New Beer Sunday (Week 686)

New Locally-brewed Dopplebock Sunday:

BCS Zoigl Dopplebock, 9% ABV

Disappointing in a word, but I have a feeling this bottle is super old. The head off the original pour masks a beer that's virtually flat, and while it has plenty of dopplebock notes like dates/prunes/fruitcake and even some bready malt flavor, there's a slightly sour off note throughout the nose and flavor that never fully disappears. It's frustrating because all this beer needs is a little more carbonation and no sour note, but add in those two minuses and the thing crumbles into grade D range.

The sour note seems yeast driven somehow. It tastes like an old ale that died.

The review:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/48790/295275/?ba=Premo88#review
2.82 (0% rDev)

Zoigl has been brewing in Bryan for years but I think just started serving on tap this year. I'll try to get over there at some point to give their doppelbock a fairer shake.

I'm packed and ready to fly to England tomorrow ... Midnight the Cat says there's plenty of room in my carry-on for 15 lbs. of cat:

I'm a lifelong bachelor and haven't had any serious relationships outside of friends and family since my college days. Like Morgan Freeman's character says in the movie Seven, people who spend a lot of time with me eventually find me disagreeable. The good news for me (and others I presume) is I figured all that out early enough in life and made peace with it, so despite living alone (with one noisy cat), I'm rarely lonely these days and generally less lonely all the time.

All of that is to say I offer a huge second to @cavedave's theory of happiness in enjoying my own single way of life while celebrating others' happy couplehood. And I'm sure like Dave does, I value my closest friends like family. I've got a small circle of friends whom I make a point to visit or contact on a regular basis, and most of my happiest times each year involve them in one way or another.

Hope your Sundays are going well!
Cheers!

 

Another one from Athens, Ohio.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/1432/272622/



Moderate pour yields a 1/4 inch white head over a bright, golden body with no lacing and head is gone in a few minutes. Nose of herb, slight spice, and even slighter funk. Taste is very, very nice with all the parts coming together. Coriander, honey, and spice are present with a very nice tart finish from the lemon verbena . Coriander is noted on the finish as well. Feel for a Saison is a bit thin, but for an American Wild Ale, pretty good. Cheers to Athens, Ohio for this!

4.21/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

 

Well then is it a fun place to visit . . . Are the things I've heard true ? You sooner fans travelled very well to this past seasons OSU/Oklahoma game btw.

 

Got stuck with chores around the house today, but finally settling in after dinner with one from @suoerspak ‘s 007 BIF box.

On the relationship question, I was fortunate enough to find the love of my life at 22 and married her 2 years later. In September, we will have been married half our lives. Still not sure why she puts up with me but forever grateful...

Ellison’s Crescent Fresh IPA.

Simply put, this is a nice clean well executed IPA. Recommended for sure.



Poured from 16 oz can hand dated 3/8/2018

A: Clear golden yellow with 2-3 finger white head. Lasting retention and nice chunky lacing.

S: Nice lunch of citrus as soon as I popped the top. Pineapple, tangerine, peach, and mango mixed with pine and pepper.

T: Pineapple, tangerine, peaches, mango, and fresh pine. There is a spicy note that reads like black pepper or rye bread.

M: Medium body with average carbonation. Alcohol not readily apparent, and only lightly bitter.

O: Nice refreshing IPA with an excellent aroma and flavor profile. Well done!

 

Next up for me is Dirty Bastard by Founders, thank you to @ovaltine for this one.
im

Pours a dark reddish brown, head dissipates quickly. Some floaty chunks.
Nose is apple, apricot, raisin, plum.
Taste is toffee, raisin, apple, cranberry, maybe some coffee at the end.
Mouthfeel is fairly creamy, nice bubbles and moderate thickness.
Overall, very enjoyable. Thankful for an opportunity to try a style that I don't seek out very often.

 

Happy CANtinued New WisCANsin Beer Sunday (Week 686)!

