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What ya Drinkin'??

Posted: Sat Nov 11, 2006 9:54 pm
by Dwayne_Delaney
A place where you can share your recent pints.

Posted: Sat Nov 11, 2006 10:20 pm
by Dwayne_Delaney
OK, I'll start things off.....

Sailer Jubel @ the Gersthaus. Pricey at $6.95, but came in a really cool swing-top pint mini-growler, almost worth the price alone. Label was in German, but possibly a Fest/Marzen/Octoberfest style. Pretty decent beer; very malty with enough of a hop bite to balance it. My wife and I both tasted some chocolate with a fair amount of alcohol. Just wish it was a little cheaper. Prost!

Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2006 12:50 am
by kbhale
I been derinking this

Victory Summer Ale

11 gallons, Mash at 150-152F. 75% efficiency, OG 1.055, IBU 40.5 SRM 14.6

Grains
16 lbs Pale 2-row
4 lbs Vienna
1 lbs Crystal 60
1 lbs Aromatic
8 oz Light Chocolate malt

Hops
2 oz Northern Brewer (8.5%) -- 60 min
1 oz Liberty @ 15
1 oz Willamette @ 5 min

Yeast
British ale yeast / Nottingham yeast

First brewing of this recipe. Turned out very drinkable.

Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2006 4:32 pm
by JohnD
Just finished a Dogfish Head 90 minute IPA. Lots of hops, thick, almost syrupy, almost like a hoppy barley wine at 9% ABV. Voted the best IPA in USA 2 years in a row. Good but not what I expected. If I didn't know what was in the glass, I'd think I had barley wine.

Posted: Wed Dec 13, 2006 9:49 pm
by Dwayne_Delaney
Back to the hotel......finally. Founder's taproom in Grand Rapids. 14 beers on tap; all but 2 over 6.8%. I tried the Blushing Monk(10.3%), the Xmas Porter(6%), the Double Trouble IPA(8.1%) and the Breakfast Stout(8.3%). I wanted to try more, but 4a.m. comes mighty early.

Blushing Monk - Thin body, sour balanced with sweet, alcohol very well hidden. Not my favorite style, but still damn good..

Xmas Porter - I've tasted stouts that were much lighter that this. Bitter, loads of Chocolate, Smooth.

Double Trouble IPA - This tasted like their Centeninal IPA on steroids. Nice.

Breakfast Stout - Thick, THick, THICK.....did I say thick. The best oatmeal stout I have ever tasted.

Founder's has to be one of the best U.S. breweries. Their taproom is very spartan though. Food is limited to mostly sandwiches with free peanuts on the tables. Probably a 20 or so tables and 1 pool table. The crowd was mostly 20 somethings. Live music on the weekends. It was crowded and loud Wed. night. Wed. night is $2 off pints for Mug Club members.($50 annual membership).

Posted: Thu Dec 14, 2006 1:28 pm
by Chris Norrick
They were unloading a truck at University Liquor so I looked through the new stuff and picked up:

Bell's HopSlam: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/287/17112
Upland Winter Warmer: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/1170/16171

Posted: Thu Dec 21, 2006 3:38 pm
by Dwayne_Delaney
Bell's Hopslam available at University Liquours. A hop monster from Bell's.
From the label: "A biting, bitter, tongue bruiser of an ale. With a name like Hopslam, what did you expect?"

Compared with Two-Hearted:
More expensive, slightly more bitter, a bit sweeter, and tons more hop aroma.(I didn't think that was possible) Kinda like sticking your face into a bag of fresh American hops.
Not as balanced as Two-Hearted, but a very nice beer for hopheads....know any? :beer2

Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 8:14 pm
by JohnD
Just finished an O'Hara stout, imported from Ireland. Christmas present! Expected something like Guiness, but this was much thinner bodied and had a lot less roasted, burnt flavor. Tasted like Coors answer to Irish stout. On a scale of 1-10, it's a 3.
:cry:

Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2007 9:30 am
by Chris Norrick
It's been a good week in San Francisco. Hit ThirstyBear Brewery the first night and had a nice IPA and good food, nice atmosphere. Made our way to the 21st Amendment Brewery the second night and had a so-so South Park Blonde. It was really loud in there and our waitress was really bad. Said they didn't have the Watermelon Wheat but I think they had it in cans as they've started a micro canning line. Sort of disappointed in this place. Got a Nonna Rose House Ale at Fisherman's Wharf, not too shabby, believe it was a Cali Common (steam) style not sure who contract brews it. Went to Gordon Biersch last night and got a sampler. The Marzen was very good so I got a pint. The Schwarzbier was also good. Food was excellent but again, the music was blaring and it was way to loud. I must be getting too old... Gonna hit Beach Chalet today and maybe try to hit Magnolia Brewery tomorrow. Still trying to figure out a way to bring back some brews. See you guys soon!

Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2007 9:45 am
by Justin Rumbach
Sounds awesome Chris! I thought Toronado was NOT to be missed in SF though? Lots of Russian River beers on tap - can you Pliny the Elder!

Have fun.

Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2007 10:30 pm
by Dwayne_Delaney
New beers on tap at the Gerst:

Hoegaarden, Stone IPA

My suggestion is to try the Hoegaarden first; Stone IPA sort of desensitizes the old buds.

Posted: Tue Jan 23, 2007 12:12 am
by Kenny Lucas
I had both of those the other night. I was very disappointed in the Stone, must have been sittting in the line a while but the HO-garten was damn good. Then, I went back a few days later and the Stone had its usual superb greatness, too bad they wont always have this on, so they say.

Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2007 3:54 pm
by Chris Norrick
Sounds like we need to stop by after the meeting for an evaluation.

Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2007 12:12 am
by Dwayne_Delaney
Just tried a couple of the Longshot winners from last year, the Boysenberry Wheat and the Old Ale. Both are pretty decent. I liked the Old Ale better I think. I haven't tried the Dortmunder Style Export yet. The bottles and the box have the pictures and the names of the winning homebrewers.....kinda cool.
http://www.samueladams.com After going through all of the crap of entering your birthdate, click on the promotions link. (Scroll down and check out the funky Sam Adams beer glass.) Then click on the Longshot image, then on the winners list.



I also had the Bard's Tale Dragon Gold gluten-free beer tonight. Very unique flavor. It uses sorghum malt instead of the usual grains. Not bad.
www.bardsbeer.com

Note: All of these beers and more can be found at Westside Liquor at the intersection of Tekoppel and Uppper Mt. Vernon Road. I was suprised at how many good beers they had available; I hadn't been there in years. They also sell sixers of singles for $8.99. What a great way of trying unfamiliar beers without having to buy a whole six-pack. I wish more of the local liquor stores would do this.
www.westsideliquor.com (I like this website; you'll see why.)

Kentucky Ale Bourbon Barrel

Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2007 9:41 pm
by STiKY
Kentucky Ale in general is on my low list of ales, however their Bourbon Barrel offering offers something unique and different.

Aged in Bourbon Barrels the alcohol varies depending on the amount soaked into the wodden barrels.

Good oaky flavor with hints of caramel and strong bourbon flavors.

Very full beer that is made for sipping and very rich. If you can find it I definitly recommend trying it.