Austin - Whale tasting

Most entertaining thread in a while

 

Can't you spell? It's whale not while.

 

Just an idea...

I don't have a problem with this, but the main difference between this and other recent whale tasting open invites (e.g. Seattle, DC, Philly, etc) is that this one has this air of exclusivity, though I'm sure it's unintentional. Others have all been open about what they have to offer, what they'd be excited to have, which would then be subject to an open debate, etc. This one seems to be asking for private submissions to be reviewed behind closed doors.

I think it's possible that some people are holding off on offering their Deviation, 50N4E, Vanilla DL etc because they don't know what to expect and don't want to be surprised by a Sante 12 and a Bar Fly. I'm exaggerating, of course, but maybe it'd be better to display credentials before asking for them. Then again, I've never organized a whale tasting, so maybe it's better to do things this way - someone with more experience than I could probably speak more appropriately to this.

 

Bingo. Every "whale" tasting I've seen has the logistics put together behind the scenes and the exclusivity means it shouldn't be out in the open. And regarding "cred", I figure if you're part of a consistent tasting group, you would also gain a good sense of who has the rarer beer and whether or not they are up for sharing. So if you want to step up to that level, just start putting something else together, but with the specific people you have in mind. I'd say find a tasting group first, then worry about the big guns later.

 

I can't wait to crash the Houston tastings this summer with some Bud Light Lime in tow.*

And, obviously IMO, there's absolutely nothing pretentious about this thread. xPimp doesn't seem to be trying to impress others (or make others feel bad because they can't participate) by soliciting their participation, and he's already exhausted his normal local circles, so I see nothing wrong with opening up the discussion to others to fill out the tasting. There are plenty of other opportunities to share ordinary and extraordinary beer with other circles of people. Just as with people's preferences with beer itself, people look for different things in tastings (e.g., good company, camaraderie, pairing food and beer, trying new beers and styles, seeing how a beer or beers have aged, emphasizing variety/style/rarity) in different proportions. This kind of tasting strikes me as the exception to the kind xPimp normally participates in, and if you don't have a beer that fits the bill, you prefer sharing beers with friends, or you're offended by this kind of tasting, that's your prerogative—don't participate. You lose nothing by reading the original post and moving on. Claiming that this kind of post/tasting is a detriment to the community strikes me as a tenuous argument.

For what it's worth, this thread almost "worked" on me. If I had seen it a day or two earlier, I probably would have brought a beer or two with me for my summer move to Houston to participate in the tasting. It helps that I had a great trading experience with the OP last year.

* I actually appreciate that the Houston tastings are, from what I've read, so inclusive and "friendly". But it's probably not the kind of tasting I would bring certain beers to.

 

Like the never ending gobstopper, lets see if we can keep this thread at top until mid or late June when the tasting will happen. For what its worth I am bringing a Founders Black Biscuit, and a combination of Campeador Fergus Mor, an Original unlabeled 12oz bottle from Founders of CBS or a BA Brandy Vanilla Dark Lord. I have no idea if this attracts more curiosity or detracts from the value of the tasting. Either way I am enjoying this thread too much to let it die out.

 

This thread has me scratching my head. This type of thing pops up on other regional forums all of the time, and no one blows up like some of the others in this thread. I guess haters gonna hate.

Best of luck to you OP. If I wasn't so lazy as to not want to drive from Houston, I'd probably try and participate.

 

Makes sense to me.

 

People tend to feel their opinion = fact. I'm included in that statement. Mike is a very generous ba and any one who's been to a Freetail bottle share would know that.

 

Forget all the butt hurt babies, post up what you will be drinking! Enquiring minds want to know.

 

So this is a my whale is bigger than your whale competition? I'm tossing my whale on the table. To the lucky eight CHEERS! And please share the experience with photos and reviews.

 

I only read the first few posts, but wanted to chime in that I have no problem with the original post. If a person wants to drink rare beer with other people that have rare beer, that doesn't concern me in the least. There is plenty of great beer to drink outside of the "secret rare" tasting.

 

A bit off topic... but I really do think that you probably would be able to taste the rare more if it was a secret tasting... and if you hired bouncers... and a butler to pour the beers for you.

 

Wouldn't topless beauties be more effective serving the beer after the butler pours it?


Edit. Don't forget the secret knock and password to gain access to the tasting. This thread is a good read.

 

seriously guys... if you knew Mike, you 'd know he's very generous with his awesome beers. ALL THE TIME.

bitching about it is silly. you wouldn't whine about being excluded from a bad ass harley davidson biker gang if all you had to ride was a two wheel scooter, would you?

bad analogy i know.
but i hope you guys have fun with your tasting!

 

I think we should have an all inclusive non offensive Bud Light Jamboree.

 

Just Bud Light? what if all I have is Corona, am I still under "all inclusive'?

 

You ma'am just broke the internet. Besides by "all inclusive" I didn't mean Houston. However, Houston is world's above that leper colony better known as "San Antonio".

 

Sigh...but...but....I think I am going to go into a corner and cry now.