BEER Thread!

Victory is a solid brewery. I'm a big fan of that Pils you've got pictured.

I see you have a Stoudt's. I cannot recommend their Double IPA enough. It's one of the Eastern beers I used to love that I just can't get in Minnesota. It's distributed in Florida, and whenever I visit my parents I buy some there. Just a wonderfully balanced big beer.

I'm considering making a topic in P&C about it, but Goose Island recently announced that it is being purchased by ABInbev, the mega conglomerate macro facility. Needless to say, I'm very conflicted about the purchase.

On the plus side, the master brewer (who is the son of the creator of Goose Island) made several million dollars on the deal. The stake he and the other personal owners had was valued at over 22 million, so he can retire at age 45 quite comfortably (he's even taken a "consulting" position meaning he'll probably get a nice Anheuser Busch 401k while working 3 days a month). There's something to be said that the new American dream is to have an idea, nurture it for a few years, then sell it to a mega corporation for a few million and retire.

Additionally, I understand that a multi billion dollar corporation like AB-Inbev isn't going to just let their market share erode. The craft beer segment is growing exponentially and now make up 11% of all beer sold in America, while macro brewerers are experiencing market share loss. Buying up a great brand is probably much smarter than any other choice AB-Inbev was looking at. Their major competition, SABMillerCoors, is already doing that with Leinenkugel as well as those Michelob craft-esque beers (Shock Top, Cask Winter Sugar Water or whatever it's called).

On the flip side, I have an exceedingly low opinion of the Anheuser Busch strategy, which is to use the cheapest ingredients possible and spend heavily on marketing. I've seen companies come in, promise that nothing will change (AB has promised to leave management and brewing in Chicago) -- and I've seen those companeis nix that within 2 years. In fact it's fairly standard damage control as I'm sure they realized that the word "sellout" would be the first thing from GI's fanbase.

It just makes me wary. This would not be the first time an enormous push to macro-ize the country killed off thousands of local breweries. I know some breweries will never cede to the pressure (Larry Bell's anti corporate streak makes him a hero in this regard), but...22 million dollars is a LOT of pressure.

EDIT: AB-Inbev actually owns Michelob. I crossed out the part that is wrong.

Luckily I'm not that big a fan of Goose Island. It has been years since I've had one so maybe it tastes better than what I remember.

KrazyTacoFO wrote:

Luckily I'm not that big a fan of Goose Island. It has been years since I've had one so maybe it tastes better than what I remember.

The Sophie and Maltida are two of my favorites, and I have a two year old Bourbon County that I'm waiting till 2013 to open.

Again, I should re iterate that my problem isn't with ABInbev per se. I would be lying if I said I never enjoyed a cold Bud Light while mowing the lawn, and remember that AB Inbev also owns Bass, Boddington's, Beck's, Czechvar, Hoegaarden, Kirin Ichiban, Leffe, Stella Artois, Red Hook, and Monster Energy, so I can't in good conscience call them the devil.

I'm just wary. Drinking a local beer from a local brewery has a psychological benefit, and GI just lost that.

I liked their Green Line.

22 million doesn't seem that much to me, but I'm ignorant of their finances. What a shame.

Seth wrote:

Victory is a solid brewery. I'm a big fan of that Pils you've got pictured.

I just picked up some Victory Headwaters Pale Ale which they just released last month and I am quite happy with it.

The Brewer's Art Resurrection is a fantastic beer.

Unsurprisingly, this is awesome

IMAGE(http://www.thebeerspot.com/blogs/images/2249.jpg)

Had a fun time a couple of weeks ago with Mister Magnus and wordsmythe at the downtown Chicago Rock Bottom. Magnus followed my lead on beers and got a Fire Chief Ale from the cask and then a bourbon barrel stout. Hoo boy! The last was less stout and more bourbon.

Their brewmaster left to start Haymarket Brewery near smythe's place. This was my first time back to that Rock Bottom. Used to have a print out of a bunch of different beers the guy made for just there. There was no more print out so I guess he took the recipes with him.

KrazyTacoFO wrote:

Luckily I'm not that big a fan of Goose Island. It has been years since I've had one so maybe it tastes better than what I remember.

The stuff that makes it out of the region isn't that great. I'm referring to 312 mainly, but also Honker's and the IPA, though I like those two a bit. I drink a lot of their Mild Winter during, well, winter. It's delicious on tap. Doesn't hurt that it hasn't traveled far to get to me.

Just got a 6 pack of Old Foghorn Ale by Anchor Steam and Chocolate Stout by Bison. Both good, but the Old Foghorn is excellent.

boogle wrote:

Just got a 6 pack of Old Foghorn Ale by Anchor Steam and Chocolate Stout by Bison. Both good, but the Old Foghorn is excellent.

Oh man.. might have said it earlier in the thread, but Old Foghorn is my favorite Barleywine and one of my two or three favorite beers to date.

The Bison Chocolate Stout is pretty good.

