New Beer Sunday (week 573)

Trying this Mikkeller Foret de Troncais medium toast. Appropriate for Valentines as I am in love.
Couldn't find a lot of info on this series. Beerpulse had this:
Weighing in at 19.3% ABV, this new series from Mikkeller is described as a Barley Wine. That description, however, doesn’t really do it justice. When we tasted these out of the barrels with Dirk Naudts (the brewer at De Proefbrouwerij), he said, “Do not think of this like a beer.” Dirk couldn’t be more correct. These are ponderous bottles, built for sipping. The series is based around a high gravity wort (fermented with champagne yeast), which leans on the malt, but isn’t too sweet. Following fermentation, the beer was aged in three different varieties of French oak barrels: Forêt de Tronçais (prized for Cognac and Bordeaux), Forêt du Centre, and Forêt Limousine. Additionally, each wood type is presented in both light and medium toast, so there are a total of six beers in the complete series. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself saying “wow” when you taste these.

http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/13307/108784/?ba=cindyjeffsmith

 

Hail from the frozen paradise here in SEMass...the pine grove across rhe street from the castle is protesting loudly.

So...where have I been? Not drinking beer, that is for sure! Day after Christmas brought a mixture of symptoms. Plugged sisnuse, chest congestion, coughing, sore throat, fevers, chills...to the point where I lost my voice and missed Sunday choir responsibilites for the first time in a decade or so. Lingered, subsided, then it all started over again. Beer was pretty far from my mind, my stockpile grew a bit as consumption dropped... And I sooooooooo want to grab a few of the new releases.....

Scanning the stash, the obvious victim for today was Evil Genius Santa...I Know Him. Obviously a Christmas themed brew that needs to go. Besides the reference to Elf, I didnt read, so I expected a winter warmer kinda thing and this poured a deep golden hue with a weak tan head that fell to absolutely nothing in short order. Quick check, and oops this is supposed to be a Saison brewed with chamomile, rose hips, and black currants. Well, at least the rose hips will stave off the scurvy....

Aroma is quite malty, minimal spice notes and a vague floral and fruity component. Malt forward? Hmmmm... The taste more or less follows. The one thing I liked is a nice tartness that shows up after the intial non-descript onslaught of malt. There just isnt any definition to the taste of this beer. I dont get even a remnant of the berries, there is a dryness that reminds me a little of chamomile tea. Very late in the taste, there is a peppery spice sensation, but it is accompanied by a heavy, syrupy sweetness that coats the tongue. I am not feeling this one at all. Numberwise, it will be a rarity for me because it will be under 3.0. I'm thinking 2.5-ish. The confused taste misses the mark for the style and that is not just due to the extra month of age.

In the meantime, the Stone Bastard Box sits across the room...the gargoyle...it mocks me...

@JackHorzempa - spectacular job as our host today! I am off to catch up on the posts and dish out some "likes".

Edit to add...after a few minutes, that sweet aftertaste and tongue coating thing turns pretty unleasant and reminds me of eating paste in kndergarten...sure...nobdy ever ate the paste, rght?

 

Nom! Pizza and beer... Classy beer, but still beer dammit!


October 2014 bottling into a snifter (so 1.5 years in bottle).

Pours slightly cloudy brilliant orange straw. Not much head
Big lemon grass and funk. Resinous herb and sharp acidity
More of the same on the palate with soft finish
Medium bodied with less carb than many other Geuze's

overall a lovely beer. balanced, crisp and complex with tons of depth. My favorite 3F to date simply because it is so drinkable and refreshing without sacrificing depth and complexity.
Rating 4.54

 

Good evening NBSers and thanks for the kickoff @JackHorzempa.
Well couldn't help dropping in briefly. It's a good thing I made Valentines Day dinner for my sweetie last night because with today's animal events it wouldnt have happened. Today was another reminder that our best friends aren't around forever-
2 sick cats and the passing of Judy's dog. Just enjoy them - that is if you're an animal lover ( I am)- while you can. I look at it this way: we were given the ability to survive on our own. Many of these domesticated animals weren't. It's our responsibility as humans to and as a civilized society to care for them. Anyone who wants to kick beat and abuse you're less of a human. And don't let me see you do it.......
B- E- E- R!!!!
NOMAD BREWING FRESHIE SALT & PEPPER - Ale brewed with sea water from Freshwater Beach of Sydney......etc

Pours a hazy gold not unlike a cloudy AAL. Head is barely present as appropriate for the style. Lacing almost non existent.

