New Beer Sunday (Week 683)

The "dead hand of history" is a term I've heard used by some folks who study history and they apply it when we are saddled with things inherited from the past that interfere with or prevent something we might prefer in a more modern era.

In this case, barrel, puncheon, tun, etc. are all traditional size differentiating terms for wooden containers used in holding liquids. Some terms are still in use. But we have to translate their quantities into modern measures.

So for the brewer to communicate clearly s/he needs to use the term punceon since their ain't no other that is accurate to describe the size and nature of the container used for aging. It's not a barrel, it's not a hogshead, it's a puncheon. Hence illustrating "the dead hand of history" in this case.

 

On to lunch with accompaniment . . .



Beautiful deep gold color with white cap and lacing.

Aroma of rich, sweet malt with caramel up front backed by a dryer toffeeishness both of which combine in a pleasant way.

Taste on entry is caramel but less sweet than in the scent. Quickly joined by a deeper toffee flavor which is even dryer. Hops are listed as 23 IBU which is sufficient to balance the malts and seems to be their main purpose. Finish is clean with a malty aftertaste. Reminds me of a fresh German Marzen.

Medium texture with balancing carbonation.

Altogether a very pleasant beer. I've had some reds where the brewer used roasty malt for color resulting in an underlying burnt bitterness, but there's none of that here. A rich amber beer that's right at home with food or company.

 

Great read, Jack. And your pils is sure purdy!
ISO: Jacks Pilsener

 

Threes Kicking and Screaming

For anybody not familiar with them, Threes is a local NYC brewery. I honestly avoid buying them these days because I find them to be so hit or miss.

Continuing the theme, this is labeled a "foudre-fermented pilsner." Sticking this on the can is sorta like Coors having "Rocky mountain water" on theirs. I fell for it totally since I bought it because I've never had a "foudre-fermented pilsner." Foudres are vats bigger than barrels or puncheons. I typed it as "foeders" in my last post. I've seen it both ways. Is one more acceptable than the other? Please let me know.

This one was a surprise. I really liked it. It screams pilsner and drinking it does not in any way reveal anything special about its fermentation compared to a "non-foudre-fermented pilsner."

Color is very light gold. A bit hazy. Soft carbonation. Nice “lacing.” Firm herbal hop presence that’s rounded rather than sticking out drastically.

Overall, a very nice pilsner that invites repeat drinking. If one was hoping for some acidity based on the marketing they might be let down.

 

G'morning Craig & Friends.
Nice opening. I am enjoying the spring we're having here in SoCal. We finally got some more rain, and the recent storm that hit the burn areas of the lower central coast and upper LA county areas were not as traumatic as expected. Good for those folks. And more rain here, good for us. Today, glorious fluffy cumulus clouds are sashaying across our blue sky. Seasonal beer? Sometimes, but I drink whatever, whenever. Granted, I don't tend to pop my big BA Impy stouts in August, but I ain't saying that it hasn't happened.
Hoppy is year round for me. The barleywines and Impy stouts tend to autumn through spring.
I'll be back later with some glorious hops that just crunched my porch on Friday, courtesy of @Buck89 . Ahhhh, Bearded Iris. And a totally new brewery for me, Southern Grist.

 

Thoughts on how this compares to Stone's IRS? I must admit I've been a bit pissed at them for break in production of some classics (including killing my IRS vertical at 6 years) in favor of a bunch of what for my palate and preferences are pedestrian IPAs in the current market. TIA

 

I agree with you, NG does amazing things with fruit. And I am so happy to see that they're availing these offerings in a smaller format now.

 

New beer #2.

Fascination Street - Foreign Objects
Ale with Hops - 7.5% abv
Canned 2/26/18 (27 days ago)
Purchased for $5.99 at Beer Heaven
Score: 4.17 (-0.7% rDev)



L - 2-finger pearly white head atop a gorgeous orange juice body. Stunning!

S - citrus, some tropical notes, something herbal.

T - front is dank, but quickly balanced by citrus. Some melon in there too. Dirty middle. Mild sweetness, mildy boozy, moderate bitterness.

F - medium body with low carb given the style.

O - I’d prefer if the citrus was more prominent, but overall this is a very well balanced dipa.

 

Good afternoon BAs and thanks to @cjgiant for the great start as usual. Been away for a few weeks mostly due to beer travel on Sunday but today I am getting started with a beer that was sent spy style from @JBowenGeorgia . When I opened the box and saw this beer I was super excited as I thought I remembered having it last year, turns out I had the Passion Fruit & Guava version. This is a Creature Comforts Athena Paradiso a Berliner Weisse brewed with cranberry, raspberry and tart cherry. I really loved the last one I had and this one is no exception, this beer is so very flavorful with lots of tart cherry and raspberry. the color is also very bright and it is so light I would love to have a case by the pool. Thanks John for this wonderful beer!!

Appearance 4.75 -Pours bright cloudy candy red color with nice fluffy white head and great lacing all around the glass.

Aroma 4.5 - The aroma is of wheat, tart cherry, and raspberry. There is also a faint mustiness to it, nice combination of tart and sweet.

