What Was the Last Beer You Drank?

mr_teisco_delrey · February 21, 2007

Today is Fat Tuesday, the official start to Marti Gras.

Fat Tuesday is the last day of Marti Gras. It is now Lent. As for me, I am giving up mass produced American Beers for Lent. No more Michelob Amber Bocks for me.

DerekRx · February 21, 2007

^No, Fat Tuesday IS Mardi Gras. It's the last day of Carnival. I said it was the "official" start because places try to deceive by claiming it lasts a lot longer than it actually does. Universal, for example, has been celebrating Mardi Gras for like the last 3 weeks, and will continue to do so until April. Mardi Gras itsself is only 1 day.

Anyway, tonight I tried a new beer that a nurse brought back from vacation for me to try, the Carolina Brewing Pale Ale. While her and her husband mainly only drink Miller Lite, they actually drink this, so I figured it wouldn't be that great, but it reviewed ok. Let's find out how it does...

as good as the Pale Ale was, this is SO much better, IMO!

I just couldn't drink out of the Nugget Nectar glass without drinking some Nugget Nectar too

It actually was pretty good. Pretty hoppy, very easy to drink too. I'm shocked that my Lite beer friends actually enjoy this, there's hope for them yet!

Carolina Pale Ale, all the way from North Carolina.

Rugged One · February 22, 2007

^ Still drinking that case of Nugget down I see. Speaking of Derek's beers...

A bottle of the Sly Fox Odyssey 06 from the case that Derek picked up at the event back in December. Pretty much a straight up hop bomb.

DerekRx · February 22, 2007

More beers tonight just because I gave up not drinking for Lent.

Nope, still tastes like the weakest IPA with the coolest name

Maybe having Hop-Ocalypse in the Nugget glass will make it taste better

Now that's raspberry nice!

For Nicole, I enjoyed a Purple Haze

N'at Man · February 22, 2007

I didn't get to drink any of my Penn Marzen on Fat Tuesday but instead I had a chance to visit Rock Bottom at the King of Prussia Mall. We were staying across the street for a conference so it was a no brainer. I had a Sub Zero IPA (really liked it) and an Oatmeal Stout.

niiicolaaah · February 22, 2007

Mmm, tasty! (the beer AND the guy!)

Juggler · February 22, 2007

Was that an Ego I just saw exploding? GRIN!

Rugged One · February 23, 2007

Went with a couple of PA's finest tonight...

Next up, it was some more awesomeness, courtesy of Victory. The Storm King Stout!

First up, some Troegs Nugget Nectar. A beer that has been sorely lacking from this thread recently.;P

DerekRx · February 23, 2007

I took it easy on the beer tonight, but only because I had a major craving for Tater tots and a milkshake first. So after work I decided to head to the only place to cure the craving, Sonic! Then after mass amounts of food, it was back home for a new beer, the Founders Black Rye.

Very good with a coffee hint

Oh yeah, this is the beer thread! Here's some Founders Black Rye, a dark ale made with rye (imagine that!)

mmm, cholesterol goodness

Dude, you gonna eat those tots?

Mmmm, Sonic, home of SuperSonic burgers, tater tots, limeade, and coconut cream milkshakes.

Rugged One · February 24, 2007

Tonight, I decided to delve into one of the lesser talked about aspects of craft beer. Craft beer in cans. Many of the smaller breweries (including locally, Sly Fox) are now using canning systems because they can be had for a lot less money than a traditional bottling line, only need 2-3 people to run it, cans allow for zero light to potentially degrade the beer, and it's generally a cool hook to get people interested in your product. Plus it's fun to get rid of the empties as you will see...

Probably the most well known brewery doing cans right now (and probably the most well distributed) is Oskar Blues out of Lyons, CO. I just happen to have a couple chilling in the beer fridge right now...

Craft beer in cans is fun!

Boo-Ya!!!!

I show a little better craft beer etiquette on this round and put Gordon in a pint glass. But the empty once again gets the star treatment...

Next up is Gordon, a nicely balanced Double IPA. A Double IPA in cans? Are you kidding me? I love it!

Look at that, instant can compactor.

Boo-Ya!!!

But uh oh. What do I do with the empty?

That's right, I'm chugging this one straight out of the can. Redneck style!

I'm going to have to chuck the rules of craft beer drinking out the window on this one folks...

First up, Oskar Blue's flagship beer, Dale's Pale Ale. A rather nicely hopped Pale Ale.

DerekRx · February 24, 2007

^Dude! I love it!

But yeah, I value my noggin too much for that right now (plus I've only got 1 can of Dale Pale Ale in the fridge) so we'll stick to what I know best (?) for tonight, beers from a bottle!

First up, the Big Hoppy Monster, brewed from Terrapin Brewing (aww, Lily!) from Athens, Georgia, brewed in Frederick, Maryland?? an imperial red ale that's extremely hoppy AND malty, and wonderful shiite.