Smell is sourdough yeasty, lemon and coriander spice. Not much in the way of pepper

Taste is classic Gose: lemony wheat characteristics, spices, slight pepper and a truly get a good dose of salinity from seawater. I like this lip smacking salt character - reminds me of body surfing and getting a good ride- and a mouthful of seawater.

Medium body with low carbonation. Finishes dry and quenching.

Overall kind of a gimmick that doesn't follow through with the pepper aspect but represents the style well. 7$ plus so maybe a little pricier than it should be. I'd buy again if I was looking for a good beach or fishing beer in the warm weather ...
We can only wish right now. Have a great evening and week and as always thanks for listening ( no NOVS due to the circumstances) see all you Vinyl heads March 5

 

What's up BA? Getting a late start on this Valentine's Day Sunday, but managing to try a new beer tonight after our Valentine's dinner. This Rabbit Reserve #1 Chocolate Porter from Red Hare brewing out of Atlanta. They don't distribute around here, but we were in Nashville earlier this week, so I picked up a few crowlers (and the guy didn't know what month it is, and labeled it 1/10 instead of 2/10)

It's a beautiful beer. Very dark black with dense tan head. Crazy long retention.

A little light on aroma but mostly cocoa powder, and vanilla.

Rich dark chocolate, vanilla, bourbon, and oak flavors.

Extremely silky and creamy mouthfeel.

Overall, an excellent porter. Looking forward to trying a few more from these guys!



http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/26784/76908/?ba=richj1970

 

As black as the hole where my heart used to be lol. Tastes so much better.

 

Hello New Beer Sunday.

Ok, so how do I begin with today. It was AWESOME! I had a first date with an amazing gal. The only bad part is that our second will have to wait till after my vacation later in the week.

So now on to the beer.

Une Annee Esquisse American Wild Ale - 8% ABV

This was a very slow pouring beer, and the head is very thick and luscious. It's very light golden in color. I get sour notes from the nose that are very pleasing.

So on to what we're all interested in, and that it the taste.

This is a very good representation of a sour. It is a very fruity sour taste. Tart in a good way. Very light tasting in a way. Good, delicious sour, and unlike last NBS beer, no way in hell a drainpour.

4 out of 5

 

Hey again NBS crew. First time I've ever posted 3 new beers on a Sunday. Last one for today is my first Carton brew. Started off with the snifter, giving it my full attention


but honestly think this is a beer built for a shaker pint. Cheers!



4.12/5 rDev +5.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Poured from a 16 oz can into a snifter, then into a shaker pint. Pours a crystal clear gold with a thin foamy bright white head with perfect retention.

Nose is a nice, floral hop profile with hint of malt but bright yeasty notes come to the front. A little musty, rustic.

Flavor is fantastic - this is not a style I'd usually gravitate toward but there is so much hop character here and the yeast brings a nice spice and ripe banana note (almost like a saison). Unmistakably a hoppy lager, but some of the notes are earthier than expected. The piney aspect of the hops is most present for me - no other juicy or floral notes. It's largely there for the bittering aspect I think, and for that not it packs in a surprisingly round flavor. Finish is long on the hop bitter, but overall this hop profile is a bit one-note.

Feel is about average - it's light, crisp, and clean. Carbonation level is absolutely perfect - slightly loose carb that still forms a perfect foamy cap. Viscosity is a bit high for me on this style - it's a bit heavier of a body than I might like. Still very nice.

