There is no set order. Once a person receives a package, they may send it to any remaining member of their team. The spirit of BIF is to send it far away so your local beers can be sampled by someone who would never get a chance to try them otherwise.

As far as package guidelines go, Try to limit the beers to $30. Shoot for 8-10 beers, but it's okay to send just a couple bombers of something really great.

The theme beer should pertain to the fight between good and evil, or the fight between 'the establishment' and those of 'the new frontier'.

mentor
May 2, 2005

higravity
May 4, 2005

Lammin- Sahtia (holy sh*t I can't believe it)
Goose Island- Pere Jacques
John's Grocery- White Ale
Millstream- Maifest Lager
Millstream Pint Glass
MacTarnahan's- Blackwatch Cream Porter
Jolly Pumpkin- Oro de Clabaza (drooling)
Bard's Tale Beer- Dragon's Gold (Gluten free beer)
Three Flyod's- Robert the Bruce
Three Floyd's- Dark Lord, 2005 Orange wax ( jaw open words . . . no words)

Thanks very much for your generous gifts and I will do my best to keep it going.

1604.53 Miles

higravity
May 4, 2005

jimdkc
May 9, 2005

The BIF 20 Team Dexter package made its way to Independence, Missouri today.

BA Higravity really out did himself... 14 Beers in this package!!! The bar is being set very high in this one, guys!

2 - 22 oz. Bombers:
Smuttynose Big Beer Series Barleywine Style Ale
Weyerbacher Heresy Imperial Stout - Aged in Oak Barrels (Theme beer?)

12 - 12 oz Bottles:
Weyerbacher Old Heathen Imperial Stout (another theme beer?)
Weyerbacher Quad Abbey-Style Quadruple Ale
Clipper City Peg Leg Imperial Stout
Heavyweight Brewing Old Salty 2004 Barleywine
Heavyweight Brewing Perkuno's Hammer Imperial Porter
Frederick Brewing Wild Goose Oatmeal Stout
Frederick Brewing Blue Ridge Subliminator Dopplebock
Victory Old Horizontal Barleywine Style Ale
Victory Moonglow Weizen Bock
Victory Golden Monkey Tripel Ale (brewed with spices)
Victory Hop Wallop Very Hoppy Ale
And last, but not least: a mysterious unlabeled bottle with only the letters "BW" on the cap. I'm guessing homebrewed Barleywine? (I hope!)

I was like a little kid on Christmas opening this package! Stuff I've read about on BA, but only imagined tasting: Hop Wallop! Perkuno's Hammer! Old Horizontal! Stuff I haven't even heard of, but I'm SO looking forward to trying (especially the Subliminator Dopplebock!)

What to try first... what to try first?

978.30 Miles

jimdkc
May 10, 2005

GCBrewingCo
May 11, 2005

I had an inkling it was me and when I arrived home today the box was on the porch...more like the cooler was on the porch...

I received the following most excellent BIF package:

750 ml Ceramic
Rogue XS - Rogue Imperial India Pale Ale

22 oz
O'Fallon Smoked Porter

12 oz
O'Fallon Blackberry Scottish Ale
Bridgeport IPA
Boulevard Irish Ale
2 bottles - Boulevard Bully Porter (Theme beer(s), Bully=Good)

11.2 oz
Satan Red, Brewery De Block (Theme beer, Satan=Evil)

Homebrews
im's German Style Hefeweizen bottled 5-1-05
Kansas City Pale Ale bottled 5-1-05

Gifts
Jar of Boulevard Pale Ale Mustard
Boulevard Bottle Opener
Boulevard Bar Towel

1080.02 Miles

GCBrewingCo
May 12, 2005

ppoitras
May 17, 2005

No idea on the clues, if there really were any in your message, Mike. However, I do know that there were two boxes full of HEAPS of beers:

Theme Beer "good" - 12oz Highland St. Terese's Pale Ale
Theme Beer "evil" - 12oz Wychwood Hobgoblin Dark English Ale
Theme Beer - 12oz Rio Grande Pancho Verde Chili Cerveza

