What are you drinking?

[Jenne]

Way over due for an update

Weihenstephaner Hefe Weissbier - The worlds oldest brewery makes a damn fine hefe
Sprecher Hard Root Beer - About what you would expect.  Sweet with a malt after taste.
Goose Island Octoberfest - Typical generic american version of an October.  Ok, but nothing special.
Victory Headwaters Pale Ale - Good stuff.  Not as hoppy as Hop Devil, but hoppy enough with good flavor.

What are you drinking?

[Jenne]

Damn, I clearly need to get my shit together.  I've been very lazy at updating this.

Anyway, here is what I bought today

Sierra Nevada  - Narwhal - It's an Imperial Stout, and it's all of that.  Not as impressive as others I have had, but still good
Alesmith - Anvil ESB - Pretty generic ESB.  Not a whole lot of flavor
Alesmith - Nut Brown - Have not tried this one yet
Port Brewing - Old Viscosity - I am highly intrigued by this one.  Another imperial stout, but supposed to be as thick as motor oil.  It't won't be, but will be interesting.  The Santa's Little Helper Russian Imperial Stout is excellent, so I have high hopes.
Founders - Breakfast Stout - Not my favorite from Founders, but I bought it for the wife who loves it.  Coffee, coffee, coffee flavor. 
The Lost Abbey - Inferno Ale - Heard good things about this brewery so I thought I would give them a try.  This one seem to be the best style for me to start with, being a Strong Ale.  Another one I have high hopes on.

[Jenne]

I am noticing a pretty big gap, so I will try to fill in based on the highlights I can recall

Alesmith - Evil Deal Red - Bought it just for the name, and got about what I expected
Alesmith - Speedway Stout - This beer is amazing.  It's currently Rate Beer #8, with one of the ones above it being a barrel aged version of this beer.

[Valtamdraugr]

[Buck Turgidson]

That's just silly.



Never mind anyone else's uninformed tastebuds, this is hands-down the best beer on earth.  Wesvleteren is a Belgian Trappist beer, and the monks only make it when they need money.  It is amazing - every sip tastes different.  The only way to get it is to call the monastery directly, and book a 2-4.  They will only answer the phone if they need money.  If you call twice in 15 minutes, they automatically block your phone number for 24 hours.  If you do manage to get an order through, it takes 2-4 weeks for them to prepare it.  Then they call you 48 hours before it is ready, and advise you of your 30 minute window in which to pick it up (ie Tuesday the 119th from 2:30 to 3pm).  The same car is not permitted access to the grounds twice in a month.  If you challenge them on any of these rules, their response is invariably, "Temperance, my son."

Normally such rediculous exclusivity and Belgian red tape would disinterest me, but I took up the challenge because my brother would be visiting me a few months down the road.  After 3 months of not making headway, I checked e-bay, and found a case (a 2-4, eh?) for 598 Euros (ie 750 USD), so I looked elsewhere.  I found a shop in Brussels, called "De Bier Tempel", and sauntered in.  I asked the shopkeeper if he had Westvleteren, and he pulled away, darting his eyes toward the other patron in the small store.  Once she left, he leaned in, and said, "You Americans [Fuck you creeper, I thought] should learn to be more discreet.  How many do you want?  Quickly."  He is not supposed to resell it, and there is an underground economy to get your hands on this shit.  I left with the beer in brown paperbags and a carboard box, feeling like I just bought a sex video.  He sold me 12 bottles for a sum I would have been ashamed to admit I paid until I tasted the stuff with my brother.  Every sip of my 6 bottles tasted different and distinct.  Incredible.  And fucking strong.  We ended the evening complimenting each other on the gracious way with which each of us wiped the drool from our chins.

I will do it all over again.  If this is not a ringing endorsement, I don't know what is.

[Buck Turgidson]

That's just silly.



Never mind anyone else's uninformed tastebuds, this is hands-down the best beer on earth.  Wesvleteren is a Belgian Trappist beer, and the monks only make it when they need money.  It is amazing - every sip tastes different.  The only way to get it is to call the monastery directly, and book a 2-4.  They will only answer the phone if they need money.  If you call twice in 15 minutes, they automatically block your phone number for 24 hours.  If you do manage to get an order through, it takes 2-4 weeks for them to prepare it.  Then they call you 48 hours before it is ready, and advise you of your 30 minute window in which to pick it up (ie Tuesday the 119th from 2:30 to 3pm).  The same car is not permitted access to the grounds twice in a month.  If you challenge them on any of these rules, their response is invariably, "Temperance, my son."

Normally such rediculous exclusivity and Belgian red tape would disinterest me, but I took up the challenge because my brother would be visiting me a few months down the road.  After 3 months of not making headway, I checked e-bay, and found a case (a 2-4, eh?) for 598 Euros (ie 750 USD), so I looked elsewhere.  I found a shop in Brussels, called "De Bier Tempel", and sauntered in.  I asked the shopkeeper if he had Westvleteren, and he pulled away, darting his eyes toward the other patron in the small store.  Once she left, he leaned in, and said, "You Americans [Fuck you creeper, I thought] should learn to be more discreet.  How many do you want?  Quickly."  He is not supposed to resell it, and there is an underground economy to get your hands on this shit.  I left with the beer in brown paperbags and a carboard box, feeling like I just bought a sex video.  He sold me 12 bottles for a sum I would have been ashamed to admit I paid until I tasted the stuff with my brother. 

Every sip of my 6 bottles tasted different and distinct.  Incredible.  And fucking strong at 12%.  We ended the evening complimenting each other on the deft and gracious way with which the other wiped the drool from his chin(s).

No hangover whatsoever, and downing 6 of these babies is like having 18 Buds.  Without running to the washroom every 5 minutes.

I will do it all over again.  If this is not a ringing endorsement, I don't know what is.

[Valtamdraugr]

That's just silly.

Working outside... in Michigan.. in December is silly too. Stuff works, all's I'm sayin.

[Buck Turgidson]

That's just silly.

Working outside... in Michigan.. in December is silly too. Stuff works, all's I'm sayin.

Fair enough.  I spent a winter loading pipe outside in Alberta, wondering what I did wrong to pull that duty.  Turn out what I did was be new.