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The Chatterbox => Random Chat => Topic started by: vladgd on August 27, 2017, 11:34:22 PM
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I DUB THIS TOPIC BEER AND THIS IS MY CART YESTERDAY
(http://i.imgur.com/z1bmTZF.jpg)
THEN I GOT MORE BEER AND FILLED THE FRIDGE
(http://i.imgur.com/1d6kEHi.jpg)
I GOT BEER FROM POLAND RUSSIA GERMANY ENGLAND JAMAICA BELGIUM JAPAN AND PROBABLY MORE
I LOVE HORROCKS IT IS LOVE AND LIFE AND STORE!
(http://i.imgur.com/gqOtxrY.jpg)
THIS IS ME AT HORROCKS DRINKING BEER AND FILLING UP THAT CART, I LOOK HAPPY BECAUSE I AM
/caps
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Jeez dude lol. That's quite the cornucopia of booze.
You're a big stout guy aren't you? Just had one of the best stouts to date this last weekend at a local brewery in Cookeville Tennessee. Red Silo.
Typically stouts have a bitter bite to it but this one didn't at all. I don't mind some mild bitterness but stuff like Lion's Head I just can't stomach anymore.
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I used to be, but I think I drink all styles that aren't fruity now a days. In all honesty, excluding fruity beers or standard lagers, I think stouts are on the lower end of the totem pole when it generally comes to bitterness. If it ain't your thing I'd recommend checking out any cream stouts or anything that has something dairy with it, milk, milkshake, cream, whatever, usually on the more chocolatey end of things.
In that cart (picture shown was before I filled it...) I think I may have bought 2? stouts total? I'm a sucker for variety, and while I bought a ton of beer, no two bottles/cans are the same. I'll buy something I've never had over something familiar MOST of the time. MOST of the time because that beer I'm holding is the only beer im getting when I go there.
https://foundersbrewing.com/our-beer/reds-rye-ipa-draft/
DRAFT ONLY, which sucks, because it's literally my favorite beer. Not favorite IPA, not favorite american beer, not "ohh brewed in my homestate FAVORITE" but I mean my tastebuds have not experienced better beer DELICIOUS. You can probably see that big ass jug at the bottom of the cart pic, I NEEDED to fill that sucker up with some of that draft rye ipa. Dry, bitter, ecstasy.
Bitterness went from a thing that was undesirable to me, but with the way I buy beer (trying new stuff if at all possible) I've eventually acquired a taste for the really piney bitter stuff. If I want sweet or tangy, I got soda, don't need alcohol for that. Hard to get tasty hop bitterness outside of the beer world though.
But really this topic is for me to post about various beers I buy and consume, because at this point, it's almost a hobby to me. It's something I read about, go out of my way to find new stuff, talk to people about, and enjoy. Could probably post about what I had last night, and maybe spark some interest in whatever weird things I find.
So I guess I had 4 over the course of my evening/night, so let's get into it with links and a short opinion/experience
1- Founders Green Zebra (https://foundersbrewing.com/our-beer/artist-series/)
I said I don't like fruity beers, this is a "gose style ale brewed with watermellon and sea salt" so why? Because...because, that's why. I don't like fruity beers but I won't be sad if I find one to change my mind. This beer is fucking weird, soon as your lips touch the drink, you get salt, but as you drink, it's watermellon. I didn't pour it down the drain, and I did finish it. Not sure if I enjoyed it, or was too busy trying to understand what the hell I'm drinking. Not terrible though, would recommend buying a single, but not a 6er.
2- Modelo Negra (https://www.ratebeer.com/beer/negra-modelo/745/)
Who says I'm limited to crafts? I'm an enthusiast, not a snob. This is one of those amber colored lagers, Michelob has one with it's amberbock, and this doesn't taste too different than that one. Expect more of a caramel flavor, not bitter at all, pretty smooth, not too bad.
3- Spaten Optimator (https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/142/99/?ba=soulgrowl)
(note the reviews are biased as all fuck on these websites, hipsters gonna hipst) First german beer of the haul, while on caramel notes from the modelo, this one kicks that up to 10. Not sure if I prefer it to the modelo, but it's definitely got a unique taste to it despite being super heavy on the caramel.
