I added a couple of you on untappd. My username is kbeetz. Feel free to add me

 

Is anyone going to the Martinez Craft Beer fest this weekend? I will be pouring for FreeWheel again.

I want to understand what people are meaning when they say "tasting" beers. The numbers and stuff don't make much sense unless we are talking like a thimble-full of beer.

If you really want some Pliny, I have seen it on tap consistently at The Rose and Crown in Palo Alto, and The Hop Yard in Pleasanton. In bottles, I used to grab a couple at the Sebastopol Whole Foods every time passing through on the way to see my Pops, until he asked me to grab something he liked better. Ha! But I always see it at those places. Might want to call ahead to make sure the bars have it on tap.

It's more than just crazy, it seems a little silly. But, I used to drive down to Campbell to Whole Foods to pick up a couple bottles until it was not worth it to me any more. It's a good beer, but I would not fight for it, especially not if I could find Ballast Point's Scuplin or Deschutes' Hop Henge or.. An Avery Maharaja.

The best advice/help I could give would be to say to stop this insanity, enjoy as many different beers as you can, and when you happen to see Pliny some day, grab some and enjoy it.

 

I work at a restaurant in danville and we we get Pliny on tap once a week (always at random). there is a store in lafayette that usually has Pliny called Jackson's wine and spirits. they don't sell out that quickly because most people think it's a wine store. then there is monument wine and spirits in concord but they run out quickly because it's close to morebeer so all the home brewers go there. hope that helps!

 

there is a thread on the festival, a few people on here are going. it'll be cool to meet some iclubbers!

 

So I got my hands on four bottles of Pliny the Elder. It definitely lives up to the hype. Such a great beer. I think I might have to make the trip up to Sonoma and get myself a few growlers. My buddy told me that either I'm becoming a beer geek or an alcoholic. I think it's a little of both.

 

Alcoholics go to meetings; you are becoming a drunk. Livin' the dream!

 

Pliny is good but for me its not worth the hassle of finding it. Even when I do find it theres usually a 1 or 2 bottle limit. Id rather buy some Sculpin.

I took a tour of Anchor Brewery last friday. Its a pretty cool place and best of all its free. My dad and I had to make reservations a few months in advance though. Definitely worth checking out if you guys get the chance.

 

I agree 100% - though I have never seen a bottle limit (that would probably turn me off completely). Sculpin is fantastic, and easy to find these days. Got some time and want some mind-blowing IPA, go to Magnolia at Haight & Masonic in SF and get some Proving Ground IPA; available on cask, draught and you can get growlers of it. It's amazing. It is my favorite "stronger" IPA. Stronger than that, my favorite is Avery's Maharaja. English IPA, Freewheel on cask in Redwood City. Hard to pick favorites in this place, but those are mine.

Freewheel's head brewer recently did a collaboration brew with Palo Alto Brewing Company called "Commonwealth IPA" which I tried recently, and I really like it. I think they have it on cask now too. It's stronger, at 6.8%, but really good. I need to get down there without a car so I can have a couple pints.

Sweet! Always wanted to check them out.

 

I always tell people, "I'm not an alcoholic. I just appreciate all the hard work that goes into a good alcoholic drink."

 

I always tell people my name first.....then why im there........lol

 

The social worker told me I gotta go to those meetings too, but I just totally disregarded them.

 

Update:

Mowry Bevmo has....

Knee Deep:
-Hoptologist DIPA
-Belgo Hoptologist DIPA
-Midnight Hoppyness

Deschutes:
-Hop Henge! in the fridge! (Ya'll better hop on this one before I clear the shelves!) The last 1/4th of the 22/24oz end of the beer is friggin' awesome!
-Tried the Fresh Squeeze IPA @ Whole Foods. Too much citrus.

Buddy of mine swooped me up a couple of Russian River's Pliny's. Still kinda irked that they're so hard to find. Haven't tried it yet... but will tomorrow! I'll probably head up to the Brew Pub in Santa Rosa and swoop me up some more bottles.

 

Pliney is liquid gold.

In other news, wish I could attend this event.

Livermore Wine Country Festival 2014 - Winery and Beer Locations

Black Diamond Brewing will be there, along with Golden Road and plenty more.

 

The Elder or The Younger?

(I still think Heady Topper is my list topper for IPAs)

 

Only tried the Elder. I'll be looking for Younger late Feb.

I've been trying to figure out how to get my hands on Heady Toppers Alchemist.