New Beer Sunday (week 630)

Back with my first (New) Beer of this Sunday. As you might guess, it comes courtesy of @MacMalt and his box. It's my first (but not last) beer from Kane, and it's pretty damn tasty.
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/26676/72504/?ba=woemad#review

Kane may call this an attempt at an "American" IPA, and prominently mention the PNW hops used in it, but to my tastebuds it seems like an east coast, fruit forward IPA. Fortunately, it seems quite fresh, so it's exceedingly well balanced and very drinkable. I received two of these, and I don't think that's a bad thing at all.
Thanks, @MacMalt (love the glass, btw)!

 

Well then, jump in the next one, likely Septemberish, towards October. About 6 months from now, we do two a year.

 

I got some Kane and Carton stuff from @SammyJaxxxx , and was nicely impressed by all of them.

 

This was one of the first bombers of beer I bought when I got into craft, and I have fond memories of it. It was before my time on BA, so I don't have any reviews or notes of it. I did get a can of it last week and have it in my queue somewhere. I'm excited to revisit it! Glad you enjoyed it.

 

@MacMalt and @SammyJaxxxx do pretty well at emphasizing NJ is a pretty good beer state.

 

Happy Sunday NBS players. Windy as all hell here on the island but the sun is out and I'm glad to be dealing with temps in the 40's as compared to the last few weeks. Spring will be here soon enough. Have not done much all all today and I plan to spend the rest of it binge watching iron fist and drinking some beers. Maybe a little food too. Not to rub it in but I'm looking at my first full week of vacation so I'm going get into it without fear.

On top of it all I have a fridge full of new to me Michigan beers thanks to my bif #5 box and the fucking awesome ba known as @foundersasap . My only real dilemma is deciding which beers to kill first.

My first choice today is Crescent Fresh, an ipa from Ellison brewing in east lansing MI. A brewery that I have never even heard of. The brew checks in at 6.25% abv.

A golden amber pour with see through clarity, moderate carbonation, and a fast dissipating head. The nose is hops, fruit, and slight malt. A nice bursting hop punch on the very first sip. A tangy and fruity flow that finishes pleasantly bitter. Lots of nice pine and resin that get all mixed up with citrus fruit notes. I mostly get grapefruit, lemon, orange, grape, mango, and a sort of apple flavor. A slight dank tone comes on after each sip the more I drink it. The mouth feel is light/moderate but it really seems to drink bigger than it is with a sort of white wine quality to it. Lingering malt sweetness helps with some balance as well.

Overall, very nice stuff. Drinks very much on more of the raw hop spectrum of the style but the flavors deliver and the abv is perfect. I'm in the low 4's here.

 

Here is a brew I received from NBS BIF #5, WGNaBP from @TeemuWPG



Skinny Dippin' Stout from Sawdust City Brewing
4.09/5 rDev +7.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Can, 473 ml, poured into fluted snifter.

Pours a dark, but not opaque, brown. When not held up to the light it appears near black, but the sun shines through showing its brown tint. Head is light tan, big bubble foam that takes its time to settle. Makes a thin cap with thicker collar, clingy lacing hangs on my glass.

Aroma is roasty and toasted malts. Hint of sweet malt in there too. Not charred malts, but roasted brown.

Nice and rich full roast malt flavors. Has subtle bitter chocolate and tiny bit of malt powder sweetness. Hint of bitter black coffee in there too.

A bit thin on the tongue. A creaminess would suit this beers flavor well. Nice level of carbonation keeps it suitable to style.

Overall a tasty brew and a nice amount of flavor at a reasonable ABV.

 

The last weekend in Winter! I say that to myself to feel better because there is still about a foot of snow on the ground. But it will be gone soon - yes, it will be gone. Haha!

And so, I cracked open a fairly new release from Hidden Cove of Wells, Maine. It is their Double IPA called Thunderclap with a 8.8% ABV. No date but I know it was released within the last month. So it is fairly fresh. And it tastes so.

Orange-amber, heady pour. Nice fruity sensations on the nose and in the taste with a focus on orange or melon. Medium body. Decent fruity finish. For a near 9% ABV beer there is no booze anywhere. Beautifully masked. Cheers all.

 

We have a new one coming out that is tasting pretty dang good. Lemme see...

"Flüssiges bricht das Fasten nicht." (Liquid [bread] doesn't break a fast).

