Beer!

Made a trip out to the "hoity toity" store of one of the major grocery store chains around here because they frequently have high-end beers that you normally have to go to a liquor store to obtain.  I came back with 3 bottles of Goose Island's much-lauded Bourbon County Brand Stout because it was "on sale" for "just" 10.99 for a 1 pint bottle as long as you only bought 3 or fewer (15.99 after that).  This was a beer I'd heard so much about and always wanted to try.   

So I had one last night.  OK, it's a great stout; no debate about that.   And it packs over 14% ABV that you really don't notice.  Definitely better at room temp.  But is it worth the price ?  Nope. But it was on my "beer bucket list" and now I can cross it off.

I also picked up 3 bottles of Stone's "Mikhail" Russian Stout at the store and since I'm a big fan of Stone's regular RIS I'm anxious to try this new variation.  That's on tonight's "menu".

With me working over 50 hours a week, I have stayed away from alcohol because of how tired I am. This week and next, I have two days off in a row so I'm having the first beer in quite some time:


https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/337/119338/

A mighty fine belgian if I say so myself!

Never heard of that one but it sounds good. And packs a punch too.

tohostudios wrote:

Never heard of that one but it sounds good.   And packs a punch too.

Yeah, kind of why I waited until after I had some sleep (I was running on fumes last night) and a day off after.

I can relate. Since I've had to cut waaaaay back on my beer consumption due to health reasons I'm finding that beers I used to drink all the time with no real impact now knock me on my ass if I'm not careful.

On the plus side, I've also lost around 30 pounds since mid-September when I started this "beer moderation" program.

tohostudios wrote:

I can relate.  Since I've had to cut waaaaay back on my beer consumption due to health reasons I'm finding that beers I used to drink all the time with no real impact now knock me on my ass if I'm not careful.

On the plus side, I've also lost around 30 pounds since mid-September when I started this "beer moderation" program.  

Well, congrats on the weight loss!

30 lbs. just by cutting back on beer? Amazing. Congratulations!

Thanks,

That's pretty much all I changed. I did also go back to my former healthy eating habits but that wasn't really out of control too badly. It was all beer weight.

I've had the the Goose Island before and it's good but I agree about the price.

A Washington brewery called Dru Bru has their seasonal alt out, enjoyed a couple yesterday and i'm finding I really like this style.

I like Dogfish Head's World Wide stout better than the Goose Island and it's $2 cheaper but still overpriced.

Went back to the "hoity toity" grocery store today and came back with 3 bottles of Dogfish Head World Wide Stout, one bottle of  Firestone Walker XXI and one bottle of Deschutes Abyss.

Wow, that's my yearly beer budget.
Had a Rogue, Chocolate/Hazelnut stout on tap yesterday, it was amazing.

I had that out of a bottle and it was OK.  I enjoyed the taste but wanted a chewier/thicker mouthfeel.

It's new years eve, still got quite a few leftover Labatt Blues from my Xmas beer supply hanging around plus I picked up a 6 pack of Fat Tire Amber Ale today for the sheer hell of it, so I'm well stocked. Happy New Year all!

You too man. Enjoying Rogue's Double Chocolate Stout with the misses.

Tonight I had a glass of the Deschutes Abyss and a glass of Dogfish Head's 90 Minute IPA

Oh man, both are so good.

I really like that Dogfish Head.  It's the perfect balance of hops and malt IMO.

It is. If you can get Bridgeport try their Multi Ball.

I looked at their site and none of the Bridgeport labels look familiar but I'll keep my eyes open because some of these beer store around here spring total surprises.

Tonight I think I'm going to try the Firestone Walker XXI.  If I like it I'll have to run back to that store tomorrow and get another one.  They had a 1 bottle limit.  They better still have some...

Going with an old standby for tonight's "beer du jour". The local grocery chain had New Holland's "Dragon's Milk" on sale so I bought a bottle. This it the one that started it all for me.

My co-worker and I were attending a training course in Clayton, MO and over the lunch break we walked around the corner and visited "The Wine And Cheese Shop" which not only has a ton of wine and cheese but also a lot of craft beers. I saw the label for Dragon's Milk and decided I had to try it. The rest is history. Both he and I became true "beer snobs" that day. To this day we both refer to Dragon's Milk as our "gateway beer".

I have a story like that but it was Grant's Scottish ale, sometimes called the original craft beer.

Ugh! Beware of Ballast Point beers. I've tried two now and both were total drainpours. It's got to be really awful for me not to even be able to finish a glass.

Really? I love their Sculpin beers which are IPA's and their Victory at Sea stouts are very good.

One was a coconut porter and the other was a mocha porter. Both tasted awful. Maybe I got old bottles or something.