New Beer Sunday (week 567)

I had some fun with it. My official review is a straightforward one.

On to my own VA brew, hopefully we don't go 0-fer tonight. This beer caught my eye and is from a smaller brewery in SWVA. Have had a couple of their shelf beers, and they are ok. This didn't have great ratings but decided to go for it anyhow. This is Nachthexen (Night Witches, by reading the label) a wheat bock by Sunken City (with interesting story, not sure of veracity):


The nose came across with hints of banana as I poured this dark brown, seeming almost burgundy in the light at the edges. The look has an enticing fuzziness to it, strangely. Head isn't much but it does sit atop the beer for a while.

Nose is brown sugar, banana, prune, maybe some dark sweet cherry. And interesting little mix in this wheat bock. The taste hits with more or the cherry than the sugar/dark fruit - although those come along shortly after. Definitely some bready notes, and there is a yeasty tang that could have given a banana nose, but doesn't give the flavor as much. The bready notes follow the fruit instead of the reverse.

After the first few sips, the strength of the flavors seem to fade a bit. This may be caused by the one failed component of this beer, the feel. The flavors beg for a deeper body, or more likely, a more chewy feel. It's just not there to support the beer, and it's a bit of a shame. This lack of a platform also seems to yield a light lemon accent to the beer in later sips.

This beer is close to being an interesting to even solid beer. I would be willing to give it a shot again if they remake it (especially if I know they tweaked the recipe a tad).

 

Today was a great way for me to end the holiday weekend. It was bright and sunny enough to get some overdue yardwork done, plus it was nice enough to be driving all over as dad's taxi service. My 13yo had a band practice today (he plays bass), and they put on an impromptu mini-concert for the parents; they have some surprisingly good originals cooking, and it seems the guitar player has a good ear for a hook and chord progression. It'll really be fun watching these guys develop!

So it's getting late in the day, but I finally do have the time to dig into some beers I have been looking forward to since last week. @creepinjeeper sent me a few selections by Metropolitan Brewing, and I was only able to get to the Kolsch last week, so these two have been calling to me all week. The time is now!!!
First up-

and I have to give a big whoopsie-doodle to the way I poured it. It seems that it may have been bottle-conditioned, after seeing the cloudiness as well as a bit of sediment in the bottle. Too late for a do-over, though...

but let's see how Flywheel Lager stands up to it. Maybe I'll think of it as a kellerbier for this time only .

It is really really good, obviously a quality beer here. Nose is somewhere between a German Pils and Munich Helles. Hops dominate the malt, although the base underneath has that rich graham cracker biscuitiness that makes a Helles so addictive. Hops are spicy for the most part, but also lean heavily in the citrus peel (lime) department. The palate is rich and perfectly balanced, lime peel immediately dissolves into tea biscuits, and then lingers with hints of dried flowers and the slightest pale bread crust toastiness. Beautiful stuff! Not only does it go down quick, but you are left wanting more and more; there's such a vibrancy about it. The people of Chicago are lucky to be able to get something like this fresh and on a daily basis. Another winner from Metropolitan.

 

I may just be compounding the damage here, but decided to avoid the drain pour by using it as a marinade. Soy, vinegar and sherry are perfect for that, right?

 

You hit the nail on the head! Cheers.

 

A not too vigorous pour yields this 1/4 inch head. Weird perfumy nose. Taste is intriguingly good. Wow! "Midnight Train to Georgia" would be the perfect song for this! Ha! Mouthfeel is spot on. Overall, I will definitely have again!

 

First up Firestone Walker Agrestic.
4.42/5 rDev +5.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

375 ml bottle poured into a teku

A- A slightly hazy ruby red with a three finger white head.

S- Sour cherries, vinegar, oak, some lemon.

T- Sour, cherries, lemon and orange peel, oak, slightly earthy, some vinegar, very nicely balanced.

M- Smooth, medium body.

O- A solid sour, nicely balanced. Worth picking up if you find it.

★333 characters

Cheers NBS!

 

Happy New Year, NBSers. After spending last weekend in Dayton with my wonderful Mother, and not wanting to subject you all to a review of Yuengling Light on Sunday evening, I am pleased to submit my first review of a Wallonian-style Brown Ale for your viewing pleasure.



