New Beer Sunday (week 607)

Now that I am home I am busting into the great brews sent from @strohme2 in the amazing, out of this world fun, NBS BIF #4.
Here is a pic of the full package he sent:
Cans:

Bottles etc.

And what I am enjoying now:

Thanks again @strohme2 this is a great sour brew.
The color is subtly off-clear, with a thin head that dissipates into a ring around the glass.
Aroma is a crisp sweetness with a hint of the candy aspect of fireballs. Not the cinnamon, the other candy flavor behind the hotness.
Smooth tartness and light hops balance the bit of funk into a full bodied and smooth sour. The beer drink full and smooth and coats the tongue a bit.of candied fruits.
Overall a very tasty sour brew. A good level of tartness for BA's who do not love sours. Tartness mixes with hops and malt to make an easy going brew that is both complex and easy to drink.

 

Good afternoon, NBSers, I'm happy to see the madness known as NBS MWK BIF #4 has been unleashed here in its proper home. Porches around the country have been punished and pulverized the past couple of weeks, and now the fruits of many bounties are being shared here, which is fantastic to see - it's this sense of community that makes this the best thread on BA, IMHO. Just a bunch of wonderful, generous folks that know (and more importantly, SHARE) really great beer.

I was privileged to have @beerloserLI as my sender, and I was pretty pumped when I (FINALLY!!!) figured that out over the course of the MWK BIF thread (https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/monkeys-with-knives-nbs-bif-4-hintz-and-haulz.447425/). A note on that thread - maybe the most fun I've had with my clothes on in the last 5 years. It's like an online game of "Clue" with a bunch of maniacs that may (or may not) be telling the truth, speak in circles AND tongues, employ the use of GIF's and meme's, um, liberally, and generally wreak chaos over the course of a month or so to such an extent that you begin to question who YOU are.

After sifting through a pile of clues the first 10 days or so, I was so confused (because I'm old and forgetful) that I was forced to put together a spreadsheet .....



..... and, as I said, determined @beerloserLI was my sender. As a Midwesterner for all of my beer nerd career, I was super pumped to have someone from the East Coast as my sender because chances were good I'd receive a package of East Coast beers I've never tried.

Um, yeah - I received a GLORIOUS box, crammed with stuff I've never tried .....



From left to right, Cigar City Oktoberfest, Sand City Oops I Hopped My Pants, Singlecut Does Anybody Remember Laughter, Sixpoint Tesla, Singlecut Billy Half Stack, LIC Beer Project Backjump IPA, Singlecut Softly Spoken Magic Spells, Cigar City Jai Alai, LIC Beer Project Pile Of Crowns.

I've had Tesla, Softly Spoken Magic Spells, and Jai Alai thus far. All were excellent (or better). Right now, I'm gameplanning like Bill Belichick before a Super Bowl, trying to determine my lineup for this evening. I know the Oktoberfest is a starter, and 99% certain Pile Of Crowns is gonna play, but that 3rd beer is the wild card. Almost certainly one of the Singlecut beers. But that Sand Creek is calling me ....................

My humblest apologies for consuming so much bandwidth with this post, but this BIF "event" has been a hootenanny. If you have a month or so free when the next one comes around .....

 

Thanks Again Corey!!! And, can't say it enough, BIG THANKS to @Hopgoddess312 !!!

 

So happy I can drink these at home now, but Waterbury is probably not happy for all my bar tabs going away!

 

Damn, @beerloserLI hit you something hard!!!

 

New Blonde Ale/IIPA/Fruit Beer Sunday (week 607)
Greetings fellow NBSers from on the ridge in Mid Hud Val, NY Misty and cool here, spitting rain all morning, windy and nasty weather to have to work outdoors. Had a steak and fries, am settled in with a nice beer, all is now right with the world

I have been attacked mercilessly with great beer courtesy of @2beerdogs' extreme generosity in MWK #4 BIF. As if I haven't had to endure enough I am now told that was just to destroy my defenses and to beware the Ides of October when Monkeys With Knives can strike. Here is picture almanac of Derek's generosity. Thanks man, am really digging these!




Am a long time lover of California beers, and have traded for plenty along the way. So happy to have a fridge full of California goodness right now. And a glass full of this one

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/29778/153430/?ba=cavedave#review
It is a pretty beer, so the Blonde Ale part of its attribution is evident here. Nice straw/gold with only a finest mist of yeast to keep it on this side of clear. A finger of white foam completes the protrait. Eventually the head kicks back to thin ring and a bit of skim, but a swirl leaves some bubbly and oily legs like IIPA ought do.

First sniff didn't show lemon but, man, every sniff after sure does. Very bright and spicy lemony goodness fronting orange peel, general sweet citrus, crispy grain sweet, and light amount of bitter herb. It's med. strength but full of the promise that lies within a properly presented panoply of lupulin delight.

