CAG Beer Drinkers Unite! Beer Snobs and Cheap Ass Drunks Welcome!

[quote name='Access_Denied']I tried the Blue Moon seasonal the other day and I wasn't a fan at all. Very odd taste. :/

But, I did have a few good ones on Saturday. I went to a place in Gurnee, IL called Timmy O'Tooles and man was their beer selection awesome. It was expensive, but it was huge. I only had two beers. The first was a Three Floyd's Robert the Bruce (Scottish ale) which was pretty good. The second was a random pick: some random Chicago pale ale (Finch or something?). That was also pretty solid.

And last week I stopped in Munster, IN at Three Floyd's on the way home and picked up a bunch of stuff. Gumballhead, Dreadnaught, Jinx Proof, Alpha King, Pride and Joy and Zombie Dust. All really good stuff. Gumballhead is my favorite though, seeing as I love wheat beers.

Also, the Sierra Nevada winter seasonal is pretty good. I'd reccommend it. (I love all Sierra Nevada beers.)

I don't try as many beers as I did over the summer, but I'm getting back into trying some cool stuff. I'm also thinking about starting to brew my own beer, but I'm not sure where to start. Anybody have any suggestions? Keep in mind that I'm in college, so spending hundreds of dollars isn't really in the game plan. :p[/QUOTE]

Timmy O' Toole's is a pretty cool place. I live near Gurnee so I've been there often.
 
I've tried brewing my own beer but it never turns out any good. Huge fan of Guinness. Love Blue Moon as well but they dont sell it in Canada (to my knowledge). Love Granville Island Winter Ale. Also a big fan of Innis & Gunn (although its only the type of you have one or two of IMO).
 
Had a Ommegang Belgian abbey ale just now. Pretty good. Has a nice brown color and a mild lambic taste. Not crazy about lambics but its pretty mild that I don't really mind it. Good after taste too.
 
[quote name='sendme']Drinking a Chatoe Rogue Pumpkin Patch Ale. Has anyone tried this before? A lot of the pumpkin beers seem lacking or to strong in taste for me this year. Even ones I have had in past years. This is the first time I have tried this beer and the first time I have even seen it. It is good however the taste isn't that strong, but what taste is there is really good. It is not sweet like most pumpkin beers.[/QUOTE]


I quaffed one of these recently it was quite delicious, the spices arent overwhelming like most pumpkin ales...btw after downing one of them I was quite happy! Not sure what the alcohol content is...

also. I recently tried the Rogue Hazlenut Brown Necter...holy shit this is a freaking great European style brown ale...the hazlenutty flavor really breaks through but it's not TOO nutty...very delish
 
Anyone try the Guiness Black? They've been advertising the heck out of it on TV lately. I like Guiness, and I like very dark beers, so I thought I'd probably like this one...
 
[quote name='Backlash']Anyone try the Guiness Black? They've been advertising the heck out of it on TV lately. I like Guiness, and I like very dark beers, so I thought I'd probably like this one...[/QUOTE]

Had it sometime in summer and didn't like it. It wasn't terrible but it was very average to me. Im not crazy about lagers myself so I usually stick to the same ones(Sam Adams Boston Lager,Victory,Flying Dog Amber).

Currently working on a Samuel Adams Tasman Red ipa. Pretty good. I'm loving the redish color and has a good hoppy taste. Very smooth and a nice after taste.
 
I'm not a fan of Guiness Black however I do want to pick up that 12 pack they have for the holidays. I just can't seem to find it in the St. Louis area. I really want to try the Generosity Ale they have in it.
 
Shift pale lager is my new jam.

I also tried a Racer 5 IPA (Bear Republic), but can't seem to find any in the stores. Haven't tried the big liquor stores yet, though, either. I'm not usually an IPA guy, but this one was good.
 
If you like the Racer 5, try some of the other west coast IPAs--maybe be you like those more piney IPAs more than the more citrusy east coast style ones.

