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11/10/2013 10:48:58 PM

This upcoming Saturday is Gingerbread Stout day at Hardywood. I'll be out of town but have asked my wife to pick me up some. Missed it last year--not this year!

11/11/2013 1:23:23 PM

countdown to a ClassicMixup and ensuing temper tantrum

11/11/2013 1:45:05 PM

If you're referring to my statement, she knows her beer well enough not to fuck it up. Unless I do something between now and Saturday to piss her off.

11/12/2013 4:52:56 PM

11/12/2013 4:56:49 PM

In Denver again Thursday to Sunday this week. Hit me up if you hear of any good tappings/tastings, Prospero.

11/13/2013 7:37:52 PM

Yea man, hit up Jagged Mountain, just opened downtown at 20th & Lawrence.

The brewer used to brew at Bell's & Kuhnhenn and was largely responsible for creating Expedition Stout & Fourth Dimentia.

I went Friday night and some really solid offerings even though their specialty is "high ABV" beers.

We also have a beer guy at our local Westword... he puts out a beer calendar each weekend because we almost always have something going on:
http://blogs.westword.com/cafesociety/2013/11/big_cans_chefs_and_holiday_brews.php

[Edited on November 13, 2013 at 11:48 PM. Reason : .]

11/13/2013 11:46:53 PM

Anyone braving the crowds for Bourbon County Brand Stout today?

I just got back from an event at my local bottle shop where they were doing a package deal that included a Goose Island Snifter, a 4 pack of BCBS and a mixed 4 pack of the barleywine and coffee BCBS plus draft pours of Lolita and BCBS. Good way to kick off the day.

11/29/2013 10:26:42 AM

Nice haul! How much did that package run you?

I didn't make the trip out but apparently Bottle Rev sold out in eight minutes this morning

11/29/2013 11:35:44 AM

It was $50 for the package, and I ended up getting a Goose Island t shirt as well. The line at Bottle Revolution looked crazy, glad I didn't have to deal with that mess.

11/29/2013 11:39:36 AM

No kidding, part of me wanted to go out there, but after seeing a pic today I'm glad I didn't.

That package for $50 is a steal

11/29/2013 11:45:08 AM

^if you're still looking for some BCBS you should stop by Crafty Beer Shop in 5 points...they had a couple cases on the shelves and zero crowd

11/29/2013 2:07:01 PM

Anyone had Highland Cold Mountain? I've seen it all over social media and everyone seems to love it. Is it worth the hype?

11/29/2013 2:20:39 PM

people getting greedy with this stuff here, not sure what it's like there in NC, it's not like it's an IPA and you can down a 6-pack, yet people seem to be buying cases of this stuff. glad it made it to CO this year though, i love it.

my BCBS haul today in CO:


[Edited on November 29, 2013 at 4:25 PM. Reason : .]

11/29/2013 4:21:54 PM

^^ Cold mountain is a little different each year but always excellent. Just had 3 pints this afternoon in Charlotte and really enjoyed it.

11/29/2013 5:22:07 PM

Y'all are way too obscure. What are the top five beers I can generally purchase at Harris Teeter?

[Edited on November 29, 2013 at 7:21 PM. Reason : THE TASTIEST!]

11/29/2013 7:01:16 PM

Based on my last visit to the Cameron Village location and in no order:
Bell's Two Hearted
Kona Pipeline Porter
Great Lakes Christmas Ale
Sierra Nevada Narwhal
Ommegang Hennepin

11/29/2013 8:15:40 PM

BCBS is not an appropriate nightcap. Fuck.

12/2/2013 10:41:41 PM

Cold Mountain is getting more and more forgettable each year. Sure the recipe varies every year but really, it's getting more and more bland. Highland could call it something else and it would barely be a blip on anyone's radar. Yet the bars and stores here still hold it in high regard. I called 3 places Saturday as I was biking around the city to see if it was on tap. All 3 places were keeping their kegs for special CM release days. . My last stop was my small corner bar near my house with a very forgettable tap list. But guess what's available with zero fan fare? all the Cold Mountain i could want to drink.

