Booze The recommend-a-beer thread

  • Thread starter Thread starter Obediah
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I can't seem to find the previous post where Azagthoth recommended Samuel Smith's Imperial Stout (edit: I think it was in a Trader Joe's thread, actually), but this is what I'm up to tonight:

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It's not like it's difficult to find (see also: BevMo). I've seen it several times and never tried it out until tonight, always go for their Organic Lager or Nut Brown Ale. I was missing out...

:good: :drinky:
 
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This beer means ****ing business. It's the equivalent of a Palo Santo (ale) in Stout form./

I lifted this review
From the Goose Island Brewery, Chi, IL. The one-thousandth batch recipe from the original brew-pub at 1800 North Clybourn. Aged 100 days in bourbon barrels.

12 ounce long-neck, 11% ABV, bottled 01/05/05. Label touts an ageable duration of 5 years.

Deep black, syrupy color with the darkest, red-brown head I've ever seen on a beer - a deep cherry wood color that settles quickly to a good collar.

Creamy vanilla and earthy clay notes in nose. Some chocolate and a mild oakiness.

Vanilla and chocolate notes that are immediately over-run by spicy alcohol flavor with a definite bourbon character. Finishing in an oaky whiskey aftertaste and lingering earthiness and chocolate.

Since the flavor on this beer seemed to beg for something sweet and chocolate, I had a small bite of Austrian milk chocolate at this point (less sweet in style than US milk chocolate). The chocolate seemed to subdue the bourbon notes of the beer some and bring out a more roasted malt flavor.

Heavy body with a velvet smooth mouth-feel, finishing very dry.

This is a very flavorful beer, very big - best savored on a cool or cold evening...very slowly - not for the timid.
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This beer is nuts. The first sip finished with a hint of a chocolate covered cherry. A few later the finish changed to a vanilla (big time)

This is without a doubt the most unique beer I have ever had.
 
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Where did you get that at KJ ?!?!?!

I need to get me some of that ASAP ! It'll go very quickly in stores.
 
I recently picked up some bottles of:

Pliny the Elder
Blind Pig
Port Brewing Wipeout IPA
Rogue Double Dead Guy Ale
Reisdorf Kolsch
Deschutes 20th Anniversary Porter
Avery Jubilee
Greenflash Le Freak
Yulesmith Holiday Ale (4th of July version)


Rediscovered this great place that gets some very hard to find brews. Osheas Brewing Supplies down in San Juan Capistrano. They also have all of the Allagash brews plus dozens of holiday belgians.
 
Arrogant Ba$tard said:
I recently picked up some bottles of:

Pliny the Elder
Blind Pig
Port Brewing Wipeout IPA
Rogue Double Dead Guy Ale
Reisdorf Kolsch
Deschutes 20th Anniversary Porter
Avery Jubilee
Greenflash Le Freak
Yulesmith Holiday Ale (4th of July version)


Rediscovered this great place that gets some very hard to find brews. Osheas Brewing Supplies down in San Juan Capistrano. They also have all of the Allagash brews plus dozens of holiday belgians.
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Both of the Russian River brews are spectacular and among the best in their league. I never cared much for Wipeout IPA from Port. The Double Dead Guy was a letdown for me, and I have been trying hard to get that Deschutes 20th Anniversary XX Porter. Let us know how that one is !

Le Freak is a wonderful beer, and the Yulesmith Summer Double IPA is one of the best out there. It'll be interesting to see how the hops are holding up at this point.
 
Well it looks like my order with Liquid Solutions fell through after some troubles with my debit card :( So, what was my answer to that? I stocked up on 15 or so X-mas beers last night, that's what I did !

British

Bad Elf
Criminally Bad Elf
Insanely Bad Elf
Lump of Coal
Reindeer's Revolt
Santa's Butt
Seriously Bad Elf
Very Bad Elf
Warm Welcome

Belgian

Kurstmutske Christmas Nightcap
Affligem Noel
St. Bernardus Christmas Ale
Gulden Draak Vintage
Serafijn Christmas Angel
Winterkoninske Winter King
Cuvee de Noel
N'ice Chouffe
Canaster Winterscotch
Scaldis Noel

Norweigan

Nogne O Peculiar Yule (this one isn't even up on beer advocate yet)
 
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Azagthoth said:
Belgian

Kurstmutske Christmas Nightcap
Affligem Noel
St. Bernardus Christmas Ale
Gulden Draak Vintage
Serafijn Christmas Angel

Norweigan

Nogne O Peculiar Yule (this one isn't even up on beer advocate yet)

There are a couple of others that I can't think of right now.....
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Scaldis makes an excellent Christmas beer. I think you would dig it.

491bushnoel.jpg
 
Scaldis came out with a "special" Chrsitmas beer. It is huge and has a cork. It looks almost just like this

491bushnoel.jpg
 
So the wife bought a case of Blue Moon for me from Costco and had a few with our pizza dinner tonight. Tried this one and I liked it ALOT:

100_2672.JPG


This was about the best hefeweizen I have ever had.

This wasn't bad either as their winter ale offering:

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And finally I tried the Pale Moon, which is their Pale offering. This isn't bad but it is about as fruity a pale as I have ever had. Bottle says it has "a touch of hibiscus and orange peel" and you can really taste it. (sorry couldn't find a picture of it on line)
 
What a beer involved weekend we had !

Friday night I experienced Goose Island's Stockyard Oatmeal Stout which can be purchased at Trader Joe's for $5.99. Absolutely wonderful!!! This is easily going to be one of my go to session beers when a 6 pack is appropriate for the evening. The body on this brew was great, very smooth, and the aroma/flavors were wonderful. I'd buy this stuff even if it were marked up to $10.99 for a 6'er.

