Beer

[pepband99]

Two Roads Pumpkin one is the best of breed I've tried, and it's not even remotely close. I'm also a fan of the honeyspot and R2R.

 

[Dove]

Sipping this Sculpin Grapefruit in a glass. Just not my cup o' brew. I will power through, tho.

Anyone want a Habanero...for...err...$3?

 

[TRest]

We first discovered it on tap at Westbrook Lobster in Clinton and then saw it again at the Sitting Duck in Stratford (interestingly, the bartender there recommended trying it over ice with vodka--haven't done that yet).

They sell it at Spirits of Madison (the place next to Stop & Shop) in six-packs of 11.2 oz. bottles. I'm on the lookout for the 4-pack of 16 oz. cans because the bottles disappear so quickly, and I imagine a can would get even colder, especially in a nice ice-filled cooler.

I picked up the UFO Big Squeeze for my wife a few weeks ago and she likes it well enough, but I like this much better.

They had cases of this in my local Whole Foods.

 

[Dove]

For something completely different that is refreshingly addictive in the summer heat (and only 2.5% ABV), look for this:

Oh man...these are great. Found at Hammonasett Packy.

Also, 'gansett Del's Shandys are about to disappear for the season.

 

[wethyhusky]

Heading to Montreal for a college visit with my daughters to McGill. Purposely driving through Vermont to get (hopefully) heady topper and SOS. Wish me luck

 

[Dove]

For something completely different that is refreshingly addictive in the summer heat (and only 2.5% ABV), look for this:

After finishing a glass...yeah...the vodka might work well. Tito's perhaps.

 

[scotty0330]

Heading to Montreal for a college visit with my daughters to McGill. Purposely driving through Vermont to get (hopefully) heady topper and SOS. Wish me luck

Now we are talkin

 

[Rocktheworld]

Sorry if it has been posted, and it's not from CT, but I can't bother reading through 22 pages, and it's too good to not be included in this archive of great beer.

If you haven't had Not Your Father's Root Beer by Small Town Brewery in Wisconsin, you need to drop everything and go find it.

It tastes exactly like root beer, as if there's no alcohol in it, yet it is somehow 6%.

And yes, you can make amazing floats with it. I dropped a Klondike in to a glass of the stuff and was blown away.

 

[8893]

Have you tried Honeyspot? I'm not normally a fan of white IPAs, either, but this one is tremendous. Much different than Blue Moon, Allagash, Dogfish Head Namaste, etc. As far as the hefeweizen/banana flavor style, Two Roads' No Limit fits that description to a T. Although I'm assuming you've tried that one.

Yes, I had the Honeyspot a few times right when it came out. I don't dislike it, I just don't think it's a great IPA or a taste that I seek out. Appearances to the contrary, perhaps, I don't drink that much beer these days, so when I do I like it to be something I really like--especially now that we have so much really great stuff available here.

I agree with you on the No Limits. I think it's one of the best American hefeweizens and I enjoy it in the summer.

 

[8893]

Heading to Montreal for a college visit with my daughters to McGill. Purposely driving through Vermont to get (hopefully) heady topper and SOS. Wish me luck

Good luck--especially with McGill. Probably the best value you can get for an education in North America if you are paying sticker price. Been trying to encourage my daughters about it but no takers so far--they want to head south, not north. You're smart to visit in the summer.

Actually, just penciled that trip in for next summer myself after reading this!

 

[8893]

Oh man...these are great. Found at Hammonasett Packy.

Also, 'gansett Del's Shandys are about to disappear for the season.

Thanks for the heads up on the Del's. The missus likes those, too.

After finishing a glass...yeah...the vodka might work well. Tito's perhaps.

Yeah, I'm not much of a vodka drinker, but I'm gonna try that on vacation next week.

I was talking with another bartender about it and she said that she had been at another bar where the bartender mixed it with Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka and it was incredible. Never heard of that stuff before, but it sounds interesting.

 

[upstater]

Heading to Montreal for a college visit with my daughters to McGill. Purposely driving through Vermont to get (hopefully) heady topper and SOS. Wish me luck

Don't forget, they have Unibroue up there in Montreal, and it's a fantastic brewery.

 

[Dove]

Thanks for the heads up on the Del's. The missus likes those, too.

I was talking with another bartender about it and she said that she had been at another bar where the bartender mixed it with Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka and it was incredible. Never heard of that stuff before, but it sounds interesting.

Del's is best shandy. N. Madison had a 12 pack at 5pm.

The Mooring (Guilford) has an iced tea drink which is great. Sweet tea vodka and sour mix.

 

[sanchez42885]

Heading to Montreal for a college visit with my daughters to McGill. Purposely driving through Vermont to get (hopefully) heady topper and SOS. Wish me luck

Check the alchemist website for delivery schedules. www.headyspotter.com is also another good resource. Just went to my buddies bachelor party in Montreal and stopped right outside Burlington @ Winooski Beverage. They typically have the best selection in the area and you just have to time it right for SOS/heady. If you have some time stop into Burlington and grab lunch at Farmhouse Tap and Grill and you can get some Hill Farmstead on draft and they also have cans of Focal Banger.

