Tired Hands (February 2017)

@starrdogg, I think you are right Nick, I'm just getting what hit can and what didn't mixed up, Double Coconut might end up can only (no growlers if kegs are tapped). Tired Hands makes this stuff too hard to quickly back check with how much they post.

 

Coconut Milkshake? If they don't use a metric ton of coconut I don't see this being any good. Hope they prove me wrong.

 

FT: Chair ISO: Place in line and Milkshake beer

 

On the plus side, the Friday releases of late have been relatively chill compared to the mid-week ones. Hoping that trend continues.

 

I really appreciate that you made this list!

Today I'm opening my last can of Waiting for the Bloom. This was the first canned Tired Hands beer I bought and it blew me away a year ago. I loved it and I couldn't bring myself to drink the last can but now, after a year and in the second week of February, it is time. It can answer some questions now like "Can it hold up over time?" And "was it only my favorite because it was first?"





Immediately you can see that it's still hazy and there are no floaties. That's impressive since I've seen other TH and most Trillium beers lose their opaqueness and end up with sludge at the bottom. The color is a paler yellow than my photo looks and it really hasn't changed in appearance.

When this beer was fresh it had (what I think is) a sharp bitter "bite" to the taste that I really loved. I notice it more often in Trillium's IPA's but it's in some TH IPA's too when they are not very sweet. That bite has faded but is still present. The grape/wine flavor from the Nelson still alive and well too.

This can was in the fridge for the past year so it's been in good conditions but I'd say that Waiting for the Bloom was basically a stable NE IPA that didn't develop any off flavors, didn't become any less hazy, and preserved the characteristics and flavors that defined it while fresh. This convinces me that these IPA's don't always need to be drank within the first month or first week but how can you tell whether a beer will sustain its quality or if it will change in appearance and flavor?

After a year of drinking TH cans this is still in my top 3 and I hope they brew it again sometime soon.

I've also got some cans of Only Void, which was released on the same day. It won't be as interesting to drink that though since we know it'll still be good but I'm curious how it's developed

 

My friend threw me a pity can of Double Birth due to my slight curiosity and I was VERY happily surprised. Thought Oblivex was fantastic, as well. Later that week went in to get a last grasp tasting on tap, and while both still good (Oblivex moreso than Birth), preferred the first experience with the cans more. Different strokes!

 

HA all the ones I saw on IG made me think DID I DRINK THE RIGHT CAN THE OTHER NIGHT? Because like 9/10 of them looked way more saturated

 

I do not believe that anybody can provide a definitive answer here. Having stated that, the fact that you stored this beer cold (refrigerated) for the past year is very important here. Cold storage significantly slows down the chemistry of oxidative processes and that is key here.

Thanks for conducting this 'experiment' and reporting back.

Cheers!

 

Kind of bummed I'm gonna miss this one, I love how Coconut plays in beer.

 

I'm thinking Coconut Milkshake / Only Void black and tans, knew I was holding onto Only Void for a reason.

 

Problem is, they'll probably both be fighting for a spot at the bottom of the glass!

 

Lol.

 

I don't think there is a definitive answer either. The refrigeration is vital for sure but many of these style IPA's can't even stand up in the fridge. If Waiting for the Bloom isn't "shelf stable" it's at least "fridge stable".

Only Void is still good too, by the way. Cheers.

 

Sorry to randomly butt in here, but since it's a Tired Hands thread I thought it would be appropriate. I might be visiting TH this spring or summer, and I just wondered, do they have serve flights? I've never seen them in photos, and I wanted to try as many of their beers as I can without getting hammered.

 

No, they'll serve you a taster glass (I can't remember if its 4 or 6 oz), but only one at a time.

 

Okay. If it's a small amount, that's fair, as it serves the same purpose as a flight, essentially.

 

This is what I suggest and basically do every time. They're 4 oz tasters. I usually have 3-4 of them and then an 8 oz (or 16 if I'm totally digging on it) of my favorite one. Food is great, too!

 

Yes...the more I study their website and Facebook page, the more I want to spend an entire day there. Every beer and every menu item looks amazing.

 

I believe Tired Hands will only fill their own growlers? I read that they will exchange your growler for one of their own free of charge? If I bring a bunch of growlers will they exchange them all for free?

 

Not sure about doing a bunch at once, but they will definitely let you trade 1-for-1 if you bring in a non-TH growler. I've done it several times.