New Beer Sunday (Week 723)

I was thinking of you when I was taking pictures. Wait. That came out wrong. So did that...

 

She is good. And my son who was in the passenger seat. She has hit one before but was still rattled because it hit so hard. But she plowed through it like you should. Can replace the truck. She did finally laugh today when she recalled her phone call to me at 6 am.
“I just hit a huge buck”
“How big?...oh shit. You took my truck didn’t you?”

 

So, what you're saying is that you're smarter than @PatrickCT ?

 

Ugh, you can't get a break. Cheers to 2019!

 

Saison Sunday!

This one comes courtesy of the ever present, ever courteous, ever shit shoveling @Lingenbrau . It's from Fort George and part of their "Sweet Virginia Series" which is named after their small batch 8.5 barrel brewhouse.

"The brewer’s worked with Hedges Family Estate to purchase some fresh Syrah grapes, right at harvest. These were smashed and added to the fermenter for five days. After that, the beer went into barrels for several months. The goal was to create a saison that resembles a sparkling Rosé."

Fort George - Blush



Big, huge thanks to Phil for passing one of these along! Popping the cap I'm greeted by a bit of a slow gusher. The glass was at the ready. This is a really beautiful beer. The body is sunset orange with that reddish tint. The clarity is amazing, but this one has been sitting still for a while. The foam is crackling and tightly bubbled with a tinge of color to the white. The foam crackles to a ring after a few seconds but the ring is bolstered by ever present streams of carbonation rushing to the surface. The look alone will make your mouth water. (4.25)

The nose is acidic and bright. Grape forward off the bat, almost jammy like Concord but with a bit more sophistication. Soft oak and an ultra smooth vanilla accompaniment runs the middle. There's a complimentary acidity, it's mild but vinous in nature. There's a really fun play between sweet and sour here, they never clash but it does go back and forth often which adds depth. There's a whisper of bubblegum and faint orchard fruits but this beer centers around Syrah grapes and the barrel aging. (4.25)

The grapes, again, are maddeningly expressive. They remind me of many things but none I can fully put my finger on. Up front they have that big Concord flavor, like what you would expect from grape juice, or Pop Rocks...yeah, in a comforting way. The sweetness segues into a soft vinous tartness in the middle with that smooth oaken vanilla rounding it out. The acidity sharpens on the swallow but remains moderate at its peak. Complimentary bubblegum esters and a background orchard fruitiness round it out. This stuff is really good and really unique. (4.25)

The mouthfeel is dead on. It's lighter bodied with a snappy carbonation. The bubbles are prickly enough to awaken the tongue to that tartness. The finish eventually dries out but there's a touch of ghost-like sweetness, which is wholly appropriate for this particular beer. Drinkability is ridiculous. I can't get enough. (4.5)

Blush is a really fun, interesting beer from Fort George. The use of Syrah grapes and the barrels really did push the boundaries of this beer and and seemed to hit the mark they were shooting for, a sparkling rose. The grape addition really fluctuates from beginning to end and that's what makes this one so enjoyable. Well done barrel aging and a good play between sweet and sour round it all out. Great stuff, Phil. Thank you! (4.25)

4.28/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

 

I did just have some liquid ice cream though

 

Great start @cjgiant! Thank God the year had been great, looking forward to an even greater 2019! This beer is a perfect cap for 2018 as it's balanced and drinkable. I'm talking about Ommegang Bourbon Barrel Aged Adoration, a spiced Belgian dark beer.

12oz bottle into Tulip
BB 9/24/2023
Pours a dark brown with a reddish tinge, and fizzling brown head that leaves a thin cap with great retention.
Aroma has fruity notes, cherry, bourbon, oak.
Taste its caramel, subtle spice, orange peel, cherry, bourbon, oak.
Medium bodied, average carbonation, syrupy feel.
Overall I absolutely adore this beer (pun intended) a nice variation of the usual bourbon barrel aged beers, that is balanced and nuanced.

Cheers again to an awesome New Year!

 

Hi there NBS. Had the pleasure of meeting up with @CanConPhilly yesterday, as he was out this way visiting some family. After sharing a few pours, Matt went and dropped some new beers on me. Today I am reviewing one he wrapped so that I could taste it blind.

