OT: Craft Beer For Easter/Spring

[bigmatt718]

For those of you celebrating Easter on Sunday, what is everyone drinking as far as craft beer is concerned? The Holy Grail of Spring seasonal beers is Founders KBS, but if you can't find it, my recommendation is a tropical or floral East Coast style IPA like a Cigar City Jai Alai or a Top grade pilsner like Founders PC Pils or Peak Fresh Cut. Who is drinking what this weekend?

 

[MulletCork]

Big fan of the Cigar City beers but cannot find here in central Jersey

 

[RU4Real]

Beer is inefficient.

 

[bigmatt718]

Big fan of the Cigar City beers but cannot find here in central Jersey

You, my friend, are in luck. Cigar City just announced distro to NJ as of April 1st via Hunterdon Beverages. I would perhaps check Wegmans to start and branch out to your local beer stores from there.

 

[bigmatt718]

Beer is inefficient.

Stick your your alcoholic beverage of choice, and I'll stick to mine. I'm the guru of craft beer, that's my calling, so if you don't like it, shove it up your ***.

 

[RU4Real]

Stick your your alcoholic beverage of choice, and I'll stick to mine. I'm the guru of craft beer, that's my calling, so if you don't like it, shove it up your ***.

Kinda full of yourself, huh? Good quality. It will save you a lot of beatings. [eyeroll]

 

[MulletCork]

You, my friend, are in luck. Cigar City just announced distro to NJ as of April 1st via Hunterdon Beverages. I would perhaps check Wegmans to start and branch out to your local beer stores from there.

Oh wow thanks!! I'm glad I posted that. Going out to my mom's house in Hunterdon tomorrow so will check the Wegmans there and a couple stores by her house.

Like the Florida Cracker Ale too. Thanks!

 

[bigmatt718]

Oh wow thanks!! I'm glad I posted that. Going out to my mom's house in Hunterdon tomorrow so will check the Wegmans there and a couple stores by her house.

Like the Florida Cracker Ale too. Thanks!

Glad to be of assistance!!

 

[Knightmoves]

Stick your your alcoholic beverage of choice, and I'll stick to mine. I'm the guru of craft beer, that's my calling, so if you don't like it, shove it up your ***.

Looks like there's a new craft beer sheriff in town. Always room for another guru here.

Here in SW FL the Cigar City beers like Jai Alai and others are readily available in every grocery store and bottle shop.

IMHO Jai Alai is the standard for IPA's. About $ 10 per six pack.

 

[bigmatt718]

Looks like there's a new craft beer sheriff in town. Always room for another guru here.

Kind of came with the territory, living in Philly for 4 years. That said I am plugged into the distribution network, as I have explained before Cigar City is now available in NJ as well as Singlecut as of April 1st.

 

[bigmatt718]

Looks like there's a new craft beer sheriff in town. Always room for another guru here.

Here in SW FL the Cigar City beers like Jai Alai and others are readily available in every grocery store and bottle shop.

IMHO Jai Alai is the standard for IPA's. About $ 10 per six pack.

Here in Philly we started getting Cigar City's big bottles minus Hunahpu of course. Hoping Marshal Zhukov's Penultimate Push is better than the Vanilla Hazelnut which was a letdown. I'd kill for Funky Buddha to distribute full time up to Philly...we get their stuff on rare occurances.

 

[chickenpatty2]

Haven't looked, but Little Bros in Flemington has an enormous beer selection. You might try there.

p.s. I think the beer is inefficient comment was meant lightheartedly. Guess he's more of a grain alcohol guy...

 

[bigmatt718]

Haven't looked, but Little Bros in Flemington has an enormous beer selection. You might try there.

p.s. I think the beer is inefficient comment was meant lightheartedly. Guess he's more of a grain alcohol guy...

Fair enough. Just a bit defensive early in the morning. I have started experimenting with the liquors like bourbon, Scotch, whiskey, gin, etc to learn the flavors behind those liquors, making it easier to dissect the Barrel Aged beers. Pappy Van Winkle and Balvenie 15 Caribbean are my personal preferences with bourbon and Scotch.

 

[MulletCork]

Haven't looked, but Little Bros in Flemington has an enormous beer selection. You might try there.

p.s. I think the beer is inefficient comment was meant lightheartedly. Guess he's more of a grain alcohol guy...

Thanks. Yeah I like that store. Good selection. Found Cigar City at the local grocery store in Marco Island, FL years ago and is always one of my first purchases when I go down there!

 

[RU4Real]

Fair enough. Just a bit defensive early in the morning. I have started experimenting with the liquors like bourbon, Scotch, whiskey, gin, etc to learn the flavors behind those liquors, making it easier to dissect the Barrel Aged beers. Pappy Van Winkle and Balvenie 15 Caribbean are my personal preferences with bourbon and Scotch.

