New Beer Sunday (Week 706)

New Beer Sunday: An American IPA

Evenin’ NBSers, with an alert for those looking for an Independent Personal Account of a well made IPA.

This evening’s new beer is the Firestone Walker Luponic Distortion #10

As usual, my review, subject to revision until the beer is finished, can be found here:

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/2210/337418/?ba=drtth#review


Not surprisingly, the nicely complex aromas/flavors of this beer are mostly about the hops. There’s lots of grapefruit zest, some mango and some peach all backed up by a bit of malt sweetness that softens but does not conceal the bitterness. This is a drinkable, enjoyable IPA that I expect to have again before what’s on the shelf disappears or dies of old age.

Tonight's music currently on the player is a mixed collection of folk songs, etc.

Scarborough Fair

Cheers, all!

 

Ok, been a busy beaver here at... I forget the brewery’s name. I only listed it as the one brewery I would want on my desert island, or some thread like that.

Since you can never have too many braggot ticks, I tried Honey Badger, a dangerously drinkable 9% beer that borders on a fruit beer, IMO. There are nuances if you look for them, but you might just quaff it down too quickly to notice.


In the background is a decent session IPA called Kryptonita that, while light as expected, still found a way to throw some malt against a classic AIPA hop bill.

Loving the large jazz band Founders has on stage tonight. And it’s actually cooler down so our outside seats are becoming very enjoyable.
Edit: that apparently just finished their night

 

Good evening, NBS friends!

I am finding myself at the end of a fairly quiet, relaxed week - I made it to a couple of beer shares, and had a few days off to play with as well, so I've manage to knock off quite a few new beers. Today has been quiet - but then I decided that it would be fine to chug a beer or two, and now everything may be disorder and chaos for the foreseeable future.

But that's life, am I right?

Any other chiliheads here? I continue on my quest to ruin my stomach forever and build my spice tolerance for totally inexplicable reasons. I'm going through about half a bottle of each of these sauces every week - and I really need to find a decent purveyor of hot sauce in the Minneapolis area. World Market just isn't cutting it anymore.



That scorpion pepper sauce hurts your butt, no lie. The two habanero sauces on the left are probably my favorite for taste. I've been catching up on Hot Ones on Youtube - and I need to pick up a few more sauces to widen the field of play. My current vehicle for sauce is tacos, which I've found to be far superior to wings for absorbing super hot, painful sauces. Then again, tacos are also filling as fuck. I may be doing this wrong. My t-shirt size has only gone up like two sizes so far, but I see the future written on the wall.

Anyway. Spicy food = life. You get the point.

I met up with one of the Newbies today for a handshake and to hand off some bottles - check out my cool new glass!



Shout out to @jonbonfondle - thank you, sir! Am I a real Newbie now? I hope so!

This evening's beer is an American gueuze-style beer from Deschutes - The Ages.

I have mixed feelings about this beer. While it is a pretty decent facsimile of a gueuze, it's slightly overcarbed, and it lacks the depth and dimension of flavor that a Belgian has. On the other hand, the nose has a nice bit of funk to it. There's mild cheese to the taste as well, which lends it a bit of legitimacy, which is also a weird thing to think but true.

Regardless: there are nice, light apple notes to the taste and it's quite light and pleasant. I like it, but Cantillon it sure ain't!

Maybe I'll be back tonight. I may solo dome a bomber of stout later. We'll see how unwise I feel on this nice long weekend.

Best wishes to you all on your Labor Day - enjoy. Cheers, NBS!

 

Back after dinner with another from Southern Tier - Sapsquatch, a barleywine with maple syrup and bourbon aged on oak.

Notes below, but this is an excellent BA barleywine.



Poured from 22 oz bomber dated April 2017.

A: Rich clear dark brown with copper tones and a smallish one finger head. Fairly short retention and little to no lacing.

S: Bourbon, maple syrup, vanilla, and toasted coconut.

T: Bourbon and maple come through front and center but mixed with some vanilla, coconut, dried dark fruits and some mild hops to round things out and provide a nice complexity.

M: Medium body with average carbonation. Finish has a clean sweetness and some alcohol heat that is not surprising for the ABV.

