New Beer Sunday (week 512)

Actually love this idea, was just on the BIF thread the other day browsing and didn't get quite how it worked. The fact that the goal on this thread is new beers, and that someone (@beertunes) is going to take the effort to help make that easier sounds absolutely awesome. I am in the apprehensive crowd on mailing beer, but am definitely interested in this project, even though I only post to NBS maybe once a month (usually can't wait until Sunday). I have my mouse hovering over the "Like" on the initial post but can't pull the trigger. I see a bunch of likes already, so not sure if you are reaching your pre-determined limit or not.

 

Rajah in cans would be insane. I also would like to see them keep going with a "Red Rajah" Imperial Red

 

I wouldn't mind seeing that at all!

 

No need to worry there. I sampled 5 myself just to be sure . Besides, all my old beer is going to @creepinjeeper
The nerve of that guy, dumping his 2013 Central Waters Bourbon Stout on me. Some people...

 

Enjoyed this beer with my dad last night thinking it's a nicely well balanced beer overall (maybe a tad on the sweet end, which is better for my dad) after having it on tap and thoroughly enjoying it. I liked it better on tap, but my dad and I enjoyed the bottle as well, he realizing right away it was something he'd not had before (even the style). Think your description there is pretty spot on.

 

Greetings All:

Hanging out on this New Beer Sunday watching the Seahawks get over on the 49ers. he road back to the Superbowl gets clearer every week.

Today it is Goatmeal Stout from Iron Goat Brewing in Spokane. Not really a new one for me, but I did fill a Tap-A-Draft jug on Friday and this is my first chance to rate/review.
http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/29334/84615/?ba=RJLarse

I think this is best stout among those brewed in Spokane. And a very seasonal selection in my Holiday stein.

Until next time,

Happy Trails!

 

Go click that button!

 

New Special Beer Sunday coming up-

I saw this on the shelf before I even knew it existed- when I saw it was a smoked bourbon barrel Scotch Ale I had no choice but to give it a try. Victory Earth and Flame, collaboration beer with Tom Baker (formerly of Heavyweight Brewing Co.)

I've been smelling it for about 5 minutes now, and it's just outstanding. Everything it so well knit together, too, that it makes no sense breaking it all down; I'll just post my overall impression, which is that of a date nut cake covered with a bourbon caramel sauce. So rich, so decadent. The smoke is subtle, but does serve a function which seems to be to add an underlying phenolic complexity to keep everything else in check.

First sip coming up...nutty and fruity to start, bourbon mid palate, then vanilla into toasted nuts on the finish. Again, there is a lingering phenolic element woven through it all, kind of hazy but present- if I didn't know it was smoked malt I probably wouldn't pick it up right away. I really like how it's malty sweet on the palate, but finishes drier than you'd expect. Mouthfeel is moderately full, and bitterness is just where you'd notice and nothing more. Alcohol makes presence known only as a gentle warming sensation. Power and finesse, a tricky balancing act pulled off with aplomb- tremendous job. Solid A (4.53), highly recommended.

 

Now time for something from Sam Adams, Winter Lager.
3.74/5 rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

12 oz bottle poured into a pint glass

A- A clear light brown/reddish color with a two finger off white head.

S- Toasted malts, hint of some hops, not really getting cinnamon, ginger or orange peels, but it does a nice spice quality to it.

T- Toasted wheat/malts, hints of sweet malts, mild spices, hints of the ginger and cinnamon.

M- Smooth, medium body.

O- Not a bad winter beer, but didn't wow me. I am enjoying it and wouldn't pass it if it was offered to me, but I would buy it at a store.

Cheers!

 

And continuing my local New Beer Sunday with some Buckeye Lake Brewing Vanilla Porter: http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/28290/149895/?ba=bluejacket74






I thought this was good, it's a straight forward vanilla porter with vanilla, milk chocolate and roasted malt flavors. Buckeye Lake is a local brewery that's been cranking out their bottled beer selections lately, I know there's some of their brews I need to catch up on trying! This will be my last new beer for today, can't wait to see what everyone else is drinking. Have a good night everyone!

