New Beer Sunday (Week 787)

I like CW’s Brewer’s Reserve series a lot...and agree about the BA Cherry Stout...and my two favorites are the BA Cassian Sunset, and the BA Scotch Ale! Cheers!

 

Hello, NBS. My local bottle shop is a small place, and while I am sure they do a really good business, I figured I'd stop by and give them some support today. The retail side of the business is open, while the restaurant is closed but serving to go, with both sides doing curbside pickup. My first beer of the day is the one that drew me towards a visit more than anything else.

Like many, I am a big fan of Firestone Walker beers. I thought FW had a more extensive single hop (and/or a SMaSH) series, but there are only 2 from the series listed here, neither one is Montueka. Actually, I thought the series, which I am likely confusing with another brewery, morphed into the Luponic Distortion series (which I have been generally quite happy with).

My first dose of Montueka that I am aware of came from Ocelot. I can't recall if it was a single hop beer given Ocelot usually uses two hop varieties per beer, but it definitely was the most prominent. It reminded me a bit of a tame version of the Sorachi Ace hop, without as pungent a profile.

So with that background, let's try Single Hops Series: Montueka from Firestone Walker. Self-edit: I am guessing that, while the ABV is a tenth-pct point off, this might actually be the first of their Propogator series, though I am not entirely sure:

Pouring from a Crowler always is a trick with the high lip, especially on that first pour. A peachy flow tumbled from the open wound in the can's top. White edges became a fluffy white froth that rode the cloudy apricot flesh body elevator to the top. The second pour's head was more tame, but was still a tight white cap to the beer. The initial pour looked like meringue as it settled down, sticky enough to adhere to the glass as a sponge clings to the reef it calls home.

Nose is a tad unexpected - there is a light wheat-like aspect to the non-hop components. The look is so cloudy, it is possible this is a component of the beer, though I don't have any info on the makeup of this beer (hell, I'm not even sure which beer it is for sure). I'm getting a light tropical sweetness (coconut, papaya perhaps) along with some more acidic tropical fruit (pineapple). There's a little bit of candied lemon as well.

Feeling is creamy which makes it seem at bit heavier (medium-plus), although it's a little lighter with a light buzz of carbonation. The taste brings a watered down version of the tropical notes from the nose. The lemon is more prominent to my taste senses than it was to me olfactory ones. Funny thing is, smaller sips bring out a bit more of the coconut-like sweetness that I have noted in the hop before, but there's also a light nutty grain note as well. In back, a bit of unripe pineapple comes through. A modest tropical fruit peel bitterness cleans up the end of the taste.

4.25 | 3.75 | 3.5 | 4.25 | 3.75
Overall, the flavors just seem... muted. The scents aren't popping like at your local brewery, but are a bit more interesting than the flavor. It's a good beer, but I was hoping for more of the Montueka flavors in this one.

 

Lol, I do ask for samples though with beers I’ve never had, most places are very generous there. I rarely scout here before I buy though. But I’d say your beer distribution area is infinitely better than mine though, bigger area more breweries. And I love the odd deep dish too.

 

Howdy NBSer's.

Working from home week, all of my face to face meetings have now all gone virtual. I am socially distant except for the virtual, online world. Wash your hands!

Telekinesis by Grimm Artisanal

4.4/5 rDev +4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Canned on 1.27.20, opened 3.15.20, poured into a tulip

One finger white small bubbled foam cap, good retention, good lacings settles to a foamy layer over a translucent pale yellow liquid with small streams of microcarbonation

Aroma is yeast, oak,

taste is tart, lemony, oak, sour apples

Low sudsing, tart, crisp mouthfeel

Good beer

 

Cushwa Brewing Fog at Daybreak New England Pale Ale.

4.62/5 rDev +14.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.

Very impressive beer. The guys at State Line Liquors Elkton, MD were praising the brewery and they were correct, as good of a New England pale ale as I have had recently.

