New Beer Sunday (week 554)

A second submission to my NBS brethren, a nice DIPA from a new brewer to me.



3.84/5 rDev +30.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Look: golden amber, no head.

Smell: lots of caramel malt, little hop presence.

Taste: the hops finally appear, and they're excellent - citrus and pine, and the caramel malt is a nice balance.

Feel: a little slick, but not too much. Well carbed.

Overall: first beer from these guys, I like this, apparently a lot more than most other folks. The caramels malt is really nice.

 

New Fresh Hop IPA Sunday

Hey NBSers,

I've never had this beer before, except I have.

Each year in the Northwest, the hop harvest brings a slew of fresh hop beers, and they are my favorite "style." The raw cones need to be used immediately before they spoil, and they contain flavors which disappear during the drying process. They're extremely volatile and perishable, but when they're on, they are sublime. Each vintage is reflective of that year's hop crop, so even if the brewer follows the same recipe year after year, the beers will fluctuate.

Owner/ Brewmaster Matt Swihart is an OG Full Sail brewer, and Killer Green has been a staple fresh hop beer for years. It doesn't rely on fancy new hop variety (it uses fresh Sterlings), but rather takes a restrained, more European approach to a hop-forward beer.

Killer Green by Double Mountain Brewery of Hood River, Oregon



This beer pours an orangish-amber color with an active white head, leaving minimal spotty lacing. Aroma is herbal, earthy hops with a hint of that "fresh hop" aroma (non-vegetal greenness and a little sweet is the closest I can come to describing it, but that doesn't really cover it). The first sip confirms that only a fleeting sweetness lies beneath an herbal, resiny forest floor. The 7.6% goes relatively unnoticed, and the finish is dry but with minimal hop bite. I tend to prefer juicy, bright hop profiles, and this is not that, but I have to respect their understated approach. I don't love this beer, but each year I have to try it again because it's a reminder that fresh hops aren't solely about cranking everything to 11. The delicate fringes of the hop flavors that are only found in fresh hops can be showcased without being a fruit bomb. 3.5/5

 

Back with another one tonight. Oskar Blues - Hoptub Bath Machine.

This is brewed by Oskar Blues in the North Carolina facility but was a collaboration with several of the local breweries from my neck of the woods. Fairly light aroma and flavors, lemon and pear, mixed strangely with a peppery spice. Overall a decent pale ale that would be a nice addition to an outdoor barbecue.

As a side note, digging the stamp on the bottom of the can...

Cheers, and hope there is a nice new one in your glass tonight.



http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/2681/192638/?ba=richj1970

 

Seems to be a tricky proposition. Won't stop me from trying though!

 

For my second NBS entry this week I'll go to the other end of the spectrum. The first was a beer everyone has heard of at the very least in one of the most popular styles. The second beer is in a style that I am completely unfamilar with..Roggenbier. This is a German rye ale.



Roggen

Apostelbräu
Roggenbier / 5.30% ABV

3.83/5 rDev +4.9% | Avg: 3.65
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

L-Deep turbid dark caramel color. Thick ring of bubbles, but with no lacing.
S- Dark fruits with a touch of caramel sweetness.
T-There are some similarities with a dopplebock in terms of dark fruit. One difference is instead of alchohol sweetness, you get a bit of sour from the rye I believe.
F-lightly carbonated, thinner in mouthfeel than a doppelbock.
O- An interesting beer. I can't help but think I'd like it better if the dark fruit didn't keep leading me to anticipate doppelbock flavor. I believe this is a good representation of one of the rarer styles.

 

New Beer Sunday: A New Tripel for a Tipple.

Evenin NBSers, with a special Tip of a Topper to all you Tipplers looking for new Tripels to Taste.

Some really interesting looking beers being described in this thread today. (This weekly thread may well be the single best source on the whole site of ideas for new beers to seek out because of the comments you folks provide.)

While we've not had the drenching here that folks further south and further east (where there has been a lot of coastal flooding) have had to contend with, the weather here has been either wet and chilly or chilly and wet for several days now. I think this afternoon while grocery shopping and this evening when I took the wife out to dinner are the first times we've seen the sun for several days.

Naturally this last several days has been a time for lots of indoor chores and for exercising a couple of different fountain pens writing notes to friends. (While email is quicker and easier, a hand written note is more fun to write using a nice fountain pen and is a much more personal way to communicate. As a friend of mine once pointed out, "The only thing Ball Point Pens are good for is filling out customs forms on the airplane before landing.")

This evening's new beer is the Straffe Hendrik Bruges Tripel. This will be followed in a week or two by the 2015 Wild version which seems to be the same recipe but they ferment with Brett. That lets me have tried this one and then see what the effects of the other yeast seem to be. Once I've had both beers I expect I'll invite a friend over to do a side-by-side tasting of the two. Such direct comparisons can be very helpful.

(I'd originally planned on doing the Boulevard Hibiscus Goze this evening but somehow it didn't seem to fit the weather to be having a Goze in the cold. Hopefully by next week we'll be having a warmer, sunnier spell to lead up to Sunday evening.)