12oz Highland Kashmir IPA
12oz Highland Oatmeal Porter
12oz Highland Gaelic Ale
12oz Carolina Winter Stout
12oz Carolina Oktoberfest
12oz Carolina Vienna Style Lager
12oz Cottonwood Endo IPA
12oz Cottonwood Irish Style Red
12oz Cottonwood Low Down Brown
12oz Edenton Helles Angel Pale Golden Lager
12oz Edenton Uncle Nut's Nut Brown Ale
12oz Edenton King David's Red Irish Red
12oz Edenton Joseph Hewes Revolutionary Ale
12oz Duck-Rabbit Amber
12oz Duck-Rabbit Porter
12oz Duck-Rabbit Brown
12oz Duck-Rabbit Milk Stout
750ml NHD Belgian Triple
750ml Desi's Wildflower Sparkling Mead

Thanks again for the avalanche of brews, and I'll try to do justice when I send my part out on Wednesday afternoon...

646.40 Miles

ppoitras
May 19, 2005

deejaydan
May 21, 2005 & May 25, 2005

Fedex just dropped of a cooler (seriously, a stryofoam cooler) full of beer at my house. Here are the goods--
These are 22oz.

Hyland's Sturbridge-- Stout
Hyland's Sturbridge-- Farmhand Ale
Hyland's Sturbridge-- Amber Ale
Hyland's-- American Pale Ale

Berkshire Brewing Maibock
Smuttynose Barleywine Style
Harpoon 100 barrel series Maibock

12 oz

Smuttynoese Robust Porter
Smuttynose IPA

I'm pumped!

I've got the beer shopping done, sending out Monday!

Well, There was a second package that made it's way to sleepy little Fennville today. 3 beers were in the package, and I'm still drooling....

1st beer-- Berkshire Coffeehouse Porter with Dean's Beans
2nd beer- Hooker American Pale Ale
3rd beer-- Hooker Liberator!! Holy crap!!!

Thanks Pete!

807.79 Miles

deejaydan
May 23, 2005

pezoids
May 26, 2005

Received a "bomb-proof" looking styro-package today from somebody in Michigan.

The contents were:

A big ole' bottle from Jolly Pumpkin - Oro de Calabaza Golden ale
3 from Founders - including Rubaeus raspberry ale, Red Rye and Devil Dancer (13%!)
A Dark Horse Amber
And 2 from Arcadia - the London Porter and amber ale.

Very Nice!

Thanks, Mr. Michigan. (aka DeeJayDan)

;-)

726.54 Miles

pezoids
June 3, 2005

rajendra82
June 6, 2005

I got home early after a dental apponitment (for a root canal no less) to fin d a styrofoam cooler sitting on the front porch. This package defimately serves as a good b'day present.

After cutting off the (nuclear winter radiation proof) duct tape, I was left with the following beers.

12 oz.
Lancaster Hop Hog IPA
Yards Philadelphia Pale Ale
Yards General Washington Tavern Porter
Yards Thomas Jefferson Tavern Ale

Growler:
Sly Fox Instigaor Dopple Bock

22 oz.
Weyerbacher Black Hole (Theme Beer)

Also in the cooler was a Strange Brew DVD+R (take off yoy Hoser)

Much thanks are due to Pezoids for this fine selection from PA.

rajendra82
June 7, 2005

axisjones
June 15, 2005

The latest package from Team Dexter arrived at 12:30 and was sent out at 2:00! And this is from a guy who doesn't drive.

