LOL, Chess. My wife hates that store.

$300-400 in bargains every trip. I've taken to riding my motorcycle there to limit the insanity.

I shared the Victory Wild Devil with my wife the other night. The label says it starts off as an IPA-style beer, but they use Brettanomyces yeast. It definitely had some IPA leanings, but the wild yeast flavors really come through. We both quite enjoyed it.

Yesterday I picked up a six-pack of Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale. It's a solid beer with good maltiness. Today, I picked up one bottle each of 2009 Gouden Carolus Kuvee Van De Keizer and Samuel Smith's Winter Welcome Ale, and a six-pack of Anchor Christmas Ale. I had the latter two this evening. Both were quite tasty. The Anchor brew had the characteristic piney notes, but was tastier than I remembered their previous Christmas offerings were. The Samuel Smith beer was better, though. Lovely maltiness with a nice but subdued hop balance.

Here are some pics:

I love Celebration Ale. I've been drinking a lot of Deschutes Jubel Ale and Inversion IPA lately. Also enjoyed the Export Lager from Whistler. Bought some lovely porters and IPA's for Christmas with the family. Cheers!

I went to Bevmo with the intention of getting six pack of the Anchor Christmas Ale and ended up getting a 12 pack of mixed winter beer, which included the Sierra Nevada and Anchor Christmas Ale.

The Anchor was very tasty. I think I had it a few years ago and wasn't terribly impressed, but this year was good. Maybe because I was specifically in the mood for some heartier beers this year? I dunno, but it was all good!

Maredsous 10 Tripel tonight. I think this is one of my favorite beers. Wonderful flavors, very smooth. Enjoyable to the bottom of the glass, which is not something I find all the time.

Also, I'm loopy as a loon.

I've been thoroughly enjoying a fantastic canned beer called Oskar Blues Ten Fidy. It's an oily black imperial stout with the smoothest, silkiest mouthfeel I've ever encountered in a beer. It's almost milky -- if there were such a thing as black milk. Needless to say, it's strong, super roasty, and delicious.

Yes, Peter, that is a good one. I like how Oskar Blues has embraced cans, ostensibly to appease the Colorado backpacking beerist. I don't think their other offerings are quite as good as the Ten Fidy, which, like virtually all beers, is even better on draught. Their Old Chub Scottish is pretty darn good, too.

I saw Old Chub at the store today as I was getting Mrs. Medic8r a twelve pack of Newcastle and myself a seven pack of samplers of the dark variety. Tonight's choice was Highland Brewing Company's Oatmeal Porter, which I found very satisfying. Me like-a the malt.

Later up (no, not tonight - these'll last me all week, at least) will be Highland's Black Mocha Stout, Stone Smoked Porter, Lion Stout (Sri Lanka), Rogue Mocha Porter (been many years since I had one), and a couple of brown ales: Bell's Best Brown Ale and RJ Rocker's Bald Eagle Brown.

I'm drinking some Michelob that a friend left at my house


This thread really makes me want a REAL beer!

I nabbed a 36 pack of Budweiser at Wal-Mart for $17.50. Celebrating the recession in style.