New Beer Sunday (week 586)

I woke up extra early this morning and started watching Point Break (the remake) and half-way through it I need a beer break (see what I did there?). This is the first of two new beers I'll review today, the other coming later as I watch the last day of English Premier League action for this season. It will be a good reflective day.

Boulevard Frequent Flier Session IPA -- 4.2% ABV

The beer pours a very light golden color with a constant flow of tiny bubbles up to a very impressive foam head that basically never recedes. Huge bands of thick foamy lacing remain on the glass. Looks wonderful.

The aroma is probably equally impressive with a clean, piney beginning that smells like a fresh evergreen forrest. Some sweet tropical notes of pineapple and mango work their way into the nose as well before a final touch of spicy aromatic hops.

The taste is where I downgrade this beer. It starts out just as piney as the aroma and seems to get stuck in a beer hamster wheel. Tropical fruit sweetness or any malt bill does not emerge and all my palate is left with is a thin citrus rind body all the way through to the finish.

The mouthfeel is thin and dry.

Overall: 3.65 rating for +1.1 rDev. Certainly a light, easy drinker full of bright hop flavors but very little tropical presence in the taste. I prefer Boulevard's Pop-Up session IPA to this one.

 

Mornin' @cavedave, with special greetings to all you NBSers who have new beers to tell us about.

Thanks for the early start off and for the reports to come.

Today promises to be a great day here in SEPA so I'll mostly be doing chores, yardwork and running errands throughout the day. But I have a can of the Pabst Old Tankard Ale chilling in the fridge and scheduled to serve it's intended purpose this evening. By then I'll be ready to try it and so I expect that's the new beer I'll be reporting on today.

Till later, Cheers, all!

 

I love that Stone brought back some exellent old recipes and gave many of us the opportunity to taste something we missed, because we weren't complete beer dorks yet, brilliant of them. Poured into my 16 oz snifter at near room temperature bottled on 4/12/16. Pours a very dark brown with a 3 finger light brown head that leaves gobs of lace behind. 4.50
Smell is huge smoke, leather, tobacco, burnt coffee grounds, vanilla, biscuity grains, and some dark chocolate. 4.25
Taste follows big smoke up front, in the middle, and in the finish, but roasty expresso, vanilla, leather, tobacco, toffee, oaky biscuit, and smoked dark chocolate. If you don't like smoked beers this might be a bit much and I don't love them, but I am really enjoying this. 4.5

Mouthfeel is almost large, creamyness probably do to the lack of chill, moderate carbonation, definitely a little dry, and for 8%ABV it drinks easy, if you can handle the smoke. 4.5

Overall this is a very complex smoked beer, man I would love to have some smoked ribs or brisket with this brew. 4.25

 

Thank you @cavedave for starting us off this morning. I was up early I admit it. =) I have @JackHorzempa to thank for my beer this fine Sunday. He sent me the Weihenstephaner Kellerbier. When I asked for it at the store the young man said; "We don't always get everything." Thank you Jack! And Happy New Beer Sunday!



Scoring this beer was difficult. It was rich. Almost 6 percent . What I liked about this beer was that it was on the stronger side. I think that when the lager is a bit stronger it shows a bit of sweetness in the finish . You can't help it. This brewer made sure you did not see hop fruitiness but did show you spice and earthy floral. The stuff that makes the initial palate soft. Then all kinds of richer malt. Breaddiness but with a sweeter backing. It's not caramel and it's not too strong. It's crackery and has a depth. If you read the new BJCP guidelines they say for one version of the kellerbier style it all depends on the base style. So that's true of the kellerbier in general. This had a higher score than I thought and my only critique betrays me and my personal preference error in the tasting notes as it was in aroma. I wanted more herbal. So I thought was getting a certain style of hop and I got a different style. Good for the brewer because his is not the pilsner. Anyway here is my review . Cheers you all!

Pours a honey gold color with a soft haze. Thick off white foam cap that lasts well. Nose is a rich little malt and a vibrance from hop floral. Hops show some spice int eh background and as much as I think these also have some herbal behind them too. Malt is like crackers with a bit of richness. No diacetyl, no dms. No fruity esters. Taste follows the nose with a hearty grain and a bit of depth. The hops never exceed their earthy place on the palate. They remain a softness only and don't show me much herbal either but they do show their spice. Bitterness is firm for the finish and offers a good crispness. The bubble in this beer is soft and the mouthfeel is medium . This beer is heading to a stronger abv as it's 5.6% The bitterness lingers to show you a crackery malt with that hop spice and earthy softness one last time.

