New Beer Sunday (Week 657)

Nice glass!

 

So many new 750s today! How am I even handling all these? Oh well...



This one is called Simple Means and it's a "farmhouse altbier with smoked malt" by Jester King. The label lists the ingredients as "unfiltered Hill Country well water, malted barley, smoked malted barley, hops, mixed culture of brewers yeast, native yeast, and native bacteria." The last part interests me the most... definitely gonna be something sour and/or funky here!
haze.
Pours a deep copper color with a lot of haze... nearly opaque. Head is rocky and builds up with an intensity I haven't seen recently. Definitely "Brett"-like! Lace is pretty spectacular and detailed, with soapy and dense streaks contrasting with sheets of solid foam on the other side of the glass. Beautiful color, incredible head and nice lace with an awesome surface haze. Has all the makings of an excellent beer from the appearance alone.

Nose is acid-forward with some metallic elements, lemon juice, smoky malt, earthiness and dried leaves. Very seasonally-appropriate (even though it was like 85-90 degrees out today ). Black pepper, spice and cedar come secondarily on the nose... very interesting stuff!

On the tongue, the darker caramel malts come out a bit more. I get some toasted bread, toffee and nectarine-like fruitiness along with a solid acid profile that remains restrained and contextual to the rest of the beer. I'm upset I haven't had many JK beers because I feel like (from my quick research) their mixed yeast/bacteria culture has incredible influence here. It creates a very unique beer, but I have too many local breweries' house yeast/bacteria combos in my head to adequately be able to catalog this one... for instance, JK's culture seems to be a lot less bacterial/acidic than, say, Allagash's, but it also seems slightly earthier which helps with this recipe.

Taking this all into account, the nutty and earthy Simple Means comes across as a successful, complex beer. The interplay between acid and deeper, intense malt flavors here creates a beer unlike anything I've ever had. I'd like to say it reminds me of a Grätzer/Grodziskie due to being a smoked "sour" beer, but it's far too dark and robust for that style. The feel is fuller bodied than expected with a palate-coating slickness and moderate carbonation. Incredibly satisfying and quite unique!

 

New Beer Sunday: New Bière Brut (and new Style)

Evenin’ NBSers with special greetings to searchers who want to score 100 or more styles for their BA stats. Also with special thanks to both @cjgiant for today’s start and to @zid for his comments about this beer back in January.

Well today’s weather here was unseasonably warm (read that as “hot”) a bit humid and quite sunny. A great day to watch a football game (but not to have to play in one). The Eagles pulled out a victory over the Giants with a 61 yard field goal at literally the last second.

This evening’s new beer is the Jubilee Bière Brut from Victory Brewing. Given that the first version of their label called Jubilee a Bière de Champagne ( http://tenemu.com/news/victory-celebrating-21-years-with-jubilee/12/2016 ) but the label eventually used on the bottle calls it a Bière Brut, my guess is that they didn’t want to even pretend they were trying to use the “methode de champenoise” in producing this beer.

While it seems like it might have been possible for them to use the Charmat method, used in producing sparkling wines (doing the second fermentation in a large stainless tank before bottling), I’ll trust the label information (and the amount of sediment in the bottle ) and say that they used what might be called the “methode de bière” which is the method we all know as bottle conditioning for the secondary fermentation. (This is part of why I waited from January to now to open this one.)

As usual my review of the first pour (no way I’m drinking 750 ml of a 12% beer in one evening ), subject to revision until the final pour is finished, can be found here:

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/345/248142/?ba=drtth#review

This is an enjoyable, complex beer with lots of active carbonation and with aromas/flavors showing green orchard fruits (apples and pears), some white wine grapes, some residual sweetness along with a bit of spicy yeast, all of which finishes with crisp, spicy, herbal, grassy bitter dryness in the ending in the back of the throat. Definitely a beer I would not mind trying again, especially with several months of bottle age.

Continuing my current Sunday habit of listening to Original Cast Recordings of American Musicals, tonight I’ve got Bells are Ringing on the player. Included in the original cast was Judy Holiday.

The Party’s Over

Cheers, all!

 

They have definitely upped their local game since last year. It was convenient for me yesterday, so I stopped in for a quick look and came away with beers from Tonewood, Spellbound and Cape May. From talking to another customer while grabbing the Tonewood out of the fridge case, it seems like the brewery makes weekly deliveries to the store. Worth a stop if you're in the area, for sure.

 

Happy New Beer Sunday all. I hope you are all enjoying Bruce Springsteen birthday weekend. Here in the Garden State it is a state holiday. All state offices and schools are closed on Monday.
Tomorrow afternoon we will all gather in out respective town squares, join hands and sing Thunder Road, The Rising and Backstreets. It really is a wonderful holiday. If you haven't already, you should make plans to travel to NJ to experience it one time.

But I digress. Preparing for the first ever NBS Hopped Rye blind Taste off. Featuring

My wife will be pouring them blind for me.
In the spirit of full disclosure, I have had Carton's Red Rye before. But it's been over a year and this is the first time it's been canned.

