New Beer Sunday (week 591)

Happy Father's Day, NBSers. First up, this extraordinary (IMHO) Belgian Pale Ale.



Allagash has no distro in Minnesota, so I had to order this through my online source (Craft City), and I'm glad I did. I really enjoy BPA's in the summer - something about the combination of the hops and the Belgian yeast that just appeals to my palate, and this has that in spades.

The pour yields a fluffy off-white head of 2+ fingers, and the body is copper-tinged and cloudy. Simply gorgeous. The Belgian yeast is heavy on the nose, but some grassy hops poke through, too. The taste has the effervescent Belgian yeast, the grassy hops - and some citrus at the end of the taste, which kicks this up another level or two, IMHO. I am REALLY enjoying this on a beautiful Minnesota evening as I contemplate asking Mrs. O to grill the steaks - but I never will, because grilling and drinking a really good beer is one of life's simple pleasures that I enjoy immensely.

Rated 4.27.

 

Trillium Pot & Kettle. An oatmeal porter with cold brewed coffee.

I had my first pour of this about an hour and a half ago and, wow, what a lovely beer.
The beer presents itself as one would expect of a porter. A closer look, though, held to the light reveals a lovely chestnut hue around the edges. It is a full looking beer but not viscous or syrupy.

The aroma shows off the malt and oatmeal. Cold brewed coffee(yes, cold brew has it's own characteristics) hints of chocolate, pots du creme, oats, slight nuttiness and a delicate, spicy hop presence.

The second pour showed two things. That this beer benefits from warmth and that the taste and mouth feel harmonize so well.
I appreciate balance and subtlety in beers, as apposed to being punched in the face by huge, obvious flavors. Pot & Kettle layers beautifully a complex malt base, cold brewed coffee and hops. Fruit undertones of dark currents and cherries mingle with roasted malts, coffee and the oatiness. The oats lending to a heavier mouthfeel than the rest of the beer would suggest. The slightly spicy hop finish and the medium carbonation lend themselves to the finish of this beer, preventing it from becoming fatiguing on the palate.
I want to thank @tasterschoice62 again for this wonderful beer. It really is an outstanding porter and has lived up to the hype of both Pot & Kettle and Trillium in general.
Cheers, all. And to all you fathers on BA, Happy Fathers Day!

 

Really great brew- the balance with Brett/hops was second to none

 

Awesome review! Spot on - I want another right now after reading that

 

I had a huge review written and I deleted a lot of it. Over-thinking this beer is a mistake. It is unique in small ways but it's execution is more impressive.

 

In Derek's case he wishes that were the situation to a greater degree than it is haha.

I didn't mean to imply that the ingredients he gets from the two farms isn't a key part of it, or that the assistants who work with him aren't also key, or that the barrels he gets from the winery aren't also a great benefit. And I've met Barry Labendz a few times and I've worked at the brewery with him down and dirty, so I know Barry's passion and how important what he contributes is. I only meant that we all knew back in homebrewer days that Derek's recipes and associations with yeast trappers and incredible palate would make the beers we all loved into a successful brewery and I always think of it that way. And you're right I shouldn't.

 

Good afternoon, all! Happy New Black Rye IPA Sunday, and a great big shout-out to @utopiajane for the excellent introduction to the day's festivities! My new beer for today is Wookey Jack. We don't get Firestone Walker in our neck of the woods, so I was really looking forward to trying this. Quite striking in appearance, a deep blackish brown with a creamy tan head that lasts forever.


The aroma is complex. There are notes of pine, roasted malts, and citrus, but there is also a floral and peppery spice character. The palate follows the nose, with an intensely bitter aftertaste that is not at all unpleasant. For me, the floral spiciness is what sets this one apart. To sum up, there is nothing about this beer that I didn't absolutely love. Bravo!

Oh, one more thing: I didn't notice until after I poured this that there is a logo on the bottom of this 50-cent glass I picked up at the thrift store last week. It is a Riedel glass. Score!!

