New Beer Sunday (Week 716)

Cracked this late last night and just forgot to post it.

This was a personal whale of mine ever since I decided, a few years ago, that I wanted to start trading beers. I took a few months off from drinking this summer and with the lack of bar tabs and liquor store purchases, I had a little extra money to blow. So, I did what I believe every one of us would do and just spent it on beers that I really wanted and thought I would never be able to get otherwise. I traded a bit along with purchasing some nice bottles and I believe this one is the star of what I have acquired. Still can’t believe I’m drinking this right now!

BA Sump


This pours completely black from bottle to glass. The milk chocolate colored foam top fades to just a ring around the glass within a few moments. You can see how thick and sticky this is from the beer clinging to the walls of the glass with every sip. Semi sweet chocolate and fresh pressed coffee just blow up the nose.


My first sip was great! Bakers chocolate, burnt brownie corners, and chocolate covered roasted coffee beans. Sweet whiskey doesn’t burn, but instead coats the tongue. This beer is HEAVY! Not really anywhere close to the highest ABV I’ve ever had, but it’s just really dense. Alcohol is well hidden, but the coffee comes in huge heaps! Probably the most viscous beer I’ve ever had with perfect carbonation. This really is a gem. I feel lucky and am completely humbled to have had the chance to drink it. It was a tough decision to randomly pop this open, but like I keep hearing from others,”it’s just beer”.


Also, on a side note, my boys at Notre Dame got a big win earlier. I have since switched over to the UFC fights with a good looking fight card. Cheers all!

 

I like when we get new beer from breweries, and Boulevard has started to crank out some new stuff. Not just wild stuff that makes me wonder 'why?', but seemingly market researched decisions. They've done some recent NE IPAs. So when they dropped two Great Eight packs for this holiday season, one local and one nationwide, I had to pick them both up since each contained a set of unique beers from our local staple. I don't have enough glasses to do a 4-glass tasting, so I poured half of the nationwide set, and am ready to dive into Boulevard's latest offerings. I'll do the local set next.

I'm going left to right on this one.



Boulevard's Brandy Barrel-Aged Belgian-Style Golden Ale.

Pours a translucent golden-copper with a finger of white foam. It fizzes up semi-reluctantly and retains okay. Aroma is a solid one-two of apple juice and brandy. There is a kiss of sweetness via caramel and burnt sugar. It legit smells like apple juice with a touch of spice. Flavor profile is apple cider, nutmeg, apples, brandy and oak. It masks the 12.4% ABV heat well. Mouth feel is still, with the only effervescence being on the tip of the tongue at the onset of a sip. It's medium in thickness. Overall, pretty darn splendid, although the thinness is a bit strange for a 12%+ beer.

Score: 4.25 | 4.25 | 4.25 | 4 | 4.5 | BA Score: 4.28 | rDev: -0.2%

Boulevard's Jamaican Rum Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout.

Pours black with a finger of khaki foam. Head retention is okay. Aroma is rum, spice, and roasty, toasty, earthy malts. The list of adjectives is short, but the rum really is huge. Not much else is needed after that. Flavor profile is huge and complex. First, notes of roasty, toasty malts dance by before rum, spices, caramel, burnt sugar, and char take center stage. It finishes with a spike of heat and cocoa. The 14% ABV plays a big role here, heating up the back end of the flavor profile. Mouth feel starts smooth and still, but crescendos into a fuzzy, nappy, velvety texture. It lands at an unbashful thick consistency. Overall, a splendid big stout with a big spike of rum.

Score: 4.25 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | BA Score: 4.49 | rDev: +6.7%

Personal notes: I had a tough time rating the golden ale higher, as I'm often not a fan, but if more breweries made golden ales to this caliber - I could be swayed.

New Chiefs franchise touchdown record. Seems fitting after sipping on some KC beer. Hopefully Sporting KC can clinch the next phase of their off season next.

