Beer!

Just got back from the local beer store (not the one I visit when I go to Sams in the next county). Made 2 interesting discoveries: Rogue Pumpkin Patch Ale and St. Bernardus Christmas Ale. I'm especially interested in that Christmas ale as St. Bernardus is one of my favorite Belgian breweries.

interesting. I would be interested in your opinions.

exact33 wrote:

interesting. I would be interested in your opinions.

The Rogue Pumpkin Patch ale was boring and the St. Bernardus Christmas Ale tastes like a spiced version of their Abt 12 Belgian Abbey Ale. That's a good thing I guess but I was hoping for more.

BTW, my buddy at work picked up a 6 pack of this year's Schlafly's Christmas Ale yesterday and he emailed me today to tell me it's not as good as last year's.

Oh, I also picked up this year's Samuel Adams Winter Variety Pack. This year they've replaced the coffee stout that I liked from last year's pack with a spiced wheat beer called White Christmas. I'm skeptical but we'll see.

tohostudios wrote:

exact33 wrote:

interesting. I would be interested in your opinions.

The Rogue Pumpkin Patch ale was boring and the St. Bernardus Christmas Ale tastes like a spiced version of their Abt 12 Belgian Abbey Ale. That's a good thing I guess but I was hoping for more.

BTW, my buddy at work picked up a 6 pack of this year's Schlafly's Christmas Ale yesterday and he emailed me today to tell me it's not as good as last year's.

wow. A disappointing year for schlafly.

Took off today and made another trip to Beer Mecca. The most interesting things I got were:

Southern Tier Oatmeal Stout
Samuel Smith's Winter Welcome Ale
New Belgium's Lips Of Faith Coffee Chocolate Stout
Left Hand's Nitro Milk Stout

Wow, the Lips Of Faith Coffee Chocolate Stout is awesome! Great coffee flavor and very little hoppy bite.

"Dessert" beers don't compute with me, but I'm glad you guys dig 'em.

Going with an all time favorite swill tonite....

Rolling Rock is the very definition of a "session beer". My current sessioner is New Belgium's Abbey Ale; it's cheaper than my usual fare, tastes good (to me) and I can down 'em easily.

tohostudios wrote:

Rolling Rock is the very definition of a "session beer". My current sessioner is New Belgium's Abbey Ale; it's cheaper than my usual fare, tastes good (to me) and I can down 'em easily.

Yep, I agree. So getting drunk is called a "session" when you get older, eh?

SpectreFate wrote:

"Dessert" beers don't compute with me, but I'm glad you guys dig 'em.

Going with an all time favorite swill tonite....

I dont think i have tried Rolling Rock. Ill have to get some. I am getting some Bitburger and Grolsch at some point once the pumpkin ale is done.

SpectreFate wrote:

tohostudios wrote:

Rolling Rock is the very definition of a "session beer". My current sessioner is New Belgium's Abbey Ale; it's cheaper than my usual fare, tastes good (to me) and I can down 'em easily.

Yep, I agree. So getting drunk is called a "session" when you get older, eh?

Yup, beersnob-ese for a beer on which to get drunk is "session beer". That's not necessarily a knock on said beer; it's just a way of distinguishing "sippers" and "dessert" beers from those that a person can pound back and get drunk.

tohostudios wrote:

SpectreFate wrote:

tohostudios wrote:

Rolling Rock is the very definition of a "session beer". My current sessioner is New Belgium's Abbey Ale; it's cheaper than my usual fare, tastes good (to me) and I can down 'em easily.

Yep, I agree. So getting drunk is called a "session" when you get older, eh?

Yup, beersnob-ese for a beer on which to get drunk is "session beer". That's not necessarily a knock on said beer; it's just a way of distinguishing "sippers" and "dessert" beers from those that a person can pound back and get drunk.

the place near me went online finally. I am interested to try out these at some point:

SARANAC ADIRONDACK LAGER
BROOKLYN LAGER
CAPE ANN FISHERMANS LAGER
HOFBRAU ORIGINAL LAGER
PAULANER ORIGINAL MUNICH

King, had my first taste of Schlafly's Christmas Ale and I disagree with my friend at work; I think it's good.

tohostudios wrote:

King, had my first taste of Schlafly's Christmas Ale and I disagree with my friend at work; I think it's good.

thats interesting. I was going to try some out regardless but this is good news. I think my winner this year for pumpkin ales I have tried is Smuttynose. It is a nice balance of spice and pumpkin. Overall the Pumpkins were way too spice-driven.

exact33 wrote:

tohostudios wrote:

King, had my first taste of Schlafly's Christmas Ale and I disagree with my friend at work; I think it's good.

thats interesting. I was going to try some out regardless but this is good news. I think my winner this year for pumpkin ales I have tried is Smuttynose. It is a nice balance of spice and pumpkin. Overall the Pumpkins were way too spice-driven.

I can't get Smuttynose here but I agree with you; this year's versions were way more spice driven than pumpkin oriented; except for Southern Tier's Pumking which was the reverse, way too much pumpkin and not enough spice. I found that mixing Schlafly's with Pumking gave me the taste I was looking for this year but that's the first time I've had to do that.

tohostudios wrote:

exact33 wrote:

tohostudios wrote:

King, had my first taste of Schlafly's Christmas Ale and I disagree with my friend at work; I think it's good.

thats interesting. I was going to try some out regardless but this is good news. I think my winner this year for pumpkin ales I have tried is Smuttynose. It is a nice balance of spice and pumpkin. Overall the Pumpkins were way too spice-driven.

I can't get Smuttynose here but I agree with you; this year's versions were way more spice driven than pumpkin oriented; except for Southern Tier's Pumking which was the reverse, way too much pumpkin and not enough spice. I found that mixing Schlafly's with Pumking gave me the taste I was looking for this year but that's the first time I've had to do that.

I just realized now I am a beer snob Look at what you have done toho!!!

I was a snob for awhile. Then I realized I was a "session" drinker.

SpectreFate wrote:

I was a snob for awhile. Then I realized I was a "session" drinker.

i am a definite 'sip' drinker.

Great Lakes Christmas Ale is my "sipper" of choice this evening!

Just had me an "oil can" of Foster's Lager and a 24 oz Labatt Ice... I'm feelin' it... wooooo baby

Found another great one on my beer run last Friday:



I love the label! A black hummingbird sticking it's bill into a keg.

My first taste of Sclafly's Coffee Stout.

Meh. It's OK but I've had way better in this category.

So, me and some friends are having the annual Christmas beer testing tomorrow. I threw 6 different brands in my shopping basket today, and will most likely puck up more tomorrow, if I find brands I haven't already bought.

The cashier lady obviously understood the sentiments behind my purchase, because she smiled at me, and almost whispered; "that's the best one, I've tried them all too", while pointing to the bottle of Aas Juleøl

I haven't had much luck with Christmas/Holiday/Winter beers so far this year.

Schlafly's Christmas Ale is probably the best so far.

Right now I'm drinking: