Bay Area (SF) Beer Week Thread

[falc0n26001]

went to the American sour thing @ monks. pretty good! the craftsman stone fruit sour was a diacetyl
bomb though...

Hey I was there too! We met David Walker of Firestone Walker and he was a really nice guy, he said they're releasing their first bottled sour at Barrelworks next month. I had some 2011 Temptation and Consecration which was awesome, and I saw some people trying batch 3 Beatification! $60!!

 

[stupac2]

Really? Haven't had Younger yet this year, but I wasn't really that impressed with SF Fusion. I wouldn't even put them in the same league.

Yeah I wasn't either. Younger this year is the same as it always is.

 

[buzzword]

Hey I was there too! We met David Walker of Firestone Walker and he was a really nice guy, he said they're releasing their first bottled sour at Barrelworks next month. I had some 2011 Temptation and Consecration which was awesome, and I saw some people trying batch 3 Beatification! $60!!

nice! I was pretty into his Land Rover. Saw him milling around, along with the Cascade guys, but didn't talk to them.

 

[jtmartino1]

Really? Haven't had Younger yet this year, but I wasn't really that impressed with SF Fusion. I wouldn't even put them in the same league.

How can you not put them in the same league if you haven't had Younger this year?

I talked to probably 40+ different people who agreed. Younger tastes grassy (like fresh hops can taste) and dry this year. SF Fusion 20 is brighter, fruitier (mosaic?), more balanced and a better beer overall. I had two glasses of each side-by-side (since my wife doesn't drink IPAs much) to confirm. It's obviously subjective, but I literally did not meet a single person at the opening gala who, having tried both, thought Younger was better. Younger last year was brighter with a bigger citrus punch, with less dryness and less bitterness. It's almost as if they finished the beer at a lower gravity to accentuate the bitterness of the hops. If the hop bill is the exact same, the hops themselves are very different this year.

I'd blame it on a bad keg at the gala or something, but having spoken to people who made the trip to RR to try it at the source (who then hit Lagunitas on the way back), they confirmed. Fusion > Younger. This same thing happened a couple years back.

Younger is boring enough that we cancelled our day trip to Russian River. Will probably hit Lagunitas instead then some other local events.

Had a great time as well. Really enjoyed the Triple Rock/Sante collaboration beer (Cellarman). But, $80 just seemed so steep for a beer event that didn't include food. Glad I went, but not sure id attend again at that price point

Yeah $80 is steep, and although they said they didn't increase ticket count, it felt like there were more people there this year. The prices keep going up every year and while it's a ton of fun, I think I'll spread the love around a bit next year. BA Cellarman was awesome - I ended up getting two pours of it. A bunch of people were lucky enough to get it in bottles yesterday at Sante. Adair told me she thinks its the best beer they've made, and I'm inclined to agree.

 

[stupac2]

Maybe the keg at the Bistro was bad but Fusion was nothing special.

However, the Alpine and Kern 2-hop beers are both gold.

 

[litheum94]

How can you not put them in the same league if you haven't had Younger this year?

I talked to probably 40+ different people who agreed. Younger tastes grassy (like fresh hops can taste) and dry this year. SF Fusion 20 is brighter, fruitier (mosaic?), more balanced and a better beer overall. I had two glasses of each side-by-side (since my wife doesn't drink IPAs much) to confirm. It's obviously subjective, but I literally did not meet a single person at the opening gala who, having tried both, thought Younger was better. Younger last year was brighter with a bigger citrus punch, with less dryness and less bitterness. It's almost as if they finished the beer at a lower gravity to accentuate the bitterness of the hops. If the hop bill is the exact same, the hops themselves are very different this year.

I'd blame it on a bad keg at the gala or something, but having spoken to people who made the trip to RR to try it at the source (who then hit Lagunitas on the way back), they confirmed. Fusion > Younger. This same thing happened a couple years back.

Younger is boring enough that we cancelled our day trip to Russian River. Will probably hit Lagunitas instead then some other local events.



Yeah $80 is steep, and although they said they didn't increase ticket count, it felt like there were more people there this year. The prices keep going up every year and while it's a ton of fun, I think I'll spread the love around a bit next year. BA Cellarman was awesome - I ended up getting two pours of it. A bunch of people were lucky enough to get it in bottles yesterday at Sante. Adair told me she thinks its the best beer they've made, and I'm inclined to agree.

Because I've had Younger before, and though there are slight differences in batches, for the most part, I know what to expect.

For the sake of my comment, I'll revisit this after I try Younger this year.

And just because a couple other people agree with you, that in no way means that "Fusion>Younger." That means nothing to me.

 

[jtmartino1]

And just because a couple other people agree with you, that in no way means that "Fusion>Younger." That means nothing to me.

Yep, 40+ (estimate) is "a couple." Right.

Try to get Younger side-by-side with SF Fusion. You may be able to do it at Toronado later this week.

Maybe the keg at the Bistro was bad but Fusion was nothing special.

However, the Alpine and Kern 2-hop beers are both gold.

There are a ton of better beers than Fusion 20. Gives you an idea of what to expect with Younger this year.

How's Citra this year?

 

[drgarage1]

Beachwood Hops of Fury is the best triple IPA I've had this week. Nomnomnom.

 

[litheum94]

Yep, 40+ (estimate) is "a couple." Right.

Try to get Younger side-by-side with SF Fusion. You may be able to do it at Toronado later this week.



There are a ton of better beers than Fusion 20. Gives you an idea of what to expect with Younger this year.

How's Citra this year?

I'm sorry, but 40 people still means nothing to me.

It seems like what's really going on here is that you're over Younger. And that's fine. I actually understand that.

But please don't come here and tell me that just because 40 people like Fusion better, means that Younger isn't great. It reminds me of all the asinie "Sucks is better than (blank)" convos from BA.