4- Schlitz (https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/106/263/)
If you thought I was a beer hipster, I think this alone would change your mind on that. I've never had this, not very common in my area (besides the 40oz schlitz bull ice which is TERRIBLE), I'd assume more south towards Chicago this stuff is common but I digress. Not sure what to think of it when I started sipping it, had an off taste, cork maybe? But as I was sipping it, I started to appreciate it for being different. It would be easy to do the same damn thing as the lite beer trio (coors miller bud) and this one is distinct enough where I'm confident I could pick it out of a blind tasting easily. I don't know the value for a 6 pack, but I could easily see picking this stuff up to have cheap beer in the fridge. Mind you I'm not saying it's awesome or fantastic, but for what it is, I think it ranks amongst the better american adjunct lagers.
(http://pabstbrewingco.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/schlitz1.png)
Plus that look, in my mind, screams CHEERS (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7U3lo80YrQ)
So that's my blog for now, I think I should work at a brewery or something.
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Ive had modelo negra before and definitely liked it. Nothing special, but certainly drinkable.
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Since you are Canadian and I assume have similar availability of Belgian ales, have you had
(http://onskookboek.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/oude-geuze-boon.jpg)
My first geuze, and I hear it's a good beginner beer for the style. VERY tart, but not in a bad way, funky smell to it, can tell there's some bacterial/yeasty action going on in there, but the more I sipped, the more I came to enjoy it. Even at $10 a bottle, I'll snag another when I can find one.
And for what I'm drinking now, another "craft malt liquor"
(http://www.betterondraft.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Dark-Horse-German-Hobo.jpg)
I had a founders DKML around a month or so ago and it's abv was so high it made it drink more like a light liquor. This is a bit toned down at 9.5% and you can still taste the alcohol (and has a warm feeling as it goes down), but the taste is really malty and nice. The terms craft and malt liquor don't seem like they'd go together, but I'd recommend trying this one if you aren't offended by an alcohol taste in your beer.
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I haven't had Boon, but I did have Oud Beersel Oude Geuze, which I quite enjoyed.
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(https://7305-presscdn-0-42-pagely.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/10-barrel-pub-beer-provisions.jpg)
I bought a can of this from 711 because of the can.
It's not half bad, it's like a cross between a standard lager with some flavors reminding me of some Belgian stuff like duvel? maybe. Standard up front, Belgian on the back end, at least for my pallet.
Had 0 expectations, but I'd buy another can, nothing fancy, but certainly not bad.
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(https://i.imgur.com/R6aKj53.jpg)
If I had one holy grail beer, it's this beer.
KBS is released yearly ~March in Michigan, ~April in other states. Miss it one year, you'll have another chance next year.
CBS is not, according to the founders site here (https://foundersbrewing.com/latest-news/2017/new-barrel-aged-series-release-cbs/), last bottled in 2011...so...this is the first release of this beer since I started drinking beer.
Now how much is it? 750ml bottles only, no 6 packs of 12oz. $25.00 usd.
I'll revisit this thread with my opinion when I crack this baby open Christmas eve or Christmas day. Figured it as a Christmas gift from me, to me. And I do recall around December of last year I read founders was doing 6 bourbon barrel releases, and I fully intended to try all 6. Frootwood, KBS, Doom, DKML, Backwoods Bastard, and now CBS (https://foundersbrewing.com/barrel-aged-series/), pretty happy I managed to snag all 6, it's like a scavenger hunt every few months to find a new release for me. AND NEXT MONTH IS BELLS HOPSLAM, man beer is fun.
*obligatory edit storm*
Because science, rating in order minus CBS because that's for Holiday time.
KBS > DKML = Backwoods Bastard > Doom >> Frootwood
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Went to the LCBO today. This is what I came back with.
Also, the price :< Shit ain't cheap.
(https://i.imgur.com/5fUDC2D.jpg)
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Nowhere I've seen showed 12oz of CBS for sale. Even on the website with the link I had in the last post, every barrel aged beer shown in 12oz, and bomber, with CBS only being in bomber.
I just find it funny how you live in another country, and are paying less for the same amount of beer that's made 90 minutes east of where I live in my own state.
But I can't say much on duchesse, but I have had two beers from the brewery that made that quad, both saisons. Tank 7, which I found average and kind of overpriced for what it was, but certainly not bad. And something I want to try in more beers before I decide I enjoy it, Saison Brett, which was also a bit overpriced, but I wouldn't mind trying another one. Brett is such a weird unique flavor, it's not for everyone, but I'd recommend trying something like Orval to get an understanding of what taste brett imparts. If you like some of the funkier Belgian stuff, it might be worth exploring. I'm not yet sure if I am in the yes or no camp for that flavor yet. I had an Orval earlier this year and loved it, then I had one about 6 months later and didn't like it at all...might try a third when I hit up Horrocks next week to get a final verdict.
