New Beer Sunday (Week 678)

Good morning NBS, hope everyone has an enjoyable end to the weekend. Thanks to @lordofthewiens for the introduction this morning. I have yet another big beer morning review this week. Have my normal Sunday errands to run to get ready for the work week as usual. Got my tax returns yesterday, so I will be getting a Utopias my store has been saving for me since late last year. Will probably be a milestone review in the near future.

This was fantastic! Decent head retention, mild lacing as expected. Flavors of huge milk/dark chocolate, cocoa, caramel, brown sugar, toffee, fudge, marshmallow, molasses, vanilla, bourbon, toasted oak, and dark/brown bread; with lighter notes of coconut, coffee, smoke, char, licorice, raisin, date, pepper, and leather. Similar aromas, slightly muted; a bit of booze as it warmed, but not overwhelming. Very mild roast bitterness and bourbon/oak tannin spiciness on the finish. Light-medium carbonation and very full bodied; with a very creamy, silky, velvety, and rich mouthfeel that is fantastic. Mildly increasing chalky roast and bourbon/oak tannin dryness. No cloying sweetness. Mildly increasing warmth of 14.7%, minimal barrel booziness. Dangerously smooth sipper. Right on point with my expectations of similar ABV stouts. Super rich malt complexity with outstanding barrel integration; never overly boozy, tannic, or drying. Pretty similar to most of the Bruery stouts, as it isn't particularly roasty/charred on malt flavors. Extremely well executed. 4.25


Cheers, be back much later on with more new beers.

 

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Thanks, @lordofthewiens. Here’s a link to the BIF sign up and what I am guessing is about 10 pages of fun banter (as of today). There’s apparently a few dozen people already signed up. If you’d like to help get to 50 participants, hop on over to that thread and join up!
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Separately, a quick plug for the theme day next week on WBAYDN, Saturday the 24th.


Basically the beer part is the near antithesis of this thread - find that beer you’ve been neglecting to have again and revisit your original review (and maybe update it). Or you can spin some tunes or show off your glassware or all three. Stop by if you’d like

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I think an Oregon BA coffee stout is in my near future.

 

Good morning you all! Thanks @lordofthewiens for getting us started today! Today I have a style of beer that I love but don't drink enough. That is the DIPA. I like it because it offers a bit less bitterness that the traditional IPA and a little more sweetness. Our very own @HorseheadsHophead tempted me in another thread to buy Sierra Nevada's Hop Bullet. I was pretty excited to find that it uses magnum hops which I like very much. I paired it twice already yesterday.



Pours clear and a light yellow. Sunshine in a glass. Shines brightly. Fat head of just off white foam that fell somewhat quickly but not too quickly for the abv which is 8 percent. Nose is fruity lemony and a soft sweet floral. No real dankness just touch of twiggy herbs way down deep. The profile on the internet says that this hop does not display any aroma qualities and usually it is used as a bittering hop. I found plenty of fruity character in them but nothing loud. I also find a bit of soft stone fruitiness. It is merely a suggestion and nothing too well defined. i actually think it is part of the floral. The beer drinks well and with a clean and crisp flavor. Fruity but not orangey. It's subtle lemon and light herbs. As I drink I pick up hints of grapefruit peel. That is a very tempting flavor on the beer as it is heady and a bit pungent and earthy. Finish is soft and clean, a bit gentle but there is some firm bitterness. No alcohol on the nose or on the palate. The beer is satisfying with cracker malt and a bright touch of sweetness to contrast those hops. The spice quality is not muted but it is not dank. I might even say it's a little piney. What I like about this hop is it's refreshing clean palate. I think it would be great alongside a peachy or mango type hop. I decided to pair it with some turkey salad I made with home made sun dried tomato crackers. The deep richness of the sun dried tomato and it's light sweetness was a perfect match here. The turkey salad was made with gamier dark meat and instead of mayo I used thyme infused olive oil, fresh thyme and distilled white vinegar. With only salt and fresh cracked black pepper on it , it was a great partner to this beer with it's clean and distinct finish. For my second dish I paired it with phat bai horapha or thai basil beef. The spiciness in the dish loved the sweet cracker in this malt. The clean character of these hops let all the earthier aspects shine in my dishes. From fresh cracked black pepper to sweet red pepper and I could taste every part of my food as well as every part of this beer. It would also pair with desserts like peach pie. You can session this beer if you can stand the abv because it does not overly bitter the palate. @HorseheadsHophead you are two for two! Thanks for a great recommendation. Cheers BA's and Happy I'll take a Magnum of That Beer Sunday!

