New Beer Sunday (Week 700)

Delicious fruit beer. Great head retention/lacing on the glass. Aromas and flavors of big juicy/tart/tangy peaches, red/green/crisp apples, fruit skin/pits, pear, apricot, melon, and light pepper/clove yeast; with moderate wheat, cracker, white bready malts; herbal, floral, grassy hops and yeasty earthiness. Light-moderate fruit tang/tartness; light herbal/grassy bitterness, and yeast spiciness on the finish. Medium carbonation/body, and moderately crisp finishing. Bready/grainy malts; some sticky hops, and fruit tang/acidity in the mouthfeel. Light-moderate increasing bitter/spicy/tart/tangy dryness. Minimal astringency. Very flavorful and pretty refreshing, 5.8%. Really well done, spot on style. Tons of authentic juicy fruits with balanced pale/wheat malts and American wheat yeast; with mild earthy hop bitter balance. Not overdone on any aspect. 3.9


Very nice Berliner. Decent head retention and minimal lacing as expected. Aromas and flavors of big juicy/tart/tangy peaches, blood orange, fruit skin, lemon, lime, pear, red/green apple, melon, white wine, hay, straw, and grass; with some wheat/cracker malts; light pepper, lacto funk, and yeast earthiness. Light-moderate fruity/lactic tart/sourness, fruit tang, and light spiciness on the finish. Medium carbonation, light body, and fairly crisp finishing. Balanced grainy wheat, lactic acid, and fruit tang/tannins in the mouthfeel. Moderate increasing acidic/tangy dryness, mild lingering pucker through the glass, but not overwhelming. very flavorful/refreshing, 4.2%. Not overly lactic. Spot on stuff as expected. Balanced juicy fruits and Lacto; with a solid pale/wheat malt backbone against acidity. 3.9


Cheers, be back again soon

 

I am really looking forward to going back yet again to Dewey Beer Co, good to hear that their beer is killing it! Can't wait!

That's another place that I cannot wait to hit up, both the brewery and the brewpub, and I am really looking forward to drinking Fruit Full Fort! From your description it sounds solid!

 

Brew Bus Juicy Sloot
Double IPA - 8.0% ABV



4.21/5 rDev +4.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

16oz can poured into a pint glass. The can and label bring back some nostalgia “The mouthwatering flavor’s gonna love you.”

The nose and palate both feature tropical fruits and citrus from the hops, a solid malt backbone, and a lingering sweetness in the finish. Overall, this is a really nice double IPA.

 

So this monster thanks @2beerdogs for a very aggressive and complex BA Strong Ale. Poured into a 16 oz Magnify Snulip glass slightly chilled, not sure when it was bottled. Pours a very attractive chestnut with a massive 3 finger head that leaves some waves of off white lace behind after every bold sip. 4.25

Smell I dates, oaky vanilla, rum soaked raisins, caramel, brown sugar, and a hint of must. 4

Taste follows loades of dark fruit, toasted oaked vanilla, bourbon, caramel, brown sugar, and a little smokeyness in the massive finish. 4

Mouthfeel is a little bigger than medium, more carbonation than most at this heft, definetly a tad dry, and drinks exactly like a beer like this should at 15% ABV. 4

Overall this is a huge complex giant of a beer that isn’t for everyone, but I am enjoying and won’t soon forget this Giant. 4

 

#2, this is the 2018 iteration of this massive RIS, so it is technically new to me, but I had the 2013 version (split it with Little O a couple of years ago at Thanksgiving).

We’re splitting it again, primarily because James figured out that Todd Haug (of Surly fame) probably contributed to the brewing of this. James is a HUUUUUGE Todd fan, and has no time for Surly after Todd left, a position I’ve tried to convince him is a non sequitur, but he’ll have none of it.



If you like huge, massive, bombastic RIS’s, this is worthy of your consideration. There are ginormous chocolate notes, some coffee, the vanilla, and loads and loads of the Indian sugar.

