TR: Great American Beer Festival

[SkaredShtles]

Well, I'm finally getting around to typing up a short report from the GABF. We got to the venue around 3:15pm on Saturday and met my buddy who is owner of Healthy Brew (http://healthybrew.com/) in Fort Worth, TX.

He had a couple brews - a stout that was pretty tasty (even for me who doesn't like stout much) as well as a wheat beer. The wheat was really smooth and not too "wheaty" - which was good for me, 'cause I don't like too much wheat in my wheat beer. ;)

Then we went out on the floor in an attempt to taste every IPA and double/Imperial IPA we could get our hands on. We started our quest in California, which along with the PNW produced a *number* of very good hoppy beers. We then proceeded to the Rocky Mt. Region and ended the evening with the NE (which was mostly out of beer by the time we got there :think: ).

And the winners were:

Firestone IPA Nectar
Hoppy Brewing Amber
Anderson Hop Ottin
Hoptown Brewing IPA
Hoptown Brewing DUIPA (an *excellent* double)
Kona Brewing Castaway IPA
Marin Brewing White Knuckle DIPA
Oggi's Pizza & Brew Torrey Pines IPA
Pelican Pub Indian Pelican Ale

All told we probably tried 50-60 IPAs. Some of which were veritable swill. Others of which were decent but not particularly outstanding. The best, I think, was the Hoptown Double IPA.

All in all, a fun time! Next year we'll go better prepared. :sneaky:

[narlus]

did you try Victory Hop Devil, Smuttynose shoals or Dogfish 60min IPA?

[I Are Baboon]

Trying 50-60 IPA's, I can't imagine you tried anymore than a couple of sips each.

I've been to one beer festival and the "samples" were 4-5 ounces each. After 20 or so samples, I kind of lost the capacity to identify the different flavors.

Was there any good chow at the GABF?

[Echo]

After 20 or so samples, I kind of lost the capacity to identify the different flavors.
You say that like it's a bad thing.

[SkaredShtles]

did you try Victory Hop Devil, Smuttynose shoals or Dogfish 60min IPA?
Victory was not represented from what I could see. I've tried HD before and was underwhelmed. Way too sweet and malty for my taste. Don't remember Smuttynose either, but like I said - alot of NE breweries had run out of IPAs by the time we got to their "section."

I did try Dogfish 60min (since they were out of 90 & 120) and remember it as being OK. In other words I didn't dump it out with a disgusted look on my face. :D

[SkaredShtles]

Trying 50-60 IPA's, I can't imagine you tried anymore than a couple of sips each. I didn't try more than a *single* sip each, unless they were decent. Even then I'd only give it one more taste.

I've been to one beer festival and the "samples" were 4-5 ounces each. After 20 or so samples, I kind of lost the capacity to identify the different flavors.At the GABF the samples are 1 oz - I'd usually cut them off while they were pouring before they got to the 1 oz. mark. I only wanted to taste 'em.

Was there any good chow at the GABF?There were rumors of chow being presented, but we never found it. :think: The convention center is frikkin' HUGE:

http://www.denverconvention.com/center-floor.htm

[SkaredShtles]

Bump for the GABF! It's only a month away.:cheers:

[riverside73]

Pelican Pub Indian Pelican Ale



Just visited their brewpub last month. Not much a beer drinker anymore but their pub is killer. Right on the beach on the Oregon Coast. Step off the deck and you're in the sand. And damn good food for a Brewpub as well!!:cheers:

[SkaredShtles]

TWO DAYS!! :cheers:

[weimie]

I'm going for the first time Saturday evening....can you buy beers there or just sample them?

[SkaredShtles]

So Victory was at the event this year but didn't have any IPA. :disgust1:

And Dogfish was there with nothing stronger than 60 minute...

Big winner this year was Deschutes Hophenge. It's a good thing we tried it late because I'd have just hung out and drank that the whole night. :cheers:

Topped off the evening by a 3-1/2 hour dinner at Cafe Berlin with liters of Paulaner Oktoberfest Marzen.

http://www.united-nations-of-beer.com/images/paulaner2.jpg

[BikeGeek]

We took two bronze medals. The Flying Mouflan (American-style Barley Wine) and Dead Reckoning Porter (American-style Stout) :)

[SkaredShtles]

We took two bronze medals. The Flying Mouflan (American-style Barley Wine) and Dead Reckoning Porter (American-style Stout) :)
Dude. Were you there??

[BikeGeek]

Dude. Were you there??
I wish. I think our head brewer and one of our sales reps were there.

[skinny mike]

have you tried the smuttynose finestkind ipa?

:drool:

[SkaredShtles]

have you tried the smuttynose finestkind ipa?

:drool:
No... at least not that I remember. :busted: