New Beer Sunday (week 555)

Good afternoon, NBS crew! Was out running a few errands today, so a little later start than normal, here. One of the errands ended up being a visit to the store to check out some beers. Grabbed a couple, but the new ones are warm and will have to wait. Anyhow, decided it was time to start whittling down some pumpkin beers, which I don't actually have too many of in the fridge, but finding the right time for them has been an issue. Constantly bringing home more beer doesn't help.

This is another in the Hardywood Reserve series - which often involve ingdedients from Virginia farms, and this one is no different:


So, Farmhouse Pumkin is a "Wallonian Style Farmhouse Ale brewed with pumpkin and spice." To paraphrase the above shot: earthy hops with a classic saison yeast, and cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and ginger.


The nose hit me as I was taking pictures after the pour, and had almost a cider-like quality to it. A more focused whiff brings some lemon zest into that first impression, but the beer has almost a white wine-like quality to its nose - crisp and fruity, grape, lemon, pear, and maybe a little apple or peach in some whiffs. It is very nice, but also noteworthy in the fact it is pretty much devoid of the pumpkin spices (the ginger comes through a bit when I search for it).

The taste is definitely Belgian in nature, fruit esters being the giveaway, and has a lot of the characteristics from the nose, especially early in the taste. There is another taste behind the main tastes that could be the squash - it adds a slightly vegetal bitter note. The spices come in middle-to-late in the taste. When the spices hit, that apple cider impression comes back (and not really hard cider - cloudy, amber, regular cider) - maybe its the cinnamon.



The feel is light and prickly, the carbonation feeling like a wash of small bubbles hitting all at once.

As the beer warms, the opening notes fade a bit, and the mid to late tastes are what define the beer. The bottle says enjoy at 40* -but I beg to differ as the recognizable pumpkin notes don't come out without some warmth. I am not sure the Saison yeast with the pumpkin really work for me. The marriage of these tastes does not produce a harmonious flavor on my tongue. It's not an off-putting flavor, just not an enticing one. So overall, an interesting take on the style, and there is a fair amount going on in the taste, but in the end I think the take is not an overly successful one.

Edit: re-reading I noticed they used rye in this beer and I think that does come through as well. Also after re-reading, maybe this ends up being a case of too many ingredients fighting for their place in the beer.

 

Very nice brews. We get them here in GJ, but have not seen this one yet.

Cheers!

 

We get Stone here, but have not seen that one yet.

Cheers!

 

Ha! Clicked your review and was surprised I had given it a rating. Apparently I had it when we visited the GF's sister for Christmas two years ago (Oregon). I gave it a straight 4 (from when you could do that), and that would've been pretty good given my harsher ratings at the time.

Also glad to see so many Farm to Face posts this weekend - such a good beer as I recall (but also a bit expensive).

 

Their Gingerbread is still a standout, and probably their widely considered best. They are doing a lot of barrel-aged beers, and their Bourbon Barrel Barleywine was damn good (the Cru wasn't as impressive). The Great Return is a very solid IPA (which I had Friday to confirm ).

And yes, they have a Pils (I have their pils glasses from a tap takeover that I often put lighter beers in, including Cayuga Cruiser more than once ). I haven't been overly impressed with their lighter offerings, including their Singel, but I am sure I will get to revisit them in the future.

 

New American Strong Ale Sunday!

Boulevard / Odell Silver Anniversary Ale - Boulevard Brewing Co.

Happy NBSers

Today, it's pretty nice, sunny, upper 70s, slight wind, here in GJ. Having a pretty tasty brew, glad to have picked it up. Definitely not an AB, but still complex/sweeter.



Cheers!

 

New Kolsch Sunday

It's a great day in West MI. Skies are blue, the sun is shining, temps are around 75, and it's quite windy.

My dad and stepmom were in town for the weekend, so there was plenty of family fun. Kids' soccer on Friday night and Saturday afternoon. Watched a couple of rivalry games yesterday- Western beat Central USMNT lost to mexico

Today it was a big family breakfast, a short run, and getting some work done for a smooth Monday morning.

I picked up this beer anticipating a family trip to Art Prize this weekend. However, the thought of fighting the crowds after an already busy week gave way to attending the local Fall Fest in the burbs instead. Either way, this brew exceeded expectations.


http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/1199/182399/?ba=GRPunk

Founders Spectra Trifecta

12oz. Bottle dated 08/19/15 from Copper Vine ($1.79), poured into a pils glass.

A- A normal pour creates 1-finger of off white head that drops pretty quickly to a sparse foam, though the heavy carbonation seems to regenerate it with any jiggle of the glass. The body is a slightly hazed, golden-yellow. Stick is really solid.

S- Lots of candied ginger up front mixed with something like jasmine (though the label tells me it's chamomile). It really smells like an herbal tea that's been sweetened with honey. Further sniffs and I definitely pick up a lemony quality as well.

T- That's some bold flavor. Lots of ginger and chamomile mixed with that honey-like sweetness. The lemon comes through the middle and end, though it's more of a sweetened flavor than a bitter or sour (maybe the difference between lemongrass and lemon peel or juice?).

M- Medium body with moderate to heavy carbonation. Considering the sweet flavors, it finishes rather clean and dry.

O- It really surpasses expectations. I picked it up for the novelty of being the "Art Prize Beer," and was a little hesitant over the use of ginger and chamomile (expecting a really herbal tea flair). However, it all really works here. Glad I bought it, wouldn't hesitate to drink it again. Definitely good on a warmer than average fall day.

