Beer in the new era

Maria's

I should say, the guy who posted the article, Ed Marz.

Right! Got it. I know BT was charging pretty much MSRP.

Weirdo beers tonight. The Stone/Sierra NxS, gin/bourbon/rye barrel aged dry hopped IPA. I just got a lot of gin flavor from it, didn't hate it. And Founders Project Pam, maple syrup barrel aged black IPA. I just don't know. I think we've spent too much time in the lab with these.

I considered Project Pam when I was at the store and struck out on getting any Darkness. Glad I skipped it.

So has anyone met a certified cicerone? is that one of the dumbest professional certs ever or is it legit, like does it get people jobs?

I think I would like to become a blind test expert in distinguishing between piss lager beers all over the world. Pour Sapporo, Tsingtao, OB, Singha, Tiger, Carlsberg, Heineken, Grolsch, Budweiser, National Bohemian, Yuengling, Grain Belt, Coors Banquet, PBR, Rolling Rock, Lone Star, Milwaukee's Best and Narragansett into identical glasses. I will be able to correctly name each one with complete accuracy. This is going to take a lot of practice.

I am looking forward to trying some of these this summer:

http://www.koreacraftbrewery.com/beer

I mean look at the labels this is clearly an excellent source of amazing beverages

Everyone at my local bar has at least the certified beer server level, with one at the certified cicerone level. They are certainly knowledgable and the owner sees it as a selling point that all the servers have certification. The Cicerone office is based out of Chicago, so we do have quite a few of them, including 3 out of the 11 that have achieved the master level.

So I guess it's worth it if you find a place that cares about it.

If I come back from Seoul without having had one of these then I will be making the face on the label
http://www.koreacraftbrewery.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/brat_03.jpg

I know a cicerone too, he used to work for Two Brothers.

First two beers tonight: Westvleteren 8 and BCBCS. Good start.

i hate having to drive on holidays.

Rumors that BCBCS 15 is infected. I only got one bottle and shared it (no signs of infection)... but the draft pour I had was really viscous and smooth, I believe CAD called it "milkshake" like or frappe-like upthread? Not sure if mouthfeel is affected by young infection or not.

Port City Tidings is not as delicious as I remember it from years past.
I may just be getting over spiced belgian stuff, too.

I only had one bottle of BCBCS and it was delicious.

drank my only bottle last night. didn't seem as rich as the draft pour but similar flavor.

http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/423/50570/

Tried this and liked it, although not as much as beer advocate dot com. Slightly too boozy for a farmhouse ale imo, but I'll take that over not boozy enough.

found a secret stash and i picked up five bottles of BCBS in L.A. at $11.99 a pop, plus a bottle of the Barleywine for $13.49. they said they were sold out of it, but it looks like someone decided to hide a bottle and i happened to come across it.

Nice, keep a couple in a cool, dark place and open them in 2-3 years.

Is there a wheat beer revival in the hipster circles yet, why is there no good wheat beer in the western USA, smh

Also, destroy "sour" beer. Ugfh.

nah (some) sour beer is good.

I wonder if the North Coast Blue Star Wheat Beer is good. I remember liking their Pranqster Belgian Ale, but it's been a while since I've had it.

This barrel aged Racer 5 is... Intense

I feel like I should be wearing a baggy hat, waving a wand around

found a secret stash and i picked up five bottles of BCBS in L.A.

Which store?

BevMo in pasadena, the one on arroyo just north of the 110. Went there because their online stock said they had 55(!) bottle. If you go you may have to ask someone, the dude stocking shelves who hooked me up told me they had more in the back but no one knows about it, they're kinda keeping it on the low. Also the bevmo in west L.A. near Santa Monica and sepulveda had a few bottles last time I checked online.

Tank 7 rules imho

My first beer of 2016 is a mikkeller keeper pils that was just hangin' out in the fridge
Could have done better but we'll be ok

1 year old Enjoy After 12/26 was pretty boring. Far too foamy despite best efforts.

I do like Tank 7. Also had this year's Founders Mosaic Promise which was fantastic, better than the last.

