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The Beer Thread - what are you drinking?

Discussion in 'January And Everything After' started by SuperJay, Jan 6, 2012.

  1. RyanMM Magister Mundi Elyscape

    Location:
    Ferndale, MI
    That's why I start with beer than then switch to liquor after the first or second one. Variety is the spice of life!

    I'm gonna have to hook you up with a vintage bottle of Expedition. I think I've got some batch 78xx laying around somewhere. You haven't had that beer until you've had one with 4+ years on it.
  2. nlanza Keeper of the Elemental Materials

    Location:
    Pittsburgh
    And there we go:

    [IMG]

    Still need to fine-tune the CO2 pressure a bit, but I'm pretty goddamn pleased with things.

    Also, I had forgotten just how fucking delicious the East End Blackstrap is.
  3. RyanMM Magister Mundi Elyscape

    Location:
    Ferndale, MI
    I am officially filled with jealousy.
    SwitchKnitter likes this.
  4. nlanza Keeper of the Elemental Materials

    Location:
    Pittsburgh
    The best part is that it was my wife's idea. We're having a Darwin Day party next month, and last week she said "Remember how you were talking about wanting a keg fridge? We should get one before the party."

    Well, okay. Don't have to ask me twice.
    SwitchKnitter and RyanMM like this.
  5. jeffd Armchair Designer

    Location:
    Oakhurst, NJ
    Nice nlanza!

    What kind of kegs does that thing take? I assume cornelius?
  6. nlanza Keeper of the Elemental Materials

    Location:
    Pittsburgh
    It'll fit a single half barrel, or two quarters, sixtels, or corneys. Right now it has two sixtels in it.
  7. jeffd Armchair Designer

    Location:
    Oakhurst, NJ
    Very nice! That's way sexier than mine (which was homemade, converted from a Sanyo mini-fridge).

    You'll get a feel for the CO2 after a while. Keep in mind that, strictly speaking, it depends on the style of beer. You can probably find a chart online to let you know what the appropriate pressure is for each style; but having it refrigerated interacts with the pressurization in ways I haven't totally yet figured out. Mostly I just kind of twiddle it back and forth until the mouthfeel seems about right. :)
    nlanza likes this.
  8. nlanza Keeper of the Elemental Materials

    Location:
    Pittsburgh
    Yeah, that's pretty much what I did. Really there's not a lot of downside to drinking beer until it tastes right.
  9. Omniscia Despondent Fancybear

    Location:
    Vermont
    And the wait's only going to get longer, now that Hill Farmstead has been named the best brewery in the world.
  10. Ben Sones Elitist Negative Nancy

    Location:
    Lordran
    So I'm drinking the new (new to me, at least) Sam Smith's Organic Chocolate Stout. I love Sam Smith beers, but this one is weirdly disappointing. I was expecting chocolate malt flavors, but this tastes like stout with a size able amount if Hershey's syrup poured in. It's actually a bit vile. :(
    RyanMM likes this.
  11. RyanMM Magister Mundi Elyscape

    Location:
    Ferndale, MI
    Oh man, I loved that one Ben Sones. If you bought more than 1 bottle and don't want the rest, ship them to me. ;)
  12. SwitchKnitter Already Beat BF's New Expansion

    Location:
    Central Florida
    That's the one that, to me, tasted like pureed chocolate cake. I prefer beer that tastes kinda like beer...
    jeffd and Ben Sones like this.
  13. SwitchKnitter Already Beat BF's New Expansion

    Location:
    Central Florida
    I haven't had a beer in like two weeks. I've been watching what I eat (and drink), and I usually don't have enough calories left over for beer. I could have one today, but I haven't got any of the good stuff left. sniff.
  14. bobj Despondent Fancybear

    I'm drinking a Sierra Nevada Ruthless Rye. I don't need the calories either, but I made an executive decision to indulge myself today: beer, and bagels with cream cheese, lox, and capers.

