805 and Scrimshaw are my go-to these days, though availability might be questionable out you way.

I had a Kona Big Wave last night and it was probably the first beer I've had all month. If I could figure out how to make this stuff I'd never leave the house.

 

I remember when Henry Weinhards was the way out.

 

I'll try all of these if I can find them, thanks.
I think the right answer is probably to start brewing more on my own.
My uncle just opened a brew supply shop and is offering hops and grain at cost.
I'm thinking a keg system may be in order.

 

Ha! I was going to post that you should have started brewing a couple of months back, but thought it would be taken as a smart-*** answer.

 

Go make this: Multiple - Centennial Blonde (Simple 4% All Grain, 5 & 10 Gall) - Home Brew Forums

Its cheap, easy to make, tasty as hell and lends itself well to experimentation. I usually add a bit more malt and make it at about 5.5%. Of the 25 gallons of beer I made for my wedding 10g of it was Centennial Blonde. I end up giving away more of it than I drink after people find out I made a batch.

 

Such flavor, much malt, win

 

My wife went shopping and I told her to get beer. She picked something that reminded her of her first experience with non-shitty beer. It was probably mine too. Still good after all these years.

 

too bitter/hoppy

 

You must be crazy. Sierra Nevada is smooth and lovely, and just the right amount of hoppy for an afternoon refreshment.

 

Finished off a mixed sixer last night.

Six Point Bengali: Solid IPA, not too piney, not too citrusy. Fairly enjoyable.

Breckenridge Agave Wheat: Very drinkable, refreshing, and a bit sweet.

Hitachino Nest Anbai Ale: Japanese version of a Gose, based primarily on Plums. Tasted musty. Would not drink again.

Firestone Walker Union Jack: One of the better IPA's I've had lately. Super well balanced. Competes with Tree House's IPA offerings in terms of drinkability, though, far less citrusy than most TH IPAs.

Founders ESB: Just a solid ESB. Pretty malty for this type.

Lost Nation Gose: Tart, salty, too bubbly. Overall, I like it, but the carbonation is aggressive.

 

Hot Damn! Look what just showed up on the shelf here in CA.

I spoke to the buyer at the store (to thank him) and he said his distributor had only just received them yesterday, and that he's technically not even supposed to put them out for sale yet. Supposedly, there's to be some official release date here soon. Though I have had them in the midwest, I've never seen one of these for sale in CA before, in fact never west of the Rockies, so I wasted no time snatching up a good bit of their stock.

 

Nice find! I'll have to keep an eye out to see if it makes it out this way.

So, you guys remember how you were telling me how awesome your costco beer selection could be? Check it:





There is some 805 buried in there but other than that, Kirkland Craft Brewed Ales and a Kona variety pack is as exotic as it gets.

There is something in this set of pics that I brought home for myself, but its not beer.

 

Yeah, I think Costco stores are known to individually tailor their offerings to what they can readily move. There are 3 stores within a 20 miles radius of me and they all have very different selections, some with way more (real) craft brews than another, although none of them are as bad as yours.

To be clear, I didn't get that at Costco though, I got it at a local Lunardi's Market.


P.S. What spirits did you score in that little black box? Some fine scotch maybe?

 

Good eye! Usually an $80 bottle at BevMo but my Costco has them for $60 + $13 instant rebate so I couldn't say no.



Not for the faint of heart. If you've never had an Islay region single malt I'd recommend sampling around before committing to an entire bottle, but that's probably commentary for another thread.

 

Also, Bay area brew fest will be next weekend. Cant wait for this years line up.

 

Just made another score at the local Costco. This stuff is dessert in a bottle.





^^ That's 2014 release, the 2016 is similar, but they are 375mL bottles.


Even the brewery had limited purchase of these to two bottles/person, but there they were at Costco . . . fully 8 cases of them with no limits.

 

^^ Now THAT right there is my jam

 

I know they've still got cases of it in Concord and I'm guessing they'd have it in the Danville/San Ramon store too, $8.99 /btl. GET SUM!




Updated pics of current label:









^^ (was) Wax sealed, suitable for aging.

 

. . . and a few others I picked up elsewhere:



The stouts start drying up this time of year, so I've got to stock up enough to get me through the summer.

 

I'm venturing off my normal course (of stouts) and declaring this evening Dogfish Head Night.

As such, tonight's selections will be one each of the following:









...and if that doesn't do it, I've got a 90 Minute kicking around in the back of the fridge somewhere. Let the buzz begin!


.