And to follow it up, a medley of PA's finest, with some other goodnesses mixed in for dessert on this Friday that I claimed I would "take it easy"

The Tripel do you good!

and for the Regional Reps wife, it's time to break out the Monkey!

mmm, very cherry nice

and to finish, fresh from the Joisey ACE Regional Rep, some Redbach!

But it tastes oh so good

Oooooh, that's piney!

Just when you thought I would be done...HopNectar!

Oh well, it still tastes fantastic, even if it doesn't look neato (who still uses that word, honestly!?)

Darnit! Either I'm drunk early, the pouring is bad, or this bottle of Storm King just doesn't want to separate into StormDevil like before

The mixture of the two Victory brews

maybe HopDevil can do what Nugget Nectar couldn't

what a wonderful taste sensation! Like coffee and an overload of hops

but this one we'll mix with the Victory Storm King to make Storm Nectar! (which doesn't mix too well)

as usual with PA beer laws, here's more from my case of Nugget Nectar...

Thanks to Heath I get to enjoy this amazing imperial red ale. Wow!

First up, Big Hoppy Monster from Terrapin

mcjaco · February 24, 2007

I tired compacting a can on my head once. I had a circular bruise I had to explain for the next seven days. Ah college!

Any way, it's been a long week with the townhome purchase in it's final stages (inspection today), I decided to celebrate with a couple of brews. I'm trying to kill off this Sam Adams Brewmaster Collection so, here we go!

First up, the Honey Porter. Oh sweet honey. This time I was ready for it, and it proved to be quite tasty. Just a nice subtle hint of honey.

Yeehaw! That's the stuff!

Next up, my SM favorite. The evil looking Black Lager. Chocolate and caramel, oh my!

Tasty!

I guess the second time is a charm. This went down like honey!

Nodders · February 24, 2007

Dude, I really NEED one of those turtles! I wonder if I can find one over here?

I've been working on the Night Raid & the last of the S.O.S. through the week, but tonight I have a bottle of good old Newcastle Brown Ale. Mmmmm ......

DerekRx · February 25, 2007

^I know lots of places sell the turtle, or black and tan spoon as it's called. Just do a google search for a black and tan turtle, it'll direct you to like Lagerhead of something similar. If you like beer and turtles like me, it's perfect for every occasion!

So today we had a most BACTactular Saturday. What started out as a typical Saturday adventure to an event at one of our favorite hangouts soon turned into a day spent at the best beer bars in eastern PA. Here's the low down:

and, for good things to come soon, Troeg's Nugget Nectar 2006 cask for me, and Hoptical Illusion Cask for Heath, only because they never got the Oatmeal Stout firkin

Heath goes with The Drafting Room 12th, made by Troegs.

For me, to start the finish, Stone 10th IPA, for a glimpse into my future

Getting more crowded, soon time for us to vacate our prime location and BACTly move along

Heath decides on the Russian River Pliney the Younger triple IPA

Kim seems to enjoy it though!

Up next for me, a 5oz Cantillon Lou Pepe Framboise 2004, which means it's been barrel aged for over 2 years, and quite sour

Starting to get more crowded, which most people are somehow shocked by(???)

Appetizers are needed to keep us in check, which they do. Yum to the fondue and the nachos!

Which brings us to the battle of the night, the Juice vs the Slam. Who wins? We do!

and I whip out the Hop Juice from Two Brothers, which we've had a few weeks ago, but not on draft

Next in line, Heath goes with the Hopslam from Bell's (hi Matt, we love you!)

In typical coaster enthusiast fashion, we got here early when it wasn't crowded, and managed to get a nice table in the actual drafting room

A little description of the Torpedo for those who are interested

Check out all those taps of wonderfulness

Heath goes with the Chouffe Brooklynette (la Gnomette II), where the Brooklyn brewing brewers went over to Belgium to brew a batch with Chouffe

First up for me, the Torpedo Ale from Sierra Nevada, an IPA, and quite excellent

Just a gander at the list. Yes, Matt, that'd be some Bell's on there, on draft

By 12:00 noon we were down in Exton at the Drafting Room for their "best of 06" event, where they have the best beers of 2006 available

DerekRx · February 25, 2007

After The Drafting Room, we wanted to go check out Rock Bottom at King of Prussia, but parking was a pain, so we just moved on to Capone's in Norristown, and we're glad we did!

and as a bonus, we even got to meet up with the owner himself hanging out in the 6pack shop in the back. Matt Capone himself, everybody! Truly an awesome guy and very friendly. He even gave us pint glasses for free, and shared some upcoming release inf

and finally this year, some Troeg's Mad Elf on tap for Heath

and to end our day at Capone's, the Brooklyn Smoked Weissbock for me

and the Oskar Blues Gordon, which was just enjoyed a few days ago in a can, but this is draft, my friends and so much better!

Next up, things we've had before but won't pass up. Like the East End Snow Melt, all the way from Pittsburgh, and very hard to obtain out east

and lucky us, the Cantillon Saint Lamvinus wasn't kicked before we got here.

or the seafood bisque

and wonderful food to boot, like the 3 cheese French onion

and this Nodding Head Chocolate Stout, on nitro!

That's right, they've still got some stuff on from Wednesday's beer night, like this wonderful Great Lakes Blackout Stout

Haven't been here yet this year, but we're here for a reason today!

DerekRx · February 25, 2007

and just when you thought we'd be too drunk to continue, we deceive you once again! We didn't make it here on Friday night for the firkin release of Nugget Nectar and other goodies, so we figured tonight would work perfectly! And it really was one of the best times we've had there yet, sitting at the bar, chatting with the bartenders and locals, enjoying the drafts, listening to good music on the jukebox. Yeah, almost perfect Saturday.

and to end a wonderful day of drinking, it's Lindeman's for us. Framboise for me and Peche for Heath. Until tomorrow...

If you said Heath, you're right. Give yourself a pat on the back

Oooh, Collaboration not Litigation from Avery/Russian River on tap too! Who could be getting that?!

Next up, the newly released Legacy Fantasy for me, a Belgian style raspberry beer that Ellen would love

and Heath went with the Russian River Damnation blonde on tap

Even Kim broke down and enjoyed a beer in the form of a Lindeman's Framboise

First up for me, 2007 Nugget Nectar from Troeg's, but not on cask, sadly (We all know I don't have enough of this bottled at home)

If you said Union Jack's, you're right, and you probably spend too much time stalking us via internet

Do you know where we are from previous beer updates?

mcjaco · February 25, 2007

Looks like fun guys, and gal!

Yesterday was our home inspection. So a celebration was needed!

It just so happened my wife came home from Buffalo with Anchor Bar sauce and then picked up the new Leinenkugel's Seasonal, Sunset Wheat. It's very light and fruity with a awesome blast of blueberrys!

Whoa, a nice aftertaste kick of blueberry!

Leinie's Sunset Wheat. Now appearing in my fridge!

Juggler · February 25, 2007

That does it.

**Juggler starts looking at flight prices**

So what event's happen later in the year and where do I stay?

Rugged One · February 25, 2007

Just a couple of quick pics from today's lunch up at Selin's Grove Brewing. We beat the snow getting up there this morning but it started in pretty good while we were there and was pretty heavy at times on the ride home. We ended up skipping our other plans in Harrisburg and just decided to come home. You played it smart by staying home Derek. Stupid winter weather....

This trip was pretty cool because for the first time we got to see owner and head brewer Steve Leason mingling about for a little bit chatting up some of the regulars. Of course he was mostly lamenting how they are having trouble keeping up with demand as when we were there, they were once again out of certain beers and a couple of the taps on the wall were completely empty.

And then I finish up with one of my favorites here, the Shade Mountain Oatmeal Stout.

Kim of course has to get some of their fantastic homemade rootbeer.

They were out of a few things but one they did have back on was the Golding's Special Bitter. Very nice.

Back at Selin's Grove Brewing despite the imminent arrival of some nasty weather. What can I say? The place is worth it!

N'at Man · February 25, 2007

Just a random update after stopping by 3 Sons Dogs and Suds bottle shop. One advantage of this place is that while they sell bottles they also have a wide variety of six packs. Same price but I like the organization. Also, the colored dot bottlecap pricing actually helps you spot the better beers easily. Of course there are some exceptions like the $10 12 oz bottle of Dogfish Head Raison D'etre. No I didn't buy that one but I stocked up a bit and picked up a few new to me beers. On to the pics...

Here I am concentrating on the shot before I enjoy a Bell's Java Stout. Again, I'm liking the Bell's.

Great Divide Titan IPA, Troegs Nugget Nectar (as if it needed more TPR time), Victory St. Victorious and Bell's Java Stout.

mcjaco · February 25, 2007

^ Why must you all taunt me?

DerekRx · February 26, 2007

Yes, today I was going to accompany Heath and Kim to SelinsGrove to enjoy more of their tasty brews, but there was impending weather of certain doom approaching. If Selinsgrove wasn't like 2 hours away all back country roads up and down mountains, I would have gone. But instead, I hung out at home and watched the weather.

A pretty good hoppy, malty, fruity Scottish porter

More beer is needed. Flying Dog's Road Dog to the rescue

But 30 minutes later, it's back

A little while later, it looks like the snow has stopped

Great malty goodness

So I'll stay home and enjoy a Thomas Hooker Liberator Doppelbock

Coming down nicely, and starting to lay a bit, meaning no going out

Here starts the snow (again), but it's not laying on the roads yet

Rugged One · February 26, 2007

Well you would have thought that with all the drinking from yesterday and earlier this afternoon, I'd pretty much be done for the weekend. So did I but then decided to slip one more in.

The Two Brothers Brewing Heavy-Handed IPA. Not sure exactly what but something just didn't sit right with this one. Maybe the hop varietal used? Maybe it needed to be more balanced? Just a little too bitter in the hop bite.

DerekRx · February 27, 2007

It's warming up outside, but still a bit chilly, and definitely still winter. What a better drink on a Monday than an Imperial Espresso Porter to start things off.