Well **** it. I'm going to try this hopwired.

Also big thanks to my frothy brother in Buffalo, Mr. Bomm Bastic.

Was pretty psyched to see that package, especially after I thought I lost my mail key (damnit need to call in monday AM otherwise I'm getting charged $30 to replace locks). He wrapped that shit like crazy too. Letting it rest a few days (after all it had quite the journey) and then I'll have to try it out.

If you need/want anything, you know who to talk to Bomm!

And thus we confirmed that beer shipping is quite feasible (though not cheap... if I was to do an actual beer trade I'd probably do 6-12 bottles). I'm actually doing a beer trade with a guy out of Ontario. We're sending a sixer + 2 750ml each.

First impression of the 8wired:

Smooth, not overpowering hops ie: not a palette killer, but I find the aftertaste a little odd.

Well about halfway through the bottle and overall it's a good IPA and its nice to have something high in alcohol % but without the overpowering taste. Nice change up from lagunitas Maximus and smashbomb IPA.

But at $10 for a 500ml bottle I'm not sure if I'd purchase again. At a more affordable price it'd be a great one to keep stock of as its smooth and definitely an easy drinker.

Man, I miss red racer. I haven't tried a ton of IPA's but that's one of the few I've come across that I was happy with as a daily drinker.

Oops, double post.

Tonights a good night to check in on this thread! I've had 31 of the 50 American beers but only 2 of the Canadian. Beer distro sucks. Today after work I had Bells Hopsoulution on tap. Nice grassy floral nose like a fresh hop ale, somehow clocked in at 8% but didnt taste like it. Also had the usual shift drink Surly Furious.

So some beers I drink every week are near the top of the list like 2 Hearted for example. I have never seen Pliny the Elder though. If the shipping trades work out like you guys say I'd be down for it. One more I'd love to try but isnt around is Half Pints Humulus Ludicrous. Sounds like my kind of beer. A lot of guys here seem to like the Lagunitas Daytime... There is a new brewery in town called Indeed and their Day Tripper is halfway between Daytime and Bells Two Hearted.

Also since Hopslam is #6 on the list, a funny story. One day at work my coworker says we need to get rid of this Hopslam cask to make room for a beer event tonight. If you can find a container take some so we dont have to dump it. I found 5 one gallon olive jars in the basement, washed them and filled them with Hopslam, took it home and bottled it with my then new homebrewing setup. Score!

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16 team H2H keep all - 1st Place in 2010-11
C: Datsyuk, M. Koivu, Krejci, Read
LW: Parise, Franzen, Skinner, Glencross
RW: Pavelski, Marchand, Hossa, Clarkson
D: Byfuglien, Phaneuf, Burns, Carle, Keith, Martin
G: Lundqvist, Halak, Backstrom

Prospects: Fasth, Hackett, Murray, Bjugstad, Poulin, Rattie, B. Nelson, Girgensons

Oh also Red Racer. Sounds like thats a common one for some of you guys and I'm jealous of that. Never tried it either.

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16 team H2H keep all - 1st Place in 2010-11
C: Datsyuk, M. Koivu, Krejci, Read
LW: Parise, Franzen, Skinner, Glencross
RW: Pavelski, Marchand, Hossa, Clarkson
D: Byfuglien, Phaneuf, Burns, Carle, Keith, Martin
G: Lundqvist, Halak, Backstrom

Prospects: Fasth, Hackett, Murray, Bjugstad, Poulin, Rattie, B. Nelson, Girgensons

Red Racer is probably easier to ship than most since Central City Brewing has a preference for cans. Just empty out a box of pop cans (preferably something somewhat unique, or maybe just Canada Dry!) and mail away... they open up and see the box of pop and the sloshing is explained. Hell you don't even need much padding for cans.

And it is legal to mail pop.

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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.

Weird...I got that too. I was actually a little hesitant to try and describe it....but....I thought it reminded me of CornNuts?? I still enjoyed it, but anyone reading a review of an IPA and CornNuts would probably look to avoid.

Anyone looking for an indredible IPA at a great value...seek out Sierra Nevada's Celebration. It's a seasonal, but don't be misled by the red, festive packaging. It's not a Holiday beer by any means...just a super fresh, hoppy bundle of taste. It rarely makes it's way across the border up my way, so I'm trying to see if I can make up an excuse to head across the line. It's well worth it, and maybe $9 a sixer!

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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

You must be from around the Minnesota area right?

A kid I taught/coached plays for the Binghamton Senators. He invited my wife and I to his wedding in June....yup, Minnesota. First thing I did when we got the invite was check to see how far the hotel is from the Surly Brewery. Man, if I can check Hopslam off the list too.......win/win.

__________________
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