New Beer Sunday (Week 714)

Up next and final is not only a new beer, but a new brewery. This brewery is special, as it's the first to open within Independence, MO, a suburban city apart of the Kansas City metro known for two things - Harry S. Truman's home and being the world headquarters of a Christian denomination religion. The latter has kept out breweries until just this past month, when the city allowed its first to open. Another brewery is slated to open later this month or early next, helping catch up Independence, MO with the surrounding suburban cities.

The other parts that struck me about this brewery and allowed it to skip the queue of other breweries I still need to visit is: 1. it's run by the owners of a long standing brewery supply store, and 2. they are producing an English Dark Mild - a style that seems to be disappearing completely from view. I couldn't pass up the chance to try a new English Dark Mild, and I simply can't wait any further - let's get into a new beer!



Apex Alework's English Mild.

Pours a dark brown with a hazy, foggy transparency. It only allows light through the edges of the glass. Head is a finger in height and khaki in color with very little retention. Aroma is pale, bitter, biscuit, bready and caramel malt notes. It's all malt within this thin, mild aroma. Flavor profile is biscuit, bready, caramel, pale, and bitter malt notes with a soft toffee finish. It drinks splendidly smooth, and is for lack of a better phrase "all beer, no frills". Mouth feel is medium-thin with a fairly still, smooth texture. Overall, a splendid English Dark Mild ale, which is to say - a straightforward, malt, light beer. It's plenty drinkable due to its flavor composition, with drink-ability further enhanced by its 3.9% ABV.

Score: 4 | 4.25 | 4.25 | 4.25 | 4.25 | BA Score: 4.24 | rDev: N/A (first review/rating)

Personal notes: Very much enjoying this. One of the latest Instagram posts from another local brewery posted they are brewing their English Dark Mild now. Maybe I can do a side-by-side here soon. Never thought I'd be trilled at the chance to try more of this style....

 

I'm late to the party but finally partaking in my first NBS (as far as I can remember). this is a special one for me simply because it's a collab between my favorite places out here in st louis.


it's gonna take me some convincing that this was just aged in barrels and doesn't have a shot of rum in it as the scent hit me before the cap was all the way off. poured super thick and dark, not quite black as some light pokes through. that khaki head has dropped to a slim ring and some strings. the rum aroma has mellowed as its warmed a bit and is letting some stout come through, hints of roasted coffee and chocolate and a nice warm earthiness. first sip reminded me of my past drunken winter nights where i forgot to buy eggnog and just went straight rum. tons of spice and heat coming in. but that wonderful stout flavor never gets lost and is only getting better with each sip. there's some oakiness to it all that adds more depth and i keep going back for more. nice full body, creamy and boozy. leaves a lingering coffee flavor, but one of those jamaican coffees. should find some kahlua and complete this package. if i can get my hands on another bottle i'd let this sit for a while and see what time did to it.
cheers my friends

 

Hello New Beer Sunday!!!

Again, my favorite day of the week.

@lordofthewiens - I broke my foot about 35 years ago, as a kid, sledding down a hill, and hit a tree. Boy, did it hurt like a MOFO, and it ruined a good chunk of the winter for me, because I was in a cast. I hope you get better soon.

Now, on to the new beer. This one is one that I got form the generosity of @jdell15 in the BIF #8.

COOP Ale Works Cask-It Series Rye Barrel Aged DNR.

Holy cow, is this ever good. So tasty, and such an aroma. So smooth and easy drinking. No alcohol burn. Just top notch. Thanks Jacob so much for this amazing beer.

Review:

4.36/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

This beer pours a nice brown color. The head is minimal, but what is there is slightly off white.
The nose is really rich and boozy smelling from the rye barrels. I get a slight hint of raisin in it. Slight sweet component.
Taste - Is very rich, and smooth tasting. I'd say molasses. Some raisin in it. Some dates.
Smooth mouthfeel, full bodied. A bit of carbonation on my tongue. No alcohol burn, just smooth. Almost too easy to drink.
Just a stellar beer. Smooth, easy drinking, and packed with flavor.


I might be able to pull off one more tonight. If so, I'll see you all in a bit.

