New Beer Sunday (week 609)

Good afternoon to all the NBS followers from a very windy hilltop here in central NH. The much welcomed rain has moved off and left us a howling wind with gusts to 35mph by my weather station here on the hill. But the sun is shinning brightly now and we hope to enjoy a short hike this afternoon if all goes well.
I went in search of a new beer for today yesterday and well managed to come up with a couple different ones. The first for today is by Stone Brewing there Enjoy By 10-31-16 Tangerine IPA.

This beer poured a darker golden orange color into my Teku glass. This bottle was dated 9/26/2016 so less than 30 days old at this point in time. A 1/4" white head formed on the top.
The nose of this beer is pretty much what I have come to expect from Stone. Some sweetness mainly from the alcohol and the malts used in this blend. Not a lot of nose from the tangerine if any IMO.
The taste runs pretty true to the style of beer for me. A fairly heavy malt forward type of IPA. A fair amount of bitterness in the taste from the hops but I find little if anything in the taste from the tangerine. This beer to me is a little overly sweet tasting perhaps from the tangerine but I think more from the alcohol.
The mouthfeel is pleasant with good carbonation and a thin white head lingers for the entire glass.
All in all a solid beer in the style so similar to many of the Stone IPA's in the taste and malt bill. But just not anything that would be a go to style of beer for me.
3.79/5 rDev -9.1% | Avg: 4.17
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
I've got a couple other local beers to try today but that will have to wait until after our hike this afternoon.

 

I'm pretty sure we Red Sox fans have always been obnoxious. It's not our fault you found us tolerable or even loveable (ha-originally typed liveable, which might also fit) only while we were losing .

At least we aren't Yankees fans .

 

Here's the thing, the Yankees themselves suck; their fans, being New Yorkers, are what you expect them to be, so, no real surprises. With the Sox, it's the opposite, we kinda like the team still, but the fans (especially the "new" ones, the bandwagon fans) are annoying little twerps. Any Sox fan who can remember when tickets were available at the gate on a regular basis (up until the early '00s, IIRC) has my sympathy at having to deal with the new fans who think they always win.

 

Makes sense. Actually I didn't follow through in the end about this in my post. Though some initial impressions led me towards saison, it didn't quite end up there for me. It was a balanced ale that would most likely be appropriately categorized if it won silver at GABF, no? (Note most beers in the combined Belgian Pale category - in which I've encountered considerably less blondes - tend to run more bitter).

 

I really enjoyed that one.

Cheers!

 

At least you expect more from us than NYers .

I get the bandwagon argument - being a Sox fan did have a "hipster" aspect to it in the early aughts (and I know how we feel about hipsters around here ). I am sure the Cubs will get their share of it this year, if not already. I will say I am rooting for them right now, but that will end when the season does .

By the way, I am working a new beer, post upcoming...

 

Greetings NBS afficianados! A beautiful autumn day along the southern shore. Pardon my basking in the glow of a memorable game by the Cubs last night. I'm going to enjoy the coming week no matter the results. I've seen plenty of terrible teams over the years and this group is just plain fun to watch. It was great sharing a few with my bro last night and reminiscing about life and sports. Enough banter, let's get to the goods!

Starting today with one that has intrigued me since @Dragginballs76 wrecked my porch in the last NBS/BIF. Time to open this 12oz. bottle of Siren Craft/Cigar City collaboration Caribbean Chocolate Cake. The label states ale brewed with cocoa nibs, lactose and aged on cypress wood with an abv. of 7.4%. Let's see what awaits us?

Pours thick and black like used motor oil leaving a trace amount of tan foam that disappears rather quickly. It smells like bakers chocolate, cake dough, vanilla extract and molasses. Taste is dark chocolate forward with notes of tobacco, figs and wet cardboard. The feel is rather thin and flat for such a oily pouring beer.



This is like liquid chocolate dessert in a bottle! I hoped for a little more of the cake aroma to be in the flavor and was a bit let down by the rather thin feel, but still found it very enjoyable. This is definitely worth checking out if you're a fan of all things chocolate. My score is 4.07 / rDev -1.9%. Thank you Michael for another fine beer and the Prairie glass that I always coveted. It was most generous of you!

Enjoy your day and new beers! I'm off to mow some leaves in a few. Hope to check in later. Here's the official scorecard......

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/31221/118857/?ba=Prager62#review

 

As promised...

Love of the Damned, two ways:
So I've had the base beer from Adroit Theory, and thoroughly enjoyed it (without reviewing it here). I fully intended to today, but I got sidetracked a tad .

The other version of this old ale is aged in Pinot Noir barrels.


The base beer is a little lighter than the barrel-aged version, being a light copper color. The wine barrel presumably added the red hue leading to a more burgundy color. The base beer holds its creamy light beige head at the edges of the glass better than the BA version.