Results later

 

The (only) local bottle shop put a lot of old/oldish stuff on clearance for $5. This among them. I figured anything high abv, or with Brett probably was good. This is. Will be going back tomorrow, looking for more.

As for the beer, a collaboration between Perennial & Solemn Oath, imagine a bock, mixed with a porter, with the feel of a barleywine. Ostensibly, it's a saison , but doesn't seem that.
Bottled 9/2014. 7.1% abv.




4.19/5 rDev +12.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

Pours dark chestnut brown, with light tan head and lacing.

Smells of (rye?) bread dough, nuts, chocolate milkshake, and a tiny bit of funk.

Flavor is nutty roasted malt, with a touch of coffee and cocoa, something a little sour & woody, finishing with a pleasant, drying bitterness.

Feel is slightly oily, with a moderate, fine carbonation prickle.

I like it. Flavor is somewhere between a bock and a porter, with the feel of a barleywine.

 

Evening all NBSrs!

Decided to take the monsters to the dunes today. Thanks to @r0rschach for the pleasure of this new to me beer.



It's 11.99 % so as one would expect it's got a pretty hefty malt bill and plenty of hops as well. It is also thick and sturdy. I enjoyed this one immensely although I'm sure staring at a bunch of bikinis didn't hurt either!

 

4.28/5 rDev +5.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

A: Good hazy orangish yellow body. Not much head but lacing stuck around while drinking the beer.

S: Big fruit bomb. Heavy smell of oranges and grapefruits. Smells of a very hoppy beer.

T: More fruit flavors coming out here. Sweet grapefruit and oranges for taste.

M: Super easy drinker. Soft mouthfeel. Getting a small amount of alcohol burn but this one could be drank QUICK.

O: Probably the best of the Adaptation series I have had so far. This stands up well to anything Roughtail has done in the past.

 

Hello New Beer Sunday!!!

Tonight is a one and done, and it is a damn good one and done.

DDH Velvet Crush from Wild Mind Artisan Ales in Minneapolis. I stopped there on the way to my friend's birthday party last night and picked up this beauty. I don't know if Wild Mind intended to create a NEIPA, but they came damn close to doing so with this beer. Nice juicy smelling and tasting beer. Looks a nice golden hazy color. Just damn good. Too bad I only picked up one can. Oh, well.

Review
4.55/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Made with Citra, Simcoe, and Mosaic hops that are added post-whirlpool to create a smooth bitterness with delicious, juicy finish. We dry-hopped this batch with even more Mosaic hops to add an extra punch of cirtus and haze.

This beer pours a very hazy, juicy holden color. The head was white, 1 finger, and average retention.
The nose is quite juicy smelling. Pineapple seems to dominate.
Taste is like a mellow pineapple juice.
Mouthfeel is moderate. You really don't feel the alcohol, and it really feels like pineapple juice.
I don't know if Wild Mind intended to make a NEIPA, but they came damn close to doing so with this beer. Nice feel

649 characters

See you all next Sunday from Lake of the Woods. I can't wait, and there will be aonther Wild Mind beer as my new beer that day (and maybe other new beers).

 

So yesterday I went to When Beer Meets Wood and a porch bomb arrived from @jzeilinger with this gem I have never heard of. Pours like yellow sludge canned on 9/7/17, with a 2 plus finger of sticky white head that leaves tracks of lace everywhere. 4.75

Smell is guava, apricot, pineapple, very green is all I can say and that isn't a complaint, passion fruit, and grapefruit rind, really impressive.4.5

Taste follows tropical upfront guava and apricot upfront leads to a pineapple/ grapefruit in the very balanced finish. 4.75

Mouthfeel is a large medium, moderate life as expected, and after this I will go and figure out the ABV because I am absolutely blown away. 4.5

Overall this is is an absolute treat, so f---ing juicy, balanced, and for NEDIPA dirty in the best way imaginable. Thanks JZ, curled my toes! Tired Hands does it again!4.75

 

NBSers, sometimes things spontaneously happen that are too incredible to describe. Sometimes it's your wife saying you can build a horseshoe pits in the backyard. Sometimes, it's watching your 3 year old color an entire picture in the lines. And sometimes, it's your brother in law saying, "Hey, I thought you'd like this beer. Wanna share it?". Holy effing S yes!!!!

Ale Apothecary
Red Echo-Still Barrel Aged Wheat Wine





A: Zero carbonated, copper amber color. Pretty clear.

A: Lovely raspberry and plum infused acidity. Some apple cinnamon sweet and spicy thing going on too.

T: Exactly the same with touches of earthiness and honey.

F: Smooth and rich, somewhat thick. Obviously no carbonation, some alcohol warmth.

O: Second beer from Ale Apothecary, once again blown away. Nuff said.

Cheers everyone, and I will see you all soon!

 

The doughnut part is misleading it's most definitely not a sweet beer. Great beer like everything Buriel makes.

 

First of a couple tonight. Had a long weekend taking college students whitewater rafting that included 20 total hours of driving, so getting a late start tonight.

