New Beer Sunday (Week 670)

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Night shift one hop this time Ella

Can dated 11.30.17

Poured 12.24.17 into a teku

Hazy yellow , one finger white foam cap , sticky lacings

Aroma of juicy pineapple, tropical hops , whiff of citrus and tangerine

Taste is earthy hops, bit of tropical fruits

Light mouthfeel , no bite

Good beer

 

Happy Christmas Eve NBS, everyone! I just finished the carnage of wrapping gifts, leaving large amounts of debris in my wake, and have retired to the relative calm of NBS. I'm going light this afternoon as we'll be having a big meal with wine at a favorite Italian restaurant before heading out to Christmas Eve services tonight. This is Whammy, a 5.5% Pale Wheat Ale released by Twin Elephant yesterday. TE has really stepped up its game recently and is consistently brewing interesting and very tasty beers. Whammy features a lot of citrus - both tart and sweet, and has a pleasant white wine quality. I'm surprised this isn't a summer release. Here's my review:

3.98/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Reviewed the day after can release. Poured into Twin Elephant pint glass. It pours a cloudy, muddy apricot color with a huge, fluffy, bright white head and lacing that never really dissipated. The nose features cracker, grass, lemon peel, tangerine, and faint hops. There is a lot more citrus in the taste, both sweet and tart. I'm tasting lemon and tangerine, along with wheat cracker, white wine, and a hint of vanilla. The blend of Hallertau Blanc, Rakau, and Cascade hops is flavorful and not overly bitter. This ale has a nice, full mouth feel, with moderate carbonation, and at 5.5% ABV you can have a second pour without feeling overly heavy. Overall, this is a well-made Pale Wheat Ale with lots of taste but not a lot of heaviness. I'm a little surprised that Twin Elephant released it in December. This would be a great summer beer.

I'll probably hit a heavier stout tonight when we return home. Until then, enjoy your new beers everyone!

 

Ipswich Ale Jax Stout

Merry Christmas, BAs. Can you believe I actually forgot it was NBS? Luckily, I had a new beer in my glass just about an hour ago.

Jax Stout from the Ipswich Ale Brewery is an imperial stout with chocolate malts aged on whiskey-soaked oak chips. This brewery makes some excellent stouts, so I was excited to try this one.

It's black in color with a thin tan head that leaves messy lacing.

Nice roasted malts in the nose with a hint of vanilla bourbon, and even smaller hints of cherry and chocolate.

Dry roasted malt up front in the taste. Ashy chocolate mid-palate. Then creamy lactose and chocolate finish. Just a kiss of bourbon and alcohol.

Heavy, creamy feel with decent carbonation.

Not very "barrel" forward, but a delicious base stout with a kiss of something extra. Good stuff. I like Zumatra Stout better. I'd say this and their regular Oatmeal Stout are pretty much a toss up.

 

Can of Firestone Walker Luponic Distortion #7. Wish I could've found this younger, but still tasty at the 89 day mark. 3.97 overall

Pours a bright, effervescent gold with 3 fingers of eggshell colored head. Stellar lacing. good head retention

S: Citrus, breadyness

T: Folllows the, a little mango, grassyness & dryness as well up front. More grassyness, dryness , a touch breadyness & tangerine once warm. Funishes dry, grassy & citrussy

MF: Medium body crisp carbonation , decent balance

A solid IPA, would've loved to try this much younger, but this is as quick as it gets to SW Missouri

 

Seasons greetings, NBS! This is a fairly low-key time of year for me, which is how I like it. Don't really do the gift thing, but look forward to seeing family and sharing good food and beer. Work a lot of nights, so I earn more while doing less work (and it's a nice change from the routine). But my absolute favorite part is that all of the transplants to this megalopolis go home for the holidays, leaving the city empty. Not sitting in traffic for ten days out of the year is better than any gift-wrapped doodad I could receive.

On to the brew!



Room-temperature High West Victory at Sea pours a dark cola color in my glass, opaque when looking through the glass, but with dark brown edges when looking down into the top and tilting. Tiny bubbles support a khaki ring along the edge.

Smells of dark chocolate with a hint of vanilla and some coffee roastiness. No booze smell coming through.

First taste is all chocolate. This is 12%? Further sips reveal the vanilla and coffee. I'm not a drinker of hard liquor and usually find it obvious in these barrel-aged stouts, but this initially just tastes like a chocolately coffee beer to me. As I drink more, I can feel the alcohol coating my mouth, but the taste is still very subdued. Some spiciness, which could be the rye.

Maybe a touch thin on the mouthfeel, but perhaps that's the porter-ness of it. Been a few years since I had regular V@S, so I can't comment on the base beer.

Overall one of the smoother and least-boozy of the BBAs I've had. Way too easy to sip on. It smells fantastic and the taste follows right behind. Might have to go pick up some more.

