Quote :

"Does that have like a 10% ABV? I thought it was delicious. Downed a whole growler of it while bartending one night and got trashed. Damn slow winter nights..."

yeah, it's pretty dangerous.

[Edited on December 7, 2011 at 4:18 PM. Reason : .]

12/7/2011 4:17:53 PM

wow. this Southern Tier Choklat is amazing. It tastes like hot chocolate, but it's cold and 10% alcohol.

12/9/2011 6:55:38 PM

I also got some Southern Tier Choklat today and it is indeed pretty great. Finally got some Highland Cold Mountain as well.

Trader Joe's has their vintage ale out now as well, got a few bottles.

[Edited on December 10, 2011 at 1:13 AM. Reason : ]

12/10/2011 1:12:35 AM

New Belgium 6.99 and 10.99 respectively @ HT.

The Trippel is an especially decent value at 7.8% ABV and quite tasty.

Also, I grabbed a 6 of Southern Tier for the first time ever, it was the DIPA and very good.

[Edited on December 10, 2011 at 2:26 AM. Reason : ]

12/10/2011 2:25:18 AM

12/19/2011 9:35:17 PM

good choices, although i would have steered clear of Infinium, had that last year and it's not all that great.

[Edited on December 19, 2011 at 11:43 PM. Reason : /]

12/19/2011 11:43:07 PM

Thought it was worth a try...probably should have just gone with one but got an extra for a friend. Will probably have it on NYE and pretend it's awesome either way.

Choklat was really tasty.

The Pumpkin in the mix wasn't very good. Something was off about it.

12/19/2011 11:56:28 PM

I just had Boris and Doris last month, they're pretty epic. Yea, I mean I'd still pick Infinium over Champagne, just saying it was expensive for what it was.

Opened up these from my cellar tonight at a Christmas dinner w/ friends:
and some Surly

[Edited on December 20, 2011 at 12:03 AM. Reason : /]

[Edited on December 20, 2011 at 12:03 AM. Reason : .]

12/19/2011 11:59:24 PM

Who in the raleigh area carries Infinium?

12/20/2011 12:14:52 AM

i had the Southern Tier creme brulee imperial stout on tap, it was great. cant wait to try the rest over the winter solstice with dad and bro. i bought all four in the series, in form of 24 oz bottles from the bar.

12/20/2011 12:41:50 AM

^^I saw some Infinium at Bottle Revolution last week.

[Edited on December 20, 2011 at 10:43 AM. Reason : ]

12/20/2011 10:43:07 AM

Quote :

"Who in the raleigh area carries Infinium?"

If you want a fancy, expensive champagne beer you'd be way better off buying a bottle of DeuS since it actually tastes good

12/20/2011 12:30:19 PM

Crap, was on the phone w/ my mom trying to figure out a present for my wife and she was like I'm busy @ the grocery store. Come to find out she was at the Wegman's in NoVa and they just got in Sam Adams Utopia....now she won't go back.

12/20/2011 12:35:43 PM

^ The better half got me a bottle of Utopias for my birthday in July, I'd say that makes her a keeper.

Walked into Bottle Revolution after work today and left $80 lighter in the wallet. Doh! Second time Ive done that in the last two weeks, only last time it was at Triangle Wine Co.

12/20/2011 6:35:35 PM

Merry X-mas to me!...just found an 07 DFH Old School in the cabinet. Still trying to decide on a beer to break out for x-mas dinner.

12/23/2011 5:29:23 PM

I found some Ayinger dunkel today hell yeah

Also I found the Southern Tier creme brulee stout to be icky sweet and near undrinkable which is weird because I like Young's Double Chocolate and other relatively sweet beers. Might have to give them a second chance with the Choklat.

[Edited on December 23, 2011 at 5:35 PM. Reason : ]

12/23/2011 5:33:25 PM

Choklat is really good. I just bought a couple more bottles.

I also got Southern Tier Krampus, no idea how it's going to taste but thought it was worth a shot.

12/23/2011 6:25:50 PM

went home for Christmas, got a stash to bring back to CO

I get Bruery and Lagunitas, but 4 Calling Birds is all sold out in Denver.... Charlotte on the other hand has cases of it and they don't know any better. The Bruery 12 days of Christmas vertical (the first 4 bottles, PiaPT, 2 Turtle Doves, 3 French Hens, and 4 Calling Birds) are already selling for $400 on eBay. I picked up 2, one to try now, one to try later, hopefully at the end of the 12 year vertical. I already have 3 French Hens from last year.