This old German saying is attributed to the monks who, legend has it, would brew and drink hearty dark beers to sustain them during their extended Lenten fast between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday.

Bierkeller Fastenbier is brewed in the style of a "Franconian Dunkles Kellerbier" and contains a hefty dose of dark Munich malt with just a hint of beechwood smoked and roasted malts. Lagered for 9 weeks prior to release, it has the taste of rich, dark bread, balanced by a gentle spiciness from the hops.

That work?


(note: ours isn't yet fully packaged or pouring yet save for out of the lagering tanks, but this comes very close to look and feel)

 

By "packaged" do you mean that you are bottling it, or just kegging? Sounds amazing, btw!

 

Hey NBS! Thanks Dave for the wakeup call and poetry and the reminder that its still winter in these parts although I am very glad we didn't get a bit of snow this round. Excited to be part of this BIF #5 and to see the very generous and thoughtful boxes shared by all. Sharing, generosity, friendship and trust in what someone would appreciate are all things I think we would all like to see more of. Plus the theme is BEER. Fun stuff that connects us from all over this country (and world for that matter) What the hell could be better?
Speaking of generous @Josholson666 was very, in his selection for BIF#. Ive got lots to choose from including, stouts, porters, sours and IPAs- plus coffee and a very cool Surly glass. Ive had a few already including this one from last nights Central Waters Cassian Sunset Stout, Brewers Reserve, aged in oak bourbon barrels with coffee,vanilla beans and cinnamon added. Briefly- just a phenomenal brew. A very balanced blend with a nice kick from barrel and a spicy cinnamon finish. Body was on the lighter side for a beer of this type which I personally really like. Enjoyed the hell out of this one Josh.


My second IPA from the box and first time with this brewer is:
Modist Brewing Co. Dreamyard IPA
Pours a fiery, hazy orange-gold with a very nice voluminous head that settles and leaves plenty of wonderful lacing.
Aroma is of passionfruit, pineapple, guava pine and sweet red grapefruit and citrus and some greener/grassy hops. A hint of cove/banana from wheat. A nice blend with nothing overpowering the other.
Taste follows with the full, rounded, tropical and citrus and a piney pleasant slightly bitter end.
Mouth is nice and smooth from oats and wheat and the carbonation is perfect as the finish is nice and dry.
A very enjoyable, and perfect example as to what you would think "American IPA" should be. Says "juicy, hazy" on the can but as it was slightly hazy I did not find this to be a NE style juice bomb. Very reminiscent to me to a Bissel Substance with a little more juice. All in all a super drinkable and hoppy flavorful brew- and I received two! Thanks again Josh.
And for NewOldVinylSunday I'm spinning anything by the Father of RocknRoll Mr Chuck Berry. Your music will never be forgotten.
Peace and Thanks for taking the time!

 

New Front Burner Sunday



4.06/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Bottled 1/5/16

Poured fairly gently into a snifter. It is a dirty/murky brown with an amber tint. A moderate tan head settles into a fine ring.

It smells sweet and syrupy, with caramel, molasses, brown sugar, some alcohol, and malted barley. It is pretty rich. Strikes me as an English style.

Surprise! There's hops. Spicy and ripe fruit ester up front with a significant bitterness with a touch of floral flavor on the back end. In between, the sweetness rules. Maple syrup, molasses, caramelized sugars, and some dates/figs. A nice balance between the rich flavors and the hops.

The body is fuller, with a bit of a sticky, syrupy feel. The biggest knock is the dry, overly crisp finish.

This is a nice Barleywine. It still leans American, even after a year, but offers plenty of sweet, malty English qualities for those who prefer the later.

 

New American Blonde Ale Sunday

Hello All!
Another beautiful day here in Tucson, Arizona - 80's and sunny!

Today's brew is from Firestone Walker. 805. Unfortunately, there's not much to say about it. It is mediocre-ish. Even for the style - not much going on. It's inoffensive and easy enough to drink. It has some light malt sweetness with a touch of floral dryness. I scored it: Appearance - 4.25 (It is nice looking), Smell and taste:3.25 and mouthfeel and overall 3.5, landing it at a 3.39 - a bit lower than the current score of 3.51. It's nothing to go out of your way for. It's not "bad".

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/2210/81490/?ba=jwc215#review

Cheers!