There is an astringent alcohol nose to the base beer. This overshadows the caramel to toffee sweetness that's also in there. The BA version is much better in this regard, with the sweetness coming through with only a hint of booze. Actually the barrel adds a nice vanilla note that is really inviting.

The base beer might have a hint of oxidation on it. I know it's been on tap a while, though I do not know the date of this keg. This does not kill the beer, but cuts the maltiness of the beer that is counter to my recollections. The alcohol is warming and thankfully doesn't come across too strong. Feel is medium for this slightly less bold than I recall offering.

The BA version is softer at the edges (lighter carbonation helps), but with a bit more bite on the tip of the tongue (going to guess this is a newer batch). There is a berry note, along with a little grape tannin mid taste. These work against the vanilla and relatively muted caramel notes of the base beer.



I was shocked to find the Pinot aging didn't wreck the base. Truthfully, early on this seemed more like a bourbon barrel aged beer. The wine influence came out by mid glass, however to validate the menu's claim.

Well done, Adroit!

 

I completely agree, a great dessert beer, reminds me of Southern Tier Creme Brulee. One is good but 2 would be asking a bit much.

 

Sounds like a plan! Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk!

 

New Amer. Pale Ale Sunday (week 609)
Greetings fellow NBSers from on the ridge in Mid Hud Val, NY. Wooaaahhhh I thought the busy season was over at work, but turns out it was only the bitter winds and driving rain kept customers from turning out yday. Sun came out of the clouds today around 9:15, so did the customers. In droves,

This beer I am drinking, called Graveyard's, is courtesy of the inimitable @2beerdogs . It is a pale ale that features Mosaic and other down under hops, but Mosaic is the ringleader in this hop gang, no mistake. My friends and I have begun calling the hard to define Mosaic aroma/taste as tropical hop funk, and the aroma on this one has that hop funk in spades. Taste profile is a bit on the bitter side in this one, not in a way I would describe as balanced or pleasant. Luckily, the ABV of this baby is on the high side too, and my work-related PTSD is melting away nicely.

Whole story here-
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/1337/245047/?ba=cavedave#review

Will be back with another for sure. Hope you also have a Great American Beer in your glass. Cheers!

 

New IPAs Sunday



Cloudburst Good Old Neon

Beautiful fall day here in southeastern Pennsylvania. This Eagles-Vikings game is an ugly one, but fun enough while the Iggles are winning.

So, I've been enjoying some amazing howlers this week courtesy of @kemoarps and the Monkeys with Knives NBS BIF. Got lots of tasty brews yet to go for many Sundays to come, but I already can't wait for the next BIF. Such a good time.

Anyhow, Good Old Neon is an IPA with warrior, 522, summer, mosaic and amarillo hops. Quite the mix there.

It pours a clear, honeyish-looking light orange color with a finger of white head that's quick to dissipate but leaves solid lacing.

Pineapple, mango, fresh pine boughs and white pepper stand out in the aroma. These continue to the taste, with a strong peppery element, some cantaloupe, a slightly smoked peach sweet malt character and a mildly bitter aftertaste. Quite lovely.

It's medium bodied with strong carbonation in the mouthfeel.

This is a very strong beer. I'm going to be enjoying this one for the rest of the half. Have a great Sunday, y'all.

 

That might be what some of us refer to as "dank".

 

New Texas-brewed winter warmer:


Southern Star's winter warmer is full of earthy flavor with a sweet malty nose. The aroma is like a chocolatey stout, sweet and mixing in caramel, toffee and vanilla notes. The flavor, however, is more like a peaty Scottish ale, very earthy to the point of almost being bitter -- the perle williamette hops adding a bit of something here. The website does not list any additives, so the pinch of all-spice or nutmeg I think I'm tasting might be mental conditioning. As it warms, raisins and toffee show up in the flavor, though it's still much more earthy than the sweet aroma.

Review:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/16759/251911/?ba=Premo88#review
3.93 (-0.5% rDev)

Cheers!

 

Trying out another new beer since I still have quite a few from NBS BIF #4 and I bought a ton of other new beers in the last week or so. This one is from Wicked Weed Canvas Series Pom Roselle, according to the website

"his golden sour is aged in neutral wine barrels. One pound per gallon of ripe pomegranate and hibiscus add a floral complexity to this sour ale. Once this beer reaches its pinnacle, we blend the barrels to attain the perfect harmony of our house sour culture with pomegranate and hibiscus."

Petty good sour ale IMHO, the funkiness mixed with the pomegranate is really good and it is amazing looking in the glass!! Another great beer from Wicked Weed.



Appearance 4 - Pours semi-transparent reddish color with thin white head that very quickly dissipates leaving no head and a small amount lacing around the glass.



Smell 4 - Lots of funk, straw, grass. I get a slight amount of fruitiness, little bit of a vinegar smell. I noticed as it warms a bit the fruit and funk smell equal out, it is still funk forward.



