New Beer Sunday (Week 787)

I'm sure you made Jack proud!

 

And my brother, who you've met, came out for a few days. Unfortunately, we were trying to follow social distancing protocols (have a few dear ones who are more vulnerable) but we still shared some good beers, especially Bosque's Scotia.

 

Good evening NBS
I just finished my fourth 12+ hour day at the mill and I'm ready for a beer...

The review:
12oz can stamped 19358 356 HA (about 3 months old) poured into a Spiegelau stout glass at just above fridge temp 13.5% ABV. Can label states 12 months of bourbon barrel aging. The beer pours dense black with very little light penetration and plenty of light brown head on a hard pour. The head recedes to a thin layer of bubbles and ring leaving a little lacing. The aroma was hot bourbon upon the crack of the can but it's settled into fudgey chocolate bourbon balls now. The taste is semisweet with bourbon as the first and last flavor. I get chocolate, caramel, coffee and dark roasted malt in the middle. Moderate bitterness. The mouthfeel is medium bodied, adequately carbonated and mostly dry in the finish. Only a touch of alcohol heat in the finish as it warms. Overall, great. I've had better BBA RIS, but rarely at this price range. Wish I would have bought four instead of one.

Cheers all, stay well and enjoy the new beer in your glass!

 

Well Hello not-so-Late Night NBS
This is an interesting time. Unfortunately my brother had to come out to handle a problematic situation locally. Fortunately, I got to see him.
And we shared this gem:
Chocolate Macaroon Imperial Stout by Untitled Art
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/47802/430052/?view=beer&sort=&start=0

12 oz can stamped 07/16/19
Pours a deep, dark brown. A bountiful, frothy, packed, mocha colored foam pushes more than 2 fingers high. The retreat is slow with surprisingly little lacing.
A divine aroma leaps from the glass. Caramel-tinged chocolate, toasted coconut, almond, hazelnut, and finishes with all of that coming together like the glorious smell that rises from a chocolate soufflé the moment you dig in with a spoon.
The taste follows suit to an extent, but it is nearly impossible to follow that nose. It's still an elegant ride. The deep chocolate base with a bountiful melange of caramel, nuts, and coconut is right up my alley.
Mouthfeel is medium yet thins at the end. mild carbonation.
Overall, an amazing drink that's only mildly lacking on mouthfeel.
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25
4.37/5 rDev +1.9%

I'd hit this on a regular basis if distort keeps dropping in my neck of the woods.

 

One more new beer today, The Bruery Mash & Coconut from 2017.

4.31/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

750 ml bottle, 2017, poured into a tulip

A- Brown with ruby red highlights and a two finger off white head.

S- Dark fruit, toffee, bourbon, coconut, some vanilla, oak.

T- Dark fruits, toffee, coconut, bourbon, vanillas, cherries.

M- Smooth, medium to full body.

O- A tasty barelywine, coconut works well with the base beer and bourbon barrel.

Stay safe everyone, cheers!

 

Back with another one. That crowler from TT's made it a whole day in my fridge.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/50086/475133/?ba=woemad#review
Had to add this one to BA. A nice rye IPA. My only quibble is that it's got a thicker malt backbone than I prefer in an IPA, rye or otherwise. Okay, maybe two quibbles, the other being I couldn't try this and other TT's beers while dining on some quality BBQ at the source, but Covid-19 is to blame for that.

 

This was highly recommended by several people. I've liked, to loved, all of Beer Tree's sour NEIPAs that I've tried, so it didn't take much convincing to get me to go for Trippy Tree. Apparently this is going to be part of a series ,being the second entry under that name this year, this time with pineapple,coconut, and mango .


I have 7 new-to me beers on hand. Not sure what I'll get to , but I suspect I went with the best first. This is fan-frickin-tastic ! Lives up to the advance-billing . Nice balance of sweet & sour, & also between the various flavors. Really well done. I may need to go get more.

(Gave one to a co-worker - wiped it down , bagged it , handled it with fresh-out-of-the-box bags, & dropped it off on the back patio with some plants[She needs projects ] that I also handled with fresh garbage bags. )

So only 2 left. I think I'm good to go for weeks, with no interaction, but damn.... hate to miss out.

L : Looks ike apricot nectar, with a slight head

S : Overwhelmingly mango. Swirling gets some brief flashes of peach pie filling, candied pineapple, coconut , & fresh bread (wheat?) I want to strap the empty can to my face.

T : Pina colada (but less sweet than the drink) initially, then mango in about equal measure. Light, & very lightly sweet, coconut creme flavor & bitterness linger after swallow. Everything is beautifully balanced.

