New Beer Sunday (week 613)

I would love to try that beer. I just saw that Captain Lawrence released an IPA made with Alt yeast. I'd love to try that too.

 

I will be having a Wicked Weed today as well.

Cheers!

 

I almost forgot I had another light beer in the fridge - one that came my way courtesy of @Buck89. This is from Tennessee Brew Works, and is a honey (Belgian) blonde ale called Wildwood Flower:


My initial thought on this beer is it poured a little darker than I expected. There's a light haze to the beer, and a nice white sheet of head covering the entire surface while I type this up.

A nice nose on this beer that gives me the impression of a meadow in the country: bitterness combined with yeast notes and the honey give me a mix of greens and flowers that is balanced more than being floral.

Honey is an ingredient that doesn't work for me all the time, but I think the bitterness, yeast, and honey work together to produce a nice, balanced beer. Two interesting things happen in the end - first I get a nice sweet melon note that seems to fit with the rest of the beer, and a pine note that I don't quite think belongs. Luckily the outside flavor is at the end and doesn't interfere with the rest of the beer.

Overall, a quite enjoyable beer that I am glad @Buck89 thought to send to me.

 

I don't know. That's why I'd like to try it.

 

Thanks Maria for the kickoff and stellar review. I'm drinking one of the last brews sent by @thebeers from MWK NBS. Iron Abbey Wise Acre in crowler format, I dig the format and just about the right quantity (alright buzz). A 6.1% ABV that displayed a beautiful foamy head, with good retention, very solid hop profile with a bubblegum aspect to it, medium body, nice carb. Iron Abbey from my limited research, a gastropub in the Philly area, may look them up next time I'm in the area, nice brew, thanks Arthur

 

Spent most of the day on the road yesterday to see one of my old teammates run at Cross Country Nationals. I saw just about every major runner I follow on social media, and continued my train of not talking to them. Haha. Both of my brothers are home for Thanksgiving break, so we went on a long ride. All things considered, I'm wiped out. I can't wait to go to bed before the sun sets tonight. In my travels, I visited a place with a pretty robust mix-six setup. So, I finally picked up a single bottle of something I continue to see everywhere. For someone who considers themselves a stout lover, I'm a little ashamed it has taken me this long to try this considering it's stocked at just about every store around here. I even have some of the variants sitting in my cellar. It's time for a beer.



Great Divide's Yeti.

Pours black with a reluctant formation of head. Once I began pouring straight into the glass, a dark caramel-colored head fizzed up to half a finger height. Head retention is good, with a solid ring of foam being left around the edge of the glass for a while. Lacing is a rich caramel color, and splattered all around the glass. Aroma is controlled by roasted and toasted malts, with rich caramel and toffee seeping through. It is not an overly complicated or robust aroma, but still substantial. A good benchmark for an Imperial Stout. Flavor profile is rich and malty, with notes of roasted and toasted malts, caramel, toffee, butter, and cream. Mouth feel is borderline thick, with a filling, grainy feel. Very pleasing. Thin enough that it is easy to drink a little quicker, and not feel like you're eating your beer, but thin enough that it doesn't feel incredibly robust and hearty like a stout made for consumption during a winter storm. Overall, it's a stellar stout with good characteristics all around. It isn't life changing, or overly stacked with flavors. It's a solid imperial stout made for consumption and conversation.

Score: 4 | 4.25 | 4.25 | 4 | 4 | BA score: 4.16 | rDev: -1.4%

 

Greetings NBS friends! It's feeling more November like around these parts today with gray skies and occasional snow flurries. In other words great weather for something hearty! Going to sip this highly anticipated beer as a beef brisket smokes away.

Starting today with Dogfishhead Beer For Breakfast stout with an abv. of 7.4% and a bottle date of 10/29/16. I'm pouring this in my Dogfishhead snifter that I seldom use for the review. Let's go!

