New Beer Sunday (Week 725)

Good evening, NBS!

I'm hurting just a bit today - attended the tenth anniversary party at one of my favorite local bar and restaurants last night, followed by a small, private hotel room share, and it has been one of those "stay in bed and regret my actions" sort of days. I didn't get up until 11, tossed a frozen pizza down my gullet and a sour IPA, and now I'm ready to be productive. Too bad it's only a few hours until bedtime now!

Time for a review though... dug this bottle out of the cellar a few days ago and have been looking forward to it.



Today's beer is Black Albert, from De Struise. No. 14 - 2015 vintage. Bottle appears a bit worse for wear - yellowing paper, a bit torn. Carbonation is very mild even poured hard. Decidedly Belgian yeast presence. A bit of baker's chocolate, light hoppiness still, bitter coffee roast. Some vanilla peeking through as well. Mildly ashy and dry in the finish. Occasionally and unpredictably boozy. Reasonably thick body, but taste thins out significantly as it warms.

Unique and memorable. Not a favorite, but this is a terrific beer all the same.

That's probably it for me this evening. Hope you all have a terrific week ahead - best wishes particularly to folks like @Harrison8 who are without power or just dealing with terrible winter conditions. Stay safe and warm, friends!

 

I personally have never had it then but they would periodically produce it for draft at the brewpubs.

Cheers!

 

Happy New American Impy Stout Sunday!

Pretty nice day here on the Western Slope, around 36 at the trailhead, sunny, still some hard packed snow on the trail. Having an awesome brew today, could not fit it on the regular entry, so thanks @Greywulfken for starting a new entry (I think it should be a new one for every year), eventually space will run out under just one entry for the brew, especially this one. This year is going down pretty easy, very tasty! Still watching The Sopranos.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/63/386497/?ba=Wasatch#review

Cheers!

 

Another new brut IPA. This was excellent. Nice fluffy head retention/foamy lacing. Aromas and flavors of big tangerine, red grapefruit, lemon, peach, pear, pineapple, passion fruit, red apple, mango, melon, gooseberry, white grape/wine, citrus peel/rind, wood, peppercorn, and pine hops; with moderate cracker, white bready malts; and herbal, floral, grassy earthiness. Light-moderate pine, citrus peel/rind, herbal, floral, woody, grassy, peppery bitterness on the finish. Medium carbonation, light-medium body, and fairly crisp/clean finishing. Balanced grainy malts, sticky hops; some resins/rinds in the mouthfeel. Moderate increasing bitter dryness, no hop astringency. Very flavorful/refreshing, not aggressive, 5.75%. Definitely Nelson Sauvin, maybe Simcoe as well. Very vibrant, dank, earthy, and fairly juicy hop complexity; with a solid pale malt backbone. No residual sweetness from crisp dryness. Nailed the style, no complaints. 4


Cheers

 

Great review! I feel like I have seen that label at a handful of places around town. May have to track it down out of curiosity.

Thanks for the well wishes. It was a productive day despite not having power until noon, but thanks to the Power & Light teams, we've seen various blocks within my neighborhood with power restored. On my drive to my parents, a handful of traffic lights were out, with only one still remaining off as I got back home. It's now warm in the apartment, although cellar temps took a bit of a dive. I grabbed something for kicks and giggles. That review coming next.

Cheers.

 

Great review as always. This is going on the 'wants' list. Sounds great!

 

That beer was incredible! Cheers...

 

I sure am participating a lot for someone who said they may not participate.... Laundry is done, run has been completed, and most importantly - the power is back on - so I pulled something out of the cellar to sip on while I fix dinner.



4 Hand's Volume 2.

Pours a dark burgundy-brown with two fingers of khaki foam. Head is pillowy and frothy and retains well, leaving behind rings of lacing. Aroma is caramel, molasses, toffee, plums and raisins. There is a hint of Belgian yeast ester, but it fades away quickly. Malts hit notes of toasty, nutty, caramel, and roasty. It smells big, with light booze seeping through the cracks. Flavor profile is smooth, laying out an array of sugary characteristics. Plum and raisin add a kiss of dark fruit, which aids in both the sweetness and smoothness, with toffee, caramel and molasses adding to the sweetness. A touch of oak and booze balances out the sugary notes by way of light bitterness. The heat stays remarkably well nuanced into the beer. Mouth feel is velvety and creamy with a medium-thick consistency. Overall, a great English old ale, with strong malt and dark fruit characteristics and a smooth, velvety texture.

Score: 4.25 | 4.5 | 4.25 | 4.25 | 4.5 | BA Score: 4.36 | rDev: +1.6%

As I typed this, the lights flickered. I'm going to get on with cooking dinner in the event we lose power again. It's hard to fuel for marathon training when your entire kitchen doesn't function.

Have a safe night. Cheers.