 

While not a physician myself, I too am in a profession that has an increasing number of female professionals who are really no different than the males in the sense that some are at best average and some are more capable than others. For a variety of reasons I personally place "capable" as being more important than gender.

So I'd suggest your latter option as well, even if only because of the message in this newly updated song by Bob Dylan.

The Times They Are A-Changin'

 

What do you think about reformulating the recipe of a beer brand?

There is an ongoing/recent thread discussing the fact that Oskar Blues is reformulating their recipe for Mama’s Little Yella Pils:

https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/mamas-little-yella-pils-reformulated.556715/

This got me thinking about a beer brand I have been drinking lately of Straub 1872 Pre-Prohibition Lager. I have had this beer multiple times in the past but these beers (2017 version) are notably different from the previous versions. The 1872 Pre-Prohibition Lagers I am drinking now were in a variety pack branded as Adventure Series #3.

Below is some descriptive text from previous versions of this beer:

On the older Bottle Labels it lists:

“Peter Straub began brewing in 1872 at a time when Pale Lagers had more color, and a more pronounced malt flavor, and were slightly hoppier than they are now. This Limited Release 1872 Lager is a tribute to our founder’s legacy”

Our founder Peter Straub began brewing in 1872 in the German settlement of St. Mary’s, PA. Five generations later we are proud to be one of the few remaining American legacy breweries in the country producing American Lagers.”

And on the side of the older case:

“The Limited Release Fall Seasonal includes typical ingredients used in the late 19th Century to produce Full Flavored, American Pale Lagers. Domestic 6-Row Malts and Flaked Corn provides a Full Body and a Bright Gold Color. Domestic and Imported Noble Hops contribute to the Pleasant Bitterness and Spice and Floral Aromas. Our Traditional Pennsylvania Lager Yeast and Cold Cellar Aging create the Refreshing, Smooth Finish.

Malt: 6-Row and Munich
Adjunct: Flaked Corn
Hops: Cluster and Hallertau Mittelfruh
Color: Gold
ABV: 5.4%
IBU: 30”

I did some web searching to see I they updated their description for the 2017 version of this beer and found:

“Ever since we first brewed 1872 in 2012, people have been asking us to make it available throughout the year,” said Straub Brewmaster Vince Assetta. “So, I am especially happy that 1872 Pre-Prohibition Lager will indeed now be available year-round as part of the new Peter Straub Signature Brew lineup. This classic American beer is crisp and full-bodied, but yet has a drinkability that makes it go well with just about any occasion.”

~ Straub Brewmaster Vince Assetta

And:

“1872 Pre-Prohibition Lager embodies the enduring legacy of one of the most historic and iconic breweries in the U.S. inspired by Straub Brewery Founder Peter Straub – who began brewing in

St. Marys, PA in 1872, at a time when pale lagers had more color, a more pronounced malt flavor, and were a touch hoppier than they are these days – 1872 is a classic pre-Prohibition-style lager.

It has a mild spice-and-floral hop aroma balanced with a slight malty sweetness and some light toasty notes, and is punctuated by a clean, crisp finish.”

And also:

TECHNICAL SPECS:

• Malt – Domestic 6-row, Munich
• Adjunct – Flaked Corn
• Hops – Cluster, Hallertau, & Mittelfruh
• Yeast – North American Lager
• Color – Gold
• ABV – 5.4%
• IBU’s – 30

From the technical specs this newer version appears to be pretty much the same as the previous versions with the only noted difference being the hop varieties listed. They are listing three hops but I wonder if it is just a type and the latest version is Cluster and Hallertau Mittelfruh?

Served in my Polish Pilsner glass:

Appearance:

Light Golden colored with a BIG fluffy white head.

Aroma:

A combination of spicy & floral hop aromas. There is a slight hint of malt/grain sweetness as well.

Taste:

The flavor follows the nose with spicy/floral flavors with just enough malt/grain to provide some balance.

Mouthfeel:

Medium bodied with a crisp/dry finish.

Overall:

I really like this new version of this beer! When I am done drinking one I really desire a second one. This beer has the quality that the Germans refer to as being süffig!!


My guess is that Straub changed up the proportions of the grain bill of this beer. Specifically I think they reduced the amount of Munich Malt in the grain bill. The older versions were darker in color and had sort of a Vienna Lager-like aspect to them. This version tastes similar to a Classic American Pilsner that I brew every year (I brewed another batch of my CAP yesterday).

I hope that I get to see standalone 6-packs of this beer on my local beer retailers’ shelves in the near future.

Cheers to Straub for creating a tastier reformulated beer and deciding to make it a year-round product!!!

@KOP_Beer_OUtlet @rotsaruch @TongoRad @Ranbot @SierraTerence

 

Poured slightly chilled into a 16 oz Magnify Snulip and this very attractive 2 finger mocha head that leaves plenty of this webby lace, as it slowly settles into a thin ring of bubbles that hugs the sides of the glass. 4.75

Smell is dominated by maple but not over the top, char, dark chocolate, dry bitter coffee, vanilla bean, and maybe a hint of brown and bacon. 4.25

Taste follows big maple and a little Smoke upfront, with dark chocolate, vanilla, coffee, and once again like a maple brown sugar bacon in the finish and that isn’t a complaint. 4.5

Mouthfeel is big yet creamy almost large, moderate amount of life and that works perfectly, maybe a touch dry as you would expect from a beer like this, and at 12.5% ABV goes down way too easy. 4.75

Overall I would love to sip this side by side with CBS, because it hits all the same notes and a much better price. Well done again Clown Shoes, great beer and awesome price. 4.5

 

Thanks @lordofthewiens for the start of this NBS and for opening up and letting us touch a bit of you personal life through struggle. I’m sure the same decision would weigh heavy on us all. And like you, I’m putting myself in your position and am absolutely torn. A certain amount of delicacy needs to be used when handling situations involving young children. Parents need to feel just as, if not more, comfortable with the person examining their child. We are floating in a very strange climate right now with a couple powerful social situations weighing in on both ends here. I do not envy your current status, but I’m sure that whatever decision is made, it will ultimately be the right one.

On to the beer...

I recieved this, along with a bunch of others, from @thebeers while playing around in the NBS BIF sign up page. Mudlust from Slyfox. The pour is a light cola colored brown and leaves a nice creamy tuft of foam floating on top. Nose is like a cafe americano. I can’t believe how much it tastes like cold pressed coffee with 1 packet of sugar and just a drop of cream. Crazy coffee! Nice brew to start my morning before I get back to my weekend of remodeling/painting.

 

Good morning New BSers! It's a beautiful day in scummy Pennsylvania, with the cloud cover reflecting off the snowfall from yesterday. @lordoftheweins, welcome to the conundrum faced by management in today's medical community - get the best candidate or CYA against future lawsuits. As a teenage male, I'd have been EXTREMELY uncomfortable getting a hernia check from a female pediatrician. On the other hand, my experience with female physicians leans heavily toward their desire to raise a family and be a good mother while working part time (at best) while constantly complaining about not making as much as their male counterparts who were working 12+ hours a day. If you're not maintaining a financial interest in your soon-to-be-former practice, don't sweat it and go with the best candidate - after all, you can only put a decision off so long. Even if you continue waiting for a male candidate, there's no guarantee that that candidate will be satisfactory. Although I know of one case where a particularly meticulous and aggressive male general surgeon married an also very meticulous and aggressive female pediatrician. He gave up his practice and became a house husband while she continued working 12+ hours a day as the bread-winner. Good luck with your decision!

