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Posted
13 minutes ago, Hayduke said:

I'm looking at their tap list and going to guess Back Alley Bock Fight. Then I'll blame it on the lighting when you tell me it's one of the ambers.

That looks like a nice facility. Haven't been there yet and in fact haven't done Milwaukee any justice whatsoever for it being such a beer Mecca. Envious ... have one for me, will ya, @zlavydra?

It's the Lone Rider Amber. Sharing a Black Gold Stout now.

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Posted

I have a rule against blue drinks, and yellow boats, and I'm pretty sure I should have a rule against banana beer.  But I guess I'll try anything once.

No not that you pervs.

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Posted (edited)
1 hour ago, utee94 said:

I have a rule against blue drinks, and yellow boats, and I'm pretty sure I should have a rule against banana beer.  But I guess I'll try anything once.

No not that you pervs.

IMHO, and everyone likes what they like, the banana notes are what differentiate Live Oak Hefe as one of the best in the world.

That's what i was hoping for, but it was a swing and a miss on that front.  It wasn't a drain pour by any means, but I don't foresee seeking it out again.  I agree that the heavily flavored beers are not my thing either. Abita's TurboDog and Andygator are solid though, that's why I pulled the trigger on this stout..

Edited by Iceman
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Posted
4 hours ago, Iceman said:

IMHO, and everyone likes what they like, the banana notes are what differentiate Live Oak Hefe as one of the best in the world.

Banana and bubble gum, for sure.  It's the best hefe in the States and as good as any I ever had in Germany-- which is all of them.  And it's not even the best beer Live Oak makes. ;)

 

 

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Posted
2 hours ago, utee94 said:

Banana and bubble gum, for sure.  It's the best hefe in the States and as good as any I ever had in Germany-- which is all of them.  And it's not even the best beer Live Oak makes. ;)

 

 

Primus? 

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Posted

Primus would be my vote, to the point that other partakers (rightfully) laugh at my lack of access up here in the Panhandle. 

Posted
On 5/18/2025 at 10:14 AM, Iceman said:

IMHO, and everyone likes what they like, the banana notes are what differentiate Live Oak Hefe as one of the best in the world.

That's what i was hoping for, but it was a swing and a miss on that front.  It wasn't a drain pour by any means, but I don't foresee seeking it out again.  I agree that the heavily flavored beers are not my thing either. Abita's TurboDog and Andygator are solid though, that's why I pulled the trigger on this stout..

 

On 5/18/2025 at 1:37 PM, zlavydra said:

Spotted Cow at MKE airport.

 

On 5/18/2025 at 2:43 PM, utee94 said:

Banana and bubble gum, for sure.  It's the best hefe in the States and as good as any I ever had in Germany-- which is all of them.  And it's not even the best beer Live Oak makes. ;)

Was guilty of just drinking all my beer and not really thinking about what I was tasting until just a few years ago, but after I started paying attention it was the hefeweizens that made me first taste that banana note. But I also noticed it a little in Spotted Cow and other New Glarus beers. My neighbor, who after retirement started helping the brewmaster at a little place called the Kozy Yak in Rosholt, Wisconsin (now defunct) pointed out that is was this ester:

Isoamyl acetate is the ester responsible for the banana-flavor. Typically described as the “circus peanuts” flavor or the dominate flavor in german-style hefeweizens. How does it form in beer? This compound forms by the condensation of acetyl CoA and isoamyl alcohol during fermentation.

I'm with @utee94 on this one -- would not seek out a beer with "banana" on the label, but neither would I spurn it as I do any beer advertised as "peanut butter" or "dill pickle."  Other than that, I would drink pretty much anything, at least to try it.

Which, this week, included Metabolic Memories, a Central Waters double dry-hopped NEIPA, 6.8 ABV.

 

15cde45b90fe7d6ae1fe470dbeb61a3a_c_1480271007_raw (1).jpg

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Posted

Pretty slow beer-drinking weekend around here, it looks like. Or at least beer posting.

Cyber Sue IPA from Toppling Goliath. Not my favorite TG offering but solid. 7.2 ABV.

In the low 70s again as summer tries to establish a foothold in Wisconsin.

 

sue.jpg

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Posted

Do you guys get Big Grove in WI?

Their Easy Eddy has lapped Psuedo Sue for Iowa’s best IPA, Imo.

Cyber Sue is decent, but I’m not that jazzed about it 

Posted
4 hours ago, Al_4_ISU said:

Do you guys get Big Grove in WI?

I hadn't heard of it, so I checked their beer finder link and it looks like they don't distribute outside  of Iowa yet. Will keep an eye out for it. Looks like they're expanding their business rapidly.

Mango Ride wheat ale, an Aldi beer from ABW in Virginia Beach (apparently affiliated with New Realm Brewing). Found it a bit flowery but a couple of other people said it was still solid and tasted more like beer than mango. Can't beat the beer prices at Aldi, and it was a nice light one to go with burgers and brats at our annual Memorial Day gathering with family and neighbors.

