A New Nice Beer Thread

Odds Bodkins · **Posted:** Mon Jan 30, 2012 7:24 pm

Rick Derris Wrote:

Oh and as far as cellaring. I try to do when I can but if I get something worth cellaring, I usually have so little quantity that I'll just drink 'em.

The only thing I have right now:

Rochefort 10 - 1
St. Bernardus 12 - 1
Founder's KBS 2011 - 1
North Coast Old Stock Ale 2010 - 1
Stone Russian Imperial Stout 2011 -1
St. Martens Brune 2011 - 1

The longer you can hold off on that KBS, the better. That beer just gets better and better.

Odds Bodkins · **Posted:** Mon Jan 30, 2012 7:58 pm

I keep track of my cellar with a Google spreadsheet. It's really handy for trading and for keeping track of certain vintages. I've recently decided to scale back shipping beer almost all the way. UPS ain't cheap!

Anyway, here's the spreadsheet if you're interested.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Agq4G34N81jedFh6RzkxSVZEaVUxczhLT3hieGEtanc

Yail Bloor · **Posted:** Mon Jan 30, 2012 9:25 pm

Odds Bodkins Wrote:

Rick Derris Wrote:

Oh and as far as cellaring. I try to do when I can but if I get something worth cellaring, I usually have so little quantity that I'll just drink 'em.

Founder's KBS 2011 - 1

The longer you can hold off on that KBS, the better. That beer just gets better and better.

Agreed. I think the age is what propelled KBS over CBS in our head to head. Also, the more I think about it, that almost-a-year-old Ten Fidy may well have been the best beer I had last year. Still kicking myself for not buying the other four pack.

My cellar, which has gone down a bit with the holiday drinking and whatnot

Bell's Third Coast Ale 2010 - 2
Bell's Third Coast Ale 2011 - 1
North Coast Old Stock Ale 2009 - 1
North Coast Old Stock Ale 2011 - 1
Dogfish Head Immort Ale 2011 - 1
Dogfish Head Burton Baton 2011 - 2 (ive bought some different dates on this, always end up drinking them. LOVE this beer)
Founder's Backwoods Bastard 2011 - 1
Victory Otto 2011 - 1
Founder's Imperial Stout - 4 (I'll probably drink a couple of those and leave 2)
Trader Joe's 2011 Vintage Ale - the wife got this for me, can't even imagine what it will be like.

shiv · **Posted:** Tue Jan 31, 2012 12:10 pm

I guess if I include the ones in my beer fridge I have more of a stockpile.

Mystic Brewery An Dreoilin Saison - 1
Backlash Declaration Belgian Style IPA - 1
Boulevard Brewing Bourbon Barrel Quad - 1
Uinta Brewing Oak Jacked Imperial Pumpkin - 1
Dogfish Head 120 Minute - 1
Bell's Two Hearted - 1
Brewdog Dogma - 1
Fantome Noel - 1
Allagash Hugh Malone - 1
Green Flash Trippel - 1

e-stone · **Posted:** Tue Jan 31, 2012 2:14 pm

Odds Bodkins Wrote:

e-stone Wrote:

Odds Bodkins Wrote:

Do any of you guys "cellar" your beers? How many do you have stashed away? I'm at about 375 in various cupboards and boxes strewn about the condo. I've definitely fallen into buying beers to drink and collect. It's sad. I need to start drinking some of these because they aren't getting better with age.

i just started last winter. so far i have:

1 2011 Great Divide Espresso Oak Aged Yeti
1 2011 Great Divide Chocolate Oak Aged Yeti
1 2011 Great Divide Barrel Aged Yeti
1 2011 Goose Island Pepe Nero
1 2011 Dry Dock Bligh's Barleywine
1 2011 Deschutes Black Butte XXIII
2 2011 Deschutes The Abyss

it's hard not to pull one of these when my fridge is empty, but so far so good....

That's a terrific start! I've found that Abyss doesn't really age well and I'm not sure why. I still have bottles from 2008 and they are nowhere close to being as good as fresh bottles. Black Butte always ages wonderfully. Had a XXI a few months ago and it was incredible. I just got a Bligh's in a trade basically because of reputation. I had a small sample a month ago and I wasn't impressed. I'm hoping this bottle is better. BA Yeti needs time. I wouldn't think about opening that for at least 6 months.

good info, i will crack open one of those Abyss soon then! I'm bummed to hear that about Bligh's though. I was just about forced to buy it by the beer dude at Liquor Mart...he spoke very highly of it.

Cap'n Squirrgle · **Posted:** Tue Jan 31, 2012 2:26 pm

Drink that Bell's before too long, Shiv.

e-stone · **Posted:** Tue Jan 31, 2012 2:40 pm

shiv Wrote:

Uinta Brewing Oak Jacked Imperial Pumpkin - 1

i unfortunately missed out on the rush for this one here. i'll be interested to see what you think of it.

shiv · **Posted:** Tue Jan 31, 2012 2:55 pm

Cap'n Squirrgle Wrote:

Drink that Bell's before too long, Shiv.

