New Beer Sunday (Week 709)

Digging that glass bottle logic in general on my beer bucket list but love that glass

 

Hello New Beer Sunday!!!

I'm so happy to be here for another round of fun here. I've been totally having fun with the NBS BIF #8. Such a blast, and I do recommend it. I'll be able to get my package out tomorrow, hopefully. If not Tuesday. I just hope I've got some beers that he will like in it.

Now on to my new beer.


Citra Solstice from Copper Trail Brewing in Alexandria, MN. 6% ABV 41 IBU.

So how is it?

Well ,somewhat of a let down. The aroma was amazing. It looked good. The problem is it only tastes ok. It just doesn't pack the wallop that the aroma suggested. I'd say that Schell's Citra Blanc is a better beer in this ballpark. This beer will not be in my package going out.

Review:

3.67/5 rDev 0%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Pours a darker golden, almost amber color. The head was white, 1 finger, with average retention. There's some lacing on the glass.
The nose is quite nice with citrus hops, which would make sense with the name.
Taste is a lot more mellow that the nose let on. There is some citrus, but it is very muted based on the aroma.
The body is watery. There's no better way to put it. There's a slight hop linger, but not much.
This beer had promise, but let me down. It's not bad, but it could have had so much more.

I'm hoping for one more new beer tonight, since I should be getting some soon from the BIF.

See you all in a bit.

 

Great Start @cjgiant . While i have been to Munich a few times, I have never been to the Oktoberfest. GABF, I almost got to work it about 15 years ago, but sadly didn't commit to the offer in time.

Busy here. Hot sun, cool breezes, pool, and birthday party. Family fun on a small scale. But it was made soon much better by the amazing beer search that Darwin, @Beer_Economicus did on my behalf, last month in North Carolina. He sent me this glorious offering from
Red Cypress Brewery, in growler form, filled at Gate City Growlers.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/43741/293560/
Imperial Coconut Death Roll

Thanks to Beer_Economicus for this bad boy.
Growler filled 8/7, shipped across the country and thoroughly enjoyed by me today.
Deep, dark, forest floor brown. Capped with a majestic gold-tinged cocoa colored foam head that rises more than a finger high, recedes to a ring that leaves slight lacing.
Smell is a decadent toasted coconut, followed by sumptuous cocoa, smooth roasted coffee, and smoked caramel.
Taste follows beautifully. Beginning with the toasted coconut and cocoa, followed with the coffee roast that dries out the middle a little. Finish is a warm blend of caramel, cocoa, and a return to toasted coconut.
Mouthfeel is smooth, a little creamy, and low carbonation.
Overall, I would kill this regularly if it were closer to home.

4.51/5 rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

 

Im noticing a downward trend in the available Fest Beers and most definitely a downward trend in Pumpkin Beers. I prefer the pale Fest beers over the Amber, but I've never seen Weistephaner Fest here ever. Just found out that Red Oak Pils will be a year round addition, it's good enough I won't sweat the other stuff.

 

Contributing 3 more beers for y’all.
Courtesy of my local Fieldwork.

From right to left:
Rainbow Parfait
Pineapple parfait
Painted gold

Painted Gold (5.4abv)

Drank on tap

L: 4.50 completely opaque. Very murky and almost gritty looking. About a finger and a half of head with generous amounts of lacing.

S: 4.50 Huge amounts of citrus with tangerine and orange being the majority. Also a decent amount of earthyness to the beer lending a variable degree of skunk.

T: 3.75 citrus in flavor with grapefruit and orange being majority. Full grassy hop complex with some dankness. There’s a good amount of a yeasty-bread flavor as well.

F: 4.75 incredible. Full, soft and pillowy. Very low carbonation.

O: 4.00 enjoyable for a pale ale. The feel on it is bonkers. I am glad to have tried.
Final Score: 4.13


Pineapple Parfait:

Drank on tap.

L: 4.0Bright straw yellow in color. Barely a finger of head with minimal lacing. Simple and inviting.

