New Beer Sunday (week 614)

New Lambic Sunday

Happy NBS everyone! Just got done watching the Bengals play like crap like they've been doing most of the season. Started of my new brew drinking today with some Vanberg & Dewulf Lambickx: https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/22399/71976/?ba=bluejacket74#review

This version was with lambic sourced from De Troch, and I thought it was an enjoyable tart beer.






I'll be back on here in a little while with another new beer or 2. Cheers!

 

Ok time for another beer.

Now dude... I know you're generally not a big milk stout fan... but you bought the milk stout.

yup you did... dude... really?

Yeah man, hey I am a well rounded Renaissance man. I keep my reflexes sharp and ready to go, I am ready for it.. always.. Variety is the spice of life!

What's next? YAh mon!

Royal Extra Stout | Carib Brewery Limited


Carib Brewery Limited - Royal Extra Stout by imbibehour, on Flickr

Poured from the bottle into a nonic pint glass.

Deep dark walnut black, quite dark surprisingly with just a tinge of clarity up towards the head. Head creation is about average with a little cascading effect, but manages relatively dark espresso to mocha brown color. Slightly creamy head, a little bit of retention, but eventually dissolves to a thick collar and thin puck.

Clean sensing malts and mineral like quality on the nose. A light simple body with a touch of faint roast. Forgoes large lactose sweetness for more of an English ale (maybe?) yeast berry like ester. Clean almost dry grain but not too flour like but getting there.

Woah what is going on here. This is a reminder of why I don't care for these. While a decent malt feel seems to be present the taste is pure rock candy and soda. First sips at first give a little touch of sweetness then it goes overboard in the mid palate. Sweet cola, not even a touch of vanilla, cream, milk, anything. A half decent if somewhat wet texture, and there's a faint touch of mineral and roast quality on the aftertaste. Strangely not even sensing any sweet malt character qualities to this, it just flat out tastes like soda.

Trix is for kids, and even for a milker, or sweet stout this is far too sweet for my tastes.

look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3 | BA Generated Score: 3.23

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New Rebel Yell Sunday
I utilized the Bengals awful season as a reprise to get a few hours of yard work done today. Still have some Christmas lights that I need to do, but I needed a beer break. Thanks to @Roguer for hooking me up with a can of this

4.03/5 rDev +3.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 16oz can with a best by date of 12/12/16

Like most Sam Adams beers, producing a quality head isn't a problem. It is a thick, frothy cream color. The retention was not as long as I expected though. It is a cloudy/hazy vibrant orange. Not "east coast" murky by any means. You can see through it a bit if you hold it up to the light.

It smells like pithy orange, pungent mango, and ruby red grapefruit with some pine resin and a decent amount of fermented sugars amd malt.

There is some sweet, candied orange and spicy mango up front. Then a solid amount of floral/herbal flavor. A lot more piney in flavor than in he aroma. More fruit toward the end with some ripe grapefruit. It closes out pretty malty with caramel like sweetness. Decent amount of lingering bitterness that you don't really notice much at any other point.

It is pretty thick and chewy with a syrupy feel. Also a little alcohol bite/burn.

A very solid, very enjoyable beer that would be even better if it wasn't so heavy bodied and maybe a bair less boozy. It is more comparable to Devil Dancer, or a lot of other triple ipas than most doubles. It reminds me a lot of another beer that I can't quite put my finger on. Abrasive, or On the Wings of Armageddon maybe?

 

Got my AE Strands all polished up. Enjoyed some lunch with the family. Now I'm kicking back and watching some of The Office for now. Cracked open a beer I've had in my cellar for a few months. I was nervous I waited too long, but this beer has held up extremely well. Onto the review....



Crane's Amber + Brett 4Ever.

Pours a murky ruby-amber with two fingers of white foamy head. Head formation is quick and eager, with good retention. Lacing is moderate to lacking. Aroma has a lactic sour tinge to it, which pops up almost immediately. Raisin and plum give the aroma some additional oomph. Flavor profile is sour, which is an interesting play with raisins, plum, and apricots making up the other notes. Mouth feel is filling, with a medium-thick consistency. Surprisingly filling. Overall, a fantastic beer. The Brett adds a nice sour note in both the aroma and flavor. Brett combined over amber makes it a very pleasant amber beer.

