Rugged One Posted December 4, 2006 Share Posted December 4, 2006 ^ Dave, if you still want a sixer of the Mad Elf, just head down 45 to Hunt Valley and hit up Shawan Liquors. They still had it when we were there Saturday morning. Here's their website: http://www.shawanliquors.com By the way, it was really cool finally getting to meet you. We're looking forward to some future beer meetups with ya down in B-More! Tonight, the Second Beer of Christmas... The Avery Old Jubilation Ale. Nice dark fruity, malty taste going on with this. Slightly hoppy at the end. A very nice (and hefty at 8%) winter warmer from Avery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meteornotes Posted December 4, 2006 Share Posted December 4, 2006 Heath, thanks for the tip. I'll head over there tomorrow. Good to meet you and Kim too. Sorry I didn't hang out last night, but I had to drive back to Baltimore. I'm sure I'll see you guys when you come down here to sample some of the local places. dt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DerekRx Posted December 5, 2006 Share Posted December 5, 2006 Well, after Friday's unseasonal temperatures, I was in high hopes for a nice mild winter. (and its not even winter yet) Of course, with Saturday's return to the norm, its looking grimmer and grimmer like it'll be another cold winter up North. May as well embrace it for now with some winter ales. Pretty malty stuff, with a little hint of spices and cocoa Followed that up with a Winter Warmer from Lancaster Hoppy yet hardy. Like my Christmas scrubs? First up, last year's Sierra Nevada Celebration Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rugged One Posted December 5, 2006 Share Posted December 5, 2006 Remember when I said I was done with the Fall beers? Well that was before I went to my beer place the other day and they had something new on the shelf. More and more breweries now are making hop harvest ales but very few are bottling them. Luckily Great Divide is one of them. The Great Divide Fresh Hop Pale Ale. Hot damn, this is some good stuff! Very similar to the Sierra Nevada Harvest Ale. Nice grassy hops in the aroma and taste that linger with you for awhile. I might have to go back for more of this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcjaco Posted December 5, 2006 Share Posted December 5, 2006 Eat your heart out gentlemen, I have newly canned Blatz!!!!! It still sucks, I have no idea why anyone would want to bottle this garbage again. Oh mamma. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rugged One Posted December 6, 2006 Share Posted December 6, 2006 Ah, this Third Beer of Christmas is the first of of the many infamous Christmas brews from Ridgeway Brewing in the U.K. These were recently banned in the state of New York (but I think it was recently overturned) and now Maine because they "supposedly targeted underage drinkers with their cute Holiday labels". Whatever. Controversial? Yes!:: But most importantly, are the beers themselves any good? Let's find out! We'll start out with the Very Bad Elf, an English Strong Ale. Typical of an English Ale, pretty malty and sweet. This one was very fruity and a little too sweet maybe. Luckily this Very Bad Elf was anything but. I liked it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DerekRx Posted December 6, 2006 Share Posted December 6, 2006 Yup, still cold, still almost Christmas, still time to celebrate something... Also quite tasty and hardy. Warms me up during this cold season Time to warm up by poppin a Snow Cap in that punk Chocolate meets alcohol in a wonderful marriage of hops First up, one of the best stouts out there, and I'm not much of a stout drinker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr_teisco_delrey Posted December 6, 2006 Share Posted December 6, 2006 Eat your heart out gentlemen, I have newly canned Blatz!!!!! It still sucks, I have no idea why anyone would want to bottle this garbage again. Doesn't hold a candle to Jewel Foods Generic beer. I doubt you would remember it. It actually came in a white can with black lettering. Pure desperation beer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcjaco Posted December 6, 2006 Share Posted December 6, 2006 Blatz is a family joke. My Father picked up a case for a party thinking he grabbed Schlitz (not sure that's much better). My Uncle's have been giving my poor Father crap about ever since. "If you didn't like us, just say so. There's no need to give us Blatz." That sort of thing. In any case, someone in the backwoods of Wisconsin decided to start reproducing the stuff, and one of my Mother's business contacts found a case and sent it to her. Now I've got it....I have no idea how I'm going to get rid of it. So if any of you come to Chicago, I may just hand you a Blatz! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DerekRx Posted December 7, 2006 Share Posted December 7, 2006 Tonight is a Barleywine Wednesday. Its always a nice thing when a local microbrewery that pretty much makes the same stuff all the time finally decides to try something different. After hearing that nearby Stoudt's was brewing an oak barrel aged barleywine, I was intrigued. So before the vast hoards attack the place on Friday on the way to a nearby IPA festival, I decided to swing by and grab a few bottles. What could be better than a new beer AND something oak barrel aged? How about a beer that even Yetiball would approve of, the Old Abominable Barleywine! an excellent barleywine beer, very sweet like a Belgian, but with maltiness and a hint of whiskey Very dark in color with a nice sweet smell Of all the TPR mascots, I believe Yetiball is the first to have his own beer The Old Abominable, Yeti inspired barleywine oak barrel aged, served in a champagne bottle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yeti Ball Posted December 7, 2006 Share Posted December 7, 2006 Grrrrr Grr Grrrrrrrrrr (Translation - I approve!