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Recents...

Long Trail Brewmaster's Series: Coffee Stout and Winter White


Love these guys because they're small and from VT, and plus they make Double Bag. The coffee stout is not up to par, it's too light. The color is right, but it's too thin, and it smells just like several of their other beers, with a tiny hint of coffee. Swingannamiss here. The winter white, however, was DELIGHTFUL. Very similar, in fact, to good old Spotted Cow in Wisconsin, just a pleasant, cloudy, almost sweet sipping beer. The spices (coriander, etc) are very mild, and it's got a good kick. I got 2 of each of these from a coworker, and the 2nd of this one I'm saving for a bit.



BBC - Cabin Fever Ale


This was pretty damn good, a solid B beer. I think I need to dig into these guys a little deeper... I've had several of their offerings and they're always pretty decent, at least. This was a coppery, spiced, higher content sippin' beer. Good stuff, and winter-appropriate.



Sünner Kölsch


Another gift from a different coworker. We were talking about how we bothed love a good kölsch and can't easily find them here, and lo and behold he brought me one he dug up somewhere. It's the real deal too. World's best lawnmowing beer. Sunny and mildly sweet with a dry finish. They say they lager an ale to do it, but that shouldn't work... ale yeast go comatose below 55 degrees F so tossing it in the celar should make fermentation stop... either way they make a tasty beer. If you go to Cologne this brand or Küpper's are what's on the menu. Helluva guy.



Smuttynose - Big A IPA


I'll buy anything from these guys - best brewery out here. This was no exception, a big, full, sharp, floral IPA with what tasted (and felt) like around 8% in it. It doesn't list the content, but several hours later I could still feel it, so I'm guessing. It's not different enough from their already excellent normal IPA, but this one tastes like it was hopped more heavily late in the boil or after the heat's off. Lotsa pine. Great shit, and reasonably priced.

I just want that 3-pickup Tele on the wall, back there!

You have a fine eye, sir - the 97 deluxe plus is probably the nicest of the bunch. Broadcaster in the bridge slot and the original lace's in the middle and neck, and rewired to switch like a real tele. Not the most expensive in the house, but definately the one with the most worth.

Had one of these for the first time in a while on a surprisingly mild Saturday. Sat outside at The Flying Saucer, which is always fun.


Also had a Lagunitas Brown Shugga and a Cottonwood Lowdown Brown, but those were on draft.

i had this tonight. it was enjoyable. onto allagash white now though.



and i had a glass of the goose island bourbon county last night at 1am when i was out. not a good idea for the last beer of the night.

No shit. I can imagine.

Had one of these a week or two back but didn't upload the photo to my computer until recently. One of my favorite beers since college.

I took the FSWE today at a testing center on the campus of University of Nebraska-Omaha, and then made a stop by the Beertopia sale.


Sunner Kolsch

Gouden Carolus Classic
Gouden Carolus Ambrio 1471

Schneider Weisse Hopfen Weisse

Saison Voisin

Mac Queen's Nessie Whiskey Malt Red Ale

That Saison Voisin is really good.

I started with the Sunner Kolsch, and I'm in full agreement with the Cap'N. It is a deliciously smooth beer
I'll definitely drink the Saison Voisin tonight, but I'm not sure what else.

Recents:

Otter Creek - Russian Imperial Stout


This is one of those little Vermont breweries that I want to do well, but who really are just sorta ok at best. Well it appears they're trying their hand at some Big Boy beers, so I gave this one a shot. It was what I expected... the right basic idea, and the right ingredients, but not enough of them. I can see how a casual Bud Wheat drinker might really find this to be a tough hill to climb, but it's way too thin and plain to get excited about. The price is right (I think about $6 for the bomber) but still, just sorta ok.


McNeill's - Pullman's Porter


These guys are in VT too and I'd never hoid of 'em. That's a nice surprise. This was a good porter, too, with a very disctinct flavor. It had the usual porter blend of sweet/chewey with a good hop bite later on. I don't know if I'll ever have a craving for it again but it was certainly respectable. Good on 'em.


St. Bernardus - Tripel


This was very, very good. It's a little more pricey than some other belgians here, but in my opinion this was totally worth it. It was cloudy, with big chunks of hops and yeast clumps flowing around in it. I love that shit. It had a great balance, and wasn't as coppery / acidic as some of these get. Almost had orangey / coriander kinda notes to it. Great, great shit for the style. I will be hitting them up again.


Mayflower - Porter
(Not My Photo)

I had a pint of this on tap in Porter Square with the baby while the wife worked out, weekend before last. They're brand new, these guys, down on the south coast below Boston. The server at the pub also works for them, so I let him talk me into trying them - I'd seen the bottles at a store, and I was looking to try it anyway. So you can taste the local really soft water, it tastes like they don't even filter it. All in all it was a really good porter, and in fact I think I liked it more than the McNeill's up there. I'll be looking to try more of their stuff.

i had either their ipa or pale ale and it was awful. i left the rest of the bottles at whoever's house i was at.

haa ha ha. Damn, that's a bad sign.

McNeil's is in Brattleboro, though I've only been there once and, for whatever reason, didn't have anything to drink, but people love it there.

This could be my favorite beer, Kyle. I love this shit too.

Recently had


Rogue Chocolate Stout


Bell's Java Stout

upon the realization that I have had almost no stouts or porters all winter. Both were good but very strong with their respective flavors, and in both cases I had them with food which was a mistake. Both are probably great if treated as "dessert". I've got more of those Java Stouts and plan on doing just that while watching Lost tonight.

Also have a few of these which I'm eager to try:


Great Divide St. Bridget's Porter

Heard a lot of great things about Great Divide, and I think I had their IPA and really liked it, even though I'm not really an IPA guy.

Have never seen Bell's in NJ, so I jumped at the chance to try this tonight at some brewpub in Atl:



Expedition Stout - maybe the thinnest head I've ever poured, but huge taste. Almost too much alcohol (10.5%) & probably wouldn't drink more than one, but lots o'coffee and dark chocolate flavor. Tasty, to say the least. Really hit the spot after a long day in trade show hell.

Bell's don't fuck around.

+1 for Bells..I have yet to plunk down 19.00 for a 6er of the Expidition Stout, but the 2hearterd is a dam fine IPA..I had 2 for lunch on Monday as a matter of fact..

Grabbed 2 of these bombers last night..



And boy do they pack a punch at 11.1%..I'm a Victory Old Horizontal man, but this is a much smoother Barley Wine Ale and will be purchased again when I see it..

Good work people, you gotta give feedback too! How was it, what's it remind you of, would you get it again?

much tastier than the 312 (wheat ale but kind of boring) and cheaper than the matilda.

I haven't had Honker's Ale in a long time, it used to be a pretty common pickup for me.

Had a couple Highland Mocha Stouts tonight at trivia

hey I had a good beer this weekend, Stone Cali-Belgiqueit was like a regular stone ipa but with a little but of joie de vivre