Darkmoto

I found the Blue Moon pumpkin to taste like a slightly better than usual can of silver bullet. I am in agreement I think shipyard has the market on relative mass produced pumpkin ale despite it still tasting pretty avg to me. I think my issue is that it's too sweet and lacking in solid pumpkin flavor.


Also on the mention of Lambic earlier. I made a sorbet with with aspberry lambic that was pretty awesome for the restaurant I was the chef at for 8 years. Flew out the door almost as fast as it was done freezing. Had a pretty damn amazing mouth feel. A little off topic I know.

I really wish we had some better breweries in the area though Maine is pretty boring.

 

Denogran

Found my first sixpack of SN Celebration Ale for this holiday season. I hate winter, but I do love this beer.

 

◊ Kaubel

Sup, SN buddy. (Drinking my second Pale Ale of the day as I type this.)

On the topic of seasonal beers, it's been almost two years since I've been able to find Samuel Adams Octoberfest where I live, and I've no idea why we can't get it. I finally said screw it and bought some Paulaner.

 

Masataka

I wish I could mail you some Kaubel, I can find it in every grocery store around here. I would say it's the best Sam Adams' beer of their galaxy of beer's that I've had so far. All I could say is road trip to the Carolina's?Found an interesting brown ale from the St. George Brewing Company, very tasty and was a part of some variety pack so it had a couple of non-mentional beers as well, but this one stood out from the six pack.

 

Hadera

If you like 1554, I highly recommend you try New Belgium's Abbey Ale. It's similar to the 1554, but with richer and more complex flavors.

 

LucidityAxel

I tried the Warsteiner Oktoberfest side-by-side with the Sam Adams this year. I thought the Warsteiner was very similar, only with a much fuller malt flavor and better balance overall. The Sam Adams is decent, but there was just more stuff going on in my mouth with the import.

Warsteiner gets pretty wide distribution in the States, and I'd recommend trying some if you like the Sam Adams.

 

◊ Kaubel

Odd. I've had both and don't really remember many similarities. And while the "Abbey" was good, I like 1554 better. It might fun to do an official side-by-side though.

 

macka

I find it a tad silly that the seasonal beers are appearing sooner and sooner each year. Sierra Nevada (SN) Summerfest is available in the early to mid Spring, and in my area, you end up being unable to find it during the actual Summertime. It isn't even Halloween yet, and the Sam Adams Octoberfest is gone. I just saw the SN Celebration Ale last week, and that's supposed to be a Winter beer - it has poinsettias on the box! I know someone will say to buy it and store it, but I am not one of those willpower guys. I buy my weekend beer on Friday afternoons, and drink it by Sunday night.

All that being said, I did buy a 12 pack of the Celebration Ale for Game 5 in anticipation of a Phillies victory. Let's not even get into that debacle...

 

Monocle

I agree, it's really bad with the fall stuff. The Pumpkin Beers started showing up in July! Who drinks a pumpkin beer in July? I just have gotten so used to the fall stuff vannishing before Thanksgiving here in the US, that I started to grab a Pumpkin Beer to store till then.

At least you can still get Gritty McDuffs Halloween Ale at the right time of year. I'm going to be trying a pack of that this Friday for the holiday.

 

◊ Kaubel

Summerfest should be available all year, but sadly it's not. That's why I buy and store as much as I can as soon as it's released.

 

Aayrshock

I have to admit a bit of disappointment with Blue Moon's Pumpkin Ale. Perhaps it's just that I haven't had it before and didn't know what to expect. Generally, when I see pumpkin I'm expecting pumpkin pie, and instead I was tasting roasted pumpkin seeds. Not unpleasant, once I wrapped my mind around it, but not what I was expecting to taste.

If this Shipyard doesn't taste like seeds I'll be happy to try it.

 

Rack

That's weird that you can't find it. You might want to try a pub if you just have to have some. The family business here is a brew pub, and we actually have SA Octoberfest on-tap for the moment. Given that brew pubs are in the business of selling beer and lots of it, there must be some local watering hole that caters to its customers and has it available.

Even weirder, I use this thread to get suggestions on what to restock. If I could just get a keg of Hoegaarden... it always seems to be out.

 

Jaydn

Well, i think no one really likes american beer. The best comes from good old europe

Ill drink one in memory for all of you, who cant enjoy a good cold german beer.

 

Skwidrific

There are awesome beers here in the states, sometimes you just have to go off the beaten path. Micro-breweries are where it's at. For those of you on the east coast, I'd recommend Dominion Ale and Dominion Lager, brewed in Virginia. I'm not sure how available it is outside of Virginia though.
If you're willing to experient, Shopper's Food Warehouse has about the best selection of Micro-brews around. Dixie Blackened Voodoo, in particular, was an old favorite of mine. One of the darkest, most opaque, richest lagers you may ever come across. Cheers!

 

Monocle

Heads up for the people who like Stone's stuff. The Double Arogant Bastards are going to be for offical sale starting 11/3! You may even find some on the shelves this weekend.

Going to be stocking up on a bunch myself, because they always vannish really fast here.

 

manapaws

Just checked my calendar and was wondering how everyone's octoberfest went?

In my city (in Australia) theres a small beer festival, nothing like some of the European ones i'm betting!

Stellar Artois, in a very cold pint, pretty please

 

levk

I live in Boston and we have Sam Octoberfest draft in most bars. While I do like bottled still, there's a world of difference between bottled and draft, draft has much fuller taste.

 

manapaws

Have to say I agree with you there. I've tried, and quite enjoyed, literally thousands of beers. In an ice-cold pint class >>> everything else. Though, that might be the Australian in me.

 

◊ Kaubel

Wrong.

[e] What Luc said.

 

LucidityAxel

There are good beers all over the world. The trick is knowing where to find them (or obtain them locally).

 

Monocle

Yeah, just try to find a really good IPA outside the US, it's really, really difficult. When you do find one, it is usually just trying to emulate the American style.

Remember, as of this year, Budwiser is now technically a Europrean beer! I don't think anyone would be considering that a mark of quality.

 

Micka

I Live right near the micro-brewery where this is made.
It's one of my favorite haunts because of the fantastic range of beers they have available.
If you can find it, I'd suggest the 90 minute IPA, its pretty heady stuff!

 

Denogran

Apparently you missed the discussion on the previous page (whilst replying to a quote from August, impressive).

Anyway, was in Costco last week down on Moreno way in San Diego, and they had cases of Arrogant Bastard for sale. In 22s of course. Very, very tasty - although not the best thing for my wallet. I guess as the label says, they're not too expensive, I'm just too cheap. First time I had seen that too, usually Costco has much more user-friendly beers.

One last thing, from my trip to Washington. If you're in the area, check out Malt and Vine in Redmond. It's by far the best beer store I've ever been to. An amazing selection of beers, and you can buy a pint of a local brew to walk around the store while you peruse. Definitely a winner, and I just wish there was a place like that near me.

 

Micka

I did, sorry about that.

In another note, if you like dark beer I'm really fond of the Plum Porter from Bozeman Brewing Company

Bozeman Brewing Company ~ Bozone Beer

 

Monocle

Well Stone did open a new plant this year, so their stuff is becoming much easier to find now. Last year my area just got the old AB's, Ruination, normal IPA and th smoked Porter in a few sellect stores. Now I can find those, plus some of the more exotic seasonals from then like the Vertical Epic stuff, pretty easily.

Just wish this happened last year so I could ahve tried their aniversery ale for 07. It was a Black IPA!