New Beer Sunday (week 488)

Gulden Draak Ale- A very nice Belgian Strong Dark Ale

Ladies and Gentlemen the greatest electric guitarist God gave man, James Marshall Hendrix. Enjoy!!

 

Greetings fellow NBSers! Personally, I can't wait until this big European Kickball thingy is over and done with, that said: BELGIUM!!!! GO RED DEVILS!!!!

A cloudy day here in the Fourth Corner of America, our traditional Juneuary has been pretty nice this year, which means we will either be punished by a cold summer, or have an actual summer, like other parts of the country do. Hey Cavedave, get off yer ass and drink some beer already! Enuff disease shit from you! A 100+ mile charity bike ride ended at the brewery I part-time at yesterday, and homeboy here worked a 13 hour day. All on my feet, non-stop movement, so today, I am sitting on my ass and drinking some brewskis. I might head up the Bellingham Bells game later, if the rain holds off.

I had a few shift beers last night after work, woke up about 7:30, and was drinking by about 9. Here is new brew #1 for today, I'm wondering how some PDX BA hasn't entered this one: http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/16353/127152/?ba=beertunes

I'll see Utopiajane's Monkees, and raise her this 2 minute slice of 60's pop greatness. Yes, they are lip-synching. We know they are. They know we know, they don't care we know. Long live Alex Chilton! (RIP L.X. Chitlin)

 

New AMERICAN Imperial Stout

(queue USA! USA! chants)


Prairie Artisan Ales is a good.

http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/30356/115939/?ba=Premo88

I underrated it a bit (4.14 score; rDev -4.8%) but only compared to others ... numbers aside, Bible Belt is big, strong, good and (my favorite) not boozy. At 13% ABV, it's amazingly tame and smooth. There's some alcohol burn, but it doesn't taste like vodka like many an imperial stout.

Mom came in this weekend, and I'm like a keeper defending my home -- STOP CLEANING!!!

Midnight the Cat says go Fighting Klinsmanns! And cheers to all ... even you Belgians ...

 

NEW CANUCKIAN IMPERIAL PORTER THAT MIGHT BE BARREL-AGED BUT DOESN'T SAY SO

Greetings, NBSers,

Last week I had to miss NBS as I was camping down in the wilds of the Umatilla Mountains in Oregon. I managed to do quite a bit of hiking in the Painted Hills Unit of the John Day Fossil Beds and was only slightly killed by mosquitos. Sadly, there were no opportunites to discover any new Oregon beers, as the largest town I passed through (Hermiston) had no beer stores and the large big-box retailer I had to stop at had even fewer beer choices than the ones here in Spokane. I brought along a few cans from Orlisson, and when I met up with the Parentals I managed to get the old man (a wine guy) to drink a Havanuther, and got in a couple of good cigars around the campfire both nights.

Speaking of Spokane, it’s Hoopfest Weekend, so the downtown streets are off-limits to drivers as 7,000(!) teams play 3-on-3 basketball. Combined with the Iron Man Triathalon over in Coeur d’Alene, it’s a pretty lousy weekend to get a motel room around here!

As usual for this weekend, I filled in at work for someone who was playing b-ball, so I’m starting my weekend off today with an Imperial Porter from Central City:

http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/10321/69090/?ba=woemad

Very tasty. It’s almost like a restrained Impy Stout. Since CC also claims to be a distillery, I wonder if they barrel aged this, as the flavor seems to hint at that. I suppose someone more familiar with them could confirm or deny that (looking at you, Beertunes).
Cheers!

 

Wow...

 

As someone who discovered Big Star about a year ago - Nice!

 

Nice post, but why don't you tell us a little more about the beer? That's what NBS is all about!

Cheers!

 

New Black Ale Sunday

Greetings NBSer's,
Rather nice summer day here in SCMN. Suppose to be some rain, but as the day moves on it seems less likely.
Enjoying the World Cup and hoping CONCACAF isn't heart broken again the in the second game today.

