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Beer |OT|
- Thread starter Snuggles
- Start date
I've given a couple of stouts a try lately but I just don't think they are for me. The St-Ambroise Oatmeal Stout was my first stout I ever tried other than Guinness. It was drinkable but I wouldn't buy it again. The next one I tried was the Young Double Chocolate Stout. I just couldn't finish it and had to dump half (after mixing some with the Wells Banana Bread just to try it... it was ok mixed together). The Chocolate stout just reminded me too much of coffee than chocolate, and I am not a coffee drinker so that explains why I didn't like it.
I'm still willing to give stouts a try if there are other kinds out there. I don't mind the occasional Black and Tan at the pub so I'm not completely writing them off.
RiggenBlaque
Member
Isn't New Hampshire supposed to be some sort of free market, no taxes, libertarian paradise?
The Westvleteren 12 gift pack will be hitting the LCBO shelves sometime this week. $76.85 for a 6 pack with two glasses. Cheaper than people expected.
Also, it seems some US stores will be getting it on 12.12.12, with a suggested price of $85/pack:
http://121212xii.wordpress.com/2012/12/03/hello-world/
Also, it seems some US stores will be getting it on 12.12.12, with a suggested price of $85/pack:
http://121212xii.wordpress.com/2012/12/03/hello-world/
distantmantra
Member
Way more than what you'd pay if bought directly from the abbey, but the pricing really isn't that bad compared to what you'd pay at a gray-market bottle shop in Belgium or on ebay. My Westy 12 bottles in Brussels were 10 Euro a piece.
It's a really solid deal for us U.S. importers. I've paid $120 for a six-pack with shipping. This is $45 less and you get some beer glasses out of it. I'll be there.
distantmantra
Member
Shelton Brothers can go eat a dick since they pulled out of WA a couple years ago (no Jolly Pumpkin, no Baird, etc.). I don't think I'd bite even if it was coming here, though. I've had Westy 12 enough times and I wish they included the full-size glasses.
StrikerObi
Member
Sucks that only Total Wine is getting it here in FL. We don't have one in Tallahassee. Thankfully, my friend is going to try and score a pack down in south FL so we can split it. 3 bottles and 1 glass each.
Yeah Shelton sucks! We lost access to several beers because of them.
distantmantra
Member
There are rumors of them coming back in 2013 or 2014, but I'm not holding my breath.
I really miss Baird. It's easily found in BC and Oregon, but still...
Angry Grimace
Two cannibals are eating a clown. One turns to the other and says "does something taste funny to you?"
Westy XII will sell for whatever the dealer thinks he can get for it. I wouldn't expect it to be nearly as sought after as you're probably expecting. You might be surprised how many people just don't give a shit about Belgian beer at all.
StrikerObi
Member
FTFY.
distantmantra
Member
I bet it will sell out immediately in certain states (OR, CA, CO, FL, MA), but sit around for a while in others where beer culture isn't as big. Plus, Westy 12 really doesn't have the trade value that it once held. It's still a solid beer that is worth trying, though.
StrikerObi
Member
This is exactly it. It's a worthy beer, but I wouldn't buy it often even if it was available year round. It is arguably the best Trappist beer, but is it so much better than the others that it demands a price that high? On taste alone, no. The only reason it is so expensive is because it is so exclusive. I'd just as soon buy a bomber of Chimay Blue, a beer I personally think is almost as good as Westy 12 but costs a fraction of the price.
Obi's got it right. Westvleteren is one of those beers that you have every year or two. If I could pick it up on the regular, even if it was $20 for a sixpack, I probably wouldn't. It's much too boozy and complex to be enjoyed casually.
That being said, everyone should try it at least once. It's got tons of layers, and I can safely say I've had few beers quite like it. St. Bernardus Abt. 12 is the closest, but even that isn't quite the same.
And I'll agree that Chimay Bleu Grande Reserve is like 90% as good a beer as Westvleteren, while also being a fraction of the price (like $9 for a bomber) and widely distributed. Hell, you can buy it at Publix.
That being said, everyone should try it at least once. It's got tons of layers, and I can safely say I've had few beers quite like it. St. Bernardus Abt. 12 is the closest, but even that isn't quite the same.
And I'll agree that Chimay Bleu Grande Reserve is like 90% as good a beer as Westvleteren, while also being a fraction of the price (like $9 for a bomber) and widely distributed. Hell, you can buy it at Publix.
