New Beer Sunday (Week 534)

Thanks to a generous BAer, I have a few new brew's to try.

Cheers!

 

New Schwarzbier Sunday


3.79/5 rDev -2.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Poured from a 16 oz can into Sam Adams Perfect Pint glass.

Black, with hints of brown in the light. Small, somewhat fizzy head that ends up leaving a thin cap on top that doesn't ever totally go away because it leaves the kind of lacing that finds it's way back down the glass and into the beer.

Aroma is pretty muted. Typical lager yeast smell. Semi sweet with faint roasted malt grains. Honestly, even as a lager fan, the aroma rarely scores above an "ok" or "good". I am sure some of the adjunct American macros have not helped, but this is my least favorite part. Anyway...

Flavors are good even on the weak side. Roasted black malts, some chocolate, and a touch of sweetness balances out any bitterness.

Medium to light bodied. The flavors do make you believe it is more toward the porter end of the spectrum, but then you realize it is almost gone because it drinks exactly like the 4.5% lager that it is. Carbonation is a tad too much on the cola side, but not bad.

A very good tasting lager. Not the best Schwarz I have had by any means, but I love the pounder cans and always happy to see more of this style. I would gladly drink again

Someone needs to include these rings in the cans like a cereal box prize. May the Schwarz be with you!

 

Small Batch Ale: Sour Brown (12oz bottle)
Brewery: White Birch Brewing (New Hampshire)
Style: Sour Brown/Oud Bruin
ABV: 6.0%
Glassware: Poured into an Apostlebräu Teku

Appearance: Pours a dark brown with a slight red tinge, producing a fairly thin, off-white head despite a rather strong pour. The head dissipates rather quickly, and leaves no lacing.

Aroma: Wow. That's roasty! Roasted malt notes of primarily coffee, but also a hint of chocolate. Slight apple cider vinegar aroma, but the the sourness does a good job hiding itself until the first sip.

Taste: It's sour, of course. On the first sip, the sourness was the primary taste. After that though, it really took a back seat to the roasted malt. Coffee and chocolate are both prominent. This beer has a surprisingly pronounced roasted malt bitterness to it, as well.There is also a nuttiness I'd liken to hazelnuts that subtly persists through the whole tasting experience. There isn't a ton of fruitiness to speak of with this brew, but if I had to describe it, I'd say it resembles over-ripe bing cherries. There is quite a bit going on here.

Mouthfeel: Pretty thin mouthfeel. It is quite smooth. I generally find a lot sour beer styles to be sippers, but this one is very easy drinking. It doesn't have that harsh puckering quality to it.

Overall: I'd give it a 4.25 overall. I like it quite a bit, and it is always fun to try something new. This beer has more roasty maltiness than any other sour I have ever had (Tart of Darkness included). At $4.99 per bottle, it is worth trying if you have the chance.

 

http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/718/90671/?ba=Bitterbill

C&Ps out of the way, G'day NBS faithful!

Much cooler day today after a pretty nice Saturday fun day at the Harmony Hops and Hope festival. Many new beers were tried by yours truly and all from the great brewing state of Wyoming!
The Petrus brew that I drank today finishes off a very enjoyable and delicious mixed 6-pack of sour beers. There's also a mixed 6-pack of their non sours in town that I will have to investigate.

I think I will return with another new beer to me so see you all then. Cheers!

 

Good morning NBS and thanks @Greywulfken for a wonderful kickoff today.
Getting ready for the upcoming weekend here in WMass, Friday parade, moves to the cemetery
we oversee. It needs to be perfect as the town festivities include the readings of all those
lost in war from the Revolutionary war to present at the cemetery. So lots of work today.

Today's treat is from Grimm, an American wild with botanical's, Hibiscus, Rose Hips and Chamomile.
Very lite, slightly tart and generally refreshing. Hope everyone enjoys there day.

Color Field

Grimm Artisanal Ales
American Wild Ale / 5.20% ABV

3.7/5 rDev +1.6% | rAvg: 3.64
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Poured from a bottle dated January 2015 into a tulip glass.
A - Gentle carbonation feeds a thin cap. Peach, hibiscus, vibrant spring color. Wisps of lace
trace the edges of the glass. With all that a surprising clarity, change the glassware and you might fool someone into thinking this was a sparkling rose'.
S - Botanical comes through, hibiscus, rose, with white peach, all supported by the edgy Lactobacillus adding a little tickle.
T -Oddly monochromatic, base grains are very light, wheat, pilsner seem to be the majority. Very delicate flavors of strawberry, fresh honeydew, rosewater.
M - Tap dances across the palate, never really touches down. Nice acidity with a quick exit.
Use of the "wild" agents keep this very clean, slightly tart. Nicely done.
O - Summer in a glass, delicate in all aspects, blurs several lines. Add some chalkiness or salinity, and your in wine territory. Delicate in all aspects, and well crafted.

Cheers

 

So I have had the '14 before, but never any vintages. The '12 starts off with what seems to be more barrel character. As it warms, the oxidized flavor comes out more. Honestly, it was still good, but I think 2+ years is a little much for this one.