Score: 4.25 | 4 | 4 | 3.75 | 4 | BA Score: 3.99 | rDev: +5.6%

 

Alright! Having something from Paradox myself.

Cheers!

 

Happy New American Wild Ale Sunday!

Did a nice little hike today, around 42, some sun, mostly cloudy, but, the fuckn' wind was something else, easy 25-30mph, with some gust's probably around 40. I've had quite a few good brew's from Paradox, this no exception, very tasty.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/29972/227699/?ba=Wasatch#review

Cheers!

 

Loup Garou from Bayou Teche.

 

New Fruited Lambic Sunday

Next up today was Oude Quetsche Tilquin à L'Ancienne from Gueuzerie Tilquin, I thought it was pretty good: https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/25923/85743/?ba=bluejacket74#review





I'm thinking I'll have one more new brew today, but it won't be another lambic. It's something I've wanted to try, and have already seen people post it earlier today on NBS so hopefully I'll like it!

 

Now up a growler of Bellefonte Oaked Purple Haze Porter, a solid porter but slightly overwhelmed by the barrel, cheers!
4.14/5 rDev n/a
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

32 oz growler poured into a tulip

A- Black with a small mocha head.

S- Whiskey, vanilla/oak, bakers chocolate, roasted malts/coffee, some caramel malts.

T- Bakers chocolates, some caramel and roasted malts, roasted coffee, a little heavy on the whiskey, vanilla.

M- Smooth, medium body.

O- A solid porter but the barrel overwhelms it a little. Would love to see how this would be if it was given a little more time outside of the barrel. The base is comparable to top porters like Founders and Edmund Fitzgerald

 

Good day, all! Many great reviews so far, and I hope I can keep the ball rolling.

Today was a roadtrip day for me, and a bit of a bittersweet one at that. After just a few days I had to get #1 Son back down to Glassboro, NJ. Independence and responsibility are really starting to look good on him, and it was nice having the family back together, but he'll be back again soon enough.

On the plus side- I made sure to take advantage of a few things while I was down there, including a tasty lunch at Tony Luke's and a side trip to one of my new favorite beer shops, Clayton Liquors. The owner is really trying to specialize in NJ beers, and the brand new crowler machine makes hitting up the growler station even more of a 'must hit' for me.

Today I came in search of something else from Spellbound, whose beers I really enjoyed on my last trip. It was a success:


Spellbound Palo Santo Porter, featuring the same tropical wood that Dogfish Head uses in their more famous beer-

Aroma is slanted towards the dark fruit- raisins/dates- but dark cocoa powder, toffee and a touch of woodiness all provide a nice balancing counterpoint. The first sip features the same elements, but thankfully the cocoa and wood play the more dominant roles this time. The perfumy, almost incense-like palo santo wood is not featured as prominently as the DFH beer, but that's hardly to this beer's detriment. I am more reminded of a black cardamom pod, and it's really just used as a 'seasoning' ingredient; it's a porter first and foremost. Wise choice, especially as I have 32oz. to enjoy . As to the base beer, it has a velvety smooth moderate body, dry finish, and clean smack of bitterness. Mid-palate has a nice nutty toffee quality going for it, and cocoa powder and the wood linger for quite a while in the finish. Like the other Spellbound beer I enjoyed, this one may feature some strong elements, but its greatest strength is in the finesse with which it is assembled. Truly stellar, and is making for a cracking couple of pints! Solid A (4.45).

Some travelling music-

 

What do you think? White Oak Jai Alai vs. regular Jai Alai?

 

Happy New Brett Sunday! Time has become of the essence today my fellow NBS'ers, and hopefully that will change by nightfall, but I have been saving this for too long, and demand liquid enjoyment!

Allagash Century Ale
A Brett Saison





A: Pours a lively and spritzy clear gold with everlasting tiny bubbles surfacing into what looks like a perfectly smooth fluffy white pillow of a head that persists.

A: A perfect blend of acidity and farmhouse funk! A bit of granny smith apples and spice. I could smell this forever and be perfectly content.

