Beer Thread

[walterfredo]

I will refrain for proclaiming it the world's best beer, but I think Fifty Fifty Brewing Co. in Truckee (near Lake Tahoe) is quickly becoming a favorite of mine.  If anyone is in that area, do yourself a favor and make the stop.

http://fiftyfiftybrewing.com/

[Jaimoe]

Man, I'm really not a fan of German beer.

I think you'd change your tune very quickly if and when you visit Germany, specifically Munich and Bavaria. They make every kind of beer and pale ales, lagers, ales, dark, amber, wheat, stout etc... are all as popular as pilsner. Augustiner Helles is a smoother than smooth ale. I packed 6 pint bottles in my suitcase. Germany is actually a fairly cheap Euro trip compared to Italy, France and the Netherlands. Bottles of beer range from 24c to $1.00 and the food is really good. Their wine is great too, as long as you steer clear of the sweet stuff. Worst beer is in Italy - no variety.

[pawpaw]

I will refrain for proclaiming it the world's best beer, but I think Fifty Fifty Brewing Co. in Truckee (near Lake Tahoe) is quickly becoming a favorite of mine.  If anyone is in that area, do yourself a favor and make the stop.

http://fiftyfiftybrewing.com/

I've bought a few growlers from there, always like what I've tried. Truckee is just awesome, in general.

[capt. scotty]

I grabbed a few singles last week. This one was the best. Main reason I got it was because its a limited release and was the last bottle left. When I checked out, the cashier said they sold out of 4 cases in about a week and a half and everyone was raving about it and coming back to buy some more...It was in 1 word, delicious. Try to find it if you still can

[walterfredo]

I grabbed a few singles last week. This one was the best. Main reason I got it was because its a limited release and was the last bottle left. When I checked out, the cashier said they sold out of 4 cases in about a week and a half and everyone was raving about it and coming back to buy some more...It was in 1 word, delicious. Try to find it if you still can

I love this beer!  My local beer jaunt has it on tap, had one yesterday. 

[Ruckus]

Got a group of 12 coming over today for an all afternoon tasting.  Everyone must bring a minimum of 3 craft 22s, preferably seasonal.  All will be shared.  If all goes well, we will have tried around 40 beers each at a minimum.   Should be a great time.

:o

It was a greet success Mike.  I think we are going to make it a seasonal event.  I ended up trying 41 different craft beers plus the Chelada though admittedly, the tasting portion of the even was taken less seriously after the 1st 25 bottles were emptied.

For me, the champion was....

Simply genius.  Dark ale aged in old bourbon casks.  Great oaky/smoky characters but never overwhelming.  Cannot recommend this enough.  Y'all in Portland continue to make some fine stuff.

[Ruckus]

I grabbed a few singles last week. This one was the best. Main reason I got it was because its a limited release and was the last bottle left. When I checked out, the cashier said they sold out of 4 cases in about a week and a half and everyone was raving about it and coming back to buy some more...It was in 1 word, delicious. Try to find it if you still can

I love this beer!  My local beer jaunt has it on tap, had one yesterday.

Had this for the 1st time this weekend as well.  Typically not something I'd go for but it was excellent.  I really do enjoy most of the stuff Lagunitas puts out.  We were knocking back some Sumpin' Sumpin's at the disc golf course this weekend.  What  perfect beer for a clear fall day in the park.

[mjk73]

Got a group of 12 coming over today for an all afternoon tasting.  Everyone must bring a minimum of 3 craft 22s, preferably seasonal.  All will be shared.  If all goes well, we will have tried around 40 beers each at a minimum.   Should be a great time.

:o

It was a greet success Mike.  I think we are going to make it a seasonal event.  I ended up trying 41 different craft beers plus the Chelada though admittedly, the tasting portion of the even was taken less seriously after the 1st 25 bottles were emptied.

For me, the champion was....

Simply genius.  Dark ale aged in old bourbon casks.  Great oaky/smoky characters but never overwhelming.  Cannot recommend this enough.  Y'all in Portland continue to make some fine stuff.

Bourbon Barrell beers are generally excellent. See Goose Island Bourbon County stout. Need to keep on eye out for this one.

[aMillionDreams]

At BBC we have bourbon and wine aged beers on the regular.  Right now it is a Smoked Porter.  My favorite since I've been working there was the Bourbon Barrel Big Brown Ale. It was awesome.  Didn't bottle that one but I have the recipe.  You may be able to pick up our Bourbon Barrel Stout if you live in KY, OH, IN, IL, or NC.  If you live in Louisville liquor Barn may still have some of our Bourbon Barrel Helles Lager.

[Ruckus]

At BBC we have bourbon and wine aged beers on the regular.  Right now it is a Smoked Porter.  My favorite since I've been working there was the Bourbon Barrel Big Brown Ale. It was awesome.  Didn't bottle that one but I have the recipe.  You may be able to pick up our Bourbon Barrel Stout if you live in KY, OH, IN, IL, or NC.  If you live in Louisville liquor Barn may still have some of our Bourbon Barrel Helles Lager.

