The ever evading beer

Heady should be pretty easy to trade for coming from SD-there are tons of beers from that neck of the woods that would be of interest to Vermont locals. You're more likely to get them super fresh too. And you won't be supporting the beer black market!

 

I've managed to pull off trying most of my bucket list beers and I'm fortunate to have had the opportunities. There are definitely still a few that I have never been able to land. I'd say the biggest for me are:
-Aaron
-Geneology of Morals
-Westly

 

Agreed. Cracked my bottle of CBS after about 2 years of aging. Pure bliss. Wish i never opened it.

 

I think that our collective problem as BAs is that we are always searching for that elusive beer and not taking the time to appreciate the beer right in front of us.

I am not preaching, rather I stand guilty as charged. The thing is that I have more often than not been disappointed by a whale once I caught it. Even beers that I have enjoyed and rated highly are rarely worth the effort and money expended on them.

 

not really chasing, just taking what comes my way. Daughter scored me a Heady Topper back in February from a friend, and I paid her back when we were in Napa, bought her a Pliny the Elder. I actually think she liked the Pliny better. I thought they were both great beers. Pliny has the edge, because I drank it while in the company of my daughters, so atmosphere matters .

 

There's definitely some truth to this. Sometimes I get too fixated on trying to land out of market beers, that I neglect good locally available ones. Sometimes I think I also try too hard to get new stuff, when I could just as easily enjoy readily available beer I already know I love.

 

I can get good examples of any style I want locally and the best distributor in the State is 20 minutes away with a store across the street. Within a half days drive there are several major cities and a dozen craft brewers. So my beer needs are met.

What I need is time . . . and a designated driver.

 

KBS. Maybe this year is the year.

Then again, so many beers, so little time.

 

It's definitely human nature to put a higher value on something that's not easily obtainable. It's very likely there's something just as good and probably fresher sitting on the shelf in the shop around the corner. I honestly believe that sometimes the beer itself is secondary to the thrill of the hunt, which is fine if that's what makes you happy. Personally I'm perfectly satisfied drinking what I can get at the Woodmans on the way home from work and missing out on the life changing beer experiences.

 

I'll echo CBS..missed it at least the past 5-6 times it was available here..usually taps midweek and kicks same night.

 

Assassin and/or Vanilla Bean Dark Lord.

My beer store guy, who I have a tremendous amount of respect for when it comes to taste and general recommendations, claims those are his two favorite beers of all time. This is a guy whose had basically every 'whale' you can think of. Ever since he said that, I've been trying to get my hands on one (preferably both).

 

Focal for me as well.

 

Where in SC do you live? If you can find it, Westbrook Gose trades pretty well.

 

Parabajava. Floated some trades out there a couple times, but no bites. One day....

 

All the Toppling Goliath beers - Lucky enough I received King Sue and PseudoSue in a trade
Treehouse - Had Julius, Alter Ego and Eureka
Other Half - Had Citra, Make it Rain, Green Diamonds, All Green Everything
Night Shift - Had Santilli, 87, Awake, Trifecta
Bissell Brothers - The Substance and Swish
Everything by The Alchemist - I've had Heady Topper a total of 4 times
Lawsons - Only had Super Session #2 twice
Three Floyds - Had ZD and Alpha King - would love to grab a Dark Lord sometime before I die LOL
Russian River - Had PtE a total of 4 times
Trillium

Honestly this list could go on and on and on...would love to just go right to the source if I had the money!
But I am completely satisfied with what I have in Pittsburgh

 

Brewdog End of History

 

I don't know where in Mexico you live, but, just out of curiosity, what US craft breweries do you get in Mexico?

 

Well, I finally got to try some Heady Topper, and a couple of beers by Grimm and Singlecut. Now I just need to get anything by Tree House, Trillium, Hill Farmstead, Lawson's, and Other Half.

 

KBS and Backwoods Bastard. Although I think I'll see them next season. And some of the great German brews like Korbinian and Vitus. They should be here before long. I'll try Pliny and Heady before I die, that's as far as I can go, there.