New Beer Sunday (week 630)

My first imperial Pilsner and I'm really enjoying it. Tons of bready malty sweetness with a floral hoppiness and some fruitiness, I get mostly pair juice. It's a good Pilsner, I'm really liking the extra maltiness from the 7.5%. I'll definitely look for another imperial pils.

 

Thick and thorough thanks to CaveDave for kicking things off for us. We didn't get the snow nearly as bad up here in Boston, but it was still a sloppy and heavy mess that made it feel like you were shoveling wet cement. This was especially strange because it was 70 degrees a couple weeks ago!

Anyway, I've been using NBS to prod myself into trying some more imports, and so far everything has been from Germany. Now, I already like most German beer styles (and am lucky enough to have some great breweries around me that excel at them) but simply haven't tried all that many actual imports. This week I've picked up something from Belgium though, and I've had a rockier relationship with beers from that country. From what I can gather it's that distinct fruity/estery taste from the yeast that doesn't agree with me. Through some trial and error though I've started to figure out that it's the lighter colored styles that are guiltiest here so I went looking through the shelves for the darkest thing I could find (since many of the bottles don't have descriptions this involved a lot of staring at bottles held above my head).

Enter: St. Bernardus Abt 12 Abbey Ale clocking in at a hearty 10% ABV. It pours a very dark mahogany with just a bit of light showing through. And it's topped with a very thick and frothy head that just won't quit. Even more than halfway through the glass there is *still* about a 1/3" head hanging in there and clinging stubbornly to the sides every time you take a sip.





The nose is a little subdued but offers up sweet, bready malt, some alcohol, and some figs/dates maybe. The taste, however, is anything but subdued. Lots of delicious brown bread, some molasses/brown sugar, and more of the figs/dates (is this what people mean by "dark fruits"?). And it's intensely malty without that sweet and syrupy character that can creep into Brown ales sometimes. The alcohol is fairly hidden (definitely a touch on the back end) and it drinks ridiculously smoothly - I'm honestly having to consciously slow myself down so as not to pound a 10% ABV beer. I can't remember the last time I said that! It just tastes incredibly rounded and delicious from front to back. Even some beers I really love may be a little less satisfying on the after taste than they are on the tongue (or vice versa) but this is just completely satisfying throughout.

Impressive stuff and definitely something I'll return to. I didn't want to "spoil" things by looking too much into this beer before posting but I'm looking forward to learning more about it and figuring out which corners of Belgium are as up my alley as this one is.

Oh, and my images weren't showing up right last time so if you can't see them please drop me a BM so I can tell if I fixed things this time around. Thanks!

 

Congrats! My wife and I were also celebrating a special anniversary this weekend. I like to hear about other couples though, thanks for sharing. Sounds like you and I were similar. I wasn't sure if I would ever get married. My wife and I met, dated for about a year, and then sadly broke up. About 14 years later, through a funny series of events in one evening, we decided to try a date again. Within less than a year, we were engaged. I have fallen deeper in love with each day we have. And two amazing kids later, she still puts up with me. (And even lets me part with one of my Chocolate Rains in a trade--ocassionally. )
PS A candy apple red '69 Fury?!? You have lived a blessed life sir.

 

No NBS BIF box yet, so in an Anti-hoarding effort I busted this out of the cellar.
Notes of Coffee, chocolate, oak, and whiskey. Nothing overly complex or dominating, just a very smooth 12% stout.

 

that's funny. i bought a chunk of cave aged white cheddar yesterday. it isn't extra sharp tho'. that's what i had with the second pour. it worked pretty well.

 

Coach Gard keeping the Badgers strong!!!

 

Here's the last hoppy can I'll be reviewing today. We've been gradually adding more and more hops to each beer, culminating in this:



Trillium's Double Dry Hopped Congress Street.

Pours a distinct orange juice like look, complete with the opaque, pastel orange color. The deviating factors from a typical orange juice look are the two fingers of white foamy head that retain well, before falling into a heavy ring of foam after a few sips. Lacing is tight and splattered about the glass well. Aroma is citrus, orange peel, with flowery hops, and a grainy backbone. Flavor profile is juicy, with absolutely no bitterness at all. Notes of citrus, orange, flowery hops, flour, and raw grain mingle to form a IPA that despite screaming "hops", remains brash with notes smashed all together. Mouth feel is a little fizzy, but otherwise medium in thickness and smooth. It feels just a little thinner than a pulp-free orange juice with a little bit of carbonation added. Overall, this beer has a lot going on to the point of being almost overwhelming. Surprisingly, the hop notes are rather muted in this beer. It's almost as if there are so many stuffed into each glass that various notes drown and suffocate each other out.

