New Beer Sunday (week 558)

Hello NBS a rare 2nd visit from WMass, We shared Leaves of Grass 7/4
from Hill Farmstead a delightful palate and surprising level of tartness.
What a fine, challenging brew, ours was paired with Madagascar chocolate to
our great delight.
Cheers
4.34/5 rDev -1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Poured from a bottle into an HR Version-1 goblet.
A - A lively lemon drop gold color, steady carbonation feeds a thin cap, laced glass shows the
fine and lasting.
S - Green apple skin, lemon, hint of tea. The base reminds me of Arthur, clearly fruited and the oak
is sublime.
T - Opens with apple, slightly tart, the sweetness is muted, Earl grey adds a wonderful "dark matter". A fine roll of the tongue, edges roll up and a super dry finish.
M - A full palate coating, with sweet start and tart finish, the palate is challenged and delighted.
O - What a wonderful offering, the barrel component is muted, allowing the efforts of the brewers craft shine. What a delight.
Cheers

 

My second NBS is this Berliner which has been hanging out in my fridge for a while.





Fierce

Off Color Brewing
Berliner Weissbier / 3.80% ABV

3.89/5 rDev -3.7% | Avg: 4.04
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

L-An aggressive pour leads to a mountainous white head of around 2 inches. I actually had to stop and wait for the head to recede to finish pouring . The brew is a very pale straw in color and the head eventually recedes to a thin film and ring.
S-lemony and sour. Not real complex.
T-Sour lemons from start to finish. Not overpowering, but a really nice intermediate level of sour.
F-light prickly carbonation gives a thin quenching mouthfeel.
O- An above average Berliner style weisse. I'd be happy to have this on a hot summer day, but it's purely a seasonal beverage.

 

Understood. I think I'm going take the Chillwave and the Hopslam and combine them.
For punishment and, yes, for science.

 

Greeting All:

Checking in from the great northwest, where I picked ripe tomatoes off the vine today, November 1st. What a long and warm growing season we have had.

In keeping with the harvest theme, today it is Sam Adams Harvest Pumpkin Ale.
http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/35/45844/
A very tasty version of a fruit/vegetable beer that admittedly I'm not real fond of.

Breezy today, but sunny and warm with temps in the upper 50's. Still waiting for that first appearance of Jack Frost, forecast for Tuesday.

Happy Trails!

 

you're a maniac

 

Oscar Blues Death By Coconut, damn this was good, tons of coconut and chocolate! So happy to have this in NYC...

 

I've always loved that beer! Nice to see it showing up on BA.

 

Now up my first Anchorage review, Mosaic Saison!
4.12/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

750 ml, batch #1 April 2015, poured into a teku

A- A slightly hazy golden color with a massive white head.

S- Brett with undertones of mosaic, funk, hints of band-aids, some lemons, hay, wet grass, hints of tropical fruits, some mangos and pineapple.

T- Brett, funky, spicey, some bandaid, earthy/spicy notes, some lemon, hint of pineapples and mangos round out the flavors and give a nice balance to the beer.

M- Smooth, medium body, nice carbonation.

O- A solid funky saison with a nice hop profile. Worth picking up.

★525 characters

Cheers!

 

Hey all NBSers. Very late today but I'm throwing my hat in the ring. Thanks Dave for the kickoff and for all you to to help keep this planet cleaner. Been a very busy week after having last Sunday and Monday off. Tried many a beer over the last 10 days- good portion of new ones too so it's been fun. Funny thing I haven't been heavily into the pumpkin beers this year.
Had a Pumking from last year, haven't had the new one. Gourd standard and Roadsmarys Baby in cans. I have a Rumkin from Avery from 2014 I'm ready to pop....so today's beer is:
Jacks Abby Pumpkin Crop Lager

Pours a deep Amber/Copper/red with a large billowy dirty tan head. Some streaky lacing that settles to a ring.
Color is nice.
Aroma is huge pumpkin and HUGE cinnamon. I'm trying to get something else - I think there's a peek of malt.....

Flavor again pumpkin, spices, Cinnamon!! And like a powdered cinnamon that coats and numbs the tongue.
I'm looking for something tastes like something other than spices and having a difficult time finding it.

Body is thin and watery which would be fine if I could find a flavor that reveals some sort of Lager like ingredients. Flavor lingers of cinnamon and pumpkin.