 

Finishing off a few I have left from the awesome box from @warrendietrich2001

Soaked from New Glory

4.18/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Brilliant citrusy smell on this hazy beer, packing plenty of grapefruit and hints of pineapple. Taste mimics the smell, save for a slightly crackery finish. Aftertaste isn't massive but what's there is holding onto just some amount of earthy bitterness. Body is light and crisp, very easy drinking.

Palapa of your Dreams by Alvarado Street

4.21/5 rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

This hazy pale yellow beer has a terrific sweet papaya smell, backed up by bubble gum, but not in a Belgian yeast way - just a really sweet kind of thing. Taste follows along in a sweet, juicy way until just a touch alcohol taste creeps in but not off puttingly so. Finishes just a little hot with some back of the throat heat before a solid bitter aftertaste takes hold. Medium bodied beer that seems to drink maybe just a touch heavier than expected.

 

I don't know about the rest of the people here, but I am clean as a whistle, dude!

 

Howdy NBSites!
It is once again Sunday, and I am once again going to try a little something new here in Montreal in hopes of warding off the sharp late-fall cold. Thanks to a trip to the US and the NBS BIF I have been awash in new "exotic" beers for too long for my liking. I have really been craving some of the new locals I've been seeing around and so I headed across town this morning to pick up a few new beers that are local, with a focus on being less big and boozy. I still have more of that than I know what to do with.
My first beer today is a brut IPA from Le Castor. They are a great brewery and their flagship IPA is one of my favorites so I have high hopes for this one. Of the brut IPAs I've tried I've liked half of them (one out of two haha). Let's see how this one stacks up.

It pours pretty clear with a bright gold color and ample white head with champagne carbonation. It has a really strong lemon-citrus smell with a little 'green' bitterness underneath. The flavor follows suit. Lemon zest, grass, cereal, and a hint of lacquery alcohol that made me shave off 0.25. Tasty nonetheless. It is easy to drink, nice and dry with both a nice malt and hop character. I liked it and would have it again. If be curious as to if anything popped a little more fresher (this bottle was over a month old).

Here is my official review.

Cheers!

 

Good afternoon, NBS!

I'm off to a bit of a late start today - low on sleep, so beer didn't immediately appeal. Coffee and bacon have helped to fortify me - so gimme them suds.

Firstly, I'm going to skip around here a little bit. @lordofthewiens - love the intro this week. Calvin and Hobbes was very close to my heart. My mom often ordered packages of books and I was an infamous little bastard child and generally opened them before she could - she would buy every single collected edition of Calvin and Hobbes (ostensibly, for me...), which grew in to a life-long love of comics. From Watterson, I got very in to The X-Men; my uncle, taking note of my comic book love, gave me a subscription to many of EC's horror comics: The Crypt Keeper, Vault of Horror, etc. Those would eventually turn in to a deep and enduring love of Ray Bradbury (many of his short stories were adapted by EC artists and writers) and plenty of other fantasy and science fiction. But, comics have stuck with me to this day - my current favorite series is Saga, closely followed by Fables. I think there is plenty to be learned from comics, and those who dismiss them as pulp and trash obviously haven't read many at all - and those people don't have much of a sense of fun or imagination.

Anyway.

I'm just a bit exhausted today. Went to the Wolves in the Throne Room, At the Gates, and Behemoth show last night - legs felt a bit like rubber afterward, but I had a terrific time. Behemoth is a little too stroky and serious for me (they pay fantastic tribute to a lot of the first wave of black metal... but I'm not really in to that stuff - takes itself far too seriously), but At the Gates was a wish list show for a long time (I've seen The Crown before, but it's not the same - almost wore my shirt from that show, but it's just a bit dusty and needs a wash - oops). They put on a fantastic show, so I left very well-satisfied. Wolves was a bit of an obsession for a while there - sadly, their set wasn't very long but was also quite good. Bad pics to follow.

At the Gates:


Behemoth:


Packed venue - very claustrophobic. Fun, nonetheless.

