Beer.

[phatdoughnut]

I am flying to San Francisco to go to russian river brewery on saturday.

[F22Chris]

Nice! Post what you get!

[sonikaccord]

I have been meaning to go there. I'll probably try it in the fall.

[phatdoughnut]

I can tell you exactly what I am getting, infusing my blood with pliney the elder double IPA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[blackenwkn]

I sell beer for a living and I'm tired of the beer snobs and this played out fad. Don't get me wrong there are some great beers out there from "locals" but for the most part people drink them and talk about these no name locals to sound "cool" and "hit"(pretty cliche words I know). Annoying as F---, end rant.

So my list for my favorite beers mainly consist of non locals since majority of the people won't know or be able to try them unless they are local.

1.) COEDO, Pretty much anything from them is outstanding especially their IPL. They're the number 1 craft brewery in Japan. Little cool facts if you just so happen to get your hands on one. Their employees are not allowed to eat any fermented foods 24 hours before their shifts. They wear full hazmat style suits because they dont wanna run the risk of contaminating anything and take pride in their beer. Finally their product is shipped cold from Japan(atleast to my distributer). Price to consumer about $75-$88 a case (24 bottles)

2.) Einstok, brewed 60 miles south of the artic circle and brewed with what is claimed to be the freshest water on the planet. Extremely smooth.

3.) Ballast point(california) their sculipin ipa is hands down my favorite ipa. I believe it's ranked in the top 10 if you do a Google search for IPAS out of all the breweries out there. Last time I heard it was about 1.6 breweries opening per day.

4.) New belgium, all their products are good and they get craft beers.... simple as that.

[deevergote]

What are some of the trendy beers that annoy you?

I'll admit, some of these trendy things are going too far. I try more of the weird ones than I'd like to admit... but "real" beer is always best.


Ballast Point and New Belgium definitely make good stuff. I've heard of Einstok, but never tried it. Now that I know that bit of trivia, I'm going to make a point of it!
Never heard of Coedo... I'm going to have to look for that! They don't allow their employees to eat fermented foods 24 hours before their shift? Japanese food has a LOT of fermented stuff, too! I wonder why that is. Are they afraid of the beer being contaminated by farts? (that's only partially intended as a joke... )

[blackenwkn]

What are some of the trendy beers that annoy you?

I'll admit, some of these trendy things are going too far. I try more of the weird ones than I'd like to admit... but "real" beer is always best.


Ballast Point and New Belgium definitely make good stuff. I've heard of Einstok, but never tried it. Now that I know that bit of trivia, I'm going to make a point of it!
Never heard of Coedo... I'm going to have to look for that! They don't allow their employees to eat fermented foods 24 hours before their shift? Japanese food has a LOT of fermented stuff, too! I wonder why that is. Are they afraid of the beer being contaminated by farts? (that's only partially intended as a joke... )

Well there's a local here where their brewery is in my sales area and I have accounts take my taps off for their shit beer just because it's local. The reviews show it's not the taste that sells it but simply because it's "local" which just agitates me lol.

For the coedo I guess to keep the farts out like you suggested lol, I agree with "real" beers being the best the generic premium lights aren't anything to brag about but when consuming alot and providing them you can't go wrong with them. If your mearly having a couple go with something that tastes good

[HenRoc]

Anyone here try the Root Beer beer? Personally I did not want to only because I personally dislike the taste of Root Beer..and I can't imagine it as an alcohol...

[blackenwkn]

Anyone here try the Root Beer beer? Personally I did not want to only because I personally dislike the taste of Root Beer..and I can't imagine it as an alcohol...

Not your father's root beer is amazing, got a score of 98 on beer advocate. Tried it myself and just like root beer with a hint of liquor on the end. 5.9 percent and is dangerous(because of how easy it is to drink) imagine a root beer float with it....

[HenRoc]

Not your father's root beer is amazing, got a score of 98 on beer advocate. Tried it myself and just like root beer with a hint of liquor on the end. 5.9 percent and is dangerous(because of how easy it is to drink) imagine a root beer float with it....

5.9??? Theres another beer that I tried a few my friends ventured up to Vermont to just to get it.

Heddy Topper sold directly from the brewery so getting it is bit of wait. Heard the lines are long. I tried it but I'm not a fan of hoppy beer.

I've tried Indian Rock Pale ale didn't like that either..I can't get passed the bitter taste.

[deevergote]

My girlfriend went to the gym while I was out. The liquor store (liquor, beer, wine... we do it all in one place here) is next door to our gym. So she texted me to ask what she could pick up for me. I told her I didn't know, and to pick something for me. I got a text a few minutes later "do you like Smuttynose?"
I'm so proud of her

Well there's a local here where their brewery is in my sales area and I have accounts take my taps off for their shit beer just because it's local. The reviews show it's not the taste that sells it but simply because it's "local" which just agitates me lol.