Honestly I am speechless on this one. I really have never been disappointed by JA. But I'm going to have to say this is just freakin weird for them. I mean if you added a little pumpkin to a nice Lager you might have something. I'm surprised about this considering JA has always to me brewed wonderful Lagers. It's not poorly brewed to me just say over the top with spices. If you had this with a piece of pumpkin pie.....eh even that .... Well they can't all be winners. I will not be purchasing this beer again.

And for NOVS I'm going with you GFR....We're an American Band. Produced by Todd Rundgren one of the most overlooked musicians/ composers/ producers ever. (Something? Anything?)
Well folks have a great week! I'll be back with another beer soon.
Always thanks for listening!

 

Pete "The Feet" Sandoval was one of the main reasons I listened to Morbid Angel. His speed is uncanny! Oh and Trey Azagthoth didn't do too bad in song writing either.

 

Trying a Surly NEIN and pairing it with some ribs I smoked the last 6 hours. Loads of over ripe bananas, some toffee and smooth oak barrel flavor. I like it!

 

Good evening, NBSers. Normally I drop in a brief review after the pic, but I'm gonna change things up a bit today - don't tell ME you can't teach this old dog a new trick. :-)



Today's submission is Schell's Fresh Hop 2015 Citra Pils, a series of fresh-hopped beers I've enjoyed for a few years now. Schell's had a Fresh Hop Citra Pils a couple of years ago, and I'm not sure if this is a different recipe, but this specific beer is a fantastic pilsner, amped up with the Citra hop addition. It pours a brilliant golden straw color with a couple of fingers of white head. The aroma gives up the traditional pilsner malt, but adds in the citrusy aroma that Citra hops provide. The first taste, it's summer in your mouth - bright, effervescent, lemon zest, pilsner malt - and the bonus of Citra hops. Simply outstanding.

But more than that, Schell's has a special place in my heart. When the ovaltines moved to Mankato in 1999, it was for my job, and Mrs. O and Little O had to make sacrifices, leaving behind in Indiana family and friends. It was heart wrenching for them, but they jumped in feet first to support me.

No husband or father could ask for more, but I promised to repay them for their support, and one of my first ideas was "Adventure Weekend." We moved to Minnesota from Indiana, and to say that Minnesota was different geographically and culturally from Minnesota would be an understatement of mythical proportions. So "Adventure Weekend" was a way for us to experience Minnesota, and we took full advantage - we went to the Laura Ingalls Wilder museum (su-ucked!!!), we went to Ft. Ridgely (really cool). And we went to Schell's for their tour.

Being my first brewery tour (this was circa 2000), I was pretty pumped but had no idea what to expect. It was a revelation. Schell's is the 2nd oldest family-owned brewery in the country (Yuengling is the oldest), opening in 1860, and they are German craft beer cubed - no stouts, no IPA's, no APA's (though they've brewed a stout and a pale ale in their recent past), just traditional German brewing, with a focus on lagers. On that first tour, I had their Firebrick, Schmalt's Alt, Bock, and a couple of others, and most importantly, Mrs. O and I had an absolute ball. I wasn't in my beer nerd zone then, but to share that day with my beautiful bride was beyond great.

Today, I'm a full-fledged beer nerd, and Mrs. O and I have taken the Schell's tour 3 times. Anything they brew, I try, and I'm usually very impressed by what they do - straightforward beers, exceptionally executed (except for the sours - I have 3 of those in the beer fridge that I'm gonna try soon, but I don't believe those are anything like "straightforward"). If you ever have the opportunity to try their stuff, NBSers, I can't recommend them highly enough. Schell's is truly world-class.

 

Happy Sunday evening y'all. Didn't get to try this last year - guess they made a whole bunch more this year. Very good, beautiful smell, tasty with more pine than citrus. Preferred Doppel Sticky to this one but certainly not disappointed that I have five more to go! Cheers!

 

Crooked Can McSwagger's Own
Amber Ale - 6.0%




look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Overall: 3.19/5

12oz can poured into a pint glass. Pours a dark slightly hazy brownish amber color with a nice light tan head with good retention and lacing. The aroma is taste are dominated by the toasted malts with just a touch of hops in the finish. Overall, this is a solid brew to reach for when in the mood for something a little more on the malty side. Overall, this is nothing special but another decent local option.

 

New? Well, not so much. Enjoy By...yesterday. Still fantastic!

 

Night of the Living Stout, a "West Coast Style Stout" from Full Pint Brewing Company of North Versailles, Penna. Brewed with Cascade hops, it's 110 IBU! It's more like a malty black IPA (think Dark Penance) than a stout. It would have been more appropriate last night but a friend just shared it with me.

