D.B.Friggin A

Kind of annoyed. If you set something up for the consumer, some sort of promotion or event, it doesn't matter if it's free or not. Especially if its publicly presented at that time, makes it even worse.
So I started going to DBA Brooklyn's free tasting nights on Monday at 7pm. Well, I only went once but even then, it was good, but felt alittle painful about the 'free' anyways. I was slightly reluctant to go again, but hey, who doesn't love free? DBA in Manhattan, known for its high quality selection of all types of inebriators (yes I just made that word up) and its notoriously smelling bathroom is an East Village staple, one of my first, but remains a moderate beer bar nonetheless. DBA Brooklyn on the other hand is fresh and clean and alittle more local. OK, the event didn't start at 7pm; I left after having purchased two beers at 7:30 with obvious signs of the promo not starting, having wasted my time, money and energy. A bad review abrewing, I have to say this is unacceptable. If you set up a time for a promo, don't shamelessly plug it as free to try and spruce up business. OK, there is more. I witnessed a couple of beer bartending atrocities while waiting. While being subjected to TMZ, I watched the bartender 'sell': "What's the Anchor Foghorn?" Bartender: "it's an ale, kinda darkish." Ummm, pinnacle American- English style barleywine? Anyways.....it continues.... "it's kinda sweet, it's a good beer." Patron: "what about the Slyfox hop project ale?", "it's a good beer, kinda sweet too" (sigh). Ah well, its hard for me to do it, but you would NEVER see that shit fly at Barcade or Spuyten Duyvil. Not Rattle-N-Hum or Gingerman either. Pretty bad, maybe I was jaded by her semi-hustling of other patrons who arrived and left for the 7pm tasting as well. In other news...
If you are looking to ever purchase beer and have it shipped to you in NYC, look no further than the personally tested Liquidsolutions, and the soon to be tested South Bay Drugs (just got in a ton of west coast goodies).
Special 'matrimonial' tasting coming soon.

Monday Night Activities!

Well had my first Deschutes Mirror Mirror 09 last night. Wow, drinkable for a barleywine, but so unique and with great subtle nuances that will only get better. I would recommend this beer collector's item to anyone who is as all-or-nothing about beer as I am. Anyways, I came across an article in the Ale Street News, looks like DBA Brooklyn has a free tasting every monday night at 7pm featuring various liquors as well as beer styles. I'll be there!

Swimming in Brews

So I've got a ton of great new beer. From my trip around the country, stopping at the Beer Yard, and my package from Liquid Solutions, I have the right amount of different varieties and rarities to keep me interested for a long time. My package from Liquid Solutions was awesome! Came so quick, I ordered a case of bombers and the shipping wasn't bad at all. The Midnight Sun Arctic Devil Barleywine is so serious, It's great having these bad boys to sit on. Also from LS, was Deschutes Mirror Mirror 09, which I have yet to try. Pretty excited about this one, this is one of those breweries that everything I've had has just been so drinkable. Not like Three Floyds drinkability, but pretty damn close. Stocked with that huge cellar buffer, I picked up some Duck Rabbit variety and Ballast Point Dorado at Beer Yard. Always a great place to stop, the Beer Yard will almost always have a rare case not found anywhere near NYC. I also picked up a lot of Highland and Pisgah brews while in NC. Some decent brews out there, but nothing near some of the caliber of those midwest brews. Today, back on the NYC beer scene, it was all about IPAs, and I'm looking forward to trying the new DFH Squall IPA. Scored some Alesmith IPA at New Beer! and that is just awesome. And there seems to be just a consistent flow of Lagunitas Hop Stoopid on beer drinkers alley. Yes! Drink some great brews!

I Lied

I promised to update my blog more and keep up to date on whats happening in my beer world. But then I went on vacation for 2+ weeks and now I'm back. Needless to say, I failed to deliver on what I promised. But now that things are back to normal and I have a ton of gray-market beer. Let's try this again. Starting with Vintage beer night at Barcade tomw.