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DerekRx Posted December 8, 2006 Share Posted December 8, 2006 Awesome, Yeti Ball himself approves. That's good enough to start off the evening with the remainder of the Old Abominable before moving on to Project IPA Eve, or the Pre Project Party. So hoptastic, yet with a unique taste. Next on the IPAgenda, my old #1, HopDevil Definitely a great IPA coming from Michigan. Well worth a pickup Then we officially kick off the Pre-Project Party with some Bell's Two Hearted. Because 2 hearts mean more love than 1! After 2 glasses of this, you'll be speaking Yeti too! We'll begin the night with the remains of last nights Old Abominable barleywine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rugged One Posted December 8, 2006 Share Posted December 8, 2006 The Fourth Beer of Christmas. The always wonderful Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale. 2006! Great as always. Love the aroma of this one. Pine and citrus. And that always wonderful dry hoppy finish. Definitely a reason to celebrate! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DerekRx Posted December 8, 2006 Share Posted December 8, 2006 Am I going to attempt it, another IPA for the Pre-Project Party!? Of course I am, whats the worst that can happen, I pass out and miss work tomorrow but wake up in time for Project IPA?! Until my next update, its sure to be Hoptactular! Twice the IPA, twice the fantasicness Here's the finisher, Weyerbacher's Double Simcoe Double IPA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParkTrips Posted December 8, 2006 Share Posted December 8, 2006 random note: damn you Derek, I was going to get the "I got an escort in Vegas" shirt for when I went out there next year. I don't want to be stealin' people's style, yo! grrr.. oh sorry for this random interruption Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DerekRx Posted December 9, 2006 Share Posted December 9, 2006 Sly Fox in Phoenixville is known to do some pretty crazy stuff. First, they brought back canning beers, but into the microbrew market. Then, earlier this year, for their 11th Anniversary, they decided to break out 11 different types of IPAs thoughout the year, each time using a single type of hop. Then for the grand finale, they'd throw them all together into one type of India Pale Ale. But this year would mark the first time EVER a brewery would have 11 different homemade IPAs on tap at the same time, plus a few more bonuses! Jumping at the opportunity, fellow BACTer Heath and I would both skip our company Christmas parties for such a momentous occasion, with Kim as our always awesome driver! Here's what happened... Those said purchases, from shirts to growlers to bombers. We're good until the next Project IPA As we were leaving, the bar was getting pretty popular, but we were satisfied with our beers and our purchases This is not your normal "double IPA" We're dwindling down towards the end The Rt 113 IPA was totally nothing compared to the others, even Kim liked this one! In the end (it doesn't even matter) Heath really liked the Challenger IPA Heath don't know which to try first, IPA overload! My best warrior impersonation while trying the Warrior IPA, my 600th different beer Before we get too drunk, we better put some food in our guts Kim ain't too fond of the Odyssey Adam, eat your heart out! These IPAs belong to us! Wally, you thought Triple Rock had a lot of IPAs, this is just crazy The whole sampler, ready to drink! Whereas Mr SoCal breaks into the Odyssey 2005 cask conditioned edition. We both preferred this one First on the agenda, the cask conditioned Odyssey 2006 for me We chose to go with the sampler, which Heath so gladly displays, featuring all of the IPAs offered A little bit of info on the whole Project IPA for those who can read Hooray, we got the right day, after several months of anticipation 2:30 pm, we should be at work, but we're at Sly Fox instead! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DerekRx Posted December 9, 2006 Share Posted December 9, 2006 and you thought we'd stop there! (shame on you!) Heath was aware of a little Victory beer tasting happening back at the Beer Yard in Wayne, so since we were 30 miles away, we figured, "lets do it!". Of course we bought some stuff for ourselves as well as Christmas presents. And then we magically ended up back at the Drafting Room in Exton. Hooray! But for the road and future updates, each a growler of Sierra Nevada Harvest! and a Lindemann's Pomme for myself And the night concluded with our desserts. A very amazing Carolous Noel by Gouden for Heath (eat that Tom!) And its a wild mushroom and cheese chicken for me. It was delectable! While Heath is like "yeah, I got a burger, your point?" Kim displays her awesome Thai Chicken Salad you want some, Elissa? I KNOW you do! mmm, appetizer....fondue And I went with the Old Jubilation from Avery. A great Christmas beer For dinner, Heath enjoyed a Victory Harvest