Beer!

Oh something funny. I was reading a list of the top three beers in all 50 states and they had the nerve under Texas to list Shiner Bock. There are much better Texas beers (several of them bocks) light years ahead of that stuff.

tohostudios wrote:

I picked up 6 more Goose island BCS bottles today.  I've lost track of how much of this I've got on hand now; probably something like 60 bottles.  It's insanely abundant this year after being a beer-geek "unicorn" in previous years.   Fortunately I think this year's version is also really great whereas some of the previous years' versions were underwhelming.

But since I really enjoy this year's BCS and since it's so abundantly available AND since at 14.7 ABV I'm sure it cellars excellently I just keep stocking up on it.

Finally found a place that has it and got me a bottle! With the price, I figured I'd try one and if I like it, later get a few more. They had plenty and considering how many people where there on a Saturday afternoon, it probably doesn't get as much traffic as other stores in the chain so I'm pretty sure it will be there for at least a month more. I also saw this and got a four pack:


https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/423/43670/

I've had barrel aged stouts but not a barrel aged Belgian. Considering I've liked several of them but have always preferred Belgian over stout and because of that BA rating, I'm excited to try this one!

That Boulevard BA Quad is quite tasty IMO.  Of course it's readily available here since it's made in Kansas City.  I don't think it's quite as good as Schlafly's version but Schlafly's was a one-off and Boulevard produces their's year round. 

I'll be curious to know what you think of that Goose Island BCS.  I finally started NOT buying it when I see it even though the supply is also finally drying up around here. I think I've bought something like 80 bottles by now (of course I probably only have 60 or so left ),

tohostudios wrote:

That Boulevard BA Quad is quite tasty IMO.  Of course it's readily available here since it's made in Kansas City.  I don't think it's quite as good as Schlafly's version but Schlafly's was a one-off and Boulevard produces their's year round.

Plus Schafly doesn't distribute to Texas.

Enjoying yet another Goose Island BCS.  Man I love this stuff!

I think you'll probably like the Boulevard BA Quad more though DB since you're not real fond of stouts to begin with.  But that is a fine entry in the Boulevard lineup.

tohostudios wrote:

That Boulevard BA Quad is quite tasty IMO.  Of course it's readily available here since it's made in Kansas City.  I don't think it's quite as good as Schlafly's version but Schlafly's was a one-off and Boulevard produces their's year round. 

I'll be curious to know what you think of that Goose Island BCS.  I finally started NOT buying it when I see it even though the supply is also finally drying up around here. I think I've bought something like 80 bottles by now (of course I probably only have 60 or so left ),

The bourbon is STRONG with this one. Certainly a sipper as it's already starting to hit me and I'm not yet half way through. However, the taste is great so it will not be a drain pourer, it will just take me a while to finish it, luckily, it seems like warming is a friend to this beer. I certainly see how you like it so much, though I'm quite sure you can handle your alcohol more than I can. As I've said before, I'm a cheap drunk.

I thought I was well rested enough to handle this, but I was probably more tired than I initially thought. I'm only half way through and I'm starting to fall asleep. My mom has these stoppers used for wine that I've used on bombers before so I plugged this one up and set it aside. Once I sober up some I will either finish it or save the rest for tomorrow.

I have to stopper bombers all the time; as along as you don't let them sit that way too long they're fine.

Also that BCS is almost 15% ABV so it packs a lot more kick than most beers.

It's funny you notice the bourbon so much with this one; I don't notice it nearly as much as in something like Dragon's Milk.  But I drink so many bourbon barrel-aged beers that maybe I've just gotten used to it.

tohostudios wrote:

You might re-think IPAs.  I know I have.  I still can't do regular IPAs but start with an imperial (like Maharaja from Avery) or a triple IPA and you might change your opinion.  There's still that strong hop presence but imperial, triple and double IPAs add a malty backbone that offsets the bitterness and makes for an interesting taste IMO.

I spoke to soon. I saw a single bottle of this for only $2 so I thought I'd give it a try:


https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/147/334028/

Was preparing myself to have a taste and then pour it out but I'm pleasantly surprised at how much I like it. On this one the malt really does offset the bitterness (the bitterness seems like it wants to take over but it just can't) and really is an interesting taste. Maybe I should re-think IPAs.

I haven't seen that one yet.  Stay away from anything that doesn't say "double", "triple" or "imperial" IPA.  I still can't stand regular IPAs; like licking a grapefruit rind.

tohostudios wrote:

I haven't seen that one yet.  Stay away from anything that doesn't say "double", "triple" or "imperial" IPA.  I still can't stand regular IPAs; like licking a grapefruit rind.

I'll have to wait, the store I got that single from only has it in a variety pack with all regular IPAs.

That Boulevard barrel quad is DE-LICIOUS!!!! To me it tastes a bit like a stronger Maudite or Golden Draak brewed in a bourbon barrel. This may be a new favorite!

DallasBlack wrote:

tohostudios wrote:

I haven't seen that one yet.  Stay away from anything that doesn't say "double", "triple" or "imperial" IPA.  I still can't stand regular IPAs; like licking a grapefruit rind.

I'll have to wait, the store I got that single from only has it in a variety pack with all regular IPAs.

That Boulevard barrel quad is DE-LICIOUS!!!! To me it tastes a bit like a stronger Maudite or Golden Draak brewed in a bourbon barrel. This may be a new favorite! BTW, goes very well with buffalo chicken.

