New Beer Sunday (Week 720)

The word 'juice' gets thrown around in appearance descriptions a lot, but it's safe to say that's the juiciest-looking beer I've ever seen.

 

Love it!

 

Martin City Age & Wisdom no.3, 10.8% ABV, Barleywine. Pours dark brown with a five finger tan head on a careful pour, which left lots of lacing. Nose is slight vinegar, taste is malty, a bit vinegary, low bitterness. Decent mouthfeel. Overall poor.

I must admit that I'm not a fan of barleywines, but not sure this is tasting as they intended. Nowhere close to their description, or to other reviews. It was canned Oct, 2017.

 

Home from a Christmas concert and finishing a new beer I started earlier this afternoon. A pint can of Level 3 Luxardo Cherry stout from Something Brewery down the road in Brighton CO. It was aged in bourbon barrels for over a year and one of two barrel aged beers released for their 3 year anniversary bash this past weekend. They brew a wide variety of styles and some pretty off the wall concoctions. This is my first barrel aged beer from them.



A little thin and lacking in body for a Russian imperial stout, but the smell and taste is very good. Nice cherry/bourbon smell and taste. The oak tannins in the finish are slightly over the top and produce a very dry feel. I'd like to buy another to cellar for 6-12 months and see if it smooths out?

Here's the official scorecard......

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/47354/386173/?ba=Prager62#review

 

Bunker Brewing Company Trashmaster Imperial Stout 9% canned on 11/14/18. Pours a very attractive slick black with a massive 3 plus finger sticky light brown head that leaves thin streaks of lace behind as it slowlyvsettles into a thin layer of bubbles. 4.25

Smell is dry biscuity grain, coffee grounds, pipe tobacco, vanilla beans, and dark chocolate. 4

Taste follows loads of biscuity grain immediately, coffee, vanilla, pipe tobacco, and dark chocolate. 4

Mouthfeel is above medium, gentle carbonation, a tad dry for sure, and at 9% ABV goes down easy enough, but so complex it seems like a higher ABV. 4.25

Overall this is an old school Imperial Stout, no real gimmicks, just a very complex, slightly chewy, and utterly tasty Imperial Stout. 4

 

New milkshake sour. This was awesome. Great head retention/lacing. Aromas and flavors of big juicy/tart/tangy raspberries, fruit skin/seeds, lemon, lime, orange, peach, pear, melon, red/green apple, red grape/wine, hay, straw, and grass; with moderate vanilla, cream, cracker, white bread dough malts; light pepper, lacto funk, and yeast earthiness. Light fruity/lactic tartness, fruit tang, and spiciness on the finish. Medium carbonation and light-medium body; creamy/silky/grainy malts/lactose; some lactic acid and fruit tang/tannins in the mouthfeel. Light-moderate increasing acidic/tangy fruit dryness, no pucker. Very smooth, flavorul, pretty refreshing, 5.4%. Not overly lactic. Awesome balanced juicy/jammy berries and Lacto complexity; with a nice lactose and oat/malt backbone against acidity. Mild residual sweetness with lingering dryness. Would buy more. Love session sours. 4.1


Cheers

 

Piney River Bourbon Barrel Aged Raise A Ruckus, 9.7% ABV. Pours black, with no head. Nose is oak, slight bourbon, and roasty malt, taste follows, plus dark fruit, moderate bitterness. Mouthfeel is dry with decent carbonation. Overall excellent.

 

This beer was on my wants list and two generous BAs hooked me up with one to drink fresh and one to age to perfection. @Mikexw or @CanConPhilly one of you are to thank for this and since I don’t know which, I’ll tag both of you.



Storm King from Victory

The look is black, maybe some dark brown around the edges. Nice one and a half finger head with some amazing lacing left behind. The aroma is hops, pine, floral, maybe some orange rind. Taste is more of the same, with an underlying layer of very dark, bitter, almost like bakers chocolate before it’s been cooked. Mouthfeel is not quite fully full but definitely fuller than medium. Its got a drying finish I assume from the amount of hops used. Overall this reminds me of fresh yeti, very hoppy and bitter. But I think I like my stouts better without as much hop presence. Maybe this will be better in 2-3 years once the hops fade.

 

Hello New Beer Sunday!!!

Not big into the sappy Hallmark/Lifetime movies, even if it were, I'm a cheep MOFO who doesn't have cable TV - or even a working TV at the moment. Maybe next year I'll break down to get a new one, so I can use my PS4 again, or watch a good Christmas movie - National Lampoons Christmas Vacation 2. Yes, there was a part 2 following Cousin Eddie's adventures. It also included the original Audrey - all grown up, and looking great in a swimsuit.

Ok, got to cool down my hormones with a good beer.


Bourbon County Brand Wheatwine Ale - BCBWA/. This beer clocks in at 15.4% ABV - though i'm sure a lot of you already knew that.

