New Beer Sunday (Week 678)

English speakers like compound names as well, e.g., West Coast IPA, NEIPA, etc. so the Germans have no monopoly on modifcation to differentiate among alternatives and as a way of specifing or indicating which alternative they mean.

While you're focusing on what reviewers should or shouldn't be doing, it's important to keep in mind that most of the people reviewing for this site are not trained in sensory analysis. Nor is the categorization scheme in use the definitive last word (but then such a definitive categorization scheme does exist at all, so....) Basically what you're effectively saying is that this site should not exist at all because people are human and there's no value to having untrained reviewers making judgments they are not qualified to make.

In reality you are actually making a better argument for why written reviews should be required to be able to rate or assign numerical scores at all. Then it would be possible for someone reading the review to decide whether to pay attention to the scores or not.

 

My two favorite things about the "Hints and Hauls" thread: starting the spreadsheet (this is the one I used in NBS BIF #4) .....


..... and posting this when I figure something out .....



BIF's and the H&H thread are like going to college all over again - they can be very educational (I've learned more about geography - by a LOT - in BIF's that I did in the Geography 101 class I took at IU), and they can bring out your inner teenager like nothing I've ever seen.

#GoodTimes

 

First contribution today is Perennial Sump. I originally purchased this as a gift for a friend who's a coffee fanatic. Our schedules haven't meshed for quite awhile, and this one found itself being shuffled back in the cellar. The Drink It Now Day seemed as good a day as any to finally open this one.

A bit older than ideal (bottled 01/2017), but it really held up well! Vigorous pour yielded jet black with 2+ fingers of frothy overflowing chocolate brown head. Nose was roasty goodness, both malt and coffee. The coffee on the nose fades a bit as it warms, but given it's age I was impressed with how it held up. Taste follows the nose but with the coffee holding on longer than on the nose. Moderate bitterness on the finish. Mouthfeel is a bit thin but with higher carbonation. I liked this one so much that I plan to go grab a bottle of the 2018 later today. Rating link, BA score = 4.42, rdev = -0.2

 

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/24940/273837/?ba=Lone_Freighter#review

Summary: Aromas of sweet and tart red cherries delve into some lemon and light vinous sweetness. Grassy hops and some 'Brett' features round out the edges. Flavors initially lean sour but seem to develop a slight sweet and tart character as it warmed. About medium bodied with what I call an in-between quality of me wanting to gulp gallons of this to having enough "sour" to tell me it's an American Wild Ale. Mostly, it's a beer wanting to remind someone of drinking 'cherry pie' but a part of me wanted some 'pie crust.' Questioning myself on this one just a little bit as I'm asking myself - did I not let this one 'warm up enough?' Honestly, I'm not exactly sure, but I'd still have this one again. And perhaps next time, I might get pie crust (I hope).

 

Greetings fellow NBSers! It's 27 degrees at 11:20am here in the Fourth Corner, with a trace of snow on the ground, along with a stiff breeze, the remnants of a couple big storms that rolled through yesterday. My first submission today was an impulse buy at 7-11 last night. I hate the 24oz can format, but hell, it was only $4. https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/2210/81490/?ba=beertunes#review

 

Rogue double chocolate stout, pours a solid key black. Aroma is milkchocolate,vanilla,coffee and malt. Thick body and creamy feel, the chocolate coats your tongue and lingers a long time. Taste is a mix of dark and milk chocolate followed by vanilla and a bit of espresso. Not overly sweet but this still falls into dessert beer category. Overall it was really well done and a bit different than other types I've had in this style. I would definitely look for it again

 

@lordofthewiens I know it's different with adult patients, but pasted below is a graph from a 2017 study of several hundred thousand Medicare patients. They associated slightly better outcomes with female physicians.

Back with a new beer soon!

 

New Russian Imperial Stout Sunday (Week 678)
Greetings fellow NBSers from on the ridge in Mid Hud Val, NY. Actually worked this weekend to help the Town Supervisor out of a jam. Snowed last night so had to dig myself out first, and then dig the roll offs out at work, since the plow guy can't back blade closely enough, man power has to do the rest. Lucky me. This to say I am in need of relief, and when I spotted this beer on shelf I remembered that @Greywulfken had reviewed it and enjoyed it, and saw it was 9% ABV, so my choice to buy was easy to make. Stock photo

Pours a thick looking and opaque black with a finger of tan head that kicks back pretty quickly.

Tasty med. strength aroma that features toasty malt that is moderately sweet and not syrupy, bright roasty notes including dark roast coffee, and burnt caramel, and notes of herbal bitter.

Sweet malt, dark caramel, dark toast, roasty bitter with a slight acrid edge to it, with an end of sip that is full of roasty and herbal bitter.

Med. bodied, med./high carb, light/med. viscosity, and a decent finish that could be a touch cleaner.

Quite a nice, simple RIS. A bit light bodied for style, but full of flavor, and enjoyable. Recommended.

Hope you also have a Great North American Beer in your glass. Cheers!

