New Beer Sunday (week 594)

OOPS! Forgot to post the link to my review. Thanks for the assist.

 

Hello, NBSers, I hope you all had a great week last week and are as eager as I am to launch the new week with a couple of new beers. First up, this fine DIPA out of Chicago.



I'm a HUUUUGE Pipeworks fan - their Lizard King, when uber fresh, is amazingly good. So I was pumped when I received this (Fairy Basslet) in a trade.

It doesn't disappoint. The bottle says it's a DIPA brewed with honey, pineapple juice, and Citra hops, and I get all those flavors in this gorgeous beer.

It is a smidge boozy, though, which surprised me, because I thought the honey would mask the 9.5% ABV in this beer. Still, it's a great beer to sip on a spectacular Minnesota evening.

Rated 4.33.

 

Holy Flashback.... We have a slab of blank vinyl that used to be this album. The missus and I are both horn players in the 60 years of age range, so these guys kinda made us almost cool kids since we played their stuff. Message just as meanigful, maybe even more, today. My daughter plays trombone in The New Providence Big Band that ocassionally does this one from the "other" horn band from that era...well, this is obviously not the original, but an arrangement that works with eight horns and four saxes...

 

if you would have said bah bah bah, I would have nailed it!

 

#2, the best beer (that's not a sour) from the 2nd oldest family-owned brewery in the USA.



Schell's is my "sweetheart." Only 20 miles away, Mrs O and I first toured the brewery in 2000, and since then I've tried 50+ beers from them - and none of them are an IPA.

This particular beer is astounding. A Munich Dunkel Lager by description, this beer is so much more, IMHO. It starts with a beautiful dark brown pour that supports a couple of fingers of tan head. The smell yields a little of the barrel and the toffee/chocolate malts.

But the taste - you get the smoothness of the lagering, but the barrel really seizes control - and then yields to the chocolate and toffe sweetness. This is a world-class lager, IMHO.

Rated 4.43.

 

I was hoping for more brett character and complexity myself. On one hand it's not too pricey, but on the other there's nothing particularly compelling about it. If it's still on the shelves by December I may pick up another to see if there's any development going on.

 

New Beer Sunday: A new IPA

Evenin' NBSers with special greetings to all you hop bine huggers.

Well the weather here today wasn't quite what I'd expected this morning in that while it was less humid than the last few days it was basically not comfortable, just less uncomfortable. There was some cloud cover at least part of the day but at least the temperature was in the low 80s (rather than the low 90s ).

Got most of the "honey do" list ticked off and so it's now time for that new beer, the Victory Vital IPA. I always have to chuckle at some of the "honey do" items since the phraseology used to get them on my mental version of the list is often, "Do you want to do X today?" (However, it's a big mistake to say "No, not particularly," since the question isn't a request at all. It's the equivalent of an order delivered with the apparent wording of a question/request. )

As usual my review, still in progress until the beer is finished, is to be found here:

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/345/182859/?ba=drtth#review

I'm not sure how I've managed to pass up having this beer before now since it is local and I'm a big fan of Victory's beers. They seldom disappoint, are often very good, and are almost never lacking in lots of flavors.

The beer pours with a nice fluffy white head and leaves a few scattered rings and lots lacing on the glass. The aromas and flavors give a good bit of mixed citrus fruit and zest along with a touch of pine resin. It all leads to that dryness on the back of the palate that invites another sip. I'm finding it a very refreshing beer after a long and slightly too warm day. While I'm not sure whether it will wind up in my regular rotation or not I certainly expect to have more of these in the future so that I can get to know the beer better than I can from just one can.

On the CD player tonight is a collection of excerpts (highlights) from Wagner's Ring Cycle. (I have not got the 12 hours or the motivation to listen to the whole blessed thing. ) When I got to a selection from the opening of Act III from the second of the four operas that make up the Ring Cycle I had to chuckle a bit. I have a good friend who says he can't stand opera but who has his phone ring tone set to an abbreviated version of the major theme in this opening, the Ride of the Valkyries. (Honestly I suspect that what he hates is not understanding the words since the operas are usually sung in German. For me, the key to enjoyment of Opera came when I realized I should simply listen to the voices as another instrument and quit trying to understand the words. )

While the version linked to is much longer and involves many more instruments than the ring tone sequence found on smart phones it's a good bet that many folks have heard it before.

The Ride of the Valkyries.

Cheers, all!

 

Good evening NBS, hope everyone is enjoying the end of the weekend once again. Thanks to @cavedave for getting us started off this week. Not much going on here, just another work week ahead and hopefully some decent weather most of the week. I have a ton of new beers to try now after going to Ohio and the last couple weeks in Michigan have been pretty strong for new beer as well.

