New Beer Sunday (week 532)

Yeah, I mean if you have the extra cash for it...do it. But if you're expecting BCBBW it is not going to fulfill that demand. It's tasty but not Worth that price IMO.

 

Double-dipping on the NBS, reviewing a second new beer. Hope that's kosher with @utopiajane and the rest of yall. This also happens to be my 999th beer review, so I'll have to decide whether I can wait a whole week to review my thousandth. We'll see.

Carton's Regular Coffee... Love the uniqueness, the flavor, the feel. Great beer.

4.23/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

12 ounce can poured into an oversized snifter.

This beer was one I'd wanted to try for some time. So I'm pretty happy to be doing this review.

The beer pours a bright golden/amber color with a lot of fizziness. A surprising amount of fizziness. This settles and forms a fizzy yet substantial head that sits a bit foamy before becoming a lacy layer over the body. Plenty of carbonation continues to surge in the glass as I observe it. 4.25

Pretty magical how they got this aroma. There's a chocolatey and roast-y coffee aroma, subtle but there enough to be noticed and enjoyed. Beyond this is a sweet element that suggests even a chocolate with gooey orange stuff inside. This really just smells like some sort of sweet treat. Delicious. 4.25

Not much of a departure from nose to palate, but in a good way. Still getting faint citrus notes (Citra hops maybe?) light coffee notes with some chocolatey qualities, and an immense sweetness like a soda. A cream soda even. The lingering coffee flavor is exceptional, imparting caramel, toffee and chocolate in a delightful blend. 4.25

I have to say there's a bit of heat to this beer at the finish, not in a solvent-y way, but it does make the back of your tongue and mouth tingle. It's pretty unique and takes some getting used to. That aside, this is deliciously creamy and deceptionally easy-drinking. Where the hell is the 12%? Are you lying to me Augie Carton? Nah but seriously, this think drinks so easily, I could see myself "mistakenly" downing a sixer and waking up...scratch that...never waking up. 4

I'm a sucker for a unique beer and this brew is certainly unique. In a good way. Quite enjoyable. Hell, more than enjoyable. Delectable in certain ways.

 

I hope for the best of your Daughter, it's hard for a parent to see their little bird to fly solo with their young ones too. Yet, the richest love is knowing that their offspring will prevail...and there's always Skype.

 

Got to try this at Extreme Beerfest 2013, and immediately marked it a want. Wasn't sure if they did or would make it regularly, but see it all over WBAYDN thread, so there's hope. Also, hope you can hold out, love to see a great 1000th beer review here, but it's a tall task .

 

I really didn't dig this brew. I'm also not a huge fan of Black IPAs, Black Ales, Cascadian Dark Ales..etc.. I really don't believe that Dark Malts help to accent Hop Oils.

 

..and 50% WTF! That line got me laughing like a Muvfaka! Great description!

 

I'm getting to Black Ales as I am with DIPA's: The exceptional ones (the few that they are) are really in the top of my favorites, but the run of the mill, average ones fall below the mean, and aren't worth additional purchases.
I go back on forth on this one (NightTime). The good flavors are just so good and unique, but then there are the other flavors.

 

So first a story and a pic, then a pic and a review. Mrs. O, Ranger, and I went to the lake yesterday. We have a camper in what's called a "seasonal" (you park the camper there year-round, get to use it from roughly May 1st through October 15th, and get easy access to a lake), so we went to open the camper yesterday - stuff like draining the water lines of the anti-freeze and firing up the water heater, hooking up the electric, water, and LP, and minor leveling.

Anywho, in addition to those chores, I also had to assemble a hammock - my 1st hammock, which I picked as a 15th anniversary gift from my company because I've ALWAYS WANTED A HAMMOCK (I may have watched too much "Gilligan's Island" as a kid). So I assembled the hammock, which took all of 5 minutes, and then I jumped in that bad boy - heaven.

And then Ranger, who sleeps with me and Mrs. O pretty much every night, decided to join me. This is the resulting pic, snapped by Mrs. O after she told me, "It looks CUTE," to which I replied, "If you like prison movies."



No animals or humans were harmed in the taking of this pic. Have a wonderful Sunday evening, BA's, and GO WILD!!! (talking pucks)

On to the beer pic and review .....



3.96/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Look: three fingers of head, gorgeous rich orange hues. Classic DIPA.

Smell: some hops, some malt, LOTS of booze.

