New Beer Sunday (week 524)

Good day for a New Belgian Beer Sunday. And the first entry of the evening is Liefman's Fruitesse at 3.8% ABV (250ml bottle). I kinda felt like something fruity given that spring is slowly starting to be upon us, the sun is already stronger - the days are longer and in another 13 days calendaric spring starts (which occasionall hits the 28-32°C mark in March/April).



A - Pours an deep, bordeaux-ish red with a somewhat red-ish one finger head that quickly dissipates.

S - Smells like berries. Lots and lots and lots of berries (raspberries, elderberries, bilberries and strawberries) with a hint of cherries. A mild sweetness. Actually smells somewhat like fruit punch.

T - First taste was without the ice cubes like the instruction on the bottle tell you to do it. As with the smell, lots of berries with some cherries. Mild sweetness and a gentle sourness. Then with ice and whoa.. did not expect that flavor profile change. Emphasizing the berries and the sourness more, the sweetness moves a bit more in the background.

M - A good amount of carbonation, not too much and not too thin like it is with some Stouts. As one would correctly guess, this is generally on the lighter side.

O - I pretty much got exactly what I expected. A beer that would be an incredibly good refreshment after a long hot day, particularly with the ice. At 3.8% ABV this also fits nicely with summer since you probably don't want "the hammer of the sun" (as we imaginatively dubbed after drinking wine in the shade of some trees on a riverbed and then stood up to walk around in the blistering sun, not the best idea) to get ya. The low ABV also doesn't make drinking a few of these much of an issue.

 

Bottling date rubbed off. Poured into a Sam Adams Perfect Pint. $2.49 bottle.

Appearance: Great looking beer -- a very hazy golden yellow color with a two finger head and a bunch of lacing.

Smell: Herbal and grassy hops with some underlying grapefruit. Doesn't smell super vibrant to me, and really has the aroma of a "meh" IPA. I hope the taste is better.

Taste/feel: The feel is very thin/watery with a moderate carbonation to make this feel like a very slammable IPA... that's the first thing I'm thinking. As for taste, it's really pretty much on-par with the smell. Some herbal and grassy hops with just a little bit of citrus. The finish also has a biscuity malt quality to add some depth. There's a bitter finish on this, but it's a little more balanced than I thought it might be

At 6%, it's probably not quite a session IPA to most people, but I would say that it is, in large part to the mouthfeel. On one hand I enjoy the fact that it's a "low" ABV and super easy to drink, but on the other I'd like more body. This is a kind of "time and place" IPA... if this were mid-July and I were on a boat, at a party, or cutting the lawn, I'd get the most out of it. As it stands being early March with snow on the ground, it's not quite doing it for me. Still a decent enough IPA... maybe just not at the price of $2.50 a single.

3.51/5 (-3.8% rDev)

 

I'm hung over. Can somebody run a breakfast burrito over to a brother? Cool, thanks much.

 

Happy new beer Sunday all my BA bros & sistas! I received a Chimay gift pack from a dear friend this past week. I've tried Chimay red before, but not blue or white yet...So what better day to give them a go then today! Reviews coming soon...
P.S. The kit also included a authentic Chimay Chalice!

 

New RIS Sunday

Hi Dee Ho Sunday Sippers,
Good start to March in these parts with 40's and 50's prognosticated for the next week. I'll take it.
I can' believe the early start here, esp. considering the time change. We appear serious about our beer here. Well I guess I am too.
I have a store, local to work, that is a good solid store, but the best part is they move products at times. A guy needs to know beers, styles and dates, but with proper attendance deals can be had. Today's entry is a RIS bottled 8/28/14 and put on sale this past week for $2.99/4-pack. It would have to be pretty mediocre to pass that up and this one is better than that.
http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/1146/128659/?ba=garymuchow

Sorry about the out of focus photo. I guess I didn't realize how much it sucked when I transferred this one.
Here is some more poor quality images of a great live band with a bass player with a fantastic name.

Best to all this week.

 

And here goes #2, the Tripel Karmeliet by Bosteels at 8.4% ABV.




A - Pours a clear golden color with quite a foamy 2-3 finger head (depending on your pour) that dissipates at mid-tempo.

S - Quite a bit of fruit although I can't entirely put my finger on what it is. It smells a bit like banana and citrus-y I think. There's also quite a bit of "funk" in there.

T - A lot more spice in there than in the smell. A bit of banana on the backend that transforms into citrus after a few sips. This is also more bitter than I remember my last triple. There's also quite a bit of alcoholic warmth coming with this one - in very stark contrast to the last one.

M - Loads of carbonation, a bit less than in other Belgians though. Definitely a full body.

