New Beer Sunday (week 559)

Last NBS beer is from a Jolly Pumpkin. This is the first of their beer that I've had.


Oro De Calabaza

Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales
Bière de Garde / 8.00% ABV

4.02/5 rDev -2.4% | Avg: 4.12
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

L-pours a pale clear straw color. Head and lacing are minimum.
S-A wonderful sourness pervades with a hint of funk.
T-Far less sour than the nose would lead you to believe. A mild tart with a funky brett finish.
F-Mouthfeel is light and dry due to a light carbonation and the sour acidic flavor.
O-A very well done wild ale. The sour and brett funk are at a nice level of balance.

It should be noted that this beer is miscategorized as a Bier de garde.

 

I miss my Maia my beautiful golden girl who used to "talk" to me at night and spend every minute outdoors with me.
Your girl reminds me of her. Happy b'day

 

That's my favorite beer from Tallgrass. I felt it compares to FBS and is even better. Little thin, but so is FBS.

 

Like @utopiajane and @lordofthewiens insomnia has been an unwelcome but persistent component of my life for many years now. Working nights has helped out some, but it's still a presence that looms daily.
Today started rainy and delicious. I really love the rain. And we need it. The afternoon turned bright and sunny though. Helped my friend get packed as she moves to Boise, and the rest of the day was putzing around.

I opted to start my drinking late today, and went for a bottle I picked up randomly about a week ago at a gas station. Alphadelic, by Hop Valley. I've had their Alpha Centauri and it was quite good. Short version here: this one is good, but not great.
-The pour gives you a classic profile of golden yellow with a head that is soft and white, like my belly. Unlike my belly, however, it readily shrinks down to a ring of soapy bubbles. Beautiful lacing as well.
-The nose offers sweet floral and tropical notes with a definite presence by the german malts. That combo, particularly the floral hops and german malts remind me of this region so much.
-Sipping it, however, doesn't bring quite the same level of excitement. Less bright and juicy, it dedicates its sense-ical experience to the bitter side of citrus and goes all in. There is a light dusting of fructose sweet over the top which offers some balance. Finish is long and bitter.

Overall, it's an solid IPA to be sure. It doesn't blow me away, but I would certainly drink it -- and enjoy it -- again.

Cheers to all, hope you're enjoying yourselves and your beers...

 

Good evening NBS, hope everyone is enjoying the end of the weekend once again. Thanks to @utopiajane for getting us rolling again this week. I had my 3700th review last night and my closet singles were getting nearly gone(even though I do have 18 in the fridge at all times). I made a big beer/mead haul this afternoon. Got a case+ of singles plus a handful of bombers and Bardic wells meads. I have a specific case box in my closet for my new beer singles, and I don't like it when it looks empty . Also trying to get back into gaming again besides candy crush saga. Played my xbox 360 for a couple hours of Battlefield 3 Campaign again.

Here are today's new beers:

Excellent IPA! Aromas and flavors of big grapefruit, tangerine, apricot, pineapple, passion fruit, mango, melon, lemon zest, orange peel, and pine; with some light honey/bready maltiness and herbal/floral/grassy hop earthiness. Good sized pine/rind/grassy bitterness; with a nice moderately sticky/resinous mouthfeel with a moderately crisp/dry finish. Nice supportive pale malt backbone against bitterness, but the flavors are all hops. Bright and dank across the board. Will definitely pick up a six pack of it some time, as long as it's fresh. That has been getting better around here lately this year. Last year all I remember seeing was 9 month old Dales everywhere. 4.1


Damn good Berliner Weissbier. Good head retention for the style, some lacing did stick around. Aromas and flavors of big tart lemon, lime, green apple, white grape, wheat, cracker, hay, straw, grass, and light funk/pepper. Light-moderate tart/spiciness finish; with balanced pale malt sweetness and moderately dry. Nice amount of flavor robustness for the ABV, does not feel bland at all. Nice well rounded yeast/lacto complexity with balanced tartness/acidity/sweetness. Some light-moderate wheat creaminess in the mouthfeel as well. Really delicious, no complaints. Tastes very traditional to my expectations. There are a few really low ratings for this, but it's obvious they were probably expecting a lacto bomb like the American versions usually are. Most of the classic German ones are not. 4


