musing

My first pick . . . The Lost Abbey

Niche within a niche within a niche. Fantasy Great American Beer Festival “team.” So I’ll be brief.

Through the generosity of Jonathan Surratt, the genius behind The Beer Mapping Project, we once again get the Beer Mapping Fantasy Draught. I tied for third in 2007, missed last year (we were in Switzerland).

I sure was suprised to get The Lost Abbey with the 12th pick.

Tomorrow regular blogging will resume, because I can’t imagine reading about somebody’s fantasy football team (although I’ve seen the beer companies have start to toss all sorts of marketing support in that direction).

But if you care then follow the draft here.

 

GABF book signings

Are you going to be at the Great American Beer Festival next week?

If so please stop by the GABF Bookstore on Thursday (6:30-7:30 p.m.) or Friday (6:30-7 p.m.) and say hello. If you are carrying around a copy of Brew Like a Monk, or for that matter Frank Applegate of Santa Fe, I’ll be happy to sign in.

Stone Vertical Epic Ale 09.09.09

Stone Vertical Epic Ale 09.09.09

I’m writing about Stone Vertical Epic Ale 09.09.09 because the brewery sent me a bottle. That doesn’t mean I’ll blog about the next beer that shows up at my doorstep, or even that we’ll drink it. (At 8.9% abv and in a 22-ounce bottle this is definitely a “we” beer.)

If it were just kind of OK I might write about it eventually and I might not. If I disliked it as much at 04.04.04 I’d be telling you it sucked. As is my habit I bought two bottles of 04.04.04 in April of 2004. We opened one not long after and cared for it so little we dumped it. Waited several months and tried again. Dumped again. Obviously we should have never opened the second one and instead sold it on eBay (current bid $40).

This is one to go out and buy (I already did, in fact — my local store had three cases early this afternoon). Since 12.12.12. isn’t that far off you might even want to consider saving a bottle for some sort of grand event (sans 04.04.04). It’s got the heft to age. I don’t expect that any of the three bottles I bought ($5.99 apiece) will be around.

That’s pretty much all I have to say. Mitch Steele’s excellent tasting notes don’t need adding to, but were I scoring this beer (fat chance) I would give it six out of a possible five for mouthfeel.

 

After the (Miller) Chill is gone

There’s talk on the street, it’s there to
Remind you, it doesn’t really matter
which side you’re on.
You’re walking away and they’re talking behind you
They will never forget you ’til somebody new comes along
Where you been lately? There’s a new kid in town
Everybody loves him, don’t they?
Now he’s holding her, and you’re still around
Oh, my, my
There’s a new kid in town
– The Eagles

Remember when Miller Chill was the hot new flavor du jour?

Meet Bud Light Lime, which in the first half of the year outsold Miller Chill by about seven to one. In fact, Bud Light Lime was the second best-selling “super premium” beer according to Information Resources Inc., behind only Michelob Ultra Light and ahead of Blue Moon White. Bud Light sells ten times better, but it’s the best selling beer in the land.

Miller Chill ranks 10th among “super premium” beers, just behind Landshark Lager.