Beer in the new era

last summer i got a beer at an italian restaurant that i had a really fond memory of. unfortunately i forgot the name, but always kept my eyes peeled for the fairly distinctive bottle. today my diligence was rewarded:

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8WZUREVptlM/R58HgVKcIZI/AAAAAAAABLQ/TouvfqWdwcg/s400/Amarcord%2Bc%C3%B3pia.jpg

ok, so it's not amazing. but i do like it a lot--apparently it's a lager but it reminds me more of a mellow, slightly fruity blond ale. predictably, it would great with light italian cuisine in warm weather.

weyerbacher quad gots me fucked up

Had a few Sam Adams Noble Pils tonight, not bad, and at $1 bottle very well-priced.

that's like the second endorsement for those itt

and i keep seeing them mad cheap down the street

there was a Sam Adams Cherry Wheat left in the fridge after a party this week and I felt like such a sucker for enjoying it as much as I did

I'll drink anything that's left in my fridge, but I can't see myself buying a Cherry Wheat beer.

some serious bang fer yer buck going on tonight; saw a beer i'd never tried before, a 22 oz polish beer called BIG BOSS PORTER. 9.4% by abv. figured it'd be like 3-4. Nope. $1.75. I haven't tried it yet. For all I know it's complete garbage, but that ABV at that size at that price is a good deal imo.

and by 3-4 i meant $3-4.

oh and i guess it's not 22oz, it's 17. but that's still fine.

this shit is pretty gnar, but i can tell it's gonna get me fucked up.
bring it on bitches.

king of good surprises BOOZE MART had a couple of australian 6 packs on sale so I gave them a whirl, warmed up with a couple of pints of furthermore knot stock (so great) at my local, so hopefully i haven't damaged my taste buds too much for this but

first up - Barons Black Wattle: kind of a weird stouty thing flavored with wattle seed? kind of winey and raisiny, bt w/a decided coffee chocolate thing going on at the finish? one of those beers that always seems like it should be colder than it is, if that makes any sense. not really sure how to feel about it tbh, def not bad but kind of ???

also what is up with 11.2 ounce bottles of beer? is this some metric thing i am not aware of or? because i seem to see it more frequently these days and it is kind of a pain in the ass.

sorry, not "flavored" but "infused". whatever.

round 2: barons lemon myrtle witbier: this would almost be ok if it didnt taste like some strange blend of citronella candle and lemon pledge. you aussies have some weird shit growing in your fields to go along with you marsupials and platapusses.

yeah it's a metric thing iirc

Got a couple of Dogfisg Burton Baton IPA's last night. Very good.

I look forward to a few brews later on. No determination as to what types yet.

also what is up with 11.2 ounce bottles of beer?

I have this issue when buying Hofbrau Munchen Original in bottles.

Drinking some Stone Ruination IPA I brought home from Denver before I knew Stone was coming to Chicago.

The way that Stone is taking over Chicago the first week of April is truly stunning. 30 taps of Stone at one bar, 20 at another, 15 at a Whole Foods on Easter Sunday. This is going to be awesome / horrible.

I love me Oskar Blues beers (and upon visiting that brewery, it is an awesome restaurant/blues club too)

11.2oz = 1/3L

I love me Oskar Blues beers

I love the Old Chubb but I don't think I've tried any other. Is the Ten Fiddy any good? ~$15 for a four-pack it better be.

I had Stone for the first time last week when I was in California. Arrogant Bastard was v. good, but it was the Sublimely Self-Righteous that really impressed me: a black IPA with a great combination of roasty and hoppy notes. Looking forward to the Chicago invasion.

what do you guys think of hitachino nest? i had their red rice ale last week and really liked it--nice and mellow, subtle without being boring. and terrific label design.

@nickn: The Ten Fiddy is good, but Dales Pale Ale is my favorite. yr right though the shit is pricy...

Oskar Blue Gordon is a good. Loving the whole can thing these guys have going on.

Hitachino Nest make a great white ale that I seek out in the summer.

love most of the Oskar Blues beers
http://onsight-media.com/blog1/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/oskar-blues.jpg
this is about a mile from where I live ... and the brewery itself is even closer. I got insanely wasted during/after a brewery tour there last year. Some strong beers.

Got tickets for a beer dinner at the Hopleaf at the beginning of April. Description:

A rare opportunity to enjoy some of the rarest, most sought after beers from both Avery Brewing AND The Lost Abbey, thoughtfully prepared with a menu designed by Hopleaf Chef Ben Sheagren. Adam Avery and Tomme Arthur will be hosting the evening as we present their most extraordinary fermented offerings. All six courses will be paired with a beer from each brewery, including such rarities as...

Lost Abbey Bourbon Aged Angel's Share: The bourbon barrel aged version of the Belgian-inspired Strong Ale
Avery Black Tot: Imperial Oatmeal Stout Aged in Rum Barrels
Lost Abbey Veritas 007: Sour Ale aged in red wine barrels with Cab Franc grapes added
Avery Brabant: A Wild Fermented Ale aged in Zinfandel barrels
Lost Abbey Red Poppy 2010: Belgian-inspired Bruin aged for 6 months in oak barrels with sour cherries added
Avery Sui Generis: A Sour Ale blend of 10 different beers from 4 different kinds of wood
Lost Abbey Duck Duck Gooze: Tomme Arthur's version of a Belgian Gueuze, with a blend of 1, 2, and 3 year old wild fermented beer
and more...

I'm probably going to go into a coma after this.

yeah you're gonna die

die of happiness

or, alcohol poisoning

Avery Sui Generis: A Sour Ale blend of 10 different beers from 4 different kinds of wood wau! like making a suicide out of all the sodas at 7/11

hahaha

jeff i support you and i hope you have a blast but those descriptions are basically why i'm "not into" beer these days

because you hate belgians?

no not that, though when i went there they were only sort of friendly

the owner of the brewery took us on a private tour of Oskar Blues....was fuckin fab.

picked up a sixer of this 2nite:

http://www.ratebeer.com/beerimages/3173.jpg

I've never had it, but I am in the mood for a porter & wanted to try something new & Founder's is pretty solid all-around imo.

Next on the roster: Bell's Hopslam

having "Fine Festival" from the hotel desk, Danish, can't much get a solid read on it cept to say that it's a tasty, subtle 7.5er.
wld buy again.

have always wanted to try hitachino but i always balk at the $4/bottle pricing

i think i spent like $8 for a 750ml bottle?

yeah i'm talking about the little 330ml guys

yeah well thats your fuckin problem bro

jerk

I'm really into chocolate stouts lately. anybody got any to recommend? I love the Ft. Collins brewery version

i also really like pale ales but seem to have gotten tired of those ftm, but if anyone has one of those to suggest....

u_u

So ever since Half Acre opened up their brewery mere blocks from where I live, I've wanted to support them. Unfortunately, I've never been especially keen on their beers. Their Daisy Cutter IPA and Magnus Schwarz both pack a lot of flavor up front but there's not much body to them. The Over Ale, by contrast, is well-balanced and drinkable but not particularly exciting flavor-wise. So I was really pleased to discover Ginger Twin -- only available in 22 oz. bottles (and only in Chicago), but man, it's good.

ooh, I'll have to check that out. Almost got it at the bar at Whole Foods yesterday, but I've been a Scottish Ale kick.

Have you seen that Half Acre is going to switch from six packs of bottles to 4 packs of tallboy cans?

question for you beer people -- are there craft-beer specialty shops where you live? Like, places that sell *only* craft-beer? Seems like there should be some, but there aren't any in my neck of the woods.