O: Excellent BA barleywine. I might have preferred a touch more hop presence. I was a little worried that this was going to be too sweet, but it is well controlled and balanced

 

#2, this is most definitely NOT a quencher.



4.44/5 rDev +2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

The pour yields a black body propping up a rich, tan head, and there’s some leakage to mahogany brown on the edges. Perfect for an imperial porter.

The nose immediately hits you with the rum and bourbon barrels, and there’s also a rich milk chocolate note (thank you, cacao nibs).

The vanilla is noticeable on the taste, and combines well with the milk chocolate and barrel notes. I got nothing from the pecans, otherwise I would’ve rated this above 5.0. Really well done, IMHO.

 

Well things went about the way I expected after being in the swim spa... Sonny boy made supper...Pizza that was actually pretty good. The lawnmower and weed whacker are where I left them. After a respite, the humidity is supposed to return. The grass grows taller...

Thanks to @lordofthewiens for the kickoff post. Bonus points for dedication...pretty early out in the new residence, I reckon. Golf...tried it a couple times and it isn't for me. Appreciate the skill, but one of those skills is patience which I am relatively unblessed with. However, like being turned into a newt, I have gotten better. I guess I entered official senior citezenship last week when I turned 60. My brain still thinks I am half that at most...I guess that is a good thing?

So, at long last, the Springdale Lavenade:



A beatiful golden, clear beer. Short head of white, soapy bubbles that falls to a ring, no cling to speak of. The aroma is a bit startling at first...like lavender scented citrus dish soap. Once the shock dies down, there is bright lemon and soft, herbal lavender with a slight sweetness underneath. The taste opens slightly sour over sweet, then the other elements come into play. I didn't taste the lavender in our garden, but I did smell it...it is certainly there in the aroma and I will assume that the light floral and grassy notes I can taste are from lavender. Lemon follows and it is clearly lemon juice boosted by zest. Just enough sour to anchor the taste. Surprisingly clean on the palate with just a lemonade-like residual taste. It has a decent body to it, but the overall effect is of a light drinking beer. Not highly carbonated, so the drinkability is high.

Overall, I am north of 4 on this beer and I will saw the branch off behind me and say it is worthy. Now, that said, this is NOT going to be everyone's cup of (lavender) tea. I can easily see this being absolutely polarizing. It is different, I dig it, and the flavors work for me. It is simple and straightforward, clearly delivering exactly what it claims.

 

Awesome Oktoberfest as usual. Great head retention/lacing, crystal clarity. Aromas and flavors of big cracker, white bread dough/crust, lightly toasted biscuit, and light honey/nutty malts; with light pepper, herbal, floral, grassy hop earthiness. Mild herbal, floral, grassy, spicy bitterness on the finish. Medium carbonation and medium-plus body; very creamy/bready/grainy Munich malts and light sticky hops in the mouthfeel. Lightly increasing lingering bitter dryness, no cloying/astringency. Extremely flavorful and pretty refreshing, 6%. Very smooth. Perfectly clean lagering, not fruity/yeasty notes. They nailed it like every year. Feels more like a proper amber marzen, unlike last years festbier. Very clean and rich pale/Munich malt complexity, with mild balancing noble hops against sweetness. I always buy a pack every year. I've had every vintage since it was first bottled. 4.1


Batch 5 from last year. Awesome Brett saison as usual. Great fluffy head retention and foamy lacing on the glass. Aromas and flavors of big lightly tart lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit, peach, pear, pineapple, passion fruit, red/green apple, mango, watermelon, berries, white wine, citrus peel/rind, peppercorn, pine, hay, straw, herbal, floral, grass, cork, and wood; with moderate wheat/crackery malts; some leathery/musty funk, and yeast earthiness. Moderate peppery yeast spiciness; pine, citrus peel/rind, herbal, floral, grassy bitterness; and light Brett tang/tartness on the finish. High carbonation, medium body, and moderately crisp finishing. Balanced bready/grainy malts, spicy hops, and light Brett tang/acids in the mouthfeel. Moderate increasing bitter/spicy/carbonated dryness, no hop astringency. Very smooth, minimal warming 7.3%. Amazingly well developed fruity/funky Brett complexity, balanced vibrant/dank/earthy hops, and nice pale/wheat malt backbone. Still plenty of hop character after the 1+ year age. 4.1


Cheers, have a good night NBS.