My amazing package contained-
- Sweetwater Festive Ale (1L)
- East Bay IPA 12oz
- Sweetwater IPA 12oz
- Thomas Creek Dopplebock 12oz
- Sweet Water Summer Hummer 12 oz.
- Terrapin Cream Ale 12 oz.
- Terrapin Rye 12 oz.
and the theme beer
- Duvel 330mL

What a kick ass package, I have only had the Duvel before. I am anxious to start tearing into it. Thanks Raj!

axisjones
June 15, 2005

MABZ
June 21, 2005

UPS just showed up at my door with a styrofoam cooler wrapped in such a way that it could withstand the apocolypse. Unfortunately, though, it had the stink of imperial stout emanating from within. After unwrapping each individual bottle, I found the following:

22 oz Bombers:
Grant's Hopzilla IPA
Bear Republic Hop Rod Rye
Hoptown IPA

500 mL:
Okocim Full Pale

12 oz:
Lost Coast Indica IPA
North Coast Old Rasputin Imperial Stout (x2)
Hair of the Dog Adam (R.I.P.)

...and finally a beautiful Duvel tulip.

I was really looking forward to the Hair of the Dog Adam, but it arrived sans one crown cap. Thankfully the package was well wrapped and the sludge managed to stay in its ziplock for the most part. Excellent package even despite the loss of comrade Adam. I should be able to send this back out on Wednesday or Thursday (retiring the cooler though, as it looks like it's made the rounds and now reeks like Impy Stout). Clues will follow.

and of course, how could I have forgotten to thanks axisjones for the lovely package.

MABZ
June 22, 2005

garthwaite
June 28, 2005

Greeted with a delightful box of goodies upon my return from work this fine evening. Thanks to MABZ for sending the following:

Left Hand Black Jack Porter
New Belgium Abbey Style Ale
Brasserie Grain D'Orge Belzebuth
Kataja Olut Sahti
Goose Island Pere Jacques
Goose Island Honker's Ale
Goose Island IPA
Boulevard Zon
O'Fallon's Smoke
John's Generations White Ale
Millstream Warsh Pail Ale

I look forward to digging into each & every one of these treats! Thanks again & I will send this bad boy on its way shortly. Cheers.

garthwaite
June 30, 2005

footbalm
July 13, 2005

The box has arrived safely and the last leg of this journey is on the way.Clue on this one: Three and a popular last name.

For those curious, the box included:

750's:
Russian River Sanctification
Pizza Port Santa's Lil Helper

22 oz's:
Great Divide Oak Aged Old Yeti
Alesmith Yulesmith
Homebrew Triple Dry Hopped Double IPA (Simcoe)

12 oz's:
Founder's Imperial Stout
Founder's Breakfast Stout
Old Dominion Millenium 2005
Old Dominion Spring Brew 2005
Kuhnhenn Fourth Dimensia 2004
Heavyweight Perkuno's Hammer

footbalm
July 14, 2005

LuckySevens82
July 22, 2005

Wow, just wow. Mr. Footbalm has hooked me up and hooked me up BIG TIME.

Included in the box:
New Glarus Black Wheat
New Glarus Unplugged Sour Brown Ale (which I've been dying to try)
Alesmith Speedway Stout (with silver foil...is that anything special? The one I had a while back was black foil and a stick-on label...this one is silkscreened)
Founders Breakfast Stout (yum)
Three Floyds Gumballhead (a personal favorite, of which I cannot get enough)
Three Floyds Brian Boru Irish Red Ale
Three Floyds Alpha Klaus
and finally.

Three Floyds Dark Lord (Orange wax, but it has a bit of red in it)

Like I said...WOW!

LuckySevens82
?

mentor
July 28, 2005

Got home from running errands today to find a package that I knew must be from LuckySevens82. When I opened the box, I was quite surprised to find that it contained the original cooler that I'd shipped out so long ago. Bonus of 1000 miles to Team Dexter for that! Here's what the cooler contained;

Weihenstephaner "Korbinian" (Dunkles Starkbier)
Sinebrychoff "Porter" (Hell yeah!)
Dogfish Head "Burton Baton" (Oh, hell yeah!)
Lakefront Brewery "Beerline" (10th Anniversary barleywine)
Dunedin "Highland Games" (Scottish Porter)
Brasserie des Rocs "Triple Imperiale" (750 ml)
Stricke "Uerige" (Dusseldorf Alt)
and what looks like two homebrews (I love getting homebrews in trades)

Thanks much for the fanatastic box of goodies. I'm pretty sure I've only had the Sinebrychoff before...and I absolutely loved. This motivated me to buy a bottle from a store in Iowa City that had it, but it tasted like it hadn't been aged very well. I'm really happy to get a bottle from a different source so I can make a comparison.