Pours a thin dark brown with a half inch of lingering tan foam. It slowly settles to a thick ring with no lacing left behind. The smell is dark roasted malt, smoke, bakers chocolate and a slight hint of maple. Taste is dark roasted malt, bitter dark chocolate, a touch of maple and brown sugar. A prominent bitter and smokey flavor dominates the finish. The feel is slightly oily but rather thin.



A good beer that falls short of the finish line for me. A little too thin, bitter and smokey for me. The coffee is nearly drowned out by the smoke and burnt brown sugar profile. Perhaps too much scrapple? I like my critters smoked, not my beer! I'm hoping a little more time rounds this one out. Perhaps I'll try another with the brisket later? As it stands now my score is 3.74 / rDev -8.1%. I'll stick with the superior Founders Breakfast Stout in the future.

Enjoy your Sunday beer adventures while I ponder another possible entry for later. Here's the official scorecard and pic of the brisket that is coming along fine.



https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/64/146326/?ba=Prager62#review

 

Hello to another New Beer Sunday. I decided to go to Spilled Grain Brewing in Annandale, MN today. I've been there several times, an I've always enjoyed their beers. Today was no exception.

Kinnikinnick Kream Cream Ale

Really rich. Good mouthfeel. Refreshing. Good choice.
3.44/5 rDev n/a
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This beer pours very clear. The head is minimal, the carbonation bubbles are quite small, but steady. Some lacing. The nose has some sweetness to it. The taste is crisp. Some maltiness to it. Slight sweetness. Refreshing, but not watery. A very good overall beer.

★ 263 characters

They also released their Dark House Imperial Stout on Thursday in 750 ml bottles. I picked up 2 on Thursday. Thanks to the blizzard Friday, they still had some left today, so I got 2 more. They only made 75 bottles. 4 out of 75 are mine.

 

Being Penn Dutchy I am really looking forward to trying this beer!! So far I've seen some really good reviews of this one; any more it seems folks just want to beat up on DFH.
I haven't had scrapple in so long though.

 

Hello gang. What a difference a day makes. Yesterday, it was sunny with temps were in the 60's and we were walking on the beach. Today, it feels like winter's arrived in New Jersey, complete with some snow showers. I purchased this bottle of Malus two weeks ago. While at Kane yesterday I was surprised to see so many bottles left. I was also a little surprised that its BA rating is only 85. This is a nice apple-flavored strong ale. I should have bought more for Thanksgiving. Here's my review:

4.09/5 rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Poured into Kane tulip glass. It pours an orange-copper color, like apple cider, with one finger of khaki-colored head and lacing with good retention. It smells of sweet malt, apple sauce, cinnamon, nutmeg, and pepper. The taste follows the nose with tangy apple, cinnamon, and nutmeg, with a slightly sour, bitter finish. There are also hints of raisin and brown sugar. This ale is medium-bodied, moderately carbonated, and you can feel its 9.5% ABV. It's most definitely a sipper. Overall, it's a nice Autumn take on a Belgian Strong Dark Ale. It's not the type of ale you'd want to drink a lot of, but it's a very nice change of pace.

 

Fair disclosure: I had a sample pour of my new beer on tap at the brewery 2 weeks ago. Bottles went on sale at Westbrook a couple of days ago, I got some, and now can really savor and write up...Evil Twin Brewing/Westbrook Brewing Co.'s "Imperial Mexican Biscotti Cake Break":





Black pour with brown foam that turns tan; barest of clarity under decent cap which slowly transforms to a crown with heavy ring while drinking; moderate lacing all the way down the glass. 4.5

Aromas of coffee, almond, vanilla, cinnamon, pepper, nutmeg, chocolate - both vibrant and subtle, nevertheless unmistakable. 4.75

Hot pepper bite up front with flavors of coffee, almond, orange peel bitterness/roast malt bitterness, bitter sweet dark chocolate, spicy holiday flavors of cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla; lite pepper cocoa finish. 4.75

Rare second pour photo:



Liquid continues to open up. Body is medium, with a dry and a lite cocoa powdery texture; a hint of warmth, but not boozy or astringent; moderate carbonation contributes to light overall feel. 4.25

Overall, a world class collaboration; hot pepper sauce meets Biscotti meets chocolate cake flavors; not as hot or peppery as regular Cake and not as sweet or almondy as Biscotti; two worlds colliding brings a very well balanced flavored stout which showcases the fringe flavors and aroma presentations, without any of the base aromas/flavors dominating. 4.75 Well done Westbrook/EvilTwin.

