New Beer Sunday (week 614)

Great brew. I too really enjoyed that one. Major fan of Allagash myself and Lil Brett is worth a try. Especially if you're a fan of Mosaic hops

 

Yes, I remember first learning the term multiple decades ago in a novella by James Blish.

 

Greetings NBSers! Tonight I'm splitting a few beers with my good friend and roommate, while we both cook up our own pizzas and split those as well (probably going easy on his because mine was pretty filling on its own). Therefore, this is the first of several entries I'll have for this week. Cheers!

TRVE Brewing's Buried Sun... a mixed culture French-style farmhouse ale...



Pours a cloudy medium amber color with a lackluster head and spotty, sudsy lace sticking around the sides of my glass. The carbonation consists, visually, of slowly rising bubbles and there's some floating particulate matter in the beer. Not a great looker, but certainly not a big deal with a style such as this.

Nose is a little metallic and immediately reminds me a bit of pennies, though it's certainly funky and yeast-forward with some fruity esters kicking around as well as a definite lacto/lemon note underneath the mustiness. I get some papaya and kiwifruit in there, which is kind of nice. It has a little bit of a tannic quality too, even though I don't think it was barrel-aged or barrel-fermented. Kind of losing any malt backbone here, as it seems to be almost entirely subsumed by rustic funk. Smells pretty solid, though, honestly. I probably like it more than it seems from my write-up

On the tongue I get a surprising amount of tropical fruit alongside a big hit of lemony tart funk that continues throughout the palate all the way to the finish. Good coating mouthfeel with a solid malt palate that has some husky grain notes. Lemon biscuit and slight tea-like notes with the same tannins from the nose and a notable herbal quality. Not sure what they used for hops here, but they're really highlighting a "Noble" profile with a lot of floral suggestions. Definitely works for what they're going for here.



Great atmospheric black metal here. Long songs and a very raw yet incisive sound. Epic stuff! Definitely growing on me since my first passive listen.

 

Good holiday weekend, time with fam, colleague in town from Brazil, hunted for Bourbon County, never again. Goose Island does not sell in Michigan so distro is very limited, found one store that would sell me one $20 bottle, yea right see ya! Made a trade with awesome @Ivan52 though!
Smuttynose Finest Kind IPA, this is one gorgeous beer, pours a beautiful two finger head of tiny bubbles capped off with a thick milkshake like top! Head retention throughout the drink, nice light floral aroma, very balance hop and malt profile, light fruit, tangerine. This is one bad ass beer, if I could find it local, I'd drink it by the case.

 

Dear Abbey says, "It's New Beer Sunday! Review and share about any beer you want!"

 

Mine either. I gather with a few different groups (loosely associated), and we're definitely more diverse. Diverse in age, ethnicity, and at times even gender.

 

Sorry I was in the wrong forum . Should have WBAYDN.

 

I would love too, but I don't think it saw distribution out here. Allagash is kind of weird like that about what we do and don't get.

 

Another new beer today? Yes!
Spilled Grain Brwing Small Town SMaSH #3.

Very delicious pae ale. Nice. Crisp, but not too bitter. Good, and refreshing.

4.31/5 rDev n/a
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

This pours a fairly clear amberish color. The head was a 1 finger head. The nose is amazing to me. It's so citrusy - so luscious smelling. The taste is very citrusy. It tastes like grapefruit, but it doesn't have the bitter "hop bite". It is not too watery. It is fairly rich in flavor. Delicious.

Will this be the end of NBS for me? I'll see after this beer.

 

A: Comes in like a dark brown, opaque at the edges.
N: Smells like dark malts.
T: Initially has a porter-like roasty dark malt flavor with a touch of sweetness. The hop bitterness comes at the back end leaving a tea-like aftertaste. Admittedly not as complex as Wookie Jack, but still a great tasting beverage.
M: Medium mouth feel. Fuller than a porter, and at 8%, not unlike a DIPA.
O: I wish "Black IPAs" were better regarded in the beer world. I get tired of big and sweet beers that mark the winter season. Black IPAs bridge that gap with providing a hop backdrop. I dug this beer as it hits that great balance I want in this style. With Wookie going away, this may be the only good one left.

