-belly laugh-


Yeah we'd move. Applied to a few out in Portland too. We're getting tired of the Boston hustle, and the little'n is getting awfully close to Real School age.

Oh and all this talk of flemish sours, I had to start trying some. I've had the Duchess before, once about 2 years ago, but that's it. Stopped on the way home last night for this:

Petrus - Aged Pale


It was very smooth, I could tell it had been sitting around awhile mellowing. And the sourness was pleasant, if not something I'd want two of. All in all a nice choice but not anything I want again right away (this particular one... I'll try another sour soon).

I don't mind that Petrus, not sure why it doesn't get more respect. Perhaps, it has something to do with how readily available it is. It seems as though a lot of people automatically discount anything that isn't some sort of limited or rotating release or anything that has national distribution (see how quickly people have turned on Goose Island for example when Sofie and Pepe Nero are STILL completely excellent beers and it makes me happy that I can now find them in my grocery store...saves me a trip). Mind you, I certainly don't think the Petrus offerings are world-class sours, but I don't think they are a bad entry point into the genre (for lack of a better word) for wine or cider drinkers looking for an every now-and-then type alternative.

Similarly, I started to get into my recent purchases last night and started with that New Belgium Lips of Faith La Folie. I have only had a few of their beers; Fat Tire, Dig and Ranger IPA none of which I was really impressed with, so I was skeptical going into this one but damn is this a good beer. Pretty mahogany color, has that almost oily slick vodka type mouthfeel, smells like sour fruit and balsamic/apple cider vinegar and taste is huge. This thing is seriously sour, not necessarily one note as there is a little bit of a woody flavor also and a slight funk...but it is primarily crazy tart...almost cranberry like and nicely carbonated for the style which is very much appreciated. Definitely recommend if you like the more vinegary mouth puckering stuff. I will definitely be revisiting this one and plan to stash a couple of way to see how a bit of mellowness changes the profile.

Haha. I'm totally guilty with Goose Island. This time last year, I'd have killed to have anything by them. When they first showed up here I got growlers of whatever they had, then probably a 4 pack of Sophie, Matlida, and Pepe Nero when the bottles showed. I don't think I've bought anything since. I think it's honestly the price. Their 4 packs are almost $4 more than others of similar style or quality here.

I thought the La Folie was decent. Definitely on the "too sour/vinegary for me" end of the spectrum.

Of the stuff you bought, I've had the Sorachi Ace and the Saison de Lente. Both are pretty great American attempts but just miss that funkiness of the European versions.

If I were more of a beer drinker than I am, Matilda is one of a handful of beers that I'd always try to have in my refrigerator. I never cared much for Sofie or Pepe Nero. I am guilty of buying and drinking mostly hard to find or limited release stuff but you have to buy that kind of stuff when you find it if you want it and then I find my refrigerator full of it and don't buy the Matilda and other standards because I have more beer than I need. I don't think any less of the Matilda or "discount" it though just because I can readily find it.

I've had the La Folie once. I don't remember it well enough to comment on it beyond that I love sours but I didn't love it.

I still have not bought one Goose Island product since they came to GA.

Gave the Williamsburg Springhouse a try last night and was remarkably disappointed. As our local breweries go here; Lost Rhino, DuClaw, DC Brau, Port City and Flying Dog, Williamsburg tends to stand out as the best we have in my opinion. This beer however really missed the mark for me. It was way too sweet, the sugar just killed all the funk that I wanted (and that it promised based on the smell after the pour) and left none of that great spice that my favorites of this style deliver. It just seemed out of balance, everything is all kind of muddled leaving it just one note of starch and booze (8% ABV). This is the first one of theirs that I have not liked and definitely will not be revisiting.

Having some friends over tonight and we are going to get into that Trop King, Sorachi Ace and Alameda Blood Orange all of which I am really looking forward to, so hopefully there should be some redemption.

Twice now I've been out somewhere with a friend, looked at the drink menu, and finally settled on splitting a Sorachi Ace. And both times it was a good decision. Love that beer.

Yeah, that would make a serious difference for me also. I think the 4 pack I grabbed of Pepe Nero last time was $1.20 more than a four pack of Torpedo tall cans and about even with a four pack of DFH 90 Minute so priced pretty close out here.

that reminds me, I need to buy some beer for tonight. I've got the kids on my own this weekend and I figure by 8:30 I'll be in the mood for some libation.