What can I say about the Burton Baton. I've never asked anyone for it in trade, because I figured there was little hope of ever getting it. Thanks a million!

The timing of this package's arrival couldn't be any better. I moved to Colorado earlier this month and was swamped with quality beer from trades and with all the new selections Colorado can offer. But, I ran out of beer a couple days ago and had to spent the last little bit of my allowance on a 'discount 6-pack' of macro (it was all I could afford). This weekend will be my last hurrah of freedom before I start work on Monday and these beer will be a memorable treat.

mentor
May 2, 2005

foolcircle
May 4, 2005

One Windy City Suds local beer newspaper
One Millstream Brewing Co. pint glass
12oz. Bard's Tale Beer Dragon's Gold - Golden Sorghum Lager
12oz. John's Generations Whita Ale - Millstream Brewing Co.
12oz. Maifest Lager - Millstream Brewing Co.
12oz. MacTarnahan's Blackwatch Cream Porter
12oz. Pere Jacques - Goose Island Brewing Co.
11.2oz. Sahtia - Lammin Sahtia Oy
12oz. Robert the Bruce - Three Floyds
750ml Oro de Calabaza - Jolly Pumpkin (from DEXTER, MI)
22oz. Dark Lord Imperial Stout - Three Floyds (most SINISTER)

The Beer Karma Gods have smiled upon me this day! With Mentor being SO generous, there was nothing I could do but smile, smile, smile.

Thanks for the great package, I can't wait to sink my teeth into some of these goodies.

1725.36 miles

foolcircle
May 4, 2005

babydoc
May 10, 2005

Something Sinister and Stupendous settled on central state today!

Thanks to FoolCircle for a spectacular package, containing:

12oz
Yard Brewing General Washington Tavern Porter
Fordham Copperhead Ale
Flying Fish Farmhouse Summer Ale
Lancaster Hop Hog IPA
Thirsty Dog Siberian Night Impy Stout
Weyerbacher QUAD
Clipper City Winter Storm Ale
Stoudt's Double IPA
Clipper City Small Craft Warning Uber Pils
Heavyweight Cinderbock Lager
Victory St.Victorious
DFH Burton Baton
DFH Olde School Barleywine

22oz
Weyerbacher Black Hole

FoolCircle's own creations:
FoolCircle Red Card Ale
FoolCircle California Common
Fool Circle MacRae Scottish Heavy Ale

And the Sinister Theme Beer:
Avery The Beast!

Nestled in the package were a Yuengling keyring bottle opener, a Hopunion hat, and a Brew-Monkey.com T-shirt!

Thanks Brian, for a fantastic sampling of beers. The homebrews are gorgeous, I'm looking forward to savoring them soon.

1563.04 Miles

babydoc
May 10, 2005

wezil
May 18, 2005

I just got home from a speaking panel and tasting that involved 21st Amendment, Anchor Brewing, and Russian RIver.
Now I sit here with my brand new Free State Brewing pint glass full of homebrew.
Babydoc sent me an awesome package. Here is what was in the box:

Free State Brewing Pint Glass
11.2 oz "Satan" Red (theme beer)
12 oz Breckenridge Oatmeal Stout
12 oz New Belgium Tripple
12 oz Boulevard Brewing Bully! Porter
12 oz Magic Hat Heart of "Darkness" (theme beer)
12 oz Boulevard Brewing Pale Ale
12 oz Empyrean Ales "Darkside" Vanilla Porter (theme beer)
12 oz Odell Brewing 90 Shilling
12 oz Breckenridge Avalanche Amber Ale
22 oz "Left" Hand Brewing Imperial Stout (theme beer)
22 oz "Left" Hand Brewing Juju Ginger Ale (theme beer)
750 ml New Belgium La Folie (theme beer)
1 large bag "Darkside" M&Ms (theme candy)