S: 4.25 a lot of vanilla and lactose on the nose. It’s a pleasant smell indeed, which oddly reminds me of sugar cookies. Really not picking up on the pineapple though.

T: 4.00 pineapple flavor and acidity initially, with lingering lactose sweetness and subtitle vanilla. The pineapple is somewhat short-lives, but it is still enjoyable taste wise. It is rather sweet.

F: 4.00 smooth and easy to drink. Relatively low carbonation.

O: 3.75 Glad I got to try. Wish the pineapple was more pronounced, but I still think it’s tasty.

Final Score: 4.00


Rainbow Parfait:

Drank on tap.

L: 4.75 gorgeous pinkish red color with moderate lacing. Practically no head retention at all. Color wise it’s appealing.

S: 4.00 vanilla, raspberry and lactose all present on the smell. There is a salinity that instantly makes me think of limes, but can’t make out the orange. Very sweet smelling.

T: 4.50 the orange, lime, and raspberry is all detectable at different stages while I drink it. It’s Orange initially, raspberry midway through, and lime on the finish. The lime really works with the contrast from the lactose and the vanilla. Very enjoyable.

F: 4.25 smooth and easy to drink. Carbonation is noted but not overly done.

O: 4.50 I am glad to try it. I appreciate that I can taste each fruit that it was made with. I would drink again. Fun factor, it is a hit with the wife. Cheers!

Final Score: 4.37

 

Last new beer tonight. Sorry for the dark picture, this beer was enjoyed on the beach by the fire.


Unintentional aging on this beer. Not sure if what I got was intended but it was delicious.

22 ounce bottle, no date seen. Purchased at the brewery in February of 2018 I believe. Unintentionally aged. Poured into lexan tulip.
Pours a ruby brown, or copper, light tan head with decent lacing. The nose is stone fruit, plums, purple grapes, red berry. Not what I was expecting but it was not bad. Maybe the aging killed the coffee. Taste is some sort of red berry, or red licorice, gourmet chocolate nibs, dark but smooth espresso, earthy hops and slight citrus hops at the finish. Medium body, good drinkability, especially on the beach around a fire. I enjoyed it.
3.92 rDev +11%

 

How's it going, NBS crew? Feels good to be posting here again. It's been a long time! I was fortunate enough to make the journey to Munich for Oktoberfest back in 2008. It was an amazing experience. I went with three friends and Munich was the first city on our trip, which also included Prague and Amsterdam. Loads of great beer to be had the entire time. We went to opening day of Oktoberfest and managed to get one of the last seats in the Paulaner tent. We sat next to Americans that were stationed in Stuttgart and had a great time partying with them. Six liters later, I somehow stumbled back to our hotel. Not before getting into an argument with some German teenagers on the walk home about East Coast vs. West Coast rap (I shit you not). A Tribe Called Quest is the greatest of all time and I made sure they knew that.

Today's new beer is not an Oktoberfestbier at all. Anyone who knows me know that I'm a big lager fan, but I've had my fair share of Hofbräu for the weekend so let's switch it up a bit.

Zero Gravity Little Wolf

Pours deep gold in color and hazy with a big white head. Great aroma of peach/apricot and orange citrus. A little bit of sweet malt in the flavor for balance, but mostly hops in this one. Easy to drink and refreshing. Dry and bitter finish. Medium-light bodied. I miss the old school C-hops as I'm not a fan of all the Citra and Mosaic that gets tossed into pale ales these days. It's a little one note and the flavors could be a little cleaner, but it's a nice little pale ale. Cheers, BAs!

 

Good evening late night NBS
Thanks for the opening @cjgiant. I have been at work all day. Came home to dinner with the family and now a new beer (and new style for me).

