I just picked up the New Belgium Brewery folly 12 pack sampler. I think tonight I will try the 2005 revival beer called 2 below ale. Has anyone tried it?
We just got New Belgium here, maybe a few weeks ago. So far I've only seen 22oz of Fat Tire, Ranger IPA and their Triple. Don't think much of Fat Tire but I really liked Ranger. 2 below sounds like a nice beer, hopefully we'll get the sample packs here at some point.
New Belgium overall makes quality tasty beers IMHO. I just tried the 2 below and it is fantastic. It starts out with a malty caramel flavor but ends a bit hoppy. It is a big flavor that I find to be a perfect balance of malt and hops. I tried to post a picture but it is too big.
A quiet toast with my beloved of 30 years; two champagne flutes filed with a sweet Italian Asti sparkling wine. Happy 2014 all!
When I poured my glass of Jim Beam I didn't know that this very week it was sold to a Japanese company. http://www.newyorker.com/online/blo...untory-and-the-future-of-american-brands.html
Trying Firesone's Pivo Pils. I usually don't care much for pilsners but I figured I would give this a shot because I have literally never had a bad beer from Firestone. The color is a light straw, about the usual for this type, very clear with a bright white head that dissipates quickly into lace. The aroma is piney and resiny. This isn't particularly surprising as this was billed as a "hoppy" pilsner. Carbonation is active with small bubbles. The flavor starts with hops and a malty sweetness that soon fades to a bitter finish. The mouthfeel is a little thin. I think I am not used to this much carbonation anymore as I have been drinking a lot of ales lately. Overall this is one of the best pilsners I have ever had. That said I am not particularly fond of the style. This is, as always from Firestone, a very well made product. I would heartily rec this to fans of the pilsner style with the caveat that Pivo Pils has more IBUs than the style might typically call for. I cannot not stress strongly enough that Firestone Walker is probably the best craft brewer in the No Cal region. And that is saying something considering there are a ton of great craft brewers around here. Their Pale 31 is a great pale ale (one of my favorite beers in existence). Union Jack and Double Jack for the serious hopheads. Everything is just first rate. Edit: actually I think they are brewing in Paso Robles which would make them central coast rather than No Cal. Whatever, I am still claiming them.
I enjoyed it. I was working in TN that week, and I went to the store with the intentions of buying a bottle of Chimay Grande Reserve. The gentleman working there suggested the Sam Adams, and I was not disappointed. I found Thirteenth Hour to be more characteristic of a dark ale than a stout, but I would buy it again.
