You kids sure have strange ideas about drinking alcohol

[elpollodiablo]

My local brewpub has this on draught right now: http://www.dogfish.com/brews-spirits/the-brews/occasional-rarities/hellhound-on-my-ale.htm

Despite the unfortunate name and the cross-marketing, it's really stellar. Much more balanced and with less of a bite than the 90min, and with just the right hint of citrus in there. Definitely better than any of the big gimmicky beers I've had from DFH in the last couple of years. Also prefer it to the 120min, I think.

[justinh]

Anyway though, I can see what you mean in terms of the point of a bitter being "unremarkable" in that it's all about drinkability, but when I find a really well-rounded, drinkable beer with a perfect balance of malt & bitterness, I'm wont to remark upon it. Is all.

Over the years, bitter has become one of my favorite (if not straight-up favorite) styles of beer.  IMO bitter is *very* remarkable, and has flavors that aren't really present in other styles--the mineraly, slightly fruity flavor and long finish of a good bitter is one of the best tastes ever. 

I used to think that bitter was a boring style, but after drinking as much room-temperature cask ale as possible in London last year, I'm a true believer.  When it's at room temperature (or cellar temperature, even) it really opens up and reveals the complexity of the beer.   If you drink it cold it might as well be american macro-swill. 

[fishjim]

If you are speaking of their 1554 "Enlightened" Black Ale, "Possibly the best out of New Belgium's regularly-available 6-packs" l

Word.

I was at a bar Thursday night, minding my own biz in a booth, when a fratty guy in a New Belgium muscle-T stuck a tray of shot glasses in my face. They were Black Ale samples.

I tried one, it seemed passable. Then he started to upsell me on a $5 pint - "You get to keep the New Belgium glass!" - and I felt the Blackness curdle in my gut.

EDIT: Just realized I've already told this story a few posts back, and was upbraided by Yojimbo in the very post I'm quoting from for calling Black Ale "gross." Given the context, I stand by my epithet. But I'll cop to being blazing high when I posted it. A cautionary tale!

A more active fermentation leads to higher levels of fruity esters.  Low levels of diacetyl are considered acceptable in an ESB, where they would not be present in an ordinary or premium bitter. 

At last, a use for organic chemistry.

[coldforge]

drinkin a little at work / don't tell nobody

[justinh]

I brought back a bunch of beers from ATL a month ago and proceeded to crack them open for Mother's Day Festivities (although the mothers did not partake).

Lost Abbey Red Barn - perhaps the tastiest farmhouse/saison I've ever had. 
Allagash Trippel - not bad...I have yet to sample the Allgash Belgian Stout, which I think might be more up my alley

[fishjim]

Broadening my Lagunitas-lovin' with a Little Sumpin' at Ben & Nick's pub in Oakland. Last time I was here, I had a Lagunitas WTF. Next time, I'll try a Little Sumpin' Extra.

Here's a cheer I just wrote:

La la la la la la la la la, hey hey, Lagunitas

[justinh]

I really dig the Lagunitas pilsner for some reason. 

[davy]

Had this tonight:



A New Belgium thingamajig, and I'd recommend it even if it wasn't $1.99. But it was, so I super-recommend it.

[Antero]

You found that for two bucks?

[El_Josharino]

I think I've had that one. Is that the sour one? New Belgium generally does those pretty well.

[YojimboMonkey]

The liquor store that my late buddy Bishr owned (and that his brother currently owns) sent us to the annual tasting put on by the area's big distributor Glunz again this year. I tasted many beers. Also some liquors, even though it was nominally a beer tasting. Here is a list, minus tasting notes 'cause a) my tasting notes were minimal, scrawled on a notepad on my knee between tables and b) I really need to report to the dudes who sent me there before I put all that shit out on the internet. Anyway here is some shit I tasted tonight

