Interested in craft beer?

[Divemaster]

If so, check out facebook.com/ThirstyWarrior and @ThirstyWarrior on Twitter. That's where I post about craft beer, wine and travel. Just my take on things in that genre.

[Manic]

that is quite a collection that you have in your page, very nice.

[Dad]

Thanks--love good beer, nice site

[Divemaster]

Thanks guys. Feel free to post about your own craft beer experiences on my page. I need to do some updating, of course. I just wish I started this back when I went to Oktoberfest in Munich a few years back. More content to come. My Twitter feed has a lot of recent stuff too. I hope y'all enjoy the conversation!

[Divemaster]

I've just had another Full Sail's Brewer's Share Berliner Weisse. This is not your typical Weisse Bier. Very tart (sour to some,ok to most), but we're collecting the labels for a serving tray project. I reviewed this beer on my Facebook page a while back. However, after having a few over a couple of months I can say it is growing on me.

[Divemaster]

Trying to post the pic that should be with my previous post about the Full Sail beer.

[Ret10Echo]

I've just had another Full Sail's Brewer's Share Berliner Weisse.

DM...my Berliner Weisse experience included green or red syrup... Doesn't sound appear that is included here...

R10

[Divemaster]

DM...my Berliner Weisse experience included green or red syrup... Doesn't sound appear that is included here...

R10

No syrup in this beer that I could see or taste. The Full Sail is the only Berliner weisse I've had so I don't know if this the way it should be done or just the way they've done it.

[Divemaster]

Enjoying Sierra Nevada's Southern Hemisphere Harvest, so named for the New Zealand hops contained therein. Great hoppy taste on the front with a pleasant not too bitter finish. Cool label too. For you guys with killer home bars, a few of the labels would make for a decent bar art project. If you can find this beer in your area, give it a go.

[Divemaster]

Working on my latest Adirondack (chair) Beer Review under the apple tree.

[Flagg]

On a related note of making your own craft beer, we've got some fellas way down here who are doing with beer what's been done with coffee(equipment) for quite a few years:

http://www.williamswarn.com/

Making an all in one high/end prestige home brewery.

I've seen one in the flesh, they have a new model coming out shortly which they plan on launching and selling in the US for the first time.

So far they've only sold about 100 of the first gen design.

I think some of the really dedicated home brewers/craft brewers will scoff at the unnecessary cost/expense since the experienced could achieve the same for far less money.

But for the average Joe Six Pack/Joe Bloggs it certainly has an appear(albeit at a high cost).

I've brewed my own beer when younger(poorly), and had my own proper beermeister. It's need to see something that combines the two.

Some guys in Singapore recently used it to win Gold at their craft beer making competition.

[Divemaster]

Here's just a small portion of the beer collection available at the Joint Base Lewis McChord Class VI (on the Ft. Lewis side). Sorry about the pic quality. Not only is there a good collection of American craft beer, but the international selection is not to be missed.

[Divemaster]

Here's a nice selection of German Weissebiers. Do you see any of your favorites here? Which ones did I miss? The Class VI was out of Hofbrauhaus beers, so that's an obvious miss.

The Rauchbier Weizen, center bottle, was not my favorite. While I love peaty single malts (scatter my ashes over Islay, please), I haven't come around to smoke beer.

[33army]

Jealousy ensues....:(

On a happier note, Sierra Nevada Ruthless Rye is awesome. If you like a lot of hops that is. Just my.02.

[Divemaster]

Jealousy ensues....:(

On a happier note, Sierra Nevada Ruthless Rye is awesome. If you like a lot of hops that is. Just my.02.

I am a serious hop head; IPA being my favorite beer style. Check out http://www.facebook.com/ThirstyWarrior and find IPAs well represented.

[MtnGoat]

DM..

Is this only for the traveler of beer. Places we stopped at and tried out a brew or two. Post a review and pic? Homebrew mixes and melts we made and/or tried too??

I just liked you too. I'm a HOP HEAD too, love me some IPAs,, home brewed and commerical. Double it up!!

[Divemaster]

DM..

Is this only for the traveler of beer. Places we stopped at and tried out a brew or two. Post a review and pic? Homebrew mixes and melts we made and/or tried too??

I just liked you too. I'm a HOP HEAD too, love me some IPAs,, home brewed and commerical. Double it up!!

MtnGoat- This thread is a place to honor craft/local/home beer wherever we find it. If exotic travel is involved, so much the better. Post reviews and tales of your travels and travails.

Home brewers and their fans are most welcome. In fact, I am open to home brew bribery. :D

If you brew, travel or discover, you better post pics! :lifter

Edit to add: Anyone is welcome to comment on the FB page.

[Divemaster]

Before winter finally draws to a close, there’s one more beer you need to sit with beside a warm fire. Aromatic as a hidden spice shop in the deepest alley of a Qatari souk, Stone’s 12.12.12 Vertical Epic Ale is a fitting Final Chapter in their 11-year Epic Ale series.

Notes of cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and a hint of cloves hit the palate and the finish is rather dry. To get maximum flavor don’t chill this beer too much and feel free to let your hand warm it in the glass to release the full aroma.

This Belgian-esque brew is cellarable. In fact, that was the idea behind the whole series. If you started with the 02.02.02 in 2002 and collected the 03.03.03 through 11.11.11, and kept those safely stored, now is the time to open them all in a final grand Vertical Epic tasting. This series is exactly why you cultivate a small circle of trusted fellow beer snobs.

http://www.stonebrewing.com/verticalepic/#11

[Divemaster]

In the craft beer world a very few break out and go big time. Ok, when craft beer has about 5% of the total American beer market, big time is a relative term. But that’s not important now. Sierra Nevada, you’ve heard of their pale ale, has, to my mind, made the big time in the craft brew world. This should mean they crank out tanker truck loads of their formerly rare brews. Thankfully, the good folks in Chico, CA haven’t lost sight of the craft.

One way they keep their eyes on the craft is with some very special beers. The latest I’ve sampled is Sierra’s Estate Ale. This comes in a schooner size bottle with the neck dipped in green wax. The label is old school and is interesting to read. But, be honest, if you’re reading the label you’re only waiting for someone to find the bottle opener, and a knife to slice through the wax covering the cap.

Once inside, you sip some floral notes and are lulled into a sense of smooth security. This is an organic beer done well. Concentrate on the front palate and taste the brew master’s magic. Cascade hops provide that killer bitter finish us IPA fans crave, but this is not an India Pale Ale. Some reviewers see this beer as hoppy from start to finish. My opinion differs. To me, it starts deceptively smooth and then kicks those hops in my teeth on the finish. I like that.

This beer’s run is done. If you find it in your favorite bottle shop buy as many as you can afford. They aren’t making any more.

[lovemycountry]

I just enjoyed a Liberty Ale from Anchor Steam that was great. My Ale of choice are IPA's but this American Pale is real fresh. (maybe I'm biased because I'm from New England and Liberty Ale was first brewed to celebrate the bicentennial of Paul Revere’s historic ride)

LMC

[Divemaster]

I just enjoyed a Liberty Ale from Anchor Steam that was great. My Ale of choice are IPA's but this American Pale is real fresh. (maybe I'm biased because I'm from New England and Liberty Ale was first brewed to celebrate the bicentennial of Paul Revere’s historic ride)

LMC

If you travel, Anchor Brewing Company has a little place in San Francisco International (SFO) in Terminal 3, near Gate F-70. Last year I had a two hour layover there and my next gate was right near there. A pint or two of Liberty Ale helped pass the time.

http://www.flysfo.com/web/page/as_airportmaps.htm click on the food & beverage tab.
http://www.anchorbrewing.com/

[WhiskeyBoarder]

I rarely post here, but I maintain a Craft Beer blog that may be of interest.

http://www.thecraftbeerguru.com/

Thanks gents.