Taste 4.5 - Yeah the tart cherries/raspberries are right up front, great tart bite right off the bat that lingers for a bit. Lemon, light vinegar flavors are really well balanced.

Feel 4.5 - Light bodied well carbonated fairly dry finish

Overall 4.52 - This is a very well done beer, beautiful color great flavors and super easy drinking.

 

For what it's worth, Jester King uses the "foudre" version in the name of their Live Oak collaboration Foudreweizen:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/24018/173487/?ba=Premo88#review

Great beer. I'm assuming they actually used their big foeder (pictured below). Foeder/foudre sounds like such a cool thing to me for some reason, but it's literally nothing more than a huge neutral barrel — I think "neutral", right? Neutral as in not meant to impart tannins or anything else from the wood but meant merely to hold the beer same as a stainless steel vat:

My new beer's still cooling its heels in Alamagordo prison and a late breakfast away.

See y'all in a few!

 

Happy NBS! It is the start of spring break for my wife and children so I am taking Monday off. This gives me a nice relaxing weekend. I made some pancakes and took my 3 dogs for a long walk so far. Now time for a beer!

I have always wanted to try Gillian from GI, but the 750ml cost of $25+ kept me away. Found a 12oz bottle for $8 and decided it was time to pick it up. It pours a hazy, deep gold with a fizzy 2 finger white head that quickly fades away. Aroma is fruity with strawberries, apricot and pear juice. There is some light yeast and funk. Flavor is sweet and tart with the strawberries and honey. Finishes with some wet hay, yeast funk, and hints of spice from the pepper. Feel is very light with prickly carbonation and a dry finish. Enjoyable and flavorful Saison.

 

Sorry to hear about the pinched nerve. Sorry to tell you this but you might have to pick up a package later this week. Can somebody help you?
You won my Purdue lif. Kinda cool, since you're an Indiana boy.

Total Purdue points up to Sweet 16 —> 215

@FlintB 395 #1607 page 41
@strohme2 411 #1613
@LehighAce06 282 #1614
@y2kawakami kam 265 #1616
@thebeers 226 #1620
@JBowenGeorgia 319 #1626
@jhavs 234 #1628
@Smokesnotes 315 #1632
@SammyJaxxxx 121 #1639
@swenny916 330 #1640
@bl00 453 #1643
@jdell15 140 #1654
@Bum4ever 144 #1659
LoydDobler 222 #1679
@ovaltine 432 #1757

If I missed anybody, and Mr Dobler did not win, please message me today...In the meantime. I need an addy from you, Sir.

 

A-A very nice clear amber color with nice head and lacing
A-Aroma has nice resin and piney hints
T-Taste follows the nose with a resounding resin and piney flavors
M-A medium bodied beer with nice carbonation
O-A nice piney beer

 

Welcome Back!

 

I must admit I have not had the ones you mention in a while.

This one is not a bad stout, but probably not as good as the previous ones (just going on memory).

 

First Drop from Upper Pass in Vermont, also a new brewery to me. Pours an opaque dark orange with a quarter inch head that dissipates to a ring quickly and leaves blotchy lacing down the glass. Smells of tropical and citrus fruits and pine. Tastes of pine, grass, under-ripe pineapple and mango, tangerine, grapefruit rind, apricot and a hint of sweet malt. Very earthy with a lingering dry and bitter mouth feel. Light to medium bodied and lightly carbonated. Very easy drinking but the finish is almost a puckering dry that is not overly enjoyable to me.

 

Thank you sir cheers!

 

Burial / Other Half - One For Me

I’m transitioning from one NYC local 16oz silver can Pilsner to a 16oz silver can Helles collaboration with a different NYC local. This one was a slight letdown transitioning from Threes Kicking and Screaming, but it was still quite nice in it’s own right.

The beer looks like oil. Golden and clear. Tastes like a Helles... which is actually a big improvement from the last canned Other Half Helles in my eyes. Grainy. Less hop presence and hop character than the Threes Pilsner. Malt depth is actually pretty good. It’s not nearly as good as an outstanding German Helles in this regard... but still far better than an American craft attempt that just comes across as sweet. There’s some slight lemony sourness here.

 

Hello New Beer Sunday!!!

And, hello from New Bern, NC!!!

I am on a much needed vacation, and am having a blast. It is a bit cold and dreary today, but, it is gorgeous here.

Also, here, has been several new beers for me so far, and a couple of old friends - Yuengling and Jai Alai.

But, we're here for new beer, and here it is.

Map 40 from Allagash brewing in Portland, Maine.

New Beer, and a new state for me. I would not have expected to see their beers here in North Carolina.

So how is it?

Amazing!

I really liked the pour. Nice and dark, yet a creamy pour. The nose hit me when I was taking the picture on the porch. Nice coffee notes. Up close it was so much more rich and decadent. The taste was rich with coffee, with tasty undertones of chocolate, and nuts. Top notch beer, and so glad to try it.

Review link
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/4/206088/

There will be more today. I might just pop open another surprise beer from Maine before the day is over.

Cheers, and enjoy life all.