New Beer Sunday (Week 718)

Feel better man! I am making a huge pot of chicken soup, def. recommend same to you!

 

Awesome black IPA! Amazing lasting head retention/thick lacing the whole glass. Aromas and flavors of big grapefruit, tangerine, lemon, peach, pineapple, mango, melon, citrus peel/rind, light pepper, and pine hops; with moderate caramel, chocolate, cocoa, coffee, toasted dark bread, light smoke/char malt balance; and herbal, floral, grassy hop earthiness. Light-moderate pine, citrus peel/rind, herbal, floral, grassy, roasted bitterness on the finish. Medium-high carbonation and medium body; balanced creamy/bready/grainy malts and sticky hops in mouthfeel; slight resins and chalky roast. Light-moderate increasing hop/roast bitter dryness; no acrid/astringency. Very drinkable, not overly aggressive, 6.8%. Carbonation could have been lower, but not detrimental to drink-ability. Feels like Centennial/Amarillo hops. Very juicy and lightly dank/earthy hops, with perfect balance of the porter malt complexity. Definitely 100% tastes like BIPA, even though porter is listed on the site now. Not at all traditional for a black and tan anyways. 4.13


Awesome Milkshake IPA. Awesome lasting head retention/foamy lacing on the glass. Aromas and flavors of big grapefruit, mandarin orange juice, lemon, peach, pineapple, apricot, passion fruit, papaya, mango, melon, berries, citrus peel/zest, and light pepper/pine hops; with moderate vanilla, cream, white bread dough malt balance; and herbal, floral, grassy hop earthiness. Light pine, citrus peel/zest, herbal, floral, grassy, spicy bitterness on the finish. Medium carbonation/body; creamy, bready, grainy oats/lactose; light sticky hops in the mouthfeel. Lightly increasing lingering bitter dryness, no hop astringency. Super smooth/soft, minimal warming 7%. Awesome Citra, Simcoe, Comet profile. Very juicy and lightly dank/earthy hops; great lactose, oat, malt balance; mild residual sweetness with lingering dryness. Glad I got the impulse pack as expected. 4.13


Cheers

I discover a new band every day.

 

Bourbon County Brand Vanilla Stout, 14.9% ABV. Pours black with just a ring of brown bubbles. Nose is an almost sinful level of vanilla, taste is vanilla/marshmallow, sweet with no bitterness, and bourbon on the close. Excellent mouthfeel, overall outstanding/incredible/decadent.

Since Friday, I've had Vanilla, Midnight Orange, Wheatwine, and Bramble Rye, and I rank them high to low in that order. Vanilla and Midnight Orange were close for me. Couldn't get Coffee Barleywine here, and I'm not getting any 2018 regular since I still have some 2017. All of them need to warm a bit to really shine.

 

Hey NBS!
I'm back and have been being pretty worthless all day so far. Rainy and gray and gross out and so I'm just hanging out inside. However, luckily I have some nice new beers. And this next one is my thousandth beer on here. It is not the 1000th review as I have a couple random ones that I just rated, but either way it is a nice round number and I'm content with it.

I don't have anything too special, but this one is cake-themed (or something) And the other Grimm stout I've had was nice so I figured it was a good candidate.

It pours pretty disappointing looking, but is a year old and boozy so I guess it's to be expected to a certain point. The aroma is sweet and chocolatey and the flavor follows suit. Basically like brownies pour cake. Chocolate, vanilla, medium roast flavor. It is big and smooth and kind of soft-feeling. Well-hidden alcohol. A nice big beer that is fairly restrained/on the same page throughout. Really does taste like cake but it's hard to tell how much of that is me being easily lead on by labels.

My real review. Here's to a thousand more!

Santé!

 

Another one I haven't tried yet, and real nice!



4.02/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz. bottle.
Moderate pour yields a 1/2 inch white head over a slightly hazy, straw colored body with some sticky lacing. Nose of hops, bread, slight citrus, and even slighter coriander. Taste of a bit of spice, a bit of mild citrus, a bit of hops, and all brought together nicely by the always satisfying Allagash yeast. Well done. Nice feel and overall, go check it out for something a little different. Cheers!

 

#2, Schell’s was my hometown brewery when we lived in Mankato, MN for 18 years. I’ve had 59 beers from them before tonight, so they’re a natural to launch the next 3,000 beers - and the glassware is from Mankato Brewery. I’m a sentimental old fool.





