In Reply To #1 Well, I was thinking about sending and receiving a mixed six-pack of 12 oz bottles in mid-Sep, and a mix of 3 ea 750 ml bottles in the fall mid- to late-Oct). How does that sound? Brett and I are organizing a mixed sixer swap for shipment on 27 Aug, after I get back from Dellawear (DFH country). Once a month is as often as I can commit to. Hope you can wait until mid-Sep. Going for variety, I'd prefer six different bottles and assume you would, too. So for the Sep swap, I can send you 6 different bottles: 2 different Legends, 2 different Dominions (have you tried Tupper's Hop Pocket Ale?), and 2 Shenandoahs (incl 1 Sahti). If you really like the Sahti, I can send you more later, but my thought was we'd start small. If you want anything more specific, let me know. For the fall swap, let's go with 3 ea 750ml bottles. I will look around for the mead you requested, and you have already mentioned some MH offerings that entice nicely. I have not yet tried Troutbrook, but have been looking forward since I first heard about them after the 2002 GABF. I realize I am not being too specific on my wish list. That's because I will be happy with six different beers that are as readily available to you as the ones I'm offering are to me. That said, I would prefer to receive beers I have not tried before, so if you could give me a hint, I'll let you know. Likewise, if you have preferences that go beyond what you've already told me, e.g., specific beers from Legend, let me know! SMB,SLT!

In Reply To #2 Mid-Sept is just fine with me. I've heard of Tupper's but have not had the chance to try them. Out of the breweries mentioned, Dominion is the most appealing. How's this list sound; Hop Pocket Ale, Hop Pocket Pils, Dominion Real Ale, Dominion Oak-Barrel Stout(not sure if this has an inflated price?) Shenandoah Sahti, and Legend Brown Ale? I can send you a collection of New England beers. Troutbrook's regular editions, Magic Hat's regulars or fall seasonals (last year they had a winter pack that came out about this time with Batch 622 hidden in it, maybe something similar this year?), Newport Storm, Cottrell Old Yankee, Cooperstown Brewing (porter and special ale are excellent), Long Trail, Smuttynose, and Allagash. Mull those over and let me know what breweries, styles, or specific beers you'd be interested in. Those are all very available around here so there shouldn't be a problem obtaining any.

In Reply To #3 Your request list sounds delicious--I will have no trouble filling your order, and filling my beer cubby with the extras! Your selections speak volumes. You will enjoy the Tuppers, which is contract brewed by Dominion. Dominion is located near Dulles Airport. As it happens, I will be flying back from Honolulu Sat 18 Sep. That's when I plan to purchase and ship your order. Your offering list is interesting, too. Since I can get Smuttynose and Allagash here, let's focus on those that don't distribute this far yet. Cottrell Old Yankee inspired me to check the beer brain. No hits. Then Old Yankee. No hits. Then just Yankee. Third time was a charm. Cottrell Olde Yankee Ale. Intriguing. I'll give it a try, as I like EPA and I also like supporting small scale, high quality brewers. "It's unfortunate that the brewery is too small to expand the amount of beers it produces." We'll see.

Just reviewed the sahti; check it out!

In Reply To #5 Sounds great. If you think $4 a bottle is bad, I just spend $21 on 3 9.3 oz bottles of beer (J.W. Lees Harvest Ale Cask editions, review 1 is up, it was worth it). And that's not even the most I've spent, Chaotic Chemistry cost me $27 for a 750ml bottle! And yet, this is all relatively cheap when compared to top of the line wines and champagnes. Isn't beer a fun hobby?

In Reply To #5 Reading your review reminds me of a big barleywine with some strange adjuncts (juniper). Is that a fair assessment of the flavor? Even though you didn't care for it a whole lot, I still would like to try it, it sounds like something I would like.

In Reply To #6 I agree with Garrett Oliver, that beer is much more versatile than wine. There is a much wider range of beer characteristics, leading to many more combinations of beer and food. For any combination of wine and food, there is a beer that would do better. Alan Newman has taken the beer is better idea a step further, charging wine prices for beer. Well, why not? Add to that the fact that beer is actually harder to make, and the conclusion: beer is a fun and still relatively cheap hobby. Drinking, Brewing, Discussing, Discovering. SMB, SLT

In Reply To #7 Good question. First, you will love this beer. Like you, I prefer IIPAs over barleywines. My so-so score and comments reflect my preferences, not the quality. It's a quality beverage and a fine example of the style. Sahti is more like barleywine than anything else: dark, malty, low carbonation, high alcohol, a bit sour, some wine-like dark fruit notes. But I would make the argument that sahti should be in its own style, because juniper and birch are strange to a barleywine, but natural to sahti. When I think of big barleywine, I think of Horn Dog and Hog Heaven. These are darker and maltier than Millenium. The closest thing I've had to it is maybe Big Sourpuss, Anning's barleywine. Actually, because of the maderia notes, a lighter colored and lighter bodied Sam Adams Triple Bock comes to mind. I am anxious to see what you think of it. Brett and Southern were interested, too. I don't want to oversell it, but I do want to share it!