T1B

I assume you’re familiar with Flying Dog brewery. It’s a Denver-based micro-brewer that set up a brewing facility in Fredericksburg. Last night I had a bottle of their Raging Bitch, a Belgian-style IPA. Try it, mop-jockey, you’ll like it.

It's brewed in Fredrick (MD) not Fredricksburg (VA), you gluttonous pile of shutyomouth. I knew they were out in Fredrick but I didn't know they were based in Denver. Hmm. Interesting.

Been drinking some of this shit lately, good stuff.

Well, since you brought up the subject…

Finally dropped 12 bucks on a sixer of Bell’s Two Hearted Ale a couple of weeks back. Bad enough to have pony up that much for a twelver in this day-in-age (much less a six) so it’s taken some doin’ to pull the trigger on such an investment.

Two words: Smoo-oove.

Always thought the local product was practically unbeatable:



Brand loyalty and a suspicion of all things imported from Wisconsin had me pretty well convinced that Boulevard’s Double-Wide IPA micro is about as good as it gets. Besides, it’s brewed in the Kansas City IKYABWAI tradition: One taste, and you can tell that there’s beer in it; finish the bottle and it tells you that there is beer in you.

But Bells is the shit. Best damn American IPA I’ve ever tasted. PM your address, Goobs, so I’ll know where to send the racks.

Truman wrote:PM your address, Goobs, so I’ll know where to send the racks.

Send them to me, I used to live in Kzoo, asshat. And Shoalz lives in the metropolitan area.

Tru, yes, Bell's shit can be expensive. It's only for special occasions. Usually I'll buy a pint or two at a local bar or I'll buy a six (or 12 depending on how flush I am) when I'm going to shindigs hosted by friends from Grand Rapids or WMU. Of course, it's not the peeps from Michigan who drink it, it's the people who aren't from MI who end up drinking all the shit, which really isn't a big deal because they instantly become converts.

Screw_Michigan wrote:

Truman wrote:PM your address, Goobs, so I’ll know where to send the racks.

Send them to me, I used to live in Kzoo, asshat. And Shoalz lives in the metropolitan area.

And now look at you: Proud resident of a DC homeless shelter. Mom always said you'd be goin' places...

Ever been to Growlers in Gaithersburg, Screwey? Bud of mine hauled me in there one afternoon a few years back. Good drink from what I recall; we kinda made it a point to sample their whole menu - a couple of times over. Gotta admit, you all DO have choices out there - swing a dead cat by it's tail and hit a brewpub. So yes, racks are in order....

Ah, hell, and here I thought Bells was a Wisky brew. :doh:

Regardless, I enjoyed the shit out of it. Wouldn't mind sampling their seasonals; occasionally a case-or-two of their Christmas brew slips into the Flayover. Will definitely be on the stake-out. Thanks for the tip, guys!

Truman wrote:Ever been to Growlers in Gaithersburg, Screwey?

Nope. Gaithersburg is a little far out in the 'burbs for a city dweller like myself, but if I'm ever out there I will certainly check it out.

We do have a decent array of brewpubs and local brews, but the problem is they are all out in the sticks. Only recently with DC Brau has a brewer made its way into the District.

Tru, as Gobbles McTubesteak has testified before, keep your eye out for the seasonal Hopslam. Yes, it's pricey, but the sixer will last you forever as two will floor you and make you reach for the Piss Minus.

I can buy Two Hearted in Madison for $9 a sixer. As for Bell’s seasonals:

Hopslam Ale

Starting with six different hop varietals added to the brew kettle & culminating with a massive dry-hop addition of Simcoe hops, Bell's Hopslam Ale possesses the most complex hopping schedule in the Bell's repetoire. Selected specifically because of their aromatic qualities, these Pacific Northwest varieties contribute a pungent blend of grapefruit, stone fruit, and floral notes. A generous malt bill and a solid dollop of honey provide just enough body to keep the balance in check, resulting in a remarkably drinkable rendition of the Double

India Pale Ale style.
Alcohol by Volume: 10.0%
Original Gravity: 1.087
Shelf Life: 6 months
Dates Available: Winter seasonal
Available Packages: Bottle, draft, and 5 liter (1.32 gal.) mini-keg

But of course I have a local microbrewer about a mile or so from my house that makes even better beer than Bell’s. A pre-emptive GFY to Dinsdale on this, BTW.

Screw_Michigan wrote:

Truman wrote:PM your address, Goobs, so I’ll know where to send the racks.

Send them to me, I used to live in Kzoo, asshat. And Shoalz lives in the metropolitan area.

earn your own fukkin' racks, ya mooch.

Truman wrote:Gotta admit, you all DO have choices out there - swing a dead cat by it's tail and hit a brewpub.

I laughed.

I've explained before -- sucks to be you guys. Theree is absolutely no way in hell the market here would bear a price-point of $12 a sixer. Not a chance, never happen. The big-name local stuff with all the international accolades tops out at about $6 (in the grocery store, you'll pay a bit more at a convenience store/gookmart).

Dinsdale wrote:

Truman wrote:Gotta admit, you all DO have choices out there - swing a dead cat by it's tail and hit a brewpub.

