New Beer Sunday (Week 716)

FWIW, I love that beer. Every year, when it gets tapped, i pretty much cannot be distracted from it. I believe it's foeder-aged, but maybe it's barrels. Anyway, a warm, sunny PNW day, a fresh Raspberry Millie, friends, life is good.

 

Primarily smoked beers, eh? You’ve got my attention. Adding this to my wishlist.

 

One more from @JBowenGeorgia before I start drinking what is sure to be one of the most popular beers in the greater Philly area tonight, Creature Comforts Heizenbrewg.

4.29/5 rDev +1.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Thank you JBowenGeorgia for this
16 oz can, dated 10/25/18, poured into tulip

A- A hazy golden straw color with a small white head.

S- Melons, citrus, a little dank, slightly floral, touch of peppercorns, some tropical fruits.

T- Citrus, some melons, a little dank, peppercorn, earthy, touch of tropical fruits.

M- Smooth, medium body.

O- A nice single hop Citra NEIPA, easy to drink.


Cheer NBS!!

 

My first contribution to NBS. I'm not coming in with any whale or anything crazy, but something hopefully everybody should be able to get if they choose to!

Beer: Holiday Haze
Brewery: Sierra Nevada
ABV: 6.5%

I chose this because recently I've been enjoying more of the classics and pioneers from this industry, like Bells and Sierra Nevada, instead of chasing the "next" beer. And I've found that I've really been enjoying the beer more than ever. Also, while I know Sierra Nevada is no pioneer to the haze craze, I think we can all agree they are pioneers to this industry.

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a snifter glass, Holiday Haze surprised me right off the bat with the appearance. I thought they did great and nailed it for the style. Amazingly hazy and reminiscent of juice with a pinky worth of white foamy crown topping it off.
Looks: 4.5

Then the smell. Once again comes in surprising my mind and pleasuring my nostrils. Juicy citrus character that I expect from the style.
Nose: 4.25

The taste came in and ended the surprising factor for me. As it already tasted and smelled so much like a NEipa that I wasn't shocked it tasted like one at that point. But I didn't feel impressed with it right off the bat. But as I thought to myself, when I drink this style it's mainly all doubles. So in the single aspect and style this hangs with any competition and is even close to a lot of doubles I've had. It comes in being a citrus juice bomb but floats into a brilliant biscuit/cracker like background (that I've noticed in a lot of Treehouse IPAs that I've had)
Taste: 4.25

The mouthfeel is dry from that biscuit/cracker like element and once again, really falls into the category they were going for to make this work.
Mouthfeel: 4

Overall, I'm not a huge advocate of the haze craze at all and was over it about 15 beers into it. They just all seem the same to me for the most part and I feel like most breweries are dialing them in even more. But the reason this one surprised me is because when I had "Hazy Little Thing" by Sierra Nevada, I did not find it a good representation of the style. So I think they are even moving forward and dialing in. I really enjoyed this one and thought they did great on the representation of the style from the appearance to the nose to the taste, feel and finish.
Overall: 4

For a score of
4.19 (rDev +7.4%)

May we all be thankful we live in a world with pioneers! Cheers!

 

I had some thoughts re: the little fracas from earlier, but then realized that I was falling into my usual verbose trap. Suffice to say: (ir)regardless of how strict one feels about the component words of New Beer Sunday (and while I tend towards the old school interpretation, to me the Sunday aspect is the least important of the three), the accusations seemed weirdly vitriolic and unnecessarily confrontational. The real joy to be found here is in the camaraderie and digital pub experience of chatting and sharing our thoughts on our shared hobby. I also think it's worth mentioning that the 'offendor' in question made a good faith effort to ask and ensure that what they were doing was ok, and the answers ranged anywhere from 'hell yeah!' to 'that's not really my interpretation of it, but go for it' so I can see why they were a little miffed at the accusations being leveled their way (even beyond the unnecessary tone).

Anyway (which is apparently my favourite word on this here weekly thread), on to the beer.

Great Notion gets a lot of love down in Portland. They do a lot of stuff that fits squarely in this most recent wave of popoular styles: pastry stouts, hazy IPAs, milkshake IPAs, etc. I'm not really a big fan of this generation of hype styles. Just not for me. But they're really good at them, by all accounts. Well, they brewed a murkbomb in honour of Chuck's Hop Shop (which is an incredible local beer store).



