Beer! Glorious Beer Thread!

[Doombear]

Sadly they only had two bottles last night, one sold by the time I got there and the other was being held for someone that had just called and was headed over. It was indeed around $20 I believe. Oh well. Just grabbed a bottle of Hop Lava and ... some other IPA I hadn't tried. Maybe next time. This place near my house is mainly an IPA bottle shop, but have a decent stock of tripels, saisons, ciders, and stouts. So he may be getting a few more bottles.

As for ABV it obviously varies by type and brewer (and preference I would think). Boneyard's (my absolute favorite brewery out of Bend, OR) Hop Venom is a very nice double IPA and comes in at 8.9~9%. I love it. They have a triple IPA, Notorious, that is about 11-12% and it is dangerous. The alcohol is masked so perfectly. Last time they had it in... within 30 minutes I was in way over my head with that one. Then there is their stout, Suge Knite, which is 14% and is just way too heavy. Really didn't care for the taste on that. The coffee and chocolate were there up front, but all I got was bitter alcohol immediately after and it sticks.

[wipers]

I tried Goose Island's Ten Hills Pale Ale. Amazing Very hoppy.(tastes like Sierra Nevada Pale Ale) Also Sam Adams Escape Route is pretty damn good. It is very smooth and easy to drink.

I'd recommend both.

[Tokitoki]

There's a craft beer festival being held in D.C. this year, Savor, on May 9th that I'm going to try to get tickets to. Found out about this while trying to find a Christmas present for my dad and then lost all information about it again. Wish I had known about it last year when it was in NYC, wouldn't have to spring for a hotel, but it'll be nice to get away and D.C. is a nice city. If anyone's interested check out the site.

They have a lot of craft brewers that show up and they also provide pairings for their beers. You can look at the menu items from last year, they look damn good, and they also have "Salons" which are smaller sessions with different brewers that also offer pairings with rare, special, or select beers.

Here's the site. Has anyone gone to this event before? Trying to get a few friends to go as well.

[wipers]

There's a craft beer festival being held in D.C. this year, Savor, on May 9th that I'm going to try to get tickets to. Found out about this while trying to find a Christmas present for my dad and then lost all information about it again. Wish I had known about it last year when it was in NYC, wouldn't have to spring for a hotel, but it'll be nice to get away and D.C. is a nice city. If anyone's interested check out the site.

They have a lot of craft brewers that show up and they also provide pairings for their beers. You can look at the menu items from last year, they look damn good, and they also have "Salons" which are smaller sessions with different brewers that also offer pairings with rare, special, or select beers.

Here's the site. Has anyone gone to this event before? Trying to get a few friends to go as well.

That sounds pretty amazing. I've never been to a "beer fest" the best I can do is hit up local six pack shops. Maybe someday I'll go to something like this.

[Kalmado]

We have one coming up as well. Michigan has some decent breweries so my buddies and I will probably go. $25 a ticket and you get drink vouchers for essentially 3 1/2 beers.

[Dook]

There's a craft beer festival being held in D.C. this year, Savor, on May 9th that I'm going to try to get tickets to. Found out about this while trying to find a Christmas present for my dad and then lost all information about it again. Wish I had known about it last year when it was in NYC, wouldn't have to spring for a hotel, but it'll be nice to get away and D.C. is a nice city. If anyone's interested check out the site.

They have a lot of craft brewers that show up and they also provide pairings for their beers. You can look at the menu items from last year, they look damn good, and they also have "Salons" which are smaller sessions with different brewers that also offer pairings with rare, special, or select beers.

Here's the site. Has anyone gone to this event before? Trying to get a few friends to go as well.

I went to Savor last year and already booked my hotel for this upcoming, It's a fantastic event as both a beer nerd and a foodie. The brewers are usually in the house and happy to shoot the shit.
The events the week of Savor are usually unbelievably fun too.
If they Tokio blend is like their other Tokio (NeoTokio) its gonna be completely not worth it, Huge soy flavors and general unbalance with the alcohol.

