New Beer Sunday (week 485)

I Like your new title Maria

 

Greetings from Boston on a hot Sunday afternoon. My new beer is Funky Galaxy by Prairie. I saw a few Prairie offerings on NBS today and thought I'd join in. This is my first NBS post as well as my first beer from Prairie, and I'm glad to try out both. I haven't seen Prairie distributed in Boston, but I had heard enough good things about this brewer to compel me to snag this beer last weekend in Portland, Maine post-Allagash/Foundation/Bissell Brothers.



The review:

A: Pours an ample, light brown head with lots of small-lacing bubbles. The head dissipates very, very slowly. The beer is extremely dark, and blocks all, or almost all, of the light from getting through.

S: Brett! With this first sniff, I realize that "funky" is an apt name. Certainly, citrus from the Galaxy hops and chocolate as well.

T: A combination of citrus-y hops, pepper, chocolate, along with the tangy acid of the brett. Alcohol is somewhat disguised.

M: Finish combines hop bitterness and dry cocoa powder. Creamier than what you would expect for a saison, but it's not a bad thing here.

O: A unique beer and definitely worth trying. Prairie managed to nicely-balance contrasting flavors. Glad I picked one up.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend, everyone!

 

Greetings fellow NBSers! A cloudy morning has given way to a mostly sunny afternoon, with 70ish temps and a pleasant breeze. I had a pretty busy week working, and yesterday was filled with 2 volunteer gigs, both beerish.

First up was a 6 hour shift setting up and pouring beers at our local Highland Games. The brewery I help out at provides the beer, and we volunteer to pour. Once the incessant drone of bagpipes becomes white noise in the background, it's fun. Very hectic, with the taps being pretty much open non-stop, but still fun. NBSers have heard me mention my Nephew, the Mastiff/Rottweiller mix before. Well, his Mom is involved in the local roller derby league, and I work security in their beer garden on bout nights. Last night was the championship bout and Gunners Mom, Rampaige, was in the championship bout with her team, Flash. Sadly, Team Flash lost to Tough Love in a bout that was close most of the way, but TL pulled away near the finish. I'd like to thank the ladies of the Bellingham Roller Betties for all the fun I get to share in 6 Saturdays a year.

On to some beer. First up is this solid ImpIPA: http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/978/117145/?ba=beertunes

And, a couple days ago, I heard this song for the first time in quite some while, it's stuck with me, so, here y'all go:

 

New Red Ale Sunday!

Work day was busy and humid, so it was a great work day.



I received this from a Trade with @GetMeAnIPA , Thank you! I love me Red Ales.

The appearance on Red Cone pours a translucent red with a nice soapy off white head. The aroma of this reminds me of Hop Devil. Big bold caramel and hints of spice. There is a hint of almost candied citrus rind, like a fruit cake. I'm going in for a taste. Caramel sweetness hits first with a flow of leafy hop spice underlaying. Very nice! There is also hints of more candied lemon or tangerine in there as well. Hints of char but subtle. Finishes interesting with a combo of Dry-Bitter and Clean. There is toasted grains in the aftertaste which is very decent. The feel on this beer is light, smooth body with active Carbonation.

Overall: This is far from being my favorite Red Ale, points are reduced because Deschutes doesn't Reach my local store. Yet I enjoyed this beer very much. I could buy a couple of Bombers and drink this watching a baseball game. I'm happy I received this as an extra in my trade. Sucks I'd have to trade for another bottle. This Brew is Worthy!

Cheers My Fellow NBSers!

 

New Stout Sunday.

Finally got around to popping the much anticipated coffee stout in my fridge...Sump. The pour offered much promise of a delicious experience with the smell of chocolate and coffee and a wonderful head. However, after each sip I became less and less excited and actually a little disappointed. The body is way undercarbonated and taste overwhelmingly sweet. I just think my palate is destroyed from yesterdays beer festival as nothing is really tasting well today.

 

NEW 26.1% abv BEER SUNDAY

Hope y'all are having a good Sunday - I'm taking sometime to hideout in the comfort of air conditioned darkness with a pal just talking about old ghost stories and other supernatural stuff - still unable to watch the dodgers on tv - so they're on the radio -
Been sitting on this bottle of Mikkeller blk fist for about 3 months now. I definately wanted to split this bottle with a fellow stout fan -



Whopping. 26.1% abv Oomph! They say this beer has hung around for about 2 years in ten different bourbon barrels - in other words, OVERKILL. Lol anyways here goes nothin:

Small postcard with serving tips -


This mini iced tea jar I have is the closest thing to a decanter at in my kitchen


Pours out jet black - with tiny white bubbles that quickly fade away - virtually no head going on here -
Swirling it around in a glencairn spirits glass (still no head or foam after vigorous swirling)

Smells like bourbon (duh!) not much else going on as far as smells - no chocolate !

