Dave's New Brew Thursday

[cksurfdude 9,590]

This is why I hope we all get to hang out at some point. That's dedication to the craft right there

[emoji106]

 

Whoever finds themselves in the NY area .. lemme know! We have a big back patio just right for hanging out on in the nice weather.

[Jmikecpa 13,299]

[emoji106]

 

Whoever finds themselves in the NY area .. lemme know! We have a big back patio just right for hanging out on in the nice weather.

So is that an invite?  I would also extend and invite as well as we have a side deck and a nice patio out back.  I also just bought a new wine chiller/beer fridge for the new kitchen that we are building.  Made the wife get the less expensive stove so we could get the killer beer chiller.

[Jmikecpa 13,299]

[emoji106]

 

Whoever finds themselves in the NY area .. lemme know! We have a big back patio just right for hanging out on in the nice weather.

 

And I am not too far from Great South Bay's brewery.  My wife has a big truck and no issue driving drunks around.

[cksurfdude 9,590]

So is that an invite? I would also extend and invite as well as we have a side deck and a nice patio out back. I also just bought a new wine chiller/beer fridge for the new kitchen that we are building. Made the wife get the less expensive stove so we could get the killer beer chiller.

Totally! Standing invite for fans of craft brews! Oh, and who like to talk about golf and golf gear, too, I guess....

 

My beer fridge (an anniversary gift) is in the garage but we also have a few party size coolers we can put out on the patio to save those several steps

[cksurfdude 9,590]

And I am not too far from Great South Bay's brewery. My wife has a big truck and no issue driving drunks around.

Fan of GSB's Massive but I can't find it anymore....

[Jmikecpa 13,299]

Fan of GSB's Massive but I can't find it anymore....

It is seasonal, should be out in a few weeks if I remember the release time correctly.

[Jmikecpa 13,299]

Totally! Standing invite for fans of craft brews! Oh, and who like to talk about golf and golf gear, too, I guess....

 

My beer fridge (an anniversary gift) is in the garage but we also have a few party size coolers we can put out on the patio to save those several steps

Sounds like a plan.  If you hit my house you would be the first Spy to see the pro shop I have in the basement.  Could even grab a round at my club as well.

[cksurfdude 9,590]

Sounds like a plan. If you hit my house you would be the first Spy to see the pro shop I have in the basement. Could even grab a round at my club as well.

Sounds great but you mean "a round" at the 19th Hole, right? (no way I can survive a golf round with a semi-pro [emoji6] ). Anyway, PM'ing you.

[GolfSpy Dave 1,665]

Happy New Brew Thursday!  

 

Tonight's beer is Lagunitas' The Waldos' Special Ale!

 

Herbacious. Botanical. Dank. Resinous.

In 1971, the Waldos met one afteroon at 4:20 in the front courtyard of their school near the statue of Louis Pasteur. They set out in a '66 Impala armed with a "treasure map" on a journey to find a secret garden near Point Reyes. They met there at the same time every day and continued their quest. They never found the secret garden....But they keep lookin'. The dankest and hoppiest beer ever brewed at Lagunitas was made with help of the Waldos for all treasure hunters.

 

AVAILABILITY: April... 4/20/17

ALC. BY VOL. 11.9%

BITTERNESS 100+ IBUs

FOOD PAIRINGS: Good with Beer-battered Twinkies Con Queso…you can find out why if you google 'Waldo 420'

 

DRINKABILITY: Dude!

If I was to try and pin a style on this "Special Ale", I'd probably go with triple IPA. That would be close, and address the hop assault that Waldos' brings, but it also just doesn't quite describe the beer completely. In Waldos also has a whole bunch of sweetness, reminding me of Lagunitas other seasonal great, Brown Shugga. 

 

Sure, there is a ton of hop in this one, dank of the dank bro, but there is also a good measure of malt and richness.  Honestly, it's tough to categorize. The color is an amazing, almost glowing copper.

 

 

GOLFABILITY: Dude.

Golfability is a two fold category. First, would you enjoy drinking this as you play, and second, would drinking this put the stink eye on your golf performance. 

 

Lagunitas The Waldos' Special ale is a dangerous beer. It is refreshing, and could actually be quite enjoyable during a parching round. However, it's a sneaky one. One moment you are fine, and one hit on the bottle later, not so fine.

 

 

Dude, it's 11.9%! What did you think was going to happen when you had two before the turn. Too late now to get bummed out though. Might as well have a third and enjoy the extra strokes as you explore parts of the course you don't usually visit.

 

Buyagainability: Duuuude!

I look forward to the return of good seasonal/limited run beers, and I'd put Waldos in that category. I'd probably not survive having this one year round, but once in a year, it's a great treat.

