The Beer Thread

[Frenns Liquor Depot]

Speaking of MSP, at Ike's enjoying a Surly Bender.....solid

[SaintPaulWarrior]

Speaking of MSP, at Ike's enjoying a Surly Bender.....solid

Surly ranked as 11th best brewery in the world....some pretty good company as rated by  http://www.ratebeer.com/RateBeerBest/bestbrewers_012012.asp

1  Three Floyds Brewing Company    Munster   Indiana    USA   
2  Founders Brewing Company    Grand Rapids   Michigan    USA   
3  Bells Brewery    Kalamazoo   Michigan    USA   
4  AleSmith Brewing Company    San Diego   California    USA   
5  Cigar City Brewing    Tampa   Florida    USA   
6  Hill Farmstead Brewery    Greensboro   Vermont    USA   
7  Stone Brewing Co.    Escondido   California    USA   
8  Russian River Brewing    Santa Rosa   California    USA   
9  De Struise Brouwers    Oostvleteren   -    Belgium   
10  Kuhnhenn Brewing    Warren   Michigan    USA   
11  Surly Brewing Company    Brooklyn Center   Minnesota    USA

[Golden Avalanche]

Surly ranked as 11th best brewery in the world....some pretty good company as rated by  http://www.ratebeer.com/RateBeerBest/bestbrewers_012012.asp

1  Three Floyds Brewing Company    Munster   Indiana    USA   
2  Founders Brewing Company    Grand Rapids   Michigan    USA   
3  Bells Brewery    Kalamazoo   Michigan    USA   
4  AleSmith Brewing Company    San Diego   California    USA   
5  Cigar City Brewing    Tampa   Florida    USA   
6  Hill Farmstead Brewery    Greensboro   Vermont    USA   
7  Stone Brewing Co.    Escondido   California    USA   
8  Russian River Brewing    Santa Rosa   California    USA   
9  De Struise Brouwers    Oostvleteren   -    Belgium   
10  Kuhnhenn Brewing    Warren   Michigan    USA   
11  Surly Brewing Company    Brooklyn Center   Minnesota    USA

Some of those rankings in link are flat out clownish.

But that's the beauty of a beauty beautifying contest. It's all about beauty for the ones who like certain beauty.

[Spotcheck Billy]

Barley wine Fest is on at the Sugar Maple, I counted 12 on the list last night

I tried the Moylans Blarney Wine and the New Glarus, the Moylans was good but the NG is very good

[Chili]

Barley wine Fest is on at the Sugar Maple, I counted 12 on the list last night

I tried the Moylans Blarney Wine and the New Glarus, the Moylans was good but the NG is very good

Speaking of Fest's...anyone going to Stoutfest in Chicago next Saturday?

At BW Fest was Central Waters present? What they did this year (well last year brewing) is pretty spectacular, probably my 2nd favorite after King Henry.

[mugrad2006]

Barley wine Fest is on at the Sugar Maple, I counted 12 on the list last night

I tried the Moylans Blarney Wine and the New Glarus, the Moylans was good but the NG is very good

I'm a huge Barley Wine nerd, and it's tough to find good selections as a lot of breweries don't brew them every year or they only sell a limited amount.  Will be up in MKE this week, gonna have to find time to get down to Sugar Maple for a couple samples.  What's the name of the NG barley wine? 

I've had a chance to get Central Waters 2010 and 2011, both were pretty fantastic.  Southern Tier Back Burner continues to be my favorite but I haven't seen it at all this year.

[Chili]

I'm a huge Barley Wine nerd, and it's tough to find good selections as a lot of breweries don't brew them every year or they only sell a limited amount.  Will be up in MKE this week, gonna have to find time to get down to Sugar Maple for a couple samples.  What's the name of the NG barley wine? 

I've had a chance to get Central Waters 2010 and 2011, both were pretty fantastic.  Southern Tier Back Burner continues to be my favorite but I haven't seen it at all this year.

Have you tried the Barrel Aged CW BW? It's pretty tits.

[mugrad2006]

Have you tried the Barrel Aged CW BW? It's pretty tits.