[lovemycountry]

If you travel, Anchor Brewing Company has a little place in San Francisco International (SFO) in Terminal 3, near Gate F-70. Last year I had a two hour layover there and my next gate was right near there. A pint or two of Liberty Ale helped pass the time.

http://www.flysfo.com/web/page/as_airportmaps.htm click on the food & beverage tab.
http://www.anchorbrewing.com/

Thanks, I just went out and bought 3, 1 pint-6oz. bottles of the Liberty ( $3.99 each) and dreaming of the Fresh Crabs and beer, tucked into a brown paper bag ,and sitting at the docks eating and drinking at the SF bay.....and then getting into my rental car and " driving the Streets of SF!!! in particular that street that has the "S" turns" ( of course observing all driving laws)

LMC

[lovemycountry]

This is my Favorite Brew House in the White Mountains about 1 hour from my home....check it out. the "Moat Iron Mike Pale Ale" is awesome

http://www.moatmountain.com/beer.html

[Divemaster]

I rarely post here, but I maintain a Craft Beer blog that may be of interest.

http://www.thecraftbeerguru.com/

Thanks gents.

Cool blog! :lifter:lifter

[Divemaster]

Victorian IPA from Sonoran Brewing of Scottsdale, AZ.

Ok folks, THIS is the India Pale Ale you should use to introduce newbies to the style. You know the type of newbies I'm talking about. You got them off of Coors Light by having them try a hefeweizen as their first craft beer. But you've been wanting to get them off the sweet stuff, expand the palate and mold another hop head beer snob in your own image.

If you've made the same mistake as me, you've handed over a pint of your favorite 85 IBU IPA and almost had the first sip spit back into your face. Look, you just don't go from a go-kart to a Grand Prix Formula One car an not expect to hit the wall in the first turn.

Baby steps.

At 46 International Bitterness Units, Victorian IPA is a baby step. Serve it very cold and it is tamed even more. You can taste the hops, but they don't smack you across the teeth. This is exactly why this beer is the perfect next step for new craft beer lovers. This is also why Victorian probably isn't the best choice for hoppy extremists. However, when in the area you owe it to yourself to sample this excellent local brew.

[lovemycountry]

Victorian IPA from Sonoran Brewing of Scottsdale, AZ.

Ok folks, THIS is the India Pale Ale you should use to introduce newbies to the style. You know the type of newbies I'm talking about. You got them off of Coors Light by having them try a hefeweizen as their first craft beer. But you've been wanting to get them off the sweet stuff, expand the palate and mold another hop head beer snob in your own image.

If you've made the same mistake as me, you've handed over a pint of your favorite 85 IBU IPA and almost had the first sip spit back into your face. Look, you just don't go from a go-kart to a Grand Prix Formula One car an not expect to hit the wall in the first turn.

Baby steps.

At 46 International Bitterness Units, Victorian IPA is a baby step. Serve it very cold and it is tamed even more. You can taste the hops, but they don't smack you across the teeth. This is exactly why this beer is the perfect next step for new craft beer lovers. This is also why Victorian probably isn't the best choice for hoppy extremists. However, when in the area you owe it to yourself to sample this excellent local brew.
Hmm.. I am traveling to Phoenix end of this week for a vacation which includes the Rim for 3 days. My plan takes me through a few brewpubs and I'll add this one to it ...thanks.

LMC

[33army]

I know it isn't really a traveler beer but Sierra Nevada's Torpedo Extra IPA has got me all kinds of excited right now.

[WhiskeyBoarder]

I know it isn't really a traveler beer but Sierra Nevada's Torpedo Extra IPA has got me all kinds of excited right now.

Torpedo is many magnitudes better than their pale ale. Try Celebration when the next winter swings around, and, for sure, Narwhal; far and away SN's best beer.

Cheers!

[33army]

Is Narwhal a seasonal? I haven't seen that one.


Torpedo is many magnitudes better than their pale ale. Try Celebration when the next winter swings around, and, for sure, Narwhal; far and away SN's best beer.

Cheers!

[33army]

Ok, I need a friend that is willing to ship beer to NC. Sierra Nevada doesn't have a full line here

[Divemaster]

Hmm.. I am traveling to Phoenix end of this week for a vacation which includes the Rim for 3 days. My plan takes me through a few brewpubs and I'll add this one to it ...thanks.

LMC

I'd also recommend SanTan Brewing (1st photo) in Chandler and the Whole Foods supermarket, also in Chandler. This Whole Foods has a very popular beer bar inside. Yes, a supermarket with a bar. I'd never seen one before. Also, the beer aisle (2nd photo) is fantastic and the local beers are in their own section. The beer aisle pic only shows a very small portion of a large area devoted to craft beer.

[Divemaster]

I know it isn't really a traveler beer but Sierra Nevada's Torpedo Extra IPA has got me all kinds of excited right now.

It is a traveler's beer when you put it in cans. I reviewed it on my FB page (http://www.facebook.com/ThirstyWarrior) last July 11th. The pic didn't turn out too bad either.

[Divemaster]

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Police-Burglar-floods-Seattle-restaurant-with-beer-199377661.html

SEATTLE -- A burglar pulled a "wet bandits" on a Queen Anne restaurant last week when he left a beer tap on full blast, flooding the basement, freezer and cabinets, according to the Seattle Police Department.

According to the police report for the incident, surveillance cameras caught the burglar using a rock to smash out a back window at the restaurant in the 100 block of First Avenue North around 11:24 p.m. March 13, only minutes after the owner had locked up and left for the night.

Despite setting off the restaurant's alarm, the burglar grabbed 30 bottles of alcohol from the bar, locking one of the beer taps in the on position in the process, according to the report.

According to the report, the burglar left, but the beer kept flowing, causing the line between the tap and keg to break.

Officers arrived to find the basement, freezer and below-bar shelving flooded. Vegetables and other food were ruined, and beer was dripping down from the top of the basement freezer. The deluge of beer didn't stop until the keg was completely emptied.

A K-9 unit was unable to track the burglar, who had left the scene by the time officers arrived, according to the report.

The owner of the restaurant told police he is worried because it is the second time he has been burglarized since buying and opening the restaurant.

[Divemaster]

I much prefer holidays made up by beer people rather than florists, don't you? As a late convert the the craft beer in cans movement, I'm celebrating with aluminium armored Four Peaks Brewing's Hop Knot IPA. I continue to be amazed by the depth of the craft beer bullpen in Arizona.

[Divemaster]

Ok, where do I find this beer glass?

http://www.facebook.com/ThirstyWarrior

[zeke]

Lagunitas Undercover is a limited release that is available now. I really like it but it's not of the IPA family. They make a good cappucino stout also.

[lovemycountry]

OK, Divemaster....I have now returned from Arizona trip....Best of the Best was Sedona, Oak Creek Canyon Brew Pub....in addition to a great "4 oz. sampler of 7 beers" they include 3 different size glasses of your choice. I just couldn't make up my mind so I said "TALL" and it came in a frosted Golblet. Food was the best we had in AZ. ( most food was bland unless you went to Mexican type resturants except I wanted a PUB) also, the Oak Creek Canyon Drive rivaled the Kancamagus Highway in the White Mountains of NH....simply awesome. Second mention was Flagstaff Brew Pub.

thanks for all the tips.

LMC

[Divemaster]

OK, Divemaster....I have now returned from Arizona trip....Best of the Best was Sedona, Oak Creek Canyon Brew Pub....in addition to a great "4 oz. sampler of 7 beers" they include 3 different size glasses of your choice. I just couldn't make up my mind so I said "TALL" and it came in a frosted Golblet. Food was the best we had in AZ. ( most food was bland unless you went to Mexican type resturants except I wanted a PUB) also, the Oak Creek Canyon Drive rivaled the Kancamagus Highway in the White Mountains of NH....simply awesome. Second mention was Flagstaff Brew Pub.

thanks for all the tips.

LMC

Pictures, man. Pictures!

