New Beer Sunday (week 569)

Nah, I'm just an idiot. You may hold my hand during the process when I come to visit.

 

I wasn't in the shadows, lad. I was banished to an Outer Siberian outpost!

 

Beer #837, Queen of Tarts by Odd Side.

$9.99 16.9oz bottle. Bottled 12/2/15, poured 1/17/16.

Appearance: Hard pour into a shaker pint (seriously, kill me. It's all that was clean.) gave a very small wispy light purple head. The beer is a hazy copper red color. (4.25/5)

Smell: A little funk, a little raspberry. Smells as you'd expect given the description, I think. Nice, just not a whole lot to say about it. (4/5)

Taste/feel: This is different, for me. The yeast strange they use is a bit unique to me. I notice the style on this site says Berliner Weissbier, and the one (or two?) others I've had in the style had a similar funk -- to me, it's one not typical in many sours.. it just feels and tastes a bit different. Tartness up front that quickly goes into a sourness, with raspberry coming in mid-sip. Nearing the finish, there's a biscuit vibe. The finish is dry. The feel of this is about medium with a mild carbonation that works well with this beer's tartness. (4.25/5, 4/5)

I enjoy it. $10 for 16oz isn't a terrible price for a sour, either, especially one that's as good as this one. Sure, I've had better ones, but this was a nice surprise from Odd Side. The raspberry flavor with the awesome butter biscuit finish from the yeast and/or malt is just delicious and slightly reminiscent of a buttered raspberry jam English muffin. People are complaining about complexity in this beer, but I get a decent bit: the funky sort of flavor on its own, the raspberry, and again, the malty/yeasty finish. Great stuff.

(4.25/5)

4.17/5 (+6.1%)

Cheers, BA!

 

That was me - and while I am absolutely aware of WOMAD (which I don't think is local; IIRC it was something started by Peter Gabriel), the name comes from a stupid pun based on my last name.

Getting back to beer, I suspect Black Raven does a lot of beers that are really great that don't make it out of the Seattle area, but the fact remains that every bottled beer I've had from them, which isn't a lot, has never been more than a "meh" beer to me.

 

As long as you don't glow in the dark!

 

Good morning friends,
Thanks to @utopiajane for a very nice beginning to a busy Sunday. We're just back from a walk around the lake, in the bit of snow that started falling at daybreak. It's beautiful, a little messy, but who cares(?)...it's a nice day to be back inside.
We spotted some wood ducks across the lake, some other divers (grebes?), and saw just one other fellow hiker. I love these days!
Today's beer is Burial Beer Company's Skillet Donut Stout. This is another Asheville brewery that has been receiving many excellent reviews. My son gave me this can yesterday. Canned January 4th, listed at 8%. The beer pours a deep opaque black, sporting a lovely tan cap, receding slightly, leaving a thick tan lacing uniformly around the glass. The nose is mocha, coffee, black strap molasses, and deep dark malts. One more sniff.....this beer smells just perfect, like it needs a snowy Sunday morning to be its best! Let's see.
This brew is drier than it smells, carrying 60 IBUs, and providing a mouth coating deep malty coffee first sip that is really a great surprise. This is a big black beer, full of complex coffee, malt, and hops flavors and aromas that it's difficult to know which is most powerful; the nose or the taste. It is ridiculously easy to drink, warming, and a classic sipper that will last me a while...maybe.
I love this big black beer and highly recommend that you seek it out. It is a classic and charming beer. Cheers to all and have a great Sunday! The Panthers and Seahawks are my two favorite teams. Oh, shit!

http://i1288.photobucket.com/albums/b491/rgordon21rgordon2/Mobile Uploads/2016-01/298eb9c2-d234-4c0d-ad3e-3bd5b5108648_zpsl3s8tt5p.jpg


Here are a couple of groups and artists that I had completely forgotten about, but youTube is an utter miracle. These groups are great, part of the formation and fabric of modern music, and virtually unknown. Cheers and enjoy these tunes!

 

Good morning NBSers let me start off by saying I almost did not try this. I have come very close on two occasions the guy at my usual bottle shop once talked me out of it knowing what I like and a bartender at a restaurant also talked me out of it after several beers I had him recommend. My usual bottle shop marked this down 50% and I had to try and see for myself so on to the review.
Bottled on 9/2/15 Stone Stochasticity Project Your Father Smelt of Elderberries, before trying this I actually looked up what elderberries should smell and taste like and the properties. They are really pretty bland until someone makes jam, jelly or beer with them!!

It poured a deep reddish orange color very thin off white head not much lacing head dissipates completely.

Smell - Smell not really sure what elderberries smell or taste like but I sense a little rubbing alcohol smell some dark fruit maybe a little malt

Taste - I think this tastes much better than it smells getting some caramel dark fruit little oats and some sweetness.

