Beer Ten Thousand

Actually a lot more than 10,000; since April 20, 1997. This counting started in San Diego - during a company training meeting – and I had just created a Notion database to run on the Apple Newton. Original categories were Brewery, Name, Country, Type, From (served how), and score on a semi-logarithmic 0.0 - 10.0 scale.

Over the years migrated to FileMaker on PalmOS, then FileMaker for iOS. Added features like  a color chart and categories for aroma, mouthfeel, etc. over the years.

As noted before, since keeping track it’s been 361 breweries/brewpubs in 39 states and 26 countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, 

Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, England Wales, France, 

Germany, 

Hungary, India, Ireland, Japan, Lithuania, 

Malaysia, Netherlands, 

New Zealand, Poland, Singapore, Slovakia, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan, 

and the USA. 

And as noted a lot more than 10,000 beers. And to be sure, there are some “repeats” as – for example – a beer could be on tap (1), cask (2), in a can (3), bottle (4), and at the brewery (5). It can also be the same vintage beer a few years later (6). So no, not 10,000 different beers.

The most from one brewery? I was surprised to see the local swamp Yankees at Black Pond Brews at 112 the most from one brewery.

Styles? Barleywine variants – a personal favorite – 289 different. 1,839 different IPA variants, and I was well-pleased to see 400 Porters and 958 Stouts of varying kinds from the mild Ale, Stout, Sweet (London) to the searing Ale, Stout, Russian Imperial. Only around 1,300 Lagers of varying types.

The beer I rated the highest? Westvleteren 12 at the monastery shop, fresh with bread and cheese from the monks as well. 11.0 / 10.0! 

In fact only 49 beers have ranked more than 10.0 over the decades.

Dochter van de Korenaar, de   |  Embrasse, peated oak aged   |  Ale, Belgian Strong, Dark  |  10.0%  |  10.5 / 10.0

Emilesse  |  Imperial Russian Stout Peated Bowmore barrel  |  Ale, Stout, Russian Imperial  |  11.0%  |  10.5

Het Anker  |  Gouden Carolus Classic  |  Ale, Belgian Strong  |  %  |  10.5

Hof Ten Dormaal  |  Brew No 3  |  Ale, Belgian Blonde  |  12.0%  |  10.5

Lindemans  |  Cuvée René Oude Geuze Lambic Ale  |  Ale, Belgian Gueuze blend  |  5.5%  |  10.5

Oskar Blues  |  Ten Fidy barrel aged  |  Ale, Stout, Imperial  |  %  |  10.5

Radberger Braufactum  |  Braufactum Arrique 2012  |  Ale, Barleywine  |  13.5%  |  10.5

Saint-Bock Brasserie Artisanale, Le   |  Naufrageur Double IPA  |  Ale, IPA, Double  |  8.0%  |  10.5

Trinity  |  Red Swingline  |  Ale, IPA, sour   |  4.1%  |  10.5

Westvleteren  |  8  |  Ale, Belgian Trappist Dubbel  |  8.0%  |  10.5

Westvleteren  |  Trappist Westvleteren 12 from 2001 (in 2011)  |  Ale, Belgian Trappist Dubbel  |  %  |  10.5

Wicked Weed  |  Black Angel Cherry Sour  |  Ale, Sour  |  5.6%  |  10.5

Anchor  |  Wild Princess  |  Gruit  |  4.2%  |  10.2

Cantillon  |  Bruocsella 1900 Grand Cru  |  Ale, Belgian Flemish Sour  |  5.0%  |  10.2

Cantillon  |  Kriek 100% Lambic  |  Ale, Belgian Kriek Lambic  |  5.0%  |  10.2

Deschutes  |  Mirror Mirror  |  Ale, Barleywine  |  11.2%  |  10.2

Het Uiltje  |  Joost mag het wetenl  |  Ale, IPA, Imperial  |  11.0%  |  10.2

Smuttynose  |  Rocky Road  |  Ale, Stout, American  |  7.3%  |  10.2

Ale Apothecary   |  Therapy Ferret  |  Ale, Wild, American, fruit  |  8.7%  |  10.1