[lovemycountry]

Pictures, man. Pictures!

24954

Interesting "Budda" outside.
We were drinking from these "Tanks"
The Menu...

not sure of the order... !!

[Divemaster]

24954

Interesting "Budda" outside.
We were drinking from these "Tanks"
The Menu...

not sure of the order... !!

Very cool!

[Divemaster]

Lagunitas Undercover is a limited release that is available now. I really like it but it's not of the IPA family. They make a good cappucino stout also.

After reading the story behind it, I MUST find this beer! Plus I'm already a huge Lagunitas fan.

Lagunitas Undercover Investigation Shut-Down Ale (http://lagunitas.com/beers/undercover-investigation-shut-down/#)

[Divemaster]

The Beer with a Levant Slant (http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/food/the-beer-with-a-levant-slant/2013/03/04/99e20a60-8122-11e2-a350-49866afab584_story.html)

The Washington Post

By Greg Kitsock, Published: March 5

“I’m the lunatic who makes beer in Lebanon!” announces Mazen Hajjar as he rises to extend his hand.

That’s Lebanon in the Middle East — not Pennsylvania. Hajjar’s brewery, 961 Beer (named after the international dialing code for Lebanon), is a five-minute drive from Beirut.

With his shoulder-length dark hair and full beard, he might be mistaken for a graduate student who wandered into ChurchKey near Logan Circle to down a few drafts after banging out his thesis. But this youthful 39-year-old has a remarkably varied résumé: Before brewing caught his fancy, he worked as a photographer covering the war in Serbia; he spent nine years as an investment banker; and he made an unsuccessful attempt to start the Middle East’s first low-fare airline.

Within minutes we’re clinking glasses of 961 Lebanese Pale Ale, a marriage of European brewing tradition and Levantine cuisine. Hajjar supplements the hops with a melange of Middle Eastern herbs and spices: mint, sumac, anise, chamomile, sage and za’atar. The pale ale is delicate but flavorful, with a dry, herbal, savory flavor that would pair nicely with a skewer of well-seasoned chicken or lamb.

961 Lebanese Pale Ale is available in kegs and 11.2-ounce bottles. Hajjar’s American importer, St. Killian in Kingston, Mass., carries four other 961 varieties in bottles only, all solid interpretations of classic European styles. They are a clean-tasting golden lager; a red ale balancing citrusy American hops with lots of caramel malt; a Belgian-style witbier incorporating wheat from Lebanese farmers; and a roasty porter full of mocha flavors.

Many U.S. craft brewers like to talk about their baptism of fire in a highly competitive industry, but Hajjar literally was under siege when he hatched his grand plan. “I started in 2006,” he says. “Israel and Hezbollah were bombing ... each other. The electricity was off; I was sitting on my balcony reading the first chapter of “Beer School” by Steve Hindy and Tom Potter. That’s when I thought, ‘Eureka!’”

Hajjar took inspiration from Hindy, a former Middle East correspondent for the Associated Press. Like Hajjar, Hindy had to dodge bombs and bullets; he was sitting in the grandstand behind Anwar Sadat in 1981 when the Egyptian leader was assassinated. Like Hajjar, Hindy was led by the region’s lack of decent beer first to take an interest in home-brewing, then to turn pro. (He’s now president of New York’s Brooklyn Brewery.)

“Pretty unremarkable” is how Hindy describes Middle Eastern beer in general. He remembers quaffing Stella, an Egyptian brand that had dubious quality-control standards: “I don’t think I ever got two bottles that ever had the same fill level.” The brewery, according to a persistent rumor, spiked the beer with formaldehyde to perk up the flavor. Hindy couldn’t verify that, but he said, “It did seem to have a kind of numbing effect after a few bottles.”

The quality of Stella improved markedly after 2002, when Heineken took over the brewery, Hindy says. Likewise, Heineken controls Almaza (Arabic for “diamond”), a Lebanese light lager with no particular regional character.

There are a few oases in that bleak beerscape. Israel has sprouted between 20 and 30 microbreweries and brewpubs, beginning with the Dancing Camel in Tel Aviv in 2006. Taybeh Brewing in Palestinian territory predates the Dancing Camel by a decade, brewing golden, amber and dark lagers, plus a non-alcoholic brew for observant Muslims.

961 Beer, however, might be the only Middle Eastern microbrewery that exports worldwide, from Spain to Hong Kong to Australia. Hajjar’s output is modest: 200,000 cases last year, or about 14,500 barrels. But Hajjar ships to 14 countries and 12 American states; you can find it in the District, Maryland and Virginia. His business strategy might reflect his cosmopolitan outlook: “My uncle lived in Chicago for 40 years. My wife grew up in New York. I proposed in Sweden and we got married in Seattle.”

His visit to Washington is part of a brand-promotion tour that includes stops in New York and Philadelphia. “I love coming here. I feel like it’s my second home,” he says. “I feel like a rock star, but without the groupies and drugs.”

Hajjar buys malt from Germany and hops from Europe and the United States. It might not be the most efficient or environmentally friendly way to make beer, importing almost all of his brewing materials and sending his beer abroad in throwaway bottles and one-way disposable barrels called KeyKegs. But Hajjar says he has a goal “one day to be a zero-emission, carbon-neutral brewery.”

He admits that goal is a long way off. In the meantime, he contributes a slice of his profits to the reforestation of Lebanon. (A small drawing of a cedar graces his labels.) He uses local ingredients when possible. He planted an experimental hop plot and used the crop to make a Harvest Lager for the German Embassy in Beirut to celebrate German Reunification Day last Oct. 4. Upcoming releases include a barley wine refermented in cedar with raisins, and a Lebanese-style stout flavored with coffee and cardamom.

Can he keep the pipeline filled? At the time of our meeting, Hajjar seemed concerned about meeting demand, citing that 961 Beer is growing at a clip of 300 percent to 400 percent annually.


Kitsock is the editor of the Mid-Atlantic Brewing News.

[zeke]

After reading the story behind it, I MUST find this beer! Plus I'm already a huge Lagunitas fan.

Lagunitas Undercover Investigation Shut-Down Ale (http://lagunitas.com/beers/undercover-investigation-shut-down/#)

Fred Meyers usually has it along with a few other Lagunitas choices. The Fred Meyer down here in the more rural areas have started selling guns and ammo again too. I'm not sure how it is in Washington.

[lovemycountry]

Very cool!

BTW Divemaster, in the picture of the Tanks you can see a "ruler" on the right side facing. You can't make it out in this pic but there is a "float" showing the level!!! I might add that I'm a bit proud, as a guest of PF, that I moved it 1 notch myself using the frosted Goblet ( frosted isn't my favorite but the bartender forced it on me) Once it gets low they call up the brewery, down the street, and they bring up another beer. They only have 4 tanks so they are always rotating them, although ,all beers are available, but only 4 our being poured straight out of the tanks......NICE

As I said, I loved Arizona....

LMC

[WhiskeyBoarder]

After reading the story behind it, I MUST find this beer! Plus I'm already a huge Lagunitas fan.

Lagunitas Undercover Investigation Shut-Down Ale (http://lagunitas.com/beers/undercover-investigation-shut-down/#)

The latest post on my blog is a review of the Undercover Ale. I don't wish to whore the site here given my respect for the forum, so please contact me if you wish to have the link and do not already have it.

Nutshell: Undercover is mostly unlike most other Lagunitas brew, other than it shares great value. It is dominated by malts rather than hops. What do I think of that? Going to have to check the blog :) haha

But seriously, gents, if you like good beers, here is my current recommendation:

American IPA ("AIPA") by Schlafly's. A delicious IPA with a touch of sweetness that is nearly as good as the highly touted beer of which it is similar, Hopslam.

Cheers, gents. And thank you.

[Divemaster]

The latest post on my blog is a review of the Undercover Ale. I don't wish to whore the site here given my respect for the forum, so please contact me if you wish to have the link and do not already have it.

