New Beer Sunday (week 603)

Well Good Evening NBS Faithful.
Yes, it's hot and sunny here in SoCal. Boring. But I have the benefit of another beer from a generous surprise box from Mr. G. Our very own @SammyJaxxxx .

Uncharted Territory an IPL fermented in oak by Magnify Brewing in NJ.

3.78 rDev
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

This pours, from a pint can, a darker side of gold in color. Off-white foam rises 2 inches or so and the retreats to a finger. Some clutter lacing. Smell is subtle, not very strong. A general hop note, with a hint of fruit and citrus followed by some crackers malt, and then a hint of oak. Dry, sanded oak. Flavor is bringing much of the same. But the subtlety of the oak notes make this a very interesting beer. Mouthfeel is on the slightly full side for a lager.
Overall, an interesting and enjoyable IPL. Only adjustment I'd like to see, is a bit more in the hops for the nose and flavor.
Sure made watching the kids in the pool more enjoyable.

 

New IPA Sunday



Tired Hands Fuzzier Yellow

Happy Sunday night, BAs. Hope you enjoyed your weekends. I had a busy one. Flew out to San Francisco on Friday to work a show with Dead Prez, Jello Biafra, La Santa Cecilia and others. Took a red eye back last night, getting into to Philly in plenty of time to catch the Iggles game on TV, which kicked ass. Then met an old college friend at Monk's for dinner. Don't normally have such a rock n roll lifestyle.

Got to try the Wicked Weed Old Fashioned (recommended) and Omnipollo Abrawhatever (not my thing). Remembered to take a photo of beer three, reviewed here...

Fuzzier Yellow is a cloudy yellow with a slight orange tinge and a thin white head that leaves heavy lacing.

It's got a big aroma of peach, pineapple and artificial banana. Reminded me a bit of a strawberry-banana Starburst, with a bit more peach and tropical thing going on.

Upon sipping, there's a thick, creamy, pulpy mouthfeel like fresh squeezed juice. Tastes like fruit juice, too, following the aroma with a modest hop bitterness behind.

Is this beer? Tastes good regardless.

Shout out to the Monkeys with Knives crew.

 

Ok, who didn't see this coming (especially if you know this part of Ft Collins... I didn't ):


New Belgium 1554
Apparently there are a few versions of this, and I know I've had one of them - years ago, which one I do not know. This is the black lager (i.e. not ale ). I've rated none of them, so...

Black IPAs, why not Black Lagers? Yes, I know there are many varieties of dark[er] lagers, but I've only rated one other Euro Dark Lager (not on page 1 - so no idea which it is).

So, as I understand (right or wrong, and ain't researching right now), porters can be "ales" or "lagers," historically. Not sure this fuzziness still (or ever) existed, but this beer is essentially like a porter, to me.



There's a little lighter feel, a little cleaner flavor, a little bit more sweet breadiness, and actually a little bit more yeastiness (not sure why). But otherwise, a chocolatey nose ends up with a light coffee to dark root soda like flavor. The clean feel really helps this beer in my mind. This is a more mild beer with some fairly bold flavors that I don't feel are bold, and far from overpowering. A wonderful balance of taste and feel!!

 

I'll be passing through Steamboat, Aspen, Denver and Estes Park this year. Colorado has been my second home for many years and I'm seriously thinking of relocating there. Your awesome pictures have me giddy with anticipation! I can almost hear the quaking aspens and smell their decomposing leaves.

 

The molasses flavor is very prominent and gives you a similar experience. It will be cool to see what happens after 24 months

 

I'm on the west side of the state, from Aspen around 140 miles or so west on I70.

Cheers!

 

The Bruery - Smoking Wood (Rye Barrel)
Smoked Imperial Rye Porter - 13% ABV



4.49/5 rDev +10%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

750ml bottle

Bottling date of 12/12/13 etched on the neck of the bottle. Poured into a snifter. The aroma is absolutely mouthwatering with a lot of smoke, spiciness from the rye, and a lot of oak and whisky notes from the barrels. The taste like the aroma has some sweetness and smoke up front with a lingering creamy smoothness coming in shortly after with the warmth from the high ABV and barrels bringing in the finish. This bottle is nearly three years old and it is delicious. I am getting a good dose of smoke and a lot of barrel in this one.

 

One of the few places I can get the GF to agree to. Estes Park gets cold, and Denver (Ft Collins) was a tad wam earlier today. But the Denver area seems a nice mix of city and... nature, I guess .

 

We have been catching up on Narcos this week - great show we all enjoy. Tonight's new beer I got in Mendocino, CA last May, Ninkasi's "Ground Control", an "imperial stout brewed with Oregon Hazelnuts, Star Anise, Cocoa Nibs, and Ale Yeast sent into Space":



Pours a thin black with ruby edges; thick, two fingers of tan foam; good clarity under long lasting cap; moderately heavy lacing.





Bottled April 20, 2015, and sporting a 10% ABV I've been looking forward to trying this "space yeast" gimmicky beer.



