New Beer Sunday (week 535)

Cheers @cavedave ! Welcome back and thank you for starting us out this morning. You know I did have a chance to talk with doomsaloon and I would like to take a moment to say how sorry I am that his attempt to host our fair thread went awry. I would also like to personally invite him back to NBS! Cheers @doomXsaloon and please join us anytime! As for the music I am pretty sure we can use the link which you will find on the toolbar above.

Heading down my enormous hill to buy my beer for today. See you all soon.

 

This beer is so new that I literally had to add it to the BA database this weekend. I'm going with Breckenridge Brewery's Tequila Barrel Aged Ophelia today. Ophelia is a hoppy wheat ale, and it's one of my favorite beers from Breckenridge, so I was intrigued when I saw a barrel aged version. I'm not a fan of barrel aged beers, but I do have an open mind, and I love trying new beers, so let's go:

This beer is 6.6% ABV. It says so on the bottle. I mention this because before I added it to the database, all of my research indicated that it was 7.2% ABV? Not this bottle.

The beer is a nice honey color with a cream colored head. The head is frothy and retains well, leaving pretty good lacing on the glass.

The aroma is ... tequila. Lots of tequila. Oak barrel wood, tequila, that boozy tart aroma from tequila ... it overrides any other aroma from the beer. Some faint green apple tart in there.

The taste is spot-on with the aroma. The 6.6% ABV makes it thin enough to be approachable for people like myself who shy away from really heavy beers. In fact more of the actual beer comes through in the taste ... (when cold. As it warms, I'm afraid it reverts back to it's heavy, boozy namesake). A slightly sweet malt bill emerges, with a grainy wheat body and a gentle hop finish. The tequila barrel adds some apple tart notes throughout.

The mouthfeel is quite thin. Where I said it makes the taste approachable, it also gives it a watered down feel and taste.

Overall, this smells like a glass of tequila but tastes watered down. I have to admit I do not care for this. I didn't like Breck's barrel aged chocolate cream stout either. I'm just not into the barrel aged beers.

I rated this 3.4 overall. If a 3.4 is the worst this brewery produces, then that's cool. I feel others may be more accepting of this beer, but not I. I love Breckenridge Brewery, but objectively speaking, this beer missed the mark. The original Ophelia Hoppy Wheat is where it's at.

PS: A special thank you to @cavedave for the early start. It's one of those Sundays where I have some errands to run mid-morning so it allowed me to get in NBS before today's shenanigans. I may be back later this afternoon with a second new beer today. Cheers!

 

This brew pours a a solid black color with some red when held up to the light. There is a small 1.5 finger head which dissipates quickly though some of it remains as a collar; no lacing to speak of.

The smell is chocolate and coco powder. There is also a fruity and nutty quality.

The taste has a light chocolate quality though no burnt coffee taste. There is a nutty quality and a little sourness as well. The malts are mostly sweet, not roasted; the malt backbone is thick. The feel is thick and chewy. The finish is slightly dry.

Overall this is a decent porter. It is not as complex as some others that I have had but it appears to be a good representation of the style. This might be good for someone that does not like the heavy 'burnt coffee' taste that comes with many Porters. Note: The flavor and smell improve as this brew warms up.

 

Good morning New BSers! Thanks @cavedave for getting us started early on this holiday weekend and for Maria for pointing out that in some of the more enlightened states you can buy beer at 0730 on a Sunday morning.

Today's new brew for me is:



Bomber marked C 080815 at 45 degrees into snifter

Aroma of rye and citrus

Head small (<2 cm, aggressive pour), off white, creamy, diminishing to 4 mm ring and 1 mm layer with rocky island

Lacing OK – partial curtains of tiny to medium bubbles

Body medium amber, clear

Flavor grainy, no particular rye spiciness, hop bitterness shows at the end with a moderate hang time and no particular flavor; no alcohol, no diacetyl

Palate medium, slightly oily, lively carbonation


Appearance 4, Aroma 3.75, Flavor 3.25, Palate 3.5, Overall 3.5

which gives a rating of 3.49, rdev -11%. I was hoping for something better but I guess they can't all thrill my taste buds.

 

I missed last week as I was in the Northeast with my sister for her reunion. It was interesting seeing such an instrumental component of her development that I had never seen before. Lots of lovely folk, some beautiful beers, and even some live music!

Unfortunately as we were occupied with reunion stuff for Friday and Saturday, we were not free to explore and undertake the true beer-centric aspect of our trip until Sunday. I say unfortunate because the vast majority of breweries (including the 'big ones' that I had hoped to hit) are closed Sundays. Such is life. It was still an awesome trip (I want to thank those who offered advice and suggestions in this thread a couple of weeks ago) and I still brought back a full box full of brews to keep my company back here in the west!

My first offering for NBS was actually a huge disappointment. I know that that is largely due to personal preferences, but I still feel it was a bit of a let down. Maine Island Trail Ale from the other Portland's Rising Tide Brewing Company aims to be a 'sessionable' (I still don't like that term [but it's infinitely better than the other descriptor that seemed to pervade over there for the same theme: 'crushable.' Gawd that just sounds lax-bro douchey and seems to embody the negative stereotype people have about beer fans {I say this as a former Lacrosse player}]) APA, and to that end, it checks in at 4.3% with predominantly grassy/biscuity flavour that certainly does not overwhelm. Unfortunately it also does not particularly inspire (no, this is not a standard, "low ABV doesn't have enough flavour for me, bro!" I had a couple of other intentionally smaller brews out there that were able to deliver enjoyable flavour experiences without being too big. In fact the most enjoyable one of that ilk that I had came in in the 3% range. /rant). Has a beautiful snow-white head that lingers at around a third of a finger (how specific you want??!?), and leaves beautiful lacing. The body is super light pale yellow. Like, much lighter than comes through in the picture. Sure it's drinkable, but does that really matter when it's not something I particularly feel like drinking?
Still glad I got to try it, though, and lest you think I felt the trip was a waste or blah blah, fear not, I'll likely have some more great* anecdotes later, making mention of some of the phenomenal offerings I sampled and/or brought



Cheers!

 

Another thanks to @cavedave for the early start today!
Today is my sister's annual pool-opening party. There will be four adults, eight children, and eleven grandchildren in attendance. Since she doesn't heat her pool, the only people swimming will be the grandchildren! We really enjoy seeing all the family together.

I finished the vegetable garden this morning, and had breakfast with Blackbeard's Breakfast, a bourbon barrel aged porter with coffee.

It is an opaque black with a small tan head. While there was no lacing, the head lingered quite a while.

The aroma is coffee and chocolate, more coffee than chocolate. There was also a hint of vanilla.

Espresso coffee taste. Cocoa. The vanilla was still faintly present, and there was more bourbon in the taste.

Medium-bodied, maybe a little thin in mouthfeel.

Nevertheless, a thoroughly enjoyable beer.

 

Hi all! Thanks for getting this started early today, cavedave. =]

Sort of a twist on 'New Beer' here, inspired by a great idea from Roguer (crossposted):

Westmalle 'Half & Half' (catering to the more historico-culturally sensitive among us —and apparently its real name, interesting tidbit)



Given the higher ABV, I figured the tripel was probably higher gravity. But just to check, I went ahead and weighed eyeball-equivalent volumes first. The layering came out nicely.




But actually after swirling to fully blend, I find I like it even more(!!).



From the thimble-weighing samples, generally the Dubbel seems to let raisin and fig flavours dominate, with some nice brown sugar and perhaps tangerines in the finish? Fairly distinctive yeast, as is expected/known. In the Tripel, wow yeast! Bananas and pears, clove on the back, and maybe a touch of lemon zest.

But when mixed, they're a whole new beast. Really greater-than-the-sum-of-its-parts stuff, fully delicious. Pears & cinnamon is the general impression. Sort of cinnamon, fig, pear, later almost chocolate-y; a really pleasant mix of brown sugar and green apples, green grapes.

Thanks again Roguer.

 

Hmmm, so I must have about 4 months left, as I also inadvertently tried to email a beer (stout as well) a while back. Apparently computers can't hold their alcohol. Now to find a beer to post...

