New Beer Sunday (week 542)

4 Summer beers rated: 3 new! Firestone edges out Carton & Southern Tier:

Easy Jack Summer Session IPA - Firestone Walker
4.06/5 rDev +3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
I have no issues with this session IPA which is the the top tier along with Founders All-Day and Carton Boat.
A: Light golden body with ample 2 finger white head that leaves some lacing.
S: Ample for a session beer. Bread, citrus, tropical marmalade, and an herbal, piney nose. Ample bright hops. \
T: Follows smell and gets better. White toast with grapefruit marmalade. Herbal and bittering hops, with tropical fruit jam, and plenty of flavor, wanted another.
F: Light body, but with solid viscosity. Medium bite of carbonation. Refreshing finish, great with this dinner: Swordfish bello mushroom grilled with squash. Blossoms. Lettuce. Basil. Mint. From garden.
Firestone Walker is consistently one of the top brewers and I want to try everything they make.
Hop Sun (Summer Wheat Beer) - Southern Tier
3.86/5 rDev +2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Fantastic summer seasonal, as good as most. Would love it in cans please.
A: Clear straw color. Bright white head that laces only a bit. Look matches the crystal clear flavor to come.
S; Medium hop mostly of herbal lemon grass over a back of bready, wheaty core. Appetizing, will be a great food beer, for fish, garden and summer dishes.
T Follows smell. Citrusy hop flavor with lemon zest spice. Clean and crisp bitterness with only a bit of wheat backing. simple and bright, it is freshness, crispness, and a kind of lemony, orange clear finish that is a perfect match for summer food.
F: Light to start and finish, with a cracker-like dryness that refreshes and leaves you in a great place. kissy.
Another winner from Southern Tier.
Carton Digger Clam Ale
3.69/5 rDev +10.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
On tap in Long Branch, NJ two years ago, and at the re-release at the brewer today July 12, 2015. Big difference!
a - Pours a slightly hazed pale yellow color with two inches of fluffy white head and moderate carbonation evident. Good looker, a summer feel to it.
s - Smells of lemon, wheat, malt. Approachable, but light; much more clams and salt now than before, jarring as an early June skinny dip, but good.
t - Follows the smell. Tastes of lemon, lemongrass, citrus hops, wheat, grains, malts, and biscuit. Odd, but enticing, it grows on you, clams and salt tang, yet refreshing.
m - Very light body and moderate carbonation. Original as the Jersey shore. Easy to drink.
o - Great session beer. I loved it. A shore beer, easy to session. Worth checking out.
Carton Boat Beer 3.95
I give this beer a 4 for being a flavorful, true session APA with plenty of bite, bitter, and complexity. If I had to drink beer all day long, this would be for me.
A: Pours a very hazy light blonde with a trace of visible carbonation. It pours into a tulip with a finger of head and leaves lots of dotty lacing.
S: Plentiful aromas of grapefruit, herbal hops and pine resin, stronger as the beer warms. Pleasantly hoppy.
T: The taste follows the smell but the pine resin kicks in stronger and longer. More complexity and a good finish of bitterness. A nice sweet malt underlayer, but hops win the show.
F: It is light-bodied with a moderate amount of carbonation. A bit thin.
O: Extremely flavorful. This is the hop heads session beer, beats Bitter American which is a close 2nd, but entirely different character.
Visit the Carton brewery when near 07716.

 

I'm a big fan of Weyerbacher and this barrel-aged quad didn't disappoint. My rating was 4.34

 

Greetings NBSers. Glad to see so many awesome beers being offered up today. My pick for today is Gorillanaut from Straight to Ale in Huntsville. If you're not familiar with Straight to Ale, let me say that they make some amazing beer, particularly their barrel aged old ales Unobtanium (bourbon) and Iludium (cognac), along with an awesome RIS Laika. Their NASA and sci-fi inspired artwork is cool, too.

Gorillanaut is their DIPA weighing in at a hefty 9% and 275(!) IBU. With numbers like that, who needs 800 lbs.?



Appearance - Pours a honey-colored amber with a frothy white head that settles to a thin cap that remains throughout. There is a bit if chill haze at first, but it clears up as the beer continues to warm.

Aroma - Aroma of grapefruit at first that becomes progressively more complex as the beer warms. Aromas of pine and faint green onion become more apparent. While sour grapefruit remains throughout, there is a distinct resiny note, too.

Taste - Taste largely follows the nose, with bitter and sour driving the experience. Grapefruit and pine coexist and are huge. Malts are hard to find, but there's enough of a sweet backbone to keep the beer drinkable. Make no mistake, though--this one is about the hops.

Mouthfeel - Watery and lively carbonated mouthfeel with a certain acidity akin to stripping the enamel right off of my teeth. Alcohol seems well hidden, but there is a warming sensation halfway through. Any astringency can be attributed to the hops.

