Good call. A while back a friend shared a bottle of Old Stock he'd had in the basement for a couple years, and it was absolutely amazing. Very complex flavor, but smooth too as you said. It really opened my eyes to how much certain beers can improve with age.

Stout: I love Victory's Storm King Stout and Elysian's Dragonstooth Stout. Guinness is great on the proper nitrogen tap, but in a bottle I usually pick other things.


I grabbed Sierra Nevada's Kellerweis this weekend, and I have to say I was really disappointed. Maybe the more Bavarian style they were going for just doesn't suit me, but it just tasted off for reasons I can't really pin down. Everything else they do I love, and I also enjoy the occasional Tripel.

Has anyone had this year's Winter Solstice? They've ranged from good to amazing over the past three years, with 2006 still being my favorite of the three, and I'd like to know whether or not I should consider picking up a case. The 06 was medium-heavy malt with a very slight honey flavor, but it wasn't overpowering like Weyerbacher's Decadence.

Went out for a late lunch yesterday and had a Boundary Bay Skip's Imperial IPA that was on tap in the BBQ shop. Thin head. Very strong grapefruit smells and taste with a little hint of a floral and pine (which all good NW IPAs should have). Smooth and full, but very drinkable.

I'm hoping I can find bottles of it – feel like I've seen them at either the Westlake Whole Foods or the Queen Anne QFC.

Barbeque is it's own topic, but what shop did you go to that had this on tap?

Also I need to go on record for Fin du Monde like some in this thread and Delerium Tremens (yes pink bottle with elephants). Both these are lighter beers but so very tasty (belgium style).

For the Northwesterners, make your way to Mcmenimans and try their Nitro Porter, it's damn good. (lower queen anne)

They have it at the Honey Hole (OK, it's a sandwich shop, but I always eat the BBQ, so that's what I call it) on Pike and Boylston. It's so worth going there, even without beer.

One of the local breweries (Odell) will just put random beers on nitro in their tasting room. It's really interesting how much the different gas changes your perception of the beer. An IPA with the thick creaminess of Guiness, for example. Seems like an underexplored corner of beer-geekery.

I don't think I've ever had a stout quite as creamy as the Old Rasputin I had tonight. Man, that was delicious.

A new beer+burger joint called Stout opened up in Hollywood and they have a ton of craft stuff I've never seen on tap before. Blanche des Bruxelles (an awesome, awesome wheat); Old Speckled Hen; Kilt Lifter ale; as well as Racer 5 and Dogfish 90 which are some personal favorites of mine. Going back ASAP.

I don't think it makes it much outside southern CA, but has anyone had any Craftsman brews? It's a good draught-only local in a few bars around LA and it's a pretty great pale lager. Definitely recommend to anyone in the area.

Holy shit I just got back from Brussels Bistro in Laguna Beach and you guys all have to try Delirium Noel on tap. It's fucking amazing trappist brew.

Managed to get hold of a 2007 Double Bastard, decided enjoy it now rather than wait till after exams. Initially smelled of sweet cirtus, reminded me a bit of a Titan IPA I had a few weeks ago but about half way through now and smells more of caramel. Starts out sweet with the same caramel I could smell, tiny hints of citrus and some chocolatish flavour as well running throughout (reminds me slightly of London Porter) with a bitter finish unlike anything I've tried before, almost but not quite unbalancing the whole beer and I think it bring out the sweetness again in the next sip that bit more. Alcohol becomes more evident as the beer warms. Personally I prefer the regular Arrogant Bastard, which I find a bit more balanced towards my own tastes. Can only imagine how these must taste on tap.

Should be spending 10 weeks in CA if all works out next year and as much as possible of my luggage allowance will probably be on Stone brews.

About mid-November I found a Tangerine Wheat at Bevmo that I really liked. It had a great aroma of citrus, but wasn't really sweet. Unfortunately off the top of my head I can't remember who made it, but it was in a 24 oz bottle and was the only one in the store. Yesterday I bought a couple of different winter brews that I am going to try this week, will put my reviews here soon.

