New Beer Sunday (Week 679)

Rec'd yesterday at my place of work as a gift from one of the brewers. Thank, CK!

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/28609/242661/



Canned 1/8/18 at 4.3% abv.
Moderate to vigorous pour yields a one and a quarter inch white head over a bright amber body with some sticky lacing. Nose of toast, malt, and slight hops. Taste of hops, malt, and toast. Well carbed for a nice feel and overall, a refreshingly good lager that could be described as an amber dunkel with extra hops?
Cheers to those Everett guys!

4.17/5 rDev +8.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

 

^^^
This probably bears repeating at this stage. For those who haven't checked out the signup thread things are getting pretty nuts already with boxes going all over the place, and this thing hasn't even officially started yet . Come join the fun!

My new beer tonight comes to me thanks to all of that craziness, and via the supremely generous @LloydDobler . Dinnertime is over with, so it seems like now is the right time for a milkshake:


If you can't make that out, it says this is a blackberry rhubarb milkshake IPA. Kinda looks like one, too . Dream Demon is a collaboration brew between Bare Hands Brewing and Elm Street Brewing in Indiana.

It's definitely sweet and fruity smelling- berries, cotton candy, circus peanuts, orange peel and a buttery biscuit are all jumping out on the aroma. The first sip is a hell of a lot more grounded than that first impression made it seem- the vanilla, and citrus peel bitterness all make a big first impression. The berries and butter do show up but late, along with an herbal counterbalance. Mouthfeel is milky and kind of glossy, while the sweetness stays in check due to the high level of pithy bitterness and a touch of tartness. It's getting towards mid-glass before I start feeling like it's a cohesive beer, and it's definitely leaning towards the IPA side at that point.

This was really kind of fun and interesting, moreso than I thought it would be. I'm not fully on board with the diacetyl, though; it's at a low enough level to not be obnoxious, but it still doesn't fully integrate with either half of the beer (fruity dessert or IPA), and by the end of the glass it's kind of the 'last man standing', along with the bitterness. But for the earlier 'fun' part, I thought this was a nice try, and it's a solid B (3.65) overall.

 

First beer of the day might be the only one. Stomach feeling a little flip floppy. Toothache from yesterday has settled down now, maybe because the temperature is up a bit. Nearly 40 for the first time over a week. Beats the hell out of the 2° it was a few mornings ago.

@bl00 sent me this product from the great state of Pennsylvania. My 1st from Troegs:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/694/7531/?ba=woemad#review
Not sure if I sat on this too long or not long enough. A little flat, quite sweet and boozy, but not to the point of being too cloying or too "hot." Unfortunately, the Belgian yeast doesn't lend enough spiciness to give it a proper balance. Maybe if laid down a little longer the sweetness and booze would mellow to let the spiciness come out and play a little more. As it is, it's not a bad Belgian Strong Dark Ale, but it needs some refinement if this is how it normally is. If I come across it again, I'll give it another shot. Thanks, Dan!

 

Dark Horse Bourbon Barrel Aged Scottie Karate Scotch Ale, 9.75% ABV. Pours brown with a short off-white head. Nose is sweet moleasses and raisins, taste is slightly sweet raisin, slightly bitter, and slightly salty. Not picking up bourbon at all. OK mouthfeel, a bit over-carbonated. Overall very good.

 

Hello New Beer Sunday!!!

I will start with this NBS with the music question that @cjgiant asked. I do love listening to music while drinking. I am a big Ted Nugent fan, and he is usually going when I'm enjoying, hopefully, a good beer.

And, speaking of beer, here is my first new beer.


17up from Pearl Street Brewing in LaCrosse, Wisconsin.

I'll be totally honest: I've not had too good luck with this brewery. Most everything I've had from them has been quite poor. This is the exception. A delicious Gose. Nice lime flavor. Some funky aromas, almost like a wild beer. Decent mouthfeel. I'm shocked, just too bad it's a one time anniversary beer, because I'd gladly by more when in the LaCrosse area.

Review
3.77/5 rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

This beer pours a very light golden color, almost white. It is quite murky. The head is 1 finger, white, frothy. Retention is moderate, and there's no lacing on the glass.
The nose has a wild, funky aroma. Somewhat sour smelling.
Taste - Funky, slightly sour. Citrus based, and lime flavored. Quite pleasing flavor.
The mouthfeel is decent.
I haven't had much luck at all with this brewery, but I'm very pleasantly surprised with this beer. Very easy drinking, and a decent flavor.

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I'll be back in a little bit with my second beer of this NBS.

 

New Beer Sunday: A New IPA (NE sub-style?)

Evenin’ NBSers with another nod of the head to @CanConPhilly and a thanks to @cjgiant for the start up today.

Well the weather here today did eventually dry out a bit and the temps got up to the mid-to upper 40s.

After this afternoon’s new beer from Foreign Objects I’ve been looking forward to this “In The Gold Dust Rush,” another well hazed and opaque IPA.

