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[Yaboosh]

Just had my first sip of Pliny (on tap no less). Hype is justified, and I'm not a huge IPA guy.

Best IPA/DIPA made in the world. Russian River is amazing. I was able to go up there when I was in San Francisco for CBC (my second time at the pub) and I was, again, blown away by the huge sampler of super high quality beers.

 

[Suburban_Nooblet]

You should try this:

Never even seen this. Whats it all about? what region of the US is it in?

 

[Yaboosh]

Never even seen this. Whats it all about? what region of the US is it in?

It is a contract brewed gimmick beer that is heavily flavored with pizza elements and supposed to be disgusting. I want to say that it is mostly Chicago area, but not sure about that.

 

[tokkun]

Never even seen this. Whats it all about? what region of the US is it in?

Midwest. I tried it while touring the Sprecher brewery in Milwaukee a few years ago, although they were contract brewing it for a company out of Illinois.

It is Pizza-flavored beer. Like with basil and oregano. I would class it as the worst beer I've tasted to date.

 

[Suburban_Nooblet]

hahah I would love to try it. I'm in central Indiana. I'm sure it's not far.

 

[I AM JOHN!]

Midwest. I tried it while touring the Sprecher brewery in Milwaukee a few years ago, although they were contract brewing it for a company out of Illinois.

It is Pizza-flavored beer. Like with basil and oregano. I would class it as the worst beer I've tasted to date.

I had Well's Banana Bread Beer a couple months ago and thought it was hideous. If this goofy pizza beer thinks it can usurp that, I say bring it on.

So tell me, IPAge, has anyone else ever tried this:

(that's Haverhill Brewery's Leatherlips IPA, just in case you can't see the pic)

I feel like I'm missing something here. The bottle sells it as a very floral, citrusy IPA with an meant for "hop heads;" it even has an A- on BeerAdvocate. But I dunno, I think it's actually kind of mellow. Like, for all the talk about the Centennial and Chinook hops they use, I feel like it all kind of blends together into a citrusy opening that becomes very woody with a bit of a bitter (not in a bad way) aftertaste. That said, this is the third six-pack I've picked up in less than two weeks, so they must be doing something right.

 

[Yaboosh]

Age of IPAs is very important, with as little as 1 or 2 months being enough to substantially alter their character. It could just be an old bottle.

 

[I AM JOHN!]

Unless all my local liquor store has is old six packs, I don't think it's age. There hasn't be a difference in any bottle I've tried.

 

[Suburban_Nooblet]

Letting this piece of shit have it on a Tuesday evening. Love rollin' "bumstyle"

 

[I AM JOHN!]

Chinese food and a Clown Shoes Brown Angel Double Brown Ale. Life is good, IPAge.

 

[Suburban_Nooblet]

By the way. I hate IPA's. Those things are fucking killing my beer browsing sessions.

 

[Yaboosh]

By the way. I hate IPA's. Those things are fucking killing my beer browsing sessions.

Whatttt. Hating IPAs, it....it doesn't compute.

 

[I AM JOHN!]

By the way. I hate IPA's. Those things are fucking killing my beer browsing sessions.

I was once like you. Then I realized that it wasn't the hops I feared, but myself. Only when you do that can the healing begin.

 

[Suburban_Nooblet]

hahah I get your guys response. I prefer malt vs. hops. I'm just too fucking gangster for hops. check post above.

 

[bob_arctor]

By the way. I hate IPA's. Those things are fucking killing my beer browsing sessions.

It's definitely an acquired taste. I tend to like the milder ones. One of my favorites is Squall. Anything too bitter and hoppy I'm not a fan of. Hopsecutioner is pretty much my limit. Hop Wallop is pretty good too. I prefer Belgians, stuff like Orval or a good Tripel.


Edit: Any Bronx/NYC cats here? I finally got around to going to the Bronx Ale House up on 238th. Incredible beer on tap daily and the food was pretty slammin' as well. Make sure to go if you haven't already.

 

[HiResDes]

Never met a beer I didn't like. Even though I can afford better now I still kill Steel Reserve 40's for old times sake on the reg.

I'm telling you that Ithica's Apricot Wheat will make you wanna barf, and this is coming from a guy that drinks 40's of OE like kool-aid.

 

[RiggenBlaque]

Never met a beer I didn't like. Even though I can afford better now I still kill Steel Reserve 40's for old times sake on the reg.