(http://allaboutbeer.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Orval-and-Glass.jpg)
I hope you enjoy those beers sir! From what I hear about CBS, it's like KBS (one of the best stouts on the planet) with maple, which certainly can't be bad.
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Yeah, its especially odd since the lcbo charges an outrageous markup too.
Had the first CBS last night. Oh man is that shit good. Definitely one of my alltime favorites. I was legitimately surprised it even showed up here. My gf had no idea why I had a mini freakout moment when I saw it.
Also had the Duchesse last night. Second time I've had it. I'm becoming quite a big fan of soured ales. Particularly flemish sours.
Ive had Orval before. Not the biggest fan, but I certainly don't dislike it. I've had a few beers featuring brett lately. Brett IPAs seem to be a bit of a fad right now. I definitely like the funkieness that brett adds, but it definitely doesn't always help the beer.
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So I went here (https://hopcat.com/east-lansing) with my "boss" yesterday. It's been something we've been talking about for nearly two years now, and we finally had open time in our schedules to go. Since I wasn't driving...had a few...
Great food, great beer, good atmosphere
Had me a "Rye Baby" (https://untappd.com/b/the-mitten-brewing-company-rye-baby-imperial-ipa/688878/) and I'm glad I did because later at ye ole Horrocks they took my Founders Reds Rye IPA off tap ;_;, and having a second Rye IPA has me thinking it may be amongst my favorite styles of beer. I don't know what it is, I can't pinpoint it, but there's something about it that makes me prefer it to the other various styles of IPA I have tried. I don't prefer this to founders, but it's not a bad substitute.
Then I was thinking I wanted a belgian to be my second drink, I did see duchess there...but $12 for a snifter...and my meal was already pretty pricey...decided to save that one for another day. Picked at random I selected this.
(https://i.imgur.com/Wav9hrH.jpg)
Pretty sweet, tasted more like a wine than a beer, but, a wine I find palatable (I haven't found a wine I can enjoy as of yet) and pretty nice.
Afterwards we hit up Horrocks for my Bi-Yearly trip...and...yknow...what I do...
(https://i.imgur.com/7EGJ7ed.png)
Not the best picture, didn't feel like re organizing my not organized fridge to show everything, but there's a few things like Westmalle Dubbel, Geuze Boon, Kostritzer (inexpensive german black lager, and it's fantastic).
And no, I don't drink everything right away, I may enjoy my beers immensely but these should last me a good while. If I had access to a Horrocks or similar store with a huge beer variety close by, I wouldn't make big ass hauls when I visited such places. It's nice to have a cool mystery beer after a long work shift.
I do wish there was more foreign stuff available, but the 3 big countries represented are probably Belgium, England, Germany. Not much from elsewhere, so only new country I picked up was a croatian lager, so that's another country off the checklist. Wouldn't mind finding an import house somewhere that I can get my hands on more worldwide stuff, I want to see what Africa has on offer, or like southeast asia (sans sri lanka, they have lion stout which is quite good and easy to find) or something. I am a geography nerd, so, BEER AND GEOGRAPHY, that's my jam.
Fun end to my work week, good times.
*beer*
https://i.imgur.com/PC6DNHi.jpg
better pic, a lot of those cans are Ａｅｓｔｈｅｔｉｃ (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GDt3xNC_JQ)
Literally bought them because of the can, no fucking idea what style they are. The people who do Stillwater and Mikkeller art need a damn promotion.
Not much new stuff this time though, compared to what I normally go for.
But in the interest of finding new stuff, where the hell can I find one of these (https://untappd.com/b/mikkeller-1000-ipa/6886/photos)! I need me a beer importer guy.
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Just grabbed these guys:
(https://i.imgur.com/iuwZ2PW.jpg)
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I'm going to have to look some of those beers up. I think I've only had one barley wine, something I wouldn't mind trying more of. Whenever I hit up Toronto (because I definitely intend to) we should do some sort of meet up and have a few drinks. I know you aren't tornoto, but it's the same distance as Chicago for me, so it's the closest thing I got out of country, also I hear it's a great city.
But looking at the date of this post...it's time...
(https://i.imgur.com/bVOErZv.jpg)
OBVIOUSLY not drinking out of the bottle, just posing for a quick picture, about half way through it right now.
Now I'm a cynic for a lot of things, but not beers, I'm very open minded with beers. That said, out of KBS 2016, 2017, and CBS. I think this may be my least favorite out of the 3. I expect a maple after taste, and I get something, but it aint maple.