As usual my review (subject to revision until I finish the beer) is in progress here:

http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/268/47909/?ba=drtth

Basically, while this is not the best tripel I've ever had (I don't expect that there is one out there better than La Fin du Monde or the Westmalle) it is quite good with lots of the things we all enjoy in a good Tripel Tippel. There's some spicy notes, a bit of orchard fruit, a lot of Belgian yeast character and the finish leaves a touch of dry bitterness at the end.

Cheers, all!

 

Just picked up a Weyerbacher cuvee glass a couple of weeks ago and I'm loving it. My other glasses haven't seen much beer in them since then.

 

One more tonight... A blood orange IPA from Monday Night out of Atlanta.

Their other IPA's are a bit hit and miss for me, but the blood oranges add a nice citrus punch and subtle sweetness that makes this a really nice beer.



http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/26516/183047/?ba=richj1970

 

New Pumpkin Ale

It was a much cooler weekend in West MI. Skies were overcast and temps in the low 60s.

After early morning grocery shopping, I watched some quality BPL soccer, brought a meal to a friend who could use one less worry today, got some paperwork done, took a quick run, and spent some time with the family.

Today's offering was a good way to start winding down for the night.

http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/19163/55835/?ba=GRPunk

Liberty Street Punkin' Pie
12 oz. bottle (dated 09/15/15) $1.99 from Copper Vine. Poured into Duvel tulip.

A- A normal pour creates 1-finger of off-white head that drops quickly to a light lace. The body is a clean, bright copper that almost looks a little thin at first. Moderate-heavy carbonation rushes from the nucleation site to the surface. Very light lace left on the glass.

S- That's the most "pie-like" aroma I can remember from the style. There's the usual ginger, cinnamon, and clove, but there's also something of a graham cracker and brown sugar pie crust that doesn't take a back seat to any other component of the aroma.

T- Much as the aroma suggests. There's sweet, savory, and spicy flavors playing off one another. I get brown sugar or caramel, cinnamon and ginger, and a little clove. Rich and flavorful. It finishes rather clean and dry.

M- Medium body (I was worried it would be thin considering the appearance). Moderate carbonation coupled with baking spices give a little bite. Dry finish.

O- A really solid pumpkin ale. It's really flavorful and the sweetness does a lot to keep the pie spices in check. Probably one or two in a sitting. I'd buy a sixer of it for the fall. Would be a good fire pit, after dinner, nightcap tipple.

A- 3.5 S-4.25 T-3.75 M-3.5 O-3.75

 

Now up Penrose Wild IX thanks to @bstyle!
4.07/5 rDev +2.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Big thanks to bstyle for this one!
375 ml bottle, dated April 2015, poured into a flute

A hazy golden straw color with a lager white head.

S- Barnyard funk, floral notes, slightly spicey, slight herbal tea quality, some citrusy hops.

T- Musty barnyard funk, hint of tart lemons, floral, faint citrus, just enough maltiness.

M- Smooth, crisp, light to medium body.

O- More of a dry hopped tart saison than a sour, but still good stuff, funk is great.

If could have taken the funk from this and put it into the last sour I had it would be amazing, cheers!

 

Good evening NBS, hope everyone is enjoying the end of the weekend once again. Thanks to @smakawhat for getting us going today. I hit 3600 reviews last night, and restocked my new beer stash this afternoon. Ran out of singles again. It is getting increasingly difficult to find new beers now haha

Here are today's new beers:

Great IPA! Fantastic appearance with a lasting dense head and a ton of thick lacing all around. Aromas and flavors of big grapefruit, tangerine, lemon zest, orange peel, lime, melon, green pepper, citrus rind, and pine hops; with light honey/bready malts and herbal/floral/grassy hop earthiness. Good amount of pine/citrus rind bitterness on the finish; with a very smooth, crisp, and sticky/resinous mouthfeel and finish. Plenty of dryness from bitterness. No astringency at all from bitterness either. All around well rounded hop complexity and super drinkable stuff. I want this in 6 packs around me ASAP(is only in mix packs currently). I love Equinox hops so much, and they are so prominent in this beer. 4.16


Great Belgian pale ale. Aromas and flavors of lemon, orange, pear, apple, light banana/bubblegum, pepper, clove, honey, wheat, toasted bread, and spicy rye; with herbal/grassy hop and yeast earthiness. Aromas were weak but otherwise good. Good sized peppery yeast spice finish; with a medium-high carb drying finish. Crisp with some bready creaminess from the oats in the mouthfeel. I was a big fan of this one, the aromas were lacking but the taste hit the home run. A lot of great balance between the bready malts and yeast complexity. Love it. 4.08


2015 Megablend Gueuze; containing lambic from 3 Fonteinen, Boon, De Oude Cam, De Troch, Hanssens, Lindemans, Oud Beersel, Tilquin and Timmermans. Awesome stuff! Aromas and flavors of big lemon, lime, green apple, cherry, pear, white grape, hay, straw, grass, leather, oak, pepper, light white wine vinegar, and musty funkiness. Nice medium-high carbonated spicy finish; with a really dry and crisp finish and a slight touch of lingering acidity. Highly enjoyable all around. Just an all around classic tasting gueuze that is not overdone in any area of flavor complexity. Very well rounded and balanced; and is extremely crisp and drinkable for 7%. Delicious. 4.2


Cheers! Have a good night NBS.