Chuck's Notion pours beyond murky into a purely opaque light orange/yellow the consistency of (low percentage) milk. Finger of white head settles in to a ring and whisps before long, and there's a little bit of lacing, but not much.

Nose is citrus and tropical fruits in the NEIPA style.

Flavour brings in more of the same with bruised pineapple and tangerine and maybe some mango and a banana like creaminess all giving way to a tropical starburst like sweetness. As it warms a lime pith bitterness comes in to balance things out a little bit.

Soft body with medium carbonation.



This really really reminds me of the murkers that @FlintB sent along during NBS BIF#007, specifically the big names from Old Nation. As I said, I'm not really big on this lane of IPAs, but this is a really well executed one, and one that I would imagine fans of the style would enjoy it immensely.

Cheers!

 

Happy New American IPA Sunday!

I thought it was a new brew when I picked it up. A nice day on the Western Slope, cloudy, around 41 at the trailhead. Having a pretty tasty brew, better this time around. Picked up some chicken tacos on the way home. Finishing off DS9 reruns.Might be back with something that I picked up today, and it is new for sure.

look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Revisit: 11 Nov 18
22oz. Bomber
Bottled On: 5-1-18
ABV: 6.8%

Poured into a tulip a pretty nice clean/clear dark golden orange, with pink hues, pretty nice carbonation, with a pretty nice thick/creamy one-finger off-white head, which leaves some nice sticky lacing behind. The nose is hoppy, malty, with a nice citrus complex (orange, tangerine, raspberry), nice piney note, kinda tart. The taste is hoppy, malty, with a nice citrus complex (orange, tangerine, raspberry), nice pineyness, kinda tart. Medium body, ABV is hidden very nicely, with a nice little dry/bitter finish. Overall, a pretty nice brew, nice take on the style.

22oz. Bomber
Bottled On: 7/3/1?
ABV: 6.8%

Pours a slightly cloudy dark golden yellowish/pinkish color, too much carbonation, with a HUGE four-finger foamy white head, which does leave some really thick/foamy/creamy sticky lacing behind. The nose is hoppy, with a nice malt note, nice little citrus note. The taste is hoppy, slightly malty, citrusy, with some raspberry notes. Medium body, with a slightly dry/bitter finish. Overall, a nice little thrist quencher, with just a finish of fruit.

Cheers!

 

#2, I was saving this spot for Bell’s BA Expedition Stout (yes, I plan my NBS beers in advance - sue me), but after the fantastic review submitted by @elohim, I had no choice but to alter course and head this direction. I’m glad I did, because this is traveshamockery good, IMHO.





4.53/5 rDev +4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

A Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup in an imperial stout? Child, PLEASE. Pour is jet black, no leakage anywhere, with a creamy dark tan head. The nose is a little coffee, a little char and milk chocolate, and a deluge of peanut butter. I am now salivating.

The taste mirrors the nose, with the peanut butter the star of the show (thank the beer godz, because I absolutely LOVE peanut butter), but it is the creamy mouthfeel that sets this beer apart, a characteristic I’d think would be a challenge with the coffee.

Nope, it’s rich, it’s creamy, it’s more than worthy of your consideration, IMHO.

 

Chris, your box was FABULOUS! I've enjoyed everything you sent me. Thanks again!

 

Great pictures! Seriously the best Prairie beer I have ever had I am glad you enjoyed it as much as I did!

 

I’m a big Prairie fan - I can vividly remember chasing Bomb! a few years ago (glad I did, too), and this is outstanding. Your review swayed me - well done.

 

All the drama was worth it if one man consumed this delicious beer tonight! I really enjoy Bomb! too but I believe this is a step above. I haven't tried Double Dunk yet but I have high hopes for it.

 

New beer #2. 4 Hands Brewing's City Wide courtesy of @swenny916. This is a really well-balanced APA combining sweet malt/toffee, citrus, and Centennial hops. Here's my full review:

3.94/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I received this in a trade with @swenny916. Poured from undated can into a pint glass. It pours a clear honey color with a half finger of creamy, bright white head and lacing. Its nose features sweet malt, lemon, grapefruit, onion, and light floral hops. The taste opens with sweet malt and a touch of toffee. The Centennial hops are flavorful and add a nice dose of bitterness. It finishes crisp, clean, and decidedly bitter. It has nice balance of fruit, malt, and hops. The mouth feel is really nice with pleasant carbonation, and a made for drinking 5.5% ABV. Overall, if you like a balanced APA - and not a fruit bomb - look no further.

