Beers

top1214 · Post by **top1214** » Sun Mar 18, 2012 12:38 pm

The new Kraftig beer is really good. I had a Kraftig Light (and I am not a light beer drinker) was actually pretty tasty. Imagine if Bud Light had some actual taste to it (and the finish isn't empty like AB beers).

Eigenbasis · Post by **Eigenbasis** » Sat Mar 24, 2012 10:16 pm

Jaelith wrote:I haven't had a beer jump out at me as "Really Effing Good" in a while, but this one did, so I will share: Gemini, by Southern Tier Brewing Company. Seasonal release I think? Surprised me for being not as hoppy as I usually go, but still quite tasty. Try it if you can find it!

It's pretty good. It's a blend of Unearthly and Hoppe, so you should check those out since you liked Gemini. My favorite Southern Tier beer is still their 2XIPA, but Gemini is interesting to me because it's unfiltered.

williabr · Post by **williabr** » Mon Apr 16, 2012 12:14 pm

Eigenbasis wrote:
Jaelith wrote:I haven't had a beer jump out at me as "Really Effing Good" in a while, but this one did, so I will share: Gemini, by Southern Tier Brewing Company. Seasonal release I think? Surprised me for being not as hoppy as I usually go, but still quite tasty. Try it if you can find it!
It's pretty good. It's a blend of Unearthly and Hoppe, so you should check those out since you liked Gemini. My favorite Southern Tier beer is still their 2XIPA, but Gemini is interesting to me because it's unfiltered.

Is Hoppe a seasonal? I've had all the other ST beers, but don't think I've ever seen that one.

NardoLoopa · Post by **NardoLoopa** » Mon Apr 16, 2012 10:33 pm

Founders is doing a Tap Take-over at our local beer import shop this Friday. Can't wait.

Eigenbasis · Post by **Eigenbasis** » Sat Apr 21, 2012 9:26 am

williabr wrote:
Eigenbasis wrote:
Jaelith wrote:I haven't had a beer jump out at me as "Really Effing Good" in a while, but this one did, so I will share: Gemini, by Southern Tier Brewing Company. Seasonal release I think? Surprised me for being not as hoppy as I usually go, but still quite tasty. Try it if you can find it!
It's pretty good. It's a blend of Unearthly and Hoppe, so you should check those out since you liked Gemini. My favorite Southern Tier beer is still their 2XIPA, but Gemini is interesting to me because it's unfiltered.
Is Hoppe a seasonal? I've had all the other ST beers, but don't think I've ever seen that one.

It used to be, but I don't know if they brew it now at all. They revamped their website and I can't find it on there.

Post by **lotsofphil** » Sat Apr 21, 2012 9:33 am

Had Big Boss' Big Operator last night. Very nice. The menu said it was a Belgian Strong Dark Ale. I figure most of you know what that means better than any description I'd give ("like Guinness, not as creamy").

NardoLoopa · Post by **NardoLoopa** » Sat Apr 21, 2012 10:47 am

The Founders' tap-take-over was very good. Got to try: some Monk beer, I forget the name. Tasted like a tart alcoholic slushy. KBS, which was delicious. The Imperial Stout. Then two versions of the Curmudgeon , Kaiser from 2011 and the 2012 version (I forget the name). The 2011 was better, if you ask me.

The only problem with the event was that all of the beers were very high ABV and all were rich beers. They have some IPAs to balance it out, but those aren't my taste. A pilsner or lager would help a great deal.

Great event, though.

Post by **thacon** » Sun Apr 22, 2012 8:06 pm

I did some arts and crafts this weekend:

http://uxux.org/magnets.jpg

Effovex · Post by **Effovex** » Sun Apr 22, 2012 8:17 pm

That is awesome, Thacon!

I'm jealous. Now I need to start holding on my bottlecaps...

williabr · Post by **williabr** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 10:58 am

Very cool. I was just at Lagunitas a few weeks ago and they gave me a bottle cap magnet and I was thinking about doing something like this to fill up the side of my kegerator. Plus, if they cats can knock them off, they get free toys.

stupac2 · Post by **stupac2** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 11:15 am

NardoLoopa wrote:The Founders' tap-take-over was very good. Got to try: some Monk beer, I forget the name. Tasted like a tart alcoholic slushy. KBS, which was delicious. The Imperial Stout. Then two versions of the Curmudgeon , Kaiser from 2011 and the 2012 version (I forget the name). The 2011 was better, if you ask me.

The only problem with the event was that all of the beers were very high ABV and all were rich beers. They have some IPAs to balance it out, but those aren't my taste. A pilsner or lager would help a great deal.