I'll put it in the fridge tonight.

Cap'n Squirrgle · **Posted:** Tue Jan 31, 2012 5:52 pm

Hoppy stuff is usually best fresh.

Rick Derris · **Posted:** Tue Jan 31, 2012 6:23 pm

I've put a hold on buying beer until I can reduce fridge space. I've gone a little nuts the last couple of weeks.

Of course the 12 pack of Hopslam didn't help. It's not like you can just knock back a few of those to clear up space.

Yail Bloor · **Posted:** Tue Jan 31, 2012 7:07 pm

Rick Derris Wrote:

Of course the 12 18 pack of Hopslam didn't help. It's not like you can just knock back a few of those to clear up space.

I've been giving it the old college try.

Promethium · **Posted:** Tue Jan 31, 2012 10:43 pm

I'm going to a tapping for the 2012 edition of Boulevard's Chocolate Ale on Thursday Night. The craft beer bar in Lincoln was given five kegs of the beer this year due to the success of it last year. It's the only beer I would ever consider selling on Ebay, because it is goddamn impossible to buy it anywhere after the first few days of its release.

discostu · **Posted:** Wed Feb 01, 2012 10:30 pm

last night:

Quote:

This release is 50% barrel aged. 50% in whiskey, 50% with oak.

Label:
This is a blend of whiskey barrel aged porter with a batch of unbarred stout. It has a maximum of roasty malt flavor, hop bitterness, wood/oak overtones and bourbon vanilla notes.

It was good, not great and I didn't get any of the barrel aging in the taste.

shiv · **Posted:** Thu Feb 02, 2012 2:41 am

oh shit.

Quote:

Heady Topper to hit Massachusetts
Sweet hops of joy! If you are a lover of world-class India pale ales, this is going to make your day: Heady Topper is coming to Massachusetts next week.

The incredible canned beer from Vermont -- which many of us consider to be the world's greatest double IPA is about to hit restaurants and bars in the Bay State. Brewed by The Alchemist, the beer had been available for sale only in Waterbury, Vt., since the brewery began canning it last summer.

Arborway Imports, which is distributing Heady Topper in Massachusetts, is getting 160 cases that will go to bars and restaurants -- that's so much beer that it should be easily found in the better craft beer bars and pubs. The suggested retail price is $7 to $8 per 16-ounce can. (Four-packs sell for $12 at the cannery in Vermont.) There are no plans yet to sell Heady Topper in stores.

"We are thrilled to add The Alchemist to our beer portfolio in Massachusetts," Gregg Berman, owner of Clown Shoes and Arborway Imports, said in a statement. "Their IPA Heady Topper is one of the best beers in the world, and to be able to offer it alongside the other great beers we carry is an honor."

The Alchemist's brewpub in downtown Waterbury was heavily damaged by Hurricane Irene last summer and will not reopen, but its cannery across town, which had opened only weeks earlier, was unharmed. More on that here.

Odds Bodkins · **Posted:** Thu Feb 02, 2012 9:46 am

e-stone Wrote:

Odds Bodkins Wrote:

e-stone Wrote:

Odds Bodkins Wrote:

Do any of you guys "cellar" your beers? How many do you have stashed away? I'm at about 375 in various cupboards and boxes strewn about the condo. I've definitely fallen into buying beers to drink and collect. It's sad. I need to start drinking some of these because they aren't getting better with age.

i just started last winter. so far i have:

1 2011 Great Divide Espresso Oak Aged Yeti
1 2011 Great Divide Chocolate Oak Aged Yeti
1 2011 Great Divide Barrel Aged Yeti
1 2011 Goose Island Pepe Nero
1 2011 Dry Dock Bligh's Barleywine
1 2011 Deschutes Black Butte XXIII
2 2011 Deschutes The Abyss

it's hard not to pull one of these when my fridge is empty, but so far so good....

That's a terrific start! I've found that Abyss doesn't really age well and I'm not sure why. I still have bottles from 2008 and they are nowhere close to being as good as fresh bottles. Black Butte always ages wonderfully. Had a XXI a few months ago and it was incredible. I just got a Bligh's in a trade basically because of reputation. I had a small sample a month ago and I wasn't impressed. I'm hoping this bottle is better. BA Yeti needs time. I wouldn't think about opening that for at least 6 months.

good info, i will crack open one of those Abyss soon then! I'm bummed to hear that about Bligh's though. I was just about forced to buy it by the beer dude at Liquor Mart...he spoke very highly of it.

That beer guy wouldn't happen to be British would he?

nobody · **Posted:** Thu Feb 02, 2012 11:30 am

I'm sure I've talked about Fuller's London Porter before, but had a few of these with dinner last night and damn they are really good if you like porter. Rich and dark and delicious. If you like porters and haven't tried this, you're slacking. A classic.