A few good ones are:

Stone IPA
Lagunitas IPA
Green Flash West Coast IPA
Russian River Pliney the Elder


As for the Guinness Black Lager, I didn't care for it either. Pretty bland. But I'm not a huge lager fan in general, and don't think I've had a black lager I've liked. So it's probably more that I just don't like the style rather than it being a poor example of the style.
 
Been working on a growler of Founders bfast stout this week with my wife - one of her favs.

Going down to my friend's brewery tonight to visit with some mutual friends coming in to town from Chattanooga. The brewery is premiering their DIPA tonight so should be fun!
 
[quote name='shieryda']What about Anchor Liberty Ale?[/QUOTE]

Haven't lurked over here for a while... but Anchor Christmas/Seasonal is amazing! I tore it up, when I lived in LA.

But I've moved on, now, and I've got a new fave: Delirium Noel!

Anyone who has an excellent beer store with large selection, head to the import section, bottled Belgium Christmas beer. I actually made nice with my local beer buyer, and he purchased a few cases. I already got one case, and in a few days, I'll go buy another. If interested, move fast. The family brewery only makes 3 beers, which tihs is one. And it will only be for sale as long as the distributors have stock. So buy now, buy often! :)
 
Yeah, the Anchor Christmas is usually pretty good (this years is, had it on tap last week). They change it up each year, so it can be hit or miss.
 
Went to a great wedding in Lake Tahoe. Much props to Anchor Steam Brewer in San Fran for all the great beer for the bachelor party and reception.

Their ale is great but their Liberty Ale (IPA) is simply off the chain. Hoppy without being overpowering. It's everything I want a West Coast IPA to be.
 
[quote name='bordjon']Just a heads up for some cheap decent beer glasses from New Belgium. Well - not super cheap - and I'm not positive they are decent but I'm sure they are ok. I have 40+ beer glasses - half of which are specialty glasses (tulips and such) - so I surely don't NEED any more but couldn't pass this up. They are 8.99 and free shipping plus a free $1 donation to one of 4 charities.

http://shop.newbelgium.com/store/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=GG&Category_Code=GW

Oh yeah - and if you add anything else - I added a 2.00 sticker - it tacks on UPS shipping at the tune of ~10 bucks! Obviously I dropped the sticker from my cart...[/QUOTE]

Thanks for that link. I ordered a set and got them in a few days ago. There very well made and not thin and delicate. Well worth the price. Might pick up another set.
 
Samual Adams is offering 2 free (pay for shipping/tax) perfect pint glass. One per address, I paid like $11 for two, I've wanted them for a while and it's $30 at the store for a 4pack.

"Holiday Glassware Gift Offer Text "PINT" to 63065 to enter a code at www.estore.samualadams.com

I picked up the Winter Lager and there was an offer/coupon. Sam Adams if my favorite corporate beers at least the Oktoberfest and I'm enjoying the Winter Lager4
 
Honestly the perfect pint glass from Sam Adams is probably my favorite glass. And as I mentioned earlier I have a shit ton of different glasses. The Duvel goblet is a really nice glass too. I split a lot of bombers/750s as well as growlers with my wife and we use sampler glasses a lot. We have several from going to Brewgrass and our local beer festival here in Birmingham and I also have a set of 10oz stemmed samplers from Allagash and all those get tons of use too. But that perfect pint really is a nice glass!

Yeah those New Belgium glasses are pretty nice - I'm gonna keep one and give one to a friend. They are substantial - I got the larger 16oz.

Just about to polish off (probably tomorrow) a growler of a local beer - Good People Coffee Oatmeal Stout. Very easy drinking beer actually. And have a growlerette of Heavy Seas Bourbon Barrel Below Deck Barleywine on deck!

Anybody had any of the Kirkland Signature Single Malt 20 year this year? We can't get liqor in the Costco's here in our state or I'd snatch some up.

I don't think I'll be picking up the Westy brick - as much as I'd love to I just can't justify the cost. Nobody I know is interested in going in on it with me and while it'd be awesome to have six of those bad boys I just don't need it. If it truly is a one time thing and they never release any more over here like that then those will be worth a pretty penny.
 
I don't really like the taste of Guiness but damn it do I love the taste (and look) of a Black and Blue.

