Well...another trip that was over way too soon...
I am not going to bore you with my daily whereabouts...so lets get to the breakdown:
the best hash was pretty easy to figure out:
Caramella Cream was unbelievable...mine and my fiance's favorite of the trip...smooth as silk...great high...ultra tasty- tasted great in most applications: with gear in a j...with tobacco in a j...free-burning in a glass jar...it just tasted great...
Barney Rubble was out of this world...better then last time...by far...a great taste and high...the most powerful (knock-out) hash we tried...only good in a j with gear though...and tends to over power it...but the effects are undeniable...
kandi bubble was a good third...but i am not a dark hash fan...
other mention goes to the Neville's Haze Hash at the Greenhouse and Gunpowder from Stix...
the best of the smoke was easy too:
the most potent (and the biggest surprise!) with the best taste and unreal high was the G13 Haze from Blue Bird...wow...it was a real sleeper...it didnt smell like much at all...even the next day it still smelled bland...but it tasted amazing...wicked high...
the most unique and best smell went to Love Potion #1 from Barneys...a great smoke all in all...one of the few strains that has it all...super smell, real tasty, great high, looks fantastic with nice calyx clusters and breaks up perfectly...would be my number one all in all smoke if the G13 Haze from Blue Bird wasnt so damn potent!...but the smell is unreal...like lemon pine sol...or something...you gotta smell it for yourself!...
the most accurate scent recreation was the Strawberry Haze from the Greenhouse...smelled super strawberry fruity!...but didnt taste like much...and the high was unremarkable...just ask to see it for the smell alone!
the most consistently great strains were a tie with the Diesel strains and the Haze strains:
top Diesel notches go to NYC Diesel at the Dampkring/Tweede Kamer, Sour Diesel at Amnesia, Red Diesel at Barney's, NY Diesel at Nes, and NYC Diesel at Blue Bird...great smells...great taste...great high...always a safe bet for us...
top Haze notches go to G13 Haze from Blue Bird, Super Silver Haze from the Greenhouse, Arjan's Ultra Haze 2 from the Greenhouse (so good, but was out of stock after the first day), Amnesia Haze from Barney's, Mekong Haze from Barney's, Kushage from Dampkring (might not be a haze, though it acts like one), NL5 X Haze from Rokerij...and a few more...all with varying levels of haziness in the smell and flavor...the perfect gear for the vapo...and my personal favorite strain for the most part...
the best looking buds were the Mekong Haze from Barney's...real dark and calyxed...broke up perfectly...and a great taste and high to match...
the stickiest buds were the NL5 X Haze from Rokerij...takes way too long to break up by hand, but makes for a super tasty, super long burning j...but takes a whole gram to make!
the best strain in the vapo was Willie Nelson from Barney's...super excellent looking buds...no real notable smell...not a great strain in a j (our main way to smoke besides the vapo)...but tasted and hit hard from the volcano vapo...we kept buying grams of this stuff just to vapo it...wow...
Best strains in order:
1. G13 Haze from Blue Bird
2. Love Potion #1 from Barney's
3. NYC Diesel from Dampkring
4. tie- all the hazes listed above
other strain notables: Apple Jack II from Homegrown Fantasy was a great overall strain...nice buds/high/taste and the smell is fantastic (but not necessarily apple!)...durban poison from homegrown fantasy was different in a good way...very unusual smell...very ugly-beautiful buds...peculiar taste...nice high...definitely the most unique bud we tried...
the best coffeeshop was easy to pick:
the new Barney's Lounge...what a sweet place...just outside the Rembrandtplein...small...but perfectly perfect...same great gear as the other Barney's, but without the hassles...great staff who arent worried about anything but the buds on the menu...no rush...no attitude...very uncrowded...2 volcano vapos...great music (trancy beats)...what a great place...
a distant second is the Greenhouse Namaste...a nice small satelite to the Greenhouse centrum site...small and cozy like Barney's Lounge...same great menu...and cool atmosphere...if you are allowed to go the turnstyle!
Disappointments:
biggest disappointment as far as coffeeshops go was a HUGE one...the Grey Area...i have championed the Grey Area cause since i first went...i would argue to people all day long that it is the best shop in town...and it was...until this trip...first off...we tried to get in there twice...the first time- there was a dude i have never seen before behind the counter...what was up with that?...i dont want to see anyone but John or Steve working...it just isnt the same!...the second time was too crowded and the line was out the door!...more importantly disappointing: the menu size has been increased...what a tease!...we thought we were gonna be in heaven...all those GA strains and all the time to try em all...so many new varieties too!...but...once you get to see the buds...the disappointment sets in...and never left...the best looking and smelling was the greyberry...but it was unremarkable in both taste and potentcy...grey mist was out of stock...recon was weak...no cantaloupe haze or LA confidential...cherry bomb was lame...J1 was unimpressive...rocklock didnt look good...sharks breath was picked through...etc etc...the only thing we didnt try and probably should have was the grey diesel...but we were pretty un-interested by that point...and amnesia was right around the corner...why waste time?...i will always give the Grey Area a chance...but it lost my vigilent backing...now i will back Barney's Lounge...