1   Anchor Summer
2   Anchor O.B.A. barrel-aged ale
3   Brewdog 5am Saint
4   Brewdog Punk IPA
5   Mikkeller Devine Rebel
6   Brewdog Bashah
7   Great Lakes Holy Moses
8   Great Lakes Dortmunder
9   Stiegl Lemon Radler
10   Stiegl Pils
11   Stiegl Paracelsus
12   Breckenridge Summerbright
13   Breckenridge Avalanche
14   Breckenridge Ballpark Brown
15   Breckenridge Small Batch 471
16   Flying Dog Woody Creek White
17   Flying Dog Classic Pale
18   Flying Dog Double Dog
19   Brouwerije Van Eecke Het Kapitel Abt
20   Brouwerije Van Eecke Poperings Hommel
21   Brouwerije Van Eecke Het Kapitel Prior
22   McAuslan St. Ambroise Apricot Wheat
23   McAuslan St. Ambroise Oatmeal Stout
24   McAuslan St. Ambroise Vintage
25   Palma Louca Pale Pilsner
26   Brasserie de Saint Sylvestre 3 Monts
27   Brasserie de Saint Sylvestre Gavrouche
28   Xingu Black Lager
29   Great Lakes Distillery Rehorst Milwaukee Gin
30   Great Lakes Distillery Roaring Dan's Rum
31   Great Lakes Distillery Kinnikinnick Whiskey
32   Great Lakes Distillery Absinthe Verde
33   Great Lakes Distillery Absinthe Rouge
34   He'Brew Genesis
35   He'Brew Messiah Bold
36   Coney Island Albino Python
37   Coney Island Lager
38   Coney Island Human Blockhead
39   He'Brew Origin
40   Coney Island Sword Swallower
41   He'Brew Bittersweet Lenny RIPA
42   5 Rabbit "5 Rabbit" Pale Ale *
43   5 Rabbit "5 Lizard" Witbier
44   5 Rabbit "5 Vulture" Chile Beer
45   Grand Teton Persephone Imperial Pilsner
46   Grand Teton Bitch Creek ESB Brown Ale
47   Grand Teton Pursuit of Hoppiness Amber/Red Ale
48   Grand Teton Lost Continent Double IPA
49   Spaten Optimator Doppelbock
50   Brasserie  de l'Abbaye du Val Dieu Grand Cru
51   Brouwerij Verhaeghe Vichtenaar
52   Brasserie Caracole Nostradamus Belgian Strong Dark Ale
53   Olympia, bitches. 'cause I was on my way out and why the hell not?

* 5 Rabbit brewery is "the first Latin microbrewery in the US" according to their press. But I talked to the guy tonight and they're contract-brewing through Argus on the far south side of Chicago right now.  Wish them well though, the 5 Lizard with passionfruit was pretty good and the 5 Vulture with chiles was amazing.

[FreddyKnuckles]

18   Flying Dog Double Dog

What'd you think of the ol' Double Dog?  I can't remember if I liked it because it was delicious and super hoppy or if I liked it because it got me shitfaced.  (I had a growler)

[davy]

You found that for two bucks?

Yeah, they've got cases and cases of it for $1.99/bottle across the street. Some sort of promotion.

[dumbfish]

So my buddy who works for a beer distributor sold me a case of Terrapin Rye Squared at cost. NETWORKIN'!
Terrapin Rye Squared is super tasty.
Best beer those guys make, I'll assert.

[FreddyKnuckles]

So my buddy who works for a beer distributor

I once had a similar buddy.  There, honestly, is no one better to know than a dude who works for the beer distributor. 

[Ignatius]

Obviously there is - the dude who works for the beer company itself.

[El_Josharino]

Yeah, one of my good buddies brews at one of the local brewpubs. It's pretty good, to say the least.

[Ignatius]

Beer companies sponsor events, too, so you get an earlier crack at tickets than the trickle down distributors. You guys got good friends and all, they're just second rate.

[dieblucasdie]

Well, clearly the divide is between "friend who regularly gives you free beer" vs. "friend who does not regularly give you free beer."  His/her actual job is irrelevant.  I've had a neighbor who works for a distributor and gave me an occasional tasty sixer, and I've had a neighbor who was a Chicago Public Schools employee, but plied me with Old Style tallboys on a more or less constant basis.  I know which I appreciated more.

[Ignatius]

What the fuck are you talking about, dbd? The issue at hand is whether you get more free beer and other stuff from a distributor or from a dude with direct connections. The job is super-relevant. I get the feeling that you've never had a buddy who worked for The Company.

[FreddyKnuckles]

Dude iggy don't be a douche

It was a figure of speech. 

Hmmmmm well, sir I would posit that in fact the best imaginable friend in the world would be one who not only brought you free beer on occasion but also did you the courtesy of taking a nice hot dump on your chest, see.

[dumbfish]

No, clearly, the best possible friend is the beer itself.

[YojimboMonkey]

I have always liked you df

[justinh]

df, what's Rye Squared?  I got some Terrapin Rye IPA down in the ATL and I've been drinking them ever since.  Not bad--kind of light and refershing for an IPA---perhaps hedging towards lawnmower beer--but still fairly tasty. 

We also picked up a variety 12 pack of New Glarus when going through Wisconsin on the way home.  I'm not as much of a NG booster as some, but the Moon Man Pale Ale and Fat Squirrel are both pretty good.  It lamentably did not have my favorite NG beer, the Coffee Stout. 

[dumbfish]

df, what's Rye Squared? 

Sez the label it's the same as the Rye, just with 2x all the ingredients. So it's sweeter, higher alcohol than Rye but still well-balanced. It's a seasonal for them.
As far as I can tell, the ubiquity of Terrapin Rye in Athens' bars is the best thing about that town. The local beer with the most handles around here is either Big Boss Bad Penny or Carolina Pale Ale, neither of which measure up.