New Beer Sunday (Week 715)

Eviltwin even more jcs
.. pours a solid black
.. medium heavy body with very low carbonation
..aroma is fairly strong and has milk chocolate, vanilla, coffee, roasted malt
..taste is heavy on the milk chocolate followed by roasted malt and vanilla. There's a nice black coffee and cream taste and feel there as well
.. overall it was a very good beer from eviltwin but to me not my favorite. The high abv is fairly well hidden but seriously intensifies as it warms up

 

So in honour of Dia de los Muertos this week, I am tipping back this really unique brew courtesy of @Dragginballs76 and his awesome box of mid atlantic goodies during the aforementioned NBS BIF #8.

Oaxacan is billed as a, "Tequila barrel-aged smoked sour ale with grapefruit and lime zest."
*eyebrow raised*

Coquihani, according to a quick google search, was the Zapotec god of light. Hence the fireworks in his eyes on the label. While it's not actually as perfect a tribute to dia de los muertos as I'd initially imagined, I like the symmetry of celebrating life and it's natural conclusion with a celebration of the god of light. Life/death and light/dark are dichotomies and pairings that often go together, and speaking more personally, there has been a lot of death of late back home (cancer is a bitch), and there was a conspicuous correlation with one of those deaths in particular and unseasonable warmth and brightness.
On top of that, this afternoon I'm going to be helping this girl I've been seeing lately do some baking in anticipation of Diwali, which is apparently a Hindu celebration of light, so, you know, more light based cultural stuff.
This is partly just justification for my initial cultural misconceptions, but I like that even with that there was still a connection to be found.

Anyway enough of my ramblings, on to the topical ramblings!



Oaxacan pours an opaque golden/amber colour reminiscient of unpasteurized apple cider (the autumnal farmhouse kind of my youth, not the alcoholic kind of my adulthood). Nice little half finger of soft white head settles in to a ring around the edge and whisps across the top.

When cold, the nose is primarily tart citrus (lime in particular). There's a definite funk lurking behind that, but the citrus steps up first. As it warms, the tequila barrel begins to make its initial contributions, lending a creamy smoothness to the proceedings that reminds me of aloe (aloe and agave are both cacti, so that's why I assume it's the tequila talking) for some reason, and serves to give balance to the tart/funky notes of before. The first glass (the bottle ended up taking two glasses to work through) didn't give any indication of smoke, but as I near the bottom of the second glass and it's continued to warm there's a definite char that begins to emerge giving it further complexity. I've had to go back and increase the aroma rating as these later notes emerged.

The flavour is initially a big blast of bright tart funk with some citrus acidity. Much more pronounced than the nose suggested. The citrus continues across the middle of the palate, transitioning from just straight lime oil and pith to release some of the juicy grapefruit sweetness (though still a distant back seat to the acids), and embracing that creamy agave I mentioned from the nose. Even with warmth I don't get the char/smoke on the tongue. Culmination is back to the citrus pith and the lingering finish is pith/creamy agave/a thin ribbon of grapefruit juice. Aggressive carbonation.

I wasn't really sure what to make of this one going in. There was part of me that was a little wary... it seemed like a lot of things going on that may verge on the gimmicky, but it all comes together really really well, and I came away quite impressed.
Like (I imagine) most, my barrel aging experience is predominantly bourbon barrels, and the tequila barrels here offer such a different approach to the barreling imparting drastically different characteristics, while still maintaining some of the smoothing that oak/bourbon can impart. The smoke was easily the least present aspect from the label, but the rest of it came together really well with the citrus meeting the original amber sour in a synergistic manner. It does kind of remind me of the one or two other cocktail-as-a-beer beers that I've had (and for whatever reason that manifestation of 'not-beer-thing-masquerading-as-beer' doesn't turn me off as much as some of the other manifestations [milkshake IPAs/pastry stouts/etc]).
Thanks Mike for sending it along and continuing to expand my horizons! Cheers!

 

Oh man, that sounds EXACTLY up my alley. *navigates to 'wants' list and expands it by just a bit...*

 

lol, I hadn't gotten this far into the thread when I posted my reply to Joe's post.
Indeed!

