Funny you should post PT. I had it last night.

Went to that Ommegang tasting and they had the Indulgence on tap.

I thought it was pretty good. Definitely a time and place beer. We've been having gorgeous weather here so it wasn't probably the best choice but it was the only Ommegang they had on tap there and the guys doing the tasting were pretty cool so I got it.

Much more suited to coming in from the cold and snow and needing something hearty. Don't expect dark chocolate or milk chocolate. To me it has a more English chocolate taste. Read: bitter. Also some coffee tones as well. Still, solid seasonal. I'd probably split a 750ml with someone.

As for the other Ommegang offerings from last night.

They didn't have the Three Philosophers.

Witte: had this last weekend. Really good wheat beer for some spring/summer drinking. Probably in my top 3 (currently) wits. This is subject to change considering I've only had about 6-7 of these.

Rare Vos- this was the discovery of the night. Really like this. The guy told me this was their way of combating the ever growing pale ale market. There are definite flavors of hops but VERY subtle and no where near American pale ale levels. Amber in color. Will be revisiting this.

Ommegang Abbey Ale- this is their flagship dubbel. I'm sure many here have had it. Pretty much standard for this type of beer I think. It's good but there are a few others I'd reach for first.

Never had it on tap. Damn.
This is probably my favorite beer right now. And sweet, jumping Jesus on a pogo stick, I need to find a place that has it on tap!

Also had:


Left Hand Brewing Sawtooth- this is listed as an ESB but to me it seems like an Amber ale. Still, this is the best thing I've had from these guys (which, granted, is limited). I could drink several of them. Lots to like and light enough to have several.

Avery Brewing - Ellie's Brown Ale- first time I've tried something from these guys and I thought it was solid. Nothing spectacular but an above average brown methinks. I actually got more chocolate taste from this than the Ommegang Chocolate Indulgence. I'd drink another one but there are probably better options for this sort of things.

So I went to return that empty keg of Allagash last night (to Blanchard Liquors in Brighton.) Last time I was in a huge hurry so I didn't really look around, but it was a big place and I saw they had a lot of stuff. This time I had 20 minutes to kill before picking up the inlaws at the airport, so I browsed. Holy fuck. This is far and away the largest selection of craft beers I've seen anywhere near Boston. The usual 2 or 3 places I haunt, I know what they have. I know what I want to try next at each, there's very little mulling around / ruminating over what to try. This place... row after row of shit I have never. heard. of. Tons. I knew probably 60% of the total brands they had in the Good Shit section. I was paralyzed with options. I stoof there with my jaw slack, eyes wiiiide the fuck open, just shuffling slowly between the little aisles. I almost didn't buy anything - I didn't know what to go with. I ended up getting to 12 oz bottles, one Mikkeler I'd never heard of and a Rochefort 10, which I guess technically I've tried once before but it was at the END of belgian beer fest, so I was lit the fuck up by then.

Must
Go
Back
With
Wheelbarrow

Nice Squirg. That's how I feel walking into the place near me. I feel overwhelmed in a good way. I mean, it's big enough that it's seperated into rows by beer styles. Seasonals, Stouts, Pale Ales & IPA's, Lager & Hefes, Belgians, etc.

Heading to Macon this weekend to visit some friends and picked up some stuff to share/try:

Ommegang - Hennepin 750ml
Allagash - Tripel 750ml
Ayinger - Brau-Weisse
Rochefort - 8 (wanted buddy to try this)
St. Bernardus - Witbier 750ml


Wanted some mostly lighter stuff because it's the middle of February and it's going to be in the high 70's.

Yeah they have a good selection and my friend Jeff works there. The owner got into a bit of trouble awhile ago for stomping on his son's dog cage with the dog in it at the store. And there's a dude there that has tourrettes which is kind of funny to listen to.

This is what we call Tuesday at 4pm at my office.

What's the story about this brewery?

Not sure about the story but I had that fucker in my hand last night and didn't pull the trigger. Ended up going the saison/wheat beer route.

I've had their #2 (which Squirg suggested) and it was great. The #2 is their Belgian Strong Dark Ale.

I don't really care for that #1. It's not bad, just not particularly memorable.

I have a #2 and an Abt 12 in the fridge to fuh this week.

That #1 is pretty tasty, IMO. The few others of theirs I've tried didn't do much for me.

I thought it was solid, and pretty strong. For some reason these High ABV beers give me a weird buzz that is different from almost any other.

Not bad, just different.

That's just the ghost of St. Arnoul getting all up on yo ass.

