New Beer Sunday (Week 656)

Hi NBS people!

I'm getting a late start today but am getting a start nonetheless. I won't waste a ton of pixels rambling like I usually do and will get right to the beer.

Tonight I am going to try Vox Stout Milkshake. As far as I know it's a milk stout with vanilla, but that doesn't sound near as hip as calling it 'milkshake'. It clocks on at 5.5% and if it ends up being up to snuff might be a nice companion to the Packers game tonight.



It pours motor oil thick and pitch black with an almost-billowing tan head that eventually drops. The aroma is nutty and sweet with some stout roast but no bitterness. The flavor is very similar and soaked in vanilla with a lot of the bean flavor coming through quite nicely (if too heavily).



The real winner of this one for me is the feel. It is one of the richest-feeling stouts I've ever had. Especially at this ABV. The only issue on the entire beer was that the vanilla is too present. It is good, but it verges dangerously close to being general and it just takes away a little from the rest of the beer. I liked this one pretty well. It could be tweaked but was fairly to style with a solid twist. This is definitely one I'll revisit in a few weeks to see what it's like. If the vanilla eases up it'd be a great beer. As it is it is very good.

Here's my review.

Cheers to a great week for all of youz guyz and galz!

 

Another gift from a customer.
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/34006/296164/


Rec'd a couple weeks ago with no can date.
Moderate pour yields a 1/2 inch white head over a medium golden, hazy body with some pretty nice lacing. Nose has somewhat subdued aromas of tropical fruit and ever so slight pine. Flavor follows aroma with a nice mild, bitter finish that is fairly crisp and dry. Feel is adequate and overall, a nice offering from Emmaus, PA. Cheers!

3.98/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

 

Thomas Hooker Oktoberfest

Couldn't pass up the season's first Stein Club Sunday.

While almost two cans went in the stein, a small portion went into a class so I could take a look. You'll have to take my word that it poured bright orange-amber with a large, light tan head.

It has a malty aroma with mildly roasty caramel and a hint of bread. Clean taste follows the nose. Just enough hops to prevent it from being too sweet. Medium bodied and slightly creamy.

Pretty solid version in the marzen style. I have four cans left, and can definitely see revisiting this one. Prost!

 

4.21/5 rDev +11.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

A: Nice two finger sized white head from pour. Lacing remained during the drink. Body is a dark orange almost amber like color.

S: Mostly picking up grapefruit smelling flavors.

T: Picking up a nice mixture of fruit flavors- mainly grapefruit and oranges. The hop mixture is pretty spot on.

M: Nice soft mouthfeel. Beer has a slight warm aftertaste.

O: Really solid beer. Has the look/taste of what I picture an IPA to be. The smell doesn't measure up compared to the other areas, in my opinion.

 

Last one for the day


12oz bottled 7/3/17 poured into a.5L krug at fridge temp 6% ABV. The beer pours mostly bright deep dark amber in color with short lived tan head. Within minutes only a few bubbles remain. The aroma is rather strong for the style and smells like burnt sugar and body odor. The taste continues with the burnt theme, although not as unpleasant as the smell. Maybe extremely toasted malt? It walks the line of sweet vs. bitter pretty well. Mouthfeel is thin bodied, well carbonated and dry in the finish with no noticeable flaws. Overall, weird but ok. The label says traditional Marzen lager, but I think maybe traditional in the sense of medieval fire brewed beer. You can do worse in an Oktoberfest.

So, I have BP as the clear winner today, with Blue Point second and GI a distant third. That said, I wouldn't buy any of these again. One thing is for sure. After reviewing 29 Oktoberfest beers this season, I am figuring out what I prefer. Cheers!

 

Hi everyone, quite nice weekend in my neck of the woods. Finishing it off with this gen that needed to be popped open from my cellar.

Pours super thick and black as night. Smooth foamy mocha head settles into a thin cap and tan collar.

