New Beer Sunday (Week 712)

The food was good, possibly a little too inventive, but that's nitpicking at its worst. I tried 5 different beers. They were all solid to good with that IIPA being the best by a decent margin. Porter was light but good, dunkel was solid, a couple fresh hop beers were nice. I would certainly go back again. I like that town, the little bit of driving around I did.

 

She was a fighter til the End. My condolences to you and her Family. Cheers Jay!

 

2nd of tonight's trio from Bent Hill in Braintree, VT.
Maple Red Ale.
4.8% abv.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/36100/132059/



3.84/5 rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Moderate to vigorous pour yields a one inch fluffy, off white head over a brown body with some lacing. Head dissipates to a ring in a few minutes and comes back with a swirl or two. Nose of Vienna malt and a hint of maple with a tiny bit of dank hop aromas as well. Taste of maple and malt with ever so slight hop bitterness on the finish. Good feel and overall, not too bad, as it is kinda growing on me. Cheers!

 

Time for another entry after an afternoon of football and playing with the mutts in the snow. Dogs and fresh snow seem to go together like me and beer! Another six buck single I purchased at Total Beverage yesterday. It's dated 09/05/18 and has abv. of 6.9%. Using one of my favorites AKA the Storm Peak glass that is like a thicker, sturdier Dogfish IPA glass. Let's give it a whirl!

Pours a brilliant hazy yellow in the late afternoon Colorado sunshine. A thick finger of creamy white foam slowly reveals some heavy lacing. The smell is floral, spice, grapefruit and a hint of mint. Taste is grapefruit, floral, peppery spice and something akin to mint that seems odd and out of place. The feel begins light and creamy, but quickly turns slightly astringent and bitter.



While I'm a big fan of Juicy Bits, this one tastes like there were too many cooks in the kitchen in my opinion. There's Citra, Mosaic and it was double dry hopped with El Dorado. Perhaps too much for my palate to handle? I'm calling it a miss for the NE England style and gave it a 3.78 / rDev-1.8%.

I sense a quick easy dinner and a lazy evening of TV on a cold evening. Enjoy the rest of your Sunday. I leave you with a pic of Miss Bailey in the snow and the official scorecard.....



https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/38773/373453/?ba=Prager62#review

 

#2, a long-time want of mine, courtesy of @TongoRad.



4.44/5 rDev +3.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pour is as black as midnight, with a creamy, rich tan head. The nose is filled with dark chocolate and a spicy note that is similar to Dark Lord. That’s a good thing, IMHO.

The taste is rich and decadent - dark chocolate, bushels of stone fruit, toasty char - and that sweetness that is in line with Dark Lord. I couldn’t be more impressed with this beer. World-class, IMHO.

 

Good evening, NBSers!

As I settle in to watch my Red Sox (hopefully) even up this series, I crack open up a spontaneously fermented ale @jhavs sent me from one of my favorite New England breweries (one of my favorite breweries, period, actually):



Coolship Resurgam from Allagash. It pours a light caramel, with soft tiny bubbles that dissipate quickly. The nose is slightly funky, with lemon and ripe stone fruit. Amazing nose, something very familiar about it that foreshadows a classic lambic. Extremely complex on the tongue. Sharp, citrusy, funky. An initial bitterness that quickly fades as it warms, leaving more room for ripe fruit.

Jon, this is a massive treat. Thank you!

 

You’re welcome, enjoy! Go Sox!

 

Another first review as usual. Fantastic NEDIPA. Fantastic lasting head retention/thick soapy lacing on the glass. Aromas and flavors of big mandarin orange juice, grapefruit, lemon, peach, pear, pineapple, apricot, passion fruit, papaya, mango, melon, guava, blueberry, gooseberry, citrus peel/zest, and light pepper/pine hops; with balanced wheat. biscuit dough, light honeyed malts; and herbal, floral, grassy hop earthiness. Mild pine, zesty, herbal, floral, grassy, spicy bitterness on the finish. Medium carbonation and medium-plus body; very creamy/silky/bready/grainy malts and light sticky hops in the mouthfeel. Slight lingering resins near the end of the glass. Lightly increasing lingering bitter dryness, no hop astringency. Super smooth/soft, minimal warming 8%. Feels like Amarillo, Citra, Mosaic; pretty much identical to Mainstream Pop Song. Super juicy and fairly dank/earthy hop complexity; nice wheat/oat/malt backbone, with minimal residual sweetness from lingering dryness. Would buy again. I remember when Stillwater only made saisons. Seem to be pushing the NEIPAs hard now, but they are good at it. 4.23


It's surprising how much stuff I get in trades that have little to no reviews. This was fantastic. Nice head retention/soapy lacing on the glass. Aromas and flavors of bit tart/sour lemon, lime, orange, citrus peel/zest, peach, plum, pear, pineapple, apricot, passion fruit, papaya, mango, melon, guava, berries, red/green apple, white grape/wine, peppercorn, oak, cork, wet wood, hay, straw, herbal, and grass; with moderate wheat, cracker, white bready malts; lighter notes of leathery/musty/lacto funk, white wine vinegar, and yeast earthiness. Slight oaken vanilla well after the finish. Light-moderate peppery yeast/oak tannin spiciness, lactic tartness, and wine tang on the finish. Medium-plus carbonation, medium body, and fairly crisp finishing. Balanced bready/grainy malts, lactic acid, and wine tang/tannins in the mouthfeel. Light-moderate increasing acidic/spicy/tannic dryness, no pucker/astringency. Very smooth, not overly lactic, minimal warming 7%. This is definitely super barnyard, more so than most domestic examples. Amazingly well developed Brett/Bacteria and saison yeast complexity; great Sauternes wine barrel presence, and pale/wheat malt backbone against acidity. Really big fan as I expected. 4.2


Cheers, have a good night NBS.

