PDX craft nerd seeks EC/MidWest experts

Discussion in 'Great Lakes' started by CaylorSwift, Oct 23, 2013.

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  1. CaylorSwift

    CaylorSwift Initiate (0) Oct 20, 2013 Oregon

    Headed to Indiana next week and looking for some insight from you east coasters. Been building a modest collection of mostly west coast beers the last year or two, but haven't been able to find a whole lot of east stuff out here in PDX/SEA.

    I am planning on looking for a couple bombers to add to the cellar, but also some caNs/bottles to drink and not cellar. I'm a big IPA/DIPA/hops fan, stouts, sours, Belgians, pales, lagers - anything goes. Don't mind spending a few bucks for beers to cellar, say dark lord, bcbs, sours, farmhouse, etc but would like to keep the others around 5-8 bucks a pop.

    Looking for recommendations for east coast/mid west beers I can't typically find out here that I should be on the look out for. Six point? Bells? Flat 12? Prairie? Great Lakes?

    Still a self admitted craft green horn here, so any advice is appreciated.

    Cheers in advance
     
    #1 CaylorSwift, Oct 23, 2013
  2. a74gent

    a74gent Pundit (981) Mar 16, 2010 Massachusetts
    Trader

    Three Floyds, Great Lakes, Founders, Bells, Tyranena....but the cellarable stuff could be a harder get unless you're bringing tradebait. Unclear where in IN you'll be, but if you can get into Chicago then it is a different world perhaps...
     
    #2 a74gent, Oct 23, 2013
  3. Orca

    Orca Grand Pooh-Bah (4,710) Sep 18, 2010 Washington
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    My knowledge of Midwest/East Coast beers is probably a little dated, and I'll also add that there's really not a whole lot back there that's any better than what you can get in Portland (flame away, folks). Having said that, if I was going to the Midwest, these are some of the mainstays I'd stock up on (some of these can be gotten online too):
    Founders Breakfast Stout
    Founders Imperial Stout (may be seasonal, not sure)
    Bell's Two Hearted
    Bell's Expedition Stout
    Zombie Dust
     
    #3 Orca, Oct 23, 2013
  4. tkdchampxi

    tkdchampxi Pooh-Bah (2,473) Oct 19, 2010 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah

    If you're gonna be in Indiana, then you aren't quite on the East Coast yet
     
    #4 tkdchampxi, Oct 23, 2013
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  5. mdomask

    mdomask Initiate (0) May 27, 2012 Illinois

    Where in IN?

    See if any of the Goose Island sours have hit there yet (Gillian, Halia, Juliet, Lolita). They're on the pricier side, but lay down fairly nice.
     
    #5 mdomask, Oct 23, 2013
  6. muddyh2oblues

    muddyh2oblues Initiate (0) Mar 13, 2010 Illinois

    3 Floyd's is in Munster, In. it's a must, if in Indiana. If you make it into Chicago, Half Acre and Revolution are 2 good ones.
     
    #6 muddyh2oblues, Oct 23, 2013
  7. CaylorSwift

    CaylorSwift Initiate (0) Oct 20, 2013 Oregon

    It will be as close as I can get this year to east coast beers. I figured some easy coast breweries would have distro into the Bloomington area.

    Thanks guys. Might just have to go in blind and hope I come across some stuff.
     
    #7 CaylorSwift, Oct 23, 2013
  8. CaylorSwift

    CaylorSwift Initiate (0) Oct 20, 2013 Oregon

    What about bottles that can't be foundu in the west that I can find in Indiana that aren't necessarily from Indiana. New glarius,Brooklyn, etc? Anyone's you guys know of that can be found in the Bloomington area?
     
    #8 CaylorSwift, Oct 24, 2013
  9. PapaGoose03

    PapaGoose03 Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,057) May 30, 2005 Michigan
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    There are good brewery recommendations above, and I'll add that anything that you like style-wise from any of them will be good. Zombie Dust from Three Floyds was mentioned, but that one is always in short supply due to high demand, so if you see it, get it. Upland Brewing in Indiana gets a lot of love on this site, although I have never had anything from them. I think Fat Head's from Cleveland distributes some stuff in Indiana, and their Headhunter IPA is excellent if you can find it.

    You won't find New Glarus in Indiana.
     
    #9 PapaGoose03, Oct 24, 2013
  10. SpunkyHopslammer

    SpunkyHopslammer Initiate (0) Jan 18, 2011 Illinois

    Hoppin Frog makes really good stouts/ BA types, a little pricy but very good . Keep an eye out for Victory Dirt Wolf that has just been released. Great Lakes is solid also.
     
    #10 SpunkyHopslammer, Oct 24, 2013
  11. PapaGoose03

    PapaGoose03 Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,057) May 30, 2005 Michigan
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    I'll add any beers from Dark Horse, New Holland (esp. Dragon's Milk) and Jolly Pumpkin (if you like funky/sours) all from Michigan. Breweries from further east that have some good stuff would be Ommegang (maybe you get them already) and Southern Tier, although I don't buy their stuff on a regular basis.
     
    #11 PapaGoose03, Oct 24, 2013
  12. eyeenjoybeer

    eyeenjoybeer Initiate (0) Feb 18, 2011 Seychelles

    I have seen a better line-up of Jolly Pumpkin at Belmont Station in Portland than here in Indiana, interestingly.
     
    #12 eyeenjoybeer, Oct 24, 2013
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