 

Victory java cask..solid black,no head but average carbonation,thick oily feel. Aroma is bourbon forward,way forward, coffee follows and some malt. Taste is identical but this really needs to be sipped slowly,not just because of the high abv but it tastes different as it warms. As it warms I can really taste the bourbon barrel more clearly than some other barrel aged beer I've had. The coffee,malt and a bit of chocolate comes out also as well as a little sweetness. Don't drink it when your busy or stressed like I am, slow and enjoy

 

Oliver + Stillwater's Whipped Nitro DIPA.

Pours a bright orange that is opaque. Head formation is just a few fingernails in thickness, but the can wasn't shaken much. Head is white and retains fairly well with no lacing left behind. Aroma is orange, lemon zest, and biscuit malts. The citrus notes are deep, but focus solely on orange. Flavor profile is orange, lemon zest, vanilla, a little yeasty flour, wildflower, and biscuit malts. Mouth feel is smooth, with a fine graininess. It has a medium thickness. Overall, a fair NEIPA. It has a floury, yeasty taste which is a little off, but the citrus notes are nice. Shaking the can seems like a strange idea, but it crucial for good head formation.

Score: 4 | 4.25 | 4 | 4 | 4 | BA Score: 4.06 | rDev: -1.2%

 

Love the barrel aged version, though it does tend to mute the coffee flavor a bit from the normal Christmas Morning. It seems like it really rounds out the flavors that you get in CM, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, and brings a little vanilla, oak, bourbon flavor to it.

 

Merry Christmas everyone!
Today I have a farmhouse ale from Fox Farm Brewery in Salem CT.

Pours hazy light yellow, foam is medium height and white.
The Belgian yeast is strong with this one and so is the funk.
Taste borders on a tart sour almost a cider flavor.
Quite frankly I was expecting a Saison, however this borders on a Tripel.
Not my style but seems to be well done for what it is.

I may be back later with some other new ones. I will definitely drink them, but the size of the growing party may limit my ability to post in real time.

 

This is how Twin Elephant Brewing describes my new beer for NBS


FEED ME TO GOR GOR
HOPPY CASCADIAN DARK ALE

Eating souls and taking names! This is our henchman’s cup, killswitch and a death wish. Barley, toasted rice, caramel and dark wheat. In the vein of a Cascadian Dark Ale, thunderous gnash of chocolate pineapple on a smoky stick. DDH with Citra, Galaxy & Vic Secret hops for some Tropical flesh. Finished with a little ineapple Puree in the Fermenter.
I have know eye deer what that name is referring to. On the chalkboard at the brewery this beer is called Black IPA a lesser name IMO. Anyway the beer is very nice. Pretty much what one expects of the style no matter what they call it. The pineapple is present in the aroma, taste and finish but only in hints that enhanced the beer.

 

A-A hazy golden color with a generous head and some nice lacing.
A-Aroma has an abundance of citrus fruit hints.
T-The taste follows the nose with a nice balance of citrus tropical flavors.
M-A light bodied refreshing beer with a generous carbonation.
O-Well made beer.

 

Probably this:

https://genius.com/Gwar-gor-gor-lyrics

 

Thanks I guess I am getting old!!

 

Merry Christmas to all from the cold and snowy southern shore of the Great Lake Michigan. I began the day with a 5k charity fun run which was a good time with area runners for a very worthy cause in a non competitive environment. A welcome change of pace for those of us that spend the year trying to beat each other. It concluded with a trip to a local winery for some socializing and reflecting on the past season.

A big thank you to @lordofthewiens for the respectful opening to the thread and another nod to @cjgiant for his stewardship as well. We're fortunate to have such thoughtful and eloquent hosts here. Now let's move on to the beer.....

I made a quick beer run to Michigan Friday while I waited for my mutts to get groomed and found a few cases of Bell's Whiskey Barrel Aged Cherry Stout at one of my stops. A four pack was added to the cart and I waited all weekend to try this! Let's pop the crown on this 12oz. bottle dated 12/05/2017 with an abv. of 9.3% and get started.

It pours a dark brown bordering black producing a few centimeters of tan foam that slowly recedes leaving a thick ring and a little lacing behind. The smell is whiskey, dark cherry, vanilla, oak and mild char. Taste is tart cherry, whiskey, dark chocolate, vanilla and heavy oak in the finish. The feel is medium thick oil with a tart dry finish.

This is definitely a different kind of barrel aged stout with the addition of Michigan cherries that make it quite tart and very dry. A nice sipper on a cold and snowy day that drinks larger than the 9.3% listed on the label. This beer probably isn't for everyone, but I enjoyed it and will be curious as to how this cellars? My score is 4.27 / rDev-1.4%.

Time to get ready for the family coming over shortly. It will be a fun day of food, drink and great conversation. Enjoy your time with your loved ones this holiday season. Merry Christmas to all who celebrate it. My gift to you......

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/287/283086/?ba=Prager62#review

 

I had Gor Gor yesterday at TE and really enjoyed it!

 

Oh...my... God.

Now that I have your attention, some of you may know that I usually start off with "Good afternoon and happy New, something that starts with B, then Sunday. Today, I'm jumping straight into a review, because I haven't been this excited in a while. Just another IPA, what's the big deal right? Wrong. This beer brings a legend, an iconic brewery to those of us who have been playing the game long enough, back into the IPA game.

