Got Beer?

I drove down to Forager a few weeks ago and one of the beers I picked up is a Chocolate Cherry stout called Billie Delish. It’s a total cherry bomb and ridiculously smooth for a 13% abv beer. I loved it it but I also love Cherry as an adjunct in my beers

Had one of their ‘push pop’ sours not long ago and that tasted like a funky slushee. Looking forward to trying the others I picked up

Stopped at LTD today, per my usual routine. Had their Nitro Terror (double choc milk stout) layered on their Light Ale, so it was basically a black and tan. The combo worked. The ale added a crispness/clean finish to the heaviness of the stout. The beertender, "S" (don't want to reveal the real life name, per internet rules), did it correctly. Used a spoon during the pouring and everything.

I went home to Iowa over the weekend to my hometown of Iowa Falls and had the chance to go to the new brewery that opened up there last year called Timbukbru. The original Timbukbru is located in Clarion, Iowa so this is a second location. I don't know much about the history of the Clarion location other than it has been there for a couple of years I believe. Anyway, I only had a couple of beers there. One was a Mexican Hot Chocolate Milk Stout, solid stout with a zing up front. I didn't take the time to ask what the zing was but it wasn't overly hot or long lasting. I would have been really interested in trying this without the zing. The second one I drank was a Hazelnut Brown Ale, it was okay but not enough flavor compared to other Nut Brown Ales I've had elsewhere.

The brewery itself was a nice place though, much nicer than either place here in Mankato. They have a really nice patio layout that is just outside there two rollup glass garage doors. It's too bad that the scenery is City Hall across the street.

If/when I decide to visit the homeland, because I really don't have any reason to, this will probably be a nice place to stop in when I'm there.

Seemed like a good night to crack a bottle of Soviet Slayer from Back Channel. This is an American Imperial Stout and the first time I’ve tried it. It’s so smooth and good, but glad I started it at 6:00 so I have time to enjoy it before bed

That is a really good beer. Enjoy! ?

A couple friends and I pooled some funds together, and put a bid in on a Bottle Logic 12 bottle (bomber) package, auction style. We figured out our max, etc. Right now, we have the only bid at $300. The dude is basically clearing a LOT out of his cellar. Just put up a couple more similar auctions tonight.

Won it. Now comes the waiting game, if the guy goes through with it. Won with original bid.

I saw Back Channel had 4 IPAs on tap. So I thought I'd swing by and grab a crowler or two. The place was packed, a limo parked out front, standing room only I side and a line out the door, so that was a little surprising. After waiting in line the guy helping me says "No IPA crowlers, if you aren't here on Wednesday afternoon, you're not getting one" so still the same as before, I said I'd try another time and then he makes a comment about keeping beer to serve to those who support us in the taproom.... I'm sorry, I didn't realize driving 25 minutes each way and buying crowlers wasn't supporting the brewery. I'm going to cross them off my list of places to go. Completely irritated by that comment.

Why can Back Channel not keep up with crowlers? Is it just a choice to do a limited amount? Is it capacity? Constant lineup changes? Barrel Theory, Blackstack, both arguably more popular than Back Channel, regularly have crowlers when I've stopped by. Blackstack even updates their website so I know what is available ahead of time, can purchase online and pickup curbside. I also have no idea what you're releasing ahead of time to know if I should stop on a particular Wednesday.

If you sell out of something every Wednesday, and have plenty of other crowler types sitting on shelves for longer, don't you think you'd shift some production to the things that are selling out (IPAs), I get you dont want to be a one trick place, and I also don't run a business either. I'll just got to the places who don't make comments about who I chose to drink their product.

Sorry for venting. 3 week old is giving me zero sleep, got clearance to go get some to-go beer from the wife and my trip was a total bust.

BC is doing about 2000 crowlers a week, last I heard. The demand is that high. He is correct that IF crowlers last until Fri or Sat, you got lucky. Their space is also not very big. Now, they have acquired an offsite space, where they are expanding their barreled/aging beers, so that might allow for more production of crowlers in the main space in the future, I don't know.

And you can pre-order BC crowlers online, I've done so before.

I’d send them a note privately on social media about your experience. I’m sure they don’t want to be treating their customers that way so they may just want to know.