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

Hazy golden sunshine color on an uber aggressive pour, propping up a white head that dissipates before you can dial the operator. Funkiness all over the nose, and a touch of lemon citrus.

The lemon citrus is more prominent on the taste, and there’s a noticeable oak flavor, too, to accompany the funky Brett flavor. This is the kind of beer Schell’s excels at, and this is no exception.

 

Happy Return to Loads of New (Mainly) Lager Beers Sunday (Week 718)!

The day was mapped out about a week ago when I discovered so many von Trapp beers in my backlog. I decided then & there that today would be their day when the day arrived. I continued with:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/22512/285770/?ba=woodychandler#review

followed by:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/22512/57738/?ba=woodychandler#review

and then:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/22512/126783/?ba=woodychandler#review

before returning to the long-dormant CANQuest (tm) for:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/22512/273427/?ba=woodychandler#review

but now, the Genie was out of the CAN & it was time for a CAN from a CANQuest (tm) donor by the name of A. Nony Mous, not to be CANfused with Megan "Moose" Moore of Victory B.C. or Disney's Mickey Mouse. I know, this post is becoming pretty Mickey Mouse, so I'd better tell you about:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/383/132865/?ba=woodychandler#review

Oh my! What a revelation! This was the extent of what I had planned for today. What now? After all, it is still Sunday!

 

Great advice but unfortunately I worked 6 days last week at the restaurant including 3 doubles and 13 hours on Thanksgiving. The last thing I feel like doing is cooking. I bet your soup is outstanding. Adding any mushrooms?

 

Poured into a 13 oz Teku glass bottled 11/02/18. Pours a very slick black with a 2 plus finger light brown head that leaves spotty lace behind, with excellent retention. Near room temperature. 4

Smell roasty coffee, deep dark chocolate, spicy peppers, vanilla, and a hint of oaky bourbon. 4

Taste follows roasty expresso, vanilla, bourbon, and spicy habanero. 4

Mouthfeel is bigger than average, plenty of life, definetly dry, and at 9% ABV extremely drinkable if you can handle the heat. 4

Overall another excellent BA Stout from Clown Shoes, has some heat but not over the top. 4

 

Back again with a brew that has been a permanent resident of my fridge since summer. About time I finally try it.
Prairie- Pink Guava Funk

Appearance is golden yellow in color. Looks unfiltered but isn't hazy, at least by todays standards. No head formation or glass lacing.

Where do I begin with the aromas. To put it bluntly, this beer smells like piss. There are hints of guava and citrus in there, but it smells like a concoction of white wine vinegar, nail polish remover and urine.

The flavor really makes up for the smell. Tart and fruity flavor by the guava with notes of tart lemon and lime. Finish is dry with lingering chardonnay flavor. There is also a distinct salinity to the beer which is refreshing.

Feel is medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Has a nice weight and feel. Slight fizz element on the tongue.

Overall, its a delicious offering from Prairie. I know I sound offended by the smell, but the flavor alone makes up for it.

3.9/5 rDev -3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25
overall: 4.25

 

Looks like it was in the cards after all... Only had a coupla beers today, so I'm checking out my Komes Russian Imperial Stout (12% abv) from Browar Fortuna in Poland...

Aromas of roasted dark malts and char, with sweeter notes suggestive of molasses and coffee... Mouthwateringly bittersweet - is that a thing? Despite the presence of molasses-like sweetness up front, the bitter char is right there, providing a tantalizingly roasty flavor... Body is medium-full - a little thin - or "wet"-feeling - that may sound ridiculous, but there ya have it nonetheless - despite my reservations about thin-bodied beer, this beaut from Browar Fortuna again exceeds expectations and delivers a smashingly good product... Some herbal hints of salted licorice add an earthiness that perfectly complements the dry, bitter char of dark roasted malts, and reigns in the sugars from taking center stage...

An exemplar of the style, summoning molasses, coffee, chocolate, char and anise into a singular entity free of ingredients other than yeast, water, malt, and hops...

Label indicates the beer is lagered for 6 months...

Superior!

Cheers, NBS - here's to new beer in your glass...

 

Hello New Beer Sunday!!!

Sitting at home after a long weekend of work, and a great beer is in order. Since all the cool kids are doing it, I chose this one.

Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Midnight Orange Stout - BCBMOS. It clocks in at 15.2%

At this ABV, it is a sipper. That being said - it isn't harsh at all. Smooth and mellow. It combines the Flavors BCBS is known for with a nice orange flavor. It wouldn't seem to be a good match, but it is very damn good.

