Haven't updated in a while. CA and back on budget

So lots has happened since my last beer post.

For one, I went to a conference in Pacific Grove, CA. This meant flying into San Fran, which can mean only one thing, Anchor Steam.

Crizer and I rolled into the Anchor Steam pub in the airport, fully intending to get Purdue to pay for the $8 beer (we did, shhhh) and the $9 burger (awesome). I've never tried A.S. due to the ridiculous cost of 6-packs. I will not pay Hopslam type prices for a simple lager. And I still won't.

I was impressed with the beer, possibly one of the best lagers I've had. Very clean from start to finish, good balance of malts and hops, good carbonation, everything was good. Heavy ale-like lacing down the glass, and when I was done I wanted more. Everything you want a beer, this beer does well. So why won't I buy a 6-pack of this? If I pay Hopslam prices for a beer, I expect that beer to do all of these things extraordinarily well.

At the conference there were many a beer consumed (with profs even), all paid for by ASMS (thanks Scott!!). Anchor steam in a bottle tastes the same as on draft (surprising actually). There was a beer there from nearby Carmel brewing company (a microbrew, yay!). I tried the beer once, then went back to heinekens and whatever else they had. Bitter, sour, no hops, just not a good beer. Fortunately it's not exported out of state, so nobody need worry about this beer inflicting anybody else.

Possibly my best find of the trip was one of a hophead's holy grails. A truly monumental brew on the order of a hopslam (although just beneath a 120 min.) Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barleywine.
9.6% ABV, 90 IBU, chinook, cascade and centenial hops used for a bittering, finishing and dry hopping session. Sounds like a beer to me. I didn't have a chance to savor it at the time, mainly because a Canadian was badgering me about the american healthcare system, but I did swipe one and bring it back to enjoy it properly (i.e. at one of Kerry's parties). As soon as you open this beer, you'll know that you are in for a ride. The odor is dominated with hops, and the other smells are actually disappointing. I usually associate pine notes (probably from the cascade hops) with a good beer, but this beer smells like a whole forest distilled into 12 oz. Definitely overpowering, and for the timid beer drinker, just stop there. The taste of this beer doesn't have the softness that the honey gives Hopslam, Bigfoot just slams into your tongue and tests your sense of balance. In fact, there is no soft side of this beer, it is an intense, possibly brutal experience for the first few sips. Once you start to feel the warmth though, go for it. Once you get acclaimated to the hoppiness, you'll begin to notice the other subtle flavors. The malt flavors are spectacular, carbonation is excellent, and the finish is clean, which is amazing considering the amount of hops.

For once, I must say that it is possible this beer would be better if the IBU was scaled back to 70-75.

That's it for now. I'll have more soon.
-James