A very nice stout! Aromas and flavors of big chocolate, cocoa, coffee, toasted oats, dark bread, light smoke/char, and herbal hops; with a touch of sea salt/brine. Balanced bittersweet herbal hop/roasted finish; with moderate creaminess and a touch of salinity and chalky roast malt character in the mouthfeel. A fair amount of roasted dryness after the finish as well. Overall, the oysters are subtle but noticeable; but I really liked the base stout a lot. Nice well rounded roasted/bready malt complexity and very smooth drinking. 3.9


Cheers, have a good night NBS!

 

New Brunch Beer Sunday


After my post in yesterday's WBAYDN, and the subsequent "likes," I accumulated enough Beer Karma to be considered an actual "Advocate." I thought I would celebrate by making a NBS appearance in the (borderline) AM hours while watching some NFL pregame banter. But, naturally, Photobucket was not my friend at the time. So, I opted to wait until I opened another new beer to try posting again.

Southern Tier - 2Xpresso


I picked this up as a single, and the bottling date was illegible, but I don't think this has been released recently so I assume it is not the freshest representation of this beer. However, the espresso in both the aroma and flavor was still quite strong. I get a little of the lemon peel in both as well, but it also comes across as a citrus-like hop note. The body was somewhat creamy, as the lactose made its presence known. There was a surprising alcohol note to the taste; didn't expect that given the 7.5% abv and probable age on it. Overall, it went well with the meal, but I would opt for Founders Breakfast Stout or Bell's Java Stout over this. 3.65/5

My next beer would come when the Sunday Night Football Game started.

New Beer (for) Sunday (night football)

Victory - Headwaters


Best by 1/13/16
I didn't have the highest expectations for this beer, but it definitely surpassed them. I would put this among some of the best APAs I have had. Great hop aroma and flavor, including elements from some of the popular hop notes: citrus, pine, and earthiness. The malt flavor was complimentary and showed itself at just the right times on the palate. 3.89/5

I paired it with a philly cheesesteak flatbread to go with the football game.

I am not an Eagles fan in the least, but any chance I get to root against the Cowboys, I'll take it. (Yes, I am a Lions fan that is still salty about last year's playoff loss and the season that has followed)

Cheers, BA!

 

Gumballhead
3 Floyds Brewing Co.
American Pale Wheat Ale / 5.60% ABV

4.06/5 rDev -3.8% | Avg: 4.22
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 ounce bottle poured into a tulip glass

A: Pours a honey orange color with a white head, lots of lacing, some carbonation, clear, not much head retention.

A: Lots of citrus, grapefruit, mango, guava, picking up sweet malts, no alcohol on the nose, smells more like an IPA than a pale wheat ale.

T: Like the nose, but subdued, hints of grapefruit, mango, guava, slight bitterness in the middle, finishes smooth with semi grassy, hay characteristic coming through, picking up some lemon notes as well, very easy drinking.

M: Light body, semi dry finish.

O: This is definitely easy to drink, love the aroma but the flavor is nothing compared to all the citrus that comes through on the aroma, very sessionable, I could see myself drinking a lot of this during the summer.

The cap looks like its on acid, very interesting

 

The GF picked up this and the B&J collaboration @JuicesFlowing reviewed today. I'll have to remember to check back to this week when we crack them open. I know DFH had quite a few beers the suggest aging, I wonder if Higher Math fits into that category. Barely related side note: Fort should be out soon, if it isn't already .

 

Death By Coconut
Oskar Blues Grill & Brew
English Porter / 6.50% ABV

4.16/5 rDev +1.5% | Avg: 4.1
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 ounce can poured into a pint glass

A: Pours black with some light coming through around the edges, tan colored head, not much head retention, it's darker than other porters I've tasted.

A: Coconut, chocolate, coconut prevails over the chocolate, slight coffee notes, hint of roasted malts, coconut is the dominant aroma here, smells pretty good.

T: Nice hit of coconut sweetness up front, hint of chocolate, some coffee roasted bitterness in the middle, chocolate reemerges at the end with a dry finish, aftertaste is is mix of coconut, chocolate, roasted coffee, very nice.

