Random Beer Thoughts

[BulkCarrier]

Apparently there are some HF and RR kegs coming to Australia.

I feel weird that I'm mostly indifferent to things like this. Sitting in a bar, paying a ridiculous amount for small tastes amongst a crowd of dorks, and having to appraise and coo over every beer (I'm sure they will be good, of course) just doesn't seem fun anymore.

In other news, out of state Vermonters are coming to Vermont to enjoy Foam Brewers, Burlington Beer Company, Fiddlehead, Frost Beer Works and Foley Brothers and not worrying about small samples, over pricing and lines.

Who is this HF you speak of?

 

[arren]

faulting trailblazers years down the line for taking chances that didn't stand up to the test of time is a great way to stymie innovation.

It was a legitimate question. Experimentation is great, and I definitely acknowledge that craft beer wouldn't be nearly as prolific today were it not for Sam Calagione, but 120 Minute is certainly one of those beers that, in retrospect, was extreme even during that IBU Cold War era of beer.

 

[drgarage1]

It was a legitimate question. Experimentation is great, and I definitely acknowledge that craft beer wouldn't be nearly as prolific today were it not for Sam Calagione, but 120 Minute is certainly one of those beers that, in retrospect, was extreme even during that IBU Cold War era of beer.

Which makes Hoo Lawd even more confusing.

 

[FoudreGuy]

I never liked 120. It was way too apricot-flavored rubbing alcohol for me.

 

[jivex5k1]

120 is one of those beers I sought after for a while when I first got into beer. I remember finally getting it, taking pride in how rare it when I shared it with a good friend of mine. It was pretty intense when we tasted it, neither of us wanted to admit it was kind of bad and instead settled on something like "Wow this is aggressive as ****, it's so cool they made such a strong beer." Looking back I can safely say that neither of us really enjoyed the taste but the experience itself was fun at the time.

Later I eventually got to have a "heaven and hell", which most of you probably know is World Wide Stout mixed with 120. I liked it more than either of those beers by themselves which is kind of strange but the beers are really good together. Speaking of World Wide Stout, it's really tasty this last release and ready to drink right now. Had one at the homebrew store on a whim and we were all surprised at how smooth it is already.

 

[lb304854]

Other Half is really hit or miss.

 

[JCastle1]

Other Half is really hit or miss.

Is it quality wise or just recipe wise? I haven't had many but the ones I tried were good, nothing special. The Baltic Porter was amazing but I think that one was brewed at Creature Comforts.

 

[drgarage1]

Is it quality wise or just recipe wise? I haven't had many but the ones I tried were good, nothing special. The Baltic Porter was amazing but I think that one was brewed at Creature Comforts.

Yeah, I haven't had any bad beers from them, but I've had very few truly great ones (every beer with Diamonds in the name has been awesome, but few other home runs).

 

[lb304854]

Is it quality wise or just recipe wise? I haven't had many but the ones I tried were good, nothing special. The Baltic Porter was amazing but I think that one was brewed at Creature Comforts.

Using my super scientific rating sytem, out of the 7 or so Other Half IPA's I had over the weekend: 2 were really good, 2 more were alright, the rest were pretty forgettable.

For as much as hazy IPA fans espouse fruity flavors and aromas while hating on west coast IPAs, a few of the OH's were really resinous and bitter.

 

[ant880]

Other Half is really hit or miss.

I could have told you this, but you didnt tell me you were coming to NY.

 

[lb304854]

I could have told you this, but you didnt tell me you were coming to NY.

I was told never to meet my heroes.
















In actuality, I only remembered on Friday that you live in NY.

Feels Batman.

 

[ant880]

I was told never to meet my heroes.

This is probably especially good advice when it comes to me. blue_bleeder can regale you with stories of his unbridled disappointment after meeting me.

 

[GuzzleMcBrew]

For as much as hazy IPA fans espouse fruity flavors and aromas while hating on west coast IPAs, a few of the OH's were really resinous and bitter.

This and absolutely this. The handful of cans I have had were all spicy dry hops, no finesse. I think the fact that NYC didn't have any other canned Haze for a long time made it easy for an early-mover to get recognition.
I'll drink Grimm Lambo Door all day though.

 

[drgarage1]

This and absolutely this. The handful of cans I have had were all spicy dry hops, no finesse. I think the fact that NYC didn't have any other canned Haze for a long time made it easy for an early-mover to get recognition.
I'll drink Grimm Lambo Door all day though.

Lambo Door is so great.

 

[regularjohn]

https://www.craftbeer.com/craft-beer-muses/host-bottle-share?src=21317_FB

I trust the distributor to get the beer here in proper condition better than a guy I don’t know. I have too much respect for the beer.

Respect Beer. - tawd

 

[blue_bleeder]

This is probably especially good advice when it comes to me. blue_bleeder can regale you with stories of his unbridled disappointment after meeting me.

My hero?

HA!

That being said, you never disappoint bb.

 

[lazerviking]

https://www.craftbeer.com/craft-beer-muses/host-bottle-share?src=21317_FB


Respect Beer. - tawd

This list reads like something that was put together by someone who has never actually gone to a tasting.

