New Beer Sunday (Week 692)

So much respect for your family. Thank you.

 

Founders Dank Wood, 12.2% ABV. Pours dark brown with a two finger off-white head. Nose is hops, taste is slight piney hops, sweet caramel, bourbon, and moderate bitter close. Excellent mouthfeel, overall excellent. I didn't find it very dank. I am not a fan of IPAs, but this was pretty good.

 

Alright, just finished making dinner and now sitting down with my second to last NBS entry...

Ready to have some fun, everyone?



That's right, I'm back with another BareWolf beer... this time we've got a very strict NEIPA in my glass.

Pours in a manner akin to a solid object. This is unabashedly opaque in my glass with absolutely no head retention nor clarity to speak of. I get the feeling this beer is 100% the way they wanted to make it, so it's not like I can complain. It's definitely amusing how trope-specific this is about the NEIPA style, though. These guys seem fun as hell.

The nose is super tropical and juicy, with a ton of mango, papaya and pineapple hanging out with a solid dose of grapefruit, orange and pine resin. Wow, this absolutely smells delicious. BareWolf continues to impress me... I love how fresh this one is too... 5 days old?! I'll fucking take it!

Flavor profile continues with the expected elements foreshadowed by the smell, loading my palate with papaya, pineapple, grapefruit and mango with a tiny touch of maltiness to back it all up. Super smooth feel with only a little bit of carbonation toward the end of each sip and no alcohol presence whatsoever (it's not a strong beer, though, anyway, clocking in at 5.3%). Though it doesn't seem to be bitter upfront there's a surprisingly nice long-lasting hit of IBU goodness that really carries through the finish. Hmm, so it's not pure juice after all... what's your game, BareWolf? These guys are doing some really cool and fun stuff. I hope to visit the brewery with friends soon!

Okay... I have one more in me I think. But only because I can stay up a little later tonight

 

Thanks to my Tree House angel Rob,
for yet another hook-up.
Cheers!



Moderate to vigorous pour yields a 2 inch tan head over a dark brown body. Nose of roasted coffee, bitter chocolate, milk chocolate, unsweetened chocolate, and roasted malt. Taste mirrors nose exactly with an ever so slight flavor of dark fruit and a very nice mouthfeel. Overall, these guys produce some of my favorite dark beers. Cheers!

4.55/5 rDev -0.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

 

You're welcome, fellow gumbo chef! Spon is my favorite thing Jester King does, and getting you a taste had to happen.

That chicken gumbo did look tasty. Now we're going to need a photo or two of your next gumbo. You know the one I'm talking about. In fact, I say we play a game of whose roux is darker. And no cheating!

 

Good evening, NBS. Glad to be here. I raise my glass to all of the servicemen and women who have served and sacrificed.

Today's first new beer is New Belgium's The Hemperor, a 7% hoppy ale with hemp.



Pours golden amber and perfectly clear. Single finger of off-white foam falls to a cap. Lacing is spotty but sticky.

Smells like a glass of cannabis. Very dank and earthy, weed resins overpower hop resins.

Tastes like a glass of cannabis, too. Some bready malt sweetness plays underneath. Not sure I can identify any hop flavors. It was a bit much at first, but now that I've adjusted to the strength of the flavor, I'm enjoying it a lot more.

Creamy mouthfeel, not overly resinous. A bit slick. I keep coming back for another sip and am almost through the glass, but I think I'll be satisfied with a single.

 

Hello New Beer Sunday!!!

It's a heatwave here in central MN, and I LOVE it. It's been in the 90's the past few days, and no let up in sight. It is a huge improvement from snow and cold AF weather.

So, on to the beer, and it's GOOD for this warm weather.


Odd Side Ales Tangy Dank Juice. 7% ABV.

This is a dangerous beer, it is so easy drinking, I'm quite a ways into it already, and it seems like I just started. Citrus, thick bodied, and awesome. Good pickup when I was in Wisconsin recently.

