A New Nice Beer Thread

Rick Derris · **Posted:** Wed Feb 22, 2012 11:24 am

Yail Bloor Wrote:

Allagash Dubbel - Had this at Derris before we went out to eat. Not really much to it, no funk no really complex flavors. Just sorta there. Meh.

Meh is right. I've been totally disappointed now by both their Tripel and their Dubbel. Americans just can't quite get 'em right and these are less successful than others. Guess I"ll just stick with their White and Black.

Still need to try their Confluence Ale, Odyssey, and Hugh Malone.

shiv · **Posted:** Wed Feb 22, 2012 1:30 pm

Rick Derris Wrote:

Yail Bloor Wrote:

Allagash Dubbel - Had this at Derris before we went out to eat. Not really much to it, no funk no really complex flavors. Just sorta there. Meh.

Meh is right. I've been totally disappointed now by both their Tripel and their Dubbel. Americans just can't quite get 'em right and these are less successful than others. Guess I"ll just stick with their White and Black.

Still need to try their Confluence Ale, Odyssey, and Hugh Malone.

I still haven't had their Curieux (bourbon barrel triple) which I've heard is good.

e-stone · **Posted:** Wed Feb 22, 2012 1:44 pm

Odds Bodkins Wrote:

Had a tasting over the weekend.

Sixpoint Bolshoi (2005)
Bottleworks VII (2006)
Bligh's Barleywine
Abacus (2010)
Churchill's Finest Hour (2011)
Double Barrel Aged Zhukov's
Rascal Creek Old Incinerator Barleywine (2004)
Three Floyd's Cuvee Du Viking
Dark Lord (2008)
CBS

Churchill's was the standout for stouts with CBS and DBA Zhukov's closely behind. Shockingly the near 7 year old Bolshoi still had legs to it and was delicious once it warmed up. The Issaquah Bottleworks VII was half sludgy yeast in the bottom. More evidence to drink your beer sooner than way later! For the Barleywines... Abacus just continues to age gracefully.

The second beer from a defunct brewery, Old Incinerator, was pretty decent as well. Lots of oxidation but the brandy barrel was still evident. I have another bottle which I believe to be the last bottle in existence.

how was the Bligh's for you the second time around? Depending on your answer, i may just crack that bottle open in a week when my buddy from PDX gets here instead of letting it age.

Cap'n Squirrgle · **Posted:** Wed Feb 22, 2012 1:51 pm

The ratio in my fridge is all wrong right now. Nothing but "special" beer, no normals. I come home and I want a beer but I don't necessarily want to crack open an Achel or a Straffe Hendrick Quad. I need a case of something plainer.

discostu · **Posted:** Wed Feb 22, 2012 4:08 pm

shiv Wrote:

Rick Derris Wrote:

Yail Bloor Wrote:

Allagash Dubbel - Had this at Derris before we went out to eat. Not really much to it, no funk no really complex flavors. Just sorta there. Meh.

Meh is right. I've been totally disappointed now by both their Tripel and their Dubbel. Americans just can't quite get 'em right and these are less successful than others. Guess I"ll just stick with their White and Black.

Still need to try their Confluence Ale, Odyssey, and Hugh Malone.

I still haven't had their Curieux (bourbon barrel triple) which I've heard is good.

I'm generally scared of Bourbon Barrel aged beers. If I wanted my beer to taste like bourbon, I'd make a boilermaker.

billy g · **Joined:** Mon Oct 25, 2004 1:41 pm **Posts:** 9020

discostu Wrote:

shiv Wrote:

Rick Derris Wrote:

Yail Bloor Wrote:

Allagash Dubbel - Had this at Derris before we went out to eat. Not really much to it, no funk no really complex flavors. Just sorta there. Meh.

Meh is right. I've been totally disappointed now by both their Tripel and their Dubbel. Americans just can't quite get 'em right and these are less successful than others. Guess I"ll just stick with their White and Black.

Still need to try their Confluence Ale, Odyssey, and Hugh Malone.