Loads and loads and LOADS of the Indian sugar. That’s probably where the “soy sauce” comments about this beer come from, which I don’t agree with, but that ingredient probably takes this beer in a direction that you don’t normally see in this style.

I rated this 4.42 a couple of years ago, and I still believe that’s accurate for my palate, but this beer is definitely a sipper and something to be measured and treated with respect and caution, because it will light you up.

 

Terrapin watermelon gose
..cloudy gold/orange color
..medium body and what i can only describe as fizzy carbonation
...Aroma is cereal/grain, malt, yeast,and a bit of watermelon and watermelon rind
. .....Taste is everything that showed up in the aroma but instead of being in the background the watermelon is forward.very little salt and neither overly sweet or tart.
..overall I found it to be perfect after a few hours of yard work. Flavorful,not too sweet or tart,glad I picked up a six pack

 

Very nice use of lactose.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/40117/359420/



4.24/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Canned on 6/21/18.
Moderate pour yields a well over one inch white head over a hazy, golden body with some lacing. Head dissipates to a ring in more than a few minutes and comes back with a few swirls. Nose of pineapple, sweet citrus (orange, tangerine), and very slight coconut and vanilla. Taste mirrors nose very nicely with a feel that surpasses most (if not all!) lactose IPAs that I've had. Nice job and kudos to reining in the amount of lactose used that for me gets in the way of proper carbonation. Cheers!

 

That's one of my favorites from the Bruery. I was happy when they finally brought it back, after about 8 years, AND bottled it. I love sharing that one. Glad you liked it.

As for bottling date, it should be laser etched on the lower neck pf the bottle.

 

Hello, fellow NBSers!
It has been a rough few days at work, with yesterday really taking the cake. Then this morning I woke up at 5 and couldn't get back to sleep. So I got up, made coffee and read a bunch. Them work which was better today. Now beer. For my beer today I am going to have the last fancy IPA out of a nice little Maine care package sent to me by a buddy up in these parts.

Nothing Gold from Bissel Brothers. Admittedly I have only had a couple of beers from them but that is enough to have made me eagerly anticipate this one. It doesn't say a style on the can, I hope I can be forgiven for assuming it's a double IPA based on the brewer, the ABV and the fact that it is in a tall brightly colored can. We'll see what I think once I try it...

This is a very tasty beer! Lots of citrus flavor and aroma with a nice sugar cookie malt character that I feel like a lot of the great NEIPAs have (despite being so hop-forward as to make a malt profile seem silly).

Here is my full review if'n you care.

Have a nice week, everybody!

 

New Beer Sunday: A Belgian Strong Dark Ale (sort of)

Evenin’ NBSers with a report for consumers of complex, flavorful Belgian style beers.

This evening’s new beer is one of those that doesn’t really have a clear style home on this site since it’s category hasn’t been established. The beer is called Map 40 and it is brewed by Allagash. The brewery describes this beer as being a Belgian stout but on here that creates a categorization problem that has landed Map 40 in the BSDA category by default.

As usual my review, subject to revision until I finish this beer, can be found here:

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/4/206088/?ba=drtth#navigation


The Aromas/Flavors are fairly complex and tightly integrated with lots of coffee and dark chocolate backed up by some light caramel and a bit of piney grassiness. In addition the flavors have hints of dark orchard fruits a bit of sweetness and a touch of almost but not quite burnt dark roasted malt. Once again Allagash has given us a beer that is drinkable, enjoyable and well worth having again. Recommended.

This evening’s music on the player is a continuation of last week’s listening and is more from a collection of music by Johann Strauss Jr.. As I mentioned last week, the opportunity to sit in the concert hall in Vienna for a live performance by the Vienna Philharmonic gave me an entirely new perspective on the music of Johan Strauss, Jr..

Strauss — The Emperor Waltz

Cheers, all!