4.05/5 rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

This beer pours a lighter golden color, semi murky. The head is 2 finger, white, frothy, and just a slight lacing on the glass. Retention is average.
The nose is quite citrusy. Grapefruit, pineapple, are on the nose. Quite pleasing.
Taste - is very grapefruit and pineapple. It tastes like a blend of the 2 juices. The flavor does linger in my throat.
Feel is very full bodied, and the hops do linger in my throat.
Damn delicious offering from Odd Side. Tasty, and easy drinking, but it does pack a punch.

508 characters

Yeah, there will be at least one more beer tonight. The problem is deciding which one. See you in a bit.

 

NBS beer #3

This one is an Imperial Oatmeal Milk Stout aged in maple bourbon barrels.



Metaphysical Gravity

Good Measure Brewing Co.
American Double / Imperial Stout / 12.00% ABV

4.04/5 rDev 0% | Score: 4.04
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

L- The beer pours a glossy black with a half finger of beige foam. The head recedes to a thick ring leaving sparse lacing.
S- The nose is bourbon up front and over the top of the chocolate contributed by the malt.
T- The strong bourbon on the nose is far better balanced in the taste. The bourbon does hit first, but it is quickly outshone by the milk chocolate from the malt. I only get glimpses of the maple as the flavor transitions from bourbon to the chocolate.
F- The mouthfeel is on the higher side of medium. Not really thick, but above average for a barrel aged stout.
O- This is an excellent dessert beer. It will be too sweet for some, but it's right where I want it for this type of beer. It is appropriately labled as a milk stout so no complaints there. Very well done.

 

18th street double pale ale. Pretty darn fresh. This was outstanding! Nice head retention and spotty soapy lacing on the glass. Aromas and flavors of big tangerine, grapefruit, lemon, peach, apricot, pineapple, passion fruit, papaya, mango, melon, citrus zest, and light pepper/pine hops; with moderate honey, toasted bread. light caramel malt sweetness; and herbal, floral, grassy hop earthiness. Very minimal pine, herbal, grassy, zesty bitterness on the finish. Medium carbonation and medium-plus body; very creamy/bready malts, and slight sticky/resin hops in the mouthfeel. Slightly increasing lingering bitter dryness. Insanely smooth, never aggressive, 6.2%. Yea they made an NEIPA and called it an imperial pale ale. Super juicy/lightly dank hops and balanced bready malts. Super impressive! 4.15


Awesome Baltic porter! Nice head retention and lacing on the glass. Aromas and flavors of big milk/dark chocolate, cocoa, coffee, caramel, brown sugar, molasses, toffee, nuttiness, and toasted dark/brown bread; with lighter notes of licorice, raisin, plum, prune, fig, date, cherry, sherry, smoke, charcoal, leather, tobacco, herbal, grass, and yeast earthiness. Very minimal herbal/roast bitterness on the finish. Light carbonation and medium-full body; moderately creamy/silky/bready/grainy malt mouthfeel; slight sticky hops and chalky roast. Minimal dryness, no cloying sweetness. Zero warming 9%. Not totally sure when this was bottled. The BB note has the 12 notched and nothing else. This is spot on stuff for the style. Very rich dark/roast/bready malt complexity, and complementing restrained dark fruity yeast notes. Have not had one of their beers in many years. Very impressive. 4.1


Cheers, have a good night NBS

 

Pours a very cloudy yellow with a massivev2 plus finger head that leaves loads of thick patches of lace as it slowly settles into a thin layer of bubbles, excellent retention. 4.25

Smell is guava, apricot, mandarin orange, pineapple, and some grapefruit rind. 4

Taste follows tropical front to back, loaded with guava, mandarin orange, pineapple, and a nice balanced grapefruit finish that is exceptionally balanced. 4.25

Mouthfeel is pretty big, soft mouthfeel with a moderate amount of life, not dry but a stickyness from all the hops, and at 8% ABV crazy drinkable. 4.25

Overall this is an exceptional NE style DIPA given to me by @DoctorZombies . I really am loving this more and more as I get deeper into it. I would love to drink this again. 4.25

 

Time to switch from hops to some bad ass barrel aged beer. Big thanks to to @FlintB for sending a bottle of Griffin Claw Flying Buffalo Coffee and Hazelnuts!