Medico/social/legal issues aside, today's New Breakfast Beer and NBS entry is:




$ 21.62 (Including shipping)/750 mL corked and caged botttle ($ 0.851/oz) from Blackwell’s, San Francisco, CA.
Label marked “Released Summer, 16”, stored at 42 degrees and served at 45 degrees in a hand washed and dried Jester King snifter.
Appearance – 3.5.
Body – Light yellow, clear, effervescent.
Head – Large (Maximum 5.3 cm, slow, controlled pour), white, low density, average retention, slowly diminishing to an irregular three to ten mm ring fed by effervescence and a complete layer.
Lacing – Fair. Wide rings and partial rings of tiny to small bubbles
Pour – Light yellow, clear.
Aroma – 2 – Initially grainy with marked overtones of corn dimethylsulfide – smells like a skunked AAL. Fortunately, the DMS dissipates, leaving the graininess.
Flavor – 3 – Begins as a very dry, almost champagne-like light-bodied ale. There is no hint of the Curvee van de Keizer Rood, one of my favorite Belgian brews. I’m detecting neither oakiness nor fruitiness. No alcohol (9.8% ABV), no diacetyl, no dimethylsulfide (fortunately).
Palate – 4 - Light, dry, lively carbonation.

Impression and summation – 3 – Extremely disappointing. The ode de mephitis was initially very off-putting, completely obscuring any fruitiness or oakiness claimed by the brewer. The brew itself was very dry and virtually flavorless, having only a hint of apple showing up in the second and third glasses. The oak never put in an appearance. A post-consumption belch or two confirms the presence of DMS. At least it looks good.

Rating 2.89, rDev -26.6%.

I must say that I found this beer extremely disappointing, particularly at the price point. I will not be revisiting this in the future - once burned, twice shy. One of the base beers, Gouden Carolus Cuvee van de Keizer Rood, is one of my favorite Belgian brews (although I prefer GC Cuvee van de Keizer Blau slightly more) and is totally missing from the taste and aromatic palate in this blend. This bottle is hopefully not representative of the vintage - I'm believing that the bottle was abused before it got to me.

The attached radar plot comes with the beer. For the bottle I had, it's almost totally wrong.

 

Thanks to @lordofthewiens for the great start to this weeks NBS. Should be back later on with a brew that is not new, but has been many years since last.

Cheers!

 

Good Morning NBS
Nice start @lordofthewiens. I don't envy your situation, but I'm sure your team will figure things out. My company doesn't let me interview. Apparently, I'm too harsh. A steel mill is no place to take chances with hiring, in my opinion. My nightshift is hours away, so I believe I'll have a new beer (style) with you all...


11.2oz bottle bb May 2021 poured into a signature Ommegang chalice at fridge temp 5.6% ABV. The beer pours a medium brown color with red tinted tan colored head. The head recedes in minutes to a thin ring and cap leaving a little lacing. The aroma is faint with an old ale smell that indicates wood exposure (although it's not mentioned). There is a hint of cherry in aroma also. The taste is sour, with a slightly sweet edge, and cherry. There is a bit of malt presence as well.
Mouthfeel is thin to medium bodied, well carbonated and undry in the finish. Overall, good. My first Oud Bruin, and I am far less offended by it, that other sour styles I've tried in the past. Nice complexity and a pleasant experience.

I believe I have one more new beer in me this morning. I'll be back in a while.

 

Happy Even More Evil Twin Sunday (Week 678)!

I think that in this age of blurred gender identification, your concerns are less-justified than in the past, @lordofthewiens . Growing up, our family doctor, "Aunt Doc", was female so I only knew of having a female doctor until I joined the Navy. My GP, until recently, has been female, but she had some family issues & I have been bouncing around since she left the local office. I think that your patients will be fine with whoever sees them in a professional setting.