Try either Dogfish Head Olde School or fresh (within a couple months of bottled date) Goose Island Nightstalker.

Both were bad, but Olde School was the single worst beer I've ever had in my life. Huge fucking hot, disgusting, too sweet alcohol bomb. Christ, what a fucking awful beer. I could list about a million other barley wines that are way better. Even DFH's own World Wide Stout at 18% was more drinkable than that.

 

[Jackson50]

By the way. I hate IPA's. Those things are fucking killing my beer browsing sessions.

I can understand someone detesting double IPAs. The hop profile is superlatively strong. Otherwise, I do not think English and American IPAs are prohibitively bitter.

Also, I purchased a pack of Thirsty Dog's Siberian Night Imperial Stout. I understand it has a robust roasted malt profile; it is nearer a bitter dark chocolate flavor as opposed to coffee. And it is completely opaque. My appetite has been whetted.

 

[Dynamite Ringo Matsuri]

I'm telling you that Ithica's Apricot Wheat will make you wanna barf, and this is coming from a guy that drinks 40's of OE like kool-aid.

I have a hard time imagining this being worse than Sparks and Tilt. Seriously tasted like sweetened, carbonated piss to me. Just toxic.

I've got some Sam Adams Cream Stout in. Had some Left Hand Milk Stout prior to this. I'd say I prefer the Sam Adams to the Left Hand.

 

[TheLastCandle]

Had a number of wonderful beers this weekend at a beer party, and plan on having even more at a PA food and beer festival this weekend along with a get together with a friend and some good beer and metal dvds. Ahhh glorious.

On saturday I had:

Victory Yakima Glory
Victory Moonglow
Weyerbacher Verboten
Dogfish Head Raison Detre
Ommegang Three Philosophers
Sly Fox Raspberry Reserve

Among a few others that I can't recall. It was a good night.

Also, if we are talking vomit inducing beers (that aren't obvious swill like Natural Ice), then look no further than Michelob's Ginger Wheat. BLECH.

 

[thespot84]

I have a hard time imagining this being worse than Sparks and Tilt. Seriously tasted like sweetened, carbonated piss to me. Just toxic.

I've got some Sam Adams Cream Stout in. Had some Left Hand Milk Stout prior to this. I'd say I prefer the Sam Adams to the Left Hand.

Those aren't beer.

Also, give deschute's stout a try if you can manage to find it.

 

[Dynamite Ringo Matsuri]

Those aren't beer.

Also, give deschute's stout a try if you can manage to find it.

I know, it's malt based swill. I'll keep an eye out for deschute's but I'm pretty aware of what's available around me. And that doesn't ring a bell. If I lived by a Meijer I'd probably have access to much more variety.

 

[Mattdaddy]

I went to college in Oklahoma, where you can't buy beer at full potency unless it comes from a liquor store. And even then you can't get domestic, you have get Corona or Dos Equis or whatever. Being broke ass college kids, we would go for the cheapest value stuff. So it always came down to Lost Lake or this beer I had never even seen before called Pig's Eye. Pig's Eye turned to be one of my favorite beers ever. We could get like a 30 pack for ultra cheap, and I'm pretty sure the "light" version was called Pig's Eye Lean LOLOL. Ahhh memories, anyone else every tried this??

 

[distantmantra]

Day two in Brussels. Checked out he Cantillon brewery this morning and had my first geuze ever. Very interesting.

Before heading to dinner at Les Brassins, I stopped by Beer Mania today and picked up one bottle of Westvleteren 12. Not sure if I want to drink it now or take it home with me back to Seattle.

Regrouping in our hotel and heading over to Au Bon Vieux Temps for another beer or two shortly.

I know, it's malt based swill. I'll keep an eye out for deschute's but I'm pretty aware of what's available around me. And that doesn't ring a bell. If I lived by a Meijer I'd probably have access to much more variety.

Deschutes is based out of Bend, OR. They have distribution on the West coast as well as some "interior" western states like Montana, Wyoming and Colorado.

edit: Got back from Aux Bon Vieux Temps. They had legit Westvleteren. Yum.

 

[sharkmuncher]

Day two in Brussels. Checked out he Cantillon brewery this morning and had my first geuze ever. Very interesting.

Before heading to dinner at Les Brassins, I stopped by Beer Mania today and picked up one bottle of Westvleteren 12. Not sure if I want to drink it now or take it home with me back to Seattle.