Ale, not as tasty as the Sierra Nevada, but still very good Since we're well known, we were given a free giant bottle of Stone 10th. Eat that Wally! And Kim broke down and had a Lindemann's Pomme (apple) Heath went with the Green Flash Ruby Red, a very tasty amber Then, back at the Drafting Room, another Sierra Nevada Harvest Ale for me. Amazing stuff Woohoo, the Beer Yard. Lots of cheese and free Victory tastings, and awesome shopping that'll be documented later Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Posted December 9, 2006 Share Posted December 9, 2006 Ok whilst strictling not a beer or wine it IS alcoholic... I went through quite alot of this tonight. Hmm Vodka + Orange <3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niiicolaaah Posted December 9, 2006 Share Posted December 9, 2006 ^^Darn it, Derek, I want cheese fondue and Lindemann's! ^Nice Santa hat, Ed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rugged One Posted December 10, 2006 Share Posted December 10, 2006 Yesterday, after taking care of some business in the area, Kim and I stopped at a place that I've been wanting to try for awhile. The Market Cross Pub and Brewery in Carlisle, PA. I've often heard it refer to itself as the best place to have a beer in Central PA (possibley now that KClingers is closed) and we were both pleasantly surprised. It patterns itself after a old world style English pub and has a decent (but by no means spectacular) lineup of beers on draft and in bottles. Most importantly, they do brew a few styles in the back, most notatably a red ale, porter, imperial stout, and an IPA (of which they were out). We found the place to be very homey and charming, with a great pub atmosphere and food, and a good selection of brews to wash them down with. Next time we're heading by on I-81, we'll most definitely stop back. Final shot, their "To Go" cooler, with a decent selection of stuff. We really liked Market Cross and look forward to coming back. Pint glasses line parts of the ceiling. I hope to one day get a Kona Brewing glass right from the source. A showing of the many winter seasonals they have to offer. We only got some appetizers when we were there (like these delicious wings) but the rest of the menu looked very good. Kim didnt' seem to mind it at all. ...from which was poured their house imperial stout, The Excalibur! It was OK. Dry and bitter, with some hints of chocolate and a little alcohol in the finish. They also have a hand pump... Plenty of other things on tap too, like Troegs Mad Elf, Lindemans Frambois, and their own house taps. ...like the Rogue Brutal Bitter. I really like this one. Nice dry hoppy finish but it never really seems to live up to it's name. Lots of the basics on tap here, including "pub beers" like Bass, Smithwicks, and Boddingtons. Plus one that doesn't really fit... Market Cross has a great pub atmosphere, including what every great pub has. Dartboards! The Market Cross Pub and Brewery in downtown Carlisle, PA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niiicolaaah Posted December 10, 2006 Share Posted December 10, 2006 Dude... Heath... are those fake Buffalo wings?!?! Do you want me to bring you some REAL Anchor Bar sauce??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DerekRx Posted December 10, 2006 Share Posted December 10, 2006 For me, yesterday gave me a good reason to head down to visit Bret and family, I had a nice growler of the Sierra Nevada Harvest Ale that I know he wanted to try. Add to that the bottle of Great Divide Fresh Hop Pale Ale, and we could do a really nice comparision of the two. My kind of holiday beer! Time for a Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale 2006 The sadness comes when the growler is emptied. Probably my last Sierra Nevada Harvest for the year :'( Conner can't wait, just 19 years to go! Then it was back to the Sierra Nevada to empty the growler Bret enjoyed it too, but not as much as the Harvest Ale While not quite as good as the Sierra Nevada, it was still pretty good stuff. Worth another bottle for me when I have the chance Next up, the Fresh Hop, one of the only bottled harvest ales out there Bret enjoyed it too, not too overly bitter for him Just like I remember it being the day before The growler of Sierra Nevada Harvest obtained from The Drafting Room the previous day Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rugged One Posted December 11, 2006 Share Posted December 11, 2006 ^^ Nicole, those wings were better than they looked but they were no Anchor wings. Screw bringing us sauce, we'll come up there and go back to the Anchor Bar with ya! ^ Nice, to see that Brett enjoyed the Harvest Ales. These Drafting Room growlers are going to get us in a lot of trouble, aren't they? Polished off my growler of Harvest Ale today while watching the Eagles hang on against the Deadskins. Of course it left no room for the Fifth Beer of Christmas so look for that tomorrow night. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niiicolaaah Posted December 11, 2006 Share Posted December 11, 2006 ^Hah! You see that, Derek? Heath will come up to Buffalo! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcjaco Posted December 11, 2006 Share Posted December 11, 2006 All I know, is that I have a six of Hop Devil and the Bears game is on tonight......let the silliness ensue! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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