 

Hopefully you can find it near you. Lagunitas has even produced a map to help you find it.

 

 

Link to Lagunitas. HERE

[silver & black 6,082]

Now, I have to run out and see if I can find this! 

[cksurfdude 9,590]

For New Brew Thursday...

 

I went out and got a new club carrier..

[cksurfdude 9,590]

Actually for New Brew Thursday...

 

Two fun .. and very different .. taste sensations. The first was...

 

• Kelso Imperial IPA

 

Truth be told I've generally shied away from Imperials as the few I've tried in the past were, well, kinda thin and unsatisfying.

 

Kelso, though, is a solid Craft brewery and thanks to you guys .. and Kenny .. and GS Dave I'm committed to expanding my repertoire.

Yeah, that's right - comes in a can!

 

Story I got from the beer store Meister is..

(A) can top seals tighter and lasts longer vs. bottles, so no oxidation;

( can, of course, completely occludes light pollution;

© cans are smaller and lighter so in terms of trucking / transportation​ they can load more into a trailer and probably save on total tare weight also;

And (not importantly)

(D) cans are back "in" in terms of packaging and space to print stuff on.

 

Note on ©: if its advantageous for a huge tractor-trailer then it's odds-on advantageous for you and your carry-around (golfing) cooler [emoji106]

 

So...

This is beer is great. Color and depth, aroma, hoppiness and bitterness, start / mouth feel / finish all seem balanced in an elegantly regal brew.

 

Drinkagainabity:

Yes!

 

Bargainability:

Honestly not sure; bought 6 different 6- and 4-packs (what's up with that?) and just handed the nice man my credit card without asking too many questions (other than about the can packaging).

 

GolfAbility:

Maybe Yes for some, but for me a Pale Ale or a Session IPA would be more drinkable on the course and more thirst-quenching, and .. a bit lower on the ABV.

 

This beer seems better at meal paired with something substantial (and it just happens that we had a nice meaty, thick crock.pot stew.on top of a bed of noodles tonight [emoji108]).

[cwojtowicz 74]

Damn, that Waldos' Special Ale looks amazing! Extra points for posting a link to a map that will help us find it!

[Kenny B 29,503]

For New Brew Thursday...

 

I went out and got a new club carrier..IMG_20170406_182248813.jpg

I like the club carrier!  My wife is looking but not sure what to get.  How do the clubs fit in the back?

[cksurfdude 9,590]

I like the club carrier! My wife is looking but not sure what to get. How do the clubs fit in the back?

Thanks!! In the spirit of full disclosure.. carrying clubs was not my first priority .. and no, not boards, either .. but actually the way the back seat folded down so I could get my two big fur beasts in there!

 

The Grand Cherokee was the best I'd seen of several models I'd looked at, but not including the Dodge Durango which my car nut buddy recommended but I didn't get a chance to look inside of. So depending on what her priorities are she may also look at that.

 

Anyway, in the Jeep with the back seats still up you can easily toss in one bag and one push cart...

 

Or, if you drop one or both of the back seats you could, of course, get a lot more in...

[cksurfdude 9,590]

It's Wednesday but I couldn't wait....

Chatham Nor'Easter (like the storm on the East Coast) Extra Hoppy IPA

 

Love it!!!

 

Am NOT going to try and describe it like Guru Brew Dave but it is hearty, and solid! Very happy with this one!

[GolfSpy Dave 1,665]

 

Strong American blond ale brewed with graham crackers and lactose, and fermented with vanilla beans and fresh local lemon juice.

 

6.5% ABV

 

We live in a time when craft beer should be creative, exciting, and delicious. Enter the Curiosite' Series; an exploration of beautiful ingredients and flavors that pair with the season. Indulge in the one-of-a-kind, farm-to-glass creation.

 

 

This week's beer is not so much a go find this beer suggestion as it is a go and find new beer mandate. Odds are, you actually have very little chance of finding New Glory's Lemon Meringue Pie Specialty Ale. It's a limited run beer, and New Glory is a small local brewery here in Sacramento.

 

The point of sharing this beer with you today is hopefully motivate you to seek out the amazing beer options that are likely right around the corner from you. There are small breweries everywhere these days, and many of them are making excellent beer. This beer happens to be in a can, but some of the countries finest microbrews are only available at the brewery taproom.

 

That seems like a drawback, but actually it's part of the fun. You get to go on an adventure, seeking out the new brewery in your town. You get to support a local business, and add a new watering hole to your arsenal. Win and win.

 

The other point of today's beer is to encourage you to try random beers. Get outside of your comfort zone and order something that you are just not sure about. You'll either have your hesitations confirmed, or discover a whole new world of beer.

