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

Breckenridge 471
Stone Ruination
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale

Local/Regional
Oaken Barrel Gnaw Bone Pale Ale
Sun King Osiris Pale Ale
New Albanian Hoptimus

I'm particular to the bitterness of Western IPAs. The only Eastern IPA I like is Dogfish 60 minute.
 
So it's gotten popular around here to have "draught to go" at package stores and gas stations and a Chevron real close to me just got on board with 14 taps. All craft brew and plenty of local. I picked up a half gallon of Straight to Ale Monkeynaut IPA - top notch beer by any standards! STA is out of Huntsville, AL and have been around for maybe a little over a year. They are only doing kegs right now and serving this state only. Was tempted by a half-gallon of Hercules. They sell the beer in quarts (5.99) half-gallons (9.99) and gallons (18.99) so a half gallon of Hercules for 9.99 is pretty sweet. They come in milk jugs that they seal on site. They have become known as ghetto growlers. You pretty much have to drink them immediately as opposed to glass growlers that can last for a week or two before opening. Pretty cool for me since I don't get out to bars as much as I use to. Now I can get keg-only stuff a mile away!
 
[quote name='rabbitt']Drinking Stone's Belgo Anise IRS. This is their homage to St. Bernardus Abt 12.[/QUOTE]

Nice, I'll have to look for that. Love me some Abt 12. I bought my buddy a big bottle of it for his birthday a few weeks ago. He proceeded to polish that sucker off after having maybe 4 other beers and a margarita. I warned him about that 10% ABV...
 
I didn't really find it very similar to the Abt 12. The Abt 12 is a lot dryer. The Belgo Anise is very thick and strong just like the regular stone IRS--just with some added flavor from the extra Anisa and oak aging etc.
 
Had the Dogfish Palo Santo on Saturday night. Damn good brown ale with a 12% punch but I expect nothing less from the best brewery on the East Coast.

Had lunch at BJ's Brewhouse today and they make a decent Pale Ale. Not as good as Sierra Nevada but decent for a chain brewhouse.
 
i think this saturday i'll grab some magic hat #9 or some sam adams those make me feel good, all this cheap shit ive been drinking makes me feel like im slowly dying. ive been drinking mostly a 40 or 2 a night of OE with either bud limes or a tall boy of twisted tea.
 
Shiner's already got their Oktoberfest in stores here and high temps are still over 100 daily. Something's not right with the world :(

Tried Red Hook's Copper Hook recently, it was meh.
 
[quote name='depascal22']Oktoberfest can start up to six weeks before the beginning of Oktober though.[/QUOTE]

Yeah I know, more the awful high temperatures/drought in Texas I'm talking about. It's tough for me to even think of Oktoberfest when it's like this out. Hell I'm still drinking Modelo with lime and Shiner Blonde on the reg...
 
Picked up:

Heavy Seas-Haarvest Fresh Hop Porter.
Stone 15th Anniversary Imperial Black IPA
Dogfish Head Punkin Ale

Having the first now. It's ok. Very dry for a porter.
 
Had a few things lately. Great Divide Rumble oak aged IPA. Nice little beer - citrus and a bit of pine - not overly sweet though. Alcohol well masked at 7.2% I think it is. A bit of a smokey-ness to it but not much really. Looking forward to some more of this one.

Had a Magic Hat Hex - their octoberfest - with my dinner tonight at Whole Foods - was real nice - decidedly American octoberfest.

Got a couple odds and ends from Trader Joes - Nametag their cheap lager in a can - like super cheap - my wife got it to try as an alternative to pbr but it's a bit too sweet for her liking. I'm having one now and it is what it is. Also got their oatmeal stout and man I was surprised and how nice and complex it was - not watery tasting like some lower abv stouts I've had - this one was nice! Apparently use to be brewed by Goose Island and now brewed by Gordon Biersch.
 
Southern Tier's Pumpkin Ale is starting to make its way onto shelves. God I love that stuff but it comes at a steep price (9% ABV that tastes like candy means rough mornings)
 
Had a blast at brewgrass - couple new-to-me standouts were Coast Brewing and Nantahala Brewing. Had lots of good beer and good food in Asheville all around. Brought some goodies back as well!
 
[quote name='dmaul1114']I didn't really find it very similar to the Abt 12. The Abt 12 is a lot dryer. The Belgo Anise is very thick and strong just like the regular stone IRS--just with some added flavor from the extra Anisa and oak aging etc.[/QUOTE]

True. Abt 12 is the only other beer I could think of whose licorice flavor was a good one.

---

I've been trying pumpkin ales for the fall. I have to say, most of them are watery junk. Dogfish and Southern Tier have been the exception.
 
