New Beer Sunday (week 563)

New Witbier Sunday

Hello all! Cool day here in Milwaukee - barely reached into 40's. Today's brew is from Bell's - Winter White. It's an interesting beer - no spices added, yet it fits the style well enough. Not sure what is "winter" about it, but I suppose it's something "different" for the season. I bought a six-pack, then saw it singled out at a different store then next day. While it is nice, a single would be fine. I scored it a 3.7, which I think fits it well. And that is just a hair above the current average. Here's the link:

http://www.beeradvocate.com/user/beers/?ba=jwc215

Cheers!

 

New American Porter Sunday

And with my 2nd and last new beer of the day, I drank a bomber of Clown Shoes Coffee Pecan Pie Porter: http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/22951/180509/?ba=bluejacket74




I thought it was good, but there was more of a nutty/chocolate flavor and not as much coffee as I expected. With that being said, it was still a tasty porter that I'd like to try again. Cheers everyone!

 

New Pop Tart Beer Sunday

Howdie, NBSers, and welcome to the bakery/candy shoppe. First up, beer that is advertised on the can as an homage to the toaster pastry factory that occupied the building before 21st Amendment moved in.



The can references biscuity malts for a crust-like flavor, while pale and crystal malts provide flavors reminiscent of strawberry jam. I certainly get the biscuity flavors, but the strawberry jam is a stretch (this is coming from an old guy who LIVED on PB&J sammiches with strawberry jam growing up). It is, though, a very enjoyable Red IPA, with a real nice hop bite that is balanced by the toffee/biscuit flavors from the various malts used. I'd buy this again in a heartbeat. Rated 4.04 here: http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/735/185213/

 

Good early evning, NBS crew. A virtual spring day here in paradise. I dont know it if made 60 or not but it must have been close. By the forecast, the hammer wont be falling next week, so no comlaints from Casa LeRose...

So on a nice, warm, day what better to do than go find a Christmas tree. It is a tradition that I dont get into right away, but after I get past the initial exposure, I do warm to the task and more or less enjoy it. So after a few hours of pine resin evergreen aroma, and warm weather, what to do...

Not sure if the beer is Baum or Stephen King inspired or its just a cool geometric shape, but Ranbow Dome from Grimm Artisinal Ales fills my tumbler. Found the bottle of Rainbow Dome at the Craft Beer Cellar in Plymouth mid-September and it has been in the fridge since. I had no idea what to expect, and after drinking the beer I am still wondering about what strikes me as a bit of a split personality even for wild ale.

It pours a cloudy, juicy orange color. Tried to form a big fluffy white head but it collapsed pretty fast to a thin raft of saopy bubbles. Plenty of bubbles continue to rise. The aroma...hmmm...a faint whiff of cistrus followed by stone fruit, a hint of sweetness and tartness, a little funky dank almost mildewy aroma. Ok...??? The taste is initially tart, nearly vinger-like, but the apricot comes to the rescue. But wiat...there is sweetness coming along, then a fair hit of bitterness, a little citrus in the after tatse. I like the flavor jumble, but the taste isnt crisp. There is a coating feeling that reminds me of a fruit nectar. Not quite as thick.

So...here is what Im coming down to....I am not getting a lot of malt or hop character in this beer. Is it a beer? The bitters in the finish get me as far as maybe. Yet I do enjoy the flavor generally speaking. I honestly have no idea how I would score this beer.

 

First NSB entry.


Cloudy dark brown appearance.
Smells of faint roastiness.
Bitter roasty taste upfront, which becomes slightly tart and sweet as it warms. Bitterness lingers in the aftertaste. Even though it's made with coffee, I don't really get the coffee notes at all.
Smooth mouthfeel, with a little too much carbonation for this style.
Overall, I can see why Paste Magazine called this one an assertive regular stout. It definitely is, and has more character than most other non-imperial stouts I've had. (Xocoveza being the exception.) Not sure standard stouts are my thing, but I'd wouldn't hesitate to drink it if it were offered.