Great event, though.

Pretty sure the beer was Blushing Monk. The Curmudgeon thing, was one called "Curmudgeon's Better Half"? And I don't think Founders brews any lagers, they do make a number of lower ABV things like Pale Ales and such, though. I can see not bringing them on for a special event.

williabr wrote:Very cool. I was just at Lagunitas a few weeks ago and they gave me a bottle cap magnet and I was thinking about doing something like this to fill up the side of my kegerator. Plus, if they cats can knock them off, they get free toys.

I've been putting stickers on my beer fridge, although snark doesn't like the way it looks.

NardoLoopa · Post by **NardoLoopa** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 5:10 pm

stupac2 wrote:Pretty sure the beer was Blushing Monk. The Curmudgeon thing, was one called "Curmudgeon's Better Half"? And I don't think Founders brews any lagers, they do make a number of lower ABV things like Pale Ales and such, though. I can see not bringing them on for a special event.

Yep, Blushing Monk was the tart-slushie. And yes, the newer Crumudgeon was called Better Half. The older one Kaiser. The alcoholic taste had mellowed in the older one, which was much better in my opinion.

Right, PA, IPA, not really my thing. They had them there but I didn't try them.

To be honest, it was nice to have a refreshing Heineken the next day.

stupac2 · Post by **stupac2** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 6:20 pm

NardoLoopa wrote:Yep, Blushing Monk was the tart-slushie. And yes, the newer Crumudgeon was called Better Half. The older one Kaiser. The alcoholic taste had mellowed in the older one, which was much better in my opinion.

Better Half is actually Kaiser aged in Maple Whiskey Barrels. I don't know for how long, and it's not necessarily the same beer (Founders does weird stuff like that, apparently KBS isn't just barrel-aged Breakfast Stout, it's a different base beer). I'm not terribly surprised you found it hotter, but I've never had Kaiser Curmudgeon so I can't really compare personally.

Post by **lotsofphil** » Tue Oct 09, 2012 11:00 am

I had JK's Scrumpy a few nights ago. It's a cider. Very good. Not quite sure how to describe it. More apple-tasting, less tart/sweet (how I would describe a Magner's/woodchuck). There are two in the fridge now

$7 per 25oz bottle where I shop.
http://organicscrumpy.com/

stupac2 · Post by **stupac2** » Sat Dec 15, 2012 12:05 am

http://imgur.com/a/PI71z

top1214 · Post by **top1214** » Sat Dec 15, 2012 12:58 am

stupac2 wrote:http://imgur.com/a/PI71z

I guess you prefer growlers to 6 packs.

Post by **thacon** » Sat Dec 15, 2012 9:48 am

stupac2 wrote:http://imgur.com/a/PI71z

I think your beer went bad. It looks like it molded over or something. It's all fuzzy.

NardoLoopa · Post by **NardoLoopa** » Sat Dec 15, 2012 1:04 pm

stupac2 wrote:http://imgur.com/a/PI71z

Geeze, the Stupac2 imgur feed is all pussy and booze.

Post by **lotsofphil** » Sat Dec 15, 2012 7:38 pm

Is that theo or misty?

stupac2 · Post by **stupac2** » Tue Dec 18, 2012 11:27 pm

lotsofphil wrote:Is that theo or misty?

It's Theo, but who's Misty?

Post by **slaphappy snark** » Wed Dec 19, 2012 11:40 am

stupac2 wrote:
lotsofphil wrote:Is that theo or misty?
It's Theo, but who's Misty?

Misty is Themistocles's alternate universe name.

stupac2 · Post by **stupac2** » Wed Dec 19, 2012 1:05 pm

slaphappy snark wrote:Misty is Themistocles's alternate universe name.

But then they're same animal!

top1214 · Post by **top1214** » Wed Dec 19, 2012 8:06 pm

stupac2 wrote:
slaphappy snark wrote:Misty is Themistocles's alternate universe name.
But then they're same animal!

No. One has a goatee.

Post by **lotsofphil** » Wed Dec 19, 2012 9:26 pm

am i confused? how many cats are there? i feel dumb.

leonidas?

Post by **slaphappy snark** » Thu Dec 20, 2012 11:04 am

lotsofphil wrote:am i confused? how many cats are there? i feel dumb.

leonidas?

They are Theo (orange, Themistocles) and Leo (black, Leonidas).

Also now we need to make a picture of Theo with a goatee. I mean Misty.

