The Beer Thread

never seen saint bernardus prior eight . . . how was that compared to abt twelve?  very jealous of your trip.  i won't get on airplanes to experience it for myself.  i'm grounded.

I haven't had an 8 yet either.

walkonby wrote:
never seen saint bernardus prior eight . . . how was that compared to abt twelve?  very jealous of your trip.  i won't get on airplanes to experience it for myself.  i'm grounded.

James wrote:
I don't necessarily subscribe to the rarer is better theory.

i don't believe that rarer is automatically better, but the opposite isn't true either - KBS is rare and it's pretty damn good.  in this case i was invoking the "get while the gettin' is good" theory.  you can't buy a westie 12 here at all, so grab 'em while you can.  but is one westie worth 8 duvels?  a valid question.

James wrote:
I declared right around the legal limit, though I was slightly over. Wasn't questioned or even taxed.

glad it all worked out for ya!

James wrote:

WOWOWOWOWOWOW!!!!

was going to consider the long drive up just for this . . . then i realized i will be at phish.  damn!

stevewizzle wrote:
boulevard was a huge let down IMO.

well that's a pity.  what did you try? 

out of 5 boulevard offerings that i've tried so far, 4 have been home-runs and one has been merely ok (their wheat).  to ensure that my experience disagrees with yours, i've bought myself a bottle of Tank 7.  looks like i'll have to wait before i can enjoy it, too late for tonight.

stevewizzle wrote:
was amazing to talk with brewers and ask them what they used, the process

must have been awesome indeed.  although i can't help but wonder if i'd feel self-conscious, being newb brewer #87,234 that day that walked up to one of those guys to ask them their opinion on my 100% crystal malt recipe.

stevewizzle wrote:
for the $120 ticket price, i definitely felt like i got my moneys worth (for comparison… GABF wass $75, I believe).

best beer festival i've been to.

great to hear.  looking forward to next year's event.  i will make a point of telling the family not to visit me that weekend!

i think that i've just had a hop-bomb that i really enjoyed: Deschutes Hop Henge Experimental IPA (http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/63/47434).  very smooth bitterness, hard to believe it's 95 IBU.  big fruit and malt (relatively, for a DIPA).  really thick mouthfeel.  it rides the line between a DIPA and a barleywine but the hops complexity keep it on the IPA side of the fence.  strongly recommended, if you can find it (for those who can't, i can get it weekly here in texas… lemme know what you got to trade ;D).

I've had it, and it's very good. One of the benefits of having a brother living in Seattle. Not as good as Deschutes' best beer, the Abyss (imperial stout).

Also nice to have in-laws in Indiana (Three Floyds), 90 minutes from Chicago ( with numerous others unavailable in DC).

Now if they'd just get some decent beers in upstate NY, where my mom is. (though it's an hour drive away to places selling Heady Topper)

sweetcell wrote:
i think that i've just had a hop-bomb that i really enjoyed: Deschutes Hop Henge Experimental IPA (http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/63/47434).  very smooth bitterness, hard to believe it's 95 IBU.  big fruit and malt (relatively, for a DIPA).  really thick mouthfeel.  it rides the line between a DIPA and a barleywine but the hops complexity keep it on the IPA side of the fence.  strongly recommended, if you can find it (for those who can't, i can get it weekly here in texas… lemme know what you got to trade ;D).

James wrote:

Now if they'd just get some decent beers in upstate NY, where my mom is. (though it's an hour drive away to places selling Heady Topper)

Founders just started distributing in upstate NY. I should have brought back some Ithaca Flower Power when I was up there last weekend.

sweetcell wrote:

stevewizzle wrote:
boulevard was a huge let down IMO.

well that's a pity.  what did you try? 

out of 5 boulevard offerings that i've tried so far, 4 have been home-runs and one has been merely ok (their wheat).  to ensure that my experience disagrees with yours, i've bought myself a bottle of Tank 7.   looks like i'll have to wait before i can enjoy it, too late for tonight.

Tried tank 7 and thought it was bleh (which is kind of funny I think that… since the recent saison homebrew is ridiculously similar in ingredients), thought terra incognita was bleh (although my bottle i look forward to trying again in 4 months, i don't think the brett has had enough time), and don't recall (yeah, i was drunk) trying the rye on rye but if I did it was forgettable. 

has anyone seen the saison-brett around DC?  i'm interested to try it.

What an amazing half price draft list at Birreria Paradiso tonight. Anybody care to guess whuch five beers my wife and i split? (then hung around Georgetown and sobered up).


Georgetown

Brooklyn Sorachi Ace
St. Bernardus Tripel
St. Bernardus Christmas
St. Bernardus Pater 6
St. Bernardus Prior 8
St. Bernardus Abt 12
St. Bernardus Witbier
Glazen Toren Saison d?Erpe Mere
Rogue Dad?s little Helper
Stone Imperial Russian Stout
Lavery Liopard Oir
Weihenstephan Hefe-Weissebier
Unibroue Blonde de Chambly
Schlafly Summer Lager
Tupper?s Keller Pils
DC Brau Ground Wolf

Cask Ale:
Pratt St. Ale House Oliver?s Bishop?s Indulgence

I love St. Bernardus. Prior 8 is probably my favorite actually.

I'm heading to Old Stein Inn this weekend. I've been there lots, but I usually stick to their drafts. Was thinking of branching out to some of their bottles this time. Has anyone had the Ettaler Kloster "Monerstary" Doppelbock?

http://www.oldstein-inn.com/menu.php?page=bier&item=draught
http://www.oldstein-inn.com/menu.php?page=bier&item=bottle

These are the five we had and how I would grade them:

St. Bernardus Tripel    B-
St. Bernardus Prior 8   B+
St. Bernardus Abt 12   A+
Stone Imperial Russian Stout   A-
Weihenstephan Hefe-Weissebier  A+


$7.99/six pack of that last one at Total Wine makes it THE summer go to beer, bar none.

I prefer both Franziskanner's and Erdinger's Hefe-Weissbiers to Weihenstephaner's. I think Franziskanner in particular is just about the perfect Hefe-Weissbier. Just sayin'.

The Weihenstephaner's rates a 98=world class on beer advocate.

THe Erdinger's rates a 78=average on beer advocate.

Just sayin'.

:P

Darth wrote:
I prefer both Franziskanner's and Erdinger's Hefe-Weissbiers to Weihenstephaner's. I think Franziskanner in particular is just about the perfect Hefe-Weissbier. Just sayin'.

I was aware of the beer scores. In Weihenstephaner's case, I think it's dead wrong. (Franziskanner is 90 just to be comprehensive.)

Lives up to the hype. Delicious.

Anybody on untappd?

Russian River beers at Church Key this weekend… and yes that includes the elusive Pliny the Elder!

I'll be in San Diego for work next month, where Pliny the Elder seems to be on tap virtually everywhere.

I'll be coming home with three months worth of hoppy beers in my suitcase.

Yada wrote:
Russian River beers at Church Key this weekend… and yes that includes the elusive Pliny the Elder!