The review:
16oz canned 7/2/18 poured into a Spiegelau IPA glass at fridge temp 7.4% ABV. The beer pours mostly bright with a touch of chill haze. On the second pour, chill haze is replaced by actual haze. The color is golden and the head is light khaki in color and quite pronounced. The head recedes to a few bubbles and leaves a little lacing. The aroma is armpit, followed closely by ripe pineapple and berry. The taste is a smash to the mouth of hops and Brett manifesting itself as pineapple, berry, fruit cocktail and light body odor. Mouthfeel is medium to thin bodied, well carbonated and very dry in the finish. Overall, good. Sorry for the BO and armpit descriptors, but I've picked up the same in other heavily Mosaic beers. Not sure I need this level of dry hopping and the Brett all together. It's bold and actually enjoyable as you acclimate.

@superspak has a much better review if you're really curious. @cjgiant also reviewed this beer, but Central States only dates the 4 pack with a sticker so his was most likely older.

Central State is an Indiana brewer that I've not sampled before now because they can and price their pints like we're in the big cities. I only paid $4 for this single and did so only to tick the new American Brett ale style. They did not win anything at GABF, but I don't know if they participated. On the other hand, Taxman Brewing in Bargersville, IN medaled with their Dubbel and Quad. I have reviewed both here on NBS, and would urge fans of Belgian styles to seek their beers out if traveling through the Hoosier state. Cheers all, I'm out!

Almost forgot: @woodychandler, I have one of these pints for the CANquest (if my review hasn't discouraged you from trying it).

 

Yet another pic fail.
Head and body is all you need to see, so, it works!?!?!

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/30437/147831/




Gentle pour yields a billowing, well over one inch, white head over a light golden body with some sticky lacing. Subdued nose of tart wine, maybe sauvignon blanc? As it warms, aromas of chardonnay grapes comes forward. Taste is where things come together somewhat as the wine character brings with a bit of citrus, oak, and just the tiniest bit of spice. Good feel and overall, a wine barrel aged beer I would have again. Cheers!

4.09/5 rDev +2.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

 

Barrier w/ Aslin - No Rules Only Recommendations

Fhew - This is the last local IPA of the day. It’s a “lime and coconut IPA.” Thankfully, I get no coconut, but the lime is certainly making itself felt. It brings an unusual tartness to an IPA. The key lime zest flavor is what distinguishes this beer. Drinkability is surprisingly great, but this is due to the lime component being there and the coconut component not being there.

I like thus one more than I expected. At the end of the day, I gotta say that my prediction turned out to be true - Barrier’s It’s A Sweater was probably the most enjoyable beer from the bunch I had today.

Cheers

 

The second, and final beer of the night.


Cherry Fruitsicle from Odd Side Ales.

I picked this up in Wisconsin back in August. In all honesty, I should have found a hot day to drink it. It is good, but, it would be a perfect beer to enjoy on a hot, sunny day.

3.73/5 rDev -2.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

This beer pours a nice reddish color. The head was off white/red, with a 1 finger head. The retention is below average. No lacing on the glass.
The nose is a sour cherry aroma. Not too strong, but there.
Taste - Sour, tart cherry is the flavor. Really not much else besides that.
Tart feeling. Lighter bodied, but not watery.
This would be a really fun beer to enjoy on a hot summer day.

That is all for tonight. See you all next week for the next NBS!!!

 

Depending on how it’s used both Mosaic and Simcoe can be dank as hell. So I get the BO part, I’ve used smelly sweat socks in the past, or cat pissy. The cat pissy is a real turnoff.

 

As per my usual Sunday I shared a couple beers with my neighbor while our little ones played a bit.
We started off with Scofflaw 2nd Anniversary IPA. It's a bruiser at 10.3%. I don't get down there as often I as would like but they also released some BA bottles(Haul Hint for my BIF target) so I had to go.

Pours a mostly clear amber orange with a finger of white head.
The malt background is definitely there on the nose. Bitter citrus too.
The flavor follows with the malts leading the way. Citrus comes through mid to late palette, grapefruit and orange. Pithy finish.
Medium bodied with good carb level. Pretty balanced. High alcohol is well hidden.
Overall a solid, potent IPA.

