Rare or exotic beer suggestions?

[Rob®]

A friend is having a surprise 40th bday party thrown for him early October. The theme is "bring dude beer." He is all about the rare/exotic beers. I'm a liquor and wine guy, so I have no idea what to get him.

I would love to get him a non-Texas locally brewed beer, as I'd be pretty much guaranteed that he's never had it before, but that would require shipping. I have some out of staters working on this (I read the laws, it is *not* illegal to ship alcohol via UPS, FedEx, it is just against their policies. It is illegal to ship via USPS though).

My next thought is a local to San Antonio beer? I will be there again this weekend, so if someone has a suggestion on something I can find down there and not too easily up here, please let me know. Even something on the way there? Chances are good that he would have had some, but don't think anyone else going to his party would be bringing it with them.

Last thought/question is just what you beer drinkers recommend that I can get locally or easily online. Chances are good that he's had it at that point, but I'd like to hear suggestions on a good oddball beer since I would otherwise just pick a random one and hope for the best.

Thanks

[trickyrix]

These may not be as rare and exotic as you want, but here are some good local/TX suggestions...

Rahr Brewery in Fort Worth. I like the Stormcloud IPA.

Franconia in McKinney. The Lager and the Dunkel are tasty.

Saint Arnold in Houston. Try the Fancy Lawnmower.

Real Ale in Blanco. Fireman's 4 and Rio Blanco are both nice.

[Rob®]

I want to say I've seen him with a bottle of Rahr in hand before. I know I saw someone, because I was laughing at the name. Pretty sure it was at our BBQ this past weekend too, so it kind of had to be him. I will look into the others as well. Thanks!

Keep the ideas coming

[AlanP1964]

Rahr is great and since you would be supporting something local would make it even better. One thing my wife and I did a few years ago was to go to Whole Foods. They would allow you to buy single bottles of different varieties of beer. They had/have a good selection. We just bought like 2 six packs of different brands, styles, varieties. took them to my in-laws on New Years day or some other holiday, cant remember. Anyway, everyone just had a small glass each and we would just try all the different styles.

[Miatamoto]

If you can get a hold of a bottle of Dog Fish Head Squall do it! I had a bottle at Meddlesome Moth a couple of months ago and it was excellent. Might be very difficult to find though:

http://www.dogfish.com/brews-spirits...squall-ipa.htm

[Jiggerachi]

My buddy brought me a sixer of Rahr - Buffalo Butt and some of their other stuff. Didn't even have lables on the bottles, just on the case and the cap. That's pretty exotic. Good stuff too.

How about Stone IPA or Arrogant Bastard. Pretty manly and exotic.

If you want the manliest of all manly beers try to find something called "Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout" I ordered one of these at Trinity Hall and when I poured it I noticed the entire table went silent and someone said "...whoa." Stuff is black, and the head is darker than most dark ales. It was really damn good and 10% ABV to boot.

brand-Rasputin..jpg

Homebrewing is one of my other many hobbies. I've just bottled our latest batch, it's an Irish Red, and should be quite tasty in a couple weeks. I also have a few bottles left of my Guiness clone that's been the hit at more than a few parties. It doesn't get any more rare than homemade brew from some guy on a Miata board! PM me if you're interested. I can't sell it unless I want a trip to club fed, but I could be talked into letting go of a couple bottles.

[sammm]

I'm not a big fan of any IPA's....I think they are an acquired taste.

[jeepinbanditrider]

I had some kind of blueberry beer that was something like 12 percent al. by vol. and it was awesome. It had a bulldog on the front of the bottle can't remember the name of the beer to save my life but I picked it up in the beer cooler in the Albertsons in Saginaw at the corner of Main and Bailey Boswell.

[Rob®]

All good ideas!

I can get the Dog Fish Head rather easily. I've actually even had that when I lived in NJ. There is a store that sells it about 3 miles from my brother's house. That knocks that one out. Website says they can't show Texas locations for legal reasons.

I will try this Whole Foods place. Being able to get single bottles would be awesome since I could obviously get a large variety.

I've actually had the same bulldog branded blueberry stuff as well. From the same store too, I believe.

