Anybody try Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA?

[mikeler]

Originally Posted by DCaicedo

Where in Maine? If you're in/near Portland, go over the NH border into Portsmouth. Their namesake brewery has great choices on tap.

I'm close to Portsmouth. Staying in York Beach. May have to make a beer run across the border.

[bad_call]

read a short article about Toppling Goliath Brewing. now hope to find a few of their IPAs to try (they make 7).

http://www.tgbrews.com/site/beer/

[jhick]

Originally Posted by mikeler

I'm close to Portsmouth. Staying in York Beach. May have to make a beer run across the border.

Hill Farmstead is a brewery in Vermont that has been getting a ton of hype. See if you can spot some in Maine or Vermont if you cross the border.

[mikeler]

Originally Posted by jhick

Hill Farmstead is a brewery in Vermont that has been getting a ton of hype. See if you can spot some in Maine or Vermont if you cross the border.

That one is over 200 miles away! Does not look like I'll get a chance to get to Portsmouth this trip.

[jhick]

Originally Posted by mikeler

That one is over 200 miles away! Does not look like I'll get a chance to get to Portsmouth this trip.

Yeah, the brewery is in the northern part of the state. Perhaps they serve their beers in other parts of the state? Not sure if they bottle.

[mikeler]

Made it to the Portsmouth Brewery after all. Had a Smuttynose Finest Kind IPA. Definitely a top 10 IPA in my book. Internet reviews seem to agree with me.

[DCaicedo]

Love that place. Haven't been back in years, but it was a must-go if we were in the area. Portsmouth itself is a pretty toney town.

[mikeler]

Just had a Back Bay IPA at Logan. That may also be a top 10 contender although it might be too sweet to enjoy more than one. My toe is telling me enough beer for September. Nothing hurts but it is putting out warning signals.

[DCaicedo]

Working on my MBA (Master of Beer Appreciation):

[mikeler]

^^^ They have something like that at World of Beer but you have to try all 500 bottles.

[sphinx780]

That's a very sad stout and porter list.

[Ronaldo]

Anyone familiar with Southern Star brews? Noticed their cans next to the 21st Amendment brews.

[mikeler]

Originally Posted by Ronaldo

Anyone familiar with Southern Star brews? Noticed their cans next to the 21st Amendment brews.

If I remember correctly, I was not a big fan of their IPA.

[Kevin T]

Well, I was finally able to try a number of the Minnesota beers I read about her on TTW. Sorry to Slap and Douggo but I was in MN for less than 18 hours and couldn't squeeze in the meet up. I met my buddy at the airport just a couple of hours before the Twins game on Friday and hopped on the light rail from the airport to Target Field. First off, Minneapolis is one of the nicer cities I've visited, very clean and new with incredibly nice and helpful people all around. Living in California for years sort of dulls your expectations of your fellow man. Target Field is fantastic and as we were staying at the Marriott, an easy couple of blocks walk. On to the beer, of which I consumed too much over the weekend.

1. Surly Furious-I grabbed a can at the airport at Ike's while waiting on my friend arriving from San Diego. Pours dark for an IPA, bready aroma with a hint of vanilla. Nice citrus and hops up front and not nearly as heavy on the back end as the West Coast Doubles. Certainly more malt than I'm accustomed to, as I hold the West Coast IPA and Imperial IPA as my favorite style. Just an excellent beer but not quite as good, IMHO, as the Plinys, Optimums and Lagunitas of the world.

2. Surly Bandwagon-I had to wait until the 3rd inning to get this beer at Target Field...line was always crazy long. So, I unwisely went to the Goose Island stand and purchased one of the worst IPAs I've had in long, long time. I haven't looked it up and maybe they brew more of the English style but I barely tasted hops. Felt like I was drinking an amber. Not my cup of tea. The Bandwagon, however, was fantastic. West Coast in style, nice citrus, hops, bitterness on the back end and very drinkable. I actually liked it better than Furious.

After the game, we hit some local bars (can't even recall the names)

3. Left Hand Milk Stout-this is another beer I've read about here and can't get in California. It's fantastic! Ended up drinking this one 3 times over the weekend. Probably a top 3-4 stout for me. Not quite as heavy as Old Ras but very smooth and flavorful.

4. Bell's Two Hearted-another one I read about often but can't get. I finally tried it in VA summer before last but wasn't a huge fan. This time I got it on tap and liked it much better. I certainly appreciate it for what it is...a very flavorful and drinkable beer. Good stuff.

My friend and I woke up early the next morning to quickly check out St. Paul before heading back to the airport. A guy at a breakfast cafe recommended The Muddy Pig. What a great local bar with an excellent beer list. The following weekend they were holding a tasting with a new Bell's Beer and Town Hall Breakfast Stout. Bummed we were just a little early. Instead, I had another Left Hand Milk Stout and two Summit beers (a St. Paul brewery).