I laughed.

I've explained before -- sucks to be you guys. Theree is absolutely no way in hell the market here would bear a price-point of $12 a sixer. Not a chance, never happen. The big-name local stuff with all the international accolades tops out at about $6 (in the grocery store, you'll pay a bit more at a convenience store/gookmart).

Yes, you've explained it before, and you've been proven wrong before.

http://www.theoneboard.com/board/viewto ... ge#p727742

Goober McTuber wrote: http://www.its-pub-night.com/2011/03/po ... -2011.html

Your average 6-pack is $8.78 and you expect me to believe that you don't have any $11 6-packs?

Don't know who came up with that, but it really couldn't be more wrong.

If I really gave a shit, I guess I could take a digicam into the grocery store and prove you (and that retarded article) wrong beyond any shadow of doubt, but I don't really care how much you think I pay for a six pack... but trust me, I can buy ANY sixer of micro for $6, all day, every day. Only place I can think of that's more is Hair Of Dog, but it doesn't come in sixers, and it's all hand bottled and bottled aged and isn't quite playing the same game.

If you priced a six of just about anything at $8.78, you'd get laughed out of the grocery store.

Dinsdale wrote:

Truman wrote:Gotta admit, you all DO have choices out there - swing a dead cat by it's tail and hit a brewpub.

I laughed.

I've explained before -- sucks to be you guys. Theree is absolutely no way in hell the market here would bear a price-point of $12 a sixer. Not a chance, never happen. The big-name local stuff with all the international accolades tops out at about $6 (in the grocery store, you'll pay a bit more at a convenience store/gookmart).

You really don't make sense. DC doesn't have choices because Portland has a lot of microbrews? That's like saying Coogs isn't married to a fatty because there are bigger women on the planet than Rumplebeast.

smackaholic wrote:earn your own fukkin' racks, ya mooch.

Learn to read you illiterate son of a bitch.

Screw_Michigan wrote:gluttonous pile of shutyomouth

Repetitive, I know.

RACK the Bell's love...

Screw_Michigan wrote:

smackaholic wrote:earn your own fukkin' racks, ya mooch.

Learn to read you illiterate son of a bitch.

My reading comp is good enough. From it I have inferred that goobs told truman about the stuff and he was going to mail or perhaps fedex him a rack for doing so. You decide to jump in and attempt to intercept said rack simply because Kzoo was unfortunate enough to be the place your OL infested the planet with you.

Now wring that mop out and get back to work.

smackaholic wrote:

Screw_Michigan wrote:

smackaholic wrote:earn your own fukkin' racks, ya mooch.

Learn to read you illiterate son of a bitch.

My reading comp is good enough. From it I have inferred that goobs told truman about the stuff and he was going to mail or perhaps fedex him a rack for doing so. You decide to jump in and attempt to intercept said rack simply because Kzoo was unfortunate enough to be the place your OL infested the planet with you.

Now wring that mop out and get back to work.

Get it right or pay the price. I was born in GR. Truman inadvertently racked Gobbles because he thought Bell's was a Wisky beer. This is where the reading comprehension kicks in. Or in your case, where it fails you. Tardling.

OK, so I had to see for myself what all the hubbub about Bell's is. They sell it at Whole Foods here in Arlington, so I grabbed a sixer of the Oberon summer ale (yeah, Dins - I know it has wheat in it and is therefore not a TRUE brewski, but as you may have noticed, I don't GARA), and a sixer of the Two-hearted Ale. Haven't tried the latter yet, but am enjoying an Oberon as I type. Not bad. Pretty good, actually. About $10/sixer; the Two-hearted is about $11. I doubt I'll buy either very often, because I don't like having to fuck with the shitty parking at Whole Foods and I can get beer that's as good cheaper and more easily.

Goobs - I've had Raging Bitch before. Wasn't crazy about it.

Dogfish Head from Delaware ain't bad. There's a Dogfish Head brewpub nearby I've been to a few times. It's worth checking out. http://www.dogfish.com/brews-spirits/th ... /index.htm

Oberon has gone down over the years, but at its best, it's not even a top 5 Bell's product.

You Arlington residents and your fucking cars. You'd die without 'em.

MgoBlue-LightSpecial wrote:Oberon has gone down over the years, but at its best, it's not even a top 5 Bell's product.

Agreed. Oberon is the gateway drug for Bell's.

Screw_Michigan wrote:You Arlington residents

We be keepin' it rill...

MgoBlue-LightSpecial wrote:Oberon has gone down over the years

I wouldn't say Oberon has gone down over the years, it's just that our pallets are much more refined now.

Screw_Michigan wrote:

MgoBlue-LightSpecial wrote:Oberon has gone down over the years, but at its best, it's not even a top 5 Bell's product.

Agreed. Oberon is the gateway drug for Bell's.

Yep. Oberon is what college kids like to drink to call themselves "beer snobs."

Two Hearted is good shit. I'm fond of Bells Amber, myself. Although my buddy brought me up a 12'er of Fat Tire that I will be enjoying tonight. Not the best beer in the world, but one of my favorites. Likely because of the scarcity factor.

