Booze The recommend-a-beer thread

  • Thread starter Thread starter Obediah
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If anybody wants to get their hands on some Heady Topper and is near West Covina, Stone Liquor is getting a big shipment of that stuff.
 
Port Brewing Santa's Little Helper on the shelves already. It's great stuff. And from what I hear only one case of the bourbon barrel aged SLH will hit the county so I'll be scouting for that, hoping to get my hands on at least one.
 
F me.

Tonights menu...getting rid of the 2009's in the cellar.

2009 Founders Nemesis - Didn't like...at all
2009 Dogfish Head World Wide Stout - Potent but held up very well
2009 Green Flash Silva Stout - Excellent

Feeling buzzed now. It's my wife's 31st b-day...thought we'd do it right.
 
Mmmm, Silva Stout. Had a couple pours of it at Tony's Darts Away on a random weekend a year or so ago. Very good stuff.
 
Yeah, Class X is phenomenal. Maybe it was the time and setting of the one time I had it but I'd put it up in the top 3, and maybe even top 1 of bourbon barrel stouts I've ever had.
 
Yeah, Class X is phenomenal. Maybe it was the time and setting of the one time I had it but I'd put it up in the top 3, and maybe even top 1 of bourbon barrel stouts I've ever had.

Agreed. In my top 3, that's for sure. Hard to choose between Class X and a Black Xantus or Velvet Merkin. Damn, if it weren't so early in the day AND me having to work I could go for something like this right now!
 
so, that booze road trip that my wench and I took for our 1st anniversary was a blast.

Friday, on the way to Monte Rio (west of Santa Rosa) we pit-stopped at Firestone in Paso Robles where we ordered a set of Tap Room exclusive tasters: unfiltered DBA, Pivo Pils, Hefeweizen and IPA. all were great but I got a growler filled with the IPA which I have enjoyed since arriving home last night.

Saturday at noon we went to Russian River where the place was full of hipsters, so we took the patio table rather than wait 45 minutes to get seated inside. had the usual offerings of Blind Pig and Pliny the Elder. on RR's exclusive menu was Shadow of the Doubt Imperial Porter which was enjoyable. if there's a bottle of that around here, I'd grab it.

after RR, we stopped by Lagunitas where many people dressed in halloween costumes. I joked to my wife that I should have arrived as an hipster since Lagunitas lacked one. there we have cappuchino stout and imperial stout. holy **** were they both heavy, or seemed more so than what they had listed in %. it didn't help much that the tempurature in the tap room was uncomfortably warm and stuffy. above the table where we sat was a thermostat and it somehow was set at 86 degrees. the wife said that while I was at the bar ordering the drinks a staffer went up there to bring it down a notch. apparently the thermostat had a mind of its own as I saw the number increase to 87. needless to say it was a short visit even though a waitress brought us a complimentary treatment of cold water and pretzels. we tipped her nicely.

Sunday morning after my luckless flyfishing attempt on the Russian (it was cold and foggy, not ideal but I had to try), we set off for and hour drive to Anderson Valley Brewing Co. had the tasters of Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout, Wild Turkey Bourbon Barrel Stout, Fal Hornin' Pumpkin Ale, Mendo Mello Estate Wet Hops Ale and Heelch o' Hops DIPA. I am now on the hunt for the bottles of the last two beers. I may never get tired of those!

and lastly, on our way back from AVBC, we made an unplanned stop at Stumptown Brewery in Guernville down the highway from the cottage where we stayed. we just happened to find the place as we drove past it every time. very nice looking with a silo out front so that was what caught our eye. had their Blimey The Wanker ESB and Rat Bastard PA. both were great for a small brewery. man, what a great place, even their outdoor deck overlooked the river. next time I go to the Russian, I'm camping out in their dining hall.

oh, and last but not least, KRBC could not be missed. besides, there was a 6er of Citras for the wench to claim. and their latest anniversary release, a coffee stout, was very tasty. too bad they couldn't fill the growlers with it, so I elected for the Class 5.

this is most likely the road trip that I will never want to take again. ever. so much driving around, so little beer tasting and fishing time.
 
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On Tap...