 

[Waquoit]

I know it's irrational, but I am never going to buy anything called a "shandy".

 

[August_West]

Check the alchemist website for delivery schedules. www.headyspotter.com is also another good resource. Just went to my buddies bachelor party in Montreal and stopped right outside Burlington @ Winooski Beverage. They typically have the best selection in the area and you just have to time it right for SOS/heady. If you have some time stop into Burlington and grab lunch at Farmhouse Tap and Grill and you can get some Hill Farmstead on draft and they also have cans of Focal Banger.

Too funny, I was at winooski beverage AND the farmhouse this week. Just got back.

There is no topper left in VT. It's all in my fridge

 

[pepband99]

FINALLY snagged some SoS. Will try one tonight, after an overnight cooling!

 

[Rico444]

Don't pick up Hop-a-peel by Atwater brewing. Barely made my way through one can. Although, I drank a lil heaven next out of the same cup and the residue from the first beer mixed with thellilheaven tasted really good; aalmost SoS-like.

 

[defaultroute]

ICYMI: For those Heady Topper fans, I highly recommend watching this two videos with the brewer/owner John Kimmich. He prefers Heady at 10 weeks and explains why in these videos. The longer video talks about the history of the brewery and a lot of cool brewing information. It's a fun watch.

I will say this, if you keep HT cold from when it leaves the brewery it holds up for a long time. In May 2015, we cracked a can from Oct 2014 and it held up amazingly well but it had been cold the entire time.

 

[Dove]

For something completely different that is refreshingly addictive in the summer heat (and only 2.5% ABV), look for this:

Okay...my fourth one was on ice with a shot of blanco tequila. The sweetness was tempered nicely. Next time I will try reposado.

 

[Rico444]

Don't pick up Hop-a-peel by Atwater brewing. Barely made my way through one can. Although, I drank a lil heaven next out of the same cup and the residue from the first beer mixed with thellilheaven tasted really good; aalmost SoS-like.

OK, so I may have to amend this. Was tailgating at the Mets game yesterday when I had Hop-a-peel and poured it into a styrofoam cup. Now I'm drinking one out of a glass and enjoying it much more. The hoppiness is much more present now; this tastes like a completely different beer. Solid.

 

[BoatShow]

Check the alchemist website for delivery schedules. www.headyspotter.com is also another good resource. Just went to my buddies bachelor party in Montreal and stopped right outside Burlington @ Winooski Beverage. They typically have the best selection in the area and you just have to time it right for SOS/heady. If you have some time stop into Burlington and grab lunch at Farmhouse Tap and Grill and you can get some Hill Farmstead on draft and they also have cans of Focal Banger.

Rt 7 Liquor and Deli in Shelbourne just outside of Burlington should have Heady and SOS but of course need to time it right. Looks very unimpressive from the outside but it is beer heaven on the inside. I drove by it twice the first time I tried to find it. Coincidentally it is right near Fiddlehead which makes a great Double IPA of their own and some awesome pizza to boot. (Hopefully not as in boot and rally) Prohibition Pig in Waterbury has a great taplist and great BBQ. Farmhouse as you mentioned is awesome. Damn...I gotta plan my next Burlington trip...

 

[BoatShow]

Two Roads Pumpkin one is the best of breed I've tried, and it's not even remotely close. I'm also a fan of the honeyspot and R2R.

Roadsmary Baby mmmm. Really the only pumpkin beer I can do anymore.

 

[mauconnfan]

My wife and her girlfriends love pumpkin beer too

 

[alexd]

IN southern Maine right now.....just picked up some Rising Tide Spinnaker Hefeweizen and BAxter Brewing Summer Swelter. We shall see.... but everything tastes better when on vacation, right????

 

[pepband99]

FINALLY snagged some SoS. Will try one tonight, after an overnight cooling!

Sorry, but not seeing the mega hype on this one. Don't get me wrong - it's good, but comparing this in any way to heady topper is borderline heresy!

 

[August_West]

Sorry, but not seeing the mega hype on this one. Don't get me wrong - it's good, but comparing this in any way to heady topper is borderline heresy!

I agree. Everyone jumped on the SoS bandwagon early as a heady alternative but it is not as good and the craziness is dying down around sos a bit now. It's still very very good though

 

[Rico444]

I've never had Heady, so I can't comment there. I will say that SoS is phenomenal. I'm going up to Southern Vermont this weekend for a bachelor party and I'm hoping to get lucky with either (or both).

 

[Drumguy]

I've never had Heady, so I can't comment there. I will say that SoS is phenomenal. I'm going up to Southern Vermont this weekend for a bachelor party and I'm hoping to get lucky with either (or both).

Lawsens is now contract brewing sip o sunshine from two roads so it's probably more available in ct now than Vermont. When you are up in Vermont try to get some hill farmstead. Usually Edward is available on tap around the state.

 

[Drumguy]

Lawsens is now contract brewing sip o sunshine from two roads so it's probably more available in ct now than Vermont. When you are up in Vermont try to get some hill farmstead. Usually Edward is available on tap around the state.

Oh and heady is far superior.