Unexpected beer finds

Pliny the Younger at Old Chicago in Albuquerque

 

Yeah, found Blackout stout on tap at a movie theater in Columbus Ohio...HUH?

 

Yesterday, in Glen, NH. Backwoods Bastard on the shelf, Boltcutter on the counter. Jaw-dropping.

 

Dogfish Head 120 Minute at a biker dive bar in the slummy part of Mountain View. Made my night.

 

went into a little hole in the wall liquor store that had 2008 world wide stout...the guy behind the counter was like why would you want that beer its 5 years old? lol

 

I know this is a little home bias, but there's a dive bar here in Richmond known for letting local bands perform who posted the following on tap over the weekend along with some others:

Hopslam
Hardywood gingerbread stout
Hardywood BBA gingerbread stout
Hardywood 2011 Bourbon Cru

 

I have a leftover UNO Chicago Bar and Grill giftcard from Christmas so I'll be going there soon. I dont expect to find any Hopslam for sale. The last time I went was like 2 years ago and the best of the craft beer offerings on the menu was stuff like Redhook ESB and maybe some Sam Adams seasonals I think. Its still a bit better than Applebees beer selection though. I had Guinness Draught from the 14.9 oz can the last time I went and it was a terrible beer.

 

Brute at a ithaca tap take over at a college bar

 

The selection of beer at any chain restaurant is going to vary from region to region and unit to unit. You don't mention where you are in your profile, but there's a UNO in NJ that includes a brewpub - http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/1874 and another outside of Trenton with a pretty impressive draught list for a chain joint - http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/25292/view=beerfly sample beer menu at http://www.beermenus.com/places/3283-uno-chicago-grill-hamilton-nj

I imagine there are many more UNO's with a typical chain restaurant beer selection where Samual Adams seasonal is the most exotic choice.

 

Popped into a bar last night that had some of the beer that was supposed to go to Night of the Barrels but ended up in Saratoga after NotB was cancelled. Nothing mind-blowing, but a nice unexpected find.

 

the summer before last we found FFF's gumballhead on tap at this local, hole-in-the wall pizza joint that serves thick, gooey cheese sticks & and cheap fishbowls. we were so excited, we kept going back. when we killed the keg and asked what was next, we were told that gumballhead was "mistakenly" given to them & they were going to replace it w. a BMC variety. we haven't been back, but have fond memories of that summer.

 

I walked into a small mom and pop store outside of town and found three Life and Limbs on the shelf. I've never been so excited buying beer before.

 

Digging around in walk in cooler at my local gas station and came across a bottle of Samuel Smiths Oatmeal Stout. I balked at the price but decided to try it anyway... WOW.

 

In Richmond quite a bit, which bar is that?

 

Just yesterday found two bottles of Mikkeller beer geek brunch weasel calvados barrell edition at a bottle shop in Pittsburgh. Not usually my favorite joint because they tend to have a bigger selection than is good for them, i.e. finding two year old IPAs in the fridge but I was pretty pumped to find that. Always avoid non bottle dated IPAs there. Never have seen a Mikkeller in a bottle here in Pittsburgh before. Paid dearly for them but was happy to do so.

 

The Camel on Broad St.

 

Heady Topper on the bottle list at a bar in upstate New York. They apparently only got one case. It was gone pretty fast.

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/21502/

 

FW XVI at my local bottle shop in NY. Thanks to mahak213 for the tip.

 

I was shocked to find a 4 pack of Plead the 5th Tuesday. Gotta wait until my biggest loser contest is over before knocking down that many calories.