Had a wonderful sour tonight from the most unlikely of sources:
Coors.

Yep, you read that correctly. Coors.
I don't know all the details but it was a blend of some 4 month old and some 22 month old beer from different barrels (not sure what kind of barrels) with cherries added. Not overly acidic or tart, but lots of subtle, interesting flavors going on. I would buy it, if it were available, on a regular basis. Great beer.

I've heard in the past Coors doing small batches, they're only available at that brewpub by the stadium, or at least in that area? No reason they couldn't do stuff like that, they should have the resources, even if it doesn't leave the area.

I figured I wouldn't be able to bring it on board, my wife called the airline today and confirmed that. Not really confident it would survive some kind of luggage trip back on the plane. Guess I'll have to mail some back.

Surprised to hear a Coors product get a great review. I guess Blue Moon is a respectable beer, though I am not a fan of wheats, so I guess if any macro-brewery is to produce something to generate such a positive review it should be Coors.

Adam: I completely hear ya on the wheats. Mid to late 80s when the Belgian whites (wheats) became popular, I liked them a lot, but eventually I really had it with them, too sweet, too much coriander (and I like coriander), too citrussy. The past ten years a few Dutch brewers have started to make German style Weizens and a lot of distributors put German Weizens on tap in Summer, but I already lost my interest in them.

Oddly enough, the other day I found one in a small brewery in the Netherlands, that was made with the same ingredients as a Weizen, the brewer also compared it to a Weizen, but it was definitely sour. Very nice, no fruit, a brisk hop and a distinct, but not overwhelming sourness. Cordeaux by De Drie Ringen, and you can't find it anywhere outside Amersfoort, where the brewery is.

Drinking some Three Philosphers from Ommegang, a Belgian Style Quadruppel. Like it more than The Reverend I had the other night, which I wasn't a huge fan of.

Who wants to tell me the diffence between the different Belgian Styles. Trippels, Quad's, Trappiste, Blondes, etc.?

Firstly,
Your Three Philosophers is a blend of a belgian-style quadruppel and a cherry lambic from Belgium,

Trippel- The style pretty much comes from Westmalle, so go drink it- the Westmalle, that is. Lighter in color with some honey, stone fruit notes. About 9%, in general.
Drink the Westmalle. I like the Dulle Teve from De Dolle and domestically, I like the Great Divide Tripel a LOT. St. Feuillien and Allagash both make excellent examples as well.

Quad - huge malt. About 9-12% ABV. Lots of caramel, raisins, dried apricot, plum, etc.
You might throw Chimay Blue and Gouden Carolus Cuvee Van De Kaiser in this category, both outstanding beers. The 10 Commandments from Lost Abbey is also good, though not brewed in the traditional style (raisin puree and rosemary added).

Trappist - beers made by one of the seven Trappist breweries (Achel, Chimay, Orval, Rochefort, Westmalle, Westvletern, Koenigshoven). These beers are brewed by the monks themselves. They can't be labeled Trappist if the monks aren't in control of the brewing of the beer. Many beers that are labeled Abbey might be in an appropriate monastery, but aren't being brewed by the monks themselves. The new abbey beer from Sierra Nevada is an example of an abbey beer.

Blonde - light-colored beer brewed with belgian yeast. An excellent example of this style is Russian River's Redemption.

I'll look for the Great Divide one. Grand Cru or Hades? Both only in bombers or is the Hades available in 6 pack?

And I have wanted to check that Redemption out but that shit's like $12 a freakin bottle. Too rich for my skin.

Oskar Blues Brewery Posts a 60% Increase in January


LONGMONT, CO (Feb 2011) - The trailblazer of the canned craft beer revolution, Oskar Blues Brewery has continued its growth pattern posting a 60 percent increase in shipments in January 2011 vs. January 2010.

While 2010 proved to be one of the most challenging years for the beer category in recent memory, craft beer appears to be the exception to the rule. Craft beer was the only segment to increase its case and dollar sales by double-digit percent increases while canned craft beer made a significant splash for the first time since Oskar Blues started the trend eight years ago. Since 2007, canned craft beer sales have grown six-fold, and the number of craft brewers canning beer has eclipsed 100.

In 2010 Oskar Blues demand exceeded supply at times. To trump demand in what looks to be a stellar 2011, the brewery's immediate focus is furthering its infrastructure while brewing more consistent quality beer than ever before. Two weeks ago, the brewery installed a 200 BBL fermenter and a 200 BBL bright tank in the first of three capacity increases scheduled for early this year. Oskar Blues also has four more 200 BBL fermenters scheduled for arrival over the next two months in addition to installing a new keg line and Hi-Cone six-packing machine.

The continued investments in quality control, infrastructure and people have positioned the funky brewery for another explosive year for craft canned brews led by the original; Dale's Pale Ale.

Set in the heart of Colorado craft beer country, Oskar Blues Brewery in Lyons began canning its beers in November of 2002 with a hand-canning line in the 60- year-old barn next door to their funky little brewpub. Although it's now a full- throttle canning operation that is quickly expanding its cult-like following across the nation, Oskar Blues remains true to its original mission of simply blowing minds with what can come out of a can of beer.

Isn't Stone's Porter smoked? I keep wanting to check it out but have yet to get around to it.

Really liked that Three Philosophers a lot. I like their Abbey Style Ale a lot too. Their a great brewery.

Gave Rogue's Shakespeare Oatmeal Stout a second try the other day and pulled a a complete 1080 on it as I REALLY like it. Tasted the oatmeal in the center and the bitter black coffee flavor that finished it is a very nice touch. Carbonation was not an issue for me at all this time. Wish I could buy that in 6 pack form because I definitely need to more and am not a bomber fan.

Does glassware really make a significant difference in the drinking experience? I read some stuff saying it does so bought myself a Belgian Tulip style glass.

I had that Dupont Saison last Tuesday before I went to see 'True Grit'. I was particularly underwhelmed by it, which makes every 'Saison' suspicious to me now.

I should research what it's supposed to mean, those Saison beers.

I'm going to let myself be knocked out by a Klein Duimpje Imperial Russian Stout now. Maybe warm up with a Völenbock first.