 

New Personal "Whale" Sunday!

Ok, I'll let you in on a secret. Once I tasted Oil of Aphrodite Rum Barrel Aged...I knew Jackie O's Barrel game isn't one to mess with. So a humble man by the name of @WesMantooth gave me this bottle as an Extra...an Extra!! Well let's get down to it!



You guys see how this brew pours. Very dark brown, yet appears black in a glass. Nice subtle crown of deep khaki head. Looks stunning!

The Aroma will let us know where this brew is going to take us! Bam!! The smell of Maple draws first blood. Then hits you with that Charred Barrel approach. Notes of Vanilla, Oak, Pipe Tobacco and Roasted Malt goodness! This is a brew to smell for days...or is it Daze? This is a monster of a brew!

Flavor should be a chore..right? This first hits with that Maple Syrup goodness! Secondary slaps of Bourbon with Char and Vanilla bean. Mid palate brings forth some Toasted Coconut and deep roasted Coffee. Slaps you Again with some bitter powdery Cocoa. Faint booze is detected. This finishes Dry and sweet with slight bitterness. Lingering Alcohol heat and Toasted Coconut in the Aftertaste. The feel medium-light with some abrasive carbonation.

Overall: This is a Big Beer! So much Flavor in so little time. It smacks you all over the place and leaves you back at your original place with your thoughts Shifted! This brew is an adventure, I'd like to have more tickets for this ride! This exceeded my expectations with warp speed. Nothing to complain about with this offering. This brew is amazing and Recommended!

Grade: A+

There will be Blood Corey...there will be blood! Thank you times a Million!

 

Aloha New Beer/New Brewrery Sunday BAs! This afternoon I'm at Waikiki Brewing Company drinking their limited release "Wild Turkey Bourbon Barrel Aged Black Strap Molasses Porter":



A) Black, no ruby draft pour (40) but enough clarity to see underneath of cap; thin tan head leaving oily cap; very good lace notwithstanding open air brewpub/brewery and concomitant high humidity. 4.5



S) Obvious strong Wild Turkey nose with oak and vanilla aromas initially; roasted malt, then toffee candy as liquid quickly warms; whiskey to the last drop. 4.50

T) Whiskey and vanilla oak, followed by bittersweet pancake syrup with toffee and dark chocolate flavors; the whiskey is more nose than taste and not distracting. 4.5

M) Light, almost creamy mouthfeel for a porter; moderate to light carbonation; lite wooden tongue coating. 4.25

O) Roasted bittersweet malt with English hops (Fuggle and Goldings) contribute to lite bitter set sail into the Pacific sunset. 4.25

Best part of new beer/new brewery Sunday? Drinking with @Roguer. Cheers!

 

New Beer Sunday: A new Wet Hop IPA

Evenin' NBSers with a special "howdy do" to you Hop Bine Huggers who look forward every fall to having those Wet Hops in the beers you use to wet your whistles.

Well today started out overcast with Temps in the lower 60s but during the afternoon we did get the sun peeking though the clouds every so often before it went back to hiding for a while. I've finished a nice productive day and both got some of my errands done, ticked off a some things from the "honey-do" list. I even managed to get some items ticked on my own list.

This evening's new beer is the Sixpoint Sensi Harvest 2015 wet hop IPA.

As usual my review (which is in progress and subject to revision until the beer is finished) appears here:

http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/10607/192073/?ba=drtth

Basically this is a quite drinkable harvest ale and I'm glad to have tried the Sixpoint version. The malt and hops play pretty nicely together and the Resin from the wet hops is in the mix but well controlled by the bready malt flavors. That said, while I think this is a reasonably good beer, I find that if I had to choose, my preference is for the Victory Harvest Ale if only because I like those hops better. (But then I'm probably also biased by the fact that I have most of a case sitting down there in the basement with those lonely bottles just calling out "Drink us," "Drink us," every time I happen to be near by. I do reassure them once in a while that their time in the fridge will come but they seem impatient to me and really don't want to wait their turn in the queue. )

I did get some time this evening with my old standby Wolfgang Amadeus and some of his piano concerti on the player. For a reason I can't yet clearly articulate, this performance seems to me to fit just right with a Wet Hop IPA. Maybe I'll figure out why by next week. (Also, who knows, maybe another Wet Hop Harvest Ale will lead to a flash of insight. :-))

Cheers, all!

 

I actually saved one of each in the cellar for "science" too. Not mad science though. Just regular old fourth grade science.