Taste: the hops hit first with some pine and citrus, toffee malt, lots of booze at the end, but it mellows a bit as it warms.

Feel: well carbonated, boozy creaminess.

Overall: when I cracked this open, I smelled booze, when I poured it, I smelled booze, when I took in a big whiff, I smelled booze. I don't LIKE booze - at all. But I found myself really enjoying this as it warmed. It's as subtle as a hammer between the eyes, but I have to tip my cap to the folks at Evil Twin. Well done.

 

I hate that too. You pick out qualities you love, yet some bad qualities just overpower the good. Then you're torn on if you want to purchase again. I usually go with "No, don't do it".

 

The second of two I picked up while in Portland from these guys

I would like to say that the beer was better than the picture but....it seemed to be weak even if it is at the low end of the ABV range for a strong belgian in all aspects.

 

A rare appearance for me in this thread. Usually I am not patient enough to hold a new beer for Sunday, but this tart has been lurking in my refrigerator since last year....Allagash Nancy.

We took a day cation to Portsmouth/Kittery yesterday as a late anniversary getaway...I didn't forget, but things were crazy last week. So we wandered around Portsmouth on a fine day that was just right. Hopped on to When Pigs Fly, bought a ton of bread and had lunch. Lunch was a let down due to bad squid in the appetizer, but they took care of us. Unfortunately that bad taste overshadowed the Curieux and the Oxbow Saison. The pizza....dates and sopresatta....yeah weird, but it actually works.

Kittery Point to walk the beach. A bit cold, but beautiful. Stopped at Tributary for a bit to catch some tunes and try some beer. The Spring Saison and Dry Stout are worthy. The Porter was good, but I didn't think it was great. No Mott the Lesser. The saison very flavorful and thought it nicely fruity without being overdone. The a Dry Stout...the texture was what got me...smooth, creamy. Reaction was coffee smoothie with a bitter kick at the end that says drink more.

Ok...so that bad girl Nancy...

Appearance is outstanding. Deep golden color, maybe some hints of red. Super clear. No head, but lively enough bubbles more like champagne.

The smell...very laid back. First impression was malty with the fruit in the background, somewhat sweet and breads. As it warmed up, the cherry came forward a bit more. No sledgehammer here...subtly sexy.

Taste is well balanced in my opinion. The blend is spot on for me. Sweet, sour, fruit, malt sweetness. It is all there and smoothly integrated. The finish is dry, reveals the cherry much more, and a slightly sour finish. Carbonation is light yet lively and makes the beer refreshing. We had eggplant parm ciabatta for supper and this cuts right through.

Overall, I am really digging this beer. I find it well crafted, nicely balancing several aspects of taste. The finish is dry, clean, just a tiny lingering sourness.

 

New IPA Sunday: Grapefruit, Grapefruit and Grapefruit

Evenin NBSers, with special greetings to greatful guzzlers of grapefruit.

As with so many other places the weather here was picture perfect. Did a bit of work around the garden and my wife and I went for a bit to an Antiques Mall to see if we'd get lucky and find something to add to one of our collections.

I personally was feeling lucky since Saturday I had a visit to one of the few bottle shops in this area and found they had a can of fresh (canned on the 14th of April) Grapefruit Sculpin. Naturally, I grabbed one to have this evening. This is a beer that has indeed earned its reputation (especially if you like Grapefruit). If its too cold all you really get is Grapefruit, but at the right temperature for an IPA it takes on a lot of complexity beyond just simply grapefruit.

As usual my ongoing review (subject to change as I finish the beer) appears here:

http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/199/89174/?ba=drtth

My current prediction for this beer, now that I've tried it, is that it will hit the "Beers of Fame" list and get stuck there.

Since I was having an IPA this evening I started digging through bunch of vinyl records on loan (with an option for possible purchase) from a good friend. And came across some music performances by Buddy Holly and the Crickets. For those of you without access to good old fashioned vinyl and a player to listen to it, one of the classics by Holly and the Crickets can be found by following this link to tonights "What Beer...." thread. Well worth a look see/listen. (Especially if you dig a bit to find out some about the effects Holly had on the American music scene.)

http://www.beeradvocate.com/communi...u-drinking-now-925.287626/page-7#post-3607872

Cheers all!

