Max's VSB/Keg Event 2015

I'm pretty sure that pricing is different for this one. I'd have to look at last year's sheet and receipts (if I still have them). It does make things a lot easier for them to have blanket pricing though.

I feel like the Bottle Sale last year ran longer and had a wider variety of beers, but that's not to say that I'm not excited by this list.

Here is the 90% list with added information for the less common beers.

I remember it getting pretty busy. Not Sour Monday bad, but perhaps BBF on Friday. More people know about it now, so it might be busier.

 

Ok. Maybe I will go check it out. I hate crowds and like to go there through the week in the afternoon.

 

How do the bottle sales work? Is it upstairs? Or is there a line to the side bar?

 

Line to the side bar. Last year the line was crazy - people started lining up at 6:30am or so. Like @gillagorilla said, the bottle sale list this year is not filled with whales though (last year had lots of Cantillon among others).

 

VSB/K 2 EVENT
(Very Special Bottle/Keg Event)
March 14, 2015
10am-12pm (Bottle Sale)
10am-till (draft Event)
We will be holding our second VSB event. As we did last time we will be opening up our side bar for a special ( to go only) bottle sale and The Main bar will have over 30 extremely rare drafts. Many of these bottles are limited so get here early for this event. Line for the bottle sale will begin at our side door behind the a framed sign…
THE BOTTLES. 100% DONE
Allagash Nancy Sour Red w/ Maine Cherries & Brett
Anchorage Deal with the Devil Barleywine w/ 1 Hop 1 Malt aged in Cognac Barrels
Anchorage Darkest Hour Wild Ale w/ Molasses, Licorice in Rye Whiskey & Pinot barrels w/ Brett
Against the Grain Kentucky Ryed Chiquen Rye Ale aged in Redemption Rye Bourbon Barrels
Against the Grain London Balling English Style barleywine aged in Angel envy Bourbon Barrels
Against the Grain Bo & Luke Imperial Stout aged in pappy Van Winkle barrels
Breckenridge whiskey barrel 72 Imperial Whiskey barrel aged Imperial chocolate Cream Stout
Brekeriet Brillant Saison w/ Brett
Brekeriet Cassis Sour Ale w/ Brett & Black Currants
Brekeriet Funkstarter Saison w/ brett
Brekeriet Saison Sauvage Sour Saison w/ Several Wild Yeasts
Cantillon Gueuze Gueuze
Crooked Stave Surette Autumn Barrel aged Saison w/ Autumn herbs & Spices
Crooked Stave Vielle Barrel aged Saison w/ Brett
Crooked Stave Surette barrel aged Saison
Crooked Stave Nightmare on Brett Dark Sour aged in Leopold Whiskey barrels
Crooked Stave St Bretta Autumn Citrus Witbier 100% Brett w/ Navel Oranges
Crooked Stave St Bretta Winter Citrus Witbier 100% Brett w/ Satsuma Oranges
Crooked Stave Vielle Cranberry & Spice barrel Saison w/ Brett, Hibiscus, Cinnamon, Nutmeg & Cranberry
De Dolle Stille Nacht Special Reserve 2010 Special triple aged in Bourdeaux barrels 25 Months
De Molen Ceast & Desist (Bordeaux barrel) Imperial Stout aged in Bordeaux Barrels
De Molen Hel & Verdoemenis (Bordeaux barrel) Imperial Stout aged in Bordeaux barrels
De Molen/Anchorage barrel aged Mud & Funk Oatmeal Imp Stout aged in Bourbon/Wine barrels w/ Brett
Evil Twin from Amager with Love Imperial Stout w/ Blueberries
Evil Twin Biere Blanca Blanc Berliner Weisse aged in White Wine Barrels
Evil Twin Torst Front Room Malaga barrel aged barleywine
Evil Twin Torst Back Room Port barrel aged barleywine
Evil Twin Turkish Delight Brown Ale w/ Coffee & Green Cardamom
Fantome Dark White Wild Dark Wit Saison w/ Black Pepper
Fifty Fifty Eclipse Buffalo Trace 2014 Imperial Stout aged in Buffalo Trace barrels
Fifty Fifty Eclipse Four Roses 2014 Imperial Stout aged in Four Roses barrels
Fifty Fifty Eclipse Evan Williams 2014 Imperial Stout aged in Evan Williams Barrels
Fifty Fifty Eclipse High West Bourbon 2014 Imperial Stout aged in High West Bourbon barrels
Fifty Fifty Eclipse Java Coffee 45% Imp Stout aged in Elijah Craig barrels 45 totally Stout 10% Coffee
Fifty Fifty Eclipse Rittenhouse Rye 2014 Imperial Stout aged in Rittenhouse Rye Barrels
Fifty Fifty Eclipse Woodford Reserve 2014 Imperial Stout aged in Woodford Reserve barrels
Fifty Fifty Elijah Craig 12yr 2014 Imperial Stout aged in Elijah Craig barrels
Firestone Walker 18th Anniversary Barrel aged Blended Ale
Firestone Walker Sucuba Bourbon aged barleywine
Goose Island Bourbon County Stout Imperial Stout aged in Bourbon barrels
Goose Island Bourbon County Barleywine barleywine aged in bourbon barrels
Great Divide Barrel aged Hibernation Stranahan Whiskey aged Old Ale
Jester King El Cedro Cellar Aged hopped ale aged in Spanish Cedar
Jester King Das Wunderkind Dry hopped Wild Ale blended & Aged in oak barrels
Mikkeller Beer Geek Desert Oatmeal Imperial Stout w/ Cocoa & Vanilla
Mikkeller/Siren Beer Geek Daydream White Stout w/ coffee, Cocoa & vanilla
Mikkeller/To Ol Juice Bag (1.5 liter) Oud Bruin w/ mandarin, Nectarine, Orange, Yuzu, Pink & White Grapefruit
Mikkeller Blackest Imperial Stout aged in 10 Bourbon barrels
Mikkeller/3 Floyds Bla Spogelse Blueberry Lambic Style Ale
Mystic Three Cranes Saison w/ Cranberries
Mystic Vinland Three Saison w/ Wild Yeast from Vermont
Mystic Spectral Evidence Imperial Stout
Nebraska Fat Head barleywine aged in Whiskey barrels
O Hara’s Jameson barrel Leann Follian Imperial Stout aged in Irish Whiskey barrels
Oersoep/Beer Moth Canta lupus Session IPA w/ Cantaloupe Melon
Oersoep Bon Sauvage Citra Sour Ale dry hopped w/ Citra
Oud Beersel Bzart Sour Lambiek Champagne Style
Oud Beersel Bzart Kriek Sour Kriek/ Gueuze w/ Cherries
Omnipollo Number series #411 Smoothie IPA w/ lactose, Wild Strawberry, Rhubarb & vanilla
Oxbow blended Oxtoberfest Sour Ale aged 3 Vintage Barrels
Oxbow La Grisetta Saison w/ Noble Hops