 

Back with another new one today...

First, a shot of the soup that I was working on earlier. Turned out really well and made enough to save plenty in the freezer for later.



I made a quick beer run to the local shop this afternoon, and saw Global Warmer from Sixpoint on the shelves with a best by date of 11/30/2016 so I'm guessing it was canned last week.

Crystal clear copped red with a nice two finger head. Looks like a slightly dark IPA.

Aroma is bright citrus with grapefruit and tangerine with some caramel and pine, and flavors follow suit.

Mouthfeel is crisp and refreshing with a slightly bitter dry finish.

Very nice offering from Sixpoint, but it drinks more like an IPA than a red ale. Kind of expected since Sixpoint likes to color inside the lines, and not worry out style boundaries.



http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/10607/104466/?ba=richj1970

 

Welcome! Where in CA are you from?

 

New to me.

#stoutn00b

 

I usually watch NBS, but I'm not sure if I've ever posted. I always like to see the pictures... except they make me thirsty. Today, I picked up a bottle of Mahr's Saphir Weiss. I'm not sure how old the bottle is, but I didn't get a lot of hop flavor from the saphir hops. Still, it was a good hefe, even in December

 

Hello all- I'm back to ride out the rest of the evening with this lively IPA

Alpine Nelson (as brewed by Green Flash)

They should've called this one "mouthful of kumquats", because it feels like you're eating the whole enchilada at once. That citrus element is a very sharp attack- like simultaneously eating the flesh and the rind. It's no one-trick pony, though- aside from that bitter kumquat/passionfruit/grapefruit quality there are melons, apricot, strawberry and some first-class sticky nug dankness. The mouthfeel has that dry yet velvety protein richness, and it finishes with a resiny bitterness that stays with you. I can see why this gets talked about so much- it's vibrant, but not overly so, and leaves you wanting for another sip after sip. As I get nearer to the bottom of the bottle I do notice some particulates, so it probably makes sense to do a decanted pour with this beer. Oddly enough, it's the bitterness that my palate is getting accustomed to first as I go deeper into the bottle, leaving more of a fleshy juiciness to take center stage. It's a great ride, and I will definitely be buying another ticket. A+ (4.75).

 

San Francisco, born and raised.

 

#2, on to the candy shoppe where this beer steals the show.



Full disclosure: I love chocolate the way a baby loves its Momma, so I'm not exactly an impartial arbiter of what makes this beer world-class. It is wave after wave after wave of chocolate - on the nose, when you taste it, how it feels. I get dark chocolate, chocolate malt, some milk chocolate. A true menagerie of chocolate. And no alcohol, which at 10% ABV is a bit astounding. I have another bottle I'm gonna age to see how it evolves - if I can manage to leave it intact. Rated 4.46 here:

http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/3818/40058/

 

New Belgium Blackberry Barleywine. It's too sugary sweet. I don't love it.

 

Greetings All:

Holiday decorating is underway here, so I'm getting in the spirit with this Sparkling Ale, part of the Sam Adams Winter Sampler. http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/35/196731/

Not a bad brew, but I usually look for something darker and with more body at this time of year.

Mild but rainy and breezy here in the Columbia Basin, where we are starting to wonder of the Seahawks can pull it all together and make yet another deep playoff run? Something to be known in the fullness of time.

Until next time,

Happy Trails!

 

Advent Calendar day #6. Shiner Holiday Cheer. If you notice, I drank the wrong beer today.

3.74/5 rDev +6.3%look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

This is listed on the bottle as an ale brewed with peaches and pecans with natural flavors and caramel color. It pours a nice amber color with a half inch of thin, quickly dissipating head. The first thing I noted was a strong peach smell as it poured. There is also a nutty, malty smell. The taste is a little different than the smell. Less peach with a mix of pecan. The malty ale comes through on top of the peach and pecans. I love peaches, but I've never been satisfied with peaches in beer. This is no different, although the more I drank, the more I liked the flavor. As I looked through Shiner beers on this site, this is one of their highest rated offerings. I can see why - nice flavor and very easy to drink. I could see myself making my was through three or four of these on a cold afternoon.

