What BEER are you drinking?

Cisco Brewing Co.
--Whale's tale pale ale
--Summer of Lager

Surly Furious.

Three Floyds Gumball Head.

I think I'm starting to bore of Three Floyds beers...said nobody ever.

St Arnold's Amber at our tailgate.

Smithwick's

quote:

Originally posted by irwin:
Smithwick's

This was the beer we noticed most drank at lunch when we were in Ireland.

quote:

Originally posted by wine+art:

quote:

Originally posted by irwin:
Smithwick's

This was the beer we noticed most drank at lunch when we were in Ireland.

That is where I met Smithwick's for the first time.

quote:

Originally posted by irwin:

quote:

Originally posted by wine+art:

quote:

Originally posted by irwin:
Smithwick's

This was the beer we noticed most drank at lunch when we were in Ireland.

That is where I met Smithwick's for the first time.

And I'm guessing you two became fast friends.

Cameron's obsidian rum barrel aged imperial porter
Rogue dead guy ale & double dead guy
Beau's sleepy time imperial stout

The best recently.

Westvleteren 8

Rochefort Trappistes 10

St. Bernardus Abt 12

Goose Island Pere Jacques

quote:

Originally posted by wine+art:
The best recently.

Westvleteren 8

Rochefort Trappistes 10

St. Bernardus Abt 12

Goose Island Pere Jacques

Very nice! Where did you find the Westvleteren?

The Pere Jacques is nice, but shadow of the Matilda, IMO. What do you think between the two?

Moretti
Lagunitas IPA

Yuengling Oktoberfest

Scrimshaw Pilsner
Goose Island Sofie

Had a slew of others but these were the ones I liked best.

Rothko

Did you like the Yuengling Octoberfest?

quote:

Originally posted by scbeerman:
Rothko

Did you like the Yuengling Octoberfest?

Yes, I did.

I didn't even know that Yuengling made an Octoberfest beer. But when I asked the waitress at Sloppy Joe's in Key West what they had on draft, she suggested it, and it was good. So that's what I wound up drinking both days while hanging out in Key West.

2012 Goose Island Pere Jacques - as good as ever
Two Brothers Atom Smasher - never had this before, but I wouldn't seek it out again

Interestingly, the atom smasher had been my favorite in their lineup the last couple of years. I've had it on tap twice from this year's batch and didn't care much for it.

Oskar Blues Gubna
Atwater Conniption Fit

Wachusett Brewing Company Octoberfest (Westminster, MA)

Stone Brewing Co. just became available in Omaha within the last couple of weeks. What do you guys like from their lineup? I picked up a four pack of Oaked Arrogant Bastard today.

quote:

Originally posted by gmbdds:
Stone Brewing Co. just became available in Omaha within the last couple of weeks. What do you guys like from their lineup? I picked up a four pack of Oaked Arrogant Bastard today.

I live about 45 min. from their brewery. It's a cool place.

As far as the lineup goes, the Lucky Bastard is my favorite. But...it's a seasonal release.

For the regularly available brews, I like the "Sumblimely Self Righteous Ale" & the "Cali Belgique IPA." They have a bunch of collaboration beers with other breweries that are good too. Not sure what all is available in Omaha, but the beer is at a friendly enough price to allow for experimenting.

quote:

Originally posted by gmbdds:
Stone Brewing Co. just became available in Omaha within the last couple of weeks. What do you guys like from their lineup? I picked up a four pack of Oaked Arrogant Bastard today.

If you like me big you'll probably like the Ruination. When I'm in the mood there's not much better out there for the price as far as DIPA's go.

Four Peaks Peach Ale - really nice on a hot day
Oskar Blues G'Night
Knee Deep Hop Shortage

On tap at Two Brothers:
Ebel's Weiss
Cane & Ebel Red Rye Cask Conditioned

Shane,

There are already six or seven options available. I'll look into more detail. Thanks.

T Dub,

I noticed the Ruination today and will check it out. Thanks.

Elysian --The Great Pumpkin Imperial Pumpkin Ale
I didn't care for it at first, but it's starting to grow on me. Maybe it's the 8% talking...

quote:

Originally posted by gmbdds:
Shane,

There are already six or seven options available. I'll look into more detail. Thanks.

T Dub,

I noticed the Ruination today and will check it out. Thanks.

I think their regular IPA is really good. Its not over hopped like many new releases. Its a well made beer.

quote:

Originally posted by mneeley490:
Elysian --The Great Pumpkin Imperial Pumpkin Ale
I didn't care for it at first, but it's starting to grow on me. Maybe it's the 8% talking...

