The Beer Thread

James wrote:
Cantillon at Walgreens?

And look at the other beers sold at Walgreens.

http://www.beermenus.com/places/5877-walgreens-greektown

i hate walgreens.  they make products seem cheap.  hooker cheap.  i feel dirty when i buy stuff there.

sweetcell wrote:
putting on my over-analytical hat:

Jaguar wrote:
If there was a difference due to age, it was only minimal.

how do you know that?  have you had it both fresh and aged?

I'd say that it was a different hat which is well worn out.

Believe me, my taste buds aren't that whacked out. It was the ingredients, not the aging. Darth Ed knows what I'm talking about.

Jaguar wrote:Believe me, my taste buds aren't that whacked out. It was the ingredients, not the aging. Darth Ed knows what I'm talking about.

Well, let's just say that I disagree. The two times I've had it on tap, I thought it was quite a marvelous beer, and I wouldn't hesitate to order it again and recommend it to others, especially someone who liked a beer that tasted like chocolate pancakes. Yes, the flavors are very intense, but they're supposedly completely natural, so I don't really understand this artificiality you claim you tasted. That's why I suggested that it perhaps tasted funky because it was well (maybe 6 months) past its "best by" date.

How do you feel about Southern Tier Choklat, Mokah, and Jahva?

Darth wrote:

Jaguar wrote:Believe me, my taste buds aren't that whacked out. It was the ingredients, not the aging. Darth Ed knows what I'm talking about.

Well, let's just say that I disagree. The two times I've had it on tap, I thought it was quite a marvelous beer, and I wouldn't hesitate to order it again and recommend it to others, especially someone who liked a beer that tasted like chocolate pancakes. Yes, the flavors are very intense, but they're supposedly completely natural, so I don't really understand this artificiality you claim you tasted. That's why I suggested that it perhaps tasted funky because it was well (maybe 6 months) past its "best by" date.

chiming in.

creme brulee on tap has been one of my favorite beers i've ever encountered.

i would not trust it in a bottle, especially if it isn't only a few weeks old.  vanilla bean does not hold well in any beer, that's why you don't see many vanilla-style beers. short shelf life.

i dig choklat too, and enjoy ST's unique take on imperial stouts.

Give a Little, Get a Little: ChurchKey's Annual Holiday Ale Tap Takeover & Canned Food Drive
50 Seasonal Drafts Plus 10% Off To Those Who Donate

For the second consecutive year, ChurchKey is teaming up with Martha's Table to get into the holiday spirit. Join us this Monday from 4 until 9, bring a canned good or make a cash donation and you will receive 10% off of all beer and food that evening. And what an evening we have in store - a rollicking holiday party replete with all 50 draft lines dedicated to the finest seasonal brews. So come on out, share the joy, spread the love and sample the spirits!

The best American, Belgian and English winter ales will sit side-by-side with some incredible cold-weather craft rarities sourced from Switzerland, France, Germany and Denmark. Some highlights include our final keg of Great Lakes Christmas, eight different Ridgeway holiday brews from England (think Bad/Very Bad/Seriously Bad/Criminally Bad Elf and more), four vintages of Gouden Carolus Noel ('09, '10, '11, '12), and a keg of the rare Mother Earth Silent Night. American craft classics like Schlafly Christmas, Tröegs Mad Elf, will also be featured along with local seasonal brews like 3 Stars (Winter Madness) and Mad Fox (Festivus), and even from our dear friend Mikkeller (From-To-Via, Santa's Little Helper and Hoppy Lovin' Christmas). The full draft list can be found here: http://www.dcbeer.com/event/churchkey-holiday-tasting-benefit-marthas-table

There is no admission charge for the event and all 50 Holiday Drafts will be available beginning at 4PM and priced individually by the glass and in 4 oz. tasting pours.

_______________________________

speaking of mad elf, i had some the other night.  the cherry + caramel notes were interesting but i wouldn't order a second one.  there was something syrupy about it that didn't work for me.  my mind was blown when i saw that it was 11%.  it did not taste like that big a beer, at all.  hum… sounds like a good date drink ;D

also tried brooklyn's chocolate stout.  a solid RIS and very decently priced but it's not going to displace any of my favorite russians.

Darth wrote:
Southern Tier's Creme Brulee Stout is released in June, according to their website. if you bought it in the winter, i suspect it was sitting on the shelf for a long time. Also, I've had it both ways, and it tastes far better on draft in my experience. It's supposedly flavored with real creme brulee, but I do wonder how that is possible. The flavor is very intense, and it certainly may not be for everyone.

So I should probably toss the bottle I've had for almost a year now, eh?

BrettnotBritt wrote:

Darth wrote:
Southern Tier's Creme Brulee Stout is released in June, according to their website. if you bought it in the winter, i suspect it was sitting on the shelf for a long time. Also, I've had it both ways, and it tastes far better on draft in my experience. It's supposedly flavored with real creme brulee, but I do wonder how that is possible. The flavor is very intense, and it certainly may not be for everyone.

So I should probably toss the bottle I've had for almost a year now, eh?

Or go get a fresh one.. do a side by side and settle this issue for us all.

Edit - I missed the part about it being release in June (However, I did see it at the Perfect Pour yesterday.. did not check dates on the bottles though), so a side by side of two potentially old bottles wouldn't help us.  Oops.

