Beer in the new era

it's going to be much tougher to justify the trip to vermont from boston. but given some of the ppl i know who were contemplating heady runs (to make it clear these are people who really could not be described as beer nerds by any definition) it's no surprise. if you're resourceful and willing to drive it's still possible to scrape together a case (i know, i've done it) but overall this sucks.

contemplating one more run next wednesday.

Go for it!

I say this as I'm drinking a fresh batch of Pipeworks Unicorn vs. Ninja and holy fuck is that a good beer. They've really nailed this one, probably the best PW's I've had.

just opened the delerium nocturnum -- interesting, definitely has some flavors in common with the guillotine, and also some elements that remind me of a chocolate stout

belgian ales are really a whole other thing from most beer imo, they're like something in between beer and wine

Newcastle Werewolf (their rye malt ale) was pretty okay (and much better than their brown ale). Nothing to seek out, but probably the best offering at the local Rite-Aid near me (save the unrefrigerated Sierra Nevada).

have always really disliked newcastle brown

I will always drink Newcastle

Ok so I was going to rave abt the weyerbacher blasphemy I just drank and tell you all to go get it, and then I realized that not only is it retired I guess but maybe the one I got is a 2012 or earlier that has been lingering at my beer store as far as I can tell from doing some label research. Sweet in all the right ways Belgian quad whiskey barreled with just the right kind of heat. $8.99 a bomber, 11.8 abv, might buy every bottle they have left tomorrow. And I hate sweet beers, and am sorta eh on Belgians, but holy shit.

Also I blame that rambling mess on the fact that I just banged through a high octane Belgian and didn't hide my phone from myself.

I've only had the Double Simcoe and I have no recollection of how it tasted.

I had a Weyerbacher Tiny a few months ago and was pleasantly surprised by it. Big Belgian-y Imperial Stout that you really couldn't beat for the price. Weyerbacher's got some uuuuggggly labels though. Yeesh.

Maine Brewing Company has suddenly entered the Chicago market. I love their labels.

watch that freshness dating!

Yeah I doubt I actually buy much of it but I'll gaze longingly at the bottles in the cooler.

mo is my wife's favorite beer ever

Philadelphia Brewing Harvest from the Hood is really good

any recommendations for seattle/portland beer i should look for this weekend?

Oh yeah I like that brewery (Philadelphia). They split off from Yards, which is also good. I used to drink beers from both of them more often because I was in Philly a lot. Haven't seen them in NYC much.

we must philly beer fap imho

I like Gigantic from PDX.

beer shipment from friendly ilx trader arrived today!

http://i42.tinypic.com/11sikhy.jpg

In Seattle, the Ballard neighborhood has a ridiculous number of breweries. I'd recommend Reuben's in particular. If you want to grab stuff to bring back, Chuck's Hop Shop has pretty great selection and 20 beers on tap, the people there could probably recommend tons of good local stuff that I haven't tried.

thanks guys!

Belmont Station in Portland is a pretty great beer shop and bar, definitely worth going to.

A friend always hits Cascade Brewing there but I've never been.

Good news everyone http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/food/stew/chi-chicago-beer-20131107,0,4579494.story

I'm okay with that

Yup. I'd regretted not trying more Surly beerz when I was in MN in August. And still have fond memories of a Surly Coffee Bender I had @ Long Room probably 5 years ago.

so holy shit that trillium growler of congress st ipa was out of this world

:D

http://drinkingmadeeasy.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/international-stout-day-F.jpg

ok sure why not

in 2013 even

I'll have a stout.

I'm in WI, what stuff is must-try beyond New Glarus and Central Waters?

Similarly what is must-try in MN beyond Surly?

heading into ny for the day. any ny-beerlxors want to grab a drink at some point? i'll probably spend the day between 34th + 82nd

Shit I missed the mn beer question. Is it too late? If not, big fan of indeed brewing, particularly the day tripper ipa and the midnight Ryder black ipa. Some people throw down for Fulton but I am not crazy about their stuff. Wrt Wisconsin, Lake Louie is surprisingly good given that their labels look like they were designed by 4 year olds

Oh also (Mn) flat earth angry planet, lift bridge hop dish, anything from bad weather, pour decisions, and steel toe is worth a shot as well.

drankin lately -
cigar city jai alai ipa
founders backwoods bastard (this is great, strong-but-v drinkable bourbon barrel aged scotch ale.)
singlecut dean on tap at work
sierra celebration, sierra harvest

Einstok Dopplebock quite good. Bonus points for Viking/Rudolph hilariousness on case.

had a capitol brewing eternal flame dopplebock and it was terrible awful fucking garbage. i think i have dumped maybe three beers in my entire craft brew life and this was one of them.

jjj thanks for your suggestions but I had already gone to the beer store (South Lyndale liquors fwiw, good shop imo) before seeing it. I got a Boom Island Thoprock Wet Hop IPA and an Olvalde Rise of the Burghers and the Fall of the Feudal Lords, the latter of which may be the longest, nerdiest beer name I've ever heard. I'm saving your suggestions for the next time I go visit the in-laws. I actually saw the Lift Bridge on draft but didn't try it, regretting that now.

Also picked up New Glarus Imperial Weizen and Berlinner Weiss in WI on the way back to Chicago.

i drank this and got a pretty cool glass w/ it last night:
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_9Gsu_hMGnVk/STfvfUydf5I/AAAAAAAAEos/JqNAJ92yTWk/s400/ci+lager+pint+glass.jpg

i like the glass, not a big fan of that brewery though

ovalde is about as micro as micro gets, so thats def one to grab although in truth, none of that dudes stuff has done it for me so far. havent tried that one yet.

i used to not like them, but they've been impressing me recently. the lager wasn't bad, and i've had some really good brews from them: R.I.P.A. is good, Reunion '12 w/ Terrapin was good and I'm excited to try the new one, Jewbelation Sweet 16 was pretty tremendous and i'm aging a bottle now. stuff i thought wasn't bad: hop manna ipa. stuff i have but haven't tried yet: st. lennys

some info here: http://olvalde.com/home.html

story i hear is that the whole thing started as a tiny honey farm, like farmers market style, and then they started brewing super small quantities of beer. super funky off flavors and weird styles, a little ren festy in a way. like when he says juniper tips are in the beer, you are going to taste a crapton of juniper tips, he is not big on subtlety.

huh i thought the jewbelation was from he'brew

shmaltz = he'brew

and from what i can tell it is, as is the st. lennys. are he'brew and coney island different brandings for the same brewery?

xp heh, "a little ren festy" is right up my BiL's alley (he suggested the stuff to me)