The nose is chocolate; lite spicy hop, and subdued fruit.

The taste is chocolate, the barest of bones black licorice, and cocoa; no real hop bitterness left; lite roast finish.

Medium lite, slightly dry cocoa powder feel; moderate minus carbonation.

Overall, I had no inkling I was imbibing a 10% stout; the feel was light without any richness or creamy textures. Better labeled an imperial porter. Don't get me wrong, the was nothing wrong with this stout, it just wasn't much, and certainly not worthy of a price tag greater than Parabola. Oh well, I still get to feel like an astronaut, in only for a beer induced moment. Cheers!

 

Passed through last year on my way to Arizona. One day when I move out there we'll have a beer!

 

Big bucks to live in the Front Range area for the most part.

Cheers!

 

My last one friends.
Bah Hahbah Cadillac Mountain Stout.
Local as it gets. Irish dry stout. Allegedly 6.7% as the bottle doesn't specify.
Pours inky black with thick oily sheen. Evanescent tan head that is quite ephemeral. Aromas of roasted coffee, malts, some chocolate. Some cola too.
This is a good good solid stout on tasting. No fancy barrels have had any influence on this. Good strong roasty malts, bright coffee and some sweetness comes through. It has a just right amount of coating body which gives just the right amount of richness. Don't go looking for any umami/soy here. The brightness balances the sweet flavor and makes it quite drinkable. Delicious.
Cheers.
I leave you with two pics I took, one from Cadillac mt summit and another from Sandy beach at Acadia National Park.
And one last one of a midnight 40 second shot of the lady liberty.

 

oaky doky!

Cheers!

 

Lol-wasn't even thinking that far, but did a quick Zillow for fun, appx 400k-500k with no filtering at all. That is suburban DC-like $$$ .

 

Yes, but think of the difference in view and terrain!

 

I skipped stopping in Denver for more years than I can count, but started visiting the last several years because of beer and running. Having grown up in Chicago, I find it interesting like most large cities with a vibrant downtown and culturally diverse neighborhoods that are fun to explore. I'm especially excited about trips to Comrade and Station 26 which are two of my favorite breweries.

Estes Park has been like home to me over the years and I've met some genuine salt of the earth people there. It's great that they finally have a couple more breweries in town besides that ancient tourist trap. Rambo's Longhorn Liquors is my favorite stop. Matt is the best and will shoot the bull with you about beer for hours. Cheers to the mountains!

 

Thought I recognized the sticker. TW has taught me more than anything else the value of closely eyeballing beers for dates, as I've come to believe they'll leave stuff on shelves for years, which is no big deal with whiskey but lethal for beer!

 

Good evening, NBS nation. As always thanks to Maria for the call to order and all the great posts I have to catch up with.

Mixed day here in the kingdom. Still quite muggy out, but certainly cooler. About a ten minute splash of rain. Most if the day was spent watching the daughter's dog... Managed to uninstall the old dishwasher somehow. You know you are in trouble when everybody tells you how easy it is! Thankfully it wasnt very heavy, but it still took some creative language....short words mostly rhyming with truck...

So...what graces the glass you ask? Lets try this again...



Allagash Hive 56 and at least to me the picture looks right-side up...whoo-hoo! It pours pretty much as it looks. Dark, opaque, rich, dense head that hangs...and hangs. Held to the light, it has a beautiful deep red tint. On the nose, not much until the head starts to fall. The brett character asserts itself, but there is malt and underlying sweetness. Maybe a hint of what smells like balsamic vinegar, sweet/tart combination. No honey that I can find. The taste...it is assertive. Pretty hefty brett, then tartness and sweetness strike. It does indeed have a vinegar character to it, but in a good way. There is sweetness and maybe the slightest hint of honey that is almost candy-like. Some fig like flavors, and certainly oaky, a mild roasted note.

My eyes deceiived me. I expected this beer to be a heavyweight in terms of the body, and it is far from that. Quite thin. It doesnt look too carbonated, but there is a nice zing from the bubbles and acidity, oaky phenolic sting, pretty dry on the end yet the sweetness carries.

Overall....hmmm...I like it, but what is it? Never had anything like it and maybe it is just safe to call it a wild ale? Not sure I can categorize it as anything else, nor do I really care. One will go into my involuntary aging program...I can see this becomng a lot more interesting with some age. Edited to add the anticipated score..feeling low four, maybe better. More interesting as it goes!



Off to catch up with NBS reading. Football is on, but not paying much attention.

 

I just dumped the rest of a buttery Sixpoint Tesla down the drain. Shit! I have 5 more!!!

WTF!- am I the only one who gets this in this beer? It would have been nice to have been forwarned. Damn- I hate to end the week as aggrivated as I am right now...

 

Back with one more from the new distribution list - Breaking Bud from Knee Deep.

Much, much better than my last one. Crystal clear pale yellow and nice tropical fruit aroma and flavor. Recommended for sure!



https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/23200/159885/?ba=richj1970#review