 

Last new beer for the night, I have holding this one and actually forgot about it. Bottled on 3/22/17 Barrel Aged Yeti, a 12.5% stout aged in whiskey barrels. Big powerful flavors of chocolate, oak and whiskey set the stage for this great tasting beer.


Appearance 4.5 - Pours jet black with big mocha colored head that lasts forever, lacing almost covers the glass as the head recedes.

Aroma 4.25 - Big barrel and whiskey aromas right off the bat. Rich dark chocolate, roasted malts, coffee, little but of vanilla and molasses.

Taste 4.5 - Taste is very similar to the aroma, lots of oak and whiskey also getting big tobacco flavors. Dark chocolate, coffee, mild sweet vanilla.

Feel 4.25- Full bodied creamy feel, nice heat from the alcohol very smooth and rich.

Overall 4.37 - Very well done stout great powerful flavors really easy drinking.

 

Back with #2 Founders Barrel Runner Mosaic hopped ale aged in rum barrels. Excited for this one as I love rum and the Mosaic hop.
Pours a clear golden yellow with a nice head and lots of world map lacing.
Aroma is straight out barrel mellowed sugar cane rum initially, some dankness from tropical and alcohol, banana, vanillin, oak and candied orange peel.
Taste is rum, wood, fruit cake, and pine resin finish. Sips like a perfect marriage between beer and cocktail - but really a great BA brew.
Feel is medium to heavier, slightly syrupy to be expected but it really comes together as a lighter feel.
Carb is perfect and no cloying sweetness on the finish.
I feel my review doesnt give this beer justice. They really nailed this combo of rum/mosaic IPA. Its truly unique and tasty. I think Founders can do no wrong with Barrel Aged brews. Fill in the blanks because I am really feeling it right now. Wow.

 

Hello New Beer Sunday!!!

Another long work week, and longer weekend done with, and getting ready for another work week starting tomorrow.

I've also entered the NBS BIF #8. It sounded interesting, and I'm excited about it. I will do my damnedest to get the person who is selected for me a great selection of new beers to them. Already thinking of ideas.

But, now onto the new beer, and I had to enter it into the system.

Brau Brothers Rye Wyne 2017

Holy cow, this is damn delicious. The rye is really pronounced in this beer. At 9% it's not too over the top, but still quite full bodied. Damn good beer.

4.29/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Pours kind of a brownish color, with a 1 finger slightly off white head. The head retention is decent, and some lacing on the glass.
The nose from my first impression is really rich with the rye barrel aroma. The aroma has a slight sweetness to it, and is pleasing.
Taste - first sip at 57 F - Is quite interesting, and a very interesting mix of flavors. Up front it's a mellow flavor profile, then the rye kicks in. The rye does linger for quite a while.
Smooth feel up front, then the alcohol - 9% - kicks in. There's a nice feel from the rye barrel. The beer does linger on the palate, and has a nice body.
I've got 4 more of these (and might be able to get more), and I know they can be aged. I will be ageing them and I'll see how they change over the years.


It's a bigger bottle, so this might be it for tonight. We'll see as I keep sipping on this.

 

Forest & Main A Designed Past IPA

@CanConPhilly's review led me to believe this beer would be awesome, but like him, I didn't enjoy it at all.

It poured a hazy golden yellow-orange color with a half finger of bright white head that was quick to dissipate, but left sheets of lacing.

Overripe fruit -- mango, pineapple and apple -- with a whiff of alcohol stood out in the aroma.

The fruity sweetness from the nose was cut by a little a little pine and a very strong nuttiness. The feel was medium bodied with nice carbonation, the best aspect of the beer overall.

The strong nuttiness in this wasn't to my taste at all. Maybe @larryi86 will like it better? If so, I've got another can for him.

