Random Beer Thoughts

[Ziggy]

******* barrel aged stouts are on track to cost half a paycheck in the near future.

 

[RedCoffee]

******* barrel aged stouts are on track to cost half a paycheck in the near future.

FIBs looking at their pile of entirely reasonably priced Deth's Tar and Cafe Deth cans:

 

[boogercrack]

FIBs looking at their pile of entirely reasonably priced Deth's Tar and Cafe Deth cans:

Then FIBs looking at those $150 cases of bcs they chased down last month

 

[RedCoffee]

Then FIBs looking at those $150 cases of bcs they chased down last month

Speaking just for myself, here, I didn't bother with BCBS bottles this year or last. Don't need the drama and can still get delicious, sweet, bourbony goodness.

Me sitting on my throne of Cafe Deth this year:

 

[boogercrack]

Speaking just for myself, here, I didn't bother with BCBS bottles this year or last. Don't need the drama and can still get delicious, sweet, bourbony goodness.

Me sitting on my throne of Cafe Deth this year:

iso

 

[beerindex]

FIBs looking at their pile of entirely reasonably priced Deth's Tar and Cafe Deth cans:

Still wondering when these cans are going to start showing up in MI, since they recently started distributing here. Don't remember being impressed by Deth's Tar, but I would like to try Cafe Deth when it finally lands.

 

[Lutter]

Every time I have an Orval I question why I buy any beer than Orval.

It's just perfect. Ages well. Tastes great fresh or 5 years old.

 

[mvl339]

I can't think of any other food/beverage business that has locations across so many countries except for maybe McDonald's or Starbucks. Isn't it a tax/accounting nightmare for mikkeller to deal with so many international locations?

 

[Stubs]

******* barrel aged stouts are on track to cost half a paycheck in the near future.

Lagunitas and the 2 cases of Willetized in my basement disagree completely.

 

[drgarage1]

I can't think of any other food/beverage business that has locations across so many countries except for maybe McDonald's or Starbucks. Isn't it a tax/accounting nightmare for mikkeller to deal with so many international locations?

Depends. I think at least some of them are closer to licensing and royalty situations, which can be cleaner tax-wise.

 

[Ziggy]

Lagunitas and the 2 cases of Willetized in my basement disagree completely.

Lagunitas has the best deal for BA stout. Cant beat those six packs. They set the bar in terms of price

 

[boogercrack]

Lagunitas has the best deal for BA stout. Cant beat those six packs. They set the bar in terms of price

Too bad ive never seen one.

 

[Lutter]

A major beer bar in Austin announced their closing at the end of the year (Flying Saucer) after 10 years in business. They've had terrible service & food for years with a beer list that was constantly outdated. A mound of problems.

What do they cite as their downfall?

The change in legislation a few years back that allowed breweries to sell on-premises.

Not poor management or retail competition from other craft beer centric bars (which all seem to be doing better than ever)

People mad.

Hey, EVERY OTHER STATE, how do your bars stay in business with all these direct sales? lol.

 

[Gonzoillini1]

A major beer bar in Austin announced their closing at the end of the year (Flying Saucer) after 10 years in business. They've had terrible service & food for years with a beer list that was constantly outdated. A mound of problems.

What do they cite as their downfall?

The change in legislation a few years back that allowed breweries to sell on-premises.

Not poor management or retail competition from other craft beer centric bars (which all seem to be doing better than ever)

People mad.

Hey, EVERY OTHER STATE, how do your bars stay in business with all these direct sales? lol.

That place was a joke when we visited the one in Dallas a few years back during a work trip. Servers had no clue what anything actually was, everything seemed old, and they didn't seem to give a ****. Jives with what I've seen from other huge chains (World of Beer, Beer Market, Yards, etc...).

 

[Lutter]

That place was a joke when we visited the one in Dallas a few years back during a work trip. Servers had no clue what anything actually was, everything seemed old, and they didn't seem to give a ****. Jives with what I've seen from other huge chains (World of Beer, Beer Market, Yards, etc...).

Austin has at least 3 places with 100+ taps (Bangers [which will have 200 soon with an in progress expansion], Growler USA, Yard House), and prolly 25 more with 60+.

Being mediocre in this market just isn't going to cut it anymore. Having a lot of taps seemed to be the only leg they stood on and that just isn't really special any more in Austin.

And yeah, I always chuckled when their servers tried to describe a beer. They were 2nd rate Tilted Kilt servers, lol. Their beer lines always tasted dirty too.

And nothing of value was lost.

 

[Gonzoillini1]

And yeah, I always chuckled when their servers tried to describe a beer. They were 2nd rate Tilted Kilt servers, lol. Their beer lines always tasted dirty too.

It was a blend of men and women at the one we visited, and all were equally clueless about style, if they were local, etc... which aren't crazy questions for an out of towner with a larger group looking to spend $$$.

Does TX not have rules about draft lines? One of the good things that Cook County (All of IL ?) has done is mandate that draft lines have to be cleaned every 2 weeks, and most places that aren't dive bars are in compliance. It's pretty rare these days that I get a clearly line impacted beer in Chicagoland.