Cheers gang!

 

New Christmas Ale Sunday



St Bernardus Christmas Ale

Continuing with the holiday ale theme. I always thought regular St Bernardus was a distant third in the whole Westy, Rochefort, St Bernardus debate, but figured I'd give this one a spin anyhow.

To start, it's a gorgeous-looking beer.
Dark ruby-brown color with a finger of lasting, thick-and-creamy, off-white head.

It's got a big, distinctive aroma of burnt sugar, custard, buttered popcorn and slight ripe banana. Can't remember another custard-smelling beer. It's like the inside of an eclair. There's maybe a ghost of some stone fruit, but not much and not much Christmas spice, either.

It's more traditional tasting. Fairly dry, with some muted caramel and fig, light Christmas spice (cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg) and a healthy kiss of alcohol on the backend.

Slightly creamy mouthfeel with strong carbonation.

I've got mixed feelings about this one. It's distinctive and unique, but the buttered popcorn thing seems like a flaw to me. That component's not super pleasant, anyhow. I love me a good quad, but this isn't one I'm likely to come back to.

Not sure I wanna waste a Christmas miracle on the Eagles game, but rooting for them anyhow.

 

Happy New Russian Imperial Stout Sunday!

Pretty nice day here on the Western Slope. Did a nice hike today, around 50, cloudy/some sun. Heard some good things about this brewery, we have some here in GJ and decided to check them out, I'm impressed with this one, for sure. Will have to seek out other's. Miss MLB games on Sunday. No NHL package anymore and no Avalanche game today.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/30581/90133/?ba=Wasatch#review

Cheers!

Been over a year since I last drank from this bottle. Colonel E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel BIB (100 Proof)

 

Very Nice Brew!

Cheers!

 

New Rauchbier Sunday (week 613)
Greetings fellow NBSers from on the snowy ridge in Mid Hud Val, NY. A rough day is in the process of being markedly ameliorated by a very tasty beer sent my way by fellow NBSer @LeRose . It is a rauchbier, called Fire In The Ham, and could there even be a more suitable beer name for my review on BA #666?


VERRRRY smoky beer, yet the smoke is more in control and less harsh than some others of this style I have tried. Lager yeast is a prominent player in the aroma, and lesser so in the taste, but it is a luscious and understated rounded tart that helps keep the meaty smokiness of this baby in check. I recommend this beer for you smokejumpers out there, but likely not a good first beer for those new to smoke beers. Get the whole birdseye lowdown here
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/26520/86211/?ba=cavedave#review

May be back for another, a gift dropped off this AM by the estimable @doomXsaloon. I have been doing so well in the dropping weight dept. I feel like I deserve it.

Hope you also have a Great American Beer in your glass. Cheers!

 

Good afternoon BAs! This is my favorite time of year in TN, as it is typically sunny and crisp, with great late fall colors (and plenty of wet-hopped IPAs!). Today did not disappoint, as I enjoyed a glorious day in the local park, where the colors are still bursting:


Speaking of wet-hopped brews, today's new beer is a fresh one from Wiseacre Brewing Co. in Memphis: Tacky - a wet-hopped IPA. I love many of their brews (Tiny Bomb, Gotta Get Up To Get Down, etc.) but often find other beers to be inconsistent, so I approached this one with trepidation:


look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Great looking bottle artwork but an average looking beer. A moderately hazy light amber color. A vigorous pour produced only a one-finger head that receeded to a foamy cap with some sturdy lacing. Plenty of pine, straw, and grass on the nose, but there was a fair amount of caramel malt. Also toffee was noticeable and unexpected. Bitter and earthy on the first sip. Lots of pine and not much citrus. The grassiness I expect in a wet-hop IPA was there and was enjoyable. As with the aroma, however, the malty taste was prominent, with caramel and toffee, which seemed odd and out of place. A bit warming on the finish but not too dry. Frankly, this was disappointing, but the day is young and hopefully I will return with another new brew. Cheers!

