Random Beer Thoughts

[jivex5k1]

So I went to St Pete and Tampa last weekend. Head to cigar City and see Opal in a fridge. Sweet, that beer was ****** great, was going to get one. 65 dollars they want since it's "vintage"... **** right off with that price.

 

[Beer4B]

So I went to St Pete and Tampa last weekend. Head to cigar City and see Opal in a fridge. Sweet, that beer was ****** great, was going to get one. 65 dollars they want since it's "vintage"... **** right off with that price.

There really isn't a reason to swing by CCB unless you are picking up El Cat, it's sad. The draft list is usually a bunch of the regulars and treatments of pales, reds, and browns. The "vintage" list prices are dumb (but cool for out of towners to split). The cask beer is usually a style that has no business being on cask. And fresh Jai Alai is brewed in NC and not very good.

*Appropriately enough, my avatar is a HF Double Citra from when they got several HF kegs one day. Sigh.

 

[Gonzoillini1]

There really isn't a reason to swing by CCB unless you are picking up El Cat, it's sad. The draft list is usually a bunch of the regulars and treatments of pales, reds, and browns. The "vintage" list prices are dumb (but cool for out of towners to split). The cask beer is usually a style that has no business being on cask. And fresh Jai Alai is brewed in NC and not very good.

*Appropriately enough, my avatar is a HF Double Citra from when they got several HF kegs one day. Sigh.

While that might be true if you are a local, as an out of towner I love hitting up Cigar City a couple of times during TBBW. Aside from the assistant GM being a friend, they have a great taproom, friendly staff, and a huge draft list that always has a few things that I've never seen packaged before.

With regards to the vintage list, it's one of those things where you are never going to make everyone happy. Much like Side Project, they are priced to ensure they don't sell out super quickly so when someone who is interested (read out of towner with their friends) can purchase something unique / special / rare when they stop in the place.

 

[sacrelicio]

So I went to St Pete and Tampa last weekend. Head to cigar City and see Opal in a fridge. Sweet, that beer was ****** great, was going to get one. 65 dollars they want since it's "vintage"... **** right off with that price.

I bought one off a local guy for like 30 bucks (don't remember exactly) last spring.

And yes, that beer is awesome.

 

[FoudreGuy]

Portland is an option. You can hit Mt. Hood for some mountain action.

Head out to the coast, hit up de Garde then over to Twist Wine in Pacific City for some super chill PtY times.

 

[Beer4B]

While that might be true if you are a local, as an out of towner I love hitting up Cigar City a couple of times during TBBW. Aside from the assistant GM being a friend, they have a great taproom, friendly staff, and a huge draft list that always has a few things that I've never seen packaged before.

With regards to the vintage list, it's one of those things where you are never going to make everyone happy. Much like Side Project, they are priced to ensure they don't sell out super quickly so when someone who is interested (read out of towner with their friends) can purchase something unique / special / rare when they stop in the place.

I agree for out-of-towners, especially for the vintage list. They put better stuff on during TBBW but for most of the year it is rather uninspired. Go take a look now for instance.
Their taproom is a poorly decorated storage container. I'm glad you've experienced good staff interactions.

I'm not saying people shouldn't visit it if in town, but for those that live close or somewhat near, it's sad.
*Edit: I see now, I said "not really a reason to swing by", should have clarified to mean for locals.

 

[Lutter]

Not surprised about Smuttynose. They entered the Austin market with quite the THUD 2-3 years back.

 

[Lutter]

You mean hand-bottle from the Russian River bathroom.

I haven't actually witnessed someone doing this in 5+ years.

Last time I remember a dude pouring a Cervesa de Merlot from Jester King (tap room only) into an Aquafina bottle. LOL.

 

[regularjohn]

Man, new money traders are really serious when it comes to no extras right?

