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Post by Maalii on Feb 13, 2005 0:05:03 GMT -5
Speaking of epics...AOW is still the best epic series I've seen on TV or anywhere else. I seriously enjoy YSS but...In any case to carry on ID's beer thread which is buried under the get-together thread on the "regular" AOW board, here is a little brew note, coming from a veteran brewer and a member of the West Coast brewing crew. I have just been driven home from the 4th (?) annual double IPA fest in my city. Like AOW relative to other television I've seen, this was off scale. I've been to all DIPA fests but the depth in quality and variety of interpretations was in another league. After 14 rounds (if you've had any double IPA you know where I'm coming from) I can barely stand, but for folks that wonder if we in the USA have a beer tradition that others (who really appreciate beer) in 'traditional' (ie UK, Belgium, Germany, Czechoslovakia) beer drinking nations around the world respect, they know that the "west coast" IPA style is an internationally distinct style that is sought after the world over. Yes, it's about the aroma and flavor of the hop! Nowhere was this style more on display than this afternoon. Yes, the SF Bay Area Korean TV channel is frought with problems (folks here know how much I've whined about our problems), but I wouldn't trade the brew here for anything. Visiting folks from outside of the West Coast who enjoy brew (and Korean dramatic TV) are encouraged to take in the local IPAs as well as the always unpredictable channel 28 in SF.
Cheers and best wishes from MM/HT
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Post by ID on Feb 13, 2005 10:24:14 GMT -5
Ah, Beer fests. Another thing that Monticello lacks. The best we have here is a nice little pub, that has imports night every Friday. Not only do you have Beer fests, you fave IPA-Fests. It's great stuff, but not something that I would drink on a daily basis. Because when it comes to almost magical Brews such as Stone Ruination and Deuchars, so hard to find, but when you do, you can't leave the store without the entire supply. Deuchars, Britain's best, isn't impossible to find, but Stone Ruination, a poetic masterpiece, featuring the single most enjoyable blend of hops, is a difficult find. The famous assault of hops on your toungue when you first try it, unforgetable! Also, it has only 7.7% abv. Low for a D-IPA. However, it is still remains intense, and powerul. Even with the extreme bitterness {I read that it exceeds 100 IBUs} I was able to fully accept it a quarter ways through the 22oz of heaven. Having only been able to show my love for the finest beverage known to man, in public, for only a year and a half, or so, I do not posses any true understanding of these amazing creations, nor have I been able to get anywere near a truly fine and diverse selection of brews, I am thankful that I have found this majestic Imperial IPA, during a day down in New York City, after watching the Mets win a game against the Padres wth a group of friends. And how ironic that I found Stone Rotation, a beer that comes from the San Diego area, in New York, after New York beats San Diego. img.epinions.com/images/opti/c1/91/Stone_Ruination_IPA-resized200.jpg [/img]
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Post by ID on Feb 13, 2005 19:31:05 GMT -5
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Post by Maalii on Feb 14, 2005 1:22:26 GMT -5
Stone is most famous for a brew called the Arrogant Ba_tard, but the Ruination as well as their regular IPA are their most hoppy brews (AB is no slouch on hops, though). They did a barleywine called the Double Ba_tard that was truly fine. However among the San Diego breweries I'd rank Stone about 5th. I'd probably rank Alesmith behind Stone. The SD breweries I'd put ahead of Stone are the fine Pizza Port breweries, each with their set of spectacular IPAs and DIPAs: Carlsbad, Solana, and Santa Catalina. Ballast Point is in the same league as the Pizza Ports. Whether or not I'd put all of the SD IPA brewers ahead of the NorCal contigent is hard to say. After dominating the first three DIPA fests, SD managed only one medal (bronze) this year, as the Bay Area came on very strong. However, the line between the medalists and the others was a thin one. I can't say I had a bad round out of those 14. There were apparently 30 available and my rounds included all of the eventual medalists. In any case, it's great that you were able to acquire a bottle of the Ruination--that brew is certainly representative of what one calls the "West Coast" IPA style. Now you know, if you're not satisfied with the selection out your way, there is a solution: Become a homebrewer. Then you can make any style you want and tailor it your specific tastes. My 77th batch is in a closet about 3 feet from me waiting to be bottled.
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Post by ID on Feb 14, 2005 21:18:40 GMT -5
I don't know if my house is big enough to home brew. But, I saw "make your own beer" packages at Wal-Mart. I'd rather suffer through a keg of "Milwaukee's Best", than have something from the same guys who sell "amke your own Mcflurries" to kids. Anyway, it's V-Day again. And you know what that means. I'm going to head out soon for a bottle of either Chocolate Bock, or Stout. Bock is usually better. The Samuel Adams Chocolate Bock is the easiest to get, and is particually tasty. I think it's a better gift to share with my special someone, than a box of chocaltes bought fromt he dollar store, that she will likely put in a closet somewhere.