Perennial Abraxas Imperial Stout w/ Ancho chilies, Cocoa Nibs & Cinnamon Sticks
Perennial Sump Imperial Stout w/ Sump Coffee
Prairie Bomb Imperial Stout w/ Coffee, Cocoa Nibs, Vanilla bean & Chili peppers
Prairie Christmas bomb Imperial Stout w/ Spices
Prairie Cherry Funk Sour Cherry Ale
Sierra Nevada barrel aged Bigfoot Oak Whiskey barrel aged Barleywine
Terrapin French Toast Wake n Bake Coffee oatmeal Stout w/ vanilla & cinnamon
Uerige Dopplesticke Special Edition 1862 Dopplesticke aged in Whiskey barrels 12 Onths
DRAFTS 100% DONE
CASK
Baladin Al Iksir aged JW Lees Wooden cask Demi Sec w/ yeast from Isle of Isaly
BFM Cuvee Alex le Rouge Imperial Stout w/ pepper, Russian Tea & Bourbon vanilla
DRAFTS
Brew by Numbers 01/04 Saison w/ Ginger & Grapefruit
Brew by Numbers 01/11 Saison w/ Quince
Buxton/Brew Dog Rough C’s Oatmeal Amber lager
De Molen Moord & Brand Bourbon BA Imperial Stout aged in Bourbon barrels
Dogfish Head Raison de Extra Extreme Strong Ale
Dieu du Ciel Peche Mortal (nitro) Imperial Stout
Emelisse Makers Mark White Label Barleywine aged in Maker mark Barrels
Evil Twin Torst Front Room Malaga barrel aged barleywine
Evil Twin Turkish Delight Brown Ale w/ coffee & Green Cardamom
Firestone Walker 18th Anniversary Barrel aged Blended Ale
Firestone Walker Sucuba Bourbon aged barleywine
Flying Dog Rum barrel aged Gonzo Imperial Porter aged in Jamaican rum barrel
Flying Dog Whiskey barrel aged Gonzo Imperial Porter aged in Whiskey Barrels
Goose Island Bourbon County Stout Imperial Stout aged in Bourbon barrels
Hofstetten Heller Bock G’Frozen Eisbock w/ Saphir Imperial IPA Eisbock dry hopped w/ Saphir
Hofstetten Heller Bock G’Frozen Eisbock w/ Aurora Imperial IPA Eisbock dry Hopped w/ Aurora
Lammin Sahti oy/OEC Stateside Sahti Sahti Style
Mikkeller Beer Geek Brunch Weasel Imperial oatmeal Stout w/ Civet Coffee
Mikkeller Beer Geek Brunch Weasel Brandy Barrel Imperial Oatmeal Stout aged in Brandy barrels
Mikkeller Beek Geek Brunch Weasel Islay Barrel Imperial oatmeal Stout aged in Islay Whiskey barrels
Mikkeller/To Ol Juice Bag Grand Mariner barrel Oud Bruin w/ mandarin, Nectarine, Orange, Yuzu, Grapefruit
Mikkeller/Siren Beer Geek Daydream White Stout w/ coffee, Cocoa & vanilla
Mikkeller Black Hole Imperial Stout
Mikkeller Blackest Imperial Stout aged in 10 Bourbon barrels
Mikkeller/3 Floyds Bla Spogelse Blueberry lambic Style Ale
Nogne O Kriek of Telemark Sour ale w/ Cherries
Omnipollo Number series #411 Smoothie IPA w/ lactose, Wild Strawberry, Rhubarb & vanilla
Prairie Bomb Imperial Stout w/ Coffee, Cocoa Nibs, Vanilla bean & Chili peppers
Prairie Christmas Bomb Imperial Stout w/ Spices
Perennial Sump Imperial Stout w/ Sump Coffee
Siren/De Molen Empress Stout Imperial Stout
Terrapin French Toast Wake n Bake Coffee oatmeal Stout w/ vanilla & cinnamon
Trois Dames/Arizona Wilderness Dark Absinthe Saison Dark Saison w/ Wormwood & Fennel Seeds

