New Beer Sunday (Week 644)

#2 is courtesy of @beertunes and the NBS BIF #5, WGNaBP, otherwise known as "The Gift That Keeps On Giving" .....



4.25/5 rDev +6.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Pour is jet black, medium tan head. Aromas have the obligatory char/dark chocolate, but there's a HEAVY caramel/toffee thing going on. NOTE: I absolutely LOVE caramel/toffee notes in a big stout.

The taste is creamy, with the char mingling exquisitely with the caramel/toffee, plus there's a smokiness coming forward as this warms. Love it.

I should've sat on this, but I couldn't resist cracking it open now. I'm not sad that I made that choice, because this is excellent.

 

Can't help but agree, especially with the distribution aspect of the compliment, considering we just got Burial distro, and next week we start getting Foley Brothers and Hermit Thrush, to add to the incredible selection of local and out of area brews we enjoy. And my area (in the Shawangunks/Catskills region of NY) is definitely a beautiful place to live.

 

Friends
It's a rare TWO new beer Sunday for me!
Almost, since technically I have had a sip of this beer a few years back but never had the whole bottle by myself.
So I take the liberty of putting my entry in here.
I have Allagash Tiarna, oak aged Brett Ale, which I bought in September of 2015 and cellared it.
It comes in a 375 ml format and is a 7.1% golden Ale. It is a blend of an oak aged Brett fermented beer along with a Stainless steel vessel aged beer fermented with 2 strains of Belgian yeasts.

They hop this with hallertau, Styrian Goldings and Cascade hops- noble and new American hop combo.
This beer feels like Little Brett on steroids @TongoRad
Aroma is loaded with Brett funk. Think crazy saisons. Wet horse blankets, musty basement et al.
Taste is very refreshing and has a long long finish, like all Allagash wild ales.
It's crispy tart upfront, green apples, gooseberries and one gets some pineapple, some tropical fruit and ending with bread crust/crackers.
The carbonation is awesome and keeps the head going till the glass is done.

It is pairing very well with my lobstah rolls.
FYI I only ate 2 of those

Cheers.

 

Greetings, fellow NBSers,

It's 94 degrees in the city where Hoopfest is winding down. Hopefully, those players in the finals are keeping hydrated.

I'm starting out much later than usual because my morning was spent putting together tonight's dinner (a Moroccan Chicken Stew), then helping a friend and fellow beer geek transport a 26' gate from Iron Goat Brewing (where it is now surplus to requirements) to my friend's back fence. A reward (it was both easier and quicker than anticipated) was a bottle of SN Torpedo. I also had a couple Gin Barrel Head Butts at IG before going home.

Now I'm drinking Mango Antlers from Wander (courtesy of @beertunes), an IPA with added mango.

I've yet to knock up a review, but here's the gist. This starts off as a typical, grapefruity IPA. Then, in the middle space, things take on the flavor of mango juice. The fade out sees a co-mingling of mango juice flavor and a modest, hoppy dry finish. This isn't a fruit beer: it's an IPA with added fruit flavor, which makes it, for me, a cut above most beers with fruit flavoring as an adjunct.

Thanks to @beertunes for this. I have a lot more new beers in the fridge but first I need to put the finishing touches on the dinner in the slow cooker.

 

New beer Sundae.

This is my least favorite in the pack so far. It is not bad, but everything else has been beyond solid. https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/140/281135/?ba=Chickenhawk9932#review

 

Cigar City Absolutely Okay
Belgian Strong Dark Ale



4.32/5 rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25

750ml bottle
Bottled: 02/23/17

Absolutely Okay is a collaboration with De Struise and is a bourbon barrel aged strong dark ale. Beer was poured into an El Catador snifter and pours a dark brownish (almost black) color with a light tan head. The nose is a lot of dark malts, molasses, a lot of character coming through from the barrels as well. The taste starts out with a high level of sweetness up front that makes way for some warmth in the finish from the alcohol and barrels. The mouthfeel is surprisingly thin, really the only weakness with this beer in my opinion. Personally, I love big sweet malty barrel aged beers so this one is right up my alley.

 

Zipline Oatmeal Porter, 6% ABV, 36 IBU. Pours black, with a 1+ finger tan head that left some lacing. Nose is chocolate, lactose, and malt. Taste is roasty malt, coffee, oats, with moderate bitterness. Excellent mouthfeel, overall very good.

