New Beer Sunday (Week 671)

Happy New Year's Eve and Happy New Beer Sunday! My first new beer tonight is Rogue Hazelnut Brown Nectar. I've been making a point to drink more brown ales, and Rogue is a brewery that I've never given a fair chance.



I've already written my review for this, so this isn't going to be a stream-of-consciousness reaction like I normally do NBS. However, I am more than pleased with this. It's one of the most flavorful and potent brown ales I've ever had. The hazelnut is so rich and strong, and it's super complex with notes of milk chocolate, coffee ice cream, maple syrup, vanilla, pumpernickel bread, and wood smoke. My one minor complaint is that it's perhaps a bit too sweet, but it's also so delicious it's hard to set down. Amazing beer. I need to try more Rogue, I guess.

 

Love the beer, but wondering on the white Christmas facts. I was up there in 2008 for three holidays and taught my cousin's son to snowboard in their backyard in Aloha. So not sure how that year isnt refelected, perhaps the specific date or locale/zip code you're data is based on for the 77 years? Nevertheless, have a very Happy New Year!

 

Ranger really looks like he has his shit together. A good dog is way better than anything else!

 

Started the day at the Track 7 6th Anniversary events. Unfortunately, as expected, I wasn't a fan of any of their 4 anniversary beers. Best one for my palate and preferences was a very easy drinking 13.3% RIS with vanilla, cocoa, and coffee. The beer was too sweet on its own, but would be a prime choice for some time in barrels.

Next we ventured to a new spot that opened on Friday in Sacramento. King Cong had three lighter ABV beers pouring, with more on deck. We enjoyed the brews and some foosball, cornhole, and a 6th 49ers victory. Loved their grain art logo, will definitely be back to see what they are up to in the future.



Then back to a friends casa for a Firestone Walker Anniversary Vertical. Enjoyed amongst friends with some some chicken wings and roasted vegetables. We were comparing, and enjoying, XIX, XX, and XXI. Warmed to appropriate temperature and sampled with suitable tasting ware each of the 6 participants picked their favorite.



My favorite was the XX, and given my love of Parabola I wasn't overly surprised. I'll save the comparison between vintages for a side-bar discussion, but the XX with a year of age had a glorious nose of bourbon, oak, carmelized brown sugar, raisins, plums, and dark cherries. The nose, while incredible, was exceeded by the taste. Taste follows the nose, but far more dynamic. The flavor edges blend smoothly and the beer is spectacular! A bit thin for the 13% ABV, but this beer snuck into my top 5 for 2017. A great beer for a great year.

Wishing all BAs a great 2018!

 

Well, it is the last hour of the year, and pretty frigid here in the kingdom. I put ten pounds of ice in two coolers of leftovers and the ice has not melted a bit. My daughter discovered her thermostat is 100% battery operated when she went back home and fond her house at a balmy 37 degrees. A lot going on over Christmas, but slowing down a little now.

We do Thai food for New Years Eve, and continued that tradition ths year. Had friends over who are not beer folks, but did work in two new ones today. No pictures...the situation today did not allow. Watching the annual Three Stooges marathon...

No. 1 was actually No. 7, as in Boulevard's Live Child No. 7. This beer poured a cloudy irange color with a brief half nch white head, which oeft a nce ring around rhe glass. Fruit and barrel on the nose, with the fruit somewhat subdued in the plm, cherry categorie. Nice funk from the Brett, and a vinegary sour note. The taste opens sour, but tempered by fruit notes and oakiness from the barrel. The fruit keans more cherry and raspberry in the taste. The tartness blends well with the earthiness and fruit flavors. Definitely sour, but restrained enough. Complex and variable flavors. Dry finish and a surprisingly good accompaniement to the Thai smorgasbord. North of four on this one, kids.

Night cap was Allagash James Bean, which we have had as a taster many times at he brewery, but this makes our first official bottle. Another keeper from Allagash. Lighter than Curieux, in my opinion. Pours a dark gold, big bubbles in a thin head of white. Smells like excellent cold brewed coffee, a little caramel or toffee, a little woody and a little bourbon with vanilla. Very faintly floral. The taste follows along nicely...no surprises here, ABV well disguised. The difference from Curieux is that the bourbon is in the backseat here and contributes without dominating. Nice level of vanilla sweet to mellow the coffee just a bit. Underneath it all is a little fruity apple and a sweet breadiness. Another over four here. Surprisingly light and very (dangerously) drinkable.

Looking forward to another year of NBS adventures. Thanks to all of our moderators and keepers of the flame - great job every week getting us started, then keeping us on the straight and narrow!

 

Exceptionally bitter? Old-school? We must be drinking different beers player. About as bitter-less of an ipa out there. I do greatly enjoy bitter ipa's. Hell, the bitter the better. I'm always interested in your posts with your off-take flavor impressions and style reclassifications.

 

Safe travels on the final leg of your journey!Your timing is good as the lake effect snow is finally tapering off. Hit me up when you get settled in.

 

I have the advantage today of having almost entirely new beers in my fridge, so almost anything I choose from can be used for NBS.



