New Beer Sunday (week 479)

Not sure why I wasted so long to try this awesome beer

Easy to see why this is the standard bearer and what all quads should strive for.
Look, nose taste, mouthfeel...wow!

 

Living in NYC, Sixpoint has become fairly ubiquitous. Finding most of their releases - even tap-only releases like Gorilla Warfare - is pretty easy. That said, when they recently started releasing a bourbon barrel-aged version of 3Beans, their coffee/chocolate porter made with all Brooklyn-based ingredients, you just couldn't get there fast enough... kegs were tapping almost as fast as Black Note was selling out.

My new favorite and most beloved drinking spot - Covenhoven in Brooklyn's Crown Heights neighborhood - had it on tap, and I couldn't resist.



At first, I was struck by the still-prominent chocolate character. Made with Mast Brothers chocolate, it has a rich chocolate flavor that rises above the normal bitter chocolate-flavor prominent in a number of imperial stouts and porters - the taste was closer to a slightly-sweetened semi-sweet chocolate bar than it was to an uber-dark baking chocolate (which I find more consistently present in other beers). As it warmed, the bourbon character became more prominent, but unlike the way it overwhelms other barrel-aged beers (like Dragon's Milk), in this beer it was in remarkable balance - certainly detectable but not for the sake of the other elements in the beer. The hop character was also distinct, finishing dry and bitter despite its rich nature.

The only thing lost from the original release was the coffee - there was a hint of the coffee, but nothing like the fresh-brewed nature of the original release.

All in all, I'm really glad I hunted this beer down, and I'm saddened to think that another opportunity to try it may not come again!

 

NEW DOPPELBOCK SUNDAY

Hey NBSers, hope you all are well on this most glorious of spring days. The wife and I managed to get a fair amount of work done outside this morning. This afternoon we went for a hike to try out our new baby backback. I loved it, much easier on the back than the baby bjorn. Now my wife and son are away and I'm left alone on the front porch with a world class beer from Andechs and a good book.

http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/911/2899/?ba=DIM



Cheers!

 

New Barleywine Sunday! Ahoy the weathers been nice so I've been taking advantage but I did manage to find time to try a new beer today.



DuClaw Hell on Wood barleywine style ale aged in Bourbon Barrels.


DuClaw took their Devils Milk American style barley wine and aged it in Kentucky White Oak Bourbon Barrels.



The aroma is that of resinous hops. First taste an initial burst of hops that give way to a big sweet caramelized sugar flavor. There is a light bourbon flavor that hangs around which finishes hot going down... a sipper for sure. As it warms the bourbon heat is more pronounced and the hops reminiscent of candied pine. Notes of vanilla become apparent. So much going on it begs to be savored. Mouthful is chewy but the carbonation is enough to keep it enjoyable. The malt body begins to battle back the demonic hop presence which goes down smooth and it is potent at 10.6 abv.

Have a nice Sunday folks, Cheers!

 

New IPA Sunday

Had my first beer from Uinta today, from a box ordered on Let's Pour.

http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/1416/73764/?ba=sommersb

I'm just a simple Southern man, but I have to say I really though this was an excellent IPA; well made and thoroughly enjoyable



Great look, good nose, great taste

Rock on NBSers

 

New American(?) "Dark" Saison​

Back with a bottle I'd forgotten I had purchased - a dark saison that may or may not have been brewed in Maryland (the site says it was contract brewed in Belgium but the bottle states it was brewed in MD, and the label is subtly different) - if so, then it is my first beer from that state:

http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/22150/63491/?ba=woemad

Pretty good, though like most ersatz Belgians (if that is what it is), the mouthfeel isn't quite right, and it seemed a little too full-bodied.

 

Told Ya! (BTW, love the Aventinus glass, must get one!)

 

Greetings All:

I have the Grapefruit Slam IPA going this afternoon.
http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/147/98387/?ba=RJLarse

The flavor was remarkably balanced considering the name. It's a good brew, but in my mind something of a gimmick beer with the grapefruit rind as an adjunct, and overpriced, at least where I bough it.