Allagash cork and cage, pours a mahogany color with minimal off white head. Smell is what I would compare to a fruit roll up, definitely a dark sour with scents up cherries, funk and apple. Taste is tart cherries, wood and sour gummy worms. Feel light to medium bodied with a super dry finish. Overall an excellent dark sour, which happens to be one of my favorite styles. No idea on the actual beer.

The reveal: Somehow I lost the reveal photo, but the beer was James and Julie. Thanks for this one Matt!

 

First, thanks so much- that was my first review so I tried. Lol

Second, thanks so much for all the advice. I'll have to remember that about if I participate with the beers I ship (to you). Luckily for me I have a long term member to guide me- who actually introduced me to this site. I'll have to ask him to advise me on what beers I ship (to you). I hope he's not one of the miscreants!!!!

 

Well, I have made it back with a new to me beer and for a huge change of pace it is an IPA that I stumbled upon recently. There is no bottle date, but the label is different than the database photo.



By what I can tell, a previous version of this beer was bottle conditioned. I don't see where this iteration makes that claim.

Pours very slightly hazy, golden brown color. The somewhat compact head hangs out and clings tenaciously to the Duvel.

The smell seems pretty pedestrian to me. Somewhat muted West coast IPA - some sweetness, some citrus, some resin. So far, I am not impressed.

The taste...to me it just doesn't deliver on the description, or what I am reading in other reviews from 2018. The taste hits my taste buds like a tangerine or clementine dipped in pine resin. Juicy grapefruit is pleasant. There isn't much bitterness, there's some floral top notes, no maple I can find, and kind of a caramel malt backdrop. I have enjoyed 60 and 90 Minute...this doesn't seem close. And where is da maple? There is a spicy note that strikes me as cardamom... Slightly sweet as it warms, but still not finding the maple. More like a corn syrupy sweetness.

The feel is a bit tingly, but the carbonation is on the mild side. There is kind of a sting developing - mineral or chalky - building as it goes, bordering on unpleasant with about 2/3 of the beer consumed.

This one isn't working for me, folks. It is a kinda "nice" west coast style old school IPA, but it isn't really delivering what it claims. It is an OK beer that isn't around here often and it was expensive. I would not mind that if it delivered on the taste in the way the description implies. So I am going to say it will be in the 3.75 range for me here. I would be hesitant to recommend this beer. Just doesn't seem to be what it claims to be.

Interesting, quality content as always.

Cheers!

 

Speaking of @cjgiant...

 

@WesMantooth Glad all the folks in your truck are OK > Trucks are replaceable, People not so much.

 

Never has anything you have ever said been "not in so many words".

Fort George Sweet Virginia cheers!

 

I would love that beer. I bought a Cab/Merlot blend from Tom Hedges back in the 90s that was g\eat wine at a great price.We always could've sold more than we could ever get....

 

I thoroughly enjoyed it, but I guess you already knew that.

 

Next up-

16 ounce can, very hard to read date. It was printed on the bottom lip of the can ?/19/18. 10 or 11, part of the fresh distro to GA. Still within IPA reason.
Pours a pale yellow, hazy, with a soapy head. Medium sticky lacing on the glass as I drink.
Upon cracking the can, I got a punch of onion and sweaty socks. Thankfully after pouring into a tulip the nose changed.
In glass, whiffs of soft tropical fruit, guava, blood orange, florals.
Taste is overripe pineapple, lemon and orange, grassy, slightly herbal finish. Man I love Citra and Mosaic.
Mouthfeel is light, lively, thinner finish. Hoping for a bit more body.
Overall, another winner from Bearded Iris. I love everything they’re doing.
4.17 rDev -.2%

 

Great review! Year in and year out, Epitome is one of my Top 5 favorite beers. I'm actually glad it isn't available year round. Like It's a Wonderful Life, it should only be savored at this time of the year.

 

Yes. They grow great fruit.

 

I wasn't aware it was a seasonal release. I absolutely loved it though. A bit less chunky and grainy than Lagunitas, I thought Epitome was more smooth and worthy of being a daily drinker. Although at north of 10%, my liver may not agree.

Thank you! And cheers!