Budapest is awesome, highly recommend, and if you're heading that way you just gotta keep going into Croatia...Split and Dubrovnik are worth the journey (train/bus was pretty long, I'd look into cheap flights if possible).

Cesky Krumlov in Czech Republic is pretty cool as well.

Yea, Budapest is definitely in consideration for a place to go.

Went to Croatia last summer, though not for long - saw Dubrovnik and it is definitely really cool.

And not to worry - Cesky Krumlov is already on the itinerary!

Oh boys, I had a wonderful day at the beer store. My beloved Hop Zombie was back. The brewer said that the hop that made is so special was sold out and had at least a year wait.... Not good news for me as I only had the pleasure of having one before they sold out. I dropped into the beer store and there they were... smiling and winking at me. I asked the manager what was up as I heard the hops were not available. He said that the brewer bought small amounts of the hop from all over the globe so he could brew another batch.

http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/epic-hop-zombie/144497/

This beer is honestly, the best DIPA I have ever tasted. It is a magnificent beer of the highest order. If you ever get a chance to buy this anywhere other than New Zealand, I recommend you do whatever it takes to get it. If this beer wasn't cool enough, the label is actually glow in the dark. Here's a picture from my phone.



Best beer day in a long time.

__________________
O&B Dream Team
Bill Barber - Bobby Clarke - Tim Kerr
Mark Howe - Chris Pronger
Bernie Parent
Farm: Giroux

__________________
O&B Dream Team
Bill Barber - Bobby Clarke - Tim Kerr
Mark Howe - Chris Pronger
Bernie Parent
Farm: Giroux

I'm still freaking out........ There is another one in the fridge and I'm pretty sure I can get more. I just have to figure out how many I can buy ($12 for 500ml) before the wife starts asking questions. A dozen? I'll get 6 at least and wont talk about it. Maybe I can get a dozen.... not sure. **** it!!!!!! I'm the guy saying that I'm the boss and I'm picking up a dozen of these limited edition beers that bring me such joy.

... I'll let you know how it goes.

__________________
O&B Dream Team
Bill Barber - Bobby Clarke - Tim Kerr
Mark Howe - Chris Pronger
Bernie Parent
Farm: Giroux

That ratebeer.com seems to suggest that I am some sort of heathen.

I like this one: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/spinnak...ale-ale/91570/ far more than this one: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/driftwo...ug-ipa/133091/

To save the non-link clickers the former gets about a 40, the latter a 98.

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Okay, so maybe nobody likes a cynic, but everybody f**king hates those perky optimists!

... and anyway, I make a damn good cynic.

In that case go here and you won't feel like a heathen....

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/3447/45547

Cheers! That certainly helps... a beer-related increase in my feeling of self-worth, yet without the inebriation and potential hangover.

The Fat Tug still scores better, but 94 to 82 is more respectable.

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Okay, so maybe nobody likes a cynic, but everybody f**king hates those perky optimists!

... and anyway, I make a damn good cynic.

No worries there Loch..they're 2 very different styles of beer. That Fat Tug is one of the most highly regarded IPA's in Canada, and is becoming quite well know thru North America. It's in my Top 5 Beers of all time and there's always a 22oz bomber waving at me in my fridge.

If you enjoyed that Pale Ale, it just probably means you're more into the maltier tastes, more balanced, and less into the smack you in the mouth Hopfest that the Fat Tug brings.

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12 -Team Yahoo, Points Pool, Keeper (Since 1995): G(1), A(1), PPG(1), SHG(1) GWG(1), W(2), SHO(3). Protect 13 each season.

C (4): Crosby, Roy, Stepan, O'Reilly
LW (4): Benn, Pacioretty, Umberger, Burrows
RW (4): Perry, Iginla, Atkinson, S. Gagner
F (1): Little
D (4): Boyle, Schultz, Keith, OEL
G (1): Schneider

Bench: (RW) Kassian (LW) Hagelin (D) Karlsson, Wiercioch (G) Hiller

Yeah, those 2 sites are actually quite different in the way they score things. I'm a fan of the Beer Advocate site. Either way, they're both solid brews. Speaking of solid brews...the wife and I tried this last night:

http://www.canadianbeernews.com/2012...available-now/

So new, Beer Advocate doesn't even have any reviews yet. We really enjoyed it. Quite sweet, lots of pineapple taste and not the typical summer wheat I've come to expect. As the write up says, more of a blonde ale. I'd definitely reccommend it for a summer deck beer if you can get your hands on any.

__________________
12 -Team Yahoo, Points Pool, Keeper (Since 1995): G(1), A(1), PPG(1), SHG(1) GWG(1), W(2), SHO(3). Protect 13 each season.

C (4): Crosby, Roy, Stepan, O'Reilly
LW (4): Benn, Pacioretty, Umberger, Burrows
RW (4): Perry, Iginla, Atkinson, S. Gagner
F (1): Little
D (4): Boyle, Schultz, Keith, OEL
G (1): Schneider

Bench: (RW) Kassian (LW) Hagelin (D) Karlsson, Wiercioch (G) Hiller