Taste 4.25 - The pomegranate comes out a little more in the flavor than I smelled, nice funky farm fresh taste. I did not get a lot of floral smells or taste as advertised but I don’t think that is a bad thing although I did get more in the taste since I got none in the smell.



Feel 4 - Pretty tart, nice carbonation, lighter body pretty dry on the finish.



Overall 4.1 – I really liked this beer, great flavors nice funk mixed with the pomegranate pretty light feel and beautiful in the glass.

 

What a beautiful New Beer Sunday here so far. So many awesome reviews of new beers. I'm here earlier than I planned - my plans with my date fell threw on both ends, so we had to postpone till next Sunday. Damnit. Always seems to happen with cute gals, and she is very cute.

Oh well, to the beer. So new, that I had to add it to the system, and my first beer from this brewery.

Omni Brewing A Little Hoppy.

I wasn't planning on stopping at that brewery last Sunday, but thanks to road construction on 94 where it meets 494/694, I was going in the area and decided to stop in for a few cans.

This Session IPA isn't bad at all. It is fairly low alcohol, but the favor is fairly rich. Wasn't expecting that from such a light IPA.

Review.
3.87/5 rDev n/a
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

This session IPA pours somewhat clear. It has a amberish color to it. The head is thick - I'd say a 4 finger, frothy head. There is some lacing from the head. The nose has a citrus aroma to it. Grapefruit seems to be the citrus. The taste is somewhat hoppy, with the bitterness that goes along with it. It isn't overpowering, but does linger in the back of your throat. This beer doesn't feel watery, even though it's a fairly light alcohol beer. Not a bad IPA at all.

★ 468 characters

 

My second NBS beer of the day is this one from Sixpoint.



BB- Feb 15 2017

Resin

Sixpoint Brewery
American Double / Imperial IPA / 9.10% ABV

4.44/5 rDev +9.1% | Avg: 4.07
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

L-The beer pours a clear light amber. The head is a frothy 3 fingers of white foam. Lacing is good as the head recedes to a thin film.
S-The nose is a pleasant piny dankness of moderate intensity.
T-The taste follows the nose with pine followed with a pleasantly bitter finish.
M- Mouthfeel is slick and oily allowing the taste to linger on the tongue. Carbonation is fairly light after the original pour.
O- This is an excellent beer which will make it's way into my regular rotation as a counterpoint to all the citrus dominant DIPA's on the market. The beer is ridiculously drinkable at 9.1%. I wish I'd tried this sooner.

 

Happy Sunday NBS players. A pretty cool and breezy fall day here on the island. A big change from the 70's on wed/fri. I have not done jack shit today aside from watching football and drinking beer. A great day in my book. I just hope the Jets can at least pull out a win. If not, bring on petty.

My new beer today is from @newjack and the NBS bif # 4 monkeys with knives. The beer is Ol Leghorn, a barley wine ale, a collaboration between firestone/three floyds. The brew check in at 10.5% with a bottle date of 5/30/14. I continue to be impressed with other ba who have will power.

A pure amber color with no clarity. The nose is pretty intense with sugary hops. Intensely smooth on the initial sip. A big mesh of hops/malts on the flow with lots of nice fruit notes. Tones of dates, grapes, figs, mango, lemon, and orange. Is this barrel aged? It doesn't say so on the barrel but I also get lots of notes of caramel, vanilla, and oak. The mouth feel is pretty full bodied but still so damn smooth. The abv is dangerously not noticeable.

Overall, just an amazing beer. One of the best barleywines that I've had in a while. Does the ageing out add to the fresh? I'm right around a 4.5 on it.

 

Uncharted Territory Oktoberfest from Magnify Brewing. This beer pours a golden honey color with a thick white head. The aroma in bready malt and a hint of fruit. The taste starts malty and becomes hoppy . There is a nice dry finish. Overall I would call this a nice fall hoppy lager but not what I want in an Oktoberfest.

 

Good afternoon NBS Thanks Maria for a wonderful kickoff today. The leaves are running off the trees this week, spent the bulk of the day in the yard fighting the good fight. I have a Seattle Sour today from Urban Family. I hope you all enjoy the day.
Cheers

Lady Of The Night

Urban Family Public House
American Wild Ale / 6.19% ABV

3.83/5 rDev -4% | Avg: 3.99
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from an undated bottle into a large goblet.
A - Fall maple yellow, nice clarity, a quickly dissipated cap is supported by a meandering traces of carbonation.
S - Sharp sour lemon drops, a bit of burnt plastic and musty basement, sprayed with rice vinegar. The offering warmed a bit releases even more sour lemon. A bit monochromatic in this area. Very tight range.
T - Follows the nose, a bit too sour, I can see how the Nelson and Azaca pile into the very lemony nature of the offering.
M - Medium in mouth feel, the tongue rolls under the marauding army of sour, There is a short middle where a hint of sweet pops in, then rolled over by a tart dry finish.
O - This seems a work in progress, with some of the edges taken back I can see a great beer. This version needs work.
Cheers