I have a great deal of respect for this site as well, having been here for several years and reading much more than I post. That said, until the mods say we can't, and since this is a craftbeer thread, I'd do it like this:

I just reviewed Sierra Nevada's Ovila Belgian-Style Abbey Quad and Ipswich's India Pale Ale. One of these beers impressed the hell out of me, one did not. Click here (http://www.facebook.com/ThirstyWarrior) to find out which came out on top.

That, my friend, is called pimping. Subtle difference perhaps.

[Divemaster]

In light of current events, the beer of the day should be Sam Adams Boston Lager. Hoist a pint for the boys in blue.

[Divemaster]

Hey y'all, watch this!

No, not the last words of your not-too-bright uncle. Just page pimping.

But for those in or soon to visit the Phoenix area, I found a great tiny craft beer brewery in Scottsdale. They have some stunning brews and even got me to like a beer style I've always hated.

Which style? If interested, check out my review at facebook.com/ThirstyWarrior. (www.facebook.com/ThirstyWarrior)

[psherlin]

I'm a tour guide for Diamond Bear Beer in Little Rock, AR. I get to talk about beer, drink beer, and they pay me in beer. We are having our Foam Fest tomorrow, for $40 you get to taste as many of the 200+ home brewers and craft brewers from around the state.
If you pour a beer and the head raises past the top on the glass, it almost has enough hops.
Now that I'm retired I plan to start brewing. Will be mainly IPA styles. If you come through Little Rock, AR I'm the only Sherlin in the phone book

[Divemaster]

I'm a tour guide for Diamond Bear Beer in Little Rock, AR. I get to talk about beer, drink beer, and they pay me in beer. We are having our Foam Fest tomorrow, for $40 you get to taste as many of the 200+ home brewers and craft brewers from around the state.
If you pour a beer and the head raises past the top on the glass, it almost has enough hops.
Now that I'm retired I plan to start brewing. Will be mainly IPA styles. If you come through Little Rock, AR I'm the only Sherlin in the phone book

I hate you!

Wish I could make it to Foam Fest. Feel free to post the details to my FB. About 20 people might see it, but you never know. I'm sitting outside my hotel in the courtyard with two different IPAs to sample.

Now if someone would just pay me for that.

[Divemaster]

Too bad they don't serve food.

http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-04/29/north-korea-breweries

'Kim Jong-Ale': North Korea's surprising microbrewery culture explored

For a country that commonly experiences famines, North Korea has a surprisingly large range of beers. And if you're a microbrewing enthusiast, it might be the last country you'd think of visiting on a tasting tour. That's exactly what Josh Thomas did, though, from 30 March to 6 April this year.

Thomas, who lives in Hong Kong and works in advertising as a creative technologist, is a self-confessed lover of all things beer. Though an amateur microbrewer himself, he "might be moving over into the professional realm soon with some mates", he told Wired.co.uk. "I've been brewing beer for a number of years, and love to travel the globe trying beers from different cultures."

North Korea has a robust domestic beer brewing culture, despite its isolation from the outside world. Famously, the regime bought a British brewery in 2000 for £1.5m and had the whole thing shipped and rebuilt on the edges of the capital, Pyongyang. That formerly German-owned Ushers equipment now produces Taedonggang beer, one of the most popular domestic brands (and, like every other enterprise in North Korea, it's state-owned).

The people of North Korea love a beer as much as Europeans or North Americans, but the culture around brewing is obviously different in some unique ways. Thomas' itinerary in his trip took him to many of the same museums, parks and national monuments that every tourist to North Korea sees, but it also featured special stops at some North Koren breweries where he could share knowledge with locals and sample the local suds.

Wired.co.uk spoke to Thomas to get a feel for this less-reported part of North Korean culture:


Wired.co.uk: Why did you want to go?
Thomas: I always had an interest in traveling to out-of-the-way places that are hard to visit, and between my interest in Cold War history, my proximity to the country living in Hong Kong, and a personal interest in Korean culture and history, it seemed like the time to go. While travel to the DPRK [Democratic Republic of Korea, the country's official title] seems extremely exotic to people in the West, it's actually quite common for Hong Kong residents. Two of my close work friends traveled to the DPRK months earlier than I did and they really convinced me that it wasn't as insane as it seemed.


Finally, and most importantly, the blog "American in North Korea" was my final inspiration to go. Joseph Ferris's adventures in the country and his mind-bogglingly beautiful photos showed me a side of the country that I had never read about or seen before, and I organised the trip through Young Pioneer Tours based in Beijing with Joe as our guide.

The itinerary for your trip was designed around your passion for beer -- what did it include?
All itineraries in the DPRK have to be approved by the government so the best you, as a tourist, can do is propose a schedule. It's up to them to approve it. Basically I spent eight months reading every piece of literature ever written about North Korea. I worked with Joe to visit all three major breweries in the country: The Paradise Microbrewery, the Yanggakdo Hotel Microbrewery, and the Taedonggang National Brewery. Obviously, this wasn't a full trip's worth of sites, so we filled the gaps with many "normal" tourist attractions like museums and national monuments, and even other "off the beaten path" attractions like the "Concrete Wall Observation Post", where you look into South Korea through binoculars.



What were the immediate characteristics of North Korean beer that you noticed?
It certainly isn't a light lager like OB or Hite, beer popular in South Korea! Light lagers, like OB, Hite, Budweiser, Coors, or Miller are popular in many countries around the world, but certainly barely count as beer in my opinion. Great on a hot day when you need something light to drink, but not big on taste. Because electricity is in short supply in North Korea, the refrigeration required for lagers is simply impossible, so the majority of beers we drank were either ales or "steam beers".


Steam beer is a style invented (ironically) in the United States -- the only beer style to originate from the US -- during the California Gold Rush. Based on German-style lagers, but fermented at ale temperatures, it was a popular drink created out of necessity in locations where refrigeration is impossible. It seems the North Koreans discovered this style by accident, and their beer is very similar to the American beer brand Anchor Steam. Darker, fuller-bodied, hoppier, and delicious, it was hands down better than South Korean beer!

Obviously we tried many different beers in the country, ranging from steam beers, to oatmeal stouts, to chocolate porters and pale ales, so its hard to generalise, but I'd have to say the average beer is a steam beer. The only real difference between the steam beers I had in the DPRK and the steam beers in the US was that they seem to have a hard time cleaning their tanks, I assume because of the difficulty of getting certain chemicals into the country because of the trade embargo. Certain steam beers tasted a bit of tanks that needed to be cleaned, and imparted a bit more metallic taste as a consequence. However, all in all, they were delicious beers.

What kinds of ingredients are they restricted to?
Beer is one of the simplest things to make in the entire world. If you can make porridge, you can make beer. If you can make congee, you can make beer. If you can make bread, you can make beer. The North Koreans are incredibly clever at making do with very little, and they honestly were able to make more interesting beers than most other countries of the world. Their beers were a little short on hops, and I could explain that as they perhaps are having a hard time importing or growing them. However, I find it much more likely that, in a climate that naturally grows the hop plant, the lack of hops is more easily explained by palate of Koreans. They simply don't like beers as hoppy as the craft beers I brew and drink.

What kind of experimentation do North Korean breweries resort to when there are ingredient shortages? Or electricity shortages?
None of the ingredients required for beer seemed to be in short supply. Famine aside, beer seemed to be quite readily available. Even when driving around the street you would notice people drinking local beer, indicating that the food shortages don't seem to limit the beer production much in the country.


However, because of the electricity cuts, they seem to stick with steam beers and ales as they do not require refrigeration. Because of the embargo, asphalt and petrol seems to be hard to come by, leading to it being very hard (if not impossible) for beer to be shipped around the country. As a result, it is a country of microbreweries. The hotel makes their own beer. The bowling alley makes their own beer. The restaurants make their own beer. The national Taedonggang beer was certainly available throughout the entire country, but any location with sufficient space for a microbrewery, they seemed to build one in order to offset any supply chain inefficencies.

