Beer in the new era

Also conveniently close to Goose Clybourne.

I think I'm pretty much done with IPAs for a while. Might try to delve into this sour thing a bit more.

:(

heavily hopped beers actually seem to affect me badly -- I get tired, sometimes headaches, and have worse hangovers

the tired thing sort of makes sense, since you can make tea using hops that acts as a sleep aid? i don't know how much of those hop oils make it into the beer, if any.

it would be nice to think that i want to go to sleep after one strong beer not because i'm getting old, but because i love my double/imperial IPAs.

lagunitas 'undercover investigation' six pack.. this is okay, i dunno if needed to get a whole six but it was cheap for a 9.6% beer... billed as 'incredibly bitter' but i don't think it really is. a little too sweet, but not as cloying as 90min ipa. decent beer.

yeah, i don't think i will get this again :\

i picked up a lagunitas lucky 13 today

and one of these: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/700/84045

I enjoyed undercover a lot. I think I read one review that compared it more to a barleywine rather than a strong ale, in regards to the sweetness/mouthfeel. I tend to agree.

yeah, i feel that. if it had been labeled barleywine i prob would not have bought it, but i went in thinking "9.6% alcohol, extra bitter.. so i guess this is an imperial IPA?" but it's not, really.

Yeah, Undercover didn't do much for me, either.

bell's barleywine is the only one i've had that i've liked. generally they're way too sweet. (also those double ipas can have that sickly sweet alcoholic flavor too; esp barrel aged)

http://cdn-storage-www.cellarhq.com/brewery/goose-island-beer-company/beer/king-henry-5ba09-493x600.jpg

Also very excited for this to drop this fall:

http://beerpulse.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Goose-Island-Bourbon-County-Brand-Barleywine.jpg

i'm interested but only bc i love bcbs - otherwise barleywine aged in bourbon barrels sounds way too sweet

the central waters bbbw was really, really good.

Forgot about that one! I concur.

best barleywine i've had not named king henry

decided to scale back from the heavy stuff and got some sixpoint crisp, one of my favorite beers. Unfortunately Trader Joe's like a lot of places doesn't keep their beers refrigerated and the sixpoint guys say their beers should be kept refrigerated because they use fresh hops. IDK if it really matters, but it does seem like this tastes a little less fresh.

does it have a date on the can?

yeah it's not close to the date or anything, it's just supposed to be better if it's kept refrigerated. I don't know if it really matters all that much.

idk, any decently-made beer should be fine at room temp unless it's undergone several big temp fluctuations on the way.

porkslap pale ale tonight -- underrated beer imo

Bought a full course of the new holland hatter variants tonight, plus a 2012 farmhouse hatter that my beer dudes had in the back.

Had a Solemn Oath Snaggletooth Bandana yesterday, which was pretty tasty. Followed it with a Victory Altbier, which I did not like; tasted like dirty ashtray. Which, come to think of it, I hope was not related to sending a burger back to the kitchen at Three Aces for being practically raw.

Is it time for someone to start a new thread? Most of this one is 2012 or earlier. Was taking me forever to scroll for inspiration when I was in Binny's last night.

<3 porkslap xp

Bought a 4 of Central Waters Illumination on Friday, and after 3/4 of them, I have to say it's good but no great shakes compared to most other double IPAs I've had. Not sure if they're all that good, or if the style is limited, or what.

It's ok. CW really excels with their barrel program. Their normal line up is just ok.

Is it time for someone to start a new thread? Most of this one is 2012 or earlier. Was taking me forever to scroll for inspiration when I was in Binny's last night.

― Josh in Chicago, Sunday, June 16, 2013 8:47 AM (2 days ago)

I was going to but I can't think of a clever title. Beer the new new era? Beer in the newer era?

hops, sours & barrels 2013

So, I'm going to Brussels the last week in July. I think I'll drink some beer there. I'd love to go to Cantillon, but I don't know if I'll be able to make when they're open.

