Sat down to two new beers last night... Highland Seven Sisters Abbey Style Ale and a Lakefront Fuel Cafe Coffee Flavored Stout. Overall I quite enjoyed both of these brews. I probably won't go out actively looking for them again, but they were quite enjoyable at the time.

You can see my reviews of the two at these links (same userhandle):
http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/highlan...120230/103915/
http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/lakefro...fe/981/103915/

Tonight's (first) beer
Spaten Dunkel.
http://bgood.files.wordpress.com/200...ten_dunkel.jpg
I had not tried this one before until now and I have to say it is pretty tasty. Not mindblowingly awesome like Aventinus but pretty dang good. It is not very heavy so several could be drank in one sitting, but it still has a rich flavor so it is enjoyable.

I'll be following this one up with an Optimator.

EDIT: Spaten Optimator, drinking one now.
http://community2.metalreview.com/cf...-Optimator.jpg
If Spaten Dunkel is a carpenter's hammer, Optimator is a sledge hammer. A dark beer, light is not clearly visible through the glass. The stronger taste is immediately apparent and attacks the entire tongue. It is not an ultra hoppy bite but just an overall balanced strong attack that fades off evenly across the palate. This is a sipping beer, not a 6-packer. Stronger than New Belgium 1553 (a Belgian dark ale), one of my other favorites. I think this one is now in the top 5 when I am looking for something dark and tasty that can be found at the grocery store, other than the women of course.

If I can stumble back to the fridge a Sam Adams Imperial Stout is next.

All beers sampled in a burgundy glass. Highly recommended. Doubt not says Yoda.

Sam Adams Imperial stout now in my glass...
http://www.beeraday.net/wp-content/u...and-gl--------

If Spaten Dunkel is a carpenter's hammer, and Spaten Optimator is a sledge hammer, Sam Adams Imperial Stout is a jackhammer. Wow... I described Optimator as an attack on the tongue but that was conventional warfare. This is a nuke. Maybe not a MIRV, but at least a tactical nuke. Call the President and authorize retaliation. Definitely much hoppier, but under the bite is some deep, rich flavor. Since it was not shipped across the ocean in a bottle stored in a hot ISO container there is a complete lack of skunkiness. I think I will be negotiating a truce when I finish this one.

tonight its Beck's for me. Good times.

I can't believe I didn't post that I went to the place over my back fence and did a Troegs tasting.

Lets see:
Sunshine Pils
Dreamweaver Wheat
Troegenator Double Bock
Pale Ale
Hopback Amber Ale
Java Head Stout

I can't say any of them left me itching to buy a 6pack, but the Pils was nice and crisp with some hops, though it had that "cheap yeasty-nutty" flavor and the Stout was smooth and not overly coffee-y like you'd expect with that name. The wheat was pretty good with a lot of banana. The Hopback was grapefruity and floral, but I like them a bit more malty.

as a collection, it was fair. nothing to write home about.

A Troegs tasting without nugget nectar? You definitely missed out.

Had 3 new brews this weekend as well as a visit to a micro-brewery in Charlotte. Tried a Lagunitas Ruben & The Jets, Fort Collins Rocky Mountain IPA, Stone Double Bastard Ale, and every beer that was on tap (sampler sizes) at Rock Bottom in Charlotte, NC. Overall, not a bad beer weekend. My review of the first three can be seen in the below links:

http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/fort-co.../74077/103915/
http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/double-.../11243/103915/
http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/lagunit.../96186/103915/

Brewery link: http://www.gordonbiersch.com/resourc..._Char_Beer.pdf (not included was their seasonal which was quite nice as well)

Going to a local Dogfish Head tasting of their 90 Minute IPA and Midas Touch tonight... Should be fun. :D

Chatoe Rogue Dirtoir Black Lager. Holy shit, this is an amazing beer, much better than I was expecting. Black as a beer can get with a brown/dark tan head that's so thick it's not even funny. Definitely grab a bottle if you ever see it.

