I have this ThermoWorks RT600C; doesn't work quite as fast as the ThermaPen but is also about $80 cheaper. A good thermometer is the single biggest difference in my mind between being a crap cook and a pretty darn decent one; people would be amazed at how much better stuff tastes when it's not under or over-cooked. … Read more

At this point, I think the only proper thing to do is drink it when I can get my hands on a fresh one. So I can compare them to really see what has happened to it. They do not distribute here though so I don't see a fresh one coming along in my near future. Read more

With age comes oxidation. The oxidation will give it a sherry-like flavoring with a nice hit of booziness. For me personally, a couple ounces of it is nice, but 12 ounces is too much. And yes, aging an IPA is idiotic. BUT, this isn't an IPA in any way, shape or size. Read more

I'm no expert either, but I've aged a lot of stuff, and I've never pushed 120 past 2 years in the cellar. The hop notes mellow a lot and can fade completely with too much time on the shelf. The alcohol mellows considerably too past 1 year of aging. I'd say drink yours now, and in general don't go more than a year… Read more

120 tastes like gasoline. In a good way. Read more

I've had the pleasure of having 4 different years worth of the 120 and they are all just a bit different. My favorite was probably the 2011 (I think, not sure since the ABV is so high my head got foggy) and they also scrapped a couple years in a row because it didn't turn out right. So DFH does it right, if the beer… Read more

Love Smuttynose. Read more

Will - have you ever tried Unita's Baba Black Lager? I live in the Park Slope section of Brooklyn and am (thankfully) constantly inundated with new beers. But this one caught my eye a few weeks back and I've been half-cocked ever since. Read more

They're only like 20 bucks at the horse store. Read more

Do you try to avoid other reviews of a beer you're going to be writing about in order to not have what you taste/smell in said beer influenced by what someone else tastes/smells? I often wonder how much confirmation bias plays into what people say they taste and smell when they drink a beer. Read more

http://sidespin.kinja.com/the-beer-idiot… Read more

Nah, you shouldn't go to New Hampshire. Maybe for skiing, but really, no. Read more

"Golden quality since 1851" Read more

There is a lot of fun to be had if you know where to look. Read more

Should you buy a case, just to get the true Pennsylvania experience with this beer? Read more

I have a friend who loathes Winter Warmer and loves this. Read more

Seeing that you're a fan of Troegs, have you gotten a chance to try Blizzard Hops yet? I would be curious to hear your thoughts. I think it's a nice seasonal compliment to the richer, boozier Mad Elf. Read more

Ettaler Kloster Dunkel is a fun Christmas/winter time beer as well. Read more

I live near the Troegs brewery, thus ensuring a nearly endless supply of fresh Troegs. Read more