Yeah, I was in Milwaukee and made my pilgrimage to Discount Liquors (which I do every time I go up because it's better than most anything here in Chicago) and they were selling single bottles.  Bought the two they allowed.  Positively delicious. 

[Spotcheck Billy]

What's the name of the NG barley wine? 

No name, it's their latest Thumbprint formerly Unplugged" series - just Barley wine

Our 2012 Barley Wine bridges continents of style, a harmonious creation of Diploma Master Brewer Daniel Carey. He personally chose the hop fields that were harvested for this powerful beast of a brew. Styrian Golding, Willamette, Columbia, and Sterling with bold citrus and resin notes. All perfectly balanced with toasty graham cracker flavors of floor malted barley. Savor this very big beer at 45° F and it will reward you with an open embrace.
http://www.newglarusbrewing.com/index.cfm/beers/ourbeers/beer/barley-wine

[mugrad2006]

No name, it's their latest Thumbprint formerly Unplugged" series - just Barley wine

Thanks. Will look for it.

[damuts222]

Yeah, I was in Milwaukee and made my pilgrimage to Discount Liquors (which I do every time I go up because it's better than most anything here in Chicago) and they were selling single bottles.  Bought the two they allowed.  Positively delicious.

  When I go up to Milwaukee I also stop by at DicLiq but only to get New Glarus and Alaskan Brewing Co. beers, stuff I can't get in Chicago. Where in Chicago do you buy beer? There are plenty of places.

[mugrad2006]

 

  When I go up to Milwaukee I also stop by at DicLiq but only to get New Glarus and Alaskan Brewing Co. beers, stuff I can't get in Chicago. Where in Chicago do you buy beer? There are plenty of places.

Typically Binny's.  I'm up in the North shore area.  It's not that Binny's doesn't have a good selection, I just find that Discount has better selection on the harder to find beers (i.e. last time up I was able to get this year's Hopslam and the CW Barrel Aged Barleywine).  They tend to have a better handle on their selection as well as what's coming up that's exciting. Binny's always seems to have less of a feel on what brewery's are up to unless their specific beer guy is in the store.

[Spotcheck Billy]

I shouldn't post this because it will make the supply that much harder to find but Founders KBS is on it's way to stores now. A friend of mine hit KBS day at Founders on Saturday and for the 1st time in 5 years he was too late to get in the case line even though he showed up at the same time as before.

[mugrad2006]

I shouldn't post this because it will make the supply that much harder to find but Founders KBS is on it's way to stores now. A friend of mine hit KBS day at Founders on Saturday and for the 1st time in 5 years he was too late to get in the case line even though he showed up at the same time as before.

Great reminder.  Thanks.

[Chili]

 

  When I go up to Milwaukee I also stop by at DicLiq but only to get New Glarus and Alaskan Brewing Co. beers, stuff I can't get in Chicago. Where in Chicago do you buy beer? There are plenty of places.

I would go to Woodman's in Oak Creek now instead of Discount. Same if not better selection plus better prices.

[mugrad2006]

I would go to Woodman's in Oak Creek now instead of Discount. Same if not better selection plus better prices.

With you on the prices, I used to live just down the street from that Woodman's.  But there's nobody to talk beer with, and I personally like trying out new beers based on someone's knowledgeable recommendation.  I'd also disagree with the better selection.  May be on par for your typical craft beers and carrying most good breweries, but the limited release seasonals (i.e. CW barleywine, KBS, hopslam) won't typically be found there.

Edit:  Woodman's is a great place to buy beer and worth a trip for those who might have taken my comments as an indictment of their selection.

[MU B2002]

I shouldn't post this because it will make the supply that much harder to find but Founders KBS is on it's way to stores now. A friend of mine hit KBS day at Founders on Saturday and for the 1st time in 5 years he was too late to get in the case line even though he showed up at the same time as before.

Thanks.  I doubt I will decrease your chances as I will be trying to secure some in Southeast Georgia.

