Ayinger Celebrator is a great beer. Had two on friday at Guglhupf.

10/17/2010 7:26:46 PM

it's alright.

like it a lot better close to room temperature. pulled the six pack out of the fridge and left it on the counter.

i think i like it a whole lot better on draft, but maybe i got an old six pack.

10/17/2010 7:47:22 PM

Quote :

"Should have picked up the Bell's Hell hath no...but skipped it because it was $14.95 at Total Wine My local place has the Bell's cream stout, will pick up a single."

Bell's high gravity stuff is kinda pricey but it's all really fucking good, and for my money pretty much the best beers in the country (Expedition stout, Java stout, Double Cream stout, Third Coast Old Ale, Hopslam, etc.)

I picked up some Founders Harvest Ale, which I think is one of the best fresh hop beers out there as well.

10/17/2010 9:34:04 PM

Just some quick notes on two beers I had this weekend, I know the Stone Saison du Buff was mentioned previously. I picked it up to compare to my homebrew saison, which was very quite different.


Stone Saison du Buff - For a saison it was extremely clear and light in color. Pours a large head and has beautiful lacing. Golden color, light crisp flavor with strong citrus and sage aromas from the hops but without the strong bitterness. A very drinkable complex beer.


Russian River Damnation Ale - Golden ale, pours a hazy yellow, medium body with a fairly light head, medium carbonation. Aroma like fresh bread and some fruit like characteristics like apple/pear, lemon zest. Great tasting light beer.

[Edited on October 18, 2010 at 4:53 PM. Reason : /]

10/18/2010 4:53:20 PM

this is just straight fucking awesome. i know the purists frown upon spiced beers, but damn. think i'll pick up another bottle to put away.

10/18/2010 8:41:22 PM

Quote :

"i know the purists frown upon spiced beers"

haha, ain't no krauts in here

Currently enjoying a super fresh Founders Centennial IPA (bottled on 10/4), love that beer

10/18/2010 9:53:21 PM

really enjoyed the beer fest i went to yesterday -- didn't really try many new tasty brews, the only one that stood out was an amped up deschutes seasonal jubel 2010 -- it was excellent, if you ever see it anywhere definitely grab it

otherwise i just sampled some of my favorites all in the same place: sublimely self-righteous, ballast point sculpin (sadly the bottles of dorado never showed up), malheur 12, coronado idiot ipa, green flash west coast, etc

10/18/2010 10:04:33 PM

^nice, that Jubel is a freeze distilled version of Jubeale right? That sounds pretty fucking good.

10/18/2010 10:13:09 PM

passed that up in a store since it was about $14 for a bomber - probably a bad decision

10/18/2010 10:14:21 PM

Drinking the last of my canned Newcastles

10/18/2010 10:17:55 PM

^^^ yeah, i think so -- the guy pouring it wasn't from deschutes so he didn't have a lot of info

it was definitely delicious though! might be worth the $14

10/18/2010 10:27:05 PM

Delicious.

10/18/2010 10:58:12 PM

Saison Dupont - Poured into a tulip glass, the beer is deep gold in color, cloudy (unfiltered) with a small amount of carbonation. The head was frothy and had great retention and lacing. The nose had a strong aroma of citrus & coriander, hints of grapefruit. The beer is medium-bodied, slightly sour to start, but evens off as the hints of citrus & fruit come forward, finishes with a dry aftertaste. Pretty true to the saison style.

10/19/2010 12:10:34 PM

give Foret a shot if you enjoy a good Saison. It's organic and very good

10/19/2010 12:19:03 PM

i'll look for it, thanks.


Dogfish Head Indian Brown Ale - A cross between a scotch ale and an IPA, this beer pours dark for a brown ale. Head is only about a 1/2 inch. It has pretty strong caramel and roasted malt aroma on the nose and a hint of brown sugar. The hops have a nice bite to them, and help balance the malts giving it a dry malty hoppy taste. Definitely a full-bodied brown.

10/19/2010 12:26:24 PM

Tried a Peak Organic Nut Brown Ale tonight. Pretty standard nut brown, but good nonetheless.