A new favorite for a band that literally no one knows about. 82 monthly listeners on spotify.

 

The last one went down pretty easy and I imagine this one will too since I am already about halfway through it or better. Transient Hazy Like a Fox. This one is billed here as a NEIPA and looks wise it probably is. Flavors and mouthfeel it is more of a traditional IPA to me (feel the carb is a little too heavy for a NEIPA). Still a very tasty IPA super easy drinking and one I really enjoy. This came viz a ninja box from @FlintB the scoundrel!!!



Appearance 4.25 - pours hazy bright yellow with huge foamy white head of large bubbles and spotty lacing all around the glass.

Aroma 4 - Candied orange, pine, light lemon pledge aroma, really clean with a touch of malt.

Taste 4 - Taste is not as sweet as the aroma let's on. Bitter citrus peel followed by floral hops, pretty earthy flavors.

Feel 4 - Medium bodied carbonation is a little high with a dry finish.

Overall 4.09 - Different flavors that I am used to in a NEIPA. no sweetness at all, lots of floral/earthy hops with a hint of bitterness.

 

Greetings All:

Checking in with a Sam Adams Fall sampler selection, Spruce Lager. https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/35/348243/

It's OK. maybe a little long on sweet?

Seasonal weather here in eastern Washington where we eagerly await the arrival of ESPN College Game Day next Saturday. About damn time! That WSU Cougar flag sure does travel.

Happy Trails!

 

The last of the three new-to-me offerings from Bent Hill Brewery in Braintree, VT. This little brewery has a diverse portfolio with no clunkers, that I've had, and should be sought out.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/36100/316880/



4.09/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Moderate pour yields a one inch egg shell head over a murky, golden body with sticky lacing. Nose of tropical fruit, citrus, and a bit of onion. Taste mirrors nose with a citrus pith bitter finish. Good feel and overall, a nice example of a NEIPA. Cheers to BHB!

 

Another new one from @WesMantooth:



L: Light orange/dark yellowish with 1 inch white head. Head fades slowly and lacing is minimal.
S: Smell is huge citrus and melon. Maybe some orange and grapefruit. Loving the nose on this.
T: Nice balance of citrus/melon and hops. Maybe a touch of grapefruit.
F: Has a nice soft mouthfeel with small amounts of carb.
O: Really liked this IPA. I have had a ton of dark beers from Jackie O's and I think this is my first hoppy beer from them, it did not disappoint.

Thanks Corey!

 

@WesMantooth sent me like a million beers, I am slowly working through them. This one is a mystery beer and my 4th of the day. Enjoyed while waiting for the coals to cool a bit, before I start grilling on a beautiful Northern Cali afternoon.


Not Penis Cream?
L: Deep reddish color or maybe light brownish. Small amount of off-white/ light tan head. Head leaves quickly.
S: Tons of smokey wood. Not oak like a BA beer, but just like the smell of a BBQ.
T: Huge smoke flavor and wood. Not oak, but I can't place it.
F: Light to medium body with a super dry finish.
O: One of the few smokey beers I have had. Its nice drinking in front of this grill.

Not idea what beer this is. The light caught the bag at the right angle and I saw it was wolf's ridge. The only thing I know for sure is that it is a smoked beer.



Possibly a new style for me. Now that I know its a lager, I can taste it in there. It really is amazing how much of a smoke flavor this has. As someone who grills often, this is not a bad thing. Thanks Corey!

 

New Beer Sunday: American IPA

Evenin’ NBSers, with a heads up for folks who might want to try an IPA that emphasizes hops that did not grow in the Pacific Northwest..

This evening’s new beer is the Ommegang Hopstate NY (2018)

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

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/42/364956/?ba=drtth#review


The aromas/flavors are filled with some tropical fruit, some grapefruit, pine and a light floral character. The bready malt sweetness is in the background along with some resinous bitterness. On the whole an enjoyable, clean crisp beer that makes a fine showcase for the New York grown hops. I expect I’ll be having more of this one.

No music tonight. The Chiefs-Patriots game should be worth watching.

Cheers, all!

 

Awesome. I couldn't agree more. Still has the classic components with just a touch of modern day influence. What yeast did you use, if you don't mind my asking?

Cheers!

 

This was my first lager using dry yeast. Never got around to making a starter, and I pitched 2 packs of rehydrated S-23. Very clean tasting.

 

This is the last of the night or so my wife says. Transient Moo Juice, a DIPA brewed with lactose sugar. It clocks in at 8% but you cannot tell from any aspect of this beer. I seem to like this more than most here, sticks pretty much to citrus peel and pine flavors with a touch of sweetness. Yeah a pretty gentle pour created this head so pour easy!!! Thanks Brian aka @FlintB




Appearance 4.25 - Pours hazy burnt orange color with huge foamy white head with soft pour. Lots of spotty lacing.

Aroma 4 - Picking up some floral hops, pine, light vanilla I assume from the lactose. Candied orange, bitter grapefruit.

Taste 4.25 - Taste up front is bitter citrus peel and light malt, some pine. Candied orange and sweet vanilla come in toward the end. No sign of the alcohol.

Feel 3.75 - Medium bodied, expected it to be over carbed from the head but it is fine. Slightly dry finish.

Overall 4.11 - Well done IPA, no sign of the alcohol easy drinking the lactose really smooths everything out.

 

Good timing to crack that one. As strong as the smoked flavor is, it’s amazing how the base comes through once you adjust to it

 

I'm right there with ya on that one, too- and really glad I was able to get you something you enjoy so much. I love that Singlecut decided to bottle it and send it out in distro, too.

Sorry I couldn't join everyone today- I'm just cleaning up after a big party at the moment. I'll be sure to get all caught up as soon as I can, though. Cheers!