Beer!

Picked up 11 more bottles of Schlafly Old Ale today and 6 more bottles of Bock In Black. That makes 7 1/2 cases of Old Ale so far this year and I'm already up to 3 cases of BiB. My third bedroom is starting to overflow with beer.

Well, I had this one a few days ago:



This is a fine Belgian that reminds me of a stronger Trois Pistoles. It's obvious to see why this beer rates at maximum on BA. Not surprising as this was made by monks, who were of course some of the original brew masters. This one has quite a history as well:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rochefort_Brewery

Apparently, it is one of the only Trappist breweries whose facilities are NOT open to the public (mainly due to the strict observance of the monks).

I need to give Toho a visit, sounds like he needs some help.

tohostudios wrote:

My third bedroom is starting to overflow with beer.

We should all have such problems!!

Dark Horseman wrote:

I need to give Toho a visit, sounds like he needs some help.

Last year I rounded up over 90 bottles of Old Ale. I ended up selling 2 cases to a guy at work. This stuff is only out in December and once it's gone that's it until next December so I stock up. This Bock In Black is the same thing except I don't think this will ever be back. It's a commemorative release celebrating the store's 75th anniversary.

Finally got to try a Pumpkin Ale (which my wife received in a Christmas gift exchange) from Smuttynose (hilarious name to boot). I wasn't sure what to expect because I hate pumpkin flavored everything but this actually wasn't too bad.

Never head of that one.  I find that pumpkin ales vary widely.  Even my favorite pumpkin ale from Schlafly went through a couple years where it seemed "flat".    This year it was their Christmas ale that tasted weak.

My brother (the beer connoisseur of our family and the one who gave the gift) said the same thing about pumpkin ales. This was one that he likes so he put it in the exchange. Like I said, it's pretty good but it's something I'd only have 1 or 2 at a time.

Blech!

Oh go drink an IPA!!!!

Also known as "licking the inside of a grapefruit peel"  

Except it's Stout season. I like some seasonals, Jubelale by Deschutes is always good and no pumpkin is harmed in the making.

Dark Horseman wrote:

Except it's Stout season. I like some seasonals, Jubelale by Deschutes is always good and no pumpkin is harmed in the making.

I actually tried Jubelale this year.  It's OK but nothing I need to buy again.

It's a tradition now. They change it a little every year and I always get some.

Having a Trois Pistoles and my earlier assessment was correct:

DallasBlack wrote:

Well, I had this one a few days ago:



This is a fine Belgian that reminds me of a stronger Trois Pistoles.

I've had a few Trappist ales before but I didn't think they were any better than other Belgians.

tohostudios wrote:

I've had a few Trappist ales before but I didn't think they were any better than other Belgians.

Nah, not really, but this one was pretty good.

I had a Cranberry Ginger Shandy from Leinenkuegels that was pretty decent...not usually a fan of their stuff but this wasn't bad.

I just discovered a new one from 4 Hands.  Peanut Butter Chocolate Milk Stout.  I really like their regular chocolate milk stout and I'm a HUGE peanut butter fan so I'm anxious to see what this one tastes like

That sounds tasty, i'd like to try it.

I found it disappointing, not enough peanut butter flavor. 

That must be a difficult flavor to incorporate into a beer.  I've had Horny Goat's Chocolate/Peanut Butter porter and that one was the opposite, too much PB and not enough chocolate.  I've read that there's also a PB&J beer out there but I don't know if I'd like that or not given my distaste for most fruit beers.  But I'd surely try it if I could find it.

Those actually sound bizarre. I love chocolate and peanut butter but in a beer ? I don't know, man...

There are lots of chocolate beers around and that combination usually works well.  It's the peanut butter that brewers seem to have problems with.

One great chocolate beer that's available pretty much anywhere is Samuel Smith's Organic Chocolate Stout.   I'd try that one first to see if you enjoy the combination.

I think I've had some chocolate brews from a variety pack before but can't remember how much I would have liked them. Those variety packs always seem to have one in them and I liked those to varying degrees. Just not sure which one was chocolate and how much I liked it. The chocolate/peanut butter combo though just sounds weird (pb & j too).

I'll have to see if I can find that Smith's around here.

Will be going to Famous Dave's BBQ for dinner and enjoying a Portland brew called Black Bear Stout that is one of my favorites.

You know, I think I've yet to meet a stout I didn't like.  Sure some are better than others but I've never had one that turned into a drainpour.  Obviously my favorite style.