Looks like this Friday at Uncle Mike's up by me they are featuring
Bell's Hopslam Cask Ale on tap. They do a different cask ale each
Friday. I may have to stop in for a pint.

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Flew too close to the sun on wings of pastrami

I was a little disappointed with the Hopslam. It was just a little too much for me. I did also try Bell's HopSolution on Saturday and liked that one better.

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I picked up a six-pack the other day too and tried one. I thought it was pretty good but it didn't blow me away either. I prefer the Hop Juice to Hopslam. However, it will be the Bears-Packers drink of choice and I'm willing to give it a second chance to win me over.

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You know me like that.

That may be cause for a detour after work. Never had it on cask. And it is definitely better on tap than in a bottle so I can see why some don't think as highly of it.

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I like hopslam but if I can have any Bells its going to be the old reliable Expedition Stout. After spending a few years in San Diego not much is going to impress me in the Double, Triple or Imperial IPA. I would however rank Southern Tier's Gemini and Hoppin Frog's Hop Damn over Hopslam for balls out hoppiness. Both are seasonally available at Binny's too.

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That's my purse! I don't know you!

I was at a local beer event last weekend in Grand Rapids, MI. The Brew Ha Ha, 26 beers about 12 from MI and others from around the world. My favorite was from Mt. Pleasant Brewing Company the "Trainwreck Ale." Really good American Amber Ale, smooth for 8.2%. Also, really liked their "Cow Catcher Ale" Link is below, I don't think they distribute to Chicagoland yet but if you are ever in the mitten try one of them out - http://mtpleasantbrew.com/OurBeer.aspx

I received a great xmas present this year, the Year of Beer - Michigan Edition. 6 pack sent to the house every month with handpicked beers based on my likes from previous months. Can't wait to receive first 6er soon. I'll share any really good or bad ones here, hopefully some of them will be distributed in your neck of the woods.

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... In my opinion.

Hopsolution was made by the Kalamazoo Brewing Company, which was just Bell's under a different label, so they could sell to the Chicago market when they had a dispute with their distributor.

Hopsolution and Hopslam are the same thing. The KBC American Unfiltered Wheat is the same thing as Oberon.

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Good people drink good beer - Hunter S. Thompson

<º)))><

Waiting for the time when I can finally say
That this has all been wonderful, but now I'm on my way

http://www.greenflashbrew.com/

This is a fantastic brewery in San Diego County, California.

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Good people drink good beer - Hunter S. Thompson

<º)))><

Waiting for the time when I can finally say
That this has all been wonderful, but now I'm on my way

Didn't taste the same to me.

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Different batches taste differently. Oberon tastes different from year to year.

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Good people drink good beer - Hunter S. Thompson

<º)))><

Waiting for the time when I can finally say
That this has all been wonderful, but now I'm on my way

Their Imperial IPA is my second favorite beer and pretty reasonable at $5/bomber. I think there's a review of it earlier in this thread.

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You know me like that.

When I lived there they weren't very good, but after I left they got a new brewmaster and re-did the recipes and now they are extremely excellent. I would say some of the best beer out there now is made between them and Port Brewing. Stone is all about making lots of $ now and I have no clue why Alesmith is just sitting on a few recipes and not doing anything exciting anymore.

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That's my purse! I don't know you!

If any beer lover has the Saturday of February 26th open from 1-5pm you should get your tickets now for the Winter Beer Festival OUTSIDE at the 5th/3rd Ballpark just north of Grand Rapids. Check ou the most up to date list of brewers http://www.michiganmicrobrews.com/2011-winter-beer-festival.

Over 50, I feel like I need to write down a game plan of the ones I have to try or I'll get lost with the endless options. Let me know of any recommendations and I'll report back my findings.

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... In my opinion.

Dammit. Why didn't they have this fun stuff to do when I attended that awful college just south of you?

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That's my purse! I don't know you!

That looks great. There was one I did in Madison, Wi for about 3
years and then the tickets got way too hard to get. I think there were
150 different breweries there. It was ridiculously awesome.

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Flew too close to the sun on wings of pastrami

Your a Bronco alum...that's too bad.

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... In my opinion.

So I'm going to the Geneva Ale House tonight. Someone tell me some good stuff I should try. Here is the list:

http://www.genevaalehouse.com/beer.html

I'm going to try Hopslam on Tap, I'm hoping it's better than the 6 pack I bought. Any other recommendations?

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Green Flash IPA is excellent and so is the Arctic Panzer Wolf. If you get tired of the hoppy beers go for the Dopplebock - Victory makes great beers. Man that is one awesome beer menu for only having a dozen taps. I need to check this place out.

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No, think Division III and think Church.

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That's my purse! I don't know you!

I had the Dopplebock last time I was there. it was good.

I would definitely recommend this place. All of the food I have tried there has been incredible.

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Sadly, out of all of the draft offerings, I've only tried two that are listed there: the Two Brothers IPA and the Three Floyd's Pride & Joy. I can definitely vouch for those brews, though...

I had the Pride and Joy also last time. Definitely good also.

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Straight shot down 31 for me to get there. May have to spend a Saturday there while I send the wife and daughter shopping at all those kitschy stores around there. I really want to check this place out. Last time I was in that area I went to Stockholm's Brewpub - that place blows. All their beers taste the same, like crap. Food was decent but nothing I need to go back for.

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Yeah, it's right across the street from Stockholm's. Stockholm's is awful. The beer was ok to me, but the food I have tried was terrible. I had one of the worst bratwursts I have ever ate a couple years ago. I was tasting that nasty thing for about 3 days afterwards.

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This might be small time but I have really been loving Raging Bitch Belgian Style IPA. Not a total beer snob but I think the Belgian style makes it creamier. Very tasty.

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Andy Rooney= biggest PUTZ of the dead

Tap
Green Flash West Coast IPA
Two Brothers Heavier Handed IPA
Bottles
Bell's 25th Anniversary Ale
Bells Expedition Stout
Dark Horse Double Crooked Tree IPA
Dogfish Head 90 Minute
Founder's Breakfast Stout
Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald Porter
New Holland Dragon's Milk
Southern Tier Unearthly IPA
Stone Arrogant Bastard
Three Floyds Gumballhead
Three Floyds Robert The Bruce
Two Brothers Resistance IPA
Cans
SKA Modus Hoperandi

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Good people drink good beer - Hunter S. Thompson

<º)))><

Waiting for the time when I can finally say
That this has all been wonderful, but now I'm on my way

Hope? Whatever it is there are many lowered teired schools around here.

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... In my opinion.

Winner.

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That's my purse! I don't know you!

Ska makes some awesome beers. I'm finishing a 6 er of Euphoria from last year and it's still wicked awesome.

I realized the other day I have been drinking nothing but hops for months now - need to clean my palate a bit so Spotted Cow is in the fridge for the game Sunday.

Tried some good stuff this trip. The Hopslam was much better on tap than in the bottle. Thanks for all the ideas.

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