New Beer Sunday (Week 682)

Poured and got a massive 2 finger sticky white head that leaves big thick patches of lace all over the sides of that glass. 4.25

Smell is mango, peach, Mellon, and grapefruit rind. 4

Taste follows mango, peach, honey dew, and some red grapefruit. 4

Mouthfeel is bigger than average, soft mouthfeel, not dry but juicy, and excellent drinkability at 8.5% ABV. 4.25

Overall this is a very nice take on the style. Not earth shattering but I would definitely drink this again. Thanks @TheIPAHunter for this can. 4

 

Greetings fellow NBSers! It's a cloudy 50 degrees at 2:09 here in the Fourth Corner, the trees are bursting, flowers are popping out, and winter can kiss my ass! I received a couple boxes this week from @JBowenGeorgia and @Bum4ever , so I spent a fair bit of time this week working through those. A few weeks ago I realized I was nearing a "milestone" here on BA, and, when I get something in my sights I'm rather like a Retreiver chasing a ball, I ain't gonna stop until I get it. So, these 2 boxes helped a great deal. 47 more.

First up comes courtesy JBowenGeorgia, and it's from one of my favorite breweries, way up there in Sconnie: https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/590/86172/

 

New Belgium Imperial Frambozen, 8.5% ABV, 13 IBU. Pours deep red with a one finger beige head. Nose is raspberry and chocolate, taste follows, slightly tart, no bitterness, slight sweetness. Decent mouthfeel though a bit watery and over-carbonated, overall very excellent.

 

Nice!

First there was Five Leaves left, and now this one. Now I'm starting to wonder if they've released other beers with Nick Drake-inspired names...

 

Happy New DIPA Sunday!

Todays new beer is Industrial Arts Torque Wrench - canned 3/09/19

This beer is based off of their Wrench IPA which is absolutely a killer beer, and has become my favorite IPA at the moment! Yes in a world being flush of IPA I actually found one I like the most.

But today's beer is not Wrench but Torque Wrench!

And Holy Hell does this beer deliver! An Absolute Citra and Mosaic, Dank, herbaceous juice bomb of a beer. This really is their wrench IPA but on steroids!

Beer Pours a wonderfully deep hazy Golden/Burnt orange color with a two finger fluffy white head that actually hangs around and doesn't dissipate despite the 8% ABV.

And when it does dissipate it leaves heavy lacing around the sides of the glass, which is always a great thing.

Aroma is full of Dank herbal notes, lemon grass, tropical fruit juice and it has this fruit smoothie thing going on. It's such a killer aroma I dont really know where it starts and ends.

This mouthfeel on this beer is as far as I am concerned one the absolute best in the style. Creamy, full body and very smooth. ABV is very well hidden and is not a detractor in the flavor profile.

Taste follows the nose and is full of that dank herbal character but then rounds off into that tropical fruit juice smoothie I had mentioned early and finish of pretty clean utill you burp and realize the potency of the amount of concentrated hop flavor you just indulged. I dont know about you guys but I love hoppy beer burps!

Guys this beer and Wrench are both world-class in the style and have impressed the hell out of me. I personally found this beer better than some of the other heavy hitters in the style but I wont mention any names to avoid a dispute.

A very Happy and healthy new Beer Sunday to all you BAs!

 

First new beer for me today has been provided by the incredibly generous @thebeers . He absolutely destroyed my porch yesterday via NBS bif.



Appearance is a cloudy golden straw with a fingers worth of bubbly white head. Settles into a thin ring rapidly.

Aroma is mainly citrus up front with strong grassy finish.

Taste is similar to the nose. A quick burst of citrus with a nice big grassy bite. Moderate bitterness than lingers on the tongue.

Feel is soft and carb is moderate.

Overall a fine ipa that packs a punch of flavor for the modest ~5% abv.

 

Another New American-made Pils Sunday for me:

North Coast Scrimshaw German pilsener

The review:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/112/409/?ba=Premo88#review
3.64 (-3.4% rDev)

A weird beer in a way, for it often comes across more like a Vienna lager (earthy "darker" toasted malt flavor) or an American-made English pale ale with the yeast flavor dominating the sweeter bready-malt peach/apricot. It's not terrible, but there's many better options in the style, so this 6-pack will be a one-and-done for me.

Cheers!