What was the best beer you tasted?

Continued on the magazine's web site... (http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-04/29/north-korea-breweries)

[Divemaster]

Over the past 25 plus years I've sampled beer in at least 20 countries (probably forgot a few) and nearly twice as many U.S. states. I appreciate the different styles on their own merits.

I was stunned today when I discovered the best hefeweizen I've ever had in my life. I was gobsmacked when I realized where I was.

http://on.fb.me/11ZXj25

[uspsmark]

I'm a big fan of craft beers and miss my days in Austin, TX when we would make the pub crawl and sample the myriad varieties made there. I live in SW Virginia now and there is a pretty good craft brewery here in Abingdon, VA called Wolf Hills Brewery.

www.wolfhillsbrewing.com

Certainly not a fancy place, it's housed in an old ice house and has a bar, picnic tables and a small band stand. The generally serve brats and such so the food is not the draw. They have numerous beers (usually 15-20) on tap and have one and two liter "growlers" so you can take home a big container of your favorite.

[uspsmark]

Sam Adams Founder Helps Craft Brewers Grow Via Microloans

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Boston Beer Company founder Jim Koch – maker of Samuel Adams – launched a program called Brewing the American Dream in 2008, which aims to help small business owners grow their businesses in the food, beverage and hospitality industries. The program offers mentorship as well as microloans, for which the interest rate depends on both the size of the loan and the borrower’s history, but according to the company are competitive with standard loan rates.

Follow the link for the story...

http://fxn.ws/12sDwpo

[uspsmark]

Nice article for all of us baseball and beer fans...

Top 10 Stadiums for craft beer (http://www.thedailymeal.com/top-10-baseball-stadiums-craft-beer)

[Divemaster]

Nice article for all of us baseball and beer fans...

Top 10 Stadiums for craft beer (http://www.thedailymeal.com/top-10-baseball-stadiums-craft-beer)

I was patiently going through the slide show while quietly seething, ready to rip, not you, but the article to shreds. I was seeing so many east coast fields. Ok, I haven't been to them. Then San Diego popped up, great beer city, but Mission Brewing (fantastic and close to the field) hasn't gained a spot inside the stadium. Hey, if you go to San Diego, and you love craft beer, I command you to visit Mission Brewing!

However, Number 1 was my cherished Safeco Field in Seattle. Ok, when it comes to overlooking Seattle craft beer I'm like Sean Hannity when MSNBC misses an Obama gaff. Yep, lots of great beer in Safeco but two of the best things were missing. Literally across the street from Safeco Field is Pyramid Brewing. You can stop there (trust me, the locals know so get there at least 3 hours early for a weekend game) to quaff and masticate before the game and save $$.

Also missing in the article is that Schooner Exact, from the SoDo district, has won a spot at Safeco. SoDo is Seattle slang for the neighborhood South of the now destroyed King Dome. Formerly an industrial area, SoDo, along with Georgetown, are trying to transform themselves.

Ok, the 3rd thing. The Silver Cloud hotel is at the same intersection as Safeco and Pyramid. Everyone should know slumber is the better part of inebriated valor.

Google Map it. Everything is in the NW quadrant of the map from the field.

[bassbuckeye]

I was patiently going through the slide show while quietly seething, ready to rip, not you, but the article to shreds. I was seeing so many east coast fields. Ok, I haven't been to them. Then San Diego popped up, great beer city, but Mission Brewing (fantastic and close to the field) hasn't gained a spot inside the stadium. Hey, if you go to San Diego, and you love craft beer, I command you to visit Mission Brewing!

However, Number 1 was my cherished Safeco Field in Seattle. Ok, when it comes to overlooking Seattle craft beer I'm like Sean Hannity when MSNBC misses an Obama gaff. Yep, lots of great beer in Safeco but two of the best things were missing. Literally across the street from Safeco Field is Pyramid Brewing. You can stop there (trust me, the locals know so get there at least 3 hours early for a weekend game) to quaff and masticate before the game and save $$.

Also missing in the article is that Schooner Exact, from the SoDo district, has won a spot at Safeco. SoDo is Seattle slang for the neighborhood South of the now destroyed King Dome. Formerly an industrial area, SoDo, along with Georgetown, are trying to transform themselves.

Ok, the 3rd thing. The Silver Cloud hotel is at the same intersection as Safeco and Pyramid. Everyone should know slumber is the better part of inebriated valor.

Google Map it. Everything is in the NW quadrant of the map from the field.

Triple A Columbus Clippers carries Columbus Brewing company's staples.. Columbus IPA which is not distributed heavily but is a really solid IPA and they also carry seasonals...its really fun and the ticket is inexpensive... the only downfall is its served in plastic cups

[Divemaster]

Triple A Columbus Clippers carries Columbus Brewing company's staples.. Columbus IPA which is not distributed heavily but is a really solid IPA and they also carry seasonals...its really fun and the ticket is inexpensive... the only downfall is its served in plastic cups

Just one more reason to like minor league ball. Which reminds me, I need to go to a Tacoma Rainiers game and see what they're serving.

[bassbuckeye]

Just one more reason to like minor league ball. Which reminds me, I need to go to a Tacoma Rainiers game and see what they're serving.

I don't want to violate any QP rules or anything but since you are on the west coast if you ever want to trade let me know (if permissible) ....I am always trying to get my hands on Pliny both the elder and younger....we can not get it here.

Curious if you get any Three Floyd's out that way because we do and they have some good brews

[Aequitas]

This brewery is a new start up by a personal friend within the community that makes some awesome craft beer! He has been making beer for a long time and this place is going to kick ass! Check out the website www.heritagebrewing.com and if you feel like supporting go to their kickstarter page here (http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/heritagebrewing/heritage-brewing-co-bringing-the-revolution-to-cra?ref=live)...you might even qualify for some kill swag!

[Divemaster]

I don't want to violate any QP rules or anything but since you are on the west coast if you ever want to trade let me know (if permissible) ....I am always trying to get my hands on Pliny both the elder and younger....we can not get it here.

Curious if you get any Three Floyd's out that way because we do and they have some good brews

I've heard about beer trading and I would be interested...except for a couple of things. First- (personality flaw) I just don't have the patience to round up great beers and put them in the mail. At best you would get empties. It's not you, it's me. Second- I generally travel enough in a given fiscal quarter to sample a broad spectrum of beers (see facebook.com/ThirstyWarrior) from multiple regions if not countries. I would rather see you post here about the amazing beers in your area and get the two or three folks who read this thread interested in traveling there to sample them at the source. That said, I've had the Elder in San Francisco a few years back and it was amazing. The beer lives up to the hype. It is rare here in Washington State and I am usually away when it appears. Such is the lot of a traveling beer geek.

[Divemaster]

This brewery is a new start up by a personal friend within the community that makes some awesome craft beer! He has been making beer for a long time and this place is going to kick ass! Check out the website www.heritagebrewing.com and if you feel like supporting go to their kickstarter page here (http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/heritagebrewing/heritage-brewing-co-bringing-the-revolution-to-cra?ref=live)...you might even qualify for some kill swag!

How about making the first post to this thread? http://www.professionalsoldiers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=42814

[bassbuckeye]

I've heard about beer trading and I would be interested...except for a couple of things. First- (personality flaw) I just don't have the patience to round up great beers and put them in the mail. At best you would get empties. It's not you, it's me. Second- I generally travel enough in a given fiscal quarter to sample a broad spectrum of beers (see facebook.com/ThirstyWarrior) from multiple regions if not countries. I would rather see you post here about the amazing beers in your area and get the two or three folks who read this thread interested in traveling there to sample them at the source. That said, I've had the Elder in San Francisco a few years back and it was amazing. The beer lives up to the hype. It is rare here in Washington State and I am usually away when it appears. Such is the lot of a traveling beer geek.

