Beer shop finds.

My man! I always forget about those beer finder sites. Now I've got the beer in hand and will crack it soon. Enjoyed your collaboration with Firestone Walker, so looking forward to this one.

For the locals, picked it up at CBC Roslindale. $4.25 for a 12 oz bottle.

 

Okay, so this stuff is phenomenal. Any fan of Firestone Walker's anniversary beers should pick up as much of this as they can find. At $4.25 a 12 oz bottle (presumably less per unit for the 4-pack), this beer is a steal. Bourbon-soaked raisins, dipped in caramel, then dipped in chocolate. Well-integrated, smooth.

I'm going back for more.

 

Finally found Ipswich Oatmeal Stout in cans today @ Lincoln Liquors in B’rica. Relatively fresh @ 3 wks (not that a stout needs to be fresh, but adds a little oomph IMO), tastes amazing as always. A classic for me.

 

Maybe this is old news, but Pemberton Farms was unpacking their Parabola today. $12.99, bleh.

Also picked up some Pirate Noir & Graham Cracker BA Framinghammer.

 

Parabola hit Boston today, and Fort Point Market sold out quick. I think they posted around 11 a.m.; by 2 p.m., it was gone when I went to pick up a bottle. I tried over at Craft Beer Cellar and got one there around the same time, but they were on the verge of selling out too, I think.

CBC Fort Point was $10/per if folks are trying to compare to pricing elsewhere.

 

^^on the shelf at Total Wine Danvers too

 

I was wondering about that one. The funny thing about the Sam NEIPA is that while I find comfort that it is available, when I have a decently full fridge of TH, Trill and whatever else, I never seem to find the occasion to buy it. Plus, I haven't really seen it at bars with rotating Sam options.

 

Dont know how recent this is, but I was stoked to see some Plan Bee other than their barn beer on some shelves recently. I had a Pitz a year or two ago and was really impressed with it, just grabbed one yesterday and looking forward to it.

 

This is obviously heavy on Mass retail, but I was in Stowe/Waterbury this weekend and if anyone is looking for barrel aged beers head to CBC in Waterbury. 6/7 cases of KBS on the floor, 10 bottles of CBS collecting dust, barrel aged ten fidy, Parabola and more. Oh ya, you can pick up Heady/Focal and Second Fiddle no prob.

 

Sorry for the off-topic, but this makes me wonder whether the top of the Top 250 beer list is headed for a change. The proliferation of good to great Imperial Stouts is seemingly cutting into the once highly sought after, nationally distributed products.

 

Baffling. I totally struck out on CBS in my neck of the woods...

 

I think it's more that these national brands have upped their output to better meet (or in some cases, apparently, exceed) demand.

IMO, it's much easier at least in MA to find Top-250-quality IPAs on shelves than stouts. For one, of course, the latter travels much better, so the long distance stuff doesn't start off at a disadvantage. But I also think with a few exceptions the locals aren't doing a great job with the style overall. Lots of hot adjunct mess out there.

 

looks like this is starting to pop up (fort point market so far that i’ve seen).

 

Are they still using the "New England Style IPA" moniker for their flagship? They were last time I checked a year or so ago... They caved.

 

RIP Harpoon's definition of a New England Style IPA 2013-2018(?).

https://www.brewbound.com/news/harpoon-lays-claim-to-new-england-style-ipa

 

It's kind of a weak name too. "Juicer"?

Their flagship is technically just "Harpoon IPA". I would have just called this beer, "Harpoon New England style IPA" or just "Harpoon New England IPA".

 

I'm in Boston for the a few days for a seminar and decided to walk over to the Fenway Craft Beer Cellar at lunch. Just as I got there the lady was unpacking Galaxy Dry Hopped Psuedo Sue. She remarked that they hadn't even put it up on their social media yet.

 

How much were those bombers? $14.99?

 

$12.75 after tax