New Beer Sunday (week 497)

my first time participating in the "New Beer" thread - many times in the past my timing has been slightly off. i'll also disclaimer, i just came off a couple of pretty intense stouts earlier & needed to switch up to something a little less robust. so here i am but i took this one down on a somewhat spent palate.

Lost Abbey's Witch's Wit: picked up at a local Whole Foods ($8.99). for me this was a like, this first try couldn't quite label it a "love". what i found was a good burst of citrus & gentle spice wound up neatly in a crisp wit beer with a slightly dry finish. the aroma, like the profile is a variety of tropical citrus & spices. a nice lasting head formed, "effervescence" was the fancy word that came to mind.



my brief thoughts must take into account this isn't a style/category i'm very fluent in to begin with, so my opinion isn't based on a vast field of comparisons & prior experiences. this struck me as a good beer to enjoy with food, so i'm working the second pour with some soup for an early (light) lunch as coffee was all what's for breakfast this morning. it's working well with the soup as i type, the citrus makes me wish i had thawed & seasoned some snapper filets to fry - i'm definitely feeling this would wash down "fish & chips" nicely. or maybe i'm just longing to break out the fryer & hear my wife's mouth over the mess i make.

 

Lotsa new beer action this week, wrapping up with this one today:

Knee Deep Brewing's Simtra TIPA

Knee Deep Brewing is now distributed here presumably, as I walked into a host of new products this week.

This is what I picked up:

I have been really impressed with all of them.

Reviews:

Citra Extra Pale Ale - - - - - - Hoptologist DIPA - - - - - - Hop Shortage​

Also this week got to try a new barleywine from Central Waters and I discovered that I never reviewed Narwhal...

Kosmyk Charlie's Y2K Catastrophe - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Narwhal​

So back to the present, snacking on some standard fare (no cheese this week "cheese money" went to beer )


A last look at the Simtra - and my official review...


Came across (*ewww* ) my first NBS post while rooting around on-site (*expert-level time wasting* )

 

A few days ago, saw this Westbrook Citrus Ninja Exchange show up at my local shop, but balked at the $14.00 price tag. Swinging back by today, the last bottle was sitting there, tantalizing, and I snatched it up. I got home, put my little one down for a nap, and cracked it open. Is it worth the price tag?

Damn right it is. The aroma is remarkably unique. So often, double IPAs fall into one aroma category or another, with some full-on dank hop bombs, edging towards a marijuana stink, while others are straight up grapefruit juice or fresh-cut flowers. What Westbrook does here is bring several aroma worlds together - a slightly sweet, dank base aroma that's been brightened up with a twist of grapefruit zest and a spritz of lemon juice. It's both citrusy and earthy at the same time, a truly unique smell.

On the palate, the grapefruit punch is upfront but, unlike so many other IPAs, not overwhelming - I don't feel like I'm drinking a glass of grapefruit juice. Instead, the big malt base comes through, giving the impression of a ruby red grapefruit sprinkled with sugar, allowed to sit for a few minutes so that the sugar permeates the puckering tartness of the grapefruit, leaving a beautiful balance between sweet and tart. Just a slight hop bite at the ends leaves a clean, bitter finish, but not so mouth-clenchingly bitter so as to not want to go straight back for more.

All in all, this is one of the finest and, more appropriately, unique DIPAs I've ever had.

Cheers!

 

Fat Head's Head Hunter IPA. Poured from a 12oz bottle into a glass.

A: Deep golden color, light white frothy head that dissipated quickly. Looks like some poor filtering as there is hop material that made it into the bottle and into my glass. A bit of a turn-off. 6/10
S: Wow, major fruit, grapefruit and citrus notes with some floral and a hint of dankness. Awesome aroma. Reminds me of Stone's enjoy by. 9/10
T: Bitterness through and through. only lightly malty with hops front and center. Some fruitiness, but not significant. clean flavors. 7/10
M: medium body, some hop astringency on the finish. a bit harsher than I'd like. 6/10
O: A nice IPA. Could use some work to clean up bottling practices at this small local Ohio brewery. Needs to be crystal clear, with only a hint of yeast haze if it is bottle conditioned. Great deep golden color, phenomenal aroma and clean flavors. A cleaner aftertaste would be preferable. I'd drink another though. 7/10 or 3.75 stars.