This is Great Lakes Christmas Ale. Brewed with honey, ginger, and cinnamon. It comes in a hazy amber color with a foamy off white head. Medium-poor retention, but a thin film remains, which leaves rings of lacing.
On the aroma, the ginger overpowers everything else. I get a bit of toasty malt and perhaps a touch of cinnamon, but it's mostly ginger. Good thing I love ginger.
On the palate, the taste of pickled ginger is prominent, but there is firm malt backbone of toasted brown bread. Smooth and chewy. Hints of cinnamon, but the cinnamon is barely detectable. The honey lends a distinctive sweetness that you can taste, especially near the finish. On the finish I also get notes of cherry, although I don't think this is actually brewed with cherries.

Overall, I like it. This is a "Christmas ale", but, basically, if you like ginger, this is for you.

 

This is a special New Beer Sunday for me, for a few reasons.

1) It's my 31st birthday today and I'm fortunate to spend it in my home state of Massachusetts with my awesome future in-laws (my mother-in-law shares the same bday as me).

2) New Beer Sunday also falls on my birthday/New Years Eve!

3) This is my first New Years Resolution ever, the oh-so-typical "January break". I need it physically and mentally as well.


We got some good birding in this weekend...looked for a Snowy Owl and struck out but we were able to see this really cool pair of Sandhill Cranes, a bird that is rare in these parts. In the snow, no less! They are usually found in Florida, the midwest (Texas) and the west (distribution chart if interested)

I was able to snap a shitty picture with an iPhone through a scope (a difficult task).



Here's the new beers I've had; sorry for the lack of review...no time






HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!! See you in February! =)

 

Happy birthday to you and your future mother-in-law !

We see Sandhills here near lake Michigan quite often.

Have a great new Year

 

Look 4.25 poured a deep dark color into a tulip glass
Smell 4-a hint of sweetness on the nose
Taste 4.75-Just awesome on of the best in a long time, a bit of sweetness from the maple syrup but very well balanced
Feel 4.5- The mouth-feel is full without being overly heavy
Overall 4.5- This is just good, no complaints here. A bit more aroma might help but on the whole it just works.
4.48 rDev -4.1%

Really liked this one !

 

Deschutes 2014 Mirror Mirror

I decided to open this tonight for New Years. As soon as the cap came off I got the intense aroma of heavy malt and oxidation. I was scared that it would be too intense to finish by midnight. Turns out, I should have been scared that I’d finish it too soon... cause once I got a few gulps in, I wanted more and more.

This is classified here as an “English” barley wine, but it’s very American in its way. I’d put it in the American box personally, but I think this also highlights that the divide between these categories isn’t as big as many seem to think.

Color is dull murky brown, a nice look for a barley wine. Taste is raisins, figs, burnt caramel. It’s mainly sweet but a little sour and with a nice bitter finish. It’s aged in wine barrels but I wouldn’t have realized it from drinking it.

This is a very nice beer. Barley wines are pretty much the only beers where I can really enjoy some age. I would be interested in trying this fresh. Everything here is in its (decadent) proper place.

Happy 2018.

 

I know, right? When I have my last can, I will go into it open-minded. Curious if I get a totally different take on it. BTW - I always look forward to your posts here. Happy New Year.

 

Happy New Year everyone

For my last new beer of 2017 I opened up a CBS.
Missed out on this last time it was released in bottles and was never able to make it to a tapping.



Here's my review :
4.58/5 rDev -1.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a bottle from the 2017 release

A: Deep Mahogany, no light shines through. The head is 2 fingers of a thick foamy tan
S:Maple syrup, Bourbon roasted coffee
T: Chocolate, Maple, walnuts, coffee, Bourbon, a char finish
MF: Thick and creamy like an ice cream sundae.
O: A wonderful amalgamation of flavors. I've waited quite a while to try this and it doesn't disappoint.

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Im watching the New Years Eve shows with the sound down and listening to Chris Stapleton

 

Finally got the little ones settled in bed after fireworks and such. Hope everyone has a healthy, happy 2018!
Last year was a pretty good one for me, all my family members made it to see the ball drop again, school went well, at work my pay raises were above inflation, I enjoyed some damn good beers (many of them from regulars on this thread and others on the site), made trips to Veil, Tired Hands, Trillium, Cycle, Angry Chair and many new local ones.
Today's new beer was courtesy of @Dragginballs76
It happens to be beer #300 for me, just a drop in the bucket for some of you but a milestone for me!
Poured a dark brown/borderline black with a finger of creamy brown head.
Smells of dark chocolate, dark roasted malt, vanilla, cinnamon.
Taste follows for me, loads of chocolate flavor, roasted malt, cinnamon, and vanilla. Getting a little heat but milder than expected when I read habañero, very tasty!
Full bodied, creamy feel with medium carbonation.
Overall a great beer that I'm grateful to have tried.
Cheers to 2018!

 

Well Hello Late Night NBS...
I didn't think I'd get back to you, but here I am.
I finally popped a solid one...Marshal Zhukov from Cigar City. A serious want that I tried for for years. But thanks to a surprise "smack back" box from @thebeers during NBS #6 I got to share that one tonight. Totally solid RIS.

Also, a big thanks to @rypkr !!! I finally popped the No Rules. Oh my friggin' Yaassssss!!!
The most AMAZING porter evahhhh!!! Thanks for putting it into our trade many months ago. I will seek out more. So deep, so complex, so margin' goooood!!! Even some of my beer debutantes were blown away!!!

 

Good to hear, Greg. Last time, I held on to mine to long. It REALLY didn't age well, and I was disappointed to say the least. Gotta get me a freshy.

 

You have my address, I'd be happy to return some hops your way! Cheers