 

Popped this bad boy open a few moments ago. Been wanting to try it for a while and figured I should before it disappears. Not disappointed. Hit the damn spot, actually. Before the Jubel I enjoyed a:



Funkwerks Saison. Not too bad, a little bit bitter and not much banana as promised, but overall not bad.

 

New Michigan brews

What a wonderful weekend in West MI. Blue skies nearly all day with temps somewhere near 80 in the afternoon.

I started the day accompanied by our youngest for breakfast on the deck, caught Paul Blart 2 with the wife and kids, did a ton of yard work and, got things ready for the neighborhood garage sale. Started to wind down with some new brews while grilling dinner. A couple of good ones here...

http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/32326/102987/?ba=GRPunk



http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/22564/115088/?ba=GRPunk

 

Yeah, this offering has been my favorite from Allagash. This brew was damn enjoyable.

 

Good evening New BSers! Finally got a chance to return to Al Gore's internet to post this morning's New Beer while it's still Sunday:



Looks good and has a pleasing palate, just not the best IPA - citrus in the nose but none found in the flavor.

http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/38886/157830/?ba=Ozzylizard

The second NBS beer is an accidental add - my son dropped by and is a sriracha fan so we cracked this:



This will be one of four empty beer bottles I've actually saved. The beer itself, while earning a 3.69 (rdev +3.4) from me on style, was a drain pour by both of us - the flavor of sriracha just didn't work for either of us.

http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/132/147262/?ba=Ozzylizard

 

One of my Profs at college was fond of saying, "...and from the ridiculous to the sublime." She would say this when trying to steer the class back on course after discussion had gone off on some goofy tangent, but she could have been talking about the difference between the Max I had earlier today and this beer, a Baltic Porter local to @beertunes, who threw it into a box for me:

http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/34416/118914/?ba=woemad

This made a lovely dessert after a Central European-inspired meal of robustly seasoned pork chops & sauerkraut.

Have a great week, everyone!

 

Really glad you made it clear you were talking about hockey, considering the pic.

Seriously, your "prison movie" pose wasn't the only reason I did a double take, as your dog is eerily similar to the very first dog I had as a boy, a Samoyed-German Shepherd mix.

 

No worries. A number of us are repeat offenders each week on this thread. Just posted my second new beer of the day myself. BTW, I'm really intrigued by this beer.

 

Good evening to all NBS BAs! So, I officially started my own NBS around midnight, last night and it was Bell's Hopslam(excellent), however, I try to only post on NBS when I am sitting with my notebook and can take notes of the new beer and not dilute any review due to drinking fatigue..haha. So here goes!



New Chocolate Mint Russian Imperial Stout Sunday
Ken Schmidt Chocolate Mint Stout - 9.20% ABV
Iron Fist Brewing

Poured a very very nice smooth dark color with a creamy soda-like top that disappeared quite rapidly. The smell was of course very minty and lots of chocolate and just a slight hint of coffee. First sip was very pleasant with the mint present but not overwhelming, a great balance of chocolate, molasses, dark fruits, roast malts and the alcohol is masked nicely. The mouth feel is also very nice with the refreshing/cool after taste of mint chocolate. Overall, a good mint stout that is well put together. This is my 2nd Mint Chocolate Stout in 2 weeks here in NBS, and I really enjoy the mint to be more pronounced like it was in Perennial Ales 17, but this is great for anyone who wants to try mint stouts for the first time but is worried about getting a mint bomb. My wife love this label as well...she says Ken really looks like he loves beer...I agree.



New Imperial Taiji Stout Sunday
Yin Imperial Taiji Stout - 10% ABV
Evil Twin

The intention is to mix the yin and yang black and tan style. I searched everywhere for Yang, did not find, so had this 'solo' like it says on the label.

It poured a slick black with a thin tan top that is almost non-existent by the time you get to first sip. The smell is good amount of cocoa, coffee and brown sugar. The first sip, quite the same as the smell, but a bit more coffee and cocoa and a nice drop of silky vanilla as well as tasty malt. A big bitter mouth feel to finish. Not 'I Love You With My Stout', but It's a very good stout by itself(without the Yang...will have to try the Yang by itself before I mix them now!) It carries it's own weight and I would definitely get this again. Wonder what it would be like aged in bourbon=D

It's been a great weekend for me, with date night at the symphony, hanging out with my boys and now winding the weekend down with great NHL action. I look forward to a great week and hope everyone has a great one as well...
Cheers!