New Beer Sunday (Week 652)

Yowsa! Good morning Doc and let me say that I have been up all night thinking about NBS. I really do it. I really stay up all night and think about NBS. I got a thing on my mind. It's the oktoberfest.


Genesee is turning out to be my standard you could say regionally and historically because I think it is excellent. Since Sierra Nevada started the popular collaborations my favorite oktoberfest has been Spaten. Spaten uses decoction. Today I have Goose Island. Let's nitpick it. Cheers!


Goose Island is using three different caramel or crystal malts in their oktoberfest. According to the guidelines caramel is inappropriate. Carapils, Munich and two row. Hallertau hops. Toffee and burnt sugar is what the brewer says. I am already thinking where have I heard this before? This is what the Sam Adams fellow says of their lager on the youtube.

Dried apricots? What style are we talking about anyway?




I guess we could say "ornge" is the color for this year. Spaten was coppery if I remember and Genesee's is more "ornge." It smells lightly toasted a bit nutty. There is a light caramel but it's not as strong as you would think from reading the list of ingredients. Fruity and sweet. This beer seems to have the hops in a supporting roll so that is different from Sierra Nevada. Nose is mild.

Drinks fruity with the idea of apricots and a bit of pleasant malt texture from the caramel which is just firm and a little bright. You cannot say it's a traditional oktoberfest . Not too bitter in the finish but it is mostly dry. The hallertau are a pleasant sensation on the palate. Grassy. Slight bitterness to speak of and it lingers malty. I get the distinct impression that there might be certain brewing flaws related to toffee in the lager. Burnt sugar in a beer - that is not fully attenuated or a different style. The oktoberfest should present a clean lager character, this does not. It is delicious though and I like it because of it's light fruity flavor.

Let's say that as far as scoring every time this beer did not meet the style you give it a 2.75. So appearance 3.5, nose 2.75, taste 2.75, mouthfeel 3.0, overall, 2.75

So far it's Genesee Oktoberfest and Uinta Fest Helles leading the pack as far as my personal favorites. I have not seen Spaten yet nor Ellicottville. If you have to pick out a brewing method that defines this style of beer, it is not hoping, dry hopping or whirlpool. It's decoction. Note to self - look for locals that use decoction.

 

Wow, wish I had Maria's energy, maybe this'll get me going . . .





Score 4.05
look: 3.75 | aroma: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

Clear light amber gold color with white cap and lacing.

Oh this smells good. Layered honey malt cake with noble hop icing.

Taste is malt forward with richness and depth. Richer than your run of the mill Helles without venturing over into cloying sweetness. Mid palate on carries more hop presence in what appears to be a quartet of spicy, citrusy, floral hops with something Noble singing the high notes. Right at the finish there is a final burst of sweetness with everything resolved in the aftertaste. Rather complex and seamlessly interwoven flavors.

Medium texture with balancing carbonation.

I don't know if it's Munich malt, decoction brewing or what else but they've managed to get some Mallard effect caramelization in there that produces a richly sweet maltiness that isn't really sweet so much as deep. The hop combination produces an almost Pilsner like firmness that has been toned down, rounded off so to speak, like a smooth stone found in a stream bed. This review actually took two because I drank the first one so fast.

 

Love seeing him again, Phil will be so happy! @Lingenbrau he is back!

 

So I went to Massachusetts on Friday and scored this incredible stout and came home yesterday and got this awesome glass from @jzeilinger, thx brother. Pours a very dark, damn near pitch black with a 2 finger head that at room temperature disappeared very quick leaving no lace behind at all, bottled on 6/10/17. 3.5

Smell is peanut butter, chocolate, Oaked vanilla, and slight bourbon and heat from the 15.2% ABV. 4.25

Taste follows dark chocolate and peanut butter immediately step forward followed by vanilla, oak, and warming alcohol, very tasty. 4.5

Mouthfeel is bigger than medium, mild carbonation, a touch dry, and goes down easy for its size. 4

Overall this is another great huge beer from Avery, I am always amazed at how they can make these massive beers so darn drinkable. 4.25

 

Good morning & happy New Oktoberfest, that's not an Oktoberfest, Beer Sunday



11.2oz bottle bb May 2018 poured into a .5L krug at fridge temp 5.7% ABV. The beer pours wheat beer hazy and golden yellow in color. The head is off white and persistent. The head eventually settles to a ring with minimal lacing. The aroma has some wheat sweetness and a little yeast character, maybe some bubble gum, no banana. Taste is a little sweet at first, trailing into some wheat malt taste. There's not a hint of toasted malt, at all. Mouthfeel is medium bodied, well carbonated, and medium dry. There is no real bitterness only enough to keep the sweetness of the wheat in check. Overall, good, but not an Oktoberfest of any description. I'm not 100% sure I could pick this out blind against their regular Hefe, which has a subdued yeast character anyway. If you enjoy Hefeweizen and not Marzen, buy a 6 pack and fill your mug. Cheers!