 

Happy Valentine's Day / New Belgian Pale Ale Sunday! Thanks to @JackHorzempa for getting the festivities going today. As it happens, the beer I picked for today does boast some very pronounced floral notes. The nose has what I consider to be that unmistakably Belgian yeast funk, with the characteristic notes of coriander and a touch of orange zest. These carry over to the palate. The finish is crisp and dry, with a pleasant tinge of bitterness. I was surprised by the complexity of this, as I picked it up in a mixed sixer of (ahem) "shelf turds" at the grocery store. Very enjoyable with the pita chips and hummus on which I happen to be snacking before supper, but it does quite nicely on its own as well. 3.79/5, and I may have to revise this upward after I've had a chance to try it again.



Leffe Blonde
Abbaye de Leffe S.A., Belgium
3.79/5 rDev +5.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Santé!

 

If you are rating to style there is nothing inflated about your score. Truly one of, if not the best, brown ales made.

 

Good evening NBS crew (Semi-Cross post with WBAYDN)! Hope everyone is doing well. I went up to my grandmothers house this morning with my brother and mom to slam some kick-ass waffles. Spent the rest of the day doing homework, now I'm kickin' back with beer and tunes.

One of the reasons I love my girlfriend so much is that she gives even less of a shit about valentines than I do, which is a frickin' miracle...Anyways, on to the beer.


Nico says hi.


Perennial Sump - Burundi Variant



Perennial Artisan Ales - Sump (2016) Burundi Variant
4.46/5 rDev +0.7%

look 4.25 | smell 4.5 | taste 4.5 | feel 4.25| overall 4.5

Relatively typical stout look, with a jet black body and a dark-brown ample head that dissipates quickly. Aroma gives great notes of coffee, but is not overpowering (other than the initial uncapping, which was like a delicious bomb!). Taste is of sweet chocolate and some vanilla. Burundi beans are typically sweet and you can really tell the difference between them and the base Sump beans, which I greatly appreciate. Feel is great with a low carbonation and a coffee finish that stays on the palate well past the sip. Very enjoyable beer, and much prefer this to the base.


Tunes (received the vinyl yesterday as a gift from a great friend):

A real personal note to this album, and track in particular...the friend who gave me this vinyl helped me through some extremely depressive and shitty years of my life, and we used to just sit around and listen to this album when shit was just too much. When she gave this to me yesterday, I just about had a joyous meltdown (it's eluded me for quite some time). Cheers fellow BA's, onward and upward, as they say.

 

New American IPA Sunday

Here's my last new brew of the day, Ballast Point's Pineapple Sculpin: http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/199/178740/?ba=bluejacket74

I liked this, but at the same time it's my least favorite Sculpin that I've had (and I've tried the regular, Grapefruit and Habanero versions before).





I'm glad I just bought a single of this, considering Ballast Point's 6-pack prices in Ohio for most of their brews are pricey compared to most (usually around $14.99 a sixer). Cheers everyone, and I'll try and check back here later today and tomorrow morning to see everyone else's new beers!

 

So not like Batman and Robin Pow! like I was thinking where the guy is knocked out on the floor. Got it!

A nice classic brown ale that was one of my go-tos at one place I frequented many years ago. I should give it another go sometime soon.

I thought this was a decent grapefruit beer (better than the 82 it's getting), even though in a side-by-side, I liked Grapefruit Sculpin a little better. I felt it had a level of carbonation and juiciness that gave it a slight lean towards a radler or soda comparatively. Too bad I forgot to write a review.

 

Just wondering did you think with 2 years of age was BBCS better, not as good or just different? I feel it's best fresh but have had it 5 years old and it was still an excellent beer.

 

I'm back with another new one for today; if my wife can take a Downton Abbey break, then I'm taking a NBS break .

We did have a very nice VD dinner earlier-

butternut squash soup, pan seared skirt steaks and sauteed mushrooms finished with a hit of sherry. Very tasty, and it was nice to be able to play in the kitchen for a few hours.