Allagash   |  Midnight Brett Wild Ale  |  Ale, Wild  |  7.3%  |  10.1

Avery  |  Mephistopheles Bourbon  |  Ale, Stout, Imperial aged in bourbon Barrels   |  16.4%  |  10.1

Boulevard  |  Collaboration #6 barrel aged blend  |  Ale, Strong, American  |  12.5%  |  10.1

Carton  |  Sundae  |  Ale, Stout, Russian Imperial  |  10.0%  |  10.1

Dark Horse  |  Bourbon Barrel Aged Plead the 5th Imperial Stout  |  Ale, Stout, Imperial  |  11.0%  |  10.1

Drie Fonteinen  |  Doesjel  |  Ale, Belgian Lambic (blended)  |  6.0%  |  10.1

Drie Fonteinen  |  Oude Geuze Golden Blend  |  Ale, Belgian Lambic (blended)  |  6.0%  |  10.1

Fremont  |  Rusty Nail 2017  |  Ale, Stout, Imperial  |  12.7%  |  10.1

Henry & Fran  |  How to Reimagine the World Gose  |  Gose, fruit  |  5.8%  |  10.1

Hill Farmrstead   |  Aaron  |  Ale, Barleywine, American  |  %  |  10.1

Hof Ten Dormaal  |  Barrel aged Project No 11 aged in Armagnac barrels   |  Ale, Belgian Strong, Dark  |  12.0%  |  10.1

Hoppin’ Frog   |  Northern Hoser Exposure barrel aged  |  Ale, Barleywine, Canadian  |  15.0%  |  10.1

Kenai  |  Gummi Bear Tripel  |  Ale, Belgian Tripel style   |  9.0%  |  10.1

Mikkeller   |  Nuclear Hop Assault  |  Ale, IPA, Belgian Double  |  8.0%  |  10.1

Omnipollo  |  Hypno Poma  |  Ale, Stout, Imperial  |  11.0%  |  10.1

Omnipollo & Buxton  |  Yellow Belly Sundae  |  Ale, Stout, Imperial  |  %  |  10.1

Sierra Nevada  |  Hoptimum 2015 whole cone imperial IPA  |  Ale, IPA, Imperial  |  10.4%  |  10.1

Sierra Nevada  |  Narwhal 2014 barrel aged (in 2015)  |  Ale, Stout, Imperial  |  12.9%  |  10.1

Sierra Nevada  |  Narwhal Imperial Stout Barrel Aged   |  Ale, Stout, Imperial  |  12.9%  |  10.1

Smuttynose  |  Blueberry Short Weisse  |  Ale, Wheat, Berliner Weisse mit schusse  |  4.9%  |  10.1

Smuttynose  |  Smoked Cherry Short Weisse  |  Ale, Wheat, Berliner Weisse mit schusse  |  4.9%  |  10.1

Stone / Julie Goldenburg / Monkey Paw  |  24 Carrot Golden Ale  |  Ale, Spiced  |  8.5%  |  10.1

The Answer brewpub  |  Cherry Popsicle   |  Gose  |  3.5%  |  10.1

Tired Hands  |  kämə,serē   |  Ale, IPA, Tripel, Spiced  |  11.0%  |  10.1

Tree House  |  All that is and all that ever will be  |  Ale, Stout, Milk  |  6.5%  |  10.1

Tree House  |  King Jjjuliusss  |  Ale, IPA, Double, California  |  8.4%  |  10.1

Tree House   |  Double Shot Burundi Mpanga Kirema   |  Ale, Stout, Coffee, Double  |  7.6%  |  10.1

Tree House   |  Double Shot Costa Rica Montes de Oro  |  Ale, Stout, Coffee, Double  |  7.6%  |  10.1

Treehouse  |  Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known  |  Ale, Stout, Milk  |  7.9%  |  10.1

Willimantic  |  Barrel Blended Sour Raisin Old Ale  |  Ale, Old, Sour  |  9.7%  |  10.1

But not all were good. Here’s the worst beers I’ve had. And hey, no offense, you may have had an off-day, and for example the Goose Island and Gärd der dicke Fisch was “infected”

