BryanG
Oakland, CA
Grape Destemmer
Posts:56
 | | 02/23/2005 2:16 AM |
| Cool notes, Bob. Thanks for not tossing the pen after the fifth barleywine!
Sounds better than the double IPA festival.
I didn't make the Toronado Barleywine fest this year--anyone have an idea who won? | |
Bryan
Oakland, CA | |
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skwid
Wine Connoisseur
Posts:5452
| | 02/23/2005 3:31 AM |
| | I could tell you who won but I left my notes at the festival. I know Kona came in third. You can still go to the Barleywine festival, it runs all week but they might have run out of some beers. There were 56 beers (including the Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA) so there should be plenty of beers to try. Plus the crowds are gone. | | | |
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Fred
Wine Thief
Posts:2673
| | 02/23/2005 12:55 PM |
| In recent day's I've been on the IPA kick again.... Hell what am I saying I'm always on the IPA kick.
Lagunitas IPA: One of my favorites
Stone IPA: Good but I like the unfiltered Lagunitas better
Victory HopDevil: Always a crowd favorite. | |
"It's better to have your enemies inside the tent pissing out, then outside the tent pissing in." -- Lyndon Johnson | |
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Winoman
Herndon VA
Grape Sorter
Posts:390
| | 02/23/2005 8:19 PM |
| Quote:
In recent day's I've been on the IPA kick again.... Hell what am I saying I'm always on the IPA kick.
Lagunitas IPA: One of my favorites
Stone IPA: Good but I like the unfiltered Lagunitas better
Victory HopDevil: Always a crowd favorite.
Each of these is top notch and amoung my faves....may I suggest trying the Dogfishead 60 min IPA if you haven't had one already (or even if you have had one...yeah...)... | | | |
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Fred
Wine Thief
Posts:2673
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| 02/23/2005 8:30 PM |
| Quote:
Quote:
In recent day's I've been on the IPA kick again.... Hell what am I saying I'm always on the IPA kick.
Lagunitas IPA: One of my favorites
Stone IPA: Good but I like the unfiltered Lagunitas better
Victory HopDevil: Always a crowd favorite.
Each of these is top notch and amoung my faves....may I suggest trying the Dogfishead 60 min IPA if you haven't had one already (or even if you have had one...yeah...)...
Winoman:
I think at this point my blood is 25% Dogfish Head 60 Minute. I had to buy the Lagunitas and Stone just for diversity. The 60 minute and 90 minute are my favorite IPAs.....sooo good.  | |
"It's better to have your enemies inside the tent pissing out, then outside the tent pissing in." -- Lyndon Johnson | |
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skwid
Wine Connoisseur
Posts:5452
| | 02/23/2005 8:54 PM |
| As a followup to the question on the winners at the Toronado Barleywine festival (folks come from all over the world for this). There were 55 Barleywines presented and the winners were:
1st place: 2001 Barleywine from Schooners in Antioch CA
2nd place: Arctic Devil from Midnight Sun Brewing in Anchorage AK
3rd place: Old Blowhole from Kona Brewing in Kona HI
Honorable mention: Big Night 2003 from Alaskan Brewing in Juno AK
Honorable mention: Old Crustacean from Rogue Brewing in Newport OR
I can't guess what the judges were thinking but the Kona sucked IMHO. I tasted all of these Barleywines and I think the judges this year were looking for a more balanced beverage and not something which was massively hopped.
If you are in San Francisco there are still plenty of Barleywines on tap so head on over to Toronado and give them a try. The top finishing Barleywines may all be gone but there should be plenty of others available. | | | |
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Winoman
Herndon VA
Grape Sorter
Posts:390
| | 03/04/2005 4:58 PM |
| | Fred -yeah agreed. Drinking a 90 min is like chewing on an IPA caramel bar - such awesome body and with quite a kick - an experience to be sure. But its the 60 min that just does it for me - perfection really. And I can't believe what a draft like brew it makes even from bottle. For many years I placed Stone and Hop Devil as my faves...and Old Dominion Hop Pocket as my local fave (still can't fill any growlers without at least one Hop Pocket!)- but the 60 min has overtaken them all in my book. (Speaking of growlers - between my neighbor and I we are up to 9 now! lol). Yeah the other day I was retrieving a wine book form my neighboer - Wine and War - about the French winegrowers etc in WWII (most awesome book and well worth a read for every wine and/or history buff!) - anyway - so I took two bottles of the 60 min over and we were kncoking them down and talking about the book when he reached over to pick the book up to show me something,,,ended up knocking the book off the table and then his glass of beer (lost almost all of it)...I callled it "a series of unfourtunate events!"...well we were crying over the spilt beer....luckily he happende to have another 60 min in his fridge! (good neighbor to have!)...and then we moved on to some Duvell and some other Belgiens (60 min always a tough/nearly impossible act to follow...)...ahh...life truly is good! | | | |
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Fred
Wine Thief
Posts:2673
| | 03/05/2005 8:10 PM |
| | Recently picked up some of the Weyerbacher Hops Infusion Ale. Seriously good stuff. | |
"It's better to have your enemies inside the tent pissing out, then outside the tent pissing in." -- Lyndon Johnson | |
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ChangeMe
Grape Stomper
Posts:192
| | 03/07/2005 9:08 PM |
| Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
In recent day's I've been on the IPA kick again.... Hell what am I saying I'm always on the IPA kick.