 

I'll have to try that. Sounds really good!

 

New Beer Sunday: A well hopped Amber Ale

Evenin' NBSers with a special Hello to all the Hop Heads among us.

As expected the weather here toqday was sunny and quite warm, but not so humid as the last few days have been. The different chores and odd jobs are completed now so it's new beer time.

As indicated earlier, this evenin's new beer is from Modern Times and called Blazing Worlds. This beer is an Amber ale with a lot to offer.

As usual my review, subject to revision until the beer is finished, can be found here:

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/31987/95921/?ba=drtth#review

As I mentioned earlier today, this beer seems to be available around here as a result of the recently ended Philly Beer Week. Out of state brewers need to establish at least a temporary distribution deal to have their beers at one or more of the events. Last year I got to try 3 different beers from the Orpheus brewery in Atlanta since they were part of the "bleed" over into the marketplace here in Philly. However that was a one time only deal for the Orpheus beers, so I suspect things will be the same with Modern Times and that I'll not be seeing this and the other cans of Modern Times beers around here again for a long time, if ever. This makes it particular nice to see some other folks earlier in the thread talking about Modern Times beers, especially @CanConPhilly since I now know which others I'm likely to find with a bit of looking. (And more importantly I have a sense from his comments of which I'd prefer to spend my money on. My highest priority is going to be the Fortunate Islands.)

This beer and its aromas and flavors are all about the hops, so there's lots of pine resin, grapefruit zest and some hints of tropical fruits holding center stage for most of the sip. It does become bitter and quite dry at the end so the lightly bready malt serves primarily to soften the rough edges of the hop bitterness. Definitely a beer worth trying if you love hops and can find it.

This evening’s music on the player is a bit of a “side-by-side” only it's more like a "back-to-back" and I’m listening to some different recordings of the same piece of Bach’s music done by different groups. (I've been on a Bach kick lately.) With a bit of work I’m hoping that I’ll be able to pick up some of the difference noted by various music critics since mostly what I look at was “Did they like it.”

This evenin’s back-to-back recordings are of the Bach Brandenburg Concerto #1. This is the first of a series of concertos written and then presented to a rich patron of Bach’s work, the Margrave of Brandenburg-Schwedt. (Hence the naming of all six of the Brandenburg concertos. )

Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 1

Cheers, all!

 

Hop Eruption from Mazama Brewing in Corvallis Oregon. Very good IPA. Not over powering in and 6.8 or ibus 75. Just about right for a hot summer evening here in Idaho. Cheers!!

 

Good Evening NBS
I have worked my 12 hours today and am ready for a new beer.


12oz canned 5/29/17 poured into a pint glass at fridge temp 9.4% ABV. The beer is hazy golden amber with a fairly thick and sticky off white head. Sticky lacing follows down the glass as you drink. The aroma is tropical fruit and less pungent than expected. The taste is somewhat sweet on the front end with a fruity & earthy combination that finishes semi dry. Mouthfeel is somewhat soft yet well carbonated. The finish is a little wet from the residual hop oils (presumably). Overall, very good.

All the enjoy by's are cause for trepidation on my end. I quit buying these after 3.14.15 because all I could smell or taste in that batch was onion. On the other hand, I have no local or semi local brewery capable of this combination of freshness and quality. Sometimes, I risk a single just to know if I'm missing out or should find something else to scratch the fresh hop itch. Glad I picked this up. Cheers.

 

Picked up a 4 pack of Kuhnhenn's first canning run for their Summer Solstice release. Based on some quick Untappd reviews I was hesitant for this beer.



I'm glad I went for it, peoples were wrong!
Poured into tulip. Deep dark Amber, fluffy head mahogany highlights. Good lacing that lasts throughout.
Mostly caramel, then citrus nose. Some floral notes too.
Caramel, burnt toffee, vanilla, orange, ruby red grapefruit, floral notes. Hints of wood. Smooth mouthfeel,very drinkable. Solid. The initial local reviews were low, it's a well made & tasty beer.