I came home to a not-so-fun time - sat on the couch for a few minutes when I began hearing some noises in the basement. The dog was perturbed as well. Then I heard an odd noise, like something heavy hitting a bit of sheet metal. Wha? I went down to check it out - found a mouse trap had been sprung and then knocked on to the top of my washing machine. 'The fuck? And then I saw a big-ass rodent run in to a corner.

What followed was an hour's-long game of hide and seek with this little fucker. I cornered him in my storage room, which was a seriously mixed blessing - there is such a quantity of shit in there that he could basically have hid from me forever. So I kept my back to the door and started chucking shit out in the main room. After several near escapes, he finally ran behind a couple of coolers in a corner - and when I kicked the bottom cooler, I heard a loud "SQUEEK". Waited a moment or two, then pulled the coolers away from the wall. Lo and behold, a small squirrel...



Damn thing has been evicted from my basement and from this life. I'm relieved that there was a successful conclusion, but I'm tired as fuck... I was up until 3am after all was said and done, and I have an enormous mess to clean up today...





I'm going to enjoy a beer before I get started. Thanks and recognition go to @JBowenGeorgia for this one - he was my sender in NBS #7, and I've really been looking forward to this beer.



Mein gott - that's a complex, rich, wonderful beer!

I've given the beer plenty of time to warm up while typing this fucking novel here - in that time, the nose has opened up to a rich cocoa bomb. Plenty of bourbon in there, and just a hint of vanilla. It's not terribly thick in texture, but the mouth feel is quite rich. The bourbon notes are just a bit spicy - loads of chocolate, vanilla, and peanut butter, very distinct and well-executed. I didn't quite identify the peanut butter until reading the tasting notes, but my palate is garbage, no shocker there.

It's a personal bias and my own stupid cross to bear, but I never quite expect 12oz bottles to be anything special. This is one of those beers that prove me drastically wrong, and go to show that every brewery should be doing this. I feel zero guilt drinking one of these alone, even knowing that I'm going to sit here procrastinating all of my clean-up for another hour while I enjoy this killer beer.

Thank you again, John - you sent me some incredible boxes. Really appreciate the generosity, and I continue to enjoy the beers that you sent. Cheers, sir!

Back for more later. Enjoy your Sunday, folks!

 

Those Curley fries need some old bay seasoning I think. Like Chickies and Petes in Philly.

 

Everything needs Old Bay added.

Favorite sunflower seeds I've found for my desk are Old Bay flavored. For my apartment, I own salt+pepper, cinnamon, and Old Bay seasoning.

 

Really excited about my new beer today. It was sent to me by @Mikexw as part of a ninja/revenge box in the rookies BIF. It was on my wants and more importantly, the beers of fame list. Without further ado, it’s Weihenstephaner’s Hefeweissbier.



It pours a beautiful hazy golden straw yellow with a YUUUge mountain of fluffy white foam. This beer is hazy in the old sense, from the yeast. The scent is enormous clove, some banana and some bready malt. Taste follows the nose exactly, clove first, then very prominent banana, and a nice bready malty finish. The mouthfeel is a good medium with good carbonation (it took me 5 pours to get it all in the glass). Overall this is a fantastic beer and worthy of its exalted status. One of the best in the style I’ve had, which admittedly is fairly few (under 10). I’d recommend this to anyone and I’d love to have it again on a hot summer day after mowing.

I just want to say that I love the welcoming, encouraging environment of this thread. I use it quite often to build my wants list and I’m appreciative to those who contribute.

 

Woah. Cool beer and great photo. Thanks for sharing your notes!

 

Greetings fellow NBSers! A sunny, crisp, and slightly chilly day here in the Fourth Corner. As part of the NBS BIFs, we all receive a "Mystery Beer" from our sender, and we have to review it blind: Not the brewery, not the style, nothing. Today I'm going to crack my mystery brew from @nc41 . I'll report back in a bit.

 

NBS BIF Mystery Beer #2

Afternoon, BAs. I am beat after hours of raking. It’s finally time for a beer and some football. What to choose?

First up is the second mystery beer sent to me by the generous @beertunes. The last one stumped me. Let’s see if I do any better this time around.