 

Kegging only. Having a special Lenten beer garden for the release in a couple weeks. Got a big order of Bohemian Tankards coming in for serving. I owe you, so I can drop one in the mail for you when they come in. Cheers.

 

My first time with Saison Dupont. This lives up to the hype, perfectly balanced. I honestly like this better than the Hill Farmstead Arthur I had last week.

 

Lucky customers! Hope it goes well.

 

4 Belgian styles new to me. All worth a try. LaChoufee & Chimay Doree are winners.
La Chouffe | Brasserie d'Achouffe
4.3 rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Glad to make this review #1001.
$14.99-10%=$13.50 4 pack at WFM = $3.40 each. Great deal.
As fine an every day Belgian as can be found, when you cannot afford Chimay, Duvel, or delirium.
A) Pours a cloudy honey body with a pillowy, rocky head; pasting a streaming lace pattern on the tulip glass.
S) Powerful lemony, yeasty, grassy, white pepper, coriander, and spice, with sweet, honey/rock candy high notes.
T) Follows smell, with upfront dry and spicy, lemon and coriander, then the intertwined sweet and herbal flavors build into a complex twist. Finally, the grassy hops and yeast wash your mouth peppery clean.
F) Medium body, creamy, with abundant carbonation.
O) Complex, excellent brew true to its craft. Drink at cask temperature.
Dorée | Chimay
4.2 rDev +8.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
Very cool that gold cap now available, I found it at Wegmans. Did not quite come up to Red, its closest cousin, white, or blue - but still very good and in this case sessionable.
A: Pours a very hazy golden yellow body with active visible carbonation and amber highlights. The beer sports a two finger sudsy pillowy white head that slowly reduces to a constant cap and sheets of lace with every tilt of the snifter.
S: At cask temperature, abundant aromas of pale malts with abundant aromas of spicy Belgian yeast and citrus and candied lemon rind.
T: Upfront follows smell with a greater hint of sweetness (orchard ripe apple) with spicy flavors of Belgian yeast and more lemon rind candy. Aspiriny bitterness, white wine astringency cleanses as you finish.
M: Medium bodied, dry aspirin finish, chalky, with lively, scrubbing carbonation.
O: Gets better as it warms even when you start at cask temp. If it was more affordable, I could drink more of these.

Exit 6 Wallonian Rye | Flying Fish
3.9 rDev +1.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Always happy to review NJ brewers. This is great example of their experimentation as authentic underdogs.
Enjoy by 12-2017.

A: Copper-red, mostly clear body with vis rising bubbles, and too flat head, but ample lace and easily re-kindled film with a swirl.
S: Ample aromas of rye, Belgian yeast, the Sorachi hops tingle, with lemons, apple orchard, and spice.
T: This beer follows the ample smell delivering full belgian-tickling yeasty flavor that soothes and caresses, a kind of Japanese take on a Belgian dubbel.
M: It's thinner than I'd like, ABV hidden well, but the tongue tickle saves it, finishes dry and is a great door opener, food and cheese beer.

O: Try 12. It's an original, unmatched take on Belgian meets Japanese meets rye IPA.
Monk From The Yunk | Manayunk
3.9 rDev +5.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Tripel is a favorite style. These guys to a massive tripel which is a great first start that I like better than most.
a - Pours a very murky, dark golden body with 2 finger lumpy head into a Duvel tulip - leaves foamy waves of lace, and remains a white film.
s - Aromas of honey, yeast, spices, cloves, bread, wheat, and grain. Ample and wine like.
t - Tastes as the smell but bigger with yeast, honey, cloves, pepper, spices, pilsner malt, wheat, and grain.
m - Medium body and moderate carbonation. Alcoholic but no more than Chimay Blue - 9.1% ABV. Great finish.
o - Excellent massive tripel, definitely on the sweet side. I did not find any one flavor dominant, so well balanced, powerful and affordable (much more so than Chimay Blue - my fave in this style.)

 

You NBIFSers are making me maddeningly jealous!

 

Happy New American Brown Ale Sunday!

Did the usual hike today, sunny, around 70, here on the Western Slope. This is my first brew from this brewery, thanks to @thebeers via the awesome package I got from NBS BIF# 5. Pretty tasty, looking forward to trying the others from Free Will. Glad to have been a part of the BIF, thanks @beertunes, hopefully I can be part of the next one. Will be back with another, shortly.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/28091/217712/?ba=Wasatch#review

Cheers!