Favorite beer

I thought I had the Founders Cerise last Thursday, but apparently I did not. Had it for the first time with Shifty Squid....it's delish!

 

CBS is draft-only right now. Rumors floating around the past year or so having Founders bottling it at some point but not looking promising. They have been doing some interesting maple-bourbon barrel aging (09 Nemesis, Sappy Slappy Bastard, Maple Mountain Brown- but only the Nemesis was bottled).

If you see Dirty Bastard, give that a go- an excellent malt-forward Scottish Wee Heavy. Very tasty, as is the bourbon-barrel version Backwoods Bastard. Also, if you get some fresh Centennial IPA, it's the titties (bottle dating is now on Founders bottles, on the neck between the two labels).

Also, if fresh, Red's Rye is outstanding. If you can find any Devil Dancer on the shelf, it's a Triple IPA (13-ish percent, 100+ IBU) that hides the alcohol pretty well. Their porter and imperial stout are also top-notch.

Founders is one of the country's finest breweries. I'm fortunate to be a couple hours' drive to it, a wonderful place that makes great beer. They can pretty much do no wrong in my book, yet still may not be my favorite Michigan brewery (love Jolly Pumpkin and Short's).

 

I don't remember what you had last Thursday, but it wasn't as good as the Cerise. Or the lambics. Not bad, just not Cerise. Or the lambics.

 

I like your style. Sadly, I've only had it on a few occasions and I've lived in said town for four years.

 

Is Ghetto Blaster still out there, Fly?

 

Yep. Fly knows his shit.

And Founders is, without question, a world-class brewery. I'm jealous you're that close to it, Fly. A friend and I have spent the past year or so trying to come up with an excuse to make it to Grand Rapids and the Founders taproom. I'd like to justify going to the Founders Brewfest at some point. I've also thought maybe I could make it to GR if I were at Michigan State, either for work or play.

Speaking of world-class breweries, this summer, I took a trip to Montreal and went to the brewpub for Dieu Du Ciel. Their stuff can be a little tough to find in the states, and they only sell it by the individual 12-oz bottle. But if you can get your hands on pretty much anything they do, it's fantastic. Particularly the Rigor Mortis, Aphrodite and Peche Mortal.

 

Yup sure is.

 

I enjoy Founders taproom. Great atmosphere, the beer is stupendous (and there are usually a few selections on that aren't available anywhere else) and the sandwiches are outstanding.

However, Short's, up in tiny Bellaire about 45 minutes northeast of Traverse City, tops it by miles IMO. Just a superb place run and cared for by folks who genuinely like working there and love repping the beer. Food is great, beer is tremendous and creative/wacky (Key Lime Pie? Strawberry Shortscake? whoda thunk, and they actually taste good, too). Joe Short is a creative genius, with big stones to attempt some of the things he does - S'mores stout, served with a flaming marshmallow...Uber Goober Peanut Butter Stout (and the PB&J, Uber Goober blended with his Soft Parade raspberry beer).

And with Jolly Pumpkin, the wild fermentation and brettanomyces-tinged wood barrels everything gets aged in are right in my taste wheelhouse. Love that funky, barnyardy sour goodness...

 

Favorite Beers (for now):

Domestic/Pop-Beer:

Coor's Original
Olde English
Colt-45

Import/Craft:

New Belgium Ranger IPA
Unibroue: Blanche de Chambly
Le Terrible
Trois Pistoles
La Fin Du Monde
Don De Deiu
Leffe Blonde
Duvel
Hacker-Pschorr Hefe Weiss
Edinger Hefe Weizen
Kristalweiss
Weizenbock
Weihenstephaner Hefe Weiss
Franconia Kristalweiss
Schneider Edel Weiss
Aventinus Doppelbock
Spaten Optimator
Paulener Salvator
Hefe Weiss
Ayinger Ur Weiss
Celebrator

Really, this list could go on forever. I am a beer enthusiast, though I've never actually tried brewing. In college, my roomates and I had an enitre wall dedicated to beers, from floor to ceiling. The beers were seperated by nationality and type. It was amazing. Has anyone on the forums tried breweing their own beer or liquor? My friend and I distilled our own Vodka in college. We also made our own mead as well, but mead is easy to make.

Awesome,
El_Sol

 

Duvel is VERY good, El Sol. Probably the only Belgian beer I can stomach, since I seem to be the only person who thinks the Belgians should stick to waffles.

 

I still miss Drummond Bros., my go-to college beer.

Purple Haze is my No. 1, draft or bottle, but all of these are fine alternatives:
Yuengling
Negra Modelo
Red Stripe
Stella (which has an unfortunate habit to go skunky in the bottle)
Newcastle
Sam Adams seasonals, esp. Octoberfest
Draft Hefeweizen when and where I can get it

 

Anything that comes in a 200 ounce glass:

http://www.rrstar.com/news/yourtown/x459823921/Hope-Anchors-200-ounce-drink-not-for-the-faint-of-liver