Man I love the Rhode Trip series. Lemondrop this time Pizzaboy's White Bronco Milk Sugar/Orange is also great
I also have a 2015 KBS in my fridge. Might drink it tonight. Was saving it for my rehearsal dinner which was yesterday but it wasnt BYOB
KBS is always solid. I still have a bunch from this year in my fridge, and a few from last year. Had a Bell’s Black Note tonight and it’s as good as ever
I had a beer the other night called "The Dinkler", it was delicious. I had tried to order another kind and was told "we don't have any of that, but we have something similar called The Dinkler" and I said "excuse me?".
really think burial might be one of the best breweries in the country. really lucky to have them so close.
Trader Joe’s is an underrated place to buy beer. Not an extensive selection but always some interesting stuff including TJ’s exclusives. If you find a recent batch, I’d recommend peak brewing’s the juice, a hazy pale ale. Not usually my go-to but that one really impressed me. That reminds me I had allagash’s brett ipa a couple months back and was really impressed! Also got the chance to visit one of my favorite local breweries, Alvarado street brewing, last night. Tried 38 miles, a hazy pale ale collab with Sante Adairius, and the cats pajamas, a belgian-style dessert beer inspired by honey ice cream. Never had anything like the latter, it was very sweet but I thought they hit the mark with making it reminiscent of ice cream.
So I actually still have a few more to try but so far I've had the M-83, Oro de Calabaza, and Bam Noire. I think I already told you I really liked M-83. Oro de Calabaza was awesome, did not drink like 8% at all. Never had anything quite like it before. The idea of a sour version of a Belgian golden ale definitely appealed to me. I liked how the spiciness played off of the tartness, and I also thought the oak flavor came through nicely. Scarily drinkable. Bam Noire didn't make as big of an impression on me. I liked how the oak flavor came through, but I thought it was a little bit watery. I didn't find it as complex as Oro, and I'm not sure I would've been able to tell it was a dark beer if I was blindfolded. But it was still super easy to drink and I definitely enjoyed it! I'm really looking forward to trying the other 3, I've been sharing them with my girlfriend which is a big reason we've gone through them pretty slowly. We only see each other on the weekends since we leave a couple hours apart and she's not in a beer mood as often as I am. I think I might save the KBS for Christmas-time. Let me know if there's anything else from California you've been wanting, I'd definitely be down to trade again some time. Alvarado is putting out a ton of great beer and their barrel-aged sour program, Yeast of Eden, is starting to take off. Sante Adairius has really good stuff too, but their bottles are pretty expensive. And then I know another brewery in the Santa Cruz area, Corralitos, recently won a gold at GABF for one of their sours, but I haven't had the chance to try any of their stuff yet. I've been hearing about Brewery Vivant in Michigan lately, what's your opinion of them?
Awesome. glad you liked them. I prefer Oro to most of JP's stuff, so I'm glad I tossed that in there. Christmas time is a perfect time to drink some KBS. I'll definitely hit you up in the future for some stuff. Holidays are just a busy time, so probably in the new year. Brewery Vivant specialize in Belgian beers mainly (they say French too). They've kicked up their sour game lately and started releasing 500 mL bottles of their sours. I think they're pretty solid; few beers from them blow me away. That said, they are in my top 5 favorite breweries to go to in Michigan. Amazing food, phenomenal atmosphere (it's in an old funeral parlor that looks like a church with massive stained glass stuff that they kept from the previous building). None of that helps you though, haha. But they do some pretty good/very nice stuff depending on what it is. Next time we trade some stuff, I can send you some Vivant beers for sure.
My dad gets in town today and he's bringing our annual Thanksgiving delivery with some Tree House, Trillium, etc. I can't wait to drink some beer this week.
Facebook integration will be the death of me. Firestone Walker is selling vintage gift packs for Black Friday and they are insane, especially the 3rd one Vintage Holiday Pack Retail: $275 1 – 2016 Sucaba 1 – 2016 Parabola 1 – 2016 Stickee Monkee 1 – 2016 Helldorado 1 – 2016 Velvet Merkin 1 – 2016 XX Anniversary 6 – Glencairn Glasses Give Holiday Beer Retail: $275 1 – Barrelworks 3-Liter (beer varies) 4 – Barrelworks Teku Glasses 1 – Beer Comic Book Holiday Sweater Pack Retail: $350 1 – XIII Anniversary 1 – 2013 Double DBA 1 – 2016 Imperial Walker’s Reserve 1 – 2016 Parabajava 1 – 2015 Parabola 1 – XIX Anniversary 6 – Glencairn Glasses
Ended up at the local farm market where a buddy's friend brought up a bunch of beers he traded for. Solid way to end my wednesday.
Damn good beer day today. Hit up Troon and Tired Hands to pick up beer for tomorrow, stopped at Forest & Main for dinner on the way home and randomly decided to crack open a Sunday Brunch as my nightcap.