Anheuser Busch   |  Bud Light Lime  |  Lager, American Pale Lite  |    |  2.0 / 10.0

Budweiser  |  Select 55  |  Lager, Light  |    |    |  2.0

Darwin Brewery  |  Flag Porter  |  Ale, Porter, Brown  |    |  2.0

Great Dane  |  Extra Pale Ale  |  Ale, Pale, IPA  |    |  2.0

Mectezuma Brewing  |  Sol  |  Lager, American Pale  |    |  2.0

Miller Coors  |  ZIMA  |  Fruit  |  5.0%  |  2.0

Pabst  |  Old Milwaukee  |  Lager, American  |  4.6 %  |  2.0

Portland Brewing Co.  |  Haystack Black Porter  |  Ale, Porter, Robust  |    | 2.0

Rickard Molson  |  Dark English Style Porter  |  Ale, Porter, English  |    |  2.0

Rogue  |  Chipolte Ale  |  Ale, Amber  |    |   2.0

Witnica   |  Boss Green Beer  |  Ale, Blonde  |  4.2%  |  2.0

Witnica   |  Boss Honey Dark Beer  |  Ale, Brown  |    |   2.0

Nethergate Brewery  |  Dirty Dick's Audit Ale  |  Ale, Bitter, Special  |  8.0%  |  1.5

Goose Island   |  Bourbon County Stout   |  Ale, Stout, Imperial  |    |  1.0

RJ Rockers  |  Fish Paralyzer  |  Ale, Belgian  |    |   1.0

Schmieriger Lachs  |  Gärd der dicke Fisch  |  Ale, Barleywine  |  10.2 %   |  1.0

Solibra  |  Mamba  |  Ale, Cream   |    | 1.0

So how was 10,000? Number 9,999 was from a friend, a nice Belgian Cream Ale

Parable  |  Belgian Cream Ale  |   Ale, Belgian Cream Ale Style  |  5.1%  |  8.0 / 10.0

Then for 10,000 we sort of decided on a barleywine from the Czech Republic, picked up this summer on vacation. It was 420 Korunas, or a whopping $19.12; it was purchased along with some Cantillon.

Matuska  |  Barrel Aged Barleywine   |  Ale, Barleywine, English  |  13.5%  |  8.2 / 10.0

Later that day, got up to Beer 10,008

Perennial  |  Abraxas  |  Ale, Stout, Imperial  |  11.0%  |  9.0

OEC  |  Experimentalis   |  Ale, Sour, Fruit  |  6.5%  |  9.6

Omer Vander Ghinste  |  Kriek des Jacobins  |  Ale, Belgian Kriek Lambic  |  ?%  |  9.0

Otter Creek  |  Berner  |  Ale, IPA, Double  |  7.0%  |  7.6

Tilquin  |  Gueuze a L'ancienne 2015  |  Ale, Belgian Gueuze blend  |  6.4%  |  9.3

Down the Road Beer  |  Feyborn berliner weisss peach   |  Ale, Wheat, Berliner Weisse, Fruit  |  4.5%  |  4.0

DuPont & Lost Abbey  |  Deux Amis  |  Ale, Belgian Saison  |  ?%  |  8.0

Ad Astra.

Heading to 10,000

The day before a planned cookout – and ostensibly beer 10,000 – I went around to a few local spots. Even though I have been fortunate enough to have visited 360 breweries/brewpubs in 39 states and 26 countries, it’s always important to remember who is local to you, and visit and support them. Because what is local to you may be a new experience for someone visiting from elsewhere.

And I didn’t get to stop in to every place that’s in my environs, so there’s no slight intended. In no particular order...

Black Pond Brews – Corey and Mike are self-described Swamp Yankees with a nice tidy brewery (now with taphouse) . I still remember their fundraiser/debut at Maury’s Pub (more on that next) and over the last 4 years they have come into their own. Their beers run quite the range, and it’s nice to see a place that has the courage to put out a decent Kentucky Common and a very good Imperial Stout (Only on Vinyl) – not just IPAs.