Very true. I went to Belgium back in May and tried all three Westvleterens; personally I liked the 8 much better than the 12. I found the 12 to be a bit too astringent compared to Rochefort 10 or St Bernardus Abt 12. The 8 was very balanced and very similar to Rochefort 8.
I would only recommend getting this gift pack to those who have tried all the other trappist beers and want to try this for completions sake AND do not have the opportunity to travel to Belgium. For everyone else, I would say to just save your money and do like I did and spend a week traveling around Belgium trying this and all the other tasty beers that they do not export. I got a bottle of the 12 at the abbey's cafe for 4.70 euro and they also will sell up to six bottles to take home at the cafe, but take note that they only sell bottles to take home during the week not on weekends. I unfortunately went on Saturday and found this out the hard way, but at least I got to try them while I was there.
CheesecakeRecipe
Stormy Grey
Looks like I might be calling my buddy in Laurel to snap us a pack up for later use.
I didn't care for the Rochefort 10 too much. Too boozy, if you ask me.
For me, I'd rank the trappists like so:
1. Westvleteren
2. Chimay
3. La Trappe
4. Achel
5. Orval
6. Rochefort
7. Westmalle
Westmalle's Dubbel was the only one I've had that I've actively disliked.
The key is to put it somewhere cool where it won't see much light. And preferably without much humidity. Some people cork their beers to limit the amount of humidity that can get in, but it's not mandatory or anything.
I'm sure there are beer nuts here who'll call me a heretic or something, but if you can just put it in a closet that doesn't get too hot, you'll be fine.
distantmantra
Member
Westy 12 does age well, but it's also great fresh. If you've got two bottles, drink one now and wait at least a year on the other one.
Oxidation is the main driver of an aging beer. Oxidation is also heavily temperature dependent. The higher the temperature, the faster oxidation happens, increasing exponentially. And slower is better.
The common idea is that 50f is a good compromise between fast and still good character. Room temperature (65-70) is ok. Anything above that starts to just be too hot.
For anything that should be consumed fresh, refrigerator temperatures are always better.
I'm getting a full six pack so I'll definitely have a chance to see it progress over the years. I'll drink one now, and probably at 6 month intervals after that.
I'll have to settle for room temp, as I have no wine cooler or anything similar for proper storage. The question is whether it'll be fine for 2-3 years at room temp (70.5f at my place).
It's basically a gimmick, but it is a nice glass. Most of the larger craft breweries offer similar glasses with most of the "features" and I'll admit that I drink most of my beer from different versions of them. I think they are nice to have around when drinking something special, but a standard pint does a fine job as well.
It just boggles my mind that they would leave one of the most if not the most beer friendly area in the US. I never had a chance to try any Baird beers. I just think it is total BS that either going 2 hours north or south from here you can find Shelton's imports. It is like they are showing us the middle finger.
distantmantra
Member
Eh, there are things we can get in WA that you can't in OR.
I originally had Baird at their taproom in Harajuku, Tokyo a few years ago. You can get 16 oz. bottles via Shelton, but they're not cheap. Priced similarly to Hitachino.
DimmuBurgerKing
Member
My gf's visiting her family in OH and is picking up a bunch of stuff we can't get where we live (TN) from this place: http://www.schwartzbeer.com/
Huge selection. I've heard great things about Avery, who doesn't supply TN. Any recommendations?
Huge selection. I've heard great things about Avery, who doesn't supply TN. Any recommendations?
scissorfight
Banned
does this come in a bomber, or is it the 4-packs only?
distantmantra
Member
4-packs, just like Hoptimum.
scissorfight
Banned
thanks. time to pick some up.
vedderlax11
Neo Member
I really enjoyed the Narwhale, and I love Old Rasputin. It has an almost biscuit taste at the end, and very little alcohol present. I'm cellaring a couple to see how they are down the road, but I definitely recommend it.
I'm all over this now thanks
Link
The Autumn Wind
That's a cool, dry place, right?
distantmantra
Member
That's funny. Some bottle shops in Vancouver brokered a deal with the Abbey in the Summer of 2011 and were legally selling individual bottles of 8 and 12. They lasted a couple months.
B
bomb
Unconfirmed Member
I have 2 Crates of Westy12(48 Bottles), now who has some BCBS?
No Westy in Texas.
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