New Beer Sunday (week 618)

Merry Christmas NBS crew! Been a long time sine I've participated but I felt a little inspired this morning so I decided to share my thoughts today on a stellar new beer.


Rum Barrel Aged Narwhal! Want to start off by saying this was part of a 3 pack of BA Narwhals with the 3 barrels being red wine, bourbon, and rum. I was scared of the red wine barrel one but it ended up being superb. I would highly recommend picking up this BA Narwhal 3 pack even at a pricy 40 dollars. My review of the Red Wine Barrel came out at around 4.5 for what its worth.

Onto the review!

4.65/5 rDev +7.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

This is an excellent beer. Pours completely dark with no lacing and a finger head that slowly goes down and leaves a ring around the glass with some space in the middle of the glass.

Smell is of burnt brown sugar, chocolate, vanilla, and even some rum spice is detectable.

Taste is on point! Huge molasses and vanilla along with more brown sugar and oak. Some dark fruit, raisin, and wood flavors also. The rum spice from the barrel is very prominent on the finish as it lingers in your mouth.

Feel is of a typical BA Stout. It is chewy and thick and drinks like a meal.

Overall I had high hopes for this beer and it didn't let down whatsoever! Everything you want in a big barrel aged stout and Sierra Nevada hits another one out of the park.

 

Dennis, does Brotherton distribute in North Jersey or do you go down to the brewery? I haven't seen cans or bottles in any of my usual bottle shops.

 

That brewery is one of the few things I miss from living in Ashburn.

 

Time for another from a Four Hands gift box given to me by my sister last night. Three bottles and a glass in the set, opening the Gingerbread chocolate milk stout for the review. There's no date on the bottle and the abv. on the label is 5.5%. Pouring it in the mason jar glass for the review.

Pours a thin root beer looking brown with a generous finger of tan foam. It settles leaving a thin ring and some lacing. The smell is faint gingerbread and a cola sweetness. Taste is gingerbread cookie, spice and a cola-like sweetness once again. The feel is super thin, fizzy on the tongue and unremarkable.



Not a drain pour, but nothing to get excited about. It's a easy drinking thin adjunct milk stout that tastes like a store bought gingerbread cookie. At least the glass is cool! My score is 3.45 / rDev -2%. My neighbors cookie tasted much better!

Cheers people, hope to join you later! The review.....

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/27870/256584/?ba=Prager62#review

 

Good afternoon, NBS! Been a couple weeks where new beers just weren't in the cards. But being in a new place made it very easy to remedy this condition. I generally don't cross-post, and I wasn't planning on reviewing my first beer posted (w/pic) on WBAYDN, but pFriem IPA was so tasty, I figured I'd combine a review of it with this post.

I was also impressed by the opening today, in inspired me to have a little fun, as well. This does not live up to the host's stanzas, but was fun for me to work through:

As the family made their way through the gifts,
I was feeling quite parched,
As though I wanted an ale to pass over my lips.

So I arose and to the fridge I marched.
What would be the first beer of this day?
To decide the previous days' riches were searched.

The choice was made, it would be pFriem's IPA
That was brewed barely over two weeks ago
And upon pouring, looked quite wonderfully more than okay.

A tropical note came from the nose
Accompanied by grapefruit and flowers,
Whose strength above medium did not really grow.

To share this with family did take some power
As with the first sip I was quite enthralled,
But this was a gift onto others I showered.

The beer started with a nice taste of malts
That gave it a backbone to hold up the hops,
Initial impression, this beer seemed without faults.

Tropical fruit and citrus pith stood out atop
A nice level of bitterness that included some grass,
All of which combine to make this beer really pop!

Perhaps its youth helped make this high class,
But the medium bubby feel also gave a good lift
To this wonderful beverage that occupied my glass.​

Speaking of the gifts from the first stanza, no surprise the gifts for me focused on a certain theme:


Anyhow, thanks for indulging. The actual focus of this post, however, is a medal-winning Foreign (Export) Stout from Alameda Brewing of Portland, OR - Black Bear XX Stout.

The beer pours rather thick looking - like a lightweight oil. a nice medium to dark tan head builds up and forms a lightly foamy cap. Lacing comes in lines of residual bubble stretching 2/3 the way around the glass.

Nose is roasty with maybe just a slight bit of char. Seems to be a little amount of unsweetened chocolate or cocoa, perhaps, but that is harder to discern.