 

I'm clearing out some beers out of the fridge. A bunch are leftovers from trades I haven't had a chance to try yet. My apologies for the fuzzy pics, my phone camera lens is scratched...


Infinity + 2 DIPA by Sand City Brewing Co.

No canning date on this one but judging from the strong hop aroma it can't be more than a month or two old. Pungent new-wave hop aroma, lots of pineapple. Lots of pineapple in the flavor profile as well with a bit of peach & passionfruit. Slightly dry finish and the 9% abv burn is almost non-existent. I can see why Sand City is highly regarded, this is a fantastic DIPA. 4.55/5


I haven't had a nice imported beer in a little while. I've never seen this Helles before so I figured I'd give it a shot


Hell by Aktienbrauerei Kaufbeuren (ABK)


Pours a beautiful clear golden color with a fluffy white head that takes a long time to dissipate (though I should've cleaned my glass better, to be honest). It has that wonderful Helles aroma that is always so hard for me to describe. Freshly baked bread, a bit of herbal grassiness from the noble hops. Full bodied flavor from start to finish, has that honey-like malt flavor that I love about the style. Noble hops are there, adding the signature herbal bitterness that keeps this from becoming too sweet. Crisp and dry finish. Overall this was a a great Helles that I'd love to have again. Good price too. 4.1/5

 

Happy Sunday, NBS crew! Starting late today with my last new Foreign Objects can. It has put me in a very good mood.

Foreign Objects - Mind/Body/Light/Sound
DIPA - 8% abv
Canned 1/23/18 (26 days ago)
Purchased for $6.49 at Monde Market
Score: 4.62 (+10.8% rDev)



L - 1-finger foamy white head atop a completely opaque, orange juice body. Wowee wow, what a stone cold stunner! From a distance, this could easily be mistaken for actual oj.

S - very tropical. Mango, papaya, stonefruit, grapefruit.

T - follows the nose. A tropical fruit explosion! The Galaxy in this one absolutely shines. Moderate, enjoyable bitterness, with very low sweetness, and no booze.

F - thick and creamy with below-average carb.

O - this is near-perfect. It does everything right. Wish I could find another can (or 4-pack!) but alas, they were hard to come by around me. My favorite beer of 2018 so far.

 

One final entry as I need to drink down the garage cellar that appears every winter. I picked up this 12oz. bottle of Prairie Pirate Noir a few weeks ago at one of my regional haunts. Let's pour it in my Prairie snifter that I received in a past NBS/BIF. I believe it was part of a generous haul from @Dragginballs76 if my feeble mind is correct? Apologies if I'm mistaken!

It pours a medium thick brown with a small finger of tan foam. It settles ever so slightly revealing a little lacing. The smell is spiced rum, chocolate, molasses and mild tobacco. Taste is mildly spiced rum, oak, tobacco and burnt brown sugar. The feel is thin, but creamy. There is considerable alcohol burn in the finish.

I love Prairie Bomb and have no problem ponying up for them. My experience with other stouts from Prairie usually leave me empty and longing for the same experience. This one is no different. It's pretty much rum and oak forward with not a lot of complexity or feel to it. I'm okay with trying it once, probably not again. My score is 3.98 / rDev-4.8%.

That's probably it for me today. I'm not a NASCAR guy, but I always find Daytona a good watch and will park it on the couch. Have a great week, here's the official scorecard for game 2......

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/30356/93454/?ba=Prager62#review

 

Now that the darkness of the NFL season is over, Spring Training is under way, and I'm streaming the Daytona 500. life is better again. It's still 27 degrees by the bank clock, at 12:43, and i'm working on a barrel aged, Bretted ImpIPA from my friend Kraus: https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/21567/306683/

 

Good afternoon and happy New Baltic Sunday! I've been the recipient of a lot of generosity lately. Over the years I have gathered that at least some BAs genuinely do take joy in sharing beers that they love, and I do as well. Generally, those beers are wonderful, and I think it's pretty awesome how our country as a whole have become so great at this profession. Today's new beer for me comes from @PatrickCT . Say what you want about him, we all know I do, but he's a good guy for sharing some wonderful beers with me. A mighty fine treat while working my ass off in the basement...

Relic Brewing
Spectral Beast- Baltic Porter



Just like Patrick's heart, Spectral Beast pours a menacing black as sin, like a diseased forest on a pitch black night. It's clean though, mirroring my handsome face in it's reflection, as a dark tan head rises and falls victim to the black hole below.

It punches you in the face with intensities of roasted almonds and charred white buns hot off the grill. Chocolate, coffee, and mineral rich water drag behind before a wonderful woody note drifts distantly.

This is bold. The roasted grain is so dominant, and a reminder of coffee and cigarettes at a late night show keep jeering me on to take another sip. I can take it. Bitter chocolate, more oak,and just the slightest notion of alcohol rounds this beast out.

Classically, Baltic Porters are lagered yet can feel rich and dense. This is just that. Oily and smooth, warm, roasted and bitter. It coats everything it comes in contact with, yet does not feel thick. It is a sturdy beer.