 

I'm pissed they removed Abraxas from the draft list

 

I might drink the entire keg of Sump by myself. Love that stuff.

 

Yeah...majorly disappointed.

 

I will still, hopefully, be able to grab a bottle of Abraxas. Looking forward to Mikkeller Beer Geek Brunch Weasel Islay Barrel the most! I got lucky and my buddies wife volunteered to be our designated driver! Gonna be a hell of a day!

 

Won't be there to like 4 probably. Work!

 

I had an amazing time today at the VSB/K event! Did anyone else realize that they got their lines mixed up with the Brandy and Islay barrel weasels? It was blatant! I had 3 friends confirm my suspicions!

 

Were you wearing a button down shirt that had a predominately green design? My friend ordered the Islay and it was quite vinous, almost sour. I was surprised and talked to this lady that really knew her stouts, and said that the Brandy was quite oak-y, which sounds more like what the Islay would be like, especially with Mikkeller. I'm more of a Brandy man anyways, so I'm totally fine with the mix up.

 

I got there at 4 and nothing kicked the entire time I was there (to my knowledge).

I bought samples of:
Blackest (more bourbon than beer)
Black Hole (much more balanced)
Juicebag (unique, tart and with tons of citrus)
Torst Front Room (vinous barleywine, that was good but didn't really make me want to buy Back Room for $18)
Rum Bag/Rum Gonzo (good, but not as good as the regular BA, especially considering the price and drive to Frederick)
Ryesing Tides (a great change of pace, a good rye IPA, Siren beers are a must-buy anytime I see it)
The Bunk (tastes like Cocoa Pebbles/Puffs, delicious)

Tasted:
Baladin Al Iksir (weird, sour whiskey. All of the JW Lees direct cask beers are overly saturated by the JW Lees, @John_M)
Beer Geek Daydream (this was amazing)
Turkish Delight (tastes like a big stout and is a huge coffee bomb with some nice spice from the cardamom, underrated)
Beer Geek Brunch Weasel Brandy or Islay (it was Brandy if the lines were actually switched)
Moord & Brand Bourbon Barrel Aged (damn smooth and delicious)
01/04 Saison Ginger & Grapefruit (the additions distort the saison)
01/11 Saison Quince (a bit better than the 04)

My haul (everything I wanted turned out to be the most expensive on the list):


I updated the list to include the prices from the sheet they handed out.

Last year's event seemed to be a lot more active, but I did get there later this time and last year's bottle list probably attracted more people.

 

Another great time, although it should have been called the VSBigBeer on draft. Lots of stuff from 10 to 17%. Feeling a little rough today.
First those I wasn't so crazy about.
Evil Twin Turkish Delight - Cardamom was too strong which clashed with the strong coffee flavor in this light brown ale.
The Beer Geek Brunch Weasel Brandy Barrel - Tasted like the brandy barrel to me, certainly didn't have any Whiskey flavor
to it. Found the beer to be very thin in body and flavor.
The Hofstetten Heller Bock G'Frozen Aurora - way too sweet and cloying. Heavy duty mouth coating. One sip was enough.

Now the winners!
De Molen Moord & Brand Bourbon BA - Best beer of the day for me. Huge beer in every way but nailed the style hands down.
Firestone Walker 18th Anniv. - Consistently in my top 5 beers. Probably tied with the De Molen for best beer of the day. This
years version is another example of outstanding barrel aging.
Mikkeller/Siren Beer Geek Daydream - Lots of vanilla in this beer imparts a delicious dessert flavor. Would never quess it's
12%.
Nogne O Kriek of Telemark - delicious flavor, nailed the flavor profile for the style. Slightly thick but that was it's only
downfall.
Prairie Christmas Bomb - don't much care for pepper beers but this one hits the spot. Tons going on in this beer with really
great flavor profile.
Trois Dames/Arizona Wilderness Dark Absinthe Saison - very interesting flavors and quite enjoyable to me.
Del Borgo Elixir in JW Lees Pin - couldn't have been more than about 3 gallon really old school pin. Hard to describe this
beer. Very smooth and drinkable. Oaky and kinda English Barleywine like.
Would have gone back today to revisit some of these if I didn't feel so shitty.

 

If memory serves me right, I was in a navy colored rain coat the whole time! Yeah I ordered the Islay expecting a peat bomb and it was weak with light vinous qualities, but when I ordered the Brandy an hour later it was a peat bomb! Ha 3 other people order them both at separate times and they all had the same experience! Glad I got to try the real Islay one eventually!