 

Their original Lager with the big V on the label was great. I bought that semi regular back then.

Enjoy

 

Those two beers are world-class, IMHO. I like their BA Scotch Ale better than Founders Backwoods Bastard.

Yep, I typed that. Central Waters is the shizzy dizzy.

 

Great glass.

 

Did you notice if they still had any of their State Line BA Stout they had a month or so ago? Almost drove down to buy it but could not get myself to do it.

Enjoy

 

Thanks, it is a rastal pearl goblet from Levante Brewing in West Chester, PA.

https://www.levantebrewing.com/collections/all-merch/products/levante-staggered-glass

 

I've heard nothing but good things about Chushwa. I definitely need to check them out next time I'm down that way.

 

Thanks I might order 2, completely unique.

I’d like a well made Thistle Glass too, but the ones I’ve seen were just cheap.

 

Good afternoon NBS and thanks to our kickoff agent today. I hope everyone is safe and well, we hiked around MT Tom today keeping away from the few folks we saw.
Todays offering is from BLDG 8 , largely known for The IPA, this is a seasonal Big A stout called the Dark One. It is all of that, with really traditional big RIS qualities that are so very good.
The Dark One

Building 8 Brewing (BLDG8)
American Imperial Stout | 10% ABV

4.13/5 rDev +1.2% | Average: 4.08
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Poured from a 16 oz can dated 2/12/2020 into the test glass
A - Cobalt black, with an exquisite mocha cap. Lacing forms ledges in the glass.
S - Toast malts, espresso, bakers chocolate. Earthy hops reminscent of fall
T - Follows the nose well, with a bit more roast coffee, hints of char, and cigar wrap tobacco.
M - Slick and a bit oily, with a nice balance of bitterness to help clean things up. Linger is of dark cocoa and ash.
O - A very good big A stout, the texture is the strong suit, flavors run the traditional (and welcome) line with roast and cocoa being the centerpiece. Worth seeking out

 

Time for another new beer.



Poured from the can into a Spiegelau IPA glass. Canned February 8th 2020.

Big rich forming head. Talk like a giant fist and off white in color, not quite bleach not quite yellow/khaki either somewhere color-wise in between. Big fat retention on this with bubbly fine swiss cheese and island clumping top. Body color is a slightly hazy, but very nice dark orange appearance, with super very faint reams of slow rising carbonation. Great aggressive looking IPA.

Excellent no bones about it tropical nose. Hits with tropical mango notes, maybe even some leafy herbal green character as well. After some time, there is a very beautiful Christmas tangerine orange quality to this as well. Not exotic or ground breaking, just really basic and really good though.

Palate seems a bit more controlled. Simple malt backbone that flirts a little bit with caramel but stays mostly neutral. Hop pleasure of a good simple orange juicy texture, as opposed to tropical exotic-ness. Good fruity finish, that once again is more orange juice and somewhat clean than tropical fruit.

A good solid tasty IPA.

look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4 | 4.02/5 rDev +0.8%

Cheers!

 

Zipline Apple Brandy Barrel-Aged The Stout, 13.6% ABV. Pours black with a two-finger light brown head that left no lacing. Nose is apple pie, apples and cinnamon. Taste follows, slightly sweet, some bitterness. Excellent mouthfeel, overall outstanding. I didn't love Prairie Apple Brandy Barrel Barrel Noir, but this is better.

4.31/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

This is the beer that Prairie Apple Brandy Barrel Noir wanted to be.

 

I think I did a side by side years ago (2016?) on WBAYDN, and I think BA Scotch Ale just barely beat Backwoods Bastard - both delicious beers. Cheers!

 

NBS! I hope you are all well, healthy and practicing your social distancing. I am very glad I made a big grocery store run this morning before Ohio’s stay at home order was announced (obviously those will remain permissible but I can only imagine it right now). Amazingly no shortage of beer in the coolers despite the rest of the shelves being quite low!



