Samba Haze
NOVO Brazil Brewing Co.

While we see some sparks of noteworthiness, Samba Haze doesn't pack enough punch or complexity for us in any category, but for some its crushability makes it worthwhile alone.

 

 

Like double D’s on a stripper, this one is pretty standard. Light yellow color, yeasty tropical fruit on the palate with a soft mouthfeel... It’s not big and robust like Nicholas Ray directing a scene, but it’s standard and ok for what it is.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Picked a can of this up at Berkeley Bowl on April 14, 2018 after the IPA festival & saison day. Was nice to get a single of it, seen 4 packs in Fallon, NV, but couldn't make the plunge having heard literally nothing about this brewery. Pours a hazy yellow, fine 1/5" white head. Aroma popped for Mosaic. Had that tropical fruit humid dankness to it.

Taste was a smooth one, all those flaked oats and/or wheat give it a lower bitterness and the abv is lower than a lot of pale ales even. Simcoe does give it a decent bitter edge to where its not all suppressed until it gets in your stomach. Couldn't tell what if anything the Wakatu hop was bringing to the dance. Continues with the tropical fruit notes all the way through.

Its pretty much what you expect from canned haze beers. Matches creaminess with Simcoe bitterness.

Type: 16-oz. can
Glass: Beer Nerd 12-oz. tulip
From: Windmill Farms in Del Cerro (San Diego), Calif.
Price: $4.29
Purchased: April 27, 2018
Consumed: April 27, 2018
Reviewed as: New England IPA
Misc.: Canned on March 24, 2018; Can read 6.6 pct. ABV (not 5.6 pct. like on Beer Advocate)

Picked this up with five others at Windmill Farms. Generally a big fan of NOVO Brazil. Was a bit concerned with the March 24 canned on date, but wanted to try it that bad. Can description read, “This hoppy allegory is laid on a smooth and clean malt base, with heaps of wheat and oats. A 2 stepped whirlpool, set the playful rhythm for the dank and tropical dry hop parade of Mosaic, Simcoe and Wakatu hops. This is pure crushable hoppy goodness! Do the Samba!” Mosaic and Simcoe had me wanting to get it. Have only had a few beers with Wakatu though.

Poured a straw, hazy color with 2-to-3 fingers of frothy off-white head. Could see some slow moving bubbles creeping up along the sides of the glass. Outstanding uneven spotty lacing. Good retention. (Sight - 3.75)

Smelled Simcoe and dank Mosaic right away. Also pine, dank resin, papaya, guava, pineapple, mango, floral, blueberry, purple grape, lime and herbal. As always even better from the can with mango, guava and papaya leading the way. (Smell - 4.25)

Taste wasn’t quite as good as the nose, but still solid overall. Got Mosaic and Simcoe first up front. Also papaya, dank resin, pineapple, guava, mango, purple grape, blueberry, tangerine rind, lingering peppery spice, lime and herbal. Tasted boozier than 6.6 pct. (Taste - 4.00)

Medium body. Oily-to-creamy texture. Lively carbonation. Abrupt, dry finish. (Feel - 3.75)

Really liked this one, but would be pretty hard to mess up with Mosaic and Simcoe in it. (Overall - 4.00)

4.02 | 90 | A-

Good hazy not the best but solid.

 

 

 

Can from Folsom Wine Shop Feb 2018

The beer pours out a hazy light golden yellow color, with 1 finger of off white head------------- the aromas are of over ripe tropical fruit, guava, Mellon, zesty orange and basil--------------- the flavors are of Bread dough, orange cream sickle, grapefruit, grapefruit zest and a light astringincy, the beer has a creamy full mouthfeel with a overly bitter finish----------------- overall this beer was delicious, the only negative thing I can say is it's a little to bitter for the style but overall it's very good-

 

Canned date 01/25/18

Appearance - Pours hazy and faded orange in color, with an off-white, half finger's width head. Sub-par retention results in a thin, broken layer of suds and a thin ring around the edge of the glass.

Smell - Moderate aroma that is quite tropical; mango, pineapple, lesser orange, guava and a bit of passionfruit.

Taste - Follows the nose. Mild tropical juiciness. Mango, pineapple and guava with a bit of orange and grapefruit rind as the flavors develop mid-taste. Sweet white bread malt undertone. The finish lingers with some yeastiness and the tropical flavors it opens up with.

Mouthfeel - Light-to-medium in body with moderate carbonation. Slick, easy drinker with a finish that's slightly dry and chalky from the yeast.

Overall - A nicely layered brew, but I do wish the flavors were a bit more pronounced.

Slightly hazy amber color with plenty of foam in the Affligem chalice. Light body. Aroma of flowery sawdust. It's a little herbal but mellow sort of IPA. Some citrusy sweetness. A little taste of guava juice.

Not really bitter, but there's a hint of astringency in the finish. It's light and drinkable, so maybe it's the tropical idea of haze. From the 16 oz can purchased at Barons Market.

 

 

look is somewhat hazy. dark yellowish haze.
smell is juicy mangos.
taste is juicy but lacking a finish. starts off full of fruity flavor and the fades quickly.
overall, bosa haze is much better than this.

Hazy orange-gold pour with a white head and lots of evervescence Big juicy tropical fruit aroma. Taste follows the nose with a tropical fruit flavor (mango stands out initially) that isn’t overly bitter. A good bit of orange flavor also develops and lingers in the aftertaste. Light to medium bodied.