Tired Hands Tangerine Dream Milkshake, thanks to @larryi86



4.36/5 rDev +1.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Can dated 9/13/17 poured into a tulip glass.

C- Pours an opaque gold color with a thick white head that slowly dissipates.

S- Citrus smell comes through. Not overwhelming, but there.

T- On the first sip, it tasted like a nice milkshake beer, but the tangerine wasn't present. Once I let it warm up just a bit, the tangerine came surging through. The vanilla also shows up on the backend, which I love in this style of beer.

F- Smooth and not at all thick.

O- A wonderful first experience of a Tired Hands milkshake beer. I'm definitely glad I let this warm up just a bit to be able to experience

 

Yards pale ale,clear yellow light gold color. Aroma is citrus,pine,and some malt. Taste is identical,a bit more grain in the taste. I'm biased as I really like this brewery and this was another great product

 

My last NBS for today is this Brett-fermented Helles lager from Evil Twin. Purchased at the same store as the past few beers from this NBS! SO MANY BRETT BEERS TODAY! Just about guaranteed to have a headache tomorrow morning.



This seems to be a bottle from early-mid 2016, but there's no bottle date here. BA reviews indicate that this was seen around 6/16, so we'll go with that. Pours an opaque golden color with some lighter, yellowed highlights and an intense, rocky head. Sticks around with a solid several fingers of foam and bears some loose yet multi-dimensional lace.

Nose is tropical and bright with a musty yeast note from Brett Brux Trois yeast. Some grassy notes and pineapple come out over a few minutes. I get some moderate citrus here as well, but it mostly seems redolent of tropical fruit. A few months ago, I had a beer by Finback that was supposed to resemble a "Dole Whip" (a pineapple soft serve ice cream creation loved by Disney fanatics), but it was pretty meh. Now, I've never been to Disney but I think this is the true beer successor to such an idea. It has the tropical element and some creamy, clean elements from the lager base. I'm no expert but I think the softness and suppleness from lagering did wonders for this.

On the tongue, there's a lot of pineapple, papaya and guava flavor with some rustic Brett funk and simple, effective grainy character. Fairly grassy and upfront with orchard fruit, but with intense yeastiness closing out each sip. Nice flavors from the malt... has some huskiness but it's pretty tame overall. This is super drinkable and goes down like nothing. I wouldn't say it's a "sour lager," but at 5.5%, it's a solid entry into the realm of ET beers.

 

Thanks for a great review. I think a lot of us tend to overlook HopPun given the other great beers Carton brews and the fact that there's more of it in distro now. It's a great beer, as are the others you reviewed.

 

One more beer tonight thanks to @Wasatch. This one is the perfect after dinner beer as I settle in for SNF:

Barrel Aged Doppelbock, Upslope Brewing Company, Boulder, CO

This is a rich Doppelbock that was then aged in multiple barrels. According to their website, the barrels used were half Maryland Style Rye Whiskey, with the remainder almost evenly split between Anejo Tequila and American Whiskey barrels, slightly favoring the tequila.

look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

My pic doesn't do the color justice. A hazy copper-ruby color with a light khaki head that quickly settled into a wispy cap. Somewhat nutty on the nose accompanied with raisins, vanilla, plums, and malt. Faint whiskey was there as well. The barrel flavors were more prominent on the palate with a cool mix of whiskey and rich German malt. The raisin and faint tequila was most noticeable on the finish. The entire beer tasted clean like a lager with only a gentle warming on the finish. Really interesting, complex, and tasty beer. Cheers!

 

That's a great label!

 

So my wife wouldn't agree to not go to sleep simply to "perpetuate [my] God damn beer idiocy!" (it is great to have support for your Hobby from your spouse)
So it is going to have to be side by side blinds

Beer #1 is the tall glass.

 

The beer: Prairie Twist, a dry-hopped farmhouse ale.



Comes in a deep gold color, very hazy and almost opaque, but still slightly translucent. It's fairly high carbonation, and a moderate pour produces a large foamy white head. Retention is very good, at least a finger of head remains indefinitely, and lots of foamy lacing sticks to the sides of the glass.
The aroma is quite tart and acidic, but also very fruity. It smells like sour tropical fruits; big notes of pineapple, peach, passionfruit, honeydew melon, guava, as well as green apple, pear, lemon, and white grape.
On the palate, you're smacked with a fairly pronounced tartness with some funk, (this is apparently Brettanomyces) but also lots of juicy tropical fruit like pineapple, apricot, passionfruit, guava, lemon, white grape, pear, green apple, and honeydew melon. The malt backbone is a light and crisp biscuit with no perceptible sweetness. On the finish, it turns dry with a slight citric acid lemon/lime funk, straw, and a touch of clove. Finishes fairly dry.
The body is medium-light, but feels fairly full due to the boisterous carbonation. Finishes lightly dry, drinks very nicely and above its abv.

Overall, this is a fantastic beer. It's a fruity, floral, juicy, sour, and funky farmhouse ale. Complex, flavorful, and delicious.