Faithfully depicting for the palate all that was luxuriated upon the nose, it is med. strength for IIPA and quite full flavored for a Blonde. Especially tasty is the lighter than air grain presence that gives it a beautiful balance. Lemon is apparent all along the way, but it is joined by the other aroma flavors into a finish that is all about citrus pith and herbal bitter that never gets out of hand. Delicious.

Low carb. makes this great, letting all the flavors shine that otherwise would be corrupted by carbonic bite in a spritzy beer. Excellent finish, though for a blonde you'd have to say pretty far out of style.

Very tasty beer that succeeds in being a Blonde, IIPA, and Fruit Beer. Recommended, especially if you like lemon flavor.

Can't wait to get to another one of these best coast beers. See ya later. Hope you also have a Great American Beer in your glass. Cheers!

 

Glad you liked it Dave. I find it flavorful for all the reasons you mentioned, but I too am a bit confused by the lite feel (Blonde ale?) yet labeling it a IIPA. It's good, but do I deduct for style? I don't know, but for those who like a citrus that doesn't punch, I'd recommend it.

 

Greetings friends,
Wow, what a feast for the eyes and imagination today. So far, it's been a virtual and veritable Beer Louvre! The vast number of great new beers all decked-out in mind-numbing packaging is outrageous. 25 years ago this current beer world could never have been imagined. It is all just a true reason for optimism. The power of a collective hobby and modern communication has created a truly creative voice for beer, but with community, bricks and electric. I don't see this latest bloom of good beer awareness going away. Now, too many are involved to let it diminish.
Here's a great read. If you love collecting, history of the earth, and damned good writing, pick this one up!

Starting with Maria's Caldera Porter, I dreamingly toast everyone on this lovely Fall day.

 

Happy New Rye Beer Sunday!

Did a nice little hike, sunny, about 60. Having a tasty brew from a local brewery, might visit them one of these days. Watching the Dodgers/Nats game pretty close, 8th inning.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/32479/104783/?ba=Wasatch#review

Cheers!

 

Welcome to the @Ozzylizard Snorkel glass club!!!

 

Back for the NBS trifecta! It's nice to be home chilling and enjoying new beers. Another from who else but @Dragginballs76 that @cjgiant suggested I try. Let's pop the crown on this Wicked Weed Pernicious IPA with a bottle date of 09.05.16, abv. of 7.3% and pour it in a tulip glass for the unveiling.

Pours a nearly transparent pale gold with two fingers of soapy white foam. Heavy lacing is left behind as it slowly settles. The smell is dank passionfruit, mango, grapefruit and fresh rubber. Taste is juicy passionfruit followed by floral notes and grapefruit. There's a touch of butyl in the finish. The feel begins slick with a bitter dry finish.



In a word? Marvelous! This one is everything a hophead looks for in an IPA. Juicy, dank and appropriately like the brewer's name, weedy! A very crisp and clean feel to boot. I'm all in on this one with a score of 4.29 / rDev +0.2%. It's a great beer that I could consume by the keg! Thanks Michael for not one, but two bottles of this fine sauce!

Like I said earlier about the Bears finding a way to lose......they delivered in the photo I snapped of the beer and the Colts winning TD. I may live in Indiana now because of quality of life, but my heart lies with my birthplace and teams.

Off to see my bro next as I haven't seen him in several weeks. I might be back later for a MWK's finale. In the meantime I leave you with this....

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/30581/146538/?ba=Prager62#review

 

Good Afternoon NBS! I'm back after the first layoff from NBS since I started and I must say I'm happy but also jealous to see all these fantastic beers shared in the latest BIF. Sorry I missed this one but am looking forward to the next. Rain has kept me from the last step in closing my pool- the latest Ive ever been completing this. Oh well life goes on.
I started playing the drums when I was 12 years old. My first set was a orange sparkle 3 piece Premier set with the cymbal mount right on the side of the bass drum- cool stuff. How could I pass this beer up since I use all Zildian cymbals now?
Harpoon Single Barrel Series Secret Alloy Ale
See the back and the way they formulated this beer and the comparison to the production of the cymbals- pretty cool.

Pours a wonderful copper color with an off- white 2 finger head that leaves nice "world map" lacing on the sides.

Initial aroma is of ripe tropical fruits- papaya and mango,then pine and orange and something like rose petals. There is an awesome sweet dark bread malt that is a nice change.

Taste is all that tropical fruit with citrus rind bitterness and maybe I'm nuts but like a plum - like taste. This all sits atop a killer caramel malt base that just stops short of being too sweet. Lots of flavors and really well balanced.

Feel is medium to higher carb, slightly slick but even with the perfect sweetness this finished nice and dry with no hint of alcohol- except for the buzz from how quickly this goes down.