I got sidetracked during the hockey game, but I still managed to get in:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/46102/236192/?ba=woodychandler#review
&

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/47369/257103/?ba=woodychandler#review


That's it for me! I hope to do a LOT more damage next week. 8=(

 

Greetings, NBS. I'm at my favorite bar for the first time since last April. I guess you could say it's a pop-up bar that only exists a few weekends a year. Wish I could show you the view, but I guess postimage isn't a thing any more.

My beer for today is Samoa the Beer, a 10.5% cookie stout from Noble Ale Works.

It is black with dark brown highlights and thin khaki head, which does not remain and leaves no lacing in my plastic cup.

If my nostrils weren't clogged with dust I would take a stab at the smell. I'm sure it's decadent.

Tastes of fudge, caramel, vanilla. Nails the Girl Scout Cookie taste. Really smooth and thick with minimal booze taste.

This is delicious. Way too easy to drink, and a definite treat.

 

Holy WTF, Batman!! I have never reviewed this beer. I've done it at least twice in comparison mode in a "throwdown" post on WBAYDN. I think I always assumed I reviewed it, but maybe didn't b/c @WesMantooth indicated he sent me an aged version. Who knows what I was thinking 2.5 years ago.

I will say, I am a bit disappointed that the brewery rep at Savor 2 years ago seemed o have lied to me this beer was heading to NoVa. And after I stopped by for at least 4-6 pours of this nectar. Anyhow, here's my added review, with no score adjustment, just a wonderful beer.

 

No belgian! All Russian it seems =)

Also...never had aspic. anyone know what its like? let me know =)

 

Technically, this isn't a "New" beer for me, but my review is 5 years old, and since I dug this bottle out of the cellar a few weeks ago; https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/2210/50509/?ba=beertunes#review

The fruitiness is gone, and it drinks like like an aged Barleywine should; smooth, malty, medium-full body. Nice.

 

Being from DC area, I feel there’s a political joke in there someone or another could make, but that’s all much less important to the reveal I am hoping is posted as I hit reply.

 

Never even heard of this brewery, but got from @The-Adjunct-Hippie. From Chicago. Delicious APA. Fantastic head retention and thick soapy lacing on the glass. Flavors of big grapefruit, tangerine, lemon, peach, pear, pineapple, ginger, mango, melon, citrus peel/rind, pepper, and pine hops; with moderate caramel, toasted biscuit, light nutty malt balance; and herbal, floral, grassy hop/spice earthiness. Similar/muted aromas. Light-moderate pine, citrus peel/rind, herbal, grassy bitterness; and galangal spiciness on the finish. Medium carbonation/body; balanced creamy/bready malts and sticky hops/spice in the mouthfeel. Slight resins/rinds, increasing dryness, no hop/spice astringency. Mildly increasing spice heat after the finish. Extremely easy drinking, 5.9%. So apparently galangal is like ginger. Not overwhelming on the beer profile. Has Chinook, Simcoe, Ahtanum, Amarillo, and Citra hops. Well balanced juicy/dank hop complexity, with a nice bready Munich/Victory malt backbone. Not overly sweet, spot on stuff for the style. 3.91


Italian Belgian pale ale. Apparently designed by Garrett Oliver. Excellent! Fantastic head retention/thick lacing on the glass. Aromas and flavors of big lemon, orange, peach, pear, red apple, melon, peppercorn, clove, and light banana yeast; with balanced honey, white bread dough, biscuity malts; herbal, floral, grassy hops; and yeast earthiness. Light-moderate herbal/grassy bitterness and peppery yeast spiciness on the finish. Medium-high carbonation, medium body, and moderately crisp/clean finishing. Balanced creamy/bready malts and sticky hops in the mouthfeel. Light-moderate increasing bitter/spicy/carbonated dryness. Very flavorful/refreshing, 6%. Absolutely nails the style. Very impressed. Perfectly balanced yeast, malts, and honey flavors; with solid earthy hop presence. The yeast character reminds me a lot of Brooklyn Sorachi Ace, so I am not surprised; seeing as Garret helped them make this beer. Probably gave them the strain he uses. Similar to Tank 7/Hennepin too. Definitely a saison yeast. 4.08


