Craft Beers, Microbreweries and Homebrewing

[redpenguin]

Might as well throw up a shot of the bIPA/CDA.

 

[dlgoff]

I'm loving Free States seasonal Brinkley's Maibock.

 

[redpenguin]

Hydrometer sample of the new dIPA.

 

[Astronuc]

I have a new favorite Porter - Full Sail's Top Sail Imperial Porter Aged in a Bourbon Barrel
http://www.fullsailbrewing.com/news/full-sail-brewing-company-releases-top-sail-bourbon-barrel-aged-imperial-porter1.cfm

I just tried some yesterday, and I'll be going back for more.

They serve some good food - http://www.fullsailbrewing.com/pub-menu.cfm

Full Sail Brewery at Riverplace
0307 SW Montgomery
Portland, OR 97201

 

[turbo]

Guiness has come out with a "Black Lager", which is quite disappointing, IMO. Shipyard's Blue-Fin Stout is a much better buy.

 

[Insanity]

The winning beer of mine in the local homebrewing competition just had 10 bbls brewed yesterday by the brewery. If you near Kalamazoo, MI, it will be on tap in about 6 weeks.

 

[dlgoff]

The winning beer of mine in the local homebrewing competition just had 10 bbls brewed yesterday by the brewery. If you near Kalamazoo, MI, it will be on tap in about 6 weeks.

Wow. What an honor.

 

[Astronuc]

Dudes and Brews - http://screen.yahoo.com/dudes-and-brews-jessie-cantrell-investigates-man-s-fascination-with-all-things-beer-30266952.html with new manologist Jessie Cantrell.

 

[dlgoff]

Dudes and Brews - http://screen.yahoo.com/dudes-and-brews-jessie-cantrell-investigates-man-s-fascination-with-all-things-beer-30266952.html with new manologist Jessie Cantrell.

I could see you working there.

BTW I'm unemployed and work for beer.

 

[Insanity]

Video would not load, which has been a reoccurring problem with Yahoo.

Brewed a hefeweizen a few weeks ago, may bottle this weekend.
Just brewed an oatmeal stout that I added some molasses too.
Got a cream ale planned, may do a double batch and ferment half with ale yeast, other with lager yeast.

 

[Insanity]

Seems I am graduating from homebrewer to professional. Local brewery and restaurant is reopening this fall and brewer friend of mine put a word in and I am currently helping getting the brewery area organize and back into operation.

 

[dlgoff]

Congratulations Mr. Brew Master. I think I'll have a Free State Ad Astra Ale in celebration.

 

[Astronuc]

Seems I am graduating from homebrewer to professional. Local brewery and restaurant is reopening this fall and brewer friend of mine put a word in and I am currently helping getting the brewery area organize and back into operation.

Cool!

I was in Manchester and northern Lancashire two weeks ago and last week. I had some great beers and ales.

Two were Black Sheep's Best Bitter and Ale.
http://www.blacksheepbrewery.com/

Another was Thwaite's Lancaster Bomber. Unfortunately, I couldn't find their Porter on tap.
http://www.thwaites.co.uk/thwaitesbeerco/beer_brands/

 

[Insanity]

Going to have some good english styles ales on tap, there is a hand pump beer engine to use for that.

 

[Astronuc]

http://news.yahoo.com/who-knew/popular-beers-from-the-ancient-egyptians-to-the-president-of-the-united-states-beer-has-always-been-popular-30686662.html

Popular Beers: From the ancient Egyptians to the President of the United States, beer has always been popular.

President Obama has been brewing his own beer in the White House, which seems appropriate given the popularity of beer in America and, indeed, the world.

 

[Astronuc]

If one happens to pass through Grand Central Station in NY City, stop in at the Beer Table Pantry and check out the excellent selection on the shelves.

http://beertable.com/beer-table-pantry/

and they have growlers - http://beertable.com/draft/

Today's list:

Greenport Harbor Black Duck Porter
De Dolle Arabier
Lagunitas Daytime
Southern Tier Pumking
Schneider Wiesen Edel Weisse
Red Hook Winery Brooklynbrusco
Brooklyn Soda Works Apple Ginger Soda
Cask: Harviestoun Old Engine Oil


I passed through recently, but didn't have sufficient time to check out all of the stock.

I'll be back though.

 

[Astronuc]

This is a wee bit over the top, but Scottish brewery Brewmeister claims to have created the world's most alcoholic beer, Armageddon, using a process called freeze fermenting to reach super-high alcohol by volume levels -- 65% abv.

http://screen.yahoo.com/is-this-the-world-s-strongest-beer-30957670.html

And some think Deschute Abyss Imperial Stout (12% abv) is strong.

 

[dlgoff]

Yea. It's http://www.freestatebrewing.com/beer/winterfest/ time. What a yummy Pale Ale!

 

[Astronuc]

A beer somewhat similar to Deschutes Abyss is Goose Island's Bourbon County Stout.

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/...911_1_craft-beer-john-laffler-urban-wheat-ale

 

[gravenewworld]

Anchor Steam's Christmas Ale that is out now is pretty good.

 

[Insanity]

Anchor Steam's Christmas Ale that is out now is pretty good.

Recently brewed a California Common, which is what Anchor's Steam beer is a representative of. Anchor trademarked the term 'steam beer' so no other brewery can use it, so the style is called California Common.

 

[CFDFEAGURU]

My new favorite is Yeti from the Great Divide Brewing Company. A very nice Imperial Stout. Not cheap but well worth the money.

 

[Astronuc]

I recently had Anderson Valley Brewing's Wild Turkey Bourbon Barrel Stout. It was excellent.

http://avbc.com/our-beers/anderson-valley-wild-turkey-bourbon-barrel-stout/

It is definitely smooth.

