Great taste 2013 retrospective thread

Don't forget the fact that Larry Bell opened a 3 year old BB Cherry Stout that was incredible. The Coconut Third Coast mixed with Black Note was a complete surprise too.

Overall a great time but for some reason I just felt like something was missing and I can't exactly say what...

 

That blueberry flanders was the highlight for me. The Town Hall saison was really good, and their Calypso pale ale was spot on. 2nd Shift Katy was great, I wish I had made it over there in time for 4 Hands Vol. 1. Some other highlights were Destihl's lambic, Dave's Brewfarm Funk, TG's MoZee, B Nektar Necromangocon, and Bell's spicy test tube thing.

 

Kuhnhenn.

 

All the big guns never disappoint, it's the breweries that are new to me that I always enjoy most. Atlas Brewing's Gin-Barrel Saison gets my vote for the best surprise of the day, wonderful beer. Against the Grant had a few great beers, as did Black Husky.

Morning Delight & BA Abraxas pretty much blew everything else out of the water.

 

Mornin Delight,Lakefront Rum aged Pumpkin, Kuhnhenn DRIPA,Bells BBA 9K, Tyranena Whos Your Daddy,Black Husky Sparkley Eyes,Surly Seviin, lines at Goose Island and 3 Floyds insane the whole event,couldnt try much there

 

Haymarket Bourbon and Port Barrel Aged Imperial IPA

 

Carnivale Series

 

Flat 12 KGBWTFtherestodanamewuz RIS in Papps 23 barrels was fantastic. Mornin' Delight tasty as always.

 

Tops for me:

B Nektar Kill All the Golfers
B Nektar Raspberry Ginger
Flat 12 Pink-o's KGBaylor Pappy 23 BA Imperial Stout
Flat 12 Funk-o-dile Dundee
Flat 12 Saison de Flag
Goose Island Halia
Goose Island Napa BCS
Goose Island Coffee BCS Kangocho
Goose Island Sofie w/concord grapes

 

Perennial Barrel-Aged Abraxas was tops for me with Mornin' Delight just a bit right behind it
BA9000 was great as usual
Mosaic-hopped Zeelander was very good too
Destihl sours were all very good, a nice palate resetter

Mpls Town Hall Backyard Rustic (strawberry rhubarb saison) was the most surprising for me

Most disappointing was Against the Grain Bo & Luke, but I should have expected this. Flat 12's BA-RIS was just alright too.

 

Oh another disappointment was Kuhnhenn's Creme Brulee Java Imperial Stout. It smelled freaking amazing, but the actual taste and mouthfeel were total flops. So sad! Sazerac and Hand Grenade were awesome though, and DRIPA is as great as it always is.

 

The OP already mentioned it but the dry hopped head hunter at the real ale tent was fantastic. So was the stout that fatheads had there too.

 

The Kuhnhenn stuff was the best.

 

I am a big Central Waters and Toppling Goliath fan. This was my first time I got to go to the Great Taste. Although there was a lot of fantastic beers, Saturday confirmed for me why I like those two breweries. Their stuff was by far my favorite, specifically Mornin' Delight, Central Waters 15 and surprisingly, Central Waters Space Ghost.

 

My favorites were Town Hall Russian Roulette, 4 Hands Volume #1, Against the Grain Bo & Luke, and Toppling Goliath Mosaic-Hopped Zeelander. I enjoyed the Perennial Peach Berliner Weiss more than I expected and, call me crazy, but I was slightly disappointed in BA Abraxas. A great beer to be sure, but just not in my wheelhouse, I guess. Friday favorites were BBB9K and Citra-Hopped Zeelander.

 

Forgot to mention Floosmoor's Berliner Weisse- that thing is a winner. I liked it better than New Glarus' BW.

 

Mornin Delight best of show followed by BA Batch 9000. BA Abraxas didn't disappoint but didn't blow me away. Napa BCS was great as was B Nektar Kill All Golfers was great. Sleeper of the day was Sweet Mullett's barrel aged sour gruit followed closely by their 2.7% sour. A session sour...crazy good. Obviously a great event when BA Pt5th isn't in your top 4-5. Oh and the quarter inch bacon on a stick was heavenly.