I still recommend this beer, but having had it now, I didn't enjoy it as much as I expected. But if I was going to give it an arbitrary number score, that would be me giving this an 8/10 when I wanted to give it a 9.5 or 10.
It's a great beer, but, I think I do enjoy KBS over this. Worth $25 for a bottle? With how rarely they brew this stuff? Absolutely. Will I pick one up in 2022 or whenever they brew it again? Yes. However, I personally prefer KBS, which believe it or not isn't even my favorite stout...top 3 yes, top 1? no. Favorite might be...new holland poet? which is a year round easy to buy oatmeal stout.
It does have a great lingering coffee taste, like past the after taste, and minutes past the last sip of beer, that coffee flavor is quite pleasant.
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BOUT FUCKING TIME I GET SOME
(https://i.imgur.com/KqZoLT0.jpg)
#michiganbeerisawesome
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I'm drinking one of my standbys. Good old Kentucky Bastard from Nickel Brook. They took their already strong (and probably most consistently popular) Bolshevik Bastard russian imperial stout and aged it in some kentucky bourbon barrels, bringing it up to 11.9%.
Definitely one of my favorite sipping beers. Very alcoholic tasting, but i feel like the alcohol actually plays nicely with the sweetness in it. Theres a huge amount of dark fruit flavours and some more subtle coffee and vanilla flavours (only subtle because the fruit and alcohol are quite strong by comparison).
Very definitely a sipping beer though. I literally cannot take big drinks of this thing. Its absolutely not for everyone, but god damn do I love it.
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Those super high ABV beers ain't meant to gulp anyway. I typically prefer to sip them over the course of an hour or two. Even like chimay blue, I think I spent around 4 hours drinking that beer alone, albeit it was a bomber.
Meant to be savored and enjoyed over a longer period of time. Anyone who chugs them down is just throwing away money, there's far cheaper ways to get drunk than fancy crafts, lol.
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Mmmmmm Chimay. That stuff is liquid gold.
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(https://i.imgur.com/ZJkFDLd.jpg)
Well there goes $50.
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Vlad have you had an Irish Car Bomb yet?
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(https://i.imgur.com/C8fyZZH.jpg)
Well there goes $50.
Spectere edit: Resized!
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Well there goes $50.
For 1 bottle?
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2 bottles. 1 bottle of Manhattan NW and one of Sang de Chene.
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2 bottles. 1 bottle of Manhattan NW and one of Sang de Chene.
What the shit. That's crazy expensive for a beer. Couldn't see the full image, I see the receipt now.
Well that better be some unbelievably amazing beer. What do they taste like?
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Haven't tried the Sang de Chene, but the Manhattan NW is pretty good. They are both soured beers, aged in barrels, but the Manhattan has cherries and apricot noyaux added. I couldnt taste much beyond the cherry flavour though. Not worth the price imo, but not a bad beer.
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I uhh...it's my birthday, I'm 30 so...wanted to splurge...
https://i.imgur.com/2vqOobI.jpg
I won't be buying alcohol for a little bit...
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Wow that's a lot of different beers.
When I lived in Pittsburgh in 2009 I went through a beer rampage trying everything under the sun. Little place called House of a Thousand Beers was close to where I lived and they had like 60 on tap. It was great.
I have a really hard time drinking different varieties in one sitting though. Once I found my choice beverages over the years I just kind of have my old faithfuls now.
Germans know what's up.
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I'm going to be going to the local beer haven on Friday.
Give me some recommendations! I like stouts a lot!
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I uhh...it's my birthday, I'm 30 so...wanted to splurge...
https://i.imgur.com/2vqOobI.jpg
I won't be buying alcohol for a little bit...
How was the big 3-0? Mine was super lame and boring. Hope you had a good bday.
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Give me some recommendations! I like stouts a lot!
Honestly, if you are in a place with a big variety and you aren't afraid to spend a little money, buy a variety of different styles and try to make sure each individual drink isn't too much so you can get some volume in there.
The best way to find something you like is to discover it, and you never know what you'll end up liking. I started out hating IPA, now I am ALMOST to the point where if I don't have a hop bomb, I'd rather drink water and save my liver another day.
German stuff is pretty accessable, not going to blow your mind, fairly safe, but there's some solid picks. I'd recommend Köstritzer (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C3%B6stritzer), if the place has good variety, it should have these. It's not a stout, but I would more than recommend it to a stout drinker, black lager is somewhat similar in flavor to a stout.
