New Beer Sunday (week 469)

I couldn't wait until this afternoon to pop it open, but I did drink it at 1:30 in the morning, technically Sunday. Plead the 5th, this one blew me away. Great malty aroma and thick chocolate colored head sets it up nicely for a huge flavor. Sweet, but not overly so, a little boozy, and creamy. Very glad I bought two, letting one age to see how it evolves.

 

New Ryewine (Barleywine) Sunday

Greetings NBSer's,
Beautiful sunny day here in SCMN after the couple of inches of light fluffy snow yesterday. It's all glisten around these parts. Plus, we have some thawing on the way with a day or two above freezing predicted. That will be nice. Lots of birds singing, which always warms my heart this time of year.

This week our local burb has a homebrew "contest" which is really a popularity contest in order to raise funds for a local community event. Something to look forward to.

Big Eddy Ryewine listed as a barleywine. Not a strong rye element, but it is there and offers a nice diversion to traditional barleywines. This one is more like an English style than an American version.

http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/710/94229/?ba=garymuchow

Best to all this week.

 

New American IPA Sunday (week 469)

A cold, wet, morning of shoveling around recycling roll offs and complaining with customers about the weather. First pic is before the snow we got yday, so add three more inches to that. Incredibly, we are due for more Tuesday. I guess I can do without a car til Spring haha, no where to put anymore snow on my driveway.

Today's beer was free, thanks to return of nickels pulled from the bins, but it was overpiced even at the cost of nothing. What a crappy beer, you can read the details, if you want, here: Rebel IPA. Hope you have a Great American Beer in your glass, even though I don't. Cheers!


Old school winter, old school musical genius

 

This Hop Ranch is very good. Plenty of tropical and citrus, some grassy and floral notes with a very light malt backbone. How is it 9% ABV? Reminds me of all the Toppling Goliath APAs and IPAs, but those are 4-6% ABV.

I have a couple more surprises later.

 

Man do I wish that was in my glass instead of this epic fail of a beer I am considering disposing of down toilet.

 

First time trying this one, it's freaking amazing. Not a reviewing type person, just like me some beer. I can't describe this one, love the aroma, texture, and hop combo. Knee Deep reminds me of Stone, they tend to have a distinct hop blend that is apparent in most of their IPA's, which I don't think is a bad thing, but could make you question if they are in a comfort zone they don't want to step out of. I love both breweries, so no complaints here!



beerfog setting in early today...

 

New Barrel Aged Fruited Milk Stout Saturday, soon to be followed by new Imperial Berliner Weisse Sunday

Hello again, NBSers! After spending my Friday night watching House of Cards, killing my supply of Utopia, and trying the Ola Dubh varieties side by side (1991 was my favorite), I woke up early Saturday to get in line at Lakewood Brewing Company for their Raspberry Temptress and Raspberry Bourbon Barrel Temptress release party. Raspberry Temptress was released to bars and growler stations around DFW this past Monday (and I got my first taste on Wednesday), but the bourbon barrel version was to be released only yesterday, and only at the brewery. So I got there at 11:25, a half hour before they opened and there were about 25 people in front of me. By the time they opened, I couldn't see how many people were behind me. At least a few hundred, for sure. The line stretched out of sight. When I got inside, I promptly ordered the Raspberry Bourbon Barrel Temptress in my keep-the-glass (a tulip), and sat down with some friends to enjoy the beer.




And enjoy it I did. A truly delicious combination of flavors, the beer was comparable to Backyard Rye, but without the dessert-worthy sweetness. The raspberry and coffee flavors kept that in balance, and the bourbon just worked beautifully with the rest of beer. I wish that wasn't the only glass of the beer I'd ever have! Full review is here: http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/29656/113038/?ba=WTKeene

After finishing that beer, I got back in what was now a long line and got myself a glass of the regular Raspberry Temptress. Similarly delicious but without the bourbon character, the lactose sugar and roasted coffee and chocolate flavors were stronger here. The raspberry persisted throughout the glass, but was stronger in the first few sips. My review of that beer is here: http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/29656/112837/?ba=WTKeene



Since none of this was actually New Beer Sunday, I'll be sticking a Bottleworks XII in the fridge for consumption later tonight. Can't wait to try that one, it sounds amazing!

Cheers, BA!

