Oldies But Goodies - a Classics Appreciation Thread (2023)

I only wish. On Wednesday afternoon we had our second snowfall of the year where the snow stayed on the ground until the next day. Only the second snowfall of the year here. They are predicting the first winter in Toronto with an average daily temperature above freezing in forever. My kids are pining for some snow.

 

I have a 2017 in my fridge. I need to drink that soon. I had a 2011 at Christmas and it was amazing

Funny, I see Double Bag all the time in Sussex County, and we are always last to see anything.

I do not know how old it is though.

 

Hmmm...I don't know how to define "around for a while". I'm assuming you mean older than "brand new" but not necessarily Weihenstephan ancient? Allagash was founded in 1995, but they have certainly produced classics. If you include the criteria of defining a style, I'd definitely suggest that Jack's Abby Hoponius Union (which I have not had in a long while) is a classic and they have only been around since 2011.

Not seeking an argument or trying to derail what should be a fun thread with tons of discussion. I was just thinking (between this and the other thread on the subject) the term classic is somewhat arbitrary and the criteria will evolve as we define it amongst ourselves with examples. Maybe it's like some other things - we don't know exactly what it is but know it when we see it.

I agree with @JackHorzempa about craft drinkers always looking for the new shiney - and I am as guilty as anybody in that regard. I try to drink two new beers a week for the NBW thread and there's certainly no shortage of new beers. I don't drink much during the week, so my own repeat rate is dismal.

 

Uhhhhh.. excuse me, sir… Old Rasputin would like to have a word with you

 

Gumball Head surprised the hell out of me, I was expecting something more like Oberon with the spicy hop intense flavor but Gumball Head was pretty mild and more easy drinking. Wasnt expecting that.

 

Hacker-Pschorr Oktoberfest

 

This beer is THE classic in my opinion. Just given its longevity (in terms of years and popularity) and the IPA trend in US craft beer.

 

One of the first beers that introduced me to styles other than lagers, IPA's. stouts, etc, was The Vine by Cascade. Years ago, Cascade was one of the few breweries that home shipped to Texas, so it was easy to enjoy Vine and other offerings not available on local shelves.

 

Good point! I'll define it as 20 years so that any of a brewery's beers would be at least that old to be a 'classic' in my way of thinking.

 

I misunderstood your first post thinking you were going to list some Canadian beers in that post. But since I didn't see them I joked about the white beer in the snowstorm. Re-reading your first post I now see that the "will participate" is meant to be more later than in that thread. (Does this make any sense?)

 

My most recent experience was pretty mild too because the beer was a bit old, but I've always considered it to be an intensely hoppy wheat beer. It also helps my appreciation of the beer that whatever hops they use are some that I really like.

 

I have bottles of each of those in my refrigerator. I regularly drink Two Hearted but I picked up the Kalamazoo Stout as part of a mix-a-six with the thinking "I have never had this beer before, I really should try one". I bought that Kalamazoo Stout with the intention of discussing it in a future NBW thread (which I will indeed do sometime soon). I will cross post that discussion in this thread as well.

@jonphisher, it turns out I had a classic beer that I never had before in my possession already. I wonder if I have more?

Cheers!

 

Time to do some 'exploring' in my beer cellar!?!

Cheers!

P.S. If you don't 'hear' from me in tomorrow's NBW thread that means I got lost.

 

Went with some friends to AllyCatz GrubHouse in Denver, IA, last evening, and had a chance to revisit a classic: Stone IPA. I ordered this more or less by default after checking out the beer menu. The server probably thought I was a pain in the ass after I asked her to check on the format and then a glass to put it in, but it was worth it. Beautiful pour, perfectly balanced, and gorgeous lacing top to bottom. Quintessential beer drinker's beer, 'nuff said.

 

Brooklyn Lager

Iconic to say the least and I would say it has stood the test of time.

After having this beer recently I will admit I dont like it as much as I once used to but then again I was never the hugest fan of this particular style of lager.

I prefer lighter shades of color in my lagers but that is not to say this is not a well made beer, it is. And more hoppier then Sam Adams Boston lager. I think they dry hopped this one with Cascade hops.

I still like to by this one every once in a while if the dates are good. But usually don't know how far out Brooklyn Dates this beer.

 

Jack, your cellar is probably all 'classics.'

 

I wasn't thinking of this one before I read the posts, never thought about how "Long" it has been around.

Allagash White was my first thought.

Glad to see the support for DB and I'm going to get one now, or two Long Trail Ales. Altbier is one of my favorite wish-there-were-more styles. Prost.