Check-in photo. Nice color!

Some yeast chunks but significant hop material.

 

Another one from my recent trip to NC; been saving it for NBS. Here we go:




A: Pours dark amber with a big, fizzy head that dissipated very quickly. It looked a lot like a cola to my eye.

S: Fruity with a bit of vanilla and spice. Pleasant.

T: Dark fruit with some hints of vanilla and a flavor I'm having trouble describing; the can says it's brewed with dried figs, so that might be it. Overall, quite good; tastes a bit like a dubbel but with more fruit.

M: Medium; it isn't as heavy as some higher ABVs I've tried, but far from watery. Not bad, overall.

O: Very interesting beer; I would definitely recommend it if you're in the mood for something flavorful and just a bit different.

Have a safe and happy Labor Day weekend everyone !

 

New Barrel Aged Imperial Stout Sunday
​

My dad retired from 52 years of playing the church organ today. @2beerdogs showed me some crazy mad beer karma love by sending this beauty to Central OH. I thought it was fitting to honor pops and a fellow BA on this fine occasion. Wow did this one deliver. Totally unexpected and lived up to all the hype. I am honored to have sampled it and matched it up with such a fine occasion.

Hope everyone has a nice long weekend and Happy NBS one and all!

http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/16866/51257/?ba=mattcrill

Black Tuesday- 2012
4.75/5 rDev +4.9%

First off, huge thanks to Derek (@2beerdogs) for the chance to sample this gem. His beer karma is much appreciated.

Aroma: Big raisin and plum notes abound. Low woody notes and strong bourbon character up front. No hop aroma. Big dark fruit and licorice notes abound. I love the well knit character of the dark fruit aromas, licorice, and woody notes. The smell hugs my nose like a warm blanket.

Appearance: Inky black pour with a moderate-low tan head. The head retention is good.

Flavor: More dark fruit with a big sugary molasses character. Low woody notes as in the nose with a background bitterness and slight roast character to provide a counterpoint. Hints of vanilla emerge as it warms. The finish is clean and dry. The balance is definitely malty with wonderfully knit flavors and amazing depth. The aftertaste is lingering and slightly woody.

Mouthfeel: Medium-full bodied with medium-low carbonation. Silky on the tongue with a tinge of alcohol heat.

Overall impression: While still exhibiting the character of a wood-aged Imperial Stout it also reminds me of a well-aged English Barleywine. There is depth to this beer that shows different layers each time you sample it. Truly an amazing feat. This is the best barrel-aged beer I've had. A treat worthy of all the hype.

 

Good afternoon NBS week 497! Well I figured I would give another one of these Grain Belt beers a try, especially since @jzeilinger gave me more to pawn off on my friends !
So here it is the Grain Belt Premium
Kind of a blurry picture, but oh well.

I think this is pretty funny

Well here's the review: http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/417/10364/?ba=jhartley
And here's the ultimate and inevitable out-come

I hope everyone else is having better beer today than I am!
Keeping the Prong love alive for today's NBS thread

Cheers!

 

Out.Haus Ales American White Spruce from Northwood, N.H. Handsome amber pour. A fascinating merger of toasted caramel and biscuit malts, and spruce pine. Sweetness. Nothing overpowers the other and the spruce is more subdued than one might think. Strange aftertaste though

 

First one down. My first ipl very tasty. Just like a double IPA. Yum

 

New Whiskey Cask Aged Old Ale Sunday.

Well, got off of work early. So doing what I do best, drinking beer.



