Don Quixote
Footballguy
Troegs' Mad Elf. 11% alcohol. Good stuff.
				
			Yeah I have a regular trading buddy that lives 30 minutes from Treehouse and works next door to Trillium. He also goes to VT once a month or so. We've done 3 swaps so far, and am doing the next one in January.And BA ratings are legit as far as NE hops go, these beers are fantastic. If you like hops, you can't do much better than New England. The hype is real.Where are you getting all of these New England beers from? Do you have a reliable beer trading partner up there?Bissell Bros Swish and now working on a growler of Hill Farmstead Society & Solitude #5. Both awesome.
It's kind of crazy how all of these New England IPAs from Tree House, Trillium, Maine Beer Co., Lawson's, and Hill Farmstead have all vaulted up the BeerAdvocate Top 250 rankings over the past year or so. I have to admit I've been a little skeptical of the fanfare associated with these New England IPAs, particularly after being underwhelmed by some of Lawson's IPAs at GABF -- although, in fairness, I was kind of drunk and my palate was probably blown by that point. But these New England IPAs seem to be getting consistently great reviews from you, and I trust your taste buds. I need to get my hands on some of these beers to further evaluate.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/22-things-we-ate-drank-saw-and-did-that-made-2015-a-memorable-year/2015/12/29/75833e38-a801-11e5-8058-480b572b4aae_story.html?postshare=4111451426168410&tid=ss_fb
Best new brewery
In a year when breweries opened left and right and Alexandria’s Port City was named the Small Brewing Company of the Year at the Great American Beer Festival, this area’s best and most consistent beers came from a new brewery in Dulles. Ocelot Brewing, led by brewer Mike McCarthy and co-founder Adrien Widman, released a string of stellar IPAs, all beautifully balanced between a dry, West Coast-style malt backbone and rich, tropical hop flavors. The recent See the Light Imperial IPA was a wonderfully nuanced, full-bodied beer, and less than 7 percent ABV. The only knock against Ocelot is that the owners don’t like to brew the same beer more than twice a year. This means your beer is going to be fresh, but it also means your new favorite ale won’t be in stock for long.
 
  
  
 Great point, and agreed. If I ever go to NE, I'm gonna ship about 5 huge boxes of beer back to myself.All of the Treehouse, Lawson's, and Trillium hoppy beers I've had have all been outstanding. And, of course, Heady Topper/Focal Banger right up there as well.
I think it's part-hype, part-freshness. Since the beers are so hard to get and small batched, the ones you get are fresh. There's no risk of picking up a hype NE beer and getting something old and faded.
I've had a scant few and they are indeed awesome. And I'm pretty lucky in that there are a plethora of very good/great IPA/DIPA brewers in Chicago, but I would trade them for more of what I have had from the NE.Where are you getting all of these New England beers from? Do you have a reliable beer trading partner up there?Bissell Bros Swish and now working on a growler of Hill Farmstead Society & Solitude #5. Both awesome.
It's kind of crazy how all of these New England IPAs from Tree House, Trillium, Maine Beer Co., Lawson's, and Hill Farmstead have all vaulted up the BeerAdvocate Top 250 rankings over the past year or so. I have to admit I've been a little skeptical of the fanfare associated with these New England IPAs, particularly after being underwhelmed by some of Lawson's IPAs at GABF -- although, in fairness, I was kind of drunk and my palate was probably blown by that point. But these New England IPAs seem to be getting consistently great reviews from you, and I trust your taste buds. I need to get my hands on some of these beers to further evaluate.
I'm working my way through all of them as usual. Victoria is my go to.When my brother left ABInbev, he had a ton of coupons for free Modelo Especial he gave me. I've been drinking them on the side for months.Tastes like a decent Pilsner ####ed a Corona.Big fan of the Modelo group. Tecate is an enjoyable crap.Lots of Mexican beer. Lots.
One of my buddies in Denver is marrying the owner of the Alchemist's niece tomorrow. The wedding is supposedly going to be stocked with Heady Topper. I wish I was going to that wedding. Forget the bridesmaids, I would be cozying up to her uncle.All of the Treehouse, Lawson's, and Trillium hoppy beers I've had have all been outstanding. And, of course, Heady Topper/Focal Banger right up there as well.
I think it's part-hype, part-freshness. Since the beers are so hard to get and small batched, the ones you get are fresh. There's no risk of picking up a hype NE beer and getting something old and faded.
Ended up drinking 2 on tap and found a 4-pack later so put back 4 of them total. Delicious..but they kicked my ###.Central Waters Bourbon Barrel stout on tap in Minocqua.
All of the Treehouse, Lawson's, and Trillium hoppy beers I've had have all been outstanding. And, of course, Heady Topper/Focal Banger right up there as well.
I think it's part-hype, part-freshness. Since the beers are so hard to get and small batched, the ones you get are fresh. There's no risk of picking up a hype NE beer and getting something old and faded.
 