Post by **lotsofphil** » Fri Dec 21, 2012 8:06 pm

Papago's Orange Blossom. I don't know if they sell anywhere outside of the Phoenix area. But if you guys go to con again, try this out. I could drink many of these. Light and tasty.

maddsurgeon · Post by **maddsurgeon** » Wed Mar 20, 2013 7:25 am

I tried an interesting beer while on vacation -- "Brother Thelonius Abbey Ale," a dark beer that was quite tasty. A little bit sweet and syrupy, but not too much, and very potent.

Post by **Mai** » Sun Jul 07, 2013 6:35 pm

Probably the best porter I've had in recent memory (on tap- way not as good bottled but still quite good!) was Great Lakes Brewing Co.'s Edmund Fitzgerald Porter. Big and malty, not super sweet, coffee, yum yum yum.

Edit: Eigenbasis posted about this in 2010, but had it bottled, and it is super duper better on tap, even though bottled is still good! So yes.

maddsurgeon · Post by **maddsurgeon** » Sun Jul 07, 2013 6:40 pm

My gf picked up an interesting Porter called Yabba Dhaba. It's a "Chai Tea" porter, somewhat think and kind of spicy. I didn't like it first, but it's growing on me. Maybe that's because I drank the first one out of the can -- that always seems to leave a nasty metallic taste for me.

I guess it's pretty new. Check it out if you like porters that are somewhat spicy. Not all acidic either, as some spicy porters tend to be; nice and smooth overall.

top1214 · Post by **top1214** » Sun Jul 07, 2013 10:52 pm

Vanilla porters are where it's at.

Post by **thacon** » Mon Jul 08, 2013 10:00 am

Just not Breckenridge's Vanilla Porter. That stuff is awful.

Also, I had a bottle of Cantillon Lou Pepe on the 4th. It was delicious.

maddsurgeon · Post by **maddsurgeon** » Mon Jul 08, 2013 10:54 am

top1214 wrote:Vanilla porters are where it's at.

Can you recommend a good one? I tried a couple, the Boulevard one I think, don't remember what the other was, but they really disagreed with me and I couldn't drink more than one.

Post by **Mai** » Mon Jul 08, 2013 11:15 am

I haven't had a lot of vanilla porters, but I do like Atwater's Vanilla Java.

Post by **transplanted_entwife** » Mon Jul 08, 2013 11:47 am

Dark Side Vanilla Porter is pretty nifty.

top1214 · Post by **top1214** » Mon Jul 08, 2013 4:51 pm

thacon wrote:Just not Breckenridge's Vanilla Porter. That stuff is awful.

That was the first one I had. I understand the Breckenridge is no Blue Moon.

I thought I had one by Brooklyn Brewery, but looking, I may have confused that with their Chocolate Stout (also, excellent).

We also have a very local place, Six Row which makes an OK vanilla porter. OK vanilla porters >>> any IPA. YMMV,

Eigenbasis · Post by **Eigenbasis** » Thu Sep 26, 2013 11:12 pm

Still haven't found a porter better than good ol' Edmund Fitzgerald.

Post by **Mai** » Fri Sep 27, 2013 6:56 am

Eigenbasis wrote:Still haven't found a porter better than good ol' Edmund Fitzgerald.

Going to agree with you there.

arkohn · Post by **arkohn** » Fri Apr 11, 2014 3:05 pm

You can say what you will, but I've never tried I beer that I preferred to a Mike's Hard or some similar thing.

top1214 · Post by **top1214** » Fri Dec 05, 2014 3:12 pm

I had Big Muddy Brewery's Winter Ale last night. It was super great. It tasted like holiday warmth. I've also really enjoyed their blueberry blonde.

Post by **lotsofphil** » Fri Dec 12, 2014 4:59 am

I'd like to give props to Arkohn for putting this thread in an 8-month coma with his Mike's Hard Lemonade talk.

LeafyGreens · Post by **LeafyGreens** » Sat Dec 13, 2014 7:57 pm

I've been getting into sour ales lately, the Mikkeler Betelgeuse was the best I've had so far.

Post by **thacon** » Fri Dec 19, 2014 12:55 pm

Woo sours! I was recently fortunate enough to go to a couple of Mikeller bars in Copenhagen and got to try a few fresh sours on tap. I was really impressed. I've yet to see any Sour Mikeller options show up in New York.

Post by **slaphappy snark** » Fri Dec 19, 2014 1:21 pm

thacon, unless I am totally mistaken about its nature, this place should have a decent Mikkeller selection (including sours) pretty regularly: http://www.torstnyc.com/
I see that the website is pretty uninformative, but it should be worth checking out even if I'm wrong about the Mikkel connection.

If any of you folks who enjoy sours are ever in the SF Bay Area, definitely get in touch!
[Edited because WM made fun of me!]

