Discount Drinks’ Beer Tasting: A Look Back, Roundtable Style

December 4, 2008

I know that the Discount Drinks’ Beer Tasting was a few months ago but it’s a great event and I wanted to share the fun we had there. Mike Hoepfner, one of the most knowledgable beer geeks I know,  had a great idea of posting about this in a round table format.   

Kevin: Discount Drinks had one of their beer tastings on the 16th of October at the Italian American Hall in Wyandotte. I had a great time pouring at a table that included some of Rave Distributing’s best beers including Flying Dog, Unibroue, Stone and Lagunitas. I want to thank Mike for thinking of us when it came time to find pourers. Mike, what do you consider the highlight of the tasting?

Mike: Several from our table, I really liked the Unibroue Seigneuriale (say that 3 times fast). Fairly robust hints of apricot give off a nice fruity flavor with a 7.5abv assist. I’m still clinging to summer and this beer sure helps. Stones 12th anniversary ale Bitter Chocolate Oatmeal Stout. Rich in chocolate with just a hint of roast, at 9.2abv a really taste sipper. And you?

Kevin: The chance to taste a lot of different beers is what is great about these tastings. I stayed busy at our table and I was bouncing between two tables helping bothyou and Sarah out. I didn’t get to explore much but that I night I got the opportunity to meet up with an old friend, Unibroue. I drank their beer a lot in the past but since I try to support local breweries more I haven’t drank their beer in a while. Besides getting reacquainted with Tres Pistoles and La Fin Du Monde I enjoyed the Chambly Noire. I too enjoyed both of your selections especially Bitter Chocolate Oatmeal Stout. Seigneuriale is a great beer and seemed to be a crowd favorite. Sarah’s favorite was Stone’s Vertical Epic.

Talking of meeting up with old friends.  For some reason I went and tried an old favorite of mine which is Beamish Irish stout. Not surprising my taste has evolved over the years and I am no longer inpressed with Beamish. At least, we still have Cork.

Outside of Seigneuriale which other beers seemed to get the most love?

Mike: With over 100 different beers available for the evening, there definitely was lots of love to go around. Other beers of note: Heavy Seas Hang Ten Wiezen Dopplebock (10% abv.) The winter season is almost upon us and this beer fits the bill. Lush notes of bananas, cinnamon and caramel continue from the nose to the finish. Dogfish head Black and Blue. This beer is a Belgian style strong ale fermented with blackberries and blueberries. I am a certified blueberry freak and this one satisfies. I also thought the last table was crowded all night with brewery representation from Dragonmead, Leinenkugel, Paulaner, Affligem and Sam Adams. What are your thoughts on this annual tasting as far as layout, flow and activities available?

Kevin:  For those who have never been there, they lay it out in a square with a huge open area in the center. On one side is a great buffet with pizza, pasta, wings, Italian sausage and desserts. The other three sides are the beer tables with over a hundred beers there. The lay helps with spacing and It also helps that it is in a big room so they can spread it out.

Unlimited taste, a great buffet and then at the end of the night they have a raffle. Did you see that Lagunitas poster? I wanted to win that in the worse way. Any piece of swag that you thought, “by the end of the night you will be mine?”

Mike: Gee, its kinda tough to choose, there were lots to choose from.

Kevin: You have better beer collectibles than any swag that was at the event. Actually a good prize for a raffle would be to let someone have one item from your basement. That raffle would rake it in.

Anything you want to add?

Mike: I would like to thank Pat Hand, owner of Discount Drinks for a fantastic tasting. This is one yearly event I hope even more people will participate in.

Posted in Beer Event