Can anyone recommend me (a) new beer(s) to try (I'm in Texas so hopefully something that is relatively easy to find.). The beers I usually get Ziegenbock, Heineken, Shiner Blonde, Blue Moon, Dos Equis, and occasionally Guiness Black Lager.
 
Yeah, the perfect pint is great. Very versatile. I mainly just use that and haven't bothered with buying a bunch of glass wear. Just have those and one Chimay challice (had a St. Bernardus one, but broke it) and a few regular pint glasses (well 12 oz ones).

Haven't tried much recently. Had Unita's DIPA in their Crooked line, was just ok. Need to pick up the Stone Vertical Epic 12/12/12.
 
The Westy brick (which I posted a link to a couple weeks ago) is certainly hot shit right now. Our state got a decent allotment. Some states got none. There's some fuss about places trying to make a profit - hefty or not - on this set since it's suppose to be for a charity cause. I also mentioned a day or so ago that I opted out - just too spendy for me since I'm more interested in U.S. craft - big frontier beers. If you want that Westy experience without the price tag just pick up a St. Bernardus ABT 12 and call it night. (or you could try to win one of the auctions that keep getting shut down around the 400 dollar mark on ebay!)

http://belgianbeerspecialist.blogspot.com/2010/09/westvleteren-and-st-bernardus-real.html

I had an '09 and a '12 Founder's Breakfast Stout last night. WOW what a difference a few years makes. That aged one was wild - I've NEVER smelled/tasted black olives on a beer before but it was there - and pretty prevalent. As was plum/fig. It was awesome. The hop character was nearly gone from the aged but very present in the fresh - most of the back end was milder on the aged - but up front the aged had all that crazy character that the new one lacked. It's really got me excited to start sitting back a lot more RIS to age/vertical.

I'll be going to a friends for a small get together on the 21st - end of the world? And in a moment of irony I'll be drinking mostly Belgian/Belgian-style after I just said I'm more interested in U.S beers (well one is a Canadian Belgain-style and one is a Michigan Belgian-style)... I've got some La Fin Du Monde for it but I'm also gonna crack open some oldies like an '08 Noel De Calabaza from Jolly Pumpkin and an '08 N'ice Chouffe - Belgian strong dark ftw! I actually have a '07 or '08 Maudite and an '08 Gulden Draak I could throw in there even!
 
Having an Oaked Big Hoppy Monster from Terrapin tonight. WTF - where's the carbonation? I'm starting to realize over or under-carbonated beers are a big turnoff to me. This one I was suspicious about when it lacked a head. It smells nice - and it's taste is nice - but the lack of carbonation ruins it for me. It seems to have a hoppy-er backbone compared to it's regular version. And the oak presence is ok with this beer I guess. Honestly I think I like the regular version better.
 
Had a Troegs JavaHead Stout. Pretty decent, nothing amazing but not bad. Coffee bean taste was noticeable but pretty mild. Very much prefer Southern Tier Java stout.
 
Grabbed the Stone Vertical Epic 12-12-12 and a St. Bernardus Christmas this evening.

Just finished the Stone. Thought it was very good, one of the better spiced beers I've tried. As the bottle says, it's brewed in the style of a Belgian Abbey ale but dryer. Lots of spices in it (also listed on the bottle), with cinnamon and orange being most prominent IMO.
 
I very much enjoyed the Delerium Noel. To me it seemed much "lighter" then most belgian types, but It was tasty as hell. Got another one sitting in the fridge that im gonna crack open soon. Haven't tried the Stone Vertical yet. Gonna pick up a couple of bottles it tomorrow. Have you tried it yet?
 
[quote name='motorkill']I very much enjoyed the Delerium Noel. Gonna pick up a couple of bottles it tomorrow. Have you tried it yet?[/QUOTE]

Another Noel fan! Hooray!

If you like it, make sure you pick it up quickly. These are in limited supply and don't last long after Christmas. I bought a case a couple weeks ago from my store, after speaking to the manager. Picking up another tomorrow! Love the stuff!
 