4.53/5 rDev +4.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Thank you FlintB for this
22 oz bottle poured into a teku

A- Black with a two finger mocha head

S- Chocolate, hazelnuts, coffee, vanilla, bourbon, oak.

T- Hazelnuts, vanilla, bourbon, coffee, oak, milk chocolate.

M- Smooth, medium to full body.

O- A very nice barrel aged stout, hazelnuts and coffee add a great touch to this beer.

Cheers!

 

Going with my second NBS, this time around its Founders Barrel Aged Backwoods Bastard. I love this beer, its just well done and gets better as it warms. Very glad I snagged a bunch of these, well worth the purchase. Cheers.




4.35/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

A: Dark ruby red with a thick tan foamy head and very sticky lacing.
N: Big bourbon notes up front with some coffee, chocolate, and caramel.
T: Lots of bourbon on this one with a mix of coffee, chocolate, and a semi-sweet feel of caramel/vanilla.
M:Full
O: Wow, big flavors on this one, outstanding bourbon notes but at the same time the rest of the flavors come thru. Well done barrel aged beer.

 

From Rob.
What can I say?
I've been to Tree House once; on 4/3/2015.
You know,
that barn across the road from their previous location.
I now have had 43 unique TH offerings thanks to Rob.

He's in my will.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/28743/313583/




Canned 5/25/18.
Moderate pour yields an almost two inch tan head over a dark brown body with some sticky lacing. After some time the head dissipates but comes back nicely after a swirl or two. Nose of vanilla, chocolate, coffee, and roasted malt. Taste mirrors nose nicely with a very good mouthfeel and overall, yes!
Cheers to the Charlton crew!

4.54/5 rDev -1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

 

Good evening, NBS family. Great kickoff by @lordofthewiens and awesome story about Mrs. Lord.

On Deciration Day, utmost respect to all who have lost loved ones in service to our country, to all who have served, and those who continue to serve.

Busy weekend here in the stronghold. Took a drive yesterday to pick up plants for the garden. Slightly disappointed that the selection wasn't up to snuff compared to years past but did build a nice little collection of hot peppers I have never seen. And we visited Shaidzon Brewery...VERY good beahs, wish they were closer than and hour plus.

Then it was daughter's lawnmower... texting was the start of the fun. How much do you know about lawnmowers...I say quite a bit what is wrong? Won't start...OK did you use fresh gas? Yup...out of the container I used last year. Ummmm... not exactly. So I grab a spark plug, fresh gas, and an ignition coil. Oh by the way...the self propelled thingy isn't working. There is no cable. OK...Dad grabs a cable. Go over, pull the spark plug, oil drips out the hole. Hmmm... Put in the new plug, pushed the prime button (oh...what's the prime button she asks). Mower starts right up and envelops the neighborhood in oil smoke. You are gonna need a new lawnmower, kiddo. It might run for a while, but you may send some neighbors to the hospital while it does. So the search begins...this right after her water heater died an inglorious, leaky death.

Bunch of stuff today, get a text just as I popped the cork on tonight's beer over an hour ago. Ummm...is my trombone in your car? Yeah I say, so what are you playing in the parade tomorrow? Wellll.... So I met her halfway to her house and made it home for the opening tip.