 

New brewery to me. Excellent hefeweizen! Amazing lasting head retention and thick soapy lacing the whole glass. Aromas and flavors of big peanut butter, banana, bubblegum, clove, pear, apple, and light pepper yeast; with moderate wheat, cracker, white bready malts; some herbal/grassy hop and yeast earthiness. Light peppery yeast spiciness and herbal/grassy bitterness on the finish. Medium-high carbonation and medium body; creamy/bready/grainy wheat and light sticky hops/PB in the mouthfeel. Lightly increasing bitter/spicy/carbonated dryness. No astringent flavors. Very drinkable, minimal warming 8%. Was a big fan of this, tastes just like the PB/Banana sandwich as I hoped. Awesome balance of authentic PB, German yeast complexity, and pale/wheat malts. Spot on style. 4.06


Awesome stuff! Nice head retention/lacing for the ABV. Aromas and flavors of big milk/dark chocolate, cocoa, cinnamon, nutty dark roast coffee, caramel, brown sugar, toffee, vanilla, bourbon, toasted oak, fudge, and dark/brown bread; with light notes of coconut, marshmallow, molasses, smoke, char, dark fruit, and herbal spice earthiness. Slight touch of booze in the aroma as it warmed. Mild roast/char bitterness and cinnamon/bourbon/oak spiciness on the finish. Light-medium carbonation and medium-full body; very creamy/bready/grainy malts; light sticky spice, chalky roast, oak tannins, and increasing dryness. Minimal warming 11.7%, zero barrel booze. Awesome balance of imperial stout malt complexity, cinnamon, vanilla, and fruity/nutty coffee flavors; outstanding barrel integration as usual. Not overly boozy, tannic, or drying. Wasn't as rich as I was expecting, but still impressive. Peruvian Morning remains the top favorite of the reserve series. 4.1


Cheers, have a good night NBS

 

I believe the 16.9 oz bottle was $7.49.

That makes a 6er over $30.

I purchased two of the 16.9ers, and didn’t hesitate (and left two on the shelf to Beer It Forward). But if I lived in your neck of the nape, a $30 6er that was supposed to be a “rotation” beer would give me pause.

 

Another New American DIPA Sunday!

Always a joy to drink something from this brewery. Picking up some sweetness on this one, the first I believe for me, from a NEIPA. Thanks goes out to @larryi86 for the chance.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/28383/355818/?ba=Wasatch#review

Cheers!

 

The last of the mixed 4-pack from Levante and big thanks to Andie B. for the opportunity to try these!


https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/40117/313000/



Moderate to vigorous pour yields a 1/2 inch white head over a cloudy orange body with some sticky lacing. Head is down to a ring in a few minutes but does reappear after a swirl or two. Nose of tropical fruit (mango, papaya) and sweet citrus (orange.) Taste mirrors nose with a citrus pith bitterness near the finish and then semi-dry finish. Nice feel and overall, a rather pleasant experience.
Cheers!

4.08/5 rDev -1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

 

If you are also following WBAYDN, you might know I am engaged in a battle with Dropbox failing to upload pictures. So there will, unfortunately, be no picture of a very lovely beer.

Sticking with the Maine theme, Lake St. George Headwaters grace my glass. This beer is brewed in the Kolsch style. It also supports conservation efforts for the Lake St. George watershed, hence the name I suspect.

The beer pours pale, clear gold into a tall pilsener glass. Immense white foamy head that falls to a cap and leaves graceful bands around the glass like growth rings in reverse.

Aroma...crackery and clean malt. A gentle kiss of lemon floats along, with a grassy and slightly hay-like hop note. Slight wine aroma like white grape. Simple, welcoming.

Taste...delivering a lot of flavor. Crackery and slightly sweet. Bitterness just shy of being assertive, just enough to anchor the beer. Mild grape flavor, slightly spicy, very mild lemon. Thinking it checks all the boxes for the style.

Feel is medium bodied, a nice level of carbonation, a bit of mineral twang.