How was the big 3-0? Mine was super lame and boring. Hope you had a good bday.
I wanted a fairly quiet chill birthday and I got one. Drove down to Lansing, got breakfast, before we left I took a leak which my girlfriend used to hurry up and try to pay my bill behind my back...then apparently without either of us knowing, my meal was free since it was my birthday. So great food, AND IT WAS FREE, bonus.
Then hit up Horrocks, which is a fantastic store I've jizzed about a few times here. Spent way too much money...as pictured, then we went home to chillax have a few beers and play some smt nocturne. Ate way too much, but it was a nice day. Not the most exciting day, but I don't really do exciting, I just like taking it easy, and it was all good.
Another bonus, my girlfriend got her drivers license (she's young...shh...), and we got this minivan in my name now so we have that...it's just been a damn good week. ONTOP OF I GET EASTER SUNDAY OFF (my work week is wed-sun) SO WE'RE DOING BRUNCH THAT MORNING.
It's good times, really. I've been in a damn good mood the past few weeks realizing how nice I have things right now. My job could be better, and that van we got is on it's last legs, but things is just nice. I like to try and keep a positive attitude, but when things are going well, it's kinda hard not to.
also IM AN ADULT NOW, GOOD BYE 20's I HARDLY KNEW YE
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I'll be 30 on the 4th so I'm about to join you. Took the entire week off. I think I may have to pick up some beers for that week. That's a hell of a haul though vlad.
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Meanwhile, I'm 33. Damn kids!
The best way to find something you like is to discover it, and you never know what you'll end up liking.
Yep, every time I go there I generally get something old, something recommended, and something different. It's worked out really well for the most part.
German stuff is pretty accessable, not going to blow your mind, fairly safe, but there's some solid picks. I'd recommend Köstritzer (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C3%B6stritzer), if the place has good variety, it should have these. It's not a stout, but I would more than recommend it to a stout drinker, black lager is somewhat similar in flavor to a stout.
Thanks! I'll keep an eye out for it.
They have a very large selection divided by country, so I'm sure they have it. If it's not too crowded I'll try to get a few pics.
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(https://foundersbrewing.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/dankwood_bottle_web-002.png)
Got me a 4 pack of these a few days ago. Wasn't even looking for them, out getting some groceries and couldn't resist.
Might try one of these sonb's tomorrow as I severely cut my alcohol consumption the past few weeks...
Few weeks ago I had a bottle and a half of wine, and was barely drunk off from that...shit ain't right to have a tolerance like that. Not to mention I kinda had minimum 2 drinks per day...every day...and it was a problem. Trying to gradually cut back so I don't die or anything, so yknow, down to one drink every other day instead of 2/day, been going well. If I splurge and have "gasp" two drinks, it'll be two days off. Seems like a good system methinks.
12.2% abv, so it ain't no joke, but I'll report tomorrow on how it tastes.
Also not really on topic per say, but don't feel like making a new one (yet)
(https://i.imgur.com/QKJKZVN.jpg)
'scuse the greasy hair, just got off a bad week of work/wanted to shower AFTER getting smokey rather than before
Starting to get into cigars, cautiously. I don't consider myself a smoker, and that's like...the second cigar I've had in 6 months, maybe 5th cigar I've ever had. However, it is appealing, and something I wouldn't mind doing on an occasion, maybe like once a month max or something? Idk, I don't want to make a habit of it, but I do want to enjoy one every now and then. Guy at the cigar shop recommended me Fat Bottom Betty (http://deadwoodtobacco.com/cigars/fat-bottom-betty/) and I'll be honest, probably the first good smoke I ever had. Bought a perdomo cigar from the casino back in november, and it made me sick...kind of a middling/bad experience, but this one was totally different. Finished the whole thing, got a bit of a nicotine buzz which I'm not used to, but it was quite pleasant. I like how it's a taste thing, you don't inhale them so it doesn't feel like I'm killing my body like a cigarette or hookah would. It's FAR from good for you, but in moderation every now and then? Can't be THAT bad for you, least I'd hope not. Anyone else into cigars? Something I want to dip my toes into a bit more.
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I've had like... 1, maybe 2 cigars other than some Captain Blacks. Enjoyed them. Very different taste than cigarettes.
And yeah 12.2 abv is no joke. I like me some strong beers, but once you get above 10% it gets hard to balance the alcohol well. That said, sometimes I want something that's like a slap in the face with alcohol.