Truckfighters Desert Cruiser

 

Good morning New BSers! @cavedave, thanks for today's start! Always enjoy a little poetry in the morning - it, too, smells like victory! Used to say in the lab in the morning "I love the smell of anaerobes in the morning, ... ". Today's morning forecast here in NW PA is for a mixture of snow and rain - WTF! If this crap keeps up I'll have to move the hibiscus from the garage back into its winter quarters in the house. At least my Xmas lights are still up - I'm unintentionally ready for the next blizzard - the only one in the 'hood!

Today's New Beer Sunday is another Michigan treat, one I picked up on an earlier jaunt:



I'm a sucker for any liquid with the word "Kreik" in the name, although experience has taught me that many of them suck - hope springs eternal! (Although around here it's " ... springs a turtle!). I must say (insert favorite Ed Grimley memory here) that while this doesn't rank with the best Belgian kreiks, it's still head and shoulders above most US attempts. The cherry is definitely present and assertive but not overwhelming. The oak is present but not overwhelming. The term "balanced" comes to mind.

$ 12.59/750 mL bottle ($ 0.456/oz) at Oppermann’s Cork ‘N’ Ale, Saginaw, MI (4/8/16)
Bottle dated 2/2/16 at 42 degrees into a hand washed and dried JK snifter
Aroma – cherries
Head – average (Maximum three cm, aggressive pour), off white, frothy, rapidly diminishing to three mm ring and thin partial layer
Lacing fair – partial rings of tiny bubbles
Body – light brown, opaque
Flavor – woody, hint of cherry; no hops, no malt, no alcohol, no diacetyl
Palate light to medium, watery, soft carbonation

An easy drinking, enjoyable beer – can either be quaffed and savored or slammed down, an excellent use of Michigan (I hope) cherries. I would definitely purchase this again!

Appearance – 4.25, Aroma 4.5, Flavor 4.5, Palate 4.25, Overall 4.25, Rating 4.41. Avg 4.12, rDev +7.0%

 

Let’s Collaborate!!

This will be a first for me: a discussion of new draft beer(s).

Back in March Sly Fox and Stone collaborated on brewing a Pilsner which they branded as Fuchstein Pilsner. The ‘word’ Fuchstein is a combination of German words of Fuch (which translates to Fox) and Stein (which translates to Stone); so in English it would be Foxstone Pilsner. There is a great video (see below) where Brian O’Reilly (head brewer of Sly Fox Brewing), Mitch Steele (head brewer of Stone Brewing), and Pat Tierman (COO of Stone Brewing) discuss the brewing of this beer.

Served in a 20 ounce Willi Becher glass:

Appearance:

A vibrant golden color with a fluffy white head.

Aroma:

Wow! A complex combination of herbal, citrus, a bit of spice and even a very tiny bit of dank/resin.

Taste:

The flavor follows the nose with flavors of herbal/citrus/spice plus it is complemented with a pleasant Pilsner malt backbone.

Mouthfeel:

Medium bodied with a dry finish.

Overall:

This beer is very, very good! The herbal component of this beer is rather unique which I suspect is due to Sterling hops used for aroma addition(s).



In addition to the Fuchstein Pilsner I had a side-by-side-by-side tasting of three bocks beers.



From left to right: Rye Bock, Maibock and Helles Bock. All three beers were quite tasty!!

Cheers to the brewers of Sly Fox and Stone for creating a masterful collaborative Pilsner!!

@KOP_Beer_OUtlet @StoneGreg @StoneBrewingCo

 

Good Sunday morning. Today brings forth a new to me Texas beer - 'Sunday Morning Coming Down' by Ranger Creek Brewing & Distilling, San Antonio, TX:





Described as a British Strong Ale with Coffee. Another highly recommended beer by the fellows at the local bottle shop. Gotta give the Brewer credit, this is one descriptive label:



The pour is a medium to deep Amber and it has a huge fizzy loose white foam that disappeared quickly leaving lots of streaming bubbles and little to no lace; very good clarity.



Spice and lite caramel candy nose...is there some coffee here?

Caramel malt and I'm searching for the coffee; some spice and floral hop; dry lite floral hop/caramel malt finish.

Super fizzy high carbonation; dry, lite body.

So much carbonation I feel like I'm drinking a soda pop. Not what I was expecting at all.

Another highly recommended beer which turned out to be highly disappointing. My scores show me that this beer will end up slightly north of 3.5, if I enter my review.

Oh well, I am drinking a beer on this gloriously gloomy day - how bad is that? Enjoy your Beer - Cheers!

 

Yeah, I knew better. Putting aside some of the stronger criticisms I've read about this brew it was sitting on the shelf at eye level and, well, it was there. Being of a singular nature (the word obstinate has been used) I decided to see what the fuss was about.

