Beer shop finds.

Yea, for sure

 

I've seen some on draft around but never cans. I only recall getting the stouts, sours, goses, etc in bomber format.

 

Good call, got the VP & Sour Rose. No sign of the Vieille but was pleasantly surprised the others were still kicking around

 

Picked up some Idle Hands Galaxy Two Seam (gone now) and Toppling Goliath Fire Skulls and Money (2 four packs left yesterday afternoon) at Redstone. Then as I was checking out, I saw this on the counter.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/ratebeer/?path=/beer/hofbrau-freising-festbier/26024/

Apparently it just came off the truck. No clue what it is, but it was a tasty Festbier. More Hofbrau than Weihenstephan, full bodied with a bit of alcohol burn on the finish being the only negative. Bear in mind I’d had a few beers already.

Also noticed the rest of the usual Oktoberfest suspects at Redstone (Spaten, Ayinger...etc.) and Fire in the Ham from Jack’s Abby. I’ll grab those next week when they hit my local store.

I do recommend buying and drinking the Ayinger first if you see it. I emailed Merchant du Vin and discovered it was bottled late April. So this is already four months old.

Also picked up some cans of Bells Lager of the Lakes (love the can art) at Ball Square. Excellent beer.

 

A small gripe:

I'm in a local beer store and I notice Bell's Black Note. "Oooo," I say to the fine young man working the store, "This is interesting. I didn't know this had come in. What can you tell me about it?"

He responded with excitement, "People are going crazy over it. And it's already a year old!"

Why would I want a beer that I've never had (and clearly I've expressed my unfamiliarity with it) that is a year old? Yes, I get aging and all that. But I haven't had it fresh. What would I be comparing the year old beer to? How would I know the changes, evolutions, or differences? I might think it's delicious, but is that a result of it being a year old (hint: it's not)? Why do people do this? Why do craft beer drinkers look at a menu or go to their favorite store and hear, "It's ____ years old" and think, "SOLD!"? It's like we can't have anything in the middle. We either want a beer that's < 2 weeks old or > year old. I hate us.

 

Yeah but, it was a YEAR old!

 

For my part, no good can come from asking a beer store clerk for their thoughts on beers, lol. If I’ve got questions while I’m in the store, I bury my nose in my phone and do my own research.

And yeah, I was a little disheartened to see that it was 2017 Black Note since, like you, I prefer to drink all my beer relatively fresh (not 2 weeks fresh, but reasonably fresh). That said, price wasn’t exorbitant, bought some, and it was delicious (still will keep an eye out for 2018 this fall). Hope you at least grabbed a bottle.

 

Depends on where you go in my opinion.

At Ball Square they have a very knowledgable staff, and they largely have the same tastes as I do.

 

That’s probably true. I just tend to trust my own research and experience more. Oh and recs from you folks too, lol.

 

Some of us folks work at bottle shops too you know.

 

I actually did not buy a bottle. I’m sure it’s great, but I’m cool with waiting on it.

 

Not a jab at you at all, but every suggestion I’ve gotten on BA for a shelf IPA to try has been a massive bust.

 

I was going through BA imperial stout withdrawal. Recently finished my case of Willetized and Clown Shoes has me waiting impatiently for the re-release of Very Angry Beast, as well as the Exorcisim of Rich Ackerman and BA Pecan Pie Porter.

Absolutely! I didn't actually intend any slight. I just generally need a few sources before I try out something completely new, so by the time I'm at the store, if I haven't heard of it before, it's too late.

 

Anyone have a recommendation for shops around Canton, MA? Moved here a couple months ago and seemingly can't find any shop other than Yankee spirits in Norwood.

 

When you’ve had enough Trillium, then Craft Beer Cellar in Roslindale, Norfolk or Braintree - depends which traffic you prefer. Wines and More in Walpole is ok. Yankee in Attleboro has a much better selection than Norwood. Canton proper is a bit of a dead zone for large selection craft - in a pinch TriTown or Lukes or Canton Village wine all in cobbs corner have basic craft, same with Wegmans in Dedham.

 

Epic Brewing Barrel Aged Imperial Pumpkin Porter and Pipeworks Arowana (bombers of each) at Redstone. $14.99 and $10.99 respectively

 

Picked up a 4 pack of 2017 Bells black note stout at total wine in Danvers. Hope to get some 2018 fresh when it comes out but the 2017 was very good. Heard they will be opening a Total wine in Burlingon.

 

Picked up a four pack of Jack’s Abby Fire in the Ham and a four of Ayninger Octoberfest. Super excited to try both!
Also, I hear four packs of King Sue are hitting the shelf’s Friday.

 

King Sue has already dropped at quite a few places this week

 

Where was this?

Yup, I called Redstone after they tweeted out that they had it, and they said it went quickly.