Well yeah, I'd rather have that, but this guy who is apparently now muling me New Glarus beers is like 23 years old and for the most part drinks only Miller Lite. I don't know that he's even aware of their fruit beers, though they make the best fruit beers I've ever had. I love Raspberry Tart and Serendipity too. Strawberry Rhubarb I don't love as much solo, but it's fantastic when mixed with a stout. I have no idea which of these are still in production...it's been a few years now since I've been to Wisconsin.Wisconsin Belgian Red for the win.
Its funny how - as a Wisconsin resident - we overlook something because its so commonly available. I'm an avowed pale ale aficionado, I think its the best style to judge a brewery's quality, love Moon Man, and yet I bypass it all the time on the grocery store shelves to buy some fancy out of state beer.So do I....everyone was incredulous when I said that (wife has a lot of family ties to WI). Last time the guy was here he brought a few bottles of Spotted Cow, this time it was a 12-pack of Moon Man.
I have heard, unconfirmed, that pre-ABInbev buyout, Goose Island 312 represented something like 40-50% of their total sales. I've also heard that for the longest time, Ithaca's Apricot Wheat comprised well over 50% of their total sales. It was by far their worst mainline offering in terms of beer quality, but yeah, it kept the lights on for years.Its funny how - as a Wisconsin resident - we overlook something because its so commonly available. I'm an avowed pale ale aficionado, I think its the best style to judge a brewery's quality, love Moon Man, and yet I bypass it all the time on the grocery store shelves to buy some fancy out of state beer.
Spotted Cow reminds me a lot of Fat Tire. Its a flagship beer that is by far the brewery's biggest seller, keeps the lights on and ensures they make payroll each month, but really is not a very good product. For both New Glarus and New Belgium, their flagship beers allow them to do all the cool side projects that the beer geeks appreciate, so I love both those beers even though I won't drink either.
Yeah, I think that this is actually pretty common among the bigger craft breweries. Stuff like Sam Adams Boston Lager, SN Pale Ale, Fat Tire, and the crap that Yuengling makes are always best sellers by far. They are "gateway" beers without a ton of flavor or character that are designed to hook in the AAL drinker. Also, as big as craft has become, it still only represents a tiny fraction of the beer market -- 12% as of this past May. Far more people are still happily drinking their Bud Light, and it makes sense that the best selling craft brands are in the same inoffensive "blah" mold.I have heard, unconfirmed, that pre-ABInbev buyout, Goose Island 312 represented something like 40-50% of their total sales. I've also heard that for the longest time, Ithaca's Apricot Wheat comprised well over 50% of their total sales. It was by far their worst mainline offering in terms of beer quality, but yeah, it kept the lights on for years.
Oberon is another example. Its probably the only thing Bell's makes that I won't drink, but is by far their biggest seller.I have heard, unconfirmed, that pre-ABInbev buyout, Goose Island 312 represented something like 40-50% of their total sales. I've also heard that for the longest time, Ithaca's Apricot Wheat comprised well over 50% of their total sales. It was by far their worst mainline offering in terms of beer quality, but yeah, it kept the lights on for years.
Or they realized stuff sitting around due to higher prices wasn't getting it done. There's also a thread on BA and they are mentioned frequently, as I am sure you are aware.Rise of the Angels (grapefruit DIPA) back at 18th Street -- $11 / sixer. At this point, it looks like the bizarre pricing was almost certainly a temporary glitch.
I was at The Answer over the weekend and had their collab with Cycle. Some kind of pilsner/IPA. It was ... interesting. Cool place though.Bomber of Cigar City/The Answer collab Good Nightmare Mekong, coconut coffee imperial stout. Sooooo good.
what is number 2? (or 1)What He's Having IPA This is Wooden Robots take on a NE IPA and it is fantastic. This officially moves Hop Drop and Roll down to #3 on the Charlotte IPA list.
