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Beer Advent Calendars
Beer Advent Calendars
This year I got " The CRAFT BeerAdvent Calendar" as well as the Phillips Snowcase. Anyone else?
They were about $135 and $60 respectively... not cheap, but I like the variety as well as the daily beer surprise!
Day 1:
Phillips Amnesiac is the clear winner. One of Canada's first DIPA's and it has changed with the times. I use to buy this regularly, but it's a bit strong for a bomber on a regular basis. 4.25/5 (BA=3.96;RB=3.56; UT=3.77)
Nickelbrook Maple Porter. It wasn't a gusher, but it was seriously overly carbonated. Very dry, not much residual sweetness at all. More like a stout. 2.5/5 (BA=3.32; RB=3.1; UT=3.33)
(on edit, I had this on-tap in 2008 and rated it a 3.6).
Phillips walks away with this one.
They were about $135 and $60 respectively... not cheap, but I like the variety as well as the daily beer surprise!
Day 1:
Phillips Amnesiac is the clear winner. One of Canada's first DIPA's and it has changed with the times. I use to buy this regularly, but it's a bit strong for a bomber on a regular basis. 4.25/5 (BA=3.96;RB=3.56; UT=3.77)
Nickelbrook Maple Porter. It wasn't a gusher, but it was seriously overly carbonated. Very dry, not much residual sweetness at all. More like a stout. 2.5/5 (BA=3.32; RB=3.1; UT=3.33)
(on edit, I had this on-tap in 2008 and rated it a 3.6).
Phillips walks away with this one.
Last edited by Derek on Mon Dec 09, 2013 11:12 pm, edited 4 times in total.
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Day 2:
Phillips Elsinore - sort of a German Pils, with mind-altering drugs. 3.8/5 (BA=3.67; RB=2.75; UT=3.44)
Back Forty Kudzu - better than yesterdays porter, but not great. 3.3/5 (My first beer from Alabama!)
(BA=3.53; RB=3.44; UT=3.5)
I prefer the Phillips like BA, but RB & Untappd puts the Kudzu ahead.
Phillips Elsinore - sort of a German Pils, with mind-altering drugs. 3.8/5 (BA=3.67; RB=2.75; UT=3.44)
Back Forty Kudzu - better than yesterdays porter, but not great. 3.3/5 (My first beer from Alabama!)
(BA=3.53; RB=3.44; UT=3.5)
I prefer the Phillips like BA, but RB & Untappd puts the Kudzu ahead.
Last edited by Derek on Mon Dec 09, 2013 11:13 pm, edited 3 times in total.
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24 in each, but not in my fridge.
http://www.craftbeerimports.ca/index.ph ... t-calendar
http://phillipsbeer.com/snowcase-pack
http://www.craftbeerimports.ca/index.ph ... t-calendar
http://phillipsbeer.com/snowcase-pack
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schomberger wrote:This calendar sounds fascinating ... I am trying to picture it--- a 12 pack where each beer is individually sealed off so you have no idea what you're opening each day, and the whole thing sitting in your fridge?? A pic would be really cool.
The Newfoundland beer community also had the chance to buy them... but for something like $180 for the 24 beer.
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Almost forgot that one! Definitely one of the best beers I've ever enjoyed, from anywhere. No calender for me this year tho'...Derek wrote:Day 1:
Phillips Amnesiac is the clear winner.
In Beerum Veritas
After a few days break, I'm back to day 3...
Cucapa Obscura, an 'American' brown ale, 4.5%, some residual sweetness, not impressed, but I'll give it a 3.
(BA=3.42; RB=2.99; UT=3.36)
Phillips instigator, not a bad beer but below average for the style, even by domestic standards. 3. (BA=3.76; RB=3.09; UT=3.58)
Tie for me, Phillips gets the win from BA/RB.
Cucapa Obscura, an 'American' brown ale, 4.5%, some residual sweetness, not impressed, but I'll give it a 3.
