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Azagthoth
Lurker
Brown Shugga rules! Nice pick up!
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Genghis John
Lurker
Be sure to sign up on total Wine's website, they send great coupons 
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Stormy2213
Lurker
Green Flash Double Stout
GF Double Stout + rainy afternoon + fireplace + Kings game = TOO MUCH AWESOME!
GF Double Stout + rainy afternoon + fireplace + Kings game = TOO MUCH AWESOME!
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Genghis John
Lurker
Here is your reminder about the brewmaster's show tonight!
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Azagthoth
Lurker
I hope you were rocking the flannel too, my man! That is indeed too much awesome!
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Stormy2213
Lurker
LOL! In all seriousness, I WAS rocking the flannel as well. Pendleton flannels ftw!
On another note, what did you all think of Brewmasters? There was a lot I liked about the show - the inside look at the operation, the nice "how beer is made" cut aways, the thought that went into the brew. But there were a few things that I didn't care for, particularly the idiotic "rapping" that got thrown in there. I know the show is made for the general populace and not beer geeks like we have here, but come on - rapping? That was cringe-worthy IMO. Flame away.
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Azagthoth
Lurker
Booo! Throwing rap into anything is just asking for it to suck.
I didn't get to see it as I don't have cable TV, so I'll reserve judgment until I can watch it at somebody's house. Sounds like its got potential, but I hope it doesn't contribute to the mainstreamization of craft beer.
I think I'm gonna copy Stormy one night this week, and rock my red flannel with my polar bear jammy pants and curl up on my recliner with an imperial stout or barleywine. This is the absolute best time of year for beer!! Let it flow, let it flow, let it flow!
My wife and I loved it. Too many times like the Firestone or Bruery videos, I get bored outof my mind. This show had me engaged the entire time.
Liked seeing how he got the different ingredients. Also, I loved the rapping and seeing how they goof around. The best beer tasting I ever did was at Alaskan Brewery. Got to drink with local fishermen and the employees and they goofed around quite a bit.
Too bad I cannot find more Bitches Brew to purchase. Loved it when I found it one time at BevMo. (Actually just read on their site that a second batch is being shipped be on the lookout.)
We tried the Pangaea on Saturday. Great beer, similar to Stone's 10-10-10.
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Stormy2213
Lurker
I did appreciate the fact that everyone there seems to really enjoy what they do. Who here isn't jealous of all the folks working there, even the guy who spilled the glue!? But the wannabe rapping I just found too corny and it was uncomfortable watching it. But overall, yes, I think the show has promise.
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UnholyGoalie
Lurker
I think that's what's gonna happen, but I think it's already been going on before this show. The beer selections at my local supermarkets are actually fairly impressive. Seeing Stone, Unibroue, and some others at a Ralph's/Vons/Gelsons? It's cool and depressing at the same time. But then again, your average frat boy or Bud Light drinker is still gonna go for the domestic mass produced stuff.
Had a bottle of Great Divide Yeti. Good stuff, but I think I was more impressed with their smoked porter. Scored a couple bottles of Alaskan Smoked Porter the other day! Hell yeah, I've been waiting for it to hit the shelves!
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Stormy2213
Lurker
Agreed all around on this. But I don't mind that craft brews are more accepted and mainstream these days. Hell, I want the breweries that I love to survive and thrive and the only way for that to happen is to have more people discover and start to drink their brews. I spread the word to everyone I know and I know I irritate a lot of people when I point out that the BA or Coors product they're drinking is pure crap. Tough. They need to grow some taste buds and stop settling for less. Support your local brewery!!!!
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UnholyGoalie
Lurker
I agree. I'm a novice beer snob in that I'll throw a can of Miller Lite at my friend's face (not literally, lol) but I don't really buy in for all these HTF and overly expensive craft brews. I think there are a few things at play. There's always the worry that if a brewery gets too large and overextends that the product will suffer. There's the worry that massive amounts of newfound demand will drive up prices all across the board. And, lame as it may be, there's the worry that the novelty will wear off if it's just common. Kinda like finding a great band that hasn't made it yet. When they do you kinda lose a little of that perceived ownership whether you'll admit it or not. I still kinda struggle with one.
Case in point: Ed Hardy beer. Coming to a douchefest bar near you:
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Azagthoth
Lurker
UnholyGoalie said:
Stone being the perfect example. They were exciting when I turned 21, but it wore off pretty quick. They just got way too big and focused on business/marketing first, and the beer itself second. They went overboard with the marketing and sales gimmicks, that they lost the passion and innovation in which they once had.
Anymore, when I go to Stone, their elitism meter gets higher and higher.
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Genghis John
Lurker
I personally think Stone is producing better beers than they ever have.
As you saying their employees are getting elitist? did they hire No One or something?
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No One
Lurker
i am responsible for New Hire Training at Stone, or not. You decide.
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Azagthoth
Lurker
I can't say I've been impressed with any of the verticals since 2006 (2010 wasn't bad, but 07-09 have been horrible). Most of the collaborations were average, except the one with Nogne 0 & Jolly Pumpkin. The 14th Anniversary was horrible, 13th was decent, 12 was very nice, 11 not so much, and 10th Anniversary was the last Stone beer that really blew me away.
Seems like they got on the Belgian IPA trend for a while, and I couldn't really get into those. The Stone IRS and Old Guardian are consistent, but other than those I don't have much interest in them. Maybe one of these days they'll come out with something awesome that'll blow me away again like when I had the 10th.
And yes, I have had several experiences where the employees had elitist mentalities. They need somebody like Mitch to step in and show em how customer service is done.
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Genghis John
Lurker
I loved the 08-08-08 and I also like quite a few of the collaborations. but I also like Beligians more than you too
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Stormy2213
Lurker
And I was going to use the band analogy too! There is a large grain of truth to what you say. Some will succumb to trying to get too big/too fast and "dumb" down their beers. Dogfish Head is a candidate given the, what, 35(!) beers they make!!!! To me, that's a bit of gilding the lily. Even Sierra Nevada has me concerned with the glut of "seasonals" that they are now doing. I was fine when it was simply Pale, Porter, Celebration and BigFoot. Now they're almost overdoing things - albeit continuing to produce world class beers (excepting the Kellerweise - to me, THAT is the exact sort of beer aimed at Joe Six Pack).
Maybe that's the way to survive in the craft beer segment of the market. I wouldn't have a clue. But yea, I'm with you on the whole "I discovered this little gem of a brew" vibe. I feel SPECIAL when I introduce a beer I've discovered that not a lot have heard of, much less had. Once EVERYONE is drinking it, the luster does fade a bit.
BTW, took a quick run to BevMo in SLO and had a few minutes to browse the racks. They have a TON of the Sierra Nevada XXX series of beers, about 100 magnums of Anchor Merry Christmas ale, and a small handful of other holiday brews. Nothing out of the ordinary so a bit disappointing. However I did pick up a bottle of each of the following: Sierra Nevada Estate, Deschutes Mirror Mirror 2009 Reserve, Deschutes Jubel 2010, and Dogfish Head Pangaea. I've got the SN in the fridge chilling for game watching tonight. I'll be rocking the red flannel, knocking back damn fine brew, and cheering the Kings on to an overwhelming victory in a couple of hours.
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Azagthoth
Lurker
Damn, really? I never had one.
