The OFFICIAL Craft Beer Thread

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Sun Jan 18, 2015 9:13 pm

DC47 wrote:Good point. What's too old for your standard craft beer?

Completely depends on the style and quality of ingredients. High hop/low malt beers, like IPAs are best fresh. Breweries will tell you best before 3 months or sometimes 6 months. Lower alcohol beers usually don't hold up with age, either. The fall "harvest" beers are supposed yo be consumed within 3 months of being bottled. These are wet hopped, meaning fresh hops straight from the field, as opposed to the dried hop pellets usually used. Kind of like the difference between cooking with fresh herbs, and using the dried jars like McCormacks.

High alcohol barleywines, stouts and some other ales can improve with age. The high alcohol can mellow and allow more subtle flavors to come out. Barrel aged beers often improve with age. The fact that they chose it to aged in the first place says a lot. The oldest beer I had was a 12 year old JW Lees Harvest Ale (barley wine) aged in Lagavulin casks. 2002 I drank last year. It was incredible. Super mellow, and I would guess it had a strong alcohol taste when fresh. There was almost no carbonation at all, which can happen with old beers. It became slightly syrupy, too, which i am not a fan of.

bapo! · Post by **bapo!** » Tue Jan 20, 2015 3:26 pm

Seven bottles of beer on the wall. Or, rather, in my fridge. Okay, it's actually six bottles and one can. Whatever. The plan is, once these run out, to not buy anything new for a while. A month. Six weeks. Whenever it feels right. I did this last year, too. Just seems like it's a healthy thing to do sometimes. But for now, this last can of SixPoint Resin is going to be glorious.

I don't want to give up this thread, tho. Don't forget about me, beerbros! Now that I'm trying to get back into film, maybe I'll check in and talk about what it's like to watch depressing movies and confront honest human emotions while sober. The horror! Is it time to rewatch 'Syncecdoche, New York'? Stay tuned!

Anyway, does anybody else here read Will Gordon's quasi-daily beer reviews on Deadspin? I'm a big fan, even tho his tastes are a bit more populist than my own. He rambles a lot, about beer or something else, before cramming the actual review into the last couple of paragraphs. This wouldn't work if he didn't have a likeable voice, but I like him. I always check Deadspin mid-afternoon in the hope that he's posted something new.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Tue Jan 20, 2015 3:42 pm

Same take. Still trying to figure out exactly where he lives (he's alluded to a "home bar") and best I can figure is its Central / Inman Square and Bukowski's is the bar. I have a very exciting life.

Brontoburglar · Post by **Brontoburglar** » Tue Jan 20, 2015 4:11 pm

Anyone else get Hopslam yesterday?

bapo! · Post by **bapo!** » Tue Jan 20, 2015 7:29 pm

Is it time to rewatch 'Syncecdoche, New York'?

Nope.

I need to watch a hockey game to stabilize myself. Pens/Flyers tonight. Sounds good. Somebody hit somebody! Don't let me down, Steve Downie!

SixPoint Resin: Still amazing. If this beer were an actor, it would be Philip Seymour Hoffman.

devilfluff · Post by **devilfluff** » Tue Jan 20, 2015 8:14 pm

Got some Carton Regular Coffee cans today...

Rush2112 · Post by **Rush2112** » Tue Jan 20, 2015 8:14 pm

A nice rum barreled quad with Good Karma at Mountain Sun in Boulder.

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Tue Jan 20, 2015 8:19 pm

Rush2112 wrote:A nice run barreled quad with Good Karma at Mountain Sun in Boulder.

Aren't quads like higher alcohol trippels?

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Tue Jan 20, 2015 8:39 pm

Brontoburglar wrote:Anyone else get Hopslam yesterday?

Not yet. My Mom actually went to Wegmans and looked for me today, as today is the listed distribution day for NY. I didn't even have to remind her, which is very surprising, as I mentioned the release date 2 weeks ago. I'm usually lucky if she remembers something like that 5 minutes later.