Seasonal but unsettled here in the Columbia Basin. Temps in the mid 50s with a strong breeze out of the southwest, with a lot of passing gray clouds. I spent the afternoon brewing my commodity pale ale I call Fencepost. Time to pitch the yeast and fire up the grill.

Happy Trails!

 

I can DEFINATELY see that and while I haven't had Westy, this is (that was actually) an amazing beer.

 

New DIPA Sunday

Greetings NBS,

Southern CT is still a touch windy and chilly but the bright sunny skies are all the reason I need to spend some outdoor QT. I'm excited to read what looks to be another fine day of NBS action on BA.

We spent the day/weekend prepping for baby #2 whom is do in 2 short weeks now as well as some spring cleaning and relaxing, all good stuff. I even managed to squeeze in a nice bike ride to a really scenic overlook for a bit today.

With the pending arrival of the second baby, this may be my last "double" for a bit or at least my last 22oz that doesn't come with a friend. Victory Summer Love and Stone Go To are starting to take up more room in the fridge. I thought I'd tap into a gem I was given recently from Bear Republic. They are really a great brewery and well priced too:

http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/610/22172/?ba=CHADMC3



Hope everyone has a good and productive M-F.

 

The beginning of summer madness seems to have sprung early. After working 7 12 hour/overnights in 9 days to finish my clinical requirements, this past weekend was a whirlwind of Southern California to celebrate my little brother's graduation from college (incredibly proud of you Mica!), then having my flight back to StL canceled due to weather concerns in SF...
Rerouted through SLC, I took the opportunity of a long layover to grab lunch and a brew at Wasatch/Squatter's airport brewpub while soaking up the absolutely gorgeous views of the Wasatch and/or Oquirrh mountains (man, I always forget how pretty it is out here...)

They were out of the stout I wanted to try, so I turned to their APA: Full Suspension Pale Ale. As she brought it over and I surreptitiously took in its aroma, my excitement grew. It presents itself very very well, but unfortuantely this did not carry true once I began to drink. It felt incomplete and lacking in complexity, though it had some promising elements which almost just served to underline the lacking areas. I've been a bit underwhelmed by both of their offerings that I've tried thusfar, but I've heard they do have some really promising options as well. Must just not be the ones that I've tried.

 

Glad to finally see Sante Fe Brewing down here in LA. Had their Java Stout last night and enjoyed it very much. Today, I tried their Irish Red. It's not a style I truly enjoy, so I definitely am not a great judge. I didn't really care for this offering, but I think it is a decent take on this style:

http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/1683/81869/?ba=Mikecap

Cheers and best to all this week!

 

Good to see NBS is till going strong -

Greetings y'all- my day was spent mostly at work. Living vicariously thru this forum -

Raced home about 20 miles just to get home in time for some sunlight- it just makes for better pics - I was in the mood for collabs - *thanks @utopiajane - today I have 2 (prairie/evil twin Bible Belt - and De Molen/Närke Goths and vandals)

First up - Prairie and Evil twin Bible Belt -
At first thought I see the label of course. You got 3 parties - 2 breweries and 1 team of distributors - kinda like the credits of a movie -
Smells like jalapeños dipped in chocolate - also getting a tiny hint of Sumatra coffee - taking a quick whiff of the empty bottle smells a lot like BOMB! -
The color this beer gives off is a beauty - reminds me of my wife's enchiladas - she's the only person I kno that puts peanut butter and abuelita chocolate , along with ancho chiles - I knew that when I saw this recipe I had to pop the question- they're soooo good!!
Finally the taste- I would consider this right under Full bodied- even then still lights up the palate with a good amount of different flavors but all too familiar to fans of BOMB! And Even more Jesus - your favorite waffle cone dipped in chocolate - hints of coffee and the bitter end of hops fighting with chili peppers - truly it's amazing - no need pairing this up with anything (dessert) seeing as how this beer stands up for itself -
Overall this is a great brew - one that I really can't pass up if seen at the store - everything about it is awesome - the taste the smell the label - if I could describe this brew in one word it would be impressive