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I don't know if this comes off as hypocritical but I kinda look down on cigarette smokers, while seeing cigar smoking as totally different. To me, one is an addiction that will guarantee you don't live to see the age of 70, and the other is a luxury item one chooses to enjoy on a special occasion, or every now and then. Like a typical cigarette smoker has what, a pack a day? Typical cigar smoker might not even have one a week, and you don't inhale the smoke into your lungs at that. I also see pipes in the same vein as cigars, they share a good few similarities. Maybe in the next few I'll check out the tobacco place and explore more cigars, looking to see if I can obtain a lancero (smaller diameter, longer length, so more wrapper to filler ratio on the cigar) since to be blunt, they look cool, and the wrapper is typically the most flavorful leaf, and having more of that aughta make more flavorful smoke. But maybe I'm an asshole for looking down at a group of people who enjoy one vice while I enjoy another? I can say that my drinking that lessens my life span, will not lessen the lifespan of those who are around me while I imbibe alcohol, so there's that.
Speaking of, I'm on my third....dank wood (tee hee) and unfortunately, based on the description of the beer "BARREL AGED imperial red ipa" sounded a bit similar to founders release of DOOM last year...and...tastes...similar...
IPA is a beer that is best enjoyed FRESH, and I use caps to emphasize...fresh
IPA starts to taste like ass after a few months of being made, there's a big difference between a few weeks and a few months for an IPA. My current favorite beer, lagunitas hop stoopid, I will drainpour if I get an old batch. It turns from piney dank goodness, to dead leaves ASSSSSSSS, it's that big. So to have an "aged ipa" just means the beer just tastes like fucking dead leaves, which this one does. I'll finish em, but it's the last aged ipa of any variety I'll ever buy. Not a knock on the brewer, but a knock on the style itself. Red IPA should be delicious, not dead moldy leaves. Founders red rye IPA is probably the best beer ever made, but it's draft only, and it only tastes good for a very limited window (which I found out having experienced the beer tasting great on tap, and being totally different when I had the EXACT SAME BEER from a growler a week later) before the flavor changes, so aging that...no.
Founders has a series of "bourbon barrel aged" beers, and a lot of them are good, but im done with anything IPA. They even did a craft malt liquor last year, seriously, and it was FANTASTIC, but ipa..no. 3 year old KBS tastes great, 1.5 month old "dank wood" not horrible, but there's better cheaper beers out there.
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I can generally tolerate cigarette smoke, but cigar smoke really fucks me up. The former just kind of annoys me while the latter makes me feel physically ill. Not sure why. Some sort of weird allergy, maybe?
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Cigarettes are made to inhale into your lungs. Cigars and pipes, aren't. I think having it in the air for the armoa is fine(I think pipes especially), but if you get a face full of it because the wind blew the wrong way, probably going to have a bad time, as i did with my last cigar back in november. Cigar experience is a taste thing, not so much for the nicotine as cigarette addicts are in for.
That's another thing I have pro cigars and anti cigarettes. Cigarettes contain a whole host of things you don't want anywhere near your body, cigars are made of two things...tobacco, and some food grade adhesive to keep the cap together. Again, not good for you, but I think we can agree tobacco > tobacco + rat poison. In my personal life I do what I can to stay the fuck away from second hand smoke, and even playing cautious with this cigar thing. Always outside in a well ventilated area being very mindful not to accidentally inhale.
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Yeah, I can understand having a bad time if you get a good whiff of it, but I get sick if I even take in the aroma from most cigars. There were a few times last summer where it would drift in via my bedroom window from outside and it took seconds for me to get nauseous. Some definitely affect me worse than others.
Awful physical reaction aside (and really, that's just my body not reacting well to...something), I agree that cigars are a lot more natural than cigarettes are. The price does sort of reflect that, in that cigars are clearly made for enthusiasts while cigarettes are made to get people addicted and keep them addicted. Honestly, I can understand baby boomers and even Gen X'ers (since they were sort of on the fringe) smoking cigarettes since that was kind of a big cultural thing back then. But I seriously don't understand what would possess Gen Y/Z'ers to pick up the habit. Not only has it been proven to be unhealthy and hard to kick, but it's also crazy expensive.
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Mmm cigar smell is the beeeest.
I got sick for 3 days when I first smoked a cigar. I inhaled it like an idiot. Got a fever and everything. Once I learned what I was doing though I really got to enjoying cigars. I also had no friends when I moved to Atlanta so I was looking for hobbies.