Southern Tier Creme Brulee Imperial Milk Stout



Appearance is dark, dark, dark brown. Minimal cap that settled so fast I almost missed it. This smells fantastic. It does have the scent of desert but the flavorings overwhelm anything I might identify as hops or malt.

Taste is hard to describe. It tastes like it's flavorings which are on the heavy side. Definite sweet vanilla with a sort of roasted nut flavor that reminds me of pecans. Harsh roasted malt then dominates the flavor creating a disconnect with the scent that mars the drinking experience. Don't taste alcohol though it's certainly in there, as well as hops I suppose. Not for someone seeking a traditional Imperial Stout, or any other sort of beer I know, a thing on it's own that some find off putting but I find rather interesting.

Texture is heavy. Any other word for it would be a synonym for heavy.

Named Imperial for the alcohol (10%) I suppose as well as the style though they could call it anything they want. It's so over the top style guidelines really don't apply. I handed this to my son (the Guiness Guy) saying just smell it don't taste it. He took a whif and instinctively took a sip. Didn't quite catch his words because I was laughing too loud at his expression to hear what he said. I have never, ever, tasted any brew that had such a disconnect between the aroma and flavor.

So, for those of you who bought a six pack before reading the reviews, what to do with the other five? I have a solution . . . mix one 12 oz bottle of Creme Brulee with two 16 oz cans of Miller High Life. I kid you not, makes for a tasty, roasty, vanilla chocolate Stout that even your Bud Light drinking neighbor will finish. This blend retains the flavored Stout elements without the burnt firewood left out in the rain bitterness.

 

4.5% alcohol. 5 IBU. Introduced in 2016.

2.77/5 rDev -26.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75

Otra Vez has a thick, fizzy, white head, a clear, fiercely-bubbly, gold-yellow appearance, which clouds up, after the "swish & pour". Lacing is practically nonexistent. Aroma is of vegetable matter, white bread, and original Gatorade brand drink. Taste is of squash broth, salt, sweet & sour bread, and original Gatorade brand drink. Mouthfeel is light to medium, and Otra Vez finishes wet and odd.

RJT

 

Sounds incredible! I never heard of this, but now need to have some .

 

Morning NBSers! Worked late last night, and we have our annual all-staff meeting this morning, after which, I've got a couple hours of work. After that, however, there will be new brew. A new brewery in my county recently released their first bottles, and I grabbed a bottle of each of the 4 beers they're making at the farmers market yesterday. So, Atwood Ales of Blaine WA will be making their NBS debut later today. Cheers all!

 

Great start Dave!!! I think I shall follow your inspiration and dive into some hops today.

 

Good morning NBS, thanks @cavedave for the warm welcome. This day starts out grey and cool here inn WMASS,
that will slow down the asparagus for a bit, it has been wonderful so far. Today we wander down to southern CT for
our youngest sons graduation from college, we are excited for him, look out world here he comes!
Today's offering is from a veteran of the craft beer world. Anchor Brewing and its Anchor Barrel Ale. A really nice blended aged ale, the rye whiskey touch is pleasantly light and does not dominate.
Cheers all

Anchor Argonaut Collection: Anchor Barrel Ale

Anchor Brewing Company
American Brown Ale / 7.50% ABV

3.96/5 rDev +1% | Avg: 3.92
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 oz bottle dated 5SO into the modified tulip glass. Served cold and allowed to warm.
A - Dark walnut in color, a very light tan cap quickly dissipates, The carbonation lurches through the liquid medium body. Small froth colonies cling to the glass throughout the experience.
S - Starts with a malty, rye whiskey nose, then with time opens, beautifully displaying light brown sugar, toffee, some pine sap, and caramel. Light roasted malts follows, all underpinned by toasted oak and sublime fusel alcohol in the best way.
T - Pumpernickel toast, warm honey and sweet malts. Slightly smokey, has the elements of a barleywine, the toffee and vanilla imparted by the barrel aging, yet the base blend is much lighter in the flavors. The warming brings forward a herbal quality mashed up with earl grey tea and shade tobacco.
M - Starts off a bit slick on the palate, the coating is right down the middle of the tongue, the sweet elements linger. A second pull coats the roof and sides completely, Mid experience, is dryer with a welcome bitterness that keeps things interesting. The body is medium is texture but very light in its footprint. The finish is a lengthy conversation with a friend. Quite delightful.
O - A wonderful creation, enough structure to be bold, aromatics are complex, and the delicate mouth feel could be considered light and airy. This is simply fine craft on display.

 

It's Halftime of the Chelsea v Leicester match, so it's on to new beer numero dos of the day. I'm already into my 4th Beerito at this point, afterall it's a sessionable brew at 4% ABV.

Oskar Blues Beerito

Look: Clear glistening vibrant copper colored body with a lovely tan sea sudsy head that retains well. Good patchy lacing.