Tried the Pine & Yearning and D-Burg. As these were beers I have tried before, no second judging or commenting. They just had their 4th anniversary which I sadly missed, but ya gotta work to pay the bills.

Speaking of work, one of the hardest working folks at a bar is Megan, who owns Maury’s Pub. Named after her grandfather, I didn’t know it existed until one day searching around me on Untappd. I saw this place with some good beers on, as well as a Barleywine in bottle. WTF? Turns out the former local town bar (I can’t remember the name) was gone, replaced by Maury’s. Megan is one of those people who is passionate about her place.

She offers great beers – some really unusual ones – and her prices are unbeatable. There’s live music some nights, and Trivia Fridays. There’s no food, but close by are two pizza places and a diner.

Then to Horsebrook Café. This recently underwent ownership change, where Matt – formerly working as a beer distributor – wanted to own a bar.

I have to laugh because I always think of “fake celebrity Jeopardy” with Sean Connery saying something like “What is ‘Whore’s Brook Café, Alex?” Anyway, this place is quite deceiving, as the food is good and the wings are fantastic. And there’s beer too. Had a

Weyerbacher  |  Berry Monk  |  Ale, Belgian Tripel  |  9.3  |  8.0

Parable  |  Order of the Sun | Ale, IPA, American | 7.0 | 7.8

Last stop was D&G Pizza. Jimmie runs a great Greek restaurant, with pizza and standbys, with daily specials that range from lobster roll to Elk burgers.

D&G is next to a very good liquor store called the Booze Barn. John – the BB owner – has been a good beer connections for D&G. I mean, where else could you find Fruity Pebbles, on cask no less? They have a very good selection of craft beers, foreign and sours.

So ended the day at beer 9,998; let's see what tomorrow brings!

Rainy Days in Budapest Don’t Get me Down

Today was a rather low key day. We traveled on the Hop On Hop Off bus to see more of the city. It was helpful today because it was raining on and off.

We took more pics and ate more food. 

Had a basic lager with lunch.

Borsodi  |  Borsodi  |  Lager, Pale  |  4.5%  |  4.5

Bought more souvenirs of course.

Went back to the First, the Craft Beer company for one more beer. 

Okay, two.

Brew Your Mind  |  Candy Flip Pineapple  |  Ale, IPA, Double  |  7.6%  |  8.2

First, the Craft Beer company   |  Belgian Wit  |  Ale, Belgian Witbier style  |  4.5%  |  7.5

Had a lot of fun at the grand opening of a new brewery today - Gravity Brewing, located inside Neked Csak. 

It was a marvelous time to be at an opening day. Chatted with brewer/owner Greg when he was done polishing the brewing system. 

Even brought him the last American beer I had!

Also spoke with fellow beer fan Joel, from New Zealand. Learned that the bar price for a can of Pabst Blue Ribbon is like $14 NZ, which is crazy. 

When I told him what I picked up in Czech Republic for like $100 US, he was laughing. 

Tried all their beers:

Gravity  |  Sunspot  |  Ale, Wheat, Fruit  |  5.2%  |  7.8

Gravity  |  Dragon Storm  |  Ale, Wheat, Dunkel, fruit  |  3.5%  |  8.5

Gravity  |  Dark Matter  |  Ale, Stout, Milk, Sweet  |  6.6%  |  8.8

Gravity  |  Meteor triple Scotch ale  |  Ale, Scotch, Triple   |  8.2%  |  9.0

Gravity  |  Prometheus with Campari  |  Ale, IPA, Fruit  |  7.3%  |  10.0 / 10.0

The last one - made with Campari  - was inconceivable. Nice IPA flavors with an amazing herbal sour tart finish.

Delicious last dinner and even had wine.

The fun part was the flaming dessert.

It has been a grand vacation. Over 9,000 miles. 108 new beers. Five countries. Saw where grandmother’s home was in Poland, and met with wife’s 2nd cousin in Slovakia. Two brewery hotels. Three new breweries. 

A total as of today of over 9,980 beers, 360 breweries in 39 states and 26 countries.