 

pours cloudy yellow like grapefruit juice
tropical aroma as in coconut, mango and citrus
taste is tart and dry
full mouth feel and on the heavy side medium carbonation
finish is a bit oat like
style is an American IPA and it lock in at 7.00 ABV Tree House calls it experimental and it was brewed only once to this point. Hop profile is Citra and Amarillo
over all not a bad beer, easy drinking and tasty.

 

Sunday Funday

I've had about as relaxing a day as you can have without being dead.

Woke up, drank coffee for a little bit, ran and got a whole mess of fried chicken & fixins, got home and have been watching football and baseball ever since. But after this post it's Rosemary's Baby.

New American Sour Sunday

Found this one on the clearance rack yesterday for an absolute steal. Allagash tends to do nothing wrong. Not only that, they tend to do everything as right as you possibly can.

Allagash - Emile





Emile is a mysterious looking drink. The body is dark, mahogany in fact. Chestnut brown highlights run vertically along the edges while a silky ecru crown sits atop. The head is rather impressive. It was easy to grow and remains in place throughout the drink while leaving behind some sticky lace. (4.25)

The nose is vibrant and piquant, getting the mouth watering immediately. There's a nice acidic bite right off the bat that's reminiscent of high quality cider vinegar before a deeper pull brings about fig and softly sweet dates. A dusty, ghost-like whisper of cocoa passes here and there. Each swirl of the glass brings the vinous qualities to the forefront. A touch of minerality runs throughout as well. Nice balance and depth. (4)

The flavor is not far off from what the nose described, a bit brighter. The acidity is a bit more berry driven, like a blackberry vinegar, which I'm sure the vinous quality helps drive. Fig pops up in the middle again while the dates fall away. That cocoa is mild and bittersweet. Whispers of Bing cherry and that minerality wind in and out. The vinous wine character has its fingerprints all over this beer and I like it. This beer really opens up as it warms expressing some of that soft roast the bottle mentions. Very unique. (4.25)

The body is on the lighter side of the spectrum with good, active effervescence. There's acidity and tartness but it's approachable and enjoyable. The snappy carbonation and a drying finish keeps the glass tilted more often than not. It's thirst quenching but also thought provoking. (4.25)

Emile has a unique mix of wine, roast, fruit, and acid that make this a contemplative beverage. Each layer seems to build upon itself time after time eventually creating a rich, dense vibrancy. I would like to see this one get brewed again. Allagash does one hell of a job on practically everything. (4.25)

4.19/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

 

I received a very nice box of beer from @jzeilinger this week simply because I mentioned I wanted to try something he was drinking. He's a true BA. Shortly I'll be sending his box back to him with a few local goodies. But first I need to relax after a very long, but very fun, weekend.

This is one of the beers that he sent.

Sixpoint
Meltdown



Pours a very hazyv orange color with a thick white head and good lacing.

The smell is bitter hops with lots of citrus, especially orange and some tropical.

The taste is mostly tropical with lots of orange coming through at the end. Almost no lingering bitterness or hop burn.

The mouthfeel on this may be the smoothest I've ever felt in an IPA. It's velvet.

Overall a very nice beer. The flavor is muted, but not in a bad way. Enjoyable and way too easy to drink for the abv.

 

My second new New Hampshire 6.7% IPA of the day!

On The Gogh
Breakaway Beerworks, Manchester, NH
India Pale Ale 6.7% abv
3.8/5 rDev -6.4%


From a 16oz can, dated 10/24/18. Served in a tulip.

Pours a moderately hazy, cheerful orange-gold colour with a finger-and-a-half of frothy, foamy head. Retention is so-so-decent, leaving a sudsy cap, collar and curtain of lacing. (4.25)

A relatively subdued nose, weird but not unpleasant and sort of hard to pin down, like sweaty denim or something. Too faint to really get a grip on. (4.25)

Taste is earthy and dry with a slightly dank, sweaty character, there don't seem to be any of the usual flavour descriptors here, certainly not fruity, maybe spicy/grassy and desiccated pine needle but more like a textile, sort of like sucking on linen or a bolt of cotton. No sweetness, just a baking soda-like dry bitterness through and through. (3.5)

Feel is... let's use 'dry' again - prickly and dry, medium bodied with aggressive carbonation. (3.75)

Overall, reading back over my notes, I've made it sound pretty awful but actually I enjoyed it just fine. At worst, it was palatable. I just checked the brewer's description and apparently it was hopped with ella and azacca which I would never have guessed in a million years. (3.75)

 

Loving a can of Turning Point Queen To Be, thank you @CanConPhilly and @r0rschach for hooking me up.
4.36/5 rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Thank you CanConPhilly and r0rschach for this
16 oz can poured into tulip

A- A hazy/murky golden orange with a two finger white head

S- Citrus, some tart strawberries, tropical fruits, some piney hops.