So your Smoked Porter is oak casked or just given smoky flavor in the tradition of German rauchbiers?  I had the Great Divide Smoked Porter this weekend.  It was good but that Widmer's really took on some bourbony characteristics.

[iLikeBeer]

At BBC we have bourbon and wine aged beers on the regular.  Right now it is a Smoked Porter.  My favorite since I've been working there was the Bourbon Barrel Big Brown Ale. It was awesome.  Didn't bottle that one but I have the recipe.  You may be able to pick up our Bourbon Barrel Stout if you live in KY, OH, IN, IL, or NC.  If you live in Louisville liquor Barn may still have some of our Bourbon Barrel Helles Lager.

I'm usually not a fan of barrel aged beers, but that Bourbon Barrel Big Brown Ale sounds awful tasty! 

[aMillionDreams]

At BBC we have bourbon and wine aged beers on the regular.  Right now it is a Smoked Porter.  My favorite since I've been working there was the Bourbon Barrel Big Brown Ale. It was awesome.  Didn't bottle that one but I have the recipe.  You may be able to pick up our Bourbon Barrel Stout if you live in KY, OH, IN, IL, or NC.  If you live in Louisville liquor Barn may still have some of our Bourbon Barrel Helles Lager.

So your Smoked Porter is oak casked or just given smoky flavor in the tradition of German rauchbiers?

yes and yes

[mjk73]

At BBC we have bourbon and wine aged beers on the regular.  Right now it is a Smoked Porter.  My favorite since I've been working there was the Bourbon Barrel Big Brown Ale. It was awesome.  Didn't bottle that one but I have the recipe.  You may be able to pick up our Bourbon Barrel Stout if you live in KY, OH, IN, IL, or NC.  If you live in Louisville liquor Barn may still have some of our Bourbon Barrel Helles Lager.

How far into IL? Must be the western side and Chicago vs. St Louis East Side?

[capt. scotty]

It was a greet success Mike.  I think we are going to make it a seasonal event.  I ended up trying 41 different craft beers plus the Chelada though admittedly, the tasting portion of the even was taken less seriously after the 1st 25 bottles were emptied.

For me, the champion was....

Simply genius.  Dark ale aged in old bourbon casks.  Great oaky/smoky characters but never overwhelming.  Cannot recommend this enough.  Y'all in Portland continue to make some fine stuff.

Any other recommendations from what you sampled?

I'll look for that Widmer Bros but I dont think my local spot has 22's from Widmer, IIRC...I think Ive brought it up before, but 1 of Widmer's standard brews that Im a big fan of is their Drop Top Ale

[Ruckus]

Thanks aMD.  Also had the Heavy Seas Smoked Porter as well and I felt like it stood tall next to the Great Divide one.

I was on BeerAdvocate and noticed that the 2011 Brrrbon wasn't too well received.  Maybe I just embraced it because we were throwing down pumpkins, Imperial IPA's, Belgians (in general), winter seasonals so much that my palate just wanted to have nothing but the Widmer's after I tried it.  It was a great changeup.  I will check out the Goose Island.  Is it a good thing that Goose Island has such great east coast distribution since it changed hands? ::)

[walterfredo]

I'm not sure what the deal is with the IPA craze. I'm ok with milder IPA's. But everyone is going batshit crazy on making them stronger and stronger. Not a tasty experience IMO.

totally agree.  I'm not an IPA fan at all, and all this IPA craze stuff is driving me nuts.  Just take some shots of bourbon and get it over with.  My local beer jaunt seems to have at least a half or more of their 24 taps dedicated to IPAs...I don't blame 'em, that's what people are buying...I get it.  Not my thing though. 

[YouAre_GivenToFly]

Excited to be picking up a bottle of this tonight

[davymac]

I dont know if any of you are familiar with Terrapin, but it is my town's local brewer and they have a killer rye pale ale....also does anyone have any xmas/seasonal beers to suggest?  It is about that time and last year I tried this imperial IPA from mendicino county CA that was sooo good but I cant remember the name of it...can anyone help?

[iLikeBeer]

I dont know if any of you are familiar with Terrapin, but it is my town's local brewer and they have a killer rye pale ale....also does anyone have any xmas/seasonal beers to suggest?  It is about that time and last year I tried this imperial IPA from mendicino county CA that was sooo good but I cant remember the name of it...can anyone help?

This is pretty good if you're into IPA's:

[peafunk31]

I dont know if any of you are familiar with Terrapin, but it is my town's local brewer and they have a killer rye pale ale....also does anyone have any xmas/seasonal beers to suggest?  It is about that time and last year I tried this imperial IPA from mendicino county CA that was sooo good but I cant remember the name of it...can anyone help?

Terrapin is one of my favorite breweries! My 1st taste of their brilliance was at the Flying Saucer in Nashville (pre-show meetup before the 2010 spring Jacket show). The wife & I saw this in the Saucer's beer bible & got a pint. Instantly hooked!