Beer!

Yeah, I find the Hopslam to be very highly drinkable as well.

The only "IPA" (or DIPA) I've found to be approaching being too hoppy or too boozy is the Dogfish Head 120 Minute. I love it, for sure, and have quite a bit of it (including some that has been aging for a few years) but it's a "sipping" beer in my experience. Actually, it's more of a barley wine, especially being 18% ABV.

 

I had 120 a long time ago and I don't like it, but it was also because I had a completely different expectation going in. I was expecting something super hoppy and me personally I don't get really any hops at all...it was more sweet than anything else. I think if I revisit it now and going in with different expectations I may like it more

 

Had a Westvletern 12 for my birthday




Not pictured is the glass I used because I don't want to make @jexby cry.

 

@jexby

I found a wineglass that I think was acceptable

 

Great beer! The date they put on it is +3 years out from its bottling date so it was bottled Oct 13, 2016. Cheers, happy birthday!

 

So what is a typical expiration on beer? Maybe craft beer is different, but 30 years ago when I worked in a grocery store, one of the beer distributors said 90 days shelf life was about all they would expect on domestics. Can technology has gotten better, and some stuff never sits in a 120 degree truck, but I was wondering if you guys knew the deal on that these days.

 

What? No impressions??

 

Ha! This is my second to post about this. But you are right, I can't just bring up this beer and say nothing about it. Wish I took notes.

Beer was allowed to settle for a month so sediment can reach the bottom. After a day in the fridge I poured into a wide mouth wine glass and allowed to sit for 8 min to come up in temperature. While I was careful pouring, it still generated a good amount of foam. Color is a dark amber.

Taste is quite enjoyable. Has a moderate amount of bitterness. No sourness detected. Nothing jumps out and beats you over the head, instead it's a nice balance. Comparing to other beers I know, I'd say it's similar to Chimay Blue but milder.

I read that at the Abbey it's 2.50€ and at that price you should drink as much as you can. Grey market prices in various shops in Belgium are 9€-12€ a bottle. It will be unadvertised and just sitting in the corner of the shop. In France I used to pay 3€ for the big bottle of Chimay Blue, and at those prices I'll stick with Chimay. But price aside it is definitely in the top two of Trappists beers.

 

Depends on the style, some beers can be aged and some beers should be enjoyed fresh. I believe there used to be a tasting notes website on cellared beer a while back but it got taken down so I can't link it anymore but things like IPAs or stuff with hops should be enjoyed as fresh as possible. Fruited beers too, there's quite a bit of discrepancy on it with people saying that the fruit falls off after a while, while others say that it's still there but just different. As I understand, beer's natural enemy is heat and light over freshness. Moreso light over heat. I know a lot of people say to drink one, age one but sometimes that option isn't available for rare offerings so you kind of have to choose.

 

These were all westy 6's at a beer fest I've gone to.

 

Just my 2c but personally, I found the St Bernardus Abt 12's much enjoyable than Westy 12s. Perhaps it's a good beer to try once but it's personally not something I'd lose a limb after. If it was lambic however... lol.

 

I didn't get grassy notes at all and I have literally eaten grass before. There is a beer that I know follows that description and I'm working hard to remember it. Dammit.

 

My favorite at the time :


The heaven : Vanuxeem shop in Belgium, http://www.vanuxeem.com/vanuxeem/en/6995-our-shops.html

Ali

 

I'm around 30 states away from finishing my 50 states list although I have around 8-10 states shipping right now(I don't cross it off until I have it in my possession since there's a possibility of breakage). I didn't think it would be so involved but I've been having a lot of fun discovering breweries I've never heard before. I think 50 states, 50 stouts can definitely be doable although I'm not much of a stout drinker now. Going down to Florida and hoping to acquire more states since there are bigger stores I can go to but we'll see. The hardest ones acquire for me so far would probably be Side Project from Missouri, Casey from Colorado and Suarez from NYC. On top of that, I still don't have a pick for North and South Dakota.

Edit: sorry my westy pic, it might've been the 12. I know they are color coded. the 6 is green and 8 is blue... I think.