Lagunitas IPA: One of my favorites
Stone IPA: Good but I like the unfiltered Lagunitas better
Victory HopDevil: Always a crowd favorite.
Each of these is top notch and amoung my faves....may I suggest trying the Dogfishead 60 min IPA if you haven't had one already (or even if you have had one...yeah...)...
Winoman:
I think at this point my blood is 25% Dogfish Head 60 Minute. I had to buy the Lagunitas and Stone just for diversity. The 60 minute and 90 minute are my favorite IPAs.....sooo good.
I love the 60 min and 90 min and always have some of the 60 Min (Along with Bell's Two Hearted Ale, another good IPA) around home. However, I had never taken the plunge and tried the 120 Min. I finally bought one recently. It was brewed in 2003. I cracked it open yesterday while I was watching some College B-Ball, and I must say that I did not enjoy it very much. I believe that it was well made, but it was just too strong for my taste. It definitely is some serious beer though. | | | |
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Fred
Wine Thief
Posts:2673
| | 03/07/2005 9:57 PM |
| | Chuckus- The 120 is really a cellar beer to be honest. I would stash a four pack away for a couple years and I think you'll like it more with some age on it. | |
"It's better to have your enemies inside the tent pissing out, then outside the tent pissing in." -- Lyndon Johnson | |
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ChangeMe
Grape Puncher
Posts:886
| | 03/08/2005 1:27 AM |
| | Had a Marin Brewing Company IPA last night. This was very fresh tasting and complex in a high-toned sort of way. Retailers are asked to keep MBC brews refrigerated. They're good either way, but much better when they come from retailers who comply. Watch for their seasonal White Knuckle Double IPA. (named for hair-raising mountain bike rides down Mt. Tamalpias). | | | |
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Fred
Wine Thief
Posts:2673
| | 03/08/2005 1:34 PM |
| | Thanks for the tip Bob I'll keep my eyes open for that. | |
"It's better to have your enemies inside the tent pissing out, then outside the tent pissing in." -- Lyndon Johnson | |
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ChangeMe
Grape Puncher
Posts:886
| | 04/05/2005 4:20 PM |
| | With Brian Gros on Sunday, I opened a special bottle I had cellared for a while. North Coast Brewing X Anniversary Ale (1998). This is cask aged and bottled in a .750 with a Sparkling wine closure. Coming from North Coast , I was expecting it to show more Pacific Hops, but it was actually very malty and more like a cross between an English strong ale and a lower alcohol (7%) Barleywine. Carbonation was moderate and the carmelly, nutty flavors persisted in the long finish. | | | |
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kpak
Alaska
Wine Thief
Posts:2968
| | 04/05/2005 7:36 PM |
| New Widmer W'05 IPA
Extra-crispy: hopped up and refreshing. I like this one alot! | |
The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has it's limits...
ps - friends don't let friends eat farmed salmon. | |
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Fred
Wine Thief
Posts:2673
| | 04/11/2005 2:17 PM |
| Last night:
Dogfish Head Aprihop: Fantastic
Wolavers IPA Certified Organic: This is brand of Otter Creek and it's really good. | |
"It's better to have your enemies inside the tent pissing out, then outside the tent pissing in." -- Lyndon Johnson | |
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ChangeMe
Grape Puncher
Posts:886
| | 04/13/2005 5:10 PM |
| April is Belgian Beer Month at Toronado in San Francisco. I don't know where you can find more Belgians on tap. The bottle selection is pretty amazing too.
