Beer snob thread!

[el_capitan]

Damn, that went fast then. They usually have stuff on after the parties. Don't know how you feel about stouts, but the BBA Hazelnut Tiramisu Underverse is amongst the best in class around NEOH.

Yeah, I'm working downtown this week so I was hoping to swing by after work to try it but it doesn't look like that's going to happen. I've loved all the BBA Underverses they've released, so hopefully I can still swing by and try that one. The price is a little tough to swallow, but they're cheaper than Jackie O's and you get more, so I guess it's not too horrible.

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

Not sure if you're Ohio or Cali based, but if you're around The Bruery a lot, you should check-out Bottle Logic in Anaheim and Monkish in Torrance.

Cleveland-based.

Monkish is good. I lump them in with all the new-aged NEIPA-focused breweries. They're at Snallygaster every year. Not sure I've had anything by Bottle Logic.

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

Damn, that went fast then. They usually have stuff on after the parties. Don't know how you feel about stouts, but the BBA Hazelnut Tiramisu Underverse is amongst the best in class around NEOH.

You guys keep mentioning Dreamcatcher. Do you mean Dreamcrusher? If so, that's my favorite beer Masthead has come out with--the best IPA from a Cleveland brewery and one of the most impressive beers period I've had from a Cleveland brewery.

I put the Tiramisu Bourbon Barrel Underverse right on par with the plain bourbon barrel Underverse, Pumpkin Underverse, Where's my Birthday Cake Stout, and BBA Coconut Underverse (all got a 4.25 from me) and I'd agree that they're the best stouts made in Cleveland. However, Hoppin Frog would have that title for Northeast Ohio for me.

 

[Soda]

You guys keep mentioning Dreamcatcher. Do you mean Dreamcrusher? If so, that's my favorite beer Masthead has come out with--the best IPA from a Cleveland brewery and one of the most impressive beers period I've had from a Cleveland brewery.

I put the Tiramisu Bourbon Barrel Underverse right on par with the plain bourbon barrel Underverse, Pumpkin Underverse, Where's my Birthday Cake Stout, and BBA Coconut Underverse (all got a 4.25 from me) and I'd agree that they're the best stouts made in Cleveland. However, Hoppin Frog would have that title for Northeast Ohio for me.

Dammit, yes. I meant Dreamcrusher.

RE: Hoppin' Frog - They're too hit-or-miss for me to justify their price point. I've kinda gone off the deep end in the past few years with Facebook razzles/BINs. I've spent too much for sure, but I've also been able to enjoy some of the best stouts/sours that we have in America. It keeps me coming back because once you've had something like a Derivation, Life's Distraction, BBT, Black Magick, Medianoche, etc. you don't want to spend money on anything that may fall short of that bar. I know that the Underverse isn't any of those beers, but I also know that I'm getting something that'll always be solid. Add-on that I love to support local Cleveland business & it's a no-brainer for me.

 

[TheLand1287]

How did you do on Saturday? I walked-out $300 lighter in the wallet, but the timed tappings were great. They threw a hell of a party. BBA Maple Coffee Vanilla Underverse was fantastic & Hollow Earth was a really good, and palatable, triple.

Same as you lol. It was an expensive day. I got up there around 9:45am and was able to snag 3 of the last 10-15 Hollow Earth tickets. Only maxed out on that and Birthday Cake, couple 4pks of everything else, minus Juggerhop that I passed on completely. Split my allotments up with friends back in this area that went to the HOMES release, and the Hoof kitchen for the new stuff they released last week.

I was there until like 6:30. Got to try all the timed tappings, somehow survived, and still managed to go to the Cavs game that night. My favorite was the PB Birthday Cake and the Raspberry Tiramisu Underverse... tasted like a raspberry dripped in chocolate. Might have been my favorite beer from them, ever.

Also, to weigh in on the debate... Dreamcrusher is the shit. Best IPA they make. Same as Last Year and Jui Jitsui on the Beach are right up there too for me though.

