What's your "Non-Whale" surprise beer this year?

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by henryspam, Nov 30, 2012.

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  1. henryspam

    henryspam Crusader (424) Jan 14, 2009 California
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    Yes, I know those Midnight Sun M and Cantillon Don Quijote have to be mind-blowingly awesome. But what about those beer that totally blown your mind but didn't cost you an arm, leg, and testicle? Here is mine...

    1, FW 14- rare but not whale, had this in NYC Rattle and Hum for $7 a pop with some old friends. I milked 3-4 pops, left the bar at 2am, passed out in the 7 train, got home at 5am, totally worth it. I still remember the waitress told me how strange that I kept ordering multples of FW 14 since that beer had been on tap for awhile and nobody ever ordered it.

    2, De Struise Rio Reserva- had it on Oakland Trappist. I am a big fan of De Struise Pannepot but I've never heard of Rio Reserva. I literally puked rainbows after a few sips.

    So whats your "non whale" surprise beer this year?
     
    #1 henryspam, Nov 30, 2012
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  2. davey101

    davey101 Pooh-Bah (2,360) Apr 14, 2009 Connecticut
    Pooh-Bah

    Sebago Barrel Aged Barleywine/thread
     
    #2 davey101, Nov 30, 2012
    MisterGrizz, GrindFatherBob, SpdKilz and 13 others like this.
  3. jeevo

    jeevo Pundit (976) Nov 1, 2012 Pennsylvania
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    You traded one of your testicles for a beer?
     
    #3 jeevo, Nov 30, 2012
    WmFields41, ABisonEgo, YogiBeer and 1 other person like this.
  4. henryspam

    henryspam Crusader (424) Jan 14, 2009 California
    Trader

    Well i had 3, so i traded one out
     
    #4 henryspam, Nov 30, 2012
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  5. davey101

    davey101 Pooh-Bah (2,360) Apr 14, 2009 Connecticut
    Pooh-Bah

    Sounds like a win-win to me
     
    #5 davey101, Nov 30, 2012
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  6. digita7693

    digita7693 Initiate (0) Jan 19, 2010 Germany

    Green Flash Rayon Vert, can get a 4 pack for almost the same price as a single Orval.
     
    #6 digita7693, Nov 30, 2012
    MisterGrizz, drgarage, JoEBoBpr and 4 others like this.
  7. evilc

    evilc Initiate (0) Jan 27, 2012 California

    2009 Port Older Viscosity. No one cares about it. Every bit as good as BCBS.
     
    #7 evilc, Nov 30, 2012
    sbuysse, rrryanc, TWStandley and 6 others like this.
  8. HumphreyLee

    HumphreyLee Initiate (0) Jan 15, 2011 Pennsylvania

    That does seem rather excessive no? I mean, I've routinely said I'd gladly give up one of my boys if it meant I got to use the other on Mila Kunis, but as much as I love beer I don't think I could go that far.

    As far as beer goes though, I'm still new to this so I don't really know if I could be "surprised" by stuff since I'm working on getting my beer knowledge base up. I was shocked at how much I went from not being able to do hoppy beers to enjoying a decent bit depending on how the hopping was used. I guess I should finally try my Brux to see if I end up enjoying it considering it seems to be a markedly mixed beer on reception.
     
    #8 HumphreyLee, Nov 30, 2012
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  9. supercolter

    supercolter Maven (1,290) Apr 19, 2006 Wisconsin
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    SERENDIPITY... that is all.
     
    #9 supercolter, Nov 30, 2012
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  10. jmgrub

    jmgrub Initiate (0) Nov 20, 2010 California

    Trois Dames L'Amoureuse No. 2, Meantime Naval College Old Porter
     
    #10 jmgrub, Nov 30, 2012
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  11. gtermi

    gtermi Initiate (0) Apr 21, 2010 Texas

    Jester King Boxers Revenge. Best sour I have ever had.. Also the beer that open my eyes to sours
     
    #11 gtermi, Nov 30, 2012
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  12. henryspam

    henryspam Crusader (424) Jan 14, 2009 California
    Trader

    And my third surprise has to be Bruery White Chocolate. I always think their provision series are basically mediocre beer with fancy labels and price tags. But that white chocolate...really tastes like white chocolate...ok bruery you win.
     
    #12 henryspam, Nov 30, 2012
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  13. nrs207

    nrs207 Initiate (0) Sep 8, 2011 Pennsylvania

    There's too much stuff to name. Considering I just got into craft last September, I had a lot of new stuff this year. If I had to pick, it'd probably be HF Abner or Zombie Dust. I'll throw in KBS and BCBS too.
     
    #13 nrs207, Nov 30, 2012
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  14. Jules11788

    Jules11788 Initiate (0) Feb 15, 2011 California

    This year's Remy. The reviews are extremely underwhelming and I went to the release party and got a couple bottles as well as had it on tap. It was sub-par on tap at the release, but a couple weeks ago I cracked a bottle and it turned out to absolutely phenomenal. Never really had a beer before that was literally ten times better in the bottle than on tap, so just goes to show what a few months can do for a brew
     
    #14 Jules11788, Nov 30, 2012
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  15. bifrost17

    bifrost17 Initiate (0) Dec 16, 2011 Washington

    My trading buddy sent me some Anti Hero IPA from Revolution brewing company a month or so ago and I loved that beer! So awesome.
     
    #15 bifrost17, Nov 30, 2012
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  16. libbey

    libbey Initiate (0) May 18, 2008 British Indian Ocean Territory

    Plead the 5th
     
    #16 libbey, Nov 30, 2012
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  17. pixieskid

    pixieskid Initiate (0) Jun 4, 2009 Germany

    You started a thread about non-whale beers but then list 2 fairly rare/expensive beers...

    FYI Rio Reserva is around 40 euros a bottle, quite limited, and to be perfectly honest not very impressive (I've tried it twice)

    In regards to your question, the last beer that surprised the shit out of me and is by no means a whale is Meantimes Raspberry Wheat. I saw the label and thought, wow that is probably going to be really bad (no offense to Meantime, it's a great brewery). Tasted it and thought damn, that might be the most impressive fruit beer (aside from lambics) I've ever tasted. Up there with New Glarus' fruit beers, if not better.
     
    #17 pixieskid, Nov 30, 2012
  18. henryspam

    henryspam Crusader (424) Jan 14, 2009 California
    Trader

    Oh muh bad...I thought FW 14 was just expensive but not whale.....at least they were on the shelves for awhile in sf bay area...what surprised me the most was when the waitress told me how people would order that beer, drink half of it and order something else. And thanks for your recommendation of Meantimes raspberry wheat, I'd definitely try it before 12/21
     
    #18 henryspam, Nov 30, 2012
  19. pixieskid

    pixieskid Initiate (0) Jun 4, 2009 Germany

    The FW anny beers are quite good and limited, but the reason they sit around for a while is because of the pricetag (imo, not everybody wants to drop 18-25 bucks on a bomber).
     
    #19 pixieskid, Nov 30, 2012
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  20. Jules11788

    Jules11788 Initiate (0) Feb 15, 2011 California

    Apparently they do, cause those things sell out mighty quick up here. I wish I could still get my hands on a XIII, XIV, or XV. I saw a few XIVs up in Oregon a couple months back and didn't hesitate to drop $25 a bottle for two bottles. That stuff is gold
     
    #20 Jules11788, Nov 30, 2012
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