Beer

Raymond W. Parrish · Post by **Raymond W. Parrish** » Thu Feb 12, 2009 9:37 am

Last evening:
Southern Tier Un-Earthly Imperial IPA - Excellently balanced, nice mineraly hop flavor with a healthy alcohol warmth, yummy
Dale's Pale Ale - world's best canned beer, hands down
Delirium Nocturnum - legendary, one of the world's most finely-crafted dubbel-style beers, 'nuff said
Green Flash Imperial IPA - vegetal "green" hop flavor with not much malt support, spucey & very raw tasting, but not unpleasant, would satisfy the hophead

Steve Solbo · Post by **Steve Solbo** » Thu Feb 12, 2009 10:03 am

Green Flash Imperial is really good for the hophead.

The Southern Tier is also a very smooth IPA.

John Biscoe · Post by **John Biscoe** » Thu Feb 12, 2009 10:34 am

yeah boy, southern tier unearthly is my new favorite high alcohol (11%) ipa- better than hopslam.

Sjur Soleng · Post by **Sjur Soleng** » Thu Feb 12, 2009 7:19 pm

Having 2 geary's Pale ales. Gonna chase with an hour.

Raymond W. Parrish · Post by **Raymond W. Parrish** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 11:39 am

Forgot to mention Friday Glow's menu:
Troeg's Nugget Nectar: I was disappointed. In-your-face, astringent hoppiness with insipid malt to (not) back it up. Thin & a little watery. Not nearly as warm or robust as I had hoped. Another miss this year for Nugget Nectar. Seems one should only buy it in the even years.
Sierra Nevada ESB: I was prepared for disappointment, as ESBs often leave me wanting MORE. However, SNBC has pulled it off. Wonderful balance with their signature Cascade fruitiness. Copper in color & more roasty than I had anticipated (thankfully), but very true to style. Excellent mouthfeel. In a world where each brewer seems to be trying to out-hop all the others, a superb, sanely-crafted ale really stands out. Another winner from the pioneer craft brewery.

On deck for poker tonight:
Samuel Adams Blackberry Wit
Delirium Tremens
Dogfish Head Olde School Barleywine 2007
Whatever treats Biscoe brings . . .

Felix Harvey · Post by **Felix Harvey** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 3:30 pm

veganray wrote:Excellent mouthfeel.

OK you just talked me into one, or six.

John Biscoe · Post by **John Biscoe** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 3:39 pm

veganray wrote:On deck for poker tonight:
Samuel Adams Blackberry Wit
Delirium Tremens
Dogfish Head Olde School Barleywine 2007
Whatever treats Biscoe brings . . .

went to the cellar for one hopslam and one old rasputin. will probably pick up a southern tier ipa too.

Raymond W. Parrish · Post by **Raymond W. Parrish** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 4:01 pm

felixh wrote:
veganray wrote:Excellent mouthfeel.

OK you just talked me into one, or six.

You got it, brother. IMHO, almost any schmuck can make a good-tasting brew, but the mouthfeel is what separates the truly outstanding from the merely drinkable.

biscoe wrote:went to the cellar for one hopslam and one old rasputin.

Ahhhh, Old Raspy. One of my all-time faves. I can hardly wait 180 minutes . . .

Raymond W. Parrish · Post by **Raymond W. Parrish** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 10:41 am

Southern Tier IPA: Quite dark for an IPA. Nice, earthy maltiness with good hop balance. Not over-assertively bitter. Aromatic floral & mushroomy notes. Average mouthfeel: not thin, not creamy. Darned decent, but not as good as their Imperial IPA.