T- Tropical fruits, strawberries, citrus, piney, faint pale malts.

M- Smooth, medium to full body, creamy.

O- A great strawberry NEIPA, doesn’t drink like 9.2% ABV at all, very drinkable and very well done.

Cheers NBS!

 

So long Vancouver and Canada!

Electric Bicycle is great!!




One last blast of sushi


What's up Seattle? (Sorta..)


Cheers!

 

Jackie O's Dark Apparition RIS ( Glad to see these in Oklahoma now! ). 3.88 overall

Pours an effervescent ebony with 2 fingers of caramel colored head. Viscious, minimal lacing, zero head retention

S: Roastyness, darkfruits

T: Dark chocolate, coffee, vanilla, a little smokeyness & caramel up front. More vanilla, dryness & caramel as this warms & a little fig. Finishes dry, roasty with vanilla & dryness

MF: Medium body, minimal carbonation

A good RIS, ABV is well hidden

 

The Crooked Stave Adambier was nice, and better than I expected... but at the price, if I wanted a wood aged sour beer, I’d rather buy a Tilquin. That’s an issue with a lot of fancy US craft brew in my eyes.

Adambier is mainly just a word in beer books. I assume no classics around. I’d absolutely love to have a Hair of the Dog Adam waiting for me right now. Cheers.

 

Whoops!

Sorry gang I put my post in the wrong thread... dont really have time to review all that stuff so cut me some slack..

Onward!

 

Happy Conclusion of New Fat Rusty Head Rail Sunday (Week 714)!

OMFG! Wotta day. I simply had a sufficient backlog of Rusty Rail bottles that when I scored some newly-arrived Fat Head's bottles, I decided to seize the opportunity. Little did I realize what I was getting into! I have been all over the map today & I would not wish this on anybody. It was certainly an exercise for my taste buds, picking up with:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/19544/51389/?ba=woodychandler#review

& continuing with:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/19544/50564/?ba=woodychandler#review

Maybe I shoulda left well enough alone at that point, but next came:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/41951/297109/?ba=woodychandler#review

thus beginning my personal train wreck. Next was:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/41951/358101/?ba=woodychandler#review

& I was developing a Q-mongous headache. I am a glutton for punishment, so I followed that with:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/41951/364906/?ba=woodychandler#review

& at last, I am giving up, following:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/41951/308129/?ba=woodychandler#review

Too many tastes, too much sweetness, too much too. I may have to thoroughly vet next week's selections as a result. OR caution, meet wind. We shall see. In the meantime, have a blast at Hallowe'en & I'll catch up with yinz in November!

 

One more for tonight is in order. This one is not from the NBS, but from Peace Tree Brewing in Knoxville, Iowa - William Milo Stone Imperial Stout.

Wasn't expecting the smoked flavor to this stout. Such a pleasant surprise, since I love smoke in beers. Damn good

3.75/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Pours pitch black, with a 1 finger brown head. The head retention is average.
The nose is very minimal. Just a slight chocolate aroma. Not much else.
Taste - Well, this is unexpected - smoke. I wasn't expecting a smoke flavor to this beer. I'd assume that they smoke the malts added to get this. Some chocolate notes behind the smoke. Some other flavors, that I can't put my finger on also are working in this beer.
The body is maybe a bit lighter than I'd expect. Not watery, just a bit lighter. A bit of a warming feeling from the alcohol.
Interesting beer overall. Wasn't expecting the smoke, but it really was a pleasant surprise. Delicious Iowa beer.

Well, with 2 stronger beers, I've got to call it a night. See you all for the next New Beer Sunday, and in the WBAYDN threads. Cheers.

 

I can make that happen relatively easily for you, once all my ducks finish lining up in a row.

If you're interested.