Noted! I will continue to post about beer

Dreadnaught and Panzer Wolf from Three Floyds out of Munsey Indiana are two really good double IPA's that are rarely seen here in central Ohio but if any of you are in the Cincinnati or better yet Lexington Kentucky area a store called the Liquor barn (is as great as the name sounds) carries an unbelievable selection of craft beers......and Bourbons if anyone is in to that type of thing as well

[Divemaster]

My review of this beer is up at facebook.com/thirstywarrior

Spoiler alert- AWESOME

[Divemaster]

www.facebook.com/ThirstyWarrior

Even though fall is still a day away, I review the first winter beer of the season. It's a malt bomb, and awesome.

Now, I'm a died in the wool hop head so my other review is an IPA. Just so-so in my book, but many of you who like trying new beers but prefer not to have your tongue slain by a knight of the hop table will love it.

Bud, PBR & Coors drinkers stop here. Move along, nothing to see. :D

Bonus review first seen here on ps.com: Elysian Space Dust IPA.

This brewery, from one of Seattle's quirkiest neighborhoods, turns out some awesome brews. Capitol Hill, not the D.C. version, rivals the Fremont area in weirdness but trumps it in density of alternative lifestyles. That might keep many reading this from visiting Elysian on Pike Street, but that would be a shame. It is actually worth the several block climb from Pike Place Market. A cool place to people watch and (QPs) to practice gray man skills. Elysian actually has three brewpubs in Seattle, but the one on Cap Hill captures their vibe. But this review is based on the 22 oz bomber that anyone in the distribution area can purchase.

Space Dust pours a rich, unfiltered golden with a decent head that leaves modest lacing in the glass as you sip. The aroma, wow, the aroma! Rich in floral notes and citrus (really just the hops, but our mind translates smells into things we recognize when it can), you might actually delay that first sip to sniff it again.

The nose translates well into the sip, but subtly. Savor that first sip and sort it out. The hops don't hit hard at all even though this beer is part of Elysian's Manic Series that caters to their self-professed hop obsession. I attribute the smoothness to the genius of the brewmasters. Everything about this beer is hoppy, but minus the bitterness. You get that, modestly, in the aftertaste.

Okay FOGs (yes, you Bud, PBR and Coors drinkers-minus the wine snobs-who kept reading), before you go "WTF is this shit?", I blame your peers. Guys (like Tex) who had ten or more years in Group when I showed up in '89 got me started at Engine House No 9. I'm just a victim.

For those who've kept reading, and have at least a mild curiosity about craft beer, feel free to explore the Face Book page. Scroll through and check out the past year or so. It is wide open and anyone can post there. If you care to write your own review and want it featured, let me know and I will post it for you under your name. I don't make any money from it, this is just a hobby.

Life is too short to drink crap beer. Prost!

[Barbarian]

Ventured to Charleston, the capitol town of WV, yesterday. While there, I explored the Charleston Brewing Co. which is the newest (and only) brew pub in the city, to my knowledge. I of course sampled, among others, their version of a West Coast IPA called "The Raj." I'm fairly new to IPA's but will give a short review.

The Raj has a floral quality, on the nose. The spectrum only widens, on the sip to include both citrus and tropical fruit. While the malt is noticeable, it is not so pronounced as to cause one to cry foul, but substantial enough to add a pleasant body to accompany the bitterness of the hops. The listed IBU is 85.

[booker]

Ventured to Charleston, the capitol town of WV, yesterday. While there, I explored the Charleston Brewing Co. which is the newest (and only) brew pub in the city, to my knowledge. I of course sampled, among others, their version of a West Coast IPA called "The Raj." I'm fairly new to IPA's but will give a short review.

The Raj has a floral quality, on the nose. The spectrum only widens, on the sip to include both citrus and tropical fruit. While the malt is noticeable, it is not so pronounced as to cause one to cry foul, but substantial enough to add a pleasant body to accompany the bitterness of the hops. The listed IBU is 85.

They add special flavor by getting water downstream from DuPont on the Kanawha River.

[Barbarian]

They add special flavor by getting water downstream from DuPont on the Kanawha River.

OPSEC!

[Roguish Lawyer]

I've had the Elder in San Francisco a few years back and it was amazing. The beer lives up to the hype. It is rare here in Washington State and I am usually away when it appears. Such is the lot of a traveling beer geek.

I just managed to get my hands on a Council of 4 Elders. :lifter It is gone.

[WhiskeyBoarder]

Folks,

American craft beer is dominated by the west coast. Amongst the favorites are hard-to-get beers like Pliny the Elder, Double Sunshine, etc; all west-coast derived.

Well, there has recently been hype for an east coast beer from Victory Brewing in Pennsylvania.

The beer is their DirtWolf.

Obviously, I'd love for you to check out my blog where I review the beer in full (http://www.thecraftbeerguru.com) but, out of respect, my thoughts follow:

Good, but not worth its praise. It's compared to beers from Lagunitas, to which it is similar, but it lacks their beers' complexity. It is dominated by one note; a massively spicy and peppery hop bite.

Anyway, cheers to you folks. Drink some Founders Breakfast Stout if you have it available to you.

[Flagg]

Anyone heard of Picobrew?

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1708005089/picobrew-zymatic-the-automatic-beer-brewing-applia

http://picobrew.azurewebsites.net/

I'm waiting to hear what experienced scratch homebrewers think of it.

[Divemaster]

Ventured to Charleston, the capitol town of WV, yesterday. While there, I explored the Charleston Brewing Co. which is the newest (and only) brew pub in the city, to my knowledge. I of course sampled, among others, their version of a West Coast IPA called "The Raj." I'm fairly new to IPA's but will give a short review.

The Raj has a floral quality, on the nose. The spectrum only widens, on the sip to include both citrus and tropical fruit. While the malt is noticeable, it is not so pronounced as to cause one to cry foul, but substantial enough to add a pleasant body to accompany the bitterness of the hops. The listed IBU is 85.

Cool. Thanks for the write up.

[Divemaster]

I just managed to get my hands on a Council of 4 Elders. :lifter It is gone.

Damn, I haven't even had that yet.

[Divemaster]

I sampled some amazing homebrews tonight brewed by, in my opinion, a very talented QP. We're (me and another 1st GRP QP) convinced he's ready to turn pro. A quick write up of three of his beers is on the Thirsty Warrior FB page.

[Divemaster]

Hop haters, IPA-o-phobes, your season has arrived. Starting with the fall pumpkin beers (great in small doses only), malt rules this time of year. Mostly dark with varying malt intensity, you should see them all over store shelves now.

Some random favorites of mine in no particular order but with regional bias:

Snow Cap- Pyramid Brewing, Seattle, WA
Winter Ale- Port Townsend Brewing, Port Townsend, WA
12.12.12 Vertical Epic Ale- Stone Brewing, Escondido, CA (possibly extinct)
Wassail- Full Sail Brewing, Hood River, OR
Jubleale- Deschutes Brewery, Bend, OR

Winter beer challenge: Name your favorites, where from and why you love them. Pictures welcome!

[Divemaster]

Includes great Northwest craft beer like this Ninkasi Total Domination Double IPA. Go Seahawks!

[Divemaster]

for a couple fellow craft beer geeks at Gravity Beer Market in Olympia, WA. I found this St Bernardus in a magnum size bottle and couldn't pass it up.

http://bit.ly/192A0qa

[cbtengr]

for a couple fellow craft beer geeks at Gravity Beer Market in Olympia, WA. I found this St Bernardus in a magnum size bottle and couldn't pass it up.

http://bit.ly/192A0qa

The nice thing about a bottle that size is that when you tell the Mrs. you are going to limit yourself to just one bottle a day you can drink it with a clear conscience.

[WhiskeyBoarder]

If interested, posted a review of a great craft beer, and a link to my craft beer podcast on my blog:

http://www.thecraftbeerguru.com/2013/12/2013-lagunitas-sucks.html

Given the prevalence of Tampa folks on here, some might recognize the podcast discussion of Cigar City.