 

My condolences for your loss. Good on you for supporting your wife's wishes.

 

New von Time Change Sunday

Today I have got to try some new beers from what was probably one of my top 2-3 brewery wants.
Working my way through a mixed 12 pack today that my friend Dave gave me. So far it is shaping up to be one of the best I have opened.


4.12/5 rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

From a 12oz bottle

It is a crystal clear gold color with a moderate sized off white soapy head that didn’t last long.

The aroma is not real strong. A little of that Euro lager skunkiness from the yeast and some light sweet cereal like grains and a touch of floral.

The flavor is way more pronounced for me. A combination of a honey covered biscuit and Cheerios. Some lemon like citrus and grassy green slightly peppery hops along with the lager yeast.

Soft, somewhat creamy body that is well carbonated and has a crisp finish.

A very nice balanced Helles


4.35/5 rDev +10.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

From a 12oz bottle

It is a chestnut brown color with hints of ruby. Slightly transparent. The decent sized tan head settled quickly into a fine film.

Some bready yeast with a touch of chocolate in the aroma on top of a pumpernickel like browned bread. It almost smells like a toasted pretzel with a chocolate dipping sauce.

Initial sweetness of a rich dark rye to pumpernickel bread with the yeast flavor followed by a touch of semi bitter chocolate, and an earthy,
slightly nutty flavor that is reminiscent of an English Brown Ale. There is a bit of a spicy, citrusy Hallertau hops note at the end with a lingering chocolate bordering on coffee grounds like char and bitterness.

It is a lush medium body that still drinks like a 5% beer. Crisp, and somewhat dry finish.

Ayinger is the king of Dunkels from what I have had, but this is probably the best one I have tried otherwise. A really nice malty, somewhat robust, but easy drinking lager that balances out the richness with just the right amount of bitterness. Would love to have access to this one all the time.

 

New beer #3. Thanks @thisischuck01 !

Smooth Raspy - Sixpoint
Sour - 4.2% abv
Canned 10/10/18 (25 days ago)
Score: 4.19 (+1% rDev)



Review:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/10607/378863/?ba=CanConPhilly#review

Synopsis:
A refreshing lactose sour. I like that Sixpoint released a non-lacto version of this earlier, which I preferred slightly more as it highlighted the acidity and tartness of the fruit. This version is a bit sweeter, less tart, but with a better body. If you enjoy sweetness in your fruit sours, you’ll dig this. It’s not over the top sugary, but definitely noticeable.

 

Good morning/afternoon/evening NBS. Been a while since I posted in this thread, but I'm glad to be back. This can of Fa Really by Brouwerij West comes courtesy of @TheBrewsky. There is no date on the can. I do know that this is an older can, but the beer inside seems to have preserved very well.

Look at this label too, it's freaking ridiculous!



The beer pours murky bright yellow. You can see the level of head formation on what was a fairly aggressive pour down the middle. Head retention is above average for the style, and there is a ton of lacing left on the glass. There are some floaties at the bottom of the glass. Aroma is tropical and fruity but also subdued. I suppose that there would be more if I drank this fresh. Taste is also bright tropical with notes of mango, papaya, and oranges. Even old, this tastes great, way better than I expected. The feel is spot-on for a NEIPA in terms of both the body and carbonation. Alcohol is also hidden extremely well.

I was kind of worried about this beer since I knew that I'm drinking an older can, but it still tastes great. This has been a pleasant surprise, and one of the better beers I've had from Brouwerij West.

4.5 | 3.75 | 4.25 | 4.5 | 4.25. Final BA Rating: 4.17 (rDev +7.8%)

Cheers!

 

What a gorgeous November Sunday we're having in the northeast corner of NJ, beautifully clear and sunny, with just the right amount of briskness in the air. I'll be taking care of a few outdoor chores, and it just seemed like the right time to break out this beer that I've been holding onto since BIF #7, sent to me by @jdell15

Lost Forty Brewing's Nighty Night, a 10.5% imperial stout aged in rye, bourbon and cabernet barrels and blended.

Right off the bat it's smelling like a very nice bba beer- the bourbon is singing the loudest, alongside good amounts of dark chocolate, toffee and French roast coffee impressions. A gentle swirl brings the malt to the forefront along with some, surprise surprise, airy and citrusy hops. Oh yeah, that's a lot more like it, it comes across as a lot more balanced and nimble with each swirl, and I'm loving what the hops are doing for it.

On first sip, they got the right feel to accentuate the personality of the nose; a lean and muscular bantamweight, nothing overly heavy at all. Man, I picked the right beer for this kind of day, didn't I? The sun, the crisp cool air, and a beer with just enough gentle warmth going for it. The hops are there big time with such a clean snap of bitterness, like a crack of the whip keeping things lively; it's nicely dry as well. The toffee-like malt base is joined by hints of dried blueberries (I assume there's the cabernet making its appearance), some sweet spices (vanilla, mostly), gentle suggestions of whiskey, and there is a long finish of toasty wood and dark cocoa powder.

It's a very tasty beer, and artfully crafted, not a thing out of place: A- (4.35). Thanks again, Jake!

 

Creature Comforts King Peach

Happy Sunday, BAs. Had a fun share last night with some great NBSers from New York to Georgia, and ended up with quite a few new beers in the fridge this morning. The first one I pulled out came courtesy of the generous @JBowenGeorgia, and is hitting the spot after a long evening of drinking.

King Peach has an absolutely beautiful color. It pours a thick, vibrant peachy orange-juice color. There’s a half-finger of off-white head that settles into a thin crown and leaves modest lacing.

The aroma is subdued with peach and light citrus the most evident.

The taste is a little “bigger,” but still more refined than I expected, although quite artfully done. I’m getting peach, citrus, grass and mineral water. It’s not at all overly sweet or tart, with the mineral element making it very drinkable and refreshing.

The beer’s medium bodied with a fizzy, tonic water type of feel.

This has look of a New England DIPA juice bomb. Appropriate to style, though, it smells and tastes much more like an APA. It’s a really pleasant, lazy Sunday sipper. Thank you, John, for leaving this for me — and especially for traveling out to join us yesterday. I hope you have a safe flight back and that we get to drink again together soon.

 

Wow man I hate to hear this, really sorry for you and your wife's loss Chris.

 

New Oktoberfest #2

The review:
16oz canned 8/28/18 (2 months ago) poured into a dimpled mug at fridge temp 5% ABV. The beer pours mostly bright copper to orange amber in color with khaki head. The head recedes to a pencil thin ring and leaves no lacing. The aroma is faintly sweet with some caramel malt, apple and yeast notes. The taste is caramel with toasted notes restraining the sweetness. The finish is mild floral and earthy hops and appropriate bitterness. The mouthfeel is thin to medium bodied with a little more than average carbonation and dry finish. The beer is fairly clean with no glaring defects. Overall, very good.

Thanks @woodychandler & cheers all!

 

@SouthernSips and I completed a trade recently that centered around me wanting some ghost in the machine (which may make an appearance) and him receiving a collab one of his favorite breweries did with southern grist. Anywho one of the cans he sent me was a mystery and I thought it was a great idea. I may do this from now on.

Upon pouring I knew this was a New England style ipa. It’s extremely murky and a very dark burnt orange color.

The smell is great at first, citrus, floral, hops, then ACOHOL, vodka specifically.

Taste follows the nose exactly. The awesomeness is accompanied by a hop burn which turns into a vodka burn.

Mouthfeel is medium, soft, pillowy goodness.

Overall it’s a good beer which gets negative points for the alcohol aftertaste. But as I discovered when I unwrapped it, it was brewed and sold for a good cause so I definitely salute this brewery.



Also some experimental hops? In there which may contribute to the offputting burn at the end. Thanks @SouthernSips

 

Happy Sunday NBS players. A rather perfect fall day here on the island. Sunny, cool and crisp with all the fall foliage in full effect. Got all my to-do list out of the way yesterday and I'll be watching mindless football all day long. A very winnable game for the Jets but its not starting off strong. I have plans to be at next weeks game in person so we'll see how that works out.

