ilsox7

QUOTE(FlaSoxxJim @ Jul 28, 2005 -> 12:52 PM) I have never had it. I do still have two uncorked bottles of the original Sam Adams Triple Bock laid down though. Those were the little nippers in the cobalt blue bottles with the gold leaf lettering on them. WILLING TO TRADE ONE FOR ONE OF THEM THERE BEASTS. Any takers? Picked some of that up myself. The best description I can give is it tastes liek soy sauce.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Jul 28, 2005 -> 12:24 PM) Some people need the beer to get the chicks Yes.

QUOTE(JimH @ Jul 28, 2005 -> 12:22 PM) Concentrate on chicks first, the beer knowledge can always come later. So I've had it all wrong...

QUOTE(FlaSoxxJim @ Jul 28, 2005 -> 12:08 PM) I don't think there is any dispute. Give me the bottle. I have a couple stashed away and I think they are calling me from my home 50 miles away. I'd probly agree, but I haven't tasted them side-by-side so I cannot say definitively.

The Blanche de Chamblay is brewed by Unibroue...and they make at least 10 very, very good beers. The first time I actually had something from them was while in Brussels! Two Brothers is also very good..especially their Weiss. Another World Class beer (readily available at The Map Room) is the Celebrator by Ayinger. It is the best Dopplebock I have ever had. And very, very, very easy to drink. It's a world class beer and an easy "intro" beer to people getting into the weird, messed up world of Beer Geekdom. And in general, fresh beer is better. However, there is some stuff (mostly Belgian) that actually ages better and is worth holding onto for a few years.

QUOTE(Steff @ Jul 28, 2005 -> 11:59 AM) I didn't even know there were that many different kinds of beer.. Drunks.. :lol One for every minute of the year. And that's just Belgians!

QUOTE(FlaSoxxJim @ Jul 28, 2005 -> 11:57 AM) It's been a couple years since a Hop Leaf visit, but yes, I like the place. Map Room is great. Clark Street Alehouse was always my favorite because it was stumbling distance from a great resteraunt my friend used to own called Mangos (closed), and a couple good Tapas joints. Also two doors down from the Clark St. Blue Chicago. I haven't been to Clark Street Alehouse yet, but it's close enough to me that I will be going there soon (within the next 2 weeks). I've heard good things about it. Another thing I like about Map Room and Hopleaf (from what I hear) is they usually have St. Bernardus Abt. 12 on tap. Very, very nice. Though there is some debate as to whether it's better coming aged from a bottle.

The Map Room is indeed terrific. Been there numerous times in the last 2 months since I moved back to Chicago. Hopleaf is also sposed to be great, but I haven't been up there yet.

QUOTE(Texsox @ Jul 28, 2005 -> 11:29 AM) Actually they wonder why we drink so much of it. The reverse would be Mexicans going crazy for Budweiser. Of the cheap, common, Mexican beers, Sol is my favorite. Negro Modelo here.

QUOTE(SoxFan1 @ Jul 28, 2005 -> 11:19 AM) Just wondering. I am underrage and was just curious as to why so many damn people drink that s***. Every guest that comes over our house: "Got any Heineken?" Because it's marketed so well. A lot of people drink it thinking they are drinking "good beer." I believe it was the number one import in the US for a while until Corona took that spot. Again, Corona is nice every so often, but is not "good beer" as many would lead you to believe. I may need to hide now, as I know the President of Barton, which imports Corona into half of the US.

QUOTE(SoxFan1 @ Jul 28, 2005 -> 11:09 AM) Anyone drink Heineken??? Most of my family members that do drink beer, family friends as well, all LOVE Heineken.... IMO, Heineken is one of the beers that just loses a lot in export. Same with Grolsch. When I lived in The Netherlands, a Grolsch was often the beer of choice. Over here, it generally tastes like piss b/c the beer wasn't treated properly in export. Happens to Heineken a lot, too. Oh well.

Nice to see others who enjoy great beer. I chose Westy b/c, quite frankly, all 3 of their offerings are heavenly. I recently did a tasting of the Westy 8, 12, and Blonde...in proper glassware of course, and it was truly amazing. I tasted the Westy 12 back-to-back with a Rochefort 10 b/c I had a feeling I actually liked the Rochefort better. WRONG! The Westy was so nice and so complex and just so damn good. As for the other Trappists, I have to say Orval is a favorite of mine. So unique. I find Westmalle to be the most bland of the 6...I describe it as a "base Trappist" from which 4 of the others basically tweak to make something special. I like the Chimay Grand Reserve...but it's so commercialized, which bothers me a little. And the Achel is the most difficult to find outside of a Westy...but the Double Brun is especially nice. As for the Arrogant Bastard...I was not nearly as impressed with it as I was the Double Bastard, which was phenomenal. Someone mentioned a Peach Morte Subite. I don;t do the fruit flavored thing, but I had a few Morte Subites when I was in Brussels last year and they were fantastic. Another lesser known Belgian that you can get in the States for $2.99 a bottle is Vondel. It's a Flemish Brown Ale and is fantastic. And of course, nothing beats a geuze. I love a good geuze more than anything. Also, if anyone ever wanted to do a tasting, let me know. I have proper glassware for many different Belgians and am always up for a tasting. Finally, if you want something in a Belgian style, with a bit of a twist, try one of the 6 offerings from Jolly Pumpkin. It's a tiny brewery in Dexter, MI. Had the opportunity to meet with the brewmaster up there several weeks ago. Great guy who makes fantastic beer. Cheers!