I still haven't had their Curieux (bourbon barrel triple) which I've heard is good.

I'm generally scared of Bourbon Barrel aged beers. If I wanted my beer to taste like bourbon, I'd make a boilermaker.

Do they really take on much of a bourbon flavor? I wouldn't expect that they would. I'm assuming that they do it much more for the effects of the oak than the bourbon.

Cap'n Squirrgle Wrote:

he ratio in my fridge is all wrong right now. Nothing but "special" beer, no normals. I come home and I want a beer but I don't necessarily want to crack open an Achel or a Straffe Hendrick Quad. I need a case of something plainer.

I have the same problem but with wine.

Cap'n Squirrgle · **Posted:** Wed Feb 22, 2012 4:42 pm

billy g Wrote:

discostu Wrote:

I'm generally scared of Bourbon Barrel aged beers. If I wanted my beer to taste like bourbon, I'd make a boilermaker.

Do they really take on much of a bourbon flavor? I wouldn't expect that they would. I'm assuming that they do it much more for the effects of the oak than the bourbon.

It's a little of both, in most cases. You get some smokey char flavor, some wood, and then some of whatever was in the barrel (bourbon, wine, whatever). I've only had one that was overdone, and it was some shitty KY beer called Bourbon Barrel Beer Company, I think, like they were trying to make it their thing, and just WAY overdid it. Most of the time, I find that it's a nice subtle complimentary flavor to beer, that just goes so well with a rich, alcoholic, malty flavor.

Almost all the bourbon barrel aged stuff I've had, the bourbon flavor was very subtle, and not 100% "bourbon," but more bourbon-esque.

Odds Bodkins · **Posted:** Wed Feb 22, 2012 6:27 pm

e-stone Wrote:

how was the Bligh's for you the second time around? Depending on your answer, i may just crack that bottle open in a week when my buddy from PDX gets here instead of letting it age.

It's OK. Definitely odd for the style as I get way to much fruitiness in it. Almost tastes like apple pie overload with a hefty vanilla presence.

shiv · **Posted:** Thu Feb 23, 2012 2:52 am

Cap'n Squirrgle Wrote:

The ratio in my fridge is all wrong right now. Nothing but "special" beer, no normals. I come home and I want a beer but I don't necessarily want to crack open an Achel or a Straffe Hendrick Quad. I need a case of something plainer.

Mine was the same way last week but I've restocked it this week and now it's almost too full.

i need a better camera.

those lagunitas on top are their imperial red and there's a bottle of double trouble up there too.

Yail Bloor · **Posted:** Thu Feb 23, 2012 7:20 pm

Yail Bloor Wrote:

Odds Bodkins Wrote:

My local store got 3 cases of CBH at 2:30 yesterday and it was gone in under 30 minutes. Not surprising. Thankfully, this one wasn't high on my list....

Me neither although it certainly sounds like it would be good. And there must be more coming here next week--The guy at Total Wine said they were getting "a few bottles" next week, shoved a piece of paper in front of me to fill out and told me I had just reserved one of them. If you say so, Chief.

Never heard from the guy at Total Wine, but the store near my house had several bottles when I swung by today so I grabbed a couple.

billy g · **Joined:** Mon Oct 25, 2004 1:41 pm **Posts:** 9020

Thinking about going to a mini beer festival on Sunday. They haven't posted anything close to a complete list of what they'll be pouring but I know that it will include these:

Russian River Pliny the Younger
Ballast Point Victory at Sea Imperial Porter
Ballast Point Indra Kunindra Stout
Ballast Point Sour Wench Blackberry Ale
The Bruery Chocosaurus Rye
Deschutes Abyss Imperial Stout
Dogfish Head World Wide Stout
Eagle Rock Brewery Duece Imperial Stout
Golden Road Lost Its Way IPA
Golden Road El Hefe Anejo (Hefeweizen aged in tequila barrels)
Green Flash Palate Wrecker

Cap'n Squirrgle · **Posted:** Fri Feb 24, 2012 11:30 am

Stopped in to a store for a bottle of wine 2 days ago and just cruised the beer section quick, just prospecting, and scored a 12 oz bottle of '11 Bourbon County Stout. REALLY glad I looked.

Odds Bodkins · **Posted:** Fri Feb 24, 2012 4:06 pm

billy g Wrote:

Thinking about going to a mini beer festival on Sunday. They haven't posted anything close to a complete list of what they'll be pouring but I know that it will include these:

Russian River Pliny the Younger
Ballast Point Victory at Sea Imperial Porter
Ballast Point Indra Kunindra Stout
Ballast Point Sour Wench Blackberry Ale
The Bruery Chocosaurus Rye
Deschutes Abyss Imperial Stout
Dogfish Head World Wide Stout
Eagle Rock Brewery Duece Imperial Stout
Golden Road Lost Its Way IPA
Golden Road El Hefe Anejo (Hefeweizen aged in tequila barrels)
Green Flash Palate Wrecker

Oh, you're going and you're getting in line immediately for PtY and Chocosaurus Rye. The Kunindra is a really interesting beer... interesting in good way.

billy g · **Joined:** Mon Oct 25, 2004 1:41 pm **Posts:** 9020

Odds Bodkins Wrote:

billy g Wrote:

Thinking about going to a mini beer festival on Sunday. They haven't posted anything close to a complete list of what they'll be pouring but I know that it will include these:

Russian River Pliny the Younger
Ballast Point Victory at Sea Imperial Porter
Ballast Point Indra Kunindra Stout
Ballast Point Sour Wench Blackberry Ale
The Bruery Chocosaurus Rye
Deschutes Abyss Imperial Stout
Dogfish Head World Wide Stout
Eagle Rock Brewery Duece Imperial Stout
Golden Road Lost Its Way IPA
Golden Road El Hefe Anejo (Hefeweizen aged in tequila barrels)
Green Flash Palate Wrecker

Oh, you're going and you're getting in line immediately for PtY and Chocosaurus Rye. The Kunindra is a really interesting beer... interesting in good way.

I'm seriously thinking about going but:

(1) it's supposed to be a beautiful weekend and this is being held inside a theatre in a not so great part of town
(2) it starts at noon and it will be a mad scene trying to get the PtY
(3) there's little chance I could convince any friends to go
(4) it doesn't look super close to a metro stop and I don't want to drive to it.
(5) they haven't put out a full list of what they are pouring and I don't know craft beer well enough to know what I should be trying without researching ahead of time

If it weren't for the above, I'd already have my ticket.

discostu · **Posted:** Fri Feb 24, 2012 5:39 pm

Cap'n Squirrgle Wrote:

billy g Wrote:

discostu Wrote:

I'm generally scared of Bourbon Barrel aged beers. If I wanted my beer to taste like bourbon, I'd make a boilermaker.

Do they really take on much of a bourbon flavor? I wouldn't expect that they would. I'm assuming that they do it much more for the effects of the oak than the bourbon.

It's a little of both, in most cases. You get some smokey char flavor, some wood, and then some of whatever was in the barrel (bourbon, wine, whatever). I've only had one that was overdone, and it was some shitty KY beer called Bourbon Barrel Beer Company, I think, like they were trying to make it their thing, and just WAY overdid it. Most of the time, I find that it's a nice subtle complimentary flavor to beer, that just goes so well with a rich, alcoholic, malty flavor.

Almost all the bourbon barrel aged stuff I've had, the bourbon flavor was very subtle, and not 100% "bourbon," but more bourbon-esque.

It's Bluegrass Brewing Co, aka BBC, and it was probably their Jefferson's Reserve Bourbon Barrel Stout, which tastes like asshole and is the exact beer I'm referencing that made me wary of an "Bourbon Barrel" beers.

