BAO Posted November 27, 2012 Share Posted November 27, 2012 What did you think of Backwoods Bastard? I had it for the first time this year, and found it to be pretty respectable. Some insist it's "thin" this year.And how great is it that there's so much BCBS to be had this year in the Chicago area? I frequent a store in the western 'burbs that has six cases just sitting on the floor. And city Dominicks and Walgreens locations have even been stocking it.Really enjoyed it, didn't think it was thin, but I didn't have it last year to compare. Absolutely love that BCBS is going year-round and that it has been plentiful. One of the best beers in the world being widely available in my hometown? Awesome. I've got a couple cases in my cellar, really excited to try them over the next few years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevegoz Posted November 27, 2012 Share Posted November 27, 2012 Really enjoyed it, didn't think it was thin, but I didn't have it last year to compare. Absolutely love that BCBS is going year-round and that it has been plentiful. One of the best beers in the world being widely available in my hometown? Awesome. I've got a couple cases in my cellar, really excited to try them over the next few years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unclebunk Posted November 27, 2012 Share Posted November 27, 2012 Really enjoyed it, didn't think it was thin, but I didn't have it last year to compare. Absolutely love that BCBS is going year-round and that it has been plentiful. One of the best beers in the world being widely available in my hometown? Awesome. I've got a couple cases in my cellar, really excited to try them over the next few years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevegoz Posted November 27, 2012 Share Posted November 27, 2012 Okay. I give up. What the hell is "BCBS" and why should I seek it out? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squire Posted November 27, 2012 Share Posted November 27, 2012 Working on the Sam Adams Winter Selection. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ratcheer Posted November 27, 2012 Share Posted November 27, 2012 Working on the Sam Adams Winter Selection. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unclebunk Posted November 27, 2012 Share Posted November 27, 2012 Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Stout. Main Street Liquors in Countryside may still have four packs available.You should seek it out because it is TEH AWESOME! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squire Posted November 27, 2012 Share Posted November 27, 2012 Heard a rumor Samuel Smith's Winter Warmer Ale is on special so if we go to the store today that will be the choice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ebo Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 Do you mean Winter Lager? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squire Posted November 30, 2012 Share Posted November 30, 2012 Winter Welcome actually, I must have been thinking of the type. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unclebunk Posted November 30, 2012 Share Posted November 30, 2012 Still on a brown ale kick and decided to check out Tyranena's (from Wisconsin) Rocky's Revenge, described as an American brown ale with "a portion aged in bourbon barrels." I'm guessing the portion is very small, as there was no discernible bourbon influence that I could detect. Having said that, the beer was quite tasty and well worth the purchase, if only because it had a nice malty flavor and nutty aroma. I don't think Samuel Smith has anything to worry about but this was better than most American attempts at brown ale. As with all ales, the beer improved immensely when it began to warm up a bit, with improved body and head retention after 20 minutes out of the fridge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevegoz Posted November 30, 2012 Share Posted November 30, 2012 Still on a brown ale kick and decided to check out Tyranena's (from Wisconsin) Rocky's Revenge, described as an American brown ale with "a portion aged in bourbon barrels." I'm guessing the portion is very small, as there was no discernible bourbon influence that I could detect. Having said that, the beer was quite tasty and well worth the purchase, if only because it had a nice malty flavor and nutty aroma. I don't think Samuel Smith has anything to worry about but this was better than most American attempts at brown ale. As with all ales, the beer improved immensely when it began to warm up a bit, with improved body and head retention after 20 minutes out of the fridge.Tasty brew indeed despite the moderate barrel influence. Did you in fact get some Bourbon County Stout this week? They released bombers of the coffee and cherry variants last week, which set off the usual whale hunt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unclebunk Posted November 30, 2012 Share Posted November 30, 2012 Tasty brew indeed despite the moderate barrel influence. Did you in fact get some Bourbon County Stout this week? They released bombers of the coffee and cherry variants last week, which set off the usual whale hunt.Yes. I got a four pack from Main Street but was saving it for tonight. BTW, if you venture as far as Brixie's for beer, have you ever been to Leo's Liquors here in Brookfield? That guy has gone insane in the last year with his microbrewery section and he's now blown past Main Street in terms of selection. Definitely check it out if you haven't already. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevegoz Posted November 30, 2012 Share Posted November 30, 2012 (edited) Yes. I got a four pack from Main Street but was saving it for tonight. BTW, if you venture as far as Brixie's for beer, have you ever been to Leo's Liquors here in Brookfield? That guy has gone insane in the last year with his microbrewery section and he's now blown past Main Street in terms of selection. Definitely check it out if you haven't already.I've heard good things about Leo's from a friend in Riverside but haven't been. I'll take your recommendation and run with it sometime soon.Speaking of Brixie's, they're doing up Bourbon County Stout with a post-keg vanilla bean infusion tonight. Wish I could make it. Edited November 30, 2012 by stevegoz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unclebunk Posted November 30, 2012 Share Posted November 30, 2012 I've heard good things about Leo's from a friend in Riverside but haven't been. I'll take your recommendation and run with it sometime soon.Speaking of Brixie's, they're doing up Bourbon County Stout with a post-keg vanilla bean infusion tonight. Wish I could make it.Was thinking of wandering over to Brixie's if I can sneak away this evening. (My daughter is having a multi-kid sleepover, so I'm doubting my wife will be too happy about my absence. But it is Bourbon County Stout, after all.):grin: By all means, check Leo's out. Take Ogden past Brixie's and go north (left) on Maple where Dunkin' Donuts is. Stay on Maple over the tracks until you get to the traffic circle (or "roundabout" as my wife continually reminds me) and you'll be looking straight at the place. It looks small but the store goes back quite a way and the whole rear of the store is beer, beer and more beer. Expect to pay an extra buck here and there but the selection is worth it. Happy hunting! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokinjoe Posted November 30, 2012 Share Posted November 30, 2012 Heck, I'm calling it a day. Had a pretty dang good week. This Bell's Christmas Ale is a pleasant beer to settle down with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevegoz Posted December 1, 2012 Share Posted December 1, 2012 What didn't I drink tonight? Joined five of my friends in a one-of-a-kind tour of the Goose Island Chicago brewery and barrel houses tonight, conducted by Brewmaster Brett Porter and Barrel-Aging Program Manager John Laffler (who is leaving the company to start his own brewery). The two were very candid and open to our many questions, and we got to try eight or so experimental beers straight from the barrel, including barrel-aged stouts, a barleywine, a few saisons and some interesting variants of existing beers, like a grapefruit version of Sofie. And to top it off, they rotated in a five-gallon keg of Bourbon County Cherry Rye, which is very fruit-forward now but should relax a bit with some age.One rumor dispelled by Porter: Bourbon County Stout will not be a year-round product, so even though there's still some on shelves now in a few places we shouldn't expect any more shipments of the 2012 batch. On a happier note, Porter said they may in fact do Bourbon County Vanilla again. And, oh yes, it won't be King Henry but there will be a barrel-aged barleywine coming out again.Bourbon County Stout is aged in Heaven Hill barrels; the Bourbon County Rye is aged in Templeton barrels. They're also experimenting with some Koval barrels, which are only 35 gallons, more because of the unique single-grain whiskeys Koval does than because of the smaller size/accelerated aging. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ebo Posted December 2, 2012 Share Posted December 2, 2012 Widmer Brothers "Brrr" seasonal ale. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HP12 Posted December 2, 2012 Share Posted December 2, 2012 Pulled out a 2011 Stone RIS. A textbook RIS. Delicious roasted and toasted malt, coffee hints, prune...find it, cellar it, enjoy it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clavius Posted December 3, 2012 Share Posted December 3, 2012 2012 Sierra Nevada Northern Hemisphere Harvest Wet Hop Ale. I'm liking it much more than I liked the 2012 Southern Hemisphere Harvest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HighInTheMtns Posted December 4, 2012 Share Posted December 4, 2012 2012 Sierra Nevada Northern Hemisphere Harvest Wet Hop Ale. I'm liking it much more than I liked the 2012 Southern Hemisphere Harvest.I picked up a bottle of this today. Looking forward to trying it, I liked both hemispheres' harvest ales last year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainQ Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 Having this right now. Not much to be said except for delicious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unclebunk Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 Had a few bottles of Leffe Brune last night. Very solid Belgian brown ale but tasted better to my recollection when I had it in Belgium and France. Of course, the scenery and atmosphere on those trips made everything taste better!:grin: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ethangsmith Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 Yuengling Porter. Yes, it's winter, and yes, I live in Pennsylvania. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ebo Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 Young's Old Nick Barley Wine Ale. I love this stuff, but it's hard to find around here these days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts