It was quite good this year. I will definitely be picking some up next March when it comes around again.

Just popped a bottle of Love Child #2. Well worth the $20. Might run back to the store tomorrow and pick up a couple more to set back.

Man, it's gooooooood stuff eh?

The Saison Brett is smokin' too.

If you have NOT tried this....well, you suck. Just sayin'.... :hmmm:



http://www.theperfectlyhappyman.com/...dian-stout.jpg

I've got a bottle of the 2011, never could find one of the 2012

Just got home from Martin City Brewing Company, where we met friends for dinner. It seems that they have all local micro brews on special for 3 dollars a draw on Saturdays. Boulevard, Free State, Tallgrass included.

And get this, they include all of their Smoke Stack series from Boulevard. That's right, Tank 7 for $3 a draw.

I had that on nitro yesterday. Quite tasty...

Someone gave me a bunch of random beer, and this has easily been my favorite so far... great caramel malt flavor... :drool:

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r...703_215544.jpg

Martin City Brewing Company...top of my NEXT visit to K.C., suddenly. Heh.

:drool:

Because of the alcohol content, Tank 7 is never ever on special. You lucky bastard....

About to try to knock this list off (Please give your thoughts on these if you've tried them [Expand, if you feel so inclined]):

Top Ten IPA's found in USA:

Russian River Pliny the Elder, 8% ABV

Three Floyds Dreadnaught IPA, 9.5% ABV

Ballast Point Sculpin IPA, 7% ABV

Cigar City Jai Alai IPA, 7.5% ABV

Green Flash West Coast IPA, 7% ABV

Bell’s The Oracle, 10.4% ABV

Port Brewing Wipeout IPA, 7% ABV

Weyerbacher Double Simcoe IPA, 9% ABV

Alpine Nelson, 7% ABV

Bear Republic Racer 5, 7.5% ABV

I am currently hooked on Sierra Nevada Torpedo and Dogfish Head 90 min Imperial IPA.

That's weird that they put IPAs and Double/Imperial IPAs on the same list. I've had all of those but Bell's Oracle. I'd rank them like this:

IPAs:
1.) Sculpin
2.) Nelson
3.) West Coast IPA
4.) Wipeout IPA
5.) Jai Alai
6.) Racer 5

Double/Imperial IPAs:
1.) Pliny the Elder
2.) Dreadnaught
3.) Double Simcoe

Thanks, just getting into IPAs. At risk of sounding dumb, what is the difference between and IPA and Imperial/ Double?

Imperial/Double IPAs are hopped to an extreme amount. The amount of hops used are significantly higher than even in an IPA (which is already, as you know, a hop-forward beer style). Oftentimes this also means that the beer has a greatly increased malt bill to balance all the extra hops, which means more alcohol. Basically, 7% ABV is the tops for IPAs. Typically.

What's remarkable about Pliny the Elder is that it is hopped like a Double IPA, but doesn't bombard the beer with a bunch of caramel malts to balance it. It achieves tremendous hop flavor without much malt flavor. Compare that to Three Floyds Dreadnaught, though, and the experience is much different. Dreadnaught is incredibly hoppy, but it's also boozy and sweet.

Shitty double IPAs, usually from the East Coast or Midwest, will use too much malt, so the beer loses that juicy hop character.

:drool: Sounds good. I think I am going to go with Pliny the Elder and Ballast Point Sculpin to start and see which style I prefer more IPA or Double. Thanks, rep.

Another thing: freshness is paramount with these styles of beer, as hop flavor dies off very quickly. Check the bottling dates. Pliny the Elder is a beer that literally gets less good by the week. Ideally you'd drink a double IPA within a month of bottling. You can get a bit more mileage about of regular IPAs.

Now I just need to find a liquor store in MD that sells it. It looks like the nearest distributor is located in PA, all the rest are on the West Coast. With the comment quoted above, I worry if it will be available here. I just need to find a liquor store that has an extended selection, but that's like finding a needle in a haystack.

Yeah... most of the beers on that list aren't distributed to Maryland. You're gonna' have to trade for beers like Pliny, Sculpin, Dreadnaught, Nelson. The forums on BeerAdvocate.com and RateBeer.com are good for setting up beer trades.

Alternatively, you can try to find a beer tasting/homebrew club in your local community. People that are into beer trading often find others like them and set up big tasting events.

Those bastards. They had to have stolen that from us (though we do Thursday nights). Our owner goes over there all the time. What size on the Tank? Ours is a pint size draw.

I actually almost went over there for a bite and a brew when I got off work last night.

Damn.

So...Love Child No. 2...wow. What an unusual yet outstanding offering. Tart, cherries up front, with a finish of bourbon and subtle booziness.

Any recommendations for a similar beer (sour) that is more widely available?

It was served in a tulip glass, 12 oz. I believe. Still a bargain at $3.

Where are you working? PM it to me if you don't want to disclose it publicly.

