New Beer Sunday (Week 702)

Thanks. Maybe that’s why @LeperJim sent that one specific doodle my way.

 

Many thanks to @lordofthewiens for getting us rolling today. Must admit I'm a bit jealous of all the travel and hiking descriptions. Between moving and renovation projects my time on the road and trail has been nearly non-existent this summer. Couple with that a laceration on my index finger that required an ER visit and 12 stitches has left me with several cancelled climbing trips. And the climbing partner I was supposed to hit Bend/Three Sisters/Mt Jefferson in Oregon next month likely tore his ACL this weekend. Bummed... At least I get to travel to Boston in two weeks for work, and will get my fill of Trillium and some Treehouse beers from a colleague.

Today's offering is the 22nd anniversary beer from Stone. Anti-Matter is a West Coast DIPA clocking in at 9.1%. Bottle date of 7/19/18 into a tulip.



L: Pours vibrant copper with nearly 2 fingers of medium density white frothy head with good retention and left ringed and windshield lacing.

S: Very citrus forward nose, tangerine, orange and lemon zest, hints of fresh bread.

T: Follows the nose, a very citrus dominant West Coast DIPA, finishes with plenty of bitterness which lingers on the palate a bit.

F: Medium bodied with higher carbonation, lively on the tongue with some tingling from carbonation and ABV, slick finish.

O: Middle of the road for Stone Anniversary beers, a big approachable West Coast DIPA, but pretty one-dimensional. Enjoyed but won't repeat.

BA Score = 3.91, rdev = +0.3%

 

I want that. The only other watermelon beer I have had is hell or high watermelon and this one is a must try! Cheers!

 

I want to tell you for your own piece of mind that you are doing NBS in photos the way I would want to do it; Craig, you kill it weekly here in NBS with photos and new breweries and over in WBAYDN too. =)

 

Dave, I love a good edible mushroom (especially with a nice rare beef filet). I only wish I didn't have so many of the damn unedible things growing in my yard! Oh well, there's always beer to drink. Cheers!

 

Glad to see you participating more often, another fun read. I got that beer in some trade or BIF years ago and was impressed enough to know to look for it if we ever make this road trip to MI we’ve been thinking about.

Perhaps I should’ve used this beer for my particular choice of review tactic today.

 

New beer #5. Thanks @larryi86 !

Double Blueberry Strawberry Jream - Burley Oak
Sour Ale with Lactose - 7% abv
Score: 4.28 (+1.2% rDev)



L - 1.5 finger pinkish head atop a maroon body.

S - sour patch candies, mixed berries, margarita with salt.

T - salted, candied strawberries. Sour patch candies carry over to the taste. Quite tart, mildly sour. Lactose is prominent but not distracting. No bitterness. Moderate sweetness. No booziness.

F - medium body with aggressive carb.

O - if one was visiting Key West, this would be the beer to drink.

 

Thoughtful of you to help make his pics look even better than they might otherwise.

 

Back for another new beer, and I laughed when I just saw @utopiajane's comments about watermelon. The brewers describe this one as a "contemporary gose style ale brewed with coriander, black Hawaiian lava salt, and a literal ton of local sugar baby watermelons."

Sugar Baby, Southern Grist Brewing Co., Nashville, TN


This one is a slightly hazy bright golden color with a medium-sized white head that slowly settled. The aroma is subdued, but a close inspection reveals fresh watermelon and a very subtle floral spiciness. The first thing that I picked up on the taste was the salt - not overdone - but enough to perfectly balance the slight tartness. The watermelon was there, but it did not overshadow the lemony tartness, the dry wheat, or the salt. Very well-balanced. Currently my favorite watermelon beer. Cheers!

 

Welcome [back?] to NBS. Feel free to join in any time, of course.

I had a “local mushroom” as a part of dinner last night:


The orange top is the mushroom. It had a name that escaped me. It was a bit earthy/clay-like before the fungal nature showed up. Dry, too - but it does look like they roasted it.

