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Docjowles posted:True story: right before I ran into you at Funkwerks the assistant brewer was talking about Crooked Stave's stuff and described brett as contributing "barnyard" and "horse blanket" character I, finally, will bite, and ask what I know a number of people want to ask but won't. I didn't grow up on a farm or around a barn or stable or Mr. Hands. What the gently caress does a horse blanket smell like? And please don't say Band-Aids or something obtuse like that, give me something an ol' fashioned city boy would know.
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Mar 3, 2012 02:35
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CalvinDooglas posted:if people outside of a reasonable driving distance from San Diego So, most San Diegans? I'm lucky in that I can make a round trip growler fill run to Alpine and back in 55 minutes. That same trip's about two and a quarter, two and a half hours for someone who lives, say, by the beach, making their concept of 'locals' pretty silly.
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Mar 4, 2012 18:32
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Kudosx posted:One reason I'm glad I don't live in California: traffic. It's not traffic, it's distance, which makes it 55 minutes. Alpine's a loving JAUNT, which was my point, that if they're prioritizing selling beer to 'locals' then their customer base will remain ridiculously small because nobody really lives out there. Angry Grimace posted:It's 73 degrees outside without a cloud in the sky and it's a 5 minute drive to Alesmith, Green Flash and Ballast Point. Helluva counterpoint.
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Mar 4, 2012 21:59
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bartolimu posted:I liked Brunch Weasel quite a lot as well. The whole weasel poo poo coffee thing is loving retarded, but Mikkeller at least made a good coffee stout out of overhyped poo poo coffee. I've never had Kopi Luwak coffee, but Alesmith's Speedway variant using those beans is ridiculous, probably one of my three favorite beers ever. I know they can make great work of beans that haven't traveled through the digestive system of a rodent, but the fact still remains that their best work with coffee has been with the so-called world's greatest beans.
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Mar 5, 2012 18:37
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Munkaboo posted:Interesting, the tour guide said we should go there since they (the tour company) do unlimited tastings. Alpine is REALLY out in the middle of nowhere. LA/Port isn't exactly city center, but compartively speaking it's not too bad. Alpine's extremely small (I don't think they let parties bigger than six in their pub) and I can't imagine you'd leave there thinking "hey I'm really glad we made the trip out here." Stone's grounds are very pretty, and it's a nice building on the whole - if you can work that one in I'd do it. LA/Port, I've done that tour and it's nothing special at all, you'll be in a warehouse district with the warehouse door rolled up and a dank tasting bar that on weekends gets cramped. Yes, beer selection is decent, but I'm not sure how much value there is in that situation. Perhaps they've improved the tour, but last time around I was nonplussed. Drunk off their great tap selection, but nonplussed. Personally, if I had a friend coming to town and they said "I want to go to 2-3 places in 6 hours" I'd go to Stone first, then come back down to central SD (so, Alesmith, Hess, Green Flash, or Ballast Point), then if you're looking to conclude at one of the Pizza Ports, the OB Pizza Port makes the most geographic sense. Minor bonus points, there's a great bottle shop in OB, Olive Tree Market, which if you're looking to check out is very close by.
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Mar 6, 2012 02:18
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Best canned IPA: I don't think they distribute very widely but drink it if you see it.
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Mar 7, 2012 06:08
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Tigren posted:Have you had their other offerings? Their stout is fantastic and the lager ain't half bad. I don't live in the area so I usually only have access to their stuff for a week a year at the most. I've had the Coffee Girl stout but still haven't had Cavatica. They did a Triple called Hellcat which was quite good too. Too bad more people don't have a chance to try their stuff - it definitely stands up to some of the more acclaimed breweries.
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Mar 7, 2012 16:17
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Angry Grimace posted:Because it's just being a wasteful little brat to pour out $40 of anything because it "doesn't taste good enough." He didn't say it 'doesn't taste good enough,' he said he didn't like the taste of it. If I popped a beer that tasted like fish and burnt tires, I wouldn't slam it, even if it cost $40. The debatable thing here is paying $40 for a bottle of beer, let's be fair here.
