I am a big fan of Drake’s’ 1500 Pale Ale. I basically think of it as a light, but full-flavored, IPA.
Southern Tier makes some good stuff. I enjoy their 2x IPA quite a bit.
Deschutes Black Butte XXIV - Best after 7-28-13 totally ignored. Dark fruits dominate right now and overshadow a lot of the roasted malts and cocoa nibs. Pretty sweet and boozy with some oak tannin on the finish. I know Deschutes likes you to cellar these and Abyss for a year, but Abyss always seems to drink great right off the bat so I thought I would give this a go. 11% and you will feel and taste every bit off it. Not bad and clearly needs time to integrate—very Quad-ish right now.
The words near the bottom of the can pretty much say it all … only word I’d add is “delicious!” ![[grin.gif]](/uploads/db3686/original/2X/5/53ba06e9b6e4b370ae7e3d7b3702ad1bda0a2d8e.gif "grin"){kind=small}
Bloed, Zweet & Tranen - a Bamberg-style rauchbier but then aged in Bruichladdich cask - from de Molen. Outstanding and one of the best beers tasted in a while. Can’t get this stuff around these parts.
That sounds flippin’ awesome, John.
Yes it was! Still thinking about it two days later. I think it is fairly scarce even over there, although I understand they have a regular version without the Bruich cask which is likely outstanding as well. Maybe you’ll run into some since you’re a lot closer. No de Molen for miles around here as far as I know.
I’ll keep my eyes open for anything from them, and maybe even put out a few feelers to see if local purveyors of fine beer can’t get their hands on some. Thanks for the tip!
Great Lakes Oktoberfest.
2011Sept Allagash Interlude (Bret aged in red wine barrels)- my last few weeks of beer purchases have been almost exclusively my feeling the obligation to buy the last bottle or 6pack of old items clearing space for new ones. When it’s backdated spring beers or Pale Ales I took a risk on in February it’s a chore, but in this case it’s a SCORE! Definite quality in the base beer, good richness (though I wish the head retention was a bit stronger) that carries the abv well and the strong, penetrating saddle leather presence of our Irish buddy Brett O’Myces. Completely uncompromising, putting the funk in the foreground; beers like the Brux could only DREAM of pulling off this sort of power and balance. Not always a fan of the cost it required to reign him in ($20+ to real people) but this is definitely an example of what this little fungus can do. If you like it, you’ll love it.
Nice note, Matt. I’ve had that beer in my hands many times, but my past experiences with Allagash (a bit too sweet/dubbel-y/spice-laden for my preferences) as well as the price tag have always convinced me to put it back on the shelf. Your note may have just convinced me otherwise.
Cropton Brewery - “Blackout” Porter
— love this beer! ![[berserker.gif]](/uploads/db3686/original/2X/8/8600bbd4810d342b8fbd4ffb62b4f0026275fd37.gif "berserker"){kind=small}
Trying some Sixpoint Brownstone. Meh, I get the same, tinny, dry-hopped one note song out of all these beers.
I am enjoying a fresh Noble Ale Works Nobility.100% Citra DIPA, excellent brew.
Cheers…
Beer tasting with old friends in RDU next week - I’m schlepping a Pliny, Ace of Spades and a Hair of the Dog Blue Dot back. Rumor is I’m going to get my first shots at Sculpin and a Bell’s Hopslam 
Moloko. Having the regular tonight. Picked up the cognac barrel aged bit will have to hold on to that one till I hAve some friends to open it with. It may take to a wine tasting this month with some dark lord
Hey, who’s this guy!?!
hopslam at this time of the year isn’t all that great. It sheds some of the extreme hops and gets more boozy. If you want something fresh, I may be able to work something out in jan
Never had one that old but I would imagine it is long in the tooth for the desired flavor. Having had young Sculpin, Hopslam and Pliny together, I would say Hopslam is my favorite but a little different. The Sculpin being second.
Jason
Those are three very different DIPA’s.