Tonight's victim:



Daily Brett from Smuttlabs, vintage dated June 2015, 5.9% ABV farmhouse ale. It pours nicely, clear goldish color with a thick, foamy head. The funk is mild on this one, a bit wheaty, a bit white wine like on the nose. It is quite subtle in the taste. Opens slightly tart, then a bit of malt and wheat, a slight fruitiness that reminds me if Juicy Fruit gum. It brings da funk at the end, and it is substantially more prevalent in the taste. Nicely acidic, and a hefty coriander and pepper note in the aftertaste. Definite white grape/wine in the aromatic taste as well. Soft mouthfeel, slightly dry on the finish, nicely carbonated and there is still an eighth of head after an hour in the glass. I think this will land just short of 4.0. I am liking this beer, even at $8 for the bottle.

 

Oh, you know I'm in! And my roux will be darker than Dark Lord; as Justin Wilson said- "Ah Gar-on-tee!"

 

New beer #2 is Dragons & Yum Yums by Dogfish Head.



Pale ale brewed with dragonfruit and yumberry, passion fruit, pear, and black carrot juice. 6.5%, bottled 3/29.

Pours a lovely rose-tinted copper. I can't quite capture the color, which is quite striking. Thin, slightly pink head soon falls to a cap. Small bubbles stream to the top.

Until reading the description just now, I assumed this was a sour. And it smells like a sour, with some faint frutiness.

Taste is tart on entry, supported by fruits that I can't place. I think I do taste the carrots on the backend. Very dry, with an unpleasant medicinal aftertaste.

The aftertaste is ruining it for me.

 

On to beer #2, and it was a hard one to get info on to enter into the BA system.


Golden Sunset from Lazy Monk Brewing - 5.7% ABV.

As I said, it was tough to get info on it. It wasn't on their FB page, or their website. I found it on another website, but they called it a "Golden Ale". Well, there's no "Golden Ale" on here, but based on the description, I placed it into the English Pale Ale group, since the other site said it was based off Scottish Ales.

But, how is it?

I like it. It has a very full body. The nose is a bit lacking, but the flavor has a slight sweeness to it, but not too offensive to this non sweet lover. Easy drinking, and good.

3.74/5 rDev 0%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75

This beer pours a very clear, darker golden color. The head is 1 finger, white, but not long lasting at all.
The nose is very minimal. All I get is a faint sweet aroma, but not much else.
Taste - I get a sweetness that does linger in my throat. It isn't opressive though. Not much in the way of hops in the flavor of this beer.
Feel - I would have thought it would have been a lighter bodied beer, but it isn't. It really is full bodied.
Delicious, and fairly easy drinking.


Maybe one more, we'll see.

 

Green Room Secret Spot Anniversary Ale (Bourbon Barrel Aged)



3.64/5 rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

750ml bottle into a snifter. Oak and bourbon notes dominate the nose and palate on this one. The Imperial Stout base is almost an afterthought in both areas. The finish is boozy with a lot of warmth from the barrels and high ABV.

 

Great Lakes Brewing 2015 BA Blackout Stout from the always generous @WesMantooth


Wow this is good. Only seen it posted a couple times on here and it has aged beeeeeautifully

Great dark fruit without leaning too much towards the cherry side of things. Awesome warm round roasted malts that are reminiscent of sweet dessert flavors without being sugary. Awesome non adjunct BA stout. Wish I had a couple more to see how another year treated it.

Would crush again.

 

I'm having a great long weekend. I've been lazy about reviewing beers lately. However, I have several beers from @mschrei sitting in my fridge and since it's NBS...

I present a citra and mosaic hopped pale ale.

Grid
Hop Butcher





Poured from a can dated 5/8/18 from mschrei.

The beer pours a slightly hazy golden straw color with a thick, foamy white head and thick lacing.

The smell is dominated by tropical notes, pineapple, and a little stone fruit. There's also some very bright citrus underneath.

The taste is a deep tropical/dank/bitter combination with pineapple, mango, and even a bit of coconut. There's some of peach in there also.

The mouthfeel is thick and velvety for a 5.75% APA. There is a lingering bitterness on the finish.

Overall a very nice APA with tons of flavors.