Going to Royal liquor soon can you tell me more about this? It kinda sounds like the cherry lambic that I absolutely love.

Just a harmonious cacophony of flavors. Tart cherries, lemon, leather, bourbon.

Gave a sample to my wife, who is not a "beer person," and her response was, "There are all sorts of flavors happening in this beer."

Definitely a beer to experience.

Duchess De Borgogne
Monk's Flemish
Liefman's Goudenband

There are better sours out there for sure, but you'll at least have a shot at finding these in a store around MO.

I haven't been able to try Love Child No.2 (though I have a bottle waiting for me in KC), but from what I've heard I'd say phisherman is spot-on. Flanders Reds and Flanders Oud Bruins are your best stylistic matches for what Love Child No. 2 is.

Gents, thank you. Your collective wisdom has been noted and appreciated.

krieks? or however ya spell it, tastes kinda like whine a little iirc

Yeah, it's got some similar characteristics. Think it's a bit more sour, but it for sure has the malt background

i had Green Flash West Coast IPA on tap recently...very good, balanced...i think I'm so used to drinking douple IPAs that it took me a bit to appreciate it...

also had a local brewery's saison - Red Hare's Rabbit's Reserve #3: Saison

i'm no expert on the style, but it was delicious on a hot day...went down better than the green flash (which was more about my mood)

the bourbon barrel aging character of love child is what i really like about it.

It's Stone Brewing Co. month at the Riot Room in KC. Had my first Double Bastard the other night off a 2011 keg.

Who has tried Boulevard's 80 Acre Hoppy Wheat?

Was just released here yesterday, heading out to pick some up this afternoon.

http://img.tapatalk.com/61473c72-b748-6592.jpg


A must try before you die.


A top 5 favorite of mine.

Reaper was raving about it earlier in this thread. It just hit my area yesterday - probably going to pick up a 6er today...

I had a sixer last week. Just came from Gomers on Broadway and they are out, expecting some more the week after next. It's still around in grocery stores and KS around here.

I got a sixer last night. I don't really know anything about the style, but I enjoyed it.

I haven't tried it yet. I raved about a test version from a year ago, but I have no idea yet how close that test version is to the production recipe.

I got drunk off this beer called Founders at Buffalo Wild Wings the other night. Good lord I felt like shit the next day.

Founders is an entire brewery. How you felt has lots to do with whatever specific beer of theirs you drank.

Likewise. I think it may displace Blvd's "Pale" as my 6-pack stand-by. Pretty delicious.

OTOH, I bought a Collaboration #3 at Gomers 2 days ago for $12.99.... and for $8.99 today at HyVee. That stuff is delicious as well.

Picked up some 80 Acre today and everybody has been correct, what a great beer. It is much better than Mother's Sandy. (my apologies)

I also picked up the Collaboration #3 but haven't tried it yet.

Also today I picked up a bottle of Sam Adams "New World" and Avery Brewing's "The Beast Gran Cru". (16% ABV).

This is local and very strong-their beers have great names....Doggie Style, Raging Bitch, Pearl Necklace, In-Heat


http://flyingdogales.com/beers/#/Year-Round/Double+Dog

I always like the Ralph Steadman art as well. Never realized it was out of Virginia. Always thought it was a western brewery.

Wasn't feeling Collaboration #3.

80-Acre, on the other hand...out****ingstanding. New favorite Blvd. product.

Collaboration #3 is ****ing great.

The art is cool-I like that as well.

The brewery is in Frederick MD about 30 minutes north of DC

Am I invited over to drink the Avery with you? That's my favorite brewery in the U.S. right now.

The Avery Mephistopheles was fun at 16.8% ABV.

hands down my favorite beer:
http://www.pittsburghbrewing.com/ima...amber_full.png

but I prefer this label:
http://beerpulse.com/wp-content/uplo...Body-Label.png

:eek:

I don't think I've had a beer with that much alcohol. How noticeable is it?

Yep, 80 Acre is great. Like Phobia, this has become my go-to pint.

Another 80 Acre fan here. I tried it about a year ago when it was a test batch.

Sure but the timing will be tight. Its only 12oz. Can you be here by 11:00?

Yeah - it's a 35 minute drive. I'll have to pass this time but thanks for the invite.

Epic beer week for me. One of my top 2 beer events of the year is on Saturday, and there's a full week of run-up events. Here's the program:

http://www.mncraftbrew.org/wp-conten...ProgramWEB.pdf

Prior to that, I'll be drinking this week (all on tap):
- 2008/2011 Surly Darkness
- Dark Horse Plead the 5th
- Bell’s Black Note
- Founder’s RIS
- Central Waters Bourbon Barrel Stout
- Odell Bourbon Barrel Aged Stout
- Deschutes Abyss
- Great Lakes Black Out Stout
- Founders Kentucky Breakfast Stout
- Founders Canadian Breakfast Stout
- Founders Curmudgeon's Better Half

Those are just the ones I know. I may not survive the week, lol...