[Chili]

With you on the prices, I used to live just down the street from that Woodman's.  But there's nobody to talk beer with, and I personally like trying out new beers based on someone's knowledgeable recommendation.  I'd also disagree with the better selection.  May be on par for your typical craft beers and carrying most good breweries, but the limited release seasonals (i.e. CW barleywine, KBS, hopslam) won't typically be found there.

Edit:  Woodman's is a great place to buy beer and worth a trip for those who might have taken my comments as an indictment of their selection.

Woodman's gets the rare beers and I don't consider CWBW or Hopslam rare - I mean they both were heavily distributed. Woodman's GIBCS 2 years ago. When going to Discount, be VERY careful with ages. Also, you could go to Groppi's in Bay View. The buyers there (in conjunction with Downer Ave) do an AWESOME job of getting things plus they have 2 beers on tap. One of the first in the state to get Zombie Dust on tap last year. And CW Barleywine is easy as sin to get. They still have a ton at Binny's LP on Clybourn. And the Barrelaged BW too.

[damuts222]

 Anyone tried Pipeworks Brewery's Ninja vs. Unicorn. They just started bottling as are many of the Chicago area breweries in the near future.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/food/stew/chi-pipeworks-brewing-pipeworks-brewing-launches-20120309,0,5985130.story

[Chili]

Anyone tried Pipeworks Brewery's Ninja vs. Unicorn. They just started bottling as are many of the Chicago area breweries in the near future.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/food/stew/chi-pipeworks-brewing-pipeworks-brewing-launches-20120309,0,5985130.story

It's a solid dipa....

[MUFC9295]

http://www.durtynellies.com/viewshow.asp?id=399

Saturday May 5
BEER FEST

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Tickets go on sale March 18th. The event will be held on Saturday, May 5th. More details to come! Tickets will go fast, make sure you pick em' up!

[brewcity'77]

well since it looks like I'm gonna be shutout of any KBS this year I pulled out some 2009 vintage Founders Nemesis to share with my brother during the game against Murray St.

I had tried a bottle of this back when I bought it in '09 and I couldn't stand the dominant maple flavor so I hoped aging would improve it, WOW! what adifference a couple of years made. there was barely a hint of maple, instead there was a subtle chocolate with just a suggestion of mint among a very well balanced taste.

now, how long should I hold onto the 2010 Nemesis :hmmm:

[reinko]

Sierra Nevada is releasing there Hoptimum again this Spring, anyone ever had it?  Generally like a lot of SN, even if it is a larger scale micro beer.  The SN Celebration Ale is one of my go to's around the X-Mas holiday.

[Chili]

Sierra Nevada is releasing there Hoptimum again this Spring, anyone ever had it?  Generally like a lot of SN, even if it is a larger scale micro beer.  The SN Celebration Ale is one of my go to's around the X-Mas holiday.

It's a solid beer. I enjoy it. Tho I am currently drinking a Zombie Dust after a night of Goose Island Bramble and Marisol and Black Xanus.

As for the larger scale craft brewery - that's a crap thing. If the beer is good, drink it. If it sucks, don't drink it. Full disclosure I work for Goose Island and this ticks me off. I won't into here but the beer we make kicks ass (for the most part - hell, I know we are not even immune certain things but our Belgian Style and Bourbon / Aged beers are world fucking class) but there are other small breweries people keep going to which don't turn out nearly as good of beer as Goose, Sierra, Deschutes, Bell's, etc. End Rant.

[JimmyB!]

It's a solid beer. I enjoy it. Tho I am currently drinking a Zombie Dust after a night of Goose Island Bramble and Marisol and Black Xanus.

As for the larger scale craft brewery - that's a crap thing. If the beer is good, drink it. If it sucks, don't drink it. Full disclosure I work for Goose Island and this ticks me off. I won't into here but the beer we make kicks ass (for the most part - hell, I know we are not even immune certain things but our Belgian Style and Bourbon / Aged beers are world fracking class) but there are other small breweries people keep going to which don't turn out nearly as good of beer as Goose, Sierra, Deschutes, Bell's, etc. End Rant.

Damn, any chance of hooking some fellow alums up with a bottle of bramble?