other notable coffeeshop disappointments: the attitude of the old guy at coffeeshop Anyday...all i wanted was to know if you had any Grapefruit coming in!!!...A-HOLE!
the biggest disappointments with strains were plentiful...these strains were highly touted but delivered little: Brainstorm from Soft Temple, everything from Grey Area, the Trainwreck strains, Dirty Jack Herer from Pink Floyd, all the other G13 strains that werent the G13 Haze from Blue Bird, the Lavender strains, Willie Nelson from Barney's in a joint, Cherry Bomb from the Nes, Sage and Sour from Blue Bird, White Dolphin from the Dolphin, and more that i hope i dont remember any time soon...ask me if you have a strain you want more info on...
out of stock strain disappointments...there were a bunch of notable strains that we didnt get to check out that were on the list to try...notable missing in action strains were: LA Confidedntial from Grey Area, Contaloupe Haze from Grey Area, HP13 from Barney's, Grapefruit from Anyday, Silver Haze from Dampkring, and G13 Diesel from the Dampkring...to name a few...but the most depressing MIA strains were Cheese from Homegrown Fantasy, and Blue Cheese from Blue Bird...i had every finger crossed that these would be available...maybe next time!
If you have never used the volcano vaporizer, you are missing a great smoking implement...it is a fantastic way to break up the usual joint vs. bong habits...the taste is super concentrated...the high is quick and powerful...and you use less gear to get more hits...ask for a quick lesson if you dont know how...you will be glad you did...
for the joint people- i am always searching for the thinnest papers...i am a Smoking DeLuxe user at home...i tried a few new wraps that were notable...i liked the Smoking Master line...a little too skinny for the kind of baseball bat fatties i roll, but a great paper...i think the DeLuxe is a touch thinner of a paper as well...I was impressed with the Roor wraps...i have a 18'' Roor beaker bong that i use at home, so i was interested in their wraps as they are a quality minded brand...the wrap was made from flax seed...it seemed to stretch a little more then i am used to with the DeLuxes, and tasted great for a thicker paper...i did not like the Rizla Silvers...not as thin as the DeLuxe, and too skinny again for fatties...
let me know if you have any questions!
the report...
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BostonDiesel
- Posts: 35
- Joined: Thu 9th Mar 2006 10:20 pm
the report...
Last edited by BostonDiesel on Tue 21st Mar 2006 06:54 pm, edited 2 times in total.
it is what it is supposed to be...
Great report and really good to see one where the writer really sticks two fingers up at some of the shops and strains.
It's a shame that the Cherry Bomb wasn't so good at either Grey Area or Nes, as I had been looking forward to checking that one out.
The Grey Area shop itself does look a little to small to be a place where you could hang out. Definitely a grab and go place. I have never been there before and probably now won't make it on this coming trip either.
You've got plenty of alternatives down there though and it's also good that you get right to the point with the whats and the wheres.
That G13 Haze you talk about is certainly very tempting indeed and Bluebird is well within walking distance from my hotel and easy to reach as well (basically straight road on the map)
I give your report 10 out ot 10.
It's a shame that the Cherry Bomb wasn't so good at either Grey Area or Nes, as I had been looking forward to checking that one out.
The Grey Area shop itself does look a little to small to be a place where you could hang out. Definitely a grab and go place. I have never been there before and probably now won't make it on this coming trip either.
You've got plenty of alternatives down there though and it's also good that you get right to the point with the whats and the wheres.
That G13 Haze you talk about is certainly very tempting indeed and Bluebird is well within walking distance from my hotel and easy to reach as well (basically straight road on the map)
I give your report 10 out ot 10.
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BostonDiesel
- Posts: 35
- Joined: Thu 9th Mar 2006 10:20 pm
how kind of you!
yeah, the Grey Area was a sad moment...even though it is small, it was always worth going to...especially if you can hang out at one of the 2 tables...cause like you said, it is mostly a grab and go kind of a place...so it is great to people watch there...but the quality just wasnt there this time...and Barney's was...man...i was never a big barney's guy before...i liked it...Sweet Tooth was my first and forever favorite of all my trips...but it wasnt my favorite shop...but with the new Barney's Lounge, it is perfected...and the menu quality was unbeatable for both smoke and hash...
i had high hopes for the Cherry Bomb too...not worth any of the hype at all...it may have smelled a little like cherries...and that is being gracious...and the rest: taste, potentcy, bud style were all unremarkable...it maybe worth a try- different strokes for different folks...but i wouldnt launch into a 3 gram or 5 gram bag of it...
