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Random Beers

BackLoafRiver

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Nov 19, 2008
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Augusta, Maine
Dropped into the local beer bar tonight and had Stillwater Existent - it's a black IPA brewed by Stillwater Artisinal Ales in Maryland.

As you would imagine, beer poured dark with a nice tan head. (poured from tap, not bottle) Unlike other black ipas I have had, this was not as hoppy and quite smooth. Decent amount of carbonation...smelled of coffee and a bit of cocoa. Quite good. I'd drink it again if they still have it on tap.

On Sunday they are doing a "harvest festival" dinner....8 courses WITH beer for $80. All high-end brew and food, all inclusive. I would go if I were going to be in town.
 

ctenidae

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Nov 11, 2004
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Location
SW Connecticut
Dropped into the local beer bar tonight and had Stillwater Existent - it's a black IPA brewed by Stillwater Artisinal Ales in Maryland.

As you would imagine, beer poured dark with a nice tan head. (poured from tap, not bottle) Unlike other black ipas I have had, this was not as hoppy and quite smooth. Decent amount of carbonation...smelled of coffee and a bit of cocoa. Quite good. I'd drink it again if they still have it on tap.

Sounds like a porter.
 

drjeff

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Jan 18, 2006
Messages
19,536
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Brooklyn, CT
TERRIBLE BEER NEWS :( Saw in a tweet that one The Alchemist WON'T be reopening after being flooded out by Irene -that stinks!
 

ctenidae

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Nov 11, 2004
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SW Connecticut
Ommegang Aphrodite- tasty, like a lambic but not so sour or as tart. Raspberry and pear juice in a Belgian with grains of paradise.
 

ctenidae

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SW Connecticut
Having a Long Trail Ale after stacking a cord of wood. Why does beer taste so good after manual labor?

It's pretty good before and during, too, truth be told.
But there is something special about the reward beer. Tastes like victory!
 

kickstand

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Joined
May 18, 2005
Messages
947
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Location
Wakefield, MA
Iron Hill Brewery's porter - yummy. They're releasing a vanilla porter tomorrow, but I won't be around long enough to fill the growler.
 

marcski

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Jan 10, 2005
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Westchester County, NY and a Mountain near you!
I am thoroughly enjoying a growler of fresh Racer X from Bear Republic.

A nice one indeed...much more well rounded than the Ithaca Beer Co.'s Flower Power, the last IPA I had. That was all Hop. No finish as my buddy described it. Plus, IMO beer always tastes better fresh off the Tap.
 

ctenidae

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Nov 11, 2004
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SW Connecticut
Had a Sam Adams Red Tasman IPA. Tasty beer, not too hoppy as is so often teh wont of American IPAs. Hops were well ballanced by a little extra malt as would be expected from a red. Totally a session beer, if you could find enough to make up a session.

Also had a Dogfish Head My Antonia pilsner. Really tasty. A little hoppier than I expected, but wasn't over-carbonated like many pilsners, and didn't give me teh beer bloat I generally fear from pilsners. Classic tasty DFH brew.

Also picked up a Namaste and a Hellhound On My Ale from DFH, and a Sam Adams Griffin's Bow barleywine.

Stew Leonard's beer store in Norwalk, for the win!
 

soposkier

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Jan 17, 2010
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Had Jack Abbys "Hoponius Union" this weekend. It is an india pale lager as opposed to a traditional IPA. Very interesting in a goodway. Had the lighter feel of a lager but still plenty of the hops and bitterness associated with an IPA. Now i need to start trying more of their beers, did not realize they were out of Framingham.
 

Sky

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Apr 15, 2005
Messages
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Location
South Central Massachusetts
My son recently moved to Toronto. He came home for Christmas and brought his new favorite beer...which is now one of MY favorites.

Creemore Springs Pilsner. Not enough "O"s in smooth! When I want to switch it up from Sam or Sierra Nevada....I used to go to Stella. But this stuff is far and away a better beer.

I've also been turned on to Lagunitas (sp?) My local liquor store carries it and when they were out of Dogfish Head 60....the lady recommended it, saying they can't keep it on the shelf.

In a side-by-side taste test, my son and I agree...the Lagunitas is a tad better.

:> I'll edit this post the next time I buy that beer to ensure proper spelling.
 

ctenidae

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Nov 11, 2004
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SW Connecticut
Had the Dogfish Head Hellhound. 1st "disappointing" beer I've had from them. I didn't read the label clearly, and when I tasted it I thought it was a little too hoppy. Then I read the front label that mentions lemon, and thought "Hmm, don't taste the lemon." Then I finished the beer, and read the label in hearnest- supposed to be super hoppy (100 IBUs), high alcohol (10.0%), but didn't quite get there, I thought.

Still, a tasty beer, just not what I expected (after the fact). Not remarkable in any meaningful way, regardless of expectaitons.
 

TobySki

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Jan 9, 2012
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11
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Location
Seacoast NH
Saranac Chocolate Lager...found it in the "12 beers of winter" mix pack at Market Baskets. Very tasty!
 

ctenidae

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Nov 11, 2004
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Location
SW Connecticut
Trader Joes 2011 Vintage Ale- very tasty. CLearly a Unibroue product with all the tastiness that entials. Pours darker than it drinks, nice crisp flavor with just a touch of malt balance. Lovely, as always. "Best By" date is December 2016!
 

ctenidae

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SW Connecticut
Grab a few of those and age 'em

The rest of the case is in the basement. I've got 1 2009 and 2 2010s down there, too.
Some people have a wine cellar, I have a beer cellar. Only like 4 different beers down there, but hey, it's a start.
 
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