Random Beers

[bigbog]

Well I guess this has some potential for "News of the Weird". My first Guiness last week:roll:....really liked it.

 

[drjeff]

Well I guess this has some potential for "News of the Weird". My first Guiness last week:roll:....really liked it.

Mmmm, Guinness! Easily one of my all time favorites!

 

[drjeff]

Magic Hat Elder Betty - their special summer offering this year -- labeled as a Weisse Beer flavored without Blueberries with a 5.5% ABV - Pours as a medium amber, clear beer with a mild amount of head - the aroma definately is of blueberries - first taste is of mild hops that for me atleast was less than the amber color had me thinking it would be and the hops flavor lingered for a little bit before the blueberry flavor/sweetness kicked in at the finish. All in all a solid summer offering from Magic Hat that had me quite happy while sitting in my chairlift bench seat on my patio on a summer evening! :beer:

 

[RootDKJ]

A little frustrated. Almost all the beer I made is somewhat flat. I'm not sure if I did something wrong? Alternatively I have only tried the grolsch style bottle and I haven't changed the rubber stoppers on them and this is the 4th batch. Are they shot by now? Maybe it just isn't sealing and letting out the carbonation.

What did you try to brew? I've got my first homebrew fermenting. Bottling next weekend.

 

[HD333]

Magic Hat Elder Betty - their special summer offering this year -- labeled as a Weisse Beer flavored without Blueberries with a 5.5% ABV - Pours as a medium amber, clear beer with a mild amount of head - the aroma definately is of blueberries - first taste is of mild hops that for me atleast was less than the amber color had me thinking it would be and the hops flavor lingered for a little bit before the blueberry flavor/sweetness kicked in at the finish. All in all a solid summer offering from Magic Hat that had me quite happy while sitting in my chairlift bench seat on my patio on a summer evening! :beer:

Dam! I passed on that this weekend for a camping trip. Sounds like I should have rolled the dice. Went with Harpoon Summer and Long Trail in cans so all was not lost.

Enjoyed a can of Harpoon at the summit of Gunstock after a nice hike (found some potential stashes on the way up, if I can remember the entrances come winter)

 

[jaja111]

Just spent a week on Mount Desert Island in Maine. Found a new favorite in Peak Brewing's 12 pack sampler. I especially liked their summer ale which resembled a hop tea lawnmower beer, full of Amarillos. This excellent Portland beer was not to be replaced until the end of the week, leaving poor substitutes that were still new to me. Geary's - I'll pass. Its not bad, but not at all good either. A 12 pack of their "pale ale" should have had the quotation marks around "pale ale". Shipyard brewing - garbage. All of its brews taste like they have corn syrup in them. Its sad to see more bad micro / macro brews being made out there.

Honorable mention for Madison Brewing Co.'s Pale Ale in Bennington, VT on the way home. Wicked hoppy goodness closer to an IPA than a straight pale, but dryhopped with Cascades for a good hit of citrus flowers. Bit too much body though, maybe maltodextrin?

 

[soposkier]

Just spent a week on Mount Desert Island in Maine. Found a new favorite in Peak Brewing's 12 pack sampler. I especially liked their summer ale which resembled a hop tea lawnmower beer, full of Amarillos. This excellent Portland beer was not to be replaced until the end of the week, leaving poor substitutes that were still new to me. Geary's - I'll pass. Its not bad, but not at all good either. A 12 pack of their "pale ale" should have had the quotation marks around "pale ale". Shipyard brewing - garbage. All of its brews taste like they have corn syrup in them. Its sad to see more bad micro / macro brews being made out there.

Honorable mention for Madison Brewing Co.'s Pale Ale in Bennington, VT on the way home. Wicked hoppy goodness closer to an IPA than a straight pale, but dryhopped with Cascades for a good hit of citrus flowers. Bit too much body though, maybe maltodextrin?

Gearys and Shipyard both are both ringwood style breweries, which definitely do produce a different tasting beer. Id agree though that some of shipyards stuff is very mediocore, although Ill take an Old Thumper anyday. Id give Gearys HSA and London Porter a second shot though (if you didnt have them already), those two beers might change your opinion.

 

[ctenidae]

Cat Cora pale ale, made by Sierra Nevada- pretty tasty, as would be expected from Sierra Nevada.

 

[marcski]

The LBS had a keg of the Deviant Dale's. Definitely one of my top 3 IPA's. So, I picked up 2 growler's of it. A 64 z and a 32 z. Also picked up a 32 of the Ithica Brewing Co. Flower Power and a 32 of the He-brew Hop Manna.

I also picked up a 6-pack of the Laguinitas Maximus, which is a delicious IPA. But, I also picked up a 4-pack of the Sierra Nevada Hoptimun. Which, I have to say it really, really good. They brand it "The ultimate whole cone hop experience.". And I have to say, iy's awesome. Has a really good balance. Strong hops up front with a really nice malty finish.

These angus sirloin and beef short rib sliders will help get another coupe down!

 

[Nick]

What did you try to brew? I've got my first homebrew fermenting. Bottling next weekend.

View attachment 6237

It was an Alt Bier. Actually I think I just didn't let it ferment long enough. The bottles I have been opening recently have all been delicious

 

[marcski]

Just had a pint from a growler of Spider Bite Eight Legged Rye IPA. It was/is my first foray into the uber hip Rye IPA genre. It had a medium hoppy nose with some light hints of citrus. Slightly cloudy amber in color. So, for my first Rye IPA. I enjoyed it, it is definitely drier than a regular IPA, but quite drinkable.

I am javing a hard time drinking anything but the Deviant Dale's these days.