I know for a fact that he has the Old Rasputin in his fridge, so that's out. And yes, he loves that. Not sure if it's the same brew or whatever, but I know he drinks that stuff regularly. I sent you a PM by the way :)

Still taking suggestions.

[Jiggerachi]

World market has a really good selection as well and sells them as singles as well.

Don't forget to check Central Market and I think Majestic liquor stores, massive selections.

One more is the UniBroue line of beers from Canada, if you like wheat beer. They all have dark labels with some lord of the rings looking pictures. Think of them as extreme and elegant(snobby) at the same time. I've tried their Modite, and Trios Pistoles(damn good), as well as some other one with a red devil on the label. Like dark spicy versions of Paulaner type hefe-weisens.

Edit: Oh yea, all of them have around 10% or more ABV, and they are expensive.

unibroue..jpg

[Rob®]

I was trying to avoid places like world Market and Majestic since he can obviously go there himself. He LOVES odd beers, so I would be shocked if he hasn't had just about every one WM or Majestic has had at one point, random stock or not. I have Canananandian friends, but that's a bit of a stretch - you have to hope to hell that customs doesn't realize what's in it, or go through a place that is cleared to ship alcohol internationally. That's something I would do for the wifey if she was in love with a beer from there, but not so much for a friend's birthday.

Honestly, your brew would be clutch, then I can just get "fillers" of Rahr and the others mentioned here.

[Jiggerachi]

Yea those UniBroue beers you can get at Central Market, if he's a beer nerd he's probably had them.

A buddy of mine brought some back from a microbrewery in Colorado, i'll see if I can remember the name, it was really damn good stuff, not sure if they ship though.

[Radio-Active]

[tailchaser]

I can read! Here's some dirt on a serious non-texas product...

If you have a contact in North/South Carolina or Virginia, you should be able to get hold of some Highland Brewing Co product. The Gaelic Ale is superb. Stuck on a desert island, only one beer? That's my pick. Oatmeal Porter and the Black Mocha Stout are excellent as well. They have 12 pack varietals with 2 each of the regular rotation + the current seasonal available in *most* NC Ingle's stores. Not sure on availability elsewhere.

http://www.highlandbrewing.com/beerstyles.htm

These folks might be able to help you... http://www.charlestonbeerexchange.com/blog/?page_id=176

[Treibenschnell]

Most dudes just like their beers cold... cold is good, I'd say.

Oh, and free... free and cold is better.

[Miatamoto]

I can get the Dog Fish Head rather easily. I've actually even had that when I lived in NJ. There is a store that sells it about 3 miles from my brother's house. That knocks that one out. Website says they can't show Texas locations for legal reasons.

Yep, Dog Fish Head 60 and 90 Minute IPA are easy to get in TX even on tap at bars, but finding their Squall is a little different. It's a limited release that's mainly found on the east coast. Let me know if you find any.

Also, an east coast favorite of mine that I think Tailchaser is familiar with is Sweetwater 420 from Atlanta.

[MadMonkey]

Kilkenny!

[Kestrel]

First, go to Goody Goody. Go to the German Beer section. Get a six-pack of Spaten Oktoberfest (blue label). This is without a doubt one of the best beers out there. Smooth and nicely balanced (not too hoppy, not to malty). Nice amber beer that's not too sweet and not to bitter.

Beware of IPAs, as they are typically very hoppy. I find Pilsners (most, but not all) to be hoppy as well. If you don't like bitter beer, you should steer clear of IPAs and most Pilsners. I like a crisp, bitter beer, but generally prefer my beer to be smoother and malty.

Another "exotic" beer you might want to try is Franziskaner or Erdinger Dunkelweiss. These are German wheat beers, and they definitely have a different taste. The Dunkel, or dark, wheats are a little smoother than the lighter wheat beers.

[tailchaser]

I'll second the Sweetwater 420. The Charleston Beer Exchange will probably have that as well if you don't have a local. A shame you didn't have this up last month when I was on the east coast.

[Walsted]

While in the Mojave in California, I really liked the locally brewed Lobotomy Bock from Indian Wells Brewing. Dark and strong, but not hoppy. Last I heard, they had a contract to sell it at Whole Foods Market. Web site: http://www.mojavered.com