Feel - medium body surprised no burn from the 10.3% a little bitterness as well.


Overall not my favorite but much better than I was expecting, I did rate this higher than most I would probably not have it again but I am really glad I tried it.

 

*Looks outside and sees sun...Remembers that it is January in WI*


Yep, not going out there today! Going to stay inside and drink beer for NBS!

Vintage 2013 Smuttynose Barleywine. Thick caramel and toffee make up the sweetness. Dark fruits with a nice earthy, piney aroma from the hops. Two years later this still has a bitterness to it along with some alcohol. It is pleasant because of the caramel and toffee mixed with some dark fruit. Hints of citrus and pine make up a bitter finish. Medium body with soft carbonation. A bit warming. Well done BW that reminds me of a favorite from Central Waters that is no longer made.



Remembered a hobby I used to enjoy as a kid. Cheers!

 

Potato, potatoe.

 

That brew was in my top three favorite IPAs in 2015, friggin just loved it...

 

What is the beer that looks like OJ?

 

TOP O'THE MORNIN' / AFTERNOON TO ALL YOU NBSers out there!!! And "THANKS" @utopiajane for getting this NBS goin'!!!

For all you NorEasters that may be lamenting the lack of Winter-White-Stuff in your territories, I feel for you!!! Here in FarWest, Texas it's shaping up to be a bright sunny day and is forecast to get in to the "balmy" mid-to-upper fifties today!!! Now that kind of weather may be what some of y'all are lookin' for!!! But, this "kid" entered the World in that icy wonderland of Fairbanks, Alaska. Ole' Man Winter bid me to thicken up my Alaskan Blood only a few weeks ago, only to now bid him adiue!!! Think I'm crazy, you may, I will hold out hope for at least one more snowfalll before bidding winter farewell!!!

This fine Sunday morning my NB is Adelbert's Brewery Dancin' Monks Hand Crafted Belgian-Style Dubbel. Here's what I think/feel of it:

3.28/5 rDev -6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

Adelbert's Brewery Dancin' Monks Hand Crafted Belgian Style-Dubbel; Bottle Conditioned; Bottled in Austin, Texas on June 25, 2015; 7.2%ABV; 750ml Bottle; Corked & caged; $8.41, acquired at Spec's Wine Spirits & Finer Foods in El Paso, Texas on Jan. 9, 2016; Poured into Ommegang Brew Stem.

L: Pours a very nice, rich, medium-dark, hazy, reddish amber colour. Considering that this bottle has a fairly strong POP when removing the cork, it seems there's very little effervescence (puzzling, considering it is bottle conditioned & the "bottled on date?"). Almost a "Barley Wine-like" character (again, puzzling, considering a relatively low ABV, IMO). Am I wrong on this?

S: Considering the relatively low ABV, I find the alcohol level present in the nose. I was not anticipating that. Semi-sweet/sour plum notes come through, along with very subtle malt/yeast/bread notes, more so when served chilled. Malt/yeast/bread notes become more present as it warms, while semi-sweet/sour plum fades.

T: Alcohol, for me, is very noticable on the palate, not overwhelming, yet there. Not boozy. Again, semi-sweet/sour plum, along with very mild sour cherry. Almost "Barley Wine-like" character (how so, at such a low ABV?). Subtle malt/yeast/bread notes.

F: Virtually no effervescence. Wine like character on the palate (almost like a Moscato in character, not flavor), yet there is always a mild to medium sour/tangy character present.

O: Not what I was expecting, particularly given I drank a bottle of Flyin' Monks two Sundays ago. The lack of carbonation/effervescence leaves this brew wanting. Perhaps I have an "off" bottle? Perhaps my taste-buds are off after consuming a bottle of Iron Throne the previous night (IDK)? This is the very first bottle of Dancin' Monks I've had. I am willing to give it another go, yet not for a while, as I have too many other brews in my stash to get through. Prhaps this one requires some aging? How much, IDK?

This one leaves me curious, as I've now had the Flyin' Monks and Dancin' Monks and, I have one bottle each of Black Rhino and Philosofizer to try.

I will very much appreciate any thoughts that any of you other BAs have about this particular brew, as it kinda threw me for a loop!!!

My thoughts are to acquire a couple more bottles and let each age for one and two years, respectively, just to find out if that may smooth out the edges and something "magical" happens???

CHEERS & HAPPY SUNDAY TO ALL YOU NBSers out there!!!

 

I'm 99.99% sure it is OJ.

 

Hey what's going on!?

Well a very solid and thankful week for our hero. Cat is doing well, so we are thankful, also thanks to you all last week and those who beer mailed for well wishes.

Now on to the real important stuff!