Appreciate the interest. Merry Christmas. And, of course, cheers!

[Divemaster]

A HEAD SPINNING BEER FOR NEW YEAR’S EVE

It is just after 10PM here on the West Coast and I’m glad I cracked this bottle early. A Christmas gift from a good friend, I’m not sure he knew what he had. Then again, the sinister bastard might have known damn well what a Flanders Red Ale is. Until tonight, I did not.

If Rodenbach Grand Cru catches you unawares you’d swear it had gone bad. Don’t pour it out, it’s supposed taste that sour.

Full review at: http://on.fb.me/1dT14uv

[Divemaster]

If interested, posted a review of a great craft beer, and a link to my craft beer podcast on my blog:

http://www.thecraftbeerguru.com/2013/12/2013-lagunitas-sucks.html

Given the prevalence of Tampa folks on here, some might recognize the podcast discussion of Cigar City.

Appreciate the interest. Merry Christmas. And, of course, cheers!

WhiskeyBorader- sorry for the delay but I finally got around to checking out your review of the 2013 Lagunitas Sucks. As an aside, to see inside the weird mind of the owner follow @LagunitasT on Twitter. I really enjoyed your review as it is obvious you take the burden of reviewing craft beer seriously. The uninitiated think drinking beer is all fun and games. You and I know differently.

[Divemaster]

From the founder and editor of the Beer Street Journal

http://bit.ly/1dv3WQL

BY
REIDRAMSAY
January 10, 2012

I have a small Op-Ed coming this week. I don’t do Op-Eds often, but sometimes there are just a couple of thoughts I want to put out there. The Op-Ed is on beer geeks, beer drinking, & a few personal resolutions. Sam Calagione just spelled out part of my Op-Ed. Insufferable beer geeks need to read this. It’s brilliant. He posted it to a BeerAdvocate.com thread, where a reader spoke about over-rated breweries. It struck a nerve with Sam. Props, Sam.

It’s pretty depressing to frequently visit this site and see the most negative threads among the most popular. This didn’t happen much ten years ago when craft beer had something like a 3 percent market share. Flash forward to today, and true indie craft beer now has a still-tiny but growing marketshare of just over 5 percent. Yet so many folks that post here still spend their time knocking down breweries that dare to grow. It’s like that old joke: “Nobody eats at that restaurant anymore, it’s too crowded.” Except the “restaurants” that people shit on here aren’t exactly juggernauts. In fact, aside from Boston Beer, none of them have anything even close to half of one percent marketshare. The more that retailers, distributors, and large industrial brewers consolidate the more fragile the current growth momentum of the craft segment becomes. The more often the Beer Advocate community becomes a soap box for outing breweries for daring to grow beyond its insider ranks the more it will be marginalized in the movement to support, promote, and protect independent ,American craft breweries.

It’s interesting how many posts that refer to Dogfish being over-rated include a caveat like “except for Palo…except for Immort…etc.” We all have different palettes which is why it’s a great thing that there are so many different beers. At Dogfish we’ve been focused on making “weird” beers since we opened and have taken our lumps for being stylistically indifferent since day one. I bet a lot of folks agree that beers like Punkin Ale (since 1995) , Immort Ale (wood aged smoked beer) since 1995, Chicory Stout (coffee stout) since 1995 , Raison D’être (Belgian brown) since 1996, , Indian Brown Ale (dark IPA) since 1997, and 90 Minute (DIPA) since 2000 don’t seem very weird anymore. That’s in large part because so many people who have been part of this community over the years championed them and helped us put them on the map.These beers, and all of our more recent releases like Palo Santo, Burton Baton, Bitches Brew continue to grow every year. We could have taken the easy way out and just sold the bejeezus out of 60 Minute to grow but we like to experiment and create and follow our own muse. Obviously there is an audience that appreciates this as we continue to grow. We put no more “hype” or “expert marketing” behind our best selling beers than we do our occasionals. We only advertise in a few beer magazines and my wife Mariah oversees all of our twitter/Facebook/dogfish.com stuff. We have mostly grown by just sharing our beer with people who are into it (at our pub, great beer bars, beer dinners, and fests) and let them decide for themselves if they like it. If they do we hope they tell their friends about. We hope a bunch of you that are going to EBF will stop by our booth and try some of the very unique new beers we are proudly bringing to market like Tweason’ale (a champagne-esque, gluten-free beer fermented with buckwheat honey and strawberries) and Noble Rot (a sort of saison brewed with Botrytis-infected Viognier Grape must). One of these beers is on the sweeter side and one is more sour. Knowing each of your palettes is unique you will probably prefer one over the other. That doesn’t mean the one you didn’t prefer sucked. And the breweries you don’t prefer but are growing don’t suck either. Respect Beer. The below was my favorite post thus far.

This thread is hilarious. Seriously, Bells, Founders, FFF, Surly, RR, DFH, Bruery, Avery, Cigar City, Mikkeller are all overrated? Since I’m from Ohio, I’ll pile on and add Great Lakes, Hoppin Frog, and Brew Kettle to the list. Your welcome.

Hopefully soon we will have every craft brewery in the US on the list.

Editors Note: I love being from Delaware. That’s how we roll.

[gwill034]

Divemaster, you sound like a fellow Hop Head.

I've been brewing for years. Learned from some good folks at a tap room in PA. Just finishing up a Double Red IPA I named Bear Calvary Cossack Red Ale. I like combining my history background with the hobby as is evident. I'm still partial-mashing, and probably (most certainly) going to put the beer hobby on the shelf as I pursue an 18X contract.

Happy to share some brewing advice if there's any interest. Also know a few good spots to recommend in the DC/Baltimore/Central PA area.

[Divemaster]

Divemaster, you sound like a fellow Hop Head.

I've been brewing for years. Learned from some good folks at a tap room in PA. Just finishing up a Double Red IPA I named Bear Calvary Cossack Red Ale. I like combining my history background with the hobby as is evident. I'm still partial-mashing, and probably (most certainly) going to put the beer hobby on the shelf as I pursue an 18X contract.

Happy to share some brewing advice if there's any interest. Also know a few good spots to recommend in the DC/Baltimore/Central PA area.

A hop head indeed. And I've just sampled a home brewed Red IPA, though not mine as I don't brew. Since this thread is several pages long, perhaps starting a new home brewing thread would be in order.

[RichL025]

A hop head indeed. And I've just sampled a home brewed Red IPA, though not mine as I don't brew. Since this thread is several pages long, perhaps starting a new home brewing thread would be in order.

Just started home-brewing again after an 8 year hiatus. Matter o fact, as I type this I'm watching a stout boil in my kettle <g>...

Still extract but I'd love to get into all grain soon...

[Divemaster]

Just started home-brewing again after an 8 year hiatus. Matter o fact, as I type this I'm watching a stout boil in my kettle <g>...

Still extract but I'd love to get into all grain soon...

My friend is so into it, he grows his own hops. He brews just about every week and puts it into Corny kegs for his three tap beer fridge. We get free growler fills. :lifter

Stay tuned. I think gwill will be starting a home brewing thread soon.

[mangler]

Includes great Northwest craft beer like this Ninkasi Total Domination Double IPA. Go Seahawks!

If you ever make it down to Eugene (April knife show maybe, Mark and Curtis, them SPartan guys, will be there.) I'll take you to Ninkasi personally along with quite a few other breweries. I did all the structural iron on Ninkasi's new brewery this past year.

[Divemaster]

If you ever make it down to Eugene (April knife show maybe, Mark and Curtis, them SPartan guys, will be there.) I'll take you to Ninkasi personally along with quite a few other breweries. I did all the structural iron on Ninkasi's new brewery this past year.

I served with both Mark and Curtis. Curt and I were on the same ODA in Okinawa and I was in the same company as Mark at Ft. Lewis.