 

Baraboo's Lumberjack Indian Pale Ale is on the chopping block next.



Look: While the photo makes this beer appear very red/deep burgundy, it is more of a hearty orange-burgundy when held against the light. The head is off-white, medium-thick, and retention is moderate. A few dashes of lacing left behind here and there, but nothing consistent or coating.

Aroma: Pine and resin hop notes play a minor part in the aroma, which is mostly malts. Malt notes are bread, and biscuit. It also smells a bit dry, with the notes not lasting long.

Taste: Malt notes drive this beer onward and forward, with biscuit, bread, and musky malt notes throughout the flavor profile. Notes of pine and spruce hops appear sporadically which give this beer a little more bitterness. The hop notes are really being drowned out by the malt notes on this one.

Feel: It feels abrasive between both carbonation level and a small level of particulate in the beer. Nothing crazy. The thickness consistency is medium.

Overall: This beer leaves something to be desired. The label of Indian Pale Ale evokes ideas of hops, bitterness, and more fruity, resin, bright flavors, meanwhile this beer retains some bitterness, but with very muted hop notes.

Score: 3.75 | 3.5 | 3.25 | 3.5 | 3.5 | BA Score: 3.39 | avg score: 3.46 | rDev: -2%

 

New Let Your Hair Down Sunday




War Mullet

3.31/5 rDev -18.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

From a bomber bottled 6/1/16

Pour looks great. A slightly foggy bright orange color. The off-white head is very frothy. Looks like you could rest the cap on it. Really good retention. Still a layer of film on top 10 minutes later.

Smells like apricot gelatin, a little citrus, and pretty malty. Syrupy caramel type. Nothing really endearing here.

It tastes a little better. A ton of pithy and sour apricot, mandarin orange, maybe some grapefruit. Really pretty sour overall. A hit and run punch of bitterness. Fairly ripe and zesty with a spicey bite at the end. It has an awful lingering aftertaste that made me drop the taste score a notch. Not sure how to describe it other than a malty mess with bad fruit.

The body is nice until you find out how drying it is in the end.

Overall this one is okay at best. By far my least favorite 3F beer, and it is honestly going to be hard to finish the whole bottle.

 

#2, short and sweet because I'm the grill master tonight.



This BA RIS is from 18th Street Brewery in Gary. It's 10 miles or so from Three Floyds. 3F's gets all the beer nerd attention, but 18th Street is world-class. This beer is another example why. The barrel is very present - but the chocolate flavors really come through to make this the most quaffable 12%-ish beer I've ever had (that I can remember, which is another story). This is astonishingly good, IMHO.

Rated 4.44.

 

New Triple IPA Sunday

Happy Father's Day!

Things are great in West MI. Skies are blue, temps maxed out around 90 this afternoon.

The whole family slept in this morning before we hit up the local diner for an awesome breakfast. Corned beef hash for myself, tater tot casserole for my better half, and a bunch of sweet abominations for the kids. The rest of the day was pretty chill. I got an awesome mixed sixer from my local bottle shop (Copper Vine) a new cooler, and some sweet coasters.

Today's beer was a special treat from OddSide. Big and a little boozy. Something I'd buy again.

http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/22564/231237/?ba=GRPunk#review

 

Point taken- I can certainly understand that. And all that makes complete sense when you try the beers. Certainly not following in the path of all others - which is the hardest thing to do now a days - and to also be successful. Of course I'm a newbie with their beers since ive only had two. But I'm now on a course to find more. Also I too back my friends in their endeavors- whether I agree 100% or not. I guess that's the most important thing so I can certainly understand what you are saying. Anyhow great Brew. And I'm sure a great friend. Cheers!

 

Kona Big Wave, 4.4% ABV, 20 IBU, style American Blonde Ale. Pours hazy golden with medium thickness, one finger of foam that dissipates quickly leaving minimal lacing. Nose is malty fruity sweetness, taste follows. No bitterness, very drinkable. Overall a real decent and refreshing brew.

