Life is Good

While watching the Penn State game yesterday I decided to have a couple of bottles rather than draughts.  I opened a Perpetual IPA from Tröegs Brewing Company.  This was my first beer of the day and it tasted extra good.  I then picked a bottle out of the refrigerator that I've had for a while.  It was Hoppy Feet from Clown Shoes.  This is a very good Black IPA.  These two beers and a 10-7 victory for Penn State...life is good.

Getting Around This Weekend

Friday after work I went to the Flying Pig in Malvern for a couple of beers.  First up was Scrimshaw Pilsner from North Coast Brewing Company.  This was a pretty unremarkable pilsner.  Perhaps because our local pilsners from Victory and Sly Fox are so good my expectations are skewed.  I followed that with a Cape of Good Hope Imperial IPA from Yards Brewing Company.  Again, I found this to be an unremarkable beer.  Later that night I made it to the Craft Ale House in Limerick.  I started there with a Mongo DIPA from Port Brewing Company.  Now that's more like it.  This is a very good DIPA.  Finally I had a Founder's Breakfast Stout.  I have said before that this is the best Stout I've ever had but tonight for some reason it was just very good.

On Saturday I went to Appalachian Brewing Company in Collegeville.  I started with Batch 666 which they told me was a "stout-like" beer.  This was a nice enough beer but doesn't compare to that Breakfast Stout I had last night.  I followed with a pumpkin ale which was very good.  Not over the top with pumpkin but just right.  It looks like this...

On the way  home I had to pass right by Iron Hill in Phoenixville so I stopped in there to see what was going on.  I started with a Saison which was good.  I followed that with a Hoppopotamus which is an American Amber Ale.  This is a very very good beer.  I enjoyed the heck out of that one.  But, $6 for the Saison and $7 for the Hoppopotamus seems a little high to me.



Duh

I just saw this article on MSN and had to laugh.  Big Beer still doesn't get it.  People don't want yellow fizzy water.  Here's an idea Big Beer.  You have all of the resources (brewmasters, facilities, money) to make really good beer...every bit as good as the best craft beers.  And with those resources, you could produce it more cheaply than the little guy.  When you do, I will buy your product.  And don't worry about those phonies who say they are in it to support the little guy.  When you produce a better product and offer it for a lower price...we will come.

Just My Luck

I went to Union Jack's Inn on the Manatawny on Sunday and as luck would have it they were having an event (actually I think the event was Saturday but continued on Sunday).  However, it is MY luck that we are talking about so this didn't have a happy ending.  It was all Dogfish Head...all taps, almost.  Now I've never met a Dogfish Head beer that I liked so I knew I was in trouble.  I couldn't even bring myself around to picking one so I just asked the bartender to pick for me.  He poured a Theobroma.  It was about as good as any other Dogfish Head beer I have had in the past.  I didn't stick around for a second beer.

Tonight I tapped a Blue Point Hoptical Illusion at my house.  I had a keg of this before at the house and didn't care for it but every time I have one at a bar I love it.  I only had one tonight but I'm not loving it.  I hope it is just my mood and tomorrow this will be as good as when I have one out.

We Like The Funk

Stopped in TJ's today and had a Full Pint Chinookie IPA.  It was OK.  Not a great IPA but OK.  Then I had a Little Sumpin' Wild from Lagunitas.  Yeah, I like this one.  You gotta like the funk or you won't like this beer.  Well done Lagunitas.

Speaking of funk, I had the opportunity to stop in McKenzie's in Frazer for a couple.  Both were Two Threads.  This funky beer is awesome as far as I'm concerned.  Maybe not as good as their Houblonette but pretty darn good.