What Beer are you drinking? Fall 2009

[cas]

Had my first disappointing beer from the New Glarus Brewery (Wisconsin). I picked up a six pack of their "Stone Soup" last weekend and drank a few while watching football yesterday and it was...boring. It's marketed as an Abbey Ale but tasted more like an American wheat beer.

You're right - I had a Stone Soup last night and it was ok, but not very interesting.

Craig

[unclebunk]

Holy Schnikies, Uncle!!! The notes they posted almost made me have to take a moment. Wow, that sounds good. Mrs. Smokinjoe loves dark chocolate, so maybe this will be doubly good! I've seen a few of the Ommegangs here, but I'm not sure I've seen the CI. My quest to find it begins tomorrow. Thanks for the rec.

The Chocolate Indulgence really is as good as the notes make it sound. Judging by your previous posts, I'd say this one is right up your alley, Joe. I'd try a few other Ommegang beers too if you get the chance. They are all of excellent quality and a few bucks cheaper than your normal Belgian import. By the way, Duvel bought the Ommegang brewery a few years back which is why it now has national distribution, at least in most major metropolitan areas.

[unclebunk]

You're right - I had a Stone Soup last night and it was ok, but not very interesting.

Craig

I knocked off my six pack but won't be heading back for more Stone Soup any time soon. By the way, did you hear about the bar in Manhattan that got nailed for selling New Glarus's Spotted Cow? I guess that's illegal, as NG products are technically only for sale in Wisconsin at the moment. That'll likely end soon due to the mutli-million expansion at the brewery.

http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/11/sales-of-a-wisconsin-beer-come-to-head-in-nyc.html

[funknik]

I knocked off my six pack but won't be heading back for more Stone Soup any time soon. By the way, did you hear about the bar in Manhattan that got nailed for selling New Glarus's Spotted Cow? I guess that's illegal, as NG products are technically only for sale in Wisconsin at the moment. That'll likely end soon due to the mutli-million expansion at the brewery.

http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/11/sales-of-a-wisconsin-beer-come-to-head-in-nyc.html

Spotted Cow is good stuff -- that's great news.

[Lost Pollito]

Today it's gonna be Casey Jones Imperial I.P.A. from Iron Springs in Fairfax, CA. My favorite beer. Thankful someone flew me a bottle.:grin:

[SBOmarc]

Hangar 24 Orange Wheat. A local brewery in Redlands Ca.

[smokinjoe]

The Holiday Season can now officially begin. Just saw the annual Budweiser Holiday Clydesdale commercial on TV during the Steelers-Ravens game. I really don't want a beer, but I'm going to have a Bud. I drink a lot more micros these days, but I always have some Bud in my beer fridge. Don't have my Budweiser Holiday Steins down yet, but it's still tasting pretty good out of the bottle.

[unclebunk]

I've just rounded the corner into porter and stout season in my house. I've had loads of great stout from a half dozen micros but less success finding good porters. Any recommendations?

[whskylvr]

2009 Yorkshire Stingo bottle conditioned ale. aged for over a year in oak barrels that previously held cask-conditioned ale.

dried fruits, toffee, and caramel

very nice

[unclebunk]

Bateman's XXX Bitter, along with some Ballantine's Finest blended Scotch. Nice combo!

[pepcycle]

I need to share that I tried a Seasonal Beer from Magic Hat called Odd Notion.

Enigmatic at best, I don't know why a sour beer would be "Seasonal" in the winter.

Here's a quote from the website.

"Winter Odd Notion 09, an American sour ale, is a special holiday gift being given for the first time. This limited edition offering is a temptingly tart carol of a beer whose delightfully sour notes are a perfect foil for everything from roasted meats to rich cheeses, like those that accompany the sour ale in Magic Hat’s Winter Odd Notion Crab Dip."

It is thin and tart with some spice notes. Bready-Yeasty.

Not sure where they were going with this. Maybe I just missed the boat and was caught off guard. (like when you drink your orange juice and it turns out to be milk)

[spun_cookie]

simple New Castle and thin crust pizza tonight... with some bourbon to follow... I like New Castle for a light easy going drink

[dean_martin]

I need to share that I tried a Seasonal Beer from Magic Hat called Odd Notion.

Enigmatic at best, I don't know why a sour beer would be "Seasonal" in the winter.

Here's a quote from the website.

"Winter Odd Notion 09, an American sour ale, is a special holiday gift being given for the first time. This limited edition offering is a temptingly tart carol of a beer whose delightfully sour notes are a perfect foil for everything from roasted meats to rich cheeses, like those that accompany the sour ale in Magic Hat’s Winter Odd Notion Crab Dip."

It is thin and tart with some spice notes. Bready-Yeasty.

Not sure where they were going with this. Maybe I just missed the boat and was caught off guard. (like when you drink your orange juice and it turns out to be milk)

Speaking of seasonals, have you seen Sierra Nevada's Celebration Ale in your area? I checked my regular sources and more Saturday. No luck yet.