This guy on IG posted a single can saying THAT BEERMAIL THOUGH! 1 can.............wtf is wrong with these clowns

 

[lambandtunaphish]

Man, new money traders are really serious when it comes to no extras right?

This guy on IG posted a single can saying THAT BEERMAIL THOUGH! 1 can.............wtf is wrong with these clowns

dem single can razzle hauls tho

 

[regularjohn]

dem single can razzle hauls tho

Wanna meet up for a single can swap? it'll be really awkward

 

[JCastle1]

And fresh Jai Alai is brewed in NC and not very good.

I thought local kegs of Jai Alai were brewed in Tampa and cans in NC? That's what I thought I heard from my friend that works there.

 

[Beer4B]

I thought local kegs of Jai Alai were brewed in Tampa and cans in NC? That's what I thought I heard from my friend that works there.

That’s probably correct. I was referring to the cans since I don’t live really close and only grab it to go when passing through. I have failed in clearly communicating a lot today.

 

[jupiter6xx]

I just bought a case of Bam Biere 375s on clearance for $25. I'm probably never getting a better deal on anything in my life.

 

[Nivek43]

I just bought a case of Bam Biere 375s on clearance for $25. I'm probably never getting a better deal on anything in my life.

Friend picked up a case of 750mL Boon Kriek for $22 in Duluth about a month ago for me. Glad to drink these over the next year.

 

[Lutter]

I just bought a case of Bam Biere 375s on clearance for $25. I'm probably never getting a better deal on anything in my life.

JOLLY PUMPKIN IS NEXT FOR AUCTION CONFIRMED

 

[Treebs]

My first thought was “There’s no ******* way people drink that much BrewDog.”

 

[user 312341]

Only looking for Chinese food container fills at the moment.

Looking forward to the first PtY 2oz bathroom vial razzle.

Originally posted in another thread by Ryan_G :

Doing a Friday-Sunday weekend trip out to the west coast is something I'd only probably do to tick a mountain climb, not a beer.

I don't believe you.

 

[Gene1]

Phoenix is in dire need of more good beer. So many mediocre breweries, and AZW kegs don’t even appear around the city (not enough capacity at their current place, I guess). If anyone is looking for an untapped metro market to dominate, there it is.

 

[trickytunadicky]

Phoenix is in dire need of more good beer. So many mediocre breweries, and AZW kegs don’t even appear around the city (not enough capacity at their current place, I guess). If anyone is looking for an untapped metro market to dominate, there it is.

You didn’t like the local options? I thought the food was by and large just okay (I also got a pretty devastating case of food poisonong while visiting), but I enjoyed Arizona Wilderness, OHSO and Wren House... also whomever makes that White Russian stout is amazing.

 

[keef1]

Friend picked up a case of 750mL Boon Kriek for $22 in Duluth about a month ago for me. Glad to drink these over the next year.

Bought a case of expedition Stout for $18. Best clearance purchase I've had

 

[JulianB1]

Bought a case of expedition Stout for $18. Best clearance purchase I've had

My best was probably a case of FBS for $24.

 

[BadJustin]

Bought a case of expedition Stout for $18. Best clearance purchase I've had

My best was probably a case of FBS for $24.

I grabbed a case of Allagash Interlude for 48.00 should have been 114+ tax. Clearance FTW.

 

[JCastle1]

My first thought was “There’s no ******* way people drink that much BrewDog.”

Pretty popular and cheap in Europe (at least in Germany, Austria, Italy). Can't beat fresh Punk cans for €1 in my opinion.

 

[Gene1]

You didn’t like the local options? I thought the food was by and large just okay (I also got a pretty devastating case of food poisonong while visiting), but I enjoyed Arizona Wilderness, OHSO and Wren House... also whomever makes that White Russian stout is amazing.