Post by **thacon** » Fri Dec 19, 2014 7:06 pm

Apparently not, but that place looks fun. I'll have to check it out. I never knew that existed.

LeafyGreens · Post by **LeafyGreens** » Mon Dec 22, 2014 2:19 pm

I've seen a few different Mikkellers at Whole Foods in AZ, but they are like 17 dollars for a small bottle. Wish I could find it on tap somewhere. They had a beer tasting there the other day for Jolly Pumpkin brewery, they were pretty good and a couple of them had that grapefruity sour bite to them.

Post by **Mai** » Mon Dec 22, 2014 8:30 pm

I love Jolly Pumpkin highly approve.

Lately my go-to is Left Hand Brewing Nitro Stout. Or Milk Stout.

Biefstuk · Post by **Biefstuk** » Fri May 15, 2015 7:07 am

My fridge space seems like it's slowly being taken over by various kinds of Belgian beer. Not that I'm complaining. At the moment it's mostly Kwak and Gulden Draak. I would add Delirium to that list, but whenever I get one of those it demands that I drink it immediately.

Post by **reverkiller** » Fri May 15, 2015 8:08 am

Mai wrote:I love Jolly Pumpkin highly approve.

Lately my go-to is Left Hand Brewing Nitro Stout. Or Milk Stout.

I went to a beer tasting with Left Hand, it was pretty solid.

My go to is Bell's Oberon. Quality beer right there.

honus carbuncle · Post by **honus carbuncle** » Sat Aug 20, 2016 9:52 pm

Ohhh, a beer thread! I've been drinking a lot of North Coast Beer - Old Rasputin and Pranqster. Also, a brewery that is local to me called Pig Minds has a number of tasty beers and 12 dollar growler refills on Wednesday. I usually do their golden ale or their American red. Over the winter they had a soy milk chili porter that was wayyyyy better than it sounds.

Oh, and I also live right on the Wisconsin border so that means I get easy access to New Glarus beers. If you're ever in Wisconsin do yourself a favor and pick some up. They only distribute in state, but they are world class. Favorites are Two Women, Totally Naked, and their Oktoberfest beer called Staghorn is second to none in my book. Spotted Cow is their most popular, but it's not all that in my book. Blue Moon-esque.

Post by **gordito** » Sun Sep 04, 2016 12:12 pm

honus carbuncle wrote:Ohhh, a beer thread! I've been drinking a lot of North Coast Beer - Old Rasputin and Pranqster. Also, a brewery that is local to me called Pig Minds has a number of tasty beers and 12 dollar growler refills on Wednesday. I usually do their golden ale or their American red. Over the winter they had a soy milk chili porter that was wayyyyy better than it sounds.

Oh, and I also live right on the Wisconsin border so that means I get easy access to New Glarus beers. If you're ever in Wisconsin do yourself a favor and pick some up. They only distribute in state, but they are world class. Favorites are Two Women, Totally Naked, and their Oktoberfest beer called Staghorn is second to none in my book. Spotted Cow is their most popular, but it's not all that in my book. Blue Moon-esque.

My go-tos are Lagunitas Sucks IPA and Elysian Stardust (this one just of late). Of course, I also love Ballast Point Big Eye, and Dorado, but they can get pricey. Of course, Bells Two Hearted is consistently great, and I'm also a fan of Stone Delicious IPA. In case you picked up on a pattern, yes, after growing up in Michigan on Bells and Founders, I'm now a SoCal West Coast IPA convert. No apologies.

honus carbuncle · Post by **honus carbuncle** » Wed Sep 07, 2016 8:30 pm

I am completely the odd man out with IPAs and I haven't really met one that I liked. Once in a while I will have greenline on tap because that's very popular around here and it seems okay... I assume IPA drinkers would scoff at it. Thus far however, the only way I've ever been able to really enjoy an IPA is after 5 or so non-IPA beers.

I realize this is sacrilege.

Post by **Mai** » Fri Sep 09, 2016 2:30 pm

honus carbuncle wrote:I am completely the odd man out with IPAs and I haven't really met one that I liked. Once in a while I will have greenline on tap because that's very popular around here and it seems okay... I assume IPA drinkers would scoff at it. Thus far however, the only way I've ever been able to really enjoy an IPA is after 5 or so non-IPA beers.

I realize this is sacrilege.

Eh, I'm there with you. I haven't yet really learned to love the hop disaster that are most IPAs (no one yell at me), although Ballast Point Grapefruit Sculpin can get it, but mostly IPAs don't do it for me. I have graduated from only stouts to also enjoying sours, lagers, and other fruity things, which may not be an improvement, but I've also started taking advantage of the local Colorado scene.