Went to Common Market (AWESOME selection) near Plaza-Midwood in CLT, along with Brawleys and Total Wine.



Spike & Jérôme’s Cuvée Délirante (Collaboration Ale)
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/2958/73314

Allagash Black
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/4/40051

Allagash Curieux (Bourbon Barrel-Aged Tripel)
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/4/16909

New Holland Dragon's Milk Oak Barrel Ale
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/335/5428

Mother Earth Silent Night
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/21193/63899

The Bruery 4 Calling Birds
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/16866/74491

Highland Cold Mountain Winter Ale
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/811/7296

French Broad Wee Heavy-er Scotch Style Ale
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/2455/27859

Sothern Tier Choklat
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/3818/40058

Rogue XS Old Crustacean
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/132/2965

Lagunitas Sucks Holiday Ale
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/220/74986

Evil Twin Disco Beer
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/24300/68298

Founders Porter
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/1199/7348

Founders Breakfast Stout
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/1199/11757

Terrapin Wake-n-Bake
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/2372/21950

Duck-Rabbit Milk Stout
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/9790/20216


[Edited on December 28, 2011 at 11:11 AM. Reason : .]

12/28/2011 10:49:15 AM

Had my last round of Christmas last night; Mom gave me a bottle of Sam Adams Utopias and another bottle of Founders CBS...come to find out she was able to snag 3 during the initial release.

12/29/2011 4:56:15 AM

picked up some Red Oak last night

12/29/2011 6:21:01 AM

^^Want to trade any CBS? I have a bottle of Bligh's Barleywine I might be able to part with.

12/29/2011 11:01:55 AM

Picked up just a couple of bottles at Total Wine last week--Rogue Santa's Private Reserve ale and Laughing Dog Dogfather Imperial Stout. Really liked the Rogue; an Amber is a bit odd for a winter seasonal but it was really quite good. Dogfather I wasn't quite as fond of--good, but not great IMO. Definitely a big beer, pitch black and a nice aroma, but a bit too much alcohol in the taste for me. 11% and you can definitely tell.

The girlfriend also got me the Lump of Coal Dark Holiday Stout (Ridgeway Brewing, in the UK) as a stocking stuffer. Haven't tried it yet, not sure if it's any good, but being able to say that I got a lump of coal in my stocking is amusing.

12/29/2011 6:12:45 PM

Quote :

"Want to trade any CBS? I have a bottle of Bligh's Barleywine I might be able to part with."

Not right now, might see if there is one more bottle I can get my hands on before trading this.

In other news, Roth Foehammer is $28 for a 750ml? GTFO. I did pick up their Dark Construct and a bottle of Deus for NYE.

12/30/2011 12:15:57 PM

I got some Founders Imperial Stout and Double Trouble today. The Double Trouble was bottled on 12/23

12/30/2011 2:27:25 PM

Had a Carolina Brewery Sky Blue Ale and a Santa's Secret Seasonal.

Both were pretty good but not really my style.

12/30/2011 2:57:56 PM

Picked up a bottle of 3 Floyds Dark Sun and some Great Lakes Christmas Ale while in Ohio this week. Haven't had the former, but the latter is damn good stuff.

12/30/2011 4:16:42 PM

yeah the Great Lakes Xmas ale is good...so are Blackout stout and Nosferatu Imp. Red...both Great Lakes

just had Blue Points toxic sludge finally. i think its damn good shit

12/30/2011 5:30:31 PM

I know great lakes is in gboro and Charlotte, but I've talked to a rep from freedom bev (good beer distributor) and they're in talks to bring it to Raleigh. Hooray!

12/30/2011 7:12:17 PM

So last year I went to this beer and wine spot in Fayetteville while visiting my grandparents and got a sampler so this year in addition to the obligatory sock gift, my grandmother (German) decided to get me a few pints.





First is actually world class according to the bros@BA, Second is a kristallweizen which was a new wikipedia lookup for me and third apparently is actually known as Budweiser Budvar in EU, but Anheuser-Busch had it trademarked in the US shortly after they started cloning the Pilsner.

TMYK! Best gift ever!

