NBS BIF #13: Peninsular Envy 2 (The Rocket-Ball Inception)

I've never been the world's biggest Knee Deep fan - they've hit some incredible highs, along with releasing a considerable amount of middling beer - but Beachwood is definitely a good comparison point (and you've reminded me that it's been way too long since I've made my way up to Long Beach to crush an irresponsible amount of delicious IPAs, fried pickles, and BBQ). Interestingly enough, Kelsey McNair - the founder and brewmaster at North Park Beer Co - brewed a couple of batches of Hop-Fu at Beachwood back before he turned pro. He and Julian have a similar approach to WC IPAs and I'd love to see them collaborate again.

I almost included some in the box of hops, but having not tried any of their recent output - more due to an overload of other options than any negative thoughts about them - they ended up not making the cut. The next time I have any free space in the fridge, I'll need to grab a few cans and see how they're doing these days.

Well shit, sounds like the housing market up there is about as nuts as it is in San Diego. Fingers crossed for the house you're looking at on Thursday!

 

Should I hit my mystery beer today, or save it for tomorrow? These are hard decisions.

 

I just wrapped up a mystery beer, but I'll be sipping this one later tonight for sure! Your review made me look forward to it even more.

 

Cross posted from the NBW thread, but this was a fantastic way to start the day!

A warm afternoon like this called for some light refreshment. Yes, the contents were a mystery, but I had a good feeling about a corked bottle from Russian River. The beer, poured into a wine glass developed a quick settling head atop it's murky copper hue. The aroma was what I had been craving. I was greeted with Brett and some nice funk. Notes of oak, fermenting red wine, and an aroma that I can only describe as impending tartness. There was also something fruity on the nose, but that could be from whatever was housed in the oak that I'm detecting. The first sip was very funky and dry. The Brett was on full display and not much else. Over the next few sips the beer came to life. The funk mellowed a bit to give way to spicy oak, a bit of grain, and an increasing amount of fruit. This was all presided over by a bright but balanced tartness. A bit of carbonation lightened it up as it slowly faded from my palate. This was simply exquisite.

So, what is it? I tried focusing on the things that I felt confident about. I think the oak is from some type of wine barrel. That could also have added to the fruit profile that I tasted, but it could also be added. As my comrades in the BIF thread saw last night, focusing in on berry taste is not my forte even though I love them. Sometimes I even taste them when they aren't there, so I'm not confident that there is fruit added here but I'm open to the idea. After looking over some of the Russian River beers that could fit into this style I settled on guessing Supplication. I'm a bit more confident than 50/50, so let's find out the reveal. What's the beer, PJ?

PJ is not impressed with my correct guess because I refused to share with her. Thanks so much @Dimidiata! This is my first time enjoying this bottle and it's nothing short of amazing. The beer is long gone, but I'm still smelling the bottle.

 

@Rub_This_BBQ , your box has landed! Mostly IPAs and, except one, new to me.



Treehouse Haze
Treehouse Green
Treehouse Julius
Treehouse Perfect Storm
Treehouse Haze



Notch Altbier
Worntown Hopulence
Greater Good DDH Pulp Daddy
Greater Good Wooo!!



Lawson's Sip of Sunshine
Mast Landing Gunner's Daughter
Treehouse Juice Project Citra + Barbe Rouge

All new to me except SoS. And I have two questions:
1. Where did you find the styrofoam shipper?
2. Was that the box UPS wouldn't deliver? If yes to the box, then the problem may have been the duct tape - I vaguely remember a clerk somewhere telling me not to use duct tape to ship packages. At least I think I remember - I could just be hallucinating again

 

Fedex is the same, they say duct tape jams their sorting machines.

 

Learned something else in this BIF. I've never thought to use duct tape, but I don't know if I would have thought anything of getting a box wrapped in it either.

 

Bastards!

 

Since there was talk of this being a barleywine oriented Share weekend, from @Pinz412 , Four Points Hech. Nice brew, but not typical.

 

That barbe rouge hop is new and interesting...juicy beer

 

I'm loving this 2020 Hunahphu's. Thank you, Andrew!

 

Cross posted from NBW

Went with something light from @FrankenMiller tonight. It seems to be getting a little easier to find, but a well-made lager is so refreshing. This was the first time I tried reviewing one, though, and it was a little difficult for me. It's easy to pull tastes out of fruited sours or pastry stouts, but just a well-made lager? There's so much more nuance.

Anyways, Angry Chair Full Circle



4.18/5 rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Poured from a 16 ounce can.

Pours a transparent light gold color, with lots of carbonation. Smell is grain, not much else, but it's a good smell for a light beer. Taste is similar. Not much to it, but I mean that in the best way possible. Just nice and crisp. Same for the feel. Crisp, and easy to drink.

This is just a nice, simple beer, but if I lived close to Angry Chair, I'd have this in my fridge as often as I could. Perfect for many occasions.

 

Just poured myself the Mystery Beer from @JayORear. Haven't sipped it yet, but from it's looks, it's roastiness right out of the can and it's viscousy pour, I'm thinking stout or porter, perhaps a high octane one.

 

Ha, I think I gave you some clues either here or in a private message. Only 7%, but on nitro, hopefully you gave it a good shake before pouring.

 

that is the hop box 1 ups FUBRed i called liked 4 times and still fighting over the return shipping charge.

They say it is was not duct tape issue but a my ups choice issues (so I would log in and or call and make sure your address does have any options to ship to store vs house !

2) it was kick starter but can’t remember the name I have shipped beer back and fourth to my bro in NC a bunch works like a champ .

cheers enjoy , box 2 () no hops will be there Monday

 

Fairly tight but enduring mocha colored head. Not a lot of lace unless I swirl the glass a little agressively.

As it warms, the nose seems faintly smoky as well as roasty, and there's a little bit of something almost briney. An oyster stout, maybe?

Taste does not match what I just typed. This has a milky, chocolatey, slightly spicy, slightly coffeeish and very slight fruity taste to it. The chocolateyness is not particularly out of compass with the rest of the beer, so it may simply be some very skillful use of dark malts rather than actual chocolate or maybe cocoa nibs being used in it. It does not seem at all like a barrel aged beer, and if this is, in fact, a boozy beer, it's hiding any such booziness extraordinarily well.

Creamy mouthfeel, with a body somewhere between medium and full.

I've no idea what beer I'm drinking in terms of specific brewery or beer. I strongly suspect what I'm drinking is a milk stout of some sort, possibly one with one or more adjuncts added with a fairly light touch.

Ok, I'm about 2/3s done with this. What am I drinking?


Slice makes a return appearance!
Seems I wasn't too far off the mark. The adjuncts were coffee and lactose (should lactose be considered an adjunct?) WhiIe I thought there was some coffee flavor to it, the lactose and dark malts combined to give it a chocolatey taste that outweighed the coffee. If I'd had access to The instructions, I would've known to "shake can for 5 seconds & pour hard," it might've made the look better, but that also might've given the game away, so I can't fault @JayORear with covering that up, especially with such an epic label.

Thanks, Jay!

 

Very nicely done in spite of UPS being bastards! Great hit, @Rub_This_BBQ!