 

Macht Schnell!

I recall hearing these words while watching old World War II movies. German officers would yell to their troops “Macht Schnell”. I am not a German speaker so I had the use an online translator. For the interested student Macht Schnell translates to Hurry Up! I suppose every officer wants his troops to hurry up!?!

Today’s beer is Sly Fox Macht Schnell Kolsch. Maybe there is more information on the Sly Fox website for this interesting branding? Below is from the description from Sly Fox:

“Macht Schnell Kolsch

Kolsch

11.2 OG25 IBUs4.6% ABV

A light bodied golden beer, typically brewed in the Cologne area of Germany. The first beer brewed five years ago on our new German brewhouse in Pottstown, which couldn't get operating fast enough in our minds. A wonderfully refreshing session beer just in time for the dog days of Summer.

DRAFT AVAILABILITY:

Occasional”

Well, they were anxious to get their new brewery operating fast. The name of Hurry Up Kolsch doesn’t sound too appealing but Macht Schnell Kolsch seems to have a better ring to it.

A few months ago on NBS I discussed a side-by-side taste test of two Kolsch beers. In that post I mentioned:

“Keys to Brewing Kolsch

Kolsch is a subtle beer, with a light grainy Pilsner malt aroma and flavor. It is subtle and soft with some grainy malt sweetness up front but with a crisp enough finish that the beer never really seems sweet. The other flavors often attributed to this beer, such as sulfur, hop flavor, hop aroma, and fruitiness, are usually very subtle in the examples or not present at all.”

Jack’s Requirements for a Kolsch

• Flavor: a combination of Pilsner malt flavor and subtle esters (white wine flavors) from the Kolsch yeast
• Low-moderate bitterness and zero hop flavor/aroma
• Very light in color: straw colored
• Mouthfeel: light – medium bodied with a crisp/dry finish

Let’s see if the Sly Fox Macht Schnell Kolsch is in alignment with the above discussion.

Served in my Firestone Walker Pivo Pils glass:

Appearance:

Light straw colored with a two finger white head.


Aroma:

A substantial aroma of bready Pilsner Malt accompanied by a very subtle white wine aroma (akin to a Sauvignon Blanc wine from the Pacific Northwest).

Taste:

Flavor follows the nose with a notable bready Pilsner Malt flavor but nicely complemented by the subtle but very noticeable white wine flavor. There is a low-medium bitterness.

Mouthfeel

Medium bodied and enticingly crisp with a dry finish.

Overall

In one word: EXCELLENT!!


The Sly Fox Macht Schnell meets every one of my personal requirements for a quality Kolsch beer. I really, really wish this was a year round (and packaged) beer from Sly Fox.

Cheers!

@rotsaruch @RobH @KOP_Beer_OUtlet @sierranevadabill @Seacoastbrewer

 

Maria, the decoction process is energy intensive (read - expensive). Spaten stopped conducting decoction mashing for brewing their Oktoberfest beer about 10 years ago; this decision saves money.

Since you are a fan of Spaten Oktoberfest it would seem that you are OK with Oktoberfest beers that are not brewed via decoction mashing.

Cheers!

 

Back again with an Indiana offering



12oz bottle bb November 2017 poured into a .5L krug at fridge temp 6.7% ABV 20 IBU. The beer pours a bright honey amber color with short lived off white head. The aroma is light but I get a little yeast character and, perhaps, just a bit of toasted malt. The taste is caramel malt up front shifting to a metallic off flavor at the end. Mouthfeel is thin bodied, well carbonated and not dry. There is no depth of flavor and the finish is the soapy/oily flavor usually reserved for poorly made AAL. Overall, poor. This is a disappointment. Perhaps the success of other parts of Upland's portfolio have let this beer become an afterthought.

This is now my lowest rated Oktoberfest of the 10 I've reviewed this season. If you can't commit to making a decent lager, don't brew one. With that said, I've enjoyed this beer in the past so I don't know if I got a bad batch or my palate has grown less tolerant of obvious flaws.

Anyone who rallies around the drink local mantra has never spent time in southern Indiana. Cheers and enjoy your Sunday!