 

Ridgeway Brewing - Lump Of Coal

Intro - Another beer from the Ridgeway "Christmas lineup". They have about a dozen of them. Has anyone tried that Santa's Butt yet? I think I'll pass on it. LOL! Anyhow... this is a Foreign Stout coming in at 8% ABV.

Appearance - Dark... very dark but not pitch black. Beautiful red hue throughout the beer when held up to a light. Decent amount of carbonation.

Aroma - yeah... hmmmm.. I don't know, black currants soaked in charred malt liquor with a touch of sugar maybe?

Initial taste - Charred malts, black currants, very vinous like, bitter hops, coffee.

As the beer warms up - more of the same but I do get some smokey malts and a nice dose of earthy hops. The sweet flavors and the bittering hops do fade as the beer warms up. You know something, this brew does kind of taste like a "lump of coal". lol.

Verdict - I don't know, I kind of like it, but I enjoy "weird beers" like this one. It certainly lives up to the name - Lump Of Coal. Personally, I think it's a shame we don't see more Foreign Stouts on the market. I really like the taste of black malts.

 

This is just one of those days for me....

Lizard Of Koz | Founders Brewing Company


Founders Brewing Co. - Lizard Of Koz by imbibehour, on Flickr

Poured from the bottle into a large snifter glass.

Deep walnut black and very opaque body color. Head creation is a simple finger, but manages a dark mocha brown. Settles to a good bubbled collar and very dark top with a few whisps of tan. Some of the bubbles even look a little purple, quite neat and good looking brew.

Real chewy sensing aroma. Big oatmeal cookie like nose, and sensing cookie dough batter. Roast sweetness and a mild sensing berried fruit quality. Melted chocolate chips and minimal sensing heat. Very slight fruit it's quite buried under this rich dense and full lush malt smell. Still an excellent nose.

Um.. This was not what I was suspecting on the palate. While a decent flavor, there is a heck of a lot of blueberry sweetness in this. Mid palate opens with quite a bit of a sugary rush. Light bodied with not much rounding flavor or depth, but luckily stays away from being wet. Has porter like clean finish, with minimal roast as the fruit quality takes over, but leaves a big cookie dough aroma and finish. Fruit sweet with chocolate vanilla nowhere to be found.

Was really expecting something quite unique but this turned into a fruit sugar bomb. At least drinkable but it is pushing it for me, I usually expect a lot more from Founders but so goes experimentation.

look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5 | BA Generated Score: 3.84

Cheers!

But seriously... help me out here.... I am going to start cracking open some mead if this continues and leave yall!!!

 

New Milk/Sweet Stout Sunday

Well, I think this will be my last new beer for the day. Luckily, I thought it was a good one! Here's my review for Dogfish Head Beer For Breakfast Stout: https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/64/146326/?ba=bluejacket74#review





Hope everyone else enjoys the rest of their NBS, and I'll check back here later today or tomorrow morning for everyone else's new brews!

 

Stone 20th Anniversary Encore - 14th Anniversary Emperial IPA

This beer uses all English ingredients and was inspired by the roots of IPA. It uses imported white malt - which was used in Burton IPAs in the 18th century. The water was "Burtonized." I'm assuming the "rare yeast strain" is English. Hops are Target, East Kent Golding, and Boadicea. I gave this one a shot based on the ingredients.

The beer is very woody and a little syrupy. It's very pale and the color of dried apricots. The malt is very light and (unfortunately) not in the spotlight. The beer is a bit sweet and quite bitter. It's very hoppy. Orange peel is the dominant flavor. The hops are a little peppery.

This beer might have drawn inspiration from English ales of yesterday, but in today's context, it feels much more "American" than "English." It's a quality ale, but still a bit disappointing. It's a little off-putting at first, but it definitely draws you in over time - it gets much better the further the drinker goes with it.

Honestly, I am not judging this beer against anything "authentic" because I'm not qualified to do so, but despite that, this beer feels analogous to a painter who goes through the effort of getting all of the paints used by another painter and then wondering why his paintings still don't look quite right.

