New Beer Sunday (week 469)

One malt, one hop. Simple, yet satisfyingly complex, 8.1% abv is dangerously deceptive as it drinks very easily. This is a pale ale, not an IPA, the hops are definitely there but not overpowering, balanced very nicely with the malt.

 

T

Thanks for the review. I've been looking out for this one but haven't seen it yet. I will try to try it in a bar on draft or a single bottle before I blow my weekly allowance on a six pack. I've been on a bit of a Sam Adams backlash lately... they still make great stuff, but there are smaller breweries that are making just as good and better and better deserve my meager beer dollars. Also dig Bach!

 

http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/2854/27945/?ba=Premo88

Nothing special, but it's more proof that I can't go wrong when I go German. Loads of sweet light barley malt.

Cheers!

 

This is my favorite I.S. EVAR!

 

I imagine this being drinkable at 102%

 

E3 Elevation Triple IPA

Got this as an extra in a trade this week. I went in expecting palate wrecking hops but that wasnt all I got. Theres a surprisingly robust malt backbone here that lends a good bit of sweetness to balance out the hops, its not just a bitter mess. That being said there are LOADS of hops. Citrusey tastes up front, with a resiny pine finish. Definitely a bit of alcohol bite too at 11%. Overall a solid beer.

 

New Bourbon Barrel Dark Ale Sunday.
Still getting over this illness that I call my life, but had something that makes it suck less. It was cold today but snow fell very light, can't say too much on what happen on Thursday. Any way back to what really matters a new brew on Sunday!


Evolution Brewing is impressing me more and more with each brew I drink from them. More info is located here.
http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/19897/113151/?ba=Shroud0fdoom

Cheers my fellow NBSers!

 

Well, on our mid-day stroll through the neighborhood, the nephew and I happened to walk by the beer store. He insisted that I go in and take a look. Came out with 3 new cans. First up: http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/31004/98804/?ba=beertunes

And, one of my favorite singers:

 

1st: Nice catch...and thanks for reading my review!
2nd: You'd be correct...drinkable even at 102!!! Indeed!

 

You're welcome! Don't sorry, I knew what you meant.

 

I was disappointed to know this one wasn't uploaded yet, it is a fantastic brew. So why not be the first?

 

Weather is finally warming up here in Louisiana, touching 70 today and should stay there all this week, so that's exciting. Had a nice long weekend in Daytona Beach last weekend, trying some fine brew and bringing more back with me. Decided to crack a warm weather beer this afternoon...



Everything I try from these guys is great, my full review is here:

http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/17981/69218/?ba=Mikecap

Cheers and I plan on some more action later on!

 

Happy NBS Folks. (New Brilliantly Smoked)
http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/22951/106183/

I have found my limited experience with Clown Shoes (still can't love the name) varied. I'm sure there are some fine fermented offerings I haven't tried. Having said that I was very pleased with this take on an Imperial Stout, Smoked that is. This is soo well done. The smoke is present, respectable, yet not overpowering. I completely enjoyed where the smoke let off and the barrel came in. The flavors melded together so well. At times, I got lost in the subtlety. Not as full on the mouthfeel as I normally prefer, but not a strike against this one in the least.

A truly enjoyable drink. Reminds me of my earlier experiences with Impy Stouts before many brewers beefed them up into truly chewy, high alcohol behemoths. (Which I do love BTW). I recommend all lover's of RIS's and smoke lovers give this one a twirl.

 

Congrats Nate on being the first to review this beer.

 

8 oz pour?!? Oh Yeah, he's goin pro. Good stuff, huh.

 

Belgian Taste off week that culminates in New Beer Sunday:
Here's how I rate them:

DUVAL Wins at: 4.7 (in same best-in-class realm as Orval, Chimay Blue, Chimay White)
Trappiste Rochefort 8 + Allagash Tripel are distant also-rans at 4.0
Reviews below... (what a week!)

DUVAL 4.68
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

Been waiting for this... how they get it perfectly right... It's a devil, or a deal the Trappists made with the devil. (perhaps to keep him away).

A - Pours a clear straw gold color with a large 2 inch stalwart head that fades slowly. Pillowy head, tiny bubbles, and rich lacing. Perhaps the best head ever. It's a champagne like beer.

S - Meditation. Lemon, champagne, with spices, pepper, fruit, apple, and sweet malt.
It's like bubble-gum Marilyn Monroe at first, and evolves into elegant Gwenyth Paltrow.
Needs a moment to let loose the sweet shoppe, and calm down into the more grassy, champagne like body it will become.

T - RISING on the tongue, with sweet malts, a little bitterness, spices. Pepper & champagne.
So much going on. Such a clean long, long, cleansing finish, that makes you want another kiss, I mean sip.

M - pinpoint carbonation. Dry and crisp like champagne. Slightly chauky in a good way.

D - Must try. A best beer in the world?
As Alstrom wrote "Close to champagne but so much more"

Rochefort 8 4.06
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Better let it warm. Tried 2x one aged and on young, both disappointing.
Next time, I will also let it age a few more years because this is not close to its reputation on 2 tries. And I love BSA.
2nd review dated best by 06-2018, so it's young.

A: Again - it's disappointing compared to Chimay, Orval, Achhoufe. Very muddy brown even with a carefully stored, carefully poured.
S: Too faint. Again beach in winter, beach plums, grasses, minerals, raisins in your pocket.
But better as it warms.
T: As before.... Wine-like, better as she warms. Mystery as with all Trappists, plum, long finish.
A tad too cola like and sweet for me.
MF: Faint carbonation. Warming. After dinner drink, but body is also too thin.
O: intense enough for a 4 overall, but no higher.

1st review
Scored a bottle dated 2008-06-16 (5.5 years old).

A: Pours a muddy, cloudy dark river brown into a Leffe chalice with zero retention or lace. It's because it's cellared so long?

(Note to self - try this fresh) 3.5

S: Aroma's mostly gone. There's a faint aroma of fruits, spices, becoming stronger as the beer warms up. Beach in winter. 3.25

T: I find the alcohol well hidden. The taste is wine-like, but past it's prime. Fruit, berries, plum, raisins, and plenty of yeast, against a malt backdrop.

Fun as it was to try a cellared edition, I would not waste my $5.29 on it again. I'd go for a fresh one, or one I carefully cellared. 4

M: Medium-bodied, bubbly and also wine-like, chewy, real body. Yet the finish is dry. 4

O: Makes me want to try a better bottle of this. 4

 

Hey guys late arrival for me this week. I spent the afternoon at the life celebration of a woman I wish I had gotten to know better. 300 people attended, she must have been an incredible person.

Anyway, I'm having a real treat of a DIPA today. As advertised this is overflowing with juicy, pungent grapefruit. Some aspirin bitterness and sugar cookie sweetness. Very nice.




Cheers guys!

 

Today, BCBS Backyard Rye

Super-big fan of Bramble Rye (...about 2 years ago *wistful*), and this was a worthy successor - full of dark tart berry and jelly and rich Bourbon County stout. Top-notch.

Notable new beers earlier this week merit a shout here, too, as Bell's has officially reached Long Island...

Got to try their Two Hearted IPA

Crisp and tight, perfectly bittered and fresh.

And Hopslam DIPA

Big, with hops and honey and a bitter barrage. Crushingly good ale.

Hardcore...


Cheers, NBS!