New Beer Sunday (Week 684)

Thanks for taking over. ( & the stripper dream was entertaining. )

That's 6-7 weeks away! Soooooo nice to see some green. Snow is reduced to just in the woods, so some things are showing in the open.

ESPRESSWAY - Two Roads Brewing
This one overall is ~= to a dry Irish stout +coffee, in flavor, with a smoother feel. A good compliment to the (quite fudgy) chocolate pie . If I have any bone to pick with it, it is the aroma. The coffee smells like yesterday's(2 days ago?) remnant/wet grounds, that you smell while dumping out to make new. A lot like the last batch of Upstate Brunch. The taste is fine.

3.85/5 rDev -2.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/30437/213109/?ba=mikeinportc#review

EL GOSE - Avery Brewing Co.
This one is less tart than the usual gose, and less intense flavor. Might be one to try if most goses & Berliners are to puckery for you. Would be a great "lawnmower beer". What I get is bottled lime juice ( that ubiquitous one for bar use), dry hard cider and "cardboardy" breadcrust (peel outer layer or 2 of crust off, & taste) , with a touch of saltiness, after everything disappears.

4.09/5 rDev +13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
I seem to be an outlier on this. Guessing it's some combination of the following : 1) It's not tart enough, and strongly flavored enough for those that really like the style.2) A lot of people who rate and review the style (as with Berliners,pils, wilds, etc) aren't too enamored of the style in general, and 3) This specimen is 4+ months old, so the flavors may have mellowed and blended, to the point of improvement. I'll be on the lookout for fresh ones to compare. I do like the more tart ones, but can do a mental shift and accept this as-is. Closer to the likes of Lost Nation Gose, Sixpoint Jammer,etc.
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/30/223871/?ba=mikeinportc#navigation

 

One last beer tonight, courtesy of @ovaltine.


Pours jet black, mocha head dissipates quickly. Smells of milk chocolate, subtle coffee notes. Tastes like chocolate syrup, some caramel and vanilla. Mouth feel is thick, slight carb balances it. Love the can art on this too!

 

A vegan brisket? Please do tell. I'm so curious. I love coming across highly recommended vegetarian and/or vegan dishes

 

Glad you like that one. For an APA, I was solo happy to find that one, and then they canned it. BONUS!

 

One of the perks of living in one of the few temperate rainforests in the world .

 

I hope everyone is enjoying their New Beer Easter Sunday
It's been a hectic weekend as we have been celebrating the start of Passover, Easter and my wife's birthday. Everyone is asleep and I am getting a little bit of quiet time. Glad I took off tomorrow.

Thank you to @Blackop555 for this one in the NBS BIF

Black Rock Brewing
Barbaric Yawp

I have a Carton This Town as a side beer

Here's my review
4.24/5 rDev +9.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 oz can

A: Deep Caramel brown with a red hue. Slight head that subsidies to a thin ring that hangs around.
S: Stewing prunes, melting brown sugar
T: Prunes, dark chocolate brownies walnuts,
MF: Slightly thin and a bit hot.
O: A very good scotch Ale. It could use a bit more body to balance the alcohol. A wonderful slow sipper

 

That's a pretty interesting mug you got there. Looks cool.

 

Thanks . I don't know about cool, but it's got a great feel to it, and seems to compress a half liter into the most compact shape. Worked really great with that beer, too .

 

Picked this one up in Columbus. We can't get Evil Twin Brewing in SE Ohio (across the border from WV where I typically get my beers). I've been anxious to try this stuff for a while



It's amazingly dangerous for the ABV. 11.5% ABV and it drinks like something that's maybe 6-7%. Great almond coffee vanilla sweetness in there. Just an all around A+ stout IMO. I can't believe this beer has this high of an ABV honestly.

4.75/5

 

This is a double new beer.
So I moved on to the Barrel Aged version of Barbaric Yawp (with a side beer of course)


4.54/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 12 oz can dated 12/06/17

A: A deep dark brown with hints of Caramel coloring. Thin off white head that subsidies to a thin ring around the glass
S: Toasted Caramel, vanilla, blackberry
T: Bourbon, vanilla, Caramel, coconut, raisins, cherry
MF: Smooth and full. Slight alcohol burn that offsets the sweet aspect.
O: Fantastic beer. Tasted this right after the standard version. The Barrel Aging really transformed a very good beer into a special one. An all star in the BA Scotch Ale depth.

My side beer is new to me as well. A Keller Pils named Independent Variable from Alementary This is really good and I will have to review it soon.

I'm still listening to (and loving) the Clash. There has never been another band like them

 

Well Hello Late Night NBS
So lots of Shenanigans going on. And they all took root from right here in NBS. We're on our 7th BIF, and Boy Howdy it's getting gloriously chaotic. So chaotic, that I popped a beer tonight for NBS, only to find out it was a new beer to me as of April 2017. Well, that's what happens when you participate here. (And also, when you become acquainted with out very own @SammyJaxxxx )
So, technically this WAS a new beer a while ago. Big shout out for the repeat that came in a ninja strike from Greg.

The appropriately named Sneak Box APA from Kane

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/26676/185178/?view=beer&sort=&start=75

Thanks...again, Greg.

 

Hi there you late night NBS'ers. It has been a long day of cleaning the house in the morning, firing up the BBQ, and cooking for the family. It turned into a nice little Easter Sunday party. Of course I never grill without a few beers.