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Mar 7, 2012 22:59
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LeeMajors posted:http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/11031/75365 Redeem your opinions on that brewery by checking out their Hel & Verdoemenis, it's a uniquely excellent RIS. Pricy for the size, but very good nevertheless. FiftyFifty's Elijah Craig variants, which one would cost $33? I didn't read up on the bottle at the store I was at (SD goons: K&B Wine Cellar in Del Cerro), but I didn't realize there were so many different types. While I'm sure it'd be good, I refuse to pay that much for a beer (sorry Midorka). Working on Jester King's Thrash Farmhouse Ale. A little overly yeasty in the back of the throat, fairly dry, though I can't complain about the well-rounded taste. There's others I think are better in this arena, but I'm glad I tried it. Quite glad Jester King's made it to the Golden State - their bottles are informative and awesome on the whole, the prices are reasonable, and they're coming up with some original recipes that give me hope their best is still to come. I mean, what other craft brewery in the US is producing a sub-3% abv farmhouse ale? Brilliant for Texas and other places that get hot as gently caress in the summer.
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Mar 9, 2012 04:54
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Midorka posted:Coming soon! I'm going to pick up a St. Bernadus ABT 12 and a Rochefort 10 and have a fun night when I get the West 12. Do we have dates yet for this?
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Mar 11, 2012 17:53
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Angry Grimace posted:In San Diego news, Hess Brewing, a "nanobrewery" that operates out of a tiny, garage like space, is moving to North Park and starting a canning operation. We're going to have two canned craft beer places after Pizza Port opens its cannery next year. Also, about 4 new breweries opened this month. You would think you'd hit market saturation at some point. This list is ridiculous: http://www.westcoastersd.com/sd-brewing-industry-watch-2012/ Also, I REALLY want to try Wet 'N Reckless Brewing, sounds like a total "A Random Dude That Makes & Sells Beer" sorta place and he's got some good variety on tap. Market saturation will hopefully be tempered by the continued rise in beer tourism...it's crazy how that's becoming the next big chic reason to travel that all the DINKs seem to be doing. Of course, it doesn't matter if they don't crank out good beers, and with more breweries there'll also be an increase in the number of inevitably mediocre places looking to capitalize off the craft beer explosion.
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Mar 15, 2012 06:38
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Angry Grimace posted:It's totally true that we have plenty of wannabees that don't produce anything of note, like Mission Brewery, which only exists so some guy can relive his fantasy of owning the old pre-prohibition Mission Brewery. I've never consumed anything from Mission Brewery. That's probably not fair to their lineup, but I have to go off recommendations and reviews and when they hit solid 3.7s on BA or RB I'm not opening my wallet for that. Lightning's got a Biere de Garde (they call it an imperial farmhouse ale), Electrostatic Ale, which is loving great to my palate. Even among their small lineup, it seems many places don't stock that beer, but seem to have the rest of their stuff. If I could replicate that beer on my own I'd be a happy man. Bubbly, earthy, yeasty, grassy, just so much going on. Bine & Vine's got it for $4.50 right now I think, and I'm dumb for not stocking up at that price. Iron Fist hasn't appealed at all to me. Doesn't help that they tried to roll out a $25 'limited' bottle that you can still find everywhere in town (again, the $25 bomber price isn't helping), but after hearing nothing tremendously shining about their operations or quality I haven't bothered. And yeah, effort to get there has to factor into the equation too. When Hess makes a beer worth checking out, let me know...they advertise a lot on local beer sites/magazines but I don't think I've read anyone talking about 'that delicious beer they had at Hess.'
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Mar 15, 2012 16:10
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People seem to be shitcanning wine fridges left right and center on craigslist. I got one that was about 3 years old, originally had a $400 MSRP, for $50 last year. Between the racks and the bottom-most part which allows for a number of upright bottles, I can fit about 35-40 beers inside it. /cue 'NEVER LAY YOUR BEERS DOWN THEY'RE NOT MEANT TO BE LAID DOWN' talk...
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Mar 16, 2012 23:18
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New to my palate tonight is Midnight Sun's Monk's Mistress, a BSDA that smells like a quad (I know they're close anyway but there's a difference). Tastes a little like the last sips of a bottle-conditioned beer, yeast and all. Has an ashy, smoky finish as well and while the dark fruits could be a little more pronounced it's not overly sweet either. Short of the greats, but Midnight Sun is cranking out some rad beers right now and this is quite enjoyable.