 

[regularjohn]

This list reads like something that was put together by someone who has never actually gone to a tasting.

You never heard of Hannah Carlson? she's a lvl 9000 cicerone

 

[lazerviking]

You never heard of Hannah Carlson? she's a lvl 9000 cicerone

No. Should I have?

 

[regularjohn]

No. Should I have?

She's actually Jay Leno.

 

[RedCoffee]

https://www.craftbeer.com/craft-beer-muses/host-bottle-share?src=21317_FB


Respect Beer. - tawd

I had to go re-read that section a couple of times because I couldn't believe it was being said with seemingly no irony.

Also, today I learned that Gonzoillini and trickytunadicky do tastings all wrong. I always have fun, I guess, but now I know how the pros do it.

 

[regularjohn]

I had to go re-read that section a couple of times because I couldn't believe it was being said with seemingly no irony.

Also, today I learned that Gonzoillini and trickytunadicky do tastings all wrong. I always have fun, I guess, but now I know how the pros do it.

We're doing it all wrong, from now on i'm only gonna drink local beer in brown paper bags at shares. I'll just bring some MD 20/20 variants no one will know what it is. You down FTowne ?

 

[fear0251]

I had to go re-read that section a couple of times because I couldn't believe it was being said with seemingly no irony.

Also, today I learned that Gonzoillini and trickytunadicky do tastings all wrong. I always have fun, I guess, but now I know how the pros do it.

To be a real pro at throwing a tasting, don't forget the professional caterers and photographers!

 

[arren]

As long as we're waxing poetic on "old" beers, Pliny the Younger is still a fan-*******-tastic beer. In this day and age of haze, barrel-aging, and cookies as adjuncts, it's nothing "special," but it's nonetheless just an incredibly well-made beer with no immediate flaws or issues. I wouldn't hesitate to call it a perfect beer.

Even the line this year wasn't an issue. Toronado tapped it at something like 10:30am, and I managed to get there at 12:30pm on my lunch break for a couple pours with no issue whatsoever. I wonder how much #newmoney skipped it saying "no haze, no care."

 

[furley]

As long as we're waxing poetic on "old" beers, Pliny the Younger is still a fan-*******-tastic beer. In this day and age of haze, barrel-aging, and cookies as adjuncts, it's nothing "special," but it's nonetheless just an incredibly well-made beer with no immediate flaws or issues. I wouldn't hesitate to call it a perfect beer.

Even the line this year wasn't an issue. Toronado tapped it at something like 10:30am, and I managed to get there at 12:30pm on my lunch break for a couple pours with no issue whatsoever. I wonder how much #newmoney skipped it saying "no haze, no care."

still never tried it. i just assume it's total crap.

mostly because i've never had it and probably never will.

it's better this way

 

[wuntrikpony]

Pliny the Younger is still a fan-*******-tastic beer.

trumpwrong.gif

 

[FoudreGuy]

As long as we're waxing poetic on "old" beers, Pliny the Younger is still a fan-*******-tastic beer. In this day and age of haze, barrel-aging, and cookies as adjuncts, it's nothing "special," but it's nonetheless just an incredibly well-made beer with no immediate flaws or issues. I wouldn't hesitate to call it a perfect beer.

Even the line this year wasn't an issue. Toronado tapped it at something like 10:30am, and I managed to get there at 12:30pm on my lunch break for a couple pours with no issue whatsoever. I wonder how much #newmoney skipped it saying "no haze, no care."

That's the impression I'm getting.

I only had PtY once. Little bottle shop opened up near me in Seattle in 2012 and sold $10 tickets that got you a pour of PtY and PtE along with the ability to buy PtE bottles. So easy going and laid back, and they had enough for people who just wandered in day of.

Then Russian River had to go and pull out of Washington state at the end of the year.

 

[JulianB1]

I'd like to tick Pliny The Younger some day as it's one of the only "legacy ticks" left for me, in the sense that it was a big/hyped beer when I was really getting into trading/ticking/trying new stuff/etc. It's one of the only beers on the BA "Beers Of Fame" list I haven't tried. But I just don't really see any way it's going to happen, short of being at a conference on the west coast at the right time or something. I suppose I could go up to Philly sometime while doing other stuff (i.e. visiting some friends or hitting a concert/sporting event), but I get the impression all the tappings there are shitshows (happy to be corrected on that one).

Of course I could have drank it countless times back in grad school, when I didn't know any better.

 

[trickytunadicky]

I'd like to tick Pliny The Younger some day as it's one of the only "legacy ticks" left for me, in the sense that it was a big/hyped beer when I was really getting into trading/ticking/trying new stuff/etc. It's one of the only beers on the BA "Beers Of Fame" list I haven't tried. But I just don't really see any way it's going to happen, short of being at a conference on the west coast at the right time or something. I suppose I could go up to Philly sometime while doing other stuff (i.e. visiting some friends or hitting a concert/sporting event), but I get the impression all the tappings there are shitshows (happy to be corrected on that one).

Of course I could have drank it countless times back in grad school, when I didn't know any better.

Had a TACO of it once. Was unimpressed. But am generally unimpressed with RR, so... don't listen to me.

 

[drgarage1]

It's a really well-made west coast TIPA. That is all.