 

[Soda]

Same as you lol. It was an expensive day. I got up there around 9:45am and was able to snag 3 of the last 10-15 Hollow Earth tickets. Only maxed out on that and Birthday Cake, couple 4pks of everything else, minus Juggerhop that I passed on completely. Split my allotments up with friends back in this area that went to the HOMES release, and the Hoof kitchen for the new stuff they released last week.

I was there until like 6:30. Got to try all the timed tappings, somehow survived, and still managed to go to the Cavs game that night. My favorite was the PB Birthday Cake and the Raspberry Tiramisu Underverse... tasted like a raspberry dripped in chocolate. Might have been my favorite beer from them, ever.

Also, to weigh in on the debate... Dreamcrusher is the shit. Best IPA they make. Same as Last Year and Jui Jitsui on the Beach are right up there too for me though.

Damn. Almost forgot about Ju Jitsu! That was great & I was able to get there the day they released it.

 

[Jack Brickman]

I feel like whiskey has ruined craft beer for me. I try all these beers I used to think were incredible and, while they're still good, it's almost like their flavors are muted. IPAs that used to make me think "goddamn that's good" are now more in the "this is pretty good" camp.

Strangely, good pilsners have become my favorite thing to drink while out. I enjoy the crispness. Shadowclock from Burial is one of my favs.

 

[The Wizard of Moz]

.

 

[Obscured By Clouds]

I feel like whiskey has ruined craft beer for me. I try all these beers I used to think were incredible and, while they're still good, it's almost like their flavors are muted. IPAs that used to make me think "goddamn that's good" are now more in the "this is pretty good" camp.

Strangely, good pilsners have become my favorite thing to drink while out. I enjoy the crispness. Shadowclock from Burial is one of my favs.

Bourbon is my #1 drink. Tomorrow is shipment day at my local store, I always stop in to see what rarity they get in before it is sold out.

Been looking for Eagle Rare for too long.

 

[Jack Brickman]

Bourbon is my #1 drink. Tomorrow is shipment day at my local store, I always stop in to see what rarity they get in before it is sold out.

Been looking for Eagle Rare for too long.

You should check the Sophisticated Drinking thread in EAYOR.

Strangely, Eagle Rare is the only Buffalo Trace product I can find with anything approaching regularity. Finally got a bottle of Blanton's over the weekend by sheer dumb luck, but that's the first time I've seen it on a liquor store shelf in over a year. It was also the first time in like four months I've seen a bottle of Buffalo Trace on a shelf, but the store said I could only buy one or the other and I already have half a bottle of Trace in my bar so that decision was easy.

Weller might as well not exist in this area.

 

[TheLand1287]

Is Four fires worth all of its hype?

Absolutely. They may not be in the same tier as Schramms and Pips, but they’re absolutely in the one below it along with Garagiste, Superstition, Manic, etc.

Four Fires stills are on point and their lower Abv carbonated stuff is solid too. Love 4F. If I had any knock on them at all it’s that their meads can be a little too sugary and sweet.

 

[TheLand1287]

You should check the Sophisticated Drinking thread in EAYOR.

Strangely, Eagle Rare is the only Buffalo Trace product I can find with anything approaching regularity. Finally got a bottle of Blanton's over the weekend by sheer dumb luck, but that's the first time I've seen it on a liquor store shelf in over a year. It was also the first time in like four months I've seen a bottle of Buffalo Trace on a shelf, but the store said I could only buy one or the other and I already have half a bottle of Trace in my bar so that decision was easy.

Weller might as well not exist in this area.

I guess Toledo area is spoiled right now. I walked into Kroger last week and they had Weller SR, Weller OWA, Eagle Rare, and Buffalo Trace. And they allowed 1 bottle of EACH. That was an expensive lunch break.

Weller SR is basically an every day shelfie here anymore.