 

Getting a chance to sit a bit longer and enjoy another bottle. This one is courtesy of @FlintB

Clown Shoes Nillionaire
Pours murky, coppery brown. Faint coating of foam, no head. Nose is orange, molasses, wood, faint vanilla and campfire notes. Taste is orange, dark fruit, some vanilla. Finish is fruity and bitter, lingers. Mouthfeel is leaning towards thick, but not quite there. Overall really liking this, it showcases some different dimensions that barleywine can have. Thanks again Brian! Really digging this one.

Edit- special thanks from my wife, who is now getting into bw's in part to gems like this.

 

Crooked Stave IPA, hazy, 6.0 ABV; 3.98 overall. Will seek more if fresher

Pours hazed as all hell straw color with 2 fingers of pearl colored head. Nice head retention & lacing

S: Much citrus, breadyness

T: Grapefruit, tangerine, a little bready dryness up front. Bready dryness, plenty of pomelo & a little apricot & mango as this warms. Finishes dry, with a little bit of orange, just a kiss of mango & passion fruit

MF: Medium body, moderate carbonation, nice balance, a touch of grittyness

So easy to drink, willl revisit this given the chance this one was 3 months old. Still held up great!

 

4.27/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Pours cloudy Amber. Bubbly, short off-white head that Fades fast.

Smells caramel, vanilla, dark fruit, light earthy, brown sugar and the bourbon.

Taste brown sugar, raisin, vanilla, and earthy yeast. Followed by Carmel, a hint of cherry and bourbon. Finishes dry with an earthy linger. Medium body and fizzy lower carbonation.

 

Hey all, and Happy New Beer Sunday! Today’s new beer is one I’ve wanted to try for quite some time, but I never see it around here despite it not being rare or highly sought out to my knowledge. Anyway, I was camping near Thurmont, MD over the weekend and stopped at a liquor store on the way there in the middle of nowhere hoping to at least find MD beers for the trip. I did find some of those, but to my surprise, this little store had a great selection of both US craft and imported beers which included the previously mentioned, long sought out beer. Needless to say, I purchased one to have for NBS today. The beer is Samuel Smith’s Yorkshire Stingo, and it was a pleasure to finally try it!




4.25/5 rDev +3.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

label says "Brewed in 2015," so I'm guessing bottled in 2016 since the label also indicates it's "aged for at least a year."

Look- hazy rusty orangish brown liquid with a tan head that settles slowly, leaving a thin coat on top of the beer; a bit of spotty lacing

Aroma- toffee, vanilla, tobacco, prunes, and a little bit of wood

Taste- follows the nose closely with slightly sweet toffee, vanilla, tobacco and prunes followed by a little woodiness and a bit of bitterness

Feel- medium bodied with light carbonation; surprisingly dry finish for a heavier and slightly sweet beer

Overall- nicely balanced malty ale that is surprisingly refreshing for a stronger beer

 

Love that Péché Mortel - and Aphrodite is a treat as well. Wish we had distro in these parts, but we can occasionally find them on shelves in Wisconsin. Not as often as I'd like, but it's always exciting when I come across one!

Your target is in for a treat - I sure wish I had access to those Scofflaw beers regularly! Thank you again for the ones that you sent me, John!

 

15.2% abv.
Things might get a bit messy!

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/11031/45860/




Date stamp: 15JAN2016.
Moderate pour yields a thin head that hasn't subsided in ten minutes as I'm waiting 'til it warms. Murky brown body as seen in many barleywines. Nose of candy sugar, raisins, sweet cake, and as it warms, other dried fruit aromas come forward with other sugars including molasses, brown sugar, and caramel. No real hop aroma as of yet, but maybe as it warms more hops will surface. For flavor perspective we have the aforementioned sugars and dried fruit and now some hop bitterness tries to muscle its way in but is no match for Team Sugar! What a fantastic sipper we have here and all this talk of sugar may scare you away, but it's not too sweet because it mostly has just the flavors of the sugars. My first BW from De Molen and I'm impressed. Almost stout-like characteristics in that it's smooth and not harsh at all. Very nice feel and overall, do not pass this one by, grab it! Cheers!!!

4.43/5 rDev +12.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

 

Love that beer!