Bay Area Thread

[RyanG1]

“Every now and again, we have some extra pallets of beer that we like to send sporadically to different markets. We’ve sent pallets to New York City for example, and we decided to send some to the Los Angeles and surrounding markets.”

https://thefullpint.com/beer-news/the-alchemist-sends-can-allotment-to-socal-market/

 

[pen15clubmember]

From what I've heard, this is a one-time drop, so I have no reason to suspect it's contract brewed. I don't pay close attention to their social media so I don't know if they explained why we're getting the distro drop, although I wouldn't be surprised if it has something to do with filing the paperwork to pour at FWIBF.

They have done these one-off "mud season" drops to places like Philly and NYC in the past.

Edit: didn't see the post above mine

 

[coldstorage]

Doubt i'd cross the road right now for a 4 pack of heady but I guess I could imagine?

Lovely stuff and all, just hard to get excited about anything anymore with the embarrassment of riches that is "2018".

 

[matedog]

Doubt i'd cross the road right now for a 4 pack of heady but I guess I could imagine?

Lovely stuff and all, just hard to get excited about anything anymore with the embarrassment of riches that is "2018".

1 month old Heady or 1 week old Fieldwork or Cellarmaker?

I'd love to try HT again as I've only had it once and it was underwhelming (I chalked it up to lack of freshness, but I don't remember how old it was), but I'm not hunting for this.

 

[drgarage1]

1 month old Heady or 1 week old Fieldwork or Cellarmaker?

I'd love to try HT again as I've only had it once and it was underwhelming (I chalked it up to lack of freshness, but I don't remember how old it was), but I'm not hunting for this.

Focal's the best Alchemist regular production beer.

 

[jtmartino1]

1 month old Heady or 1 week old Fieldwork or Cellarmaker?

I'd love to try HT again as I've only had it once and it was underwhelming (I chalked it up to lack of freshness, but I don't remember how old it was), but I'm not hunting for this.

It still stands up to the new stuff, much in the same way that Pliny still holds its own. It may not be the IPA milkshake that people are into these days but it's a solid drinker.

And, they were one of the first to ubiquitously can their beers including sours. A+ in my book.

 

[DerGundhof]

Focal's the best Alchemist regular production beer.

I actually liked The Crusher above all. Hoping if it's just a SoCal drop, that K&L will ship some of that stuff up Norf.

 

[BrandoSF]

I actually liked The Crusher above all. Hoping if it's just a SoCal drop, that K&L will ship some of that stuff up Norf.

I agree

 

[archagon]

No Alchemist in the newsletter :'(

 

[drgarage1]

I actually liked The Crusher above all. Hoping if it's just a SoCal drop, that K&L will ship some of that stuff up Norf.

I’ve had amazing Crusher cans, and some pretty bad ones, both from the same 4-pack. No idea why. Focal’s never been less than perfect for me.

 

[DerGundhof]

I’ve had amazing Crusher cans, and some pretty bad ones, both from the same 4-pack. No idea why. Focal’s never been less than perfect for me.

Yeah, my sample size is from one trip last Fall...that Crusher was the tits. I also liked Focal over HT, but in the end they were all great.

 

[fogindex]

The Crusher has an intense onion-BO Citra/Amarillo thing that turns some people off, tho I think it's fine.

That said, Focal >>>>

Reminds me that the artist for The Alchemist is a weird dude named Dan Blakeslee and I randomly saw him play a short set of ye olde folk music in Cambridge MA a couple years back.

 

[fogindex]

1 month old Heady or 1 week old Fieldwork or Cellarmaker?

Maybe I'm one of those "Grass Is Always Greener" guys but I've never had a less than good beer from The Alchemist...

 

[anvindr]

Maybe I'm one of those "Grass Is Always Greener" guys but I've never had a less than good beer from The Alchemist...

i dont think his point is alchemist isnt good. its just that fieldwork / cellarmaker are the same level as alchemist if not above them tbh

 

[theLostWizard]

i dont think his point is alchemist isnt good. its just that fieldwork / cellarmaker are the same level as alchemist if not above them tbh

Cellarmaker yes. Fieldwork hell no.

 

[archagon]

I've rarely had a Cellarmaker IPA that I've enjoyed as much as an Alvarado can, while Fieldwork seems to hover somewhere in between.

 

[Xul1]

I've rarely had a Cellarmaker IPA that I've enjoyed as much as an Alvarado can, while Fieldwork seems to hover somewhere in between.