Heist is making the best IPA's in Charlotte. The good news is they have added another system and are occasionally canning some items. Bad news is the releases have been limited to 100 cases and even with limits they are gone in a couple of hours.Long Ball Larry said:what is number 2? (or 1)
Do you just trade for this, buy it? You drink amazing IPAs like a redneck drinks Miller Lite.Got a box from NE today. Just finished a Trillium Stillings St IPA (Nelson), a Bissell Bros Substance IPA, and a Focal Banger IPA. #AllHighway
Used to be my favorite beer for a time. Now there's so much good I don't have a favorite but Alpha King will always hold a special place in my liver...Fresh Alpha King is so good. It gets overlooked because of the hype that the big FFF hop bombs generate, but it's just a great APA in it's own right.
Alpha King was my regular go-to beer when I lived in Chicago. Just don't get too high and look too deep into the Alpha King's eyes. That guy is freaky.Fresh Alpha King is so good. It gets overlooked because of the hype that the big FFF hop bombs generate, but it's just a great APA in it's own right.
All trades. I have a regular trade buddy who lives near Trillium and goes to Tree House and other NE breweries all the time. I send her Florida BA stouts and she sends me NE hops. Its perfect.Do you just trade for this, buy it? You drink amazing IPAs like a redneck drinks Miller Lite.
What did you think? There was a lot of local hype here over this when it came out.
- Lord Hobo Boom Sauce
Well yeah, I'd rather have that, but this guy who is apparently now muling me New Glarus beers is like 23 years old and for the most part drinks only Miller Lite. I don't know that he's even aware of their fruit beers, though they make the best fruit beers I've ever had. I love Raspberry Tart and Serendipity too. Strawberry Rhubarb I don't love as much solo, but it's fantastic when mixed with a stout. I have no idea which of these are still in production...it's been a few years now since I've been to Wisconsin.
Love mixing them with a non fruited sour...it's perfectI don't like their fruit beers at all. Way too sweet/syrupy for me.
That's the move right there.Love mixing them with a non fruited sour...it's perfect
I had a triple IPA recently, forget what brewery but it was 11.5% and surprised the crap out of me in terms of how drinkable is was, dangerous.Coeur de Lion said:Four Fathers is releasing a new triple IPA -- Demon Core -- this weekend -- 13% ABV, 150 IBUs, fermented with Brett. It'll be interesting to see if they can pull that off and have it still be decently drinkable, as that sounds pretty extreme. Also just tapped their wet hop harvest ale, which I know is great (and one of my personal favorite styles). I know what I'll be drinking this weekend...
Emporium Arcade Bar is pretty cool, but the majority of the bars in the city now have a very good to excellent selection. Where are you going to be specifically in the city?I'm headed to Chicago next weekend for the first time since I moved from there five years ago. It seems like the beer scene has matured a lot over the past five years. Pipeworks didn't even exist when I left there.
Any of you Chicago guys have recommendations for the best spots in town for top-notch beer selections? I've read some good stuff about Local Option, Bangers and Lace, and Links Taproom. Some of my old hangouts in Chicago were the Map Room, Hopleaf, Bar on Buena, Revolution, and Half Acre.
Thanks!
I'm staying in Lakeview with a friend, but I don't feel limited by the neighborhood. I'll go anywhere for good beer.Emporium Arcade Bar is pretty cool, but the majority of the bars in the city now have a very good to excellent selection. Where are you going to be specifically in the city?
I'll check with my buddy and get back to you. He's quite the beer nerd and lives in Wicker Park and knows the best places to go.I'm staying in Lakeview with a friend, but I don't feel limited by the neighborhood. I'll go anywhere for good beer.
Heard back from him.Buckfast 1 said:I'm staying in Lakeview with a friend, but I don't feel limited by the neighborhood. I'll go anywhere for good beer.
Not yet....waiting on my BIL to see if he's getting them.Hawks, CDL - you get FOBAB tickets?
Same situation as Hawks -- my brother is trying to convince his wife to let him go.Hawks, CDL - you get FOBAB tickets?