page 44

1/26/2012 4:45:23 PM

^^Ayinger Celebrator is good, in fact Doppelbocks are my #2 favorite German style lager

Not mentioning Paulaner is one thing... Not mentioning Weihenstephaner or Franziskaner is an entirely different thing. Seriously people??? Or even Sierra Nevada Kellerweis is pretty darn good.

_

If you want to do something different, get a Dunkelweizen, it's just a dark Hefeweizen pretty much. Or go with a Doppelbock, it's more caramel-ish flavor and a lot smoother than a traditional Bock.

Also it'd be hard not to mention Victory Prima Pils, while it's American craft beer, it's the #1 German-style pilsner on BA:


[Edited on January 26, 2012 at 5:01 PM. Reason : ,]

[Edited on January 26, 2012 at 5:01 PM. Reason : .]

1/26/2012 5:00:20 PM

I thought about Franziskaner, especially in the "beers that can be bought at Harris Teeter". Thought someone said something about it not being a hefeweizen though?

1/26/2012 5:02:34 PM

OIC, a "less-popular" beer-style.

Kolsch's are awesome German Ales that are really light style and very drinkable as well.

AFAIK, Highland, Mother Earth, French Broad all have excellent Kolsch's and can typically be found at Total Wine... also Uintas Summer Solstice Ale.... not sure if they are on the shelf this early though

[Edited on January 26, 2012 at 5:27 PM. Reason : .]

1/26/2012 5:20:19 PM

fuck a rauchbier. It's just about the only style of beer i dont enjoy. To me, it seemed like drinking a chimney.

1/26/2012 5:50:19 PM

hate on magic hat all you want

this Encore American Wheat IPA is pretty good

1/26/2012 9:07:02 PM

the Mother Earth selection has gotten some support at Lowes Foods in recent months. I know they are now included in the NC beer endcap at the one on Strickland Rd. Also on that display is another local Kolsch style, Big Boss' Angry Angel.

1/26/2012 10:15:45 PM

i am happy when i see bottled Foothills Hoppyum at the store

1/26/2012 10:16:58 PM

My Wake-n-Moo last night was delicious. Got me through that abysmal basketball game.

1/27/2012 10:04:19 AM

Had a

Dogfish Head Midas Touch
Ska Modus Hoperandi
Fort Collins Double Chocolate Stout

For the game last night. It def did the trick. I got so buzzed that I didn't care anymore. The Fort Collins was pretty good. Look forward to trying more of their beers.

[Edited on January 27, 2012 at 10:35 AM. Reason : .]

1/27/2012 10:35:11 AM

has anyone seen the Lonerider Deadeye Jack Porter in stores anywhere? Or is it draft only?

1/27/2012 10:36:19 AM

they have bottled it before

not sure about this run

1/27/2012 10:39:12 AM

who is going to Foothills tonight/tomorrow for Sexual Chocolate release?

I'm headed over tomorrow

1/27/2012 11:15:40 AM

Quote :

"So I'm going to a goining away party for a buddy of mine who is moving to germany. we've all been asked to bring some german beer to the party."

i would recommend buying some delicious non-german beer for your buddy that's moving -- he'll be able to enjoy all the german beer he wants in germany but will probably want to kill someone for an ale soon enough (coming from personal experience)

anyone know anything about the beer scene in salt lake city? i know utah has some weird beer laws but i have no idea what they are as i've never been there before -- are there any decent breweries in town? good distribution of tasty brews to there from the rest of the country?

1/27/2012 11:41:41 AM

Uinta and Epic are probably the two biggest.

1/27/2012 11:44:34 AM

^^^any chance you can spare a bottle of the allotted 4 per person? i'd be glad to pay cost + shipping + finder's fee and/or beer trade

Just my standard weekly beer run, this week was particularly good:

New Belgium La Follie Sour Brown Ale
Funkwerks Solstice Barrel-Aged Dark Saison
Crooked Stave Fertile Soil Fresh Hopped Belgian Golden Ale
Russian River Supplication
Boulevard Chocolate Ale

1/27/2012 11:56:34 AM

so did anyone go to SC release? it's getting a lot of flack on beer advocate.

1/30/2012 2:11:39 PM

SC?

i dunno but i made a maple pale ale and i shit you not... it has yet to have one complaint... . not bad for my 1st beer.


(actually 6/10 love it 4/10 said its better then Budweiser but not their fave)

[Edited on January 30, 2012 at 2:14 PM. Reason : .]

1/30/2012 2:13:25 PM

SC = sexual chocolate.

Quote :

" in the interest of allowing as many people as possible to enjoy this beer, each customer is limited to four bottles "

i'd give it flack before the release. only 1800 bottle release and they say each person can claim up to 4??? they do realize that LIMITS the release to only 450 people!!!! that's not what i call "in the interest of allowing as many people as possible" category.