 

Good morning all,
Great intro Greywulfken! I've been into Sumerian culture for decades by cherishing their elixir, sometimes brewing it, always fascinated by new choices, and by "responsibly" discerning the variations of the wonders of barley. I'll never forget, "The noble dogs keep away even the potentates". I would like to claim that phrase. In my case, Otis (Oatis) the Treeing Walker Coonhound, guards my beer as he allows me room to be somewhat human.
Today's beer is Points Unknown IPA, a collaboration between Stone, Ecliptic, and Wicked Weed. This is truly an original and powerful brew. Technically a Double IPA blended with a barrel-aged Belgian-style Triple, Points Unknown is Belgian from the get go.....but with a west coast hoppy swagger that takes no prisoners. A gorgeous malty nose and a deep orange/gold sheen make this a great beer to simply ponder. A very nice meringue-like head with an impressive beading makes for a very quenching beer. This beer looks and smells perfect. It is very easy to drink and savor, so I'll take my time with this baby! Man, is it ever warming and urging me to try to wax poetic...Nah, I'll just sip away. Points Unknown IPA is a great beer, easy to drink, powerful and subtle, a brewing achievement.
Thanks Greywulfken and cheers everyone. We are off into the woods armed with humor and cameras. Back later, I'm sure.


Here are two masters of their respective crafts. Jonathan Winters makes me laugh when I think of him! Jack Paar was the founder of his genre and a genius of no small proportion

 

I always mention peoples names in my reviews.

Cheers!

 

I saw a post of theirs on Facebook and had to post a reply. Thanking them for the tribute to the civilization that brought forth the beverage we all love and enjoy.

 

Ghostbusters quote

 

Thought I'd branch out a little today with Off Color Brewing, Chicago, Illinois, "Fierce". A Berliner Weisse Style Ale, ringing in at 3.8% ABV.



Cloudy pale straw (SRM 2) into SAPP. Copious amount of foam, even with gentle pour. Lots of carbonation, reminds me of sparkling white wine. Some sediment drops to bottom of glass. Head reduced very quickly, and laced well down the glass. 3.75

Sour fruit nose, a little pear. A whisper of flowers. 3.75

Sour pear flavor up front. Carbonation wears off tongue leaving it dry, and a little bready. More floral/rose petal flavor as I drink more. 4.0

Light mouthfeel. Sour/dry finish on the tongue. 3.75

Admittedly still trying different "sour" beers, and like styles, I thought this was very good. Crisp and lightly sour with a little fruit flavor. I would definitely drink again. 3.7

 

New Glarus Smoked Rye

Is today New Glarus (ruins) day!?!

I am really looking forward to this beer! I have liked every brand of beer (and there have been many!!) from New Glarus and the combination of Smoke and Rye malt is something I like. I homebrew a Northern English Brown Ale where I use both Weyermann Smoked Malt and Rye Malt in the grist and I really like that beer!

OK, enough jibber jabber.

Served in my Sly Fox Bock Fest Willi Becher glass.

Appearance:

Pours a dark amber -copper color with a light tan head. Head only lasts for a few seconds and leaves a small amount on top throughout the beer.

Smell:

Robustly smoked, this beer has complex smoky phenolics. Spicy Rye malt aroma and other ingredients are in the background.

Taste:

Taste has a bit more depth, with some caramel and toffee notes, as well as a faint apple/fruity flavor mingling with the smoky flavor.

Moutfeel:

Medium bodied and lightly carbonated. Pleasant smooth body.

Overall

Overall I thought this was a good, pretty drinkable smoked beer. I found the smoky phenolics on the nose to be intriguing.

Cheers to New Glarus for another tasty beer!

 

Not usually drinking this early in the morning, but today I was just feeling it. I had this bottle of peach sour ale brewed in Northern Idaho, so I had to give it a try. Laughing Dog usually makes pretty decent beer, and this is their first foray into the world of sours, so I thought I'd dive in.

The aroma is a blast of peaches that reaches sky-high, but there's not much in the way of sourness, funk or wild in the aroma. I like fruity beers when they're well-done, though, so I'm not yet disappointed. The flavor has a solid shot of sourness with an earthier peach component that perfectly complements the bright, fruity element of the aroma. It may not be the best sour in the world, but it's highly competent and a surprising win for a first-ever offering of the style for a brewery.

I'll be out Idaho way later this summer, so I'm hoping they'll have more sours available by then.

Rating: 3.99 / 0% rDev (I guess my thoughts were spot-on average!)

 

I love all the Ninkasi beers, but the Vanilla Oats is out of this world. Flavored beers can be too sweet, but this one is just right.

 

I am a Kings fan so my team is long gone. The Rangers look like they might be a team of destiny this year. My pick all season long has been Chicago though and that hasn't changed a bit. Such a tough team

 

I hear you! That game against the Rangers was the best the Kings looked in the final weeks of the season. Gave me hope that they were about to make their usual late playoff push, but it was not meant to be. I would be rooting for the Ducks if I was a Rangers fan as well though they have enough depth to give the Blackhawks problems. We shall see, but good luck the rest of the way!