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Post by Pale Hose on Aug 10, 2018 6:37:00 GMT -6
Happy Oktoberfest season! Just got a six-pack of the Left Hand Oktoberfest earlier - best American Marzen by a long shot. I don't think I've tried that one, I'll look for it. TJ's makes their own that's surprisingly good (and cheap). |
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Post by doso on Aug 10, 2018 8:07:08 GMT -6
I never feel great about drinking marzens in August.
When it comes to widely-available versions, Revolution's is probably at the top for me. I don't think I've tried the Left Hand Oktoberfest before; will keep an eye out for that one.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 10, 2018 8:10:20 GMT -6
Better than drinking pumpkin beer in August, that's for damn sure. I'm starting to see those pop up on shelves, too.
I needed a break from the hoppy stuff so it was a nice change of pace. I also picked up a saison from Crooked Stave.
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Post by doso on Aug 10, 2018 8:43:40 GMT -6
No doubt. I actually had zero pumpkin beers last season - didn't feel like I missed out on much.
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Post by thebosma on Aug 10, 2018 8:46:47 GMT -6
I’ve yet to taste a pumpkin beer that doesn’t offend all of my senses at once and hopefully won’t attempt again until October or November of this year.
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Post by claypoolfan on Aug 10, 2018 8:47:04 GMT -6
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Post by doso on Aug 10, 2018 8:47:30 GMT -6
There are a few decent ones out there, but they are few and far between.
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Post by teekoh on Aug 10, 2018 8:50:03 GMT -6
We've probably been over this, but I think the Schlafly pumpkin is probably the best.
Two Brothers' Atom Smasher is a good Oktoberfest-style, too, but it's almost more of a spiced strong ale.
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Post by thebosma on Aug 10, 2018 8:51:18 GMT -6
There are a few decent ones out there, but they are few and far between. This is truly why I keep trying them. Similarly, why I keep forcing myself to try sours. I can taste them and think "yeah this is probably a good beer but it does not suit my tastes" but I am desperate to find a sour that I like. I know it's out there somewhere. It might be something two hipsters just brew in their basement right now, but I'm sure it exists. I used to not care for fruit beers and then I found one that I liked and now I like most fruit beers. |
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Post by Xamnam on Aug 10, 2018 8:56:59 GMT -6
There are a few decent ones out there, but they are few and far between. This is truly why I keep trying them. Similarly, why I keep forcing myself to try sours. I can taste them and think "yeah this is probably a good beer but it does not suit my tastes" but I am desperate to find a sour that I like. I know it's out there somewhere. It might be something two hipsters just brew in their basement right now, but I'm sure it exists. I used to not care for fruit beers and then I found one that I liked and now I like most fruit beers. Go to Crooked Stave. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 10, 2018 8:58:25 GMT -6
New Belgium had a special release several years back called Kick. It was a pumpkin beer mixed with cranberries, and it was a top ten beer for me. Unfortunately they then ruined it by introducing Pumpkick, which is nothing like the original beer.
Schlafly and Southern Tier have the best pumpkin beers. It's overall a pretty shitty style - too many breweries elect to use canned stuff because of the timing of the bottle releases as opposed to actual pumpkins.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 10, 2018 8:59:18 GMT -6
This is truly why I keep trying them. Similarly, why I keep forcing myself to try sours. I can taste them and think "yeah this is probably a good beer but it does not suit my tastes" but I am desperate to find a sour that I like. I know it's out there somewhere. It might be something two hipsters just brew in their basement right now, but I'm sure it exists. I used to not care for fruit beers and then I found one that I liked and now I like most fruit beers. Go to Crooked Stave. Or Black Project, which is arguably topping Crooked Stave on this front right now. You should be able to find Crooked Stave in Chicago, though. Casey Blending has fruit beers that will make you forget New Glarus ever existed. |
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Post by doso on Aug 10, 2018 9:02:49 GMT -6
Or Black Project, which is arguably topping Crooked Stave on this front right now. You should be able to find Crooked Stave in Chicago, though. Casey Blending has fruit beers that will make you forget New Glarus ever existed. I assume you've tried the sours/berliner weisse varieties from that brewery in Normal? (The name escapes me). Their stuff is solid. |
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Post by thebosma on Aug 10, 2018 9:04:07 GMT -6
Or Black Project, which is arguably topping Crooked Stave on this front right now. You should be able to find Crooked Stave in Chicago, though. Casey Blending has fruit beers that will make you forget New Glarus ever existed. I assume you've tried the sours/berliner weisse varieties from that brewery in Normal? (The name escapes me). Their stuff is solid. If you're referring to Destihl I haven't been in a while but I would definitely give anything of theirs a try. Been meaning to make it out to their brewery before the summer ends anyways |
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Post by Pale Hose on Aug 10, 2018 9:05:16 GMT -6
I never feel great about drinking marzens in August. When it comes to widely-available versions, Revolution's is probably at the top for me. I don't think I've tried the Left Hand Oktoberfest before; will keep an eye out for that one. I generally agree with this, but I always end up buying Oktoberfest as soon as I see it in the store. |
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Post by Pale Hose on Aug 10, 2018 9:05:50 GMT -6
Also, all the pumpkin beers are terrible. That pumpkin salesmen is doing a bang up job though.