For the coedo I guess to keep the farts out like you suggested lol, I agree with "real" beers being the best the generic premium lights aren't anything to brag about but when consuming alot and providing them you can't go wrong with them. If your mearly having a couple go with something that tastes good

I guess some people drink stuff just because they believe it's the "right thing" to drink... like Buttweiser, Coors, etc...

We're fortunate here that our biggest local beer, Flying Fish, isn't EVERYWHERE. You'll still find it in the occasional chain restaurant (like the Applebees that's about 100 yards from the brewery...) but they're not obnoxiously distributed.

I like some crap beer. In fact, I've got a can of Genesee open in front of me right now. Sometimes the low end stuff is refreshing. Lawnmower beer. Stuff that you can throw down in 3-4 gulps, and not feel like you missed out on savoring it!

Anyone here try the Root Beer beer? Personally I did not want to only because I personally dislike the taste of Root Beer..and I can't imagine it as an alcohol...

It's insanely good. It's not just a good alcoholic root beer... it's a good root beer, period. It's the best root beer I've ever tasted. I've read reports of people being able to taste the alcohol, but I couldn't. I felt it, for sure... but the taste was pure, quality root beer.
I'm not a huge root beer fan overall, but I don't have a dislike for it. This stuff, though... holy jeebus.
The stores in my area can't keep it in stock. When it first came out, most stores had a one case per customer limit. After the first shipment sold out in a number of hours, the limit was reduced to a single six pack per customer!

[HenRoc]

HAHA well brace yourselves..only 3 more months til Pumpkin dominates all.

[deevergote]

PUMPKIN!!!

I know it's trendy. I know it's annoying. I know 90% of the pumpkin beers made now are total shite... but every year my friends and I (uslspct being one of them) get together and sample every pumpkin beer we can buy (12oz singles only.) Last year, there were so many that we had to split it up into two sessions!
Elysian made an incredible pumpkin... very different from the standard. I hope they don't stop now that they sold out. Stevens Point Whole Hog Pumpkin Ale was absolute perfection. And Shipyard and Philadelphia Brewing Co made the best "casual" pumpkin beers. I'm looking forward to pumpkin season!

Oh, and an update on the Smuttynose... my girlfriend didn't just buy me a simple 6 pack. No. She got me a sampler 12 pack. 4 types, 3 of each. One of the 4 was "brewer's choice", and the name of the particular Smuttynose brewer that chose the beer to be included was on the box. The identity of the beer was a mystery until you open the box! I got Really Old Brown Dog Ale, which is a whopping 11%. I'm very, very slowly working on one now. I'm glad I went ring shopping today.

Also came with Old Brown Dog Ale, Finest Kind IPA, and Shoals Pale Ale. Not much of an IPA fan, and "pale ale" usually ends up having a similar hoppy bite, so these will be new to me as well. 3 out of 4 new beers in a single pack ain't bad!

[F22Chris]

Deev, they make Great ales. I enjoy the Baltic porter very much. I can't usually drink fall/pumpkin beers as I'm allergic to cinnamon. (I know, don't flame). Even the smell gives me an automatic sinus headache from hell.

On a different note, I tried an Anchor(I think) pale ale that was so yeasty it was sweet. Freaking Taco Mac.

[phatdoughnut]

PUMPKIN!!!

I know it's trendy. I know it's annoying. I know 90% of the pumpkin beers made now are total shite... but every year my friends and I (uslspct being one of them) get together and sample every pumpkin beer we can buy (12oz singles only.) Last year, there were so many that we had to split it up into two sessions!
Elysian made an incredible pumpkin... very different from the standard. I hope they don't stop now that they sold out. Stevens Point Whole Hog Pumpkin Ale was absolute perfection. And Shipyard and Philadelphia Brewing Co made the best "casual" pumpkin beers. I'm looking forward to pumpkin season!

Oh, and an update on the Smuttynose... my girlfriend didn't just buy me a simple 6 pack. No. She got me a sampler 12 pack. 4 types, 3 of each. One of the 4 was "brewer's choice", and the name of the particular Smuttynose brewer that chose the beer to be included was on the box. The identity of the beer was a mystery until you open the box! I got Really Old Brown Dog Ale, which is a whopping 11%. I'm very, very slowly working on one now. I'm glad I went ring shopping today.

Also came with Old Brown Dog Ale, Finest Kind IPA, and Shoals Pale Ale. Not much of an IPA fan, and "pale ale" usually ends up having a similar hoppy bite, so these will be new to me as well. 3 out of 4 new beers in a single pack ain't bad!

Sadly we are going to miss the pumpkin brew fest at elysian this year due to another trip. It was pretty epic last year though.