New Beer Sunday (Week 783)

Good writeup. And "Alive", wow. I remember the first time I heard that song, I was blown away.

 

Hey, I built a similar oven. Took me a lot of trial and error to make proper pizza with it. I hope your learning curve was much shorter. Cheers!

 

Alright, here's the odd one...



Mixed culture bière de garde brewed with maple syrup & smoked malt, aged in wine barrels...? Wut. Pours a ruddy copper color with some very active carbonation (as you can see...) that settles down after the entirety of the bottle is poured in, and a smallish head that doesn't retain too well overall. The color is kinda attractive in its own way, and the lazy look of the beer follows along with my understanding of bières de garde. Beers for keeping, savoring, enjoying. Cheers to you all!

The nose here is sweet and nutty with a caramel/toffee overtone that is mildly-affected by the barrel-aging. Not sure what kind of wine barrels, but I would assume they're pretty neutral, they just seem to lend a light note of acidity. But, then again, this is also mixed culture, so I don't know where the sourness from the base begins and the barrel funk begins. The maple is very prominent here, though, too. Smells like Fall, which stands in stark contrast to the nice, sunny day I'm enjoying here in Massachusetts. Can't detect much in the way of the smoked malt, but I also did not expect this to be overtly-smoked. I felt that would probably be too much weird stuff happening, even for this beer. I'm still surprised how well the barrels and maple play together. Can't wait to sip!

First experience on the tongue is definitely a little less crazy than I figured it'd be, all things considered, but it still managed to surprise me. It has more sour/acidity than I thought it would have based on the smell, so that was interesting, but it's actually also a little smokier, too. Some light phenols and maltier notes with some of the caramel and maple from the nose translating well on the tongue. No real note of the higher strength here, which makes this a bit dangerous. Still, it's definitely a sipper and an oddity. A little bit of citrusy crispness baked into the malt-forward base beer, and I swear I can actually pick up a bit of vibrant Chardonnay here. Almost has a caramel apple cider flavor at the end of the day, though the smoked malt is subtly changing that aspect here and there. Definitely an unusual brew. I support HW for doing stuff like this... it's really oddly inspired and high-quality. Cheers to new beers in your glass!

 

Right along here NBS players. 15 years ago I was in my mid 20's. My go-to craft beer was Toasted Lager, from Blue Point. I would buy it by the case. I still miss the original label.

My second, and final, new beer today is again from Sixpoint. This is Atomic-Res, a new England triple ipa. The can claims it uses a process of adding Hop Has to the dry-hopping process. "Super dank, highly concentrated, sticky residue is collected during palletization, then frozen with liquid nitrogen. The brew checks in at 11.8% abv, 0 ibu, and has a 1/28/20. ntract brewed/canned in PA.

A rather murky orange color on the pour with a big head of white foam. Citrus fruit on the nose and I mostly get tangerine. The beer hits with a big burst of hops upfront on the initial drinking. The hop flavors are nicely concentrated as well. A smooth and rather sweet flow that seems to finish that way as well. The more I consume the more sugary it seems to become. I'm getting some tropical/pit fruit with mostly orange, mango, pear, and peach. Full bodied and it drinks nicely smooth despite its high abv.

Overall, not bad but it just drinks way to sweet for me. If they could dial that aspect down I think they would have a real winner here. Gonna be in the high 3's again at best

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I See You, a DIPA brewed with cantaloupe from Finback.
4.02/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a cloudy golden color with a massive fluffy white head that was well retained and left islands of lacing. Smells like cantaloupe juice with some tropical notes and some sweet malts. Taste is once again cantaloupe juice with hints of peach, lime and mango, as well as a sweet malt backbone. Light side of medium bodied, soft carbonation, very mild bitterness and a soft mouth feel.

 

Tree House Triple Shot


Pours pitch black in color with a big, spongy mohagony colored head.


Smell is of chocolate covered coffee beans, together with a lighter roast and licorice quality to it. Packs a decadent bitter chocolate smack among accentuating caramel and a note of charred coals.


This has an incredibly smooth and silk mouthfeel, featuring a decadent, fuller body. Each sip drinks utmost creamy and soft, with a long lasting burst of flavors.


Tastes of sugar glazed coffee beans, lending milk chocolate and a rustic dryness to roasty, spicy malts. Offers a phenomenal creaminess then with bitter chocolate and licorice, balanced by a fair amount of toastiness. Develops a late, well working, espresso rock sugar peak, which hid underneath the licorice for the longest time, blending well into the chocolate, covered by a late, dry bean appearance.


This is quite the coffee stout. While this ranges definitely a little more on the sweeter side, it packs a great amount of roast, whipped cream and dry coffee, establishing a fantastic balance and depth.

 

I'm very sorry for your loss. Our dogs truly are a special part of our lives.