Score: 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.25 | 4.5 | BA Score: 4.48 | rDev: -2.6%

Personal notes: This one was tough to review. On the one hand, I like it based on the qualities that it's easy to drink, and boasts a good flavor. On the other hand, the lack of being able to pick out each note is, at least to me, a lack of quality. One of the factors I consider to be the difference maker between damn good and world class is that each note is pronounced and articulated without being muddled together in a heap of flavors and notes. Unfortunately, this beer strikes the latter for me. While I do think it's incredibly delicious, and I can easily see why folks would pursue this, I can't say it's a NE IPA for me. It does have that classic NE IPA look though. Regardless, I'm absolutely honored to have gotten to try this, and am stoked to have one more in the fridge for sometime this week

Treehouse vs. Trillium: So since I've been asked how I think Treehouse fairs against Trillium (@Hoppy_Time ) : the first two beers I had from Trillium were on a comparable - but different - level. Different meaning every Trillium beer I've had was an IPA, whereas I had a cross cut sample of all of Treehouse's beer styles except stouts. This Trillium beer is similar to Julius in that yes it's GOOD, but it's not "I can never enjoy another IPA good". It's smooth, it's tasty, it's an experience, but it is not a death bed beer (a final beer to consume on your death bed). If you're considering trading out a box from your cellar for this one, wait. I still have more Trillium beers to go, and will pursue those few over the coming week with a clean palate and share my more comprehensive experiences at that time. Cheers.

 

I hear nothing but great things about this beer. I really need to try it, even if I'm not a fan of pilsners. Perhaps my Kansas City pride is showing a little. Cheers.

 

Hey what's going on!?

I gots a new beer! That's what.

What's new for our hero today?

Farm Side | Uinta Brewing Company


Uinta Brewing Co. - Farmside Saison by imbibehour, on Flickr

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

Poured from the can into a tulip glass. Best before July 31 2017, Goeswellwithanywhere.

Clear and bright bodied, light brass yellow with fine carbonation and a good middle column of bubbles. Head is fluffy and bright white off the pour with good retention. First sits at a solid two fingers and settles to a creamy half finger puck.

Dense malts, and an aroma of slightly fresh hay. Good amount of candied smelling sugar on this, with very light herbs as well. Minimal sensing brett or funk notes.

Palate pretty much sticks to basics. Minimal brett, but a more noticeable hop bitterness and herbs. Green grass and warm sage like bitterness in the mid palate, with a decent malt sweetness. Creamy feeling as well, with the sugars considerable less sweet than expected from the nose which is a nice feeling.

A pretty much standard saison but simply done and easily drinkable

look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75 | BA Generated Score: 3.81

 

New New England-Style DIPA Sunday


From Other Half in Brooklyn, Double Dry Hopped Double Mosaic Dream, featuring - you guessed it - Mosaic hops and - did you guess it again? - Mosaic lupulin powder, the latest craze in IPA brewing... 8.5% abv, 3/3 canning...

Aromas of bright, floral citrus fruit on the nose substantiated with the first sip. Tangy fruit zest and candy powder up-front, then a little dull funk creeps in on the finish. Mild earthy bitterness moderates the sweetness and clenches the tongue lightly. Softly carbonated and smooth with a medium-weight feel. Another classic take on the style from one of the masters...

One more new beer on tap...

 

Beautiful dog. They make our lives so much richer.

 

Wulver is one of my absolute favorites. And I dig the cordial glass. Well played!

 

Another grab on the way to the checkout at TJ's.

Unfortunately "Our" and "Styled" in Lagunitaspeak means 'let's just hop it'. Missed this one for several years and would have been happy to miss it several more. Now I can only say I like 95% of what they brew.

 

Sticking with @Josholson666 box and the IPA theme I'm trying Insight Brewing WEst Coast Style IPA.
Pours a rusty reddish copper color with an off white head that lingers briefly and forms some nice world map lacing.
Aroma is slightly dank, cat pee, some piney citrus and yes, some toasted malts.
Taste is a solid base of caramelized malts, lots of pine and citrus and grapefruit pith bitterness. I'm finding this a little one dimensional.
Feel is rustic solid carbonation with a pretty bitter rind finish. Finish is dry and clean- not any off flavors I can detect.
Well this one they may need to do some more research on because IMHO this is nowhere near any kind of West Coast style IPA I've experienced. This brew relies heavily on roasted malts. As a matter of fact the malts seem to dominate and take any nuances right out of the hops. If I was expecting a hoppy red ale I may have had a slightly different opinion. West Coast style? not sure where. Doesn't taste horrible just not my bag. Oh well not everything is to everyones liking, that would be boring. Ive got an IPA from them that is East Coast Style. Maybe that one will be different.
Have a great Sunday!