April 1 - 30, 2005
Belgian Beer Month
Description:
The Toronado's Annual Belgian Beer Month
DRAFTS as of 4/11/05
Abbaye Des Rocs Grand Cru
Abbaye Des Rocs Triple Impériale
Achouffe La Chouffe
Achouffe N'Ice Chouffe
Bosteels Kwak
Bosteels Triple Karmeliet
Cantillon Bruocsella
Cantillon Vigneronne
Caracole Nostradamus
Celis Grotten Brown
Chimay Triple
Corsendonk Brown
Corsendonk Pale
De Koninck De Koninck
De Proef Babelaar
De Ranke Père Noël
De Ranke XX Bitter
Du Pont Avec les Bons Voeux
Du Pont Moinette
Du Pont Saison Du Pont
Dubuisson Scaldis
Het Anker Gouden Carolus Noël
Hoegaarden Wit
Huyghe Delirium Tremens
La Binchoise Reserve Speciale
Lindemanns Framboise
Moortgat Maredsous 8
Moortgat Maredsous 10
Petrus Old Brown
Popering Hommel Bier
St Feuillien Cuvée de Noël
St. Bernardus Abt 12
St. Bernardus Prior 8
St. Bernardus Triple
St. Bernardus Wit
Urthel Hibernus
Val Dieu Brown
Val Dieu Winter
Van Eckes Het Kapittel Abt 10
Verhaeghe Duchesse de Bourgogne
Verhaeghe Echt Kriek
BOTTLES
3 Fonteinen 2001 Gueuze
Achouffe N'Ice Chouffe
Blaugies La Moneuse Speciale Noël
Blaugies Darbyste
Blaugies Saison D'Épautre
Blaugies La Moneuse
Boon Framboise
Boon Gueuze
Boon Kriek
Bosteels Deus
Bottleworks Triple Krullekop
Bottleworks Van den Vern
Chimay Ale
Chimay Grand Reserve
Corsendonk Christmas
De Achelse Trappist Achel 8
De Achelse Bruin
De Achelse Bruin Extra
De Bie Helleketelbier
De Dolle Brouwers Oerbier Special Reserva
De Dolle Brouwers Stille Nacht
De Koninck Winter Koninck
De Proef Flimish Primitive Wild Ale
De Proef Reinhaert Wild Ale
De Ranke Guldenberg Abbey
De Ranke Père Noël
De Ranke Kriek
De Regenboog BB Bourgondier
De Regenboog 'T Smisje Calva Reserva
Du Pont Saison
Du Pont Forêt Saison (organic)
Du Pont Moinette Blond
Du Pont Moinette Brune
Dubuisson Scaldis Noël 2004
Dubuisson Scaldis
Fantôme Hiver
Fantôme Noël 2002
Fantôme Black Ghost
Fantôme Été
Fantôme Babillard
Fantôme Pissenlit
Géant Goliath
Géant Ducassis
Hanssens Gueuze
Hanssens Kriek
Hanssens Oudbeitje
Het Anker Gouden Carolus Grand Cru
Kerkom Bink Bloesem
Kerkom Bink Blond
Kerkom Bink Brown
Kerkom Winterkoninkske
La BInchoise Reserve Speciale
La Rulles Triple
Lindemans Cuvée René
Loterbol Blond
Moortgat Duvel
Orval Orval
Oud Beersel Oude Kriek
Rochefort Trappist 6
Rochefort Trappist 8
Rochefort Trappist 10
Roman Dobbelen
St. Feuillien Triple
Val Dieu Brune
Verhaeghe Echt Kriek
Westmalle Double
Westmalle Triple
Westvleteren Trappist 8
Westvleteren Trappist 12
Witkap Pater
Location: Toronado, 547 Haight, San Francisco, California
Admission: no charge
Contact Email: info@toronado.com | | | |
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Fred
Wine Thief
Posts:2673
| | 04/13/2005 6:29 PM |
| | You've got to be S'ing me!!! I've got a hangover just reading the list. | |
"It's better to have your enemies inside the tent pissing out, then outside the tent pissing in." -- Lyndon Johnson | |
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skwid
Wine Connoisseur
Posts:5452
| | 04/13/2005 7:19 PM |
| | No, freddie he isn't screwing with you. The owner of the Toronado loves Belgian beer and even goes over to Belgium a couple of times a year to check stuff out and pick up beer. The Toronado is quite likely the best place in the States to get Belgian beer. I'm sure some of those bottles are available in magnum or double magnum sizes. | | | |
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David Walker
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2284
| | 04/13/2005 7:35 PM |
| | How big is a magnum of beer? 28 oz? | | | |
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skwid
Wine Connoisseur
Posts:5452
| | 04/13/2005 8:05 PM |
| Quote:
How big is a magnum of beer? 28 oz?
1.5L just like the Magnums of wine. | | | |
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