Regrouping in our hotel and heading over to Au Bon Vieux Temps for another beer or two shortly.



Deschutes is based out of Bend, OR. They have distribution on the West coast as well as some "interior" western states like Montana, Wyoming and Colorado.

edit: Got back from Aux Bon Vieux Temps. They had legit Westvleteren. Yum.

Once you have a geuze you are forever changed. It may not happen right away, but soon you will get this slight craving that only a good gueze can scratch and it will lieave you searching all over town for someplace that carries one.

 

[Dynamite Ringo Matsuri]

You know, I'm beginning to notice a trend with some of these stouts I've been drinking. Sometimes I'll pour it into a glass and it'll taste great, I can taste all the bitterness and chocolate -y notes of the roasted malts and there's a bit of sweetness to the end, and sometimes I'll pour a glass and it'll just taste and smell like rusty water. What am I doing wrong GAF? I'm pouring the beer correctly, at a 45 degree angle into the middle of the glass and then tilting the glass after the midway point and pouring directly into the middle to build up the head. I just don't get it. :l

 

[sharkmuncher]

You know, I'm beginning to notice a trend with some of these stouts I've been drinking. Sometimes I'll pour it into a glass and it'll taste great, I can taste all the bitterness and chocolate -y notes of the roasted malts and there's a bit of sweetness to the end, and sometimes I'll pour a glass and it'll just taste and smell like rusty water. What am I doing wrong GAF? I'm pouring the beer correctly, at a 45 degree angle into the middle of the glass and then tilting the glass after the midway point and pouring directly into the middle to build up the head. I just don't get it. :l

Probably more to do with your glasses. Make sure they are well rinsed and no soap residue. A little bit of soap can go a long way as far as ruining the flavor of a beer. With something like LH Milk Stout or SA Cream Stout, there should be nearly no variation between bottles and I really don't think your pour has much to do with it.

Also, in my experience, time of day or what I have just eaten can affect how certain beers taste. I love a wit after work, but the same ones tend to taste "off" if I drink it while watching tv at night. Maybe I'm just weird, but it is something I have noticed.

 

[Dynamite Ringo Matsuri]

Probably more to do with your glasses. Make sure they are well rinsed and no soap residue. A little bit of soap can go a long way as far as ruining the flavor of a beer. With something like LH Milk Stout or SA Cream Stout, there should be nearly no variation between bottles and I really don't think your pour has much to do with it.

Also, in my experience, time of day or what I have just eaten can affect how certain beers taste. I love a wit after work, but the same ones tend to taste "off" if I drink it while watching tv at night. Maybe I'm just weird, but it is something I have noticed.

Thanks for the advice, I'm guessing it has to do with the glasses as well, as, like you stated, there shouldn't be any variation between the beers. I'll just have to rewash them before drinking then and see if things improve.

 

[I AM JOHN!]

Any of you guys ever tried Clown Shoes' Hoppy Feet 1.5? It's a special blend they made for their year anniversary that's a double black IPA, dry hopped twice. Really goddamn good!

 

[Masta_Killah]

You know, I'm beginning to notice a trend with some of these stouts I've been drinking. Sometimes I'll pour it into a glass and it'll taste great, I can taste all the bitterness and chocolate -y notes of the roasted malts and there's a bit of sweetness to the end, and sometimes I'll pour a glass and it'll just taste and smell like rusty water. What am I doing wrong GAF? I'm pouring the beer correctly, at a 45 degree angle into the middle of the glass and then tilting the glass after the midway point and pouring directly into the middle to build up the head. I just don't get it. :l

The first time I had Guinness, it tasted like weed. Didn't enjoy the taste and didn't drink another till a few weeks ago. This time, the bartender poured a little over half of it, then let the beer settle for a few minutes. After about 5 or so minutes, she poured the rest in. It was night and day with the flavor. I finally understood that chocolaty flavor everyone talks about.

You could try that. Let the beer settle before pouring the rest. Might help.

 

[HiResDes]

Thanks for the advice, I'm guessing it has to do with the glasses as well, as, like you stated, there shouldn't be any variation between the beers. I'll just have to rewash them before drinking then and see if things improve.

Also a really good quality Porter is the perfect gateway to enjoying Stouts.

