some damn good IPA's out there

^ Half Hitch and Mosaic are wonderful.

Boneyard Skunkape IRA and Hop Venom IPA are super solid Bend beers. 10 Barrel Apocolypse has a nice bittering flavor of piney hops with real fine carbonation and big bite, but I didn't like it as much as Boneyard or Crux Fermentation Project.

Montana beers are indeed wonderful, not sure what you are smoking Butterscotch! Save the Sculpin for your trips to California! You know that stuff is from San Diego, right?

Drank a Black Diamond Moesaic session ... light amounts of fruit but not enough aromatic hops for my taste, could use some Apollo or something to funk it up.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Doremite

It is very good. Just not great. I appreciate it but always find myself scratching my head as to why it is so revered. Just one mans opinion. Curious about 2nd Fiddle.

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Agreed. Of course, I'll drink any can I can, hoping to find something that proves it's all that... It is very, very good. Maybe among the best, but its reputation (as often happens) has outpaced the beer.

I've gotta recommend the Mary Jane at Ebenezer's Brewpub in Brunswick, ME. Quite delicious.

i just finished a Rock Art Humble Harvester.
easily the best i've had from Rock Art.
it's a limited release, supporting a really great cause.
way to get after it VT!
http://www.stowetoday.com/this_week/...e9d1f119d.html

Had a Dragoon IPA at the Tucson airport yesterday. Was a very nice bouquet of Citrus, piney, and a bit of fruit. One of the better IPA's I've had in a few weeks. Tried to stop at their brewery while we were down there, but they were closed. Thunder Valley however wasn't terrible either. Tried their selection which included a cask of their IPA with some other additions. Was pretty nice. I found all of their beers to be a little under carbonated, which might just be their style.

I am going to be in Sacramento for a meeting on Wednesday, is there anywhere in the area I could score a 6'er of Pliny?
Ya, I know there other beers just as good or better, but I am on a mission here.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by teleee

I am going to be in Sacramento for a meeting on Wednesday, is there anywhere in the area I could score a 6'er of Pliny?
Ya, I know there other beers just as good or better, but I am on a mission here.

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Depending on your time and mobility you should visit Alpine.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Doremite

Depending on your time and mobility you should visit Alpine.

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Hmmm very mobile, not sure about time, I'm thinking I just might throw down for a ticket and catch the Giants play-off game.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by teleee

Hmmm very mobile, not sure about time, I'm thinking I just might throw down for a ticket and catch the Giants play-off game.

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Shit I read San Diego. Too much IPA. Alpine nowhere near you. Hear that stadium is sweet. Go to Toronado if in SF. Should have Pliny on tap plus some Alpine greats.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Doremite

Shit I read San Diego. Too much IPA. Alpine nowhere near you. Hear that stadium is sweet. Go to Toronado if in SF. Should have Pliny on tap plus some Alpine greats.

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Ha, I was just looking up Alpine and was wondering what I had missed... I will check out Toronado.

We made it up to to Decorah last Friday night and hit Toppling Goliath's riverside pub just in time to pick up a couple rare specialties and both first tastes for me since I never seem to time my visits to releases. Right now I am enjoying the Hopsmack. Damned good - really looking forward to cracking open the Sosus this weekend. the best IPA is your local IPA but I still the TG's Zeelander is the one of the best IPA's ever. I remember just a few years ago there was nothing good coming out of this area - with a couple Wisconsin exceptions.



https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5609/...5013fc73_b.jpg

Sosus envy. Bottle date? Enjoy!

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Originally Posted by Lexi-Bell

Please tell me you are kidding.

Right now I am drinking a Tumbleweed from Lewis &Clark in Helena, have a sixer of Hopzone from Bozone in the fridge, drank some Double Hauls from Kettlehouse in Missoula fishing Monday, got a growler fill from Bridger Brewing of the Vigilante last weekend, and sample 406 a few times a month as well.

Not to mention one of the best IPAs I have ever tasted, that stacks up right there with PTE or HT, is brewed in Helena, Montana; Blackfoot River IPA.