We sampled a couple of beers on Saturday from Left Hand Brewing Company. From them, we had their Imperial Stout and the Sawtooth Ale which was some type of ESB or extra pale ale. Pretty decent stuff but nothing to go out of your way for.

Firestone Twelve was OUTSTANDING! This one is extremely complex but ever so brilliant. Notes of vanilla, tobacco, leather, and chocolate immediately come to mind accompanied by quite an alcohol presence. Perhaps it wasn't worth the $20 dollar for a bottle, but its value in the beer trading world is very high and my extra bottles of this stuff should yield some great brews in return.

Anchor's 2008 Christmas Ale was one of my favorites from Saturday's tasting. The body on it was so damn thick and extremely smooth. The smell is out of this world and very Christmas-y. I wasn't big on the 2006, and did enjoy the 2007 but this one blows the other two away. I highly recommend this one to everybody here.

We also had a Rogue Imperial Stout from 1995 and it held up pretty damn well considering how old it is. I also cracked open the Redhook Double Black Stout which was pretty decent. Had a nice aroma to it and a great presence of coffee, but the body was too thin. Had that not been the case, the flavors I do believe would have been more present and would have provided for an overall good beer. I also picked up a bottle of the Sam Adams Chocolate Bock so we gave that one a whirl too. Very good and interesting with the hints of Cocoa and vanilla. I wouldn't pay 16 for a bottle of it again, but if it were reasonably priced I'd definitely pick some up for a second tasting.

The disappointment of the evening was the Brew Dog Paradox Barrel Aged Imperial Stout. I forget what barrel was used (they make several types of this beer with different barrels they age them in) but christ.... this beer was so damn smokey it tasted like liquid beef jerky! Pass on this one.
 
Azagthoth said:
Firestone Twelve was OUTSTANDING! This one is extremely complex but ever so brilliant. Notes of vanilla, tobacco, leather, and chocolate immediately come to mind accompanied by quite an alcohol presence. Perhaps it wasn't worth the $20 dollar for a bottle, but its value in the beer trading world is very high and my extra bottles of this stuff should yield some great brews in return.
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I am aging my other one. It's good but I agree not worth the $20.
 
Az, I agree with your assessment on the Red Hook Double Black Stout. Liked the coffee taste, the body was weak. Will stick with Lagunitas Cappucino Stout. Much better brew.
 
Pyramid's Thunderhead IPA
thunderheadipa.jpg


I picked this up at Ralph's the other day. never heard of it, all I could associate Pyramid with is their hefeweizens. so, being a huge fan of IPA, I just had to give it a try.

a hint of spice with some dry hops, with a sweet finish. not bad, not bad at all.

I'll still rate Longhammer IPA above this one.
 
Azagthoth said:
Firestone Twelve was OUTSTANDING! This one is extremely complex but ever so brilliant. Notes of vanilla, tobacco, leather, and chocolate immediately come to mind accompanied by quite an alcohol presence. Perhaps it wasn't worth the $20 dollar for a bottle, but its value in the beer trading world is very high and my extra bottles of this stuff should yield some great brews in return.

Anchor's 2008 Christmas Ale was one of my favorites from Saturday's tasting. The body on it was so damn thick and extremely smooth. The smell is out of this world and very Christmas-y. I wasn't big on the 2006, and did enjoy the 2007 but this one blows the other two away. I highly recommend this one to everybody here.
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Bogey just turned me on to this thread - where the hell have I had my head?

Anyway, I'm lucky enough to live 10 minutes from the Paso Robles Firestone Brewery so I'll start posting when they put something special out. I'm sure you're aware a lot of that "special" stuff will never see a bottle and only be available at the brewery. I'll try and stay on top of those and post.

And just to note, the Anchor Our Christmas Ale for this year is spectacular. I had 2 pints at Spikes in SLO the other night and was literally transported. Always look forward to what the brewers at Anchor are going to present for their Christmas Ale and I can't recall a year I've been letdown, ever.

I've also been pouring the Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale down my gob an awful lot these last couple of weeks. Stocking up a case at a time and it's like a magnet for me. I can "hear" it in the fridge, calling my name come 4:30 everyday.

Glad Bogey pointed me in the right direction. Some serious beer guys here and man, nothing I like talking about more than beer - well, maybe hockey.
 
KingsJohn/Obediah said:
Also how is the Sierra Nevada brown?
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One of the best American browns available. Like most, if not all, of the Sierra Nevada line, it's just a very well made and tasty brew IMO. Makes a great session ale. Can be had on tap at The Shack in SLO.
 
Curious if anybody has tried the Green Flash Imperial IPA? I had it on tap for the first time a few nights ago and I'm normally a hop head for the most part, but man, I found this stuff to be awful. It may have been a bad batch or something but jeez, I was blown away at how bad it tasted. Anybody else have a similar experience?
 
Stormy2213 said:
Curious if anybody has tried the Green Flash Imperial IPA? I had it on tap for the first time a few nights ago and I'm normally a hop head for the most part, but man, I found this stuff to be awful. It may have been a bad batch or something but jeez, I was blown away at how bad it tasted. Anybody else have a similar experience?
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HAven't tried it. Just tried Green Flash Le Freak. Great stuff, simlar to Stone's Cali-Belgique, just a little lighter.

Another good bet right now is He'brew 12 Jewbilation. Hearty brew. Full of flavor, don't notice the 12% alcohol in it.
 
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