 

[Dynamite Ringo Matsuri]

The first time I had Guinness, it tasted like weed. Didn't enjoy the taste and didn't drink another till a few weeks ago. This time, the bartender poured a little over half of it, then let the beer settle for a few minutes. After about 5 or so minutes, she poured the rest in. It was night and day with the flavor. I finally understood that chocolaty flavor everyone talks about.

You could try that. Let the beer settle before pouring the rest. Might help.

Yeah, that's the Guinness pour. If I remember correctly, Guinness takes quite a while to pour correctly so that things can settle. Thanks for bringing that up, I'll keep that in mind for my next drink!

 

[sharkmuncher]

The first time I had Guinness, it tasted like weed. Didn't enjoy the taste and didn't drink another till a few weeks ago. This time, the bartender poured a little over half of it, then let the beer settle for a few minutes. After about 5 or so minutes, she poured the rest in. It was night and day with the flavor. I finally understood that chocolaty flavor everyone talks about.

You could try that. Let the beer settle before pouring the rest. Might help.

Guinness is kind of an exception though as it is nitrogen carbonated. (Unless it was the foreign stout or extra stout, in which case nevermind) I am of the opinion that anything on nitro picks up some odd off flavors until most of the nitrogen escapes. Cask beer for the fine bubble win!

 

[_Bro]

Decided to get a couple beers before I got my wisdom teeth removed.

Had Great White and Odell 90 Shilling Ale. Neither was that hoppy, Great White definitely went down easy. I'd definitely use that as a party beer. Had a very sweet taste to it with a nice little kick.

The Odell was sort of thick and had a bit more of a full taste but wasn't that heavy. I really enjoyed it more than the Great White. Definitely give it a try if you see it.

note: still new to the whole beer descriptions so if any of that doesn't make sense or you wanna call shenanigans on, do so. i gotta learn somehow

 

[Jackson50]

As I mentioned earlier, I purchased Thirsty Dog's Imperial Stout. I enjoyed it. It is an above-average Imperial. It was opaque with a smooth and creamy moutfeel. It left a nice lace. It certainly had a roasted profile that mimicked dark chocolate with a hint of coffee in the finish. I would purchase it again.

 

[sharkmuncher]

Currently drinking Sierra Nevada'a 2011 Bigfoot Barleywine and I have to say, I am disappointed. Not that it is a bad beer, just way to many hops for the style. When I go for a Barleywine, I expect something on the sweeter end with a huge emphasis on the barley. I've had IIPA's that have less hop characteristic than this. I'm not saying its a bad beer, far from it. Just not what I'm looking for in this style. Maybe a few months in the back of the fridge will mellow things out. Just have to wait and see I guess.

 

[Dynamite Ringo Matsuri]

Okay, I took the advice, rewashed the glass, let the beer settle for two minutes, and so far, it's tasting great. If the next one tastes the same, I'll know it's definitely some soap residue or something.

 

[Yaboosh]

Currently drinking Sierra Nevada'a 2011 Bigfoot Barleywine and I have to say, I am disappointed. Not that it is a bad beer, just way to many hops for the style. When I go for a Barleywine, I expect something on the sweeter end with a huge emphasis on the barley. I've had IIPA's that have less hop characteristic than this. I'm not saying its a bad beer, far from it. Just not what I'm looking for in this style. Maybe a few months in the back of the fridge will mellow things out. Just have to wait and see I guess.

It's basically the definition of an American Barleywine. Perhaps you simply don't like the style. English barleywines would probably be more up your alley.

But a few months will mellow the hops, a year even better.

 

[sharkmuncher]

It's basically the definition of an American Barleywine. Perhaps you simply don't like the style. English barleywines would probably be more up your alley.

But a few months will mellow the hops, a year even better.

Yeah I guess I can't really say it's not to style as pretty much anything goes as far as IBUs for an American barley wine. I guess I was just looking for a little more malt body to back up all those hops. I think of Avery's Hog Heaven as a pretty good example of what I like in an American barley wine. Tons of hops (100+ IBUs), but just as much malty body to back it up.

 

[slidewinder]

[Maybe a few months in the back of the fridge will mellow things out. Just have to wait and see I guess.

It will. Should age nicely.

 

[distantmantra]

Back in the Netherlands after a few days in Belgium. The beer here isn't nearly as good, but I did have Brugse Zot and La Chouffe on tap tonight at dinner in Amsterdam.