The beer pours a clear light purple, strawberry-rhubarb color with a thin finger of similarly-tinted white head that’s quick to dissipate. It leaves very modest lacing.

It has a lightly sour aroma that has me thinking gose right out of the gate. There’s some hard-to-place fruit (definitely berry, but is it blueberry, strawberry, some Northwest berry stumper? I can’t tell.). The nose has a hint of creaminess to it, too.

Great berry-type fruit and light sourness and tartness stand out in the taste, making it very drinkable. It’s definitely somewhat creamy, too, making me think lactose may be added. It’s not particularly salty, but there may be a little ting there. I’m still leaning gose, although stronger salt would have closed the deal. Maybe a fruited Berliner? It’s a little too quaffable for most American Wild Ales on the market these days.

The feel is medium bodied with strong carbonation.

This is a very refreshing, highly drinkable beer. The light creaminess combines with the fruit just about perfectly. Not sure I can name the fruit, but I’m sure it’s something in the berry family. I’ll guess a berry gose.

Here’s the second pour and the reveal...



Looks like I picked the right glassware, at least — also gifted to me by Terry.

This is Wander Raspberry Mille, a 4.4% “American Sour Ale brewed with raspberries.”

I thought Terry might try to stump me with marionberries or some other Northwest-specific berry, but it’s raspberry marketed as a straight up “sour ale.” Couldn’t easily find online if it’s a wild ale, kettle soured or has any lactose added, but it doesn’t matter, it’s a phenomenal beer. Thanks for this one!

Look forward to joining you with another new beer later. In the meantime, Go Bucs!

 

New Gose Sunday

No witty banter today.

No deep insights.

I got nothing but a beer and a review.

Jolly Pumpkin - Matama Ahorita

Bottled - 6/7/16





Matame Ahorita looks good if a little surprising. It's fizzy and yellow, not gold. The first pour has 100% clarity to the extent that every bubble can be seen rushing to the surface. The foam, though fizzy off the bat and two fingers in height, settles to a thick crown with some silkiness. That silkiness clings to the glass and will have to be scraped free by the looks of it. Very good. (4.25)

This beer can be smelled from a couple feet away. It's very floral from start to finish, vibrant and fresh. Rosehip is natural, never impending on perfume, and runs throughout. Bold yuzu tartness plays a big role with its unique citrus character while coriander brings about a more earthy, herbal citric quality. A mustiness embraces the whole and brings about that Jolly Pumpkin house character along with a sturdy wheat twang. Appetizing. (4)

The floral quality combines flawlessly with all the citric notes mentioned above. Rosehips get it moving but are quickly met with vibrant, tart yuzu. Lime here, lemon there. The more herbal citric quality of the coriander adds depth and levels out the brightness. The wheat has a strong presence with its musty graininess and twang. This stuff manages to unfold with each drink. I like that. (4)

The mouthfeel is spot on. It's light on it's feet with an active, appropriate carbonation. There's an herbal linger underneath a soft citric tartness that seems to flash over every surface. Some of the salt can be noticed on the lips. It's tangy and quenching. Drinkability is off the charts. (4.25)

Matame Ahorita is another fun, interesting, delicious collaboration between two fun, interesting, good brewers. It's fresh and bright with familiar flavors well layered. A very well executed beer. (4)

4.04/5 rDev +2.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

 

Thanks and you're welcome.

 

Well thank you @lordofthewiens for the kickstart and after a 14 hour day yesterday Im ready to get right down to business. This beer comes via the stellar BA @TongoRad and it features one of my favorite hops.
Sloop Brewing Simcoe Bomb
Pours a very murky orange/gold with a surprisingly white 3/4 inch solid head that has some staying power. Once settled it leaves a thin ring with nice world map lacing.
Aroma is really wonderful - of ripe apricots/peaches, orange juice passionfruit, damp pine/earth and seems to be blueberries, with a floral/grassy note.
Taste follows with berries, passionfruit, orange, pine. Its complex, probably not getting everything but one things for certain its really delicious.
Feel is really nice. Just a touch of sweetness rounded out by a soft pleasant bitterness with a really nice snappy carb that lasts throughout. Body is medium.
An extremely enjoyable brew Im lucky I had a chance to try.
Thank You Michael!