If you haven't gotten the opportunity to enjoy a single malt and a nice quality cigar, you should really give it a try. That's what I recommend to most people at least, sound like it just may not be for you at all. As someone who used to be a cigarette smoker, I obviously enjoy the nicotine portion of cigars. If anything smoke related fucks with you, best just leave it at that and poke fun at the rest of us when we dead.
2 years no cigarettes in October though. Pretty sure I'll never smoke another cigarette again. I was late to the game, 19 when I picked it up so I should never had done it anyway. For some reason I didn't think Djarum Blacks were real tobacco and I had just started smoking weed so I was "experimenting" with things. Clove cigarettes got me! I just wanted to get breaks at work like everyone else lol.
Take any Marlboro Special Blend cigarette and put it under a black light. Now that's some scary shit.
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I ain't going to start a cigar thread since, I'll not really be smoking much at all, but I do want to put my 2 cents in based on a cigar I just had.
Acid Blondie (https://www.cigarsinternational.com/p/acid-cigars-by-drew-estate-blondie/2005807/)
Mind you, I have had less than 10 cigars in my entire life, and 4...in the past 7 months, maybe 5? I have heard good things about this particular cigar, it looks to me to be a mid range solid pick...and...where the fuck is the flavor? The room note is good, the smoke smells appealing, but taste is almost non existant. I've had cheaper ones that just taste like ash and ass (looking at you 50 cent swisher sweets), so...I'm just going to limit this activity to special occasions where I'm dropping at least over 10 bucks on the fucker. If it ain't premium, it ain't worth my time. I'm not an enthusiast, nor do I intend on trying everything under the sun like I did with beer.
I might just be one of those guys who finds one thing he likes, and doesn't bother with anything else. My own personal experience, if it's going to be a rare thing, drop the money on the good shit and make sure you're going to have a good time. Last time I buy a cigar on a whim I tell you that, I'm going by the recommendation of the tobacco store guy since he's currently 1 for 1, and im 0 for ...9...
I will agree with you on those clove cigarettes though. I had one...some 10 years ago, and I didn't inhale it, just had it for flavor, and I remember it being not half bad.
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Yeah, smoking in general just never appealed to me, and my oversensitivity to cigar smoke doesn't help, haha.
Random anecdote: one time at Camelot Lanes (one of our old DDR hangouts, for the non-Ytown peeps) that some old guy came up right behind me with one of those fat cigars (like, leaning over the P2 bar and pretty much blowing smoke on me) while I was playing one of the MAX songs. Ugh. Not pleasant.
Congrats on quitting cigarettes! I'm honestly amazed that they're still allowed to sell those with all of those additives. Fucking lobbyists, I'll bet.
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Bought 2 KBS and a backwoods bastard. and an iron maiden hallowed. and an "octopus wants to fight".
Currently down the octopus and a KBS.
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Been sick for like two months so not been enjoying beers as much. Damn bronchitis.
But on to your old post, it's been a bit. I have had a backwoods bastard and they aren't too bad. 2017 seasonal, but I think they made those year round for at least 2018.
After last year, I didn't feel like jumping on all of the new founders stuff this year. Doom last year, and Dank Wood this year...im done with aged IPAs. They're crap, they taste awful, and they are certainly overpriced for what you basically get as an old not fresh moldy leaves tasting IPA.
That said, I'm also not purchasing 2018 release of CBS. This bottle is from last year,this year the mountie is missing from the horse, and it looks photoshopped out. actually quite funny and I would buy it...IF IT WASNT GODDAMN BOMBER ONLY $25 FUCKING DOLLARS A POP. I bit the bullet last year, and its a good beer, and I'd totally buy a 4 pack if available, but no. $25 for a good beer is a ripoff. $25 for a great beer is a ripoff. $25 dollars for a fantastic beer maybe.
If I'm dropping that much dough, I want more than a single bottle, or for it to literally be the best damn thing I can get my hands on...or I could pay $7.50 for a bomber of dragons milk, which...is...a...BETTER...beer...
NOPE.
Ohh you see that little westmalle box I got there. Comes with 2x dubbel, 2x trippel, and 2 nice westmalle glasses. That box, was $22 at my local meijer...3 bucks cheaper than a single fucking CBS.
/rant
(https://i.imgur.com/4GIsOMh.jpg)
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Oh nice, I'm always a fan of Trappists. I honestly just haven't been drinking much lately.
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(https://thefullpint.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Dogfish-Head-120-Minute-Imperial-IPA.jpg)
I heard about this stuff a few years ago, and always wanted to try it...found some for $10 a bottle...pricey.