 

NBS#2 is new to me and BA. Blood on the Tracks from Blue Note Brewing is a DIPA with blood oranges



L: Pours copper orange with half finger of white medium density head with good retention and left ringed windshield lacing.

S: Nose is all blood orange, nice but not too sweet.

T: Follows the nose, very approachable DIPA that manages the sweetness well but still quite juicy. Finishes with moderate bitterness, mild acidity, and just a hint of astringency, acidity lingers and drys the palate.

F: Medium body with medium carbonation, tongue tingles from acidity but the beer feels silky on the tongue despite the carbonation.

O: A solid juicy DIPA that showcases blood orange without being overly sweet.

BA score = 4.13

 

Guess I might have to review that before the end of the night, sucks it doesn’t seem to be as good as their other beers.

 

NBS beer #3 Septoberfest edition



Oktoberfest

Hamburg Brewing Company
German Märzen / Oktoberfest / 5.70% ABV

3.97/5 rDev +5.9% | Score: 3.75
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

L- The beer pours a deep gold, not quite amber, and clear. The head is a good 3 fingers high of dense off-white bubbles. The head recedes to a thick film leaving irregular lacing behind.
S- The nose has a lovely spicy hop element that is common to most Oktoberfest brews. This one is stronger than many. Malt plays in the backround and is toasty in nature.
T- Toasted malt flavor up front. Hops rise up in the middle of the sip and just barely crest a balanced profile. Hops then fade away to leave a lingering lightly sweet finish.
F- Mouthfeel overall is on the lighter side of medium. Carbonation is light but prickly. Carbonation in combination with the flavor profile really nail the drinkability here.
O-This is a fine Oktoberfest. It has superb drinkability with just enough sweetness to satisfy without tiring out the palate. I will happily drink this again. Recommended.

 

Third and final new beer of the day, Frond, another 8% DIPA from Stillwater...

Medium gold body with amber hues, close to opaque under a finger or two of ivory foam... Has an earthy tropical vibe, with suggestions of dark fleshed tropical fruits but something of a grainy nature as well... Despite being brewed with palm sugar, it is not too sweet - in fact, the sweetness is quite subdued... Moderately bitter, with something of a chewy shellac, the beer is relatively full-bodied and hearty... Some herbal notes and something of a butteriness round off the beer's profile, and make for a very compelling beer... Featured in Stillwater's 8/23/18 Instagram, I'd assume the canning date was around then... I happened to like the maltiness and feel, and the balance between sweet and bitter...

Really good; in fact, my favorite of the three I had today...

Cheers, NBS...

 

Now up Foundation Method 5 thanks to @thebeers.
4.12/5 rDev +3.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Thank you thebeers for this
16 oz can, dated 7/23/18, poured into a teku

A- A fairly hazy golden copper with a two finger white head

S- Dry apple cider and sweet fruits, tropical fruits, guava, berries. Kind of reminds me of a fruit roll-up.

T- Tropical fruits, apples, some citrus, berries, slightly piney finish.

M- Smooth, dry, light body.

O- Based on the new description of a Brut IPA I feel that Foundation did a good job with this.

Cheers!

 

I'm almost a day late and more than a dollar short, but @TongoRad sent me a box of beers this week, so this year I get to kick off my Oktoberfest drinking with a beauty:

Von Trapp's Oktoberfest — 5.6% ABV, 35 IBUs

Except for the consistent murkiness throughout the glass, this one looks, smells, tastes and feels like the definition of the style. The malt is toasted enough to almost reach brown sugar/molasses in the flavor, though it pulls just short of it and stays closer to caramel, and the earthiness throughout the nose and flavor is exactly the kind of punch you get in the hoppier versions of Oktoberfests. It's not overly hoppy and not the most hoppy I've had in the style, just on that half of the spectrum.

As it warms and you get past the halfway point, there are times when the malt really adds some sweetness. Every now and then the earthy flavor subsides to the point of almost disappearing. But with the next sip, it's back.

The review:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/22512/62023/?ba=Premo88#review
4.16 (+8.1% rDev)

I've been putting off my Marzen buying this year, so big thanks to Michael for home delivering my first 12 oz. of the toasted-malt nectar!

Cheers!