Colorado stuff: For anyone who likes sours, Crooked Stave's Mama Bear's Sour Cherry Pie is fabulous. I've also developed a serious passion for Upslope's Craft Lager, which is not anything unique or mindblowing, but just a solid delicious lager. If you are ever able to get something by Finkel & Garf, I am in love with their Oatmeal Stout. Basically, come to Colorado and drink beer. A lot of the stuff I'm really into here doesn't distribute (hipsterrrrr) but Avery started canning their Gose and I'm glad.

capn castom · Post by **capn castom** » Wed Sep 14, 2016 9:43 pm

Also not down with the hoppy beers (IPAs).

Mai, I recently discovered sour beers myself. My favorite has been the Rodenbach, and and Rodenbach Grand Cru. Both sour, both awesome, but sadly both expensive wherever Ive encountered them.

Besides that very occasional indulgence, my go-to is Six Points brewery's Sweet Action, an easy-drinking and tasty ale. Ive seen it called a cream ale sometimes, but I havent noticed it being too creamy myself.

Another favorite of mine is the Hitachino Nest Beer, a Japanese white ale. I usually only enjoy white ales for a couple sips before I get sick of them, but this one I could probably drink all night.

capn castom · Post by **capn castom** » Tue Jul 18, 2017 7:46 am

This year's summer beer: Oarsman Ale - Bells Brewery
Light, highly drinkable, wheat beer with a nice light lemony tartness to it. Very refreshing.

Antipasta · Post by **Antipasta** » Sat Aug 12, 2017 6:37 pm

honus carbuncle wrote:I am completely the odd man out with IPAs and I haven't really met one that I liked.

Mai wrote:Eh, I'm there with you. I haven't yet really learned to love the hop disaster that are most IPAs (no one yell at me)

capn castom wrote:Also not down with the hoppy beers (IPAs).

You kids these days! Back in my day I grew my own hops because that was the only way to get a proper IPA (true story). It's too hot here in Atlanta to really grow them, though.

Here's what's in the fridge:
Creature Comforts Tropicalia IPA. Athens GA. One of those newfangled "juicy" super hop flavor IPAs.
Scofflaw Basement IPA. Atlanta GA. It's another juicy IPA!
Sierra Nevada Tropical Torpedo IPA. Hey, juicy IPA! From their North Carolina brewery so still practically local.

But you could probably survive visiting, since there are also a few palate cleansers like Creature Comforts Athena (Berliner Weisse), Reformation Cadence (Atlanta area, Belgian style double-ish), and some strays from mix tape boxes.

[/curmudgeon]

capn castom · Post by **capn castom** » Thu Jan 18, 2018 6:18 pm

I finally got around to visiting the bar a buddy of my works at.
I gotta say, if you are a beer nerd and ever find yourself in Bushwick Brooklyn, check out The Well.
http://www.thewellbrooklyn.com/

I guess the prices are good for nyc, but then again, the "price of a beer" in my head is still based on turn of the millennia prices, so everything everywhere always seems expensive.

capn castom · Post by **capn castom** » Fri Mar 09, 2018 11:36 am

I continue to dig Bell's Brewing. Discovered this one recently, which is everything I like about the Oarsman Ale previously posted, but more of it.
More dry hoppiness and delicious sour tartness.
Stupid looking label, but if something is going to go wrong with a beer, it might as well be that.

Lyft · Post by **Lyft** » Fri Jun 01, 2018 2:06 pm

In the fridge:

Aging
The Abyss | Deschutes Brewery
2012 - present (two bottles of each year). It ages splendidly! (Also the only stout I enjoy)

Double Bastard Ale | Arrogant Brewing
2014 - present (One of my favorites. It's great right from the start, but dramatically changes, for the better, after 2 years)

For more immediate use:
Monk's Blood | 21st Amendment Brewery (Lovely ale with a hint of cinnamon)
Hell Or High Watermelon | 21st Amendment Brewery (Summer favorite!)
Midas Touch | Dogfish Head (I like having a bottle or two of this around as a great introduction to craft beer)
Stone Delicious IPA | Stone Brewing

capn castom · Post by **capn castom** » Thu Jun 07, 2018 9:16 am

Yeah, I also dig the 21st Amendment beers! Watermelon beer, who would have guessed that would be drinkable ?!
Their Bitter American is also pretty tasty, and who doesnt love space monkey art?

Current summer beer go-to now that the Latest Sour has become hard to find: Sixpoints Brewery - Citrus Jammer.
A nice sour gose that isnt overly salty.