New Beer Sunday (week 531)

Double like. As long as the new beer is discussed, I more than welcome pics, videos, and personal stories the better. Smaller group here. That is a big part of what I like about this virtual bottle share. I wonder though. How does it impact this thread so drastically when WBAYDN has 8 times as many posts? Just curious. Anyway, NBS is one of my favorite aspects of this site. However, if pics and songs are out, I may be too. I know its about the beer first, but it becomes less personal and too pretentious to me.

 

Never thought I'd see a black Gose, but there it is.

 

Same, but Siren and Stillwater did a good job!!! I really didn't thing it would be good.

 

Good evening NBS. My second entry here and true to my first I am trying a new (to me) offering from Lagunitas. I have seen this beer around a lot recently and my interest was piqued. Lagunitas were kind enough to donate beer to my wife's roller derby league last night for their home opener so I am feeling generous towards them right now. Nonetheless, I shall remain impartial overall

**As an aside, on another cat related note I sent mine back to my in laws in Michigan for a few weeks so that my wife and I can go on a trip to my home country England. A bittersweet day as that little mog is a child replacement for us pretty much. She loves going to Grand Rapids to enjoy the tranquility and the many squirrels and birds**

Onto the Equinox......I love the sturdy head and the copper/caramel pour here. The beer looks great and has an inviting citrus nose to go along with that. From the first sip, the creaminess of the body seems to be the prevalent feel here. A smooth sipper, and in many ways reminds me of a lot of English style bitters, with an interesting hop profile that veers between the floral and herbal whilst playing off against the heavy malt presence. I would agree with others here that there is an almost minty aftertaste, which makes this a unique tasting beer, especially as I am feeling some satsuma in there that seems to be reined in. A complex and enjoyable brew.

 

As a big fan of Brett beers, I've been wanting to try Crooked Stave for a long time. The price point has always held me back, but I decided to go for it this weekend. Picked up a St. Bretta Winter Edition. The price was hard to swallow, but the beer wasn't!
http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/25191/111646/?ba=CASK1

 

Enjoying this bad boy thanks to the generosity of @Ncpogs bringing it to me at DLD


This is really good! It's a RIS but tastes sweeter almost like a milk stout. So many different layers of flavor coming through, definitely get your hands on this if you can

 

Well you could consider doing what I've just done, which is assemble the music, post it in the other thread as we've been asked to do and then link back there from here. Then we'd still be able to easily connect your thinking about the music with your choices and comments. Who knows, we might even find that its an opportunity to create a whole new set of ties and humor. :-)

 

What's happening NBS? Spent most of the day doing yard man stuff and then took the little lady out for a bite to eat. Sunny and nice day but still a tad cool for spring.

My new beer today is Rye 95 from Two Roads brewery. Described on the bottle as a "rye tripel blonde ale" with a bottle date of 2/24/15. A style of beer that I'm not very keen on but I gabbed a single to try it out.

The pour is a golden amber with clean clarity. The nose reeks of Belgian yeast. Pungent and a bit off putting. Initial sip lands a big blast of Belgian yeast right to the palate. I get lots of that weird banana taste. Clean and smooth finish with mild sweetness and a slight hoppy burn. I really don't get much rye at all. More subtle flavors come out as it warms or my palate has simply finished adjusting to the yeast. Notes of dried fruits, plums, and grapes begin to come on.

Overall the brew seems decently done but its just not for me. I didn't even finish the whole bottle. I'm in the low 3's and probably lower on the taste and smell but its a bit subjective given that I simply don't enjoy the style.

 

Anyway, drtth, I'm a basic fool on the computer. I would love to bounce around and nimbly execute electronically between threads, but I'm challenged. I've learned a lot, but I'm working on cutting and pasting, and knowing what the icons mean. Other than that I have a fine grip on a weird brand of Beer Telepathy. Damn!

 

Tonight's choice:


Westbrook - Shane's Big DIPA

This one was sent to me by @Damian74Shensky for a LIF win in the current NHL playoffs BIF, thanks Damian!

Real nice, smooth DIPA here. Everything I've had from Westbrook has been excellent, can't wait to try some more!

Cheers!

 

Time enough for one more new beer tonight. This one thanks to @egrace84.

No bells and whistles but this is a very well crafted Russian Imperial Stout. Lots of rich roasted malts with just a hint of coffee, chocolate, and vanilla. It reminds me quite a bit of Ten Fidy, but maybe slightly less acidic.



http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/6045/7524/?ba=richj1970

 

I have walked past the Stochasticity series since it started for no real reason. Maybe because the descriptions always seemed to be tempered by the reviews. I decided to give this one a try.

Easy enough to see an absolutely beautiful hue. But after that, it was all show and no go. The special ingredients did not compliment the style, just overpowered it. Tried too hard.

 

Glad you enjoyed it, it's one of my personal favs.

 

Just had this in a can from the Tour Bus package. I feel the same way. However I will say I had one not long ago that I had saved from last year and it for sure had mellowed and tasted better than the fresh. Ifvtha means anything..,

 

MINNESOTA SPECIAL BITTER, Badger Hill Brewing Company

look: 3.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75

I have been curious about this beer for a while, but didn't pick it up until today, when, at Bottle King, this six-pack was on "Super Sale" for $5. The 12 oz. bottle poured a hazy golden orange/brown, with a finger or two of head into an English pint glass with lacing up and down the side of the glass. Smells like a biscuit with some apricot jam and maybe some burnt marshmallow skin ground into soil and leaves. There's nothing sharp about it, very welcoming. I am really impressed with the smell. The taste is a little underwhelming at first. There's a smoothness about it and the malt, which really made the smell great, seems a bit muted, but the bitter finish shines nicely. The mouthfeel is very impressive. Sharp carbonation turns frothy before swallowing and tingles for a while thereafter. Nice body. A good find. I may have to pick up more of these. Most certainly more than worth the sale price.

 

My first Doppel Kolsch, plus it's in Vegas celebrating my 25th Anniversary with Mrs. O! Knowing full well that I outkicked my coverage, I humbly submit this review to my fellow BA's.



4/5 rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Look: beautiful golden hues, 2 fingers of white head.

Smell: grassy goodness with some lemon notes.

Taste: Kolsch squared - I get grains and grassy flavors, and that lemony flavor I love in every Kolsch I've tried.

Feel: nicely carbed, very crisp, yet very full-bodied for a Kolsch.

Overall: I'm a fan of Kolsch's, so a Doppel Kolsch is twice as nice. Reading the reviews here, apparently I'm swimming upstream, but I think 3F's and Sun King nailed this, at least to the style. Well done.

 

Well I guess if you only quote THAT part it does sound fairly Sodom & Gomorrah (sic).

 

Is that a jar of hops or pot in the background lol