Beer of the Day thread (and ci-derp)
#1132
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A Sign From Above? Needing New Roof, Monks Sell Rare Beer In U.S. : The Salt : NPR
TL;DR: YES
The 12th day of the 12th month of 2012 is not a day of deliverance but of delivery for devout American fans of Westvleteren 12, brewed by the reclusive Belgian monks at St. Sixtus Abbey.
The celebrated beer — often called the best in the world — is usually only available for sale at the abbey, located in the Belgian countryside. But starting Wednesday, buyers in the U.S. and other countries can purchase the beer at select retailers for $84.99 for six bottles.
Why this sudden blessing for beer lovers? The abbey happened to need an expensive renovation recently. But its 21 monks live an austere life — which means, among other things, that they purposely lack cash reserves. So the monks reluctantly made the decision to export small amounts of the precious nectar overseas for the first time.
And, says Mark Bode, the longtime spokesman for the Westvleteren Brewery, "I think it will be the last." Bode is one of very few people privy to the monks' views, as no visitors are allowed inside the abbey.
"They say, 'We are monks, we don't want to be too commercial. We needed some money to help us buy the new abbey and that's it,' " Bode explains. "Back to normal again."
At the abbey in western Belgium's countryside, "normal" entails a life entirely focused on prayer. The monks rise at 3 a.m. to start the first of seven prayer sessions per day. In between, they busy themselves in the kitchen and the garden, and with tasks like painting — and brewing.
The monks have brewed the same amount of beer every year since 1945 — about 3,800 U.S. barrels, just the amount needed to sustain the abbey. Sales of the beer are tightly controlled.
The celebrated beer — often called the best in the world — is usually only available for sale at the abbey, located in the Belgian countryside. But starting Wednesday, buyers in the U.S. and other countries can purchase the beer at select retailers for $84.99 for six bottles.
Why this sudden blessing for beer lovers? The abbey happened to need an expensive renovation recently. But its 21 monks live an austere life — which means, among other things, that they purposely lack cash reserves. So the monks reluctantly made the decision to export small amounts of the precious nectar overseas for the first time.
And, says Mark Bode, the longtime spokesman for the Westvleteren Brewery, "I think it will be the last." Bode is one of very few people privy to the monks' views, as no visitors are allowed inside the abbey.
"They say, 'We are monks, we don't want to be too commercial. We needed some money to help us buy the new abbey and that's it,' " Bode explains. "Back to normal again."
At the abbey in western Belgium's countryside, "normal" entails a life entirely focused on prayer. The monks rise at 3 a.m. to start the first of seven prayer sessions per day. In between, they busy themselves in the kitchen and the garden, and with tasks like painting — and brewing.
The monks have brewed the same amount of beer every year since 1945 — about 3,800 U.S. barrels, just the amount needed to sustain the abbey. Sales of the beer are tightly controlled.
#1134
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If it gets here before I head up to Sac, I'll save you a bottle if your willing to cover 1/6th the purchase/shipping, so probably about $20? I paid $25 for a bottle of Firestone-Walker XVI Anniversary the other day, so this really comes out to be a steal.
Problem is that I've got 2 bottles spoken for already, not sure how many more I want to loose!
Problem is that I've got 2 bottles spoken for already, not sure how many more I want to loose!
#1136
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An old friend of mine works at a 6 pack shop. He let me in on a beer deal. I gave him $50 and he put 25 beers in a case, huge variety. Here's what it consisted of:
(1) southern tier 2xmas
(2) dominion oak barrel stouts
(2) founders backwoods bastards
(2) Troeg's mad elf
(1) leffe brown
(1) Firestone Union Jack
(1) spire mountain cider
(1) Starr hill pils
(1) boulevard dark truth stout
(2) flying fish red fish
(1) schlafly winter ale
(2) Sierra Nevada celebration ale
(1) national bohemian beer
(1) hacker-pschorr Munich gold lager
(1) fat tire new Belgium amber ale
(1) ranger IPA
(1) Orval Trappist ale
(1) flying dog imperial coffee stout
(1) Oscar blues g'knight
(1) Maui brewing coconut porter
(1) southern tier 2xmas
(2) dominion oak barrel stouts
(2) founders backwoods bastards
(2) Troeg's mad elf
(1) leffe brown
(1) Firestone Union Jack
(1) spire mountain cider
(1) Starr hill pils
(1) boulevard dark truth stout
(2) flying fish red fish
(1) schlafly winter ale
(2) Sierra Nevada celebration ale
(1) national bohemian beer
(1) hacker-pschorr Munich gold lager
(1) fat tire new Belgium amber ale
(1) ranger IPA
(1) Orval Trappist ale
(1) flying dog imperial coffee stout
(1) Oscar blues g'knight
(1) Maui brewing coconut porter
#1137
Slowest Progress Ever
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Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: The coal ridden hills of Pennsylvania
Posts: 6,028
Total Cats: 304
I drank the dominion stout last night. I had it a few weeks ago and thought it was good...still think so.
Then I had the boulevard dark truth stout, it was decent.
Then I had the boulevard dark truth stout, it was decent.