Taste doesn't give you much sweetness up front. It almost teases you ever so briefly before bitterness takes over. Roasted malt bitterness along with the feel and bitternss of the skin of dark nuts is quite strong. No chocolate in the taste, here - it's more of a coffee-like roasted malt flavor with an extra dose of woody bitterness (my guess is that is hop-influenced). I noted a few reviews talking about dark fruit - I am not getting any of those; a little nuttiness perhaps, but no fruit.

Beer is a more bitter than I'd hoped. It's fairly bold in its roastiness, and seems to have a decent dose of hops. I long for a little of the sweetness some reviews spoke of. There is no bottle date to help me rule that out - so it's unknown if it's that or just my palate. Even though I wished for a little more, this is a beer I will easily finish this morning before moving to the next.

 

While I liked Freak of Nature, and seem to agree with a fair part of your review, I'm on the side that says it's hard to "upgrade" Pernicious. Then again, my palate is more tuned to "regular" IPAs than doubles nowadays. Thinking you can't go wrong with either option, really. Cheers!

 

Merry Christmas NBS players. A very nice sunny and rather warm day for december here on the island. Hit the in-laws yesterday, and have another holiday party tomorrow, but today the fiance and I are just spending the xmas day home and alone as long as nobody shows up. Got most of the outdoor furniture put away for the winter and dusted off the snow-blower. Xmas dinner is going to be a pretty simple baked zitti.

My first new beer today is O-Ren Rishi, an ipa brewed w/ peach blossom white tea, from Barrier brewing co. The beer checks in at 6.8% and no bottle date.

The pour yields a soft orange/amber color with slight haze and a fluffy white head. The nose is sweet and fruity. A rather tangy start on the drinking with a mix of sharp fruit tones, herbal undertones, and a hoppy and slightly bitter finish. Nice fruit notes of peach, melon, apple, and orange. The tea adds brings that herbal, grassy tea feel that hits on the back of every sip and seems to add some dryness. The mouth feel is on the lighter side to slightly moderate but it holds up well with the flavors.

Overall, it's an ok beer but I'm just not a huge fan. It's made well, and drinks decently enough but the tea feel just really seems to clash to much with the hops and fruit for my taste. If you got rid of the tea this would probably be a pretty enjoyable ipa. I'm mostly around a 3.5 here.

 

Moving along with a collaboration.

Friend Request | Jack's Abby Brewing / Stoneface


Jack's Abby / Stoneface - Friend Request by imbibehour, on Flickr

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Poured from the bottle into an elongated tulip glass.

Creamed light tan to khaki colored head of about a finger. Settles nicely to about half sized, with a body color in chestnut amber hues and an opaque appearance.

Light malts, a minor bit of toast, and a nice yeast profile. Dark bread sensations, almost rye like interestingly. A very nice fruity ester coming off, almost wine and sweet grape like in particular.

Palate profile is very nice. Soft malt and sweet wine grape flavor on first sip. Mid palate has a Concord grape like quality, with a small hint of pepper qualities as well. Slight caramel sweetness added on with the grape like flavor which makes for a nice mix. Peppery light tasty carbonation, but not overly so. Mouthfeel manages to stay simple and pleasant even with some prickly play.

An interesting Biere de Garde to say the least.

4's Across The Board.

--------------------------

 

Poured into my favorite Lost Abbey long stim tulip at near room tem, vintage 2016. Pours a very slick black, a nice 1 inch light tan head that leaves some lace. 4.5

Smell is bourbon, oaky vanilla, expresso, dark chocolate, leather, and tobacco. 4.75

Taste follows a blast of bourbon and oaked vanilla immediately wit coffee, dark chocolate, and leather in the back. 4.75

Mouthfeel is almost large, mild life, a touch dry for sure, and for its 13% ABV drinks. 4.5

Overall this is as good as it get, one of the best beers in the world..........4.5

 

Good evening NBS, Thanks to @cavedave for the prose, and I have to agree with his comments about our intrepid @utopiajane. Each week this forum is an education in the best possible way. Todays offering is from Siren, Mikkeller, Hill Farmstead. A big and surprisingly
delicate on the palate offering. I hope everyone has enjoyed their Holiday, our Christmas was
highlighted by our #2 son being home for a few days.
To all of you a joyful, healthy, and wonderful Holiday
Cheers