And now I'm enjoying yet another classic beer that has taken me too long to get around to-

Dieu du Ciel Rigor Mortis Quadruple
It is excellent! So well-knit and elegant for such a big beer. Lots of dark fruits (dates, figs), rum, dark sugar, vanilla, the slightest hints of spices (clove, nutmeg, coriander) and citrus peel just to give needed complexity but not interfere, and the perfect amount of warming alcohol. As it warms I'm getting some amazing almond nuttiness as well. But, overall, it's all about that dark fruit and rumminess; yet it never even comes close to being cloying. Such skill was involved with putting this beer together- it's up there with the greats as far as I'm concerned.

I do notice that the notches on the side of the label are of a '1' and a '5'- so maybe this was pre-aged a year for me. That could explain in part just how much I am enjoying it right now. But it still has quite a bit of liveliness about it, too. I will be getting some more quite soon just to confirm, but damn if this isn't an A+ beer at the moment! (4.75).

 

That's probably fair - it is definitely on the 'fruit juice added' side of things, as the grapefruit is quite prominent. I am OK with that, since I figure once you start adding juice to beer, you are well past a traditional IPA, so if you are going to do it, make it bold, but tasty and not 'fake' or plastic flavored. Come summer I would pound this stuff hard - 3 or 4 of these would be no trouble by the pool.

 

Howdie, NBSers. Tonight's offering, a coffee stout from one of the Upper Midwest's most notorious brewers.



Notorious, because they only distribute in Wisconsin. Period. As in, if a tavern in Minneapolis (which is 25 miles or so from Wisconsin) happens to find a random keg of Spotted Cow and actually taps it and serves it, chances are pretty decent they'll get busted. New Glarus takes their distribution agreements SERIOUSLY.

Fortunately, your intrepid reporter Ovaltine venture through Wisconsin regularly, so securing NG beverages is pretty easy - just stop in any gas station/convenience store, and chances are exceptionally high that you'll find Spotted Cow, the rest of their "regular" rotation beers (Moon Man, Two Ladies, etc), plus their world-class sours and other limited edition beers like Scream.

Which is how I happened upon this - stopped last week for gas on a trip to Neenah, saw this, grabbed it, paid for the gas and the beer, and stuck the beer in the cooler I usually travel with for just such an occasion.

As for the beer itself, it pours a beautiful jet black with 3+ fingers of tan head. Coffee aromas are ALL OVER the place, as well as some rich malts. The smell is spectabulous, and surpasses the taste, which is just a wee bit thin, IMHO, especially given the aromas. When I popped the top and the waves of coffee and malt hit me, I thought the taste would slam me against the wall.

Not so much - it is very good, but a more prominent malt backbone would elevate this from "great" to "world-class."

Rated 4.08 here. Enjoy the rest of your Sunday evening, NBSers.

http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/590/2810/?ba=ovaltine

 

Happy Valentine's Day NBS'ers. Just had some adobada tacos, so this might be a good choice for my new beer for Sunday.





Dia De los Serranos
Double Stout with Serrano Chiles IBU's 45 | 8.8% ABV
Green Flash Brewing Co.

Pours opaque black with a rich tan head that thins out within minutes. Nose is coffee roast, chocolate, vanilla, and I do pick up some of that Serrano chile but it's not the dominant scent. first sip: dark chocolate, slight cocoa, the coffee roast and smokey malts and the Serrano is definitely alive and well on the finish. The feel is creamy, like their regular Double Stout with wonderful heat.

I love Ancho peppers in stouts, but this is a very nice alternative. It blends well with the chocolate and coffee without being Habanero hot. Very drinkable at 8.8%. Will buy again for sure to pair with some rich Oaxcan mole. Cheers!

 

Nico.
Is.
AWESOME!

If I've missed him/her, I'm dumb ... s/he needs to make weekly appearances. What a kitty cat.