 Damn. 2 BA beers and I'm tapped for the night.Ended up drinking 2 on tap and found a 4-pack later so put back 4 of them total. Delicious..but they kicked my ###.Central Waters Bourbon Barrel stout on tap in Minocqua.
Abrasive now.
A wedding I went to this summer had Heady. It was....pretty good. They had a bunch of other good beer too...tough to top that.One of my buddies in Denver is marrying the owner of the Alchemist's niece tomorrow. The wedding is supposedly going to be stocked with Heady Topper. I wish I was going to that wedding. Forget the bridesmaids, I would be cozying up to her uncle.All of the Treehouse, Lawson's, and Trillium hoppy beers I've had have all been outstanding. And, of course, Heady Topper/Focal Banger right up there as well.
I think it's part-hype, part-freshness. Since the beers are so hard to get and small batched, the ones you get are fresh. There's no risk of picking up a hype NE beer and getting something old and faded.
First couple were during a late lunch. Other two were later....but yeah...it did the job.Ilov80s said:Damn. 2 BA beers and I'm tapped for the night.ditka311 said:Ended up drinking 2 on tap and found a 4-pack later so put back 4 of them total. Delicious..but they kicked my ###.Central Waters Bourbon Barrel stout on tap in Minocqua.
Abrasive now.
No, but I'm going to the Founders Cellar Raid next month and I'll try it then. You try it?ETA: I'll drink like a dozen BA beers at the Cellar Raid and end up stupid like I did last year, but oh well.First couple were during a late lunch. Other two were later....but yeah...it did the job. Have you had Project Pam?Ilov80s said:Damn. 2 BA beers and I'm tapped for the night.ditka311 said:Ended up drinking 2 on tap and found a 4-pack later so put back 4 of them total. Delicious..but they kicked my ###.Central Waters Bourbon Barrel stout on tap in Minocqua.
Abrasive now.
This.Happy New Year, my iBeerBuddies!
####. Nice work!
https://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/22-things-we-ate-drank-saw-and-did-that-made-2015-a-memorable-year/2015/12/29/75833e38-a801-11e5-8058-480b572b4aae_story.html?postshare=4111451426168410&tid=ss_fb
Best new brewery
In a year when breweries opened left and right and Alexandrias Port City was named the Small Brewing Company of the Year at the Great American Beer Festival, this areas best and most consistent beers came from a new brewery in Dulles. Ocelot Brewing, led by brewer Mike McCarthy and co-founder Adrien Widman, released a string of stellar IPAs, all beautifully balanced between a dry, West Coast-style malt backbone and rich, tropical hop flavors. The recent See the Light Imperial IPA was a wonderfully nuanced, full-bodied beer, and less than 7 percent ABV. The only knock against Ocelot is that the owners dont like to brew the same beer more than twice a year. This means your beer is going to be fresh, but it also means your new favorite ale wont be in stock for long.
Yeah, had it on Christmas Eve. Found another when I was up in Wisconsin so grabbed that. Delicious beer.No, but I'm going to the Founders Cellar Raid next month and I'll try it then. You try it?ETA: I'll drink like a dozen BA beers at the Cellar Raid and end up stupid like I did last year, but oh well.First couple were during a late lunch. Other two were later....but yeah...it did the job. Have you had Project Pam?Ilov80s said:Damn. 2 BA beers and I'm tapped for the night.ditka311 said:Ended up drinking 2 on tap and found a 4-pack later so put back 4 of them total. Delicious..but they kicked my ###.Central Waters Bourbon Barrel stout on tap in Minocqua.
Abrasive now.
 
 Turns out this was the big boy, 18-19%er....whoops."Little" Pineapple Exhaust
Homebrew from occasional FBG TipTop. Long backstory on this one but I helped name it in a drunken escapade a few years ago. Pineapple Exhaust is basically an iced barleywine with pineapple. The only batch had, I believe, 32 pounds of malt and 2 oz of hops, something absurd like that. Pineapple Exhaust is 18 or 19%. "Little" PE is the bottled ice runoff, and still weighs in somewhere in the 8-10% range. It pours a deep purple. Guy won't admit it but he knows how to brew a damn good beer.
Sounds very similar to the Caribbean Chocolate Cake collab between CCB and Siren. I loved it.Cigar City Sardo Numspa (devils food cake imperial stout with hazelnuts, 2 varietals of cocoa nibs, Indonesian vanilla, and rested on cypress wood).
Pretty smooth, and I definitely get the cake flavor. It think it's around 10% ABV.
Had my bottle of Pam last night, was really impressed by it tbh.strykerpks said:Off the top of my head last night we all had
Micro:
Abraxas
Nebraska Black Betty
3 Philosophers
Ivan the Terrible
Project Pam
Chimay Grande Reserve
Maredsous
KBS
Homebrewed:
Russian Imperial Stout
EBS (my GB is actually having this brewed by MKE Brewing Co in a few weeks)
Maibock
We solved all of the worlds problems last night
Agreed. Opened this on Christmas Eve with a BCBS and Bean Gene. Not quite as good as BCBS but better than Bean Gene. Really exceeded expectations big time.Had my bottle of Pam last night, was really impressed by it tbh.strykerpks said:Off the top of my head last night we all had
Micro:
Abraxas
Nebraska Black Betty
3 Philosophers
Ivan the Terrible
Project Pam
Chimay Grande Reserve
Maredsous
KBS
Homebrewed:
Russian Imperial Stout
EBS (my GB is actually having this brewed by MKE Brewing Co in a few weeks)
Maibock
We solved all of the worlds problems last night
I had a Flesk Anniversary Ale, what they call their Grand Cru, and it was very good. Any Chicago FBGs that enjoy sours should give this a go, it's not a sour per se but it's pretty tart for a non sour, I really enjoyed it.
This was good, not great...finished all but the last 3 or so ounces from the bomber. Got to be a little much at the end.Sounds very similar to the Caribbean Chocolate Cake collab between CCB and Siren. I loved it.Cigar City Sardo Numspa (devils food cake imperial stout with hazelnuts, 2 varietals of cocoa nibs, Indonesian vanilla, and rested on cypress wood).
Pretty smooth, and I definitely get the cake flavor. It think it's around 10% ABV.