[quote name='skiizim']mmmmm... Stone, I guess I'll go pick some up, just not thrilled for the $7 a bottle.[/QUOTE]

Actually Stone is pretty good about pricing for their limited beers.

$6.99 for a 22oz bottle isn't bad at all when a lot of other micros and imports are $10-16 for 22oz or 750ml bottles.
 
[quote name='cancermatt']Another Noel fan! Hooray!

If you like it, make sure you pick it up quickly. These are in limited supply and don't last long after Christmas. I bought a case a couple weeks ago from my store, after speaking to the manager. Picking up another tomorrow! Love the stuff![/QUOTE]

Oh yeah I'll definitely picking up another bottle or two. There a little pricey but totally worth it I think.

And yes, I too think Stone prices are reasonable. You definitely get what you pay for. Just had a Stone Double Bastard and it was fantastic. I was also able to find a Stone Vertical 12/12/12 today. Can't wait to try it.
 
Having some Clown Shoes Porcine Unidragon - Bourbon barrel aged stout using smoked malts. 12.5%! Wild stuff here - complex - very upfront bourbon - really tastes sorta like bacon on the back end. Well at first anyway - the smokey is truly meaty at first - on my second glass not so much - which is a good thing for me. I'm enjoying this - on first sip I didn't think I would.

Had a fun beer tasting over the holidays. VA beers vs. AL beers - mostly. Tons of beer that night and Cards Against Humanity. The winner for me that night was Richmond's Hardywood Brewery Singel Belgian-style. We tasted probably 12-14 beers.

Got a couple small batch bourbons for gifts - Belle Meade and Basil Hayden's. Both really nice but pretty different. Belle Meade just started up - outta Nashville. It's a rye so it's spicy/peppery.

Picking up some local bombers tomorrow. Avondale's vanilla porter again (me and my wife love this stuff!) and Straight to Ale's Unobtanium - bourbon barrel aged old ale. Looking forward to trying the Unobtanium - have heard great stuff. I have a 22 of it that I'm gonna hold on to for a few years probably.
 
I found this picture last night while stumbling. I've only been interested in beer for a bit over a year now, so it was pretty interesting to me. Taught me a thing or two:

world-of-beer-infographic2.jpg

Also tried a few new ones recently. Nothing fancy as I just grabbed a mix a six, but still pretty good. I'm particularly fond of Polestar Pilsner and Schalfy Pilsner.

Polestar Pilsner
Schlafly Pilsner
Chi-Town Windy City Wheat
Sam Adams Latitude IPA
Breckenridge Agave Wheat
Victory Prima Pils

EDIT: Forums shrank the image. Copy the URL into the address bar to be able to read the smaller text.
 
Had a couple of really tasty stuff during the holidays. Some of the better and interesting stuff were

Samuel Adams 13th Hour Stout
Goose Island Big John Stout
Rogue Voodoo Doughnut Bacon Maple ale
Stone 12.12.12 Vertical Epic ale
Stone 12.21.12 IPA
Epic Imperial Pumpkin porter

Good drinks and good times.
 
[quote name='Access_Denied']I found this picture last night while stumbling. I've only been interested in beer for a bit over a year now, so it was pretty interesting to me. Taught me a thing or two:[/QUOTE]
Cool image, and I like that many of Great Lakes beers made the list.
 
Had a Sierra Nevada Narwhal Imp. Stout tonight. Really nice beer - bit of smoky-ness that was great. Having some Sam Adams red something or another from their spring sampler that we picked up at Costco. Has six different beers in it. It's a nice second or third beer for me after having a high gravity. Had a Green Flash Rayon Vert the other night. "Wild" stuff for sure. Bretts are funky. Not sure I really care for them. Green Flash can do complex though as this was a very complex beer.
 
Really into cider lately

Currently enjoying...

Strongbow
Bold Rock
Angry Orchard
Woodchuck

Anyone have any more to recommend?
 
Backwoods Bastard
Breakfast Stout
Hopslam
Schlafly TIPA

Had some cask hopslam last night and picked up six bottles of Bells Black Note stout today.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
bread's done
Back
Top