my favorite lagers were Andeker (pre-1980 version) and Augsburger (Huber-brewed) more Lagers (not attributed to all brewers of each brand) Some were very good, some not so good, and most changed over time Coors Herman Joseph Huber Ausgburger, Berghoff BlitzWeinhard Henry's Horlacher Perfection Schmidt Prior Stroh Signature Hamms Waldech And there were a bunch of others.
A few come to mind: Founders Imperial Stout Founders Curmudgeon Ommegang Fleur de Houblon Summer Ale Double Two Hearted - I think it is still brewed but I haven't seen it in our area for several years Clown Shoes Rexx Imperial Red Ale
Too many to list all, but there are some that stand out. Some of which still exist, but no longer distributed locally… Victory Java Cask Victory Prima Pils Founders Mosaic Promise Founders ReDankulous Ballast Point Victory @ Sea BP Hi West V@S Great Lakes Rye of the Tiger Half Acre GoneAway Anchor Our Special Ale Surly Todd the Axe Man (when Todd brewed it!) Little Kings Blood Orange Cream Ale (I kid you not!!) Rhinegeist Streaker Great Divide Chocolate Oak Aged Yeti Avery Tweak Avery Uncle Jacob’s Stout Fatheads Bone Head Red Fatheads Hop Stalker Deschutes Red Chair Sierra Nevada 2015 Okto w/ Brauhaus Riegele Sierra Nevada Kellerweis And virtually the entire Lagunitas catalog, pre-Heineken buyout…esp that 2015-2016 Born Yesterday!!
Just thinking about some of these gems makes me feel nostalgic and there are way too many to list them all but here are a few of mine that come to mind: -Deschutes Cinder Cone Red -Bridgeport Blue Heron Pale Ale -Full Sail Old Boardhead Barleywine -OG Green Flash West Coast IPA (THE beer that got me hooked on Simcoe hops) -Lagunitas Kill Ugly Radio -Dogfish Head Immort Ale -Ballast Point Fathom IPL -New Belgium Mighty Arrow -OG Elyisan The Wise ESB -Block 15 Aboriginale Cheers!
So many great beers on this list, I won't even try to add to it, but I agree with so many. (Ok I miss Stone Russian Imperial Stout) What do I really miss? I miss, the people I use to share these beers with. I miss the chase, the hype debates, the anticipation...scoring a great locals vs locals trade, or scoring that whale you wanted...then sharing it with half a dozen advocates that appreciated it...not just the beer, but the effort that went into getting it, and that they chose to share it with you, at peak freshness, release, season, or just the beer itself being an event, and sharing that event with fellow explorers. I miss those that were there, those that brewed, the cumlative passion, thrill, reverie. Yeah... I miss them....I miss it all.
Since it sounds like Massachusetts might not be getting any this year, Sierra Nevada Celebration in bottles.
Moralite by Dieu Du Ciel was my favorite beer and the best IPA I ever had. Nobody seems to stock it anymore.
Definetly Anchor Christmas Ale. Also, Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marron. Lately it's been Backwoods Bastard, not because it's retired, but because they don't distribute to my area anymore.
There's a name I haven't heard in some time. Completely agree with your assessment. As I recall, it was pretty well priced as well.
We used to have bottle shares like that, sort of. A few of us would get together occasionally at a friend's house. His wife would cook up something special and we'd take loads of beer (and sometimes wine or a good Scotch) for everyone to sample. They were always pretty heavy on imperial stouts. My friend and his son and daughter went to Surly every year for the Darkness releases. There weren't too many BAs in attendance, so it was always fun to share something new or unfamiliar with the group. After my friend's wife passed we gradually stopped having them. I really miss those days. I don't hunt whalez any more and I seldom drink more than one beer a week. However, I still have a metric crap-ton of big beers in the cellar just waiting for the next share. (And a Big Beers Box, too! )
Bottle shares are definitely a blast. I've some great memories of some in Colorado and here in Pittsburgh. People moved. Others had kids. Some freaked out about COVID. Sad that I haven't been to anything like that in 6 or 7 years. They were a great way to spend an afternoon or evening!
Those were two different beers: Ballantine XXX Ale and Ballantine India Pale Ale. I miss 'em both... (Falstaff's Ballantine Brewers Gold Ale, too, while I'm at it ).
I bought this year’s Harvest Ale at the brewery last month. sadly not distributed. I regret only getting one 6 pack. I’m told there might be Third Coast Ale in the near future. I’m hoping that’s true. Cheers.
Remind me... that's Founder's version of a wet hop beer isn't it? It's been quite a few years since I last had it, so I may have misremembrred.
Damn! I miss Palo Santo. That is one of a handful of brews that got me into craft. Miss it pretty big.