 

[Lutter]

Does TX not have rules about draft lines? One of the good things that Cook County (All of IL ?) has done is mandate that draft lines have to be cleaned every 2 weeks

Absolutely not, lol.

There are actually bars that list the last time the lines were cleaned on their tap wall it's such a big problem.

 

[falc0n26001]

It was a blend of men and women at the one we visited, and all were equally clueless about style, if they were local, etc... which aren't crazy questions for an out of towner with a larger group looking to spend $$$.

Does TX not have rules about draft lines? One of the good things that Cook County (All of IL ?) has done is mandate that draft lines have to be cleaned every 2 weeks, and most places that aren't dive bars are in compliance. It's pretty rare these days that I get a clearly line impacted beer in Chicagoland.

I’ve never heard of draft line cleaning being a law, but that is awesome. I’m not gonna name names, but there’s a beer bar in Portland that brags about how they clean their lines every two weeks and how that is “five to ten times the average”, which is total ********.

 

[sacrelicio]

Too bad ive never seen one.

Ditto. Although I tried High Westified and wasn't impressed.

 

[Lutter]

I’ve never heard of draft line cleaning being a law, but that is awesome. I’m not gonna name names, but there’s a beer bar in Portland that brags about how they clean their lines every two weeks and how that is “five to ten times the average”, which is total ********.

You'll get docked big time for them being moldy or visually dirty on a health inspection though.

 

[Gonzoillini1]

I’ve never heard of draft line cleaning being a law, but that is awesome. I’m not gonna name names, but there’s a beer bar in Portland that brags about how they clean their lines every two weeks and how that is “five to ten times the average”, which is total ********.

Again I am constantly flabbergasted when Chicago gets something right like cleaning draft lines. One of the real "concerns" with draft lines in Chicagoland is how beer stack on each other. IE you don't want to put on the maple coffee stout on the line that just had the Lindemans Framboise.

 

[falc0n26001]

Again I am constantly flabbergasted when Chicago gets something right like cleaning draft lines. One of the real "concerns" with draft lines in Chicagoland is how beer stack on each other. IE you don't want to put on the maple coffee stout on the line that just had the Lindemans Framboise.

The bar I work at has a specific style for each line. If there’s something like mint or chilis making the next beer taste off, we clean the line right then. When we tapped Born Yesterday, it was right after a beer with passion fruit and mango, and the first few pints tasted amazing before we cleaned the line.

 

[Gonzoillini1]

The bar I work at has a specific style for each line. If there’s something like mint or chilis making the next beer taste off, we clean the line right then. When we tapped Born Yesterday, it was right after a beer with passion fruit and mango, and the first few pints tasted amazing before we cleaned the line.

How long are your runs for those draft lines? If it's 8-16 feet it's not a big deal, but on a sixtel of bourbon county over a 60 foot plus run that is a significant amount of money.

One of the weird things I never gave any thought until friends and family got into the business. Now it is the weird **** I think about.

 

[falc0n26001]

How long are your runs for those draft lines? If it's 8-16 feet it's not a big deal, but on a sixtel of bourbon county over a 60 foot plus run that is a significant amount of money.

One of the weird things I never gave any thought until friends and family got into the business. Now it is the weird **** I think about.

Our lines are less than ten feet, and upstairs they’re less than six feet. The bar that I mentioned, however, has long lines, and they say they use the beer in the lines to cook their sausages in. Stale beer, yum.

 

[Lutter]

How long are your runs for those draft lines? If it's 8-16 feet it's not a big deal, but on a sixtel of bourbon county over a 60 foot plus run that is a significant amount of money.

The last place I worked at had the kegs a good 300+ feet away in a walk in. Believe you me when the chilled line system came in at around $25k, the chef made damn sure everyone had proper line training, lol.

 

[boogercrack]

It is so bad at some places Ive heard of the distributor reps actually finding which taps their beers will be on and cleaning the lines for the bar. That's usually the divey bars/ice houses that will have 2 or so taps of st. Arnold's or something.

My favorite beer bar in the Houston suburbs though cleans during every keg change, which seems excessive, but im for it.

 

[Shakedwnst]

Pretty sure we have mandated line cleaning in Philly too. It’s great. The good bars definitely pay attention to “stacking” the lines as well.

 

[lb304854]

Again I am constantly flabbergasted when Chicago gets something right like cleaning draft lines. One of the real "concerns" with draft lines in Chicagoland is how beer stack on each other. IE you don't want to put on the maple coffee stout on the line that just had the Lindemans Framboise.

Super fresh Dreadnaught on a line that poured Southern Tier Choklat was surprisingly great.

Stacking is definitely a problem.

 

[litheum94]

I’ve never heard of draft line cleaning being a law, but that is awesome. I’m not gonna name names, but there’s a beer bar in Portland that brags about how they clean their lines every two weeks and how that is “five to ten times the average”, which is total ********.

NAME NAMES

 

[JulianB1]

Around here draft line cleaning is not legally enforced and is considered the responsibility of the distributors. I have it on good authority the local Bud house cleans lines maybe every 4 months, if that.