Its all relative. Compared to a good craft RIS or a Chocolate Stout, its damn light. So maybe it is kinda a sessionable stout. Compared to a typical lager, pilsner, pale ale, it's still pretty full bodied. Like I said, I don't have a problem pounding Guinness. I'm pretty sure its considerably more heavy than a Daytime though, which is what I was getting at. Those session IPAs just seem really thin to me but I think it's on purpose. I just don't like it much. I'm beating a dead horse now though so I'm a gonna shut up.

I getcha.

Picked up a bomber of Dragon's Milk and some of that Anderson Valley Winter Solstice that Derris mentioned as well as a favorite cold weather standby, Founders Porter.

They had some Bell's Expedition Stout last time I was in, but alas, it was gone. Suxxors.

Had Avery's Reverend last night. It's their Quad. Not spectacular. Also had Bell's Brown Ale which is.
Now drinking my first ever Founders Breakfast Stout. Damn good!

Bell's brown is so wonderful. See also: Smuttynose "Old Brown Dog."

Having this now:

Harpoon 100 Barrel Series: El Triunfo Coffee Porter

Is what is sounds like... a good, rich, coffee porter. No surprises.

Agreed x2. I picked up some of that Bell's and also the Cisco Light Lager for my Thanksgiving guests.

Did not get around to drinking the Dragon's Milk this weekend but I did try the Winter Solstice...its pretty good but not really my thing. Reminds me of the Bell's Christmas beer that I also was not a huge fan of. Something in the flavor of those beers does not agree with my palate. It does pack a nice punch and was in a can--so it went down pretty good while i was monging on the couch watching football.

I make it a point every few months to try a sour beer and I usually think they are okay but nothing I would ever want to have around.
Last night the restuarant we went to had the Duchess de Bourgogne on tap so I tried that.


I absolutely fell in love with it. Like a tart cherry pie. Delicious. I don't think of it as beer but oh well.

Tempted to make one now. Don't know if I want to set aside a carboy for a year and a half but I am really curious if I could.

I had a Duchess at the Malt House in Madison last year. I still remember it. Such a special little beer.

I had a couple of these over the weekend in Charleston. Made in Mt. Pleasant. I think it may be the name that sets up certain expectations. "Thai", to me, suggests something a bit more exotic. In a blind taste I probably couldn't tell the diff between this and Allagash White. It's like they straight stole their recipe.

I picked up a couple of their "big" bottles that seemed interesting (A vanilla dubbel?) but only a couple singles of these because they were selling sixers for $14.

I've raved about Charleston Beer Exchange before but after having been spoiled at Hop City I now think their shit is pretty limited and WAY overpriced at times. A full 2-3 bucks higher than other craft joints. I still hit it up because I can get Racer 5 there.

Forgot to mention this, grabbed a Boulevard "Mixed Four" that had 1 12 oz. bottle each of Doublewide, Tank 7, Dark Truth and Sixth Glass...and a swank Boulevard Tulip glass for $9.99 (which is right around if not cheaper than a Boulevard four pack usually retails for)

Any other holiday gift packs you guys have your eyes on?

I saw that same one! Allllmost got it. Why the fuck didn't I?

i got that gift pack last year...good stuff, nice glass.

this year i've got my eye on the Ommegang one - mainly for Chocolate Indulgence, which i don't think i've seen by itself anywhere else:

I almost didn't get it, but was like, "WTF, I would drink these beers anyway. Happy Thanksgiving to ME"

I saw the Ommegang one too, but didn't see a price.

i've seen it as high as $29.99 (fuck that) and as low as $23 (well should i?...nah, fuck that) here. we'll see if i cave.

They had the Ommegang too. But I was on a mission for growlers or swingtops - I need more brewing capacity. So I passed.

You can never go wrong with gifting that St. Bernardus sampler with glass. Can't remember the price though. Less than $25.

Tried The Bruery's Tart of Darkness and Oude Tart over the weekend. The Oude Tart is good for sure, but probably better if it sits a bit...nothing really separating it from the host of other Flanders/Oud Bruns out there. That Tart of Darkness however was for real. That big cherry sour with the stout bitterness...can honestly say I have never tried anything like that. Wish I would have grabbed a couple more bottles when they were around.

Well, last night was a special night for this Porter lover. Over the weekend while in Kentucky I bought a sixer of Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald Porter (Great Lakes and Three Floyds distribute to KY).


Got DAYUM!!! I've never tasted a Porter like this. Really complex and balanced with the perfect amount of roast and hops. Now wishing I had purchased that second sixer.

Also bought a sixer of Three Floyds Robert the Bruce Scottish Ale. I haven't tasted it yet, but am expecting great things



Also had Three Floyds Broo Doo American IPA. IBU 80, which translates to "not for Stu", so I gave it to femdisco. She loved it

Having a quick one on the way home. A habanero rye pale from Night Shift, the guys who make that excellent quad I mailed Bloor. This is the spiciest, wierdest beer I have ever had. It is good, but so strange. And HOT. My mouth is burning. Really good, but the antithesis of Session.

Dude, Edmund Fitz was a staple when I lived in WI. That... Is how you make a porter. And The Bruce is pretty fucking great. Don't wanna over-hype it but... Very good.

Agree completely with you on both. The Tart of Darkness is special. I had it at a tasting this summer and loved it. I've never had anything like it either. FWIW though, the buyer at my beer store recommended Jolly Pumpkin's Madruga Obscura Dark Dawn Stout as something similar that he thought was even better. I bought a bottle of each but haven't cracked either yet so I can't personally vouch for the Madruga Obscura.

Here's more info though:

http://www.examiner.com/review/jolly-pu ... ts-brewery

Yeah, 3 Floyds Scottish Ale is solid, but I'd go for Duck Rabbit Wee Heavy over it any day.

That Edmund Fitz... holy shit it's amazing. I drink excellent to solid Porters on the reg, but this thing takes it to another level.

I've been on a Good People IPA and Monkeynaught IPA kick, and brought a few sixers with me down to dad's, but he just tapped a new keg of Guinness - which goes down very, very smooth.

Don't forget the classics, kids.