Cap'n Squirrgle · **Posted:** Fri Feb 24, 2012 6:44 pm

There we go. Yeah it was NOT a good beer. If someone had one of those and thought that's what barrel aged beer was all like, they'd never have another one.

Cap'n Squirrgle · **Posted:** Fri Feb 24, 2012 6:53 pm

Last day at my old position... almost 5 years. Sorry Shiv, I'm opening the Pliny the second I walk in the door.

shiv · **Posted:** Fri Feb 24, 2012 9:08 pm

Cap'n Squirrgle Wrote:

Last day at my old position... almost 5 years. Sorry Shiv, I'm opening the Pliny the second I walk in the door.

thanks for dangling that in front of me like an unattainable carrot. :nono:

Promethium · **Posted:** Fri Feb 24, 2012 10:12 pm

I'd really like to put this beer head to head against Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin Ale and a few others, since this beer taste fantastic after sitting on a shelf in a beer store for a few months. I'm not sure I could handle more than one bomber of it, but it is a pleasant surprise.

Promethium · **Posted:** Sat Feb 25, 2012 12:18 am

Anderson Valley Brewing Company Winter Solstice Seasonal Ale
http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/anderson-v ... stice/337/

It gets really high marks, but I'm not sure what to think of it yet. It has a cocoa marshmallow taste up front, but then it settles into a traditional boozy and wassail spice flavor for a Winter Warmer. It's definitely a formidable beer, and I'm generally impressed with this brewery so far.
I still have a bottle of Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout to rate as well.

e-stone · **Posted:** Sat Feb 25, 2012 3:25 pm

billy g Wrote:

Odds Bodkins Wrote:

billy g Wrote:

Thinking about going to a mini beer festival on Sunday. They haven't posted anything close to a complete list of what they'll be pouring but I know that it will include these:

Russian River Pliny the Younger
Ballast Point Victory at Sea Imperial Porter
Ballast Point Indra Kunindra Stout
Ballast Point Sour Wench Blackberry Ale
The Bruery Chocosaurus Rye
Deschutes Abyss Imperial Stout
Dogfish Head World Wide Stout
Eagle Rock Brewery Duece Imperial Stout
Golden Road Lost Its Way IPA
Golden Road El Hefe Anejo (Hefeweizen aged in tequila barrels)
Green Flash Palate Wrecker

Oh, you're going and you're getting in line immediately for PtY and Chocosaurus Rye. The Kunindra is a really interesting beer... interesting in good way.

I'm seriously thinking about going but:

(1) it's supposed to be a beautiful weekend and this is being held inside a theatre in a not so great part of town
(2) it starts at noon and it will be a mad scene trying to get the PtY
(3) there's little chance I could convince any friends to go
(4) it doesn't look super close to a metro stop and I don't want to drive to it.
(5) they haven't put out a full list of what they are pouring and I don't know craft beer well enough to know what I should be trying without researching ahead of time

If it weren't for the above, I'd already have my ticket.

the PtY thing has gotten a bit out of hand here as well. last year, the few places that got kegs served first come, first serve and were kicked within 5 minutes. i think Colorado got a grand total of 6 kegs this year. Oskar Blues Homemade Liquid and Solids up in Longmont got two kegs. this year, they are selling wristbands at 10am the day of tapping so you can buy and come back later for your pour. i got my wristband this morning, and it wasn't such a mad scene...about 30 beer nerds.

shiv · **Posted:** Sat Feb 25, 2012 3:52 pm

Any of you west coast people know anything about this beer? I've seen it at a few places lately but the label is terrible.

Yail Bloor · **Posted:** Sat Feb 25, 2012 4:23 pm

Oh man, that is a terrible label.

discostu · **Posted:** Sat Feb 25, 2012 4:36 pm

Ha, I was just thinking I like it, and the sound of the Golden Belgian-Style Tripel

Cap'n Squirrgle · **Posted:** Sat Feb 25, 2012 6:29 pm

AWFUL label. Jeeesus H christ.

Shiv the Pliny was good but Heady Topper is better.

A New Nice Beer Thread

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