1/30/2012 2:43:55 PM

well, in all fairness it's the most they've ever produced. usually if you are in the high 200s in line you would have no shot getting a bottle.

and apparently once they realized they only had around ~300 people in line they lifted the 4 bottle limit and people were walking out of there with as many as they wanted. Honestly I would have kept the 4 bottle max, but made them return to the back of the line if they wanted more. Everyone knows these guys are the ebay crowd looking for max return on the trade market.


wait, nm. i guess you're saying 4 is too many. I agree and disagree. Agree because I'd love to have more of a chance to get ahold of this without going to the release. Disagree because if I stood outside for 4 hours in January i'd want more than 2 bottles.

either way, there are better chocolate stouts out there.

1/30/2012 2:49:03 PM

^ Honestly, I had Sexual Chocolate on draft last year at the Federal, and prefer Choklat and Brooklyn Chocolate Stout. I'd like to try it again and give it another chance, but not going out of my way to get it.

I am curious about this Olde Hickory Imperial Pils. Might grab some at Sam's tomorrow.

[Edited on January 30, 2012 at 3:07 PM. Reason : :]

1/30/2012 3:05:36 PM

yea, i hate ebay for that reason. it's not just beer either.

no offense to those that like it, but it's not worth a dime over $20, unless it's the barrel-aged SC
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2012-Foothills-Sexual-Chocolate-Imperial-Stout-Limited-Release-Only-1800-prod-/190633804971

1/30/2012 3:14:14 PM

^^picked up two bottles over the weekend. heard great things. don't plan to drink one for a week or so though.

1/30/2012 3:14:39 PM

^ Did you get yours in Charlotte?

1/30/2012 3:34:47 PM

i did, Brawleys. He has/had them in the back so you have to ask.

1/30/2012 3:35:28 PM

Good to hear, I'm always a fan of the back room selections.

1/30/2012 4:02:29 PM

This was pretty tasty, kind of tasted like a imperial stout/mulled cider hybrid

1/30/2012 4:28:16 PM

SC is a great beer, but I wouldn't camp out for it; maybe the BA version.

1/30/2012 4:59:21 PM

i had my fill of the SC on draught at Foothills saturday. absolutely worth going 20 mins for lunch and a few of those beers. absolutely not worth camping out for.

funny note: we were sitting inside having lunch when this bald dude wearing a NC STATE sweatshirt was literally staggering drunk and had to be escorted out. it was 12:00pm. we found him later that day passed out in the back of a pickup truck behind City Beverage.

get drunk go state?

1/30/2012 6:34:51 PM

Quote :

"sparky So I'm going to a goining away party for a buddy of mine who is moving to germany. we've all been asked to bring some german beer to the party. i need some recommendations other then Spaten."

What do you end up getting?

1/30/2012 7:35:26 PM

^^I was there on Saturday as well, and I wasn't overly impressed either. I love the SC dark chocolate aftertaste because it lingers so long, but the hype is too much. Peabody's in Boone is having a release party tomorrow for it, for those who are interested...

On a side note, i had the Olde Hickory Eiraphiotes on tap at the Olde Hickory Taproom this evening and is was very good. Imperial pilsners aged in chardonnay barrels aren't easy to come by, and this one has an odd but delicious taste.

On another side note, for IPA fans that haven't tried the Dogfish Burton Baton I highly suggest it

1/30/2012 9:24:36 PM

I am not fan of IPAs

1/30/2012 10:21:22 PM

Picked up a 6-pack of Widmer's BRRR Winter Warmer at HT the other day and was very pleasantly surprised. This stuff is really tasty. Not quite as spice-heavy as most winter brews are, but it resembles an amber with a more intense than usual hop punch. Very drinkable, doesn't feel like a 7.2% beer. Will be getting some more before the winter is up. Would recommend.

1/31/2012 11:40:13 AM

I too appreciate good toffee flavored Winter Warmers and maybe a hint of nutmeg and cinnamon, but hold the ginger. I absolutely hate ginger in beer that a lot of Christmas/Winter Warmer beers have in them, they completely ruin it for me.

I had the Widmer Bourbon Barrel Brrrbon over Christmas, and while it was good, it wasn't aged nearly as long as it should have been. 4-months wasn't enough, they should have let it settle some more. I was also pairing it with other barrel aged beers like the Dry Dock Bligh's Barrel-Aged Barleywine which is just phenominal, so it might not have been a fair comparison that day.

2/1/2012 10:58:43 AM

Charlotte needs more bottle shops. There appear to be a few more on the way for you in Raleigh.

Charlotte has 2 that are legitimate.


christ, as soon as i finished posting this i check twitter to find a write up about a new bottle shop opening in Noda in March. Salud Beer Shop

2/1/2012 1:53:07 PM

I'm don't live in Charlotte currently, but when I was back over Christmas, I went to Brawley's and Common Market, both had good selection. Apparently the wine shop in Arboretum (Vitner?) is a top notch place too.

2/1/2012 4:46:22 PM

yeah, those are the 3 though Vintner is a little bit out of the way.