It's also Sour Beer Week this week at the Flying Saucer in KC. Last night was Jolly Pumpkin night.

Maracaibo Especial, whoa. That stuff is good.

Oh, man. love sour beers.

drank this the other night. Okay, mostly malty and pretty good. But for the price, I wouldn't pick it up again.

http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/...p4/collab3.png

explain to me what a sour beer is?

Founders is a great brewery. I love that "Rye PA" they have, very nice.

it's a beer, that tastes sour

is it like a framboise? or something like that. I thought I've had almost every style of beer, I've never seen a "sour beer" style.

It's not a style, it's a broad description. Beers that taste sour because of certain yeast strains and/or bacteria.

Beer styles that are sour include:

Lambic
Gueuze
American Wild Ale
Berliner Weisse
Flanders Red Ale
Gose
Flanders Oud Bruin

some specific Saisons and Witbiers are also sour

ahh, gotcha.

Last night was my first exposure to a sour stout. Jolly Pumpkin's Madrugada Obscura. Bizarre stuff and it was delicious.

To continue on Reaper's line of information about sours, Jolly Pumpkin uses wild yeasts in all of their beers, so they end up with sour versions of a lot of typically non-sour beers. Hence, the sour stout I referenced. They also had a witbier, a brown ale, a pumpkin beer, a christmas ale, and a saison. All were tart at the least, some were full on sours.

To continue from your post... There are plenty of American beers that don't conform to rigid style guidelines, so the BJCP (Beer Judge Certification Program), which judges beer competitions, created a couple of catch-all categories. These are American Strong Ale (higher gravity ales that aren't noticeably similar to other styles. Stone's Arrogant Bastard is the most notable example), and American Wild Ale (which accounts for like every sour beer that isn't from Belgium or Germany).

So nearly all of Jolly Pumpkins beers get classified as American Wild Ales in competitions.

Before last night, I had only had La Roja, which is classified as an American Wild Ale. I saw the list of beers and noticed that none are technically classified as sours/wild ales.

We asked the waitress, "Are any of them actual sours?" Her answer..."They're all sour." She was right.

sorry if repost (in reality.... not really sorry.....)
had this the other day at the Saucer. not a big fan of peaches, but this was a treat. weighs in at a whopping 9.4% and the peachiness isn't overpowering...just right. good stuff.

http://www.newbelgium.com/images/sce...h_prodshot.png

http://www.newbelgium.com/beer/detai...6-45eb91116c1e

although I defer to your considerable beer knowledge....I just wanna say....I LOVE Lambics, and classifying them as sour.....eh.....not sure I can totally agree. Lindehmans seems to be the biggest seller round KC parts, however if you can find St Louis, it's better. I like the Framboise (raspberry) OK, but Kriek (cherry) is better IMO. I don't find them to be sour. tart, and maybe a tad too sweet, but not sour. I like to mix them with a good wheat beer, cuts down on the sweetness, yet still allows the flavor to come thru.

Gueuze.....OMG! it'll turn your face inside out!

ya I've had lindemans mixed with Allagash White, turns out very good. I can't stand lindemans by itself.

really? even the Kriek? most times they are out of Kriek and I settle for Framboise, and I never get the peach.. I almost never drink a Lambic pure though...it's so very sweet and soda poppy, but it's not that I don't like it. it's just better tamed down with a quality wheat.

You can't agree because you think that Lindemans and St. Louis fruit lambics are correct examples of lambic beer. Those two breweries add A LOT of sugar to their fruit lambics, to the point where they taste like alcopops. I like em, don't get me wrong. But they are totally sugarfied.

Find a Kriek or Framboise lambic from Cantillion or Dire Fontienen or Tilquin or Hanssens or Boon or De Ranke and you'll see that lambic beer is soursoursour.

Gueuze, after all, is just a blend of lambics that haven't had fruit added.

Sugar in beer? Gtfo

Picked up two bottles, might crack 'em open this weekend. Also chilling a Stone Brothers 10th Anniversary Ruination, a Reverb Imperial Pilsner (Boulevard Smokestack Series). Still have two bottles of the Saison Bret from Boulevard as well. Have you tried the Russian River/Sierra Nevada Collaboration "Brux"? I have another bottle of that... wow!

That Stone 10th Anniversary is a beer that literally declines in quality by the day. You need to drink it ASAP.

I actually did know that gueuze was unfruited lambic...and come to think of it...it was a Gueuze Cantillion that turned my face inside out. I've come close a few times to buying a bottle of the De Ranke at the Saucer, but haven't. I'll have to try it to see...but I'm assuming that if the sourness is in the same vicinity as the gueuze I may not be a fan. to each his own I reckon.

Real fruit lambics are sweeter than Gueuze, because the fruit adds sweetness. But not much sweeter, heh. It's worth seeing if you're a fan or not, I'd say.

Both Cantillon and Drie Fonteinen have stuff on the roster for Friday at the Saucer.