Caring is Sharing!

Bottle share graveyard

Have you ever been to a bottle share? A bottle share is when people gather at a specific location to taste and discuss different bottles of beer brought by the people attending the share. The beers are usually hard to acquire making these shares incredible opportunities to try new brews.

These are my absolute favorite beer experiences! I enjoy these events so much because I love talking to people about beer! These occasions require and promote conversations about the beer you are tasting. The environment is much different than a beer festival which is often loud and filled with people who have the sole intention of getting drunk.

Bottle share graveyard

Shares are great because you can try a lot of beers without getting wasted. Most pours are usually around 1 ounce. This of course can vary based on the number of people at the share.

Bottle shares are also a great way to meet and make new friends. You may even establish relationships for future beer exchanges. Some of my most valued beer connections were made through bottle shares.

Bottle share requirements vary at each event. Some are very general, asking that the beer you bring is not available locally.  Others are more particular, expecting you to bring a certain style of beer. The terms may also specify that you bring a certain amount of beer. Perhaps the host will insist that you only bring beers that have a beer advocate rating that is above 90. Many attendees come with their most prized bottles hoping to impress others. This definitely works out for your benefit!

Local bar where we had a bottle share

Depending on where the share is being held, there may be a charge to attend. Most bottle shares at local bars have an entry fee which usually includes one of their beers. Bottle shares are also hosted at homes, requesting only that you bring the beer. Make sure you line up the empty bottles (the graveyard) so you can take a picture after the share is over.

If you’re interested in a bottle share, call your local bar or bottle shop to see if they are hosting any soon. If not, check Facebook or Instagram. You may want to host your own. If you do, you have the benefit of setting your own rules. It is essential that you provide some food to share also. Most importantly, have fun! That’s what this is all about. Life is Craft!

David and Toppling Goliath

Pseudo Sue

This post is dedicated to a single beer . Just days after my last post about beer trading, I received a beer in a trade that was beyond all expectations. I had heard good things about it but I was completely caught off guard.

Toppling Goliath

The beer was Pseudo Sue by Toppling Goliath  Brewing Company out of Decorah, Iowa. The beer is ranked #21 on Beer Advocate, but in my opinion should be more towards the top. The brewery considers itself “Forward thinkers and cunning crafters, building a revolution based on future thoughts not past experiences”. The brewery has been around since 2009 and is currently going through an expansion.

Snifter

Pseudo Sue poured a bright golden orange color that seemed to glow. The aroma was very fruity and it formed a thin pale white foam head that dissipated pretty quickly. The first thing that came to mind was bubblegum, which is a taste that I’ve never had before. It totally took me by surprise. Grapefruit and mango followed the bubblegum flavor. The beer had a resinous finish that was a little spicy. The mouth feel was relatively thin with a very nice foam lacing left in my snifter.

Lacing

This beer had an extremely clean feeling and taste from start to finish. It was very balanced and held it’s flavor even after warming. This may be my new favorite beer. The only challenge is that I don’t have easy access to it. It looks like it’s back to the trading table. Life is Craft!