What beer are you drinking? Winter 12/13

[smknjoe]

I picked up two 6-packs of Bells Hopslam today, just released.
I see they were bottled one week ago today, January 3, 2013.
I poured one in a large snifter and put my large bulbous nose in it and it was like cutting open a fresh grapefruit and squeezing it in my face,....
Nothing like fresh Michigan beer!!

Sounds like they did a good job on the hops in that one. I'll have to look for it.

[HighInTheMtns]

Drinking a new one tonight, French Connection from the Squatters brewpub in SLC. It's a pale ale, on tap at the brewpub only, apparently made with a new variety of hops crossbred from Cascade and a French hop.

I liked it enough at lunch today to buy a growler full and I'm enjoying it again tonight. I get a lot of hoppy flavors and aromas without too much bitterness. It's unfiltered, which is pretty typical for Squatters pale ales. Unfortunately, since it is served on tap in Utah, it is 4% ABV.

I also picked up a bottle of Squatters Fifth Element, which is decidedly NOT 4% ABV.

[unclebunk]

Okay. So Deschutes beer has FINALLY made it to Illinois. I saw it for the first time last week and grabbed sixpacks of the Mirror Pond Pale Ale and Black Butte Porter. (Didn't they miss an opportunity by not calling it Big Butte Porter?) I haven't tried the porter yet but the pale ale was superb. This isn't a particularly hoppy pale ale (nor should it be) but it is faithful to the traditional English style, with judicious use of hops to give it a wonderful floral aroma and just a tinge of bite to it. What really impressed me was the body/mouth-feel which was silky and full. Very nice, indeed! Now I need to find their IPA and ESB to compare them all. You guys out west have been lucky to drink this beer for so long!

[HighInTheMtns]

The limited Deschutes releases are really good too. Hop in the Dark is one of my favorites, and in general I have liked all I've tried and I never hesitate to pick up a new one when I see it.

[tanstaafl2]

Picked up a New Holland Blue Sunday Sour 2012 vintage today. Anybody had this before? I am inclined to tuck this in the back and let a sit a year or so. But curious if it is worth a second bottle to drink now and be able to compare.

[smknjoe]

Picked up a New Holland Blue Sunday Sour 2012 vintage today. Anybody had this before? I am inclined to tuck this in the back and let a sit a year or so. But curious if it is worth a second bottle to drink now and be able to compare.

Sounds good, but I have not had it. Why not get another one and taste it? Is it relatively expensive?

[stevegoz]

Okay. So Deschutes beer has FINALLY made it to Illinois. I saw it for the first time last week and grabbed sixpacks of the Mirror Pond Pale Ale and Black Butte Porter. (Didn't they miss an opportunity by not calling it Big Butte Porter?) I haven't tried the porter yet but the pale ale was superb. This isn't a particularly hoppy pale ale (nor should it be) but it is faithful to the traditional English style, with judicious use of hops to give it a wonderful floral aroma and just a tinge of bite to it. What really impressed me was the body/mouth-feel which was silky and full. Very nice, indeed! Now I need to find their IPA and ESB to compare them all. You guys out west have been lucky to drink this beer for so long!

The limited Deschutes releases are really good too. Hop in the Dark is one of my favorites, and in general I have liked all I've tried and I never hesitate to pick up a new one when I see it.

Binny's had bombers of the Hop Henge Experimental, a very nice IIPA. So far I've enjoyed that as well as Mirror Pond (nice enough, but not wowed -- I've become a hop head!), Chainbreaker White IPA (more of a weiss than an IPA to me; pretty tasty) and the Red Chair NWPA, a seasonal APA that hit all of the right notes.

[tanstaafl2]

Sounds good, but I have not had it. Why not get another one and taste it? Is it relatively expensive?

No, I suppose not. Probably should have gotten two while I was there. I expect it will be as expensive to drive to the store and back as the bottle costs! If it is still there when I go again I will just pick another up.

[smknjoe]

You're probably right! I "age" my beers sometimes. Usually, only if it's a limited release or hard to find or I just can't drink more than one or two in a sitting (12 ABV+.) So, then I can have some at a much later date up to a couple of years. It really depends on the beer, but I don't usually see a huge dfference in taste other than some of the bolder styles will mellow out a little.

[tanstaafl2]

You're probably right! I "age" my beers sometimes. Usually, only if it's a limited release or hard to find or I just can't drink more than one or two in a sitting (12 ABV+.) So, then I can have some at a much later date up to a couple of years. It really depends on the beer, but I don't usually see a huge dfference in taste other than some of the bolder styles will mellow out a little.

In theory a bottle conditioned sour beer like this should change at least some over time. Unless I get one and drink it now for comparison it will be hard to know! Of course then I have to remember what it tasted like when I drink the other one a year or two later.

But I have trouble remember this morning as it is...