My new beer today is Vanilla Bean Stout, a ba stout, from Central Waters brewing. The brew checks in at

A slick black color on the pour with a minimal off-white head. The nose is thick with bourbon and sugars. A pretty dry feel to the drinking upfront with a mix of chocolate malt and sweet sugars. A rather smooth flow and finish. The vanilla is there and seems to be most prominent. I always seem to expect vanilla ice cream for some reason but it's not that. It comes off more as a vanilla flavored toffee/candy flavor. The barrel again presents itself with really superb balance. You get the bourbon, the charred oak, and the booze of the whiskey but it does not drown out the base flavors. Additional flavor notes of lactose, cinnamon, caramel, and smoke. The mouth feel is full bodied. Not terribly sticky but just enough to keep your lips smacking with flavor after each sip. A subtle decadence to it but not nearly as sweet as I had expected it.

Overall, just a nice beer with a lot going on the works pretty nicely. My favorite is still Sunset but this is worthy of a try. I'm right around a 4 here,

 

A-Pours a very nice orange amber color with a slight head and lacing
A-Aroma has tropical fruit and floral hints
T-The taste follows the nose with generous amounts of tropical fruit and floral flavors
M-A medium bodied well carbonated beer
O-Triple Sip of Sunshine lived up to it's hype. A very well made beer packing a strong punch!

 

Continuing on the yard work although I think it might turn into a bonfire soon.

Looks like @thebeers and I have the same palette and the same tasting schedule.

16 ounce can, no can date, just some red ink splat. Pours a murky and vibrant orange or peach nectar color. How fitting.
About a fingers worth of off white head that settles into just a thin ring and light lacing. The nose is soft orange and peach. Kind of lacking in this department, I don’t get a whole lot else.
Fortunately the taste redeems the nose. Bitter orange, citrus pith, lime, peach.
Big body for a pale, creamy, drinks more like one of those hazy IPAs. Maybe that’s what they were going for.
Overall, this is a really tasty pale. Don’t expect a peach bomb or anything too sweet. It’s just a tasty beer.
4.07. No rDev yet, @thebeers and I are just a hundredth off. Cheers!

 

Two new double IPAs today, fellow NBSers! I skipped last week due to needing recovery from a pretty fun Halloween party the night before, but I'm back in rare form today. Just finished raking for now, and took some buffalo chicken dip I made out of the oven, so it's time for a new brew. My first is Finback's Social Fabric, an 8% beer double dry-hopped with Mosaic and 007. I think 007 is an alternate/new name for Idaho 7 (like Ekuanot/Equinox and Ella/Stella before it).



Hey, this beer is really ugly! It pours a milky, chalky-looking opaque pale yellowish color with a thin yet long lasting head of unkempt tiny bubbles. Some alright looking legs, I guess, but the lace seems too soapy and inconsistent to stand out or be remarkable to me. *shakes head* c'mon, Finback, you can make good looking NEIPAs with heavy opacity... I've seen you do it!

Luckily, the nose is pretty good! Leafy and green with some grassy notes, pine resin, papaya, orange pulp and some herbal qualities that keep everything fairly grounded. Light backing aspects of mango, peach rings, and maybe a bit of passion fruit as well, but this just has a really intense dankness to it overall. Candied grapefruit and slight yeast esters follow through as the beer acclimates to my preferred drinking temperature. Solid stuff, for sure.

Very consistent profile with a lot of creamy mango and smooth orange flavors followed by a blanket of dank, pine-y hops that nevertheless seem to coalesce nicely into earthiness and light floral tones in the finish. Some more stone fruit and interesting tart berry stuff happening after each sip... probably Mosaic being funky as usual. I enjoy it, though! It's not an aggressive or overly-hoppy beer despite its new-school profile and DDH proclivities. I would say this is actually pretty well-balanced, with a nice malt backbone that feels like it adequately stands up to the hops. Carbonation isn't too finely-detailed, mostly only showing up as a quick prickle on the tip of my tongue before the homogeneous NEIPAs aspect (yeasty hoppiness with pillowy malts) takes center stage. This isn't really anything to write home about, but it is yet another feather in Finback's cap nonetheless... these guys are very solid at this kind of beer and, despite the gross appearance, it really does hit a lot of nice notes that satisfies throughout my drinking session.

Be back with another new one soon!