5. Summit Pale Ale-very nice pale ale.

6. Summit IPA-forgettable

After 3 beers in an hour, we hopped in a cab (with a very entertaining driver who kept us in stitches with jokes about belly button rings and elderly gynecologists) for the airport for the quick flight to Milwaukee. Another fine town with incredibly friendly people. Always nice to be back in the *******. We were happy to find out that multiple bars downtown run free shuttles to Miller Park. We stopped in at a place across from our hotel, downed a few Irish Car Bombs and went to the game. Miller Park might be my favorite ball field in America right now. ATT in San Fran is beautiful, Camden in Baltimore holds a lot of good memories for me but Miller is great. The fans are enthusiastic and friendly, dirt cheap prices (compared to the San Fran-esque prices at Target Field) on beer and food, sausage races, Uecker...just all-around a great atmosphere. I reverted back to my favorite Cali beers here, going SN Torpedo (cheaper here than SF or Oakland games). After the game, we hit Water Street Brewery, which brews primarily German-style beers.

7. Had a lager at Water St just to say I did. And though it may be blasphemy in Milwaukee, I didn't consume a single Miller product.

Sorry so long-winded but had a great weekend of baseball and beer.

[Z-Man]

Kevin:
I'm going to be in San Diego for a few days. Any notable Southern California Beers I should look out for? The last time I was there, we visited Green Flash, Ale Smith, and Pizza Port.
Thanks,
Z

[Kevin T]

Originally Posted by Z-Man

Kevin:
I'm going to be in San Diego for a few days. Any notable Southern California Beers I should look out for? The last time I was there, we visited Green Flash, Ale Smith, and Pizza Port.
Thanks,
Z

Z,

Green Flash and Port Brewing are near the top for me and I'm sure you've tried Stone. I'm also a huge fan of Lost Abbey's Belgian-style beers (same company as Port Brewing), particularly Lost and Found and Judgement Day. Their brewery is in San Marcos up in north county, very close to Stone, so you could hit both easily. If you can find Alpine Brewing beers, give them a try. Their brewery is east of San Diego but the beers are pretty readily available. I'm also a big, big fan of Ballast Point Sculpin IPA. If you find yourself in Ocean Beach, go to their Pizza Port for good pies and an excellent tap beer selection a block from the beach. I'm in Norcal for the academic year, otherwise would love to meet up for a beer. Have fun!

[datsveryinterestin]

for a while i think i had over-hopped my palate and all of a sudden i couldn't drink any strong beers anymore. don't know wut the deal was but coronas all of a sudden tasted great and dogfish tasted like somebody dumped the spicerack into my beer.

i still haven't fully recovered but i at least found a beer that isn't 99% water that i like a LOT. sierra nevada tumbler autumn brown ale. im lovin this stuff!

[NadalDramaQueen]

Originally Posted by datsveryinterestin

for a while i think i had over-hopped my palate and all of a sudden i couldn't drink any strong beers anymore. don't know wut the deal was but coronas all of a sudden tasted great and dogfish tasted like somebody dumped the spicerack into my beer.

i still haven't fully recovered but i at least found a beer that isn't 99% water that i like a LOT. sierra nevada tumbler autumn brown ale. im lovin this stuff!

I picked up some of that earlier. It isn't too bad.

[DCaicedo]

Originally Posted by sphinx780

That's a very sad stout and porter list.

Which will make it a very easy "class" to pass

Took the Allagash White, Flying Fish Oktoberfish, and Hacker Pschorr Oktoberfest off the list.

Bought some sample $1 bottles of Fort Collins Brewery's Major Tom's Pomegranate Wheat and The Kidd Lager. The Lager sucked, but the Wheat wasn't too bad. Some variety from the orange/citrus-coriander monopoly that all the Wheat beers seem to fall privy to.

Also bought a 6-er of Kinnebunkport Pumpkin Ale. Not bad- but I can't take too many pumpkin-flavored beers in quick succession. Flavor gets dull.

[Z-Man]

Originally Posted by Kevin T

Z,

Green Flash and Port Brewing are near the top for me and I'm sure you've tried Stone. I'm also a huge fan of Lost Abbey's Belgian-style beers (same company as Port Brewing), particularly Lost and Found and Judgement Day. Their brewery is in San Marcos up in north county, very close to Stone, so you could hit both easily. If you can find Alpine Brewing beers, give them a try. Their brewery is east of San Diego but the beers are pretty readily available. I'm also a big, big fan of Ballast Point Sculpin IPA. If you find yourself in Ocean Beach, go to their Pizza Port for good pies and an excellent tap beer selection a block from the beach. I'm in Norcal for the academic year, otherwise would love to meet up for a beer. Have fun!

Having fun in San Diego. Decided to bring the family, which has cut down on beer adventures, but Lego Land and Balboa Park were awesome with the kids. So far, I'm most impressed with Ballast Point. They had the IPA at the zoo, which was a lifesaver. I also had a Karl Strauss Red Trolley, which was OK. I'm kind of surprised the restaurants here around the convention center don't have a better local craft selection. I think that really shows how far craft has to go. Places with 5 pages of wine and mixed drinks don't even have a draught box--and this is a great craft beef town! Will head out to the Gaslight district tomorrow to find some craftier spots.