Daughter turns 17 tomorrow (sorry, beer got in the way in the picture) and will be a senior next year; son will be a senior at Minnesota and leaves for his summer internship in Maryland in a couple of days. Listened to Bob Seger's "Night Moves" on the outdoor speakers while cleaning up and thinking about the passage of youth. Time flies.

 

mango.jpg

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Posted
On 5/24/2025 at 7:43 AM, Hayduke said:

Was guilty of just drinking all my beer and not really thinking about what I was tasting until just a few years ago, but after I started paying attention it was the hefeweizens that made me first taste that banana note. But I also noticed it a little in Spotted Cow and other New Glarus beers. My neighbor, who after retirement started helping the brewmaster at a little place called the Kozy Yak in Rosholt, Wisconsin (now defunct) pointed out that is was this ester:

Isoamyl acetate is the ester responsible for the banana-flavor. Typically described as the “circus peanuts” flavor or the dominate flavor in german-style hefeweizens. How does it form in beer? This compound forms by the condensation of acetyl CoA and isoamyl alcohol during fermentation.

Funny to me CSB alert

 

First time I ever encountered a Hefeweizen was sometime in the late 90's in Portland Oregon.  Widmer Hefeweizen.   Which was the biggest craft beer in a big craft town at that time.  A murky hazy beer served with a lemon.  It was NOTHING like legit German Hefeweizen(which I didn't have any idea at the time)_.  Dry and really bright with the lemon and really no noticable banana flavors.  it was everywhere in PDX.

Funny part is it was part of the craft boom that got me to try homebrewing.  One of the first beers I tried brewing was a Hefeweizen based on the guidance of the dude at the homebrew supply.  What I got out of the effort was basically a German Hefeweizen with banana notes a plenty.  NOT what I thought a hefeweizen was, so I thought I fucked something up and dumped the batch.  Lol.

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Posted
32 minutes ago, Horn80 said:

I’m trying that asap.

I really like it. Very well balanced and a definite favorite of mine. Being a seasonal offering, it may be a while before it's back on shelves. I haven't seen any at my local HEB for a month or so. I did see some larger 24 (I think) packs at another HEB a few weeks ago. There may still be some stock around somewhere though.

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Posted
5 minutes ago, sith_horn said:

I really like it. Very well balanced and a definite favorite of mine. Being a seasonal offering, it may be a while before it's back on shelves. I haven't seen any at my local HEB for a month or so. I did see some larger 24 (I think) packs at another HEB a few weeks ago. There may still be some stock around somewhere though.

Ok.  Last summer, I tried their summer beer with lawnmower on it and really liked it.  Going to get some more next trip to HEB.

Posted

IMG_3283.thumb.jpeg.d8738ad530eadce2dbe4944eecf16a4e.jpeg

about to try this for the first time. no clue what to expect. just going to dip it slowly and see what happens.

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Posted

i’m remembering now that i’ve had this once before and i really like it. not really my jam for this time of year, which is fine because i can just save the other three for fall/winter. i’m normally more into ipa’s, but i see why this is rated so highly. i only really drink ipa’s, scotch, and bourbon, and i enjoy sipping slowly, so this is probably as good as it gets for me beer wise without being an ipa. in fact i like this a lot more than many of my go-to ipa’s, but this obviously isn’t something i’m trying to drink very often. good shit though. imo.

Posted
13 hours ago, Horn80 said:

Ok.  Last summer, I tried their summer beer with lawnmower on it and really liked it.  Going to get some more next trip to HEB.

Lawnmower is generally available all year long.

Bring back the Weedwhacker!!!

Posted
3 minutes ago, Iceman said:

Lawnmower is generally available all year long.

Bring back the Weedwhacker!!!

Weedwhacker?  Haven’t seen that but give it try too.   Great thing about Texas summer heat is enjoying good cold beer(s).

Posted

Probably the oddest flight I've had. Blue Heron Brewpub in Marshfield, WI, an old favorite with many fond memories of post-activity visits with family and friends. Changed ownership during the pandemic, and probably brewmasters too. Always had both a rotating peppered beer and their house rauchbeer, both of which are no more and my drinking buddy was missing. Still good, but unexpected offerings yesterday.

First was a Belgian enkel, which I'd somehow never seen in a brewpub, but ended up my favorite. Then the Ope IPA, which looked more amber and was a bit more pineapple than hoppy, but still solid. Then the Red Hare amber that was fairly dark and tasted like smoked ham (the smoke more so, the ham a hint that disappeared with my pesto-pizza consumption). Then the Return of Yeti doppelbock which immediately made me think I was having a barrel-aged stout, but with slightly less body. Finally, the Trapper's Tripel, which seemed slightly minty and then kind of bubble-gummy (probably because of @utee94's power of suggestion last week).  Good, though, and why I like the surprises of beer.