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

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/50313/302145/?ba=drtth#review


The Aromas/Flavors of this beer are full of citrus and pine resin backed up by some floral, earthy-herbal character in the background. There’s a bit of sweetness to soften the bitterness that turns dry in the ending and invites another sip. I’d definitely be willing to have this again and found it helpful in starting to form an opinion about what the range of so-called NEIPAs have that sets them apart.

This evening’s new American Musical Original Cast Recoding is Cabaret with Joel Grey as part of that cast.

Willkommen

Cheers, all!

 

Back with one more new beer today. I've been staring at this one in my "cellar" (closet) for a while and I finally pulled the trigger today. It helps that my wife loves big BA beers.


Wow did I like this one. Great look to this one on the pour, with a nearly opaque dark brown color and a thick tan head that slowly settled. Impressive for a BA beer of this strength. On the nose, the bourbon, coffee, and chocolate roast mixed very well with nothing overpowering the other notes. The taste was equally impressive. Smooth whiskey out of the gate that was enveloped by chocolate and coffee. I was impressed with the coffee 15 months after bottling. Not sure if it's faded but the flavor/aroma was outstanding. Boozy but not overly hot - I found this to be well-balanced and more mellow than expected for a 16% beer. The feel was outstanding - full-bodied but easy to drink and not overly sweet, with a warm but soft finish. This one lived up to the hype in my book.

 

So apparently I don’t read the NBS memos. There is absolutely no common theme with these beers I selected for this weeks New Beer Sunday (aside from the fact that they all ended up in my belly)


√400 Saison 20th Anniversary Special Edition by BFM

“Poured from a 33cl flip top bottle into a teku glass. Pours hazy golden in color with a wispy white head that slowly settles into a modest lacing. Funky aroma with typical funky Brett notes like horse blanket and a bit of green apple. Much more sour than I was expecting, but not in a bad way. Lots of tartness with subtle notes of green apple, white grape and a just touch of oak. Bone dry mouthfeel with just a bit of a throat tingle from the sourness. Overall it’s an excellent sour that I would gladly have again. 4.28/5”


This Is Not The New Nashaminy Creek IPA by Nashaminy Creek Brewing Co.

“Poured from a 16oz can into a pint glass. Pours amber in color, almost crystal clear but there is a slight haziness to it. Tropical hop aroma with mango and tangerine. Flavor is also very fruit-hop forward with mango, tangerine and a bit of passion fruit. Slightly sweet malt backbone. Dry finish. Overall I liked this better than County Line, too bad this ‘isn’t their New IPA’ though! 3.9/5”


Coffee Black, Whiskey Neat by AZ Wilderness Brewing

Special thanks to @AZBeerDude72 for the trade!

“I’m really excited for this one. This beer is a collaboration between some of my favorite places in Tucson (or all of Arizona for that matter). Coffee beans from the absolutely amazing coffee spot Exo Coffee Rosters (try their mesquite smoked toddy or chiltepin toddy if you ever find yourself in Old Pueblo) which are aged in Whiskey Del Bac barrels (absolutely my favorite whiskey, their mesquite smoked whiskey is just to die for) and finally Tap & Bottle (easily the best craft beer spot in Southeast Arizona)



Poured from a 16oz can into a teku glass. Pitch black in color with an off white head that quickly settles into a thin lacing. Aromas of coffee, bourbon and a bit of roasted malt. Flavors are fairy robust but not overly so for a 9.5% stout. Coffee up front with a strong bourbon/vanilla note with a fair amount of booze. Very little roasted malt character. Thin mouthfeel. Overall this is a nice imperial coffee stout. Its thin mouthfeel keeps it from true greatness but I am very thankful to have tried. I hope all these guys collaborate again on a Imperial stout aged in those whiskey del bac barrels! 3.85/5”

 

My NBS closer



Cocoa Cow

Sunriver Brewing Company
Milk / Sweet Stout / 6.00% ABV

4.09/5 rDev +0.2% | Score: 4.08
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

L-The beer pours smooth and black with a 3 finger tan head. The head recedes to a thin film with a large central island. Lacing is strong and rings the glass.
S-The nose is sweet and chocolatey as the is befitting a "chocolate milk stout".
T- While the nose is primarily sweet, on the palate the beer is far more balanced. It starts out with some expected sweetness, but transitions to a more dark chocolate aspect. Some milk stouts can venture into an almost sour like taste due to the lactose, but this one never quite gets there which is fine with me.
F- Mouthfeel is on the lighter side of medium for which I give it a slight mark down. Carbonation is adequate, almost straying a little over where I would want it.
O- A very good example of a milk stout that is neither too sweet or overdone on the lactose. Despite a slighty thin mouthfeel I would recommend it to those concerned about the style being cloying and as well as overall.

 

It's been a busy day, but sliding in with a few hours to spare to participate this week.



Brewery Vivant's Velvet Stud.

Pours black with two fingers of hearty, khaki foam on top with big bubbles. Head retention is good. Aroma is toasted, roasted, biscuit, and nutted malts. There is a tiny bit of oak hiding in the aroma as well. Flavor profile is toasted, nutted, peaty, nutted malts. Oak and caramel make an appearance as well. Mouth feel is smooth, and creamy, but is medium in thickness. Overall, a middle of the road stout is far from offensive or overly filling, but gives off pleasant malt notes.

