The Beer Thread • Page 120

Jai Alai is probably my favorite beer

 

When it gets to the market here, I'll go out of my way to get some sixers of it, just like with Sculpin. Now, I only drink Sculpin when I can get it fresh, which isn't that often, to be honest.

 

The Veil is having a Trillium tap takeover next month which is dope. Hopefully they bring that good good.

 

Fresh is key. I'm becoming more and more stubborn about it.

 

Right there with ya.

 

Was just at the store and couldn't find any IPAs brewed this month like

Settled for 12/27 Jai Alai

 

Toured the Sam Adams brewery on Thursday. Their newest seasonal, Hopscape was amazing, and they had a "Yuzu Reserve," which was exceptionally weird.

 

Has anyone else had this year's Hop Ranch? The first batch was godawful. Has it gotten any better?

 

Solid selection today. Nugget Nectar finally in, Manayunk French Toast Crunch, new Fat Heads, Sierra Nevada Tropical IPA

 

Yeah it's pretty frustrating. When I was working at a bottle shop it was a nightmare feeling like my bosses didn't give a shit about bottle dates but the real key is that the majority of the consumers don't care about bottle dates, either. Sucks.

 

Freshness is super important, but I'm in a few facebook trading groups and so many of the people there take it to a level that is imo unnecessarily extreme. "Tree House falls off in two weeks!" I don't really agree. Provided it was kept cold, I think most everything hoppy is still going to be 90% as good in 5 weeks as it was day 1. Occasionally a can of something will sit in my fridge for 2-3 months and even with noticeable falloff it's usually still in the ballpark of what it should be. I wouldn't buy something that was more than a month or so out but if I stock up on something good I won't blow through it in fear that the last cans are gonna be horrendous or anything.

That said, it totally sucks how little stock is in that 4-5 week range at even most good liquor stores. Not really a problem here, but if you're not in the northeast or California I imagine it's a real bummer.

 

I tried a Prickly Pear Wheat yesterday. Much better than I was expecting.

 

Tropical Torpedo is very solid

 

Does it actually taste tropical? I've heard mixed reviews.

 

Founders Imperial Stout is the best value in craft beer, IMO. Available with really good regularity (up here, they are on the shelves until fall of the following year) and the price point is just fine. such a delicious, delicious beer. I'd go so far as to say it's the best beer Founders makes, save for only CBS.

 

I had a 2014 Imperial Stout on tap recently, and she makes it even better. I always try to get one four pack. Always so good.

 

I love their Porter as well. An awesome non coffee alternative to Breakfast Stout

 

I take for granted how easy it is for me to get fresh IPAs; with OH canning every week now along with Finback, Singlecut, Threes, Greenpoint, Grimm, and others releasing pretty regularly.

 

I've tried a lot of awesome beers for the first time in the past couple months. Some of my favorites:

Modern Times - Black House, City of the Dead
Ballast Point - Victory at Sea, Mocha Marlin
Founders - Porter, Rubaeus
Lagunitas - Imperial Stout
Allagash - Tripel
Phantom Carriage - Broadacres w/ Cranberry & Grapefruit
Prairie - Bomb!, Christmas Bomb!
Une Annee - Framboise
Boulevard - Dark Truth Stout
Dark Horse - Tres Blueberry Stout
Mikkeller - Beer Geek Breakfast
Russian River - Supplication
Southern Tier - Choklat
Tyranena - The Devil Made Me Do It!
Unibroue - La Fin du Monde

 

Yeah, super jealous. One of my friends coworkers is trading for the new OH beers every week and I just don't have the energy or drive to do that, haha. But That area of the country is CRUSHING it right now. Very jealous.

 

I know it goes against what most beer people say, but 90% of the time I like non-cellar aged beers better. I noticed this particularly with Black Tuesday this year, over the year I had 2012-2016 versions and by far I liked the 2016 the best. There have been other beers where I have the same experience as well, the vintage ones just don't wow me like the fresh ones do for many BBA beers

 

to quote my friend who is a professional brewer, "Beer is dumb." Drink what you like; don't worry about what people, especially beer people, think / say. If you like your beers fresh, do it up. Most beer is brewed to be consumed fresh.

 

well said, and true. I like my beer wet and tasty!

 

Backed, 100%. Unless a brewery puts on their label to cellar a beer -- like Deschutes does with their anniversary beers -- they're just fine to drink fresh.

 

I just won an instagram giveaway for Mash & French Toast and Room for More from The Bruery! I follow this dude on Instagram that does weekly giveaways, and a ton of charity giveaways too, well worth a follow and he'll ship to any winner anywhere in the world if you win the wednesday giveaway!

The Beer Angel (@beersnobbin) • Instagram photos and videos

for those curious

Mash & French Toast - Bourbon Barrel Aged Barleywine with vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and maple syrup
Room For More - Barrel Aged Sour with three varietals of peaches (Flavorcrest, Spring Lady and Suncrest) and four varietals of nectarines (Le Grand, Rose Diamond, Spring Bright and Summer Grand)