The Campaign Builder's Guild

Foster's - because you wouldn't want a warm beer would ya! Etc.

Hefewiesen is a style of beer.  Generally unfiltered so it has a thickness to it.

To expand my list...

Further winter beer:

Full Sail from Hood River OR has a great line including but not limited to their barleywine.

Dick's Bottleworks, an independant retailer here in Seattle has a line of barleywine that is to die for.

Hale's Rudyard Rare 2005 is a limited edition barleywine that will have a special place in my heart forever.

Rogue, out of Newport OR has a couple that I'd recommend to anybody.  Arrogant Bastard Ale ("you can't handle a beer this good" says the bottle) and the Chocolate Stout.  Both fine choices.

Snoqualmie Brewing from Snoqualmie WA has an incredible porter called Steamtrain.  Try it, you'll know why.  In the Fall they have a Harvest Moon ale that is a great transition from summer to winter and is a delightful seasonal tasty.

Sam Smith out of Tadcaster UK has a few that are highly recommendable.  The Winter Ale and the Oatmeal Stout will make a man out of you.  Their Nut Brown ale is another Fall tasty and they even have an Organic ale that, as one might expect, just a little different each batch but consistently excellent.

Something lighter I'd suggest Ayinger's Ur-Weisse (GER.), Kirin Ichiban (JAP.) especially with sushi, Piraat ale (BEL.) or Pilsner Urquell from The Czech Republic.

Gotta look for Magic Hat #9.  Sam Adam's Winter ale, Old Heathen Ale (love the name!), and Legend Brown.  Is Magic Hat a Sam Adams?

Mmmm... research.

Magic hat is it's own microbrewery.  http://www.magichat.net/

Quote from: EorlaMagic hat is it's own microbrewery.  http://www.magichat.net/

I visited it up in Burlington a few months ago.  Amazing the amount of tasting they let go on...and they will fill up growlers right there at the taps...and few beers taste as good as that!

Had a hefenweisen up in Portland, Maine, in the Sebago Brewing Company that was really amazing, last summer.  smooth and cold, light brown, hint of summer spice and maybe  (believe it or not) a hinto of banana...very unusual, but incredibly drinkable...(and I'm normally a wine guy...)

Thank you Eorla.  I'll find a way to get some #9 shipped.

Tonight, the ex-sommelier is trying some 'Red Rex' o4 from Deerfield Ranch.  Big and brawny.  Good stuff.  Stands up well to the bourbon-fire steaktips and lemon spinach I made for dinner.
 Last night, St. Francis 'Red' (yes, just 'Red') was a nice drinkable mellow red that was not too forward but stayed on the palette a long time.

these are both pretty inexpensive (22 and 15 bucks) and are 'drinkers' in the wine cellar, as opposed to holders.  I spent years building wine lists.  No wonder that Tybalt the Unquenchable notated, after seeing the booze list of Igbar, that it would be a hell of a place for a pub crawl! booze of Igbar

Nuff said.

Damilano Barolo '01 tonight.  A little softer and 'smaller' than most barolos, but aged better at '01 because of this.  Ready to drink and able to go up against most heavt res sauces, it has a tad of the the rone minerality normally absent in the bigger, age-worthy Vino's.  Very much a 'new' Barolo, as opposed to the slower aging tradicional ones, it nonetheless is a strong Nebbiolo, with a decent finish.

Time to type...despite the broken finger...

Not a beer, but I had a great Scotch last night - if any of you drink the hard stuff, check out Yamazaki - it's a Japanese single malt that was better than most of the Scottish I've had recently.

Back on the subject of beer, since moving out of Greensboro and closer to Winston, I've had some of the core beers from Foothills Brewing, and they're wonderful.  I've heard they're going national soon, so if you guys get into your grocery store and see anything from Foothills Brewing, I highly recommend checking it out.

Foothills it is.  Looking forward to it.

Pio Cesare '99 Magnum during Sunday night's session.  Magnificent bottle/  just starting to hit the stride, though a little young.  This link should give good advice to anyone who wants to solidify vintivculture in their setting.
http://www.thewinenews.com/octnov02/cover.html

Foundation Shiraz tonight, 1997 vintage.  A little thick and possibly just past it's prime, but it is still opening up.  I swear there is some mint in there, or a eucalyptus taste, whcih is a little different.

Dewars with a splash of extra ginger reed's, topped with a cherry and orange slice.... niiiiiice

Ishy, that one always works.

http://deerfieldranch.com/
Deerfield Ranch Red Rex tonight, the 04 vinatge.  Yummy and very rasberry/flinty/with a hint of olive at the end.  Very hard to find, but not super expensive, about 25 bucks a bottle.
 

had Costa di Bussia Barolo 2000 2 nights ago during the last Miston session.
Definitely a nice barolo from a good year at a decent price (for a barolo, that is)  a lot in the front and very dry at the end, a little more floral than expected in the bouquet.

If you are looking for a good wine to go with a cut of red meat or red sauce (red soz, as a few Manray friends and I would call it), this one wine will not embaress you.