Score: 4.25 | 4 | 3.75 | 4 | 4 | BA Score: 3.92 | rDev:+3.7%

 

New beer #2 today, courtesy of @rmank - a collab btw Charlestowne Fermentory here in Charleston SC and Triple Cross Brewing out of Richmond VA - “Morning Radio Show”, an Imperial Stout w/Vanilla, Maple and Honey:

Poured at 58 degrees, the liquid is inky black with a fast fizzy cinnamon red head (is this a thing now?) that results in no retained cap, no ring and no lace; the skinniest of legs upon scrutiny...



Light roast malt, cocoa, and maybe some cherry cola nose. No maple no honey light vanilla cocoa nibs dark chocolate roast malt; no perceivable alcohol; some dark fruit on the back end. Medium feel with little carbonation; somewhat smooth, but mostly thin and papery. It’s poundable for the 10.5%, but where’s the flavor? Chaulk up another disappointment...and I had such high hopes as I really like this Charleston brewery...blame it on the Chinese/msg? Oh well, I like what I like and this didn’t cut the mustard for me...

No more new beers for me tonight; see many of youinz (that’s how my SW PA college roomies said it back in the day) tomorrow!

 

Rather than clutter up that thread, I thought I'd say thank you to you and Michael (@TongoRad) for keeping me in mind for this, and each, BIF.

I've got to stay on the bench for this one, but if I'm not totally in the poor house when I get back from London this spring, I definitely need to get back in the BIF game.

For now I'll enjoy the fun vicariously.

 

A baller post if I ever saw one - thanks for the side by side review!

 

Here's another thanks to @LloydDobler , a Great Lakes beer that I've never even come across before, so I'm really looking forward to it:

Hop Madness

The aroma is light, but it's definitely an IPA: apricot jam, spicy hops and candied orange peel. But, kaboom, the palate is where this beer really shows itself. Intense resiny bitterness dominates, backed by an initial big hit of apricot sweetness, before giving way to a looong resinous finish. And it just doesn't quit, that palate throbbing sensation, long after you've swallowed. What first seemed like spice coming from the hops is now quite evergreen and spruce-y, with maybe a touch of Major Grey's chutney-like tones bubbling forward on the finish. But this is all about that huge punch of citrus peel/resin bitterness, with everything else playing the supporting role. What a fine, no-nonsense DIPA! The aroma could use some tweaking, but this beer packs a hard punch where it counts. A- (4.25).

Thanks again @LloydDobler , I'm really enjoying this box so far!

 

Another one from yesterday's gifting.
I never checked the abv until after I cracked this bad boy!


https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/28609/170307/




Canned 11/17/17 at 11.3% abv.
Moderate pour yields a 3/4 inch tan head over a dark, dark brown body with fleeting lacing. Nose of chocolate and roasted malts. Taste follows with additional notes of caramel, toffee, dark chocolate, bittersweet chocolate, and a bit of milk chocolate. The abv is very well-hidden on this one. Very nice feel and overall, a great Imperial Baltic Porter from Everett, MA. Cheers!

4.28/5 rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

 

First new beer today: Schlafly's Northeast IPA, not totally on point, but damn tasty. 4.02 overall

Pours a chill-hazed amber with 2 fingers of pearl colored head. Good head retention & lacing, clears up

S: Floral & tropical notes

T: Orange juice, a little breadyness, plus dryness up front. A little pineapple, some mango, plus a little orange juice once warm. Finishes with dryness, mango & orange juice

MF: Medium body, fairly assertive carbonation

Very easy to drink, not a bellcow for the style, but pretty good

 

All right. Next up is this beauty.

Steel Toe Brewing Provider.

A very surprising beer. I was expecting a bland, mild beer. This isn't. The hops kick in right away, then the malt is on the backside. Delicious, and easy drinking.

Review.

3.54/5 rDev -4.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This beer pours a clear golden color. The head is white, frothy, 2 finger. The retention is kinda poor. Minimal lacing on the glass.
The nose is somewhat week. There's a slight malt to it, but not much else.
Taste - is interesting. Sight hop bite up front. The malt is on the backside. I wasn't expecting that.
Mouthfeel is a bit light, but expected from this style.
I was expecting just a run of the mill of this style from this beer. This isn't. It's got a decent, complex, surprising flavor profile. I could pop a few of these on a hot summer day easily.

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I might have one more in me. I'll take my time with this beer, and decide after.

 

Orange Sunshine IPA from Lost Province Brewing in Boone NC. Brewed with both sweet and bitter oranges, I can’t remember all the hops and I can’t find it listed on their site. IBUs mid 60s but it drinks more than this, lots of bitter orange peel, some fruit on the nose, not as fruity as I expected. I’m thinking it had Moasic and Amarillo hops can’t remember the other. Worth a shot maybe s 3.75. Pizza was great, oven roasted
Brussell Sprouts were fantastic.