New Beer:

This is really great stuff. Great head retention and spotty lacing down the glass. Aromas and flavors of big grapefruit, tangerine, pineapple, peach, passion fruit, mango, and light pine; balanced honey, cracker, biscuit malt; and herbal/floral/grassy hop earthiness. Light-moderate herbal/spicy bitterness with slight fruit tartness. Medium bodied; balanced grainy creaminess and hop stickiness in the mouthfeel. Lightly drying from hop bitterness on the finish through the glass. Refreshing and fairly crisp. Really spot on for a pale ale. Really well balanced, and really doesn't feel like a fruit beer like may have been expected. Not overloaded on the fruits, but enough to meld well against the hop character. I would buy again. 4


Really nice! Aromas and flavors of big juicy blood oranges; with grapefruit, tangerine, pineapple, peach, mango, lemon zest, orange peel, citrus rind, and pine hops; with toasted bread/light honey malt; and herbal/floral/grassy hop earthiness. Moderate pine/rind bitterness; balanced sticky/resin and creamy/grainy medium body mouthfeel. Moderate dryness from resin, zero astringent hop flavors. I liked this more than the base beer, which had some astringency due to the resinous hops used; but this one seems to offset most of that with a bit of additional sweetness from the fruit flavors. This also has a much brighter/stronger aroma. Really delicious and refreshing IPA. 3.9


New Blackberry Farm Collab. Still need to find their winter/spring/fall Saisons. This is amazing! Aromas and flavors of huge wood smoke, bacon, peppercorn, lemon, pear, apple, apricot, white grape, hay, straw, floral, and grass; with some moderate wheat/crackery malts. Big spicy peppercorn finish; high carbonation; very crisp/dry; light grainy wheat creaminess and hop/yeast stickiness in the mouthfeel. A bit prickly on carbonation. Highly drinkable and refreshing as a saison should be. Holy crap this is delicious. You get pretty much rauchbier level smoke in this, but it still comes off balanced with classic saison characteristics. 4.37


Cheers, have a good night NBS

 

I saw this beer posted by someone else in another thread on this site. I've been looking for it, but haven't found it yet. Is it part of a 6 pack or a 12 pack? Do I have to drive to New Ulm to get it (I did so when Nordeast was cut out of markets outside of New Ulm, and the cities)?

 

Well, I am catching up with the NBS reading just as I said I would and I realized I committed a major faux pas! I didn't post my review under the pic. Shame on me.

Here's what I posted earlier:

And here's my review:

4.45/5 rDev +9.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

12 ounce can into a nonic ten ounce glass.

Gorgeous blonde- and straw-colored body. Steady carbonation feeds a pillow-like, sudsy pale head. Retains well. 5

Citrusy, tropical aroma but lighter and cleaner than a pale ale. A tad sulphury, some bubblegum and mineral notes. Really feeling this aroma. 4.25

Way cool what they did with this flavor and feel. It's juicy, citrusy and has some sweet mango notes to start. Midway it gets a bit zesty, then bitter, then floral and dry. The finish lingers with some French bread sweetness.

Overall it's refreshing, clean and does a great job of melding tradition and some new school attributes.

T- 4.5 M- 4.25

 

Last new beer of the day.

Good, and on to the review for it, and I'll remember this time to post the link
4.09/5 rDev +3.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This beer pours pitch black, and there's a bit of head to it. The head is darker, and frothy. The nose is very complex. There's coffee notes, there's also chocolate notes as well. The taste is coffee forward. Hints of chocolate. Not too strong feeling. A drinkable beer.

★ 270 characters

 

All about the IPAs for me today, now up Tröegs Nimble Giant. I'm actually enjoying this more than the Alien Church I had earlier, but I feel temperature has a lot to do with it, personally I feel Tired Hands keeps their kegs too cold. Either way I have to say I love mosaic hops!
4.36/5 rDev +2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

16 oz can poured into a tulip

A- A slightly hazy golden copper with a three finger white head.

S- Some tropical fruits, hints of oranges, citrus, some wet grass, slightly dank, Pilsner malts.

T- Tropical fruits, melons, some mango, some citrus, touch of pine, touch of Pilsner malts.

M- Smooth, medium body.

O- A great DIPA, great use of mosaic hops. Will be picking up more soon!

★ 386 characters

 

Hey what's going on?!

I am back from Virginia.. not that Virginia is ever that far away from me... However, I was down in Shenandoah for the Red Wing Roots Festival at Mt. Solon park. Pretty decent time, nice low key festival, and it has a beer tent in a nice setting.

Really not much to complain about.

While heading home today, it was a good time to check out a new brewery and that went real well. Pen Druid is in Sperryville, and they are currently producing beers all with their own in house wild yeast strain.

It has come out well, even though their tap list usually runs to only about 3-4 beers.

So what was new for our hero today??? Now that we are back in getting our reviews in order...

Netptude IPA


Pen Druid Brewing - Neptude IPA by imbibehour, on Flickr

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Poured on tap at Pen Druid into a 10oz globe glass.

Real nice peach and light colored apricot yellow, with a bit of an unfiltered appearance. Creamy top presented with fluffy white head, but only given half a finger to settle to a simple collar. Solid looking brew.

Mild soft funky notes from their house strain yeast, but gives off a sage and floral quality. Comes off more saison like on the nose than an IPA, with not too much hop profile to discern. A very nice smelling brew though and quite garden and earthy smelling.