 

[Jack Brickman]

I guess Toledo area is spoiled right now. I walked into Kroger last week and they had Weller SR, Weller OWA, Eagle Rare, and Buffalo Trace. And they allowed 1 bottle of EACH. That was an expensive lunch break.

Weller SR is basically an every day shelfie here anymore.

It really all depends on a combination of where you live and how big bourbon is there. I unfortunately live in an area where everyone is hunting hard to find bottles, which only serves to make everything significantly harder to find. My strategy is just to swing by various liquor stores multiple times a week. Most of the time, I walk out with nothing. Occasionally, I get something cool.

In the past year I've found:
Rebel Yell 10 Year
Blood Oath Pact Five
Baker's 13
Col EH Taylor (a couple times)
Eagle Rare (can pretty much get this whenever if I'm willing to drive half an hour)
Sazerac Rye
Willett Pot Still
1792 Full Proof
McKenna 10 (only started to be rare the past year)
Blanton's
Old Forester 1910
Heaven Hill Bottled in Bond
Wild Turkey Cornerstone
Maker's RC6

Probably a few others I'm forgetting. Passed on a few as well because I didn't feel like spending the money, like Michter's 10 and the Woodford release that was finished in cherry wood barrels.

Also gotten a lot of great barrel picks.

And I don't hoard bottles. Every single bottle in my bar is open.

 

[The Wizard of Moz]

Damn this was way back there!
@Out of the Rafters at the Q my 3 favorite from Tampa are Hidden Springs, Arkane, and Garagiste (which is a meadery so while it may not count, having a world class meadery is a pretty big boon)

I have never been to Wolf’s Ridge, but have had plenty from Hoof Hearted and Jackie O’s. And I actually really like them and always seek them out when I come home!

but if you’re forcing me to shill for any particular city it’s richmond. Triple Crossing, the Veil, and The Answer are a big 3 any city would have trouble competing with

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

Damn this was way back there!
@Out of the Rafters at the Q my 3 favorite from Tampa are Hidden Springs, Arkane, and Garagiste (which is a meadery so while it may not count, having a world class meadery is a pretty big boon)

I have never been to Wolf’s Ridge, but have had plenty from Hoof Hearted and Jackie O’s. And I actually really like them and always seek them out when I come home!

but if you’re forcing me to shill for any particular city it’s richmond. Triple Crossing, the Veil, and The Answer are a big 3 any city would have trouble competing with

Richmond's a good choice for best headliners. The Veil and The Answer are absolutely fantastic. They're two of my highlights whenever I'm in DC. I haven't had anything from Triple Crossing--I'll have to keep an eye out for them.

I definitely couldn't stack Wolf's Ridge up against The Answer. The Answer beats them. And, for personal preference on the IPA front, I'll take The Veil over Hoof Hearted. But, I'll still put Jackie O's up there just because of how incredible of a job they do across multiple styles. Their Polycephaly series is really incredible. Polycephaly V was a world-class stout, while Polycephaly VI was a world-class sour that reminded me of Abbey du Saint Bon Chien, one of my favorites.

Hidden Springs was pretty good for their variety, but nothing wowed me. Going back through Untappd, the highest rating I gave them was a 4.25 for the Imperial Deja Moo Hazelnut & Vanilla, followed up by Estevey that got a 4.00.

I haven't tried Arkane yet, and I'm not a huge mead fan. But if you are, give Bottlehouse a chance next time you're up in Cleveland. They're pretty solid. I think the last time I had a mead from the Orlando/Tampa area (sorry that I keep combining them, but I can't separate the two in my head) was from Cigar City's meadery and I was really impressed by them. I bought some stuff to take home, and again, I'm not a mead drinker. How would you stack Garagiste against Cigar City Meadery?

Can we all agree that the best city to live in for beer, though, is DC? Churchkey's tap list alone puts most entire regions of the country to shame. Plus with them not being a state, they can bring in whatever they want without having to deal with distributors. I'm always so jealous of the people who live there.