The Beer Thread: 2013 –

[MJLiverock]

My top 5 has made a drastic shift over the last couple years.

 

1. Bedlam

2. Little Sumpin Sumpin

3. Gumballhead

4. Black Top(more in the cooler months though)

5. D-Man

 

 

Just had a Little Sumpin Sumpin for the first time this weekend and thought it was a pretty good beer. Just picked it at random out of the mix and match area of Woodman's. I like IPA's and the heavy beers but wanted something that I could sip on while sitting outside and wasn't too heavy but not one of the light fruity wheat beers. Fit the bill well falling in between.

[TooLiveBrew]

What brewery is Little Sumpin Sumpin from?

[logan82]

What brewery is Little Sumpin Sumpin from?

Lagunitas. Last time I had Little Sumpin Sumpin was at Cooper's Tavern in Madison. They have an excellent beer selection.

[jjkoestler]

Lagunitas is an incredible brewery. I've yet to have a disappointing brew from them.

 

Anyone doing Clips of Faith in Madison tonight?

[chuckiehacks]

Lakefront just released their 2nd 25th anniversary beer, an apricot Belgian ale. I like Belgians, but don't usually enjoy fruit beers. Sine it was an absolutely perfect day on my patio and I can see the brewery, I walked over & picked up a 4-pack. It was not sweet at all. In fact, I didn't even taste apricot until I was just about done with it. Very subtle.

[logan82]

Drinking Mercy right now. Awesome Belgian quad from Ale Asylum. Between that, Bedlam and a few other beers they have a good chance at passing New Glarus on my favorite brewery list.

 

Picked up Bell's special double cream stout and Great Lakes Blackout. Both wife(dark beer lover) approved.

 

Dogfishhead is coming back to Wisconsin. I look forward to their IPA's. I think they are getting more than a little gimmicky though. Moon dust in beer, come on son.

 

My Belgian Dark Strong homebrew turned out fantastic.

 

The Barleywine I made last year gets better and better with age.

 

Edit: Forgot to add, Lake Erie Monster is a fantastic beer.

[logan82]

Wisconsin has a terrible selection of local brews compared with many other states. So really there aren't really that many beers to choose from in Wisconsin.

Completely disagree. Outside of Belgian style beers Wisconsin breweries offer a solid selection in every category year round. There is a general lack of Dubbels, Tripels, and Quads. New Glarus makes some of the best Lambics in the US. Not that I like Lambics.

[Brian the Automator]

Lakefront IBA.

 

All the way.

[TooLiveBrew]

BTA! We are honored by your presence And honestly, almost anything Lakefront puts out these days is worth tasting.

 

I picked up some Lagunitas Little Sumpin' Sumpin' Ale last night. If you like hops, just a great beer. Iirc logan has touted it previously.

 

Also grabbed some New Belgium Summer Helles. Good, not great, much how I feel about most of their stuff. Definitely don't regret buying it. I always like trying out German-style brews.

[logan82]

Yes, I like Little Sumpin Sumpin. The best I have had recently is Chillwave IIPA from Great Lakes.

[EdgarDiazRocks]

Ahhhhh TLB, if only you had stayed for the revolution . . . .

 

http://www.beervanabuzz.com/2014/04/craft-surges-ahead-of-big-beer-market.html

[TooLiveBrew]

Ahhhhh TLB, if only you had stayed for the revolution . . . .

 

http://www.beervanabuzz.com/2014/04/craft-surges-ahead-of-big-beer-market.html

I was there during the struggle, comrade! And you opened my eyes to the way & the light.

[logan82]

So, so disappointed this thread died. If you are a beer fan PM me and I will direct you to a beercentric Facebook page several friends and I have been using for over a year now. We have world wide members. I love waking up to new beer posts in the morning. Smells like victory.

 

My latest brewery top 5(just to add something)

1. Ale Asylum

2. Vintage brewing

3. Karben 4

4. Ommegang

5. Great Dane(they will soon have distribution through Wertz Beverage)

[pitchleague]

heh, I have an Ommegang in the fridge right now, I believe!

[logan82]

They make some really good Belgian style beer. Really really good.

[jjkoestler]

I'm thrilled to have Surly in Wisco. My days of bootlegging Furious are over.

