Bay Area Thread

[matedog]

Looks like Almanac is getting into the hoppy sour game:
http://www.almanacbeer.com/ourbeer/devils-advocate/

"This 100% brettanomyces ale is brewed with Mosaic hops, fermented warm and soured in wine barrels. Right before bottling, it’s dry hopped with Nelson hops to create an aromatic and sour ale that embraces both our love of farmhouse funk and tropical aromas of passionfruit, mango and melon. A delicious contradiction of flavor and style."

Hopefully the hop flavor will help differentiate it from their generally good, but a bit monochromatic sours.

 

[jtmartino1]

Hopefully the hop flavor will help differentiate it from their generally good, but a bit monochromatic sours.

Their beers could certainly use two things:

1. More fruit
2. More funk

 

[Arbitrator]

Surprised there is no discussion of the 3Ls that Russian River released. Was that only Saturday? Looks like a bunch of varieties.

 

[RyanG1]

Surprised there is no discussion of the 3Ls that Russian River released. Was that only Saturday? Looks like a bunch of varieties.

FT: BCBS+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

[Arbitrator]

FT: BCBS+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

FT: Consecration (375mL)
ISO: Consecration (3L)

 

[stupac2]

Surprised there is no discussion of the 3Ls that Russian River released. Was that only Saturday? Looks like a bunch of varieties.

Really? I've always wanted a Temptation 3L but they haven't released them in a coon's age.

 

[Arbitrator]

Really? I've always wanted a Temptation 3L but they haven't released them in a coon's age.

Pictures I've seen show Temptation and Consecration for sure. Possibly Supplication, but those may be past batches / troll posts.

 

[falc0n26001]

They're already out of regular bottles and draft Temptation at the brewery, it looks like

 

[stupac2]

Pictures I've seen show Temptation and Consecration for sure. Possibly Supplication, but those may be past batches / troll posts.

Man, wish I had known that. Oh well, definitely not going to bother trading for one.

 

[mapleneck]

3L Supplication was a week ago.

 

[jtmartino1]

I got a Consecration via a friend who picked up 3 of them plus a Supp.

I actually prefer Supp as a beer.

1st world problems...

 

[theLostWizard]

I got a Consecration via a friend who picked up 3 of them plus a Supp.

I actually prefer Supp as a beer.

1st world problems...

FT: Supplication (375mL)
ISO: Consecration (3L)

 

[buzzword]

I've been trying forever to find a Temptation or Sanctification 3L, but they're like hen's teeth....

 

[obiwan]

Their beers could certainly use two things:

1. More fruit
2. More funk

ISO: Almanac beers that taste more like their initial Farmer's Reserve No. series, i.e. beers that are tasty and actually distinguishable from one another.

FT: Disappointment that increased until I gave up and stopped buying Almanac beers.

 

[bugdoc]

I've been trying forever to find a Temptation or Sanctification 3L, but they're like hen's teeth....

3L Sancts exist?

 

[buzzword]

3L Sancts exist?

2007 or 2009 IIRC

 

[paulkemp1]

Hey everyone. GF and I just moved here from Tucson a couple of months ago. Howdy Ryan_G

Two quick questions (just figured I'd get my helplessness out of the way in one post):

1. You guys know of anything cool and beer centric happening on NYE? All I've seen so far is the War Pigs pop up event in Berkeley which sounds pretty interesting, but I don't want to buy tickets if there are better options.

2. Any decent bottle shops near South San Francisco? We were initially in Pacific Heights in temp housing, and I got very spoiled by being able to walk a block to Ales. Really going to miss it and shooting the bull with Steve and Betty. Great folks.

 

[RyanG1]

Hey everyone. GF and I just moved here from Tucson a couple of months ago. Howdy Ryan_G

Two quick questions (just figured I'd get my helplessness out of the way in one post):

1. You guys know of anything cool and beer centric happening on NYE? All I've seen so far is the War Pigs pop up event in Berkeley which sounds pretty interesting, but I don't want to buy tickets if there are better options.

2. Any decent bottle shops near South San Francisco? We were initially in Pacific Heights in temp housing, and I got very spoiled by being able to walk a block to Ales. Really going to miss it and shooting the bull with Steve and Betty. Great folks.

Yo. Good to see fellow alumnus? in the area.

For NYE check out Abbots Cella and Monks Kettle. Beyond that not sure what else is haopening.

Also no suggestions for south city. May just have to hit up AU, HD or CBS when in the city.

 

[tosh1]

Looks like Almanac is getting into the hoppy sour game:
http://www.almanacbeer.com/ourbeer/devils-advocate/

"This 100% brettanomyces ale is brewed with Mosaic hops, fermented warm and soured in wine barrels. Right before bottling, it’s dry hopped with Nelson hops to create an aromatic and sour ale that embraces both our love of farmhouse funk and tropical aromas of passionfruit, mango and melon. A delicious contradiction of flavor and style."

Hopefully the hop flavor will help differentiate it from their generally good, but a bit monochromatic sours.

Not impressed, not impressed at all. Was hoping for similar to the Rare Barrel/ Cellarmaker. That aint what I got.

