The San Diego area thread

[SerenityNow]

Day off and visited Alesmith, including my 3rd visit to Anvil & Stave. No crazy reveals here. Beers are awesome as usual.

 

[t sizzle]

This guy I work with's buddy conned him into standing in line and picking up beers at the Pure Project release. He was so pissed, waited an hour for the beers. He had no clue what he was in for. Missed his whole lunch.

 

[sdreaper]

Distribution right?

Yes, like 2 weeks would be my guess. Alesmith release, PP release, then distro...but that is only my guess.

When can we buy?

Now. PPL already walking out of tasting room with 6pks.

I need to find myself a regular Homer who does all my social media announcements for me for free. AleSmith is lucky to have you!

I have noticed that the social media crew at Alesmith has pretty much stepped away from BA when they saw I was posting what they would post. I guess they figured it wasn't worth their time when I would do their job for them, hehehe.

 

[sdreaper]

I'm not entirely sure this is braggable, after they did let someone go in that department (a few months back). But then again, you already know that since you're the (un)official spokesperson.

I'm also the presidential press briefing for Alesmith...neglect all the bad stuff and try to swing it all to either be a positive or just completely ignore the question, hehehe.

You will notice I never gave a review of Thai speedway, hehehe.

I only know of some of the back of house goings on and various upcoming releases. But even then I don't report it here or anywhere else until it is like a day from going official because it is not my place to spread that kind of information. I will provide it if asked, but otherwise it remains in my steel trap of a brain. (you can stop laughing now) =P

 

[arren]

Psst, MT released more cans of Clear and Present Dankness for sale. Guess lots of folks didn't make the pickup deadline.

 

[quetzalcoatl]

Eppig special dry is crisp as ****. Got that and a hoppy lager crowler

 

[chemman141]

Eppig special dry is crisp as ****. Got that and a hoppy lager crowler

I want multiple crowlers and an Eppig Maß to drink them from

 

[DannyFullpint]

Psst, MT released more cans of Clear and Present Dankness for sale. Guess lots of folks didn't make the pickup deadline.

I'd love some of them HAHA.

 

[rcubed1]

How was Council anniversary?

 

[SDBeerInsider]

How was Council anniversary?

great beers, great people.... the 3rd anniversary biere de miel was delicious and it was fun to re-visit old favorites like house white, nicene, vienne, etc. was really impressed by the Magic Factory variants (Woofle Dust apricots; Broken Wand raspberries) and the sneak peak of the upcoming bottle releases (Behind the Curtain & Everlasting Staircase of Peaches). Staircase may have been my surprise favorite of the day..... good times at OBriens afterwards too with that Noble/Fieldwork Power Glove and the walk-in Noble beer pairing dinner (Tyson and crew crushed it as always).

 

[SerenityNow]

I'm probably the only one who went here to Stone Sour Fest. There were a few stand outs like Doesjel 2006 (complete surprise amongst everything else), but this event solidified in my mind the cost in quality of the beers in not having Dr Bill around helping out Stone. Festival of Funk was way better than Stone Sour Fest in terms of quantity of quality thanks to whoever is in charge of that.

Long live the current king of San Diego beer festivals, Modern Times. I guess as a San Diegan, my complaints will always be nonsense given our #embarrassmentofriches.

 

[rcubed1]

Stopped in for a quick beer at Urge Common House yesterday. That place is impressive. The only downside is that most of the surrounding area is still under construction.

 

[DannyFullpint]

I'm probably the only one who went here to Stone Sour Fest. There were a few stand outs like Doesjel 2006 (complete surprise amongst everything else), but this event solidified in my mind the cost in quality of the beers in not having Dr Bill around helping out Stone. Festival of Funk was way better than Stone Sour Fest in terms of quantity of quality thanks to whoever is in charge of that.

Long live the current king of San Diego beer festivals, Modern Times. I guess as a San Diegan, my complaints will always be nonsense given our #embarrassmentofriches.

I haven't been to a Stone Sour fest in years, but what you described has always been the case. They procured any and every distributed sour and tart ale regardless of quality. I don't know how many cabbaged up farty sours I'd sample. You'd just have to know which ones were proven to be good.

Do they still do the bottle share in the pit?

 

[sdreaper]

Do they still do the bottle share in the pit?

It wouldn't surprise me if this disappeared when Dr. Bill disappeared. He had to fight for it the last time I attended SourFest since it seemed Stone just wanted it to go away entirely.

 

[SerenityNow]

I haven't been to a Stone Sour fest in years, but what you described has always been the case. They procured any and every distributed sour and tart ale regardless of quality. I don't know how many cabbaged up farty sours I'd sample. You'd just have to know which ones were proven to be good.

Do they still do the bottle share in the pit?

Didn't see any bottleshare happen. That appears to be ded.

 

[Tyrsis]

lol Stone events

No

 

[SerenityNow]

lol Stone events

No

I always enjoyed the anniversary fests & sour fests. Always had a great time and had plenty of yummy beers to try. I'm sad for the loss of what had been a great event, but happy Modern Times has taken up the mantle.

