Yeah I was real confused at the bar last night when like 1/4 of the stuff the the craft beer list were ciders.

 

My next door neighbor launched a new whiskey last year or so. Iron Smoke, it's called. Well, it's aged, and small batch. Seven years, IIRC.

They wanted something quicker, and able to be produced in larger quantities. The solution was to release a new whiskey called Rattlesnake Rosie's Apple Pie. It's cider (all ingredients from WNY), corn whiskey and spices (vanilla and cinnamon, mostly). It's good sipping stuff, and has won third place in the International spirits competition in Cali. Cider is the new wave, and he's doing great.

 

The last time Joe Perez came to Tampa we met up at the World of Beer. The topic of ciders came up on the second or third round. I asked Joe if he'd ever had Dickens' Cider, as it is one of the things I try to have whenever it is available.

 

What we've got tonight.
Both fantastic.

 

Never had the thirsty trout, had that root beer 3 weeks ago. "Ale brewed with spices". Doesn't taste like that. Tastes like genuine root beer.
Last 2 beers were "Zoe" and "lunch" from the Maine brewing company.

 

Yeah. Lady in front of me at the liquor store was buying a case and convinced me to get it.

I'm glad I did.

 

I went to the beer school in a local brewery tonight. It just confirmed my beliefs that weissbier dunkels are my ****. I know Erdinger Dunkel is no fancy stuff, but that along Tilburg's Dutch brown ale are the good stuff.

Tried most varieties of beers with explanations of what made them different and tasting/smelling of most common ingredients. They will send us the last slides of the presentation along with a "diploma" since everyone was way too drunk to remember the latter part of the evening.


I excuse any ramblings in advance since I will read this tomorrow and laugh.

 

As much as I like IPA's and Pale Ale's...I always said Stout's are my fav. However, Franziskaner Dunkel is really freakin good.

 

official best beer or late spring:

 

just picked the not your fathers root beer.

 

Where did you find it? I thought they weren't allowed to sell that stuff outside of IL.

 

I had never even heard of it until about an hour ago - guy behind me in line at the local market here in Maine had a couple 6's. I just assumed it was some tarted-up regular root beer. Then I read this.

Oh well, just have to console myself with some Baxter Brewing Stowaway IPA and an Arrogant Bastard.

 

Do want.

 

I have only been able to procure one single bottle from the proprietor of a craft beer bottle shop in STL. He said he picked up a few 6-packs from his friend who lives in Chicago, and that it couldn't legally be sold outside of IL, but since I was making a large enough purchase in total, he would "gift" me one one from his personal stash.

On a side note, I have yet to open it because I typically try to cellar my beer (primarily RIS varieties) for a year or so, but can anyone here tell me if this "special" root beer will benefit from resting for a spell? . . . or should I just swig it down asap?

 

Don't get all crazy about it. I live I ****-town PA, and they have it at the crappiest dive bar known to man. Yes, it's worth trying because its way different and unexpected of anything it should taste like...but I'm not that guy that jumps because everybody else jumps.
They actually make 3 different types. 5.9%, 10.7%? I think? And a rare one that was a fucked up batch that the yeast went nust in that is like 19.7% or so.

 

I've been seeing this at my local supermarket and instinctively stayed away. I'm a little skeptical of anything available at a chain store.
I'm going to trust you guys and pick up a 6er. Tomorrow... I'm a little tipsy on homemade blueberry wine. A little strawberry wine too...

 

So, it sounds like the info about it only being sold in IL is bogus then. Well ****, why the hell can't they send some out to the left coast then?

 

wegmans. others have seen it elsewhere locally.

 

Pretty much all the Krogers stores locally have it (Big grocery chain).

 

I like Guinness. It's my go-to beer if it's available. I've tried a bunch (Black & Tan is another favorite), but I wanna try some others. Hoppy beers need not apply. Stouts, porters, dark ales.

Recommend something for me to try. Nothing too exotic or silly expensive.