And as the quote on the pint glass says:
"...because without beer things do not seem to go as well"
- diary of Brother Epp, Capuchin monastery Munjor, Kansas 1902

I guess I will not have to worry about that for a while!
Thanks Babydoc

1581.26 Miles

wezil
May 19, 2005

beerhandy
May 24, 2005

Team Sinister Recieves

Bombers:
Cantillon Vigneronne
Stone Old Guardian
Winter Koninck
Pizza Ports Mother of all Beer
Russian River Damnation (theme beer)
Big Bear Black Stout
Lagunitas B3K
Marin Brewing San Quentin Breakfast Stout

12oz
HOD Adam
Drakes IPA
Big Sky Crystal Ale
Wezils Batch 22

1717.69 Miles

beerhandy
May 26, 2005

starchild
May 27, 2005

Today a beer crate arrived at my doorstep. I was a bit perplexed and thinking "what the hell did I order" when I realized 40+ pounds of beer was sitting on my stoop. Lifting with the legs, I moved "big boy" down into my beer vault, which seves as a staging area for hording, chilling,drinking, and other sinister activites.

Opening the box was the highlight of the week. The wet dream started with an orange wax sealed bottle peaking out at me. Thats right "theme beer" happened to our sinister cheerleader "the Dark Lord". Ye gods praise the dark side. My dark slide continued as I muttered "oh shit" every time I pulled another beer out (for a total of 17 times). I received Little Yoeman, Choc beer, Schlafly Stout, Blvd Porter, Bully Porter, the Beast, Black Bear Stout, Yeti, Broadhead, Siletz Black Diamond, Pacific Coast Trappist, Lagunitas IS, Konnings Hoeven Quad and Dubbel. Old friends (Doggie Claws x2) and Speedway Stout came too. Its a little scary since I just finished my last 2004 Doggie Claws this weekend and was wishing I could get more. Speedway Stout happens to be my favorite american double, so now I have one to review, and its been my number one beer to salivate over. Thank you Beerhandy!

1228.61 Miles

starchild
May 27, 2005

muddyfeet
June 1, 2005

DHL man arrived with a sinister grin, then he dropped my package in front of me. Sinister conspiracy. Fortunately, no one was hurt. Opened the box to find a wowzer lineup of brews. Nothing sinister among them. Thank you very much StarChild!!!

11.2 oz bottle:
Trappist Westvleteren 12 (Yellow Cap)

12 oz bottles:
Kalamazoo Two Hearted Ale
Old Dominion Oak Barrel Stout
Old Dominion Spring Brew (2005)
Old Dominion Millenium (2005)

Bombers:
Troutbrook Old Marley (2004)
Southampton Imperial Russian Stout (2005)
Three Floyds Gumballhead
Three Floyds Brian Boru
Atlantic Brewing's Brother Adam's Bragget Ale

Champagne bottles:
Heavyweight Saison de la soeur
Cave Aged Hennepin
Fantome Black Ghost (theme)

458.95 Miles

muddyfeet
June 1, 2005

orbital0x
June 6, 2005

Came home today to find a huge box on my doorstep to the tune of 30lbs. After hauling it inside I quickly dug in and found the following goodies:

12 oz brews:
- Nashoba Valley Bolt 117
- Nashoba Valley Special Reserve
- Thomas Hooker APA
- Rapscallion Blessing
- Rapscallion Premier
- Offshore Amber Ale
- Offshore IPA
- Wachusett Quinn's Amber Ale
- Paper City Goats Peak Bock
- Rock Art American Red Ale
- Rock Art Ridge Runner Barleywine
- Newport Storm Alyssa
- Sherwood Forest Archer's Ale (12oz can....cool..my first micro in a can!)