Barrel-Aged Lemon Cello IPA

Siren Craft Brew
American Double / Imperial IPA / 10.20% ABV

3.84/5 rDev -6.6% | Avg: 4.11
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a recent purchased bottle, with a best before date of 4/2019, into the modified tulip glass.
A - Deep sunflower gold color, the carbonation trail runs upward to support a nice white cap. The frothy cap quick to
exit leaves no trace.
S - Lemon reduction, roasted pine apple, sweet hints of vanilla, tangerine, cinnamon , and honey all contribute to an intense aromatic experience.
T - Bold, lemon drop candy forward, then quietly the rest of the party shows up. With some warmth, the alcohol steps up
its presence. Chamomile, and honey, a touch of toasted oak and then more lemon zest to make sure you don't forget.
M - Medium in body, gently carbonated. The palate is fully coated as an IPA think 120 min from DFH in texture. A bitterness runs down the center of the tongue, and is quickly wiped aside by the tart lemon phase, sweet bourbon notes are the third phase. Lingering is a medley of all these elements, in combination it really is like a whiskey sour.
O - Well this is an experience for sure! A big sweet, lemony tart, bourbon kissed delight of an offering. A big 10% IPA that is invigorating on the palate, and enticing on the nose.
Well done

 

We have about three more hockey related trips that way this year, so hitting Aslin and Adroit Theory will be priorities

 

Mmmmm. That sounds great and admittedly (though maybe I've just been in Canadia for too long) 40 seems like a pretty good deal. Wish it was available here.

 

Greetings again,
Back from the Guilford Woods. This is the largest Tulip Poplar in North Carolina growing strong at about 350 years! This is the Gordons with Sylvan, Owen, and 3 of the 5 dogs on the trek.
Merry Christmas everyone!

 

Glad you enjoyed that one. I was a late bloomer when it comes to the sour leaning categories of beer. But once I opened up to it, Holy Cow I fell in love with nearly anything peach, raspberry, blueberry, etc... And I have yet to find a peach Bruery beer that I don't absolutely love. One day, I'll try to get you the Sour in the Rye w/ peach. Amazing.

 

Wow, such poetry today!!!

 

I always like it when you include pics of "your" woods. Great family pic.

 

You're on a roll today with the beer-themed wordplay!

 

Getting dark here. This will most likely be my last beer before my dad and I open up our magnum of Anchor's Christmas Ale. That is, if that happens. If not, I may have a regular version of what I'm about to review. I do have one cold!



Stone's Xocoveza Charred.

Pours black with two fingers of dark creme-colored head. In fact, the head foamed up much quicker then anticipated for a bourbon barrel-aged beer. Head retention is weaked by the fact the foam forms with large bubbles. Lacing is totally absent save two dashes. Aroma has a bite of bourbon, and barrel on the front. No boozy burn, just bourbon and barrel. Cocoa, coffee, lactose, and roasted malts round out a bold, full aroma. Cocoa and coffee, supported by bourbon and barrel open up a rich and dark flavor profile. Bourbon is certainly present, but not in a boozy, undrinkable way. Additional notes of lactose, and caramel weave in and out of the flavor profile adding an additional layer of flavor. Despite all the notes, Xocoveza Charred remains well balanced and drinkable. Mouth feel is creamy with a slight amount of grain to it. It's thick and filling, making this beer much more of an experience and a meal rather then something to throw down quick. Overall, an exceptional stout that delivers across the board. The bourbon notes are absolutely delicious in both the aroma and flavor profile. It remains drinkable, while still giving the drinker a flavorful experience. Extremely well crafted.

Score: 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.25 | 4.25 | 4.5 | BA Score: 4.38 | rDev: +4.0%

Personal Reflection: Wow. I picked up No. 1 through 3 from Stone's new "Escondido Small Batch" set (that's Stygian Descent, Oakmeal, and Xocoveza Charred). While I haven't had Oakmeal just yet, I have had Stygian Descent, which proved absolutely delicious. Considering its a Black IPA aged in Rye barrels, I anticipated something I might be drain pouring. Instead, it was incredibly smooth and drinkable. So much so that I've considered putting one or two in my cellar. This Xocoveza Charred is in the same ball park. While I expected great things considering its base beer is marvelous, I am also keenly aware of how a great base beer can be turned flat and boozy from the bourbon barrel - this beer is neither of those. It remains a shear pleasure from first pour to last sip. Well done, Stone.

 

For some stupid reason I never made it to Aslin while I lived there. I still make it back to DC at least once a year for work, so I will go there. next time.