Admittedly I never go there for IPA (nor anywhere for that matter) but I’ve had luck getting beer to go on weekends. It’s just too bad you continue to have those experiences with them.

I see that now, thanks for letting me know. Earlier this summer they weren't updating availability, so everything showed in stock even if it wasn't. Looking likes it matches what I saw in there today now.

There just aren’t that many breweries out west whose beer is truly great. If I went through my Top Ten in the state they’re the only ones west Of Hwy 100 on that list for me.

Agreed. As much as I love LTD, they are in my top 5 FAVORITE, but that doesn't equate to top 10 BEST. BC is top 10 BEST, for sure.

FTR, the others, no order, in the discussion:

Forager, Barrel Theory, Lupulin, Falling Knife, and Drastic Measures.

I really like the beers from Back Channel but have had a couple of issues with their customer service that were a bit off putting.

That makes me sad to hear this about BC. I know many of the staff, and the owners, personally. Nothing but good experiences w/them. I do agree, reach out in a private message. I have confidence they will set things right.

Out of the 12 bottle "draft" my buddies and I had on the Bottle Logic lot we won, this is what I ended up with. All bottles were BA. I missed out on Imperial Red and Imperial Raspberry, but that was expected. I "drafted" first choice of a bottle, then we went down the line until all bottles gone.

2017 BA Vanilla Imp Stout (standard recipe, and absolutely delicious, I cracked that one tonight)

2017 BA Breakfast Stout (Our legendary Breakfast Stout returns this year with two epic power-ups: Vermont maple syrup was added right into the brew for a beam of subtle sweetness against the earthy bitterness of barrel-aged Coldbot Coffee beans! As in 2016's batch, this viscous 13.4% beast was aged in bourbon barrels with just a handful of Madagascar vanilla beans and will be finished on cacao nibs and Coldbot Coffee's Salvadorian + Guatemalan coffee beans.)

2017 BA Honey Strong Ale w/marionberries (curious about this one, will be fun to try)

2018 BA Strong Ale (Something To Smile About) (This American Strong Ale was aged in Bourbon Barrels before journeying through hundreds of pounds of toasted almonds, rich cacao nibs, and marshmallowy Madagascar vanilla.)

Had another of the ‘push pop’ sours I got from Forager tonight. This one is called Road Rally and is Blueberry, Plum, Marshmellow Creme and Vanilla Caviar

This is hands down one of the best sour beers I’ve ever had. It drinks like a smoothie but there’s just a ton of fruit flavor in it and an almost perfect level of tartness.

So.....they've stopped exploding? I have seen some rather bad aftermath pics, even when properly stored....

The two I had were perfectly fine.

Maybe they (and others) have fixed the issue, which is a VERY good thing. One comment on the pics (and agreed with), after a cherry or raspberry push pop exploded: This looks like a damn murder scene.

And that poster wasn't kidding. Red stains EVERYWHERE. Ceiling fan, floor, shirt, cupboard, tile..it was a massacre.

I love fruit sours - that sounds amazing except for the vanilla caviar. :conf2:

I think Cowgirl would like the Empress Series at Back Channel, but that is definitely a hike....

Maybe you should pick some up and let me know next time you’re at Ansaris and I’ll trade you for some cash.

I’m almost tempted to drive down to Rochester to get that push pop one.

I can try this weekend to pick some up. It's tough to get crowlers on weekends, if you've read back on the thread.

You’re a superfan though, if anyone can do it...it’s you.

Not even me. Member or not, once those crowlers are gone, they are gone. And they move quick.

I’m not sure you’d even notice it. You’d probably like a lot of these smoothie and breakfast sours that are all the rage now. I don’t really bother with finding Drekker ones but the Humble Forager ones are agood choice. Lots of others too

Are these available in stores, or from the brewery only?

You can find Drekker and Humble Forager in stores. Drekker tends to fly off the shelf in the places it’s delivered but Humble Forager’s are generally easy to find

Ok thanks! I was thinking Forager in Rochester.

The Forager ones are only available in the taproom since they’re a Brewpub. They started the Humble Forager brand in WI so they can distribute those beers in MN and elsewhere but I believe Austin is the head brewer for both

That's why I love Vinifera in Plymouth. Drekker hangs around a while.