22 oz brews:
- Cadillac Mtn. Stout (woo hoo! been wanting to try this!)
- Berkshire Coffeehouse Porter
- Freeport Ex-Wife Bitter Blonde Ale (nice label)

** There was also a very cool Newport Storm pint glass with different "hurricane" warnings to refill the glass as it gets empty! Very sweet.

Many thanks to muddyfeet for the haul....all of which I have never tried before!! :-)

1054.50 Miles

orbital0x
June 6, 2005

BigLove
June 8, 2005

Received the following from orbitalr0x

Rogue Chocolate Stout 750cc
Three Floyds Brian Boru 750cc
Fantome de Noel 750cc
Trader Joe's Hofbrau Bock
Arcadia Brewing IPA
Anderson Valley Brewing Winter Solstice
Goose Island Pere Jacques
Brasserie Des Deux Freres Domaine DuPage
Great Lakes Brewing Co. Blackout Stout
Gasthaus & Gosebrauerei Gose
Christian Moerlein Doppelbock
Goose Island Bourbon County Stout
New Glarus Black Wheat

Awesome haul and a big thanks to Don!!!

BigLove
June 8, 2005

ninjaworm
June 13, 2005

The package was left on my stoop by a retreating DHL guy who was probably trying to escape from the foul smelling contents. My fiancé mentioned to me that a there seemed to be a hole in the bottom corner of the package but she wasn't sure if any bottles had broke.

Well I finally made it home to find a package chock full of delectable beers. Here is what I found:

Abita Wheat Beer - Never had.
Abita Purple Haze - She was eyeing this favorite of hers.
Abita Red Ale - Our fallen solider
Abita Light - Travis you having flash backs from BIF 13? Talk about sinister.
Flying Fish Belgian style Dubbel - Never had
Anchor X-mas Ale - Yum Yum Yum!
New Orleans Big Easy - Trying to say something about me :-p
Fordham Copperhead Ale - Never had.
Atlantic Brewing Coal Porter - Can't wait.
Sierra Nevada Bigfoot '05 - What a wonderful tasty beer, thank you!
New Glarus Black Wheat - Thank you So MUCH!
Kuhnhenn Raspberry Eisbock '04- What a Gem!!
Trappistes Rochefort 8 - Wow!
Trappistes Rochefort 10 - Quadruple wow!
Day's Louisiana Golden Lager - hmmm we will see.
Christian Moerlein Doppelbock - Sounds tasty!
University of Louisiana Monroe bottle cozy - Thanks dude.
Tripel Karmeliet Tulip Glass - WOW Thank you very very much!
Abita keychain bottle opener - Lightweight and travel friendly sweet!

Biglove really hooked me up, talk about a outstanding BA. Thank you for the awesome glass and diverse package with a bunch of outstanding beers.

ninjaworm
June 14, 2005

feloniousmonk
June 17, 2005

Forgive the lateness, folks, I've had a busy week!

Thursday, June 16, a representative of the DHL delivery company buzzed by my apartment with a most devious package, courtesy of the miniscule, invertebrate martial artist (ninjaworm, duh...)
it contained...
Guiness Foreign Extra Stout ...long on my list To-Try! How did you know, Oak?
Allagash Curieux ...very nice!
Ommengang 3 Philosophers...also excellent!
Highland Cold Mountain
Blackstone Chaser Pale...both new to me, and much appreciated!
Belzebuth...we have our theme beer, I think!
Carolina Brewing Company IPA...very nice!
Highland Black Mocha Stout...too fine!...these previous two foreign to my knowledge...thank you, Oak!
A Mash House Pint Glass...a welcome addition to my collection!

A package was sent out the next day via FedEx...and you have one clue...

it went East ...old man...

it may already be there!
?
!
?

also, in order to acheive my goals, I needed the power only the Dark Side could bring, I submitted myself wholly to it, and excised my selections of anything pale, light, or otherwise un-Sinister...with one exception...

feloniousmokn
June 17, 2005

Sulldaddy
June 21, 2005

Well I came home today and found quite a large package from Feloniousmonk on my porch.
So I opened with great anticipation and was not let down.