yeah, the Grey Area was a sad moment...even though it is small, it was always worth going to...especially if you can hang out at one of the 2 tables...cause like you said, it is mostly a grab and go kind of a place...so it is great to people watch there...but the quality just wasnt there this time...and Barney's was...man...i was never a big barney's guy before...i liked it...Sweet Tooth was my first and forever favorite of all my trips...but it wasnt my favorite shop...but with the new Barney's Lounge, it is perfected...and the menu quality was unbeatable for both smoke and hash...
i had high hopes for the Cherry Bomb too...not worth any of the hype at all...it may have smelled a little like cherries...and that is being gracious...and the rest: taste, potentcy, bud style were all unremarkable...it maybe worth a try- different strokes for different folks...but i wouldnt launch into a 3 gram or 5 gram bag of it...
it is what it is supposed to be...
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lctricity
- Posts: 234
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- Location: Over The Hills & Far Away...
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Great reporting! Nothing like gettin' to the point.BostonDiesel wrote:but with the new Barney's Lounge, it is perfected...and the menu quality was unbeatable for both smoke and hash...
You've seriously peaked my interest with mention of the new Barney's in Rembrandtplein.
Where exactly is this new place located?
Sucks Grey Area was a letdown, not to mention no Blue Cheese from Bluebird.
Think I'll go to Nes (it's very close to my hotel) and go for a gram of the Cherry Bomb at first then I can always get more if it does the job.BostonDiesel wrote:...it maybe worth a try- different strokes for different folks...but i wouldnt launch into a 3 gram or 5 gram bag of it...
Also very tempted by the Caramella Cream and the Barney Rubble from Barneys but would probably prefer to use the original shop near Pink Floyd (just a grab and go).
It would be great if I could get some quality hash AND weed like yourself.
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BostonDiesel
- Posts: 35
- Joined: Thu 9th Mar 2006 10:20 pm
ictricity- if you walk to rembrandtplein from Dam so that way the statues from rembrandt's night watch painting are facing you, go all the way to the back and head down the street to the left...or take a left after you pass Smokey's coffeeshop...it is on the left...you will pass over one street before getting to the block it is on...what a sweet place!...and there is an orange tabby cat that loves attention there...nice little place...
yeah, the non cheese action at both the Bluebird and Homegrown Fantasy was a let down...maybe next time.
Doog- both barney's are the same as far as the menu goes...if one shop has it, the other will too...for the most part...
It sounds as if you are staying near Dam square...if you face the dam monument and take the street to the right that heads in the direction you are facing (damstraat) and follow that straight out til the end, take a right and the BlueBird is on the left (regarding your earlier message about the G13 Haze)...definitely get soem of the NY Diesel at the Nes when you are there...as far as getting both hash and smoke, do what you can...but i would definitely stick with the smoke if i had to choose...and asking the budtender for their opinions is always a good bet...
yeah, the non cheese action at both the Bluebird and Homegrown Fantasy was a let down...maybe next time.
Doog- both barney's are the same as far as the menu goes...if one shop has it, the other will too...for the most part...
It sounds as if you are staying near Dam square...if you face the dam monument and take the street to the right that heads in the direction you are facing (damstraat) and follow that straight out til the end, take a right and the BlueBird is on the left (regarding your earlier message about the G13 Haze)...definitely get soem of the NY Diesel at the Nes when you are there...as far as getting both hash and smoke, do what you can...but i would definitely stick with the smoke if i had to choose...and asking the budtender for their opinions is always a good bet...
it is what it is supposed to be...
BD I will certainly be taking your recommendations on board. I'm more used to smoking hash and I guess that's why I'd like a mix of the two.
My hotel (Rokin) is right on Dam Square and right in the middle of a construction site as well at the moment.
I'm gonna need the good stuff to get myself through.
My hotel (Rokin) is right on Dam Square and right in the middle of a construction site as well at the moment.
I'm gonna need the good stuff to get myself through.
Great report BostonDiesel and glad you had a great time.
Doog - I understand how BostonDiesel could be disappointed with the Cherry Bomb from Nes. I bought a gram about a week ago and my sample was not dry enough for a pure joint. I rolled a small American type pure joint and could not keep it lighted. I was disappointed that I could not catch a buzz because I could not draw on it. I brought the gear back to my hotel room and let it sit exposed to the room's heated air for a couple of hours then rolled it up into two Dutch style joints with tobacco. From this I was pounded stoned. I was stoned for the rest of the night into mid-day the following. Also, I'd expect the Cherry Bomb would smoke well in a pipe or bong.