Schell's is one of my go-to brewers. They don't brew an IPA (or an APA), they don't brew a BA stout (or any other stout), they just brew German-style beers, and they do that very well. This beer is yet another example of their prowess as brewers of German craft beers.

As the bottle says, this mahogany-colored beauty features hints of nut, biscuit, and stone fruit. But for me, it was the depth of these flavors that pushed this toward world-class. The nutty flavors and biscuity flavors were apparent up front, but they weren't thin, as some browns are for me - they were rich without being cloying. And there was an added bonus - a tanginess (the stone fruit maybe?) I didn't expect but certainly enjoyed. This was a winter warmer without the higher ABV (this is 6.2% ABV). I'm fighting a cold, so I appreciated all the flavor without the alcohol wallop.

Rated 4.23 here:

http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/417/197022/

 

New Finnish Style Sahti Sunday

Well, here's my last new brew for today, Off Color Brewing's Bare Bear Finnish Style Sahti: http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/31678/159966/?ba=bluejacket74





I liked this one, it was fruity and spicy. I really can't say I've had too many Sahti styled brews, but I enjoyed it. I'll try to check on here later today and tomorrow morning for everyone else's new brews. Cheers everyone!

 

Whew, that was quick. I'm back with my third and last selection from Metropolitan-

Dynamo Copper Lager

Unfortunately, I'm just not feeling this one as much as the first two. The flavors are more sharp and angular (caramel and dark bread) than the more rounded melanoidin-rich maltiness I prefer in this type of beer. That attack does subside a bit by mid-glass, and some really delicate floral hops come on to liven things up a bit more. The finish has just the right snap of bitterness, and lingers with a clean toastiness. It's obviously well made, and I give it major points for getting better as I drink it, but I still think it's missing that special something to put it into the 'A' class. B+ (3.85).

Overall, I am duly impressed with these guys as a brewery. Fortunately for me, my brother-in-law hails from Chicagoland, so hopefully I can get them to throw a few cases in their trunk for me the next time they visit .

Thanks a million, @creepinjeeper - I previously had no clue about this brewery, but now they're on my radar big time. Cheers!

 

Greetings All from the frozen northwest.

Highs in the mid-teens and overnight lows in single digits for the entire New Year's 4-day weekend. Today we are up to a balmy 27. We've been watching a lot of football and Twilight Zone episodes.

Today it is Filament Winter IPA from Ecliptic Brewing out of Portland, Oregon.
http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/33058/107916/

Not sure I'd call it an IPA, but it is a sweet bread and caramel flavored brew with a bitter pine bite.

So, wrapping up the Holidays with a big Seahawk win. Looking forward to a deep playoff run, maybe even a Super Bowl berth? Stranger things have happened.

Happy Trails!

 

Getting a late start today, but trying to get some things ready for returning back to work next week. Do I have to go?

Today's new beer is from Blue Pants, and is one of their Alalambic series. They did a grape, peach, and cantaloupe version. All using local produce. Trying out the grape one tonight.

Nice tart grape and cherry flavor and aroma. Lightly sweet but not overly so.

Very nice beer! So excited to see one of the local breweries trying out something new, and doing it well...



http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/23966/208615/?ba=richj1970

 

Decided I should open this after staring at it for the past month:



Score 4.91
L - pours oily and thick with no head at all; just a thin mocha ring
S - Typical Bourbon County with jammy fruit overtones
T - Pow! Smacks you upside the head with big cherry flavors. The sea salt is on the back end somewhere, and the blackberries seem to just add a jammy note to the whole thing, but this tastes like a bourbony awesome chocolate covered cherry!
F - Feels a bit thicker even than standard BCBS - the fruit and additional sweetness makes it a touch more chewy, which is just lifts the whole beer

Overall, I was totally wowed by this. Had Prop '15 a few weeks ago and was wowed by that too - both of them were soo much better than last years variants. As this warms and the fruit starts to waft you can just sit there and breathe it in for ages.... and ages. Rocketing to the top (well damn close) of my list of best beers ever.

 

Thanks for that, I really enjoyed it! There are some nuances in the original I prefer, but I think they did a really nice job.