 

I really liked it. I gave it a 4.02. I am going to review a beer from Ommegang today as well. I think that the roast is so mild, the coffee so deep and full but not bitter. I would say well blended as far as the cocoa nib and coffee. I think they were trying to embelllish the brown ale but not with hops & I think they did it well. They tried it with upside brown too I thought. Usually for Ommegang I find from many folks an off handed attitude like, . .. "Oh another great beer from them. 4. " I do it too. =)

 

Beer #722: New Belgium Cocoa Mole



I'm one of those people now -- I really opened this one last night, but I was sipping on it until past midnight, so it's still appropriate to post this.

Super cheap $10 Howler (32oz) from Michigan Beer Growler Company.

Appearance: It looks like a porter. I know the style says chile beer, but it seems to have a porter base. This is a ruby/brown color that looks filtered. There's modest lacing, and virtually no head. Looks decent. (3.75/5)

Smell: I guess it's automatic when something has a cinnamon chocolate smell -- this seems festive. Chocolate and cinnamon throughout. There's maybe a faint chile aroma underneath, but it's mostly the former, with a little roastiness in there as well. (4.25/5)

Taste/feel: Firstly, the feel is too thin for me at 9%... this just has the flavor and ABV of a beer I'd think would have a bigger body. The flavor is just like the smell, with chocolate, cinnamon, and roastiness. The finish has a slight peppery flavor and burn, which is great, since many pepper beers I've had tend to only have one or the other. (4.25/5, 3.5/5)

Very nice beer -- well balanced for the style, and a joy all-around. I'd be happier if this were thickened up a bit, but that may also detract some of the chile character... so I'm torn. As others have said, this really isn't as good as Xocoveza by "Stone", but I wasn't expecting it to be. All-in-all, Cocoa Mole is an interesting beer that warrants your attention.

(4/5)

4.1/5 (+3% rDev)

Cheers, BA!

 

Summertime- Sierra Nevada Kolsch

Firstly, welcome back @cavedave! I missed you!!

The unofficial start of summer is Memorial Day weekend so earlier this week I bought the Sierra Nevada summer variety 12-pack. In this pack there is three Kolsch beers.

I am a BIG fan of the Kolsch beer style so I am really looking forward to trying Sierra Nevada’s take on the beer style.

Some descriptive text from the Sierra Nevada website:

Alcohol Content 5.0% by volume

Beginning gravity 11.9° plato

Ending Gravity 2.5° plato

Bitterness Units 34

Yeast Ale yeast

Bittering Hops German Magnum

Finishing Hops Strisselspalt, Simcoe

Malts Two-row Pale, Pilsner, Wheat, Acidulated

I homebrew my own Kolsch beers and what ‘jumps out’ at me is the choice of finishing hops. I personally only use bittering hops for my Kolsch: German Tettnang hops.

The fact that Sierra Nevada is using French (Strisselspalt) and American (Simcoe) hops as finishing hops it very, very intriguing.

I think it is time for me just to taste this beer!

Served in my 0.4 liter Stange glass:

Appearance:

A bright yellow color with a fluffy white head.

Aroma:

A nice combination of malt and hops. Fruity & citrusy (lemony) up front. Hops are noticeable but don't take the characteristics of the style over.

Taste:

The flavor is dominated by biscuit-like malt flavors. The hops provide nice balance with low-moderate bitterness and a perceptible herbal hop flavor.

Mouthfeel

Light-medium bodied with moderate carbonation

Overall

A pleasant hoppy take on the Kolsch style that is a joy to drink. The Simcoe hops were judiciously utilized and are very much in the background. Thank you Sierra Nevada for making this part of the summer pack!

Once again:

Cheers to Sierra Nevada (@sierranevadabill)!

 

7.5% alcohol. Introduced in 2014. Brewed in Michigan.

2.27/5 rDev -29.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2.25

Bell’s Venus has a thin, quickly-dissipating, off-white head, a hazy, orange appearance, with lots of tan sediment and bubbles galore. No lacing. Aroma is of an odd, spiced ale, and the flavor is of the same thing- blonde ale, honey, spices, white pepper, strong orange peel, and candle wax. Bitterness is low, but tartness is high. Mouthfeel is medium-to-heavy and a bit chewy. Bell’s Venus finishes semi dry and somewhat drinkable. This is reminiscent of Shipyard Pumpkinhead, but inferior to it, I find.

RJT

 

Round 2!