So, how is it?

Damn good. I've not had many wheatwines before this one. I think I've had 2 before this and they were good, but haven't knocked my socks off. This one did. This is a damn good beer. I know a lot of people had an issue with it being too sweet. Well, I'm not a fan of sweetness at all - I eat unsweetened baking chocolate and love it - but it isn't over the top for me. It's there, but not crazy in my book. I just wonder how this beer would age. I didn't get a second, so I won't know, but I'll read the reviews of those who did age it.

Review -

4.5/5 rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

Pours quite different than the regular BCBS. Pours a dark brown color. Almost no head, but what's there is slightly off white that dissipates quickly into a ring around the edge of the glass.
The nose is quite rich with a barrel presence. Some toffee to the nose. Very slight vanilla, but the toffee is the strongest by far.
The taste - start consumption at 57 degrees - Up front I get the vanilla a lot stronger than in the nose, but nothing like the BCBS Vanilla. There's a sweet component to this beer, on the backside - toffee. Subtle, but there. Not too strong with the sweetness.
Even though there was almost no head, there's a nice carbonation feel. The bubbles dance on my tongue. Nice and thick. Not much of a harsh alcohol feel, but, at the same time, there's no denying that it's a 15%+ ABV beer.
Another sold, and different, variety of the standard BCBS. Nice flavors, and a solid feel. Damn good beer, and a pleasure to try.


Since this is a big beer, I'm one and done. I'll see you all next Sunday for the next edition of NBS, and throughout the week in WBAYDN!

 

Well I said I wasn't going to have another if it was too late, but even though it's later than I like, I'm going to have one more. After being in the cold today and having a busy week ahead of me (one with probably little to no beer) I'll just go with a lighter option than anticipated. I'm packaging beer up for a trade anyway so I might as well be drinking beer.

2018 Velvet Merkin Vintage No. 006
(Bourbon barrel aged oatmeal stout)
from Firestone Walker
with an ABV of 7.8%

Pouring from a 12 oz. bottle into a snifter glass this beer pours dark brown but with highlights running throughout. It forms a pinky width of cream colored crown that quickly dissipates hardly leaving a ring attached to the glass. (3.75)

The smell is creamy sweetness. Oats, chocolate, vanilla. Surprisingly no bourbon or oak detectable to my nose whatsoever. I would not even guess this is barrel aged at this point. Pleasant nonetheless. (4)

The taste comes in with the chocolate and leaves with the chocolate. Slight coffee showing itself but it seems fairly one dimensional and STILL not picking up any bourbon or oak to my palate. Or even alcohol warmness that would show it's there. A small vanilla shows it's presence as the drink warms. (3.5)

The mouthfeel is silky, velvety, creamy. So smooth but a little thin for my liking (which I won't dock it for because it is only an oatmeal stout after all) (4.25)

Overall, the silky, velvety and creamy mouthfeel was the best part of this for me. Other than that it seemed to be one dimensional and pretty underwhelming with no barrel detection at all for me. I literally wouldn't of guessed this was barrel aged AT ALL if blind tested. I wonder how long it sat in barrels? (3.5)

For a total of 3.71

Cheers NBSers!

 

Happy Return to New Barrel-Aged Beer Sunday (Week 720)!

What a grand & glorious day it has been! I got jilted by some friends getting together last night, then I got bounced from a trip to Weyerbacher BC today, but I vowed to make up for last week's sputtering, half-cocked disaster & I have made good! I followed up my opening salvo with:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/1199/324027/?ba=woodychandler#review

but those first two necessitated a break before continuing with:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/339/339986/?ba=woodychandler#review

The cows advised me that it was time to quit playing around, so I went with:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/158/362902/?ba=woodychandler#review

& I fell in love! The ex-Old Lady, the latest to break my heart, lives in/near Denver & our last embrace was under an overpass by Union Station, following a meetup at Great Divide before I boarded the eastbound train. I tasted her kiss in drinking this one. Too sappy/sentimental? You gotta try one of these!

I'm not quite done, but I want to get these in before the day comes on like a roaring freight train.

 

It's hard to describe this beer because I think it has a lot more flavors than a traditional Schwarzbier or a lager. I'm really liking the chocolate and coffee along with the earthy smoke. We get the usual IA beers, including Wrench and Metric, in Morris County but I think I'll be heading back up to the brewery very soon for more Winter Landscape.

 

I look up to you big time. Thank you for your honesty.

I wish you all the best, and as always, I enjoy your post - two beers or not. In fact, dear I say it, I prefer it this way.

All the best. Cheers.