Tasty is a good word for it.

Review:

4.51/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

Pours quite dark. Minimal head but what is there is off white, and dissipates into a ring on the side of the glass. Minimal lacing on the glass.
The nose is Well, BCBS. Deep barrel notes. Caramel, toffee, chocolate. Mixed into these flavors is a nice hint of orange.
Taste - The standard BCBS flavors hit me up front. Caramel, toffee, chocolate. On the backside is the orange. It really goes well with the rest of the flavor profile. It wouldn't seem to fit, but it does really well.
The body is rich and deep. It's a 15.2% beer, and there's no alcohol burn. No harsh feeling. Just a slight warming feeling. The orange does linger in my throat.
It wouldn't seem that BCBS and orange would go together, but it does, and it does so well. I do recommend this beer if you can get your hands on it.


With such a high octane beer, I can't see myself having another beer tonight. I will see you all next Sunday for the next New Beer Sunday, and throughout the week in WBAYDN.

Cheers.

 

Another Happy New American Imperial IPA Sunday!

My 2nd for the day, tasty brew, my 2nd from this brewery. Still watching the end of season 3 Enterprise. this Xindi shit has been going on forever.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/25888/322151/?ba=Wasatch#review

Cheers!

 

Yet another new-to-me from Allagash.



4.24/5 rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

12 oz. bottle.
Bottled on 6/21/18.
Moderate pour yields a 3/4 inch creamy white head over a light straw colored body with scant lacing. Nose of pear, white wine, and slight apple. Taste follows nose nicely with mostly grape and pear. Finish is all grape and pear with a great mouthfeel from the champagne yeast. Overall a very nice offering from one of my favorite sour producers on the east coast. Cheers!!!

 

Wooaaahhh man that's what does it to you, all that crazy work. Easy for me to say, back in the day I averaged an obscene amount of hours.

I do swear by chicken soup this time of year, hopefully some kind soul will make some for you. And no shrooms in this batch.. Just basic goodness with only potatoes and whole onions added extra after the chicken got pulled out.

Hope you wake up tomorrow feeling 100%. Cheers!.

 

That BCBVS kicked my ass, but isn’t stopping me from having a second beer. Enjoying some Victory Java Cask Gold, not nearly as good as regular Java Cask but still a nice beer. I love the fact that Victory is trying to do something different, but not the best from Victory. Honestly when I tried Java Cask 3 years ago it blew me away, wasn’t expecting to try something I would say compares to stuff like BCBCS and KBS, but this is a little more of what I expected when tried regular Java Cask, not a bad thing but not world class.

4.22/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

500 ml bottle, dated 11/16/18, poured into a tulip

A- A clear golden copper with a two finger off white head

S- Roasted coffee, brown sugar, some bourbon, touch of caramel malts.

T- Rich roasted coffee, caramel malts, some brown sugar, some bourbon.

M- Smooth, medium to full body.

O- A tasty “stout”, coffee is still very well done like regular Java Cask but it shows how much the dark malts add to the chocolate and richer flavor of Java Cask.

Cheers NBS!!!

 

Agreed, $1.50 per can at Trader Joe's makes it a great value and a potential staple in my fridge.

 

After watching the Patriots sputter to a win and an exciting Steelers loss to the Broncos, undertook a massive kitchen can up, leftover consolidation, and recycling extravaganza, so let's have another new beer. New retired beer Sunday?



This is a retired Mystic offering called Kanzu. It is a farmhouse ale brewed with Rwandan coffee roasted by George Howell. Not that much of a coffee guy to know, but I will assume it is a good thing.

Pours cloudy with a burnished brass color and a healthy, chunky white foam head. The head falls in a few minutes leaving a covering layer of bubbles,with some chunkier rafts. Not amazing to look at, but not bad. It has been in the house a while, probably six months or so.

Aroma of coffee, Belgian spiciness, and I get a bit of vanilla. The taste is interesting with the blend of typical farmhouse ale "Belgian-ness" opposite a fairly bright and light coffee flavor that is a little acrid while it seems to add a bit of acidity. The tastes wash back and forth, leaving a spicy coffee aftertaste.

The feel is different. It is dry like a saison, yet it is a bit creamy as well.

It is an interesting brew. It isn't complicated, yet I feel like it should take more unraveling and I keep looking for more with each sip. But it is just what it says..farmhouse ale with coffee infused. I think this will land around the 4.0 mark for me.