– The boy. Is he dead too?
– Who?
– The boy, Jason.
– Jason?
– In the lake, the one – the one who attacked me – the one who pulled me underneath the water.
– Ma’am, we didn’t find any boy.
– But – then he’s still out there……………………..
Doo Dee Doo Doo, Doo Dee Doo Doo. Welcome to Friday the 13th, ladies and gents. Generally I have no idea that Friday the 13th is actually occurring unless someone points it out to me. I really don’t care what day it is most of the time. Today however there’s a little added significance, although oddity might be a better word, that separates today’s Friday the 13th from the other two we’ve had this year. Once today, July 13th is over, there will not be another Friday the 13th until September of 2013. That’s 14 months, the longest interval you can expect between this weird little day that seems to get some people all freaked out and checking behind closet doors. Did you need to know this little bit of useless trivia? Most certainly not, but it’s the Internet folks and we’re all about sharing seemingly useless information purely to entertain ourselves. That’s the same reason you’ll come to sites like this to tell us what you’re drinking or sharing experiences of recent beers that you’ve been sampling. Not exactly useful information, but I certainly like reading it. I’m guessing you do to.
Tonight, I’ll be cracking into a mixed 12 pack from Sam Adams called the IPA Hop-Ology. I have mixed emotions already. I like Sam Adams, appreciate what they do, respect most of their beers, but I’ve never really been overwhelmed by their offerings. I don’t think I’m alone in that either. Where other brewers have grown with the latest surge of craft beer, Sam seems to be stuck where they’ve always been. That’s not a bad thing from a business standpoint but most Aleheads only grab their beers when it’s the closest port in a storm. Unless it’s a sampling of Utopias, I can’t imagine too many of us are seeking them out. Well, in the case of this mixed 12 pack, I think Sam is taking a step in the right direction. I’ve professed my own love for mixed 12 packs many times over but I feel that this offering from Sam Adams is a great way to get the true craft fan to give some of their beers a try. Who wouldn’t want to try 6 different IPA’s from the same brewer, all in one spot? I’ve had a couple of the beers in the mix, like the Latitude 48 (Meh, with a capital M) and the Tasman Red IPA (Tasty), but others I’m excited to try like their take on a Baltic IPA and their Imperial. It’s a box of 6 different IPA’s, 2 bottles a piece. I’m an easy sell.
So, that’s what I’ll be drinking tonight. Not the most useful information, but I figured I would share anyway.
Now tell the rest of us…
What are you drinking tonight?
ALEHEADS 
I’ve got a bomber of Green Flash Saison Diego and a six pack of Lighthouse Tasman Ale.
The Tasman ale is not bad at all. Has very unique, tropical aroma and flavor yet still holds as a reasonable session pale ale.
Man do I want that Green Flash Saison Diego. They’re still fairly new out in my parts and I feel very lucky to get the West Coast, Palate Wrecker, Hop Head Red, and Double Stout, but I want EVERYTHING they have. Color me jealous.
The Tasman Ale sounds pretty descent for a lighter-style Pale Ale. I’m intrigued.
I was a bit surprised to see the Green Flash Saison in my neck of the woods (West Coast, Canada). I tried it in Portland and thought it was a very tasty, approachable Saison and thought I’d better give it another try despite the brutal price tag.
I don’t know how much presence beers from Lighthouse Brewing out of Victoria, BC make their way into the US. Perhaps they can be found in and around Seattle? They started out making fairly traditional styles but lately they’ve been creating some really well made, unique and drinkable beers. Their Switchback IPA is as good as any IPA I’ve had from the Pacific NW and, yeah, the Talisman is a refreshing break from routine pale ales.
I’m celebrating Friday the 13th by staying indoors (doors locked, blinds drawn) and making homemade pizza, so what better to drink with it than a good IPA or two. The only one I have on hand is a 12 oz. of Great Divide’s Titan, but I’m thinking of picking up something else (Pliny or Blind Pig ALWAYS go great with pizza as long as I can find them.) Never tried Ballast Point’s Sculpin, so I might give that a go.
And all with my machete close by.