Aroma: Metallic up front, bready with subtle caramel notes. Nutty in the middle and subtle hop spiciness on the back end.

Taste: Again, a little bit metallic up front, but the more I drink it the more I wonder if that metallic taste is not the hop bill. More toasted grains and also very faint nutty/caramel notes throughout. The finish is more tea leaf tang than anything.

Mouthfeel: Light, carbonated.

Overall: I compared this to my Dos Equis Ambar review, and Beerito gets a better score ( 3.89 over 3.04) and there is slightly more organic craft ingredients in this, but in a weird way it still tastes a lot like an actual macro Mexican-inspired Vienna style lager. It's one of those beers that gets better the more you drink it, at least to me. But then again who wants to buy a craft beer that's tastes like a non-craft beer? It's either brilliant or pointless. I can't decide.

 

New Stout off the Top Ropes Sunday
This is a beer that I starred at a couple of times at the store, but wasn't sure and hadn't pulled the trigger on. Then @SawDog505 dropped one in my lap to solve the dilema for me.

As seen on WBAYDN #1303


4.34/5 rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

3/2/16 botted bomber poured into a snifter.
It is a fairly viscous looking dirty black. Slightly cola like fizzyness to the finger think khaki head. It dissipated pretty quickly, but retains a solid ring that is easily agitated.

Smells excellent. Lots of bourbon barrel charcter. Vanilla, wood, sweet corn grains, leather, and some chocolate and charred malt. More sweet than roasty. Just a hint of spice. Maybe cayenne or chili powder.

The flavors are pretty consistent with the aroma. It is slightly more sweet overall than not. Vanilla is front and center follwed by some peppers. No heat. Not even warm. Just flavor. Like chipotle with a bit of green pepper even. There is cocoa, to fudge like chocolate, expresso, some tobacco, lightly charred ashyness, and a subtle bitterness. As it warms there is a not previously noticebale heat as it warms. Just a little tingle on the back end.

The body is excellent. A solid medium bordering on full, which for a barrel aged beer doesn't always happen. Very nice creamy texture.

I was not a big fan of Chocolate Sombrero, so I was skeptical with this one. I feel like it didn't have any pepper character. This one does. You really have to let it warm though. As I type this sentence the heat from the peppers is becoming even more noticeable. I am amazed at how supressed it is at a colder temp. I have never had a BB Bomb!, but this is what I would expect for the most part. There is some good with the bad though. While the spice aspect improves, the heat/alcohol becomes more noticeable too. I can't say that I ever noticed any cinnamon, but I still think the balance and taste of this beer is world class. One of the better barrel aged beers Clown Shoes has done.

 

Yeah, I need to get back to that one. I remember loving that one a dozen or so years ago. Sometimes people don't give Stone enough credit for all that they have done, especially when they were a young company.

 

sumatra mountain. one of the best brown ales i have ever had. I wrote a good review of it. Founders a wonderful brewery

 

Epic Brainless on Peaches

Happy Sunday, BAs. I've been enjoying the weekend. Got a bunch of yard work, work work and chores done, and convinced my daughter to go with me to a last-minute Phillies game last night. She was a champ and insisted on staying until the end, which I was very glad for because we got to see this amazing play to close it.

Right now I'm drinking Epic's Brainless on Peaches. I was psyched to see Epic in Pennsylvania recently, since Big Bad Baptist has been one of my top wants for a while. (Yep, despite the "trader" tag with my username, I don't really trade). I started with SOB, and frankly, was very disappointed. I hesitate to through out the "I" word, but it tasted strongly of roasted peanuts and soy sauce. Definitely not my thing. My second bottle was BBB, and that definitely lived up to the hype, though.

I'm now sipping on BOP served fairly warm, straight from the cellar. It is highly-effervescent, with the bubbles rising at a medium pace to give the suggestion of a thickness in the liquid gold colored ale. It started with a fat finger of sudsy white head that was quick to dissipate.

It has a subtle aroma of grass, peach skins and Belgian yeast. As the appearance suggested, it is fairly thick-bodied with a syrupy, prickly mouthfeel.

The subtle peach notes mix with the Belgian yeast up front in the taste, followed by strong white pepper that lingers into the aftertaste and leaves a bit of heat behind. There's a certain tartness to it, too, the leaves my mouth puckering a bit; certainly not as much as a sour, but it's there.

On the plus side, the peach flavors here are just about right, but, overall, this is a touch too thick for my taste, and the pepper seems heavy handed. It reminds me quite a bit of a tripel, but without the artistry of the Belgian masters. Glad to have tried it anyhow. I've got a Brainless on Raspberries in reserve, too, but after that, may stick with the BBB from these guys.