 

I am here to promote the thread, also. Don’t give away my secrets.

 

Full auto was going to be my salvation if I ever encoutered any hostiles!

 

#2. A Berliner Weiss with lots of sweet apricot and wheat cracker. I'm not a big Berliner drinker but this is tasty!

Here's my review:

3.94/5 rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Canned on 4/17/2018 and poured from 16 oz. can into pint glass. It pours an almost opaque, golden-tangerine color with a half finger of foamy, bright white head head and a creamy film of lacing. The nose features lemon peel, wheat cracker and brett yeast. The taste opens sweeter than I anticipated with ripe apricot and hint of orange. It's sour but not strongly so. After the initial sweet and sour notes, there is a decided wheat cracker flavor particularly in the after taste. The feel is light and crisp and with an ABV of 4.2% it's a super easy drinker. Overall, this is a tasty Berliner. I like the fact it's not overly sour and the wheat biscuit is a nice foil to the sweet fruit.

 

@lordofthewiens I can relate.....somewhat, I moved last August, 15 minutes away from where I previously lived
Anyway onto my beer. Today's beer is a wheat beer still something I haven't fully come to appreciate as the mouthfeel just doesn't speak to me.
Wiehenstephaner Hefeweiss Dunkel


Amber closer to brown actually with huge fluffy light brown head
Bananas, dates, yeast
Caramel apple, bananas figs, dates, heavy yeast on the finish along with cloves
Light bodied and heavily carbonated, makes for a weird feel
Overall i enjoy the flavor profile, i think the dark fruits add a lot, but the feel throws me off
Cheers to the new week!

 

@lordofthewiens glad you made it safe & sound to the Land of Enchantment. I love a good road trip, been awhile. I concur with your assesment of OKC. I know my way around it a little better, there are some hidden gems, but spread out & few and far between. I did have a blast down in Norman lately, but that was due to great company as much as anything

Prairie Pink Guava Funk, an American Wild Ale at 5.0% ABV, easily the best Prairie beer I've had in a while. 4.33 overall

Pours A hazed gold with a pinky of Ivory colored head. Zero head retention & lacing

S: Guava & tartness

T: Follows the nose, a touch of lemon sourness as well. Tart & sweet guava with a little green apple as this warms. Finishes with a little sour gauva & hint of passion fruit, plus tartness/dryness

MF: Medium body, delicate carbonation

Approachable enough, but enough sourness here to keep me interested. Totally in my wheelhouse

 

New beer #6. Thanks again @larryi86 !

Self Care Day - Dewey Beer Co
IPA - 7% abv
Canned 7/13/18 (23 days ago)
Score: 3.98 (-4.1% rDev)



L - 3-finger fluffy white head atop a glowing yellow body.

S - herb, pine, orange.

T - mellow dank orange candy. Anise, pumpernickel, pine, a touch of vegetal hops. Low bitterness. Moderate-low sweetness. Low booziness.

F - medium body with appropriate carb.

O - nicely balanced, albeit unusual tasting, ipa.

 

I love that Michiana area. Have you hit the Menno-Hof? I know you have plenty of opportunities to experience Mennonites and Amish in your neck of the woods, but that place is great.

 

NBNS (new beer, new state) beer #1- Post work, post jungle clearing edition



Gose

Westbrook Brewing Co.
Gose / 4.00% ABV

4.15/5 rDev -0.2% | Score: 4.16
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

canned 05-07-18

L-The beer pours golden and slightly hazy. The head stands around a finger and a half high. This recedes to a thin ring leaving no lacing.
S-The nose is tart in the fashion that lactobacillus produces. The salt is present as is the wheat malt behind it all.
T- It is a simple yet wonderfully constructed combination of the wheat, the tartness, and finally a solid brininess which helps the beer finish dry.
F-Overall mouthfeel is on the lighter side of medium. Carb is initially prickly but fairly restrained after the initial pour. Drinkablility is very high for something this tart.
O-One of the best Gose I've had. When you make it this well you don't really need fruit additions. Highly recommended.