With a population equivalent to the city of San Francisco, and outnumbered by cattle 2 to 1, I'd say we're pretty dam lucky in the good brewery and IPA category.

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Not kidding, although I may be turning into somewhat of a crank. I'm glad you like our local breweries. I like some of them. Those that I do like; I find that often their IPAs aren't their best work, e.g. Bridger Brewing. I wish they would bring their red ale back. We agree on Blackfoot; their IPA is very good, although I wouldn't mention it in the same breath as "PTE". My wife goes to Helena for work once in a while and more than once I've sent her off with an empty growler to get filled at Blackfoot.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by yeahman

Tumbleweed IPA from Lewis and Clark just won an award at the Great American Beer Festival in Denver.

http://helenair.com/news/local/helen...57e7f891d.html

I happen to be drinking one as I type this, although I prefer their Prickly Pear. Prickly Pear is the best beer in Montana. Thank God they started canning it finally. (I'm partial to pale ales.)

I like a lot of the Montana micros, although I do think Washington and Oregon dominate. Blackfoot IPA is good, but the shit knocks me out and screws up my evening so I don't drink it much. I really like Tamarack in Missoula. As far as the East Coast goes--and I visit there every year--they got a lot of catching up to do.

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Thanks for the heads up on Tumbleweed. And Prickly Pear. That's some strong praise.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Driver

So you went east to get western beer and brought it back west? :)

Big Sky is the best and only Montana beer I've had. Not sure I've had an IPA from them, but Trout Slayer and Moose Drool are solid

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Yes, that was the point. I ended up bringing beers back to Montana from places that are much, much further away from the beer's origin. (And for the record, my Dad insisted I bring them home.) Meanwhile, every little tiny brewery in MT that somehow got their hands on a canning machine has 8 varieties of beer populating the shelves of our local stores. I know beer distribution is weird here, but it would be nice to have a few more accomplished breweries showing up on our shelves. An anecdote to illustrate my point: I brought some Dale's Pale Ale to a bbq recently and numerous hopeful individuals were crestfallen to find out that I had bought it in Wyoming, rather than Bozeman.

Nice Wormtown Be Hoppy. http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14...8ebd028262.jpg

Hop forward and smooth.

^That beer has caught me off guard good on tap. Haven't had it much from can. Not sure if it can be inconsistent or just hitting in the freshness wheelhouse is the key. Enjoy!

Cool can.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MMP

Nice Wormtown Be Hoppy. http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14...8ebd028262.jpg

Hop forward and smooth.

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Nice pint, surely contributes to the enjoyment!

Next time I'm traveling through Hoopstown USA I might have to bring some 2nd fiddle to trade.

I'll be up that way soon enough, we can work something out. ^. Need DS in my life.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Doremite

^That beer has caught me off guard good on tap. Haven't had it much from can. Not sure if it can be inconsistent or just hitting in the freshness wheelhouse is the key. Enjoy!

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Supposedly they have a new brewery so production and distribution should improve. I don't have a historical basis to judge consistency, but I'm told the beer sells out immediately so freshness should be good.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MMP

I'll be up that way soon enough, we can work something out. ^. Need DS in my life.

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Sounds good. DS is a tough get, only delivered once a week with a 1 bottle limit up this way. SOS is a bit more accessible but a step down from DS in my book.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MMP

Nice Wormtown Be Hoppy. http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14...8ebd028262.jpg

Hop forward and smooth.

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I fucking love that beer! I was not able to get my hands on any this last release. Hopefully the new digs will increase distro amounts.

Be on the lookout for Night Shift Morph in Mass. Just canned a few days ago. Last batch was real good, the recipe changes each time they brew it.

For those interested, posted by Lawson's today.

http://t.co/74L9478qf9

Quote:

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Originally Posted by HD333

I fucking love that beer! I was not able to get my hands on any this last release. Hopefully the new digs will increase distro amounts.

Be on the lookout for Night Shift Morph in Mass. Just canned a few days ago. Last batch was real good, the recipe changes each time they brew it.