 

 

Quick Cool Story Bro moment: A few years back, I was down in SoCal with a friend and we decided to hit a brewery called The Bruery for a few beers. They had a special sour flight on the menu, and having never had a sour, I decided to give them a shot. Turns out, I love sour beers. Like, really love them. Wife is not a fan, but often times I'll now choose a sour over any other styles. This is especially true if I'm out at a new brewery. I love to see what the different brewers come up with.

 

So today's mission for you is simple: Find a new brewery, and drink a beer you are not sure you'll like.

 

Now on to the Lemon Meringue Pie Special Ale

 

DRINKABILITY: Interesting...

I know that Kennedy said that the phrase “May you live in interesting times.” represented an ancient Chinese curse. (Fun Fact: No source for the statement was ever uncovered in Chinese history. FAKE NEWS!)

 

I bring this up because interesting is the first word that comes to mind as I drink this beer. There is a lot going on. You definitely get the lemon, and a creamy mouth from the lactose. Vanilla plays around in the mouth for quite a while after the gulp is gone. Along with the vanilla is a lingering sourness from the lemon.

 

New Glory's Lemon Meringue Pie Specialty Ale is a beer that lives on the fringe of the beer landscape, and for that alone, I'm happy to put it in my belly.

 

GOLFABILITY: Questionable

Golfability is a two-fold category. First, would you enjoy drinking this as you play, and second, would drinking this put the stink eye on your golf performance. 

 

I can see New Glory's Lemon Meringue Pie Specialty Ale finding it's way into the golf cooler. 6.5% ABV is golf friendly, as long as you don't go too hog wild with your pie eating.

 

My only hesitation is that the beer has a level of richness that may not meet the required level of quench on the course. I'd actually go with New Glory's Key Lime Gose for links libations. Gose goes with golf for sure.

 

Buyagainability: Maybe

New Glory's Lemon Meringue Pie Specialty Ale is a tasty beer, and I respect the experimentation that went into it, but I don't know that I'd seek it out again. In the spirit of the style, I'd probably seek out something else random on the tap list.

 

New Glory Brewery: HERE

[cksurfdude 9,590]

OK, it's Thursday and my contribution for tonight is something really unusual for me:

 

Dragon Slayer Imperial Stout

Hints of (normally, ewww yuck) chocolate but primarily Russian (something or other, sorry but this was already #_[something]..!) extra hops.

 

Well, this did not disappoint.

 

Dark, thick, creamy dark - not light colored - head, a little aromatic and a little bitter but plenty plenty Stout.

 

Yum!

 

Bargain: No.

Golfable: No.

DrinkAgain: [emoji108]

[Kenny B 29,503]

OK, it's Thursday and my contribution for tonight is something really unusual for me:

 

Dragon Slayer Imperial Stout

IMG_20170413_192802743.jpg

Hints of (normally, ewww yuck) chocolate but primarily Russian (something or other, sorry but this was already #_[something]..!) extra hops.

 

Well, this did not disappoint.

 

Dark, thick, creamy dark - not light colored - head, a little aromatic and a little bitter but plenty plenty Stout.

 

Yum!

 

Bargain: No.

Golfable: No.

DrinkAgain: [emoji108]

YES!!  Love it!

 

I went to the store after golf today and ended up bringing home a six pack of Lagunitas Sucks Brown Shugga' Substitute Ale.  Although not a dark beer, I could be persuaded to drink this a lot!  I would even say it's golfable, even though it's 8% ABV, as long as you don't overdo it.  This ale would be very nice on a hot day.

 

[Kenny B 29,503]

Thanks!! In the spirit of full disclosure.. carrying clubs was not my first priority .. and no, not boards, either .. but actually the way the back seat folded down so I could get my two big fur beasts in there!

 

The Grand Cherokee was the best I'd seen of several models I'd looked at, but not including the Dodge Durango which my car nut buddy recommended but I didn't get a chance to look inside of. So depending on what her priorities are she may also look at that.

 

Anyway, in the Jeep with the back seats still up you can easily toss in one bag and one push cart...IMG_20170407_153806302.jpg

 

Or, if you drop one or both of the back seats you could, of course, get a lot more in...

IMG_20170407_153931419.jpg

Carrying clubs is my first priority since we use the car to travel the northwest for golf.  It has to carry 2 bags and 2 pushcarts (or 2 roll aboard suitcases with the backseat up.  I looked at SUVs and the only ones that worked were BIG.  I didn't want an SUV anyway; I already have a Ford Explorer Sport Trac (bags and carts fit in the back in it too).  So, I ended up with the Dodge Charger R/T.  It's a tight fit, but it works; just had to forego the premium sound system with the subwoofer.

 

Sorry, I should have posted this in the Car Thread.