What's the haps with this beer? After a search on here, I see a pale ale and a barleywine with the same name? Why is everyone after this beer? Enlighten me.
I haven't had it yet, but I trust my friends who had it last year. It's kinda sorta in the vein of M, I think. Gabe, the owner/brewer of Anchorage Brewing made M when he was at Midnight Sun. It's one of the more sought after beers there is. But it's getting old, and a friend who knows folks who have some stashed says it's deciding, getting oxidized (M that is). Gabe is an amazing brewer, and Deal with the Devil is most likely one of the best beers any of us will ever try. He's created some other special ones. Midnight Sun still attempts many of his recipes, but they don't do it as well since he left. But it is all sold out. Last year it wasn't bottled, this year it was. Most likely he'll make it again next year. But it will be hard to get and expensive.
Quick look at Anchorage Brewing page, and the beers have an overall rating of 4.19 on this site. That's pretty much off the charts. Gabe does contract brewing for Mikkeller, among others. If that gives you some idea of his skill level. Anchorage Brewing won Best New Brewery in the World when he first started a couple years ago (I forget what entity gave that award).
I've had it on tap last year at the Hard Liver fest (and will be again this year). I've had M, Wooden Hell, and other of the 'top' BWs and this one has the potential to be right up there (i.e. a touch hot when I had it but at 17% i would imagine it will mellow out), a big part due to Gabe's track record for producing world-class beers (like M). Just my opinion of course. According to their FB page, there will be 63 cases (756 bottles) headed to the lower 48 so if it's rar. everyone wants it. (and will think a Proprietors will get it done). LYMI midwest
Going off topic, but M didn't seem at all oxidized when I had it a few months ago. Storage conditions undoubtedly come into play, it was one of the only true whales I've had that seemed deserving of the hype.
Anyone know the total bottle count between the cases coming to the lower 48 and what was sold at the brewery? What states in the lower 48 will get it? How about any trades that have gotten done for it?
Anchorage Brewing does not have sales at the brewery. There were about 25 cases sold around Anchorage at Beer Stores & Liquor Stores - it seemed that each location got a small allotment and had strict 1 or 2 bottle limits. I don't think there is alot of hoarding going on up here, but most people I know that wanted some were able to get 1 or 2.
I keep seeing a bottle count around 700 being thrown around, [Edit: I am an idiot and somehow missed OakedCanuck's post above] From other bits that I've gleaned it seems like the "lower 48" means "Washington and possibly California" (but I'd be happy to be wrong about that, since Anchorage is one of my favorite breweries and if I can fight the hordes here in Chicago for one instead of trading my first-born, well, great!) I have not seen any trades done for this beer yet though, as the Alaskans don't seem to trade too much given the shipping costs etc. I look forward to seeing what it trades for once it hits distro. This time last year my folks were still living in Alaska, and boxes of Anchorage were hardly an issue.... sigh....