Inside were:
750 Satan Red slightly sinister methinks!
750 Delerium Noel
22 oz Viking WHole Stein oatmeal milk porter (yummy!)

12 oz delerium nocturnum
12 oz lake superior oatmeal stout
12 oz lake superiour old man winter warmer
12 oz bells porter, best brown and Consecrator Doppel (nice!)
12 oz bridgeport brewing stout
11 and change oz brasserie des rocs triple imperiale
12 oz summit Amber a draft only product, quite cool
and a pint bottle of okocim porter (woohoo! been wanting to try this one!)
also a summit pint glass and an awesome sinister T-shirt!

Quite a Groovy haul that I am very excited to work my way through.

I have already packed up and wrapped up the goodies for their next leg. The beers are headed to somebody who did not start BIF 20. It should be pretty easy to figure out as there is only one person left before the last leg.

Go Team Sinister!!

Suldaddy
June 22, 2005

Eyedrinkale
June 28, 2005

Got a package on Tuesday which contained the following; (the final leg of BIF 20 was also sjipped Tues back to Mentor).

12 oz
Wolavers Brown Ale
Paper City Spring Lager
Newport Storm Alyssa Cyclone
Newport Storm Maelstrom IPA
Smuttynose IPA
Three Judges Barleywine
River Horse Pale Ale
and a can of Elm City Lager

The bigger bottles included
Southampton Imperial Baltic Porter
Thomas Hooker Old Marley Barleywine
Thomas Hooker IPA
Shipyard Winter Ale
Newport Storm '04

Which brings me to a story. There was a "Horny Devil" of a "Sweet" gal from K-Zoo that was into dancing, the "Dirty" kind. She spent a lot of time in the Rockies, hangin' with some murderous "Penguins". Now mind you, this isn't the first story of this type, in fact there are probably "6,000" just like it. This one however, is similar to story "999". Now Susie had a dog. A "wood dog", named Youngblood. Not any ordinary dog, this one had friends. Elves. "4" of them to be precise. Which is a good thing. As you know, if you are in the Rocky Mountains, there are bears, "Big Black Bears" and they don't like to dance. There is only one thing that can calm a bear like that and it's "porter". But not just any porter, Porter of the Imperial kind. The kind that you can only find in the furthest reaches of East New York. To make a long story short, Susie and Youngblood averted disaster by sharing a fine "Dunkel with their henn, Kuhn" on their way to visit their Mentor back in Colorado, while the bear went on it's own way to seek out something worth seeking. Something called BIF 21, but that's a story for another day. Cheers.

Eyedrinkale
June 28, 2005

mentor
July 1, 2005

...when the sun rose upon June 23rd. The summer solstice, the day of longest light. In the strength of their hour, heros of ancient carried forth a bounty vessel. To wash the foul of Swill from mouths, to restore comradery, and to give hope where previously none lay. A chill morn dew washed their feet as they trode. Their trek, to illuminate nectar and exemplify goodness such that Swill the Foul would longer not be mired in the souls of those deprived of righteousness.

Twas this day that members of Team Sinister awoke in trembling. Shrieking, as the morning rays first penetrated the mists, pushing farther and farther back the darkness that delineated the solace of their caves. They spat upon the light, and writhed as it still advanced, and finally deeper they crept into the safety of their dwindling shadows. To hide from the reaching fingers of the inescapable sun.

The strident confidence of Team Dexter was merited, for also upon June 23rd, a full moon would shine in the night sky to guide their standard. Their effort could not be stopped this evening and the message they bore would stand true, "It is the Sinister Ones who are lost".

Yet the sun was not unstoppable. In the deepest darkness of their refuge, Team Sinister spun black magic and performed ominous rituals. They cast hexes upon the light that it would forever fade. And, yes, the sun did fade. And as Team Dexter looked to continue in the soft moon glow, they found the full disc tainted by Sinister enchantments.