I did have 2 IPA's last night at the local tavern, both of which I never had before, the 21st Amendment Brew Free Or Die and the great Divide Titan. They were both quite good but the 21st Amendment was very good. Nicely balanced hop upfront with a mapty finish. Not quite a deviant or the heady tipper. But definitely very tasty.

 

[ctenidae]

Sitting at Lamberts BBQ in Austin (so may be a few random beers...)

Alaskan Brewing Witbeer- nice light wit. Not too wheaty, kind of like a kolsch wheat mix. Unobtrusive get tasty. Good hot weather thirst quencher.

Circle A Rye IPA- not excessively hippy, more grapefruit and orange than pine tar. Sofar,so good

Now, about to tuck into some deviled eggsand wild boar ribs. Yes sir.

 

[marcski]

Despite not posting in this thread for sometime....I have still been enjoying some tasty new beers.

Rushing Duck, is a new brewery in Chester, NY in Orange County. A month or 2 back I had their Pale Ale, which was quite nice and it was my introduction to the brewery. Last week, my LBS, had his double IPA, called the Rushing Duck War Elephant. It is delicious. 8.7% for $12.99 for a 64 oz. growler or $6.99 for a 32 oz. one, is IMHO, one of the best bargains out there.

The War Elephant is really delicious. Pours a nice, rich amber in color with a light wheat colored head. Strong citrus bouquet, with a pronounced hop presence with just the right amount of malty sweetness to finish and balance out the high alcohol content to make this an extremely drinkable and tasty beer. It is also, IMHO, a perfect example of a Double IPA.

 

[HD333]

Bro inlaw brought me some Switchback Ale in 22oz bottles this weekend. Forgot how much I liked that stuff. Glad to see it available in bottles, now I just need to see if I can get it in MA.

Also had a Long Trail Pumkin this weekend, not bad. It is in their Survival Pack along with Harvest, IPA, and the old standby.

 

[kickstand]

Bro inlaw brought me some Switchback Ale in 22oz bottles this weekend. Forgot how much I liked that stuff. Glad to see it available in bottles, now I just need to see if I can get it in MA.

Also had a Long Trail Pumkin this weekend, not bad. It is in their Survival Pack along with Harvest, IPA, and the old standby.

The Switchback bombers are only available in VT.

I just had one of the Long Trail Imperial Pumpkin Ale bombers. I'm not big on pumpkin beers but it was pretty tasty.

 

[soposkier]

Had Jack Abby Kiwi Rising the other night, I have seen this beer getting a ton of hype recently. I must say I was underwhelmed. I love the hoponious union (an Indian Pale Lager, IPL), but the Kiwi Rising did not do it for me. Before that I did drink a Maine Beer Lunch IPA (which might be my favorite IPA), so maybe my expectations were just too high for the Kiwi Rising. Anyone else have any of Jack Abby stuff?

 

[kickstand]

Had Jack Abby Kiwi Rising the other night, I have seen this beer getting a ton of hype recently. I must say I was underwhelmed. I love the hoponious union (an Indian Pale Lager, IPL), but the Kiwi Rising did not do it for me. Before that I did drink a Maine Beer Lunch IPA (which might be my favorite IPA), so maybe my expectations were just too high for the Kiwi Rising. Anyone else have any of Jack Abby stuff?

I've had a few - Hoponius, Copper Legend, their session lager (don't remember the name). I was curious to try the Kiwi Rising for the same reasons as you, but the description on the BA tag at the packie didn't sound too appealing. I do want to try that smoked lager they have (can't recall the name). A guy I know drinks their stuff all the time and he was raving about the Saxonator. It's a double boch. I'm not a big boch guy, but I'd try either a sample on tap or maybe a 22, if they bottle it that way.

 

[SKIQUATTRO]

wish i could venture into the 'random beers' but most unfiltered brews trigger migranes so i have to be careful with the brew choices....

 

[marcski]

Had Jack Abby Kiwi Rising the other night, I have seen this beer getting a ton of hype recently. I must say I was underwhelmed. I love the hoponious union (an Indian Pale Lager, IPL), but the Kiwi Rising did not do it for me. Before that I did drink a Maine Beer Lunch IPA (which might be my favorite IPA), so maybe my expectations were just too high for the Kiwi Rising. Anyone else have any of Jack Abby stuff?

Maine Beer Co.'s Lunch IPA is delicious. I've had few growlers (one more left in the fridge) of the Racer X, which is around this year in 22 oz bottles or on drought if you can find it. Also, a new, small Chester, NY (Orange County) brewery called Rushing Duck is making some really tasty brews. I had their Pale Ale but IMHO, the War Elephant, a DIPA, is just outstanding. 8.7% of Hoppy yumminess.

I've also really been enjoying the Victory Beer Co., Hop Wallop. Also a very good DIPA.

 

[HD333]

Had Jack Abby Kiwi Rising the other night, I have seen this beer getting a ton of hype recently. I must say I was underwhelmed. I love the hoponious union (an Indian Pale Lager, IPL), but the Kiwi Rising did not do it for me. Before that I did drink a Maine Beer Lunch IPA (which might be my favorite IPA), so maybe my expectations were just too high for the Kiwi Rising. Anyone else have any of Jack Abby stuff?

I am becoming a fan of Jack's Abbey, I have had their Copper Legend (Oktoberfest) and the IPL, both were good. They had a great wheat beer this summer really drinkable. Their standard larger is also a great session beer. If you are ever out in the Framingham area I suggest hitting the brewery, it is a small place and they do free samples. They sell growlers and some bottles.