Be prepared to pay hard for Humble Forager, though. Worth it if you're going to treat yourself, but it's not not daddy's $12 four pack. You pay more for a 2-pack, no joke.

The Rube wrote:

That's why I love Vinifera in Plymouth. Drekker hangs around a while.

Be prepared to pay hard for Humble Forager, though. Worth it if you're going to treat yourself, but it's not not daddy's $12 four pack. You pay more for a 2-pack, no joke.

Yep - they're around $8-$9 for a 16oz. can most places I've seen. The ones I've had have been worth it though.

Someday I'll get around to actually trying Drekker and Blackstack. I think I've had a total of 2 beers combined from the two breweries.

davescharf wrote:

The Rube wrote:

That's why I love Vinifera in Plymouth. Drekker hangs around a while.

Be prepared to pay hard for Humble Forager, though. Worth it if you're going to treat yourself, but it's not not daddy's $12 four pack. You pay more for a 2-pack, no joke.

Yep - they're around $8-$9 for a 16oz. can most places I've seen. The ones I've had have been worth it though.

Someday I'll get around to actually trying Drekker and Blackstack. I think I've had a total of 2 beers combined from the two breweries.

Drekker, I am picky, due to their overall style. Blackstack is very good. Worth it when you want to spend the money.

More Junkyard for me .

I was never that impressed with anything Drekker made back when I was living in Fargo, but I also don't think they had really branched out into sours yet. Could have just been a function of the market at the time, I remember some guys from Fargo Brewing at ABR a while back saying they wished they could make sours, but the demand wasn't there.

davescharf wrote:

The Rube wrote:

That's why I love Vinifera in Plymouth. Drekker hangs around a while.

Be prepared to pay hard for Humble Forager, though. Worth it if you're going to treat yourself, but it's not not daddy's $12 four pack. You pay more for a 2-pack, no joke.

Yep - they're around $8-$9 for a 16oz. can most places I've seen. The ones I've had have been worth it though.

Someday I'll get around to actually trying Drekker and Blackstack. I think I've had a total of 2 beers combined from the two breweries.

The fruit goop is good for a couple months but then that style wears on you. Still good every once in a while but buying a 4pk every other week is a bit much for their sours.

2020 (officially, even though it's released in 2021) Darkness dropped this week. Apparently, it's really good, not 100% raisins like the regular 2020 Darkness. I picked up a couple bottles tonight. Probably will crack one this weekend, and save the other.

I don’t even think I got raisins. I got a lot of bitterness that tasted a lot like an Anise flavor.

I had my Double Vanilla variant tonight and didn’t get much vanilla. Got a ton of the rye whiskey barrel though and that’s not a bad thing

The Vanilla was disappointing, for sure. I agree on your call. The Mole was OUTSTANDING, though.

Today just got really good. Finalized a buy for 2016 AND 2019 Toppling Goliath Assassin for $425 total. I've had them before, but only at shares. Finally have bottles of my own...

We hit up Brewing Projekt in Eau Claire today. Apparently the smoothie thing is a big thing. They only had one on tap but grabbed a couple fruity four packs to try at home. They have a crazy menu.

The smoothies are very good, but buyer beware, sometimes they get chunky in the cans, even when fresh.

The first glass I tried had pineapple and it was chunky but the second one was better. It tastes fine though.

$425 for 2 bottles?

Yes

Yeah I don’t get it either but I get all my beer for free so I’m prolly not qualified to judge

It's normally about $300 per bottle.

I just got '18, '19, and '20 for $150. :poke:

Yes, I won the raffle. :dance:

Nice on the raffle! I'm more of a cellar vulture/auction vulture in those groups. A couple of friends and I will pool our money for larger purchases at times (like the recent Bottle Logic purchase mentioned earlier).

Found a four pack of the Starkeller Peach. It’s so hard finding the newer Starkeller beers near my house and this has probably been my favorite of all their sours

Also going to finally try something from Stacked Deck and see if the growing hype about them is worth it.

I would say yes on Stacked Deck. The Vanilla Moonrise is outstanding, and the Trident is very good. I was wary of them, thinking they were just in it for the craft beer money, but they make some solid beers.