Really excited about trying to make that Jai Alai next. Well, I need to do a kolsch, first. Or no fuck it, I want a big IPA, dammit, it's gonna be Spring-like outside soon. Decisions. I need a keg system.

Yes.

Did I tell you that Terry has built an outdoor bar out by his pool? Combine that with his keg system and his relentless brewing schedule and the guy is basically opening Tyrone's first brewpub.

holy FUCK. No. That is incredible. I need friends that raise the bar... this is awesome.

The bloodbath of the Southwest results for Round 1......

http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2 ... ign=130326

<---- actively hates Racer 5 and can't believe that anyone would rate it higher than Sculpin.

<---- Loves Racer 5.


I got all but 21st Ammend and Green Flash right.

I like Racer 5 but, for me (and billy apparently), it's not in the same universe as the Ballast Point in my novice opinion.

More proof that Art and Food (read:beer) are all subjective.

I know I'm in the minority hating Racer 5 and really I don't hate so much as just don't like it at all. Its not like I would pour it down the sink if you handed me one. I just wouldn't buy any if the local store was selling it for a $1 a six. That said, most of the people I know who like it would argue for it more based on value and it being good for a six pick IPA more than it being a true top tier IPA.
I don't think many in CA who like craft beer would rate Racer 5 above Sculpin. Sculpin is the type of beer that draws long lines when it gets tapped at beer festivals. Easily a top 3 pick in that bracket and I wouldn't argue too much against it if it won the whole thing.

Tried that Stillwater Cellar Door the other night. I think I am about to give up on them unfortunately. Not only was it overly sweet, and I mean real sweet, like eating brown sugar straight out of the freezer, but I believe it was the source of a serious case of the bubble guts about thirty minutes after finishing it. Avoid at all costs.

I tried the Sculpin last week and thought it was just ok. I don't know if I'd choose it over the Racer 5. I've had Racer 5 on draft and in a bottle and it's infinitely better on draft.

I would've chosen the Port Brewing over the Lagunitas. I like a lot of Lagunitas offerings but their IPA is just kind of average.

Shocked that Green Flash went out like a bitch. That's one of my favorite IPA's.

And I totally would've chosen that Brew Free Or Die over the Alesmith. It's one of the only beers that 21st Amendment gets right.

I've never had Sculpin, but I completely understand / agree with this. Racer 5 and Two Hearted just shit on other sixpack IPAs, in my opinion. The fact that they hold their own against 22oz specialty IPAs is testament, and I can't really account for how much of a mental curve that gives them in my opinion. I will say this: it's hard as hell to do that... make a sixpack IPA that astonishes.

I don't care for Racer 5 at all and Racer X is pretty underwhelming too. Bear Republic has done a few oneoff sours that I like, but on the whole, I usually pass on their beers.

The issue for many with Sculpin has been Ballast Point's unwillingness to bottle date as that beer can sit for months on shelves because people don't know how old it is... and at that price point, who can blame them? Now, I heard BP may have recently started dating... and they're coming to the Chicago market at long last! Sculpin will easily become my go to IPA once the initial rush dies down.

Round 2: North

http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2 ... ign=130328

Round 2: South

http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2 ... 2-sou.html

What is the general consensus of Left Coast Brewing products on this board? They started to release their products here without any sort of promotion, and I am attending a tapping party for their Trestles IPA and Voodoo American Stout tomorrow.

p.s. I am one of six finalists for the taproom manager gig, and I will meet with all three partners of the brewery early next week for a second interview. The job will most likely involve attending tapping parties at other bars and beer festivals as well once things get rolling, but the initial focus is on getting the taproom open most of the week..

I don't remember anything about Left Coast.

In other news: Lagunitas is going BIG. Chicago expansion would make them #2 craft brewer behind only Sam Adams. Jesus.

I'm still in the hunt in the southwest and northeast, but I'm knocked out of the other 2. It's gonna be Pig versus Bell's.

There really isn't any promotion in CA either. I see them on the shelf all the time but I've never heard a good or bad thing about them and haven't felt inclined to try them. There is something amateurish about the packaging that turns me off a bit.



Probably but don't underestimate Union Jack.

Good article on these guys:

http://www.oregonlive.com/mix/index.ssf ... ing_n.html

eagerly reading now...

There's a course I want to take about brewing, but it's like a year+ and a lot of money. But my god, I cannot imagine enjoying anything more.

Left Coast seems to get some pretty decent marks on rate beer and beer advocate, but those ratings aren't always the best source to find out whether or not it is a good beer. I thought the American stout I had from them last night was pretty good, it was quite similar to the offerings of Green Flash and Sierra Nevada in its hop profile. I guess they are distributing their beers here now because one of their brewers has a marital connection to a distributor in Omaha, who was recently bought out by a much larger distributor located in Lincoln.
The actual highlight of my night was splitting a bottle of Pipeworks Blood of the Unicorn Imperial Red Ale. They are considered to be one of the best if not the best new brewery in America, and their products are hard to find outside of Chicago. A friend of mine was lucky to score a fresh bottle of beer from them in a beer trade. The beer was amazing, and the bottle design and name of the beer is fantastic.

The Elite 8 has been chosen and there are some big upsets:

http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2 ... 3-the.html

HOLY hell.

Bell's is my last hope. Damn.

Hmmm...

Bud Light is releasing special cans with craft brew can labels on one side.

It's cool, but I can't see who would enjoy this... BL fans pretty much don't drink good beer (Rick Derris On Gameday notwithstanding), and craft beer folk aren't touching bud light.

I purchased singles of Single and Doublewide with the intention of doing the taste test this weekend but didn't get around to it. Mostly drank Timber Beast and Back Forty Bear Co's (out of Gadsden, AL--it's the brewery that Loogs owns a tiny stake in) Naked Pig Pale Ale (which was decent, good for what it is, a serviceable lawn mowing or game watching pale. no complaints)