12/30/2011 8:20:59 PM

very tempted to buy tickets for this pints for prostates rare beer tasting. the lineup is starting to look incredible. 65 bucks though

1/2/2012 12:42:44 PM

^they have that in Denver a couple days before the GABF, everything's awesome except the price. You just have to chalk it up to "it's going to a good cause"... probably won't do it again unless there's other rare beer on the menu I haven't had before

Toured a couple breweries on Friday in Fort Collins:

- New Belgium (best tour I've been on so far)
- The Fort Collins Brewery
- Pateros Creek

Today I'll probably hit up a few in Denver

- Renegade
- Strange
- Copper Kettle

[Edited on January 2, 2012 at 2:45 PM. Reason : .]

1/2/2012 2:30:47 PM

Trader Joe's Vintage Ale was awesome as usual. St. Bernardus Christmas Ale was also awesome (first time I've had it). Both were just about perfect for me as far as winter beers go and I drank plenty of both the past week and a half.

1/2/2012 7:00:31 PM

Just finished a Thunderstruck Coffee Porter, a seasonal from Highland. I like them, but I've had better coffee porters.

1/2/2012 7:03:22 PM

I know this isn't extra rare, but it's remarkably good. It's one of the best session beers imo. It changes continually, and the last sip is definitely a sad one.

1/3/2012 10:15:35 AM

I can't believe that Vintage Ale at Trader Joe's is only 5 bucks. What a steal. I should have bought more. I saw some guy buying 10 bottles of the stuff.

1/3/2012 11:02:35 AM

maybe this will go here, maybe not

im planning to provide the alcohol for my wedding

how in the world do i estimate the quantity?

we've lived in 5 different states, and i plan to have a micro from each state, along with the bulk macro staples...

no liquor, but wines also.

1/3/2012 11:16:14 AM

that Aviator Devil's Tramping Ground Tripel will fuck you up

1/3/2012 11:42:56 AM

The Southern Tier Choklat is indeed tasty, but the Mokah is even better-- it's 11% alcohol content and has a killer chocolate/ coffee flavor

1/3/2012 12:52:13 PM

Quote :

"I can't believe that Vintage Ale at Trader Joe's is only 5 bucks. What a steal. I should have bought more. I saw some guy buying 10 bottles of the stuff."

Agreed. I only bought two and drank both. My father-in-law loved it as well though so we went out and back 8 more bottles to age for future years. I should have picked some up for myself though too.

1/3/2012 12:55:00 PM

Quote :

"It's one of the best session beers imo."

Double Bastard is a fine beer, but in no way can it be considered a session beer.

1/3/2012 12:58:46 PM

^^Its not bad for $5 but I aged a 2010 and it was a drain pour.

1/3/2012 1:02:58 PM

^^ Mmmm I don't mean session in the sense that KBS is a session beer. But for me, it qualifies. I will take a full hour to down a bottle, and my head will certainly be warm afterwards. I don't have more than 1 bottle a night totaling 5 bottles a week probably.

To each their own.

1/4/2012 1:46:46 PM

way too aggressive and too high abv to be considered a "session" beer by definition

1/4/2012 1:54:06 PM

Ok I get it, you guys want to let what some website says dictate what a session beer is. Cool.

1/4/2012 2:17:10 PM

some website or what most consider universal truth?

1/4/2012 2:37:24 PM

Jeepin just served the shit out of you

1/4/2012 2:39:22 PM

yeh, session beer refers mostly to low alcohol content... so a 10.5er doesn't really count.

a "session" was a period of heavy drinking but little/no intoxication...

You can say a website is dictating to us, but you've got to have standards/definitions/etc., and pretty much everyone says session = low gravity...

...

..

.

1/4/2012 2:45:51 PM

It's quite possible.

I actually just researched, it and a session beer is exactly the opposite of that I thought. I blame my love of cigars. I assumed it was a big beer that you could really only have 1-2 of, and would sit back and take your time with it.

Apparently session beer something you drink a whole lot of in an extended social session. But I don't like Bud products so cool!

I forfeit all of my Breakfast Stout, Chocolate Oak Aged Yeti, Pliny, Double Bastard, and Stone Russian Imperial Stout as penance.

1/4/2012 2:47:20 PM

dibs on the pliny!

1/4/2012 5:09:44 PM

dibs on everything else!

if anyone ever wants to beer trade, i get fresh Pliny every 6 weeks.

1/4/2012 11:31:25 PM