Bell's Two Hearted Ale

[Shafpocalypse Now]

India Pale Ale style well suited for Hemingway-esque trips to the Upper Peninsula. American malts and enormous hop additions give this beer a crisp finish and incredible floral hop aroma.

Exceptional. My go-to IPA.

Bell's is a brewery located by Kalamazoo, MI, and easily obtainable in the area.

[Shafpocalypse Now]

I posted this to get the fuck away from toasty feet and Eddie Bauer customer service. Shit.

[Sassenach]

Way to man up the place Shaf.

[Hank Scorpio]

Good shit, Shaf. Bell's is good beer. I've drank it where I can find it ever since college. We need to Man Up the Book Review section next.

[Fat Cat]

Does anyone know of a good commercial mead?

[Hank Scorpio]

I've had the Chaucer's, which is a still mead, i.e. no bubbles. Very drinkable. I've also found some Polish meads here and there, Jadwiga as my favorite. Those fuckers are serious mead artists. Aging 3 and 4/1 honey water meads for 5 years in oak and shit like that. If you can find them they can't be beat. Best bet is to ask a cool liquor store owner to order you some.

[Fat Cat]

Thanks Steamy.

[Hank Scorpio]

No problem.

[Schlegel]

Chaucer's is undrinkable. I've never had a good commercial mead. The polish ones sound interesting, as actually aging it before bottling is what is generally needed to improve them. I age mine at least 2 years before bottling. Been a while since I made any, but still have a case or so of 14 year old mead. Beats any commercial one I've tried hands down.

[Fat Cat]

I honestly didn't know that mead needed to be aged so.

[Hank Scorpio]

Bump.

[Grandpa's Spells]

Bell's is good.

Midwesterners, Goose Island Brewery has a 312 "urban ale" that is excellent summertime beer.

[Batboy2/75]

I honestly didn't know that mead needed to be aged so.

At least 6 months, or so I've been told.

Mead is pretty easy to make.

add 10-12 lbs of Honey to
5 gallons of water and boil for 3-60 minutes
add Spices throughout the boil (if you want them)

Boil
Quickly chill
move to fermentor
top off mix w/ distilled water to ensure you have 5 gallons of mead wort
pitch your yeast (Champagne or ale yeast, Ale yeast is best)
Let sit for 3-4 days while the yeast does it's job
bottle contents.

I live in wine country, so I'll have to try aging some mead in a used wine cask.

Chaucer's Meade is pretty bland