10/19/2010 9:07:37 PM

bringing a few cases of Wolaver's coffee porter in to the shop tomorrow. I'm trying to increase/improve the selection there, and using good reviews here to help. thanks for unwittingly helping!

10/19/2010 9:43:43 PM

enjoyed the Chocolate Oak Aged Yeti last night but was slightly disappointed. The chocolatey flavors are fleeting and it's got a strong pepper presence that only increases with warming. It's a beautiful imperial stout upon first pour and scent, but in the end it didn't stand out

10/20/2010 9:51:08 AM

^that's kinda what i thought. try the espresso version, i think the coffee malt flavors complimented the dark stout better than the chocolate.

10/20/2010 11:18:43 AM

Sipping on a 09 Highland Cold Mountain ....

[Edited on October 21, 2010 at 5:11 PM. Reason : THANK YOU]

10/21/2010 4:57:22 PM

Had the Victory Storm King Stout Cask tonight... it was ok, pretty dominated by heavily roasted malts, only served it in 1/2 pint, it was decent, but not a stand out when it comes to stouts.

Also had the Deschutes Jubelale Winter Ale, a good dark seasonal winter ale, hoppy, caramel malts, but nothing else that interesting in the flavor. i'd probably drink again for a winter seasonal for sure, but limited. i like my winter warmers and Christmas ales to be a bit more varied when it comes to spices and a tad sweeter. the Jubelale is just a bit to dry and bitter for my taste, but an solid brew.



Also noticed they had Pliny the Elder ON TAP at Falling Rock Taphouse while I was there

[Edited on October 23, 2010 at 12:28 AM. Reason : .]

10/23/2010 12:16:23 AM

this stuff is quite tasty and packs a punch

10/23/2010 12:25:42 AM

went to a 'gastropub' in the oc tonight (i really hate that term, is it so hard to have good beer and good food at the same place without giving it a pretentious name and over-charging for both?)

anyway, great beer selection (both draft and bottles, though i almost never buy bottles when out) -- had a stone vertical epic and a sculpin (and a delicious but overpriced pulled pork sandwich and fries)

enjoying a port anniversary ale at home now -- pretty good, though i think i held onto it in the fridge a little too long as it's lost its crazy hoppiness...

10/24/2010 1:56:14 AM

Is Unibroue as good as I think they are? Pretty much flawless imo.

10/24/2010 3:03:07 PM

Currently enjoying a


I feel like this beer has kind of gotten a bad rap because it's not a citrus bomb like most American IPAs...the hop profile is more intriguing to me because it has some British and German elements that make it stand out from the pack.

10/24/2010 9:54:52 PM

Just had ten beers from the Mikkeller single-hop series!! Crazy! Tomahawk single-hop IPA tastes like a dick after you take the condom off. No lie. It was gross.

10/25/2010 1:07:43 AM

Quote :

"Is Unibroue as good as I think they are? "

I just recently discovered them. I can't believe I never tried any of it at Saucer. I love their light stuff, Blanche de Chambly and Ephemere (apple). I freakin love granny smith apples so that beer won me over on the first sip.

10/25/2010 11:51:21 AM

this weekend I picked up a large quantity of beer from the Western part of the state

I got:

growler 13 Rebels ESB from French Broad Brewery (Asheville, NC)
growler Wee Heavy-er Scotch Ale from French Broad Brewery (Asheville, NC)
22 oz Ninja Porter from Asheville Brewing Company (Asheville, NC)
22 oz Shiva IPA from Asheville Brewing Company (Asheville, NC)
growler Seeing Double IPA from Foothills Brewery (Winston-Salem, NC)
22 oz Baltic Porter from Foothills Brewery (Winston-Salem, NC)

10/25/2010 11:54:02 AM

^^ I tend to gravitate towards their darker offerings. Trois Pistoles being my favorite. Lu Fin du Monde is phenomenal though.