Overall - A nice study in hops that splits the difference between pine and citrus nicely. Not balanced, but lots of fun nonetheless. I'm slightly reminded of Sweetwater's long retired Donkey Punch, and that is a compliment. One is enough for me, but I'm glad I took the trip into space with Gorillanaut.

 

Wow that is some nice rating. What did you like about the beer? What are some of the features of its aroma and taste? Have you had better in that style? Would you recommend it?

 

Well, having trouble uploading to Imgur so no pics at the time.
Enjoying a Boon Oude Kriek Mariage Parfait whilst perusing NBS. Cheers all, and here's my thoughts on this fine beer.
http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/47/5961/?ba=cindyjeffsmith

Edit - finally got the pic:

 

Good afternoon NBSers! It's a gorgeous day today in the Chicago area. Spent lots of time outside soaking up one of the few nice days we've had this odd, rainy summer tooling around on my bike and taking a nice long walk around my little village. Now I'm enjoying the great indoors with AC, a brew and a book!

Having a Pyre by Pipeworks, a Rye DIPA. Rye IPAs don't seem to get a lot of love and are not a particularly popular style or sub-style, but I have always loved the spiciness, complexity and cripsness that rye adds to the mix. I love rye whiskey as well. We have a local, Cane and Abel from Two Brothers, that, when fresh, is a really great example as is Founder's Red Rye IPA. The spice definitely comes through in the aroma of the Pyre, but I'm afraid it is so malty sweet that the zing of the rye gets swamped by all that tongue-coating, cloying sweetness that is typical of PW DIPA. I also feel I am tasting each and every increment of the 9.5% ABV-- something about very malty sweet beers that always seem more boozy. I remain a devoted PW fan, I pretty much try everything they put out (almost!), but wish they'd dial back the sweetness a bit and let some of the other ingredients shine.
Might be good, though, having some high ABV to wade through Amis's latest, set again at Auschwitz. Haven't tackled anything of his since London Fields.
Happy Sunday everyone!

 

a little late here, but another yummy treat from toppling goliath!very smooth and surprisingly not too hoppy,real good mouthfeel and not a lingering aftertaste.a well balanced berr great for my sunday afternoon pleasure.

 

If you can find Great Divide Showdown Rye IPA go for it.

 

Good afternoon NBS'ers! So, had the 2.0 version last year, but I hear amazing things about 3.0 and am very excited for this one. Love the Devo style artwork!


New Imperial Stout Sunday
Stone Farking Wheaton WootStout 3.0 13% ABV

Pours a very dark brown with a thin but creamy ring. Can definitely smell that oak and bourbon, as well as a bit of vanilla.
First sip: Whoo! Got the cocoa nibs, a bit nutty, with the roast coffee and the bourbon is beautifully balanced and wonderful! You get more of the oak as I get down to the bottom. This is thick and warm and for 13% ABV, it's blended well, but it does get warmer as it goes down, which I actually enjoy. I am certain this would be more amazing if aged, but I would never be able to wait that long!

They threw in a bit of the WootStout from last year, which is great and I have to say, 3.0 is my favorite so far. This beer is joy in a bottle perfect for Sunday sippin'. Cheers!

 

Ditto on the DRIPA theme. Haven't had that one but recently tried one from Newport Storm which I thought was the best beer I've ever had from that brewery. Not sure if you can get your hands on that in your parts, but surely worth a try if you like the style. Cheers!

 

Alright first time long time here. Been reading the thread for years but always to intimidated to post. I might be better at explaining the situation I'd want to drink the beer in than specific flavors but here goes. Quick trip over to Carton today after a long week for the digger release. Came home with a growler. You definitely get the salt feel to it tempered with some lemongrass. Light, goes down easy and gets more enjoyable as you drink it. Great for a lazy summer Sunday outside.

 

Now trying this Weyerbacher 20. Very nice indeed. Cheers all.

http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/392/173174/?ba=cindyjeffsmith

 

The dew point hit 73 today. It was nice to be at the water center for 3 hours with my girls. My 5 year old just figured out how to swim a bit.

My second IA beer is another good one for warm humid weather, The Cherry Bohemian.

Pours a murky dirty pink color with a 2.5 finger dirty white head. Smells like sour pie cherry filling that mom used to make from the tart cherries in our yard. The flavor is very authentic tart cherry and hits with a bit of sweet cherry pie flavor. High carbonation and light mouthfeel make it ideal for a hot day like today. I really enjoyed this as it reminded my of the cherry trees in my yard growing up.

 

Good evening NBS'ers! I'm back with yet another wonderful brew from the fine folks at Jester King Brewery. I can't get enough of their beer, and my stock is quickly dwindling. Someone help!