Cap'n Squirrgle · **Posted:** Thu Feb 02, 2012 1:49 pm

I loooove porters. I don't think of them all that fondly but then everytime I drink one and write it up, I gush. Never had a fuller's... will have to look for it.

Side Note: Trying a savings experiment, I haven't bought any beer in a week. I lived for a few days off some of the stash, but then Monday and Tuesday I drank no beer whatsoever. It was hard, but the bourbon helped.

Senator LooGAR · **Posted:** Thu Feb 02, 2012 1:56 pm

Cap'n Squirrgle Wrote:

I loooove porters. I don't think of them all that fondly but then everytime I drink one and write it up, I gush. Never had a fuller's... will have to look for it.

I feel the exact same. I used to wreck from Bert Grant's Perfect Porter.

Also, I'm bringing a case of this for the Derrgis Wegging Showberg

Odds Bodkins · **Posted:** Thu Feb 02, 2012 2:27 pm

If you northeastern folk love porters... try the Sugar House Maple Porter from Wagner Valley in NY. Good, good stuff.

Cap'n Squirrgle · **Posted:** Thu Feb 02, 2012 2:35 pm

Ha ha, Duff. I wonder if it's any good?

Promethium · **Posted:** Thu Feb 02, 2012 7:00 pm

Has anyone consumed this beer yet?
Schneider & Brooklyner Hopfen-Weisse
http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/schneider- ... sse/75466/

"Schneider & Brooklyner Hopfen-Weisse is a collaboration between brewmasters Hans-Peter Drexler of the Schneider Weissbier Brewery and Garrett Oliver of The Brooklyn Brewery. Now, once again, together they bring you a small batch of their joint creation: a pale weissbock robustly dry-hopped with the Hallertauer Saphir variety grown in the fields near the Schneider brewery. Hoppy, zesty and supremely refreshing, Schneider & Brooklyner Hopfen-Weisse is a delicious blend of Bavarian craftsmanship and American."

There is a tapping party for it here tomorrow night, but we are also supposed to get a blizzard as well.

Yail Bloor · **Posted:** Thu Feb 02, 2012 7:49 pm

Cap'n Squirrgle Wrote:

I loooove porters. I don't think of them all that fondly but then everytime I drink one and write it up, I gush.

Funny you say that: I never buy them but back in the olden days, Anchor and Sierra Porter's were always perennial favorites.

Today however I did a quick mixed four pack with Founders Porter (I always see it highly rated) and a Duck Rabbit Baltic Porter.

Other beers in the 4P: Lagunitas Maximus (per our discussion here) and Victory's Storm King Stout which I've been meaning to try.

Cap'n Squirrgle · **Posted:** Fri Feb 03, 2012 1:59 pm

I managed to find some good new ones yesterday at the grocery store... Green Flash Rayon Vert and that gluten free strawberry honey thing from Dogfish Head for the Missus. The dogfish was lighter / cleaner than I had hoped, and it made me think.

So I think I want to homebrew gluten free beer. GOOD gluten free beer,if it's possible. I'm pretty sure I've had them all, at least all that are distributed widely:

Bard's
Redbridge (Budweiser)
New Grist (Lakefront in Milwaukee)
Green's (blonde amber and dark, made in Belgium)
A one-off in 2010 made by some west coast brewery in 22's

So Green's is the closest thing to "good" and it's just sorta good by regular beer standards. The rest are very thin, the flavor is really watered down, with New Grist and Redbridge being pretty much "bad." So it raises the question, "are these beers so thin and flavorless (compared to top-shelf shit) because the brewers need to appeal to as wide an audience as possible, or is it really really hard / impossible to get top-shelf flavor without barley and possibly rye if that's gluten too?"

I wonder about this, and I scheme about trying my hand at it not really because I want to brew for my wife, though it would be pretty damned cool after the 4,000 great meals she's made me to repay the favor. I wonder and scheme because that market of people is decently big, is growing every year, and a lot of peple are actually on the fringe (not full-blown Celiac's disease) and don't know it. People like the Missus who don't go to the hospital when they have gluten, but their face breaks out / belly sweels / feel lethargic and shitty all for 3 or 4 days. If one were able to produce 4 or 5 really, really, really fucking good gluten free beers, and get decent distribution, then you'd have at least the gluten free crowd to apeal to, but maybe also some regular folks... if it tastes good enough, there's nothing stopping folks like me from drinking it.

Anywho.

Rick Derris · **Posted:** Fri Feb 03, 2012 2:35 pm

Fuckin hippie. Make some real beer.

Do a Sextuple IPA. HOPSEX - Squirg Brewing

discostu · **Posted:** Fri Feb 03, 2012 2:42 pm

I love Porters so much that I named my dog Porter. Need to try that Fuller's

A New Nice Beer Thread

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