And now, for a word from our sponsor:
Hello, this is Bro. Woody ChANdler of the Order of Disorder, here on WLNC-PA! As you may know, I am the founder of The CANQuest (tm), my misguided, misheaded attempt to drink & review EVERY CANned beer in existence. I did this in the spirit of inclusion at a time when CANned beers were not so prevalent, but in for a penny, in for a pound. I am now committed (or should be committed, which leads me to ask - What is the difference between "involved" & "committed"? In ham 'n' eggs, the chicken is involved while the pig is committed.).

Last week, I held Evil/Evo/Evil Sunday, using Evil Genius/Evolution/Evil Twin beers to fuel my madness, but upon delving into Evil Twin, with the largest backlog, at the end of the day, I ran out of gas since I was so gassed. I asked if I should move on with the remainder during the week, or hold all in abeyance until today. The response(s) indicate/d that I should pick up where I left off.

Hmm. Usually, I go from low-ABV to high-ABV over the course of the day, but today is an anomaly. Plus, you know my affinity for puns and wordplay so I begin with Even More Evil Genius':
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/24300/81067/?ba=woodychandler#review

and so it begins. Or izzit "ends"? Jesus, that was like a 2 x 4 to the back of my brain housing group! Woo. It CAN only get better from here! I'll be back (I hope).

 

Don't enCANourage me! Others should have warned you by now.

 

I agree! =) Laaarge! I 'll have a large beer!

 

Happy New Beer Sunday BAs,

Also Happy Chinese New Year. It’s a big thing in our house as my SO is originally from China and we have made it a official holiday in our household celebrating with our kids yearly. Year of the dog, my zodiac animal I have been enjoying some great beer over the weekend along with some amazing traditional New Years food. I am fortunate enough to be able to enjoy some great home cooking courtesy of my Wife. Steamed dumplings and baozi (pictured below) are a staple in our households celebration.



But enough about that now onto the Beer! Well..... okay I may be breaking the rules here and if I am I apologize but I want to talk about mead.
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I am a mead rookie you could say. So when early this week a good friend of mine sent me a mead I knew I’d save it for New Beer Sunday. So what is mead? The short and easy answer is a alcoholic beverage created by fermenting honey with water. Sometimes adding fruit, spices grains or hops. It is somewhere on the spectrum between wine and beer and is one of the worlds oldest fermented beverage.

Superstition Meadery - Peanut Butter Jelly Crime Scene 13% ABV Batch 7


PBJ Crime Scene is a blueberry mead with peanuts added. It pours a deep purple almost black at times, grape juice like. The nose is very wine like. Could be described as somewhere between a dry red wine and a glass of welches grape juice.

I have heard many things about this one but one thing that has been said over and over is that drinking this is exactly like eating a PB&J sandwich. On to the most exciting part for me! The taste. I am/was very curious at how close to Pbj this would actually be.

First sip, I get a huge dry grape taste just like you get on the nose. Very reminiscent of a dry red wine. The dryness gives way to the Jelly! Although it is made with blueberries my palate seems to be translating that to grapes. Juicy grape jelly like a spoon from the jam or jelly jar. You search for the peanut butter but it is initially not there but it is sure to come in the aftertaste. Post sip/drink your mouth is left with the lingering after taste of peanuts. Like you just at a handful of raw peanuts. The second sip is where you get the PB&J sandwich effect. With a mouthful of peanut aftertaste you start the process over again adding a layer of juicy grape/blueberry jelly on top of that and that is what makes this mead PB&J! Repeat, Repeat Repeat. Body is juice like.


I really enjoyed my first mead. The great thing about mead is that it can be sealed up and enjoyed at a later date. Which is exactly what I am doing with PBJ Crime Scene. I would consider this particular mead more in the realm of wine but ones brewed with grains, hops and spices are definitely more in line with beer.

Apologize for my New Mead Sunday rant! Now we can get back to our favorite fermented beverage, Beer!

Cheers BAs