 

Well, maybe this will be the last one for the night, since that Tarte Nouveau from Weyerbacher just didn't do it for me.

Spring House: Satan's Bake Sale Mint Chocolate Chip Stout


Popped the top on this 22 oz. bomber and there was nothing but mist coming out with a beautiful spearmint aroma.

Poured a deep dark brown to black body with a 1/2 finger's worth of head, which dissipated to a thing layer of khaki tan bubbles on the top.

Aromas, seriously? Mint, chocolate, roasted malts. Smells like melted mint chocolate chip ice cream with a little bit of coffee. Spearmint dominates though. There's definitely some nuttiness in there as well.

Taste...? Well not what I was expecting, I mean that mint is there, but just in the middle. Chocolate and coffee up front right away, then the mint comes through and finally the malt roastiness.

Medium mouth feel, was thinking it would be fuller, the finish is very clean.

Overall, this beer comes through on it's promise and intent; it's got chocolate and mint! Very enjoyable beer to have in the winter months, glad I picked this one up while I was in PA last month; because it's been a cold and dreary day here in Florida. Not something I would want to drink every day, but definitely worth the try.

Cheers!

 

Second NBS today, Left Hand Milk Stout, 6% ABV, 25 IBU. Pours thick, opaque, no head, coffee smell. Coffee taste, coffee bitter finish, some sweetness. Not bad.

 

Late entry for me today having worked earlier but now I'm settling in watching the Packers (Go Pack Go!!!)

This is hitting the spot and quite nice. Tons of enjoyable tropical fruit aromas. The palate is much drier/bitter with fruit rind taking over. Summarizing it with my 'overall': "The notes are pure across the board though I think I'd prefer it more if the tropical fruit were more prevalent and it was a bit less bitter/dry on the palate."
Cheers!

 

Maui Brewing Co. Lorenzini Double IPA canned 12/20/15 - 3.38/5

Pours a hazy amber color. Huge Blood Orange aroma right off the bat on the pour. Also getting hints of other tropical fruits IE Grapefruit and Tangerine. Lots of floating sediment which I'm sure is from the beer being brewed with Tangerine and Blood Orange peel.

Citrus bitterness on the palate with a nice malt backbone. Can really taste the rich layer of sweetness from the Maui cane sugar they used, which is a little too sweet for my palate. The cane sugar really mutes the hoppiness in this beer which I think is a great disservice.

All together this makes a pretty "meh" DIPA. What really kills it for me is the overly sweetness coming from the Maui cane sugar. I think it would be a much better beer without all the sugar.

I'm glad this comes in only a 4pk as I couldn't think of drinking 6 of these.

 

Best beer I've had from these guys! So nice and roasty smooth...

 

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/QdbrHQHpwg-1n4yAjxs2YtMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=directlink
this is my first NBS so here it goes

ALLAGASH Ghoulschip: Ale aged in oak barrels and brewed with pumpkin, toasted pumpkin seeds and mollasses
Picked this bottle up at Allagash the first week in November!!! was bottled on September 24th 2015 actually picked up two bottles but going to cellar other the one for a year or so!!

Popped this one open and was pleasantly surprised that it produced a sizable head but it subsided pretty quickly!! look is a hazy pumpkin orange!!
Smell : lots of tart fruit on the nose get, lots of lemon and citrus notes, definately getting lots of funk!! definately do not smell any of the molasses
Taste: definately sour and funky!! if i had not read the bottle i would have never known it was brewed with pumpkin!! definately tart lots of lemons citrus charactoristics!! very carbonated but that is not a bad thing!!
Overall a pretty good Allagash sour!! although it is not my favorite!!

 

In late today but here is my entry for this Sunday.


Here is how I am experiencing this beer.

4.08/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

A nice ruby brown color with a beige head that doesn't last and leaves no lacing. The smell is cherries, yeast, caramel, honey and a sour smell from the cherries that is vaguely reminiscent of vinegar. The taste is sweet and peppery. There is bread, cherries and caramel along with the sour that was present in the nose. The beer finishes with a tart bitterness. The beer has a medium mouthfeel and a decent amount of carbonation that stings the tongue slightly.