How long are you there, Jeff? Been before? Shout if you want any tips.

Never been. I'll be there 7 days. Tips are needed.

I'll be in London for the 7 days after that, so beer tips there too.

:) OK!

Also, how big of a pain is it going to be for me to buy a suitcase full of beer in Brussels, haul it to London on the train, then fly home with it.

haha you already know the answer to that question

:(((( I think I may try it anyway. Depending on what I find. Or just drink it all there.

i was able to bring 4 bottles (1 big, 3 small) back from paris last year with minimal fuss. tbf i did buy them the night before i left. it's that week in london that's killing you, from a pain-in-the-ass perspective.

let us know whenever you know where you're staying in london, can give some recs for bars or just general beers to seek out.

Bottles on the train to London = not that big of a hassle really. The hassle comes on getting them onto the train and then from the train to wherever you're staying... Whenever I go to Belgium I always drag a bunch of bottles with me. Obviously you need to be aware of your limit for taking alcohol into the US.

In London I'll be staying at 174 Aldersgate Street, London EC1A 4HU. It's a pretty sweet corporate apartment. What's good near it?

There are some really cracking proper pubs within easy staggering distance of there (I'll jot down a list of favourites at some point) but not many places for yer cutting-edge craft beer. Those would be a bit further away.

my in-laws are driving to philly from chicago to visit and they want to bring me some chicago craft beer that i can't get in philly. any recommendations? daisy cutters?

also - cuvee de jacobins rouge bottles at my beer shop!!?!?!?!?!!!111oneone!!11

Off the top of my head, pubs I like very much which aren't far from your apt:

Old Cheshire Cheese on Fleet Street (rebuilt 1667 it says, mad vast rambling place, serves Sam Smiths beer which may or may not be a problem), plus The Old Bell just down the hill, nice old fashined proper pub, have a pint of Tim Taylor's Landlord).
Just by Blackfriars is The Black Friar, an amazing late 19th century arts & crafts quasi-monastic pile, the crypty back room is particularly surprising.
I'd call into the Hoop and Grapes on my way up Farringdon Road, it's just proper and slightly skrunky, does a boring brown beer thing rather well. Then up to Smithfield, on the north side is the Fox and Anchor (more of a gastro than a proper pub these days) and The Hope, see the Hoop and Grapes above.
On the south side of Smithfield is the Black Bull - this place actually will serve you some craft beer, it's tiny but decent. If you're feeling touristy pop down the alley and take a look at St Bertholomew's church, a fragment of an abbey church which must have been massive.
It's worth a look at the Jamaica Wine House on St Michael's Alley, another venerable institution, though I haven't been for ages and heard they'd refurbed a lot of the character out of the place and it's currently owned by ropey old Shepherd Neame. Not far from there, The Bell just by Cannon Street Station was a nice little boozhole once upon a time but I haven't been there for ages either.
Going a bit north and east from you I would recommend the Artillery Arms on Bunhill Row, a very pleasant place to be; then go a bit further to the New Fountain just the other side of the Old Street Roundabout. They'll sell you proper craft beer too. Do as LocalGarda says and drink some beer by The Kernel.
Once you're done there it's not far to The Wenlock, again recently refurbed but a place very dear to the heart of any London real ale drinker.

xp i have been hoarding cuvee, so i am def the wrong one to ask, but uh buy all of them.

you have had it right?

yeah, my fave sour eva. last time i had it was on tap tho. not bottles.

i prefer it in bottles most of the time. prob because the kegs are too fresh. although now that it has sort of a following, i find that the bottles aren't as aged as they used to be when i would find them dusty and forgotten next to the cider in stores half the time.

the only 2 sours i have ever had that could touch it were the mother lambic i mentioned upthread that appears to be functionally unavailable, and a cellared surly 5 we were lucky enough to nab for a friends bachelor party sour fest a little while ago. i have high hopes for the surly pentagram bottles im cellaring now - one bottle for when k gets this baby out of her, and another that i'll try in another 6 months after that.