I was in the general vicinity of my prior job's office today, and stopped in at one of my old stores. They had a couple of 500ml bottles of the XVII Anniversary Bourbon Barrel Old Rasputin. Way more than I would normally spend, but I earned it this past few months, so fuck it. I'm waiting for Bapo! to make a trip out to Jersey to pop it open, as Bapo appreciates the perfection that is Old Rasputin.

devilfluff · Post by **devilfluff** » Tue Jan 20, 2015 8:50 pm

sancarlos wrote:
Rush2112 wrote:A nice run barreled quad with Good Karma at Mountain Sun in Boulder.
Aren't quads like higher alcohol trippels?

Not at all.

Quads are much darker. They are vinous and usually have dark fruit notes.

Triples are a form of golden ale with spice notes.

bapo! · Post by **bapo!** » Tue Jan 20, 2015 9:00 pm

syb wrote:I'm waiting for Bapo! to make a trip out to Jersey to pop it open, as Bapo appreciates the perfection that is Old Rasputin.

That's very sweet, but I don't drink liquor, so the bourbon barrel-aged stuff is wasted on me. (I did try Victory's Old Horizontal last year, and I didn't like it.) But regular ol' Old Rasputin? Count me in. Or I can just sit in the corner and sip my tap water.

If North Jersey ever gets a junior-hockey team, I'll make the trip.

devilfluff · Post by **devilfluff** » Tue Jan 20, 2015 9:05 pm

bapo! wrote:
syb wrote:I'm waiting for Bapo! to make a trip out to Jersey to pop it open, as Bapo appreciates the perfection that is Old Rasputin.
That's very sweet, but I don't drink liquor, so the bourbon barrel-aged stuff is wasted on me. (I did try Victory's Old Horizontal last year, and I didn't like it.) But regular ol' Old Rasputin? Count me in. Or I can just sit in the corner and sip my tap water.

If North Jersey ever gets a junior-hockey team, I'll make the trip.

Old Horizontal or Oak Horizontal?

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Tue Jan 20, 2015 9:06 pm

devilfluff wrote:
sancarlos wrote:
Rush2112 wrote:A nice run barreled quad with Good Karma at Mountain Sun in Boulder.
Aren't quads like higher alcohol trippels?
Not at all.

Quads are much darker. They are vinous and usually have dark fruit notes.

Triples are a form of golden ale with spice notes.

Gotcha. I have one these I haven't tried yet, so I didn't know what to expect.

bapo! · Post by **bapo!** » Tue Jan 20, 2015 9:10 pm

devilfluff wrote:
bapo! wrote:
syb wrote:I'm waiting for Bapo! to make a trip out to Jersey to pop it open, as Bapo appreciates the perfection that is Old Rasputin.
That's very sweet, but I don't drink liquor, so the bourbon barrel-aged stuff is wasted on me. (I did try Victory's Old Horizontal last year, and I didn't like it.) But regular ol' Old Rasputin? Count me in. Or I can just sit in the corner and sip my tap water.

If North Jersey ever gets a junior-hockey team, I'll make the trip.
Old Horizontal or Oak Horizontal?

Oak Horizontal. Split it with two friends, so I only drank about 7 ounces. That was enough. Glad that I was able to try it, but it's just not my thing.

Rush2112 · Post by **Rush2112** » Tue Jan 20, 2015 9:14 pm

sancarlos wrote:
Rush2112 wrote:A nice run barreled quad with Good Karma at Mountain Sun in Boulder.
Aren't quads like higher alcohol trippels?

More alcohol yes, but typically more brown sugar-ness and malt than triples.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Fri Jan 23, 2015 4:45 pm

Fucking Anheuser Busch is fucking buying fucking Elysian. Fuck.

Rush2112 · Post by **Rush2112** » Fri Jan 23, 2015 5:23 pm

I wonder how long til Loser changes it's branding.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Fri Jan 23, 2015 5:39 pm

It double sucks because Space Dust was a legit 9.