I've developed a taste for stouts and porters aged in bourbon or whisky barrels.

 

[Astronuc]

I picked up Firestone Walker (Adam Firestone and David Walker) Parabola Imperial Stout.

http://www.firestonebeer.com/beers/products/parabola

Excellent!

 

[Astronuc]

Bois from The Bruery

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/16866/93643

Bois is the fifth anniversary ale, loosely brewed in the English-style Old Ale tradition using our house Belgian yeast strain and then blended using the solera method. A portion of each of our anniversary ales is saved in our barrels and blended in with the next year's production, providing more complexity and depth of character that comes with age. Layered with complex flavors of dark fruit,vanilla, oak, and burnt sugar, Bois is a robust ale, surely the perfect beer to mark this major milestone.

It is one of best beers I've ever had.

 

[dlgoff]

Bois from The Bruery

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/16866/93643
It is one of best beers I've ever had.

That sounds like my kind of ale. Must be the the Sherry of beer, with the Aging Process they use.

Are those bottles 28 oz? With a 15% ABV, I might be able to drink two.

 

[OmCheeto]

Bois from The Bruery

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/16866/93643
It is one of best beers I've ever had.

Oh dear. That kicks my favorite barleywine's butt!

I see a road trip in my near future.

 

[_N3WTON_]

I'm a man who enjoys a craft beer or two (or three :P). So, I thought it would be a good idea to create a thread where people can discuss recent good brews they've tried. We have people from all over the world on this forum so I'm excited to get some new, interesting recommendations. I'll start first. Fall/winter is my favorite time of the year for many reasons, one of which is the excellent seasonal beers that come out around this time of year. The first beer I'm going to recommend you try (I'm drinking one as I type this) is called Mad Elf Ale, brewed by Troeg's Brewery in Harrisburg, PA. I live fairly close to Harrisburg, so obtaining this beer is not a problem for me; however, I also assume that Troeg's will be sold in any liquor store around the country with a decent craft beer section. This beer is very polarizing, people I've known who have tried it tend to either love it or hate it. It pours a ruby red color with basically no head at all, probably due to the fact that it contains 11% abv (so don't drink too many). However, you can hardly taste the alcohol at all (really, don't drink too many). It has a very sweet aroma with hints of chocolate, cherry, honey, a bit of stone fruit, and even some banana. It has a sweet, but not overly sweet taste. Upon my first sip I get hints of cherry, honey, malt, and caramel. This beer is excellent with strong cheese (personally I like it with Manchego) and it also goes well with rich deserts. In my opinion this beer is really well balanced, and I'd definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a good winter brew. I look forward to hearing your recommendations :)

 

[dlgoff]

Here an old thread that will surly make you drool.

Craft Beers, Microbreweries and Homebrewing

 

[_N3WTON_]

Here an old thread that will surly make you drool.

Craft Beers, Microbreweries and Homebrewing

Awesome, thanks for the link!

 

[Astronuc]

My new favorite is Yeti from the Great Divide Brewing Company. A very nice Imperial Stout. Not cheap but well worth the money.

I learned to enjoy Yeti. Since I can't readily get my favorites, I do enjoy Yeti Oatmeal Imperial Stout and the regular Imperial Stout. Now if only they aged it in a Bourboun or Whisky barrel.

I recently had Smaug Stout by Fish Brewing Co., Olympia, Wa. It's decent.

Just before I die, I hope I have a bottle or glass of Deschutes Abyss. That is my all-time favorite.

 

[dlgoff]

I need to spend some more time in Wisconsin and this is the reason why:

 

[Astronuc]

Yes! I have a bottle and a 32oz growler. I will be searching for more.

Alc. 11% | IBUs 86

A deep, dark Imperial Stout, The Abyss has almost immeasurable depth and complexity. Hints of molasses, licorice and other alluring flavors make it something not just to quaff, but contemplate.

As for the great "drink it now or let it age" debate, we stand clearly on the fence. Distinct and delicious on release, the flavors meld and fuse into an entirely different pleasure after a year or more in the cellar.Malt: Pale, Black, Chocolate, Black Barley, Roasted Barley, Wheat
Hops: Millennium, Nugget, Styrian, German Northern Brewer
Other: Blackstrap Molasses, Brewer’s Licorice, Vanilla Beans, Cherry Bark
Barrel-Aging: (28%) 6 Months in Bourbon, Oregon Oak, Pinot Noir

Watch this http://www.deschutesbrewery.com/video/abyss-interview to learn about the history, ingredients, and motivation behind The Abyss.
Release date for The Abyss 2014 was November 13th at our pubs. Look for it in your market soon

I had some on tap with nitro back in ~2011, and it was about 15% ABV

It is an extraordinary stout, especially on nitro, and is hard to find.Update: I found a case + 1 bottle at a corner gas station in a nearby town. I bought the entire stock!

 

[Astronuc]

Runner up with a bit more kick.

Goose Island Bourbon County Stout - 13.8% ABV, 60 IBU

Brewer's Notes
Brewed in honor of the 1000th batch at our original Clybourn brewpub. A liquid as dark and dense as a black hole with thick foam the color of a bourbon barrel. The nose is an intense mix of charred oak, chocolate, vanilla, caramel and smoke. One sip has more flavor than your average case of beer.
Recipe Information

• Style: Imperial Stout Aged in Bourbon Barrels
• Alcohol by Volume: 14.2% (for 2013 vintage)
• International Bitterness Units: 60
• Color: Midnight
• Hops: Willamette
• Malts: 2-Row, Munich, Chocolate, Caramel, Roast Barley, Debittered Black

http://www.gooseisland.com/beer/bourbon-county-stout.html

 

[dlgoff]

... and it was about 15% ABV

Taste is a plus but I drink beer for the effect and this one would be a good choice for that.