Dogfish Head Olde School Barleywine: MAJOR alcohol whiff (almost isopropyl-ish) upon nearing the glass to the face. At 15%, I guess that should be no surprise. Very sweet, warm maltiness, but lacking a bit of depth in the malt character. Very dried-fruity & caramelly. Balance definitely leans heavily toward the sweet side with hop flavor & bitterness not too evident. Weak, thin, hot mouthfeel, probably due to the extreme alcohol content. Defo could use a lot more aging and/or forgetting about the dates & figs used in fermentation. An oak-conditioned version of this would certainly be more enjoyable, but Bigfoot & Old Foghorn would still crush it. Another so-so Dogfish Head "experiment".

North Coast Old Rasputin Imperial Stout: Jet black. Coffee & chocolate blast with a little smoky molasses nice warmth. Balanced by a light floral hop presence & bitterness. Thick, velvety, but not syrupy mouthfeel. Impy is one of my favorite styles & this one is within Goblin range of perfection.

S sjfoop · Post by **S sjfoop** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 5:03 pm

Spring is on its way but we got some snow last night so I picked up a few darker beers before I start craving spring ales.

Hercule stout above and Old engine oil below. Both are old favorites of mine.

I also picked up Peak Organic's nut brown ale. Haven't tried it yet but I like their pale ale.

Steve Solbo · Post by **Steve Solbo** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 5:28 pm

Here's one I recommend for NEFA land...

Buy a six pack of greenies.. Sierra Nevada IPA's.

Buy a six pack of Sierra Nevada's Bigfoot Barley Wine...

Do a half and half of both... dynamite for an IPA fan.. you get the taste of the greenie... and the punch of the barley wine...

It's good, trust me.

Raymond W. Parrish · Post by **Raymond W. Parrish** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 1:51 pm

Brewer's Art Green Peppercorn Tripel: Extremely fizzy & extreme amount of bottle sediment (even for a bottle-conditioned brew). Light golden color with typical banana-y nose & clove/bubblegum initial taste with a spicy hot alcohol/peppercorn finish. Slightly cheesy aftertaste with more pepper notes. Thin, fizzy, but slightly creamy mouthfeel. Not bad, but not great, either. Tripel is not really my style, but something to try for Belgian fans who crave a bit of spice.

Wednesday will be a classic blackout, with the tasting menu including Flying Dog Wild Dog Schwarz, Schlafly Reserve Imperial Stout, Nils Oscar Imperial Stout, & Stone Imperial Russian Stout.

Sjur Soleng · Post by **Sjur Soleng** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 9:54 pm

I have been trapped in Upper marlboro MD for 2 weeks and lest I say, the beer is ho rri ble!!! Best choice, sam A B lager...Not bad, but as best choice, over and over, its brutal on the pallet. However, this evening, we found some 60 minutes!! Literally screams great beer as it crosses the lips the lips!!!! I must say it twice!!! Welcome back, back of tungue.

Allen Smith · Post by **Allen Smith** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 11:53 pm

Sjur there is a dogfish ale house just down the road from Seneca Creek State Park...

also there is a tournament there this weekend...

John Biscoe · Post by **John Biscoe** » Tue Feb 24, 2009 10:58 am

went to gravity lounge in charlottesville last night to see the delta spirit. they have about 90 different micros. tried bell's cherry stout (super tart- not at all what i was expecting- definitely not what i have come to expect from the fine brewers at bell's- thumbs down) and hopocalypse ipa from clay pipe brewing in md. (pretty much what you'd expect from the name- piney and grapefruity, not overly malty, a little thin- will satisfy the hop junkies but not on par with my favorite ipa's)

Raymond W. Parrish · Post by **Raymond W. Parrish** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 11:07 am

Stone Imperial Russian Stout: Black as pitch with minimal head. Lighter-than-expected roasty, charry flavor with vanilla & raisin components. No discernible hop character. Major alcohol aftertaste. Thick, oily mouthfeel with average carbonation. Not hateful, but there are many far better Impys out there. Another so-so effort from the world's most overrated brewery.