Doog - I understand how BostonDiesel could be disappointed with the Cherry Bomb from Nes. I bought a gram about a week ago and my sample was not dry enough for a pure joint. I rolled a small American type pure joint and could not keep it lighted. I was disappointed that I could not catch a buzz because I could not draw on it. I brought the gear back to my hotel room and let it sit exposed to the room's heated air for a couple of hours then rolled it up into two Dutch style joints with tobacco. From this I was pounded stoned. I was stoned for the rest of the night into mid-day the following. Also, I'd expect the Cherry Bomb would smoke well in a pipe or bong.
My thoughts are free.
hmmm Can't say as I've had any problems or complaints about the cherry bomb before, until now. But in the interests of research I'll cruise down to the shop and smoke a couple of grams of it to see.
One thing I will say though is...If anybody ever buys weed from me and it doesn't do to them virtually what I say it's going to do to them, tell me and I'll exchange it, refund it or I'll pay for the weed myself. Mainly because I know the care and attention that is put into selecting and aquiring our product and if something was put on our list that staff felt wasn't 'up to scratch' we simply wouldn't sell it. We aren't on any bonus scheme, whatever sells, we still get paid, but what we take pride in is the amount of 'word of mouth' and 'return' custom we have. Bullshit customers or sell shit weed and this would be non existant.
Anyway, sorry the cheery bomb was a let down to you Boston and while it is different strokes for different folks. I guarantee the next time you're in town if you come to the Nes while I'm on shift you wont even remember being there, let alone what weed ya smoked!.
One thing I will say though is...If anybody ever buys weed from me and it doesn't do to them virtually what I say it's going to do to them, tell me and I'll exchange it, refund it or I'll pay for the weed myself. Mainly because I know the care and attention that is put into selecting and aquiring our product and if something was put on our list that staff felt wasn't 'up to scratch' we simply wouldn't sell it. We aren't on any bonus scheme, whatever sells, we still get paid, but what we take pride in is the amount of 'word of mouth' and 'return' custom we have. Bullshit customers or sell shit weed and this would be non existant.
Anyway, sorry the cheery bomb was a let down to you Boston and while it is different strokes for different folks. I guarantee the next time you're in town if you come to the Nes while I'm on shift you wont even remember being there, let alone what weed ya smoked!.
This statement is why imo the Nes is the best coffeeshop in Amsterdam.DC wrote:One thing I will say though is...If anybody ever buys weed from me and it doesn't do to them virtually what I say it's going to do to them, tell me and I'll exchange it, refund it or I'll pay for the weed myself.
DC looks like I'll be back in town in May and I can guarentee that the Nes will be my local during my stay!!
Being pedantic and knobbish since 1972
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BostonDiesel
- Posts: 35
- Joined: Thu 9th Mar 2006 10:20 pm
thank you guys fopr the kind comments.
DC- I was disappointed in the cherry bomb, for sure...but...i confess that my standards (and expectations) are probably too high...so i wouldnt assume most would agree with me...on that note, though...my recommendation of your NY Diesel strain should come with that much more weight...that was a fine fine version of the strain...the only reason i had the dampkring version as my choice above yours was the ability to choose your own buds...to me, that is a big bonus...i have found that there are normal tendancies for the same plant to yield different outcomes in different areas of the plant...the cola isnt always the best of the plant...so size isnt always an indicator of anything...but look, feel, smell, calyx clusteration and trichrome distribution are...and the only way to find that special nugget of love is to be able to look at the selection on the whole and see what sticks out and such...but with the size of the Nes and its busy-ness factor, i understand why that kind of setup is counter-productive...your offer and guaruntee is much appreciated, though i take being disappointed as part of the territory and is my own consequence to deal with...but your professionalism does not go unnoticed...it is rare to see someone care to that extent about the reponse to their gear...kudos and thank you.
DC- I was disappointed in the cherry bomb, for sure...but...i confess that my standards (and expectations) are probably too high...so i wouldnt assume most would agree with me...on that note, though...my recommendation of your NY Diesel strain should come with that much more weight...that was a fine fine version of the strain...the only reason i had the dampkring version as my choice above yours was the ability to choose your own buds...to me, that is a big bonus...i have found that there are normal tendancies for the same plant to yield different outcomes in different areas of the plant...the cola isnt always the best of the plant...so size isnt always an indicator of anything...but look, feel, smell, calyx clusteration and trichrome distribution are...and the only way to find that special nugget of love is to be able to look at the selection on the whole and see what sticks out and such...but with the size of the Nes and its busy-ness factor, i understand why that kind of setup is counter-productive...your offer and guaruntee is much appreciated, though i take being disappointed as part of the territory and is my own consequence to deal with...but your professionalism does not go unnoticed...it is rare to see someone care to that extent about the reponse to their gear...kudos and thank you.
it is what it is supposed to be...
