Is No One Drinking Beer?

Ok, so I enjoyed 5 liters of beer in a beer garden with some Austrians that purchased 1 liter for me. And then I (we) tried to go to another bar (that was on Beer Advocate) but it was closed so we HAD to go back to another beer bar for more beer (and awesome people watching AND this really crazy bacon bread that was mostly bacon with horseradish that looked like cheese). I know we are all drinking beer, but maybe just the standbys (albeit GOOD standbys) and thus not posting? I know Chris is in awe of all the WI beer he can now purchase and Pete has thinkings on his mind (like moving to Korea) BUT can someone post and let me know what is on their mind?

Prague

Much pivo has been enjoyed in Prague. Duane has kept notes, I will get him to post soon. We are off to Salzburg tomorrow, and planning to spend many hours drinking at the Augustiner beer garden!

San Diego

Here's a recap of the week:

Alpine Exponential Hoppiness
Alpine Bad Boy IPA
Alpine Duet IPA
Alpine Nelson Rye IPA
Pliny the Elder
Ballast Point Fathom India Pale Lager
Bruery Humulus Lager
Port Reunion 2009
Alesmith Barrel Aged Wee Heavy 2006
Lost Abbey Duck Duck Gooze
Lost Abbey Cable Car
Ballast Point Yellowtail Pale Ale
New Glarus Belgian Red
New Glarus R&D Golden Ale
New Glarus Old English Porter

and here's what I'm bringing home:

Beautiful Chaos

Not sure the picture does justice, but holy freakin activity!

Collaborative Double Borth

My team: rocketship
Barry's team: broken knee cap

Draftstravaganzalogical Preparations in Progress

My favorite day of the years approaches

IPhone test photo

Test iPhone post

This weekend

Things are gearing up for the insanity that will be Beer Fest weekend. I am not sure what the exact schedule is but I know we will be at Maduro (Stone will be there, but Maduro is always nuts so not sure we will be there long), Dexter's (has Dark Horse at 8pm, Great Lakes prior to that) and Glass Nickel on Atwood. Glass Nickel is an odd place, but they are the host of the party for this "new" online beer community Duane has been hanging out at (www.thebeerspot.com). Surly and Founder's will be at Glass Nickel.

Dexter's is having breakfast and a bus to the Great Taste, so we are taking advantage of that. I don't know about food though, that seemed to be one of the slip ups last year. There is food at the park, but the lines can be long and the food can be expensive. You are allowed to bring a cooler, but I don't know how that will work with taking the bus.

Duane says he won't be as crazy as he was last year with trying to sample as many beers as possible, you know his tastes have gotten more sophisticated. I am looking at the program as we speak figuring out what I want to try.

We will miss you this year Pete!

Agree with Chris' assessment. Nice and malty up front; hop kick at the end. Great hop variety. Aroma is solid too.

Superterrific Happy Hour in China

Back from China. There was a varied selection of mostly Belgians at the market near my friend Matt's house. We grilled lunch and sampled a few. By far the best beer deal in China (Beijing anyway, but probably all over) is Tsingtao, which you have probably all tried. Standard green bottle beer. Good for the summer heat.

First up, Green IPA. Not hoppy. Barf-inducing British style IPA.


I vaguely remember Leute Bokbier tasting like a malty Bock. Not my style. Note bottle cap.


Next, a boozy Tripel.


This Bornem Tripel was excellent. Very crispy and hoppy / citrusy. Strong but without any detectable alcohol. Okay, maybe a little alcohol.


Doubel ≤ Tripel. Way cool bottle.



Later in the evening we brewed a Belgian Sour. That was cool. The secondary fermentation lasts 12 months!

In the meantime I also got a couple of job offers: Penn State (another one year contract, which I turned down) and KIAS (postdoc, no teaching and in Seoul, which I am reluctantly considering). Did not get the job at NYU. Not sure what my next move will be. Thinking fond thoughts of Madison.

A sort of homecoming

Back in State College for the week. Didn't take me long to dive into a Zeno's Hoppy Rye Ale. It's a fairly standard, but fine, Rye Pale Ale.

Grade: B

I have some beer in China posts to catch up on later.

I also have the following in my fridge: AleSmith IPA, Stone 13th, Weyebacher Zotten, Nils Oscar Coffee Stout and Dark Lord. Which should I have later?