gopoohgo

March 12th, 2012 at 9:00 PM ^

Would trade all the Fat Tire imported to Maryland for a sweet, sweet drop of Bell's or Founder's (for whatever reason, Michigan beers not distributed to the People's Republic of Maryland)

GoBlue

March 12th, 2012 at 9:09 PM ^

When I moved to Asheville a while ago I was very happy to see that New Belgium beers were readily available in bars and stocked in stores.  

I was even happier to find Bell's just as prevelant.  Asheville annually competes for the title of Beer City USA , and while there are a lot of great local brews, Bell's definitely is held in high regard.  (Founders and a few others are well-represented as well.)

gopoohgo

March 12th, 2012 at 10:12 PM ^

Yeah I'm aware. I was at Churchkey off Dupont Circle for their tapping of the Hopslam keg in Feb.  Unfortunately by the time we got there (we live in Howard County), they were out.  Was able to have a nice pint of Bell's Sparkling washed down wth a Founder's Double Trouble.

J&G Steakhouse near the White House, and Ray's Hellburger both serve Bell's Two-Hearted.

I will pick up a 6 of something when we go down to Alexandria. 

 

morepete

March 13th, 2012 at 12:32 AM ^

I'm no big fan of New Belgium's, but they have a huge sour program that gets sent to good accounts in bombers:

-- La Folie

-- Eric's Ale

-- Lychee Tart

-- La Terroir

-- Collabeeration

-- Fall Wild

-- Transatlantique Kriek

-- The entire Love series, especially Foeder #3 and Felix

A lot of reasons to complain about them. Absence of lambics is not one of them.

Edward Khil

March 13th, 2012 at 12:45 AM ^

to this guy's ears.  I need to take another look at that NB series.  I don't remember seeing any of those you mention here in KC.  So I don't know if they'll ever reach Michigan, either.  But I'll keep my goggles open.

Problem is, I'm on a no-carb diet.  30 pounds lost in 3 months, with at least 20 more to go.  (Pounds!--not months, hopefully.)

I've started a small collection of (presumably) quality beers in my basement, in anticipation of...well, drinking them, including Stone Old Guardian Barley Wine and Trader Joe's Vintage 2011.

aaamichfan

March 12th, 2012 at 9:04 PM ^

Fat Tire is decent, but there are probably 4 or 5 different Bell's types that I'd take over it. 

eth2

March 12th, 2012 at 10:06 PM ^

Never really understood the hype on this one.  I think people who traveled out West would rave about it because you couldn't find it back home at the time.  

My reaction to its arrival in Maryland last year was apathy.  Many better brews readily available now, but to each his own.

RakeFight

March 12th, 2012 at 9:06 PM ^

Thankfully we can get Bell's here in Missouri... but Dark Horse (out of Marshall), which easily rivals Bell's, has not made it this far out of Michigan

Croatian_Blue

March 12th, 2012 at 9:14 PM ^

Man, I thought it was special that I was finally going to have unlimited access to Fat Tire when I moved to Chicago this summer, but now it doesn't matter!

New Belgium 2012!

S5R48S10

March 12th, 2012 at 9:19 PM ^

Fat Tire gets all of the attention, and I do love it, but New Belgium's other brews are excellent as well.  In particular, 1554, their black lager, is one I seek out every time I travel out west.

Obviously, Bell's has a special place in my heart, but I'm very excited about having these beers closer to home than Chicago.

redhousewolverine

March 12th, 2012 at 10:00 PM ^

I also like IPAs and Two Hearted is my favorite beer, but I also have had Ranger IPA and it is really good. Also, Lagunitas IPA is really good. My move to Chicago has me trying new things since Two Hearted is either fully stocked or fully out whenever I walk into a TJs or a liquor store (since everyone loves it and it goes imediately).

d.

March 12th, 2012 at 9:41 PM ^

When I moved to Chicago, I was pretty happy that I could come by New Belgium so easily.  Then I had some.  It's fine, but I will rarely pass up other craft beer on the menu for it.  Some people love it and that's cool, just not me.

Ditto on the 1554 being good, I also like the Ranger IPA just fine.  Fat Tire is my least favorite, actually. 

SanDiegoWolverine

March 12th, 2012 at 9:42 PM ^

It has that grating copper finish to that just seems cheap and leaves a bad after taste.  I love the beers from SD and I would put Stone/Alesmith/Green Flash/Port up against about any microbreweries I've tried around the country. Fat Tire is available at just about every bar around here.  Their other major beers they produce I would say are mediocre at best and I just don't get the popularity.

I have to say, my neighbor out here is a part owner of Beer Baron in Livonia and he gets a lot Michigan beers and lets me try them. Some of the best stouts I've tried are from Michigan.

Edward Khil

March 12th, 2012 at 9:52 PM ^

And New Belgium is quality.  But, other than Fat Tire, I don't buy much.  Fat Tire is a good, reliable Amber.  And I really enjoy the Biere de Mars, a Belgian.  But I'm a little surprised in retrospect that I don't often buy much else.  They've got a wide selection; but nothing really stands out for me.

KC's hometown brewery, Boulevard, on the other hand, has really upped the ante in the last few years with their Smokestack series, particularly the Bourbon Barrel Quad (limited) and the Tank 7 (year-round).

I like that NB is interested in collaborating with Michigan brewers.  Boulevard made a great White India Pale Ale partnering with Deschutes from Oregon.  I'm from Michigan originally.  And IMO, NB can learn a thing or two from Bell's and especially from Founders.

And, although it's way small-scale last time I checked, I can't let the opportunity slip to mention Kuenhenn's in Warren.  MOAR BARLEY WINE!   

Alf Urkel

March 12th, 2012 at 10:04 PM ^

I love Keewenaw Brewing Company.  Widow Maker Black is a really good dark beer.  KBC is everywhere in the UP, every gas station has it, which is pretty cool considering it's such a good beer.  Also love Bell's, and New Hollarnd makes some really good beer also.