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Post by teekoh on Aug 10, 2018 9:06:36 GMT -6
Destihl's stuff is very good, but a lot of it really veers toward the acidic. The Flanders Red is probably my favorite of that line of theirs.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 10, 2018 9:08:13 GMT -6
Also, all the pumpkin beers are terrible. That pumpkin salesmen is doing a bang up job though. Eh - it's worth trying one that's only available on draft at a good brewery. Those are the ones that actually use good ingredients. There's a couple spots in Denver that do it this way and it's not available until late October/early November. Imperial Pumpkin is generally a pretty decent bet. |
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Post by thebosma on Aug 10, 2018 9:11:44 GMT -6
Destihl's stuff is very good, but a lot of it really veers toward the acidic. The Flanders Red is probably my favorite of that line of theirs. They have a bunch of great stuff at their brewery. If anyone finds themselves in the blono area it's totally worth giving it a try. Their food is also surprisingly good. |
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Post by teekoh on Aug 10, 2018 9:13:00 GMT -6
Yeah, I love the brewpub there. The one in Champaign is really good, too.
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Post by Pale Hose on Aug 10, 2018 9:14:12 GMT -6
Also, all the pumpkin beers are terrible. That pumpkin salesmen is doing a bang up job though. Eh - it's worth trying one that's only available on draft at a good brewery. Those are the ones that actually use good ingredients. There's a couple spots in Denver that do it this way and it's not available until late October/early November. Imperial Pumpkin is generally a pretty decent bet. Yeah I guess I have yet to encounter this scenario. Decent chance I end up in Denver for a long weekend in that time period, I'll keep that in mind. |
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Post by thebosma on Aug 10, 2018 9:23:50 GMT -6
As I mention this about sours my favorite brewery in Peoria said they have one on tap as of tonight so maybe I'll check that out
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Post by claypoolfan on Aug 14, 2018 13:38:00 GMT -6
This rules:
Craft beer aficionados in Illinois may soon be perusing thicker beer menus, as a new law has overturned regulations restricting the variety of alcoholic beverages taprooms are permitted to serve.
On Aug. 13, Gov. Bruce Rauner signed into law House Bill 4897, which amends the Liquor Control Act of 1934 by lifting longstanding regulations that banned taprooms from purchasing and serving beer produced by outside breweries. Under state law a brewery’s beer selection has long been confined to its own production capacities. But HB 4897 will bring the possibility for taprooms to feature guest beers from competing breweries – locally and nationally.
With these barriers lifted, small craft breweries stand to benefit by accessing markets they might not have otherwise had the resources to reach. For breweries with smaller production capabilities, the choice to purchase and sell a neighboring brewery’s product will allow them to enrich their offerings.
The bill also creates the Brewer Warehouse Permit, which allows breweries to transfer and store a fixed amount of beer – depending on the class of brewer license – at an offsite warehouse. Previously, storing beer offsite meant going through a wholesaler, in accordance with the “three-tier” liquor distribution system mandated by state law. To bypass the middleman, brewers either had to open an additional brewery location or expand their existing facility, posing challenges to the growth of smaller breweries.
Beyond beer, HB 4897 also eliminates longstanding restrictions that prohibit taprooms from purchasing and serving hard cider.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 14, 2018 13:42:23 GMT -6
I had no idea there was a law that restricted variety. That's a weird law.
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Post by facts on Aug 14, 2018 14:08:13 GMT -6
Pritzker will need to bring Old Style back to Wrigley in order to win this round in the court of public opinion
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Post by Deleted on Aug 14, 2018 14:09:46 GMT -6
Colorado is doing away with the 3.2% law starting either later this year or early next year and everyone is losing their shit. Grocery stores will actually be able to carry full strength beer.
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Post by thebosma on Aug 14, 2018 14:15:18 GMT -6
Colorado is doing away with the 3.2% law starting either later this year or early next year and everyone is losing their shit. Grocery stores will actually be able to carry full strength beer. Oh good, I finally don’t have to hear Dr. thebosma talk about “when the 3.2 rules went in place” every time I’m in Colorado with him asking about his teenage years. |
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Post by sick2b on Aug 14, 2018 20:18:15 GMT -6
I know I will sound like (probably am) a Philistine, but I seriously loved Latvia's "national" Edelflower shandy
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Post by claypoolfan on Aug 16, 2018 10:08:27 GMT -6
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Post by Kamera on Aug 22, 2018 23:32:56 GMT -6
It's Galaxy Bowl season!!!
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