Get with it, duder. And get something good.

Anyone ever tried Port Brewing's Wipeout IPA?

I'm looking for a big hoppy West Coast IPA. I think I can get it at my local shop. Does it measure up?

Haven't had it but I like pretty much everything else I've had from Port Brewing/Pizza Port/Lost Abbey. It has a 99 rating on Rate Beer too. I don't think it's a palate wrecker/hop bomb if you're looking for that style though. Not sure if that's what you meant by "big hoppy."

As Billy said its not an absolute palate wrecker but it's quite good; I like it and Port's beers are priced nicely to boot.

Even my local grocery store carries them now.

Always a good day when I don't have to ask the super, secret society for Zombie Dust and it's right out on the floor.

It's almost St. Paddy's Day, just drink some Guinness.

Ended up with New Belgium Shift, because I wanted something in a can. Which I drank in the shower, after finally getting the kids to bed and finally getting a workout in.

shower beers are great.

So from the other night;

Brooklyn Sorachi Ace (had with Roasted Red Pepper and Goat Cheese Bruschetta)- This I liked a good bit, though it missed the funk of some other saisons that I really like. Nice and grassy, really like the bit of lemon, and thought it was interesting that the hop is the namesake but it just kind of hung out...did it's job but wasn't really the focus. Nice and easy drinking beer regardless, will come back to this one for sure in the future.

Funkwerks Tropic King (with Baby greens, Beet, Blood Orange, Fennel and Chevrot Cheese salad)- Winner. Hands down. Just a winner. Peppery but sweet. Has all of that grass and funk and lemon and dirt that I want in a farmhouse offering. It's a bit sweeter than I would normally like, but it's done well, still balanced. Crisp from a ton of carbonation but not overly dry. This is some shit I could drink all day. This is my third offering from these guys and everything has lived up to the hype so far. Pricey bottle once you figure in shipping which is my only negative. Definitely recommend tracking this one down...they may still have some bottles up at letspour, not sure.

Alameda "My Bloody Valentine" Blood Orange Saison (with Grilled Trout/Asparagus, little tomatoes, creamy polenta) - This was a let down after the first two absolutely knocked it out. I feel like they took some base underwhelming beer, threw in some Belgian yeast and some blood orange liquid concentrate flavoring and called it good. Now, given that I have some serious respect for Alameda I am sure that is not the case, but that's what it tasted like. Absolutely no layers to this, no funk - just a bit of white pepper happening as the only thing remotely interesting. Not worth the order, will not try again.

Truth.

That Tropic King sounds great, k.

I usually have a pint glass on the edge of the tub while giving the kid a bath.

Lookawhat showed up on my doorstep (in exchange for homebrew)... Shiv went and got me a growler of "Rose," from Night Shift. It's a saison with rose hips, rosemary, and pink peppercorns. It tasted like a sour - I would've thought it was, before I read this description... If you're bored with more normal tasting beers, then I would say Night Shift and The Bruery are very similar (if in VERY different stages of their development) outfits. Both push beer into bizarre, interesting corners, but rarely overstep into garrishness. This beer, like their habanero beer,was incredibly interesting and refreshing, if not an "every day" beer by any stretch. I enjoyed all 32 ounces of it in the back yard, working on bicycle problems in the sunshine, humming Willie Nelson to myself. Cheers, Shiv. Hope the homebrews don't let you down too badly.

Also Bloor - I notice on Night Shift's web site that they're going to do Quad Reserve again this year sometime... I will be watching, and will pounce. Still have one up in the cabinets. But one is not enough.

I've still got your Tripel in my cabinet. Think she's ready by now?

I picked up Port Brewing's Mongo IPA and their Wipeout IPA Friday night and drank them both yesterday while doing some outside work at the house.

I thought the Wipeout was great. Very good option (along with some Lagunitas offerings) for when you need a good citrusy hop fix.

The Mongo smelled amazing and was very good but it wasn't nearly as balanced as the Wipeout was. Both were solid and I'd buy the Wipeout again.

I've honestly avoided Port Brewing and Lost Abbey just because I find their packaging cheesy (Port) or overly dramatic (Lost Abbey).

Yeah, it's done whatever it's gonna do. Prepare to be underwhelmed. Toss it into the fridge for a week or two first.

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I have never tried the Wipeout etc beers, for this exact reason, STILL to this day. I need to.