TNL Pub 2010

[Josh]

It's pretty good, I like most all of the stuff I have had by them. It is not as thick as I was expecting, maybe?

[stormy]

I think I have a favorite new brewery. The two beers I've had from Bootlegger's have been different, interesting, and really tasty. The first is Plum Riot, brewed with plums and rock candy. The candy really comes through, and it's good. I don't know how they got the essence of the rock candy so clearly. The sweetness and plum go so well together. My friend jokingly called it skittle-brau. The other beer I had was chocolate mint porter. This was thin mint beer. The funny thing is that their beers sound so gimmicky, but they don't taste like gimmick beers. Going through their website they have a chipotle coffee stout called Black Phoenix that I have to try. I'm going to hunt down as many beers of theirs as I can.

[Josh]

I will keep an eye out, those both sound pretty out there!

[Cowutopia]

I had some southern tier stuff on tap at a bar in Mass the other day but I can't remember much about it.

I had a coffee stout up there too by a different company that was super drinkable and rad though and tasted mostly like coffee. I downed the first one in two goes. Shit I have to remember what it was.

[Cowutopia]

The Magic Hat summer seasonal pretty much blows btw, and Wachusett's "Larry" is a decent, smooth IPA.

[redstar.division]

I tried an incredibly bad beer over the weekend and just wanted to give a PSA for anyone thinking of picking one up. This thread has helped me navigate the beer selection at my local liquor stores much more confidently. Both the chain liquor stores near me in Boston have been pretty good at expanding their selection over the past 4 years. Belgian ales, flemish ales, sour beers, and lambics are my favorites. Light on hops big on other characteristics.

Stay away from Dogfish Head's Fort. It's a 18% ABV fruit beer blended with rasberry's that tastes like nail polish remover...I was not a fan and at $14 a bottle it was not a pleasant experience.

Lately I've been sticking pretty much to Samuel Smith's Strawberry Ale. I've yet to find a better summer beverage. It's crisp and rather than tasting fake it blends strawberries with a hint of light beer amazingly.

I'm also a big fan of Brasserie Du Ciel, specifically their Rigor Mortis. I'm usually not big on full bodied beers, but this one is full of flavors (caramel, maple, the fall) without all the hoppiness that I usually associate with dark beer. And at 11% ABV and $4 a bottle it's got value and great taste.

I don't think I've seen it mentioned yet but Goose Island's Sofie is a great introduction to beers brewed with Brettanomyces. The sourness is subtle and it pours with a nice foamy top that is light and airy.

I enjoy the flemish red's and brown's but realize they are not for everyone. Monk's Sour Flemish Ale and Panil from Italy are two of my favorites. La Roja by Jolly Pumpkin is a good starting point as it retains many familiar beer qualities while gently introducing the sourness.

As far as lambics go, Cantillon's age fantastic (had a 96' Kriek at a recent tasting and it was tart and sweet but still smooth) and 3 Fonteinen Schaerbeek is at the top of my list. It's $40.00 a bottle at the store, but for a special occassion you can't beat the sourness of those cherries.

Lindeman's is a good stand in, but the ABV hovers around 4%, I think that's the one that's been in the states the longest.

If I come across anymore "must avoid's" I'll be sure to give a heads up.

[Josh]

Stay away from Dogfish Head's Fort. It's a 18% ABV fruit beer blended with rasberry's that tastes like nail polish remover...

This is truth. It is gross.

[Pineapple]

The new Labatt Blue Light Lime is actually pretty decent. I got to try it before it was out because my buddy is an IT tech at the Genesee Brewery and gets tons of free beer. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the taste.

[Anthony]

The new Labatt Blue Light Lime is actually pretty decent. I got to try it before it was out because my buddy is an IT tech at the Genesee Brewery and gets tons of free beer. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the cock.

Keep that shit in FC please.

[stormy]

I did manage to track down and buy some more beer from Bootlegger's Brewery. The first I drank is Black Phoenix, a chipotle coffee stout. Despite the order in which they are listed on the label the coffee comes first. It is right up front with some of the nicest coffee notes I've had in a beer. There is muted spice/smoke in the finish from the pepper. You taste the coffee/pepper one after another as opposed to together. I thought it was good value for a $6 bottle.