 

Hello NBS peeps! You all made my day at work more pleasant with your reviews and pictures. It made waiting till I got home for my new beer easier.

Now to the beer

Treehouse of Gourdor from the Oliphant Brewery in Somerset, Wisconsin - 7%ABV

It pours a nice amber color, and as you can see a fairly thick head.

The nose has a faint hint of the pumpkin spices I love so.

Taste - Wow, do the spices hit you, but in a good way. They are really well balanced. Not the best pumpkin beer I've ever had (Cigar City Good Gourd), but damn good.
4 out of 10

 

Last of a package from @beergorrilla, both from Odd Side Ales:


Java Chip Mint Stout:
This beer looked thin in the pour and lived down to that in feel. The other aspects of the beer, however, were interesting. The nose was a carton of mint chocolate ice cream. The tastes hit lightly with the expected flavors, but I get a lot of the tea that help supply the mint flavor (peppermint tea).

BBA Imperial Mayan Mocha:
Definitely some heat on this one, habanero far more than cinnamon. Looks quite nice, smells grow more interesting with warmth - cinnamon, peppers, hints of coffee and vanilla. The ingredients all eventually make a show, some early, some with warmth, many not dead obvious: coffee, vanilla, nutmeg, habanero, spicy bite, cinnamon, and even the bourbon at some point. Heat isn't overbearing but nears the redline. Very nice!

 

A last NBS beer for the evening.



Tröegs Troegenator Double Bock

Tröegs Brewing Company
Doppelbock / 8.20% ABV

3.77/5 rDev -3.1% | Avg: 3.89
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

L- Pours a clear reddish brown with a 1 cm off white head. Lacing is patchy and the head reduces to a thin film.
S- Dark fruits and a hint of alcohol.
T-The major player in the taste profile is dark malts. The dark fruitiness I associate with Dopplebocks is very muted. Not as sweet as alot of other beers in this style and the alcohol is much more noticeable as a result.
F- carbonation is prickly, but overall fairly light. The overall mouthfeel is medium and appropriate for the style.
O- A good dopplebock, if not quite on the same level as it's German counterparts.

 

Brau Brothers Moo Joos, nice oatmeal milk stout, good coffee taste, some chocolate, with slight coffee bitterness, overall excellent, going on my favorites list

 

Men's Biere de Garde

What a beautiful day! Blue skies, temps every bit of 50 degrees.

Friday night we did the local tree lighting with the family. My in laws took my boys overnight so my wife and I could hit my work Christmas party last night. We decided to take off a little early to hit Brewery Vivant's for a burger and beer. That's where I decided to pick up this gem.

http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/24678/186687/?ba=GRPunk

Brewery Vivant's Verdun
Pint can ($3.25 from the brewery), no date, poured into my Monk Club chalice.

A- A normal pour creates 1 finger of tan head that drops to a light lace. Good, stick rings develop, but mostly end up falling back into the hazy, golden-orange body that sports moderate-light carbonation.

S- At first I pick up gummy funk. The label (and menu) describe an anise aroma which I don't pick up in the beginning (I don't care for the licorice flavor anyway). There's toasted and bready malts that blend with lightly spicy hops. Slightly sweet overall. A little woody and ashy aroma that I get with many Vivant's brews comes through with some warmth. A little more sniffing and there's red apple and honey-like scents.

T- Much as the aroma suggests, though I do get a touch of anise right away near the finish. Grainy and bready malts with a hint of peachy fruitiness. Some floral hops make for an herbal tea flavor at the finish with a little honey sweetness.

M- Medium-full body. Fairly dry with light carbonation.

O- A really drinkable beer. The 8% ABV is dangerously well hidden. A great sipper on an unseasonably warm winter evening, and a great pairing with Asiago-dill cheeseburgers right off the grill.

4 4.25 4 4 4