500mL bottle poured into a pils glass
A: Light yellow, 1/2 finger quickly settling head, plenty of fine bubbles
S: Apple, brandy, some funk
T: Matches the nose, mostly apple, a light sourness
M: Light bodied, crisp, a slight sourness
O: This could easily be a cider, very similar feel/flavors. Not much salinity for a gose but quite nice overall

 

Now up Perrin S’mores Stout, thanks @superspak!
3.84/5 rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thank you superspak for this
12 oz can poured into a teku

A- Black with a three finger mocha head.

S- Roasted malts, touch of chocolate, a little smoky, hints of marshmallows and graham crackers. Overall a pretty straight forward stout that has a hint of s’mores.

T- Roasted malts, a little smoky, chocolate, touch of marshmallow and graham cracker.

M- Smooth, medium body.

O- A tasty stout, straight forward. Doesn’t scream s’mores but does have some s’mores qualities.

Cheers!

 

I am only buying beer directly from my three closest breweries until this really surreal situation is over. If communities don't come together on this, breweries will die.
With that in mind, this beer is from 30 Mile Brewery, the oldest brewery of my 3 locals with a whopping 4 years under their belt! They are 1/4 mile from my office and I have to admit, I have not given them the business they deserve. Their beers are good, but at the end of the day or week, the last thing I want to do is hang in my office neighborhood.

On to the beer, Mocha Picchu, an American Stout with Peruvian chocolate powder. The can has a paragraph on it that wraps around enough to not fit in one photo:

We have some travelers in our midst at 30 Mile, our very own beertender, Kim, took a trip to Peru to hike to Machu Picchu. Upon her return she brought us some real Peruvian chocolate powder so Luke IMMEDIATELY set up a new recipe for this gem. This is not your typical sweet chocolate stout, this is surprisingly dry but still filled with a pleasant and balanced dark chocolate backbone. Enjoy the fruits of our travels!

Poured from an undated 16oz can to a Tulip. Pours opaque black/brown with a medium khaki head. Surprisingly the aroma is reminiscent of a barrel aged product, but I this is obviously not the case. Bourbon, must, earth, wood, it would be a stretch to say my nose detects any chocolate.
The taste is my kind of chocolate stout. Dry with a nice bitter feel of a high cocao content dark bar. The mouth feel is decent, but this would be decadent with a little more silkiness.
I will give a 4.25.

 

Good afternoon NBS. Hope everyone is quarantining well. A word about the restaurant industry. I was supposed to start a new Chefs job Monday but obviously like so many I am now out of work. Many, but especially the dishwashers, prep cooks and waitstaff, will never make it through this. Imagine losing your apartment or house or not having food for your family. Please do anything you can to help. I know its not easy. Get takeout. Buy a gift card. There are some little things we can do to help. This goes for your local small breweries as well. Todays beer was purchased on line and then picked up at Proclamation. Very easy to do and you can buy singles. I feel very fortunate to have a roof over my head and food on my table. I hope most of you have the same benefit. If not please reach out. There are alot of people willing to help in these tough times. Todays local gem:
Proclamation Penultimate Unicorn TIPA.
Pours a hazy golden yellow with a 2 finger foamy white head that holds for a good length of time leaving rings of sticky lacing as the drink recedes.
Aroma is really huge notes of crushed pineapple, passionfruit, tangerine, grapefruit, peach and berries.
Taste follows with tropical fruits, stonefruits, white grape, grapefruit, some dark berry and pine resin. Lots of flavor here.
Feel is medium, hint of 10% but not bad, decent carbonation, not too soft with a good sweet to bitter balance. Hop oils coat the tongue finally drying so as not to feel too heavy.
I know these NEIPAs start to sound like a broken record but when you find a triple that seems a bit more balanced and is a little different you have to give props. Yes for hop lovers only, but a really nicely done triple. Supporting local. Now its time to make rhythm. Music is a great healer folks.