Good morning crispy autumnal ale argonauts, Mid-MI was awakened to ice blue skies and abundant sunshine, with a prickly invigorating light breeze. Which has to be polar (no pun intended) opposite of mattcrill's 10th wedding anniversary location on Cancun, MX as I type this. He's been our anchor all throughout my busy (wedding DJ) season, but I managed to miraculously fill-in while he and his wife frolic the beaches and toast to everything great in their beautiful family. As a matter of fact, why don't we all raise a chalice in their honor of hitting the 10 yr. mark of marriage! Just because this is my busy work season, doesn't mean I've neglected my craft beer duties. Grand Rapids, MI has seen the likes of me since the beginning of summer, with places like HopCat, Founders, Brewery Vivant being my homes-away-from-home. I'm VERY excited to be visiting Perrin Brewing (Comstock Park, MI - just north of Grand Rapids) this week. Their Perrin Pale (actually, it's a 7.2% American IPA) is exceptional! I'm sure Perrin will be a huge craft beer magnet. Northern lower MI has been a wedding destination for my clients this summer also. Right Brain's new facility is sweet! While Jolly Pumpkin/North Peak's Old Mission brewpub in Traverse City is always a perfect stop. And, when you're in Traverse City, you gots to zig zag your way up into Short's country. My most recent visit of last weekend, SHort's had some quite interesting (aren't they all?) taproom only offerings; The Gambler (kinda like a Lagavulin single malt scotch of a beer), Bourbon Dirty Bird (Dbl. hopped brown ale in bourbon barrels), Mmm Kay (Hugely hopped lager), A fruity Belgian IPA (forget the name), and a Spanish cedar aged beer that literally tasted like the inside of a humidor (still trying to get over this one). I celebrated a 10th anniv. of my own this August. The Great Taste of the Midwest in Madison, WI did not disappoint. Three Floyd's is always the first beer stop, and it's so hard to top. Their Busy Boys (German Pils?) was the best 'delicate' domestically brewed beer I think I've *ever* had. Oh, and that little know beer called Zombie Dust, FRESH from the source...yeah, it was alright Revolution Brewing in Logan Square (Chicago) was a first-time for me, and I liked it so much I got a couple growlers (Bottom Up Wit & Anti-Hero IPA) to go -AND- stopped back for another couple growlers on my way back to MI. Their food was off the chain also! Madison, WI is always a delight. The fest totally rocked, and the weather was 75F and breezy/partly cloudy - PERFECT! I won't even go into ALL the breweries I visited while festing, but boy oh boy, it was a lot. Even had the chance to make a pit stop into Greenbush Brewing in Sherwood, MI a couple hours after leaving Revolution. Great place, and the Black IPA (forget the name) was very sturdy. I went on a beer-free cleansing for 1 week afterwards, as that weekend is mucho taxing - but worth it. Oh, and I bought a parakeet (JUST KIDDING). Let's all grab a brand new beer and AFTER we've drunk it, let's post a review (or a good description, if you don't formally review your beers) on this thread. I miss being here and I'll be looking out for some colorful commentary and some insightful remarks on your delicious new ales & lagers. Good day and good drinkin'. In the undying spirit of good beer, malty
***New American Double/Imperial IPA Sunday!!! G'day Malty! Good to see you pop in for a NBS chat. Thanks to apocalypsezombie, I got to try this gem of a Rye infused DIPA, my 1800th review: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/26/85094/?ba=Bitterbill I toast you with the last ~2 ounces. You Michiganders sure have it good. Since I picked up a Sierra Nevada Beer Camp box yesterday, I'll have a couple of more new beers to try. Looking forward to a lengthy thread here with new reviews or damn good descriptions of their beer drinking experiences so I can drool...hint, hint.
I believe that to be "The Fizzness". I like it quite a bit. Next time you venture to TC, send me a BM. I'm always down to grab a beer with a BA member...
I've had both Hennepin and now I'm enjoying Aecht Schlenkerla Helles Lagerbier for the first time today. The bottle cap was on extremely tight, which destroyed one of my bottle openers. I managed to get it open, but made a big gash in my finger because of it. That might explain why it didn't get fives.
Russian Imperial Stout There was frost on the pumpkins this morning so it seems to me like Imperial Stout time. At first blush this looked like it will be a phenominal beer, but the taste just did nothing for me. Caldera's Old Growth Imperial Stout: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/1075/20818/?ba=morimech
New Am. IPA Sunday Greetings NSBer's, Welcome back to Malty and anniversary greetings to mattcrill. Autumn arrived yesterday in SCMN yesterday in more ways than one with our first frost. So the weather is right is right on schedule and beautiful it is. This week is my final Big Buck beer with an AmIPA coming in at a listed 8.2%. A little bigger than I usual partake in at these affairs, as I do have the rest of the day to live, but I'll take one for the team here. :0) http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/755/28644 Best to all this week.
