What a week!

[mundungus42]

I'm so grateful this ended up not being a bonkers week at work, because a bonkers week at work plus ALL THE PROCHOIR RECORDINGS, plus technical issues with this week's hymn file for my church gig, plus having 2 days to write the first huge scene of the theatre camp musical, plus two 2-hour camp meetings, plus 1 day to integrate suggested edits into

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[too_dle_oo]

“Beer in hand” is such an act of love!

[mundungus42]

Also, the burger he brought me was so good he nearly didn't get a bite of it. He definitely deserved beer!!

[too_dle_oo]

One beer fan to another, what are you new to sip on? Styles, brewers, special beers?

[mundungus42]

We've mostly been enjoying SoCal beers from our favorite brewers:

Lost Abbey: if they have a style that you like, snap it up, because they know what they're doing. We're working our way through this year's Carnivale and Agave Maria (whose name I take credit for, bTW), and this year's new beer, Tiny Bubbles, a German gose-inspired beer that is damn near perfect and I could drink every day.

AleSmith: just drink everything! It's all awesome!

Societe: They're young enough that I'm not sure what their distribution is like, but they finally started canning. They're another "just drink everything" brewer.

The Bruery (in OC): if you're in need of special occasion beers, especially of the heavy, sweet, and strong variety, look no further. They also do some lovely sours.

[mundungus42]

Also, if sours are your cuppa, few are doing more creative and delightful things than Cellador Ales.

[too_dle_oo]

You see, it’s the looking for local beers that makes me trust your judgment. There are great local breweries everywhere, and you just have to find yours. I have noted all these places in my mental checklist of CA beers!

As a Midwesterner who currently lives in New England, I’ll always have a soft spot for anything that comes from New Glarus (Wisconsin, and holy crap is everything DELICIOUS), Proclamation in RI, and Unibroue over across the border in Quebec (although Trois Pistoles and Éphémère are favorites).

[mundungus42]

OMG I LOVE UNIBROUE!! La fin du monde was my first experience with Belgian-style beer, we love all their stuff, AND they contract-brew Trader Joe's Vintage Ale, which comes out every Christmas. We usually buy a case. Sometimes more than a case, because it's a steal of a deal and freaking delicious (esp if you adore Trois Pistoles!).

New Glarus is also awesome (their kriek is legend!), but I've never been able to visit and have only tried a few of their beers that happen to be in season when I'm in the midwest. I have not had the pleasure of drinking any Proclamation (OMG their beers look delightful and delicious), so THANK YOU for the rec!!! No idea if we can get them out here, but there's always trading!

Have you ever been to Brewery Ommegang in Cooperstown? The have such a lovely setting and I've always wanted to go. I love me some Belgian inspired and farmhouse ales, and I have loved so many of their beers over the years.

[too_dle_oo]

I HAD NO IDEA THAT UNIBROUE TACKLES THE TRADER JOE’S VINTAGE ALE!!!!!! OMG OMG OMG OMG!!!!! Thank you for letting me know!!!!! Will be buying a case of that myself next year. Gosh, Le Fin du Monde is one of the best beers on earth. I love that stuff and always take a cold one to my August Shakespeare in the Park. I love that it’s so easy to find, but I will happily report that once you cross over into Canada, there are OODLES MORE that are sold on the regular. The Blanche du Chambly is fab, but it’s hard to find in the States

[mundungus42]

My BFF lives not far from New Glarus, but I haven't yet asked her to procure for me, mostly because I'm so rarely in the neighborhood. Though I've had 20-year-old gueze that was still magnificent, so I can't imagine a year or two in the pantry would hurt one of their limited run offerings...

Mmmm, it's been too long since I've had Blanche du Chambly. We had a weird realization a while back that there were many truly excellent beers that we hadn't had in too long because they can be had at any time, and we were prioritizing limited edition and new stuff over the stuff that's excellent and available at all times. So we're trying to revisit those old friends more regularly. I mean, Chimay blue label is a classic for a reason, y'know?

Thank you for the cider rec (even though it makes me start singing Hamilton)!! We have a wonderful local cider maker called Serpentine, but of the nationally-distributed brands, Wandering Aengus out of Oregon is a fave.

*happy sigh* That sounds like an absolutely wonderful birthday! Many happy returns!!