Really haven't liked this series from Harpoon too much up until this point. This was an excellent hoppy pale ale that had that perfect traditional caramel malt base- a welcome change of pace. Unique hopping of Equinox/Centennial was different and really tasty. Hopefully I can find another bottle. If you've been on the fence with this series I would highly recommend giving this one a try.
For NewOldVinylSunday of course I'm spinning one of my favorite Buddy Rich tunes Mercy, Mercy, Mercy. This tune was way ahead of its time. Love the arrangements.
Hey have a great week and as always thanks for taking the time.

 

been wanting to crack this open for about a yr now..glad i did..wonderful cinnnmon,nutmeg,gingerbread flavor..medium bodied..really well done by Hardywood

 

I only know those beers and/or breweries by reputation, but that's one helluva line-up!

 

Good Sunday afternoon, NBS friends. I hope all of you in the southeast are safe, well, and enjoying a new beer this afternoon! After a rainy, windy day at the Jersey Shore, Matthew is finally headed into the Atlantic and a late afternoon blue sky is moving in from the west. Maria, thank you for starting us out with a porter today because it inspired me to open this bottle of Ballast Point's Mocha Marlin, a coffee and chocolate stout. The previous reviews were quite high and, I think, justified. It's first rate. Here's my review:

4.27/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Poured from 22 oz. bottle into pint glass. It pours jet black with two fingers of creamy, khaki-colored head and extensive lacing with great retention. It's a very attractive pour. It smells of roasted malt, dark coffee, chocolate, and nuts. The primary taste is burnt coffee grounds with dark, roasted malt, baker's chocolate, nuts, and a faint hint of vanilla. The flavors improved as it warmed in the glass. This porter is medium-bodied, lightly carbonated, and very easy to drink with a manageable ABV of 6%. Overall, this is a first rate porter. The flavors blend really nicely and it's super easy to drink. It would pair nicely with a burger.

As always, I'm enjoying your reviews. Keep 'em coming!

 

Nice haul! I know from prior experience that Derek always brings his A game.

 

Good Afternoon NBS many thanks to Maria for the great kick off and wonderful review.
I always look forward to your culinary exploits! We went to the Ashfield Fall Festival, an annual event, great food, craft and music in a wonderful WMass hill town. Today's NBS is a bit of a re-visit for me. Fear and Trembling is the annual Baltic Porter from Hill Farmstead, a beer I had 4 years ago on the original collaboration with Anders Kissemeyer. This years version uses house smoked malts and to me that makes it NBS worthy
Cheers all

Fear And Trembling

Hill Farmstead Brewery
Baltic Porter / 9.30% ABV

4.06/5 rDev -4.2% | Avg: 4.24
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a recent release, bottle date of 9/13/2016 into a small goblet.
A - Dark and mysterious, lurking in the void is carbonation feeding a mocha colored cap of loose knit spheres supporting an unstable structure of intrigue.
S - Madagascar chocolate, dark roast malts, at first the cocoa is strong and the smoked malts are in the background. Upon warming the smokiness smolders to the front. Gentle application of the smoked malts proves delightful. Dark fruit fig and plum run between the chocolate and smoked malts.
T - Wonderful toasted malts, dark chocolate, a bit of sweet fruits, fig, raisin blend seamlessly with a bit of blond tobacco and pumpernickel. Dark grains and semi-sweet cocoa.
F - Incredibly soft on the palate, to start. A drying happens in great haste. The tongues side roll down in acquiescence, A short period of sweetness and then a finish as dry as cocoa powder leaves the calling card for another sip.
O - A Baltic Porter to be reckoned with, the alcohol is so well hidden in this complex and delightful offering. Worth every effort to be had. A brewers skill on display.

 

Well here we go with a beer from @Hopgoddess312 , and a definite want for a long time for me! Much thanks for that "porch firecracker", as you put it, Lorena!

Toppling Goliath Sosus DIPA


Poured from a 22 oz. bomber into a JK Snorkel glass. Unable to find a date on the bottle.

A dark orange -golden body with a pillowy head full of tiny foamy bubbles, which leaves plenty of lacing in the glass.

Smell you say? D-A-N-K! Onion, pine, apricots, cat box, citrus, tropical fruits.

Taste is like piney orange juice! WOW! This is delicious! Bitter and dank up front and sweet on the finish. Picking up on a slight alcohol bite on the end. Nothing that makes this unappetizing! That Mosaic hop just shines in this brew.

A medium mouth feel that makes this DIPA drink like a session IPA to me! Numbs the palate a little but not in a bad way.

Overall....Let me tell you there is no doubt in my mind that this is one excellent DIPA that lives up to the hype and beyond expectations, for me. I would have this in my fridge ALL THE TIME if this was readily available here in Florida! This is one helluva great beer.

Cheers!

 

New American Double/Imperial Stout Sunday

Happy NBS everyone! Right now I'm watching the Bengals play like crap, so at least I'm drinking good beer today. Started off with The Bruery's Share This: Coffee Imperial Stout: https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/16866/227879/?ba=bluejacket74#review





I thought it was a good brew! I'll have another new brew on here in a bit. I'll need it since the stupid Bungles just gave up another TD......