Progressive Boink

[Jim]

Tried two brews for the first time tonight.

First was Moloko Milk Stout by Three Floyd's. FFF continues to make the best beer in Indiana, and their sweet stout is no exception. The best way to describe the shit is decadent. It's rich and delicious. Perfect for fall weather.

The other was Dogfish Head Burton Baton. It's a blend of an oak-aged imperial IPA (that isn't 90 Minute) and 90 Minute. It's really fucking good, though I still think I like 90 Minute just a little bit more since it's practically perfect. Justin, you should give it a whirl if you haven't already.

[sunrisensunrise]

Filled a growler of Big Eye IPA from Ballast Point last weekend. Gonna head up to Stone Brewery to have some Ruination IPA soon because it tastes so much better off draught than out of a bottle.

[Jim]

Fresh Stone beers on draft. I am very jealous.

[Jim]

Two things:

1. If you have access to Sierra Nevada Bigfoot (and you should), buy a couple six packs. So good.
2. If you have access to Bell's Hopslam on draft, you're a lucky son of a bitch. It is the best draft beer I've ever had.

[Just!n]

What's Bigfoot comparable to? I've been digging Celebration Ale recently and wouldn't mind trying another SN brew.

[Jim]

Imagine taking a Celebration Ale, pumping it full of more hops and then making it malty as hell to boot. Also imagine that it's got as much body to it as a nice, thick stout.

[Randy]

sam noble pils is pretty good

[Jim]

Indeed it is.

[Ed]

Made my way to Jungle Jim's in Cincy last week ( Protip: Only come in with whatever money yer cool with spending, cuz me and my stepdad spent like 500 bucks there and felt bad about it ). It's a cool place, a real city-state with different sections for items and also international sections, all of which contain amazing food. Also the best deli of all time.

But their beer section. HOLY FUCK THE BEER SECTION. Seperated by type and then into region, with guys who I can only define as "Beer Sommeliers" who walk around and suggest things to people. I heard a woman ask one of these guys "Where are the beers produced in Washington State?" and he was all just "Oh, right over here." It was heaven.

I scored ( other than great food and cheeses and shit ) Trois Pistoles, Left hand Brewing Widdershins, Double Bastard, Rogue Chipotle Ale, Het Anker Gouden Carlous Carlous d'Or ( Cuvee van de Kaizer ), and an Orval

Trois is amazing, Widdershins is a beer I would marry( though technically a barleywine, which I'm finding I have a strange affinity for ), Double Bastard is just how you'd imagine it, Chipotle Ale was something I might really enjoy with some Tamales or something. The Gouden Carlous is this beer that they only make 500 bottles of for the birthday of King Charles V, it's this really sweet tasting Belgian Strong Style, I'm actually pretty positive Jim would hate it ( real brown sugary, some hints of raisins ), which is too bad cuz it's one of the better brews I've had in a while.

I was wildly underwhelmed by the Orval. Maybe I dont have a taste for Trappists, maybe I got a bad bottle, I dunno. What I am entirely sure of is that for the cost and all of the hype it gets laid upon it, I was sure it would be some alpha and omega shit. It wasnt. I didnt like the taste of it, it seemed wildly simplistic ( then again monks make it, so ). Are there better trappists I should be trying?

I also grabbed myself a pack of Left Hand's Fade to Black today, I'll let you know how those go a little later.

[Jim]

I love Belgian strong dark ales. Why would I hate one that's supposed to be amazing?

I'm gonna be trying Widdershins as soon as we get it in. I'm on a seriously barleywine kick right now (there's no technically about it -- by the way -- it's very much beer). I'm drinking a Hair of the Dog Fred right now. It's fucking odd. It's definitely more like an English barleywine (really sweet and malty with hops being really light). The problem I'm having with it is that it has practically no carbonation.

I think I'll need a Bigfoot to get my barleywine fix taken care of.

Orval kinda let me down when I had it too.

Oh, and Fade to Black is super tasty.

[Ed]

Oh, so you've come around on them, then? I seem to recall like 8 months ago you werent a huge fan when we were talking on AIM, but I might be confusing you with one of my non-forum beer buddies.

If you are on a barleywine kick, that Widdershins will make your knees buckle. Did you ever get around to finding/trying the BBC Barleywine?

[Randy]

Went to the only Boston's in Fort Worth that has Smithwick's on draft and they don't have Smithwick's anymore. OR GUINNESS. God. I had to settle for a delicious Blue Moon, but still. Also they said the closest thing they have to Smithwick's was a Killian's, to which I lol'ed.

[Jim]

Oh, so you've come around on them, then? I seem to recall like 8 months ago you werent a huge fan when we were talking on AIM, but I might be confusing you with one of my non-forum beer buddies.

If you are on a barleywine kick, that Widdershins will make your knees buckle. Did you ever get around to finding/trying the BBC Barleywine?

I've never disliked Belgian strong darks. There's not a style of Belgian beer that I haven't loved from the start. It's English barleywines (and old ales) that I don't like. From what I tell, we don't get BBC Barleywine here. I just picked out a couple of their 750 mls for the store along with 28 other new singles. Heine Bros. Coffee Stout and maybe their imperial IPA. Can't quite remember.

[Jim]

I got to try a bottle of Hoppin' Frog's Barrel Aged BORIS the Crusher. It's their imperial oatmeal stout aged in bourbon barrels. It is $16.99 for a 22 ozer. It's gottdamn delicious and completely worth that price.

I also had Boulevard's Long Strange Tripel and Mikkeller's Beer Geek Breakfast. Both are very good. Especially the Boulevard. Later tonight I'm gonna be drinking Hitachino Nest XH, a Japanese-made American strong ale aged in sake casks. Fuck yes.

[Jim]

Founder's Kentucky Breakfast Stout came in today. We only managed to get one case. I bought a four pack and it is glorious. I think I like BORIS more. Difference is, I've got three more bottles and all the time in the world to see how they change if you age them. While I didn't pay in full, the asking price on this shit is $23.99 a four pack.