New Beer Sunday (Week 634)

Ya'll cool if I review a "malt beverage"? I have some matchy-matchy "proper glassware" for the occasion. That doesn't happen too often for me.



Prairie's Pe-Kan.

Pours jet black with a finger of caramel colored foam on top. Head retention is okay with a decent (1/3 of a finger) foamy ring sitting on top. There are a few swatches of lacing left behind. Aroma is pecan, and vanilla bean, with nutty, roasted malts following up. Flavor profile is bold, with notes of pecans, and smooth, ice-cream like vanilla bean notes being carried on a river of roasted, toasted, and nutted malts. As the beer warms, the vanilla beans and pecans seems to take more of a leading role, giving it a sugary sweet characteristic. Those sugary sweet notes mask all traces of the 11.5% ABV. It drinks thick and filling, very much like a world class Russian Imperial Stout. Overall, a beer with resoundingly dark malt characteristics that doesn't tip over into the bitter, or overwhelming category. While the additive flavors - pecans and vanilla beans - are present in the aroma, they take front stage in the spotlight through the flavor profile.

Score: 4 | 4.25 | 4 | 4.5 | 4 | BA Score: 4.11 | rDev: -1.4%

Personal notes: If I may be bold enough to tell you how to serve your beer: serve this one cold. The vanilla beans and pecans seem to swell into a sugary balloon the warmer and warmer this beer gets. I served mine straight out of the fridge (~40*F) which led me to my review and scoring above. I have since let it warm over the course of half an hour while sitting on the outdoor porch in cloudy, 70*F weather and found the sweetness factor to multiply between sips.

 

New American IPA Sunday

Hello all NBSer's and Happy Easter! Beautiful day here in Tucson, Arizona - low to mid 80's and sunny with a pleasant soft breeze. Great day for a beer! (Of course, what day isn't!)

Anyway, today's brew is from San Tan - Moon juice IPA. I loved it!

A:4.25 S:4.5 T:4.5 MF: 4.25 O: 4.25 - landing at 4.41 (+11.9% over the current average of 3.94).

It is pleasantly bitter with big tropical and citric notes in both aroma and taste. A bit sharp. Interestingly it uses Australian hops and malt is 40% wheat according to the brewery's description.

Recommended for all you "hop-heads" out there!

I paid about 4 bucks at a local Circle K for the 24 oz. can. Well worth it!

 

New Catcher Sunday





I have been looking forward to this for awile, and it doesn't disappoint. Tons of barrel character.

4.29/5 rDev -2.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

A 2016 750ml bottle at 12%

It produced a large, thick, frothy, mustache producing beige head on top of a muddy/murky bronze-brown color base that oddly clears up as the head settles toward the end. The head settling part takes forever though as the retention is insane. There is a thick film on top all the way to the bottom and it left a lot of lacing behind.

Tons of grain on the nose. It smells like rye bread with some molasses and toffee/caramel. Alcohol is noticeable. A significant amount of whiskey is present. There is also oak, some faint sour dark fruit, and a touch of citrus.

The whiskey and peppery/spicy rye come through front and center and there is a pretty strong sour red grape to cherry flavor (I believe they call them raisins . A lot of oak throughout, and some molasses, vanilla, butterscotch, and a light kiss of orange and hop bitterness.

The body is thick and chewy and no real alcohol noticeable.

I am trying to be unbiased/objective as usual, but I love rye (in beers amd whiskey) and this one really showcases it well. I think the whiskey is more noticeable in the aroma than the flavor, but it is far from subtle either way. I would describe this as a cross between a Barleywine and an Old Ale with a ton of rye.

 

Ayinger Altbairisch Dunkel

Happy Easter, BAs. Hope you're all enjoying your afternoons as much as I am. Thanks to @lordofthewiens for kicking things off today.

I bought this beer with high expectations after all the accolades it has received on this site in recent weeks -- and also because I've thoroughly enjoyed everything I've tried from Ayinger. This one didn't disappoint.

It pours a clear dark amber, with medium effervescence, and a fat finger of light-tan foam head. Leaves thin sheets of lacing.

The aroma is bready, with a touch of caramel and some light fruitiness (a mix of fig, berries and purple grape).

The taste very much follows the nose. It is brown bread up front, coupled with some moderate caramel that has a lightly-toasted quality. The same fruitiness is there, but only in the background. It has a dry finish that sort of reminds me of an Irish Stout.

This is thicker bodied and smoother than the light color prepared me for. It has a slightly chewy feel and solid carbonation.

Overall, this is a really great, highly drinkable beer. There's a kiss of sweetness without being too much, and a really nice feel. Ayinger remains remains on my bucket list among the three breweries I'd most like to visit.