Cracked open one I hadn't seen here in Georgia before- Brash's The Bollocks imperial IPA. It's a huge IPA that's not afraid to kick some ass. Give it a try.
***New Oatmeal Stout Sunday!!! 2012 Beer Camp #15. I couldn't find it in the BA database. Typical Sierra Nevada excellence in the appearance. Black in colour, impressive 2 finger head of tan foam, great lacing. Cocoa, coffee, roasted malt, dark chocolate in the smell...not strong but there. For a big beer, I expected a bigger "punch" smell wise. Dark chocolate bitterness, roasted malt, coffee and cocoa, the taste is huge compared to what I was getting in the smell. I'm also getting some of the ample alcohol...why does an Oatmeal Stout need to be 9%abv? Oh well. The brew certainly won't bore me to death; it's actually tasty and with less alcohol, would be an easy drinker. As is, the sips I'm taking are on the slow side. Full bodied, light carbonation, there's no complaints about the mouthfeel. I like this beer but I guess I'm not a huge fan of an Imperial Oatmeal Stout, if that makes any sense. Edit: Is this the Oatmeal Stout I see as Beer Camp #45?
New Scottish Gruit Sunday So far a very nice day here in Northern Utah, sunny mid 70s, it's suppose to rain later today though. Another nice brew from a recent trade. First time from this brewery. http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/14/84578/?ba=Wasatch Cheers!
New Fruit Beer Sunday I'm sipping on my first Well's Banana Bread Beer and I quite like it! http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/664/5488/?ba=yamar68 Cheers!
New American Adjunct Lager Sunday http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/75/232/?ba=mattcrill Turns out I have an internet connection here in Cancun. I'm celebrating 10 years with my beautiful bride sans kids at the Secrets Silver Sands resort. The view, the pool, the food, and the service are all great. The beer...not so much. My choices are Corona, Corona Light, Bud, or Pacifico. I can't even get a Guinness here! Looks like I'll be sticking to the hard stuff, possibly some wine, or develop an affinity for fruity mixed drinks. I really can't complain however this is my sole offering for NBS week 396. Thanks to malty for keeping it rollin'. Always a little sketchy when you're relying on Mexican internet Next week I'll be back and better than ever. I miss hops. Cheers and happy NBS! Matt
New American IPA Sunday. Cool and overcast in West MI. Hosted an awesome pre-Oktobeffest party last night. Got in a run this afternoon. Decent sports weekend. Could be an interesting finish with the Lions. http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/1457/85569/?ba=GRPunk
Greetings, NBSers, It's in the mid-60s in the largest city between Seattle and Minneapolis, and a little bit cloudy, but the smog from the various forest fires seems to be toned down today, so I'm happy. Being able to breathe is nice. Without a Seahawk game to watch today, I decided to do some cleaning. Included in this cleaning was a cleaning of the fridge, where I found two beers that had been sitting for a little while and needed to be dealt with. First up was a bottle of Helles Bells from Ninkasi: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/14400/72570/?ba=woemad This is one of the more outstanding "lighter" beers I have had this summer. It totally hit the sweet spot between lightness and flavor. Next up was an "Existential Alt" from Full Sail, part of their "Brewer's Share" program: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/5316/45553/?ba=woemad Despite being over three months past it's "best by" date (oops), this was tasty. Close enough to the traditional German style but with just a litttle more hop bitterness thrown in to remind you it was brewed in Oregon, not the Ruhr.
New Belgian IPA Greetings NBSers! Been a while since I was here but finally found freshly stocked bottle of this on the shelf Friday. http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/220/57912/?ba=FanofHefe Nice way to start the late afternoon, early evening on a beautiful day in So. IL. Cheers
*** NewBelgian Dark Ale Sunday *** Greetings NBS, Checking in from a little weekend family vacation this Sunday. Relaxing and watching football right now and enjoying this new beer from Ommegang while waiting to leave for dinner. Beautiful weather in Cape Cod right now. http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/42/84831/?ba=CHADMC3
NEW IIPA It's good, I enjoyed it, and definitely my favorite IPA from Avery. That said, can't say I am a fan of their approach to brewing IPA's as the bitter flavor profile they go for is just not for me.
Regimental Reserve - Barrel Aged Scotch Ale - from Tri-City Brewing today. I've never been a huge fan of Tri-City, but this is a really great brew.
New Stout Sunday! Peche Mortel Beautiful fall evening here in VT, and a wonderful beer to enjoy during it. Cheers all!
