The Beer Thread

They are going to sell "mini'growlers" so it would be about 2 pints of beer.  So, it would be perfect for two people!  Otherwise, I would say my husband and I are not growler buyers either.

Yeah, I really wish they would sell Bells here.  I heart Bells.

Which Bells are you talking about?  You can find many of their beers around town, both bottled and on-tap.  You just have to know where to look.  But, yes - they distribute to DC/VA/MD.

dave24 wrote:
Which Bells are you talking about?  You can find many of their beers around town, both bottled and on-tap.  You just have to know where to look.  But, yes - they distribute to DC/VA/MD.

Yeah, I can find Bells all over DC and usually just make a total wine trip (to VA) every other month or so and stock up, it would just be really nice if I could find it conveniently in Maryland while I'm out for lunch running errands.

http://www.bellsbeer.com/beer-finder/

They don't distribute in Maryland directly, I even confirmed it with Larry Bell last summer when I ran into him in Kalamazoo at their brew pub asking him when they would distribute here.  They've no intention of distributing here anytime soon.  He gave me the reason, but I honestly didn't really understand much of it, had to do with distribution issues/MD laws is all I got out of it.  Which seems to be prevalent with other Michigan beers especially trying to get into Maryland.  That's not to say you can't find Bells on occasion in Maryland stores/restaurants, but it's not through a direct distribution with Bells, much like finding dogfish head in Michigan where they don't distribute, it's all through secondaries and on a limited basis.

edit:  I stand corrected, dogfish is available in MI.  I could've sworn it wasn't last I knew.  Regardless, at some point it was in some state who's name I can't recall that didn't have a wholesale agreement with the brewery and it was there through a secondary distributor, if memory serves.. which clearly it does not.

Wegman's also has good selection of Bells. They still had some Christmas Ale, Winter White and the ubiquitous Two Hearted Ale last week.
The RedRocks in Old Town had it on tap a few weeks ago.

A little birdie told me to look for Bell's Hopslam in stores on Tuesday. Don't wait until Wednesday if you want some.

Also up this month: Founders Imperial Stout and Founders Double Trouble IPA.

Then first week of Feb: Troegs Nugget Nectar.

Wow!

went to sweetwater tavern this evening.  haven't been in awhile.  was super upset that i just missed the best beer they make . . . saint nicks weizenbock.  look for it next december.  you'll be gald you did.

I sure wish it was warmer out, or that ChruchKey was closer to a Metro station…

In addition to a lot of new gym memberships and diet plans starting up, the beginning of each year means it's time for Bell's Hopslam. This honeyed Double IPA has huge hype. You can decide for yourself whether the drinkable 10%-abv Michigan beer measures up by getting a first taste starting at 4pm at ChurchKey tonight. Wanna get geeky about it? Order Hopslam on draft and bottle and compare notes. They'll be pouring both.

James wrote:
Then first week of Feb: Troegs Nugget Nectar.

I'm thinking of trekking up to Harrisburg when this comes out….and buying as much as my car will hold.

Enjoy your drive tomorrow.

?From Troegs Brewing?s Facebook page, ?Nugget Nectar cases, six packs and growlers will be available at the Troegs Brewery Tasting Room starting TUESDAY, JANUARY 11 at 10 a.m 22 ounce bottles will be available in a few weeks. Nugget Nectar starts shipping to wholesalers next week and will be in all markets by the first week of February.?

StoneTheCrow wrote:

James wrote:
Then first week of Feb: Troegs Nugget Nectar.

I'm thinking of trekking up to Harrisburg when this comes out….and buying as much as my car will hold.

Ok….maybe this weekend?  ;D

I'm a big fan of Nugget Nectar myself.

I think Total Wine had it last year for about $10.99 a six pack, minus a dollar if you join their email list and get their coupons…it's not really limited like Hopslam, and is on the shelvesfor awhile…

My advice for either Hopslam or Nugget Nectar is to try to drink it all within three months of production. After that, it will still taste great, but you'll start losing that wonderful hoppiness that it initially had.

re:  bells in MD.  Perfect pour carries every beer you can get in MD.  I asked them about Bells and they said they don't distribute here.  Luckily, DC is just a short drive away!

I know it's a travesty for some Marylanders to cross into Virginia, but you'll probably find the prices in VA cheaper than DC, as well as the lower sales tax.  ;D

K8teebug wrote:
re:  bells in MD.  Perfect pour carries every beer you can get in MD.  I asked them about Bells and they said they don't distribute here.  Luckily, DC is just a short drive away!

That's very true.  I drove over to VA to acquire Flying Mouflan last year and picked it up for ~$6.50 a bottle, as opposed to $9-10 in MD.

Not worth it for a bottle or two but if you buy in bulk it pays off.

Meant to also say I still have a couple bottles of Nugget Nectar and drank one over the weekend.  Still very enjoyable.

StoneTheCrow wrote:
Not worth it for a bottle or two but if you buy in bulk it pays off.

we do that for wine.  once every few months we hit up a Trader Joe's in VA and buy a few cases. 

until i start running more regularly, i'm going to hold off on buying beer in large quantities   :-\

Split the first of our 12 HopSlam bottles last night. Best beer on earth when fresh?

Not many beers are worth $20/six pack, but this one is. Debating buying another six pack.

$20 is a bargain, paid $25/6 last night in Van Ness

$20 a sixer, 74.99 a case at Magruders

good shit

Meant to stop and get some this evening.  My local shop will probably price the stuff at $30 a bottle.