 

New one sent to me from @Dragginballs76 . Thanks for this one!



Still working through my basement remodel, so this might be my only post today. Just taking a quick break.

Pour is a cloudy, light yellow with a soft pillow of white foam on top. Nose is like a pineapple/orange juice that is past its prime. Grapefruit pith hits the tastebuds first. Slight soapy aftertaste with a touch of bitterness. Not as sweet as I was expecting. Good brew that I would grab if I saw it. I think this was only my second or third beer from Westbrook, but I’ve enjoyed them all.

 

Post-work NBS beer #1



Blood Orange Hefewiezen

Ellicottville Brewing Co.
Hefeweizen / 4.60% ABV

3.69/5 rDev -0.3% | Score: 3.7
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Bottled 01/25/2018

L-The beer pours golden with an orange hue. The head is two fingers of fine off white bubbles. The head recedes to a thin film leaving sporadic legs of lace.
S-The blood orange is apparent on the nose. It smells natural. It's not overpowering, but still the dominant element. Behind the fruit lies that familiar mustiness I associate with wheat beers.
T- The beer starts and finishes with an odd melding of the blood orange and the esters from the beer. I have to admit I'm not overly happy with the combination. It seems to be fighting itself. The blood orange wins out in the end, but its weaker here on the taste buds than it was in the nose. The beer doesn't really come off as a hefeweizen. The esters I normally associate with the style are ultimately overwhelmed by the blood orange.
F-The mouthfeel is medium overall. The carbonation is light. It's light enough to be sessionable, but I'm not sure it's good enough to want more than one.
O- It's ok. It's more of an American wheat beer with blood orange than a true hefeweizen. Fine to try, but not worth seeking out.

 

Sounds like something I would do!

Cheers!

 

So I'm working on a translation project at the moment and literally just came across/learned that word this morning. I thought to myself, "man, that's a ten-dollar word if there ever was," and went about my day. I'm glad to randomly see it for the second time in my life on here, 8 hours later. Now I won't forget it! The universe is a weird and awesome place...

 

I'm back with this week's review also from Twin Elephant Brewing. This is The Echoes They Left Behind, a Wild Ale aged in chardonnay barrels and conditioned on copious amounts of pureed pineapple. I'm not a big fan of this style and I debated whether to purchase a bottle but I'm glad I did. The pineapple adds a nice touch of sweetness to a very sour, acidic ale. Twin Elephant proves its versatility with this offering. Here's my review:

3.96/5 rDev 0%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Reviewed one week after release. Poured from 500 ML bottle into Twin Elephant pint glass. It pours an almost clear honey color with a thin, milk-white head and lacing that dissipated quickly, and lots of small bubbles that ascended the glass. You can really smell the chardonnay and oak, along with subtle but noticeable pineapple. The taste really follows the nose and it's extremely sour and acidic. As the glass warms the flavors become distinct with the oaky chardonnay predominating and the pineapple adding a sweet touch to the finish along with a slight cracker after taste. It features lively carbonation and a fairly potent 9.8% ABV. Wild Ale is not my favorite style and I'm not easily impressed but I enjoyed this special release from Twin Elephant. This would be nice to sip at a summer event with hors d'oeuvres.

I hope you're all enjoying your new beers today. Lots of informative and well-written reviews.

 

A-Pours a very hazy dark opaque chocolate color with slight head and lacing
A-Aroma has abundant fruity hints, mainly raisin and plums
T-The taste follows the nose with a very noticeable plum flavor
M-A medium bodied beer with a good amount of carbonation
O-A well made fruity beer

 

This was actually a beautiful sunny weekend here in NJ/NY, if a bit chilly. Spring seems to be reluctantly showing itself, even if we may have another hit of snow coming this week. But at least I was able to enjoy some nice weather to complement scenic views and traveling I had in store for yesterday and today. I managed to be both at the NY/PA Delaware River Valley, and S. Jersey, and naturally did get some shopping in at each location .

Here's a Kent Falls beer that I don't recall ever seeing before:

Anachronism- a Gratzer, which is a Polish smoked oat/wheat ale style.

High carbonation is a hallmark of the style, and both of my glass selections seem to have failed the test . But still I press on...

