Neal Anderth wrote:So for the purpose of disclosure, to this point I've not afforded myself the luxury of a $30 bottle of beer.

Just checked - the two 75cl bottles of Progress I have in my lean-to were £20 each - about $30. Definitely need to be savoured...

danivon wrote:

Neal Anderth wrote:So for the purpose of disclosure, to this point I've not afforded myself the luxury of a $30 bottle of beer.

Just checked - the two 75cl bottles of Progress I have in my lean-to were £20 each - about $30. Definitely need to be savoured...

Update, crazy coincidence, I saw Abyss (2013) at one of our local coffee shops for $17.50. I was surprised to see it there, they oddly carry like 8 stylish beers and no others, in bottles, on a crappy little shelf incongruent with the rest of the place. The only thing I can think of is that the owners just are into that and/or because of the high priced elite liberal arts college a block over. I asked them why the price was so low, and the barista thought I was being sarcastic, I told her usually yes, but that in this instance I was really impressed at the great price. She said that they really didn't mark it up much.

Now I feel obligated to buy it at the slashed price :)

I finally had my first Southern Tier, Tom, and what a beer! Their Imperial IPA is outstanding - one of the best I've had. Yeah, it's 9.5% ABV but it's well hidden. Now if I could only find it in a six-pack instead of a bomber I'd be able to keep more on hand.

http://www.stbcbeer.com/year-round-imperials/unearthly-ipa-beer-page/

Sign from local brew pub in Walla Walla:

SLOTerp wrote:Now if I could only find it in a six-pack instead of a bomber I'd be able to keep more on hand.

Dang - web site indicates not available in 12 oz.. Bomber it is, although at $8, not something I'll buy often.

Southern Tier seems to specialize in IPA's, everything I have had from them is quite hoppy (and quite good) they do a damn fine job on whatever they make (though not for Randy ...tooooo hoppy for him)

2XIPA is a really good one you would probably like a lot!

http://www.esquire.com/blogs/food-for-m ... ckery-1013

I'm pretty sure we avoid most of these, of course it doesn't matter one way or the other :)

we do get dangerously close to a few of those!

Note Taking? Nope, but during a beer tasting party I do encourage people to take some notes but that's because we are tasting several and want to compare our thoughts.
But any other time, no thanks to notes! Not guilty

Advocating? Pretty close to what they are talking about but not quite. We do of course share our favorites but what's wrong with that? Yeah, we are certainly partly guilty on that count I suppose?

Forums? well, that's what we are doing right here? But hardly to the degree talked about in the article ...partial guilt at best!

Appropriate glassware? None of us have mentioned this at all. I enjoy beer right out of the bottle but I would certainly recommend a glass. But any glass works just fine if you ask me. I guess it would be nice to have all the snobby glassware for the particular style you are drinking but any glass will do just fine! so not guilty

Bottle Release parties? Never heard of one but if the party is simply an excuse to drink some good beer ...why not? Sign me up! But since nobody has spoken of this, we are not guilty

Drain Pours? What a stupid thing to do! If the beer went and got skunky on you or is just something absolutely dreadful that you can't share with others, I wouldn't call this a sin! But to discard beer that isn't froofroo enough? No way, suck it up and finish your damned beer!
NOT GUILTY

Neal Anderth wrote:http://www.esquire.com/blogs/food-for-men/beer-snob-mockery-1013

I'm pretty sure we avoid most of these, of course it doesn't matter one way or the other :)

I think the first comment (from 'Don't Drink Beer') was better than the article.

I guess I have a little snobbery in me - I was at my sister's house for Thanksgiving and opened a quad (the use of that term itself is very snobby). My brother-in-law handed me a beer mug while I was thinking this should probably be in a snifter. I didn't say it but the fact that it went through my brain was a bit startling.

On to that quad:

Three Philosopher Belgian Quad from Ommegang Brewery. I've been hearing great things about this beer for awhile but I think it's over-rated. If given a choice of this and the one below, give me the much cheaper alternative.

I also had:

Trader Joe's 2013 Vintage Ale, brewed by Unibroue in Quebec (& apparently owned by Sapporo). This is a dark Belgian Ale with lots of interesting flavors. Really nice holiday beer and a terrific value.

Lastly,

Raison d'être from Dogfish Head. Unimpressed with this dark Belgian. Nothing seems to work together and it's too sweet. It did improve when I was eating food with it but I'll never buy it.

Murphy's Irish Red
Not a fan! My neighbor came over with this because I like several reds/ambers. Straight from Ireland, it must be good? Nope, the Irish can have this one. It was "pretty" and it wasn't bad, but I didn't like it either, too yeasty/burnt malt flavor. I enjoy reds but not when the malts get this toasted/burnt.
I have 4 left in the 6 pack and plan on bringing it back to my neighbor with a few Browns (my neighbor prefers brown ales)

"It's like Sputnik." Well I'm into Soviet retro so had to try it, since it's made in Colorado I thought there might be more of chance that you Easties crossed paths with it.

Is this a chub chaser? Do you have to lick the can to really know what Sputnik tasted like?

GMTom wrote:Murphy's Irish Red
Not a fan! My neighbor came over with this because I like several reds/ambers. Straight from Ireland, it must be good? Nope, the Irish can have this one. It was "pretty" and it wasn't bad, but I didn't like it either, too yeasty/burnt malt flavor. I enjoy reds but not when the malts get this toasted/burnt.
I have 4 left in the 6 pack and plan on bringing it back to my neighbor with a few Browns (my neighbor prefers brown ales)

Nahh, Irish Reds are not like other reds/ambers, they are more like insipid versions of stout. And apart from stouts, irish beers do not have a great reputation.

GMTom wrote:Murphy's Irish Red
Not a fan! My neighbor came over with this because I like several reds/ambers. Straight from Ireland, it must be good? Nope, the Irish can have this one. It was "pretty" and it wasn't bad, but I didn't like it either, too yeasty/burnt malt flavor. I enjoy reds but not when the malts get this toasted/burnt.
I have 4 left in the 6 pack and plan on bringing it back to my neighbor with a few Browns (my neighbor prefers brown ales)

I've had my fair share of Father Murphy (what a friend of mine calls it). It's ok but I'd rather have a Guinness.

For the man who likes to drink whisky old enough to drink whisky, only $400.

A fine double IPA, but the best part is the avatar art.