Make your 2004 nominations

[beer editor]

It's March, so it must be time for Marzen Madness. We know that Alaskan Smoked Porter and Dogfishead 90 Minute IPA are in the field, because they won tournaments 1 and 2.

We know that Coors Light won't be, because ... well, you know why.

Beyond that, we'll be accepting reader feedback on what beers make the field and how we set up the 64-beer bracket.

Make your nominations here, and/or use this form (http://www.realbeer.com/battleofthebeers/index.php) .

Prosit,
Stan Hieronymus
editor, Realbeer.com

[steveh]

Hmm, only 3 ballot spots on the form? We're gonna need more than that!

Here's the three I opted for on the ballot:
1. Capital Autumnal Fire
2. 3 Floyd's Dreadnaught IPA
3. Bell's Oberon Ale

Old, new, and intense - diversity in beer rules.

If there would be more room,
4. Sprecher IPA
5. Bell's Batch 6000
6. Sierra Nevada IPA
7. Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA
8. 3 Floyd's Pride and Joy
9. Capital Maibock
10. New Holland Brewing Dragon's Milk

I'd go on, but I know there'll be more to follow me!

S.

[admin]

A quick point of clarification (since I didn't do a first job noting it in setting up nominations) but this is for American beers only.

It's tough enough, even with that limitation.

Prosit,
Stan

[threecb]

Two that've been around, and a newcomer:

1. Heavyweight Brewing's Sticknjab Alt
2. Victory Prima Pils
3. Keegan Ales Mother's Milk Stout

I just went the Keegan Ales in Kingston, NY this weekend and will be making the long drive as often as I can for this stuff!

[chazwicke]

Yep this is gonna be tough. Congrats Threecb on your upcoming 400th!

[steveh]

No imports?! D'Oh!

S.

[quantum24]

1: Smuttynose Robust Porter (drink warm 55+)
2: Victory Storm King
3: DFH 120 min

[Stodbrew]

1. 21st Amendment U.S. IPA

2. Speakeasy Prohibition Ale

3. Russian River Pliny the Elder

[steveh]

Originally posted by Stodbrew
1. 21st Amendment U.S. IPA

2. Speakeasy Prohibition Ale

3. Russian River Pliny the Elder

Waitaminnit... Is there a vested interest in these three? I think that, in order to keep this a fair contest, the brewers of these beers need to provide growlers for all of the voters... ;)

S.

[Stodbrew]

Originally posted by steveh
Waitaminnit... Is there a vested interest in these three? I think that, in order to keep this a fair contest, the brewers of these beers need to provide growlers for all of the voters...

S.

Just representing the West Coast. I figured we on the West Coast have to keep reading about all the DFH beers and Dreadnaught and what not, I'd just throw some out there that are local to us. :D

[threecb]

Originally posted by steveh
No imports?! D'Oh!

S.

Nice editing of your original list, though!

[threecb]

Originally posted by chazwicke
Yep this is gonna be tough. Congrats Threecb on your upcoming 400th!

Thanks chaz!
I figured I'd use 400 to thank you for the premature congratulations! I actually lost track since I've been so busy at work that I can't post here too often.

[Tweek]

Originally posted by Stodbrew
Just representing the West Coast. I figured we on the West Coast have to keep reading about all the DFH beers and Dreadnaught and what not, I'd just throw some out there that are local to us. :D


Amen Brotha! Though I have not tried the Russian River. Road trip?

[beer editor]

Call before you head out for Russian River. Opening has been delayed several times, but looks like they are close. Here's a useful link:

http://www.russianriverbrewing.com/newsletter/ (http://http://www.russianriverbrewing.com/newsletter/)

Prosit,
Stan

[Stodbrew]

Originally posted by beer editor
Call before you head out for Russian River. Opening has been delayed several times, but looks like they are close. Here's a useful link:

http://www.russianriverbrewing.com/newsletter/ (http://http://www.russianriverbrewing.com/newsletter/)

Prosit,
Stan


Thanks for the tip, Stan. I can't wait for Vinnie's pub to open. I don't get up to Sonoma County that much, but soon there will be a reason.

Cheers!

Steve

[brewmonkey]

Originally posted by Stodbrew
Thanks for the tip, Stan. I can't wait for Vinnie's pub to open. I don't get up to Sonoma County that much, but soon there will be a reason.

Cheers!

Steve

I was glad to hear he was able to get the brands when Korbel divested itself of it's brewing arm. I wish he and his wife the greatest success in their endeavor.

For anyone who has not had the beers, they are awesome to say the least. To top it all off, Vinnie is an all around great guy and not a snob in the least.

[Stodbrew]

I couldn't agree more. Both he and Natalie are very cool people. I too am glad that he was able to retain the brand name, after all, he's what made the name in the first place.

[brewmonkey]

Guess I should have my selections in here too (I also voted on the link provided).

Boulevard Brewing Irish Ale
Great Lakes Brewing Pale Ale
Boulevard Brewing Pale Ale

[wortchillergoal]

My 3:

Middle Ages British Tripel

Moose Drool

Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout

[BluesHarp]

OK, then:

1) Stone Double Bastard
2) Bell's Two-hearted ale
3) Alesmith Speedway Stout

too many honorable mentions to list!

[Caffinehog]

I'll second the Three Floyds Dreadnaught,
and the Bell's Two-hearted ale.
But just to make it interesting, I think I'll throw in Great Lakes' Edmund Fitzgerald Porter.