The taste is way different than I thought it would be - I was expecting parabola on steroids - instead I get a swig of bourbon at first . Right after that offensive first taste I get the best taste of Roasted grains and a blast of burnt coffee that Is normally found at the end of a strong dark coffee cup - not cloying at all but here comes the finish of straight up alcohol burn - feels more like 16%abv Mephistopheles than 26% - right up until the goosebumps start forming up my arms - by the second serving of this bad boy I'm totally used to it - and I stop getting that first bite of alcohol and skip straight to the best burnt coffee taste ever -

Overall this was a better experience than the eclipse series - I'm comparing them since they are about the same price . +30 bones ... Many things could've gone wrong with this brew. Instead of doing too much they kept it simple and turned up the roasted grains to 11 - I can see myself buying this bottle again if more of my friends get into stouts - sadly, all they care about is IPAs -



My mothers name is also Maria - but I hardly ever say the name out loud since I usually call her mom - Have a good evening y'all

 

Up next was a nice little Barleywine: http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/1416/58868/?ba=beertunes

And I'm going to stick with the same band:

 

NEW CANUCKIAN IPA SUNDAY

Greetings, fellow NBSers,
It's nearly 80 degrees and mostly sunny in the city once known as Spokan Falls.

Last night I went and paid an overdue visit to Ramblin' Road Craft Brewery, located near the Gonzaga campus and specializing in Belgian-style beers, though they make non-Belgians as well, including an outstanding IPA. I had a sampler of six of their beers: Grisette (kind of like a wit), Saison, Imperial Saison, Dubbel, Quad, and the aforementioned IPA, with the latter and the Dubbel being standouts for me, though all were quite good. I chatted with the owners, who are currently the sole employees (though they are about to hire an additional employee and find out what it's like to have a little free time) and found them to be very cool people who are into what they are doing. The brewery has a tap room that looked to have a capacity of around a dozen, plus an outdoor beer garden-type area. The brewery itself features no food but they have an arrangement with local food truck operators who park outside, with different vendors on different days. Last night was BBQ, and it looked pretty tasty (I'd just eaten a mammoth-sized burrito I'd acquired elsewhere).

Today I did some cleaning while listening to an eclectic mix of music by John Cale, Beck and Radiohead, and had this IPA from B.C.'s Central City Brewing:
http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/10321/107521/?ba=woemad

Quite tasty. Seemed like a hybrid of American and English IPA styles.

 

Thanks to Maria for filling in for me today.

Had at least 20 new beers in the last 3 days in Vermont, including the finest saison I have tasted, named Sarrasin. Sadly no new beers for me today, in fact no beer for me at all today, as I recover from overdoing it just a wee bit. Great to read all the posts and so glad so many have chosen to share their feelings and observations with us.

See ya next Sunday. Cheers!

 

After a layoff from BA, for some reason resembling laziness, I'm back. New Beer today is Hi-5 from Terrapin. Another solid beer from them, hoppy and flavorful. Good aroma, poured a little into a glass to get a good look at it but drank the rest from the can. I could sit outside and drink this all day.

 

That Red Racer (I refuse to call it Red Betty, Bear Republic can just go fuck off. I no longer buy their beers over this) is a hell of a beer, and Central City is a hell of a brewery. I strongly suggest trying every beer of theirs that you can.

 

New Flanders Red Sunday!

Greetings NBS! It's been a hot but relaxing weekend down here in Louisiana after a longgg week. Had a nice trip out to Gulfport yesterday and luckily didn't blow too much at the casinos. More money to spend on beer . I've been getting into sours lately and finely decided to pick up a classic, Duchesse De Bourgogne. A bit pricey, but a nice tart beer balanced with sweet fruits. Not the best sour I've tried thus far, but I'm digging it! Even felt ambitious enough to add a photo today!



http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/641/1745/?ba=Mikecap

Cheers, and I might be back later!

 

It reminds me of "The Sound of Music"

 

Sadly it's the only Central City beer I've seen, though I haven't been to Total Wine in a while and can't speak for what they might have. I'm enjoying this beer more and more, and would give any of their other beers a try based on it.

 

New American Pale Ale Sunday

Hello all! Sunny but cool here in Milwaukee area. I have been trying Wisconsin brews, but took a break to try a beer from Chicago. Goose Island. Well. Then. Well, it IS a beer and does fit into the APA style. That being said, they can't all be winners. It was more "bland" than "bad". Hoping tomorrow's brew (Tyranena Scurvy) is better...

http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/1146/114532/?ba=jwc215


Cheers!

BTW - I just recently purchased a smart phone but can't figure it out (even though I'm only in early 40's and have a Master's Degree.) When I figure it out, I'll change avatar and post pics. If you are willing to help a fellow beer-lover figure this thing out, let me know!

 

Thanks! You did a great job today.

 

Ya don't live that far from the border ya know. It's in all the Canadia state run stores. I live 30 minutes from the border, but I'm not allowed in Canadia. Fortunately, a friend runs up about once a month and keeps us stocked (even they are distro'd around here, he can usually find some gems that don't make it down). BTW, Brooklyn brewery also distro's to BC, bur not WA.

 

Oh, you gots lots of drinkin' to do to reach Poobah-hood! I'm just barely one, and I'm 2400-ish beers in (NO, not just today! ).