F: Starts with sweet and sour apples, nice and tart, then moves into a bit of that classic barnyard funk. Some might say sweaty horse, but I've never tasted a sweaty horse so I couldn't tell you. It finishes a bit metallic, which to me is the only negative about this beer. That may be due to its 11 month age, but who am I to say for sure.

F: Hits the tongue like an overload of suds, bubbling up in every corner of the mouth. Very light feeling and tart at first, creamy for just a second, then ends dry and quickly at that. Refreshing, but pretty bitter which stays until the next sip. Quite the orchestra of senses.

O: I love this beer! I was unable to try One-T or Little Brett, but I would assume this falls around that spectrum based on descriptions read. Again, the only thing preventing me from calling this amazing was the metallic aftertaste. Otherwise, a very delicious funky and tart Saison. Cheers everyone, and I will see you all soon!

 

Ok, so I decided I'd do a home brew review today, as I have the ability to follow a pattern by comparing reviews. This is not my own homebrew, but one from @JackHorzempa, and it is his Robust Porter:


Look: if it's not, it's damn near black - a color that really swallows light, even at the edges from a light shining behind the glass. Head is a nice tan, and doesn't grow too high, but stays medium thick at the edges.

Smell: definitely gives me the general impression of a robust porter, with a mix of roasted malts and dark to burnt caramel scents. Getting my nose in there, I get more of the same, along with some bold, dark coffee notes that rise from the depths. It also seems to finish off with a slight bit of molasses or dark brown sugar sweetness. As it warms, I sorta get a little dark fruited dessert bread as well.

Taste: similar to the nose, though the sweeter notes gain a little more attention from my palate initially. Analyzing closer, it isn't quite as sweet as my quick impression gives me, but the malts seem powerful up front. A mixture of dark bread, very light char, and mild hints at dark fruits. There is a little transition to where the bitterness evens the game where I get a hit and run from some licorice. The bitterness is more balancing than overpowering, and has a little woody note to it when combined with the opening malt flavors.

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So after reviewing the beer, I compared notes:

Jack gave me a few reviews to compare against, including his own comparison to the beer he was attempting to clone. I have not had Everett, but this beer reminded me a little in very general sense of a couple of Evil Twin beers I've had.

Apparently I had the same batch he had at 5 months and that @utopiajane did in one of her online reviews. I think I was getting a little less chocolate than her, and a little more bitter roasted notes and a little less creamy feel.

I must say, this is likely my favorite so far of the beers I have had from the brewer. I agree with @utopiajane that this beer would still likely be in the 4 point range in its current state.

 

That's a Cajun warewolf, fwiw. Great name for a beer.

 

CAN SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME SERIOUSLY!!!!

Excalibur India Pale Ale | Tall Tales Brewing Company


Tall Tales Brewing Co. - Excalibur IPA by imbibehour, on Flickr

Poured from the bottle into a Spiegelau IPA glass. A bit of noticeable trub in the bottom of the bottle.

What the hell is this? Slow pour, and this thing expands like a helium ballon. Double fistfull of khaki white head, with big staying power and retention that I will give it would be fine on any other IPA so long as wasn't so out of control. Even a nice dollop of island puck in the center makes a mark. But seriously… this is ridiculous. How this didn't gush out of the bottle when I opened it I have no idea. Body color otherwise, is a very nice clear appearance nearly crystal and bright bronze orange. Lots of fine carbonation from the bottom. Sorry you make a beer undrinakble physically from the start with me you lose a lot of points.

After waiting for some time so that the swiss cheese suds break down so that I can stick my nose in this thing, a resemblance of IPA makes its presence. Floral and earthy hops, fairly large but also has a bit of a medicinal flavor coming off on the aroma. Quite perfume like smelling, and a slight caramel sweetness manages to bring it down but only slightly.

Palate is filled with very tight carbonation, in an almost seltzery body. Sweet malt and almost honey like in taste. Quite a big of gaseous aftertaste, no surprise there, but does manage some semblance of hop bitterness. Honeyed malt and hops towards earth and florals, but way too much carbon dioxide flavor taste and mouthfeel.

There's nothing more to say here.

look: 2 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3 | BA Generated Score: 3.06

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CAN I JUST PLEASE have ONE decent beer NEW BEER TODAY???? I am not asking for much dont make me open up another Backwoods Bastard ok!