[Beaver]

I'd say:

1) Great Divide - Hibernation Ale
2) New Belgium - 1554 Black Ale
3) Anchor OSA 2003

Others:
Odell's 90 Shilling
Bell's Batch 6000
New Belgium's Frambozen

[Tweek]

Very difficult to choose only 3, but for various reasons here goes

Rogue -Oregon Golden Ale
Stone -Arrogant Bastard
North Coast - Old Stock Ale

[fretlessman71]

Gotta be:

Odell's 90 shilling
Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barelywine
Three Floyds Alpha King

It's all over but the quaffing! :D

[BREWERDLUX]

1.Bell's Two hearted Ale
2.Victory Hopdevil
3.Live Oaks Hefe Weizen


Plenty more I could dream up given the chance....... but That'll do pig!

[johnoh]

Great lakes Edmund Fitzgerald Porter
Sierria Nevada Pale Ale
Great Lakes Blackout Stout

[hopjack13]

1 Stone Double Bastard
2 Alesmith YuleSmith
3 Great Lakes Edmond Fitzgerald

[tavernjef]

This is and will be tough for me, I love so many American made brews and to choose only three? And what I remember this tourny being about is what would you rather drink as apposed to what is actually better, which there may be a slight difference. I'd love to see Bigfoot, J.W. Lee's Harvest and lots of other Barleywine favorites, juicy Imperial IPA's, Strong Ales and the such, but thats just not something you drink all the time and/or alot of within one sitting. So I'm gonna try to go with what I can consider having a few or more of while watching a hockey game or while having friends over for cards, that sort of thing.

This was not easy:

Great Lakes Eliot Ness

Bell's Two- Hearted

Stone Smoked Porter

I tried hard to base this on super yummy taste, great drinkability, and a lower ABV.

I actually voted for:

G.L. Eliot Ness
Bell's Expedition
Rogue I2PA

when it came down to filling out the form, within two minutes I changed my mind. And believe me I could change it again and again. Too Many!!!

I look forward to see what makes it in and hopefully I will have had most of them. Last year I had just over half of what was in the tourny. Since then I have broadened my span of American brews by around 400. :D

[Lamprey]

Shoals Pale Ale, Smuttynose Brewing, Portsmouth, NH
Export Ale, Shipyard Brewing, Portland, ME
Hennepin, Brewery Ommegang, Cooperstown, NY - m'mmm, yummy. The only issue I have with Hennepin is that after 2 or 3 750 mls I'm rocked!

Heavy on the Northeast, but I just love 'em! These are my never fail beers - when I don't know what to have, I have one of them.

I can't wait to try all the beers that are discussed frequently on this forum - maybe i'll find a new never fail beer.

[wholehogbrew]

Only three beers? That's un-American. Beer comes in six-packs so here is my six-pack.

1. Alaskan Smoked Porter
2. Victory Hop Devil
3. Lagunitas IPA
4. Rogue Dead Guy Ale
5. Moose Drool Brown Ale
6. Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barleywine Style Ale

Wish I could have a case. :D

John

"24 beers in a case. 24 hours in a day. Coincidence? I think not."

[HarkJohnny]

Stone Brewing IPA, Runination IPA

Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Ale

Anderson Valley Hop Ottin IPA, Belk's ESB

Pyramid Apricot Ale, Snow Cap

Utah Brewers Collective Full Suspension Ale

Rogue Yellow Snow, Brutal Bitter

DogFishHeah 60 minute, 90 minute

[Tweek]

Originally posted by HarkJohnny
Stone Brewing IPA, Runination IPA

Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Ale

Anderson Valley Hop Ottin IPA, Belk's ESB

Pyramid Apricot Ale, Snow Cap

Utah Brewers Collective Full Suspension Ale

Rogue Yellow Snow, Brutal Bitter

DogFishHeah 60 minute, 90 minute

Interesting that you picked the snow cap. I had a hard time with this beer. What was it that you liked about it?

[barley ben]

Off the top of my head,

Yards Love Stout
Victory Storm King
DFH 90 Minute

[Sunriver]

Arrogent Bastard ale

Just for $HIT$ and giggles Fat tire, I know alot of the people here dont like it but I still think it deseved a chance

Widmer brothers Hefeweizen

Deschute brewing Obsidian stout

Pilsner urquell

Henry Weinhards Blackberry wheat (Gonna catch alot of crap for this one)

O'dells 90

Moose Drool Brown Ale

Rogue Dead man

[Beaver]

Originally posted by barley ben
Off the top of my head,



This is serious business, man! What is this off the top of your head stuff! Something like this requires a lot of introspection and thought. :D

[barley ben]

Oh sorry, scratch them. Hmm, let me think. Ummmmm. Yeah how bout, no not that one. Oh yeah definately that on and how about, yeah that one two. OK I got it!!

Yards Love Stout
Victory Storm King
DFH 90 IPA

[Beaver]

Much better...you gotta work at these things! :)

[ZSK]

I'd have to go with these:

Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald
Bells Best Brown Ale
Rogue Dead Guy
Great Lakes Dortmunder Gold
Left Hand Deep Cover Brown Ale

I couldn't stop with three and I probably could give more nominations. I wish there was a way to get my hands on some of the nominations I haven't tried!

[jlttb]

Originally posted by Beaver
This is serious business, man!...Something like this requires a lot of introspection and thought. :D
I know, I've been thinking about this for a week! My first two are pretty easy:

Brooklyn Monster Barleywine

Harpoon UFO Wheat

but I wasn't sure where to go with the third -- Sierra Nevada's pretty well represented already, my brewpub favorites (particulary Southampton Secret) don't count -- then I realized I had stick with the local independent:

Blue Point Toasted Lager