What's your favorite Beer?

[Seul]

Btw: the Chimay Rouge is STELLAR. Cheap, 7%, and so easy to get here… Bingo!..

[jdl1279]

Sours are one area we seem to be lacking around here and not really sure why. As a result I've had little experience with the style and frankly it saddens me a touch.

[mclaincausey]

It'll come, the propagation of different beer trends in the States seems to originate out West and propagate eastward from there. It happened with hoppy ales and will probably happen with sours. Certainly brett-y beers have made it as far as IL.

[Seul]

Gimme a minute, but I don't think there's a brewery making a decent IPA here…

[mclaincausey]

I've only had one good IPA with a fizzy Belgian carbonation profile and it was from a brewery in Minneapolis. Belgian attempts at American style IPA seem to add a bunch of hops, but not the right kind or freshness.

[Chris]

Going the sampler route for lunch.

That's the Gose, Manhattan NW and Gingersnap; and the remains of the full size glass is the Baked Blackberry.

[jdl1279]

Don't get me wrong, there are a few available, just not many, and definitely not on the level of anything else we have. Most notable would be Bell's Oarsman and one from Jolly Pumpkin whose name escapes me. I would likely find more if I could get into the pubs and restaurants more frequently, as all of our brewers have some GREAT selections that are in house only.

[mclaincausey]

Goose Island has one that's supposed to be pretty good, I'd wager that's available in your region. There was another brewery down in MI that had a highly regarded wild sour but I can't recall it for the life of me.

[Chris]

The Goose Island Lolita isa very good sour, and should be available where you are.

[jdl1279]

Will check for Lolita, but Goose Island doesn't have a huge presence here. I've found that due to the enormous amount of quality brewers in state, shops tend to focus on carrying those full lines and only a couple select from outside the region. With Bells, Founders, Dark Horse, Arcadia, New Holland, Arbor, Atwater,Great Lakes, and a handful of others shelf space gets limited. There are plenty of exceptional brewers that have zero presence as a result. I would have no idea where to get anything from the likes of the Bruery. In truth, we just need a warehouse sized outlet to house all of the quality selections out there

[mclaincausey]

Well we have hundreds and hundreds of breweries and many of them bottle, but you can still find out of state beer; it could be a provincial attitude by the stores or distributors more than anything.

[jdl1279]

I tend to agree mclain. We do get some, it's just selective. Victory, Dogfish,Bourbon County, Stone's, Sierra Nevada, Lagunitas, and others are carried, just in lesser capacity.

[mclaincausey]

Right–those are national brands for sure.

Life is extraordinarily hectic ATM, but I want to share/trade some of the local beers (and Bruery, if that's off the radar) with folks who are interested.

[jdl1279]

Understand hectic…owe Eli a shipment (one more and it's filled with specials), but would be game if there's anything around here you're interested in.

[mclaincausey]

Yep, same; we'll talk soon on that, I also wanted to help Mr Pigler out as well as Mega and the Padmores, and other curious parties.

[Broark]

La Follie from New Belgium is a good intro to sours, along with the Love Child series from Boulevard.

[jdl1279]

For those looking at trades

http://www.boxvendor.com/beerandwineshippers.aspx

[Chris]

@Broark:

La Follie from New Belgium is a good intro to sours

Fully agree.

[mclaincausey]

@jdl1279:

For those looking at trades

http://www.boxvendor.com/beerandwineshippers.aspx

Thanks, this is perfect!

[jdl1279]

I found them after my last trade with Dan. Bubble wrap and shipping supplies are far more costly and less secure. Thought with the trades that go on, others might find this useful.