This is magnificent. It almost straddles a line between a Russian Imperial Stout and a Baltic Porter, but either way, it's damn good. I've been sipping on this for over an hour, and I intend to enjoy it a while longer. Indulge in this if you can. Thanks again Patrick!

After my official review, I gave Spectral Beast a rating of 4.21 with an rDev of +1.7%.

Cheers everyone, and I will see you all soon.

 

Kidding and exaggerations aside, I'm really not trying to say anything close to that, nor am I trying to touch upon any issues regarding your first two points... which means that I'm not doing a good job being clear with my thoughts. I honestly think you must see me as an extremist in many cases, but I'm not. Regardless, let's leave it at that so NBS can be about NBS. Cheers mate.

 

New beer #2.

Sexy Beast - Dock Street
Chocolate Stout - 7% abv
Purchased for $4.29 at Monde Market
Score: 3.83 (+0.3% rDev)



L - 1-finger hazelnut head atop a deep dark brown body.

S - dark chocolate, some other sweetness (caramel?), coffee, peanuts?

T - Dark chocolate at first, then peanut butter. I’m not sure if there is actually pb in this beer, but it’s definitely in the taste. Mildly boozy with a noticeable bitterness. Not very sweet.

F - medium body and carb. Very dry.

O - A very confusing beer. I thought this was going to be a dessert stout, but it’s not sweet at all. Then throw unadvertised peanut butter into the mix, and I don’t know what to say. The dark chocolate they used does taste quite nice at least.

 

Headed to Solace Brewing to try out a few things before meeting the parents for dinner. Mainly samples, but I threw some thoughts (most under 150 chars) for most.

Started with Thunder Buddy, a “regular” IPA which I had a full pour of and wavered on but like an aging adult, determined the Thunder was actually not as scary as it started out being.

But I wasn’t ready for the Sucker Punch that came next, but I will get retribution with a full pour and full review.

That punch left me with Foggy Goggles, which I was too dazed to actually review
(I hope I get another shot to correct this, as I thought the brewery notes [which will be there eventually, I am sure] were close save for the “resin”).

From there, thing improved to Partly Cloudy, which was juicy, but felt more like a standard DIPA, which is a “flaw” in marketing more than anything.

At this point, the media was just asking Clown Questions, and I refused to answer more than the brewery toe-the-line answer (added notes).



Sucker Punch dry-hopped sour is pictured. The link above will hit my updated review.

A nice, citrusy tart, Brett-like funky table beer. It’s not too bitter, but I feel the hop bitterness plays into the funk more (have no idea if Brett is even involved, guessing so). There’s a lemon-lime soda aspect here, but more citrusy, and far from sugary. A comparison would be Allagash’s Little Brett, which would probably crush this in a side-by-side, but it’s down that venerated (by me) brew’s road. It’s not as bitter, and as such, I think I’d love a few of these later this year, when summer hits.

 

Sticking with San Diego for a bit, my first Modern Times brew.

Pours a hazy orange with two fingers of thick white head that hung around for awhile.
Getting ripe tropical fruits on the nose, a little pine and citrus too.
Taste follows, resiny pine up front, ripe papaya, guava, light citrus of lemon and tangerine. A bit of tangy sweet wheat.
Medium bodied with good carb levels.
Overall a pretty flavorful brew, especially for the low ABV. Looking forward to cracking into a little heavier one next.

 

Happy Sunday nbs players. A cool but nicely sunny winter day here on the island. Taking it pretty easy and just doing odd things around the house while devoting plenty of time to relaxing. I can’t take much more Olympic coverage and am pretty eager for baseball to begin- a month and a half away.

I’m a bit on the fence with the bif. I’ve enjoyed doing them but there seems to be a glaring and growing problem. The majority of ba’s who participate in nbs do not do the bif and the majority of the ba’s who do the bif do not participate in nbs.

My new beer today is Rye On Rye, a whiskey barrel aged ale, from Boulevard brewing. The brew checks in at 12% abv (no work tomorrow) and has a 12/4/17 bottle date.

The pour gives a ruby red color that looks very pleasing in the light. Murky clarity, moderate carbonation, and a subtle white head. On the nose i mostly get a tart berry smell with some whiskey hints and malt. The drinking starts very smooth on the first few sips. The barrel comes off much more in the booze factor but it’s super smooth and really works well. I really get the strong flavor of the whiskey and the rather clean tannins. It stays equally smooth on the flow and with nice and dry spice notes from the rye on the finish.The berry flavor carries over from the nose and becomes even stronger on the taste. A mixed berry/cherry flavor that really seems to add just the right amount of sweetness. The mouth feel is full bodied. Dry, but also slightly sticky with the flavors lingering after each sip. Not sure about the base but I’m guessing some sort of old/strong ale?

Overall, this is really good. The flavors are abundant and never seem to get boring. Very strong and in your face but yet also very clean and refined. A real change of pace from bourbon too. I’m in the 4.3 range here players.

 

if you like Baltic Porters, shoot me a message. I got a local one you'll like.