Ale Apothecary El Cuatro Batch 2

Discussion in 'Pacific' started by Kurmaraja, Mar 13, 2014.

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  1. Kurmaraja

    Kurmaraja Initiate (0) May 21, 2013 California
    Trader

    Interesting Blog Post - as always - by Paul:

    http://mountainbrewery.org/2014/03/13/el-cuatro-part-deux/

    I think I'm unraveled one of the great mysteries of Oregon beer. Through some sort of warp in the local space time continuum, all the bubbles intended for HotD are ending up in Ale Apothecary beers.

    Maybe I was unduly influenced by the setting in which I drank the beer - sunset on a patio in the San Juan islands - but I thought batch 1 was phenomenal and was surprised by some of the lukewarm reviews and the overall low-ish, by Ale Apothecary standards, average rating.
     
    #1 Kurmaraja, Mar 13, 2014
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  2. distantmantra

    distantmantra Pooh-Bah (2,954) May 23, 2011 Washington
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I really liked El Cuatro last Summer, got one bottle left that I'll open up at some point in the future.
     
    #2 distantmantra, Mar 13, 2014
  3. Phobicsquirrel

    Phobicsquirrel Initiate (0) Oct 1, 2013 Oregon

    Never had the, 1st batch. Might try this. Maybe Alan could meet up with the brewer and learn how to carbonate his beers better. Or maybe by them talking hotd will have a bit more carbonation and a little less at AA.
     
    #3 Phobicsquirrel, Mar 13, 2014
  4. Shmeal

    Shmeal Initiate (0) Nov 9, 2009 Oregon

    Want this.
     
    #4 Shmeal, Mar 13, 2014
  5. beeraroundtown

    beeraroundtown Initiate (0) Oct 11, 2008 Oregon

    So he knows the beer is way the hell over carbonated but still is going to sell it for 30 bucks or whatever? Nice
     
    #5 beeraroundtown, Mar 13, 2014
  6. goodbyeohio

    goodbyeohio Pooh-Bah (2,312) Jul 13, 2004 Connecticut
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    For those eager to find out, we should be receiving a modest amount of it tonight at the 'Mongers, and will most likely put it on sale first thing Friday morning.
     
    #6 goodbyeohio, Mar 13, 2014
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  7. Phobicsquirrel

    Phobicsquirrel Initiate (0) Oct 1, 2013 Oregon

    sweet
     
    #7 Phobicsquirrel, Mar 13, 2014
  8. Kurmaraja

    Kurmaraja Initiate (0) May 21, 2013 California
    Trader

    Yeah ... admittedly, it could be read that way. But have you had any Ale Apothecary stuff? The high level of carbonation - which many might call over-carbonated - is one of the really unique things about the beers. I can't think of other beers that have that mouth feel and texture. They do require some extra care when pouring: as he advises in that blog post and others get the bottle cold, pour a little in the glass to start, pour gently, etc. So far I haven't had any issues. The comparison to champagne in the post is apt; treat it that way and you're fine. If you give it an aggressive pour, as is appropriate for many beers, you'll end up with a glass of froth.

    And if there's one thing we PNW beer folks know, beer is more than bubbles. He claims it's delicious. Based on the track record, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt.
     
    #8 Kurmaraja, Mar 14, 2014
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  9. lordofthelambics

    lordofthelambics Initiate (0) Feb 14, 2014 Washington

    Precisely why I had no problem throwing down the $$ to join the Ale Club.
     
    #9 lordofthelambics, Mar 14, 2014
  10. crusian

    crusian Pooh-Bah (1,989) May 14, 2010 Oregon
    Pooh-Bah

    Overcarbed is WAY better than no carb. Swirl the glass a bit and shut up. Lol
     
    #10 crusian, Mar 14, 2014
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  11. beeraroundtown

    beeraroundtown Initiate (0) Oct 11, 2008 Oregon

    Hehe, yah, just remember to swirl the glass a bit when this thing sprays all over your table and kitchen.
     
    #11 beeraroundtown, Mar 14, 2014
  12. Kurmaraja

    Kurmaraja Initiate (0) May 21, 2013 California
    Trader

    I'd probably lick off the walls if it's as good as Spencer ...
     
    #12 Kurmaraja, Mar 14, 2014
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  13. kscaldef

    kscaldef Initiate (0) Jun 11, 2010 Oregon

    I think it's important that we really get the rumor train going in full swing before anyone has even opened a bottle...
     
    #13 kscaldef, Mar 14, 2014
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  14. Greenplastic615

    Greenplastic615 Savant (1,104) Nov 4, 2008 Pennsylvania
    Trader

    Can't be as much of a gusher as Vin Lee...
     
    #14 Greenplastic615, Mar 14, 2014
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  15. Eighty

    Eighty Pundit (839) Feb 17, 2013 Washington

    You too? My friend opened one at a share and it literally ended up on the walls. Probably lost just under half the bottle. Wish I had gotten it on video.
     
    #15 Eighty, Mar 14, 2014
  16. Greenplastic615

    Greenplastic615 Savant (1,104) Nov 4, 2008 Pennsylvania
    Trader

    Yep - a friend of mine got a bottle and chilled it probably down to about 45-50 degrees and once we opened it, we had a beer fountain about 2 feet high out of the top of the bottle.

    We got everything cleaned up just fine, but the biggest tragedy is that the 5-6oz that we actually got to drink was really good and we both wanted more. I think I'd take anything they do at this point, I'd just make sure I left it in the fridge for a day before opening it :slight_smile:
     
    #16 Greenplastic615, Mar 14, 2014
  17. Shmeal

    Shmeal Initiate (0) Nov 9, 2009 Oregon

    Freezer for 40 minutes, works every time! I had a gusher the first time I opened one at cellar temp and haven't had any issues since.


    And yes, it's really, really tasty.
     
    #17 Shmeal, Mar 14, 2014
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  18. Greenplastic615

    Greenplastic615 Savant (1,104) Nov 4, 2008 Pennsylvania
    Trader

    I'll definitely do that next time I can pry a bottle off of one of you Oregonians :wink:

    (Seriously, I'd probably just keep/drink them too...)
     
    #18 Greenplastic615, Mar 14, 2014
  19. Shmeal

    Shmeal Initiate (0) Nov 9, 2009 Oregon

    Just fly out for their big event May 3rd?
     
    #19 Shmeal, Mar 14, 2014
  20. Greenplastic615

    Greenplastic615 Savant (1,104) Nov 4, 2008 Pennsylvania
    Trader

    Not this time, but I definitely want to make a Portland/Seattle trip in the near future.

    Edit: Sorry for threadjacking... Ale Apoth is delicious too.
     
    #20 Greenplastic615, Mar 14, 2014
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