FIB War Room

[jdhende]

Went to Bixi Beer last night for their soft opening with beeraficionado

Their space is absolutely gorgeous inside. The pictures hardly do it justice.

For beer our table tried 3 of their offerings. They had about 8-10 taps from what I can remember. We tried a wheat which, was the best of the 3. A saison which tasted nothing like a saison and more like a fruity witbier and last, but not least a pale ale which was a bit malty for me. Many of the beers definitely have the food inspired vibe to them. Nothing of the 3 we had jumped out at me, but I think the average consumer would be happy enough with them.

We also tried a mezcal cocktail which was solid, but packed a pretty spicy punch to it.

The food on the other hand was pretty good to very good

Here are the dishes we tried
Szechaun Peanuts - Great snack to start with
frites - Came with a delicious Aioli
shmrimp and crab dip - Best thing we ate all night. Thought about ordering this dish again while we were there.
Chicago beef bao - solid
bao cheeseburger - very good
scallion pancakes - just ok
Belt Soup noodles - Pretty tasty, but hard to eat the massive noodles with chopsticks
massaman curry - solid, but lacking spice
Tea and chocolate Ice creams - Both very good

I don't think I would ever go there just for the beer, but if you are looking for a beautiful space to have a nice meal at then it's a solid choice.

 

[BobCobb1]

Anyone had the v18 from Hubbard's Cave yet? They've been my go-to since they started canning, but a number of negative untappd checkins on the latest. Wondering if it's just noise over an out-of-fashion hop combo, or if something actually is off.

 

[YellowBird1]

Anyone had the v18 from Hubbard's Cave yet? They've been my go-to since they started canning, but a number of negative untappd checkins on the latest. Wondering if it's just noise over an out-of-fashion hop combo, or if something actually is off.

Super dank. Slightly catty. Firm bitterness. Not what most seek for in the style, but I thought it was great.

 

[Gonzoillini1]

Super dank. Slightly catty. Firm bitterness. Not what most seek for in the style, but I thought it was great.

So it tastes like a Simcoe IPA? And not like tropical juice?

Sign me up!

 

[Tooch4321]

I’m up here, which bottle is the super secret one? Is it Whiskers?

No, it turns out it wasn’t available today, but soon...

 

[thewimperoo]

Anyone had the v18 from Hubbard's Cave yet? They've been my go-to since they started canning, but a number of negative untappd checkins on the latest. Wondering if it's just noise over an out-of-fashion hop combo, or if something actually is off.

Super dank. Slightly catty. Firm bitterness. Not what most seek for in the style, but I thought it was great.

There's definitely nothing "off" about it, but it is different from the usual hazebro profile. As YellowBird said it has more bitterness than usual which isn't that bad. I like it, but don't love it like I have the other Hubbard's Cave cans. I'm getting some green onion/garlic as well.

Tangent, but related. When I stopped into the taproom for cans on Friday, I tried Le Grande Monde 2018-2 & 2018-5 as well as Kriek. Man that kriek is pretty nice. Not very complex as expected, but just great cherry flavor. 2018-5 is a nice melody of the fruits (mango, guava, pineapple, passionfruit) and oak without being overly sour. 2018-2 (Barrel Aged wild with Strawberry and Rose Hips) was a miss for me. I got a ton of plastic and rubber. Couldn't finish the sampler. I didn't see that description on any of the untappd reviews so YMMV.

 

[Hopping Tiger]

Piling on here but I thought V18 was fantastic. For an old guy I thought it was just what I want in an IPA and the hazekids can leave it all for me.

 

[yeahnatenelson]

For an old guy I thought it was just what I want in an IPA and the hazekids can leave it all for me.

I'm old and I approve this message.

 

[DiscountMegaMall4ever]

What's this?
https://www.porchdrinking.com/artic...nd-surly-signal-rise-of-wine-inspired-lagers/

 

[TheJB]

(Link to media)


Imma looking, and imma liking.

 

[Tooch4321]

(Link to media)


Imma looking, and imma liking.

I didn't even know about this one and I'm gonna have to stop by this week to give a try...

 

[middlebrow]

while i assume most of you are over and beyond this...but is anyone going to GABF? ive never been and have been convinced its good for bizness.

 

[yeahnatenelson]

while i assume most of you are over and beyond this...but is anyone going to GABF? ive never been and have been convinced its good for bizness.

I've never been*, but from everything I've ever heard or read about GABF it's primarily a benefit to the "establishment" craft beer brands that prop up the BA financially. Their money buys them marquee booth space. The small breweries at the center of the zeitgeist certainly give credibility to it being an Important Beer Event, but it doesn't seem to yield anything more than a little bit of web forum chatter about how quickly they ran out of beer. Everyone in the middle kinda gets lost in the shuffle. It's so ******* big, how can anybody without a great both location or mega hype stand out in the long gauntlet of beer producers?

It might be cool if your beer medals, but it's generally understood to be as much a lottery as it is a competition. Of course, you could submit under an 'esoteric' category to gin up your odds, as many have in the past, but let's be honest: nobody gives a **** who won best "Golden Specialty Brett Ale" or whatever the category is.


*Disclaimer: this could all be wrong, and I will defer to literally anyone who has attended.

 

[middlebrow]

I've never been*, but from everything I've ever heard or read about GABF it's primarily a benefit to the "establishment" craft beer brands that prop up the BA financially. Their money buys them marquee booth space. The small breweries at the center of the zeitgeist certainly give credibility to it being an Important Beer Event, but it doesn't seem to yield anything more than a little bit of web forum chatter about how quickly they ran out of beer. Everyone in the middle kinda gets lost in the shuffle. It's so ******* big, how can anybody without a great both location or mega hype stand out in the long gauntlet of beer producers?