A- 4 S- 3.75 T- 4 M- 4.25 O-4

 

I need to start looking for that locally. My Dad's not a beer guy but he loves carrot cake. That would probably make his brain explode.

 

New NBS regular homebrewed session IPA Sunday

I'm back with another summer oriented beer. This one courtesy of @larryi86. This is PiPA a session peach IPA. There is a doughy quality to the aroma which to me seems reminiscent of mosiac and there is a light fruity/peach quality. The appearance is the juice look, which seems to be out and about these days. Nice fruit up front from both the peach and the hops. A smooth bitterness that leaves quickly. Bigger feel compared to most session ales with a prickly carbonation that offers a little pizzazz. Meets what it is billed to be. Going well with the warm Oct afternoon.
Many thanks to the brewer!

Best to all this week.

 

As they say, the third time's the charm.
My wife is the person I should have been married to for like a hundred years.

 

So ...the Defiance glass in the photo just broke. Tried to sit outside with a cheap lawn chair. Balloon glasses don't fit it the cheap "cup holders" they provide. I'll review this out of a Great Divide balloon glass. This is my second Defiance Apri Gose Fragalistic due to the breakage.

Defiance Apri Gose Fragalistic 4.2% ABV
Hays, Kansas

The beer is an opaque peach color with a white head that leaves only a white collar around the edges of the glass with no lacing.

The aroma is peach purée with a touch of salt and faint breadlines.

The taste has peach all over it with tons of tart. Subtle sugary sweetness, orange peel citrus. Finishes dry.

Mouthfeel is light and dry.

Overall: A good balance of salt and peach sweetness. The peach flavor is not annoying so I don't mind this. Probably not a beer to revisit though.

 

New American Brown Ale Sunday

Hello all! A pleasant day here in Wisconsin...70's and sunny! Today's brew is from Alaskan - Heritage Coffee Brown - from their Pilot series. A solid brown ale with a nce touch of coffee. I like how the coffee was present without overwhelming. Well-done! I scored it a 4.18.

http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/429/181803/?ba=jwc215

Cheers!

 

Been there done that myself not married right now but we've been together 5 years at our ages don't see either of us changing the status we have. Life is good.

 

Forgot.

http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/423/145359/?ba=Wasatch

Cheers!

 

Glad you enjoyed and yes the hops are mainly mosaic. Also nice Zeppelin album!

 

New Fruited Wild Ale Sunday!

Today was fun...Working and all.. Yet the temperature was comfortable and relaxing. Guess Fall is creeping in! Well we all know we're not here to discuss weather patterns and season, we are here for the Beer! This is my New Brew for You guys!



These are my thoughts about this brew..

4.41/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

12.7 oz. Bottle into a Wine Glass.

Many have known that I am not a complete fan of Allagash's Core Lineup...but I am always trying these smaller bottles out because a few have been damn near perfect brews. Tonight it's this little brew's turn tonight! Let's get down to business! First this Muv pours fantastic! A brilliant deep Honey Gold body with Blonde hues just glaring around the sides of the glass. She is playful and inviting, welcoming the viewer to enjoy her beauty. The crown of this brew is pure white with a tight bubbly texture. Very nice indeed!

I'm going in for the aroma! If I'm not back in 5 minutes...just wait longer! At the first whiff I pick up aromas of Acidity and Bacteria Funk. The funk is like that of opening a box of latex gloves. Not too intense that leaves you appalled, but curious enough to dig deeper in to its mystery. On the distant back end I can pick up some spice notes. That is very welcoming and warm. Some notes of wet wood. Very impressed with this brew so far!

FLAVA FLAV! This hits you harder than Bruce Jenner in an Escalade! The acidity is enough to bring you almost to a pucker but then let's you down easily with a balanced sweetness. The flavors after the Sourness fades brings some peach fruitiness and grains. This finishes Sweet and Dry that has you craving another sip. Lingering Peaches, Lemons and a subtle Green Apple in the aftertaste. The feel is impressive, light crisp body with excellent lively Carbonation.

Overall: This is a Quality brew that I feel is worthy of great acclaim. This is a complex brew but not exhausting the drinker with too much activity. The brew looks fantastic, smells fantastic and tastes fantastic... This brew is balanced with taking you to a Sour limit but not taking it too far. Definitely one that I will enjoy again. This gives me hope that Allagash can produce great beer. This brew is Recommended!

Grade: Easy A!

Cheers my fellow New Beer Sunday Crew!

 

In case there's any confusion that's what I was trying to say!!!! I'm just a little less verbal than most reviews on here

 

We're all family here brother, your description told me I am going to enjoy it. Your style is who you are and I dig it!

 

Dang, it hit 80 today! Break out the session beer!

Hoppy Birthday!

A - Very attractive clear golden orange with a perfect white 2.5 finger head. Frothy, light, excellent retention and spotty lacing. This earns it a perfect score.

S - As expected very hop forward with a big resinous and piney aroma. Citrus and light sweetness are added to an herbal scent. It is definitely potent and wonderful.

T - A forward blast of citrus and pine. Not very tropical for me and the sweetness is a lacking a bit to help ward off all the bitter hop notes. Grapefruit pith and some herbal undertones, but mostly pine.

M - Lighter with superb carbonation, but it is very dry on the palate from all the hops.

O - Very tasty, but I guess I prefer a more tropical type of IPA.