582. No-Li Brewhouse – Born & Raised IPA
I picked up this beer during my trip to Seattle this past fall. I was looking specifically for local/regional beers that I couldn’t get back at home. I hadn’t heard of this Spokane, WA, brewery before, so I thought I’d pick up a bottle to bring home with me. However, when I got home, I think I saw a bottle or two from this brewery at my local liquor store. It was still a new/different brewery I hadn’t had...
581. Harpoon Brewery – Leviathan Series Imperial IPA
Last Monday night, I went to my homebrew club monthly meeting. I met up with my friend Travis, as I do most meetings, and he surprised me with a mixed six pack from his vacation to Virginia Beach. I’m extremely thankful, especially since almost all of the beers he brought me were big, flavorful brews. The bottle says, “Our Imperial IPA is brewed to challenge the senses. The vibrant aroma rushes out of the glass with a...
571. Great Lakes Brewing – Lake Erie Monster
It’s Friday night and we’re at one of our usual favorites – Flinger’s Pizza Pub in downtown Bloomington, IL. I was looking for something I hadn’t had yet, and this one fit the bill. I’ve also found that I tend to like IPAs and other heavily hopped beers here, because they go nicely with our old standby – the tomato-basil cheesebomb. Location: On tap and served in a regular pint...
560. Samuel Adams – Third Voyage Double IPA
My homebrew club acquired a few bourbon barrels, and our group is brewing an Imperial Stout to put in the barrel. We’re brewing tomorrow at Illinois Brewing Company (IBC), here in Bloomington, IL. We have the grain, about 250lbs of it, but found out IBC only has a small corona mill. Therefore, my friend Fred and I started milling the grain this afternoon at his house. While we were milling the grain, Fred offered me this beer...
557. NW Peaks Brewery – Triumph Ale Imperial IPA
I picked up this beer a few months ago when I was in Seattle for work. My cousin really wanted me to try this brewery and we got there at the last second (they were actually closing), but we talked with the assistant brewer for a bit and he let us stick around and have a beer. At the time, I had the NW Peaks Redoubt Red and it was pretty good. I wanted to try more, and since I was flying out the next day, my only option was to buy...
555. Green Flash Brewing – West Coast IPA
Tonight is my monthly homebrewers club meeting, and I had a half hour or so to grab some dinner beforehand. Regular readers will see that I love Flinger’s Pizza Pub for their pizza and craft beers on tap, and conveniently, it’s right down the street from Fat Jack’s, our meeting place. Since I was on my own, I had their tomato basil rolls – which were excellent – and this beer. Location: On tap and served...
545. Uinta Brewing – Crooked Line Detour Double India Pale Ale
A few months ago I was in Seattle for work, and picked up a bunch of beers that I couldn’t get back here in Illinois to bring home in my suitcase. I hadn’t heard of this brewery before, or seen any of their beers, so I was excited to give it a try. However, I went to the liquor store the other day, and saw this beer on the shelf. I’m still excited to give it a try though. The bottle says, ” Detour blazes the...
543. Big Al Brewing – Big Hoppa India Pale Ale
The snow is really coming down outside, and I’m glad to be inside eating a hot pizza. After I pulled the Epic Simple Ale out of the beer fridge, I saw this one behind it. I also picked this one up during my work trip to Seattle a few months ago. I’d heard a lot of good things about this brewery online (and their support of the local homebrew community), and was a bit disappointed I didn’t get to stop there (although...
539. Firestone Walker Brewing Co – Double Jack Double IPA
It’s a nice Sunday evening, and I’m watching the Amazing Race. Earlier in the day, I was cleaning up in the basement, and found a stash of beers I was hiding from myself. I’m not sure how this beer ended up in there. While it probably ages well at 9.5% ABV, it’s not meant to last. The date on the bottle is 11/7/11, so it’s not too bad (a little over a year old), but it was time to drink it....
535. Victory Brewing – Hop Devil
It’s Friday night and after the week we’ve had, my wife and I really needed to go out for pizza and a beer. We went to Flingers Pizza & Pub here in Bloomington, IL, because they have a great tomato basil “cheesebomb,” as well as some great craft beers on tap. This was one of a couple craft beers on the menu I hadn’t had yet, but had been looking forward to trying. Location: On tap and served in a...
529. Lagunitas Brewing – Lagunitas Sucks! Brown Shugga’ Substitute Ale
I’m at Medici in Normal, IL tonight for the Wednesday Warrior yearly celebration. For the uninitiated this bar has Wednesday night craft beer specials, and if you come 10 times throughout the year, you get a t-shirt and an invite to the yearly celebration, which has free food and a free (guess what it is) beer on tap. After trying the beer on tap (I thought it may have been Schlafly’s Scottish Ale), I decided to get a...
516. Lagunitas Brewing Co – Hop Stoopid Ale
It’s a lazy Saturday and I thought I’d grab something big and tasty out of the beer fridge. This was the first thing to grab my eye. It wasn’t marked with a date, and I can’t remember exactly when I bought it, but it can’t be more than a few months old. Location: Poured into a Sam Adams perfect pint glass from the 22oz bottle at my home in Bloomington, IL. Numbers: 8% ABV, 102 IBUs, 1.085 OG, 250 Calories...