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drive this way and there's a 4 with your name on them. 01106

Any Vermonters had Farley Brothers? Just heard about these guys and the double IPA they're brewing. I grew up in the tiny little podunk town they're located in. I heard there was a brewery going in a few years back and it's cool to see these guys brew a beer that's getting some praise.

And to the idiot that says Montana is brewing better beer than the East Coast... Really man?

Alchemist
New England Brewing
Tree House
Hill Farmstead
Lawson's
Maine Beer Co

Are just a few from New England that all brew substantially better beers than anything coming out of MT.

Enjoying a Myrceney now... I really do love this beer.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by wasatchback

Any Vermonters had Farley Brothers? Just heard about these guys and the double IPA they're brewing. I grew up in the tiny little podunk town they're located in.

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Haven't heard of Farley. Are you thinking Foley Brothers in Brandon? If so what was it like attending the institute? ;)

Seriously though, if it is Foley's, then yes. I mentioned previously their fair maiden double is one of the best. Their regular IPA and native IPA are both stellar as well. The whole family there is really nice. Older generation has been doing wine for years and the young bucks are into the beer. One of only a couple of breweries where every beer they were pouring was solid.

I probably shouldn't be saying anything because they'll become more popular and the days of stopping by and getting beer in 5 minutes on my way to visit family in the rut will be over. Although Costco had a crate of their native last week so they are keeping up with demand so far.

Haha yup I meant Foley...

Funny I get the "institute" comment from anyone that knows Brandon.

The wine that they made there left a little to be desired. Good to know the beer is a notch above.

Local store actually got Pliny. Finally get to see what all the hype is about. I'm prepared to be disappointed.

^^all about freshness. Bottle I had was like 30 days old and I wasn't thrilled but guessing fresh a whole different experience.

Just checked mine. It was bottled on the 6th of this month. Will be cracking it on Sunday for my birthday. Hopefully 20 days is not to long.

20 days, if it's been handled well, can still be great*. Handling and Freshness < cue the assholes >

*caveat that I haven't gotten it in a couple years because it's been a pita to source.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ASmileyFace

Just checked mine. It was bottled on the 6th of this month. Will be cracking it on Sunday for my birthday. Hopefully 20 days is not to long.

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Really should be great and a spectrum of goodness. Sooner the better but sure Sunday will be fine. Happy bday! Not a bad beer to celebrate your old-ness. Yes, and handling too.

Been pretty fkn disappointed in the service at Auburn Alehouse lately. I love the Gold Digger but the service has been shitty. Today I roll in to watch 2nd half of El Classico and fill my growlers. Bitch behind the bar's first words to me were a snarly "Jesus Christ, what is it Growler Day?" Well fuck you for having to do your job bitch. I'm one of two people in the place. No tip for you. I hate shitty service.

Attachment 159450

Hellz yeah!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ASmileyFace

Local store actually got Pliny. Finally get to see what all the hype is about. I'm prepared to be disappointed.

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It is absolutely a pedestrian beer. Good but the Hype is not warranted. Great advertising. The younger on tap is decent.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rodneyyee

It is absolutely a pedestrian beer. Good but the Hype is not warranted. Great advertising. The younger on tap is decent.

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Not saying you're wrong, at all, but name 2-3 better IPA/IIPAs so we know you're not just being contrary.

If Pliny is "pedestrian", what do you consider outstanding within the same style?

Drakes Aroma Coma
Caldera Hop Hash

Aroma Coma is far too hit and miss. debatable whether it's the same style.. Pliny's been strong for years, that's it's thing.

Rodney is just being his cunt alias thing. They do next to no advertising; beer douches are a different matter. Like ski douches

I like AC just as much - if not more than - Pliney. And I can get it locally, which helps my rating. I find Drakes to be very consistent if you get it fresh.

Auburn Alehouse PU240

Beer list at Wildlife. Attachment 159462

^^awesome. My CA geography nonexistent but any Long Beach (?) mags mark your calendar for Nov 7. Hill Farmstead coming at cha. Beachwood BBQ

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Originally Posted by telemike

Attachment 159450

Hellz yeah!

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You can never go wrong with this one! Just picked up my first sixer of this year's celebration yesterday.