This was stunning.
Gold Dot NZ IPA. When I visited NZ in 2014, I was shocked at how good the hoppy beers were - even the session-type beers at ~3% ABV. The NZ hops definitely had something to do with it. While more US breweries are using NZ hops these days, for my palate the beers made here have paler in comparison. This was a definite exception. Great job, Lisa and Kevin.
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In Arkansas visiting family. Always go into Little Rock to go to Lost Forty.
Left to right:
A cream ale made with local rice
A bourbon barrel stout
A double bock
A coconut porter
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Great to finally try this! Not sure I’d go through all the trouble I had to go through to get it, but enjoyable.
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I feel the same way. Don’t know if the recipe has changed over the years, especially because I never got my hands on it back when it was some hot shit (maybe @Bud_Rhoades knows about this), but as it is now it’s just “solid”; I buy it every now and then, but I honestly prefer their “Just Outstanding” and “Chuuuurch” IPAs more.
Mini tap takeover here at Bird by Cerveza Insurgente from Tijuana. Had two of three ales available, Juan Cordero & Lupulosa, and their rep is deserved.
My wife gifted me a beer advent calendar this year.
Day #1, Beer #1
Lazy Panda Regenerative Session Blonde
From Brussels Beer Project, 4.9%, tropical fruits, some citrusy notes with a near IPA bitterness but a somewhat creamy mouthfeel. I drank this from the bottle so take it for what it’s worth
.
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Day #2, Beer #2
The Piggy Brewing Company Carte Blanche
White beers are not my go-to. Not ever. Yet this showed remarkable balance with, yes, a lot of fresh citrus but also enough bitterness to add to the structure and a crisp mouthfeel but with enough body to not make this sparkling water like. I enjoyed this with a homemade chicken in peanut sauce.
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Day #3, Beer #3
Sainte-Cru Soft Power New England IPA
I didn’t enjoy this one. 6.5%, pale yellow. There is a distinct banana note that just won’t go away. I don’t want it in my Bojo. I don’t want it in my beer. Also, it’s lacking acidity and presence. Not for me.
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Last Saturday, before flying back home, we went out to dinner at the Eagan Arms Public House, back in Eagan, MN. I was delighted to see them doing a pretty good take on an Irish Pub (really, it was more British than Irish, but I assume they call it an Irish Pub because so many Irish folk live in the area), and took advantage of them having Old Speckled Hen on tap (well, technically, it was either on nitro or was a hand-pulled cask — I’d guess nitro). Although English ales will never be my absolute favorite, after living in northern England for a few years they will always hold a special place in my heart. I used my other hand to tend to a dram of Laphroaig Cairdeas Fino Cask, which was not-surprisingly delicious. Looking forward to going back. 
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When my folks were alive and retired in Delray Beach, Fl there was a bar I’d sneak off to for relief called The Blue Anchor. Rumor was the owner, or a family member, won The Irish Sweepstakes and moved the decaying facade of their old town bar to Atlantic Ave, nearly brick by brick. They had a Beatles cover band on Saturday nights in the NE corner and a tiny dance floor. Place was what my Pensacola aviator friends would refer to as high target density. Loved the place.
Anyway, they had three regular cask pulls: John Player Special, Whitbread, and Old Speckled Hen. Hen was my favorite but Whitbread enabled me to weave a tale about their around-the-world sailing race, something to talk about with eager dance partners I had designs on.
Place has fallen on hard times post-Covid. Imagine it’s not too long before it’s gone to some shiny new hotspot. Had a final cask pull there in October when I visited my folk’s cemetery. Old bar denizen explained to my buddy and I that Kamala was just a ruse, it would be Hillary running America. We left after one.
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There sure aren’t many Irish nitro beers around anymore are there? I used to love Murphy’s on nitro and the Irish Red, which is long gone.
Come to think of it I have not seen Harp around much anymore or had a black and tan forever.
I need to get to a proper Irish pub.
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Parnell’s?
This was recently in NYT.
I was at Parnell’s in the theater district recently but it didn’t make me yearn for a pint. I should try the Cleveland heights one again, I really almost forgot it was there.
I used to like Flat Iron and Old Angle quite a bit.
Interesting about the Guinness trend. I was disappointed when they d/c the Foreign Extra Guinness.
Had a friend who was infatuated with Flaming Irish Car %ombs (can you say that) and that was the last chugging of Guinness I’ve done 
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We were there a couple of months ago while waiting for a table at Zhug.
My first time there since they moved from Lee Rd. I like it there.
Day #5, Beers #4 and 5
I had to catch up since yesterday evening turned into a wine affair with a bottle of Guffens-Heynen.
Williams Bros. Brewing Co. Double Joker Double IPA
Sweet sirupy finish. I don’t dig that. I almost poured it down the drain but figured I needed some well deserved self-punishment. Not for me.
Big Mountain Brewing Company IPA
5.2%, Simcoe and Centennial. Bright fruit flavours, medium bitterness and balanced mouthfeel. I wouldn’t might drinking this again.
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And my favorite Irish stout has always been Beamish. It has the most bite of the ones I’ve tried.
Was at the golden state warriors game last night and had a Pacifico from a can. It tasted skunked, just terrible. How does one produce a skunked beer in a can? I moved onto the wines which were decent (marry edwards pinot, SLWC Artemis, and another 2022 Napa cab)