 

Excellent APA. Awesome head retention/soapy lacing. Aromas and flavors of big red grapefruit, tangerine, lemon, peach, pineapple, apricot, mango, melon, citrus peel/zest, wood, light peppercorn, and pine hops; with moderate caramel, toasted biscuit, light nutty malts; and herbal, floral, grassy hop earthiness. Light-moderate pine, citrus peel/rind, herbal, floral, woody, grassy, peppery bitterness on the finish. Medium carbonation and medium-plus body; balanced creamy/bready malt and sticky hop in the mouthfeel. Light resins/rinds, light-moderate increasing bitter dryness, no cloying/astringency. Very drinkable, not aggressive, 6.5%. Classic as hell style! Likely Columbus, Centennial, Amarillo. Very juicy and fairly dank/earthy hop complexity; great caramel/Munich malt backbone. Mild residual sweetness with lingering resin dryness. Would purchase again. 4


Took far too long to try this one. This was incredible! Lasting head retention/lacing on the glass. Aromas and flavors of big milk/dark chocolate, cocoa, coffee, caramel, brown sugar, vanilla, toffee, cream, nuts, and toasted dark/brown bread; with light notes of molasses, smoke, char, dark fruit, herbal/grassy hop, and yeast earthiness. Mild herbal/grassy/spicy hop, and roast/char bitterness on the finish. Medium carbonation and medium-plus body; very creamy, silky, velvety malts/lactose; light sticky hop and chalky char/roast. Lightly increasing lingering hop/roast bitter dryness, no cloying/acrid flavors. Super drinkable, 6.1%. This is seriously the best standard non imperial English milk stout I've ever had. Amazing mouthfeel for the ABV. Very rich malt complexity, with balanced lactose/cocoa nib flavors; and mild earthy hops against sweetness. Wow, completely amazing style example. 4.28


Cheers

 

I may not be able to send you that specific beer, but I can definitely send others. I'll shop around town this week and see what I can do for you!

No no, nope. You know better. That's not a word, and we're not going to make it a word!

 

Ok tagging @TheGent I would like to know if you felt the same way about your experience with this as I did. Let me begin this by saying I picked up Wicked Weed Dark & Stormy several months ago and felt like it was a mess of a beer. Rum was really overpowering just nothing balanced, I saw this Firestone Walker Dark Stormy some time ago and decided to try it. I have not opened them until seeing @TheGent had it this week and talking with him he felt it would not be the same mess and he was correct. I have to say for me rum barrel aged beers are hit or miss, rum can be something that completely overtakes the beer and me not being a brewer I can imagine has to be harder t work with than bourbon. I feel like this is a very well crafted beer, the flavors all work well together and are very smooth, no sign of the alcohol. The rum is there but not overpowering. If anyone else has had this what are your thoughts??




Appearance 4.75 - Pours crystal clear deep red almost brownish resin color with a thin but tight off white head that settles to a thick ring. If you hold this up to the light it looks like dried sap just beautiful. No lacing to speak of.

Aroma 4 - Getting a good bit of ginger and lime, nice oak and dark rum coming through just a bit.

Taste 4.25 - Very nice smooth rum and oak flavors up front along with a touch of caramel. The ginger I am getting is more in the form of an earthiness and not the pure ginger I picked up in the nose. The dark rum is very present in flavor but really compliments the other flavors. All of the flavors in this are so balanced and really smooth.

Feel 4.25 - Medium bodied with really soft feel, there is just a hint of warming from the alcohol but really smooth and easy drinking for the ABV.

Overall 4.3 - Really impressed with pulling this off, flavors are well balanced great nose easy drinking

 

I had one yesterday and I agree it is delicious! It the past their have been holiday variants would be nice if they do it again this year. Moo-HooChiato was the last one I remember.

 

New from Burlington Beer Co., Williston, VT.
Cool label!

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/33136/380722/



Moderate to vigorous pour yields a 1/2 inch creamy white head over a cloudy/murky, golden/straw body with some lacing. Nose of sweet citrus (orange), tropical fruit (mango), and a bit of onion. Taste of the aforementioned fruit with some pine resin and citrus pith bitterness on the finish. Good feel and overall, a BBCo IPA that I like.
Cheers!

4.02/5 rDev 0%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

 

Surly Wet 2018

3.98/5 rDev -7.4%
look: 5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Pours beautiful clear straw gold. Smells of hops. Drinks smooth with hoppy bitter taste throughout. Very drinkable.