What do you love about this beer year?

Let's see...realizing that not all barleywines are awful (and some are actually quite good), going to beer tastings with some awesome people before I moved (Taturbo, Duff27, fdkayti, 4DAloveofSTOUT), moving to Chicago and having way more variety at my disposal, getting more involved in trading, and learning to incorporate beer into recipes. There is probably more, but that's all I can think of at the moment.

 

Hit the nail on the head. I subscribe to the like your hobbies, love your friends and family philosophy. Any wino can drink out of a brown paper bag in a back alley. Sharing interests and experiences with people you care about is far more rewarding. Beerfests, birthday parties, brew days, beer releases... They're all a lot more enjoyable when you're not by yourself. The newest hottest bomber pales in comparison, all things considered (ex. mikesgroove).

 

Trying to think of something totally postive that I liked about craft beer this year.....

Widmer mixed pack rocked this summer....

that's about it I think except for the things that should be a positive than just end up negative:

Liked that Firestone Walker UJ IPA became available in my area - but typically it looks like they send too much at once and it just lingers on the shelf now because no one wants to buy 4+ month old IPA.

Good to see fresh Flower Power make an appearance this summer - unfortunately it has gone awol again.

Good to see SN make another tasty yellow lager - unfortunately, have to spend $20 to get the three bottles I only want to drink from the mixed pack.

One of my local breweries made a world class IPA - unfortunately, its $7-8/bomber or pint at the bar.

 

Brewing my first really GOOD homebrewed beers, my first all-grain brew-day, finding Courage Imperial Stout on the shelf, seeing wider distribution of Lolita/Juliet, trying my first Rodenbach Grand Cru (HOW had I never discovered this before?!), and having some truly awesome new breweries starting up in St. Louis (4 Hands and Urban Chestnut, I'm looking at you).

 

Discovering Vermont!!

 

I keep having to buy up all the Saison-Brett I can find. It does not last long in my cellar. The best American Saison by far IMO.

 

I've really enjoyed the Elysian Beers of the Apocalypse. A great idea and interesting styles. No single release was stunningly wonderful and one I didn't care for, but all were off-beat, interesting and well made. I have looked forward to each release to the the last four.

 

Returning to Bamberg with my old roommate and some German friends, and drinking our fill each and every day, including a number of new (to us) Rauchbiers.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/66242214@N06/7507254976/in/photostream/

 

I drank Pliny the Elder, FBS, Bigfoot, Sculpin, Alesmith, Hoptimum and Big Daddy for the first time this year. Also Oly 95 and Schlitz Gusto. Hope next year is just as good. Plus, sharing a Coors Light with a new lady friend was pretty damn cool.