 

Here is some more of the damage inflicted upon me by @JBowenGeorgia and posted with the help of @WesMantooth



Sunday Morning Stout by Weyerbacher’s

FREAK of Nature DIPA by Wicked Weed (been trying to get this for a few years!!!)
BCBBW by You know who.
Raspberry Halo Imperial Stout by Cigar City
Height off Civilization by Wild Heaven
Rise-n-Shine by Terrapin
Southern Woodpile Raspberry by Southern Brewing Co
Mini Growler by Westbrook and Evil Twin
Lucille The Walking Dead (Blackstrap Molasses Stout) by Terrapin
Genesis by Wicked Weed
Dark Age by Wicked Weed
Modern Comforts collab: Creature Comforts and Modern Times DIPA (X2)

SWAG: Creature Comforts T-shirt, soap, and a very cool glass.

 

Great review. And I am one that leans ever slightly towards the Focal side.

 

Moving along here players. An yeah, another beer from @foundersasap . Jeff, I hope you enjoy being mentioned in posts cause I have like 15 more to go.

My second new beer today is Mokka Munt, bba stout w/cofee, and mint, from Oddside Ales. Not my first rodeo with Oddside but probably only like my 3rd/4th from them. The brew checks in at 10% abv and a bottle date of 10/24/16.

An oil slick pour with not much carbonation and an almost non-existent tan head. The nose is very floral with chocolate and mint. It literally smells like mint chocolate chip ice cream or a god damn peppermint paddy.
Big time mint flavor carries right over from the nose on the first few sips. A very smooth and lush flow with a creamy and boozy finish. The mint really dominates at first but other flavors begin to come on at it warms. Or either I'm just getting use to the mint? The coffee is on the subtle side but there with more of a bitter grind flavor. A mesh of bourbon, oak, toffee, brown sugar, lactose, chocolate malt, and vanilla. The mouth feel is on the moderate side with a slight stick to it. The barrel does is there nicely but does not dominate the other flavors. Boozy with a slight alcohol burn. The flavors really linger nicely.

Overall, a very interesting flavored bba stout that delivers as long as you like the flavor of mint. Again I'm in the low 4's.

 

Oh, definitely! And I'm squarely in the Focal camp myself.

 

Some kind of allergy attack or weird cold thing hit me earlier this week, and it wasn't too bad until New Beer Sunday morning. Ugggghh harsh sore throat .

But before the big bad sore throat set in, very early Sunday morning after my late work shift, I did sneak in a 12 oz. can of something new sent to me just over a week ago from the Beer Fairy.


Grey Sail Brewing of Rhode Island's Leaning Chimney Porter (brewed with peak-smoked malt)

Fantastic beer ... no questions there, for it's chock full of good chocolatey porter notes and more good wood/toasted wood notes. And the nose is double fantastic, super sweet and better and better as it warms, turning into a toasted cherry kolache for me ... seems weird perhaps, but I'd swear that's what I was smelling.

As for the "smoked" aspect of the beer, you can definitely detect some peat and a little smoke. You also will not find a Schlenkerla-level amount of smoke, which my guess is the brewer did not intend. The smoke notes are very subtle, though the peat flavor helps build and build an earthiness that takes over the final half or so of the beer.

The review:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/27710/76482/?ba=Premo88#review
4.17 (+10.9% rDev)

@TongoRad has been helping me brainstorm ideas of how to follow a big smoked beer during a session ... you start off with a rauchbier but then what? I think in the case of Leaning Tower (and other porters like it), I could see drinking a couple of these *then* grabbing a big smoked beer and flowing perfectly from one style to the next. Just a thought (and I've still got the ingredients in the fridge to try it later this week when this stupid sore throat thing goes away ).

Cheers, NBSers!

 

I like your assessment. I have a thing or two in my fridge. I'm about 45 minutes from Trillium Canton so access is relatively easy as long as you want to spend the bread. I go through cycles. I cant drink them all the time- I get sick of them. Personally their IPAS that are not DDH I prefer. Though that is a classic juice bomb if that's what youre looking for.