My initial thoughts of this were that I seen people drinking this and enjoying it. Well now I'm going to drink it...(monkey see, monkey do). Let me describe this brew for you. It first looks very ominous. Very dark brown body almost on the verge of being black, yet it possesses an eerie glow around the body. Very interesting. The aroma speaks to me saying, roasted malts that bring forth warming caramel. Also some cocoa nibs with a touch of molasses sweetness. There is also a wood aspect very earthy and calming. Very nice on the nose. Now for the taste. Semi sweet malts that help to showcase the whiskey part of the brew. Molasses and roasted malts that are trying to compete with the whiskey. Very balanced. In the aftertaste is of toasted marshmallows and a nice pipe tobacco flavor that is dissolving into a faint vanilla. The finish is dry slightly bitter very elegant. The feel is Medium-light with soft carbonation.

Overall: Hands down this beer is delicious! Everything seems to meld together in a sophisticated manner. This beer is very light for being an 8% brew. Drinkable beyond belief and very balanced. This brew is recommended.

Rating: A-

Cheers my fellow NBSers!

 

Way to get the NBS party started on another gorgeous WI weekend. I did some yard work this morning before coming inside to cool of a bit. I still have to cut some grass, but I'll do that this evening when it is a bit cooler outside.

I decided to try Jacks Abby Cocoa-Nut Barrel Aged, and it is sensational. Thank you @BobZ ! I may never get to try Proprietor's BCBS, but I don't think I care now. This beer is rich, smooth, and decadent with big notes of cocoa and coconut. Luscious waves of sweet caramel are also noticeable with hints of vanilla and subtle bourbon notes. Want an outstanding beer; I'm making it last for two pours. Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

 

Hey y'all NBS people!
Kicking off my NBS with a local brewed Oktoberfest!


http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/23966/135600/?ba=Roxie_B
Since so far my review is the one and only I kind of wish I could figure out how to put a picture in the review but I am to busy drinking at the moment to poke at it.
It's still hot as Satan's taint here in the deep south but a drizzly day and a smattering of autumnal brews has me all a flutter for fall. Enough about this weather, onto the beer!
I am excited that I got this so fresh, the bottle is three days old! Hooray for local. And it's not bad at all either. Cheers and more to come.

 

Next one down. A little too much pumpkin not enough porter. But overall good 3.5/5

 

It reminds me of the most imaginative Halloween costume I've ever seen.
There used to be (and might still be) a wine festival in the fall in the Tri-Cities that encouraged guests to wear a costume. My uncle, a wine columnist, always attended and always came up with some goofy costume. His best was as an outhouse. He literally built an outhouse with arm-holes and a gap for his head at the top (he could do this , as he was freakishly tall), wore old school long-underwear underneath it, and put graffitti on the door inviting people to call his wife for a good time.

 

Congrats to your Dad. It's impressive to see anyone in this day and age devote 52 years to ANYTHING.

 

Greetings, fellow NBSers,

Partly sunny and in the low 70s in the land of the Spokandinistas. Although I prefer these kind of days to the 90+ blast furnace days we had a lot of this summer, I’m a little bummed out to sense the end of summer in this weather. Fortunately, I was able to ignore it yesterday and binge on college football. My EWU Eagles were unsurprisingly successful putting the hurt on a plucky little NAIA school. My Dawgs, with a young team and a new regime, kept things suspenseful until the end, but emerged victorious. Now I wish I had a ‘hawks game to watch, but that will have to wait a few more days. That’s ok, though, since it will finally be for real!

For NBS, I decided to do something different. I bring you...

The Pilsener Challenge™

Two pilseners (um, because that’s all I had), one from Germany and one from Oregon, squaring off -

First, in this corner, the upstart from Hood River:

http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/5316/50097/?ba=woemad

And in the other corner, the veteran since 1824, from the land of high performance touring cars and an uneasy relationship with the last 100 years:

http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/172/458/?ba=woemad


I gotta say, I really liked both of them. The Full Sail beer was fresh-tasting and enjoyable, but was definitely a New World spin on an Old World classic, while the Veltins was both more delicate and more traditional. Both finished cleanly and had a nice, crisp style-correct mouthfeel, both were refreshing. Having to choose one, if I was in the mood for a traditional authentic pils I’d gravitate toward the Veltins, but the Full Sail, although slightly heavier, will obviously have had to do less travelling, and is a nice compromise between the traditional style and local ingredients.