Oh, this is really nice- delicate and complex, yet friendly and eminently drinkable. The first impression is of gentle fruits like pear, white grapes and star fruit, equally alongside spicy/floral suggestions from the yeast. A doughy breadiness comes across on the palate, and the finish ends with the slightest kiss of smoke. It may be the spritzy high carbonation, but I am reminded of Orval in a way; maybe substitute the smoke for the funk. But that refined, tightly-knit combo of flavor and explosive bubbly sensation is definitely happening here. Initial impression is an A- (4.35), but since this beer wants you to quaff it freely that's what I plan on doing; there's a very good chance that this really grows on me even more and the score could go even higher. Superb beer, Kent Falls!

 

Have yet to try Their beers since their allotments are usually so small, but they are on my list. The last beers you drank looked great but seemed like they might be suffering from yeast bite? Is that what you meant by peppery notes?

 

Happy Sunday and st. Pats weekend NBS players. Sunny here on the island today but winter seems to have gripped back with another cold wave. Got into it a bit heavy yesterday but I’m finally feeling up for a few brews. I’m also lucky to be looking at my first full week of vacation for the year. So, really no excuse not to.

My first new beer today is Irish-Ish Coffee Stout, imperial stout brewed w/ lactose, demerara sugar, nutmeg, vanilla, medium toast oak spirals, and coffee added. The brew checks in at 10.3% abv.

A slick black pour with a thin tan head. I get the coffee and malt on the nose but it’s not terribly floral. The drinking starts with a rush of big flavors. A rich and smooth flow that finishes slightly bitter and dry. The mouth feel of the brew is excellent and it really stands out. Rich, lush and creamy with just the right amount of stick. A touch on the boozy side but that seems to fade the more you drink. Tons of big flavor tones with coffee grinds, molasses, vanilla, cream, and caramel.

Overall, this is just excellent. I’m in the 4.4 range here players and will be buying more. Best of all the store is selling them as single cans.

 

Hello, bitter cold and windy here. Sipping on a new brew sent to me by @warrendietrich2001 in a nice box last week.
Getting prepared for a BA fantasy baseball draft later.

This is a DIPA from Moonraker made with Mosaic hops.

Pours a hazy yellow straw with foamy head, just off-white. The head settles into a whispy cap with a bit thicker collar.

Aroma is juicy fruit salad. Big ripe tropical fruits and crisp citrus zest and juice.

Flavor is similar to the aroma. Tons of fresh and ripe tropical fruit. Mango, guava, citrus is juicy and fresh zest. A bit of resinous earthy flavors and moderate bitterness finishes things off.

Smooth and soft just over medium body with moderate but calm carbonation.

A nice brew, no hint of the 8.5abv, as juicy as can be.

 

On to Grimm #2 for today. Pulse Wave is an IIPA at 8%, this version is DDH. Similar profile to my earlier entrant, but not as pleasing to my palate today. I clearly still enjoyed it immensely, but that is a weird factor of having a very good beer after an excellent beer. I can see how this beer shines, but it doesn’t shine as brightly, so I’m slightly disappointed. Damn my expectations!



Grimm Pulse Wave
My Score: 4.3
BA Score: 4.16

A – 4
Pours a golden yellow, halfway between translucent and opaque. Some floaties, but nothing distracting. Fluffy white head that leaves a bit of lacing behind.

S – 4.5
Fruity, a little dank and pine, when still quite cold. Slight plum, vibrant peach, ever so slight dankness, maybe something of an onion note, but that could be coming from the kitchen where my girlfriend and her friend are preparing homemade spring rolls. After walking in there and coming back, I’m thinking it was definitely a hop note as it’s gone now. I haven’t gotten onion much in the past from beers, but I quite like onion, so it makes me happy.

T – 4.25
Bubblegum is at the forefront when still cold, with a nice mélange of soft tropical fruits and some peach and generic darker stone fruit. Warmth brings a nice roundness to these flavors, lacing them amongst each other. It also adds a slight dank, piney quality.

M – 4.25
Soft, pillowy. Nearly medium body, a very slight resin. Lightly carbonated.

O – 4.25
A very nice IIPA. I preferred Dreamweapon from earlier today, but this is a similar beer in profile, with additional alcohol. It would be a great beer for sitting in the backyard after work, slowly sipping it as I practice my French or enjoy one of the delicious dinner concoctions my girlfriend often prepares.