 

Found this in a can and I had to try it.

Delirium Tremens
Brouwerij Huyghe
Belgian Strong Pale Ale / 8.50% ABV
4.04/5 rDev -1% | Avg: 4.08
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

16 ounce can poured into a tulip glass

A: Pours a golden honey orange no head retention just a soapy film, not a lot of carbonation, slight lacing.

A: Belgian spice, banana, pear, very spice forward with a hint of fruit on the end, hint of bubblegum sweetness, alcohol is well hidden, smells pretty good and complex.

T: Belgian spice, banana, pear, finishes with a classic Belgian yeast flavor, slight alcohol heat on the end, aftertaste is spice and clove with a hint of hay, pretty complex, very good.

M: Medium bodied with a dry finish and very little carbonation.

O: This is outstanding, nice balance of spice and fruit characteristics on the nose and taste, I would like the beer to have more hay characteristics as it comes off a little sweeter than other Belgian strong pale ales I've tried, probably pick it up again.

 

I bought a 4 pack about a month ago- drank 2 and I've been dying to have another. After your review I will crack one tomorrow. A great beer that tastes even better from the can.

 

Brought this home from a college visit in the Northwest in the spring.

Black hole dark with a one finger, sable colored, creamy head. Head dissipated quickly except at the glass's edge and to lace and the carbonation generated wisp of a cirrus-like cloud in the center .

Initial aroma was of chocolate covered raisins with smells of holiday baking - vanilla extract and other dried fruits and alcohol taking over.

Sweet and boozy - smoky cordials. Finishes with bittersweet chocolate.

Very smooth with the alcohol providing a warming glow.

The only tough part about loving this beer is knowing it is unlikely I'll have it again. Had I had this one before the college choice was made I definitely would have strongly suggested that the Northwest had excellent schools.

 

Alaskan Amber
Alaskan Brewing Co.
Altbier / 5.30% ABV




3.81/5 rDev +4.7% | Avg: 3.64
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

12 ounce bottle poured into a pint glass

A: Pours a mahogany color with lots of carbonation streaming off the bottom, beer is clear with a vanilla colored creamy head, got some minor lacing, looks a little thin.

A: Toffee and caramel, roasted nuttiness, roasted malts, hint of sweetness at the end, no alcohol on the nose.

T: Roasted nuttiness, caramel and toffee, slight bready notes, finishes with a hint of spice and clove, very smooth and drinkable.

M: Light bodied, semi-dry finish.

O: First impression is that this is very smooth and easy drinking, flavors and aromas are a little subdued, nothing really stands out with this beer, a middle of the road beer, solid brew that doesn't impress or disappoint.

 

Had Westbrook's "Citrus Ninja Exchange" this afternoon. Nice, citrusy DIPA. Enjoyed the grape fruitiness towards the end. Nice beer after chasing the kids around all day...

 

Hope all is well with that weather out there!

I really love La Cumbre's Miles from Cologne. Draft only and I'm all traded out right now, but one of these days I'll try to send you some.

Also, kolsches are funny for me because of how they straddle the lager/ale line, not sure what to consider them other than good beer when they actually taste like such.

 

I'm a fan of the Pilsner and Lagers and have to say that Lightening Brewery (Poway, San Diego) nails it with their Elemental Pils..

I'm looking for a way to post a picture from the BA app but don't see an option to post pics..is it possible from the app?

 

Last beer of the night? Maybe. Maybe not. Way too much beer arrived all at once and I can't seem to stop buying. Pathetic to say. Need a break really bad from all this beer, but also gotta put a dent in what I already have. Solution is lots of sharing, which is fine by me. Shared this earlier with friends and left myself a flavor saver for review: Hill Farmstead's Double Galaxy.



4.3/5 rDev -5.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

750 growler poured into a nonic glass.

Hmm, can't give this much props for appearance. Very turbid in the body and resembles pear juice or something of that variety. Excellent lacing however and a nice frothy head. 3

That nose gets us back on track. Mango and pineapple leap out at me. It's so potent I feel like there are strands of fruit fiber stuck in my nostrils. How this is achieved I don't know, but I'm mighty impressed. It's bitter and citric to boot, but those are minor role players. 4.75

When I shared this beer with friends earlier in the day, I got much more pithy and zesty grapefruit peel, but for whatever reason, more mango emerges with my second visit of the day (alone and able to focus entirely on the beer). Still, it's got a strong bitter grapefruit flavor followed by an injection of floral flavor that suggests a saison. 4.25

Has what seems a trademark of Hill Farmstead beers, an excessively easy-drinking quality and smoothness, at least for 2/3 of my palate. The finish is much more aggressive, yeasty, pithy and bitter. It's easy to miss the spicy hop bite too, but it's there. 4.25

Hill Farmstead. Good beer. I'm being redundant.