 

Good afternoon and happy New Berry Sunday BAs. I completed my first week back at work in over a year on Friday. I forgot how difficult it is to balance that along with family time and still manage to take care of the house and everything else, but it's great to be back in the saddle of what seems to possibly be the last stop for my career. Obvious activity of choice for balancing with family time? Hiking of course. This time with a little side car of chanterelle chasing deep in the Tillamook Forest.







I'm saving the poisonous one for my mother in law.



Made a mighty fine soup with those goldies.

To be clear, I went hiking and had the soup YESTERDAY, but the beer I am drinking is most certainly from TODAY, so no police work needed. I've got a couple of new beers lined up today. Sour seems to be the common theme. We'll see how many I actually get to, but let's start with this…

Ecliptic
Fifth Orbit- Sour Ale brewed with Strawberries





Even though this looks as I was expecting, it's not the most glamorous beer. A muddled pink grapefruit color, vibrant and beautiful in its own right, but definitely something only it's parents would truly appreciate. Capped by a lightly pink hued white foam that settles slowly into a soft sloped beach around the edge, and faint coverage in the middle.

The aroma gives off what I can only describe as a strawberry popsicle. Slushee perhaps, with a sourness that gives off the impression of pink lemonade. Digging deep, the slightest cereal grain lays the foundation.

Pink lemonade takes charge in the flavor. Strawberry preserves take a back seat. A light caramel grain sweetness backdrop rounds out the flavors quite well.

Not so much sour as it's just a little tart. Well rounded though as it cuts through the sweet elements. There is no way to tell this is an elevated abv beverage as it is so clean and smooth thanks to a soft carbonation and light body.

This is a fun beer. Good flavors, great feel, just not what I would expect as an anniversary beer from the magnificent mind and brewing legend John Harris. Having said that, I would easily indulge in another as this is the first beer with strawberries that I've actually enjoyed.

After my official review, I gave Fifth Orbit a rating of 3.95 with no rDev (first review). Cheers!

 

New Beer Sunday: English Porter

Afternoon NBSers with an heads up for fans of English-style Porters in the Philly area.

This afternoon’s new beer is the Man Full of Trouble Porter from Dock Street Brewing in Philly. The name of this Dock Street brewed English Porter, Man Full of Trouble, comes from the name of a colonial era Philadelphia tavern. (So it's easy to figure out that this porter is intended to be a throwback to the pre-revolutionary war era. ) The building that housed the tavern is still standing and is the only surviving colonial era tavern building still standing in Philadelphia. Archeological work on the site has yielded some interesting information about the nuances of life during that era of our history.

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

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/15834/47773/?ba=drtth#review


The aromas/flavors of this beer are definitely what we expect from a porter and include some coffee, dark chocolate, dark roasted malt and a bit of caramel sweetness. The ending is long and dry with some earthy dark roasted bitterness. Good solid workmanlike porter which I’d be pleased to have again.

Cheers, all!

 

Not a new beer this Sunday just a new beer bright idea. My 2 favorite seasonal beers both come out in the Fall, Sierra Nevada Celebration Fresh Hop Ale and Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout have been brewed for a long time. I've enjoyed the Stout for over 20 years and the Fresh Hop for even longer. Both beers are on the Beers of fame list (# 120 & 121 IMO they should be much higher). Yesterday I had the bright idea of making a Black and Tan with the 2 of them. Had 1 then and having another one now. Poured 6oz of each into a large red wine glass. It's a nice looking brew black with bronze highlights and a very thick tan head. The aroma is roasted malts and hoppy pine. The taste is the same 1st the Imperial Stout malt than the West Coast IPA pine. One does not overpower the other , The blend is balanced also very tasty. Overall a very enjoyable drink. Might do it again sometime.