Have one at home right now... :D Almost cracked it open last night. I have only had a few beers here lately, but nothing note-worthy though.

Cracked open my Chatoe Rogue Dirtoir Black Lager tonight... VERY nice for a black lager! Now I'm enjoying a Delirium Noel. It is SUPERB! Definitely try it... You won't regret it.

Let me start off by stating that I am a beer noob. I see this thread as a way to expand my horizons, and to see that people drink beer other than Bud Light (Yuck). I started off with a pack of Vanilla Porter, then on to some Hoffbrau Heffe Weisen. The vanilla porter was decent, while the Heffe left a "green" taste that I only found to be enjoyable with certain foods. After seeing Aventinus mentioned with very high regards on here, I decided to order some online. Ordered 2 .5L bottles for less than $25 shipped. It came in yesterday.


OH MY GOD! This stuff is amazing! It is by far the best beer I've had. Are there any better deals out there?

So many beers, so much to learn!

Just turned 21 in April, I now have this growing fascination with different kinds of beers.

I going to have to research if my local area has anything good.

Glad to see more of you guys trying new things with great success. Here are the two I had last night for reference.

My reviews of the two on Ratebeer.com:
http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/chatoe-...113631/103915/
http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/delirium-noel/5998/103915/

BTW, the two of you should join Ratebeer.com and BeerAdvocate.com... Will definitely help with finding new beers of the same styles you like. My userhandle is 'thagr81_us' on RB.com and 'thagr81us' on BA.com. Investing in proper glassware will also make the experience of your beer better. Check out BA.com's 'Beer 101' section for ideas of glasses and such...

Also flier, check out this link: http://www.ratebeer.com/Places/FindP...City=Knoxville Has a list of a lot of beer places in Knoxville with ratings and reviews of each.

+100 on Rate Beer and Beer Advocate (more so RB, lol) I'm ruger988 on both. $25 for two Aventinuses seems pretty steep to me but then again I am in Germany right now, being here is what opened my eyes to great beer so I'm not much help with places/prices in the states.

Haha! Don't rub it in... :( However, the 'Places' section on RB.com has helped me find a few new places in my area. Has also helped me plan a trip during the day when I go to Greensboro, NC in a few weeks. Trip will include Foothills Brewery for some Sexual Chocolate if they have it. I will get you a growler if they do Brian. *thumbsup*

thx for the tip.

The furthest Ive gone is going to the local store to get the pick-6. I guess Ive done it about 5 times now or so.

Ones that have stuck out:
Shiner Bock
Rolling Rock
Grolsch
Yuengling Porter was actually pretty good
Modelo Special
Dos Equis Amber


Ones that stuck out for bad reasons:
Samuel Adams Summer Ale
Hornby's Hard Cider


I remember now that they do a Beer Swap at MATG every year. Ill have to check it out this year to see what comes in :)

Sweeett, I'm still putting you a box together to get out to you soon as well! Hoping to work on it some more at the "Festival Der Bierkulturen" in Cologne (Koln) this weekend with some nice Braustelle brews that you will NEVER EVER see in the states.

EDIT:

:ugh2:

flier, I see that there is a Barley's Taproom and Pizzeria in Knoxville... Go there! You will not be disappointed in the selection. We have one here as well and I go at least once a week and have never had the same beer twice.

Yeah, I just now put two and two together. I've been going to Barley's for Pizza since I was about 12, hah.

Looks like its rated one of the best around here too, along with Mellow Mushroom >.<

Haha! Barley's is much better in my opinion... At least compared to the Mellow Mushroom we have around here. Barley's is also the highest rated in my area and 2nd in Asheville, NC.

Tried a few different ones last night. Looking to go to a good rated place downtown tonight too.


These are pretty common as I picked them up at the local store haha.

Honey Moon
Honey Brown(dundee brew.)
Tap room 21 lager

I was impressed with honey brown and the tap room. Honey Moon was ok tho.