I'm not sure if the South Pacific was a one-time thing or not. I think it is, but you never know. No bottles, just draft. The inspiration for the beer was Hoppy Birthday from Alpine.
It wasn't as tropical fruity as you might think, more subtle, but delicious at the same time. Just a real drinkable, hoppy pale ale. Less malt than, say, a Dales pale ale.

I had the Mo Betta Bretta and was expecting more Brett. Sort of underwhelmed. I have a bottle and will age it a bit to see if it develops.

ND = now drinking.

ND: coffee

A couple weeks ago a local (excellent) bottle shop celebrated it's First Year Anniversary, with a special bottling of an incredible beer brewed by Hess called The Covenant.
It's a Black Rye IPA, with Papuan Coffee, Cocoa Nibs and Orange Zest.
Very tasty. More like a coffee/chocolate porter. The orange is super subtle. The coffee is earthy like Kopi Luwak or something.

Best imperial IPA you can get for the money. I usually get it for $4.99 a bomber. Garlic and onions!

I'm in the pub on my laptop like a prick.
Cut off at home so I can just about justify sitting in the pub after work in order to sort out our billing...

Had some of that US/UK hybrid... quite good but no fireworks. Works ok but the hops kind of overwhelm the malty bitter, as to be expected really.

Have since had a half of a very mediocre beer, fruity mid (esters?) stomping all over the hop character and malt...
That and a really good local pale, similar to Beer Factory's Southville Hop but not quite as mental! Class balance of bitter hops and aromatic flavour. Yum.

Tossing up between a big chunky stout and a delicate summer ale to finish.

Just cracked open a Boulevard Love Child #2 for this 4th of July. Usually find myself to be underwhelmed by Boulevard's offerings but not this time. This is pretty fantastic; not sure I get much of the bourbon barrel in this but its great nonetheless, sweet and sour. Worth the price.

Okay, it's the BEER THREAD, but I did crack open a 1997 Ironstone (?) Cab Sauvignon Reserve with my girlfriend tonight and it was delicious.

Also, opened a Maui/Jolly Pumpkin collab called, lemme go find the can so I spell it right...Sobrehumano Palena'ole. Brewed with Liliko'i and Michigan cherries.
I like it but ain't blown away. Wish there was more tartness. There's a little, but don't expect a lot. Since it's in cans aging it won't do anything.
Drink up, move on.

Almost picked up a sixer of this the other day. But at $14 for the six pack I wanted to hear from others if it was worth it. You're the first I have seen comment on it and that review doesn't sound like it was worth that money. If I ever find it available on tap or as a single I'll check it out that way.

Courtesy of of the more than generous Mullett, who hooked me up with a few bottles of this. Awesome beer.

New in bottles. Russian River Row 2 Hill 56. The Story of Simcoe. Check out the edges around the label, it says Respect Hops Drink Fresh. Dont Save it Savor it and stuff like that all around it. Apparently this will be a series of beers featuring single hops.

Yeah, White Rajah is great. Ohio also has two other spectacular IPAs, Columbus Brewing Company IPA and Fathead's Headhunter IPA.

Several of us took a White Rajah head to head against a Pliny, White Rajah won hands down.

The Sam Adams summer ale is surprisingly good!

Also been really into a lithuanian wheat ale called Svyturys:



I've tried their stouts and their reds, but they're not as good as this one.

Oh hai Soundgardenia

No shit, Left Hand makes it out to Mass? I wouldn't have expected such broad distribution for them.

Personally, not a fan of 400 LB Monkey at all, to put it nicely, but a big fan of their darker beers like their Milk Stout and Blackjack Porter.

oh hai!

* High five *

*high five, struts*

I don't mind the 400 lb Monkey. Not as hoppy as what I usually drink - Victory Hop Devil is what the corner store has, but this sixer was purchased at the place by the train station. Also got the I'm Paled Ale from the same place, which was also not too bad.

I'm Paled Aled? Impaled Ale would have made more sense given the artwork.

Yeah, but then you wouldn't get IPA out of the initials.

"Grammar Rodeo? We're not going to no stinking Grammar Rodeo!"

Currently drinking a Hoppin Frog Boris The Crusher Imperial Oatmeal Stout. Eh, it's good for what it is but a bit too sweet for me, personally. Enjoyable to drink this once but won't rush to buy another.

We ran out of Festina Peche from Dogfishhead about a week ago. Three of us at the bar love the shit and went looking for more. On Tuesday we wandered over to a dive bar/craft beer bar that had it on tap. We had six of them. Each.

I went back tonight and taunted them with a picture of my beer. I ordered another and the keg blew. Damn.

Next year.

So, I had the Woe-be-Gone Red IPA unofficially judged under BJCP guidelines and got some advice on how to improve it. So I've brewed another which is hoppier and drier which i'm entering in a couple of comps in the next month or so. I should move up from 31/50 to hopefully high 30's or 40 with that one. I tried it out on some local brewing mates in a back to back tasting and they all agreed that the new one is better.

Anyway, here's the judging sheet for the Woe-be-Gone Red IPA.



A Red IPA is always going to lose points in the American IPA category for being out of stye, so it's an uphill battle!

Sans Pagaie
Oak Aged Sour w/Cherries. Tart and tasty.
my wifes current favorite Bruery Sour.

I doubt we'll see that out here, but I sure would love to try some.

Just to be fair, I'm guessing the Rajah was fresh and the Pliny was much less so.
Pliny's reputation lies in part on its inaccessibility, though it is a great beer too. Thankfully, there are now a lot of great IPAs being made all over and we can enjoy our local stuff nice and fresh.

I enjoyed both Pliny and White Rajah. I'd be happy to drink both and if forced to chose between I'd probably be willing to choose based on whether I wanted the higher ABV or lower ABV. Can't go wrong with either choice.

Just finished a Ska MH:



Solid brew. Not a favorite.

Now onto:



Another solid brew.

Thinking of hitting up Freshcraft tomorrow to check out the latest Crooked Stave Wild Brett Beer, their Blue. Not a black IPA fan so I don't expect to actually be a huge fan but just curious to see what a black ale with Brett tastes like. Should be interesting.

I had it at Hops & Pie and was underwhelmed.

But, please, go for it and let me know what you think.