Beer

[dgdave]

Like their tripel?

[bcr123psu]

Is it this one? If so, I thought it was just their Grande Reserve in a different bottle (or with a different stamp, if you will):

[JR]

Like their tripel?

Some Belgian breweries use the term Blond others Tripel and i don't know if there is an established distinction but both are light in color although the Chimay Speciale Cent Cinquante is cloudy too. So bcr123psu this is a different product. Grande Reserve is even better on tap. Unfortunately i've only had it once in Sweden.

[dgdave]

Is it like the white label?

[JR]

Only in the broadest sense this is way better than the Grande too. Unless you can get the Grande on tap that is then it is an even match. So shared top place out of Chimay and thus most highly recommended. Doubly so for lovers of Belgian beers. And that means everyone not just the ones that normally go for tripels and blonds because this is way tastier and multifaceted. Dangerously drinkable too.

[bsnone1]

Now I haven't come close to digging through all 90 pages of this thread, however, my favorite beer on the planet was released in my area this week. Bell's Hopslam (Double IPA). Pretty amazing stuff.

Other favs:

Surly IPA (out of Minnesota, only available there)
Odell Mercenary DIPA
Ballast Point Sculpin IPA
Alesmith IPA
Decheutes Abyss
Founders Breakfast Stout

And pretty much anything brewed by Dogfish Head, Bells, Sierra Nevada, Surly, Oskar Blue or Brooklyn Brew Co.

Once I finish my degree, I'm going to start home brewing.

[chunk]

speaking of hop slam, i just picked up two six'ers at wegmans. anyone will to trade some hop slam for some pliney???

[bsnone1]

Pliny and Heady Topper are the two that I really need to get my hands on... I had a connection for Pliny but then they stopped distribution to Washington state. I'm hoping to make a California trip this summer to cross that one off of my list. If any New Englanders want to do a trade for some Heady Topper I've got Hop Slam, '12 Descheutes Abyss and Dogfish 120 (from both June '12 and December '12) available for trade.

[jubuttib]

Recent escapades: Spent way too much money on a bottle of Brewdog's Dog A, Imperial Stout. Not usually a fan of stouts, but this one was a really positive surprise, even if I already had high hopes for it. It was surprisingly mellow and restrained, without knowing it was 15.1% alc. I would have guessed it to be less than 5%. Just all kinds of good, and lasted me for a good two hours. =)

Also tried a St Austell Proper Job, India Pale Ale. Definitely went to my personal top 5 list, even though many IPA drinkers don't seem to particularly care about it. Very fruity flavor, but the thing that struck me was how the taste of the hops was brought up slowly. Usually a beer that's as big on hops as this one is kicks your tastebuds into submission right from the get go, but the Proper Job built up really smoothly, taking its time, belying just how hoppy it ends up being. Probably one of the best IPAs to offer to someone who hasn't had one yet, giving them a smooth start. =)

[Mixed Bag Madness]

So tasty after a hard dinner service at work.....