 

[jtmartino1]

But please don't come here and tell me that just because 40 people like Fusion better, means that Younger isn't great. It reminds me of all the asinie "Sucks is better than (blank)" convos from BA.

I never said Younger isn't great. But there are a lot of great beers out there. I'll leave it up to you to decide if you like Younger or Fusion better. I'd be surprised if you picked Younger, because that means you and I have drastically different palates.

And for the record, I'm not over Younger, I'm just trying to have some discussion about a beer that is hyped beyond anything reasonable. If you don't care to read opinion posts, and if another person's opinion doesn't really mean anything to you, feel free to move along.

 

[stupac2]

Yep, 40+ (estimate) is "a couple." Right.

Try to get Younger side-by-side with SF Fusion. You may be able to do it at Toronado later this week.



There are a ton of better beers than Fusion 20. Gives you an idea of what to expect with Younger this year.

How's Citra this year?

I had Younger too, it was far better than Fusion.

 

[jtmartino1]

I had Younger too, it was far better than Fusion.

Got any tasting notes? Things you liked about Younger over Fusion? Are you a grassy hop kinda guy? You like your IPAs mild on citrus and high on dryness? You have it at the DIPA fest?

I'll definitely try to revisit the two later this week. I have a hyper sensitive palate to certain compounds but not others, so it's nice to have some external feedback. Could've been a weird keg at the Gala too.

 

[stupac2]

The beer dinner at Homestead was awesome, that's a really cool space. I hope the Trappist guys do that more in the future.

 

[matedog]

It's hard to go off of memory from having once last year (and a few times the year before), but the only thing I noticed about Younger that didn't seem to jive with my memory was that it was a bit hot, especially in the aftertaste. I remember getting less heat last year. Still great though and I hope to get to try it one or two more times this year.

I went to Sour Sunday for the first time yesterday. The rain made Triple Rock a particular chore. For the special hourly tastings, you had to line up again, the line leading back outside into the pouring rain. We ventured over to Jupiter after which was more spacious, but still a huge crowd. The tents were leaky as well. The tastings themselves were generally quite good. Perhaps if it isn't raining next year, I'll go back.

 

[AndresR]

Hitting up 540 Club tonight to see what Ballast Point BA'd beers might be one. *fingers crossed for BA V@S

 

[Touch_My_BrettSacch]

So according to the twitters Tomme Arthur was up at Toronado SF yesterday, and then I saw someone post some pics from Toronado San Diego in the hauls thread, which featured like 6 bottles of Cable Car. Prob doesn't matter, since it would all be gone now, but was anyone here at Toronado SF Sunday evening, and did they/do they have some Cable Car?

 

[basil1]

Prob doesn't matter, since it would all be gone now, but was anyone here at Toronado SF Sunday evening, and did they/do they have some Cable Car?

I was there on Sunday evening. They did not have Cable Car.

 

[Touch_My_BrettSacch]

I was there on Sunday evening. They did not have Cable Car.

Ok, cool. Here's hoping the "mystery beer" at the Lost Abbey tasting today may be Cable Car. Very much a want.

 

[stupac2]

Ok, cool. Here's hoping the "mystery beer" at the Lost Abbey tasting today may be Cable Car. Very much a want.

Almost certainly won't be. I don't believe Cable Car has ever been anywhere except the two Toronados.

 

[RyanG1]

Ok, cool. Here's hoping the "mystery beer" at the Lost Abbey tasting today may be Cable Car. Very much a want.

The mystery beer is RED BARN!

 

[RyanG1]

In other breaking news, Toronado actually updated their website: http://www.toronado.com/draft.htm

Although I use Untappd to see what is new.

 

[Touch_My_BrettSacch]

Almost certainly won't be. I don't believe Cable Car has ever been anywhere except the two Toronados.

Yeah, yeah, I know. But a girl can dream. Hoping its Duck Duck Gooze or something.

 

[Touch_My_BrettSacch]

Yeah, yeah, I know. But a girl can dream. Hoping its Duck Duck Gooze or something.

And did the secret beer is Mayan Apocalypse. Judgement Day with dried chilies, cinnamon, and tamarind. Pretty freaking tasty.

 

[matedog]

I'm looking forward to Tion night tonight. Here is a photo I snapped last year:

I remember Deviation being quite special.

 

[Teamizm]

I'm looking forward to Tion night tonight. Here is a photo I snapped last year:

I remember Deviation being quite special.

Hoping to make it out after work, but realistically won't get out there until after the kiddos go to bed. Did that last year (got there around 8) and still some decent stuff on tap.

 

[matedog]

Hoping to make it out after work, but realistically won't get out there until after the kiddos go to bed. Did that last year (got there around 8) and still some decent stuff on tap.

Yeah, one of my friends who is not as obsessive as me, showed up around that time, had no lines, and got some great stuff. Sure, no vintage Beat or Deviation, but a good time nonetheless.

 

[stupac2]

Tion night is ******* terrible. I'm done with this **** after this year. Beer ******* sucks.

 

[axeman91821]

My flight to San Francisco leaves in 9 hours. I will be among you soon. I plan on checking out Toronado and Mikkeller tomorrow afternoon, and then hitting Ol Beer Cafe & Bottle Shop for their Prairie event tomorrow night if anybody's going to be around and wants to grab a beer...

 

[drgarage1]

Tion night is ******* terrible. I'm done with this **** after this year. Beer ******* sucks.

Agreed. That was stupid. And there wasn't anything particularly rare on. Old Temptation was delicious, even so.

 

[buzzword]

Agreed. That was stupid. And there wasn't anything particularly rare on. Old Temptation was delicious, even so.

did they have compunction on this year?