DC47 · Post by **DC47** » Fri Jan 23, 2015 6:20 pm

Rush2112 wrote:I wonder how long til Loser changes it's branding.

Right now in a cold glass skyscraper in downtown St. Louis, some MBA is putting the finishing touches on the deck showing how they can put $27.4 million into this brand to make 'Corporate Beer Still Sucks' into a household name, from Brooklyn to Portland. 62.3% gross margins, bwahaha!

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Fri Jan 23, 2015 11:17 pm

DC47 wrote: Right now in a cold glass skyscraper in downtown St. Louis, some MBA is putting the finishing touches on the deck showing how they can put $27.4 million into this brand to make 'Corporate Beer Still Sucks' into a household name, from Brooklyn to Portland. 62.3% gross margins, bwahaha!

Yup. All while sourcing inferior ingredients, reducing QC through mass expansion and at best keeping the prices the same, if not raising them. Elysian will be a very easy beer to boycott. The only Elysian I've tried was the Superfuzz Blood Orange Ale at a beer festival. I could barely choke down the small sip I took before dumping the rest in a mud puddle. I usually hate that type of crap anyways, so I'm not judging them on a fruit beer. There was no line and I was standing there, otherwise I never would have even bothered trying it.

Drinking an Anchor Christmas or whatever it is called. It would be pretty decent if it wasn't so thin, highly carbonated and the flavor watered down. Maybe I've blown my taste buds with DIPAs and strong stouts lately, but I can barely taste anything. It went down extremely quickly, though.

OK, just washed that down with a Wookey Jack. Seriously love this beer. Love Rye IPAs, and this is a great one. Firestone Walker, I should say. Love the label, too. I need to get that in t-shirt form. Speaking of Rye, I just picked up a pack of Founders Black Rye. Really looking forward to trying that tomorrow. Having a dinner party, so I needed to keep the pack intact for appearances. Off to the scotch thread, then the Lit thread!

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Sat Jan 24, 2015 3:00 pm

Had a Descutes Chasin Freshies. Solid IPA.

teeteebee · Post by **teeteebee** » Sat Jan 24, 2015 3:59 pm

Finally found Grapefruit Sculpin. Can't wait to try some later on. Big fan of Sculpin and I really like Grapefruit juice. So I anticipate this just being a top notch beer.

DSafetyGuy · Post by **DSafetyGuy** » Sat Jan 24, 2015 9:55 pm

Had a couple Stone Enjoy By 2.14.15 pints the other night. Pretty good.

Post by **brian** » Sat Jan 24, 2015 10:09 pm

teeteebee wrote:Finally found Grapefruit Sculpin. Can't wait to try some later on. Big fan of Sculpin and I really like Grapefruit juice. So I anticipate this just being a top notch beer.

It's super good.

Rush2112 · Post by **Rush2112** » Sat Jan 24, 2015 10:50 pm

teeteebee wrote:Finally found Grapefruit Sculpin. Can't wait to try some later on. Big fan of Sculpin and I really like Grapefruit juice. So I anticipate this just being a top notch beer.

Have a local called Strange Brewing that has a grapefruit DIPA called Breakfast. Sadly people have heard out about it and it's getting harder to find.

I've heard the Habernero is very take it or leave it.

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Sat Jan 24, 2015 11:20 pm

Founders Black Rye. Really damned good. I love the black IPAs and rye beers, and this is the best of both. Such a great mix of porter malt, hops and rye.

Pruitt · Post by **Pruitt** » Sat Jan 24, 2015 11:49 pm

Cute label - monstrous brew.

Beau's Bottle Imp Imperial Stout. Fantastic 9% beer from a small Ontario brewer.

Never had a disappointing beer from these folks.

Rush2112 · Post by **Rush2112** » Sun Jan 25, 2015 2:45 am

Ballsat Point Victory At Sea.

Very very nice Coffee/Vanilla Porter.

Let's meet at Zaz's place. Everyone bring at least a 12er of micros?

devilfluff · Post by **devilfluff** » Sun Jan 25, 2015 10:21 am

Rush2112 wrote:Ballsat Point Victory At Sea.