Aroma is still full of rich and sweet Bourbon. Some bitter cocoa and roasty malts.

Bourbon is smooth and not hot, makes sense for a 2013. Still present and adds deep rich flavor and underlying sweetness. Bitter cocoa and a hint of dark roasted bitter coffee.

Smooth as silk and fine carbonation keeps this creamy.

Still great brew, hasn't lost much.

 

Hello New Beer Sunday!!!

After a long day at work, I've been craving this, and looking forward to this. On to the beer.



Trappistes Rochefort #6

It isn't in the same league as the 10, but it is still an amazing beer, and one I'm glad I've tried.

4.28/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

This beer pours a lighter brown color. The head was 1 finger, white, and didn't last extremely long.
The nose is pleasing. It almost has notes of barrel ageing. Caramel notes dominate.
The taste I get tart up front, then the caramel kicks in on the backside. Really nice combination.
Full bodied. Nice mouthfeel with the 2 flavors working together.
While this isn't as amazing as the #10, it is still an outstanding beer. TR deserves their reputation for producing great beers.

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I will be having another beer after this, and I think I'm going to Deutschland for it.

Also:

I've only had that beer once before, but it is, at least in my book, the best pumpkin beer I've ever had. I highly recommend it.

 

That's one of the beers that Greene King makes by blending their aged 12% 5X with a younger beer.

 

Regarding your last line - What have you found that you prefer?

 

New IPA Sunday (Week 656)
Greetings fellow NBSers from back on the ridge in Mid Hud Val, NY.

No beer drinking games at school for this OG hippy, but I can tell a story from early first semester SUNY New Paltz 1970 that involves a huge, clear plastic tent that was kept inflated by a fan, a light show of melting colors focused on the inside of the tent, bizarre music being performed in the tent by the band Total Crud (with whom I would later become friends), and two vats of Kool Aid. Will leave this story right here, since, as mentioned, it doesn't involve beer, and there was something definitely 'different' about that Kool Aid.

Sorry, no beer pics today, but refer to @Greywulfken 's post here today of Blue Point Prop Stopper to see the can and what a well done pic of the beer pour looks like

Perhaps it is a case of suggestion from can label causing me to smell what I think is sea weed in the mix of citrus, pith and pine bitter, light caramel, and brine. Very nice aroma.

Simple mix of the flavors detected in the aroma, but it has a nuanced taste that definitely has some briny vegetable thing going on that combines well and gives it an interesting kick. Sip ends with light brine and pith joined by pine and herbal bitter.

Light body, spritzy carb, good resiny cling to it, and a finish that is above average. Refreshing.

Simple beer heightened to interesting status by addition of seaweed. Hitting the spot right now at a time when its refreshing nature is a blessing. Recommended but not highly.

Hope you also have a Great American Beer in your glass. Cheers!

 

Kozlak bock beer.despite saying it's a Nick beer it looks,smells,and tastes like a dark ale. Red/brown color,aroma is dried plums and other fruit,malt, and bread. Taste is similar,thick feel,malt and dried fruit is prominent. Just doesn't seem like a typical bock

 

Original German Marzen. I don't like caramel malt in a lager so most US versions don't cut it. I also don't dislike paler festbeers, but that's not what I want either. My favorites all-time would be Ayinger, Paulaner, H-P and 2015 SN collaboration. Cheers

 

"Everyone pitches in to carry line drive victims to the hospital!" Bwahahahahahahahaha!!!

Reading your perfectly put synopsis of Hans' Pils is like crawling into the matrix and watching myself drinking it for the first time. Needless to say, that beer resides in my fridge on a semi-permanent basis. Happy to see you enjoyed it!

 

Ok, second beer for tonight. The TR went down fast, so here goes with the second beer.


Weihenstephaner Vitus.

This is a strange beer. It smelled like a Hefe, but the taste really took a turn away from one. It was quite good, and I will get it again.