Rogue Ales is reminiscent of Rocky Balboa. It came out strong in episode one being a king in craft. They won our hearts and jaded taste buds over with Dead Guy Ale, Shakespeare Oatmeal Stout, Chocolate Stout, and Hazelnut Brown Nectar. The scene changed, the fights got tougher, but Rogue, like Rocky, stayed strong. A young and hazy punk comes in and dominates the scene, grabbing all the attention but the old stubborn west coast purists, beaten down and against the wall, put up a huge come back. Rogue Brew finishes strong with this Total Knock Out.

Rogue Ales
Straight Outta Newport...Oregon- West Coast IPA





Straight Outta Newport pours beautiful. It makes me warm and fuzzy all over on this lightly snow dusted day with it's brilliantly clear golden glow. A fluffy and foamy eggshell white head stubbornly claims its seat on top, and plasters the sides of the glass.

Orange, lemon, lime, grapefruit, melon, and pine onslaught the senses. A cotton candy sweetness lies in the background, but submits to the fruit and pines dominance.

The first sip is grapefruit heavy. The pine needles prick and tingle the taste buds persistently. In between, rests the subtle citruses and melons. An almost flavorless sweetness keeps it centered, and a mild rubber band like flavor is detectable from time to time.

At 8.7%, this is dangerously drinkable. It is crisp and clean, yet sticky and bitter. It's carbonated just enough to make the whole thing pop. The alcohol is barely present, but gives off a wonderful warmth.

If you have ever been a fan of Rogue, and maybe they've slipped through the cracks for you, I implore you to give them another shot with Straight Outta Newport. It is a wonderful modern day West Coast IPA. They may not have a great track record of delicious IPA's in the past, but this is a giant leap forward in the right direction.

After my official review, I gave SON a rating of 4.39 with an rDev of +7.6%

Cheers everyone and...

 

A- A clear golden hue with a nice head and slight lacing.
A-Lot of grass lemon hints.
T-The taste follows the nose.
M-A light bodied beer with decent carbonation.
O-Decent pilsner.

 

Crane Brewing Festiweiss
Berlinerweiss brewed with cranberry and ginger. 4.5% ABV

There are fewer days that I like more than this day, or this time of year. A time for being thankful as well as reflections of who I am, how I have been managing Life. This season I have decided to take a step back from alcohol starting on Jan. 1, 2018 for at least a few months. Last year I stopped drinking in November and made it to April, and it was good ... and bad. I owe myself another break to recharge my spirit, mind, and body. I’ll see how it goes but I’m not trying to make it permanent this time. This Christmas my wife and I are trying something new — we’re taking a frugal approach, far less presents and spending and that applies to our kids too. Last year we went overboard and realized that by February the toys are half forgotten about and the bills aren’t. it’s time to scale back — a theme I’m taking with me into the new year.

I ventured out and found another new beer for today since my new beer this morning ended with me dumping it down the drain. I picked a beer from a brewery I’ve never hear of, from Raytown, Missouri. The label is certainly eye-catching, and I generally like the berlinerweiss style. Let’s see if this puts me in a festive mood.

The beer originally poured out as a pinkish salmon color in the light but in a darker room I see just burnt orange. The aroma is mostly tart cranberry that blends seemleasly into a spicy ginger on the back end. If I really inhale deeply I can pick out some holiday spices such as cinnamon.

The taste follows the blueprint from the aroma starting out with very tart cranberry. Notes of sour vinegar abound in the middle before finishing with dry and spicy ginger. Mouthfeel is medium to light, quite dry.

Overall, I like the style but these beers are always difficult to pick out very many flavors or aromas. Cranberry lovers with like this one.

3.96/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4


Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas, it’s going to get down to 16 degrees here tonight, but no snow in the forecast. Sounds like a good night for a fire, hope i put it out before Santa comes.

 

I found out about this after its release. Fortunately for me, I stumbled into a bottle from a very kind individual here recently. So it beer worth waiting in line for at Boulevard? This is by no means a total capture of their abilities, but let's find out!



Boulevard's Requiem for a Pancake.

Pours a burgundy-brown with a finger of khaki head. Head retention is okay with no lacing left behind. Aroma is oak, maple syrup, rye whiskey, stone fruits, plum and roasted and toasted malts. There is just a touch of boozy warmth to it. Flavor profile is a splendid display of rye whiskey, maple syrup, caramel, molasses, oak, stone and dark fruit and toasted malts. It retains a sublime balance between sugary sweet notes, and boozy barrel. Mouth feel is velvety, with a medium-thick consistency. Overall, a world class brew out of Boulevard. It manages a well constructed balance between dessert like syrup and molasses, malts, and barrel character.

Score: 4.25 | 4.75 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | BA Score: 4.55 | rDev: +4.8%

Personal notes: I can't pick up maple syrup in a lot of beers, but this beer is oozing it. Absolutely lovely, and not just a label addition to sell a beer.