BrettnotBritt wrote:
So I should probably toss the bottle I've had for almost a year now, eh?

i certainly wouldn't.  give it a try and let us know what it tastes like.  at worse the flavors will have faded.  they don't magically become gross.

imbecile wrote:
Edit - I missed the part about it being release in June (However, I did see it at the Perfect Pour yesterday.. did not check dates on the bottles though), so a side by side of two potentially old bottles wouldn't help us.  Oops.

it maddens me that the beer is released in june.  it seems like such a perfect winter brew.

Agree with Sweetcell's comments on Brooklyn BCS and Mad Elf.

I've had and enjoyed the Choklat on draft. Still though it seems like there was something artificial about the taste, but I didn't mind that.

One beer that did taste completely nasty after a year was Dogfish Punkin Ale.

I didn't realize it but Pabst Brewing Company doesn't brew up beer.  They buy up breweries around the country and shut them down and just put some swill made by miller into their cans. 

Also they pay people to go into hipster bars and restaurants around the country and for them to drink PBR.  I guess in Maryland that would be National Bohemian. 

This all upsets me. 

Why do you find this upsetting?

atomicfront wrote:
I didn't realize it but Pabst Brewing Company doesn't brew up beer.  They buy up breweries around the country and shut them down and just put some swill made by miller into their cans. 

Also they pay people to go into hipster bars and restaurants around the country and for them to drink PBR.  I guess in Maryland that would be National Bohemian. 

This all upsets me. 

just found a nice woman stocking her shelves with dogfish head 120

i only got four.  wanted more, but my bill was already over one hundred, so i stopped.

Does anybody have a "best beers of 2012" list? I know my list is topped by Heady Topper.

I've been to an incredible number of breweries and brewpubs in 2012. When I get around to it, I'm going to type out the list.

i asked that same nice lady, so "what's up with all of these beers in cans now?"  i hate beers in cans, but i did not tell her that.  she really did not have an answer, wondering that herself for awhile she confided.  she thought it more than likely was the not having to worry about sunlight hitting the beverage, but then you can't store beer in cans.  i don't like it.  i like bottles.  it tastes better.

James wrote:
Does anybody have a "best beers of 2012" list? I know my list is topped by Heady Topper.

I've been to an incredible number of breweries and brewpubs in 2012. When I get around to it, I'm going to type out the list.

at first i was like, that would be dumb.  then, which is now, i am like yeah that is awesome!  of course, i have had a stone ruination , a founder's old curmugeon, and a i think i started off with one of those shitty red stripes things.  god, how did i ever think that beer was good, i'll never know.  i'm a little feeling good, and a list of my favourite beers, oh shit, i spelled it the english way, would be awesome.  but let's keep it in here.  ooh, ooh.  i'm all excited now.

Dogfish Head expansion moves forward

Good article. Still don't like any of their beers that I've tasted but wish them all the best.

Went to a bottle event yesterday and had some amazing beverages…

Susan by Hill Farmstead Brewery
Wookey Jack by Firestone Walker
Dreadnaught by Three Floyds
Enjoy By 12.21.12 IPA by Stone
Nelson by Apline Beer Co.
Broo Doo by Three Floyds
Duet by Alpine Beer Co.
Zombie Dust by Three Floyds
Tocobaga by Cigar City

It was a very enjoyable beer drinking day….  ;D ;D ;D ;D

Sweetcell posted about this before, but here's more details. Looks pretty amzing!


Stone (Mostly) Complete Vertical Epic at ChurchKey

Stone (Mostly) Complete Vertical Epic at ChurchKeyNext Wednesday, schedule yourself a "work lunch", because you've really got your work cut out for you.  That day (12-12-12), Stone will release the final iteration in their Vertical Epic series, a series that has–since 2002–annually released a single and unique small batch of mind-blowing brew on one single day. Each release has not only had its very own, decidedly distinct, recipe, but each has been intended to be tasted in the future to see how those delicious flavors have  evolved.

And the good folks at ChurchKey are busting out 10 consecutive Vertical Epic brews on DRAFT at 12:12 pm (get the theme?).  That's right, the fresh 12-12-12 Vertical Epic will be on tap, but joined by the now vintage kegs of 03-03-03. 04-04-04, 05-05-05, 06-06-06, 07-07-07, 08-08-08, 09-09-09, 10-10-10 and 11-11-11.

And for good measure, Stone have sent some additional draft goodies for the celebration. In addition to the straight-up versions of the 10 Vertical Epics, we will also be pouring kegs of Vertical Epic 07-07-07 Aged in Red Wine Oak Barrels, Vertical Epic 08-08-08 Aged in Bourbon Oak Barrels, as well as Vertical Epic 10-10-10 Aged in Bourbon Oak Barrels!

There is no admission for the event. ChurchKey will be opening early at 12:12 PM for the event. All Stone brews will be poured in 4 oz. tasters and in full glass pours.

The Stone Vertical Epic Finale Celebration Draft List!

?Vertical Epic 03-03-03
?Vertical Epic 04-04-04
?Vertical Epic 05-05-05
?Vertical Epic 06-06-06
?Vertical Epic 07-07-07
?Vertical Epic 08-08-08
?Vertical Epic 09-09-09
?Vertical Epic 10-10-10
?Vertical Epic 11-11-11
?Vertical Epic 12-12-12 
?Vertical Epic 07-07-07 Aged in Red Wine Oak Barrels
?Vertical Epic 08-08-08 Aged in Bourbon Oak Barrels
?Vertical Epic 10-10-10 Aged in Bourbon Oak Barrels
Neighborhood: District of Columbia
Logan Circle.Address: 1137 14th St NW
Washington  District Of Columbia  20005.
United States.Date: Wednesday, December 12, 2012 - 12:10pm.