Palate seems to get into a bit more punch and heat than the nose indicates. Peppery mild sensing mid palate with a full body and a bit of stinging pine. Has a wonderful peppermint finish that accents with mild pepper warmth that gives off some nice heat. Warmth later on brings just a hint of tropics and pineapple, all flowing through a surprising crisp like body.

A real nice take, quite a bit of a hybrid but goes for more of the wild kick and a good one. Delicious brew.

look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4 | BA Score: 4.1

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Jupiter IPA


Pen Druid Brewing - Jupiter IPA by imbibehour, on Flickr

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10 oz. poured into a globe glass at Pen Druid Brewing.

Bright tangerine orange body color, and fairly opaque, with perhaps just a touch of clarity along the edges. Presented with a nice creamy collar and full pour with minimal head, but collar always stays while drinking.

Real nice aroma. Tangerine whiffs of citrus on the nose mixing with a bit of lemon/lime. Somewhat wine like aroma as the wild yeast seems to kick in more after the hop blast.

Palate is a real nice mix of fruit esters and hop kick. Big warm and inviting hop forward front on first sip, followed by excellent stone fruit combinations of peaches and apricot on the aftertaste. Warm and inviting aftertaste with an almost effervescent kick that just makes the hops pop right of the tongue. Clean and exceptionally fruity with a competitive angle that actually comes off fun between the hops and esters.

This is a great brew taken to a very fun level.

look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25 | BA Score: 4.18

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Ommegang Game Of Thrones Take The Black Stout, 7% ABV, unknown IBU, style is listed as Belgian Dark Ale but this is a stout. Pours medium thickness, black, with a bunch of fingers of tan head that leaves excellent lacing. Nose is roast malt and coffee, taste follows, with some licorice and a bitter coffee close. Good mouthfeel, overall a decent coffee stout.

 

I thought the beer was going to be called Obi Wan Kenobi after seeing you mention this.

 

This is not the beer you are looking for, move along...

 

Deschutes Brewing Mirror Mirror
Barleywine - 11% ABV



4.42/5 rDev +5.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

22oz bottle - 2014 Reserve

Black waxed covered top with best after 2/24/15 printed on the label. Mirror Mirror is a barleywine with 50% aged in wine barrels.

Poured into a snifter. The complex aroma is dark fruits, plums, grapes, and oak. The taste like the aroma features a lot of complexity that starts out with a lot of sweet malts, dark fruits, and a hint of tartness. The finish continues with the lingering sweetness and some warmth from the alcohol. The mouthfeel is medium-full bodied with a moderate amount of carbonation. Overall, Mirror Mirror is a fantastic brew that I enjoyed. I have not had a bottle fresh, but it is extremely solid after two years of aging.

 

Home after another day treading my way through NYC, today with my daughter and some family friends in tow. We checked out the Bastille Day celebration on 60th Street and I honestly felt it was just a glorified street fair. I don't think I'll go back again. Also took my daughter to Central Park for some play time and then we ate at Carmine's on the Upper West Side, which is always fun.

Now for beer and I'm currently sipping away at the rest of this bottle of KarnL from Plan Bee in Poughkeepsie. This beer has been an absolute pleasure.





4.48/5 rDev +11.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

750 into a tulip wine glass.

Pours a deep cherry skin red and settles in the glass as such. The look is like thick cherry juice. The beer appears a bit undercarbonated, with only slight suds of carb bubbles, so that's my only complaint appearance-wise. Otherwise, gorgeous.

Cherries were not withheld on this beer it would seem. This aroma is ridiculously aggressive with pulpy, tart and even sweet cherry. Man can not live on smell alone, but this could sustain.

I'm about halfway through my pour and I'm getting on Plan Bee's site to see if I can order more of this. This beer is tasting absurdly good. Tart cherry for a few years. Some sort of red wine taste to boot that works really well with the cherry, complementing and accentuating. Occasionally I get notes of vanilla and cherry pie. This flavor is the real deal. 4.5

Pretty dang tart. Then dry and vinous. The body definitely feels like a wine. Perhaps it could use a touch of carbonation, but honestly, it's still drinking great. 4.25

Well, this may have just catapulted to the top of my favorite Plan Bee beer list. Need more ASAP.

 

An unusually late NBS entry for me but I had to make sure I participated!

375mL bottle, blend 01, dated 2/16/16, poured into a tulip
A: Hazy brown with the thinnest of heads
S: Sour, strawberries, malt, a touch of brown sugar
T: Strawberries, sour grapes, and a light malt backbone
M: Tart, light, refreshing
O: Not the most complex beer flavor-wise but the sourness is what makes it- both in stringing it all together and giving it its tart/refreshing qualities. Nice beer for a warm summer evening

 

Didn't get back to try a new beer, though I did get a crack at Share This (a solid coffee stout with a wonderful nose), and got a few new beers that'll likely be seen in a certain thread later this week.

Caught up on reviews and I must say, this one intrigues me, especially after your review. I love the Blackberry Farms Saisons I've tried, though the Classic is still the winner in my book. The [dry?] hopped special wasn't too shabby, either.

@MUTINY