[quote name='bordjon']Had a blast at brewgrass - couple new-to-me standouts were Coast Brewing and Nantahala Brewing. Had lots of good beer and good food in Asheville all around. Brought some goodies back as well![/QUOTE]

Excellent to hear! Meant to send a PM on some places to check out while out in Asheville but time got away from me. If you have any recommendations of places and/or beers to try, let me know. We're heading out to Asheville over New Years.

Cheers.
 
What are you guys playing these days? Since this board seems to attract people who a) are over 18 and b) have moved beyond pounding schnapps to get a buzz-on (not judging), this seemed to be a good place to add a few new people to my friends list. As well, feel free to connect.
 
Stone's Sublimely Self-Righteous is awesome, and the imperial russian stout tastes like i'm drinking an oak tree. It's actually very smooth though.
 
Man where has this thread been? I'll admit I haven't been drinking anything too exciting lately but I did just pick up a pretty big haul from out of state so as I start drinking those I'll try and chime in.

Had some Coney Island Freaktoberfest (it was on sale for 2.99 a 4 pack!) and it was pretty darn decent. Some Brooklyn black chocolate stout (yum!) and various odds and ends lately that aren't too exciting. (got a handle of sailor jerry the other day!) And actually I've been drinking cheap wine a bit lately too.

Founders has just come in to my state so that's sorta exciting. The local beer bar had a Canadian breakfast stout to celebrate but I didn't get out for that - woulda been pretty sweet I imagine though.
 
Had some Dreadnaught this weekend at the local Casino (Horseshoe Hammond) was soo freaking excited when I found out they put it back on tap. Even though I only live like 20~25 minutes away from the FFF Brewery I don't like going there since it's usually at capacity. That and they charge more for it there than at the casino. IIRC it's about $6 for an 8oz glass at the Brewery, where as the casino has a Pint for the same price. Had 3 of them and was feeling pretty woozy haha.

I live in a pretty good area for beer variety. About a month or two ago I went to this place called "Beer Geeks" where they have 20 rotating taps. I should go more often but I only have like one friend who is into the whole trying out new beers thing. The rest of them are still into Bud Light and Mexican Imports.

The Horseshoe also has a nice selection with stuff like Skrimshaw, 312, Matilda, Sierra Nevada, Robert the Bruce, Dreadnaught and some other stuff I can't remember right now.

Having turned 21 at the beginning of the year, I quickly dreaded spending $4 on Bud Light at the bar when I'd need a 6 pack to even catch a buzz. Not only that but I just can't stomach that stuff anymore. Feels like I'm drinking water.
 
With cooler weather moving in I've found myself in the mood for a good porter. Planned on buying some when grocery shopping the other day, but that single six-pack of Great Lakes Christmas Ale sitting on the shelf immediately caught my eye. That stuff sells out quickly around here. Not much hop presence, but I love the spiciness.
 
Recently bought Brooklyn Brewery Black Chocolate Stout. I love this stuff. Couldn't wait for it to come out this year. I prefer drinking it when it gets colder.
 
Picked up some Bells Winter white ale - (a pretty decent wheat) and some Wild Heaven Imperial Brown. Wild Heaven is in Decatur over ATL way and they send kegs over here and bottles that are contract brewed by Thomas Creek in SC. Real good stuff.

Also been drinking pseudo dark n stormys with sailor jerry and some ginger ale a lot lately.
 
[quote name='rabbitt']The St. Bernardus Christmas Ale is delightful.[/QUOTE]

Ohhh, it's out. I love this stuff. Think I'll pick up a bottle for my birthday.
 
Had Stone's Double Bastard on Tuesday. Great beer but it's a one and done. Very high ABV and very complex taste. Hoppy like any other Stone beer but very complex for such a strong beer.

Have Paulaner Salvator Doublebock in the fridge. Going to crack one open in a few minutes.
 
Yeah, Double Bastard is great.

I'm having this year's Stone Vertical Epic currently.

Pretty interesting beer. From the label info it's an amber ale brewed with Anaheim chiles and cinnamon sticks, and with Belgian yeast that gives banana and clove notes to the beer.

Pretty apt description, get the pepper and cinnamon upfront, and the banana/cloves in the finish.

Another one and done beer though at 9.4% and a 22oz bottle.
 
Wow, just saw in an e-mail that my local beer store (Hop City in Atlanta) is expanding their tap selection for their Growlers from 16 to 60.

Been meaning to buy a Growler there and start going there more, that expansion will definitely have me doing so.
 
[quote name='fatboyjam']Here's a nice top-fifty beers list to print out and work through over the holidays. Any favorites on there that you've tried?
http://www.thefiftybest.com/beer/best_beers/[/QUOTE]

Of those I've had:

Allagash White--not a big fan, but I don't like Beligan style white ales in general

Avery The Maharaja--this is damn good if you like super hoppy IPAS

Bear Republic Racer 5 IPA--Solid IPA, but nothing mind blowing.

Bell's Two-Hearted Ale--Very good. One of the few citrusy/grape fruity east coast style IPAs that I really like.

Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA--one of my favorite double IPAs

Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA--didn't care for this one too much. It's like 18% ABV and the alcohol sweetness just overpowers the rest of the flavors IMO.

Duvel-not sure which Duvel they mean, but they're all ok but not on par with better Beligan Brewery's like St. Bernadous, Maredsous etc. IMO.

Great Lakes Dortmunder Gold--just had this one recently. Thought it was ok for a gold lager. I'm not Big on Lagers. Great Lakes makes some good stuff though. I like their porter a lot. Edmund Fitzgerald I think it's called. And their Commodore Perry IPA is very good.

Oskar Blues Ten FIDY--an outstanding imperial stout.

Russian River Pliny the Elder--outstanding, but not sold out east unfortunately. Had it on tap when I was in CA last year, one of the better IPAs I've had.

Stone Sublimely Self-Righteous--Very good, uber hoppy black ale. But there's other stone stuff I'd rank higher like their Ruination IPA, Russian Imperial Stout etc.

Troegs Nugget Nectar--oustanding IPA. Haven't seen it around since I moved to Atlanta. Used to get it a lot in the DC area when I lived their and it was out.


Pretty decent top 50 list. Doesn't match up with mine much as I'm really only into IPAs/DIPAs, Imperial Stouts, Barleywines and a few porters. Not big on lagers, white ales, pilsners etc.
 
Yuengling is new to my area. So many people in my social circle are raving about it, and many haven't even tried it.

"It's America's oldest brewery." -- Like that means anything.

Being open minded, I tried their Black and Tan on Christmas Eve. meh
 
Yeah, Yeungling is very mediocre beer. It's better than Bud/Miller/Coors, but not by much.

That said, I have seen it serve as a bridge for some people to move on from the big 3 and start trying more beers and getting into some better micro brew stuff. Sam Adams is another widely available beer that I've seen serve that purpose. Though they actually make decent beers.
 
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Yuengling is a decent brewery that serves as a nice bridge to try other stuff, like dmaul said.

I will always have a special place for it in my heart though since it is so widely available. Even at the worst townie bar in PA they have Yuengling on tap.
 
Yeah, it has no sentimental value to me as it wasn't available in WV when I was growing up and going to college there. And by the time I had it for the first time I was already getting into microbrew stuff after moving to the DC area, so I didn't care for it at that point.
 
[quote name='dmaul1114']
Bell's Two-Hearted Ale--Very good. One of the few citrusy/grape fruity east coast style IPAs that I really like.

...

Great Lakes Dortmunder Gold--just had this one recently. Thought it was ok for a gold lager. I'm not Big on Lagers. Great Lakes makes some good stuff though. I like their porter a lot. Edmund Fitzgerald I think it's called. And their Commodore Perry IPA is very good.
[/QUOTE]
I just had a bottle of Bell's Two-Hearted and I wasn't really impressed. Not bad, and I like some of their other brews a lot, but unless we're talking Hopslam (soon, yay) I'll get my hop fix elsewhere.

Glad to see Great Lakes getting some love. If you get the chance, check out their seasonal Lake Erie Monster. Not quite as good as Stone's Ruination Ale, but I like it a bit more than Dogfish Head's 90 minute.
 
Yeah, I don't buy Two Hearted, just get it on tap occasionally at a sports bar that doesn't have the greatest selection. I'm just not big on the citursy IPAs. Prefer the more piney, west coast style like Stone et al.

Unfortunately we don't get Great Lakes down here in ATL. Amazingly a little convenience store my Dad buys beer at in a tiny town in WV started carrying it. So I tried all the regular varieties and the Noseferatu as it was the only real micro brew they had aside from the mainstream ones like Magic Hat and Sierra Nevada and Sam Adams.
 
[quote name='dmaul1114']Yeah, Yeungling is very mediocre beer. It's better than Bud/Miller/Coors, but not by much.[/QUOTE]

For as cheap as it is Yeungling is good. One of the main production outputs is down here in Florida so it's widely avalible and as cheap your other generic American beers.

It's perfect for non-beer snobs who don't care about what they're drinking.

I haven't been drinking beer much lately. Every few weeks I'll stop by the market and pick up a 12 pack of Kirrin for $7.99. Been more of a Whiskey and Brandy drinker as of late.
 
Oh, I agree that Yeungling isn't bad for the price.

I'm just a huge beer snob, and don't drink a huge volume of beer (i.e. I don't drink to get drunk hardly ever) so I have no interest in cheap beer. :D

But it definitely beats the shit out of the big 3 for people who just want a cheap beer to get drunk on.
 
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