Beer in the new era

Already heard some complaints about the local World of Beer along the lines of "they have no idea about local beers and are staffed by amateurs."

Hmm, well given the chain thing, that makes sense. A few months ago they had a sign up asking for applications, which made me think they weren't exactly going to be super selective.

Healthy debate here:

http://lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=36742

Ha, that first post is a really excellent example of awful beer snobbery...

lol the op seems like a dick but these trend-jumping chains super lame so i guess it's a wash

He should be snobby enough to know that the brewery is called Begyle, not Bergyle.

I had never heard of spiteful brewing either, even though it is apparently located 2 blocks from my apartment.

Yeah, the shit about the Guinness pour ... label facing in, label facing out, 45 degree angle ... just pour me a fucking beer.

i lost it at the part where he asks about ciccerone certification

I met the Spiteful dudes at FOBAB, they are super nice and I'm hoping they make it big. Unfortunately the stuff they brought to FOBAB was long gone before I had any. Friends swear by their Imperial Stout though.

"Stump the server" is the worst be-a-dick game ever.

Yeah that guy is one of the ones that give beer enthusiasts a terrible name, just like the BA guy that Jeff posted on Facebook that threw a huge hissy fit because a shop wouldn't hold special beers aside for him.

Warehouse on Wabash in the South Loop still has "plenty" (whatever that means) of Hopslam left if you are still looking. I grabbed the last two sixers off the shelf tonight and the guy working said, "Sure you don't want more? I've got more in the cooler and plenty more downstairs". I passed, I'm not really a huge hoarder when it comes to stuff like this, so there's more there if you want it.

Usually one 6 pack of hopslam is good for me. I just can't drink it fast enough to have a lot of it.

Apparently this Chicago brewery

http://www.pipeworksbrewing.net/#!__master

has been named "New Brewery of the Year" by ratebeer: http://www.ratebeer.com/RateBeerBest/newbrewers_012013x.asp

...never heard of 'em! Jeff?

Oh yeah, pipeworks is great. They focus on small batch releases and are very prolific. Tons of their stuff in Binnys.

They are my recommendation as to what to send/give people who don't live in the area, since they are unlikely to have tried them and they are quality brews.

And reasonably priced.

Gonna check 'em out at the Binny's near my work very soon.

I had a Sierra Nevada Porter yesterday. Not bad! Nicely balanced malty sweetness with bitter hops - not heavy at all.

Also had an EKU Pils recently. Pale-colored, light body, a rather mild pilsner. Reminded me of Czechvar. I usually prefer a bit more hops flavor in a pilsner, like Pilsner Urquell.

you'd love jever then i bet

Thanks for the tip. I've seen it around, but can't recall if I've tried it.

scored 2 hopslams tnite. i'm not quite sure it lived up to the hype (100 on BA?!) but it was really tasty and good.

I've still never had a Pipeworks beer, I don't think. Wanted to pick up Citra Ninja for NYE, but Binny's was out at the time.

just got a bottle of this - looks so amazing

http://danwagner28.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/springhouse_biggruesome.jpg

man this Central Waters Peruvian Morning imperial bourbon-barrel coffee stout (!) is out of control.

I want to try Peruvian morning, but haven't been able to get my hands on any. Love their bourbon barrel stout and barleywine.

I had Allagash Yakuza last night. It tasted like Allagash White + hops. Kinda boring.

Allagash White is my favorite boring beer.

it's like sprite beer

For as much as I love hopped up, Americanized Belgian-style ales, I haven't had good experiences with the new hoppy white ale trend.

2x, it's all been crap ime

And wheat/white beers was what got me into beer nerdery in the first place.

White ales are pretty delicate, with the orange and coriander, and if I want one of those (which isn't often tbh) that's what I want. Dumping a bunch of hops into that doesn't really make for either a satisfying white or a satisfying hophead brew imo. It was Deschutes Chainbreaker I didn't care for, and one other which escapes me and which was worse; if anyone actually likes these and can recommend a great one I'd maybe be willing for one more try.

love that Sierra Nevada porter

got myself a cherry rye today!

Congratulations! How's you snag it?

How'd

a handful of stores in the area got some yesterday/today--one posted it on facebook and i basically hauled ass after work to get the last bottle of the case.

later on i found out that three other members of my five-member tasting group (lol) got bottles at the same store.

there was a not-so-coincidental goose island tap takeover at a nearby bar tonight with bcbs, imperial brown, big john, etc. etc. but i am way too tired to go out

does anyone here use ratebeer or any other similar service on the reg? for finding how well regarded stuff is, keeping track of what you drink etc

i consult BA all the time but i don't have an account w/ them

I use BA all the time.

i use ba and *very* occasionally post there

so idk how widespread the distro is but

http://www.indeedbrewing.com/

just showed up in 6 packs at my fave beer store and it is craaaazy stupid good. only got the day tripper and the midnight rider so far but daaaaaamn

where are you jjj? acc to their distribution map it's only in minneapolis!

And apparently that World of Beer place is already open in Evanston?

The irony; Evanston was bone-dry until 1985. But will definitely check out WoB next time I'm there.

Bought one of these today, never heard of the brewery before but was absolutely suckered in by the can design:

http://www.seattleite.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/can_saison-400x600.jpg

Very interesting. Not sure I've ever seen a canned saison.