 

Good point. This one seemed a little more tropical, but the Stone beer you reference I think is a decent comparison as I recall it. Both seemed to have a little something added to the base beer (generally a bit of "juiciness") that in and of itself didn't necessarily augment the beer very favorably.

Well, actually like some of the other Sculpin varieties (*cough* Pineapple ).

It must be noted I assume the base Sculpin recipe was not altered too much beyond the extra hopping and lack of filtering. This is not explicitly stated on BP's website, but seems like it could be inferred.

 

It would be worth it to try it fresh too. Delicious monster fresh. Cases are for sale around Thanksgiving. I think now it is some sort of pre pay or lottery event that it is worth checking out Pelican's pages to find info, but they used to ship, that's how I got mine. My favorite English Barleywine..

 

Happy Easter Sunday to all. Great Citrus flavor. For a guy that likes imperial Stouts I like this just as much. What else can I say.

 

Greetings fellow NBSers, and thanks to @lordofthewiens for getting us going,

Happy Easter and spring candy day to those who believe, those who do not, but especially to those who believe their heads will explode due to the wailing of those who disagreed with you when you said they'd had enough candy eggs for one day. May your New Beer this Sunday be especially rewarding.

Right now it's clear, calm and nearly 60 degrees in the city where a lot of "Go Zags!" signs and Gonzaga red and blue lighting can still be seen on cars, homes and businesses. Last night I decided to drink something special as a tardy acknowledgement to their great season. It wasn't a new beer officially, though I think the vintage had a different recipe than the only other one I've had.

Great stuff. Deschutes gets less love on account of their bigness and that they haven't been the new kid on the block for a couple decades now, but my experience is that if you ignore them you're only punishing yourself.

Today I'm hitting an IPA from NJ that comes courtesy of a NJ BA known to the world as @MacMalt.
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/40579/270194/?ba=woemad#review
I think I can say I'm now a fan of Magnify. As @Shroudofdoom has often said, this brew is worthy!
I'm now going to start the crock pot on a journey that will end with some shredded pork burritos, but it's possible between now and then another new beer will be consumed.

 

Keeping it hoppy with Ore Dock Reclamation IPA, thanks @Blackop555, cheers!

4.1/5 rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thank you Blackop555 for this
12 oz bottle poured into a snifter

A- A slightly hazy amber with a two finger off white head

S- Cirtus, toasted malts, some caramel malts, also getting a mix of earthy/pine/spicy/herbal hops.

T- Citrus, some sweet malts, touch of toasted malts, herbal/piney finish, some citrus zest.

M- Smooth, medium body.

O- A solid classic IPA, hops and malts are balanced. In someways I could see this marketed as pale ale given the trance with IPAs currently.

 

G' afternoon NBS-ers! Thanks to @lordofthewiens for the start and explanation of the Christian customs and meanings.
Today's beer offering is another one from that most generous BA @SammyJaxxxx

Rushing Duck Imperial Beanhead Coffee Porter


Poured from a 16 oz. can into a Snorkel glass.

Appearance: Pours a light brown body into the glass, put appears black afterwards. The light brown color appears around the edges when held up to the light. A thin cap of mocha-tan head forms at the pour and then quickly disappears. No lacing left behind.

Aroma: Gentle aromas of chocolate syrup, cocoa, and of course dark roasted coffee beans. Smells like an inviting coffee milk beverage!

Taste/Mouthfeel: French roasted coffee with some milk. The flavor is strong and is definitely needed as the body seems a little thin, but it is not lacking in backbone. The coffee carries this one through and through! Going to let the glass worm up some more after drinking 1/2 the can to see what other flavors come out of this one. A light amount of carbonation to help that 9.5% abv remain a little hidden.

Overall: If you love coffee, this one is for you. The aroma is mainly coffee and the taste follows that and doesn't disappoint. A beautiful looking beer full of a dark roasted coffee aroma and flavor that you just can't quite stop drinking this one and enjoying every sip!


Cheers!

 

This year's struck me as one of the most balanced in the past 5 releases. Even if you are looking for a coffee bomb, or a ton of barrel, balance is always a good thing to me.

 

Great beer and great brewery. I would concur if you had me list 5 places to visit

 

Nice!
My daughter wants to know why the duckie isn't floating on the Head!

 

On to another beer after consuming copious amounts of smoked pork tenderloin. This beer was given to me by a generous person I met at the Four Fathers release yesterday in Valparaiso. It's also been reviewed earlier in the thread. Imagine that? Let's pop open this undated pint can of Old Nation M 43 NE IPA with 6.8% abv. and give it a pour in my trusty 13oz. tulip for the review.