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Mar 17, 2012 02:38
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Nothing says Irish like a...Saison? The wife and I hit up a casino buffet and were home by 5:30. We life an exciting life. Stillwater's Cellar Door saison in the glass tonight. VERY similar to Lost Abbey's Red Barn. Massive head, looks piss-beer gold (that should be a crayon color), has a robust musty smell with an awesome balance of grassy and citrusy freshness (coming from white sage and Citra), and finishes clean - a bit of a change of pace from other American saisons which seem by default to put up a brett/yeasty finish in the rear of the tongue. It's almost unfortunate it's so close to Red Barn, as I can get Red Barn for 50% less than Cellar Door, but this was my first foray into Stillwater's catalog and I'll be trying their other offerings soon. Also, last night was time for Anchorage Brewing Company's Love Buzz saison. What a weird loving beer. It punched me in the throat on first pop with a blast of rose hips. I have bad associations with rose scents due to this terrible rose-scented perfume my grandma used to have and used as an air freshener when I was a little kid. Nevertheless, it grew on me gradually, and by the end it fell into the 'I might not get this again but I'm very glad I tried it' category. It's a little pricey, but it's beers like this which tend to challenge what we think we like and/or expect in certain styles and lead to more creativity from talented brewers. Recommended.
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Mar 18, 2012 07:31
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Ubik posted:I nearly took my nose off with a Lost Abbey Ten Commandments once. You found the highly-carbonated Lost Abbey beer! That's like getting a golden ticket, congrats. We have a high ceiling with a skylight in the kitchen, perfect for aiming the bottle at the skylight. Only twice have I been able to hit the skylight with the cork. One was a St. Bernardus 12, the other was what turned out to be an infected Trois Pistoles that was actually magically funky and delicious. It was the first time I'd had that beer, and in a weird twist I've been continually let down by it since it lacks the sour pucker twang of the infected bottle.
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Mar 19, 2012 19:50
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This is why I now open all cork/cage beers over the sink, pointing away from me.
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So my sister in law just moved from Minnesota to Winooski, Vermont, and happened to pick an apartment about a tenth of a mile from what's apparently an awesome bottle shop. On the off chance there's some VT goons reading this, I have to ask, what sorts of great brews should I tell her to grab & send to me? Basically, I'm looking for anything rad I can't get out here in SoCal that might be unique or very localized to Vermont...does Hill Farmstead distribute to bottle shops? I know there's some quality beers made in the area but don't know where it goes.
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Mar 23, 2012 04:21
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Thought I'd try Ruthless Rye tonight. It smells like a fart, not sulphury, just a straight fart. Tastes decent enough though, no real complaints there, however I'd turn to Hop Rod Rye 100% of the time if I wanted a beer like this in the future. And, not that it matters, but the bottle art is pretty excellent for my tastes.
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Mar 23, 2012 06:14
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deadwing posted:Heady Topper. All of the Heady Topper. They should also get some Maine Brewing Company, and maybe a bit of Hill Farmstead. They distribute, but it's not steady from what I understand. Is Heady Topper readily distributed? I just assumed it was hard to find given the haves/wants on BA. Any other recommendations are welcome...I won't get to go there for a few months at the least but the quality per capita seems fantastic.
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Mar 23, 2012 06:16
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Kudosx posted:I had heard that OG isn't that great when it's fresh Old Guardian's a little different this year than the 2010 version. Remember, the even years for OG are the "default" recipe and the odd years are the "Belgo" versions - while I've never had a clear answer on what that means to Stone (pretty sure it's just a yeast thing), I'm quite partial to the odd years, though the 2012 "default" recipe was tweaked from the 2010 version and I think they've made some nice changes. I actually LOVE drinking b'wines in the summer, and it's tasting just fine to me right now. Also, it seems to be one of the slowest-moving beers in their lineup...compared to their IRS or other Stone seasonals, it lasts the longest in stores and frequently gets marked down, making it even harder to not stock up for the whole year.
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Mar 23, 2012 15:54
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crazyfish posted:Speaking of which, when does Stone IRS typically get released? It's one of my favorite imperial stouts, especially after having the 2007 vintage on tap a couple months ago. 4/20 is when they're tapping it at the brewery & retail shop, and looking through their calendar of events it's the first time it appears on the schedule in any way so I'm gonna guess right around then. The bottle release should be concurrent with the tap premiere if history/other beers are any indication.
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Mar 23, 2012 18:06
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Wamsutta posted:that Belgo anise poo poo is disgusting. I've said it before and I'll say it again, I think I'm the only person who actually likes (loves) that beer. They had it available for growler fills about a month ago and I filled a pair of em. NO REGRETS
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Mar 23, 2012 21:20
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lazerwolf posted:If anyone goes to Burlington Vermont I highly recommend going to the farmhouse tap and grill. Amazing beer selections, they even have an extensive cellar collection. I had hill farmstead society & solitude #3 dipa and stillwater Bordeaux barrel aged autumnal which is their amber farmhouse. Both amazing beers I'll add it to my list, thanks!