[DrinkyBanjo]

Speaking of seasonals, have you seen Sierra Nevada's Celebration Ale in your area? I checked my regular sources and more Saturday. No luck yet.

Yes, SN Celebration has been out for a few weeks already. I actually have it in my kegerator as we speak!

I've also been drinking Anchor's Christmas Ale. Very good this year. They call it a Winter Warmer but its as dark as a Porter. Very tasty, not overly strong, good session Christmas beer.

[smokinjoe]

Another terrific offering from Sam Adams. Their Imperial Stout from the Imperial Series. Dark, rich, smooth, creamy goodness.

[unclebunk]

We've got a huge Polish community here in Chicago, so a number of excellent Polish lagers and porters can be found in just about any decent liquor store in the area. But today I enjoyed a few pints of Okocim on tap which I can usually only find in bottles in most bars around here. I happened to be drinking these at The Tilted Kilt, a chain sports bar not unlike Hooters but with a Celtic slant. Eight pints in, I couldn't tell you shit about how good the beer tasted but I can tell you that I savored them while gawking at the best looking girl I've seen in five years!

A picture is worth a thousand words: see second beauty on the left.

http://tiltedkilt.com/illinois/woodridge/index.html

[tgaut]

Abita Pecan Harvest.

[DrinkyBanjo]

Abita Pecan Harvest.

Yesterday was Troegs Java Head. Very nice coffee stout at at decent 7%, I'm getting a little tired of Imperial Stouts that are too strong. This was very enjoyable.

[smokinjoe]

Just finished a sluggish run on a very chilly day here in Dixie. Am getting my breath back with the 2009 Edition of SweetWater Brewing's Festive Ale. Dark and soothing, as my lungs are screaming from the chill. But, still spritzy enough to quench. A plethora of Christmasy spices give it a wonderful taste that fits the season. SweetWater makes several beers that I enjoy, but this is my favorite, year after year.

[SMOWK]

I can't stop mixing good ale's with Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout. My 2 favorite ale's to mix with it are Yuengling Lord Chesterfield, or a Dogfish Head 90 minute IPA. The Dogfish mixed with the Brooklyn makes for one strong, sweet, chocolatey concoction. The Lord Chesterfield seems to lighten the stout a bit and add a refreshing quality. 1I highly suggest giving it a try.

[Gillman]

Adnams Broadside, an English ale not identified on the label as a pale ale, but within the pale ale/IPA mode by virtue of its ABV (6.3%) and firm hoppy flavor. It`s got a round malt taste but again firmly underpinned by resinous English hops. Notes of fig and raisin emerge as the drink warms in the glass. While not a craft beer per se - Adnams is an old-established regional brewery - once again the English prove there isn't much about traditional beer you can teach them. The quality is enhanced by the freshness, the best-by date suggests this brew was packaged less than 3 months ago.

I chased it with my personal mingling of Jack Daniels. It combines two or 3 black labels, ditto Single Barrels and a Gentleman Jack to produce a XO cognac-like smoothness and unity of flavor.

Gary

[DrinkyBanjo]

Adnams Broadside, an English ale not identified on the label as a pale ale, but within the pale ale/IPA mode by virtue of its ABV (6.3%) and firm hoppy flavor. It`s got a round malt taste but again firmly underpinned by resinous English hops. Notes of fig and raisin emerge as the drink warms in the glass. While not a craft beer per se - Adnams is an old-established regional brewery - once again the English prove there isn't much about traditional beer you can teach them. The quality is enhanced by the freshness, the best-by date suggests this brew was packaged less than 3 months ago.

I chased it with my personal mingling of Jack Daniels. It combines two or 3 black labels, ditto Single Barrels and a Gentleman Jack to produce a XO cognac-like smoothness and unity of flavor.

Gary

Yesterday I had a River Horse Belgian Freeze. Nice, Belgian style ale brewed in NJ. A nice Winter Warmer. On Friday I had a Rogue Santa's Private Reserve. A nice hoppy beer with a strong malt backbone.

Both very enjoyable and recommended.

[spun_cookie]

Picked up a Wells Banana Bread beer here in Catalina from the UK. Neat little bear. Very refreshing with a good overall taste.

[rbtrost]

Was in Michigan for the GR Marathon (watching) loved the Founders beers. When in Rome........ or Chicago the Goose Island, IPA or Honkers Ale.

[smokinjoe]

I'm not exactly on an Expedition. Just a short trip to the Tar Heel State. But, I picked up a Bell's Expedition Stout on the way. Good....Lord....Did I say Tar Heel State? This puppy pours like Tar! Color of Tar, too. This is a stout worthy of an Expedition to Everest, K2, or the North Pole but, feels like a lifetime in Hana while drinking it. My all-time fav has been the Great Divide Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout. Just Awesome. But, this may be it's equal, and it's a heck of a lot quicker to say. Bell's continues to amaze me.