M: Not quite light bodied but definitely lighter than a medium bodied stout, has a dry, chocolate finish.

O: Pretty good, would definitely buy this on a regular basis except it's $12 a four-pack, in my humble opinion it's overpriced, if it were $10 a six-pack it would definitely be worth it, otherwise a solid porter with coconut and chocolate.

 

I agree with you, @smanson56 Sierra Nevada Coffee Stout should be a stand alone seasonal in a six-pack, it's very tasty.

 

Actually have 5..count 'em 5 today..still fu**in buzzed..will give the list but will rate first 2

Firestone XVII
Flight of the Angry Beast
Event Horizon
Hoparillo
Dragon's Milk w/ Roasted Chilis



worth the wait..fu**ing phenomenal..caramel,toffee,bourbon,vanilla,wood,brown sugar,spices..and after 2 yrs..smooth as silk...



obviously not as smooth or complex as FW XVII...but a good offering from CS..bourbon,vanilla,coffee,chocolate,dark fruits..nicely done..now i'm gonna crash...l8r all.

 

Smuttynose Baltic Porter
Smuttynose Brewing Company
Baltic Porter / 9.24% ABV

4.4/5 rDev +3.5% | Avg: 4.25
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

12 ounce bottle poured into a tulip glass

A: Pitch black, mocha colored head disappeared after a few minutes, not much carbonation, no lacing, looks a little thin, but overall, very nice appearance.

A: Dark fruits, figs, dates, raisins, also getting some dark chocolate, slight roasted malts, smells really sweet, alcohol is hidden, smells good.

T: Very nice, dark fruits like figs, raisins, dates, like the nose there's rich dark chocolate, some bitterness in the middle, its' sweeter than it's roasty but not overly sweet, finishes with a big dry dark chocolate aftertaste, very nice.

M: Heavy bodied, creamy, oil like, dry finish.

O: Very impressed, it's like a porter on steroids, big flavors of dark fruits and dark chocolate, creamy mouthfeel, it's a little hot, but a big sipper, definitely enjoying this.

 

Back home from work (a Sunday afternoon and evening predictably was a somewhat benign case of asssuck) and I've broken into that grunt of Albion from Bellwether. For an utterly hopless beer, it's pretty good, even after spending over 48 hours in the grunt (I've seen a lot of post over the years from people who leave shit in their grunts/growlers for days and days - I've always noticed a degradation after more than about 12 hours or so, and that's fills from a number of different establishments). It's a bit like a really malty version of a wee heavy, with a little bit of cherry flavor. I'm quite happy for the level of drinkability coming from a strong Heather Ale brewed by a brewery that's been in the game for less than two months:
http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/42837/198356/?ba=woemad

On an utterly unrelated note, can any football-inclined BAs tell me, did Aaron Rodgers get hurt today? My fantasy football life pretty much depends on him, and I saw during the halftime of tonight's game (M.Cassel's looking pretty good, BTW - give him reps on a good team, apparently he'll come around) and it looked like he took a hell of a shot.

 

Is that your first Baltic porter? It's a style I really dig, but it's kind of neglected, especially when compared to the RIS. It's pretty much impossible for me to pass up a Baltic Porter when I do come across one.

 

Yes, it's my first Baltic porter, it's very good, really enjoyed it. This is the first Baltic porter that I've seen in my area.

 

@utopiajane, I get your insomnia issues.

For most of my life, I've had them. I usually dealt with them by reading myself to sleep. Then I developed sleep apnea, so I could sleep all night but not feel like I had any sleep at all. I now have a cpap, which helps a lot, but I've found it's very cumbersome to wear an oxygen mask and read in bed, which has long been something I really enjoy, so I either read, fall asleep before I fire up the cpap, and don't get the benefits, or I put the book aside before my brain has had enough, strap on the mask, and have worse insomnia than I've had for a long time because my brain is still wide awake. At times it kinda sucks, I gotta say.

 

There's something about the combination of the right malts with a clean lager finish, and meaty alcohol bite of the style that really appeals to me, especially as a nightcap on a cold night.