 

I picked up a few nice brews this evening.

Idiot Farm by Karben4 - I dig their Fantasy Factory so I hope their Double IPA will be even better.

PseduoSue - Toppling Goliath - My favorite APA. 3 Floyd's is still my favorite brewery, but TG is getting close. I've yet to have a dud.

[logan82]

In my opinion Idiot Farm is better than Fantasy Factory. I was able to have it a couple times at the source. I can't wait until Silk Scorpion comes back.

[Storm]

We have been home brewing since the early 1980's.

 

Will be bottling a Bourbon Barrel Ale later this fall. It ages for up to a year.

 

Next rainy day I'll be bottling a Summit Avenue Ale (clone).

[LouisEly]

So, so disappointed this thread died. If you are a beer fan PM me and I will direct you to a beercentric Facebook page several friends and I have been using for over a year now. We have world wide members. I love waking up to new beer posts in the morning. Smells like victory.

 

My latest brewery top 5(just to add something)

1. Ale Asylum

2. Vintage brewing

3. Karben 4

4. Ommegang

5. Great Dane(they will soon have distribution through Wertz Beverage)

You live in/around Madison? I live downtown. Been to Hop Cat yet? They have 30 local brews on tap, during happy hour (M-Th, 2-6pm) all local taps are $3 and burgers are 1/2 price. I've only been once, and it seems to be an older crowd during happy hour (not sure now since the kids are back in school).

 

I hate to say this, but I think Great Dane's beers are terrible. They are always skunky. Can't say I've ever liked anything they've made except for maybe one of their porters.

 

I know the guys at MobCraft, I did a consulting project for them in the MBA program. They make some really interesting and unique stuff. You can buy it at their warehouse (off Stoughton Rd.), Trixie's Liquor (East Wash), and some stuff at Riley's and Metcalf's Market.

[Funketown]

I scored some of New Glarus' special releases this summer while in Wisconsin.

 

The blended Gueuze was fantastic: hugely tart, moderately funky/horsey/barnyardy going on. I'd drink a lot of this at a lower price point/higher availability.

 

I wasn't crazy about the Wild Bitter. Solid beer, but I'm just not that interested by a big IPA with some funk.

[logan82]

So, so disappointed this thread died. If you are a beer fan PM me and I will direct you to a beercentric Facebook page several friends and I have been using for over a year now. We have world wide members. I love waking up to new beer posts in the morning. Smells like victory.

 

My latest brewery top 5(just to add something)

1. Ale Asylum

2. Vintage brewing

3. Karben 4

4. Ommegang

5. Great Dane(they will soon have distribution through Wertz Beverage)

You live in/around Madison? I live downtown. Been to Hop Cat yet? They have 30 local brews on tap, during happy hour (M-Th, 2-6pm) all local taps are $3 and burgers are 1/2 price. I've only been once, and it seems to be an older crowd during happy hour (not sure now since the kids are back in school).

 

I hate to say this, but I think Great Dane's beers are terrible. They are always skunky. Can't say I've ever liked anything they've made except for maybe one of their porters.

 

I know the guys at MobCraft, I did a consulting project for them in the MBA program. They make some really interesting and unique stuff. You can buy it at their warehouse (off Stoughton Rd.), Trixie's Liquor (East Wash), and some stuff at Riley's and Metcalf's Market.

I live about half an hour from Madison. I am attending MATC and had a 5 hour gap in classes one day a week in the spring. I usually stopped for lunch at a brewpub. Probably do supper a few times a month at one this semester. Met a few guys who like craft beer over the spring and summer.

 

Have not been to Hop Cat. Usually when I am around there I go to Cooper's Tavern. I usually end up at either Ale Asylum or karben 4. They are really close to campus.

 

Great Dane and New Glarus have been passed up by many places. They may not even make top 10 if I really sat down and started listing brewpubs and breweries. Definitely would not have a top 10 in individual beers.

 

I have heard of Mobcraft but never had their beer.

[FVBrewerFan]

As the years have gone by, I have moved to Hefeweizen style more than anything else. I have tried many Hefes and Weiss from WI breweries and brew pubs, and have yet to find anything close to best of the German Hefes and Belgium Witbier brands. Any recommendations?