Tried a sour beer for the first time yesterday: "Journey Home" from Stonecloud Brewing. It was a bit shocking at first but grew on me as I finished the glass. I think I will try more sour beers.

 Dragonfly_Launch wrote: 
Which scotches do you favor?

 SeriousLee wrote: 
Any single barrel is variable. But Blanton's has been consistent for me. I have to ask for it at the counter at my best liquor store and the manager has to get it. I get the feeling they hold it for the people who work there. Basil does not taste like Old Grand dad. Ownership does not mean they are all in one giant cavernous whiskey house. Generally they are still produced where they were swallowed up by the giants. It is dog eat dog out there in the whiskey world. Basil is $38 where I get it. Very different taste. Blantons is generally 70 bucks. But the scotches I favor all cost more than that. 

 Skydog wrote: 
yup. taxes. i can cross the NB border (well, i can't it's too far) and get beer for almost 1/2 the price. Which is why i always look for anything that's on sale first. I'll even buy certain commercial beer if it's a good sale. I do have a few favorites.

 SeriousLee wrote: 
at 40 bucks oh Canada!!
$17 here in MI, that's the 80 proof. The Bottled In Bond goes for $23  and the 114 is $29

 Skydog wrote: 
Ya. I've had El Dorado's 21 yrs a few years back and i didn't think it was any better than their 15 yrs. No Old Grande Dad at the NSLC, but a specialty Liquor Shop in Halifax carries it. I'll grab a bottle next time i'm in the city, it's reasonably priced.

 SeriousLee wrote: 
Blanton's is hit or miss, it's a single barrel so some are good and I have had some that was just okay but for 70 bucks okay don't cut it for me. The best Blanton's gets shipped to Japan. A Japanese company owns the Blanton's name and Buffalo Trace makes it for them. 
Basil Hayden is just watered down Old Grand Dad at 3 times the price. Jim Beam makes them both. If you can get Old Grand Dad Bottled In Bond then that's the way to go. When Beam bought Old Grand Dad they stayed with the original recipe and have tried to be true to it. It's a great bourbon with lots of rye spiceyness. If you can get Old Grand Dad 114 then you got all that you need.

 Dragonfly_Launch wrote: 
There's a booze store 1/2 hour from here that carries Blanton's and Basil Hayden. Do you recommend one more than the other?

 SeriousLee wrote: 
Well there are several great American whiskies from other grains that may replace scotch for some. Blanton's, Basil Hayden's. And Russell Reserve Rye. Others.

 Dragonfly_Launch wrote: 
There's a Garrison Nut Brown Ale that is a fave of mine. And St. Ambroise Oatmeal Stout is a regular purchase for me, except it's not available during the summer. Scotch is still an acquired taste for me, but i do have one good bottle that i dip in now and then.

But i drink a variety of beer (even commercial on occasion, my faves are Olands and Alpine), same with liquor. Heck, i have about 6 different bars of hand crafted soap and 3 different natural toothpastes.

Boils down to a simple philosophy: I don't always eat the same food, so why should i always drink the same beer.

Speaking of buzz, i find there's no better buzz than a 2-beer buzz. Once you go for that 3rd beer, it better have substance. It better be complex, as you so aptly say.

 SeriousLee wrote: 
Sam Smith's Nut Brown Ale. Rogue Shakespeare Stout. For instance. And, yes, I am always puzzled by beer drinkers whose actual goal is the buzz. Get to the fucking scotch. Or a fine American Rye. 

 Dragonfly_Launch wrote: 
Can't disagree. Better then the commercial Bud, though. If I'm really looking for (a good) buzz, though, I prefer whiskey, rum or bourbon.

What do you consider a complex beer?

 SeriousLee wrote: 
Czech beer was tasty, adequate and cheap. No real complexity however. You know, if you are actually looking for complexity. And not just buzz. 

The original Budweiser.

 

 ScottN wrote: 




That one is pretty good, but a little to much abv for me, the 90 minute however is the best damn IPA on the market and the smoothest 9% beer I have ever tasted.

 Skydog wrote: 

 ScottN wrote: 
It used to hit the shelves at about 20% but that only encouraged the drunks. Last I heard, they'd dialed it back to the 15% range. Still too hot, I think. I don't buy Dogfish Head anymore (can't get it here but sometimes it's in stores when we're on vacation)... Sometimes it's great and sometimes it's gone bad (or the batch wasn't good to begin with). So fresher is better, once again.

 miamizsun wrote: 
cold and light, help yourself Sir
.
 

it's like surface of the sun hot here

something cold and light

 sirdroseph wrote: 
I work in a wine & spirits store.  Dogfish is great.  One of their signature brews that we carry—-at only $39.99/ 4 pak.  Delicious.  Its high ABV % is not specifically stated (it's a live beer.)