2/1/2012 4:48:39 PM

Quote :

"Sh*t Online Beer Raters Do (But Shouldn’t) C’mon, admit it, you know it happens… 1. Split a 12 ounce bottle of beer with eight or nine other people and make a rating out of it. If there isn’t more than one bottle to go around, it’s great that you share and your mother would be proud, but beer is not meant to be assessed by the ounce. And speaking of which… 2. Emerge from the GABF or any other festival that limits you to tiny servings with a notebook full of ratings. That’s compounding the sin of the small pour rating with the added issue of making reasonable tasting notes while being jostled on all sides by crowds of merry drinkers. 3. Rate a barley wine at a beer fest on a July afternoon. Beer is contextual, as much or likely more so than any other food or drink, and a monster brew meant for cold nights in front of the fireplace just isn’t going to translate to a stinking hot summer’s day. 4. Expect local bars and breweries to treat you specially because you’re a top rater. Really, get over yourself. 5. Wax poetic over the latest barrel-aged and woefully out-of-balance limited edition alcoholic mess while trashing a beautifully executed take on a kölsch or pilsner simply because it’s golden and people might be able to drink more than one at a time."

so fucking true

2/2/2012 11:32:30 AM

haha, that's good. i'd agree with all except #3, beer is not contextual and you do not need to be in a cottage by a fireplace to enjoy a good barleywine. while i appreciate different beers for different seasons, thinking that you can't have a barleywine during the summer is just as pretentious and not rating an awesome kolsch or pilsner ale. yes, it's not an ideal time to drink it, but doesn't mean you can't enjoy what you enjoy. also for the ratings versus notes debate, not everybody rates what they take notes on. i do note all the beers i taste during GABF, i do this for my own personal record of beers i particularly enjoy. this does not mean that everyone that takes notes goes online to rate beers. if you scan a lot of the reviews, i really don't see a lot from "had this at GABF" perspective. i think most true beer advocates really don't do #1 or #2 even if they take notes.

and while i don't rate small samples, i do note whether i like them or not

Last night I stopped by Old Chicago here in Denver that had two small-batch releases (sort of pre-releases)
http://blogs.westword.com/cafesociety/2012/01/old_chicago_scores_two_rare_be.php

Oskar Blues HGH (Home Grown Hops) Part DUH Double-Dry Hopped Strong Ale (7/10), way too bitter for a strong ale, it lacked balance, has 70 IBU and not enough caramel body to balance it out, it was more biscuity malt flavors with a substantial amount of bittering hops.

Deschutes Chainbreaker White IPA (8/10), a lot better balanced, a belgian white at heart with a great cloudy light apperance, citrusy aroma, with a good amount of hops without losing the balance with the lightness of the wheat body. Would definitely drink again, can't wait for this one to hit the shelves.

[Edited on February 2, 2012 at 11:42 AM. Reason : .]

2/2/2012 11:33:26 AM

with regards to #3, i don't think he's saying you can't have a barleywine in the summer. i think he means that if you do drink a barleywine or stout in the summer you shouldn't downgrade it or make remarks about it being too heavy, hard to drink, etc etc.

2/2/2012 11:43:51 AM

yea, true

2/2/2012 12:25:50 PM

buddy of mine just shipped me a box of beers from Michigan...i cant wait to see what is inside. i got the delivery notice a little bit ago...mmmm BEER SANTA.

ill take a pic and share what turns up inside this magical box

2/2/2012 2:33:39 PM

For Jeepin4x4 and other Charlotte people, Brawley's posted this on facebook...

Quote :

"New gift set from Highland!!! 3 gallic, 3 oatmeal porter, 2 kashmir IPA 2 bkack mocha 2 st theresa pale apint glass and GIANT COLD MOUNTAIN!!! Just in time for the superbowl. A Highland brew for everone in the family and a Cold Mountain for you! Scarce as hens teeth so get em while u can."

2/2/2012 3:03:23 PM

haha i just saw that on fb too. i'm actually intereted in that baltic porter beside it.


i have 2 of those cobalt blue CMs in my bottle cabinet now and one empty in a box waiting to hold homebrew.

2/2/2012 3:23:32 PM

They did a shitty wrap job on that present

2/2/2012 3:26:52 PM

Baltic porter is really good. Had that a couple weeks ago.

2/2/2012 11:54:56 PM

picked up a sixer of this yesterday. Tastes like I'm drinking a Mounds bar, delicious



[Edited on February 3, 2012 at 10:20 AM. Reason : asdf]

2/3/2012 10:19:43 AM

I was never a big fan of stouts, but when I went to World of Beer a couple of weeks ago I tried Young's Double Chocolate Stout and it gave me a mouthgasm

Now I'm all like

2/3/2012 11:42:34 AM

Since moving to the DC area I've been looking for a good local brew. Think I've found it:

2/3/2012 11:45:13 AM

I didn't like the koko brown all that much.

Bottle Revolution posted a photo on facebook today where you can make out a Sexual Chocolate tap handle in the background. Hmmmm.

2/3/2012 2:20:12 PM