Very very nice Coffee/Vanilla Porter.

Let's meet at Zaz's place. Everyone bring at least a 12er of micros?

Micros? Did you borrow Marty's Delorian?

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Sun Jan 25, 2015 4:09 pm

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Tue Jan 27, 2015 2:06 am

Stopped in at Mikkeller Bar on the way to my hotel from the airport. High school friend recently moved out to SF, and lives really close, so I couldn't not go, right? Thanks to Rush for putting the bar into my head. I had the Fra Via Til spiced porter, which was fantastic. Friend had the Single Hop Simcoe IIPA and Tenderloin IPA. Really wish I didn't have to drive.

Rush2112 · Post by **Rush2112** » Tue Jan 27, 2015 11:39 am

Love Mikkeller Bar.

I'm hoping to get back out to SF this Spring. Need to hit up Mikkeler Bar and the Trappist again, as well as hit up Lagunitas, Almanac, and The Rare Barrel.

Rush2112 · Post by **Rush2112** » Tue Jan 27, 2015 11:41 am

devilfluff wrote:
Rush2112 wrote:Ballsat Point Victory At Sea.

Very very nice Coffee/Vanilla Porter.

Let's meet at Zaz's place. Everyone bring at least a 12er of micros?
Micros? Did you borrow Marty's Delorian?

Place that I work for beer every once in awhile still has them designated as micros, sticks in my mind.

Also looking forward to hammering these down this summer

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Tue Jan 27, 2015 12:00 pm

Five days until I unleash the home brew. Excited but expecting a letdown.

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Wed Jan 28, 2015 1:44 am

Went to a Safeway to see the local sampling. Currently drinking a Bear Republic Apex Special IPA. Really fucking solid, heavy on the pine, but short of Resin. Been too long since I picked up some Resin.

Also picked up a sixer of Deschutes Black Butte Porter. It's good, but nothing special. Always wanted to try Deschutes, but I'll need to sample some other beers from them.

Rush2112 · Post by **Rush2112** » Wed Jan 28, 2015 2:32 am

The Sybian wrote:
Also picked up a sixer of Deschutes Black Butte Porter. It's good, but nothing special. Always wanted to try Deschutes, but I'll need to sample some other beers from them.

The Black Butte Anniversary is very good, their The Abyss is fantastic. The shelf beers are good, but as you say nothing that special, though the Fresh Squeezed IPA is one my current gotos and up from their typical good.

P.D.X. · Post by **P.D.X.** » Wed Jan 28, 2015 2:46 pm

Mirror Pond is probably my most drank beer.

Post by **brian** » Wed Jan 28, 2015 3:05 pm

My keg for my kegerator is dry and I'm pretty sure I'm going to spring for the Fresh Squeezed this go around. It's pricey, but worth it.

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Wed Jan 28, 2015 5:11 pm

The Sybian wrote:Stopped in at Mikkeller Bar on the way to my hotel from the airport. High school friend recently moved out to SF, and lives really close, so I couldn't not go, right? Thanks to Rush for putting the bar into my head. I had the Fra Via Til spiced porter, which was fantastic. Friend had the Single Hop Simcoe IIPA and Tenderloin IPA. Really wish I didn't have to drive.

How long are you in the area, Syb?

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Wed Jan 28, 2015 7:47 pm

sancarlos wrote:
The Sybian wrote:Stopped in at Mikkeller Bar on the way to my hotel from the airport. High school friend recently moved out to SF, and lives really close, so I couldn't not go, right? Thanks to Rush for putting the bar into my head. I had the Fra Via Til spiced porter, which was fantastic. Friend had the Single Hop Simcoe IIPA and Tenderloin IPA. Really wish I didn't have to drive.
How long are you in the area, Syb?

Leaving very earl Friday. I have dinner/drinks events every night, so no chance to meet up this time around. I'm sure I'll be back, lots of talk of conferences and meetings, most will be here.