My wife makes an appearance top left lol

 

Greeting again NBS'ers, hope all were well in the weeks past. We are heading into spring shower weather for the next few days and was glad i got the food off the grill before the first drops came. Got a few things accomplished before it was new IPA Sunday. Tonight it is Pocahoptus from Center of the Universe Brewing from Ashland Virginia. Thanks @77apm.



A medium pour serves up a hazey golden liquid with a cream colored two finger head that slowly settles leaving heavy lacing behind. Aromas of pine, citrus and light grain. Taste of pine grapefruit,spice and toasted malt with a lingering bitter finish. Has a light to medium body, oily with a resinous aftertaste. Overall a decent beer, a definate hit on 3 of the 5 but i think I was hoping for a little more after seeing the pour and the nice bouquet.
Hope everyone enjoys the rest of there evening and has a good week ahead.
Cheers

 

They have a great black IPA as well and one of my favorite Skynard tunes

 

Apparently since I'm the only person in my small group of friends in NJ that has a cable subscription and a decent size TV, Sunday nights 9PM - 10PM has become the Walking Dead/Game of Thrones night at my pad which doesn't usually entertain guests too often.

I've taken this opportunity to start trying out new *big beers* that at my 155lb stature, I probably could not finish on my own. Here were tonight's selections:



Special thanks to an old friend from CA that recently moved to Madison, WI for a job. Very sweet but at the same time, pleasantly tarty. I noticed the bottle said "serve very cold" so I tried a little straight out of the beer fridge, and then some after about 10 minutes of letting it sit. I now understand why NG Fruits are so sought after.



Second wasn't really a new beer per se, but my first 2014. Nose is the same boozy bourbon as DDBA and Sucaba, moderate to light carbonation, substantial mouthfeel. The taste was everything I expected from a Parabola, and it's very true what they say about this year's iteration -- that 14% ABV really creeps up on you
Special thanks to @deschutes_fan for getting this one out to me

After two big beers, I think I'm going to nurse this liter of pure unadulterated H2O and then watch Pawn Stars until I pass out. Hope you enjoy the rest of your NBS, BAs!

 

New Jester King Sour Sunday​

Hello NBSers! I've had perhaps the most amazing weekend of beer possible with my best beer bud @Abbbp, including beers like Cisco Ale Aged on Estate Grown Raspberries:

and King Henry:


But now, I'm drinking Hibernal Dichotomous, the newest fruited sour by Jester King. Watermelon, with spearmint, lavender, and rosemary added. It's delicious in every way. Reminds me a lot of Art #14 by Night Shift. Incredibly complex, and so damn refreshing. If I could drink this every day this summer, I would. The mint leaves a beautiful cooling effect after the fruity, light, tart flavors fade.




Until next week, respect beer!

Cheers, NBS!

 

Good Evening NBSers.
It was a stunning day here in So Cal. Good downpour on Friday night made everything spring.
My new ones are Floyd d'Rue, and Rue D'Floyd. The much anticipated collab between the Bruery and 3Floyds.

The Floyd D'Rue is the version with spice aged in Rum barrels. Interesting. Glad I tried it, but I could not imagine having multiple pours. It's very, er, uh,...rummy and spicy. But if you like spiced rum, you might want to seek this one out.

The Rue D'Floyd is liquid Bliss. This imperial porter, aged in Bourbon barrels smells of coffee right off the bat. But then you get it into your maw, and the barrel shows through. It melds well, but the roast is always there. But the sweetness demands attention too. I REALLY like this one.

Had these and many others at the release event, including an underwhelming Dark Lord & Zombie Dust.

Have a Great Week!