F : Medium , slightly oily, slightly pulpy, then lightened by the very finely-prickly carbonation , that lingers after finish

4.7/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/51814/474294/#navigation

 

Remember BAs these are different and difficult times. Let's not criticize the one who starts this thread. We need to stick together and be kind to each other !

 

Ok, ending the new beers on another beer with Montueka hops. This one also has Wai-iti and Citra, in that order listed ahead of Montueka. I don't know if it's commonplace to list the hops in usage order, as I doubt there is any requirement like there is by the FDA for foodstuffs.

To be honest, the use of Montueka is why I bought this beer. Commonwealth Brewing Company is one of those breweries that seems to put out a lot of new beers. My store often gets a drop of about 4-6 different beers every week or two. I'm sure they're not all first runs, but I think many are. Most are NE IPAs, and those that I've had by them are generally in the ok range, so I've gotten to skipping them. Let's see if I should start paying attention again with Pakepakeha.


This is a custard-looking beer with its head acting as a smoothed out dollup of whipped cream. A mountain of lace drops to a valley that circumnavigates the glass. The nose has a light sweetness that has accompanied the NE NIPAs I've had today. There's a peach and a pineapple/orange note that make up the main scent. The Montueka isn't obvious here, but a light coconut cream aroma comes to me when I take a long, slow whiff of the beer.

Taste seems to mix what I expect from Montueka and what I seem to recall from other Wai-iti, a tarter citrus note like lemon or lime. The beer has a smoothness to it that seems like lactose may be involved, especially when paired with a bit of sweetness in the middle of the taste. Lactose isn't mentioned, so I doubt it is used, but the beer has of its a couple characteristics.

The back of the beer has a bit more raw green bitterness sneaking in. This is where the flavors get a bit jumbled with the sweet, tart, and bitter fighting for the same taste buds, it seems. So overall, it opens up ok, gets a little sweet for my tastes, and then gets a tad jumbled. To answer the question above, nothing here that will make me start paying more attention to their local drops.

 

I wasn’t criticizing anyone, especially @superspak whose reviews are thorough and in depth. That’s the core of the thread. Just adding to the conversation and agreeing with @beerloserLI, and noting that while spending more time reading this thread than posting in it, one of my favorite parts was the camaraderie of sharing personal stories of a common theme.

 

I predict my target will for BIF will get a few of these stellar beers,

 

^ Hey Frank. Getting through, without flippin' out?

First time I've seen anything from Lickinghole Creek, so gave it a shot .

Short version : good, but I don't see where anything is gained by making it a TIPA , rather than a DIPA . Semi-sweet caramel/toffee malt presence, balanced by some citrus rind/pine bitterness. It's in the Nugget Nectar /Hopslam/Flower Power vein, but less sweet, and with less prominent hop flavor. I like it, but don't see getting more when these 4 are gone, as I'd rather have the above-mentioned 3, & others that escape my memory atm.

Don't get me wrong - I am enjoying it - it's smooth & easy-drinking ,- no noticeable alcohol presence - , just not anything "Wow! " .

3.98/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/32855/123342/?ba=mikeinportc#review

 

This is the crazyness of our times, no host, no rules...

 

Quite interesting and kinda rare.
One case (three 4-packs!) in the whole state of Vermont.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/2958/475179/



12 oz. can.
Brewed in Switzerland, canned in Connecticut, USA.
Moderate to vigorous pour yields a beautiful one inch tan head over a near black body with lacing, The head does dissipate to a ring in less than five minutes or so. Nose of apples, quince, and slight citrus. As it warms, the Imperial Stout aromas take over with dark chocolate, dark malt, dark fruit coming forward with the scent of bananas even later. Taste is intensely unique, with dark chocolate, lemon meringue, apple pie, and finishing with Amaro-like digestive attributes. Wow! Nice feel and overall, a very unique offering from this collaborative effort between BFM (Switzerland) and B. United International (Connecticut.)
Cheers!!!

 

Finishing my night and weekend with my NBS beer for this week. Sibling Reverlry's Imperial Cosmic Cocoa. Quite and enjoyable imperial stout beer indeed. Stay healthy and safe and keep on keepin' on this week everyone.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/44537/313949/?ba=neenerzig#review

Eric

 

doing a lot of what you mentioned. We are ordering food from a restaurant at least every other day. I, as a teacher, am working through this, and as of now, my salary is guaranteed. So we have made the decision to patronize not just our favorite restaurants , but a variety of local establishments. Community is paramount. If people have a more stable economic situation amid all this shit, get out there and support business.