Tanglebones wrote:
boogle wrote:

Just got a 6 pack of Old Foghorn Ale by Anchor Steam and Chocolate Stout by Bison. Both good, but the Old Foghorn is excellent.

Oh man.. might have said it earlier in the thread, but Old Foghorn is my favorite Barleywine and one of my two or three favorite beers to date.

I almost didn't want to get it, but a clerk at the store recommended it to me. It is absolutely fantastic.

boogle wrote:
Tanglebones wrote:
boogle wrote:

Just got a 6 pack of Old Foghorn Ale by Anchor Steam and Chocolate Stout by Bison. Both good, but the Old Foghorn is excellent.

Oh man.. might have said it earlier in the thread, but Old Foghorn is my favorite Barleywine and one of my two or three favorite beers to date.

I almost didn't want to get it, but a clerk at the store recommended it to me. It is absolutely fantastic.

Look for Sierra Nevada Bigfoot. Stupidly awesome stuff.

I've been buying a new beet for every Thursday night battlefield session. Next week I shall try Bigfoot.

This week is that Doublerock that I mentioned earlier and Lefthand Milk Stout (again)

Paleocon wrote:

The Brewer's Art Resurrection is a fantastic beer.

YES IT IS. One of my favorite parts of visiting Baltimore.

oilypenguin wrote:

Unsurprisingly, this is awesome

IMAGE(http://www.thebeerspot.com/blogs/images/2249.jpg)

Just tried that last night. I concur in the awesomeness claim.

oilypenguin wrote:

I've been buying a new beet for every Thursday night battlefield session.

Beers, Beets, Battlefield Galactica.

Somehow, I missed this thread. I'll post when I try something particularly awesome.

Norfair wrote:

I got my half of the Quarter to Three beer exchange yesterday from Pennsylvania. I haven't had a chance to drink any of it yet but I plan to tonight.
IMAGE(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_eqAkC3DeJXQ/TYv6Y7lXxkI/AAAAAAAACog/GThbyzQj_r4/s640/IMG_6028.JPG)

So I've tried the Stoudts, the Double Bag and the Nugget Nectar and enjoyed all three. Maybe we should organize a beer exchange.

Smoked Baltic Porter. Enough said.

IMAGE(http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/Salvaje1/IMG-20110401-00038.jpg)

Nice mousepad

I had pizza here and while there I had one of these on tap:

IMAGE(http://pictures.polandforall.com/images/polish-beer-zywiec.jpg)

Very delicious.

carrotpanic wrote:

Nice mousepad :)

I like these pics that show off a little for each Goodjer. But am I the only one actually staging his pictures? Don't make it weird for me.

Gravey wrote:
carrotpanic wrote:

Nice mousepad :)

I like these pics that show off a little for each Goodjer. But am I the only one actually staging his pictures? Don't make it weird for me.

No staging here, though I suppose if there were dirty laundry in the picture or something I'd pick it up. That's our dining room computer, which gets far more usage than our office desktop. I also dig getting glimpses of other goodjers' homes. So to satisfy your domestic voyeurism:

IMAGE(http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/Salvaje1/IMG-20110403-00048.jpg)

And now to make up for that thread derail. I generally steer clear of the "my beer is bigger than yours" micros, since so many of them lack any semblance of balance, but this one came highly recommended. I have to say, I'm impressed. And just slightly tipsy. Perfect Sunday afternoon beer.
IMAGE(http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/Salvaje1/IMG-20110403-00049.jpg)

Gravey wrote:
carrotpanic wrote:

Nice mousepad :)

I like these pics that show off a little for each Goodjer. But am I the only one actually staging his pictures? Don't make it weird for me.

What do you mean "staging"? The pics I've been posting are actually from my computer desk. I move any paperwork that may be lying in the shot but that's it.

tanstaafl wrote:
Gravey wrote:
carrotpanic wrote:

Nice mousepad :)

I like these pics that show off a little for each Goodjer. But am I the only one actually staging his pictures? Don't make it weird for me.

What do you mean "staging"? The pics I've been posting are actually from my computer desk. I move any paperwork that may be lying in the shot but that's it.

Like how I set up a game of Memoir '44 behind a bottle of Hoperation, and photographed our bonsai tree with the Tree beers. What can I say, I like to make it a little entertaining...

Norfair wrote:

I had pizza here and while there I had one of these on tap:

IMAGE(http://pictures.polandforall.com/images/polish-beer-zywiec.jpg)

Very delicious.

Recognized the label. Had that one as well. Got it gifted from someone I helped out at work.
Very nice beer indeed sir!

oilypenguin wrote:

Unsurprisingly, this is awesome

IMAGE(http://www.thebeerspot.com/blogs/images/2249.jpg)

Had a couple of these on tap at the Winking Lizard Saturday night. Very good! According to the waiter they're seasonal, February through March. So I proceeded to pick up the last couple of four packs at the store on Sunday!