The Balvenie is excellent and worth the money.

The Pappy, not so much. It's good, but it's not THAT good. It pays to know the genetics of bourbon, because it's much more complex than scotch. PVW is Buffalo Trace's W.L. Weller wheated bourbon kept in the barrel extra long. For some reason it achieved a cult status that far surpasses its quality.

Buffalo Trace is an excellent distiller, but PVW is one of those bourbons that you should only buy with other people's money. BT's Eagle Rare is a much better value.

 

[bigmatt718]

The Balvenie is excellent and worth the money.

The Pappy, not so much. It's good, but it's not THAT good. It pays to know the genetics of bourbon, because it's much more complex than scotch. PVW is Buffalo Trace's W.L. Weller wheated bourbon kept in the barrel extra long. For some reason it achieved a cult status that far surpasses its quality.

Buffalo Trace is an excellent distiller, but PVW is one of those bourbons that you should only buy with other people's money. BT's Eagle Rare is a much better value.

Thanks for the advice, and my apologies from earlier. Also if you like gin, Philly Distillery makes Bluecoat which is excellent IMO. I'll keep my eyes open on the BT Eagle Rare. A few of the Double Nickel beers from South Jersey are barrel aged in BT Barrels. Been interested in trying BT ever since.

 

[coloradoknight]

Now that Oskar Blues "bought" Cigar City you can expect to see their beer more widely distributed.

 

[seels2662]

I'm going with a nice wheat beer, probably Circus Boy.

 

[bigmatt718]

Now that Oskar Blues "bought" Cigar City you can expect to see their beer more widely distributed.

I want Rum BA Ten Fidy and Rum BA Death by Coconut next fall out here in PA. Bourbon BA Ten Fidy was outstanding.

 

[bigmatt718]

I'm going with a nice wheat beer, probably Circus Boy.

Have you had Troegs Dream Weaver? Very solid wheat beer as well. Also check out the pilsners as well, which are no longer a dirty word in the craft beer world anymore. Peak's Fresh Cut Pils I could drink all day.

 

[coloradoknight]

I want Rum BA Ten Fidy and Rum BA Death by Coconut next fall out here in PA. Bourbon BA Ten Fidy was outstanding.

I am lucky enough to live close to their east coast facility and have friends who do not mind waiting in line or dealing with crowds to buy beer.

 

[Knightmoves]

I want Rum BA Ten Fidy and Rum BA Death by Coconut next fall out here in PA. Bourbon BA Ten Fidy was outstanding.

I had the Rum BA Ten Fidy recently but it was shipped from CO. Will be interesting to see if Oskar sends any of the BA and special release beers to the Philly market.

 

[seels2662]

Have you had Troegs Dream Weaver? Very solid wheat beer as well. Also check out the pilsners as well, which are no longer a dirty word in the craft beer world anymore. Peak's Fresh Cut Pils I could drink all day.

I'll have to try Dream Weaver, I don't think I've seen it in my liquor store.

 

[SHUSource]

Stick your your alcoholic beverage of choice, and I'll stick to mine. I'm the guru of craft beer, that's my calling, so if you don't like it, shove it up your ***.

Beer is great, but if you had my in-laws, you would understand much better where @RU4Real was coming from...

 

[RU_Planning]

The Balvenie is excellent and worth the money.

The Pappy, not so much. It's good, but it's not THAT good. It pays to know the genetics of bourbon, because it's much more complex than scotch. PVW is Buffalo Trace's W.L. Weller wheated bourbon kept in the barrel extra long. For some reason it achieved a cult status that far surpasses its quality.

Buffalo Trace is an excellent distiller, but PVW is one of those bourbons that you should only buy with other people's money. BT's Eagle Rare is a much better value.

My bourbon drinking friends rave about Widow Jane 10 Year Straight Bourbon and also like their dregs.

 

[RU_Planning]

Any craft beers released this Easter season with hints of eggs and bunny poop?

 

[RU4Real]

My bourbon drinking friends rave about Widow Jane 10 Year Straight Bourbon and also like their dregs.

That's actually pretty funny, since the 10 Year Straight is entirely sourced from other distilleries.

 

[RU_Planning]

That's actually pretty funny, since the 10 Year Straight is entirely sourced from other distilleries.

Honestly I don't know much about bourbon (I only drink beer and some wine with meals). These guys were thrilled when it became available in Westchester.

The little I know about makes me think these companies fool lots of "bourbon drinkers" on a regular basis.

 

[RU4Real]

Honestly I don't know much about bourbon (I only drink beer and some wine with meals). These guys were thrilled when it became available in Westchester.