    I'll be sorry I did this, though.
    Omniscia likes this.
  15. jeffd Armchair Designer

    Location:
    Oakhurst, NJ
    A lot of "flavored" beers go overboard with the flavor. For what its worth I agree with you, despite my affection for some of Southern Tier's bold creations (Pumpking, Chokolat, Creme Brulee), in general I think the additional flavor should enhance what's already there, not just be the whole show. I mean, if I want to drink a hot chocolate or a chocolate milk I can just make one!
  16. Ben Sones Elitist Negative Nancy

    Location:
    Lordran
    I just got the one bottle, since I didn't know if I was going to like it. Good thing, too. I ended up dumping half of it down the sink. The funny thing is, I just had a Brooklyn Brewing Black Chocolate Stout last night, which I like a lot. It's more what I expect from this style--chocolate malt and a rich and moderately bitter flavor that sort of *reminds* you of chocolate without literally tasting like they poured chocolate syrup into the beer. The Sam Smith's chocolate stout tastes like dessert. But not in a good way--there's a weird contrast between the savory beer flavors and sweet chocolate that just doesn't work for me. In fact, it made me feel a bit queasy. Thumbs down.
  17. RyanMM Magister Mundi Elyscape

    Location:
    Ferndale, MI
    You seem to have misconstrued what the Sam Smith offering was trying to do it. It's deceptive because they both have "chocolate" in the name.

    But the Brooklyn Black Chocolate stout has no actual chocolate in it. It's a 10% ABV Russian Imperial Stout brewed with lots of chocolate malt.

    Sam Smith's Organic Chocolate stout is a sweet stout clocking in at 5% ABV and they actually put actual chocolate in it.

    Comparing the two would be like comparing...Jack Daniels to Jack Daniels Tennessee Honey.

    A more accurate comparison would be Sam Smith's Chocolate to, say, Young's Double Chocolate Stout, or Sam Adams Chocolate Bock, or Southern Tier Chokolat, etc.
  18. Nute 2013 Calamity Jane Award Winner

    Location:
    KC MO
    I did not enjoy the Ruthless Rye. A lot hoppier than I prefer.
  19. bobj Despondent Fancybear

    All of the Sierra Nevada beers are, um, excessively hoppy. Fortunately I am one of those people who don't taste bitterness as intensely, so i rather like Ruthless. It's not for everyone, though.
  20. jeffd Armchair Designer

    Location:
    Oakhurst, NJ
    I <3 Ruthless! Though it is quite bitter.
    nixon66 likes this.
  21. Nute 2013 Calamity Jane Award Winner

    Location:
    KC MO
    I have downed a 750ml bottle of Schlafly Imperial Stout (bourbon-barrel aged) over the past 4 hours, whilst trying to remain coherent in a Mafia game and doing Photoshop.

    This is good shit.
    shift6, nixon66, bobj and 1 other person like this.
  22. having some Dark Horse Brewing Co.'s Tres Blueberry Stout over lunch today. i kinda miss it every time they have it at the local specialty beer house (The Blind Pig), so i was quite happy to have found some recently at the local Binny's, even though it was bottled. so damn good!
    RyanMM likes this.
  23. Ben Sones Elitist Negative Nancy

    Location:
    Lordran
    Karen brought me some Ninkasi when she came back from her business trip to Portland. I had the Oatis (oatmeal stout) last night, and liked it.
    nixon66 likes this.
  24. RyanMM Magister Mundi Elyscape

    Location:
    Ferndale, MI
    Every stout that DH makes is fantastic. Those guys are fucking stout alchemists.
  25. RyanMM Magister Mundi Elyscape

    Location:
    Ferndale, MI
    Kuhnhenn just released prices and details on their bottle release tomorrow.

    Raspberry and Blueberry Eisbock, 375ml bottles, $30 apiece, limit one per person.

    Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck.
  26. nixon66 Despondent Fancybear

    So how many hobos are you picking up on the way to wait in line?
    RyanMM, SwitchKnitter and Raife like this.
  27. RyanMM Magister Mundi Elyscape

    Location:
    Ferndale, MI
    I am going to respond to this post in image form.

    [IMG]

    [IMG]

    [IMG]

    [IMG]

    [IMG]
    SwitchKnitter and nlanza like this.
  28. nlanza Keeper of the Elemental Materials

    Location:
    Pittsburgh
    This kegerator thing is working out well.

    Today as we were planning to go take the kids out for hot dogs my wife asked if we could go to the hot dog place over in Regent Square that's next to one of the nicest beer stores in town because she was hoping they'd have a sixtel of the Great Lakes Conway's Irish Stout.

    They did, and now it's chilling and settling in the kegerator.

    Also, because I can't resist the D's beer cave, I have a nice selection of new big bottles:

    Southern Tier Choklat
    Sly Fox Saison Vos
    Brooklyn Black Ops
    Elysian Valhalla Red IPA
    Victory Red Thunder
    Dogfish Head Birra Etrusca Bronze

    Is there anything better than beer? I submit to you that there is not.
    shift6, bobj and RyanMM like this.
  29. RyanMM Magister Mundi Elyscape

    Location:
    Ferndale, MI
    Sex, but that's arguable.

    Let me know what you think of the Birra Etrusca.
    nlanza likes this.
  30. nlanza Keeper of the Elemental Materials

    Location:
    Pittsburgh
    Fair point. A well-planned night can easily accomodate both, though.

    Will do. I will pretty much blindly try any Dogfish historical recreation, so I'm looking forward to it.
    RyanMM likes this.
  31. Jason T Keeper of the Elemental Materials

    30 dollars for a bottle of beer is... an opportunity?

    jessicawalterskepticism.gif
  32. nlanza Keeper of the Elemental Materials

    Location:
    Pittsburgh
    Think of it as the fancy dessert wine of beers. You're not going to be going through a sixpack of it -- it's a special treat for two people to split.
    RyanMM likes this.
  33. bobj Despondent Fancybear

    Etruscan beer was probably made with fish. And tomato sauce.

    We expect a full report.
    RyanMM likes this.
  34. jeffd Armchair Designer

    Location:
    Oakhurst, NJ
    I've spent much, much more on a bottle of beer.
  35. fadeaccompli Already Beat BF's New Expansion

    Man, and I thought my $5 bottle of beer that I've been saving for a special occasion was something.
  36. RyanMM Magister Mundi Elyscape

    Location:
    Ferndale, MI
    It probably is, for what it's worth. There's just some even more special stuff out there. ;)
    Have you spent more per ounce though? Prior to this, the record for me was $45 for a 22oz bottle of Bourbon County Rare. $30 for just over 12oz is definitely a new lowhigh.
  37. fadeaccompli Already Beat BF's New Expansion

    It's called Wolf 9, and it is pretty awesome! But I bought it in a grocery store, so it's not exactly going to be part of the Most Elite Beers.

    (One of these days I'm going back to the Flying Saucer, so that I can try that expensive yet HEAVENLY triple-brewed wheat beer again. Only through more brewing can my wussiness around beers be fixed!)
  38. jeffd Armchair Designer

    Location:
    Oakhurst, NJ
    I bought a bottle of Utopias a couple of years back. $200 for I think like 24 oz.
  39. RyanMM Magister Mundi Elyscape

    Location:
    Ferndale, MI
    Yeah, that doesn't count. Utopias is bottled unicorn tears. ;)
    nlanza likes this.
  40. Jason T Keeper of the Elemental Materials

    Unicorn tear fancying - even in a more established form like high end whiskey or wine collecting - seems to me to be very hard to distinguish from affluent men ritually burning their money in little culturally camouflaged money-burning censers. Even if it's not that it's pretty hard for anyone on the outside of the system looking in to be sure.

    Imposing low price caps on one's tastes seems like a guarantor of virtue with respect to that.
    bobj likes this.