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Mar 25, 2012 02:15
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Chill_Bebop posted:Smokin' Beaver I haven't been able to bring myself to go there based on the name alone. Makes me picture burnouts from high school gathering up some inheritance money and opening up a head shop in a strip mall, and getting super high before picking a name. They seem to be pushing a bunch of Blichmann stuff on Craigslist though, so I'm sure they have decent quality stuff. I'm fortunate in that I have a good spot a few miles away, but I'll keep them in mind.
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Mar 26, 2012 05:59
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ShaneB posted:Yeah, it wasn't something I wanted to do but personal circumstances made the choice be between moving out of an apartment I just moved into like 2 months ago, or get a roommate and see how that worked out.... Terrible justification, but try to think of it like this... You had to scramble financially, in the form of getting a roommate. Alternatively, you theoretically would have had to sell some possession or something along those lines, in order to make ends meet. Deceive yourself (so we don't have another forums user committing a homicide) into thinking you sold that beer to pay rent, and the guy is just free company. Or, if nothing else, force his rear end to stand in line for you at the next few rare beer releases and pay for the haul.
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Mar 28, 2012 18:33
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This encapsulates why, in my single days, I told myself I'd rather sell my possessions, plasma, or get in the weed business than take on a roommate. Also, another vote for the 'he knew what he was doing' theory...nobody dives into a stash of out-of-the-way beer unless they know that the good stuff doesn't reside in the fridge for extended periods of time, but instead sits in a cool dark place that isn't the kitchen.
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Mar 28, 2012 21:24
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Huge_Midget posted:Is this years Hoptimum drinkable? Last year being the premiere for it, it was a boozy, bitter mess. As one goon once said about drinking unbalanced IPAs, it "was like being throat hosed by an ethanol-soaked hop dildo". I had it on tap last....Thursday? I think? Anyway, it was a little hard to remember every bit from the one bottle I had last year but it struck me as actually being a little sweeter this year, as if it'd been hit with a decent load of honey. It wasn't a malty sweetness, nothing that seemed to contribute to the boozy nose. It's still a very unique IIPA, and while I love the unbalanced IPAs I actually found it to be a punch from both ends of the spectrum that doesn't seem off on either side. I'm well-stocked on IPAs right now but as soon as my supply runs dry it's the next thing on my list to load up on.
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Apr 3, 2012 00:04
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Midorka posted:
I completely agree with rage-saq. Maharaja has this cough syrupy profile to it that to me has no place in an IPA. Hair of the Dog's beers all have that similar 'note' to them too, despite covering plenty of different styles. I can't explain it much more than that, I guess it's my 'hop X tastes like [weird flavor]'.
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Apr 3, 2012 16:44
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I can't remember if we've discussed Green Flash's Palate Wrecker (aka Hamilton's Ale) in this thread yet... It's a triple IPA, totally unbalanced and really really loving delicious. Fruity (pineapple, grapefruit, mango, orange) and quite dry, with an awesome aftertaste that's pure yeast. A little sticky sweet, but given how hoppy it is that's not exactly unwelcome. They're distributing in 4-packs for around $10-12...very highly recommended if you see it.
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Apr 4, 2012 04:32
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MalleusDei posted:Rogue makes it too easy to trash them: Haha, my first thought was "hrm, Voodoo's bacon maple doughnut bar is underwhelming, bet this will suck too." Unlike other beers, it's real easy to see how few people are buying this at any store I go to. I was hoping at first glance it was going to be a breast cancer charity-related beer but after reading the links on this page I suppose that would be too much to ask of Rogue.
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Apr 10, 2012 18:39
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Docjowles posted:I have to believe that was intended to be a joke, right? It's not funny, but that's all I can come up with besides "wow what a bunch of shitheads". It wouldn't be the first time I've seen really dumb crap on a job description or company website. Not to get completely offtopic but there are some real gems that get posted in the SH/SC subforum. It's the Stone 'don't drink fizzy yellow beer' mantra, but instead of strictly speaking about the quality of their beer it's about the ignorance of their staff. Tomayto, tomahto.