Is this different than the "Night Owl"?

Hacker-Pschorr Oktoberfest.

quote:

Originally posted by Qhdeputy:

quote:

Originally posted by mneeley490:
Elysian --The Great Pumpkin Imperial Pumpkin Ale
I didn't care for it at first, but it's starting to grow on me. Maybe it's the 8% talking...

Is this different than the "Night Owl"?

Haven't tried the Night Owl. Is it pumpkin flavored also?

quote:

Originally posted by mneeley490:

quote:

Originally posted by Qhdeputy:

quote:

Originally posted by mneeley490:
Elysian --The Great Pumpkin Imperial Pumpkin Ale
I didn't care for it at first, but it's starting to grow on me. Maybe it's the 8% talking...

Is this different than the "Night Owl"?

Haven't tried the Night Owl. Is it pumpkin flavored also?

Yes. I love it. Weird that they would have two different ones.

Panil Barriquée

It's an Italian lambic sour. Quite oaky and vinous it tasted much to much like really really spoiled wine to be anything close to enjoyable.

We were hop picking yesterday and as one of the friends/slave laborers is a wonderful chef but allergic to the hops vines he did a deconstructed beer ice cream medley. Malt ice cream, yeast ice cream (with brown sugar) and hop ice cream where he made a tea out of some of the fuggles hops we were picking. They were pretty outstanding.

St bernardus Abt 12

quote:

Originally posted by Wineplease:
St bernardus Abt 12

Such a great beer.

quote:

Originally posted by wine+art:

quote:

Originally posted by Wineplease:
St bernardus Abt 12

Such a great beer.

Indeed.

Goose Island Matilda - tasty

quote:

Originally posted by mpls wine guy:
Hacker-Pschorr Oktoberfest.

I went to a new place that had this on draft, and I really wanted to try it, so I ordered one.

Of course, they come back and tell me that they are out.

So I had a Brooklyn Octoberfest instead.

quote:

Originally posted by billhike:
Interestingly, the atom smasher had been my favorite in their lineup the last couple of years. I've had it on tap twice from this year's batch and didn't care much for it.

Tried another Atom Smasher last night and it was OK. I'd like to have tried it in previous years to see what you're talking about.

Also had a Whole Hog Pumpkin Ale last night. I don't generally go for a flavored beer like this, but Mrs. TLV loves her pumpkin ales this time of year. I was actually blown away by how good this was last night. This was the best pumpkin ale I've ever tried, and she's had a lot of them in the house over the years.

Lately I have been kicking back with one of the beers my son and his friends are making in the basement. Not bad for amateurs.

It is LOT easier to make really good beer at home than it is to make even drinkable wine.

PH

Unibroue La Fin du Monde

St. Stefanus - a Belgian strong pale ale. Good, but not great.

quote:

Originally posted by PurpleHaze:
It is LOT easier to make really good beer at home than it is to make even drinkable wine.

PH

totally.

it doesn't take much skill to make very good beer at home. heck, I make some.

however, it does take skill to make something "unique" or something that's differentiable (bam, new word, Webster's!).

As for wine, it just isn't practical to make at home, IMO. Unless we're talking fruit wines. In which case, I wouldn't be talking to you in the first place. So buzz off.

Bayou Teche Acadie Biere de Garde
Goose Island Bourbon County Stout
NOLA Brewing Co. MechaHopzilla

Guinness

Paulaner Pils

Funky Buddha Hop Gun IPA
Funky Buddha Missionary Blonde
Funky Buddha Passion Fruit Berliner - this was excellent. The sweet of the passion fruit meshed perfectly with the sour style of a berliner

Unibroue Don de Dieu - the spice makes me like it more than Fin du Monde

Been drinking the following rotation over the past few weeks - all excellent

St Bernardus Abt 12
Weihenstephaner Original
Victory Prima Pils
Ballast Point Sculpin IPA
Sweetwater Blue
Boddington's Pub Ale

quote:

Originally posted by vinole:
Unibroue Don de Dieu - the spice makes me like it more than Fin du Monde

Been drinking the following rotation over the past few weeks - all excellent

St Bernardus Abt 12
Weihenstephaner Original
Victory Prima Pils
Ballast Point Sculpin IPA
Sweetwater Blue
Boddington's Pub Ale

Some very fine beers included in your rotation.

quote:

Originally posted by LBJ2XFinalsMVPisclutch:
Funky Buddha Hop Gun IPA
Funky Buddha Missionary Blonde
Funky Buddha Passion Fruit Berliner - this was excellent. The sweet of the passion fruit meshed perfectly with the sour style of a berliner

Did you drink these at the brewery in Boca? (and no call)

Leavenworth Bier Oktoberfest

quote:

Originally posted by vinole:

quote:

Originally posted by LBJ2XFinalsMVPisclutch:
Funky Buddha Hop Gun IPA
Funky Buddha Missionary Blonde
Funky Buddha Passion Fruit Berliner - this was excellent. The sweet of the passion fruit meshed perfectly with the sour style of a berliner

Did you drink these at the brewery in Boca? (and no call)

I actually thought of you but we went down to the new big one in Ft Lauderdale.

quote:

Originally posted by LBJ2XFinalsMVPisclutch:
I actually thought of you but we went down to the new big one in Ft Lauderdale.

OK, you're off the hook then, but it would be fun to hang at one of the local breweries some time.

Summit Oktoberfest.

Last night I attended a Chicago Microbrewery beer dinner at Wildfire in Oakbrook. It was a supplier-hosted event, so it was on their dime and I was technically working.

Below are the courses, beers paired and my Beer of the Night ranking.

Grilled mini Polish and Italian sausages, sauerkraut, carmelized onion, spicy mustard.
Church Street Brewing Heavenly Helles Lager - 2

Jumbo lump crab, shrimp & coconut cocktail with saltry plantain chips.
Half Acre Akari Shogun American Wheat - 4

Korean style BBQ tacos, soy/sake garlic marinated ribeye, kimche, corn tortillas.
Hopothesis IPA - 1

Mustard, fennel & beer braised pork belly.
Revolution Double Fist double pale ale. 3

Cinnamon sugar donuts, salted caramel ice cream, toasted pecan brittle.
Wild Onion Pumpkin Ale - 5

All of the food was delicious and the beers were excellent as well. Fun event.

Blind Pig

quote:

Originally posted by Qhdeputy:

quote:

Originally posted by mneeley490:

quote:

Originally posted by Qhdeputy:

quote:

Originally posted by mneeley490:
Elysian --The Great Pumpkin Imperial Pumpkin Ale
I didn't care for it at first, but it's starting to grow on me. Maybe it's the 8% talking...

Is this different than the "Night Owl"?

Haven't tried the Night Owl. Is it pumpkin flavored also?

Yes. I love it. Weird that they would have two different ones.

Tried the Night Owl. I liked it a lot better than the Great Pumpkin.

Nothing too exciting last night

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale followed by

. . . Coors Light

quote:

Originally posted by mneeley490:

quote:

Originally posted by Qhdeputy:

quote:

Originally posted by mneeley490:

quote:

Originally posted by Qhdeputy:

quote:

Originally posted by mneeley490:
Elysian --The Great Pumpkin Imperial Pumpkin Ale
I didn't care for it at first, but it's starting to grow on me. Maybe it's the 8% talking...

Is this different than the "Night Owl"?

Haven't tried the Night Owl. Is it pumpkin flavored also?

Yes. I love it. Weird that they would have two different ones.

Tried the Night Owl. I liked it a lot better than the Great Pumpkin.

Very good. I picked up some the other day too.

ithaca brewing co.

flower power ipa
ground break
cold front
nut brown
gorges smoked porter
excelsior! white gold

Rodenbach Grand Cru

Need to plan a trip to Belgium.

Rodenbach is tasty stuff Nolan. Haven't had one in way too long. Might need to remedy that.

Tonight: Magic Hat #9

quote:

Originally posted by NolanE:


Need to plan a trip to Belgium.

You will love Belgium. It is a wonderful place, Nolan.

Westmalle Trappist Tripel

Raven Brewing Co., the Trickster IPA

Shiner Oktoberfest

At the club on Friday night they had an Octoberfest party going on and they had Sam Adam's Octoberfest and Goose Island Octoberfest. Never had the GI before, but I much preferred it to the Sam's.

Schneider Weiss Tap7, darker Weiss Beer, good. Lots o' flavour.

Flying Monkey's Hoptical Illusion

Nice malty APA without over the top hops.

Ninkasi Total Domination - one of those nights where IPA is just busting my chops.

Chimay Triple "Cinq Cents" - classic.
North Coast Brewing Co. Pranqster - a Belgian strong pale ale that I really liked.
Brasserie de Tahiti S.A. Hinano - wouldn't order again.