It pours a pale and irradiant yellow/orange color leaving a generous two fingers of creamy white lingering foam. Heavy lacing is left as it settles. The smell is tropical juice comprised of orange zest, pineapple, mango, passionfruit and grapefruit. There is a hint of floral hiding in the back. The taste is succulent orange, pineapple, grapefruit, mango and passionfruit. A bit of floral can be tasted in the finish. Feel is thin but creamy smooth with a slightly bitter and semi dry finish.



In a word? Wow! This is so drinkable and juicy that beer doesn't even come to mind. This is as good or better than anything I've had to date from this style of IPA including my regional favorite Transient. I'm grateful to a guy named Scott that gave it to me and I will be seeking out more. My score is 4.63 / rDev+3.3%.

I was going to mow the lawn but I'm too stuffed with pork, slaw and roasted veggies to think about work. I'll chill with more beer and watch the end of the Cubs-Pirates game.



Cheers gang, it's time for dessert of lemon pound cake and ice cream.



And lastly the scorecard.....

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/41783/257755/?ba=Prager62#review

 

Happy Easter! Today's new beer is Exploration & Discovery #2 from Brew Gentlemen!



A: Translucent topaz color with a thin head that dissipates quickly.

S: Red fruits with a tannic alcohol scent that is surprising for a 7% beverage.

T: Wow! Rich cherry, wildflowers, and oak upfront with a finish that is reminiscent of wines grown from volcanic soil.

F: Thin yet slippery mouthfeel with the slightest bit of effervescence.

O: What an outstanding wild ale. The barrel is subtle yet has added a lot of depth and flavor on the finish. What a shame I only got a couple bottles! Excited to see how the brett in this changes it over time.

 

Back with my second of the day! What could possible pair better with this 80°F weather than a big ass bourbon barrel barleywine w/ cinnamon?! I may be crazy, but this beer celebrates my insanity

Pours a ruddy burnt copper/brownish color with full opacity and a thin yet retentive khaki-colored head. Though it's a completely unfiltered beer, I can still make out some small rivulets of bubbly carbonation working their way up from the bottom of my glass. This is actually a pretty decent looking beer, obviously similar looking to regular Insanity though.

Nose is, you guessed it... cinnamon! Very forward with that ingredient; must've been a heavy-handed inclusion. However, I can see how the bourbon barrels would also highlight cinnamon, as it has a very tannic element to its particular spiciness. Honestly, it's a natural fit, and one I'm surprised hasn't ever been done (as far as I know, anyway... someone else can point out if this idea has been attempted before, though, of course!). Beneath that, there's some raisin and date-like fruit notes, burly bourbon and caramel malt, and of course some ethanol. A bit earthy and yeasty with some clove or phenolic elements, perhaps presented as a byproduct of the aging and spice. Honestly, this is a lot fruitier than I remember regular Insanity being, in the nose anyway. More complex than it initially lets on, though. I'm surprisingly kinda missing the bourbon/oak notes here, but maybe they'll come across more on the palate.

Picking up some heat here, which makes sense as this is just over 13%(!), but it's well-balanced by biscuit-like malt and cinnamon with some vanilla, crème brûlée and figgy/raisin-like notes. The finish is dry and features more cinnamon alongside some notes of herbal hops and a very slight tannic note. The bourbon elements of this are very much hidden, in my opinion, but I guess that's alright as those flavors could compete with the cinnamon for palate space. Bourbon typically has a spice-forward flavor at times, anyway, so that's that. Palate is a touch thin for 13+%, especially towards the finish, but it stands at a pretty solid medium for the most part. Carbonation is massaging and surprisingly detailed, and warmth benefits the deeper malt flavors of this beer. Super toasty and semi-sweet... reminds me of cinnamon graham crackers, for sure!

Nice sipper, though, honestly. I like wacky ideas like this, and since I like cinnamon and the base beer for this deviation, I'm find with how it came out. I wonder what aging would do to this one? Maybe the bourbon would become more apparent as the cinnamon fades? Who knows... maybe I'll look out for one or two more to see! Weyerbacher's strong ales tend to age pretty gracefully, so yeah.

 

If I recall correctly (50/50 proposition at best), it was @Ozzylizard "hated" that beer enough to order a case or so of it. Sounds like you guys are in general agreement on it.

 

Greetings friends,
Great reviews today all around. I just wanted to let you know that I am giving up this excellent place called New Beer Sunday. It has been my great pleasure to come here and learn, with fits and starts, learning to love the discourse and knowing so many good people, if only here. I've got some very interesting projects at hand. I'll keep you posted.
I'll still be lurking around. This is the best place for beer lovers that I know.
Cheers all!

 

Hey @Ozzylizard, was that you? I'd like to read that post!