On a side note, I saw someone dressed up like Colonel Sanders walking around & not having any beers. I'm thinking Stone hired him, but it seemed like such a surreal thing to see at this event. Maybe next year, they'll go full on Flaming Lips and have dancing eye balls & a Greg Koch going around in a hamster ball.

 

[rcubed1]

Stone Anniversary is still a great festival. I also like what they have done with the AHA Rally as well. Of course both of these events are off site.

 

[chemman141]

Stone Anniversary is still a great festival. I also like what they have done with the AHA Rally as well. Of course both of these events are off site.

I've just never understood the appeal of this fest. They advertise over 300 beers available but you can only try 10 of them. Ticketed beer fests don't seem fun to me at all.

 

[SerenityNow]

I've just never understood the appeal of this fest. They advertise over 300 beers available but you can only try 10 of them. Ticketed beer fests don't seem fun to me at all.

Its unlimited small tastes outside the VIP area as of last year I believe. I wish all fests would do this, and not just to tick more beers, but to not have to feel like I'm throwing money down the drain when I choose poorly.

TL;DR GABF-style FTW.

 

[rcubed1]

I've just never understood the appeal of this fest. They advertise over 300 beers available but you can only try 10 of them. Ticketed beer fests don't seem fun to me at all.

They switched to 15 pours several years ago and now it's unlimited. My homebrew club participates which is also a reason why I like it so much - it's a big fundraiser for us. Also it's fun to go to a beer festival and see friends that never go to the more beer geek festivals.

 

[chemman141]

Its unlimited small tastes outside the VIP area as of last year I believe. I wish all fests would do this, and not just to tick more beers, but to not have to feel like I'm throwing money down the drain when I choose poorly.

TL;DR GABF-style FTW.

Agree, the stress of having to choose only 3% of beer available sucks lol

They switched to 15 pours several years ago and now it's unlimited. My homebrew club participates which is also a reason why I like it so much - it's a big fundraiser for us. Also it's fun to go to a beer festival and see friends that never go to the more beer geek festivals.

Ah unlimited is good.

 

[riko1]

When Stone first announced the Liberty Station location, which is much closer to home than Escondido, I was excited about the possibility of them having festivals there. Now, it's hard to imagine them having something there that I'd be interesting in.

 

[nanobrew1]

When Stone first announced the Liberty Station location, which is much closer to home than Escondido, I was excited about the possibility of them having festivals there. Now, it's hard to imagine them having something there that I'd be interesting in.

Same exact feelings. I was hoping I could bike to a Sour Fest or Oakquinox type fest. Not only am I not really that interested seeing how their Escondido ones have progressed, but I am not sure if they really do any festivals there.

 

[rcubed1]

They have the Hopcon festival at LS. You just can't take away the original fests from the mothership, it would piss too many people off who have locally supported them in north county.

By the way, Enjoy By unfiltered in cans is delicious.

 

[nanobrew1]

They have the Hopcon festival at LS. You just can't take away the original fests from the mothership, it would piss too many people off who have locally supported them in north county.

By the way, Enjoy By unfiltered in cans is delicious.

Yeah, I know Hop-Con is there, but that seems more like a specific event to attract Comic-Con people. Which is smart, and probably a fun event for them, but not what I would consider a Stone level event from the past.

I wasn't hoping LS would steal the events, but just put on similar/equally cool events. I remember when Cantillon, Beatification, DDG, Cascade Live barrels, and very unique one off beers were constantly being available. Then the last years I went, the best beers were ones I already had plenty of as they were shelf beers, plus a smattering of Cascade (not too much unique things), and a bunch of poorly made sours.

 

[SerenityNow]

I remember when Cantillon, Beatification, DDG, Cascade Live barrels, and very unique one off beers were constantly being available. Then the last years I went, the best beers were ones I already had plenty of as they were shelf beers, plus a smattering of Cascade (not too much unique things), and a bunch of poorly made sours.

That describes what I went to perfectly.

Debating whether to even bother with the Stone Anniversary. How was the non-VIP beers last year? Seems new this year that you can't buy both Session A & Session B, and that the event goes later in the day (so people don't cook to death on the CSUSM campus).

 

[sdreaper]

That describes what I went to perfectly.

Debating whether to even bother with the Stone Anniversary. How was the non-VIP beers last year? Seems new this year that you can't buy both Session A & Session B, and that the event goes later in the day (so people don't cook to death on the CSUSM campus).

I spent most of my time at the non-VIP beers last year. I can already say that Abnormal will be bringing some timed releases this year down in the non-VIP area. Not sure which ones, but I expect them to be delicious.

 

[sdreaper]

My mead game is strong this week Tyrsis

 

[Tyrsis]

My mead game is strong this week Tyrsis

I can't afford* this mead game bruh.

*just spent $300 on rum for my Tiki bar