What're you drinking right now?

liamt07 · Post by **liamt07** » Fri Oct 31, 2014 10:08 am

Craig wrote:
TheSevenDuffs wrote:
mgmoney wrote:Bellwood's Witchshark...best Ontario DIPA?
Personally, I prefer both Robo Hop and Boogie Monster, but you can't go wrong with any of the 3!
I'd go with 10 Bitter years too. All great beers though, amazing how Ontario has progressed in that area.

10 Bitter Years has been consistently disappointing. The first 2-3 batches of that beer were the best they've ever made, all downhill since. I wouldn't put 10BY even in a top 10 Ontario DIPA conversation.

TheSevenDuffs · Post by **TheSevenDuffs** » Fri Oct 31, 2014 10:16 am

liamt07 wrote:
Craig wrote:
TheSevenDuffs wrote:Personally, I prefer both Robo Hop and Boogie Monster, but you can't go wrong with any of the 3!
I'd go with 10 Bitter years too. All great beers though, amazing how Ontario has progressed in that area.
10 Bitter Years has been consistently disappointing. The first 2-3 batches of that beer were the best they've ever made, all downhill since. I wouldn't put 10BY even in a top 10 Ontario DIPA conversation.

I agree with everything you said Liam. I didn't exclude it from my list by accident

Craig · Post by **Craig** » Fri Oct 31, 2014 10:22 am

No kidding? The last bottle I had was last year, but it was still great.

TheSevenDuffs · Post by **TheSevenDuffs** » Fri Oct 31, 2014 10:26 am

Craig wrote:No kidding? The last bottle I had was last year, but it was still great.

That would have been one of the newer batches that we are referring to. Did you have any of the early batches? I think the first 3 batches were all top notch and then it went downhill from there (When they lost their head brewer).

Craig · Post by **Craig** » Fri Oct 31, 2014 10:38 am

TheSevenDuffs wrote:
Craig wrote:No kidding? The last bottle I had was last year, but it was still great.
That would have been one of the newer batches that we are referring to. Did you have any of the early batches? I think the first 3 batches were all top notch and then it went downhill from there (When they lost their head brewer).

Yeah, I've had it a bunch of times. Just didn't get one this year because Great Lakes kept releasing things I wanted to try more.

Have they really only made like 4 batches of it? I figured they were pumping out several batches a year.

TheSevenDuffs · Post by **TheSevenDuffs** » Fri Oct 31, 2014 11:15 am

Craig wrote:
TheSevenDuffs wrote:
Craig wrote:No kidding? The last bottle I had was last year, but it was still great.
That would have been one of the newer batches that we are referring to. Did you have any of the early batches? I think the first 3 batches were all top notch and then it went downhill from there (When they lost their head brewer).
Yeah, I've had it a bunch of times. Just didn't get one this year because Great Lakes kept releasing things I wanted to try more.

Have they really only made like 4 batches of it? I figured they were pumping out several batches a year.

I think they have done more than 4. There have been at least a couple of sub-par batches. And I stopped paying attention many months ago.

S. St. Jeb · Post by **S. St. Jeb** » Fri Oct 31, 2014 2:39 pm

Grand River Highballer Pumpkin Ale

velovampire · Post by **velovampire** » Fri Oct 31, 2014 5:46 pm

liamt07 wrote:
Craig wrote:
TheSevenDuffs wrote:Personally, I prefer both Robo Hop and Boogie Monster, but you can't go wrong with any of the 3!
I'd go with 10 Bitter years too. All great beers though, amazing how Ontario has progressed in that area.
10 Bitter Years has been consistently disappointing. The first 2-3 batches of that beer were the best they've ever made, all downhill since. I wouldn't put 10BY even in a top 10 Ontario DIPA conversation.

This. Sad, but true.

rfrf · Post by **rfrf** » Fri Oct 31, 2014 6:46 pm

LTM Porter Baltique Brandy/Bourbon 2013 - first time on this. Very good.

Belgian · Post by **Belgian** » Fri Oct 31, 2014 11:50 pm

Earlier - Bellwoods Grandma's Boy (Batch 2) Tripel barrel-aged with Brett and then with yellow plums. Holyfuck amazing. I would rush your GTA ass down here to enjoy this exceptional batch, very plummy/apricot-y and the brett sets it off really well. Insanely integrated. Also on tap- Skeleton Key for those that want this gorgeous elixir.

Now - a Founders Centennial, and a sad reflection on our monopoly's (tenuous at best) relationship to top-flight USA craft brewers.

Derek · Post by **Derek** » Fri Oct 31, 2014 11:58 pm

TheSevenDuffs wrote:
Craig wrote:No kidding? The last bottle I had was last year, but it was still great.
That would have been one of the newer batches that we are referring to. Did you have any of the early batches? I think the first 3 batches were all top notch and then it went downhill from there (When they lost their head brewer).

Adrian left quite a while ago... I did have it again last fall, and I thought it was really great.

ckoop · Post by **ckoop** » Sat Nov 01, 2014 7:53 am

liamt07 wrote:
Craig wrote:
TheSevenDuffs wrote:Personally, I prefer both Robo Hop and Boogie Monster, but you can't go wrong with any of the 3!
I'd go with 10 Bitter years too. All great beers though, amazing how Ontario has progressed in that area.
10 Bitter Years has been consistently disappointing. The first 2-3 batches of that beer were the best they've ever made, all downhill since. I wouldn't put 10BY even in a top 10 Ontario DIPA conversation.

Could this have to do with freshness? I last had this beer about 1 1/2 ago and thought it was nice but haven't bought it since because I can never see bottle dates on them.

Torontoblue · Post by **Torontoblue** » Sat Nov 01, 2014 9:40 am

Lagunitas A Little Sumpin Extra ale
A couple of Ally Kat's Old Deuteronomy, cask conditioned 2nd runnings of this much missed ale
North Coast Old Rasputin
Then back at home:
Sierra Nevada Ovila Quad with plums
Black Diamond Peak XV Imperial porter

BakaGaijin · Post by **BakaGaijin** » Sat Nov 01, 2014 12:19 pm

Belgian wrote:Earlier - Bellwoods Grandma's Boy (Batch 2) Tripel barrel-aged with Brett and then with yellow plums. Holyfuck amazing. I would rush your GTA ass down here to enjoy this exceptional batch, very plummy/apricot-y and the brett sets it off really well. Insanely integrated.

This should be available for retail in a few weeks once it's properly bottle conditioned shouldn't it?

Last night:

Foothills Hoppyum
Foothills Peoples Porter
Amsterdam Boneshaker
Mikkeller Texas Ranger
Mikkeller Monks Brew

I really enjoyed the Texas Ranger.

boney · Post by **boney** » Sat Nov 01, 2014 3:02 pm

TheSevenDuffs wrote:
liamt07 wrote:
Craig wrote: I'd go with 10 Bitter years too. All great beers though, amazing how Ontario has progressed in that area.
10 Bitter Years has been consistently disappointing. The first 2-3 batches of that beer were the best they've ever made, all downhill since. I wouldn't put 10BY even in a top 10 Ontario DIPA conversation.
I agree with everything you said Liam. I didn't exclude it from my list by accident

Agreed on 10BY. But, I think the same about Witchshark, honestly.....and everything hoppy that they do. All OK, but nowhere near what they use to be. Bellwoods still nails every stout, strong or sour they do, but their hoppy offerings have been consistently lacklustre for about a year now. I don't get the love, but I know I'm in a very small minority.