Then I opened the new Saison Delores....thats three (4?) not very good Saisons? not liked any of them.

Not willing to open the Tequila beer tonight...I like Almanac and don't want to go 0 for 3 in one night.

 

[abecall98]

Not impressed, not impressed at all. Was hoping for similar to the Rare Barrel/ Cellarmaker. That aint what I got.

Then I opened the new Saison Delores....thats three (4?) not very good Saisons? not liked any of them.

Not willing to open the Tequila beer tonight...I like Almanac and don't want to go 0 for 3 in one night.

I'm waiting for an influx of people to say the next beer is awesome before buying them. Pretty dissapointed with them lately.

 

[tosh1]

I'm waiting for an influx of people to say the next beer is awesome before buying them. Pretty dissapointed with them lately.

I am buying/drinking Citrus regulary.will miss it when it is gone, but only Citrus.

 

[Arbitrator]

I'm waiting for an influx of people to say the next beer is awesome before buying them. Pretty dissapointed with them lately.

Did you ever try the Heirloom?

I bought 4 bottles on 8/29 and drank 3. They tasted off, but I thought it was me. They later announced that the 9/2 and 9/3 batches were infected, but obviously that didn't apply to me. I shared the last one at a tasting and the consensus was that it was kind of flavorless, thin, slightly tart. Nothing damning, but I felt like it was in the early stages of a low-grade infection, and was pretty disappointed about the $50 I wasted.

 

[abecall98]

Did you ever try the Heirloom?

I bought 4 bottles on 8/29 and drank 3. They tasted off, but I thought it was me. They later announced that the 9/2 and 9/3 batches were infected, but obviously that didn't apply to me. I shared the last one at a tasting and the consensus was that it was kind of flavorless, thin, slightly tart. Nothing damning, but I felt like it was in the early stages of a low-grade infection, and was pretty disappointed about the $50 I wasted.

I had one bottle split with a friend that was great when it first came out a few months back, then I went out and bought 5 myself, and haven't had any yet. I heard of the infection issues, so I am going to cross my fingers and cross my dick before I open them and hope for the best.

 

[CommanderofAwesome]

I had one bottle split with a friend that was great when it first came out a few months back, then I went out and bought 5 myself, and haven't had any yet. I heard of the infection issues, so I am going to cross my fingers and cross my dick before I open them and hope for the best.

I bought 4 based on last year's batch in early sept, all at the same time from the same store. I've opened 3 one fresh, one back in Oct, and one on Thanksgiving.

The first one I opened I had a similar exp to arbitrator, passable but not as good as last years.
2nd in Oct that was outright infected sour DP
3rd in Nov that was great.

Seems like Russian roulette

 

[abecall98]

I bought 4 based on last year's batch in early sept, all at the same time from the same store. I've opened 3 one fresh, one back in Oct, and one on Thanksgiving.

The first one I opened I had a similar exp to arbitrator, passable but not as good as last years.
2nd in Oct that was outright infected sour DP
3rd in Nov that was great.

Seems like Russian roulette

Well, ****. At least there is hope that some bottles may be good, going to have to break into them soon.

 

[RyanG1]

Thanks all for doing Almanac QA, haven't bought a bottle since Citrus and seems I am not missing much.

 

[drgarage1]

It remains shocking to me that anyone thinks you can put clean barrels and sour barrels anywhere near each other and expect a different outcome than this. Wood barrels literally breathe microbes in and out. The Bruery learned this lesson the extremely hard way. Fortunately for Almanac, most of their projects are sour, but last year's Grand Cru was ruined, this year's Pumpkin Barleywine... No word on Tequila Noir, but I would be surprised if at least some of it isn't infected.

 

[RyanG1]

It remains shocking to me that anyone thinks you can put clean barrels and sour barrels anywhere near each other and expect a different outcome than this. Wood barrels literally breathe microbes in and out. The Bruery learned this lesson the extremely hard way. Fortunately for Almanac, most of their projects are sour, but last year's Grand Cru was ruined, this year's Pumpkin Barleywine... No word on Tequila Noir, but I would be surprised if at least some of it isn't infected.

Febreze dem barrels?

 

[drgarage1]

Febreze dem barrels?

The headless Febreze lady is the new head of QA!

 

[Arbitrator]

It remains shocking to me that anyone thinks you can put clean barrels and sour barrels anywhere near each other and expect a different outcome than this. Wood barrels literally breathe microbes in and out. The Bruery learned this lesson the extremely hard way. Fortunately for Almanac, most of their projects are sour, but last year's Grand Cru was ruined, this year's Pumpkin Barleywine... No word on Tequila Noir, but I would be surprised if at least some of it isn't infected.

The way they phrased their acknowledgment of the Brandy Heirloom issue, it sounded like a bottling line problem (that's why two specific days were called out). But, like you, I am thinking it is an upstream problem at the barrel level.

Despite usually being one of the first people to call out something as overpriced, I still generally like Almanac sours. But I do hope they step it up as far as fruit incorporation goes, since their prices have gone up.