Beer in the new era

yeah, the breakfast stout does not have a ton of head or carbonation -- pouring vigorously will give you more of that, rather than the carefully angled pour, you an just dump it into the pint glass..

Looking back at the beers I had in Maine this past week, the best were Smuttynose Rhye IPA (not actually a Maine beer, but still regional) and Oxbow Farmhouse Pale Ale. Both just really solid hybrids (rye/IPA, saison/pale).

Worst was probably Shipyard Pumpkinhead, which my wife and I bought only because the only liquor store open past 6 PM in the town where we were staying on Wed. night was a gas station, and that was the most "interesting" local beer available there. Watery and artificial-tasting.

I also realized how good Allagash White is. I see it fairly often in Chicago, but since I don't usually gravitate toward witbiers, I've rarely ordered it. But it's quality stuff -- and was an especially nice pairing for some Thai noodles I had.

Mentioned it upthread, but Three Floyds fans ... what the hell is up?

Hmm, I rarely seek out specific beers, so I hadn't noticed.

lazy hands brewery is the shit

sorry, i meant tired hands but i got drunk at tired hands and accidentally wrote lazy hands oops

yes tired hands is outstanding.

jaymc you would be amazed at how many ppl around here flip out about pumpkinhead, i have seen ppl hoard cases of that stuff

Huh. I guess there's some built-in excitement/demand for seasonal beers, like "It's Pumpkinhead time!" (Around the Midwest, I see that most with Bell's Oberon.) But the beer definitely does not warrant that reaction. I haven't drunk a ton of pumpkin beers, but I actually just today picked up a 4-pack of Dogfish Head Punkin Ale (which I don't recall if I've ever had) because I wanted to try a better one.

yeah i haven't had one in years but my lasting impression was a beer for ppl who don't like beer

(re: pumpkinhead)

i generally don't like any of the pumpkin beers except for pumpking, but i had timmermans pumpkin lambicus this weekend and it's like a pumpkin sour

Pumpkin lambicus is fantastic.

I really liked red hook's pumpkin porter, and I don't get why more brewers don't make pumpkin porters/stouts. Seems like a perfect match.

I'd never seen nor heard of sculpin before, read about it here, lo and behold I find it at the co-op yesterday. Haven't had one yet.

Have we discussed Tallgrass itt before? Been buying their 4 packs (Velvet Rooster, Ethos, 8-bit) a lot lately b/c the store in my new neighborhood has 'em for cheap. Ethos is probably the best but I think they're all pretty solid.

http://www.collegehumor.com/article/6921709/the-complete-guide-to-the-craft-beer-at-your-local-bar

saw that on fb, thought it was actually pretty funny for collegehumor

lol that is really good

Evil Twin "Femme Fatale Brett" IPA is SO SO SO GOOD. Citrusy grapefruit flavor, 6% ABV makes it v drinkable. Highly recommended.
Also got into some Islander IPA by Coronado Brewing Co. this week, which is excellent.

Can i also take a moment to say how much I hate pumpkin beers? If I wanted to eat a goddamn dessert I would eat a goddamn dessert.

yeah I think the femme fatale yuzu is basically a twist on the femme fatale brett, and I thought it was amazing

haven't had a pumpkin yet this year, probably won't.

if i need seasonals i'll just get some good german oktoberfests.

i pretty much hate pumpkin everything

but especially beer

Pumpkin lambicus

fuckin gross

I'm pretty immune to gimmick beers but they found my weakness dammit

http://distilleryimage1.ak.instagram.com/620afe202c7c11e3b3da22000a9e05c2_8.jpg

(it's not that good, shocker)

In the continuing saga of "why do I fight this", the Sierra Nevada Flipside red IPA is totally delicious.

Also I am in the pumpkin ale can go fuck itself camp

Had an Anderson Valley Bourbon Barrel Stout recently, and while I liked the bourbon flavor I couldn't help but wish the stout was better - just not "stouty" enough. At $10/bomber I might even buy it again, as I don't know of any other BBA beers available here at that price range.

The AVBBS is good, surprisingly good. And the best thing about it, is that it's just under 7%. A BBA stout that is sessionable. More or less.

there's only 2 pumpkin beers i like: southern tier pumking and dogfish punkin ale. most of the others are pretty bad imo.

also just bought a sixer of green head IPA from newburyport, MA, really fucking good west coast style IPA. one of the better new england IPAs. feel like there are some better new england breweries popping up, it was fucking dire for a long time when we had substandard boring craft ales with shitty boring labels. there are some really good NE options now.

In the continuing saga of "why do I fight this", the Sierra Nevada Flipside red IPA is totally delicious.

― O_o-O_O-o_O (jjjusten), Thursday, October 3, 2013 11:34 PM (Yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

i might be interpreting you wrong, but i'm understanding "why do i fight this" as some kind of reluctance to buy sierra nevada b/c they're so ubiquitous and standard nowadays? if so, i've felt the same way, wanting to buy something new or different and therefore avoiding SN. but anytime i do buy SN i'm continually impressed because their beers are really, really awesome.

Sierra Nevada is one of the greatest American breweries, and their beers keep holding up as more and more competitors come in.

Schlafly's Pumpkin Ale, you guys. It's a good one, I promise.

Also, yeah, SN consistently does good stuff so fuck being "ashamed" or whatever.

yeah i always rep for SN their beers rarely disappoint and they seem like good dudes to boot.

Evil Twin "Femme Fatale Brett" IPA is SO SO SO GOOD.

Cosign on this, btw.

i can't wait for SN celebration ale

Tyranena's pumpkin ale, Painted Ladies, is also very good, kind of Pumpking-esque.

And Sierra Nevada is always awesome.

I'm sure I've stated my pumking hate before. I just don't get it, I would rate it as one of the worst beers that I've ever had that is supposed to be good.

I've got a bomber of Pumking in my fridge right now. Will report back.

I tried pumking cuz we sold out of it really quick at the shop and had people coming in and filling like 2-3 growlers at a time to hoard it. but it tastes... like oatmeal cookies? to me anyway. i guess it goes down smooth for a high ABV ale, which is a point in its favor, but i just don't like the sweet spice flavors in the world of pumpkin beer.

re: new england beers -- when i visit my folks one of the things i like to get is the SHED IPA from vermont, which is fine. not the best IPA in the world or anything but better, imo, than harpoon.

I like Pumpking, but it's easy to understand how one could hate it. Very thick and sweet, essentially a dessert.

Southern Tier's Creme Brulee seems to get similar love/hate reactions.

I had the Gandhi-Bot dbl ipa from New England Brewing co when I was in Connecticut over the summer. Apparently it's farily well-known and it was actually top-notch.

xxxp

i really like the shed ipa. it's a good go-to beer, not a syrupy west coast hop-bomb, just a good balanced and well-flavored IPA. i went through a few weeks in april-may pretty much just buying that. i like their mountain ale a lot too, a brown ale.

New England Brewing is really good, imo, Sea Hag is a tasty IPA

if anyone happens to be rolling through the midwest, check out Confluence in Des Moines. they just have beer on tap around town and growlers at the brewery for now but should have cans in distribution eventually..

http://draftmag.com/features/extreme-beer-collectors/

So if you like Pumking (I sort of do) you should try warlock. It's everything I think I hate abt pumpkin beers, but done so well that I have to eat my words. It's AMAZING