Brussels tho!

 

my wife was almost a week late with our kid so you never know

 

True - we went two years ago on our honeymoon and it was epic.

I've heard that the baby being late the first time is likely, however in this case I am the wife and if I'm still pregnant I cannot enjoy Zwanze day anyway lol.

 

Yeah. One of my friends said that the latest iteration of Raspberry Eisbock was not up to previous years versions. I thought it was killer, though. I've always thought that if I open a brewery, I will make an eisbock as an anniversary beer.

CBS is very good, but I'm excited to have it. I was blown away by it a few years ago, reinforced that feeling a couple years ago and I don't think I've had it since then. I'll be interested to see my feelings on it when I have it this December. Also gonna just take the day and hunt some bottles like my girlfriend do for Bourbon County each year.

 

also went to Brussels on my honeymoon in 2014. Stopped at the brewery to bring back bottles. Almost missed our flight home, but it was worth it!

*edited this cuz i shouldn't tell ya how to live your life*

congrats on the baby. First time parent as well with a 10 week old

 

Oh man, Alvarado street is releasing cans of mai tai pa (tropical IPA) and double haole punch (imperial kettle sour with POG) this week, and I'm so excited to get some!

 

Just cracked into a few of the Alvarado Street brews you sent tonight @djwildefire! Very good, thank you very much!

Edit: I'll get the package together around Sept. 15th.

 

Great! Would love to hear your thoughts about them. I think I wound up trying everything I sent you except spaced out.

They seem to really favor IPAs for their can releases so I'm excited to finally get a sour. Alvarado street mostly does kettle sours (and they do them very well) but they have a side project called yeast of eden which does barrel-aged sours and saisons. Haven't had the chance to try any of those yet though!

 

I though Chiffon Fog was okay. It was super thin for 8.5% and wasn't that explosive hop-wise for me, either aroma or palette. Growers Pale Ale is a crusher. Bigger body IMO than the Chiffon and at 5.4% is just wonderful. Contains No Juice wasn't as good as I remember the last can that my buddy brought over -- which is the reason I wanted to seek them out again -- but that's probably because I had an expectation of how good it is. That said, it's absolutely killer and I have another can of it and a couple other cans left that I'm going to drink at some point this week; might take one up to a friends work on Thursday to share with some people.

 

Also, after perusing the Alvarado St. website, I'm absolutely blown away by how many of their hoppy beers use Sacch Trois for the yeast. @BlueEyesBrewing you ever used that strain? I haven't, but I'd love to see how it is in a non-hoppy beer to see how much it's contributing to their IPAs.

 

Chiffon fog didn't make a big impression on me either, honestly don't remember it very well. Definitely agree with you about Growers -- tons of hop flavor and aroma and creamy feel. I still didn't LOVE it, but that has more to do with my personal taste than how well the beer is made. I didn't try the latest batch of CNJ that I sent you, but I had it on draft a few months back, and it's probably my favorite NEIPA I've tried (though I haven't tried that many).

Very interested in hearing how you like Spaced Out, that one intrigued me (maybe just because the artwork is so cool). I know Alvarado loves to play around with different yeast strains in their hoppy beers (they often call them "yeast-driven").

Have you had anything from Fieldwork? They just opened a new beer garden in Monterey that I want to check out. I've personally found them to be hit/miss but they're mostly known for their hoppy stuff. If you ever want anything else from the Bay Area/Monterey, I'd totally be down to send you more stuff. There are some other great breweries here that I'm guessing you don't have access to in Michigan (Rare Barrel, Sante Adairius, Russian River, etc).

 

Thank you! Congrats to you as well! Definitely cannot wait to get back in the beer game. We still have some Cantillon bottles from our honeymoon, think the hubs is planning on bringing some to the hospital for a post-birth celebraish. Who knows how I'll feel then though lol.

 

Does not seem like the right time for that lol