New Beer Sunday (week 549)

Yes, but they should have been. Hilarious post. Happy NBS.

 

Thank you, good Sir, for my day's first guffaw. Well played.

 

Great reading in the NBS already. Really look forward to this thread every week. Also looking forward to drinking a beer and sharing it with y'all but that won't happen until this PM which will be evening for many that have already posted in here.

And it's Draft Day for Fantasy Football, so that'll keep me busy.

Wishing a good day to you all. Enjoy those new beers.

 

Well, well, well...
(what, you never heard the story of the three wells? That was one of my Dad's favourite bedtime stories to tell me as a kid)
Autumn seems to have decided to remind us of its existence the past couple of days. Lots of rain, some major wind... hopefully the rain is making it across the state, because this has been the worst fire season since... pick a time.
But that's not why we're here, right? Work has precluded me from participating the past couple of weeks, but today I wanted to jump back in doing another side by side type of situation. Maple is the theme of the day and bacon is... well, it's bacon. It's amazing. It was recommended by one of the beers I drank today, so I gave in

(this is the last scraps of the second batch. There must have been something wrong with the first batch because it disappeared pretty fast, and Porter didn't even get any!)

Red Betty Maple Ale I picked up a while ago because a: I want to try more Canadian (especially BC) brews, 2: I'd heard a couple of positive things about the brewery and iii: DUH. Maple is the best. I love maple as a flavour in general.
Well... this one was a big ol' let down for me. Nose carried minimal overture to maple on first crack, but it faded almost immediately leaving behind a generic 'stale' beer smell and some roast and earthiness. Flavour was much the same, with the 'beer' characteristic and the earthiness kind of blending into a nondescript bitterness. It DID however suggest I pair it with bacon, which is probably the best thing I can say about this particular beer right now.

The other entry is on probably the other end of the expectations/delivery scale. I wasn't thinking this growler was going to be much other than an easy enough carry over until I went on a B double E double R U N. I picked it up almost on a whim on the way out the door more because I wanted the container it comes in than for the contents itself. Colour me lucky. Providence it seemed smiled on me that day, as Sugaree Maple Bourbon Pecan Pie is... well, all of those things. And done amazingly. First thing that caught my attention was the smoothe rich mahogany body without any of that murky... muddiness to it to which strongs can become prone. Well that's not really true. First was the creamy vanilla, sweet maple and wizened oak presenting on the nose as soon as I popped the cap. But I got more into that after being sidetracked by its beauty. While the aroma presented the sweet side of all those things, the flavour carries the spirit while toning down the diabetes a little bit. A smoothe nuttiness moves into first place in this showing, which helps to temper the sweeter tendencies previously present. Smoothe sweet vanilla still makes a play and maple and oak and bourbon lurk around contributing their own elements when appropriate. Just an incredibly well put together combination of flavours that sound good, and, well... are. Bravo High Water.

Hope this Sunday finds you with hope and safe from any fires and as an added bonus make sure you've got a good beer in a glass somewhere....


balanced by


Cheers!!

 

Good afternoon all and happy new beer Sunday

Today's new beer (for me) is Perzik Saison from Avery Brewing Co. I'm admittedly not a huge Saison fan and this can has been siting in my fridge for 2 weeks but I'm taking the plunge.

A: Pours hazy, heads breaks away fast and just a touch of lacing remains. Really nice looking beer.

S: Not peaches--maybe pears? Not catching a ton of fruit just the barnyard smell I'm accustomed to with saisons. Wouldn't think peaches if they didn't advertise as such on the can.

T: Taste fruit now--guess it's peach--hard to say. Has more of a Belgian Blond taste than what I am used to--and considering as aforementioned I am not a big fan of saisons this is a positive--but not sure how true to style it is. Slight tartness and taste of cloves.

M: Very crisp-dry, no aftertaste.

O: Looks great, smells and tastes just OK--I'm probably a tougher grader than some and consider a "3" to be average: e.g: I wouldn't turn it down but wouldn't seek it out.