10/25/2010 1:05:36 PM

enjoying a Bells Hell Hath No Fury as I type. for a belgian dark strong ale it's somewhat light and cool. It's a good beer and perhaps the kick will warm as the beer warms but at fridge temp it seems to be missing that oomph you expect from a BDSA. Not worth the price tag either.


Also had a couple other Bells offerings over the weekend. Java Stout and Special Double Cream Stout. Java Stout was a punch in the mouth, this was probably one of the truest "coffee" beers i've had, it tasted just like a cold black coffee. Might be good for some, but it was a little too much for me. The double cream stout is great, there isn't much to add to what's already been said about it. Expedition Stout is next.

10/25/2010 7:48:02 PM

The Sam Adams Chocolate Boch is quite good

10/25/2010 7:48:56 PM

^Agreed, I had that last year. It's expensive though

10/25/2010 9:05:28 PM

The chocolate bock now comes in the winter variety 12 pack, so you don't have to shell out $15 for a bottle.

10/25/2010 9:40:23 PM

I agree on the flavor of the Bells Dbl cream stout, but it's a bit too carbonated for my complete enjoyment.

10/25/2010 9:44:55 PM

That Sam Latitude 48 is intriguing to me. I'm not a huge fan of Sam Adams new stuff recently, but I've never had that.

[Edited on October 25, 2010 at 10:08 PM. Reason : do they have it at BevMo?]

[Edited on October 25, 2010 at 10:09 PM. Reason : i mean Total Wine]

10/25/2010 10:06:50 PM

Bell's 25th was very good, but glad I didn't spring for the pack.

10/25/2010 10:36:26 PM

Forgot to mention, I'm IPA'd out but the Stone/Ballast Point/Kelsey McNair San Diego County Session was excellent. Very crisp tasting.

10/25/2010 10:39:34 PM

Yeah I picked up the 12 pack for it and the first one was so good I now I feel I have to save the 2nd one for a good occasion... Either that or get another 12 pack

10/25/2010 10:39:40 PM

^^^I got a six pack from College Beverage for $9.99, which was a steal since I'm pretty sure it's supposed to be in the ~$15 range...it's very tasty though.
I'm having a


Which is aight, but a little one dimensional for my tastes...I'd have a Pipeline Porter over this any day of the week.

[Edited on October 25, 2010 at 10:42 PM. Reason : .]

[Edited on October 25, 2010 at 10:46 PM. Reason : .]

10/25/2010 10:42:32 PM

How recently? I'd like to snag a 6 pack if I can find it as that was one of the best beers I've had recently

10/25/2010 10:44:42 PM

^I was actually talking about the Bell's 25th anniversary, not the SA chocolate bock...sorry for the confusion

[Edited on October 25, 2010 at 10:47 PM. Reason : .]

10/25/2010 10:45:34 PM

Yeah I figured that out I dont think its being sold in anything other than that 12 pack which makes me sad

10/26/2010 11:22:19 AM

I love that coffee porter. It's more like coffee than beer, so it's not (to me) a session beer.

10/26/2010 11:28:11 AM

Please tell me this is good



Picked it up yesterday along with





It was a big bottle day apparently.

10/26/2010 1:42:29 PM

sublimely self righteous is excellent, it was stone's 11th anniversary beer -- black ipas are cool, and stone makes delicious hoppy beers

10/26/2010 1:50:41 PM

Stone Sublimely Self Righteous Ale is excellent, probably my favorite Black IPA. Collaboration not Litigation is tasty but maybe a bit on the sweet side (like most high gravity Avery beers).

10/26/2010 1:55:30 PM

sublimely self righteous is one of my favorite beers.

10/26/2010 1:56:16 PM

I would tell you where to go get one right now, but I might have to go back and steal all of them.

[Edited on October 26, 2010 at 2:02 PM. Reason : ^nvm Charlotte]

10/26/2010 2:01:20 PM

I'm enjoying my first Celebration ale of the fall and it's as tasty as ever

10/26/2010 9:35:24 PM

as infrequently as I actually buy a full six-pack of something, Celebration is always a must - love that stuff

10/26/2010 9:42:44 PM