Successful Beer Hunting

One of my favorite activities is to go to a store I know has a good beer selection and do a little hunting. Typically this involves looking for a new brewery, maybe a new seasonal to hit the shelves or finding a long lost friend, with a chance to get reacquainted. What’s really special is when you find that antique that the average consumer just passes by, but you see the real value.

About a year ago, I was on the search for the Stone 10th Anniversary release. I had no luck finding this beer at all, and to this day, still haven’t found a bottle. while on that hunt, I found a liquor store in Santa Rosa that had a whole fridge of Stone 9. I bought 1, then went back and bought 4 more. Months later, after giving away a couple, having a couple here and there, I went back and bought the last 3 they had in stock. This was great. A quality brew, which coulduse some aging, already aged and available for me, and you, to enjoy.

Now that the stage has been set, I have been blessed twice. Initially, I went to BevMo looking to spend what was left of my gift card on something that not only I would enjoy, but also my wife. On the shopping list, Marin’s Peach and Ommegang’s Three Philosophers. I also wanted to look for Green Flash’s I.P.A. With such a well laid plan in front of me, I knew it would all go wrong.

Between the door and the Green Flash is the He’Brew section. Within said section I could see the typical 6-packs had some company. This intrigued me, since I had spent so much time searching for the Jewbelation, only to find it after I had given up hope. There, staring back at me was another bottle of Jewbelation, the 11th Anniversary release from Schmaltz Brewing Company. But there was a different label on the other bombers in the section. Lying in wait behind the Jewbelation were 3 Bittersweet Lenny R.I.P.A 10th Anniversary Ales. They looked like they had been through a lot, the labels a little torn, the caps scratched, these were 3 Stradivarius kept in an dead man’s attic being sold at a garage sale. I looked around me, to make sure I was alone, quickly grabbed the remaining bottles and made a quick line for the cashier. I had my vintage ales and was taking them home for no more than $4 a bottle.

Normally, I beat myself up over opening a beer like this. Is it ready? Would it be better in 3 months? A year? Not this time. Two bottles go into the closet, one in the fridge. As soon as it was cooled, it would be mine. When you wait for a long time to drink a beer, you don’t just taste the beer, you experience the patience it took, you appreciate how much restraint you showed in not just drinking this finely crafted brew while watching syndicated garbage on a Saturday afternoon. And while didn’t have to wait to drink this bottle, the anticipation was still there. Had I realy found the steal I thought I had found? I poured the beer into a clean pint glass. It was time.

This beer is called an R.I.P.A. for a couple reasons. First, it is a Rye India Pale Ale, pretty straight forward. Second, this is a tribute comedian Lenny Bruce, so R.I.P. is again appropriate. Ironically, the quote on the bottle neck is from Dick Schapp, another passed notable person. In case you didn’t know, this special ale is brewed with 10 different malts and 10 different hops.

This R.I.P.A. pours a garnet red,very rich, very thick. The hops jump out in the aroma immediately. As an Imperial I.P.A., you anticipate the hops to be the main attraction, but the first thing I noticed was a malt kick in the face. Very sweet, I couldn’t place my finger on it. I thought it was toffee, then it became more like maple syrup. with each sip I’d get closer to identifying the flavor, but as it warmed ever o slightly, the flavor would change, drawing me in again. Don’t get me wrong, this is a very bitter beer. My wife reacted like I had put something foul in a glass and forced her to drink it. That’s ok, more R.I.P.A. for me.

This beer really does keep getting better as you drink it. I am anxious to open the remaining bottles but will wait until the right time. I definitely should share these with someone. If you can find a bottle lying in a dusty corner of a brew shop, grab it. Just don’t look at the Santa Rosa Beverages & More, because I cleaned that place out.