Latest WOW! Beer (2020)

Two more recent candidates: TG Dolphin Sparkles and Creature Comforts Tropicália. Disappointed that the former is not, as the name would suggest, a glitter beer. Nevertheless, 5's across the board for both. YMMV.

 

Glad you liked the Tropicalia! I drank way to much of it and it kind of lost its magic for me over the year but I loved in when i was drinking it. It is like a gateway between a traditional IPA and a hazy IPA almost.

 

Latest wow beer.............two words for you all...........Double Jack! Yes, its back, at least for a while. Get it, and know what a classic west coast DIPA is all about.

 

I hope this makes it to the philly area!!

 

I had Abricco last weekend. What’s the difference between these two beers?

 

I didnt have this beer in 7+years, but paulaner salvator blew me away last night what a great beer!

 

2SP Slowdive. I was impressed at how much complexity there was from this single-hopped Citra NEIPA. As I was reviewing it, I was very surprised when I read that it was an all-Citra hopped ale.

 

Abrico has apricots. Albarrique has apricots and Riesling juice.

 

This confirms that most NEIPAs should be packaged in juice box format.

 

If you see this beer, get as much as you can. It is incredibly good.

35th Anniversary Expedition Stout Reserve

 

Been a few years since I’ve had It (won’t happen again) but just had a Bell’s Lager of the Lakes. Fantastic beer.

 

Toppling Goliath Mornin' Delight

 

A Grand Rapids friend recently shipped me a round of fresh beers from his neck of the woods, most of which I had never tried. Two stood out in big ways:

Arvon Silk in the Wind -- wonderful and unique (which is rare at this point) hazie
OddSide Double Dank Juice -- dank, resiny, weedy beauty

 

Things have slowed down quite a bit since our son was born, but I have to use this opportunity to shout out a beer that 100% lived up to the hype. Back in February I got to tick the legendary O.W.K. at Side Project’s inaugural festival of BA stouts and Barleywines. I’d love to one to day revisit this behemoth of a beer. Barrel-Aged perfection.

 

Hill Farmstead - Flora Plum (2018)

I opened this one last night, and this was the definition of WOW. What a stunner. The plum is very subtle, other than this absolutely divine grape Pixie Stix note on the nose, and some tart plum skin flavour and bright fruitiness, but the amount of Florence that shined through here made me feel like I was drinking Flora - a bottle I'll likely never get my hands on. Everything was so balanced and dialed in, with perfect subtle acidity, sparkly minerality, lively effervescence, and all the right threads of oak, funk, and nuance. Very grateful to have been able to enjoy this. 4.62/5

 

Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Urbock - Incredible depth of flavor. Like Bacon in a glass.

While typing I'm reminded there is a semi-local brewey that has a smoky stout/porter. Yazoo's Sue. I need to pick some up next time I'm at the store.

 

Really? i have not had an WOW beer in this, what i call, the year of stupid. Then again, I can't get Toppling Goliath's top ranked stouts. Until they make enough to distribute, how will most know? That's not to pick on TG, I quite enjoyed Pseudo Sue this year. My point is, unless you count the I don't know how many years old So Happens It's Tuesday I was lucky enough to pick up for 1/2 price, there has NOT been an WOW beer this year. 2020 KBS was, of course, very good, but not as good as the perfect 2019 barrel bomb, or the 2018 COFFEE bomb. Did get couple 1/2 price 2018 coffee forward CBS, much better than the full price 2019 4 pak I paid for Nov 1 2019, i remember it like yesterday, because I killed the crabs last year Nov 1. Point is, there is not an WOW beer brewed this year that I know of.

 

I mentioned this a couple days ago in "what are you drinking now" thread. It is the only new beer I have had this year that I claim is worthy of 5 in BA ratings. Unfortunately it will only be around for about 2 months because it is one of a series. I got mine at Trader Joes in Yorba Linda last week

 

Had it yesterday thanks to @foundersasap and @Whyteboar

good beer

 

For 2020, Fremont Rusty Nail and B-bomb variants which have become more available. Loved them to the point that they may have passed FW as my second favorite brewery (behind SN). May be..