Beer shop finds.

You weren't kidding! This is a great beer. Mine is a full month old (gasp!) and it's got the best nose I've encountered in a while and zero sediment. Attractively hazy with no murk and a nice fluffy head. Still a touch of bitterness on the back end too. Dangerously hidden 8% ABV.

Even cheapskate me will pony up $15 for this one again.

ETA: got it at CBC Belmont. There was more on the shelf.

 

I'm not one to tout New England IPAs too often (by default I drink a lot of them just because there's so many) but Battery Steele's Avalon is pretty fuckin' legit.

Best New England IPA I've had in awhile.

 

Jesus, neither of you were kidding! Just had a glass at the brewpub and, man, I had forgotten just how good this beer is. Prefer it over Obscured by Clouds by a good margin. Although Ella Slings the Brews was right up there with Fog.

 

Pemberton in Cambridge has a selection of vintage KBS out on display. 2016 is $9.95/bottle. 2017 & 2018 are $6.95/bottle. And they have plenty of this year's edition at $25/4-pack.

Meanwhile, down the road at Downtown Wine & Spirits in Davis Sq, this year's KBS is $10.50/bottle.

 

Founders has had at least one conversation with them in the past about price gouging according to one of their reps.

 

Once upon a time DWS was a destination beer store with reasonable prices. That was a long time ago unfortunately.

 

Picked up two 4pks at Wampum in Wrentham (first time there, pretty solid place):
- fresh Castle Island Keeper. Hadn't had in ages cuz it's never even close to fresh and often not in coolers. Gotta say, this is a super solid, bitter old school IPA.
- ~3ish month old ottobahn Lager from Mayflower. Apparently a Helles, but meh. Big fan of Mayflower but not their best effort. Not bad by any means but forgettable and bad for the price.

 

really liking this Sierraveza as a summer crusher.

 

Fog that Surrounds was a great recommendation, exactly the type of surprise I hope to find in this thread.

Finally had the Von Lune Pilsner. Was surprised to see it so hazy in appearance. Ultimately I learned I’m not a huge fan of saaz hops.

As for a beer to keep an eye out for... I’ve really been enjoying Foreign Objects brews, haven’t seemed to go wrong with any of them.

 

Finally got around to drinking Firestone Walker's Dark & Stormy and I actually quite like it. Rum-soaked coffee cake with a squeeze of lime. The 20% Velvet Merkin probably changed the light brown sugar in the Helldorado profile to dark brown sugar. Still drinks like a barleywine. Ginger gets a little lost and blends into the spice of the beer, but I'm okay with that.

 

Probably 8-10 more 375’s of 3F Oude Geuze at Formaggio in Huron Village as of yesterday afternoon.

I’m assuming it’s the same blend I opened a few weeks ago, which was spectacular.

 

Had another fantastic NEIPA last night. Abandoned Building Brewery's Pan Galactic IPA is phenomenal. I've only had it on draft and not in cans, but it's WAY better than I remember from when it was first released. Highly recommend. I've def seen it around in cans.

 

can't remember if reported back on the Dark n Stormy.. shared it with fam over the holidays so only had a few ounces, but we all really liked it.. however it basically tasted like a dark n stormy so it was never going to be a miss (top 3 cocktail for me).

 

Surprisingly found a couple bottles of Bell’s BA Expedition stout at high spirits in providence RI. Seriously thought this stuff was long gone... 2 bottles still left for any Rhodes interested

 

Found some super old Fantome Extra Sour in Salem. Crossing my fingers it's not terrible...

 

Whhhhhhaaaat??? Can you post a pic? Curious if it's the b1 pale or b2 dark, either way it has been years since they have been released, did the store have more? Crazy what you'll find sometimes!

 

Sent you a message. Not sure how to upload a pic.

 

For real, please report back. I'm an hour away, but I would for sure drive out there for that!

 

Not my pic but looks identical.
Has the little 'shelton brothers' paper flap over the cap. The tag was ripped on a few.
No date as far as I can see.
They're old and have lived in a cellar for a long time. A bit of basement dust/mold.
Some of them looked like they had leaked a bit past the cork, not more than Ive seen on some loons.
Fair warning. The store keeps their bottles in front of a window. Unknown of that would destroy this over time. Was told they were pulled from the basement a month or so ago.
25 bucks at Quality Liquors.
And there were 3 left.

 

Anyone buy them since? Just called and they said it was gone

 

Is this available in 6 packs or is it part of one of their mix 12 packs?

 

I bought it in a 6 pack, been seeing it everywhere.

 

The DuPont/Allagash collab Brewers Bridge is phenomenal. Definitely grab it if you’re into classic saison.

 

Not a exactly a beer shop find, but The Dirty Truth in Northampton is doing a Belgian Brunch today and tapping some amazing beers. Cantillon Grand Cru Bruocsella 3 year lambic, some Boon, Fantome, Allagash Coolship Resurgam, De Ranke, Drie Fonteinen, and a bunch more awesome offerings.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=2118228618214299

I'll be headed there very shortly for the Cantillon, no doubt.

 

Stoneface BA RIS at Marty’s in Newton. $15 a bottle. A bit pricey but I’ve never had it so whatever

 

Apple Brandy Noir at CBC Belmont. It's definitely been a while since this has been around.

 

I was lucky to get a bottle of the regular and a bottle of the ancho chocolate variant. The regular is delicious but the ancho was something special IMHO. I think it was brewery only, I wish I bought more.

 

Drie Fountein at Ball Square.

$35 each. I think there were at least four or five bottles left.

 

CBC Fenway and CBC Westford too.

Also, speaking of brandy barrels, the 2019 vintage of Clown Shoes The Ballad of Minnie Quay has started popping up (CBC Newton, CBC Westford). Easily one of my favorite beers from 2018.

 

Madagascar hitting shelves within the last week. Any sightings in the Newton/Brookline area?

 

How much are they charging? Yankee appears to have it for $14 a bottle. Little rich for my blood even if it is a good beer.

 

CBC Fenway got it a couple days ago.

 

picked up i think the last one at CBC Westford over the weekend. it was $14.

 

I can confirm, 7 Madagascar left on the shelf. $28 each. Also about 3.5 cases of KBS and a case or so of NS Darkling bottles ($21). First time I’ve ever seen it hit distro and they just got it today.

 

$28 for Madagascar? Steep. Even Trillium can beat those prices.

 

Picked up a four of Notch’s Standard Czech pills as well as a four of Oxbow’s Pilsner Luppolo at Sudbury Craft Beer! First time having the Standard and it’s excellent!

 

Bacon's in Framingham has it on the shelf, $26.99/btl

 

Jam Don't Shake at Yankee Spirits in Norwood. I liked it, but I think opinions range from love to hate. It's the 17% ABV one...

 

Was in Depot Liquors Beverly earlier. Had a 4pk of Notch Standard in my hand and saw Notch Fodderstompf German Pils next to it. Never seen that before so grabbed it. Not bad. Hoppy and sweet.

 

Looked at the Notch website and FB page. No mention of this Pils. BA has it listed as a retired zwickel