Trying this for the first time. It's actually pretty good.

My second double IPA:


https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/147/461810/

Not as good as the other one (bitterness is a bit stronger), but not at all a drain pourer. The smell is very pleasant, smells like an orange mango citrus drink. After warming a bit, the bitterness is reduced and the malt comes out more. A nice aftertaste too. Not something I'd drink very often, but a nice change of taste (pace, get it? .... I regret nothing) from my usual beers of choice.

Yeah that's how I use IPAs too; change of pace.  They are definitely more "refreshing" than heavy stouts.

I tried a few more double IPAs. One was too bitter and more what I imagine a regular IPA to taste like (it was lower in ABV than the others I've had so maybe that makes a difference) and the other was more like that Space Probe one.

This one is a rival for the Fear Movie Lions, maybe even better:


https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/22951/113602/

Just like that one, this one has the bitterness fighting to take center stage but being beat back by the balance of malt.

I think for now, if I want an IPA I'll get one of those two (already have another bottle of Fear Movie Lions waiting in the queue).

DallasBlack wrote:

I tried a few more double IPAs. One was too bitter and more what I imagine a regular IPA to taste like (it was lower in ABV than the others I've had so maybe that makes a difference) and the other was more like that Space Probe one.

This one is a rival for the Fear Movie Lions, maybe even better:


https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/22951/113602/

Just like that one, this one has the bitterness fighting to take center stage but being beat back by the balance of malt.

I think for now, if I want an IPA I'll get one of those two (already have another bottle of Fear Movie Lions waiting in the queue).

That's the story.  The higher you go in the single, double, triple chain the more the malt beats back the bitterness.  Triples are pretty difficult to find now though and when you do, they're pretty pricey.

That's why I started trying double IPAs; $24.99 for a four-pack (which is what Founder's now-discontinued "Devil Dancer" triple was) it just too expensive.  That stuff was great though.

And Schmaltz Brewery used to make one to that was even better and a helluva lot cheaper but it might have also been discontinued because I haven't seen it in 2 years.

Well, I thought I was through with sampling double IPAs but there was one I still had and I tried one more:

First was this one I had forgotten about.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/36176/146511/

So much for my theory on high ABV Imperial IPAs. This one was quite nasty. Despite the description stating there is a strong malt background, the hops in this one were completely front and center. It was like taking a BC powder with beer. Automatic drain pour.

Next up was this.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/147/469745/

At first I thought this was just as bad, but turns out the hoppy bitterness of the last one was still lingering. After letting my taste buds recover, I found this to be much better, but still too much bitterness for my taste. I will continue to work on it, but I think I will have to put this in the no category. If I ever want IPA again, it will be the other two Stone ones.

The same place that I got the single IPAs from also has a nice assortment of stouts, many of them cans. My hunt for stouts have had about 50/50 success but this one was great:


https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/31850/468628/?ba=kjkinsey

Might be too sweet for some people, but I liked it.

Not being able to shop for beer is forcing me to seriously dip into my "beer cellar".

Tonight I brought up another 6 pack of Goose Island BBS (I still have a TON of this stuff) as well as this one:




I still have enough beer in "the cellar" that I could easily last another year or two but if this goes on that long we're all going to have bigger things to worry about than beer.

Found another stout I like:



No beer advocate ratings, but it's basically a take on the popular drink with Guinness and a shot of Irish Cream (Car Bomb). It's a chocolate stout brewed with Irish Cream and Irish coffee. Really tasty IMO.

Also while I don't plan on drinking it because of the style, I bought a can of this just for collective purposes:



Cool logo and I was a big Austin fan back in the day so why not?

I don't blame you on buying that IPA DB.  I would too if it was available here just so I could add it to my sports memorabilia collection in the basement.  I sure as hell wouldn't drink it; bleccchhhh!!!  single IPAs.

tohostudios wrote:

I don't blame you on buying that IPA DB.  I would too if it was available here just so I could add it to my sports memorabilia collection in the basement.  I sure as hell wouldn't drink it; bleccchhhh!!!  single IPAs.

Yeah, rednecks don't have good taste when it comes to beer .

I refuse to let this thread die!

Damn corona virus has made me make a serious dent in my beer cellar stash.  This past weekend I made my first "new" beer purchase in over 2 months and it was online with curbside pickup.  Didn't do much to replenish the cellar.

So over the past weeks I've been dipping heavily into my huge stockpile of Goose Island BBS, raiding my stash of Prairie Artisan Ales stouts (most of which weigh in at 13%) and some of the North Coast Old Ales I'd had been aging since 2016 (ouch).

My latest beer purchase replenished some of the Prairie Stouts plus I added in some North Coast Old Rasputin and some "pre-aged" North Coast Old Ale from 2015 (pricey stuff!).

Tonight I've enjoyed a Mother's S'mores stout I had stashed about 6 months ago and currently sipping a Dragon's Milk Oatmeal Cookie stout which I bought 2 cases of back in November. 


Overall my "beer cellar" is down to about half of what it was before this damn virus confined me to my home.  I long for the days of just dropping by my favorite beer stores when I was in the area and browsing their shelves just to see what was available.  I seriously think those days might be gone for good. 

Most recently I had my favorite beer, the Unibroue Maudite. Decided to have my second favorite Unibroue: