The Beer Thread

[MU B2002]

just had my first Founders Breakfast Stout, clap clap clap.  Would write more, but i have to go get my second.

[Chili]

I am off to the The Seventh Annual Festival of Wood and Barrel Aged Beer tonight in Chicago. Needless to say I will be trying a bunch of random crap. Tons of great breweries will be in attendance. Anyone ever been to this?


http://www.illinoisbeer.com/

[madtownwarrior]

Had to try Ale Ayslum "Satisfaction Jackson" Double IPA after many strong recommendations.    Very good - compared it to a known favorite Three Floyds Alpha King - very similar in taste / hop level.   At $15 / six pack - I would opt for Alpha King or Bells Two Hearted.     Want to support the local brewery though (even though it's in the People's Republic of Madison).  Also need to try it on tap before final verdict...

[Aughnanure]

This might not get up to Milwaukee/Chicago....but Boulevard in Kansas City is the best overall Midwest beer Ive had, their are so many different types but their Pale Ale, Wheat and Lunar are fantastic.

[madtownwarrior]

tonight it was Founders Breakfast Stout after the MU win - great beer....

[MU B2002]

tonight it was Founders Breakfast Stout after the MU win - great beer....

Enjoying the same right now while playing some online poker.  I am very excited to try the Kentucky Breakfast Stout next year.

[rocky_warrior]

Boulevard in Kansas City is the best overall Midwest beer Ive had

When Spiral and I were in KC in 2006 for the CBE (passing out MUScoop business cards for the first time, I might add....) I think we split a case or two of Boulevard's brews.  I didn't have anything bad to say about it, but I think there are several Wisconsin breweries with better selections.

Of course that's exactly why I hardly every claim a brew is bad (except for stuff in bottles - lol) because taste is in the eye of the taster. (er, bud of the taster?)

Nonetheless, if in the KC area, you need to try Boulevard brews.

[Chili]

This weekend tried three new beers.

Three Floyds Alpha Klaus: It is a real good porter, very chocolaty but with bitter hops note. It is like Alpha King with a lot of chocolate malt.

Three Floyds Broo Doo: AMAZING beer. It is their harvest ale and it is "wet hoped". It is really hoppy in a good way but has some malt back so it is not just a hopbomb. But it is freaking awesome.

Lakefront Local Acre Lager: I was able to get three sample bombers of this from my guy. I was not a fan. No one in our group liked it. Thought it had a really funky flavor that was not enjoyable. I will try full production bottle once it comes out in three weeks. I hope it is better than preproduction samples.

[Spotcheck Billy]

I tried a few new ones this weekend.
Tyranena Dirty Old Man - a rye porter aged in rye whiskey barrels, I really liked this one, alot of chocolate flavor along with the rye
Three Floyds Dreadnaught - very good DIPA, more fruit flavors than being a hopbomb like other DIPA's
Goose Island 2009 Bourbon County Stout - wow, strong taste of alcohol (12.4%) but a good sipper
Capitol Brewing Autumnal Fire - was described as basically Dopplecock meets Oktoberfest (7.4%ABV) quite a sweet malt flavor, OK, not real impressive to me, nothing from Capitol has ever done much for me

[MUfan12]

Tried a bunch of new ones lately-

Had the 2 Below from New Belgium. It was solid, but unspectacular. It was almost like they had spiced up some Fat Tire and called it a winter seasonal.

Furthermore Proper- Their English style ale. Has some toasted malt and bready tones. Bittered by the English hops, slightly sweet finish. A pretty decent beer. Not as adventurous as some of their other offerings.

Bell's Double Cream Stout- Hot damn this is a great beer. Will definitely be in my winter rotation, right up there with the Founders Breakfast Stout. Really creamy, malty beer. All the right stout flavors, and very drinkable. Love it, can't recommend it enough.

Magic Hat Howl- Dark winter lager. Very roasty up front, but finishes pretty smooth. Not much hops to it. Not bad, but it wouldn't be my first choice for a winter brew.

Left Hand Juju Ginger Ale- A friend bought a sampler of Left Hand stuff, and this was the first we sampled. Pours a nice golden color, very drinkable, with the taste of fresh ginger present, but not overpowering. I really liked it, would be a great light beer for the summer.

Left Hand Sawtooth Ale- Their ESB, pours Amber with a nice head to it. This one almost reminded me of Pride and Joy, as the citrus hops are very present. A pretty solid beer.

And then there's the Imperial Stout. Jet black, pours like friggin motor oil. The standard stout flavors, but there was some fruity notes to it. Real heavy beer, and at 10% it will definitely warm you up. For the style, it was excellent.

New Glarus Cranbic Ale- I wasn't sure how I felt about this at first. I bought it last night, and the first bottle I had was kinda funky. It had a nice cranberry tartness, but an oaky finish that was overwhelming. I'm having one now and it's much, much more balanced. Enjoying this one much more, perhaps the first was just a bad bottle.