You mean the Anderson Valley Winter Solstice? I had it on tap last Sunday and I have to say that it tasted really good on the first sip, and got progressively worse. I think it had too much of a cream soda taste to it for my liking.


This year's Double Bastard is really, really good. If a place near you has it on tap I would definitely go for a glass or two.

Grabbed one to store, last years really got great with a little bit of aging, but now tempted to grab another to try now.

Tried an Avery IIPA last night I have not seen in these parts before, duganA. After the disappointment of this year's batch of Maharaja, I was a little hesitant to try another one of their IIPA's. Luckily this one was a bit better. That overwhelming alcohol taste from the Maharaja was not in this one, it was balanced much better. Nice variety of hops in it too.

It was no Ninkasi Tricerahops, but very decent.

Founders Backwoods Bastard has now shown up here in NJ. Have to try to grab a case of it if I can track one down!

I hate to say it, but my personal favorites right now are Stella and Yingling. <begin flashback> When I lived in New York City about a decade ago, the very first beer I consumed was Anchor Port from a little Microbrew pub in the East Village. Ever since, I've developed a sincere distaste for American horse-filtered beers.<end flashback>

I don't drink Beer or Lager often but when I do I head straight for a pint of Woosh (Worthington's Creamflow) or Carling Extra Cold. Drinking a pint of Whoosh in my town is a right of passage and essential part of weekend drinking festivities, and it reminds me of so many good nights out with friends and work mates.

There is nothing really wrong with Yeungling. It's not a complex big beer, but it is okay enough. I admit I have a real soft spot for Yeungling anyway, as when I was in college one of the local bars had .75 Black and Tan Yeungling on tap. When you watched your funds like I did when in college, that was just perfect. I just lucked out that my school was near the brewery.

I did manage to try Great Divide's Hibernation Ale this weekend. We never got this seasonal here in NJ, so I was slightly surprised to see a big stack of six packs at one for the local markets. Ended up being a great warmer, even if it was a tad strong.

I recently just polished off a growler of Stone's Smoked Porter with Vanilla Bean. It was a great porter, easily drinkable, and the vanilla is not so overpowering that I couldn't put away a growler within 24 hours

I also got to try Delirium Noel last night, and found it to be a darker, yet milder version of Delirium Tremens (my favorite beer in the entire damn world). Great winter beer.

BTW guys if you're in San Diego or Seattle, there's an awesome site I used called Tap Hunter. Basically they keep track of what's on tap at all the "beer bars" around town. They also have a twitter, and iPhone app.

Search for Craft Beers on Tap - San Diego - Tap Hunter

Oh wow, that's a nice site.

Had Ayinger's Celebrator Doppelbock for the first time this past weekend. Wow, can't say enough good things about that one. Excellent balance of creaminess without being too heavy. Molasses, toffee, and caramel flavors really make it stand out.

Yeah Celebrator is legendary. I spend the entire time drinking it saying "How can this be a lager?" I haven't had one in so long, I need to fix that. I have plastic goats hanging off various items in my house.

Also - i'm still on my honeymoon with Fuller's London Porter. Why didn't I have one years ago? It embarrasses every other porter i've ever had, including Edmund Fitzgerald.

Great link, thanks Tyrsis. I live in Seattle and I'll be trying it out this evening.

Hit up the Neighborhood and enjoyed some potent stuff on tap last night.

Deschutes Abyss - Man, abyss is right... light does not penetrate this thing. Heavy booze taste at first (11%) but a nice coffee/chocolate aftertaste. Nom nom.

Had Life and Limb and something else... it's get fuzzy when you have 3 or 4 beers that are all above 10% each, heh.

I'm jealous. Definitely on my top 5 beers I wish I could try list. (along with Stormaktsporter, Dark Lord, Expedition, Founder's Breakfast and... of course my namesake.)