 

Got into another from @jhavs

Pours a slightly hazy golden orange with a finger of white head.
Definitely a citra hopped brew here, orange, resinous pine, grapefruit aromas upon opening the can.
Taste follows the nose. Citrus, pine, a bit pithy on the finish. Bready malt is present as well. Good balance.
Medium body good carb levels.
Overall a good citra hopped beer. If this were local it would make it in my regular rotation.

 

Ok let's try again..

Black Raven Brewery - Trickster IPA



14 oz draft pour at the airport into a shaker pint.

Creamy top off white head presented, with nice golden chestnut amber appearance. Dark brown brass and clarity in a glass.

Nuts and caramel aroma forward with a good toasty bent. Not ver hoo sensing on the nose though.

Pine rich and malt balancing sweetness on the palate. Oily finish, with a good spice resin and splinter woody character. Sweet hazelnut like also on the malt flavor with a good balance.

Woody west coast tree forest cut down? Sign me up!

Cheers..

There yago...

 

Good evening NBSers! This week @akatz821 hit me with a ninja box that included a mystery beer and a dram of mystery booze. I can't even express what a fun surprise that was.

Because I don't mind making an ass of myself, here's my blind review of the mystery beer:



When I pop the cap, tiny bubbles immediately start to rise and push toward the opening. I move quickly to get it in a glass before I have to share it with my counter. It pours a dark straw color with soft, tiny bubbles forming a head that both persists and continuously regenerates.

Azi's hint on this was "wild", and the nose sure doesn't disappoint. Citrusy funk says some kind of lambic, saison, or other spontaneously fermented goodness. There's a bit of yeasty spice there too. Not getting any adjuncts in the nose. The taste follows the nose: funky lemon with a touch of yeasty bitterness. Definitely leans yeast forward. Mouthfeel is great, and nice finish. It's just a bit tart, but almost no acidity. I'm guessing the brewer describes this as a rustic farmhouse and wouldn't be shocked if there is some rye in the malt bill, but the yeast might be fooling me there. I'm enjoying the heck out of this.

The reveal:



Townsite Brewing, Bois Sauvage 2017 Assemblage #1, brewed in Powell River, British Columbia. According to their website, this is a blend of a wild ale and a sour saison. This is excellent Azi, thank you!

Because Azi was nice enough to include a dram of liquor (hint: peat), let's do that blind too to fully show off my limited tasting vocabulary.



Ooh, this is right in my wheelhouse. Smoke, peat, leather, iodine. It has Islay written all over it. Spicy at first, then quickly warming. Looked viscous in the glass, but finishes very dry. If this isn't from Islay, it's a hell of an homage. Gun to my head, I'd guess Ardbeg made it and it's in the 20 year range.

Reveal: Laphroaig 25 cask strength, 2008 edition! Azi! This is f'ing silly. First, thank you! Second, I'm fairly distraught that I missed on my favorite distillery (even if I was only wrong by 1.5 miles). This is wonderful, and responding is going to be a lot of fun.

 

Brian, you did a great job on both of those! My mouth is watering, too .

Refresh my memory, but aren't you the one who Azi sent that Negroni, and if so, have you had a chance to try it yet? I've been curious about that ever since...

 

Howdie, NBS friends. Mrs O and I hosted a childhood buddy of mine this evening for some camaraderie, pizza, and beer (not necessarily in that order). We drank a couple of beers tonight, one local, one legendary. First up, a red IPA from my local.



3.99/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Pours a reddish brown with a tan head. Lovely. Fruity hop notes on the nose, and some resiny pine as well, and a wheel barrel full of caramalt.

The fruity hops dominate the taste up front, and the caramalt flavor is a really nice balance, but the mouthfeel is not as substantial as I’d like for the style. Still a really nice sipper for a chilly fall evening.

Next, this iconic beer that i can’t believe I haven’t danced with before.



4.6/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This pours onyx black with the darkest brown head I’ve ever seen on a beer. The nose has the chilies up front, but there’s a mother lode of other aromas - cocoa, cinnamon, char, vanilla, literally a plethora of notes that blend perfectly.

And they blend better on the taste, if that’s possible. I get the chilies first, probably because I love spicy flavors, and the spice has some bite, but the cocoa and vanilla flavors balance the heat, and then the cinnamon lends a churro quality to this that elevates it to the top of the world-class quadrant. Simply magnificent, IMHO.