 

Sunday funday...oops wrong thread anyway it's got a nice hint of chocolate when its cold, once you start to warm up you get more a cold coffee taste going on. Like most short beers it may not be ready for the prime time but still good enough to buy again

 

Enjoying about 8oz of Toppling Goliath Assassin. It is one incredible stout. So much rich sweet caramel, milk chocolate, mellow bourbon, marshmallow, and dark fruit. I am going to savor this as long as I can. Just a terrific beer.

 

Greetings fellow NBSers! Been a while since I've contributed to my favorite BA thread, but I've been keeping an eye on you rascals. My friends are in Mexico for almost 3 weeks, so I'm house, cat, and dog sitting, getting to spend spend lots of time with my nephew. We had a nice walk in the park earlier this morning, it's a lot of fun watching a 125lb Matiff-Rottweiler mix chase squirrels. I worry for his safety should he ever catch one.

I keep several boxes of beer in my friend Justin's beer cellar, and I went and grabbed a few yesterday, but this was the only new brew. Since I don't remember when I got this, it may have been aged up to 4 years: http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/7944/20905/?ba=beertunes.

"You need just enough, of that sticky stuff, to hold the seams, on yer fine blue jeans"

 

Moving on to an 8oz pour of the Bruery Chocolate Rain. Again, this is incredible with a huge dark chocolate and bourbon flavor. Caramel and dark fruits also add to the flavor. Big 18.5% ABV is noticeable, but not over the top. This is my best NBS ever! I doubt I will top it. Cheers!

 

Love the review. I have purposely stayed away from this beer until I felt like all the results were in; and now they are. Love the concerto. I also wanted to say hello to Matt and everyone here in NBS even though I do not have a new beer today. Happy NBS everyone and keep those reviews coming!

 

Those are very pretty steins. =)

 

Wow! You are killing it today! Could you have any more good beer?

 

I keep waiting for winter in SoCal but instead it's another low 80 degree day. The warm weather is putting a damper on my stout and barleywine intake but not my APA and IPA intake.

Drinking a growler of Row 2 Hill 56.

It's not a complex or mind blowing APA but it is super tasty and drinkable. So drinkable I am lucky my friend decided to split with me and not kill the whole thing himself. But he does know I'll be pulling something out of the reserve for later.

Anyways back to the beer. Beautiful clear orange/amber beer. Darker than most APAs. Great creamy head that sticks to the glass. Aroma is floral, sweet Carmel Malt with a touch of astringent citrus. Taste is clean, and crisp with mostly citrus hops and caramel malt with some good lingering bitterness. The bitterness lingers just enough.

Just another great well balanced beer from RR. I am never dissapointed with their beers.

 

New Belgian Quad Sunday!

Greetings and yahoo to the NBS gang from the Jersey Shore, where this morning's bright sunshine has given way to that grey overcast winter look. Yuk. I guess it's better out today than yesterday when it snowed...twice. Some snow in the morning turned to rain then stopped 'til about 3pm when another round of snow began.
I believe we made it to 30 degree F today, just warm enough for me to take a look at the 'miss' in my daughter's car.
A couple of ignition coils later, problem solved. For now, at least. Let's not forget that she's a teen driver.

Time to get to the beer...
...I was thinking big today: http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/313/1545/?ba=NiceTaps



Some almonds covered with dark chocolate and fresh pistachios to accompany a real beer.




I'm glad to have some more of these!

Westy 12, as good as it gets.

All the best everyone. Cheers!

Chris

 

No new beer? Just doesn't seem right. Oh well, I have missed a few lately too, guess you deserve a pass.

And as far as reviews go, yours, especially lately, have been extremely well done. I don't mean that I agree or disagree, but you give such a great sense of what you're experiencing I feel I am sharing the beer with you as I read.

Thanks for the kind words, though they came at the expense of a beer I gave rdev of -36. Cheers!

 

Final beer for me today (keep in mid that these were 6-8oz pours). Sikaru, an O'so original now that they are focusing on Wild Ale and Funk beers. So this one was an experience.
Quite acidic and tart with a vinegar and lemon flavor. There is a some grainy and a bigger grassy funk that builds into a subtle malt and date "sweetness." I don't think there is much sweetness to this beer as it is quite tart and funky.
It is very unique and I don't know where you would ever find a sour date beer.