I don't see a Black Ale reviewed today on NBS so I thought I throw this nice one out. Well done flavors and a bit different than most. From my good brewing friends to the east.
http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/741/65076/?ba=garymuchow

No beer picture, but since we are throwing out late 60's pop hits, here is one of my favorites, with all sorts of good lip-syncing.


Happy Independence Day this week to one and all. I wish you all a safe and sane 4th.

 

Good afternoon BAs! After I busted my hump getting the grass mowed before it rained, it's cleared up and the sun is sort of shining. No pix - dead camera. Today for NBS (and my 250th BA review) is one from one of my favorite breweries - Unibroue Eau Benite. Review is here: http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/22/32/?ba=Ozzylizard. I try to follow Brewers Association style guidelines for the review and my nose and stomach for comments.

This is the first Unibroue offering that was disappointing for me. For a tripel it lacks the head, lacing, and complexity of flavor that is expected. The alcohol is well hidden (also not a tripel characteristic). This is supposed to be a lower alcohol tripel (7.5%) and the lack of alcohol taste makes it easy to drink so you're surprised when you try to get up and can't. Not a bad beer but not one to get if you're expecting a tripel. Although I suppose this brew could be a good gateway for those that are trying to ease into tripels.

 

Was on the fence as to if I would indulge today after last nights two goings-on: Anderson Valley Gose (I never remember the name and even if I did, it's too long), which I absolutely love and see drinking a lot of this summer, and my first 90 Minute (pretty underwhelming to me)...then Bois Fume. I guess technically I blacked out because I don't remember going to bed but oddly, I didn't wake up hung-over.
Said to hell with it and went with this

In much the same way I thought of Bomb, while a good beer, this is nowhere near worth the $11 I paid. A bit thin, the chilies aren't very noticeable. I like the beer, don't get me wrong, but I'd gladly pay $4 more for Parabola.

 

Back home this week after vacationing in CA. Got to visit a few awesome places including Russian River and Firestone Walker. Little one took his first, completely unassisted steps (about 5) yesterday so that's pretty exciting.

Yesterday, we hosted dinner with another couple who is new in town and he happened to mention he was a big beer fan although was just getting started - needless to say, we headed to the cellar and what proceeded was many hours of "advocating" beer. I think he's fully converted now lol.

Today - i'm pretty bummed about the Mexico loss in the WC so I figured a sweet pick me up would do. Trying Brooklyn's Black Chocolate Stout for the first time and must say it surpassed my expectations.

Go Costa Rica & go USA.

Cheers!

Rating 4.19 rDev: +1%

Poured from 12 oz. bottle into KBS snifter, bottled in 2013. Bottle stored in cellar then briefly refrigerated prior to opening. Pours a beautiful jet black and forms a two inch foamy head that's beige in color. The head ultimately settles into a thin ring around the glass.

The nose is French roast coffee and milk chocolate, quite inviting. There's also a strong roasted malt aroma, followed by a spicy presence that hints of nutmeg. The taste is quite similar to its nose, bitter mocha, sweet molasses and roasted malt, fudge and spicy (chile ancho and nutmeg).

The mouthfeel of this beer is quite pleasant, almost no carbonation present which in my opinion helps savour the beer even better.

Overall - very excited to discover this beer, its quite enjoyable and hides the 10% ABV extremely well. Its sweet yet no overwhelmingly so and all of its flavors are well balanced.

 

*IMO of course*

Try another in a few days/weeks, not expecting it to be like Pliny/Sculpin/Hoptimum; if anything a big 60min, or maybe a big Hop Devil. The brandy notes of a 90-minute boil with the bitterness can be very enjoyable. Another thing about it (IMO) is that since it doesn't have the biggest dry-hop, freshness might seem more important. Although, personally, I can enjoy 90min. a little older. It's that brandy flavor I'm after

 

I personally think Pliny is WAY over-rated (I find it bottled same-day on occasion as I'm 45 minutes from the brewery and Sculpin is in the same boat. I just thought 90 Minute was lacking the hoppiness I look for in a 9% DIPA. And it was a month old, so not super fresh but also not too old. Just glad I didn't buy a 4-pack and be let down.