That's the Bevmo I got one at a couple weeks ago. They had a box behind the counter on the floor that I happened to notice, limit 1 bottle then. Guess I should try again.

Been in Mexico, pretty shitty beer.

https://twitter.com/BellsBrewery/status/682958471860367360

Dos Equis Amber is pretty drinkable.

oh man "drinkable"

I'm having a Grolsch because big green swing top bottles are awesome and I am still working on that jedi power of blindly distinguishing between mass produced lagers. BUT!

I found a big stash of BCBS '15 at my local Harris Teeter, of all places, and one is in the fridge now so I can finally find out what the rest of y'all won't shut up about. Will update later.

Chug it.

Squeeze an orange slice into it.

Was gonna rim the glass with salt and old bay, but I'll take your advice instead

My biggest problem with strong stouts is always the greasiness. So to me, this kind of tasted like somebody melted down a caramel chocolate cake and poured it through a filter. That's a taste I can respect but I'm way more into hops and bright spicy tripels - just not my thing.

A friend was over and split it with me and actually liked it a lot - he agreed it was a bit strong and the taste lasted too long, but he compared it to a port or a sherry, and I can see appreciating in that regard more than I appreciate it as a beer.

otm

Bottle share tonight and had a bunch if ridiculous bottles. Probably too much.

Highlights?

I'm attending a similar share next weekend where I'll be the weakest link*, the first time reprising that role since prior to my first ILBeer trades (holla!).

*fresh Fou'Foune, Hommage b2, DeGarde Passion Bu & a West Ashley.

xp:
Was gonna rim the glass with salt and old bay, but I'll take your advice instead

― El Tomboto

If you do this be sure to a a generous pour of Clamato.

to "add"

https://untappd.akamaized.net/photo/2016_01_02/112e608a62ba1a3c923c7c159eb25a37_320x320.jpg
Copped a single of this over the weekend but have not yet consumed; very excited to treat myself to fancy beers in the new year

ALSO: folks upthread be raving about the Ballast Point Victory at Sea, but have any of y'all tried the Calm Before the Storm yet? I'm seeing it in stores, looks interesting

Highlights were; Skully Barrel No. 35 from Paradox, Another World from Rare Barrel, Convivial Suarez by Grassroots, a trio of Westy's, and Caribbean Chocolate Cake from Siren/Cigar city, Green and Haze from Treehouse. Worst was Black Fist by Mikkeller. Holy rocket fuel.

Full list:
Mikkeller - Black Fist
Boulevard - Imperial Stout X - Tart Cherry
Goose Island - BCBS ‘15
Goose Island - BCBBW ‘15
Mikkeller - Spontanwhitegrape
Brouwerij De Molen - Hel & Verdoemenis 666-ish
Leelanau Brewing - Good Harbor Golden
Mikkeller - Spontancranberry
Upland - Cherry Lambic
West Blonde/8/12
Founders - Frangelic Mountain Brown
Russian River - Temptation
Tree House Brewing - Haze
Tree House Brewing - Green
Three Floyds - Baller Stout
New Glarus - Raspberry Tart
de Garde Brewing - Hose
FSW - Parabola
Marz Community Brewing - Double Jungle Boogie
The Rare Barrel - Another World
Three Floyds - Amber Smashed Face
AleSmith - Reforged
AleSmith - Barrel Aged Speedway Stout
AleSmith - Old Numbskull
Pipework’s - The Murderous
Founders - Bolt Cutter
Brooklyn Brewery - Black Ops
Evil Twin - Double Barrel Jesus
Bruery - Floyd D’Rue
Briery Terreux - Imperial Cabinet
Santa Clara Valley Brewing - Heart’s Delight (Apricots)
Siren Craft Brew - Caribbean Chocolate Cake
Revolution - Very Mad Cow (2012)
Paradox Beer Company - Skully Barrel No. 35
Mikkeller - Spontanpassionfruit
Grassroots - Convivial Suarez

Last time I had Convivial Suarez was drinking with CAD and DJP in 2013. It was awesome again too.