So i gave it a 3.5/5. I haven't had an Avery beer I've been crazy about minus Czar and Maharajah.

Happy Sunday all!

 

Good afternoon, NBS folks!

My new beer for the day is Pot & Kettle, an oatmeal porter from the folks at Trillium. Pours a dark brown, almost black, from a 750 bottle into a snifter. Half inch of cola-colored foam. Rich smell of burnt malt, some dark chocolate, a hint of coffee.

The taste is delicious, really really good. Toffee, a little caramel, chocolate, some dark fruit, just a trace of rich espresso. But the mouthfeel is what makes this porter. You can almost feel the graininess of the oats on the tongue, yet the mouthfeel is still light to moderate enough to keep this in Porter territory rather than crossing the line into a stout. Yet it has every bit as much flavor as a great stout.

This may be my new standard for a porter. And the folks at Trillium seemingly can do no wrong.

Oh, and after a few years on BA, I finally figured out how to create an avatar. Hope for us slow learners. Cheers!

 

Happy Sunday everyone!

My tasting group is getting together today and we have an nice theme: howlers. Everyone has to bring a howler from a brewery that is more local to them that the rest of us might not have tried. I was thinking there was no way this will work. We all live in NW Indiana, there can't be that many different breweries and beers. I was mistaken. I will be back later today with some pictures from today's tasting.

Cheers!

 

It's Sunday Funday! Another great offering from Tree House.

 

One of the reasons I love NBS. Artfully done, hilarious.

 

Epic!

 

I liked that beer quite a bit myself. =)

 

A good day to you, Duvel drinkers and Affligem aficionados, Fantôme freaks and Goodie Gueze Shoes, it’s time once again for your often imitated yet never duplicated NBS review from your one, your only NWNJ Cicerone-in-studying: John of Stanhope. It’s a swarthy 84 here in NWNJ, the sun shines, the A/C cranks. Little humidity out here, but I’d prefer 20 degrees less in temperature. This week has been a bit of a sirocco wind-like blur, as I’ve had a few interviews (currently on the job hunt) and I’ve more scheduled for next week. Wish me luck, as no job and diminished income really restricts my beer budget (among other more important things, if it were possible). I saved this bottle so I’d have something to post today, but who knows what next week will bring. Anyone feeling sorry for me can send me something and ensure my review for 9/6/15. Don't forget, I've started a beer blog. You can find my review of this beer here. Anyhow, on with the show…


On the docket: 22 oz. Brainless Belgian-Style Golden Ale (Elevated Series) Epic Brewing


Poured into: River Horse snifter with enough force to produce a good head.


S: Bright shiny gold, crystal clear. One might use the word “dandelion” or “school bus” to describe the yellow hue to this blond beauty. And you know what they say- “blondes” have more fun. A stark, creamy white cap forms, the recedes quickly to a ring around the outside and a small island in the middle. Tiny bubbles zip their way to the top to join their foamy brethren.


A: Spicy, peppery, clove-y phenols. Bright orangey citrus and spicy, noble hops. The grain yields a delicate cracker-like pale malt aroma. A bit of fruity (banana and bubblegum) esters from the Belgian yeast- not strong like a hefeweizen, mind you- just a touch. There seems to be a whiff of grain husk, or hay.


T: An initial Belgian spice base of coriander, citrus rind, cloves, grains of paradise, maybe even anise greets the senses. Sweetness from candy sugar shows up in the middle. There’s a warming (but smooth), boozy finish, plus a dry, bitterness and spiciness that keeps you coming back for more. But be warned, this golden goddess garnishes your sobriety if consumed too quickly. It touts an 8.9% abv, concealed well by the light, effervescent body.


F: Prickly, light, but not watery. Long dry, bitter finish.