Got a winner right here and I am glad to have picked up a whole six pack for a change. This beer will be north of 4.0 for sure. A full flavored Kolsch from a brewery I am wishing was not 4-plus hours away. So of their cans have showed up once in a while, but from the brewery visit I fear the more interesting things may be brewery only.

 

Real Ale Brewing Real Heavy
Scotch Ale - 9.7% ABV



4.1/5 rDev +2.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

22oz bottle into a snifter. Sweet caramel and smoked malts make up the nose. The taste is a lot of sweetness and a touch of smoke up front with a smooth finish with the sweetness lingering well after the sip. Overall, Real Heavy is a solid malt bomb that I enjoyed.

 

The Fruit-Full Fort really surprised me, reminded me more of a fruited, less hoppy 120 than regular Fort.

 

Ahoy NBS contributors! My choice for today:

Poured from a 750ml corked and muzzled bottle (no freshness date, but the bottle release was 24 February 2018…so ~ 5 months fresh) into a Teku 3.0 glass

A - Pours a nearly pitch black with a 2+ finger mocha colored, soapy head. Retention was conservative and the edges of the glass reveal brownish hues. (4.25)

S - As one might expect of a BBA Belgian Imperial Stout, the aromas are fairly complex. Aromas from the yeast include a good bit of musty funk (but NOT tart/sour), significant clove phenols (almost star anise/licorice) and esters that include apple and pear. The barrel characteristics are also very apparent which include oak tannin, vanillins, charcoal and bourbon. Not forgotten is a bit of contribution from the malt adding a bit of bakers chocolate. (4.5)

T - Follows the nose with the barrel notes hit first followed by the contributions from the yeast and then a roasty bitterness. You can feel the alcohol warmth in the chest, but is not perceptible on the palate. This one finishes quite dry and tannic. (4.25)

M - Medium Minus body makes for a highly drinkable BBA Imperial Stout boasting 10% ABV. The bottle conditioning delivers copious amounts of carbonation which create an even lighter mouthfeel. (4.25)

O - A well executed BBA Belgian Imperial Stout that balances the yeast and barrel quite well. The body is a bit thin, but easily overlooked. Considering the size of the brewery, BoM never disappoint with their beers and their dedication to traditional processes used by Belgian brewers (especially bottle refermentation). Although not cheap at $20/bottle, I think it is a fair value for all that has gone into producing DoS. (4.25)

I wish everyone a pleasant week!

 

Well Hello not quite Late Night NBS.
Thanks to @lordofthewiens for our start today.
We're getting hot again. AC went out for 2 days, man have I gotten soft in my old age. But it's working again, and just in time. The next 4-5 days are going to be 1round 100.

I was a big fan of Stone for the first 10 or so years, now I think I just take them for granted and rarely buy them. Well, thankfully, I took a chance on their new DIPA.

Fear.Movie.Lions by Stone
16 oz can.
Pours a turbid copper to orange hue. Fluffy white head climbs 2+ inches, and recedes to a gloriously stubborn finger high cap akin to a root beer float. Sticky lacing creeps down the side of the glass.
Smell is great. A smooth ride of fresh, floral citrus notes, crackery grain, and some resiny pine. I'm liking where this is heading.
Taste follows the nose beautifully. Initial citrus, somewhere between orange and lemon, maybe a bit of tangerine. But the malt bill shines, really carrying this along. And the piney, resiny, almost dank notes come through after the citrus. All seems to love working together. Very balanced, nothing overshadows.
Mouthfeel is slightly hefty for style, and it's great. ABV is hidden.
Overall, it's a damn fine DIPA. I hope I find this one in frequent rotation.

4.18/5 rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

I love when a gamble pays off.

 

Oskar blues mama's little yells pils
..clear light amber color
..slightly thin with maybe just above average carbonation
.. Aroma is malt and cereal/cracker/grain, not complex but pleasing
.. Taste isn't too far off from the aroma. Maybe a slight floral,very mild citrus flavor
...it isn't the best but it was worth a try and went well with grilled burgers