The Beer Thread

Late to this thread, but a few of my favorite breweries:

Ballast Point (just about anything by them, especially Indra Kunindra [curry stout], Victory at Sea [Vanilla Imperial Porter], and Sea Monster [Imperial Stout])
Green Flash (also just about anything, but especially their Serano Double Stout - have to go to the brewery itself for it though)
Mission Brewery (their Chocolate/Cherry porter - on tap at the brewery only atm - and Dark Seas - probably my absolute favorite Imperial Stout, it's heavy on toffee taste)

I also recently moved to the Paso Robles area in central California, so I've been spending a lot of time at the Firestone Walker brewery. And holy crap their Proprietor's Reserve series (read: Barrel-aged just about everything, and ridiculously delicious for being 10+% abv) is amazing. Today I'm having Stickee Monkee, a barrel-aged Belgian Quad. PM me if you're reading this and ever in the area and find yourself wanting to hit up FW

Named 3 of my current favorite "regionally distributed" breweries (although I tend to lean towards their hoppier styles). Haven't seen anything from Mission Brewery up my way, but I will keep my eye out.

Ceythos_sl said:

Ballast Point (just about anything by them, especially Indra Kunindra [curry stout]

Click to expand...

Drinking Sculpin right now. They sell sixers in cans now!!!

Mission seems to be in most BevMo's that I've been to, if there's one close to you. Since you mentioned hops, I might recommend their Shipwrecked (Double IPA), El Conquistador (APA), and Misson IPA - they're usually the most readily found beers of theirs as well (along with their Blonde).

I don't normally go in for lighter or hoppy beers, but Sculpin (one of Ballast Point's IPA's) is always welcome. I especially love the Habanero version they do on tap at the brewery. I hope they decide to do a commercial release of that at some point.

Azeth_sl said:

Drinking Sculpin right now. They sell sixers in cans now!!!

Click to expand...

Whenever I get nostalgic for San Diego, I usually pick up one of those, a four pack of Green Flash Double Stout, and a bomber of Dark Seas.

San Diego is seemingly beer heaven this decade. Massachusetts/Boston are doing their thing, but personally I looove west coat style IPAs.

Azeth_sl said:

San Diego is seemingly beer heaven this decade. Massachusetts/Boston are doing their thing, but personally I looove west coat style IPAs.

Click to expand...

San Diego is definitely making some good stuff, IPA's for sure. I think a lot of their success is owed to how much of a community they've built up there - so many of the breweries collaborate or share grains, hops, supplies, etc and just generally work at sharing their passion for making beer. If only more of the games industry would take a page from them, but I digress

I think other places are doing some great stuff as well, though just not maybe to the same scale/exposure SD is getting. I was recently in western Colorado (Montrose and Ouray) and they have some good brews there, too. I'd love to get out to the East Coast soon and see what they're up to these days. Any particular recommendations for Mass/Boston or other areas of the eastern seaboard?

I'll be in the Tampa area soon for about a week. Anything I should look for that is good? Usually we just drink Yuengling since we can't get that in Chicago...

Ceythos_sl said:

San Diego is definitely making some good stuff, IPA's for sure. I think a lot of their success is owed to how much of a community they've built up there - so many of the breweries collaborate or share grains, hops, supplies, etc and just generally work at sharing their passion for making beer. If only more of the games industry would take a page from them, but I digress

I think other places are doing some great stuff as well, though just not maybe to the same scale/exposure SD is getting. I was recently in western Colorado (Montrose and Ouray) and they have some good brews there, too. I'd love to get out to the East Coast soon and see what they're up to these days. Any particular recommendations for Mass/Boston or other areas of the eastern seaboard?

Click to expand...

San Diego and upwards through the Northern Coast of Cali. IE, Lagunitas, Russian River and Bear Rep.

Soygen I've never had it but Duvel Tripel Hop sounds mouth watering

Eyashusa_sl said:

I'll be in the Tampa area soon for about a week. Anything I should look for that is good? Usually we just drink Yuengling since we can't get that in Chicago...

Click to expand...

Cigar City is an absolute must imo.

I picked up a few tonight...if they taste bad I have plenty of Lagunitas in the fridge for backup.

Ao-_sl said:

Enjoy by is either great or terrible, which is odd (I don't even know if they vary the recipe or not).
Cali is meh (my opinion)
Sculpin is good.

Click to expand...

Yea, just downed the Cali, and it was meh. I will work on the Big Eye based on others posting it in this forum.

A co-worker bought me a couple nice brews because I took on a shitty project for him. I've never had either. The Belgian brew looks like it'll be tasty. Anyone ever tried either of these?

Looks like they use Mosaic hops to make it triple hops. Mosaic hops are so damn good.

jeydax_sl said:

Cigar City is an absolute must imo.

Click to expand...

Ditto. Go to the brewery, grab some growlers then hit up the food trucks outside. An evening well spent