…when they bring beer from 3000 miles away that you’ve been wanting to taste for years!

Stephen and the Ladies

This Saturday evening, we hosted a dinner for our best buddies to join us for dinner and ales in lieu of our neighbor’s annual Halloween party.  John and Robyn throw the best Halloween party, but after five years they took a year off.  We decided to host a dinner party and I put some tri-tip and shrimp in the smoker, and everyone else brought their best to support the meal.

Bell's Two Hearted Ale

But the best of the evening was the ales that Maggie brought back from Washington DC – particularly the Bell’s Three Hearted Ale I’ve been wanting to taste forever.  Maggie brought back well over a case of ale through airport security, and even educated the TSA as to the virtues of homebrewing!  You gotta love someone that can do that 🙂

Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA and Bell's Special Cream Stout

She and Steve showed up with lots of Bell’s Two Hearted Ale (and left me a six-pack), some Bell’s Special Double Cream Stout, some Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA, some Weyerbacher Simcoe Double IPA and a bomber of Legacy Brewing’s Hoptimus Prime Double IPA.

Weyerbacher Simcoe Double IPA

The Two Hearted Ale was wonderful (and my clone was pretty much spot-on:), but the highlight of the ales was the Simcoe Double IPA.  It has an ass kicking malt bill, balanced out by a piney, resinous hop character.  Steve and I are committed to try and brew this beast using my Blue Flame malt bill and subbing in Simcoe hops all the way through the brew.  I may brew this on Veterans Day.

Legacy Brewing's Hoptimus Prime

All in all, the evening was a great mix of friends, good eats and wonderful brews.  The whole evening was like an Old Milwaukee commercial –  it doesn’t get any better than this!