12/3/2013 9:05:16 AM

I don't know about forgettable, but I agree it has been better in previous years. Still good this year though. It has always been super popular in/around Asheville (most places sell out by mid-December) and over the last few years developed a following elsewhere. But you know beer snobs...every limited release beer/cask/bucket of creatively named carbonated deer piss deserves a special release party and $7 pint prices. Meanwhile places like Pizza Peel have it on their standard draft list like it's no big deal.

12/3/2013 9:27:16 AM

i also find it better in bottle than i do on draught. perhaps i'm a little bitter that i can't find bottles.

12/3/2013 10:09:18 AM

Lynnwood Grill had it last week, I enjoyed it. Though I will say I feel like I've enjoyed in more in previous years.

12/3/2013 10:33:31 AM

I didn't get it the last couple of years, but this year I picked up a 12-er and 2 growlers, and I've enjoyed it thus far. Not my usual style of beer. I usually just load up on Trader Joe's unibroue christmas beer, but I haven't had a chance to make it back to a TJ yet. in terms of bang for buck, I definitely prefer the Trader Joe beer though- They make you pay for the Cold Mountain when you can find it.


Also, I recently won a bet that gets me any 6 or 4 pack I like. I've been really enjoying things like Lagunita's Maximus and Two Hearted-esque IPA's. I want something I'd enjoy, something he'd be able to find (going to a beer store, not just the grocery store), and not some session IPA. Also don't want him to break the bank- I think Sculpin or something like that would be the richest I'd make him buy. I'd love some ideas!

12/3/2013 10:55:57 AM

cant read

[Edited on December 3, 2013 at 11:52 AM. Reason : whoops]

12/3/2013 11:51:50 AM

^^^^ Tasty Beverage Co. had it in bottles last time I was there /shrug

[Edited on December 3, 2013 at 2:02 PM. Reason : ^]

12/3/2013 2:02:19 PM

Another good week

12/14/2013 5:07:15 PM

Any suggestions on a good website or something to try to find a place i can buy random beers locally. Trying to find some terrapin reunion 13 ale. Had some at WOB the other night and it was delicious.

12/16/2013 10:03:16 PM

The Reunion Ale '12 was excellent too. I found that at whole foods last year--but I think it was in August. You might be a little bit late?

12/17/2013 12:16:23 AM

Yeah maybe I just had it about a week or two ago at WOB so figured there might be some around still. Looked through world market didnt see any there. May stop into Total Wine but didnt see it on their website browsing.

12/17/2013 8:10:22 AM

Called all the total wines in the area only the Brier Creek one has one bottle of it and I am not driving to Brier Creek for one bottle. If anyone lives near there and wants to drink it for me go for it haha.

12/17/2013 2:28:10 PM

where are you? have you considered Tasty Beverage or Bottle Revolution or one of the other bottle shops in town?

12/17/2013 2:53:13 PM

I am in Raleigh, I will give them a call I don't usually go looking for specific beers so not sure all the options.

12/17/2013 3:18:37 PM

Both of those places are out Oh well I will have to find something similar I suppose haha

12/17/2013 4:09:28 PM

BCBS Coffee limit one 12oz per customer? ONE? This whole beer scene is getting fucking ridiculous. Now i know why i left it behind earlier this year.

12/19/2013 5:20:21 PM

yeah, I've slacked off a lot this year, but I ran out of ideas for my father-in-laws xmas gift, so I stopped by Tasty Bev earlier today and picked up:

Boulevard Imperial Stout
Southern Tier Choklat
Fullsteam Fruitcake...the beer
Fullsteam Igor BB Aged Imperial Stout
Stone Smoke Porter with Vanilla Beans
The Bruery Six Geese A Laying

12/19/2013 5:33:45 PM

SAMs Quick Shop in Durham has several cases of Reunion '13 just sitting there.

