GIVE ME YOUR BEER SUGGESTIONS!!

[Kraftster]

@Kraftster

I just had another bottle of that Allagash and I realized what it tastes like: a Kölsch.

That doesn't seem to be a very appreciated style around here (and I'm fair to midland on it myself), but it's definitely not what I want in a saison.

I've had the experience before with a saison, and I agree with you that it's not a good one. I really struggle to locate subtleties and nuance in kolsches. The Double Mountian kolsh was a really good, very drinkable beer. Other than that, I've never been much more than lukewarm on a kolsh that I have had.

[Kraftster]

Will a bunch of terrible craft beer ruin the booming craft beer industry?
There's a flood of new suds — and some of it sucks
http://theweek.com/article/index/269205 ... r-industry" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Interesting. I've been thinking a lot about this recently.

[the wicked child]

Anyone get their hands on/try Valar Morghulis yet?

[columbia]

Will a bunch of terrible craft beer ruin the booming craft beer industry?
There's a flood of new suds — and some of it sucks
http://theweek.com/article/index/269205 ... r-industry" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Interesting. I've been thinking a lot about this recently.

It's why I don't understand the economics of the vast majority of brew pubs.

How was the beer? Ok, I guess, but pretty unremarkable.
How the food? Ok, I guess, but pretty unremarkable.

It's why I normally don't visit most of them more than once.

[MRandall25]

I got Fin Du Monde at Hems tonight. Holy **** is it good

[MRandall25]

And Edmund Fitz on tap is much superior to the bottled versiom

[MWB]

And Edmund Fitz on tap is much superior to the bottled versiom

What do you think of the bottle version? That's my favorite Porter, so that's quite high praise.

[stopper40]

Will a bunch of terrible craft beer ruin the booming craft beer industry?
There's a flood of new suds — and some of it sucks
http://theweek.com/article/index/269205 ... r-industry" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Interesting. I've been thinking a lot about this recently.

It's why I don't understand the economics of the vast majority of brew pubs.

How was the beer? Ok, I guess, but pretty unremarkable.
How the food? Ok, I guess, but pretty unremarkable.

It's why I normally don't visit most of them more than once.

That's why I'm very interested to see what happens to the one opening in Bethel Park soon.

[shafnutz05]

And Edmund Fitz on tap is much superior to the bottled versiom

What do you think of the bottle version? That's my favorite Porter, so that's quite high praise.

Maybe he was making a Gitche Gumee joke

[columbia]

Your humor just sunk to a new low.

[Jim]

Beerhive (in the Strip) has Black Ops and Barrel Aged Old Rasputin

[eddysnake]

3 rivers 6 pack had an alesmith tap takeover last night, my brother said it was top notch all around. Also got stone enjoy by 10.31 bombers in yesterday.

[Kraftster]

I'm still pissed that I didn't get the XV Barrel Aged Raspy at Giant Eagle last winter. I had just spent a bunch of money on bottles to bring home from New Orleans, though, and the $20 price tag for 375ML seemed a little steep.

[Kraftster]

I have been seeing a lot of Free Will stuff lately. Any of you Easterners that can comment on the quality of their stuff? I think I'll probably buy the kriek 750ML from Whole Foods before its gone.

[eddysnake]

this may be a dumb question, but does the recipe for stone enjoy by ever change? What brilliant marketing by them (not that brewing a fantastic IPA hurts either)

[MRandall25]

And Edmund Fitz on tap is much superior to the bottled versiom

What do you think of the bottle version? That's my favorite Porter, so that's quite high praise.

I think all of Great Lakes' stuff has a similar aftertaste out of the bottle, to the point where it kinda overpowers the beer style. I didn't get any of that aftertaste with the tap version, and the porter taste really stood out.

[slappybrown]

this may be a dumb question, but does the recipe for stone enjoy by ever change? What brilliant marketing by them (not that brewing a fantastic IPA hurts either)

The 10/31/14 is tops. Had some on tap.

[BigMcK]

In my immediate area, maybe within a 8 mile radius, there are 12 Breweries. 5 years ago, there were 4. Of the 12, I visit only 2 on a regular basis because of the quality they offer. I see the market soon being so saturated with average brewers that there will be some that are forced to close their doors due to quality. It has a Starbucks feel as to how many breweries are close by.

My favorite local brewer just left my favorite local brewery for a chance to play at the big league levels. The brewer he left behind as his apprentice is a nice guy, knowledgeable about brewing, but didn't have a great product to offer from the place where he started.

[Kraftster]

I think there's room to grow in the local scene more so than the national scene. A lot of people I know that are into the craft scene and who seek out exotic offerings have reformed their beer drinking habits to focus on stopping at the local options (Drai Laag, Grist House, Hop Farm, Roundabout) for drafts or growlers. I think these types of local craft stops can be mediocre and compete with above average to good offerings from out-of-state breweries because of freshness and local appeal.

This has led me to having a serious interest in exploring the viability of starting a new distributorship focused on marketing this type of small local craft to regional purveyors of alcohol. I just worry that I'll wind up in Belize if I try to meddle in the middle tier of the antiquated and highly bull**** three-tier system in the US.

[eddysnake]

watch out in Belize, belikin is pretty tasty

[BigMcK]

I agree that a fresh local beer, even mediocre, is better than a skunk beer from afar. So far there seems to be enough room in the marketplace, so odds are there will be some great brewers to fill the need.

Good luck with that distribution business.

I think I may have mentioned this a long time ago as a trivia question.
What was the commodity being hauled in the movie Smokey and the Bandit?

Spoiler:

400 cases of Coors Beer

[eddysnake]

this may be a dumb question, but does the recipe for stone enjoy by ever change? What brilliant marketing by them (not that brewing a fantastic IPA hurts either)

The 10/31/14 is tops. Had some on tap.

Good, my brother got 10 and I hope to help him out

[MWB]

Need to try that.

[BigMcK]

Stone has released a "Enjoy after 10/31/15" Saison.

From those around me when they see it is why you would not drink it now? Even a favorite clerk asked me why would I have a beer near me that I can't drink now.

[eddysnake]

was that their Stone Brett IPA? heres an article on that

http://draftmag.com/beereditor/stones-n ... he-script/