The Two-hearted is pretty good, better than Raging Bitch as far as IPAs go, imo.

Dinsdale wrote:

Goober McTuber wrote: http://www.its-pub-night.com/2011/03/po ... -2011.html

Your average 6-pack is $8.78 and you expect me to believe that you don't have any $11 6-packs?

Don't know who came up with that, but it really couldn't be more wrong.

If I really gave a shit, I guess I could take a digicam into the grocery store and prove you (and that retarded article) wrong beyond any shadow of doubt, but I don't really care how much you think I pay for a six pack... but trust me, I can buy ANY sixer of micro for $6, all day, every day. Only place I can think of that's more is Hair Of Dog, but it doesn't come in sixers, and it's all hand bottled and bottled aged and isn't quite playing the same game.

If you priced a six of just about anything at $8.78, you'd get laughed out of the grocery store.

OK, let me think about this. Do I take the word of a guy who's been blogging about Portland beer for at least 5 years and who details his methodology? Or do I trust a known internet blowhard who has a well-documented penchant for talking out of his ass? Hmmmm.

Smackie Chan wrote:Goobs - I've had Raging Bitch before. Wasn't crazy about it.

I guess the question would be, have you had other Belgian style IPAs you liked? My favorite local microbrewer has one called Bedlam that I didn't care for at first but I've learned to like it a bit and that's why I tried the Raging Bitch. There's a huge flavor difference between an IPA and a Belgian IPA, having to do with Belgian yeasts.

Or maybe you meant you've had a raging bitch before. Well, who hasn't? I believe Terry still does.

Screw_Michigan wrote:

MgoBlue-LightSpecial wrote:Oberon has gone down over the years

I wouldn't say Oberon has gone down over the years, it's just that our pallets are much more refined now.

Research it, moron. Lots of people have complained about how the batches are becoming inferior over time.

Goober McTuber wrote:

Smackie Chan wrote:Goobs - I've had Raging Bitch before. Wasn't crazy about it.

I guess the question would be, have you had other Belgian style IPAs you liked? My favorite local microbrewer has one called Bedlam that I didn't care for at first but I've learned to like it a bit and that's why I tried the Raging Bitch.

Or maybe you meant you've had a raging bitch before. Well, who hasn't? I believe Terry still does.

I've had Belgian IPAs I liked in Belgium, but can't recall offhand what their names were. And I've had both upper & lower case raging bitches before, and would rather have the uppers, especially if I've recently had to deal with a lower.

MgoBlue-LightSpecial wrote:

Screw_Michigan wrote:

MgoBlue-LightSpecial wrote:Oberon has gone down over the years

I wouldn't say Oberon has gone down over the years, it's just that our pallets are much more refined now.

Research it, moron. Lots of people have complained about how the batches are becoming inferior over time.

I guess I don't give a flying fuck as I don't drink the shit. Now fuck off.

Killian wrote:Two Hearted is good shit. I'm fond of Bells Amber, myself.

Those are my two faves.

Screw_Michigan wrote:I guess I don't give a flying fuck as I don't drink the shit.

So how can you have a take on the quality of the product over time? God, you're an idiot.

MgoBlue-LightSpecial wrote:

Screw_Michigan wrote:

MgoBlue-LightSpecial wrote:Oberon has gone down over the years

I wouldn't say Oberon has gone down over the years, it's just that our pallets are much more refined now.

Research it, moron. Lots of people have complained about how the batches are becoming inferior over time.

Eh, I attribute this more to the “fuck them, they sold out!” effect. Once something reaches a certain point, the people who were “in on the ground floor” bitch about declining quality. Same thing happened to Fat Tire once they expanded their brewery. Whatever, if you like the beer, you likely can’t detect a difference. It’s like the asshole cigar smokers who try to tell people that they taste a “hit of chocolate and leather.” Fuck them and their wanna-be pretentious palates’s.

Goober McTuber wrote:Belgian style IPA

If it's Belgian style, it isn't an India Pale Ale.

Killian wrote:Although my buddy brought me up a 12'er of Fat Tire that I will be enjoying tonight.

Jesus Christ... if Dins didn't already need an invite to join a beer thread.

Killian wrote:Eh, I attribute this more to the “fuck them, they sold out!” effect. Once something reaches a certain point, the people who were “in on the ground floor” bitch about declining quality.

I don't agree, at least in the specific case of Oberon. There is a discernible difference in taste now vs several years ago. The fact I've heard/read many other accounts of this only reaffirms my belief. Clearly it's good enough to drink still, but I don't have any interest in purchasing it. Of course I probably wouldn't do that anyway, what with various other superior Bell's products readily available to me. I too prefer Two-Hearted and Amber.

I believe this is around the time Oberon went "national" or at least outside of its midwest/east coast footprint.

12 dollars a sixer..jeebus

7 bucks tops out here...Deschutes, Sierra Nevada, Full Sail, Sequoia, Stone Brewery,Anchor Steam ect..ect..

Enjoy getting raped for an outstanding IPA.

Out on the left coast the classic 7 TO 10% IPA's or double IPA's are still just a beer, usually 3 to 5 dollars per pint on happy hour.