It might be cool if your beer medals, but it's generally understood to be as much a lottery as it is a competition. Of course, you could submit under an 'esoteric' category to gin up your odds, as many have in the past, but let's be honest: nobody gives a **** who won best "Golden Specialty Brett Ale" or whatever the category is.


*Disclaimer: this could all be wrong, and I will defer to literally anyone who has attended.

oh i figured all that ****...i was more wondering if i waste time inside or go to some nearby brewpub and if any you jaded ass f*cks have gone or are going.

 

[yeahnatenelson]

oh i figured all that ****...i was more wondering if i waste time inside or go to some nearby brewpub and if any you jaded ass f*cks have gone or are going.

AHHHH... attending, not participating. I would say waste time inside for purely people-watching reasons.

 

[Alum]

Went with Destihl as a brewery rep.

Fun times. Definitely a unique experience I'm glad I did.

If you don't care about all the .rar walez and are more interested in just trying a bunch of breweries (Or finding new cool ****), it's definitely a good time.

Whole neat mix of people.. because it's not just beer bros.. It's an "every man/woman" sort of affair. And man, do people get wrecked.

 

[danidavid]

oh i figured all that ****...i was more wondering if i waste time inside or go to some nearby brewpub and if any you jaded ass f*cks have gone or are going.

So I went last year and plan on going again this year so here's my half a cent.

As far as the festival itself, last year was the least memorable event the entire week that I was there. The breweries/bars/random restaurants have so many cool events and people the entire week that you can go to Denver the entire week and have an awesome time without actually going to GABF. Freshcraft, First Draft, Goed Zurr, Hops & Pie, and Falling Rock (and others I'm sure I'm blanking on) all had events that blew the actual festival out of the water.

That being said I did go to GABF twice because I have a buddy that lives in Denver and copped me free tickets for two nights and....

If you don't care about all the .rar walez and are more interested in just trying a bunch of breweries (Or finding new cool ****), it's definitely a good time.

This is an awesome assessment of it. A bunch of Tikk-ers trying to run around and grab all of the whalez but if you're just looking to try a bunch of new spots, or discover new spots it's worth the cash. Also doubling down on the people watching event because people have no idea how to hold themselves together in public.

 

[yeahnatenelson]

Also doubling down on the people watching event because people have no idea how to hold themselves together in public.

I constantly find myself wowed by how drunk people let themselves get because of a time limit on samples. Somehow you don't you see this much at Great Taste of the Midwest, but definitely at Copenhagen Beer Celerbration, where I saw a guy writing ratebeer reviews on his laptop while stifling the urge to throw up. Didn't creep long enough to see the Macbook ruined, but I also can't imagine that thing having left that airplane hanger in working order.

 

[trickytunadicky]

I constantly find myself wowed by how drunk people let themselves get because of a time limit on samples. Somehow you don't you see this much at Great Taste of the Midwest, but definitely at Copenhagen Beer Celerbration, where I saw a guy writing ratebeer reviews on his laptop while stifling the urge to throw up. Didn't creep long enough to see the Macbook ruined, but I also can't imagine that thing having left that airplane hanger in working order.

Is this why you are rooting for me to score a ride to see Hanson after GTMW? To see if I keep drinking at the fair? Lmao. I won’t. Professional here.

EDIT: unless it increases my chances of getting a ride to the state fair.

 

[yeahnatenelson]

Is this why you are rooting for me to score a ride to see Hanson after GTMW?

It's because I hope the universe gives you everything you want from life.

 

[jdhende]

I'm not sure what drove the uptick in Nate Nelson involvement recently, but i'm all in on it. Seems like only yesterday we were drinking pitchers of Cantillon after Zwanze day

 

[trickytunadicky]

It's because I hope the universe gives you everything you want from life.

You are a scholar and a gentleman, Nate.

 

[SAISON FUCK]

I'm not sure what drove the uptick in Nate Nelson involvement recently, but i'm all in on it. Seems like only yesterday we were drinking pitchers of Cantillon after Zwanze day

Marriage makes most men better.

 

[Scalzo]

Marriage makes most men better.

you spelled bitter wrong

 

[Ole Worm]

oh i figured all that ****...i was more wondering if i waste time inside or go to some nearby brewpub and if any you jaded ass f*cks have gone or are going.

If you can find a way into the Paired event (used to be known as the Farm to Table pavilion), I recommend it. It's a separately ticketed event off the main floor (and has fresh air ... there's an outdoor patio) -- it's really the best of GABF. They get some pretty great chefs/restaurants from around the country and some really good beer to pair with it. Beer and food events in bite-sized portions are kind of a dime-a-dozen these days, but that one has always stood out to me.

 

[middlebrow]

vav you may enjoy this...was asked to write a little blurb about a brewery i'd like to visit..."scratch is the can of craft beer. while everyone is trying to recreate the beatles they're carving out blah blah blah...."

two days later, a question from the editor...is this a typo, can you clarify what you mean by 'the can of craft beer'?

 

[SAISON FUCK]

you spelled bitter wrong

Sorry if those dudes married the wrong ladies.

 

[trickytunadicky]

Sorry if those dudes married the wrong ladies.

You’re hopinng I will relay this message to your wife, aren’t you?


I might.

 

[SAISON FUCK]

You’re hopinng I will relay this message to your wife, aren’t you?


I might.

She knows that I think she is pretty great.

 

[vav1]

vav you may enjoy this...was asked to write a little blurb about a brewery i'd like to visit..."scratch is the can of craft beer. while everyone is trying to recreate the beatles they're carving out blah blah blah...."

two days later, a question from the editor...is this a typo, can you clarify what you mean by 'the can of craft beer'?