[Aughnanure]

When Spiral and I were in KC in 2006 for the CBE (passing out MUScoop business cards for the first time, I might add....) I think we split a case or two of Boulevard's brews.  I didn't have anything bad to say about it, but I think there are several Wisconsin breweries with better selections.

Of course that's exactly why I hardly every claim a brew is bad (except for stuff in bottles - lol) because taste is in the eye of the taster. (er, bud of the taster?)

Nonetheless, if in the KC area, you need to try Boulevard brews.

I know we are all bias in our hometown brews, but you must have only tried the Pale Ale or Wheat which is just their standard. There are around 12-15 different boulevard beers depending on the season and its growing constantly (only 20 years old and now the biggest Missouri brewery- Bud now doesnt count cause it was bought, haha i love that part).

I have tried many different beers in Milwaukee, I cant always remember their names a lot, but just wondering which ones you think are easily better than Boulevard. The only one with many different brews that I can compare it to personally is Lienenkugels and Lakefront. I would personally take Boulevard over either's (again, I am biased) but I really dont think Leinenkugel's can even hold a candle to Boulevard. Lakefront I liked very much though from the few times I had it and on the brew tour.

[damuts222]

Does anyone know of the a website where you trade beers with others around the world? 

Someone once told me that you can trade a beer to someone say in India who has access to a beer over there that you would like to try and maybe they would like to try spotted cow or something that is only sold in wisconsin. Is this made up or has anyone heard of it?

[madtownwarrior]

Bell's Double Cream Stout- Hot damn this is a great beer. Will definitely be in my winter rotation, right up there with the Founders Breakfast Stout. Really creamy, malty beer. All the right stout flavors, and very drinkable. Love it, can't recommend it enough.



mmm, Bell's Double Cream Stout -  it would be hard to pick between Bell;'s DC, Founders Breakfast and Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout as my favorite...

[Rollout-the-Barrel]

Any recommendations on home brew shops in Madison or Milwaukee?  I've purchased from the wine and hop shop in madison, but heard there was a few in the milwaukee area that I could stop at before a MU game.

[MUfan12]

Any recommendations on home brew shops in Madison or Milwaukee?  I've purchased from the wine and hop shop in madison, but heard there was a few in the milwaukee area that I could stop at before a MU game.

There's one just south of Bluemound Rd. on Janacek Rd. in Brookfield. Stopped in there once, they seem to have a lot of stuff. Forgot what the name of it was.

[Spotcheck Billy]

Any recommendations on home brew shops in Madison or Milwaukee?  I've purchased from the wine and hop shop in madison, but heard there was a few in the milwaukee area that I could stop at before a MU game.

I go to the Frugal Homebrewer in downtown Waukesha for supplies www.frugalhomebrewer.com

I tried the Lupulin Maximus from O-so this weekend. It's 9%, heavily hopped (there's actually a Fuggles hop cone in every bottle). For as many hops that are in this, it's actually offset by the sweet malt flavors. very enjoyable taste IMO


I agree with the above on Bell's Double Cream stout, really like that one also

[Hards Alumni]

As for homebrew places in Milwaukee... I think a HUGE place just opened... though I don't know the name of it, my cousin goes there and says it is awesome... maybe its in 'stallis?

also, tried some beer from VA... Star Hill... it was okay.  nothing great.  probably wouldn't try it again.

[GoldenWarrior]

Great Lakes Brewery Christmas Ale... I LOVE IT!!!

[Rollout-the-Barrel]

I go to the Frugal Homebrewer in downtown Waukesha for supplies www.frugalhomebrewer.com

Thanks for the recommendation.  I'm looking to convert to kegs from bottles as I'm getting too lazy to bottle all the time.

[drewm88]

Great Lakes Brewery Christmas Ale... I LOVE IT!!!

I also just had one these. Very good.

[Henry Sugar]

I've become a pretty big fan of Two Brothers Brewing Company.  They brew out of Warrenville, IL.

Their Heavy Handed IPA (Wet Hop) and their Heav-ier Handed IPA (Oak Foudre Aged - bomber only) were dynamite.  This weekend, I tried their Northwind Imperial Stout, and it was fantastic.  A few weeks ago, I had their Cain and Ebel Red Rye Ale.  All were great.  Two Brothers are worth checking out if you think in terms of breweries, especially if you roll in the Chicago Burbs.

+1 on the Goose Island Bourbon County Stout, and the Three Floyds Alpha Klaus and Broo-Doo.

I am now on the hunt for Bells Double Cream Stout.  Also, since it's officially the Holiday season, any other recommendations for Holiday/Christmas Beers? 

[MUfan12]

Had the Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale. Pretty tasty. Not a bad Holiday offering.

[Hards Alumni]

favorite Colorado Brewery:  Left Hand.

[rocky_warrior]

favorite Colorado Brewery:  Left Hand.

Heh heh heh, that's in walking distance from my house

[muwarrior87]

Heh heh heh, that's in walking distance from my house

Just had their Milk Stout last week. Damn good beer.