 

Let's see... 15 years ago, I was well into enjoying craft beer, I just didn't recognize good tasting beer was supposed to be some kind of revolution. I was enjoying Summit and Schells here locally, and whenever I traveled, I would ask for whatever was local, so staying away from the big boys, but getting local beers like Yuengling, Sam Adams, Shiner, etc, depending on where I was. This was pre-Surly here in MN (and, TBH, I didn't like their first highly hyped beers... but my taste has broadened since then.)

My first beer in a few. ( I'm drinking it now but I have to upload the pic, finish the review, etc.)

 

What a touching tribute; sincere condolences.

 

Two "great" ratings in a row!

 

First one for today. A friend called last month and asked if i was interested in the rest of his Costco Advent package. It seems he had consumed 4, but was having some kind of alergic or other reaction to beer. He's been a beer drinker for year, and is a home brewer as well, so he was a bit bummed. I said, "Sure, what do you want for them"? Anyhow, we struck a deal, and I am now the proud owner of 20 Advent beers a full 2+ months after they were marketed to be consumed, so we'll see. I'll have one today, and then maybe a couple of other beers I had already lined up for today. It will take me awhile to get through the 20 in this pack, but what the heck? They are already likely on the downhill slide due to age.

I decided to start at the low ABV end, so first up is:

Urtyp Hell Edel Bayer, a German Helles brewed by Privatbrauerei H. Egerer
ABV: 4.6%
IBU: NA



The can is optimistically dated with an Exp of 5/2021.

Pleasing aroma. Not overly strong but nice enough. Grain dominates with herbal hops as well.

Clear and golden, with the pilsner glass nicely showing off the rising bubbles to the 1/2 inch white head. The head recedes fairly quickly, but the nice-looking bubbles continue. What lacing there is slides down into the beer in a few minutes.

As with the aroma, pleasant German lager taste. Mouth feel is smooth. Bready malts and noble herbal hops (although lightly present). Nice drinking and enjoyable. Just the barest hint of bittering on the finish. The finish is more malty and bready than crisp.

Mouth presence is moderate on the feel, but thin in the body.

Overall, nothing offensive. It's enjoyable to drink with plenty of flavor for a beer which is kind of mid-way between a European Pale Lager and a German Helles. This would be a higher rated very flavorful Pale Lager, but as a Helles, it is very ordinary.

L: 3.75 | S: 3.5 | T: 3.75 | F: 3.75 | O: 3.5 | BA rating: 3.56

 

My condolences my friend. It is always hard to loose a loved one. Even when you know they are not going to live long. I have buried 4 in the last year alone.

 

Totally impressed with this one - not often that a local can perform as well as nationally-recognized ‘hazy’ IPA’s.

Scores are 4.25 across the board, bright appearance, citrus juice pops on the nose and palate, crushable at this mouthfeel and abv...so refreshing.

Try it if you get the chance, cheers!

 

Oh dear Lord that is rough.

 

We have decided to keep only a dog and a cat from now on.
No more multiple babies to worry about. It is hard.

 

23 Feb 2020 2 Added, 1st Stout Reviews, and one FINALLY: Hopslam Classic top DIPA
Hopslam Ale | Bell's Brewery | 10% DIPA
4.43/5 rDev -1.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Getting to this famous brew, love the other offerings of Bells.
a) Satisfying. hazy golden/orange bronze, with white head lots of retention and lace.
s) Bigger, flowers and honey tempered by pine hops.
t) Sweet and honeyed while tempered by multi-faceted hops
f) creamy, bite falls in balance with the sweet, hides the ABV.
o) Lives up to its storey'd reputation.
Moon Dreams | Grimm | 5.7% American Stout
4.18/5 rDev +3.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
1st Review. Added by Act25.
a) best looking glass - lace, shards, lasting khaki head over a black body.
s) roast, wood, oatmeal, fire, herbal cabinet.
t) Continues these subtle flavors in a smooth blanket.
f) Smooth, but thinner lighter, dry roast body.
o) Classic oatmeal dry stout. Among the best.
Thrilled to be adding artisanal brew.
Proper Pint | Mikkeller NYC | 4.5% Dry Stout
4.04/5 rDev +2.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Added by Act 25. 1st Review. Actually brewed at Mikkeller Citi Field in Queens NYC. (and actually a dry stout)!
a) Brown body ample head scant lace.
s) Perfect roast dry stout aroma.
t) Followed by see-saw roast to sweet to dry toast finish.
f) mid weight like guiness, but dryer.
o) Great food beer, tonight with sushi.
Sum greater than parts. Welcome to NYC and our water!

 

The Frog Abides

4.1/5 rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thank you superspak for this
16 oz can poured into a tulip

A- A hazy golden amber with a two finger white head.

S- White chocolate, vanilla, some coffee.

T- White chocolate, vanilla, marshmallows, coffee.

M- Smooth, medium body.

O- An interesting white stout, reminds me of eating Lucky Charms and have a coffee that’s a little on the sweet side. A unique beer worth trying.

Cheers NBS!

 

I built this one over a summer (2012). It took about seven years to get a really reliable dough recipe in place. I still have a lot to learn ( in every realm).