Allagash: Saison Rye, Saison/Farmhouse Ale
Ballast Point: Victory At Sea, American Porter 10abv (2011)
Big Sky Brewing: Moose Drool, American Brown Ale 5.3abv
Dogfish Head: Punkin Ale
Mike Hess Brewing: Solis Occassus, American IPA 7.5abv
Modern Times: Orderville, Wet Hop IPA
Port Brewing: Hop 15, American Double IPA
Port Brewing: Shark Attack, Double Red IPA
 
Sunday morning after my luckless flyfishing attempt on the Russian (it was cold and foggy, not ideal but I had to try), we set off for and hour drive to Anderson Valley Brewing Co. had the tasters of Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout, Wild Turkey Bourbon Barrel Stout, Fal Hornin' Pumpkin Ale, Mendo Mello Estate Wet Hops Ale and Heelch o' Hops DIPA. I am now on the hunt for the bottles of the last two beers. I may never get tired of those!

Heelch O Hops is always in stock at Total Wine (the one here anyways). I've never picked up a 4 pack because there is no bottle on date. I guess it's a "hipster" thing now to rip on those who seek a bottled on date.....I've been burned far too often on IPAs that went to **** because I had no idea how old they were. IMO there's nothing wrong with a fresh IPA/DIPA with a strong caramel malt presence to balance the hops, but there is nothing worse than an oxidized/old IPA/DIPA that tastes like hot caramel even if served at 33 degrees.
 
Heelch O Hops is always in stock at Total Wine (the one here anyways). I've never picked up a 4 pack because there is no bottle on date. I guess it's a "hipster" thing now to rip on those who seek a bottled on date.....I've been burned far too often on IPAs that went to **** because I had no idea how old they were. IMO there's nothing wrong with a fresh IPA/DIPA with a strong caramel malt presence to balance the hops, but there is nothing worse than an oxidized/old IPA/DIPA that tastes like hot caramel even if served at 33 degrees.

Fully agree. If it doesn't have a date stamp somewhere, I'm not buying it. ESPECIALLY DIPA or IIPA. If a brewer is going to take the time and effort to make a DIPA/IIPA and expect to get paid a premium (and nearly all that are on the market do have a premium price), why they wouldn't make sure there is a date stamp somewhere is beyond me.
 
Fully agree. If it doesn't have a date stamp somewhere, I'm not buying it. ESPECIALLY DIPA or IIPA. If a brewer is going to take the time and effort to make a DIPA/IIPA and expect to get paid a premium (and nearly all that are on the market do have a premium price), why they wouldn't make sure there is a date stamp somewhere is beyond me.

Absolutely! I was at a local store a few weeks ago and the owner was recommending an IPA, so naturally I asked if there was a bottled on date - and a nearby beer-dick stocking up stuff turns and says "Oh, you're one of those bottled on guys". LOL.
 
Personally I think the fresh hop guys are a bit out to lunch, but that's my opinion. I've never looked for the bottled date and I doubt I ever will. I really don't care all that much about it and could probably count on one hand the number of beers I thought were "off" or not good. Just my thing, though. Your mileage may vary.

Just had Hangar 24 Gourdgous and Deschutes Black Butte XXV. Both were quite good. I just bought a bottle of Gourdgous and will have to pick up a bottle of XXV next time. I liked XXV more than XXIV which I thought was okay but not my cup of tea.
 
SN Celebration Ale

Is now on the shelves. One of my favorite beers of all time. Picked up a case yesterday and it won't last more than maybe 1 1/2 weeks here. Also picked up a couple of bottles of 6 Geese A Laying, a couple of 6 packs of Brown Sugga' and saw Rogue Santa's Private Reserve, Samuel Smith's Winter Welcome, and more Port Brewing Santa's Little Helper on the shelves. This is the time of year I'll go on a beer hunt daily just to grab all the good holiday brews. I love this time of year for beer!
 
Yeah, I know, this is an expensive time for beer. Also looking forward to the new Anchor Merry Christmas ale which I hear will not be a spiced beer this time around. Also waiting for Sucks to come around, and I heard (though I could be wrong) that FW 17th anni is starting to hit shelves.

Tried my first Innis & Gunn beer yesterday. It was their Irish whiskey version and I'm partial to Irish whiskey. It was good but nothing crazy. Decent beer but not noteworthy enough for me to make a point of buying more.
 
Yeah, I know, this is an expensive time for beer. Also looking forward to the new Anchor Merry Christmas ale which I hear will not be a spiced beer this time around. Also waiting for Sucks to come around, and I heard (though I could be wrong) that FW 17th anni is starting to hit shelves.

Yes, FW had the 17th Anniversary release party this weekend so you should start seeing it on shelves soon. And I haven't heard when Sucks is being released, but it should be soon as well. What have you heard about the Anchor MC Ale? I always love that there is that one spiced ale I can always rely on to surprise me and, usually, impress me. I hope they don't go the route of making an uber hoppy sort of heavy ale - there are enough of those. I want the crazy spice mix they always come up with.
 
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