Flanders red from @MacMalt. I get to be the second review on both sites! Very nice stuff. Great head retention/lacing for the style. Flavors of big lightly tart cherry, cranberry, raspberry, strawberry, raisin, plum, lemon, orange, peach, pear, apricot, melon, red/green apple, red grape/wine, hay, straw, grass, and toasted oak; with moderate caramel, brown sugar, bready malt balance; light leather, vanilla, musty funk, red wine vinegar, pepper, and yeast earthiness. Similar/muted aromas. Very mild lactic tartness and yeast/wine/oak tannin spiciness on the finish. Medium carbonation/body; creamy/bready malts; light lactic acidity and oak tannins in the mouthfeel. Lightly increasing acidic/tannic dryness. No pucker. Very easy drinking, 7.8%. Well rounded Brett/Lacto complexity, balanced malts, and great wine barrel presence after 19 months of sitting around. Spot on style example, but not as impressive as I hoped for. 3.88


Cheers, have a good night NBS.

 

In conclusion:

Twas a Surly Darkness 2017 and a Surly Darkess Woodford reserve Rye barrel aged.

Im down for both. crazily, cause usually this is not the case, I think I enjoyed the base the most(its a really A+ beer. Plus woodford isn't my fave (though I love their Master's reserve, and it was one of the first things i got drunk off of))



@Vidblain

Thank you! I'm drunk but happily so. I survived this ordeal, but likely some alc will hit me in the next hour.

Also, any pf u who r mad at me for not doing a mouthfeel. These are weird cause they pour black and thick as can be. but when u drink, it is way thinner. still great, and plenty of body. just most hyped RIS are way chewier

 

Yet another one from Athens, Ohio.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/1432/282287/



Moderate pour yields a 1/2 inch white head over a very bright and clear light golden body with no lacing. Head is gone immediately. Nice nose of rye malt and saison yeast with lemon, green apple, hay, and a bit of funk. Taste follows nose with an nice additional spicy tartness coming forward. Good feel and overall, yet another fine saison offering from Jackie O's. Cheers!

4.06/5 rDev -1.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

 

Finally digging into one of the beers I have been most excited about from the BIF @y2kawakami sent me. This beer has been a want I’ve mine for years and it does not disappoint! My first beer from Midnight Sun, Arctic Devil, honestly being a little over two years old it is sublime.

4.5/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Big thank to y2kawakami for this!
22 oz bottle, dated 11/12/15, poured into a tulip

A- A clear deep ruby red with a two finger off white head.

S- Oak, earthy, dark fruits, figs, brown sugar, some bourbon, some molasses.

T- Figs, cherries, bourbon, brown sugar, toffee, oak, touch of molasses, slightly earthy.

M- Smooth, full body.

O- A great Barelywine, sweet and rich, alcohol is very well hidden. Very happy I finally got to try this!!

Cheer!

 

Back with another tonight.

Rochester Mills Imperial Milkshake

@superspak was nice enough to send me a couple of different varieties of this one, so I’m super excited to compare them all.



Poured from 16 oz can dated 5/28/2018 which I assume is a best by date.

A: Pitch black with 1-2 finger light tan head that settles to a thin cap with light lacing.

S: Dark roasted malts, coffee with cream and sugar, and baking chocolate. Smells like the aisle in the grocery store where they grind the coffee beans. Just makes me want to take repeated deep breaths.

T: Smooth blend of rich roasted malts, coffee, dark chocolate, cream, and caramel. Reads more like a quality coffee drink than a milkshake, but I dig it.

M: Medium to full body with average carbonation. Subtle creaminess to the texture but not completely milkshake quality. Very easy drinking for the ABV.

O: Excellent stout. Looking forward to trying the other variants that @superspak sent my way

 

Even though it's mid April, we had a chilly day here in PA despite it being in the high 80s yesterday. This calls for a stout, thanks to @ovaltine.


Pours opaque black, head slowly fades to nothing.
Chocolate blast, followed by Starbucks, Reeses, bourbon
Taste is chocolate, kahlua, vanilla ice cream, sweet bourbon notes as the others fade. Mocha notes linger at the end.
Mouthfeel is on the thicker side, smooth carbonation. Very mild warmth at the back of the throat.
Overall, this is a really enjoyable bottle, bourbon notes are light but provide a nice balance to the chocolate and vanilla notes. No single part overpowers. Thanks again @ovaltine, I really dig this bottle.