O - I've had some very weird experiences with Belgians. Some I love, some are very odd. This one is in between, I've had a few other Belgians (fortunately not too many) that were usually quite alcoholic and had an odd taste I couldn't quite put my finger on that kinda bothered me. This one is not as bad as Piraat but it's definitely not as good as Westmalle. I admittedly expected more with a beer rated that highly, not sure I can finish this one - I think it's just overall "too heavy" for me.

Addendum: Somehow I'm establishing that the first beer I try on NBS is the better one.

 

C&Ps done.

G'day Dave and Maria and to all of the NBS crew!

A beautiful and sunny day here in Casper but I wish the DST thingy would go away! Lol!

I tried another new to me Scotch Ale/Wee Heavy* and big surprise; I didn't fancy it. Twas expensive too, darn it. Oh well, it has its fans and more power to them.

Gotta save up my bucks, as one of the stores in Casper is getting another big shipment of Imports AND Craft beers?? I'm used to the former but the latter intrigues me. Not a lot of US "craft" brewers want to get into the WY market cuz of the lack of population. Big huge thanks to those that have done so, though!!

*The brewer's website says it is a Scotch Ale. It was entered on BA as a Belgian Strong Dark.

I hope you all have a great Sunday and I'm looking forward to seeing more new beer posts in the best thread on all of BA.
Cheers!

 

Cool! I had a 2011 that was awesome thanks to a trade with @Brew33

 

To say any fruit beer is as good as any NG fruit beer is quite an endorsement. I will go out and find this and try it.

 

Greetings all!
It's a beautiful day here in the Northern Piedmont, sitting at 54 degrees and smelling a bit more like Spring. The trail was packed with weather-weary moms dads kids and dogs. I prefer the inclement weather. My neighbor's honey bees are flying about looking for anything flowering. It is truly a beautiful day.
Today's beer is Foothills March IPA of the month. This program is wonderful and features dogs, with some proceeds going to worthy petcentric causes. This beer is very bright, sharp, bone-dry, and alive. It would be perfect with very spicy food. A lovely golden hue with a steady small white-capped head, the March IPA is an easy-drinking 7 percent beer that is excellent! I feel fortunate to try each month's entry.
Last night the entire family was over for a feast and wild continuous conversation and distraction. It was a crowd of 12 for a fairly small family, and everything was seamless and memorable. My grandsons....well, let me just tell you!
That's Greta and Lola after Dad and Grand Dad had solved the world's problems fueled by Achel Extra. Just so you know, I think this is the best beer on earth.




I knew Jefferson Airplane pretty well as a young guy, and the music was powerful, political, and sometimes annoying. Hot Tuna cured that issue. I saw Hot Tuna at Cameron Indoor Stadium at Duke- I believe 1970 or 1971- and was floored. A tremendous performance and enduring music!

 

http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/10557/27667/?ba=Bitterbill

 

Roundabout is the local brewery that's impossible not to love. Their newest offering is the Humboldt Range Double IPA. New Zealand Green Bullet hops and American Mosaic are in the mix of this tasty wad of smooth hoppyness. Extremely easy to drink. Heavy tropical fruit tones with minimal citrus showing as accents. This is one of those beers you would love other beer nerds to be able to try. Happy Sunday y'all!

 

The Captain Lawrence sun block was bright and hoppy with tastes of lemons and citrus.
The saison from Anchor had ginger, lemon peel and lemon grass. It was good but I think the ginger dominates a bit too much for my liking

 

The new one for today is the last one I haven't tried from our Boston trip. I love black lagers and they have done a great job of keeping the smokiness to a pleasant level. This is probably the best rauchbier I have ever had. I am glad I bought a sixer of this. Still nice to have some snow left.

 

After this one is done I'm talking the dogs for a walk!

Beer #37 from New Glarus. Hopster, previously known as Crack'd Wheat which I never had.

The Amarillo hops of citrus and yeast dominate the aroma. Hints of sweet banana bread, cinnamon, spice. Finishes with floral and earthy hops.

The taste evolves during each sip. It starts with the citrus of orange and tangerine from the Amarilo hops and transitions into wheat, yeast, and a sweet banana bread. Finishes with some floral and bitterness. There is also some cinnamon mixed in.

 

So it was worth about $2.25 per mile?? I drive less to spend more than that on any given day. I would buy myself a $100 bottle of bourbon if I ran that far. Don't worry. Nate is right though.

 

New brew number two...

Boulevard Brewing's Tank 7 Farmhouse Ale...

Already had one in WBAYDN...

Number two is for review...

I do love a good saison, even though it's not a go-to style...

Mousse-like head, great color, tons of effervescence; the flavors are citric and spicy, perhaps peppery; slight yeast funk (I let it slip into my pours) creates a dank, dry finish - well-executed and highly enjoyable...

Cheers, NBS...

Listening to some femme metale in honor of International Women's Day...



These ladies reppin' Italy, Canada, and America...