New Beer Sunday (week 619)

I hear yah. I can't help but laugh about that $10+ 750 comment since I know you followed my saison thread (thanks BTW) When I was buying those beers I was willing to take the hit within the context. It's like a music compiler who feels the need to include an ultra-ultra-scratchy 78 on a Charley Patton compilation because he knows he won't reasonably get one in better condition. It doesn't make for great listening, it doesn't do justice to the material, but it needs to be part of the group anyway. (that's my excuse )

 

Happy New Year, NBS (and @Lingenbrau)
I've had a great week off, and I'm not looking forward to going back to work on Tuesday. Everytime I take some time off I get more excited for retirement. Only 20 or so more years!!! Anyway, I've been having a blast playing with the kids every day, but it's probably time to get back to real life. Kids need to get back to school, I need to get back to work, the wife and I both need to get back into our workout routines.

A couple days ago a neighbor stopped by and dropped off some beers for me he picked up on a recent trip to Texas. This was one of them. Not the greatest beer, but I'm glad to have the chance to try a beer I'd otherwise likely never have.

Zilker Brewing Company Marco IPA



Poured from a 12 ounce can dated 12/1/16. It poured an orangish-tan color with one finger of bright white head that dissipated slowly leaving a small amount of lacing. The smell is mostly resinous hops with some lemon and citrus underneath. The taste is very piney and resin forward, but a bit thin. There is very little citrus flavor other than a little lemon. The mouthfeel is thin, slightly watery, and less heavily carbonated than I expected. Overall, it's a bit thin and missing out on some flavor, especially at 7% abv. Not terrible and pretty easy to drink as there's very little palate wrecking aftertaste. It's not one I'd search out next time in Austin, but I'm glad I had the opportunity to try it and will enjoy the second can I have.

 

Founders Lizard of Koz


When I first heard about this beer, I was excited. Then, I read the reviews and became weary. The word "cloying" came up too often. I wasn't going to bite, but then @kenny21435 generously gifted me this bottle and I was excited again. Maybe I convinced myself it was going to be too much, but upon tasting it I discovered the tartness of the blueberry provided a surprisingly good balance to the sweetness of the vanilla and bourbon. The bourbon isn't overt, but from time to time I get the hint of a spirit in there. The blueberry is the show here, and it doesn't taste very artificial. The vanilla sweetness comes in waves. The chocolate adds a little richness to it, but the texture is creamy and soft but stops just shy of being thick and dense, which is a good thing for this flavor profile.

Overall, I like it more than I anticipated. It is sweet, and I am glad I am sharing it. But the flavors deliver, and it is as one would expect given the style and ingredients. A pleasant surprise of a gift. As with most of the Backstage Series, the price is the biggest detractor.

Cheers, NBS!

 

Just got home from my trip today, and a much longer visit than planned with friends. I also got a lot of new beers from Wisconsin. This is one of them.



Delicious. Damn good, and I'm glad I picked it up.
4.22/5 rDev +6.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

This pours an light amberish color. The head is frothy, white, 1-2 finger, and seems to stick around for a while. The nose has a pine feel to it, hoppy. The taste is very interesting. It reminds me of Christmas. It tastes like the smell of something my parents sprayed around the artifical tree when I was a young kid. It's really hard to explain, but it does bring back a lot of memories. While not extremely full bodied, it isn't watery either. Delicious.

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So I was taking the garbage cans out to the curb and I noticed no one else on the street had their garbage cans out. "That's right" I told my self. "Its not Monday, it's Sunday. That means it is New beer Sunday."

I've been waiting for some colder weather to try this one. Funky Buddha Last Snow.

Really enjoyed this. Here's my review:
4.48/5 rDev +0.7% | Avg: 4.45
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours a deep dark mahogany with a fingers worth a thick tan foam.
S: Coconut, cocoa and coffee
T: Coconut is up front. There is coffee but no bitterness from the coffee. Hints of cocoa, marshmallows and a tiny bit of peanut. As it warms there is a slight cinnamon taste.
MF: Very full and creamy. Thick but not heavy. Dessert like but not sweet.
O: It would be easy to chalk this beer up as just another coconut porter. However, there is so much more to this beer. It is incredibly well made. There are a multitude of elements that compete for your attention but none overtake the beer. A great example of what can be done with an adjunct porter.

Pairing this beer up with some Jane's Addiction

 

That last one went down way too fast. I highly doubt that there will be any more of them the next time I hit Wisconsin in March, before my Key West vacation. Oh, well, the 4 pack, well now 3 pack, will have to do.

The next beer is from Upper Hand Brewing. Escanaba Black Beer. I was hoping to get this when my friend went to the UP this past summer. He didn't get this one, but the other beers he brought back were good.

I finally picked up a 6 pack today at Casanova, and I'm glad I did. For a beer that's 4.5%, they do pack a lot into it. I know my reviews aren't in depth, I'm just not a wordsmith anymore, but it is delicious, and i do recommend it.

3.92/5 rDev +4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Pours pitch black, which explains the name, and it seemed thicker pouring. The head was minimal, but what was there was white. The nose is slight, but I do get some coffee hints on the nose.

The taste is fairly bold. I get some hops, and some maltiness. I also get a slight hint of smoke in this beer. It is more watery than I'd like, but for the ABV, it isn't bad at all feeling. Delicious.

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