 

Stickman Fat Guy in Suspenders Black Lager

Morning, BAs. Thanks to @lordofthewiens for getting us off to such a great start. I picked up one of those DKML's yesterday and may pop it later this afternoon.

The first new beer of day is this Black Lager from Stickman. Schwarzbier is a favorite style that I rarely drink, so I was excited to pick up a four-pack when I had the chance.

This pours cola black with two fingers of creamy, slow-forming khaki-colored head that leave a small cap and sheets of lacing.

Big milk chocolate and roasted malts in the nose, as well as a whiff of carbon dioxide that detracts from it a little.

Roasted malts and some Yoo-Hoo watery chocolate milk going in the taste. Honestly, it's a bit creamier and more ale-like than I expected. No hint of sour tang to it, either. Pretty clean, semi-dry aftertaste in which the carbonation plays a roll.

Light bodied feel with strong carbonation that's a half a hair higher than I'd prefer, but not over the top.

Very easy drinking, but it's more chocolate milk-ish than I'm looking for in the style. Not bad, but not one I'm likely to revisit often at this price point.

P-Dog Checking Out the NBS Thread...


And After a Few Too Many...

 

Breckenridge Orange Cream Ale
5.5% ABV

I have been anticipating this beer for a month or so, so naturally expectations were high. The end result was low.

Look: Sunburnt orange, tight foamy nitrogenated head that doesn't recede but also offers little in the way of lacing.

Aroma: Faint cereal grains, very subtle orange cream notes. Very bland and unnoticeable.

Taste: Immediately the first sip tells me this is a nitrogenated golden ale dressed up. Golden ales make exceptional bases for flavors and additives, the only problem is that this one is flavorless. There is a brief notion of orange zest derived from the hops but that's about it.

Mouthfeel: Creamy and smooth.

Overall: Not what I expected and a complete failure. Tasteless without much aroma. It does in fact have alcohol in it so I'll finish off the 4 pack and try to forget about it as soon as humanly possible.

You win some, you lose some. The agony of defeat thumps it's chest.

 

Thanks for the kick off @lordofthewiens, your doing great word saving these dogs. Ive rescued three, a Labrador, golden retriever and current one is a 7 yr old English setter, she's turned into a great family member! She often get the last ounce or two of my beer. Back later with a new beer! Too early, or too many last night

 

Pours Hazey yellow with fluffy slightly off white head.
The aroma is largely citrus fruit with a bit of an herbal piney hoppiness. im getting a very light biscuity breadth maltiness on the aroma.
It's a very nice session IPA, it's very clean bready malt up front with a very bright citrus hop flavor that does turn slightly herbal with a dry pineiness on the finish.
The mouthfeel is slightly watery, but at 4.5% that's to be expected.
Overall it's a very good session IPA, it's very well balanced and isn't just hop water like many in the style. 4.15/5

It's actually really good and definitely worth $13 for a 15 pack, if they weren't owned by ab I'd probably buy it for myself.

 

It's definitely not to style, but I really enjoyed that Beer last year.

 

Pours dark golden honey with large 2 finger fluffy head.
The aroma is blueberry, tons of funk, light biscuit maltiness with a yeasty earthiness.
It's really not nearly as sweet as most fruited Berliners I've had. It's much drier and earthier. It's lightly tart slightly fruity with lots of funk and a yeasty dryness on the finish.
The mouthfeel is thin with very lively carbonation. It's really refreshing.
Overall I prefer my Berliners much more tart and acidic and not nearly this funky. It's very complex and I am happy to find a fruited Berliner that isn't overpowered by the fruit. 3.9/5

Not my favorite Berliner but it's definitely worth trying. I think I like tallgrass's raspberry jam better.

 

Did somebody say "dogs"?

Dick's open, another fabulous one we all can agree, is right on time. My little buddy Huevos is here in the Brazos Valley for a couple three weeks, while his momma vacations in foreign lands.

We're still sipping our coffee (and napping apparently) but will return with a new beer later. Meanwhile, Huevos, P-Dog (looks like a sweetie, @thebeers!) and @foundersasap's English setter beauty need some canine company here on NBS. If it's not too forward on my part, I say let us seem 'em if you have 'em if you can post a pic; if not, I'll try to read your stories about them to Huevos. If he ever wakes up.

 

First time having this:



A-The beer pours a very nice copper color with a nice ivory head and lots of lacing.
S-Smell is corn syrupy with bourbon notes.
T-Boozy caramel with very resonant bourbon notes.
M-Malty creamy goodness richness.
O-A very well made malt beer, with pleasant warm bourbon notes. Probably the best Malt Liquor available.