 

Good afternoon and happy New Benevolent Sunday, BAs. Finally got back into the wild this weekend starting with a quick little 2.5 mile trek around Wapato Lake. Perfect one to ease the kids back into the outdoors for what I'm hoping to be an adventurous spring and summer.





Then today back out to The Gorge for another short but beautiful hike to Bridal Veil Falls...







...and a pit stop at my spot, Thunder Island.



Now back at home, it's time for another new beer:

Deschutes Brewing
The Ages- Gueze Inspired Ale





Effervescent, bubbly, clean, enticing. The Ages is one for just that. A gorgeous brass glow with an inspired party of bubbles streaming to support a thin bone white foam above. But to no avail. Gravity inevitably wins, but those that stay persistent manage to gather around the coast from beginning to end.

White wine like aromas burst from the surface. Ripe green grapes with a tinge of wooden influence blend with tart raspberries. Underlying notes of hay and sweaty funk round it out with earthy spices and even meaty tones to balance the acidity.

Sweeter white wines continue to be the theme in the flavor. Riesling and Chardonnay alike with a slight buttery touch to compliment the sharp grape likeness. Berry fruitiness is once again present followed by the light influence of clean wooden tones before the mild crushed grain, hay, and sweat come through. Coriander, lemon zest, and white pepper finish the story.

The initial textures of lively carbonation and light, dry body are quickly met by a wall of simple sweetness. It comes full circle with the wood soaking up any residuals. It's mildly tart throughout the duration, the elevated abv not even a factor, and it is exceptionally easy to frequent sips.

Deschutes delivers an easily approachable Gueze-like beer with The Ages. A constant an unaggressive sourness accompanied with distinguishable flavors and an easy drinking feel.

After my official review, I gave The Ages a rating of 4.13, with an rDev of -1.4%.

Cheers!

 

Haven't seen Resilience here anywhere, but would be up for it if it does show.

Good luck and best wish on your treatment, @woodychandler . Your CANdo attitude should help towards a good outcome.

No snow here , unlike most of you farther south. (That is a weird statement isn't it? ). In fact, there is supposed to be a total of 8! straight days of no snow.

I saw this beer here somewhere recently (WBAYDN?), and given the comments about it, looked further. Saw it yesterday, recalled that, so grabbed it. So , essentially …. thanks @cavedave & @TongoRad for this one, Winter Landscape , a black lager/schwarzbier from Industrial Arts. Very smooth , and easy-drinking. A pleasure. (Do let it warm up a bit, if you try it. )

4.4/5 rDev +4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Full review : https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/42049/385198/?ba=mikeinportc#review

 

Hello, NBS friends. I originally had a different beer plan for this week’s iteration of my favorite thread on this site. Locked, cocked, and ready to rock. Yes, I plan my beers days in advance. But I am a true professional.

And then I read the invitation @cjgiant made to join him in a SN Resilience virtual share. Done and DONE. Off to the beer store to see if it had hit yet (it hadn’t last week) - it is HERE!!!

So I picked up a 6er and a couple of other things (one which will be beer #2 tonight) and ran home.

Note: I had the Bell’s version on tap a couple of weeks ago during the visit I made with Mrs O and Little O to that magnificent brewery. Here is their version .....



..... and here is the Mothership version .....



..... with the story .....



..... and the canned on date (it’s fresh!) .....



First note: there’s a discernible difference between the Bell’s version and the SN version (said Mr Obvious). The picture of the Bell’s version is actually darker than I recall - it was actually pretty bright.

Another noticeable difference - the Bell’s iteration has some hop haze. There’s none of that in Sierra Nevada’s - it is crystal clear.

There’s also a noticeable caramalt component to Sierra Nevada’s Resilience. The Bell’s offering didn’t have that.

Enough of the tear and compare - let’s review SN Resilience.

It pours a clear copper color with a tan head. Simply gorgeous. The nose is loaded with pine and fruity citrus hop notes, and there’s a beefy caramalt component as well. Just a perfect balance.

The fruity citrus notes are noticeably up front on the taste, and there’s also resiny pine notes, and the toffee flavors from the caramalt. The mouthfeel matches the gravitas of this excellent beer, with an oily feel notes on beer from the PNW.

From the first sip to the last, you know with that you’re enjoying a perfectly executed beer from Sierra Nevada. This is SNPA’s big brother, with a dollop of Celebration mixed in.

Rated 4.19, I’ll pick up another 6er or two of this. A pleasure to drink, and it supports a great cause.

 

...and my weekend begins...

First up is the latest iteration from the Collective Project: IPA No. 8, from my friends at Collective Arts, Hamilton, ONT.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/32763/385026/

Moutere hops anyone?

I love their artwork and their art director lives here in Stowe, VT. Their US importing office is here as well; great people, great beer!