Let me just say a few things.
This sucker is ~18% abv...and it's an IPA...and it says ages well...and for connoisseurs of hops...
-high gravity for ipa is fine, but that high I can only see working out with stouts, so fail number one
-"ages well" it's an ipa...they don't age at all, I've had a good few barrel aged ipas and they are all horrible, this not even being 3 months old, also horrible
-claims to be extremely hoppy, it may have been made with a metric shitton of hops, but the alcohol overpowers it to the extent where it almost tastes like mint listerine somehow, I get NO hop flavor at all from this beer
Only buy this thing for the novelty of drinking an 18% beer, I got about 70% done with it and it put me to sleep, dumped the remainder down the drain the following morning. The only positive thing I have to say about this beer is that for an 18% beer, the alcohol isn't THAT bad, it feels less aggressive than the founders DKML at 14%. The difference, DKML was a take on a craft malt liquor, MALT liquor, the flavor profile of that style fits 10+% abv a lot better than an IPA ever will, and that DKML was actually very good, would buy again.
I honestly just haven't been drinking much lately.
Ive been putting beer on the backburner for wine recently. Finding stuff that actually fits my palette and trying everything in said range.
If you know anything that will please someone who enjoys the flavors of a Malbec or Rioja, or to a lesser extent Chainti I'm down to try. I like dry wine, and I've really grown to enjoy the sensation of tannins in the drink.
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https://imgur.com/a/oZlH6pE
First image bobbias might appreciate, finally found it so made a purchase. Might try it in a few days.
Second image drinking right now. Not half bad, reminds me of hoegaarden, except without the wheat beer flavor.
Posting on mobile so not going to fuck with resizing images, link will suffice.
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Ayy, that red ale! I don't mind Leffe either. Nothing particularly special, but nice.
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I don't think that beer was for me, a lot sweeter than I expected. Not bad though.
While I've been in work hell, birthday is tomorrow and I managed to snag a 4 pack of these babies. Thought I missed em, but there's always another store. Crack one open for the big 31, yay beer!
(https://i.imgur.com/sW4CETd.jpg)
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Woo, nice! Happy birthday!
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Happy birthday man. I'm just about 31 myself.
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(https://i.imgur.com/yIAC0sjr.jpg)
Been a while, cut my drinking by like...95% due to getting older and my heart threatening to have a heart attack multiple times You know having 3+ caffeinated beverages and 2-5 alcoholic beverages...per day, for years could be bad for you? NAWWWWW, but it did, so I drastically changed that habit. But it's near Christmas, and I found this and couldn't resist. Excuse the messy table.
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Good choice, St. Bernardus is nice.
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I've had abt 12, and it's a scrumptious beer, but not the other 3.
Abt 12 is my favorite out of the bunch, but out of the 3 I've just recently tried Pater 6 was my favorite. Not too sweet, good biscuity taste, the bubbles were mild when drinking (idk but belgians foam up like crazy when I drink them, tripels dubels and quads at least), and would buy again If I ever seen one exist outside that gift box.
The tripel and the Prior 8 were fairly similar afiak, good beers, but a few tiers below the pater 6 and abt 12 in my opinion.
One bad thing I've been getting into is geuze...
(https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0227/0581/products/3-Fonteinen-Oude-Geuze-375ML-BTL.png?v=1531726695)
I hate how much I love these. Only had geuze boon, geuze tilquin, and pictured oude geuze fonteinen.
It really sucks because geuze boon is the cheapest (and hasn't been available in over a year) at $12 per 12oz bottle...and this oude geuze was $15 for a 12oz...
I will limit myself to 2-3 a year out of sheer stupidity of cost, but these things are delicious. I need more.
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(https://i.redd.it/5b0bp3k60v461.jpg)
Went to Lansing the other day to check out this place called "megabev" and snagged a 4 pack of this stuff.
"sour farmhouse ale" sounded interesting, I enjoy a good sour, I enjoy a good saison, but this beer packs some funk I couldn't quite pinpoint until I read the text around the label and you can see in the image the word "Brettanomyces" and THAT is the odd funk I taste, and it's delicious. They also use brett in a belgian beer called "orval trappist ale" which is a totally different style of beer, but has that bretty funk which I find appealing.
Well recommended if you have a taste for a good sour with a bit of funkyness to it. Wish I bought more than one 4 pack.
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All this is doing is reminding me that I need to make a run up to Vintage Estates and grab an assortment of brews, heh.
I'll have to write that one down. I'm always in the mood for a good sour.