Run, do not walk, to get Sculpin. If you’re hiding away in terror, might as well do so knowing that you just had one of the finest IPA’s the world has ever known (Not that you’ll be disappointed with a full belly of Pliny or Blind Pig though).
Ballast Point is one of those breweries that I’ve always been aware of, but never really sought out. However, in the past couple of months I’ve fallen in love with Sea Monster and Black Marlin (and managed to find a bottle of Victory at Sea,) so now I’m in the stage of slowly trying everything else. As far as “go-to” breweries for something to regularly fill the fridge, they’re quickly becoming a favorite.
I think that Moylan’s is another underappreciated brewery in the same mold.
I agree. I’ve always wanted to do a beer tasting of nothing but Moylans. Their range is incredible. Maybe I’ll just use the “tasting” as an excuse to stock up and make a week of it.
Knot stock from furthermore Brewery is totally different and tasty. ABV: 5.5%Black, cracked, stuffed in a sack, boiled and cold-infused. The real treat of our A.P.A. is the tangle of flavors that fresh cracked pepper and Northern Brewer Hops create. At 65 IBUs (bitterness units) there’s plenty of zing for the Hop Heads or Bitter Bettys, but not so much to overpower the tingle of the black pepper as it slowly kicks in. Likewise, the 15° Plato malt bill features a healthy dose of caramel malt meant to soften (but not stifle) the play of pepper and hops on the palate. Give it a try!
Hah, I reviewed that beer really poorly on the site like a year and a half ago. It was one of my earlier posts. The pepper was just way too much for me. I’ve had pepper beers done well, but I didn’t like that one at all.
Fat Head’s Head Hunter or perhaps the Stone Ruination 10th Anniversary Edition tonight. Anderson Valley Summer Solstice cans for mowing the lawn tomorrow. Also have a bomber of Rodenbach Grand Cru for the Breaking Bad premier. I rarely drink imports these days, but it seems appropriate somehow. Not sure why.
Let us know your take on the 10th Anniversary, Slouch. We did a side-by-side with the standard Ruination and thought the 10th Anniversary was just a mess. Interesting certainly…and not without its charm. But still a big, hot mess.
I usually drink a rochefort 10 while watching bb
Tonight I will be drinking a few Pyramid Outburst Imperial IPA (a new comer to my part of Georgia) and Great Divides 18th Wood Ages Double IPA. If I’m still standing after those I will be diving into my homebrew india brown ale. I’m glad there is not too much going on tomorrow for me.
Its pretty warm in Chicagoland today so maybe a Uinta Sum’r will be appropriate and refreshing. Then probably my Tröegs Scratch Series Double IPA ive been holding onto since I came back from PA, yum!
I’ve got some Weyerbacher Tiny and Sour Black I’m looking to dig into tonight! Prob some DFH 60 minute too.
that is a tasty combo!
OK, with all the yummy drinking going on…who knows what FUBAR means? Because that is where some of you are heading with your selections greatness.
My luck was in tonight, as our local tap house had Sculpin on the menu! In PA, so don’t see it much.
I think it’s an all-homebrew night for me. Clearing out some fridge space, drinking homebrew APA with Falconer’s Flight hop blend, homebrew rye saison, and there may be a bomber of old homebrew rye stout in there with my name on it.
I scrapped the Uinta and Tröegs options for a Pipeworks Froggy Style Wheat Porter while watching Beatlejuice. Got a nice buzz going just in time to slip off into dreamland 😀
Pretty Things Magnifico! for me. Actually a very low ABV (3.4%)… not mindblowing, but a very nice change of pace. Also cracked an uber-local Boxcar Mango Ginger IPA. Their regular IPA is really weird, and this one is even stranger. Maybe a hint too much ginger, but still decent.
Started with Devil Dancer , your thinking not a good place to start. Your right sort of , couple days back had it last & HATED IT . so decided to try it again , Still hate it to me it’s beer with oragel infused. Washed out mouth with a torpedo ( tasted better than ever ) followed with Shorts Spruce Pilsner. & then a 2heart on tap my reference standard . Last a hop devil that had turned to malt. So just an average day & a good long float in the pond , no Jason
Cheers all
A rare, Jasonless float.