I'd put the brewery as a whole at like A-, somewhere above the Smuttynose / Sam Adams of the world, and below Dogfish Head / Bell's. Their regular pap is well made and somewhat unique, but not Holy-Fuck good. The big singles get interesting. As others have said I dig the Local 1 a lot, even though it's a well-trod style. I happen to find it one of the best examples of that style, so when I'm in that mood my go-to's are Local 1, Saison Dupont, or Caracole Saxo. All are smooth and full-bodied and just a delightful way to kill an afternoon in the sun. The best thing I've had from them, I think, is the Sorachi Ace. I just remember doing a double-take after the first sip, and then again after I put the glass down for 5 minutes and came back to it. "Oh how YOU doin"

Recents

Harpoon - Belgian Style Pale Ale

For the birthday / superbowl party I had a fridge keg, but got a 12 pack sampler from Harpoon just in case. And of course almost all of it got drunk, plus the 4 sixpacks others brought over and some heavy singles. And mead. And scotch. At any rate, there were a few stragglers left in the back of the fridge, and this was one of them. If you aren't expecting much, this delivers. It's just standard, B-grade solid american pale ale with belgian yeast flavor kinda tacked on. It's pleasant and friendly and balanced, nothing revolutionary but then no big misstep either. B.


HaandBryggeriet - HaandBakk

Can I buy a vowel? Fucksake that's hard to type. So these guys... always interesting, if not always a smash hit. This one, had I read the label closely, would've told me to expect a sour ale. But I wasn't, so it came as a surprise. I'm not an enormous fan of sour ales, so this made for a difficult drink. Strong, sour ale -- sweet at first then "Sour Mix on the bar tap gun" body, followed by this odd vanilla/wood/cherry finish from the casking. Not really recommended. Just because you can make it, doesn't mean you should. Sorry fellas. C-

Dogfish Head - Fort

You know those people who HATE any kind of fruit in their beer, period? This is what they're picturing. This was... this was not good. It's wasn't strictly "bad" either, it was just incredibly hard to get along with. And I tried - it took me 3 days to finish this one bottle, and I drank nothing else those 3 evenings. I have a wine bottle cork dealy that can stop up these bottles, so it stays carbonated. So the flavor... Grain Alcohol and Raspberry Candy. I drank about 4 to 6 ounces a night, and had a buzz of some odd sort. I don't know if it was a real buzz, but I had a strong message every night after that small glass screaming NO MORE BEER TONIGHT, and I listen to that guy. I only finished this out of stubbornness. It was too intense, WAY too fruity, and the taste of booze way too strong . This one beer, a mere sip of it I mean, could ruin someone on fruited beers forever. And their Black & Blue is sooo fucking good, so balanced and "right." Blech. D+

[raises hand]

This is your kryptonite.

I think I need to try Caracole Saxo - this is probably my favorite style of "dank" beers. You know, not the go to guzzler (of which I consider Two Hearted and Sierra Pale the best of).

Do they do the Brooklyn Lager and the Brown Ale? Same brewery? Because I think both of those offering are pretty meh. Maybe in craft a bit better than Smutty, but not maybe in actual drinkability.

I really liked the #1. I would probably buy 6 of those the next time I encounter them.

Same Brewery.

I'm going to a 20th Anniversary tapping party in honor of the local Empyrean Brewery, which is going to be taking over an old Dairy for its headquarters soon. The beer of choice tonight is an Imperial Pale Ale. Here are the details of it.

From the brewery: "An IPA of another sort - this is a pale golden ale with a lot of hop character. Brewed to show more balance between the sweet, bready malt character and the crisp, bitter hops than a traditional India Pale Ale."

2-Row, Maris Otter, Nugget (aroma), Amarillo (flavor), Cluster & Sterling (dry hop), 80 IBU, 7% ABV

I always felt like I should like their beers more.

I did really like that Lefthand Sawtooth National Bank beer Ben posted about. I had a few of those the other night. Crisp and refreshing. My menu billed it as an Amber Ale, and it delivered.

I really, really wish I could crack those two big boys in my fridge, but I have a 3:30 and a 4:30. Blech.

I enjoy Brooklyn Lager. Solid, drinkable, and exciting enough. I don't have it a lot, but I did when I was there and it reminds me of it.

I'm curious to see if you dig the Saxo. I like their amber even better, but the grouping I was in up in that post fits more with Saxo (blondes).

I dunno if I can find it here, so it may take me a while. I could probably ask one of the restaurants that caters to this crowd if they can get it.

I like a blonde, and if I can find them, I'll scoop up both. One thing about this thread: it makes me want to drink beer. Like, when I was in Columbus, I debated not getting all those beers, but I felt like I needed to, to be a real part of the discussion and not just the dude who posts "I've had that, but it ain't Two Hearted" all the damn time.