Beer shop finds.

Cracked my Maple Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Mexican Biscotti Cake Break last night. Say what you will about the $40 price tag, but I think the retail beer world would be improved if more “special occasion” beers had room on the shelves.

All the flavors work and are well-integrated; it’s not a mess. Looks gorgeous, and sips like silk.

Definitely on the mapley-sweet side of things, but what else do you want in a dessert stout? The pepper is right where it should be, producing a nice contrast on the back end where the bitter would fit in a non-pastry-based beer.

Would spend the $40 again, especially given the convenience vs. hours driving or waiting in line to pick up something comparable but marginally cheaper.

 

I'm sure it's great. But $40 is insane to me. Another great BA Maple stout I had recently was the BA Maple Brigadeiro by Springdale. No lines, no hours of driving, & I think about $10 per bottle. They don't always have it but they do often. A little lighter for a BA stout, I think about 8%, but I really kind of enjoyed it being a bit lighter. It's probably not better than the $40 bottle, but comparable. Not enough accessable maple stouts out there.

 

Nothing too spectacular to announce, but I did get a chance to pluck three drinks off the shelf this weekend that I hadn't had (well, I'd had one, but a few years back).

Artifact Cider New World was a really tasty cider. I'm trying to get into ciders a little bit more and this one came highly recommended from a friends.

Greater Good imperial milk porter (forget the name ... good night?) was another good choice. I'm glad I got to split it though. It's big. Chewy, soft mouthfeel. Definitely a beer that's another whole meal.

BLDG 8 IPA was the one I'd had, but I don't see it on shelves, so I thought I'd grab one. With so much attention paid to the hyped places and the haze, I was really glad to drink this IPA. I don't do hops so much, so I was really pleased that this one was middle of the road, well-made, good bitterness.

 

Cider is not my thing but sometimes can be great. Case in point, my wife of all people discovered one that is probably the best cider I have ever had.

Fire Starter by North Country Hard Cider. Kind of a spicy cider. It's fantastic.

Can be found on shelves up in parts of Southern New Hampshire. We try to grab some every time we pass through. We usually find it at City Beverage in Seabrook.

 

No kidding? Same friend who recommended Artifact said his first recommendation was North County, but I'd never seen it on the shelves. I know City Beverage well. I guess I'll make the trip soon.

 

I finally got to a store in MA to pickup some Hi Def from Castle Island and agree with previous thoughts on this board it is a fantastic "shelf" DIPA. It kind of went from pine to start like it would be a bitter finish but actually transitions to pineapple on the back end and finishes very smooth. Creamy mouthfeel too.

The can I had was actually dated 11/1 but based on how the balanced this beer was I would not hesitate to pickup 2-3 month old cans in the future. Feels like this will have some lasting power unlike admittedly great-tasting-but-low-shelf-life DDH/NEIPA type options.

 

Yeah they usually have that one in cans. They have some other interesting cans/bottles as well.

 

Question to those reading/adding to this thread, I'm going to be back in the western Massachusetts area for a week or so around Christmas, and I know where to get my hops and various other local options, but one style that seems to have taken a backseat recently, at least in the brief periods that I'm in the area, is then barleywine. Anyway, just was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for a good barleywine, easy enough to find (and certainly doesn't have to be local!), preferably in a package that doesn't induce immediate liver failure or force me to find friends. I miss the old days when the Old Stock Ale was easy to find... anyway, just was wondering, thanks!

 

I’d look for Cambridge Brewing Company Blunderbuss. It’s in stores now, but I don’t know if will still be around end of Dec.

 

Sierra Nevada Bigfoot immediately comes to mind as does Founders Curmudgeon, although it’s an old ale not a barleywine. Central Waters had broad distribution of their BA barleywine that you may find kicking around. In addition to the Blunderbuss, CBC also puts out Arquebus, an English barleywine with grape must and honey if I remember correctly. Manageable sized bottles, all of them.

 

I love Olde School from DFH and that should be easy to find. Cambridge Brewing Aquibus is excellent, also should be in abundance. Those two come to mind. Love me some barleywine.

 

Grabbed some of that Tie Dyed that folks on here recommended. Cheap and tasty. Really nice beer to keep me company while painting a bedroom yesterday.

Had a nightshift second breakfast. Just a great big beast of a porter. 11.3% with barely any alco heat at all. Just all flavours. Excellent can art too.

 

Any sightings of the Sierra Nevada can Hop pack (mix of Hop-forward stuff) north of Boston? SN’s site says avail @ Wegmans in Burlington but checked today & N/A. About to give up the chase, these beers r getting a bit old.

 

Total wine in Danvers had it as of Sunday. Probably gonna grab one for my thanksgiving selection of brews

 

I just assumed this would be widely available, wanted some to bring to thanksgiving, but no luck at three different local places. Gave up.

 

Grabbed a couple of Triple Barrel Big Bad Baptist at Rapid Liquors.

 

Anyone see Triple Barrel BBB around Somerville area?

 

That's good to hear. I've pretty much stuck with the Jetty, but I've seen a bunch of the Hi-Def around and it would be good go-to.

 

Porter Square Wine & Spirits (aka Liquor World) had a few cases of Foundation varieties: Forge, Coffee Burnside, Venture.

Didn't see Triple Barrel BBB. Would love to pick one of those up; Double Barrel was my favorite stout last winter.

I know the Wine & Cheese Cask in Somerville had good stock of all the BBB variants last year.

 

Fort Point Market has it. Probably a good sign that it's coming into the city today.