 

Technically "new", considering I've only had it on draught.

Spock It is Monkish's Galaxy Hopped IPA coming in at 6.5% ABV. I didn't dislike it on draught, but I wasn't in love with it either. This batch was canned 11/1, so it's just about 3 weeks old. I heard that some of these NE-style beers are better with some aged on it, rather than fresh. So let's take it out for a spin!

A: Hazy as one would expect. Color comes in at a dark yellow color, with a hint of orange.

S: Smells like a nice pineapple juice, with a hint of grassiness.

T: Follows the smell very well, with tons of juicy pineapple notes. Galaxy tends to have a bit of basil herbaceousness to it, but this aspect is dialed down a bit in Spock It. This beer finishes dry, so there's no cloying sweetness.

M: One thing I will say about Monkish, compared to other California NE-style beers, is the mouthfeel is super soft, yet full. It easily coats your tongue, and has a juice-like viscosity that belies its 6.5% alcohol.

O: More fruity, more integrated than the version I had on tap on 11/1. Well-balanced, and a delicious juicy beer.

 

Good evening BA, new beer for tonight Trillium Free Rise, a Citra dry hopped Saison.



Pour is a hazy golden color with a one finger head, reducing to a halo, little lacing. Not the prettiest Trillium brew.

Aroma is laced with fresh mint, light herbal spiciness, oranges, some pineapple, bubble gum. It's a fairly light aroma overall but smells delicious.

Taste has the orange and bubble gum upfront, a herbal spiciness mid- palate, sweet biscuity malt finish. The Citra really takes the front but doesn't overpower the subtleties of the saison yeast.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied and Very smooth. Carbonation is great, slightly tingly. Just a little drying.

Overall it's a very tasty brew, would love to put this side by side with Oxbow Farmhouse Pale Ale, similar taste profiles. If you love the Hoppy saison or farmhouse ales this is a must try. Hops are just right to play on the saison flavors without destroying them.

Cheers!
Marc

 

Good afternoon, and Happy New Brasserie Sunday! Well, not really as I've had the pleasure of indulging in a few of Brasserie Dieu du Ciel!'s fine offerings over the years, but have somehow never come across this one. As I finally settle in on the start of my four day weekend, I have the pleasure of enjoying a well made stout courtesy of the weather's cooperation. Rain is a fairly foreign concept to these parts, but when it shows its face, I take advantage of it by dusting off the old stouts and Barleywine hiding in the back of the fridge, who have been patiently awaiting their much overdue time of appreciation to shine on. So here it is

Brasserie Dieu du Ciel!
Aphrodite (which I believe was previously named Aphrodisiac?)
Stout brewed with cocoa and vanilla
6.5% abv





A: Pours opaque and pitch black with a lazy but persistent dark tan head. A few suspended particles floating around in there, but that never hurt anyone.

A: A perfect blend of equal parts chocolate and vanilla, followed by roasted hazelnuts, then molasses lingers in the background.

F: Chocolate and vanilla again leading the way with a bit of burnt toast and nuttines, and the slightest sense of dark cherries. Almost like a perfect and classic ice cream sundae: one scoop vanilla, one scoop chocolate, and a cherry on top! (Hold the whipped cream please.)

F: Wonderful feel. Creamy almost velvety, coats the roof of your mouth and tongue, finishes dry and surprisingly balanced despite what its flavor and aroma would suggest.

O: An amazing stout overall. I would love to have this every night for dessert! I couldn't think of changing a thing.

Cheers everyone, and I will see you all soon!