The little I know about makes me think these companies fool lots of "bourbon drinkers" on a regular basis.

Oh, I could go on for hours...

 

[Leonard23]

KBS has been surprisingly easy to get this year. Check Bridgewater Wegman's & Bernardsville Gary's (Hillsborough doesn't have yet), but each has a 1 bottle limit (big or small). Neither has it out so you have to ask.

I'll be having some Perennial Abraxas or Prairie Bomb (or Birthday Bomb or Christmas Bomb), all of which I find superior to KBS. I'm looking to get some of the Prairie Pe-kan too. It would be great if Perennial & Prairie started distributing to NJ. Hopefully, it's on Hunterdon Beverages' radar/roadmap, as they are available in NY & PA.

As for Funky Buddha, Last Snow is great (haven't tried others but heard good things about their beers). Oskar owns Cigar City, but I wasn't aware they owned Funky Buddha (are you sure?), so I'm not surprised to see Cigar City in NJ now, albeit on a limited basis at launch.

 

[bigmatt718]

KBS has been surprisingly easy to get this year. Check Bridgewater Wegman's & Bernardsville Gary's (Hillsborough doesn't have yet), but each has a 1 bottle limit (big or small). Neither has it out so you have to ask.

I'll be having some Perennial Abraxas or Prairie Bomb (or Birthday Bomb or Christmas Bomb), all of which I find superior to KBS. I'm looking to get some of the Prairie Pe-kan too. It would be great if Perennial & Prairie started distributing to NJ. Hopefully, it's on Hunterdon Beverages' radar/roadmap, as they are available in NY & PA.

As for Funky Buddha, Last Snow is great (haven't tried others but heard good things about their beers). Oskar owns Cigar City, but I wasn't aware they owned Funky Buddha (are you sure?), so I'm not surprised to see Cigar City in NJ now, albeit on a limited basis at launch.

RU Wrestling fan, and a craft beer aficionado as well? How have I not met you in person yet?

Prairie and Perennial are incredible...I'm hoping to score Pirate Bomb during Philly Beer Week in June. We also got a large shipment of Wicked Weed recently if you are interested in sour Ales...their IPAs and Stouts are excellent as well.

Singlecut is in NJ now as well...look for Heavy Boots of Lead.

 

[RU_Planning]

You, my friend, are in luck. Cigar City just announced distro to NJ as of April 1st via Hunterdon Beverages. I would perhaps check Wegmans to start and branch out to your local beer stores from there.

I thought Ballast Point was expensive, then I bought a six pack of Cigar City Jai Alai cans...

 

[bigmatt718]

I thought Ballast Point was expensive, then I bought a six pack of Cigar City Jai Alai cans...

Ballast Point is meh to me. Not a huge fan of the Sculpin hype...although I do like their Coconut Victory at Sea.

 

[bigmatt718]

I had the Rum BA Ten Fidy recently but it was shipped from CO. Will be interesting to see if Oskar sends any of the BA and special release beers to the Philly market.

Yea Philly got Bourbon BA Ten Fidy last fall...that's why I'm hoping we get the Rum Aged Ten Fidy/Death by Coconut this fall. Philly seems to be the first East Coast city to get a lot of the rare/exotic beers or are the first East Coast market for a Brewery to launch distro. Maybe it is due to Monk's and their owner Tom.

Also Almanac has an Imperial Stout called Barbury Coast which is another one I'd seek out for any fellow Stout/Porterheads.

 

[RU_Planning]

Ballast Point is meh to me. Not a huge fan of the Sculpin hype...although I do like their Coconut Victory at Sea.

I like their Sculpin, but not into the flavored ones. I really like their Grunion Pale Ale, but American Pale Ale is my favorite beer "category", so I might be biased.

I visited their tasting room in the Little Italy neighborhood of San Diego a couple of years ago and enjoyed the experience.

 

[bigmatt718]

I like their Sculpin, but not into the flavored ones. I really like their Grunion Pale Ale, but American Pale Ale is my favorite beer "category", so I might be biased.

I visited their tasting room in the Little Italy neighborhood of San Diego a couple of years ago and enjoyed the experience.

I bet you'd like Peak The Juice then. Dry hopped APA from Portland, Maine...low ABV so definitely ideal for the warmer months.

 

[ScarletCrimson]

Westvleteren 12...

 

[bigmatt718]

Westvleteren 12...

A bucket list beer for sure.

 

[ScarletCrimson]

It's hype. Honestly, I think I prefer Rochefort 10.

A bucket list beer for sure.

 

[bigmatt718]

It's hype. Honestly, I think I prefer Rochefort 10.

With the proper Trappist glassware to match