Nice. Not always easy to find. I love Stone products, but I fear they're too over top for a 4th of July crowd of Bud drinkers. I have a case of Firestone Walker Pale 31 keeping with my Central Coast theme from the wine threads. I'll report back after I've put it through the sensory test.eta:Had my first Stone Imperial Russian Stout last night.![]()
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As a member of a well-known family of Santa Barbara County California winemakers, Adam Firestone stood out a bit. When gathering for family dinners, he’d be the only one who had a bottle of beer at the table. When his sister Polly married David Walker, a fellow beer lover with a keen awareness of British beer styles, the brothers-in-law started talking about getting a microbrewery founded. Their venture into beer brewing was spurred on by their area’s shortage of grapes in 1995. They used what winery supplies they had available to brew their first batch, which was made in old Chardonnay barrels. Sadly, the residue from the wine contaminated their first batch, but after switching to new American Oak barrels in a closed system based on the old British brewing method called the Burton Union system (which is rarely used today), the Firestone Union oak barrel brewing system was born…Instead of using stainless steel tanks, Firestone Walker uses individual 60-gallon oak wine barrels for fermentation and conditioning. The improved palate, hop maturity, unique flavors and aromas imparted by the oak barrels all add up to beers of intriguing complexity. This unique process, which links winemaking and beer brewing techniques, makes them the only American Brewery that selectively ferments its ales in oak barrels.

ORLY?Where you from?Nice. Not always easy to find. I love Stone products, but I fear they're too over top for a 4th of July crowd of Bud drinkers. I have a case of Firestone Walker Pale 31 keeping with my Central Coast theme from the wine threads. I'll report back after I've put it through the sensory test.Had my first Stone Imperial Russian Stout last night.![]()
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San DiegoORLY?Where you from?Nice. Not always easy to find. I love Stone products, but I fear they're too over top for a 4th of July crowd of Bud drinkers. I have a case of Firestone Walker Pale 31 keeping with my Central Coast theme from the wine threads. I'll report back after I've put it through the sensory test.Had my first Stone Imperial Russian Stout last night.![]()
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Ah, with those references I thought you might be a little more central.San DiegoORLY?Where you from?Nice. Not always easy to find. I love Stone products, but I fear they're too over top for a 4th of July crowd of Bud drinkers. I have a case of Firestone Walker Pale 31 keeping with my Central Coast theme from the wine threads. I'll report back after I've put it through the sensory test.Had my first Stone Imperial Russian Stout last night.![]()
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Pale 31 is one of my favorite session brews. 
Well, I shouldn't have called my guests "Bud drinkers". I'm pleasantly surprised by two six packs of Fat Tire, which I love, and four 24 oz bottles of Sierra Nevada Southern Hemisphere Harvest (blue label fresh hop ale). Three very different beers, all winners, all eminently drinkable 4th of July party brews. I found the P31 bitterness, not a bad thing, but difficult to adjust too after a little smooth Fat Tire. Some munchies evened out my palate bringing out the subtle oak that makes the P31 different. Excellent quaff here. I'm impressed. Then, bam, the SN blue label just rocked the hoppy freshness too perfection (I'm a summer hophead). I started school at Chico State in 1980 the year Sierra Nevada started brewing, and I've been a lukewarm fan of the product ever since. I credit them with introducing me to artisan brews, but also disappointing me along the way. This is the best I have had from them... ever... and I worked there one summer. Unfortunately, it's 1:15 and I'm self-cut off for a few hours Can't wipe this silly grin from my face. Enjoy the show tonight all. All three beers in this post are worthy of your attention. I'm hosting a wine tasting at sundown... maybe after a quick nap.Ah, with those references I thought you might be a little more central.San DiegoORLY?Where you from?Nice. Not always easy to find. I love Stone products, but I fear they're too over top for a 4th of July crowd of Bud drinkers. I have a case of Firestone Walker Pale 31 keeping with my Central Coast theme from the wine threads. I'll report back after I've put it through the sensory test.Had my first Stone Imperial Russian Stout last night.![]()
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Pale 31 is one of my favorite session brews.
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edit to correct the time. I could be in trouble if I don't have a clue what time it is.Keystone Light and Natural Light. Yeah, I'm a college student. Drove to the gas station to buy another 30 rack while a little drunk. Most careful I've ever driven in my life.
I'm a college student too...I'll still have a Keystone Light ("stone") at most parties I go to. If it's ice cold, it goes down like water...pure class. It's pretty awful but it gets the job done and isn't filling at all.Never really had Natty Light, Keystone Light is HUGE around here.Keystone light is the cheapest around here, but Natty Light has the following due to being fairly close to St. Louis. Its really not a bad beer, though easily in the same class as Keystone. Either way, hooray for excusing drinking the cheap #### on being a college student!Keystone Light and Natural Light. Yeah, I'm a college student. Drove to the gas station to buy another 30 rack while a little drunk. Most careful I've ever driven in my life.I'm a college student too...I'll still have a Keystone Light ("stone") at most parties I go to. If it's ice cold, it goes down like water...pure class. It's pretty awful but it gets the job done and isn't filling at all.Never really had Natty Light, Keystone Light is HUGE around here.
Keystone light is the cheapest around here, but Natty Light has the following due to being fairly close to St. Louis. Its really not a bad beer, though easily in the same class as Keystone. Either way, hooray for excusing drinking the cheap #### on being a college student!Keystone Light and Natural Light. Yeah, I'm a college student. Drove to the gas station to buy another 30 rack while a little drunk. Most careful I've ever driven in my life.I'm a college student too...I'll still have a Keystone Light ("stone") at most parties I go to. If it's ice cold, it goes down like water...pure class. It's pretty awful but it gets the job done and isn't filling at all.Never really had Natty Light, Keystone Light is HUGE around here.
I don't care....I'd be lying if I pretended I don't drink the stuff from time to time. Keystone is great because you can drink a ton of it and not feel full. You can't do that with a lot of other beer.It tastes like piss water, but it's cheap and gets the job done, if that's what you're looking for.Got one of those in the fridge right now, I think it might be next. Currently working on a Victory HopWallop and am still undecided on how I feel about it. Just finished a shiner bock and I must say that I enjoyed it. The shiner is something I am sure I could drink alot of in a sitting. Victory might be a touch heavy for me for an extended sitting.Dead Guy Ale. Big fan of the Rogue beers.
I wasn't a big fan of the Dead Guy Ale, (maybe it was old?) but I loved the Rogue Mocha Porter I had.Bob Sacamano said:Dead Guy Ale. Big fan of the Rogue beers.
Sounds good - me too. Thanks OCDevil ####ing Dancer

Beer for my paht-na......Bud Light...and watching Dazed and Confused. Slap it high?
L-I-V-I-NBeer for my paht-na......Bud Light...and watching Dazed and Confused. Slap it high?
I developed a new found appreciation for guiness! I cant get enough of it!Coors light....thats right, im venting.![]()
Steve?I developed a new found appreciation for guiness! I cant get enough of it!Coors light....thats right, im venting.![]()
Either that or an imposter.Steve?I developed a new found appreciation for guiness! I cant get enough of it!Coors light....thats right, im venting.![]()
WhatSteve?I developed a new found appreciation for guiness! I cant get enough of it!Coors light....thats right, im venting.![]()
WhatSteve?I developed a new found appreciation for guiness! I cant get enough of it!Coors light....thats right, im venting.![]()