 

Unique start @lordofthewiens, I'm not going to get to much into the relationship thing, I just hope the wife doesn't get too pissed that I just drank 19.2oz of 12.9%ABV.
Which brings me to by my new beer of the day.
Oskar Blues BA Ten Fidy
2017 Edition

19.2oz can into Libbey Tulip
Canned on 10/30/17
L- thick motor oil black, with a dark brown head that slowly recedes
S- bourbon-forward, chocolate, vanilla, coconut
T- marshmallow, dark chocolate, hoppy bitterness, with a solid bourbon-forward finish
F- full-bodied, light carbonation, thick and syrupy yet drinkable
Overall this is an amazing BBA beer as this retains the original Ten Fidy especially with the hoppyness winking in, but also having plenty of barrel character.

Cheers BA

 

Happy New Collaboration New Beer Sunday.

I was super excited to pick up todayś beverage as it features a collaboration between Carton and Trillium.

I never thought I would see both logos on the same can but indeed, there it was.

Carton already has a great reputation in NJ and adding Trillium to that had me elated!

Carton 02210 was canned on 3-23-18 under a month old

The beer pours a hazy slightly dark amber color with light hues throughout the beer. It offers a decent white head that dissipates reasonably.

My first thoughts on the aroma was, that it had that sorbet almost creamsicle like sweetness that I have encountered in some NEIPAs. A definitive funky aroma was noticeable as well. Almost as if the aroma was dominated by the esters from the yeast, strangely enough a Kolsh yeast is used in this brew.

But onto the taste! An initial blast of citrus bitterness surges upfront, then right after a very strange off-putting malt character comes though mid pallet. Off putting in the sense that it goes from roasted malt to caramel like sweetness to white toasted bread, to an off putting fruity and funky yeasty ester all in like just a few milliseconds. Finish is dry but again with a strange malt sweetness-yeast ester sitting on the back end. The ABV presents it self to be higher then 7% in the flavor.

Body is med, nothing to outstanding but nothing to complain about either.

Boy I would be lying if I said I was impressed with the brew. And being a fan of carton doesn't blind me to the fact and conclusion that this is not their best beer. Nor was it suppose to be either!

The problem with this brew is that it it doesnt commit to being one thing. It tip'toes into the NEIPA style very minimally with itś hazy look and evident yeasty esters but also tries to remain a Carton IPA. Its kinda all over the place and while interesting and kinda fun it really does bring about a large disappointment.

I do hold Carton to a high standard and was excited for this colab but it just didnt do it for me.

 

Good Evening NBS
I've worked a 13 hour day today and thoroughly enjoyed the stories prompted by @lordofthewiens opening remarks.
I met my wife of 21 years at 19 as a sophomore in college. She is, bar none, the best thing that has ever come into my life. We came from totally different backgrounds, have little in common interests or hobbies, but seem to balance each other perfectly. It's interesting now to watch my 16 year old son start to navigate the his way around his first girlfriend. On to beer...

*I am aware as I post this picture for the first time, that I should have thought about another new beer, any other new beer. My wife is the one who's good with people and feelings...me not so much. Just to be clear, my wife is an angel.

The review:
12oz bottled 1/26/18 poured into a DFH branded teku glass at fridge temp 9% ABV. The beer pours very dark brown, nearly black with no light traveling through and mocha head that's mostly gone in 5 minutes. The aroma is mostly baker's chocolate with a slight hint of vanilla and wood. The taste is mildly bitter baker's chocolate up front with vanilla and wood popping out on the finish. Mouthfeel is medium bodied, adequately carbonated and undry in the finish. The finish is not overly sweet or cloying, but the residual sugar and vanilla are there. Overall, very good. Enjoyed the single, but can think of other stouts I would repeat buy over this at the price point.

Cheers all. I have next Sunday off and hope to check in earlier and possibly multiple times.