 

Getting a late start tonight, but better late than never.

Today's new beer is BA Viking Funeral from Four Fathers and comes to me thanks to @egrace84.

The wax took me a good couple of minutes to get through. It sure gives the bottle a cool look, but is a big pain to open.

Appearance wise is what you would expect from an imperial stout, but I was surprised by the density of the head and the lasting retention.

Aromas and flavors are chocolate fudge, whiskey, and cherries with noticeable barrel notes especially as it warmed.

Very nice stout and recommended if you get the chance to pick one up.



http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/34776/224530/?ba=richj1970#review

 

Currently finishing Central Waters Brewhouse Coffee Stout...

Featuring coffee from Emy J's Coffeehouse

Started it last night...

Corked it with a Rabbit bottle stopper overnight...

I found it a rather familiar take on the coffee stout - nothing about it struck me as particularly spectacular; that said, it delivered exactly what I wanted - and well-executed - ample coffee flavors nestled in a darkly roasty, chocolaty malt base. Smooth and easy drinking. I had hoped it would feel a little fuller on the body. Absolutely worth a buy, especially if you're into coffee beers.

Some stiff competition in the coffee aisle lately, too...



Earlier, had some pizza with red & green peppers and red & white onions, along with this, from Flying Dog...

The Truth, a smashingly good IIPA - lean but solid, lots of juicy citrus edged with dank pine; cleanly delivered flavors. Smooth carbonation and a brief shellac cross the palate. 8.7% abv but drinks like a 7.8 Enjoy by 11.05.16. I'd buy a sixer...

Also of note, as we approach episode 9 of Game of Thrones, is the Chipotle Smoked Porter from Pipeworks.

Started last night as well, I really dug it. The pepper's sting was immediate and continuous, wrapped in a chocolaty sweetness that rounded off the edges. More heat than sweet, there is a nice smoky chili sting waiting in these darkly roasted malts. Feels a little heavier than it looks on the pour - has a smooth, medium-plus body. 7.75% abv.

I'm gonna be finishing it with the episode...

Here's to new beer in your glass - and cheers to all you fathers out there... \m/

 

I love a breakfast burrito, especially New Mexican style, smothered in red and green chile, but the best hangover cures are sancocho (Dominican soup with chicken, oxtail, yuca, sweet potato), posole or, my far and away favorite, chilaquiles.

 

good looking beer sir!

 

Oh my. Im a sucker for honey in beer then theres some tart apricot. Was expecting a tripel but its a blonde?. Good beer. Good job ballast point. Watch that abv folks. 12%

 

I'm back for another after spending some time entertaining a neighbor, then heading over to my bro's for a quick taste. Beautiful summer weather around here is priceless, so we celebrate appropriately! Let's get back on track with a pint can of Swami's IPA by Pizza Port Brewing Co. dated 05/10/16 and an abv. of 6.8% bestowed upon me by @2beerdogs when we met at Greenbush on Wednesday.

It pours a transparent deep gold color leaving a generous finger of frothy white foam that refuses to settle. The smell is very floral in nature along with some grapefruit and spice. Flavor is once again dominated by floral notes followed by grapefruit and a rye/pepper spice in the finish. The feel starts on the malty side followed by a bitter hop bite.



This IPA leans more towards the floral and hoppy side with a pleasant malt backbone. I could load my kayak with this beer and paddle all day. It's more old school as opposed to the tropical hazy juice bombs that dominate today's IPA's. I enjoyed it and scored it a 3.96 / rDev -3.2%. Thanks Derek for the beer and the priceless time at Greenbush! My only regret is that the time was too short.





Have a great week, here's the official scorecard.

http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/1337/5614/?ba=Prager62#review

 

My second beer for today. Une Annee Enkel. This is really refreshing for this hot, humid day.