 

Yes, sir! (done)

So onto the business at hand. I had to cheat a little this week, because my girlfriend is out of town, and I am not allowed to drink any new beers without her (almost all of those we have are bombers, so it makes it easier for me to abide). Had a couple of my homebrews that I overproduced (demand for them was less than expected ) to reduce inventory for storage of the next batch.

I did notice that I had never actually reviewed Nomader Weiss by Evil Twin (which I did have new 2 weeks ago). So, this is officially New Beer-review Sunday for me (note, perhaps improper glassware used here, but I haven't cleaned the other glasses as she's not due back until later in the week):



I'll write up the official later, but I think this beer is a decent, solid Berliner Weissbier that hits on almost all of the components listed in the BA style guide. Maybe a tad more lemony nose and a bit more sour milk taste, but there's also an earthiness in the middle taste to me. Carbonation missing from sight does tickle the tongue a little throughout. This is maybe a B+, wouldn't be a bad staple if it weren't Evil Twin expensive.

 

The last of my "early" batch today, I'll be off after football is over to see if there are any new treats at a couple locals. It's a very nice Winter Ale from Hood River, and put me in the mind of a bolder, brighter celebration, but not as smooth: http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/16094/46416/

So, my buddy JByrd played a gig last night that was taped, and hopefully made into a full length release. Johnny Waken ( http://wakenarchery.com/ ) plays Mando on this tune, and is damn fine guitar picker as well:

 

Happy Naked Day!

 

I had a sixer from The Party Source the last time I visited Northern KY. It's not a bad brew. Just not breaking new territory.

 

Hey NBSers,

A rare Sunday off means I get to post earlier than usual. Blue skies and crisp mornings are some of my favorite things about this place, and I was treated to both today. Banged my knuckles on the car for a while changing brake pads and was well ready for a beer. Mechanics drink farmhouse beers, right?

Petit Desay by de Garde Brewing of Tillamook, OR



This brewery is a gem of Oregon. The brewer travelled up and down the Oregon coast to find his favorite airborne yeast/bacteria for his open fermentation beers. His Berliner Weisses are the show stealers but everything I've had has been great to excellent. Till now, they have been hard to come by and rarely distributed. This last release was the first fruits of added capacity a while back, which meant Oregon got to see decent quantities and significantly reduced prices. Yay all around!

Petit Desay pours a shimmery pink gold with minimal head and lazy carbonation. The aroma is... tart and farmhouse-ish? I've spent some time avoiding saisons/farmhouse beers after a few estery examples, so my vocabulary for these smells and flavors is rudimentary. The taste is pleasant and not wince-inducingly sour, but a good presence. No particular herbal or fruity notes to note. Some people have been disappointed with the lower carbonation of this batch vs. previous de Garde beers, but I don't find it detracts from the mouthfeel or unbalances the beer at all. I drink kombucha regularly (it's almost mandatory if you live within the Bend city limits), and found some close reference points.

Overall, I found this beer enjoyable even if I can't really explain why. I chose this because I trusted the brewery and their description of "tart" led me to believe it wouldn't be too estery, which was exactly what I wanted. I'm encouraged to try and develop my vocabulary around this style of beer, and the price point ($5ish/22oz) makes it easy to do so. 4/5.

 

Busy day trying to wrap up some Christmas shopping, and other chores around the house. Finally getting a chance to enjoy a new beer courtesy of @SanFranJake.

I've wanted to try The Abyss for a while, and tonight is the night. This one is 2013 vintage. Certainly living up to the name, it is probably the darkest stout I have ever seen. Fantastic head retention and lacing which is sometimes rare for barrel aged beers. Flavor and aroma wise, it hits on all of the cylinders that I enjoy. Lots of deep roasted malts and coffee notes. Molasses, vanilla, and chocolate sweetness. Heavy oak influence.

I'm a little surprised to be on the -rDev side on this one, but it is still a fantastic beer.

Looking forward to trying my 2014 bottle down the road... Thanks again, Jake.







http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/63/34420/?ba=richj1970

 

I want some Bendlandia Kombucha Farmhouse Baguette Ale!

 

Pregaming the Eagles game with a couple of friends. This is my new one for the day. Nice little....lol little .....beer. Does not seem like a 10% beer. Lagunitas does know what they are doing.