What beer are you drinking Winter '08/'09

I have been enjoying 2 cases of Anderson Valley Brewing Companys Winter Solstice. It is one Wonderful Winter Ale and I think the Best one I have ever had because of the Great Maltiness of it. I had two at a party and it was so good that I spent the $45 a case to get it and boy have I enjoyed it. Its ABV is 6.9 and it is Highly Drinkable! So if you can get it give it a try it is Very Refreshing and the Flavor is so good that it tells you have another!
Dave Z
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Beer Its Not Just A Beverage beer Is Food

I just opened a bottle of the Trader Joe's Vintage Ale (by Unibroue [sp?]) 2007. Every year I buy three bottles. I drink one right away, one 6 mos. later and the last one when the next year's edition comes out.

I think the 2007 is quite good, certainly better than the 2006 was at this point, but the 2005 was better than either at 1 y/o. I think the 2007 may have actually been better at 6 mos. than it is now. Seemed richer. Or maybe I just liked it better in the summer!

I've been drinking a lot of beer lately.

Sam Adams Winter Lager (in my kegerator)
Stone Double Bastard
Sam Adams Winter Mixed pack (even the Cranberry Lambic!)
Saranac Winter Mixed pack
Sierra Nevada Celebration
Anchor Christmas
and finally assorted Belgium brews from St. Bernardus.

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Originally Posted by hjminard

If I'm not mistaken, hasn't Boston Beer become the largest American owned brewing operation? (A-B is Belgian, Coors is Canadian?, Miller is South African, etc.) Not to hijack ... just curious if my thought is correct.

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It depends on how one defines "brewing operation". Pabst sells more beer than Boston Beer Co., but all their beer is contract brewed -mostly by Miller, but The Lion in PA and City in Lacrosse (at least, they used to) brew some as well.

So, if you're not counting contract brewed totals, Yuengling (with 3 breweries operating now) sells more beer it brews itself than BBC (since City, High Falls and Miller still brew a lot of Sam Adams beers).

Boston bought and refurbished the old Schaefer brewery outside of Allentown, PA., so they'll probably pass Yuengling soon in the "self-brewed" column. That Schaefer plant once had a listed capacity of 5 million barrels. Both BBC and Yeungling are still under 2m bbl a year.

Of course, either way, I think it's kinda sad that the "largest" brewing company in the US that's US-owned has a total of around 1% of the market.

Also- For the record, tho' the "SAB" half of "SABMiller" started out as "South African Breweries", they are now headquartered in London.

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Originally Posted by hjminard

Anyone ever try Boston Beer's Utopias? I have not had the pleasure, though I have had their Triple Bock ... which was an interesting brew.

Currently at home I have some Sam Adams Oktoberfest and Bell's Cherry Stout

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I have last years. I figured since it was aged in a BT cask, I would give it a try. 25.2% alc... a real sipper. I gove littles samples out to every hard core beer drinker I know and the folks that brew (one in the same I guess :)).

I do not plan on buying another... to much $$$ for what it is worth to me... but I am glad I got to try it and share it...

Come down to Tucson and I will pour you a glass

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Originally Posted by Josh

I just opened a bottle of the Trader Joe's Vintage Ale (by Unibroue [sp?]) 2007. Every year I buy three bottles. I drink one right away, one 6 mos. later and the last one when the next year's edition comes out.

I think the 2007 is quite good, certainly better than the 2006 was at this point, but the 2005 was better than either at 1 y/o. I think the 2007 may have actually been better at 6 mos. than it is now. Seemed richer. Or maybe I just liked it better in the summer!

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I got to try some of this last night for the first time, as there is no Trader Joes in my area. I was quite impressed with it.

Last night I dug into the back of the refrigerator and found one of the all-malt Michelob's. It was excellent.

Tim

Fat Tire in the kegerator. Sam Adams Celebration and Sierra Nevada in bottles.

Me and my lady friend just had a Hercules double IPA with our meal.

Leif

Stone Smoked Porter with mushroom-barley soup on a day that's really too warm for such things. Out to do yard work soon; perhaps a PBR at that point.

Regards,
Tim