[gwill034]

Stay tuned. I think gwill will be starting a home brewing thread soon.

Beer Making 101, just posted it last night. I started things off with some beginner's tips. Be happy to get some more advanced discussions going, as I can tell some people here surpass my knowledge. Growing your own hops? Something I'd definitely like to try someday.

[Divemaster]

Harmon Brewing, located in downtown Tacoma, will be holding a Military Appreciation Day on 13 FEB. Fifteen percent of revenue will be donated to the Green Beret Foundation. If they get a good turnout this may become a monthly event. I plan to be there and do my part. Let's make this a success.

[Divemaster]

to this part of Dallas. I took this pic down along Riverfront Blvd across from Lulu B's Antiques. Any locals know what's coming?

[Divemaster]

Do you have a craft beer loving veteran in your life? For a Veterans Day gift I humbly nominate the Arrogant Bastard Box by Stone Brewing (http://www.stonebrewing.com/). Not an IPA among them so no bitter beer for the non-hopheads. I'm not sure how widely available this is in the U.S., but it is here on the West Coast.
Veterans Day is a time for remembrance, not gift giving. Who says we can't do both?
I picked up a "Bastard Box" today and posted my review here: http://on.fb.me/1uIIJwH BLUF: Great beer and it's best to pour it in a frozen mug so you can read the back of the bottles as you sip.

[tonyz]

Two beers I've tried recently and recommend:

(1). BACKWOODS BASTARD - Founders Brewing Company

http://foundersbrewing.com/our-beer/backwoods-bastard/

(2). KILT FLASHER - Devils Backbone Brewing Company

http://dbbrewingcompany.com/ourbeer.aspx

[Divemaster]

Barhop Brewing—Port Angeles, WA

What happened to the Citrasonic IPA?

Citrasonic IPA made its first appearance in Barhop Brewing’s tap room on Sunday, the same day as my visit. The recipe called for seven days of dry hopping with Citra hops, hence the name. However, as relayed to me by a brewery insider, things did not go as planned. In a nutshell, the brewer FORGOT TO ADD THE HOPS! There was no dry hopping prior to the beer reaching the tap room.

Does a brewer keep his job when something like that happens? When the brewer is the owner’s son-in-law, yes. Do you release your un-dry hopped, dry hopped IPA? When you’re Barhop Brewing, yes you do. Does this explain the unheralded Sunday release of a new beer with nary a mention on the brewery’s website? Perhaps.

How to you retroactively dry hop your un-dry hopped Citrasonic IPA? If you’re Barhop Brewing, you plop a dried Citra hop cone into each glass poured. Does several seconds of dry hopping make up for the lost week? Not really. But a hop cone coming apart in your pint as you drink can make for an embarrassing date-night-green-thing-in-your-teeth moment. It turns out there is such a thing as a too freshly hopped beer.

This IPA just might achieve greatness if someone remembers the hops for the next batch.

[RichL025]

Should have tried a Randalizer maybe?

Either way, kind of funny and endearing. Who could imagine an InBev beer being released as an "oopsie"? Bland perfection is demanded....

[Divemaster]

Should have tried a Randalizer maybe?

Either way, kind of funny and endearing. Who could imagine an InBev beer being released as an "oopsie"? Bland perfection is demanded....

I find it very difficult to believe that Barhop Brewing is owned by InBev. There is no distribution that I can discern. The owner still has his day job. This place doesn't even have it's own coasters. InBev acquires breweries that have made a name for themselves, like Seattle's Elysian Brewing. This one may not even be profitable.

[booker]

Barhop Brewing—Port Angeles, WA

What happened to the Citrasonic IPA?

Citrasonic IPA made its first appearance in Barhop Brewing’s tap room on Sunday, the same day as my visit. The recipe called for seven days of dry hopping with Citra hops, hence the name. However, as relayed to me by a brewery insider, things did not go as planned. In a nutshell, the brewer FORGOT TO ADD THE HOPS! There was no dry hopping prior to the beer reaching the tap room.

Does a brewer keep his job when something like that happens? When the brewer is the owner’s son-in-law, yes. Do you release your un-dry hopped, dry hopped IPA? When you’re Barhop Brewing, yes you do. Does this explain the unheralded Sunday release of a new beer with nary a mention on the brewery’s website? Perhaps.

How to you retroactively dry hop your un-dry hopped Citrasonic IPA? If you’re Barhop Brewing, you plop a dried Citra hop cone into each glass poured. Does several seconds of dry hopping make up for the lost week? Not really. But a hop cone coming apart in your pint as you drink can make for an embarrassing date-night-green-thing-in-your-teeth moment. It turns out there is such a thing as a too freshly hopped beer.

This IPA just might achieve greatness if someone remembers the hops for the next batch.


Given the relatively small list of ingredients required to make superb beer, this is a travesty. To then try to cover it by putting a single hop in the glass - absurd. Making an IPA is simple, making a great IPA is something that most brewers will never do, Barhop brewing included.

[Divemaster]

Given the relatively small list of ingredients required to make superb beer, this is a travesty. To then try to cover it by putting a single hop in the glass - absurd. Making an IPA is simple, making a great IPA is something that most brewers will never do, Barhop brewing included.

They didn't forget all the hops...just the dried hop cones they'd purchased to justify calling it Citrasonic. Doh!

[Divemaster]

Lies! Pure macro brew propaganda! Hey, my eyes are up here.

http://bit.ly/1IyJkmu

HOPPY BEERS CAUSE MAN BOOBS: REPORT

HERBALIST WARNS ABOUT PLANT ESTROGEN THAT GIVES HOPS ITS FLAVOR

By Neal Colgrass, Newser Staff
Posted Jun 21, 2015 5:00 PM CDT

(NEWSER) – Guys, this is for you: Hoppy beers contain a plant estrogen that may cause feminine attributes, including man boobs. According to author and herbalist Stephen Buhner, hops are "female flowers of the hop plant" that contain serious amounts of phytoestrogen, a plant estrogen that women have used as an herbal medicine, Fox News reports. That's why gals have taken hops to ease menopause and boost milk production, among other things, Vice notes in an article about Buhner's work. "Yes, you read that right: Hops are giving men man boobs," says Vice.

Fox notes that India Pale Ale is heavy on hops, and craft brewers use 400% to 500% more hops than the typical big-name beer. But not everyone is buying the theory: "I'm inclined to think that the man boobs are more the result of the high number of calories commonly found in hoppy (high alcohol) beers," reads a comment in the Vice article. Another notes that hop content in "a 5-gallon batch of beer—let alone a single beer—is infinitesimal." As if man-boob fear isn't enough, both articles also refer to "brewer's droop," or male infertility caused by beer—which can last for a year after heavy drinkers stop guzzling, the Telegraph reported two years ago.

[zuluzerosix]

This is Dr Jekyll's Craft Beer.

This company was founded by my Lieutenant (and West Pointer) back when I was in the 82nd. He just launched the company. The beer is being brewed in Mendocino County, CA. It can be found mostly in Southern California at Whole Foods and other markets. It's really good.

http://www.drjekylls.com/

Aside from the beer, this guy was the best LT we ever had. He went really outside the box. We considered him a Bad MF'er. We really like him alot. Our PLT SGT was an Old Scroll Ranger who had served in C Company Rangers back in VN. Our platoon was really full of ourselves back then. We were really lucky to have them.

Now the LT is making beer.

[Divemaster]

The Crowler

Until I walked into the Southern Pines Brewing Company on Friday I had never heard of the Crowler. Think of it as the love child of a beer can and a growler, hence the name. Rather than explain it, check out the video we made. I couldn't link directly to the video, but it is the first thing on the FB page.

http://bit.ly/1Vx9PnX

[Razor]

A local microbrewery here in town sells 32 oz. crowlers. I hadn't heard of them either until I took a few home last fall. "No honey, I only had one beer--honest!"