Jester King Le Petit Prince Farmhouse Table Beer



750 mL bottle into a tulip. Pours an incredibly pale yellow - nearly clear - and settles into a brilliant greenish-yellow/lemon-lime in the glass. Very interesting hues on this beer. A gentle pour initially yielded a thin lacing, which quickly became a 1 finger layer of sticky, snow-white foam upon a 90 degree pour. Outstanding carbonation that never ends. Light sediment in the bottom of the glass is observed after letting the beer set for about 5 minutes. By this point, the head had receded back to a thin, but still dense lacing.

Zesty, tart fruit on the nose (lemon and lime mainly) with strong notes of grass, straw/hay, and spice. A modest earthiness is also detected as it warms. The nose on this beer is slightly reminiscent of a traditional witbier, given the grassiness and spice, but more sweet in comparison. Very pleasant.

Upon tasting, I have here a beer that is incredibly light in body, with an intense carbonation. Crisp, clean, refreshing, and as easy to drink as fresh spring water. An inherent creaminess blooms from beneath the carbonation as it warms on the palate. Initially, I detect delicate notes of lemon, lime, pepper, coriander, and grass. A stronger spice sensation is felt middleways and through the finish.

This beer finishes clean and crisp, while exposing a slight malt profile that I wasn't expecting. The aftertaste is that of watered-down lemon juice and bready malt. There is a dryness left behind reminiscent of a white wine of sorts. This is short lived, though. This beer is so drinkable, you're reaching for another sip before you know it.

For what it's worth, I think this beer is grossly underrated. As a modern-day Saison, it might be disappointing to some. But as a traditional European Farmhouse Table Beer, I think it hits the mark flawlessly.

Look: 4.25 | Smell: 4 | Taste: 4.25 | Feel: 4 | Overall: 4.25

Weighted score: 4.17/5 (+13.3% rDev)

 

New Brown Ale

It's another gorgeous day in West MI. Some white clouds in the bright blue sky, temps in the mid-80s.

After visiting family for a wedding in Detroit, we're back home to play host to my mom for a couple days. Took some time to enjoy this one before dinner.

http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/32587/172859/?ba=GRPunk

 

New American Fruit Wild Ale Sunday (week 542)

Couldn't resist popping this baby that has been in the back of my consciousness since getting it in @gopens44 BIF box. How he would know I love Blueberry wilds is beyond me, but this beer is one that not only is a home run, but puts me firmly at odds about this beer with the other few "reviews".

Anyway, don't really know what to tell you about your chances of getting this beer, maybe someone can chime in, but if you like fruit and barreled wilds with BIGGGGG flavors and lots of really deep brett earthiness, this baby is your angel. As it presently is mine. Mannnn this is good. Disclaimer: I am a fan of extreme flavors in beer.

Hope you also have a Great American Beer in your glass. Cheers!

http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/32279/153580/?ba=cavedave

 

Final new beer from my NBS BIF #2 box, have to give a big shout out to @garymuchow for giving me enough great beer to last me through 3 NBS. Now enjoying Fulton Worth Adversary, a nicely done RIS that I would love to see thrown into bourbon barrels. Very happy about @garymuchow's mistake of sending me both a 12 oz and 750 ml of this beer, very excited to see how the 750 is drinking when my first snow day rolls around this winter.

4.18/5 rDev +1.2% | rAvg: 4.13
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

Thank you garymuchow for this!
12 oz bottle poured into a tulip

A- Jet black with a two finger mocha head

S- Dark fruits, figs, creamy chocolate, caramel, faint roasted coffee, very rich.

T- Not as big or rich as the nose, dark fruit, dark chocolate, roasted malts, coffee finish, molasses.

M- Smooth, medium body, carbonation is a light high.

O- Though the taste falls short compared to the nose this is still a well done stout. If Fulton ever does a bourbon barrel version I would love to it.

 

Hello. Sorry for the late arrival, been a long hockey tournament weekend but it did bear tasty treats. I have two Tired Hands howlers that I am saving for next weekend so I had to crack at least one new found tasty. I'll return to the BIF beers real soon but I neglected to properly chill one and I haven't a lick of patience.

So we have Neshaminy Blitzkrieg Hops



Nice color but a slightly shy head appears atop this clear orange elixir. Nose isn't wicked pronounced but what is there has the malt up front with a little piercing pine following up.

Tastes better than the rating would suggest as an immediate wave of onion, grass and just outright dankness in general batters about the tongue as this thing really is a punisher.

Finish is slick and full bodied before it gives you a one finger salute on the way out.

Hey ho - let's go!

 

After todays brew I'm definitely going to be on the lookout for this one .....sounds incredible

 

I'm thrilled that this hit the spot. I determined that you liked wilds and was hoping that you would find it pleasing!

As for the other reviews, I really feel like we don't have good enough of a local wild representation for locals to be properly critical on these, as this doesn't get a very widespread distro.