As for food, I pretty much just eat as many tacos as possible (AMTAP) while in Phoenix and it works out nicely. Obviously I enjoy everything AZW brews, but it's very hard to find their beer around the city. Was extremely underwhelmed by OHSO. Wren House is the only other real game in town, and I think even they themselves would benefit from some friendly competition (and collaboration!) in the local scene. SunUp was nice, and I did enjoy their White Russian stout (and impressive line-up of Superstition meads for onsite pours), but that's not necessarily a difficult beer to make delicious.

All of that being said, the scene there is hurting for a serious high-level operation to raise the local bar for quality. Then again, AZW is building a new, bigger facility that's actually in downtown Phoenix, so that may just take care of it right there.

 

[trickytunadicky]

As for food, I pretty much just eat as many tacos as possible (AMTAP) while in Phoenix and it works out nicely. Obviously I enjoy everything AZW brews, but it's very hard to find their beer around the city. Was extremely underwhelmed by OHSO. Wren House is the only other real game in town, and I think even they themselves would benefit from some friendly competition (and collaboration!) in the local scene. SunUp was nice, and I did enjoy their White Russian stout (and impressive line-up of Superstition meads for onsite pours), but that's not necessarily a difficult beer to make delicious.

All of that being said, the scene there is hurting for a serious high-level operation to raise the local bar for quality. Then again, AZW is building a new, bigger facility that's actually in downtown Phoenix, so that may just take care it right there.

I should say that It was maybe chilquiles that did me in, but everyone kept telling me to try the burgers everywhere we went and, well, my standard is Burger Antics.... it left me feeling sad for burger prospects in Phoenix.

 

[BadJustin]

I should say that It was maybe chilquiles that did me in, but everyone kept telling me to try the burgers everywhere we went and, well, my standard is Burger Antics.... it left me feeling sad for burger prospects in Phoenix.

BA ruined me. You said it would and you were right.

 

[user 312341]

As for food, I pretty much just eat as many tacos as possible (AMTAP) while in Phoenix and it works out nicely. Obviously I enjoy everything AZW brews, but it's very hard to find their beer around the city. Was extremely underwhelmed by OHSO. Wren House is the only other real game in town, and I think even they themselves would benefit from some friendly competition (and collaboration!) in the local scene. SunUp was nice, and I did enjoy their White Russian stout (and impressive line-up of Superstition meads for onsite pours), but that's not necessarily a difficult beer to make delicious.

All of that being said, the scene there is hurting for a serious high-level operation to raise the local bar for quality. Then again, AZW is building a new, bigger facility that's actually in downtown Phoenix, so that may just take care it right there.

Psh. Should've just gone to Sideswipe's house!! All your needs and wants would have easily been taken care of.

AMTAP. Gene........ please.

 

[FoudreGuy]

Pretty popular and cheap in Europe (at least in Germany, Austria, Italy). Can't beat fresh Punk cans for €1 in my opinion.

It's widely available in Spain and also Japan. Saw single cans at most convenience stores last time I was in Tokyo.

 

[stoutsandstouts]

As for food, I pretty much just eat as many tacos as possible (AMTAP) while in Phoenix and it works out nicely. Obviously I enjoy everything AZW brews, but it's very hard to find their beer around the city. Was extremely underwhelmed by OHSO. Wren House is the only other real game in town, and I think even they themselves would benefit from some friendly competition (and collaboration!) in the local scene. SunUp was nice, and I did enjoy their White Russian stout (and impressive line-up of Superstition meads for onsite pours), but that's not necessarily a difficult beer to make delicious.

All of that being said, the scene there is hurting for a serious high-level operation to raise the local bar for quality. Then again, AZW is building a new, bigger facility that's actually in downtown Phoenix, so that may just take care it right there.

Prior to AZW recently starting to produce great beer and Wren House and The Shop making a couple of good ones, White Russian was the only local beer I could send to anyone. Anything else would have been completely embarrassing to send. It's amazing to me that a market of this size has so few local options that are good. I really hope the new AZW location helps to move us in the right direction.

We do have great distribution, though.