de Garde February 28th release party

I hear that.

Good thing about them though is a lot have gotten more sour with age.

 

Couldn't make it but really want to see the glassware. Can someone post a pic?

 

From their Facebook.

 

Just a ridiculous release. Ridiculous. And awesome. Of the 12 beers bottle (8 public, 4 keepers) I got to try 10 of them on tap and all were excellent. Not to mention guest taps, guest bottles pours, great bottles shared including a slew of Loons!

 

what were the keepers beers this time?

 

absurd day, that is all.

 

Very well organized, very well handled. Turns out I was quite happy not knowing exactly what was going to be tapped or poured over the course of the day.

@moonknight31 :
The Keepers Berliners were Imperial Purple Raz Bu ("A Berliner Weisse Style Ale Aged in Oak Barrels with Black and Red Raspberries") and Imperial Berry Bu ("A Berliner Weisse Style Ale Aged in Oak Barrels with Boysenberries and Blackberries").

The Keepers wild ales were Bière Violet ("A Wild Ale Aged in French Puncheons with Boysenberries") and L'Hiver Melange No. 2 ("A Wild Ale Aged in Oak Barrels").

FWIW, the Imperial Purple Raz Bu was one of my favorites on tap yesterday. Tart, not abrasively sour, with lush fruit and just enough sweetness to bring everything together.

 

I tried it on tap yesterday and found the sourness a bit harsh. Then again, I am not one of those folks who always wants more sourness, so it might be exactly the kind of experience a real sour-head wants.

 

Biere Noir was incredible, might have been my "tap" highlight of the day.

 

An absolute exemplary release and party. Amazingly conceived and organized and I say that as one who has traveled all over the country for beer events. No lines, no pressure, no hassles, no stress and, at least from what I could see, no jerks or drunks. Having met Lindsey and Trevor for the first time, I only felt bad that they both were working so hard for our benefit and perhaps could not enjoy the event as much as the would have otherwise.

I thought all of the beers rocked, but, of course, I'm a huge fan. I really liked all that I tasted with a few favorites but glad that I was able to taste (and buy!) them all. I loved the intense saturated fruit offerings but, truth be known (and perhaps I'm in the minority on this one) I absolutely loved/love the Saison Premiere. I could drink this beer every day. (Well, I could drink all of the de Garde offerings every day but this one I could drink LOT of!)

I'm looking forward to serving some of these to my wine geek friends and watching them "ew and awe" over them!

Also glad that I could provide at least one bottle that Trevor has wanted to try but hadn't and thought that the bottle share, all in all, showed just how generous the beer community can be. I tried several things that were great and for which I'd been looking.

All in all a great time. There is already no doubt in my mind but that I'll fly up for the next release. In fact, I'm already looking forward to it.

Thanks again. Kudos.

 

I was pretty stoked on all the non-fruited offerings as well. The stout collab was the big surprise for me - not what I would have expected from an E9 / DG collab ... the capacity to surprise is one of the things that keeps these events a must. Hiver 1 was pretty great as well. I could see the sourness being too much for many but I thought the malt and the base beer came through very well. Of the four folks I came with, this was the big hit with 3 and the Saison Premiere was the favorite of another.

And the new glass is killer.

 

Well put. And I thought the stout collab (Deus Ex Machina) was incredible. A great body and a unique set of flavors.

 

Really great event! I find it very impressive how hard they work to make these events a fun experience. Melange #2 was my favorite. Biere Noir and Purple Raz were strong contenders for the top spot, but that rum barrell tickled me in all the right places. My only problem is, my rural Wyoming upbringing prevents me from saying french words correctly.
"I'll have that Aliver Melon please."

 

Thanks for another great event! I drive 8+ hours around 5 times a year just to come up for your releases and I haven't regretted it once. It was great not to have to wait in line and it was also nice to be able to get more allocations the next day for people that travel so far. I also enjoy the time of the day that you do the release. It's nice to be able to go get some dinner after with friends and continue the share. All of the beers were a pure delight per usual. I posted up to the Imperial Raz tap toward the end of the night and it might have been my favorite.