I may have to go for another 4 pack. It's that good. 4.13

 

Doppelganger from Tree House

L: Pours an opaque orangish yellow color with about a finger and a half of head. 4.0
S: Tropical fruits, pineapple mostly. 4.0
T: The tropical fruits from the smell plus some. Mango, pineapple, orange. Moderate bitterness on the finish. 4.5
F: Medium body, light carbonation. Very smooth. 4.25
O: A really good NE style DIPA. Lacking a bit in the smell but still great overall. 4.25

 

Nice to see Kuhnhenn in cans. It's been many many years since last I've had anything from them. Very high in ABV brews what I remember.

Cheers!

 

I think it straddles the line between styles. The 8.0% abv puts it slightly above most dubbels. I also detected no spiciness which has been present in most if not all the dubbels I have had. I found it very similar in taste to Ommegang's Siren's song. To use Ommegang as a reference point, I remember a strong spice element to their dubbel, which the Blackberry farm dubbel lacked.

 

Great review and writing. Personally I'm not 100% on board with the concept being that ridiculous considering what collabs and experimental and new age adjuncts they hammer the market with now. I'm in total agreement with your opinion of that brewery (?) Its does seem on the edge of being a mass marketed schtick-y beer. Like you, I havent liked anything but the peach beer. Its not too bad! Great line up today, thanks!

 

Evil Twin Mexican Biscotti Cake Break, good not great, Fantastic Day, highs in the lower 80s, lows in the 50s tonight
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/24300/218803/?ba=russpowell#review

 

I had this as one of the growlers and my palate agrees with you assessment for the most part. I got an almost rye-like spice aspect to the beer (perhaps aided by the carbonation. I found it fairly enjoyable as more of a pale ale than a more red amber ale. Nice to see some new beers making it beyond beer week.

 

Dig the review and love the lawn part.
So true. Mankind is kind of a freak of nature.

 

Evenin' folks. Been a couple, two, tree years since I've found myself posting on NBS. My reviews over the years have ebbed and flowed. I find myself wanting to review everything and then wanting to review nothing. Not sure how long it will last but I'm back in the game as of a couple weeks ago.

That gentleman @Lingenbrau sent me this Sunday's new beverage. It's a blended saison from Cellador in Los Angeles.

30% Simple Saison
30% Spelt Saison
15% Hoppy Saison
15% Saaz Sour

I have no idea what the other 10% happens to be. Poor math perhaps? Whatever, it's a really great saison.



4.35/5

look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

375ml Bottle

A huge thanks goes out to Phil for introducing this one to me. Thanks, bud! Saison Ex Luna is nearly platinum when exiting the bottle but when it fills the glass it takes on beautiful goldenrod. There's a haze enough to keep the body from being clear and it simply glows when backlit. The crown is fizzy and easy to form. Pure white tight bubbles make up the two fingers of head that eventually fall to a thick cap. Carbonation runs in streams to supplement the foam throughout the drink.

The nose is light and refreshing with some good depth. A smattering of orchard fruits get things going, pear most notably. Musty, dewiness show up in the middle along with a potent note of lime. There's a really pleasing complimentary floral quality that brings to mind a grove of wildflowers along with a soft minerality like wet stone. White grape must and a little grassy spiciness wrap it up. The nose is nuanced and seamless. Very nice, mouthwatering as a matter of fact.

The flavor actually manages to outshine the nose somehow. The depth is outstanding. Each drink seems to bring forward something new. Peaches and pears off the bat, still on the trees and dew heavy. Mustiness and wildflowers abound in the middle along with punchy lime zest and a grassy bite. That minerality and a white grape acidity bring a touch of tartness along for the ride. The barrel adds a bit of tannins to the game. This is really excellent stuff. Again, it's nuanced and delicate with a great depth of flavor.

The body feels as it should. It's on the lighter side of the spectrum but shows enough weight to keep from feeling thin. The carbonation is on the higher end of the spectrum and is active enough to really get the tongue going. It's light and airy adding a touch of frothiness on the swallow. The tannins dry out the finish nicely and leave behind a bit of tartness and a mild hoppy bitterness. Drinkability is off the charts but this is a beer to be sipped and savored. It's hard to not just drink it all up.

Saison Ex Luna is my first beer from Cellador, hell it's the first I've heard of them. With a product this good I'm sure we'll all be hearing plenty from them in the future. Hopefully some more from them comes my way in time. Thanks Phil! Great choice!