Moderate pour yields a one inch white head over a hazy, light golden body with some sticky lacing. Nose of ruby red grapefruit, tangerine, candied lemon, candied orange, and slight pine. Taste mirrors nose somewhat with an additional grassy herbal hay thing going on as well. Finish is easy, not too bitter. Nice feel and overall, an interesting DIPA. I've never heard of Moutere hops until now. I'm impressed with this and would definitely recommend this to any and all IPA lovers. Cheers!

4.23/5 rDev +4.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

 

To me, every year is.

Cheers!

 

I went to an annual convention (my 28th of last 30 years) in Orlando this weekend, saw friends of many years, and drank lots of Jai Alai hotel poolside (it was sunny and 81 today).

Today’s new beer is from a brewer I greatly admire and for whose beers I actively trade, repeatedly - Central Waters’ “XX” Twenty Anniversary, a “blend of several barrel aged stouts each aged a minimum of two years.”:

A. Pours at 57 degrees black with ruby edges; fizzy tan (creamy beige center) cap that receded quickly to an island of micro dots; thin ring; spots of lace and medium plus legs on swirl. 4.5



S. Chocolate and charred oak nose with earthy hop notes; some bourbon/booze on the retro nasal; fruity esters, raisins and dried fruits as liquid warms in glass. 4.75



T. Chocolate fudge, oak, bourbon, blackened/toasted brown bread and sweet toffee up front; vanilla and subtle earthy hop flavors (low bitterness) with raisins and sweet figgy pudding middle; heavily toasted (not quite burnt) bread and chocolate malt/bourbon finish. 4.75

M. Medium body and moderate minus carbonation; somewhat smooth but also a grainy feeling/tongue coating; some warmth (13.5%) but not hot or astringent. 4.5

O. I like the boozy charred oak/dried fruit/chocolate fudge linger; the fruit and subtle tobacco, leather and dirt flavors make me think of my favorite quads, but these notes are subtle background complimenting the barrel booze and candy flavors; and there is a depth of flavors here with hints of vanilla beans and coffee beans peaking through as the beverage is consumed; I would have liked a little more body/chewy fudge feel (don’t get me wrong, I’m not talking Funky Buddha here), nevertheless, this Imperial Stout is very engaging, (I hate saying it) complex, and deserves a world class rating. 4.5.

Enjoy your Sunday and Cheers y’all!

 

Awesome IPA. Lasting head retention/thick soapy lacing. Aromas and flavors of big red grapefruit, tangerine, lemon, peach, pineapple, apricot, passion fruit, papaya, mango, honeydew melon, guava, berries, citrus peel/rind, peppercorn, and pine hops; with moderate honey, toasted bread, light caramel malts; and herbal, floral, grassy hop earthiness. Light-moderate pine, citrus peel/rind, herbal, floral, grassy, peppery bitterness on the finish. Medium carbonation/body; balanced creamy/bready malts and sticky hops; light resins/rinds in the mouthfeel. Light-moderate increasing lingering bitter dryness. Super smooth, pretty refreshing, not aggressive, minimal warming 6.9%. Awesome Columbus, Mosaic, Simcoe profile. Very juicy, vibrant, and fairly dank/earthy hop complexity; with a nice bready Munich malt backbone. Mild residual sweetness with lingering resin dryness. Feels very Midwest, rather than West coast to me; but I loved it. Will buy again. 4.13


Cheers

 

A busy Sunday calls for an evening sipper. Westbrook's 8th Anniversary Pecan Cookie Stout.



This is actually my first Westbrook beer. 9% ABV. Pours near-black with a persistent tan head. The nose is chocolate, vanilla, and a slight savory/salty element. The taste is chocolate, molasses, cherry cola, and nutmeg. Whispers of alcohol and wood. The mouthfeel is medium+. Overall, an enjoyable dessert beer. 4.25/5

 

#2, I grabbed this and ran like I was stealing it - straight to the counter. I’m employing a significant amount of artistic license in describing what I do as “running.”



4.02/5 rDev +2.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pour is black with mahogany on the edges and a sudsy tan head. There’s char and cocoa on the nose and ..... something that approximates the Guinness yeast and malt profile.

The taste is very similar to the Guinness 200th Anniversary Stout with the Black Patent malt - if I was tasting this blind, I’d say this was that beer, and I love that beer.

 

Broomstacker from Utepils Brewing in Minneapolis. It’s the first beer I’ve had from this new-ish, local brewery, and it was better than I’d expected.

 

Another new-to-me from Hamilton, ONT.



Moderate pour yields a one inch hazy golden body with lacing. Nose of tropical fruit with a bit of a floral thing going on as well. Taste of citrus, tropical fruit with a real nice finish of citrus and a bit of pine. Very smooth with good feel and overall, yet another highly enjoyable beer from our friends up north. Cheers!

4.17/5 rDev +1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25