First up is a new to me beer from my NBS box courtesy of @akatz821:
Funky Monks

Dark yellow with no head
Tart lemon, oranges and apples. Sort of a pepper smell and bread.
Light tartness with lemon and other citrus. White grapes and cracker flavor.
Thicker than expected for the style and semi-dry with low carbonation.
Personally I wish it was a bit more tart, this is subdued, but it was still enjoyable.

Next up is a another brew from my awesome NBS BIF box (thanks @akatz821):
Mash up the Jam dry hop sour from Collective Arts Brewing

Yellowish orange with a big white head that fades quickly.
Super tart lemon and lime followed by cherry and bread. Lastly a smell of earthy hops.
Very tart bite up front followed by lemon, orange and cherries. Finish is a nice hop flavor.
Medium bodied with a good amount of carb and a super dry finish.
Really enjoyed this brew while BBQing that bag of carne asada. Could crush a bunch of these while standing in front of that fire.

Next Up: In Bruges from Lamplighter, also from the awesome @akatz821

This style is relatively new to me and this is a dark gold color with little head that vanished quickly.
Bread and yeast come through first, followed by caramel. sugar and a candied yams scent.
Super sweet caramel flavor with a bread backbone.
Full bodied and sort of chewy and sugary.
This one was definitely a slow sipper and a little too sweet for my taste.

Next new beer was brought back to me, by my wife, from Philly:

Pizza Boy Sunny Side Up Coffee Stout:
Dark brown with a solid tan head that lingered.
Huge amount of coffee aroma followed by chocolate and something sweet.
Taste is straight espresso followed by a rich chocolate.
Full bodied feel, creamy and smooth. Not too bitter and a nice dry finish.
This is just a really excellent coffee stout. Wish I had more.

Next up is an RIS sent to me in a Newbie BIF by the super generous @pnelting:

Clown Shoes: The good, The bad, The unidragon,
Super dark with a small tan head
Smokey malt smell and charred wood with some lingering dark fruits
Dark bitter chocolate and smoke, toasty nuts and alcohol.
Pretty thick and a little light carb, alcohol is there a bit but nothing over-powering.
Pretty good RIS stout, really liked the smokey presence on this one.

Now that the party is over, the guests have gone home and I am good and buzzed, I am dipping into one more from the awesome box from @akatz821:

Evil Twin: Imperila Biscotti Chili Hazelnut Break:
Super dark black pour with dark tan head that lasted.
Getting a good amount of nuttiness and chilies followed by something pretty sweet, possibly vanilla.
Chocolate taste up front followed by nuttiness and vanilla and a finish of strong chili flavor.
Nice thick body with solid carbonation. very smooth and creamy.
Over all just an excellent stout that hits all the flavors it is going for.

 

Looks like I'm late to the NBS party. It's LNBA for me I guess. Since it's Easter, I thought I'd go with one of the special bottles that @jhavs sent over. It did not disappoint. Be well everyone.



4.56/5 rDev +1.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: With a nice hearty, vigorous pour, the beer produced about a 2.5 finger of soft, white foamy head. About half of the foam laced the glass after about a minute or two of sitting.

Aroma: It smells of wine barrel, oak, tart cherry and other fruity aromas.

Taste: On the first sip, I pick up some tart funk, some straw, some wine barrel. At the very end of the sip, there is a really subtle, slight bitter finish. It is really refreshing and enjoyable.

Mouthfeel: It seems to carry a lower carb feel to it, but it works for me

Overall: This lived up to the hype for me. It was a really good, enjoyable beer for me. I like what the wine barrels did to the overall taste of the beer. Thanks to jhavs for making this one happen.

 

Hello New Beer Sunday!!!

Ok, it's 1:33Am here, but I would still say it's Sunday. I just got home from a friends place, and a lot of new beers were consumed there, and it was a good time. But, now it's time for a new beer that I'm reviewing.


Dare Mighty Things IPA from The Brewing Projekt.

It is a good NEIPA. Nice look, a delicious citrus aroma and taste. Creamy mouthfeel. Only downside is it does feel a bit watery to me.

Review

4.47/5 rDev +5.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This beer pours a hazy, cloudy, murky golden color. The head is 1 finger, white, frothy, and great retention. Some lacing on the glass.
The nose is a juicy citrus aroma. Orange is what it smells like to me.
Taste - Juicy tasting, but not overpowering. To me the taste leans toward pineapple.
Feel, creamy and soft feeling, though it does feel a bit watery.
A very good beer in the NEIPA stule, and I'm glad to drink it.

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Ok, that's all for tonight. We'll see you all next week. Cheers, and enjoy.

 

I forgot to mention that I may not be present for Roll Call next Sunday. That weekend is the ocCANsion of the BCCA's annual Spring Thaw CANvention in Mechanicsburg, PA. Not only do they bring antique CANs & collectibles for sale & trade, but many bring full, fresh CANs for sale, trade & share. I CAN't miss out on the opportunity.

 

Made it to Jester King with a small group for Easter farmhouse fun yesterday:

Colonel Toby,



2017 SPON—4

Colonel Toby is super super earthy and was a huge shock to my palate having not had a good farmhouse ale is forever. Toby wasn't just yeasty earthy but also seemed to have an actual hop bite, something few Jester King beers ever have.

2017 SPON—4 is my fourth or fifth different blend from JK's spontaneously fermented series, and it was just as fantastic as the others. Very tart but also with some light sweetness to it that makes it extra tasty. Like a lemon-yeast candy almost.

Hope you have a great week, NBSers!

Cheers!