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Apr 10, 2012 19:49
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http://beerstreetjournal.com/goose-island-brewings-bourbon-county-to-be-year-round/ BCBS. Year round. As someone who had one bottle, once, I'm very happy about this news.
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Apr 16, 2012 22:21
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funkybottoms posted:just drank an 8-Wired iStout and that is a goddamn good beer, a rich, creamy stout with loads of chocolate and coffee flavors and a nice, slightly bitter hop finish. 10%, but practically chuggable. I keep seeing their beers, they brew a bunch of styles I really like but I haven't heard any positive reviews until now. Just saw the beer you tried for the first time tonight, I literally passed on it only because I didn't have the ability to carry one more bottle to the register. A few other thoughts... A shop around me has Stone's saison du buff for $0.99, their tag for it says "only a buck, it's still good, really!" I am skeptical. I am officially on the Weihenstephaner Hefeweisen bandwagon now like everyone else seems to be as of a few weeks ago. That's going to be the perfect summer beer. So cheap too. Great when quality and price can work with one another.
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Apr 17, 2012 03:59
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SonicDefiance posted:His beers are quite highly regarded both here and in their native NZ. Other than the iStout and the Big Smoke, what other 8 Wired beers are available where you are? I know he recently shipped a bunch of the Batch 31 imperial coffee stout to the US; I have a bottle in the fridge but haven't had any yet - but if it's anything like the Batch 18 which it was based off, then it'll be delicious. Ah poo poo, yeah, it was the Batch 31 I saw last night. We also get the quad and I think maybe a saison?
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Apr 17, 2012 16:41
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Beer porn: 2012 Stone IRS. Only clocks in at 9.4% this year, down from the usual 10.5%. They're getting soft. Pussies.
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Apr 21, 2012 02:45
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berzerker posted:Rogue and Stone are both insanely overpriced compared to any local craft beer you can get almost anywhere in America, and with those you get the perk of it being local. Sorry, can't let this slide by here, aside from Rogue's tiny bottles, how are either of them overpriced? Most Stone bombers come in around $6.50, which is in the bottom 25% of the price range of what's on store shelves. Hell, I can get the Stone Saison du BUFF for literally $0.99 right now. I'm all for keeping things local but when I think expensive I think Allagash or Lost Abbey.
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Apr 21, 2012 18:53
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Jack Skeleton posted:While I love Double Bastard, I just don't care much of anything about Arrogant Bastard. Ruination on the other hand.. that beer is awesome all the time. And I go crazy for their IRS. That sucker I can drink day and night. Apropos of nothing, they're apparently putting a Stone retail store in Oceanside, much more convenient for a lot of the coastal Orange County goons.
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Apr 22, 2012 01:23
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Podima posted:Holy poo poo, that would put it right in the territory for me to hit them up when I'm visiting my mom. Details? They applied for a license of the same type of business as the one they have for the South Park retail store, nothing really known beyond that yet.
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Apr 22, 2012 04:58
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berzerker posted:Well to start I almost never get bombers because the $/oz usually sucks compared with 12oz bottles even for the same beer, so I'm not a good authority on bomber pricing. $6.50/bomber (22oz) = $19.50 six-pack (6*12oz). That's a poo poo price for beer, even really good beer. To be equal in price per ounce to a $10 six-pack (my personal upper limit for normal purchases), the bomber would have to be about $3. Not to slap on my beer snob hat here, but I'm hard-pressed to think of a really good six pack for $10. Even a decent one, for that matter. The reality of the situation is most of the time, better beers aren't in six packs because random buyers will see the price and balk at it. Knowledgeable buyers know what they're getting with singles, though, and that negates the need to sell in bulk. You can't compare what shows up in a sixer to what's sold in bombers because what usually makes it into a bomber is made with a more expensive ingredient list than your run of the mill APA. Is a bomber of St. Bernardus 12 too expensive? Despite the ingredient bill and quality? You say a bomber would have to be $3 to fit into your price range, yet there are no bombers at that price, so either the whole industry is out of sorts, or maybe your standards are askew?
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Apr 22, 2012 16:52
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CalvinDooglas posted:Brasserie des Rocs Brun This beer doesn't get talked about enough. Such an underrated beer, it's got a unique profile but definitely fits in the group of reasonable suggestions. It's the zig to the zag that is Rochefort, St. Bernardus, Victory V-12, Malheur 12, etc. Oh and it also comes in four packs and singles so we can all agree on how to best purchase and enjoy it!
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Apr 23, 2012 03:00
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