Are you including all Cellarmaker IPAs in that statement or just their NE style?

 

[stupac2]

I've rarely had a Cellarmaker IPA that I've enjoyed as much as an Alvarado can, while Fieldwork seems to hover somewhere in between.

Same. There's just something about Cellarmaker's house style that doesn't work for me. Of the various-ish local hoppy places it's probably Moonraker > Alvarado > Fieldwork ~ Cellarmaker. It's hard for me to judge Fieldwork because I had so much of their stuff back when it was all "here's 20 slightly different variations on the same IPA!" I think lately they're better than that, but still about on par with Fieldwork.

Also, lately Sante has seriously stepped up their game. Their best is good as anyone's.

 

[RyanG1]

Shame that everyone has forgotten about the stellar hoppy selection at Thirsty bear that pairs well with the best tapas selection outside of Fresno and Barcelona.

 

[archagon]

Sante is great (and I love seeing them on tap) but they seem to gravitate towards the, uh, "let's just coat the inside of your mouth with hop dust" type NEIPA, which doesn't always hit the spot. Tasty, though.

 

[matedog]

i dont think his point is alchemist isnt good. its just that fieldwork / cellarmaker are the same level as alchemist if not above them tbh

Yeah, basically any Alchemist release is going to be a giant pain in the ass. Why bother when the local selections (yeah, Alvarado St and Sante's hoppy beers are up there too) are so great and so much less of a hassle to get? The idea of trading for IPAs makes no sense to me either. The shipping time compounds the issue as well (though it's not that significant).

 

[stupac2]

Yeah, basically any Alchemist release is going to be a giant pain in the ass. Why bother when the local selections (yeah, Alvarado St and Sante's hoppy beers are up there too) are so great and so much less of a hassle to get? The idea of trading for IPAs makes no sense to me either. The shipping time compounds the issue as well (though it's not that significant).

Eh I'm normally on board with that but a friend knew someone near the brewery who sent her a case of Heady and that was pretty awesome. But I also really like Heady so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[pen15clubmember]

Yeah, basically any Alchemist release is going to be a giant pain in the ass. Why bother when the local selections (yeah, Alvarado St and Sante's hoppy beers are up there too) are so great and so much less of a hassle to get? The idea of trading for IPAs makes no sense to me either. The shipping time compounds the issue as well (though it's not that significant).

Yeah, I would say trading for IPAs like five years ago maybe made some sense, but def not here now. I guess if you live in an IPA wasteland (if they still exist) I could see sending some stouts or whatever out for like some Trillium here and there.

I've been done with trading for years, but have recently had hankerings for some of the stuff that I used to love from back east like Troegs pils, but the hassle will probably keep me from doing so.

 

[jtmartino1]

Everyone's out here talking about who's better, and I'm just happy I can finally get some fresh local hop juice in my mouth without having to chase the Pliny truck or trade for 6-month-old Hopslam.

 

[pen15clubmember]

Everyone's out here talking about who's better, and I'm just happy I can finally get some fresh local hop juice in my mouth without having to chase the Pliny truck or trade for 6-month-old Hopslam.

It becomes a delicious honey barleywine after 18 months.

 

[jtmartino1]

It becomes a delicious honey barleywine after 18 months.

I like your style

 

[CommanderofAwesome]

Yeah, basically any Alchemist release is going to be a giant pain in the ass. Why bother when the local selections (yeah, Alvarado St and Sante's hoppy beers are up there too) are so great and so much less of a hassle to get? The idea of trading for IPAs makes no sense to me either. The shipping time compounds the issue as well (though it's not that significant).

You forget that trading for Heady/Pliny increases your e-peen by 5HP and will probably get you laid.

 

[sfsea]

(Link to media)

 

[MrDave]

hey guys, SkunkDrool is getting into town and hoping to go straight to Beer Rev but hasn't eaten and doesn't know the area well. That burger spot next door closed a while back didn't it? Any other spots right there anyone can vouch for? Isn't there a legit vegan spot right around there?

 

[tosh1]

hey guys, SkunkDrool is getting into town and hoping to go straight to Beer Rev but hasn't eaten and doesn't know the area well. That burger spot next door closed a while back didn't it? Any other spots right there anyone can vouch for? Isn't there a legit vegan spot right around there?

Soley Vegan is right on the corner. Everett and Jones a block away, or a quick walk up to Old Oakland a whole bunch of options