Schlafly Reserve Imperial Stout: Much lighter that expected: dark ruby-red (a-l-m-o-s-t black) & partially transparent. Overwhelming cloying butterscotch & bourbon flavors with some roasted barley evident. VERY minor hints of chocolate & vanilla at the finish, but off-butterscotch is the dominant player here. A teeny bit of grassy, hay-y hoppiness. Thin, sticky mouthfeel with light carbonation. Wouldn't buy again.

John Biscoe · Post by **John Biscoe** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 12:04 pm

i honestly don't see what the attraction to stone's is. pedestrian ipa's, pedestrian imperial stout.

i found the schlafly's to be somewhat medicinal in addition to v.r.'s comments.

Raymond W. Parrish · Post by **Raymond W. Parrish** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 12:07 pm

Don't badmouth medicine like that. :evil:

S sjfoop · Post by **S sjfoop** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 12:25 pm

I agree. I've never thought much of the Stone beers. If I've ever tried the Schlafly's, I don't recall and probably for good reason. I'm in Denver right now and the good beer is flowing.

Between New belgium, Left hand, Great divide and a few others that you can't get on the east coast, I'm in heaven. I'll be bringing back some goodies.

John Biscoe · Post by **John Biscoe** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 12:38 pm

boulder beer company makes some good stuff- hazed and infused dry-hopped ipa is tasty.

Craig Cutler · Post by **Craig Cutler** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 12:54 pm

If your still in Denver check out: http://www.quixotes.com/

Sanchos Broken arrow bar . ask for Timmy. mention NEFA, discgolf and Warwick.

Raymond W. Parrish · Post by **Raymond W. Parrish** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 1:36 pm

Ssjfoop wrote:I agree. I've never thought much of the Stone beers. If I've ever tried the Schlafly's, I don't recall and probably for good reason. I'm in Denver right now and the good beer is flowing.

Between New belgium, Left hand, Great divide and a few others that you can't get on the east coast, I'm in heaven. I'll be bringing back some goodies.

We can get all of those in VA. I just enjoyed a Smoke Jumper on draft last week & there is an Oak Aged Yeti in my fridge.

S sjfoop · Post by **S sjfoop** » Fri Feb 27, 2009 8:29 am

Craig C wrote:If your still in Denver check out: http://www.quixotes.com/

Sanchos Broken arrow bar . ask for Timmy. mention NEFA, discgolf and Warwick.

i wish I had seen this a day earlier. I definitely would have gone.

We can get all of those in VA. I just enjoyed a Smoke Jumper on draft last week & there is an Oak Aged Yeti in my fridge.

I meant other breweries not mentioned that you can't get out east. We have Boulder Beer, Great divide and Left hand here in NY. New Belgium however, I still haven't seen east of Chicago.

John DeBois · Post by **John DeBois** » Fri Feb 27, 2009 8:53 am

mahars 20th anniversary cask, rogue red ale, siera nevada, 2 gl red wine, 1 filthy gin martini, 1 major headache right now

S sjfoop · Post by **S sjfoop** » Tue Mar 03, 2009 3:44 pm

Ok I saw this in the store the other day. Not only did the name catch my attention but the logo of a normal B and backwards B seemed too much of a coincidence. Please tell me your house is always stocked with these mr. zz.

Matt Buono · Post by **Matt Buono** » Tue Mar 03, 2009 4:15 pm

DISCuss it over a bard's classic

Sjur Soleng · Post by **Sjur Soleng** » Tue Mar 03, 2009 5:12 pm

Available in CT?

John Biscoe · Post by **John Biscoe** » Tue Mar 03, 2009 5:34 pm

are you guy's in fredericksburg this week? poker is wednesday at vegan ray's and capital ale house has opened downtown with over 300 beers.

Sjur Soleng · Post by **Sjur Soleng** » Tue Mar 03, 2009 5:47 pm

we will be there on Sunday night, and for about 3-4 days. Wednesday poker would be sweet

Todd Lapham · Post by **Todd Lapham** » Tue Mar 03, 2009 6:08 pm

Chimay beer is great.