If you have had a good (or bad) beer recently report the results here

[Cman]

And Sam Adams has consistently disappointed me for a long time.  Tastes too processed or something, I don't know, hard to put my finger on it but it's in every style it seems.

I hear you. Its a little bit how I feel about Harpoon. But then again, when I'm traveling, and in an airport bar, and its a choice between crud #1, crud #2, crud #3, and Sam Adams, and maybe even Sam Adams IPA... heck, its a no brainer. I've especially been enjoying that Sam IPA (lattitude 48?) that I've had a few times at an airport bar in ATL.

[KGs Knee]

drinking me some bud light right now...it goes down easy and in rapid succession

[indeedproceed]

S/o to IP:

Bottle of pump king ruled, and admittedly knocked me on my butt a little.

Awesome. Now, when people say 'blah blah blah different Pumpkin beer' you can always say, 'I don't much like pumpkin beers, but have you tried. Pumpking? Pretty much the best.'

Easy beer snob quip.

[CelticG1]

Guess ill have to try this pumpking tonight

[KGs Knee]

So, I went on a mission today to see if I could find this Pumpking, and struck out.  Couple of stores have other offerings from Southern Tier, but no Pumpking.

I came across another of Shipyard's variations on pumpkin ale though.  Just brought home a bottle of their Smashed Pumpkin "Bourbon Barrel Aged" Ale.  I thought the "regular" Smashed Pumpkin was strong at 9% ABV in comparison to the Pumpkinhead (standard offering), but the barrel aged variation is just knock-your-socks-off strong.  12% ABV!!!

Sipping it now as we speak, and let me tell you, you can actually taste hints of the bourbon amongst the pumpkin and spice.

I'm a be drunk tonite...fo sho!

[Redz]

So, I went on a mission today to see if I could find this Pumpking, and struck out.  Couple of stores have other offerings from Southern Tier, but no Pumpking.

I came across another of Shipyard's variations on pumpkin ale though.  Just brought home a bottle of their Smashed Pumpkin "Bourbon Barrel Aged" Ale.  I thought the "regular" Smashed Pumpkin was strong at 9% ABV in comparison to the Pumpkinhead (standard offering), but the barrel aged variation is just knock-your-socks-off strong.  12% ABV!!!

Sipping it now as we speak, and let me tell you, you can actually taste hints of the bourbon amongst the pumpkin and spice.

I'm a be drunk tonite...fo sho!

I struck out on that one too. Mind you I only tried the one place I go to usually.  Speaking of Bourbon, I settled on this one:



I'm really not sure what to make of it.  It's almost like eating a Sour Patch candy without the sugar coating.  It's growing on me a bit, but I'm not sure I'd ever get it again.

[Cman]

Cane & Ebel by Two Brothers (a hopped rye ale)

This beer was absolutely fantastic. Exactly as it sounds -- a hoppy tasting rye ale. The hop was up front, and because of the maltiness of the rye didn't leave a bitter aftertaste. Probably the best beer I've had in the last month or so. I generally like hoppy beers, and really like Hop Rod Rye by Bear Republic, so no surprise I liked this.

[indeedproceed]

Heart Of Darkness Stout by Magic Hat

First of all, Magic Hat's #9 is an abomination to beer, and has dissuaded me from giving them money on sampler packs on numerous occasions.

2nd: This is maybe my favorite name of a Stout ever. Conrad was an evil genius, and anything with this name had better be amazing. I found it as a run of the mill Nice 'n Easy gas station (you guys have those, right?) in a full 12-er for 15 bucks. No crappy fruity beers.

3rd: At 5.7% its good, not great, worth 15 bucks for 12 beers. 

[Lucky17]

Heart Of Darkness Stout by Magic Hat

First of all, Magic Hat's #9 is an abomination to beer, 

I stopped reading.

[indeedproceed]

Heart Of Darkness Stout by Magic Hat

First of all, Magic Hat's #9 is an abomination to beer, 

I stopped reading.

AN ABOMINATION UNTO GOD!

EDIT: I should 'splain.

I've been to Magic Hat's brewery about a dozen times. There was a 2 yr period where I stopped there every single time on the way back from Maine when I was majing the trip 3-5 times a year at least (my brother lived and worked in Portland (shout out to Bull Feeny's...I MISS YOUUU), and he didn't have a car, and I'm a good brother who loves road trips). They have a nice lil set up, especially at the tasting bar where you can get schmammered for free, especially if it isn't crowded. Great stop in the Burlington brewery tour (the unofficial one you make up yourself with your buddies).

And I've seen what they can do in-house. Its pretty good. Not enough to rival the great breweries, but they've got a awesome merch setup, and their more rare and experimental beers are pretty decent.

BUT THEY HAVE NO BALLS when it comes to mass distribution. And any sampler pack with the #9, their gimickiest gimmick beer, is a sampler pack with 4 beers wasted.

[Lucky17]

High nostalgia factor for #9 for me. Lots of mid-summer barbecues and back patio sessions sustained by the #9.

Last time I was in Boston, I had to have one on draft, for old times' sake.

[Lucky17]

A beautiful fall afternoon today, so I walked out to the biercafe.

Enjoyed a pour of the Southern Tier Pumking on draft. It's definitely one of the best pumpkin beers out there, but I don't know if I could drink much more than a pint of it at a time. A bomber would probably last me the evening. It's got that boozy burn to let you know you're dealing with a high ABV, quickly followed by spice and sweetness. Not unlike how a cricket bat wrapped in velvet might feel.

The day was made by Bear Republic's Cafe Racer 15. The DIPA sibling of their very good Racer 5 IPA. Just an absolutely beautiful beer. I'll need a side-by-side comparison, but I'll put it right up there with Pliny the Elder.

[Cman]

Victory DirtWolf.
On tap at a local bar. it is a double IPA, close to 9% ABV. It was awesome. I had it right after a Dogfish Head 90 min, and the DirtWolf stood out....

[KGs Knee]

So the store down the street finally got some Pumpking so I picked up a bottle.  Very good, definitely on the level of Shipyard or Dogfish Head.

I think I've had my share of pumpkin beers for the season though.

[Lucky17]

After a long hiatus, my local Trader Joe's is carrying La Fin du Monde again.

It's been a long time, my friend. Lovely to see you again.