I got a lot of new beer! Very happy filled new beer fridge, including much of the new Devil's Backbone collaboration pack. Had the India Pale Lager collab with NODA which was a real stunner! Can't wait to dive into those other ones!!

I discovered that I did something unexpected also when I went shoppinh. That's right something I rarely do...

RE RUNS! Technically not new, but had so long ago and not from the bottle so what is semi-new for our hero today?! Bought it anyway thinking I have never reviewed it so here we go for the START!

Samuel Adams Cherry Wheat - Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)


Samuel Adams - Cherry Wheat by imbibehour, on Flickr

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Poured from the bottle into a wheat ale glass.

Deep brown gold, a bit muddy, but with a distinct reddish purplish middle hue in the middle of the glass, making faint lemon yellow to the fine edges. Solid and fairly opaque, but there is some transparent carbonation. Head is about two fingers with a nice creamy white appearance. Slowly settles down.

Aroma is straight up cheap neon red cocktail cherries. Real sweet smelling and dominant. Not much wheat or malt sensing character since this is so large and dominating everything on the nose. There are no off flavors at least so it still manages an average score on the aroma.

Palate is not what I remember. This has a real wet seltzery quality to it, and a real flattened malt character. There's an off putting bitterness on the finish and some metallic notes as well, which are really evident on the aftertaste. Repeated sips are not helping me enjoy this more, even much of the sweetness and cherry flavor which hits your nose like a fist to the face, doesn't seem to even come up on the palate very much. Weird body to this as well.

Surprisingly, had this on tap and preferred it more years ago, not by much, but I just can't get into this at all. So much for the re-run.

look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2 | BA Score: 2.38

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Was really shocked at how much I did NOT enjoy this... oh well.. More to come! Cheers!

 

Yes, sorry... it was a dumb little bit of fun I was having doing a "OJ side-review" (@superspak - esque). I accidentally cropped out the juice container pretty well.
I did leave out it was a 0.0% drink that hid its alcohol well, and that's actually the filtered version - the unfiltered called "with Pulp". Plus, they have variants with adjuncts like tangerine and pineapple.

Anyhow, enough stupidity on my part, I am about to crack open another REAL beer that is "tropical." In the glass, review about to start.

 

hello NBS'ers. my first selection today is from destihl, one of my favorite Ill. breweries.

an imperial pilsner( decidedly American idea I'm guessing)

pours a hazy orangewith white head, had great lacing(not pictured) 4/5

sweet smells of floral notes( i'm guessing from dry hopping the Saaz hops?) 4.25/5

tangy bitterness. earthy, like freshly dug soil.complexity in part from oak tannins. 4.25/5

medium body,finishes dry.bitterness on sides of mouth. 4/5

alcohol not really felt for a 10 ABV.. I liked it. 4/5

 

Good afternoon NBS, Thanks to Maria for the start off and the focus, that Aventinus is
a personal favorite, A very high bar was set. A long week, with work in VT keeping me
up there. Home now cooking a French Canadian yellow pea soup. The smells remind me of
Meme're's home. Today's offering is from Oxbow Brewing Company, their blended saison, with wild yeast.
The nose explodes 3" above the glass, wonderfully constructed.
Cheers all

Crossfade

Oxbow Brewing Company
Saison / Farmhouse Ale / 5.00% ABV

3.99/5 rDev -1.2% | Avg: 4.04
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 500 ml bottle dated march 2015, into a modified pilsner glass.
A - Sunrise on a blue sky yellow color. A bit of haze, large sized spherical carbonation stream relentlessly
in support of a cumulus white froth. Lacing rings the glass during the process.
S - Sharp nose, lemon reduction, winter wheat, orange zest, mixed in old straw, Complex is an understatement.
The yeast character is wild, and suggests a hint of sour.
T - The sharp elements of the nose do not transfer as boldly to the palate, there is a wonderful citrus candy,
and soft graininess to the offering. Melon rime, early season strawberry, blend seamlessly with a bit of funkiness.
M - Lite in body, super crisp, and that relentless carbonation wipes the palate clean quickly. A bit of edginess around the tongue, the sweet and sour parts are in wonderful balance.
O - A blended saison for certain, well crafted and displayed, a wonderful offering.Time and proper storage can only add to the complexity of this beer.
To be sought out.

 

Nice dedication with the research, my friend. I recall finding the beer more of a hoppy amber at its core and a little berry accent that couldn't overcome my aversion to that style of beer.

 

NBS: Sam Adams Merry Maker Gingerbread Stout.
Poured from 22oz bottle to heavy glass mug. Pours dark brow with 1" head.
Bottle says it's brewed with cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and ginger. It tastes like it. Flavor is dominated by spice.
Not much of the typical stout roasted flavors, but smooth for a 9% brew.
Give it a 3.5 overall.