My only exposure to Maine Beer Company prior to this trip was in the form of a long anticipated Lunch courtesy of Roger's incredible NBS BIF box (everyone should join this potential upcoming round. Do yourself the favour. *SPOILER ALERT*). I thought Lunch was quite good, but it couldn't live up to the anticipation it had built up in my mind (focus on the beginning of that sentence, not the end). I feel that MO suffers the same fate. I had Zoe a couple of days ago and was absolutely blown away. Amber's aren't usually my cup of tea (I DO love mixing metaphors, heh heh... ), but man Zoe just hit the spot in so many ways. That, in combination with just what I'd built up in my mind while doing research etc meant that my expectations were probably unreasonably high.

(Frowny face for all the snow Ski to Sea didn't have, but kudos to them for throwing together the contingency courses in the face of such adversity! The race was this weekend)

This was bottled on the 12th, so less than two weeks old, and man does the aroma impart that fact. Tantalizingly juicy presenting fresh fruits and citrus it most certainly was the droid nose I was looking for. On the pour it looked like a glass of carbonated apple juice, but with a nice fluffy little white head. Great lacing left down the glass. Once sipping commenced, things got a little more muted, and while I understand the why etc, I still wish I could have tasted what I smelled! Like I said, more muted, a little more cereal grain, and certainly a touch more pine, on through to the finish, which is pleasingly bitter without overwhelming.
Good stuff overall.

I've got no good segue, but I just want to give a shoutout to the delicious reuben I had at the meat market/deli in southern Maine where I also picked up this bottle. If you're familiar with the area, you can probably guess where I'm talking about. And should probably go there. Like, now. Or when they open. Your choice.




Cheers

 

LOL @kemoarps ! I love seeing you twice in one thread and so early. Ialways had you pegged for a night owl. =)

 

Good morning NBS and thanks to cavedave for keeping us moving this Sunday.
The long weekend in full swing here in WMass, parade on Friday night was wonderful,
some live music at Mass Moca was a treat, a little lazy Sunday starts with a visit from Pretty Things.
Fumapapa, their smoked Russian Imperial Stout. I liked the addition of the smoked element, very gently applied
it works wonderfully with an already fantastic base beer.
Take a moment to reflect this weekend, and thanks to all who gave the most.
Cheers all
Fumapapa

Pretty Things Beer & Ale Project
Russian Imperial Stout / 12.00% ABV

4.09/5 rDev -7.7% | rAvg: 4.43
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Poured from a bottle, into a modified tulip glass. Label notch dating system, 4/2015.
A - Gorgeous color of molten bakers chocolate, topped with a dense, creamy mocha, copper colored froth. Carbonation acts like dark matter, supporting the luxurious cap but hard to see through the dark body. Lacing lasts forever.
S - Delicate use of smoked malts, starts a dance with tradition RIS smells of cocoa, dark fruit, fig, raisin, anise, shade tobacco. The blend is wonderful.
T - Cocoa forward, notes of dark roast coffee, blackberry, cherry wood char, all wrapped in a little heat from the alcohol.
M - Super smooth,silky, wonderful coating with just enough bitterness, and heat to leave a long calling card. Desert in a glass for sure.
O - A big, well constructed RIS, the addition of the smoked malts is pleasant not distracting. The richness of this offering never lets up, in body, flavor, or the wonderful aromas.
Well worth seeking out.

 

He's getting ready for bed!

 

Good weekend NBS crew, hoping everyone is enjoying it so far. Had wonderful weather last couple of days. After enjoying a few beers with my recently returned SO on Friday (including a @Roguer-inspired blind tasting), took it easy yesterday. A nice walk around the lake and a dinner of shrimp and corn cooked in Dead Rise (with other seasonings) with one of said beer was it. Today looks nice as well and we are weighing our options. As such, we went light this AM, and tried a beer I'd heard of but not seen on shelves until recently. This is Old Engine Oil:


The head "soaped up" a bit after this pic, which seemed strange, but it did last the whole drink. The nose started with hints of chocolate and even a hint of nuts, but ended up with some dark fruits coming out.

The taste was decently slick, and had a varying degree of coffee, cola, wood, and even a quick punch of tart/sour in some early sips as the beer transitioned from front to back. I really appreciated this beer's flavors, and could see this being a go to "session dark beer" if it were more available and cheaper.