12/19/2013 5:49:46 PM

Finally picked up a growler of Hardywood Gingerbread Stout last night after missing out on the initial release date. They announced they had a second batch at 4 PM, I got there at 8 and literally got the last growler (keg kicked while they were filling it, but it ended up probably 3/4 full and they only charged me half price).

It's a Christmas miracle.

12/19/2013 9:22:08 PM

I made it out to the initial release and got 4 bottles after waiting in line for about an hour.

I thought I had read somewhere that the second batch was ruined? maybe it was a different beer. I'm not a stout guy, but this one is fantastic. Looking forward to cracking a bottle open this weekend with some friends in town.

12/20/2013 12:48:00 AM

https://www.facebook.com/events/184564991744438/?ref=22
I like Gizmo and laser etching, but I hate hoppy beers and dark beers. Also, I'm not available. But you guys might be!

12/20/2013 2:17:44 AM

^^I think due to a valve failure they lost all but 50 gallons. So they're still releasing(ed) it, just a very limited amount (I think that's like 1/10th the original batch size)

12/20/2013 4:29:34 PM

They guy told me they had 8 kegs on Wednesday and a handful of bottles, all of which they ran through in about 4 hours. Would have loved to get one of the bourbon barrel aged bottles, but those were long gone by the time I got there.

Co-worker said they had held onto some with the intention of releasing it maybe Christmas eve, but someone changed their mind and that last batch is on tap tonight. It's an event night with a band anyway so it wouldn't surprise me if it's already gone.

12/20/2013 6:11:08 PM

They guy told me they had 8 kegs on Wednesday and a handful of bottles, all of which they ran through in about 4 hours. Would have loved to get one of the bourbon barrel aged bottles, but those were long gone by the time I got there.

Co-worker said they had held onto some with the intention of releasing it maybe Christmas eve, but someone changed their mind and that last batch is on tap tonight. It's an event night with a band anyway so it wouldn't surprise me if it's already gone.

12/20/2013 6:17:45 PM

my christmas beer lineup:

1 year old St Bernardus Christmas
1 year old Silent Night
2 year old Corsendonk
2011, 2012, 2013 Trader Joe's Vintage Ale from unibroue

12/22/2013 2:41:30 PM

Drank a lot of my Christmas Eve lineup last night with friends as it was sort of our Christmas Eve celebration although I'm sure I'll get some more in the fridge for Tuesday night.

Westvleteren 8
Orval
De Dolle Oerbier Special Reserva 2012
Samiclaus 2010
Silent Night '12
Odell Friek '13

I also have some Alesmith Yulesmith & Odell Fernet Aged Porter in the fridge still, along with BCBS Coffee and Pliny

12/22/2013 3:05:27 PM

Picked up two six packs of D.C. Brau OTWOA

12/28/2013 7:33:26 PM

went to wicked weed last night

they are making some great beer, their double ipa is right up there with some of the best from the west coast -- good stuff

12/28/2013 10:32:06 PM

Victory Hop Ranch is really fucking good.

12/30/2013 11:25:25 PM

Picked up a bottle of Big Bad Baptist yesterday, which I've been looking forward to trying. Big coffee stouts are favorites of mine. (Incidentally at one of the local brewpubs, Legend, I had last week a cask-conditioned coffee variant of their brown ale. Really interesting to have a coffee-forward beer that wasn't a stout. Also really good.)

Also noticed a bottle of the DFH collaboration with Dan the Automator (from Deltron 3030):

Sounds interesting. Could be odd, could be really good. I like Deltron's new album, hopefully I'll like the beer as well.

12/30/2013 11:51:20 PM

I enjoyed Positive Contact. as for BBB, a lot of people love it. I hope you do. To me it tasted like rancid gas station coffee.

12/31/2013 8:09:06 AM

yum

1/9/2014 5:59:49 PM