The Sinister ones cackled in maddened glee and emerged with the bats into the chilling evening. Swiftly they flew across the lands, to deliver belly-warmth to those huddled in their hovels. Proof that the message of the new vessel carriers is true. And days passed. And the duration of the days diminished. And the message of the dark ones spread rapidly across all the lands until they were held as true across all the lands.

Yet hope still remains for the forces of light. For if they can go the distance, Team Dexter can still win in the end.

The Team Sinister package has arrived home. My wife opened the box while I waited eagerly on other end of the phone for her to reveal the name of each treasure as she unwrapped it (I move to Colorado tomorrow). I said, "doesn't it feel like Christmas morning?" and she replied, "no". Hmmp. Anyway, she read the names of a bunch of killer beers. Seven 12 oz bottles and five bombers.

Bell's 5000 (retired)
Bell's Sousie's Sweet Stout (retired)
Arcadia #999 (retired)
Dark Horse Raspberry Ale
Dark Horse 4 Elf Winter Ale (seasonal)
Founder's Devil Dancer (hell, yeah!)
Kuhnhenn Iron Monger Dunkel

Alesmith Horny Devil
Bear Republic Big Bear Black Stout
Boulder Beer Killer Penguin
Dogwood Youngblood's Imperial Porter (retired)
Southampton Imperial Baltic Porter (oh, hell, yeah!)

My lord, some of these are retired beers that must have been sitting in Mike's cellar for a while. Wow, incredibly kind of you to share. I'm really stoked (heh, I'm trying to practice my Colorado-ese). I must say, when my wife said "Bell's 5000 ale", my response was, "You mean 6000". "No", she said, "5000". "Are you sure?" "Yes I'm sure, do you want me to stop?". "No, please continue". OMG, I've never even seen a bottle of Bell's 5000. I can't wait to try it.

Anyway, just what did the prose in my earlier post mean? Well, it was about June 23rd that it first became evident to me that Team Sinister was likely to win the BIF20 race. June 23rd was indeed the summer solstice and when I looked to the full moon that evening, it looked like this;

I envisioned feloniousmonk dancing in the orange moonlight like Rumpelstiltskin.

Now, while Team Sinister has won the race, Team Dexter may still win the distance battle. Keep it up 'old guys'. You may yet pull through with respect.

Thanks everyone on Team Sinister, thanks to Eyedrinkale for a great package, and thanks to rajendra82 for creating and managing the website.

Well, I finally moved to Colorado and got my hands on the incredible beers Eyedrinkale sent to conclude the race for Team Sinister. Because I was expecting another box (as part of a regular trade), I asked my wife if there was a box waiting for me. She said, "Yes...six of them". Six? WTF? Well, it turns out that a number of the members of Team Sinister decided to each send a couple bottles as house-warming gifts and as a thank-you for organizing BIF20. Here's what they've sent;

2004 Thomas Hardy's Ale
Thomas Hooker Hop Meadow IPA
St. Bernardus Abt 12
Rochefort 6
Free State Beer pint glass
Abita Light (collector's item?)
Abita Wheat (collector's item?)
a CD of 'old school' beer geek rap
Dogfish Head ApriHop
Victory Prima Pils

Thanks so much, I really appreciate your generosity. It really was a great house-warming surprise. Here's to beer karma!

I was glad to get the Free State Beer glass. My wife has been using our glasses for milk and I'm leary of using them for beer now. Now that I've got a distinct pint glass, we will be able to keep it separate from the rest and I'll have a dedicated beer glass. One question...are the Abita beers really 'collector's items'? Perhaps an inside joke I'm missing.

Well, I got two more packages today. Here's what was in 'em;

Anchor Brewing "Anchor Bock Beer"
Jasper Murdock's "Stackpole Porter"
Wachusett "Country Ale"

Whoo-hooo! I *love* bocks and I've never heard of the two east coast beers. Always like to review things I'd never have an opprotunity to try otherwise. Thanks guys.