I got a call yesterday from my buddy Action Jackson asking what I had planned for the evening and being told that he had a surprise for me.  So without further ado I agreed to meet over at his place with the idea that we would probably head out to MacNiven's as well.  Only knowing that the surprise was some kind of beer, I set off after work to his place.  And was greeted by a case of Three Floyd's Fantabulous Resplendence XI Anniversary Ale.  I had no idea the Fantabulous Resplendence was going to become a yearly offering, but I can tell you, this is definitely worth seeking out.  We both agreed that this is probably a different recipe then the X Anniversary Ale I reviewed a while back.  We both drank a bomber of that and then he pulled out another surprise, a couple bottles of Bell's Batch 8000, an imperial wit beer.  Somehow this beer had eluded me until last night and I was floored with how good it was.  In fact the whole time I was drinking it I couldn't help but think of how much it reminded me of the many great beers I had drank in Belgium last year.  Really really amazing with about a year of age on it.

After that, we set off for MacNiven's with the knowledge that they had Victory Prima Pils on tap and both of us wanted to try it.  It was also rumored to have Oaken Barrel's Superfly IPA on draft and we were happy to see both of these fine beers listed on their chalk boards behind the bar when we walked in.  Prima Pils is great from the bottle, and I would seriously say it could be in the running for one of the very best pilsners in the world.  On draft, served in tall pilsner glasses adorned with the Victory Prima Pils logo, there isn't another pilsner served in Naptown that can touch it.  After that we both had a pint of the Superfly IPA.  At the Hops for Pops festival a few weeks ago I all but begged the Oaken Barrel guys to start bottling this.  A very liberal amount of hops and rich mouthfeel make Superfly a total winner in my book.

Not content with the stupefying list of beers at MacNiven's, I suggested we head to J. Gumbo's to see what they had going on.  And we were rewarded for the effort by getting to sample some 1999 and 2005 aged Gale's Prize Old Ale.  That '99 was one of the most amazing beers I had ever tasted and did edge the '05.  I think I am going to have to seek some of this beer out and cellar it myself.  That was followed up by the last two bottles of 2005 Stone Double Arrogant Bastard they had.  I had never been able to find the Double Arrogant Bastard, so getting an opportunity to try some that had been aged was too irresistible.  We also got a nice opportunity to chat with Mike DeWeese, the owner of J. Gumbo's.  Action Jackson also got a Three Floyd's Dreadnaught from the hand-pull that was nice to try side by side with the Stone.  We finished the evening off with a run to the Waffle House for some late night grub.  The only drawback of the evening.. staying out till 1am on a school night doesn't agree we me so much anymore.  Was not enjoyable getting up this morning.