O: Dry, bright, multi-faceted. It’s not Duvel, but hey, there’s only one of those. This is an enjoyable, solid offering from a non-Belgian brewery taking on this devilishly drinkable style. In a pinch, this is a no-brainer.


Suggested food pairing: Lobster, baked salmon with lemon and butter, duck breast. I’ll be so bold as to theorize lamb-pops with rosemary and Dijon mustard. Try this on its own as an after-dinner drink, or before the meal to cleanse the senses- just don’t forget to drink some water at some point.

 

Greetings, NBS! It's a beautiful end-of-summer day in Cleveland. I'm about to do some yard work before walkin' on the sun to a (free!) all-star Smash Mouth concert tonight at the Willoughby Pig n Whiskey fest (beer won't be all I'm drinking today apparently). I was going to see them with Third Eye Blind 18 years ago when both had top-10 hits on the air but my first-ever band concert was scheduled for the same night. None of their tours have lined up with my location/schedules since so I'm kinda excited to finally see them.

I've spent the weekend drinking beers I've accumulated over the summer to make some room for the fall releases appearing on shelves and this is one of those I hadn't previously tried. Always nice to try a new Stone beer. Unique though I think I may have caught it in that awkward no-longer fresh but not yet aged time-frame.



3.9/5 rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz bottle dated 5/7/15 poured into a pint glass
A: Transparent light brown with a one-finger head that slowly settles
S: Plum, oak, grapefruit, caramel
T: Interesting blend. The nose is a random but good mix of IPA/strong ale notes and those kind of come through on the palate but more disjointed. Oak initially then a fresh grapefruit burst then it settles into this tannic, oaky strong ale (plum/caramel) finish that lingers a while. Rare that I call a beer tannic but it's there. I think whatever came through from the barrel was a bit much and the fresh beer isn't showing as strongly. Or maybe since they say to drink fresh or cellar it's in that spot where the fresh notes have diminished but the notes that age well haven't fully settled
M: Fairly full-bodied, tannic, long finish
O: Definitely unique, I would have been interested to try it sooner but also curious to see where it goes with more age

 

I took down my picture because it doesn't accurately reflect my appearance. I'll have a new one soon-ish.

 

Thanks! I was shocked how long it was after I posted it! Ranting not my style but really felt like it.

It was a challenging week, but when you take a reality check, life is always good if you've got your health and a happy family. Better beer on the schedule for later.

 

I toyed with buying this. I decided against it. Your review justified my decision, thank you.

 

Um...I mean...Wow, Jim... just wow... I can't believe how Photoshopped that bartender was.

 

What's up NBSers! The AC isn't working in my house today, so I have no choice but to open the house up - luckily it isn't disgustingly hot out. So why not reward this warm day with a nice, refreshing witbier? I have to say I was a little excited for this beer, because it's the first Japanese beer I've had that wasn't some cheap lager.

New Japanese Witbier Sunday



I need some more in my glass, dammit.





Me in a straw hat, because of course.



Anyhoo, onto the beer:

Hazy and straw colored, with a thin white head that leaves behind a bit of lacing - looks good for a wit. The nose features the typical witbier notes as well (orange peel, candied sugar, and a touch of coriander), but it also a nice amount of grassy hops, similar to a good pilsner. While it's not a bold aroma, it's a well-integrated and balanced one. It also tastes like a standard wit, with a greater focus on coriander than the aroma suggested. I'm really liking the injection of noble hops into this traditional witbier, especially on the back end. Having said that, the witbier flavors don't really pop. The carbonic bite is powerful, perhaps as expected. I'm not a wit lover, but I *AM* a pilsner lover, and this is right up my alley. Shame it's so pricey as an import (hey American brewers, I'd like to see a traditional wit that's hoppier than normal!)

3.68/5: More proof that hops - in moderation, that is - can improve any style

To finish things off, I found THIS in my parents' attic, along with a few records such as "Stampede" by The Doobie Brothers. It's taught me that Tom Johnston-era Doobies were WAY better than the Michael McDonald-era.