 

Good morning NBS!! After having some revisited beers yesterday, including and old beer (2009 Mephistopheles) and an old wine. Yes, folks who tuned into WBAYDN yesterday, the GF and I tried the 1999 Russian River Chardonnay I pictured in my first post. It was very oaky and quite buttery. It had a strong nose and a heavier than expected and flat feel. But this isn't OWS, so let's get to New Beer.

Looks like we might be doing a pre-Oktoberfest fest today. I finally broke down and grabbed Sierra Nevada's 2017 Oktoberfest. OF course, this beer was brewed with Brauhaus Miltenberger. The bottles are dated the day after Independence Day, placing its production nearer an American summer holiday than a German fall one.

The beer pours a clear copper, and if you just dump it into the glass, a huge amount of medium-sized bubbles will take up half the glass. A few of those bubbles stay attached to the glass wall in an archipelago layout.

Nose has a fair hop spice on a sweet honey bread that has a light toast on it. Taste opens with a little spice and somewhat dry. The malt comes on next with a honey-almond aspect. Just as the sweetness gets going, the spice and a little grass comes back to balance the beer. A light citrus zest provides a little zing when it hits the spice and moderate carbonation. The ending is balanced, with my palate tingling with light sensations of sweet, bitter, and spice.


Quite enjoyable, with the citrus zest that I am getting being an enjoyable touch. The spiciness I get is a little more than expected, but not a detraction from my enjoyment at all. A little different take than what I'm remembering from previous years of Oktoberfests, but this is my first of the year. I'll have to revisit my review after getting a few more refresh-my-memory beers under my belt.

Edit: re-read @Squire123's review and can't say I disagree with much of anything in his description, as well.

 

First up today Bellefonte Big Wonder in a can!!!! Have to give a shout out to Hollow Earth Brewing in Oxford, PA for helping the guys at Bellefonte by bring down their canning equipment. I always love hearing about breweries helping each other! Anyways here is my review:
4.13/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

16 oz can poured into a tulip

A- A fairly clear golden orange with a small white head.

S- Tropical fruits, some stone fruit, caramel malts, piney.

T- Citrus, oranges, some tropical fruits, caramel malts, finish is piney with a touch of dankness.

M- Smooth, medium body.

O- A solid, more traditional DIPA. The malt sweetness is too much and the hop linger in a good way.

Bellefonte is really starting to get their hop game together with beers like this and it's baby brother Small Wonder. Have to say it is a lot of fun to see the growth of such a small brewery less than 2 miles from home, cheers!

 

Good morning NBS faithful! A nod to @lordofthewiens for a start today that any dog lover will appreciate. A toast to him for opening up his home to older dogs in need. It reassures me that everything is going to be okay as long as there are people like him in the world.

A warm morning along the southern shore with a nice breeze that is making for some exceptional time on the patio. The hummingbirds have been abundant this month and the locusts are chirping away. Some leaves are starting to turn and many are dropping because of the recent drought here. It never ceases to amaze me how much Lake Michigan influences the weather for better or worse. I think I've painted enough of a picture, let's move on to my beer today.

My sister in law that lives in Wisconsin has been gracious enough to take requests and send me beer. I've heard all the chatter about Central Waters Cassian Sunset so I told her to keep an eye open. We started receiving their beer here this year, but finding certain ones can take a little effort so I told her to buy some if she found it. Let's pour this vintage date notched 2017 barrel aged stout with Emy J's coffee, whole vanilla beans and cinnamon in my trusty 12oz. tulip to get things going.

Pours a thin ice tea looking light brown producing a centimeter of light tan foam that quickly vanishes. There is no lacing present. It smells of vanilla, cinnamon, marshmallow, faint bourbon and oak. The taste is bourbon, tobacco, coffee, vanilla, mild cinnamon and oak in the finish. It's feel is very light for a stout. There's a palate tingling sensation I'm guessing is from the cinnamon and/or bourbon?

A very good beer overall that falls short of world class in my opinion. The coffee is lackluster and the feel is typical Central Waters thin. This is definitely one to enjoy fresh as I'm not sure there's anything to gain by long term cellaring. My score is 3.96 / rDev -9.6%. I'll still buy it if I come across any, but won't go out of my way. I really miss Peruvian Morning!

As long as we're celebrating the dog days of summer, here's a shameless pic of Bailey and Payton chilling after their walk earlier. Miss Payton (on the bottom) arrived here 12 years ago today. She's slowing down and has had some health issues, but doing quite well as of late.

Cheers gang, I'm off to try and conquer a few 'to do' tasks. I'll leave you with the official scorecard to look over.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/652/185548/?ba=Prager62#review