 

Howdy NBSers!

So I'm just finishing off a 6er of a new beer to me, which would be the one, the only, Ska Mexican Logger! On this website, it is labeled as an American pale lager (oddly enough). Here's what I thought of it:

Pours a clear golden color, and there is a decent amount of visible carbonation floating to the top. There is a finger length of foamy, white head that develops, but it quickly dissipates into nothing. Aroma is bready and sweet. Taste is sweet, bready, and finishes with a slight touch of bitterness. The mouthfeel is light, and the carbonation is not over the top, but still quite noticeable. There is a slight, lingering aftertaste of bread, as well as a slight sweetness (tangerine?).

Overall, I think it's very good. The flavor doesn't develop all that much, but the attack doesn't need much straying from in my opinion. I can see why the label of "Mexican lager" was used for sure. I've been looking at it for quite a while, but I finally pulled the trigger on it. It was definitely worth it! Nothing spectacular, but it is definitely a good drinking beer. If you've been looking at this, but just haven't been able to pull the trigger, pull the trigger!

Time for a tune...


Have a great week NBSers!
Cheers!

 

Happy Early Sunday Evening BA's...

It's a great humid ( thanks for the pop up rain storms ), hot day here in Georgia. Sun is shining, birds are singing, and my smoker is.. well.. smoking...

Enjoying this new beer to me, Victory's Moving Parts IPA.

It's an evolving IPA recipe they will change apparently to keep it new and fresh and this is batch 1. German, American, UK hops with German malts.

Pretty tasty beer, crisp, clean, plenty of citrusy and piney notes, with a subtle dry earthy note. Very rich malt profile on the nose, but not so much in the finish, I like it!

 

Yea it's for sure not a Palate Wrecker/Sucks/Racer V. I'm with you in that if I didn't enjoy a month old example, I wouldn't bother again. Would be too much of an effort. Union Jack is my only exception; as I will buy as much as possible at 2-4 weeks refridgerated, but 4 weeks at room temp, I won't give it a second glance.

As for Pliny and Sculpin, we'll have to agree to disagree I don't think of any beer as a "drop dead" reaction, but Pliny and Sculpin are very enjoyable to me and I would gladly drink one or a few a day. Cheers

 

Good afternoon, I truly enjoyed Wheat is the New Hops from Grassroots this afternoon.
Quite a treat after a long brew day.

Cheers all

4.5/5 rDev +14.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into an HF tulip glass, version 2 bottled this year.

A - Slightly hazy, golden straw. A pillow that laces through the entire pour. Delicate and delectable. Carbonation ance is delicate and enticing.
S - A hint of brett, lemon, tropical fruit, and beautiful hop aroma.
T - Tart fruit with a hint of biscuit. The brett affords a wonderful dimension that entices. Fine citrus from a hop bath. One of the best crafted wheat IPA I have experienced.
M - Carbonation is crisp, light tingle, slight tart bite on the tongues edges. Fine medium dry finish.
O - Quite a treasure, the construction and execution are fabulous. A wheat IPA with brett, that delivers on all levels. With only 1 left I anticipate only lingering desire for more.

Cheers all

Serving type: bottle

06-29-2014 22:31:27 | More by SABERG

 

I love PLINY. I don't get it often and I have only had it twice but I love it. I find it to be delightfull in so many ways. =) Sculpin is not always fresh where I am but I like that too.

 

I'd love Pliny... to be distributed around here, that is. It only came through once, quickly enough that I missed it, and then RR pulled the plug on WA distribution

 

If you haven't already, you should definitely check out the documentary Nothing Can Hurt Me; it's very well done and does a great job of telling the whole story.