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Post by MasterCrabby on Feb 15, 2005 16:55:04 GMT -5
It's getting harder to find good stuff at the dollar store. I feel your pain. What equipment is needed to make good beer? I might like to try, if I can keep it at my brother's house. Are there websites you could reccommend? Incidentally, I enjoy Theakston's Old Peculier, Affligem, and Ommegang, which is from Cooperstown, NY.
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Post by ID on Feb 16, 2005 21:19:24 GMT -5
Come to think of it, there are much more IPAs than I thought. Magic Hat is pretty easy to get. But their Blind Faith IPA, is a little buttery for my tastes. Still better than the liquid hand soap/ old canned corn tastes that you get when opening a bottle of Miller Lite.
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Post by Maalii on Feb 19, 2005 19:05:00 GMT -5
Look for Bigfoot 2005 at Bev Mo. If you're lucky they'll get it soon out there. It should not be missed. I just sampled my first '05 yesterday. Phenomenal! They sure know how to host a guest speaker at Chico State. Imagine going to the Sierra Nevada brewery (a true shrine to the art of brewing: http://www.sierranevada.com) BEFORE giving a talk. Yes, it is possible to lecture after Bigfoot. Afterwards I was treated to a reception where I consumed some bottles of 2005 (draft at brewery earlier, of course). I think the bottled version may have even been better!
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Post by ID on Feb 19, 2005 22:36:32 GMT -5
Sierra Nevada.................... and I used to wonder why New York just isn't good for a beer-lover. I would do anything to get a glimpse at that magnificent place. Their ales............................ un-freakin'-believable. I wished I was you for a day.
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Post by MasterCrabby on Feb 25, 2005 20:55:20 GMT -5
Regards to ID, Maali. I am sorry to say I tried four Sierra Nevada pale ales, along with an Affligem, and they were good except for a big headache lasting thruough morning. Granted, I'm a geezer compared to you guys, but I have found that Ommegang is generally best from my standpoint. Particularly the "Three Philosophers". Again from Cooperstown, NY.
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Post by Maalii on Feb 26, 2005 18:57:39 GMT -5
Regards to ID, Maali. I am sorry to say I tried four Sierra Nevada pale ales, along with an Affligem, and they were good except for a big headache lasting thruough morning. Granted, I'm a geezer compared to you guys, but I have found that Ommegang is generally best from my standpoint. Particularly the "Three Philosophers". Again from Cooperstown, NY. In point of fact, as much as I like SNPA, I find that SN beers in general tend to be hangover producers. 4SNPA + an Affligem is quite a bit anyway--I would hardly call that "geezer capacity"--especially if you're talking a 750 ml of Affligem (which one, the tripel?). That's actually a lot more than I usually do at a sitting (One or two bottles of SNPA or equivalent is standard). I only ratchet things up for beer fests, geological meetings and field trips. I have tried Ommegang's brews and they do produce some very tasting and convincing Belgian style brews. My favorite producer of Belgian style ales in North America is north of the border. That would be Unibroue in Quebec. If you've tried the 11 (I don't think they make it anymore, it was only for their 11th anniversary), or the Terrible, you know what I mean. Their "regular" issue brews such as La Fin Du Monde and Maudite are quite good, too.
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Post by ID on Feb 27, 2005 16:14:05 GMT -5
Funny how how San Diego brews are easier to find, than native-New York brews. I think a great place to start a small brewery is in Deer Park.
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Post by MasterCrabby on Feb 27, 2005 16:48:34 GMT -5
ID, That sounds like a good location, away from the superfund site north of Port Jervis. Maalii, the Affligem was just a 12-oz. Blond ale left over from a six pack. The big bottle would have done me in, probably. Generally, I can have a couple extra when I play drums, since that tends to burn it off. Later, I walk the dogs, too, except when there is too much salt on the roads. Not a problem in San Francisco, I would guess.
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Post by ID on Mar 5, 2005 13:39:03 GMT -5
ID, That sounds like a good location, away from the superfund site north of Port Jervis. . Well, actually, there are good places north of Jervis. Since I live in Monticello {well actually, i'm in Kiamesha Lake, if you can consider it more than part of Monticello.} Anyway, we have the Leisure Time Water factory right here, so i'm sure there space for other things. Also, the water here is good, as it is in Deer Park. It doesn't matter if it is in Deer Park, or if it is in Kiamesha. In the end, it is going to be better than Coors.
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Post by ID on Mar 9, 2005 21:33:46 GMT -5
Just so you know, i'm probably not going to have time to post here much anymore. I'll probably drop in once or twice a week for stuff on Yi Soon Shin, and maybe add a bit to this thread.
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