Stopped by after my daughter's track meet, during which the team won both boys and girls team titles and her relays moved on to sectionals. Would have taken pictures but they'd be from a distance and too many other folks on the track and infield, so forget it, ya pervs. Go to your own track meet.

BH flight.jpg

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Posted
On 5/27/2025 at 12:29 PM, Incredulity said:

Funny to me CSB alert

...

Funny part is it was part of the craft boom that got me to try homebrewing.  One of the first beers I tried brewing was a Hefeweizen based on the guidance of the dude at the homebrew supply.  What I got out of the effort was basically a German Hefeweizen with banana notes a plenty.  NOT what I thought a hefeweizen was, so I thought I fucked something up and dumped the batch.  Lol.

Beer stories are like beer in my book. Lot more good ones out there than bad, and this is good -- except for that part about dumping it. ☹️

Beer definitely had a learning curve for me, and I wonder how many people remember their first sip as being pleasant. It took a while to grow on me, and for me to be confident enough to recognize when a beer had gotten skunky or was just bad. Had some bad Schell beer once that was more an issue with old stock being shelved too often at a local grocer, and I tried several bottles from a mixed 12-pack before I finally just decided there was something wrong. Manager offered to replace it with a six-pack, and that made me start watching their offerings and checking for born on/use by dates a lot more. Changes of ownership and management helped, but I had to abandon that grocer's liquor store for a while

Of course, some of the stuff I've posted here probably makes beer purists shiver, too.

18 hours ago, Derka said:

i’m remembering now that i’ve had this once before and i really like it.

Was wondering when you'd be back. I've seen Backwoods Bastard discussed frequently on previous threads. Seems to be highly rated by Surly. Scotch ale is among my least-favorite beer, so the barrel aging doesn't do as much for me as it does for other beers, but it's still worth a glass for sure.

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Posted
2 hours ago, Derka said:

60 minute ipa + kicking my mom’s ass in scrabble = an afternoon well spent.

Did she let you play "dookie?"

There is a beer named Not A Scrabble Valid Word, made by Lupulin out of Big Lake, Minnesota. I've had Lupulin's Fashion Mullet NEIPA and thought it was pretty good.

And Shiny Brewery in Derbyshire, England, makes one called Scrabble Rouser. Gotta like that one for the name.

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Posted
19 minutes ago, Al_4_ISU said:

My uncle’s beer fridge. This man owns 1,000 acres of Iowa farmland worth roughly $13K/acre.

He chose this life.

 

My neighbor, a retired school superintendent who's had his share of midwestern beer -- especially during his early teaching days in Minnesota and the Dakotas -- swears by Grain Belt as not just a budget option, but a solid beer.

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Posted

Wife has an uncle, retired, owner of about a $1mm property in Texas. 
 

Miller Lite is the only thing you'll ever find in his icebox, until we bring stuff and corrupt it. He never drinks the other beer.  Only Miller Lite. 

Posted

75 IBU.

Can't do those yet.  LOL.  Started giving IPAs a serious try about 90 days ago and have found that I like the lower to medium ones with regard to the bitterness.

Still a work in progress, even if it is a labor of love.

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Posted
4 hours ago, Iceman said:

75 IBU.

Can't do those yet.  LOL.  Started giving IPAs a serious try about 90 days ago and have found that I like the lower to medium ones with regard to the bitterness.

Still a work in progress, even if it is a labor of love.

I'm not a big IPA guy either. I've disliked more that I've tried than those I've liked. For me, the dislike is less about bitterness and more about citrus flavor. If citrus character comes through too strongly, I won't like it. In fact, increased bitterness might help to balance out an otherwise intolerable citrus presence. So I've been trying them on occasion and perhaps there is also a bit of becoming more accustomed to them involved as well. Saint Arnold Art Car IPA, for instance, was awful to me. It tasted like grapefruit. I can't stand grapefruit.

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Posted
On 5/31/2025 at 5:28 PM, Iceman said:

Wife has an uncle, retired, owner of about a $1mm property in Texas. 
 

Miller Lite is the only thing you'll ever find in his icebox, until we bring stuff and corrupt it. He never drinks the other beer.  Only Miller Lite. 

Funny enough, my aunt (said uncle’s wife) only drinks Miller Lite too.

It’s literally the only form of alcohol I’ve ever seen this woman consume.

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Posted (edited)

One of the neighbors went to Indy for the race over Memorial Day and brought back some Off Square Brewing imperial stout (Scientific Calculation, 10 percent ABV) from Crown Point, Indiana. If you like coffee and stout, this is your beer. One of the stronger coffee-tinged stouts I've had and I liked it fairly well, considering it's not the season. This is all that was left from one shared can at happy hour, but I scrounged a little more from a second.

 

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Edited by Hayduke
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