This looks like something to add to both your ‘fridge and your cellar. According to the label, “To celebrate the 150 years spent at the Abbey Of Scourmont, the Chimay Trappist brewery has developed this exceptional anniversary beer brewed specially for the occasion.”
the latest Barrel Roll
Looks like Hangar 24 is ramping up the Barrel Roll series again. I missed the first two of the series but starting with # 3 Pugachev’s Cobra was not a bad way to go but I am glad that they are heading into sour territory with Chandelle. It is a good change of pace from the barleywine, Hammerhead and it uses the apricots that they are famous for with their wonderful Polycot beer.
Batch 9000 in bourbon
One of the prizes of my cellar collection is a bottle of Bell’s Batch 9,000.
Here is what the brewery website says about it: “Batch 9,000 Ale offers up aromas ranging from the sweet caramel & molasses of dark rum to fruits such as raisins and plums. Brewed with the idea of pushing boundaries in mind, Batch 9,000 Ale is a unique, one-time-only recipe. Well suited for vintage aging, this limited release will continue to develop in flavor & complexity over the years.”
Well now after finishing the series with Batch 10,000 they have gone back to the cellar and are releasing a bourbon barrel aged version of 9,000. Now I just need to find a way to get a bottle so that the original doesn’t get lonely.
Axes of Evil
Gigantic Brewing has come out of the gate strong with a who’s who roster of collaborators in their first few months.
Pelican, Oakshire, Anchorage, Laurelwood, Breakside and now Three Floyds. That is a breakneck pace of brewing but a smart way to hit the ground running. I think I will have to send my mom on a Gigantic beer buying binge for me.
Oh, and GO TIMBERS!
Cash 4 Gold
One of the Kickstarter generation of breweries is getting their beers out, Pipeworks has a knack for names like Ninja vs Unicorn but this name and label really stand out to me as quite clever.
Some Assembly (not) Required
If you happen into a British IKEA, you might stumble upon this in the food section amongst the lingonberries….
Yup, ÖL LJUS LAGER can be purchased for 1.75 in English pounds. At 4.7%, it probably won’t help alleviate the pain or frustration of some Ikea building projects.
Pretty Things Magnifico!
Pretty Things Magnifico! Seems like a new direction in names and label style for this fantastic brewery. And it is good to see another addition to the hoppy world that isn’t big ABV.
I still have to taste Lovely St. Winifrede’s from them and now I have another to add to the ever lengthening beers I haven’t had list.
the Return of the Buff
It appears that Saison du Buff is not just a one off collaboration. All the better because this is a strange beer that really forces a craft beer lover to pay attention and speaking of paying attention, here is a video about the 2012 version…
Row 2, Hill 56
It might be two late for this batch. But keep in mind when more is bottled at Russian River.
“Row 2, Hill 56 is our nod to the 3 Simcoe growing families in Yakima and a reference to the exact location in the experimental hop yard where it was first developed! 100% Simcoe hop pale ale, 5.8% alcohol, and being bottled for the very first time today! Will be released at the pub about 1m this afternoon. Sending a small amount out for local distribution and some to So. Cal, but that’s all we have for now! We only brewed one batch, so it will not be regularly bottled.”
BJ’s and Gordon Biersch
With all of the places that I visit regularly and all the new places that I haven’t gotten to (sorry), I have not had time to visit either BJ’s or Gordon Biersch. But both have added new beer to their line-up. My guess is in the hope of luring some people back into the fold
Gordon Biersch has been heavily promoting it’s new Braumeister Selekt IPB. 
A pilsner that has been imperialized and hopped. Which in my mind, makes it not so much a pilsner but if it tastes good then the naming doesn’t matter. And it looks like it is being sold in the flip-top Grolsch style capper.
BJ’s is also going hoppier with…
what the chain calls, “…handcrafted classic American-style India Pale Ale made with six hop varieties. An intense hop aroma with balanced bitterness.”
ADDENDUM – I sampled the Hop Storm from BJ’s recently and thought it was mid pack IPA wise. Thought it may have tasted and smelled better if they hadn’t served it in a frozen damn glass. Sorry, for the beer geek cussing but that is my dividing line for good beer establishments and not.