QUOTE(aboz56 @ Jul 10, 2005 -> 12:49 PM) Too bad you aren't in-state, they'll take pretty much anyone in-state. Ain't that the truth. Except now with the bschool...things are changing. They are doing everything they can to pretty much seperate it from the rest of the University, which is a good thing. Word is you will have to apply to the bschool straight out of high school and if you don't get in, forget it. No more tranferring in from the University division.

QUOTE(Benson&Rexage @ Jul 9, 2005 -> 11:45 PM) I'm starting Law School there in September. Can not wait. I went to Ball State in Muncie for my bachlors. Once you get outside of Lake and Porter Counties in Indiana ( The two counties less than an hours drive from Chicago) the hole state is one big s*** bag besides B-Town. I had a lot of buddies who went to IU. Great Time and Good Eats. I really pumped to go to a school were at least one sports team is good or in IU hoop's case have a great history. Why cant the Sox beat the f***ing A's ? I went to IU as an undergrad and came very close to going there for law school this fall...but chose another school. I think the new scorebaord looks nice, but it doesn't really fit in with the tradition of Assembly Hall. Then again, neither have the teams the last 2 years. We will be good next year, but if it's not a Sweet 16 team, or maybe an Elite 8 team, it'd be a mistake not to fire Davis. The cupboard is bare after next year with him losing out on the top recruits in the state. It's pretty pathetic. If you want to see a good sports team, go watch IU Soccer. They f***ing rule.

I worked in corporate finance for what could be considered the world's largest company. I was in a program where I moved every 6 months. In my 15 months there I lived in 3 places, 2 in the US and then in Switzerland.

I just moved back to Chicago...well Darien to be specific. I was working in Switzerland, but left the job for integrity reasons. I went to Indiana University (Hoosiers!) and am 24. I am going back to law school and just finished my applications. I'm a big fan of Counting Crows, Matchbox Twenty, Sister Hazel, Gin Blossoms, Goo Goo Dolls, Barenaked Ladies, and a few more. Of course I am a Simpsons fan, along with The Amazing Race, Apprentice, Survivor, Cheers, and Quantum Leap. I am also a beer geek. I have a beer cellar that currently has over 60 different beers from around the world (mostly Belgium and US craft breweries). That's enough for now.

Just an FYI, but UNC is one of the toughest, if not the toughest, State schools to get into as an out of state applicant. Good luck though!

Prague truly is heaven on earth! Such a beautiful city and so much to do and so cheap. I remember we had one mean off the main square about 15 mins walking...we had appetizers, then wild venison, desserts, about 3 litres of beer and 2 bottles of wine between the 2 of us...even after a tip of 10% (noy customary but it was sooo good) it was the equivalent of $18 for two of us. That was when the dollar was strong though, but still...unreal.

I was a big fan of Czech Budveiser when I was in Prague. So good and it was 25 cents for a half litre. Drinking large amounts of beer there kept me away from Absinthe, which is probly a good thing...

I may head back there in May, too. I am between a job in Corporate America and going to Law School, so I have some free time on my hands, which is nice.

If ya don't mind my asking, where in FLA are you? I spend quite a bit of time down on Sanibel and will be there for Feb/March this year. I have been looking at opening a high end beer/wine/cheese type store (probably a few years off for now), but have considered FLA. My fear is that it is just not a mature beer market and it will be much easier to start in Chicago and open other locations if/when it's successful.

Worst Beer: Miller Light Blue Moon: I am happy to see the Big Boys at least recognize that there is more to beer than piss in a can. I will have Blue Moon on occasion when at the bars...it's better than most offerings, althought I have noticed that Hacker-Pschorr is becoming somewhat regular on tap in Chicago bars, which is tremendous. I am a big fan of Weiss beers and Hacker-Pschorr ranks as one of my favorites. Also, if you're in the Chicago area and enjoy Weiss beers, do yourself a favor and try Two Brothers Edelweiss. It can be found in the bottle in Chicago and or on tap at least in Naperville. If had fresh, it ranks with the best weiss beers available and it's brewed in Warrenville.

I'm not a fan of the flavored lambics...but I sure do love a good lambic! I just moved back to Chicago and am anxiously trying to get my first visits in to The Map Room and Hopleaf, one of which has Bernardus 12 on tap and both are supposed to have some great stuff. As for the Great Lakes Anniversary, it's quite good. Bottled at 9.5% ABV and I'd guess it might be slightly higher seeing as though they bottled this last year (which was their 10th Anniversary). I actually haven't had one in a while and just recently started taking tasting notes, so I don't want to give a detailed review. But if memory serves me correct, it is a smooth beer with a good flavor. It's definitely strong...As with most everything from Great Lakes, I was impressed with the quality and flavor, and it's not that expensive and fairly easy to find (in the Midwest). In fact, I am headed out to the Sms Wine/Spirits in the suburbs here today to stock up on some things and hopefully add a couple bottles of Boon Geuze to my 1 cellared for the holidays. I also am hoping to run across a smoked beer or two. If anyone around Chicago is ever interested in hitting Hopleaf or the Map Room, let me know!

The Pere Jacques isn't bad...I have a few in my beer cellar. The Westy 12 is nicely done, quite similar to the Rochefort. And of course the Rochefort is much easier to get and cheaper. I have a few bottles of Bernardus 12 cellared for the holidays...plus some other interesting stuff. I am a big geuze fan, so I have been scrounging for those lately. There is a sweet store up in Ann Arbor so I try to get there every couple of months... Another solid Belgian Style is Great Lakes Anniversary...I lived in Cleveland last year, and boy did I love that place. Goose is good, but Great Lakes is flat out phenomenal. Every time I went in there they had a good seasonal ready to go and their Christmas Ale is top notch. We should listo ur cellars and have a tasting event! Thanks for the welcome...I love good beer threads!

The 8 or 12?