(BA=3.42; RB=2.99; UT=3.36)
Phillips instigator, not a bad beer but below average for the style, even by domestic standards. 3. (BA=3.76; RB=3.09; UT=3.58)
Tie for me, Phillips gets the win from BA/RB.
Last edited by Derek on Mon Dec 09, 2013 11:09 pm, edited 3 times in total.
Day 8...
Lake of Bays Spark House Red - Sort of a mix between an Irish Red and a Schwarzbier. I'll give it a 3.5 for the daily win (BA=3.44; RB=3.12; UT=3.48).
Phillips Analogue 78 - Somewhat Kolsch-like, with an underlying domestic flavour. 3.25 (BA=3.5; RB=2.6; UT=3.4).
I prefer the Red like RB, but the BA's have a slight preference for the 78.
Note: I went back and looked up the RB/BA scores for the previous days.
Lake of Bays Spark House Red - Sort of a mix between an Irish Red and a Schwarzbier. I'll give it a 3.5 for the daily win (BA=3.44; RB=3.12; UT=3.48).
Phillips Analogue 78 - Somewhat Kolsch-like, with an underlying domestic flavour. 3.25 (BA=3.5; RB=2.6; UT=3.4).
I prefer the Red like RB, but the BA's have a slight preference for the 78.
Note: I went back and looked up the RB/BA scores for the previous days.
Last edited by Derek on Mon Dec 09, 2013 11:09 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Day 9:
Phillips Ginger - really great for what it is, and it really does pair well with Japanese food. 4.25 (BA=3.43; RB=3.05; Untapped=3.26)
Tap It IPA - A solid IPA, though not spectacular. I'll be a bit generous and give it a 4, as I'm not sure it's very fresh. (BA=3.86; RB=3.58; Untappd=3.67)
Surprisingly, I give this one to Phillips... though I may stand alone.
(I've went back and added the Untappd scores as well).
Phillips Ginger - really great for what it is, and it really does pair well with Japanese food. 4.25 (BA=3.43; RB=3.05; Untapped=3.26)
Tap It IPA - A solid IPA, though not spectacular. I'll be a bit generous and give it a 4, as I'm not sure it's very fresh. (BA=3.86; RB=3.58; Untappd=3.67)
Surprisingly, I give this one to Phillips... though I may stand alone.
(I've went back and added the Untappd scores as well).
Day 5...
Newport Storm Hurricane Amber - more of a pale ale, but you couldn't call it that in the usa. I like it. 4 (BA=3.18, RB=2.92, UT=3.23).
Phillips Grow Hop Zeus IPA - Looks great, smells nice, but I'm just not keen on the Zeus alone. 3.75. (BA=3.77, RB=3.79 UT=3.63).
I'd prefer to drink the amber, but the majority feels different.
Newport Storm Hurricane Amber - more of a pale ale, but you couldn't call it that in the usa. I like it. 4 (BA=3.18, RB=2.92, UT=3.23).
Phillips Grow Hop Zeus IPA - Looks great, smells nice, but I'm just not keen on the Zeus alone. 3.75. (BA=3.77, RB=3.79 UT=3.63).
I'd prefer to drink the amber, but the majority feels different.
Last edited by Derek on Sat Dec 14, 2013 10:33 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Day 7...
Stillwater Existent - A very dark farmhouse ale, lots of fruit with a gentle sourness. 4 (BA=3.82; RB=3.56; UT=3.68)
Phillips Hoperation Triple Cross - I'm not a fan of the 'style', but I think the do it well. Great hop/yeast balance (not very phenolic) with a crisp, dry finish. 4. (BA=3.99; RB=3.5; UT=3.71)
Stillwater Existent - A very dark farmhouse ale, lots of fruit with a gentle sourness. 4 (BA=3.82; RB=3.56; UT=3.68)
Phillips Hoperation Triple Cross - I'm not a fan of the 'style', but I think the do it well. Great hop/yeast balance (not very phenolic) with a crisp, dry finish. 4. (BA=3.99; RB=3.5; UT=3.71)