4.24/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

This beer pours a very clear, light golden color - almost white. The head was 2 finger, white, quite frothy, but didn't last long at all.
The nose is almost like a wheat beer. I get the same banana notes from it.
The taste is, well for a fraction of a second, it was a wheet beer, but then it changed, and became very interesting. I got many different flavors. I got a citrus flavor, some bitterness. I also got a strange aftertaste, I can't put words to it, but I did like it.
It feels decent bodied. Nice carbonation feel.
Interesting, but strange beer. I like it, and will look for it again.

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This will probably be it for the week. I don't know if I'll be here next Sunday for NBS, but I'll be here in spirit, if not drinking spirits.

 

Bells Special Double Cream Stout. First time trying this one. I wanted a dark beer as a change of pace but nothing barrel aged or high abv. I got a sixer of these and it was a really good choice.

 

So first I want you all to know that I love a good Imperial Stout, but holy lord this one takes it to a different level. Pours a very dark near pitch black with a massive 2 plus finger sticky tan head that leaves excellent lace as it slowly settles into a thin ring of bubbles and plenty of rings of tan lace is left be. 4.5

Smell is strong coffee, vanilla, hazelnut, and hints of cocoa nibs that just absolutely tantalize your nose. 5

Taste follows one dimensional probably, but mind numbing absolutely. Roasty coffee, hazelnut, vanilla bean, and cocoa nibs that absolutely boggle your mind, so incredibly good. 5

Mouthfeel is a big medium, mild carbonation, definitely on the dry side, and one of the most incredible stouts I have ever had! 5

Overall this is one of those beers that absolutely amazes and blows your mind. Thanks @Rochefort10nh for giving me this amazing brew. 5

 

So let's get at this one...

This is a 2014 vintage, so I'm thinking this one is in barleywine territory by now. But this was a gift from my bro @jzeilinger so I'm gonna give this one a shot.

Appearance: Dark and murky brown with no head to speak of.

Aroma: Toffee and burnt sugar. Mainly a dank smelling beer. I am NOT a fan of the aroma at all. It just smells...old. Hopefully the taste makes up for it.

Taste/Mouthfeel: First impression its like chewing on a handful of raisins and then a brown sugar and maple sweetness comes up and is all evened out with a huge hit of bitter hops. A boozy beer for sure, but the sweetness and bitterness don't let the alcohol come through at all.

Overall: I definitely think this is a barleywine and not an IPA, but of course with 3 years in this it's going to be well beyond an semblance on an IPA. A well crafted beer, however not one I would want to drink again alone, 6 oz. would be more than enough.

 

Burial & Jackie O's - Blackfalls

This is my final beer of the night. With the evolving theme, I went from Carton, to Carton and Burial, and now Burial and Jackie O's.

This is a baltic porter brewed with rye and spicebush.

What starts out as a gorgeous head quickly disappears. First sip smacks me with heavy char and bitterness. That first punch diminishes a lot over time but never totally disappears. Once you get used to that char, you can actually sense the clean lager yeast profile. It's easy enough to just forget about whatever the spicebush is doing. Who needs it?

If you are looking for a baltic porter with lots of bitterness and char, you'll be thrilled with this. It's a one and done for me.

 

Good review! This bad boy, imo, hits its stride at about 5 years and definitely drinks like a barley wine. Cheers!

 

Happy New Minnesota Beer Sunday (Week 656)!

It was quite a day here at Chez Woody. I had three CANs that did not qualify for today's evolution, but which served nicely as an opportunity for revisitation. Once they were in the books, I moved on to:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/13014/89747/?ba=woodychandler#review

That one CANincided with the end of the football game, so I headed off to celebrate Halfway to St. Patrick's Day, but upon returning, I finished up with:

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/13014/138735/?ba=woodychandler#review


It's been a heck of a day, but I need to sign off here. See yinz next week when I will be CANflicted as my AFC team (Th' Stillers) plays at my NFC team (Da Bears).