New Beer Sunday (week 494)

Long time listener, first time caller.

Good morning, NBSers! This thread has become, by far, my most anticipated read on a weekly basis and I vowed a few months back that I would participate eventually. So @utopiajane, you are correct, today indeed is the day.

First, the beer. A new one for me, been in my "collection" for a while now and since today is the day, this is the beer.

Brasserie Dieu du Ciel Equinoxe du Pintemps. Bottle states it is a scotch ale brewed with maple syrup, 9.5% ABV. Sounds amazing, don't you think? Now I'm no great beer rater, or even connoisseur, but in keeping with the spirit I'd like to share my thoughts. The stink of it, nothing mind blowing...smells like beer to me. The first taste...malty, woodsy, resiny, slight hint of bitter but not repulsive (I'm not huge on bitterness) and a little bit of sweet on the backend. Mouthfeel...slick, smooth, almost sticky, not thin at all but not super chewy. The further into the pour I get, the better it is tasting. The sweet of the maple is arriving, still slick mouthfeel and almost sticky, malt still very present.



A small share about myself. Been into craft beers for a few years now, Lost Coast Great White was probably my gateway beer since it's the first craft brewed beer that I used to buy in quantity. I seem to remember thinking I was cutting edge for liking it soo much XD While I do enjoy the Great White still from time to time, my obsession for the past 2-3 years has been stouts. Specifically coffee stouts. Would you believe me if I told you that this beer today is my first scotch ale? Probably. And it is so I have nothing to compare it to. I purchased it probably 6-8 months ago based on the description of "brewed with maple syrup." Halfway into the beer and it is really opening up as a maple syrup bomb, watch out Mrs. Butterworth. Really thickening in the mouthfeel as it warms.

This is my best bud...Annie Oakley, she will be 10yrs old this December.


And this is where I work. Home of the US Open of Surfing.


Really going to try to contribute here on a regular basis since the "collection" I referred to earlier has become quite obnoxious. I wanted a cellar, a beer cellar, but it appears that I collect way more than I drink so let's just call it what it is...a collection. Also, I love sundays. Football! So what better way to get excited than to share new beers with other beer lovers.

As I finish this bottle of beer new to me I must admit that it is amazing. I'll need to try more scotch ales to have some sort of basis of comparison but based on it's own merits, it was delicious. Someone in another thread said something like..."come on, who gets buzzed off one beer." Well, this chick! At 9.5% in an 11.7fl oz bottle, the alcohol taste was hidden very well by the sweet of the maple. A very good beer.

TL;DR...Hi, I like beer and can be long-winded. Happy Sunday.

edit. my pictures are large, i'll fix that in future posts. apologies.

edit again. i forgot music, i love music.

 

Poured nicely with a thick cloud-like head and dark orange in color. Tastes juicy and hop forward like you would want and expect. I've had a few grapefruit IPA's this summer including 18th Street's Grapefruit Dead and I'll put this one ahead. Didn't see a canned-on date, but I'm sure it's at least a month old. Hops have held on nicely with a good citrus punch. Nice treat for NBS.

Cheers!

Warren Haynes + Les Claypool...

 

Not sure why I haven't tried it sooner. Founders Centennial IPA. Gorgeous orange color, with some great caramel malts. This is an old school IPA, more a hopped up English IPA than America IPA. Very balanced and tasty with a smooth finish.

 

Nice post. Love that brewery. Haven't had that beer and want to try.

 

Good afternoon sippers of saisons and downers of dubbels! Trying a new style and beer today thanks to @goingbrokeonbeer !!
Westbrook Gose

Formed a huge fluffy white head that broke apart quickly never to be seen again.
Dark golden almost apple juice looking body. Kind of looks like golden ocean water when held up to the sunlight, like when the waves ebb and swirl the sand.
Smells sour and the coriander comes out prominently as well.
You really get that sour tartness right away! It's almost like sour pear juice, that sounds bad, but it isn't! I can't necessarily pick out the addition of salt, other than the dryness it imparts.
Really refreshing on a hot day, the dryness on the end really makes you want to go back for more.
Overall a decent brew that drinks so easy it should be illegal! If I had a 6 pack of this it wouldn't last too long. Reminds me a little bit of Bell's Oarsman.

And for no particular reason here's some Iron & Wine

Cheers!

 

Well done, and welcome aboard. A few must try Scotch Ales:
Wulver, Skull Splitter, Dirty and Backwoods Bastard, Innis and Gunn, Old Chub, Scotty Karate. Also enjoyed Sam Adams Wee Heavy with some age.

 

Just grabbed a single to try myself. Avoided IPAs for a long time

 

If you aren't an IPA drinker (I am) this is a good one to try as the malts outshine the hops here. Very smooth.

 

I love the first two sips of this beer, then I'm done.

 

Happy NBS everyone! Bottle my first homebrew today, poured a little into a snifter, of course it was a little flat since it still needs to weeks to carbonate in the bottle, but it was pretty good. Now drink Stone / Beachwood / Heretic - Unapologetic IPA, cheer!
4.05/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22 oz bottle, dated 7/15/14, poured into a snifter

A- A clear golden amber color with a two finger white head.

S- Fruity and fairly sweet, reminds me of canned fruit cocktail, apricots, some tropical fruits, citrus, some pine.

T- Fruitiness is again fairly sweet, getting mainly citrus and tropical fruits, hints of apricots, finish is hoppy with piney/earthy hops.

M- Smooth, crisp medium body.

O- Another solid IPA from Stone, worth trying, nice balance.

 

http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/147/8951/?ba=Gear54

My new beer for the week is Stone Oaked Arrogant Bastard Ale. Link to the review included.
This was really good on a hot day after working all morning.

 

Well it looks pretty and smells nice but this was a bit sweeter than I expected. Also, whiskey-tango-foxtrot why am I getting muskmelon from this. I do love the earthiness of the finish and in the aroma but I want more of that and less of the bright sweetness. Unexpected. Made a bit of a hash of pouring because I am still at 1.75 arms this weekend. That torn muscle will not heal because I am a dork and refuse to ask for help or take time off for anything ever.

 

Looks REALLY good. I've had a few HF, but this would take the cake... or the barrel.

 

Thanks! Hoping to review here in two weeks when it is fully ready!

 

My first experience with Stone, with strong ale, and with oak-aged anything. Oh, I remember that day well. Awesome stuff.

 

I especially like the upside-down face picture. Does that beer know Ton Tucker's son?