 

Craig, that is an absolutely awesome review!! It is right 'up there' with something I would read from @utopiajane.

I actually salivated while reading that review and almost ran right down to my cellar to drink one of those beers even though it is not refrigerated (cold),

Cheers to you sir!!

 

My first ever, second NBS post! This time, it's New Bomb Sunday! Bomb courtesy of @tasterschoice62 , who reciprocated porch damages back to me! Per his recommendations, I'm weeding through the "oldies" first. Very excited about everything graciously given to me, and particularly excited to try some offerings from Grey Sail such as this one. Don't know if he was trying to imply a personal flaw of mine by this beers name, but I don't take offense to honesty. Having said that:

Grey Sail Brewing of Rhode Island
Pour Judgement IPA
6.0%
States it is their house IPA with German malt and Eureka! hops



A: Pours a clean but opaque golden orange color with a fine white bubbly head that laces well.

A: At first crack, a nice wave of tropical fruit, then fresh pine crept on stage.

F: Nice crackery sweetness and peppery spice compliments a dominant grapefruit flavor. A bit of an earthy taste on the end

F: This is where I feel the beer shines! Almost velvety creamy and smooth with a drier finish, balanced bitterness, and a constant invitation to take another sip. A fine coating in the mouth allows the feel and flavors to stick with you.

O: A solid easy drinking IPA, and very glad to taste and see some good ol' German malt in an American IPA. Greater complexity than the average. Cheers, and thanks again Larry!

 

Good evening BA, late tasting tonight. But a big check off the list, the one, the only, the original, Bourbon County.



Bourbon County pours a deep black Brown with one finger head, quickly dissipating to a halo with little lacing. Far from the prettiest stout I've ever poured.

The nose on the other hand is a different story. Wondrous scents of chocolate, toffee, oak, vanilla, mingled with notes of coffee, smoke and Bourbon and all conveyed with a distinct nutty character.

Tast follows the nose for the most part, chocolate vanilla and oak up front, toffee, caramel, dark fruit and tobacco mid palette, and a slight hot bourbon and smokiness on the finish. All played across that distinct nutty character. Slightly bitter though quite sweet at first sip.

Mouthfeel is thick and sticky, silky smooth with light carbonation. Neither drying nor overly sweet.

I admit, I had my reservations going into this brew. I've had several excellent examples of BBA stouts but this brew is easily the most distinguishable and dinstinctive. The nuttiness, oak and vanilla strength really set this apart. Overall all I can come up with is wow! There may be comparably good stouts, but there is nothing I've tried as of now as distinctive as this. One of the few times I really wish I had bought more.

Cheers!
Marc

 

Probably White Oak, as it adds depth. Regular is a little too grassy for my taste.

 

Greetings NBS! A late entry for me as I clean up the last of the weekend's dishs.

#1 in the Biere de Garde style, definitely one I haven't explored enough. Reading its description, though, it's very true to the style. A nice mix of lemon drop, apple cider, yeast and oak. While nothing in particular jumps out that just adds to its balance. Part of me feels it would be a good introduction to sour/wild beers for those who may be new to the genre yet it's just funky enough I'm not sure. Either way, even though I know I've had more apparently I've only reviewed three of Jolly Pumpkin's beers so will be seeking more very soon.
Cheers!

 

Whassssssup, NBSers? First up this rainy Minnesota evening, a fresh-hop Pils from one of my favorite brewers.



I'm a BIIIIIIIG Schell's fanboy, so I grabbed this when I saw it at my local beer store. I've really enjoyed the series so far, and this is no exception.

The beer is a glorious pale golden straw color with a finger+ of white head. The aromas are bursting from the glass - heavy grains and grasses, lemon, citrus, sweetness from the Pilsner malt. Glorious.

The taste is all hop-forward Pilsner, with astringency from the lemon and citrus flavors - plus the body of the Pilsner malt. This beer is only 5% ABV, but I much prefer this to the session beers that are ubiquitous these days. To my taste, those beers are nearly always thin - lotsa hops, no discernible malt. This beer has the hops AND the malt. In spades.

Rated 4.31.