Still haven't cracked open my bottle of Westvleteren 12... I think it's making the trip home to Seattle where it will age in my beer fridge.

 

[Yaboosh]

Yummy.

 

[RiggenBlaque]

If you're going to post beer porn, at least post a picture that isn't dark as night, I can't make out anything in that photo

Edit: this is how it's done

 

[Mike.83]

My Dad's friend designed the labels for a bunch of beers and gave me a few of them to try.
Just tried this 'Chocolate and Vanilla Stout'

Not a fan of dark beers, and this was pretty dark in colour, I can't say I'll be asking him for some more. Get a few others to try out though, hopefully they'll be better.

 

[Yaboosh]

The beers left to right are Firestone Walker Abacus, Three Floyds Dark Lord 2010, Bruery Hottenroth (berliner weisse), Bruery Provisions Series: Salt of the Earth (gose), and Russian River Blind Pig.

 

[dubc35]

I saw Henry's had an IPA out (probably been out for a while). It was $12 for a 12 pack so I was game. HW makes some good beers. I was stoked at the thought of a budget priced tasty IPA. Unfortunately it's pretty weak on hops, taste and aroma compared to other IPAs I've been tasting recently. I tend to like them on the mid to higher end on the hops. It would be a great summer time IPA when you're looking for some more hops but not the IPA heaviness.


I really like some of Henry's commercials though. They're very NW focused, as is the beer, so if you're not PacNW you might get it.
Beach Ball!
Homebrewer

 

[distantmantra]

I never even think of buying Weinhards since they're now owned by Miller, but I have fond childhood memories of their TV commercials from the 80s.

Also, did you know that Full Sail is contracted out to brew three of their beers? I learned that visiting the Full Sail brewery last year.

 

[dubc35]

I never even think of buying Weinhards since they're now owned by Miller, but I have fond childhood memories of their TV commercials from the 80s.

Also, did you know that Full Sail is contracted out to brew three of their beers? I learned that visiting the Full Sail brewery last year.

I didn't know that. This was actually the first time I have bought HW in a couple years. I did see on the bottle that it said Blitz-Weinhard Brewing Co, Hood River, OR.

[edit] ROFL, this is definitely me. I like oysters, don't love them, but I cannot handle the Fatty-Bo-Batty's that come out of the Hood Canal.

 

[Angry Grimace]

I'm sort of wondering if the Beer Community's obsession with IPAs and Imperial Stout is a modern fad. It seems like a lot of the competition in the IPA realm particularly is just on increasing the level of hop bomb rather than making a unique flavor and mouthfeel.

I just got into Beer geekery recently after finding out the store near me carried a lot of good stuff. Stuff I've tried over the last week or so:

Russian River Redemption
Russian River Damnation
Pliny the Elder
AleSmith Speedway Stout
trappistes rochefort 10
Chimay Trippel
Ballast Point Sculpin
Ballast Point Calico Amber Ale

I liked all of them pretty good...I'm trying to just sample all the stuff that people agree upon so that I have a basis for comparison since it seems like everyone compares Double IPAs to PtE, etc. Anything else that's available in the SoCal area that people think I NEED to try? I've tried a few other IPA's in my time, some of which I liked and some of which I thought were terrible (Stone IPA in particular I thought was just unbalanced as hell, not even a hint of malt, just 100% hops.)

 

[HappyBivouac]

Eh, the most-respected IPA's/DIPA's out there pretty much knock it out of the park in terms of flavor. It's incredible what Bells pulls off with Hopslam, really.

Currently drinking Sierra Nevada'a 2011 Bigfoot Barleywine and I have to say, I am disappointed. Not that it is a bad beer, just way to many hops for the style. When I go for a Barleywine, I expect something on the sweeter end with a huge emphasis on the barley. I've had IIPA's that have less hop characteristic than this. I'm not saying its a bad beer, far from it. Just not what I'm looking for in this style. Maybe a few months in the back of the fridge will mellow things out. Just have to wait and see I guess.

Barleywine is a tricky style. It runs sort of a wide spectrum. Get too hoppy, and some people start saying "this is a DIPA!" Get too malty and sweet, and people start saying "This is an Old Ale!" For me, it just means a big beer that hits hard on both ends of the flavor spectrum. Then again, fresh Bigfoot is skewed toward the hoppy side, yet I still love the beer. It's just too damn tasty. I'd love to try one with 5-10 years on it.