On the subject of high ABV, It really varies on the craft behind it. I've had some 7-8% IPA that were just terribly brewed and came off like drinking rubbing alcohol while I've enjoyed my bottle of Sam Adams Utopias (28%ish) and its just huge flavors and an incredibly minimal alcohol burn for that ABV.

[Day]

Finally!!! It's fucking amazing! Thanks for heads up Pirian! Hard pour like you said... so smooth and creamy. Fuck, hope they keep this in stock at my market. Tempted to go grab the other six pack.

[Pirian]

It really is so good

[Tokitoki]

I went to Savor last year and already booked my hotel for this upcoming, It's a fantastic event as both a beer nerd and a foodie. The brewers are usually in the house and happy to shoot the shit.
The events the week of Savor are usually unbelievably fun too.

I'm going to look into trying to exchange an expiring time share week for a long weekend, but am going to book a hotel barring that.

How's the ticket sales situation? Does it sell out quickly?

[Quixon]

Finally!!! It's fucking amazing! Thanks for heads up Pirian! Hard pour like you said... so smooth and creamy. Fuck, hope they keep this in stock at my market. Tempted to go grab the other six pack.

Nice! I have quite a bit of it in the fridge myself.

[Tokitoki]

Is the Nitro the same as their normal Milk Stout?

Went on BeerAdvocate to check it out and says it is. I remember the other label, and have had that one, but am wondering if they just renamed it or if it's a special brew.

Any ideas?

[Pirian]

It's the same recipe, but one is made bubbly by nitro, and one by carbon. The nitro is superior, by far.

[Tokitoki]

It's the same recipe, but one is made bubbly by nitro, and one by carbon. The nitro is superior, by far.

I see. I had that feeling, but couldn't confirm it. Found a 6 pack at the local grocery and picked it up. Bottles looked a little dusty, but their beer selection prior to their recent, ongoing renovations was crap so I'm guessing it's just from the construction.

Going to crack one open tonight with some pulled pork, mac and cheese, and bean salad.

[Day]

Its so fucking good dude. I got one left. I also picked up some Allagash Black when I got those. I like it a lot too, belgian black stout. That Nitro though, that's one of best beers I've had in a while. Ordered it at this BBQ place Mon. night and douchebag tried to convice me to get a local stout. No thanks homie. I can't stand when they do that shit.

[Pirian]

You live in NC, don't you, Day? We have some pretty good local breweries That said, draft LHNMS is probably my favorite beer, and without exaggerating, I've had hundreds of beers.

[Day]

Yeah I'm in Raleigh, we do have good local breweries no doubt. I was just excited about getting that one with dinner because I'm with you, its fantastic and plus it's new to me. I'm not big on trying new things too much, especially not when it's expensive as fuck and I dont know if I'm going to like it or not. (I was at The Pit, if you're from around here)

[Pirian]

Yeah, I've been to The Pit before. I think I had Foothills Sexual Chocolate on draft from them the last time I was there, which is a seasonal beer, but if you ever see it then it is a very safe order.

The Flying Saucer has LHNMS on draft, and $3 pint nights is great with that

[Clash Perez]

So much hype about this Nitro Milk Stout, and no distributors in California.

[Dook]

I see. I had that feeling, but couldn't confirm it. Found a 6 pack at the local grocery and picked it up. Bottles looked a little dusty, but their beer selection prior to their recent, ongoing renovations was crap so I'm guessing it's just from the construction.

Going to crack one open tonight with some pulled pork, mac and cheese, and bean salad.

Sold out in DC in about 20 minutes last time it was in DC but with the increased ticket prices I can't imagine them flying like that. I usually secure my tickets and seminar as soon as they're available though, The seminars tend to sell out quick.
Left Hand just released their Sawtooth Ale using the same Nitro technology they use for their Milk Stout and its incredibly drinkable.

Allagash Black is an incredibly drinkable beer and if you ever get the chance the Bourbon Barrel aged versioncis out of this world delicious. Incredibly complex

[Kyte]

I hope Total Wine has nitro at my location =/