Red Racer IPA

and

Tree Brewing Hop Head IPA

Island Brewing Co. - Vonu Pure Lager. Drank about a hundred of these at a Luau last night - at least I feel like I did.

quote:

Originally posted by thelostverse:
Brasserie de Tahiti S.A. Hinano - wouldn't order again.

Much better than Tahitian rum but then so is a kick to the balls...

The only reason to drink most south pacific and african beers is that it's hot and drinking it out of a can pretty much guarantees you won't get sick. The bottles are washed with unsterized local water though and you will get sick.

Dale's Pale Ale- excellent

Founders Devil Dancer Triple IPA. Oh so good but you gotta like hoppy beer.

IW

Cracked Canoe.

In those situations where drinking a light beer is the smart thing to do, I would choose this brand over any other I have tried.

Blue Moon Pumpkin Harvest Ale. It was OK. I will re-evaluate during the 1-7pm time slot today

Bell's Two Hearted Ale.

Stopped by Total Wine yesterday, and several pumpkin ales made it into my cart. I'll be reviewing over the next couple weeks.

I finally tried the Rogue voodoo donut maple bacon ale. One of the more disgusting aroma/flavor combinations that I have experienced.

quote:

Originally posted by billhike:
I finally tried the Rogue voodoo donut maple bacon ale. One of the more disgusting aroma/flavor combinations that I have experienced.

I agree, but the actual Voodoo donuts are quite good.

Tonight it's a Dogfish Head Punkin Ale. It's a brown ale, nearly a porter, with some sweet pumpkin pie elements of allspice and nutmeg. Not bad, but I think I'll be moving on to something else soon.

quote:

Originally posted by mneeley490:
I agree, but the actual Voodoo donuts are quite good.

No argument here. We experienced them last fall, and also visited Rogue for some of their real beer.

3 Floyds "Robert the Bruce" Scottish Ale. Holy crap. 3Floyds is rapidly becoming one of my favorite breweries.

Buffalo Bill's Brewery- America's Original Pumpkin Ale.
Fairly ordinary, bit of a stale taste. Kind of like Budweiser with pumpkin extract added.

Weihenstephan

New Glarus Spotted Cow.

I love me some Spotted Cow. Too bad it is only sold in Wisconsin.

Laurelwood Brewing Co. Pumpkin Ale, out of Portland, OR. Dark amber ale with just a hint of pumpkin spice. Really, had I not bought it, I probably wouldn't have known it contained pumpkin. Not bad, not great.

Southern Tier Imperial Pumking Ale, 22 oz. bottle.
Wow, were to start? This is literally like drinking a slice of pumpkin pie. A really sweet pie. It says it has 8.6% alcohol, but I'm wondering what the brix is?
I could not finish it.

Brooklyn Lager
Goose Island Pere Jacques

Shock Top

Seasonals -
Thomas Creek Pumpkin Ale - meh, nice spiciness, but didn't care for the finish
Weihenstaphaner Oktoberfest - very close to their original
Hofbrau Oktoberfest - good, but nothing special

Goose Island Sofie
Victory Golden Monkey
Fat Tire Amber Ale
Scuttlebutt Amber Ale
Dogfish Head 60min IPA

A few more while we were in Maui:

Koshihikari Echigo - excellent with sushi
Pinkus Unfiltered Pilsner
Maui Brewing Company Barefoot Brew
Maui Brewing Company Mana Wheat
Maui Brewing Company Bikini Blonde

All of the Maui Brewing Company beers were pretty darn tasty.

ACE Hard Pumpkin Cider
Decent hard apple cider with some pumpkin thrown in. Ok, but I probably wouldn't order another one.

quote:

Originally posted by indybob:
3 Floyds "Robert the Bruce" Scottish Ale. Holy crap. 3Floyds is rapidly becoming one of my favorite breweries.

Drove to the brewery last Saturday just to pick up some Gumballhead! Plus a couple of "brewery only" bombers. About a 45 minute drive from Chicago, assuming no traffic, and definitely worth the trek. My favorite is their Zombie Dust (sold out at the moment).

Westvleteren XII...on Friday.

A buddy of mine got a hold of (12), so we're doing a little "Trappist Comparative Tasting."

Montreal's Dieu du Ciel

Rigor Mortis Blonde
Rigor Mortis Double
Rigor Mortis Tripel
Peche Mortel

Two Brothers Hopcentric Black DIPA.