 

NBS beer #3



Extra Stout

Zero Gravity Craft Brewery / American Flatbread
Foreign / Export Stout / 5.90% ABV

3.78/5 rDev -2.6% | Score: 3.88
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

canned 11/14/18

L- The beer pours dark brown, almost black. The head is 2.5 fingers worth of small tan bubbles. The head recedes to a thin film with decent lacing.
S- The nose is chocolate with a light coffee with crème presence.
T- Up front I get a touch of chocolate which is quickly pushed to the backround. There is light roast coffee which fades away and leaves what I can only describe as a light smokiness which lingers in the aftertaste. This one is less sweet than your typical Guinness.
F-Mouthfeel overall is on the lighter side of medium. Carbonation is likewise on the lighter side of medium, although i have no trouble generating more head with a gentle swirl.
O-Not a bad beer per se, but it's not really doing it for me. That smoky aftertaste might please some, but for me it detracts from my enjoyment.

 

Wheatwine. This was awesome. Nice head retention/foamy lacing. Aromas and flavors of big golden raisin, peach, plum, pear, apricot, red apple, white grape, ripe banana, and light bubblegum/clove yeast; with moderate honey, wheat, biscuit dough, light caramel malt sweetness; light peppercorn, herbal, floral, grass, and yeast earthiness. Light herbal, floral, grassy bitterness; and clove/peppery yeast spiciness on the finish. Light-medium carbonation and medium-full body; very creamy/bready/grainy wheat, light sticky hops in the mouthfeel. Lightly increasing lingering bitter/spicy dryness, no cloying. Dangerously smooth sipping, minimal warming 10.8%. Not had many wheatwines with weizen yeast before, but this was spot on stuff. Perfectly balanced fruity/spicy yeast and rich honey, pale/wheat malts; with solid earthy hops against sweetness. Will definitely get this again. A rare style that needs more exposure. I love it. 4.1


Cheers, have a good night NBS. It's been real.

 

Greetings NBS'ers, hope you're all getting some quiet time in before December gets busy.
Tonight Mrs. Bl00 I'm splitting a crowler of Burley Oak Grape Squish with Cabernet Sauvignon Grapes.


Pours a purplish cranberry color. Finger of creamy light pink head dissipates quickly to a film. Nose is grape, red wine, berries, Sweettarts. The faintest note of funk comes though.
Taste is very winey, but tart. Grape predominates with blueberry, raspberry, orange notes surfacing. Sweetness of the lactose rounds out the taste with notes of cotton candy, cherry. The beer strikes a nice balance between tart and sweet.
Mouthfeel is medium, nice carb comes through.
Overall I'm biased towards wine-inspired beers, though this one is a straight winner for me. At $8 a crowler this is a total steal in my book.

 

New Belgian Strong Dark Ale #2

The review:
12oz bottle bb 12-11-20 poured into a tulip glass at fridge temp 9% ABV 15.5 IBU 32.2 SRM per label. The beer pours medium brown in color with ruby highlights and very light brown head of tiny bubbles. The head quickly recedes to an island and thin ring leaving no lacing behind. The aroma offers hints of dark fruit and a subtle clovey Belgian yeast note. The taste is more clove, raisin, plum, sweet bread and spice. The mouthfeel is medium to thin bodied with above average carbonation and a dry finish. There is no noticeable bitterness with the balancing of the beer left to the unnamed spices referred to on the label. No alcohol presence in the aroma or taste. Overall, very good. Delicious, available and affordable. A very good combination for a strong Belgian beer.

I count nine more Belgian Strong Dark Ales awaiting my attention in the fridge. Trouble is there's been a Hallmark movie playing in the other room for a while. See you all next Sunday (after my forced extra 12 hour shift)! Cheers

 

I’ll keep it simple. Hello NBS, good to be back.
Maine Beer Company - MO pale ale.
6%abv

Thoughts:
L: Pours hazy burnt orange in color. Almost 2 fingers of a dense, frothy cap. An oh boy, the lacing. Sudsy and abundant, clinging to the edge of the glass.
S: Subtle but noted. Biscuity malt and citrus. Fairly simple but satisfying.
T: Follows the nose. Citrusy and bready in flavor. Malt backbone is apparent. Finish is dry with lingering grapefruit flavor.
F: Medium in weight but soft and full in body. Carbonation is moderate, and near perfect in my opinion.
O: This is a really enjoyable beer. At 6abv, I would drink this daily. A decent amount of flavor with a fantastic feel.

look: 4.75 | smell: 4 taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.12/5 rDev -4%

 

Back home and happy to say the concert went quite well. We only had about a page of WTF on one number but rescued the tune well enough.

So decided against the big stout since the missus isn't in mind to share. Why not make a major shift in mind set...



This a 2016 vintage. The picture captures the clarity nicely, but there is a bit more if a red highlight to the gold. Yep...no foam.

Smells raspberry, vinegar...hmmm, maybe raspberry balsamic vinegar. Plenty of it on the nose. A bit of funk, a little lemony, red wine. Kind of a jammy sweetness. Interesting.

The taste is bracingly sour early in the glass. Probably won't peel paint, but certainly delivers a slap. Almost the intensity of sour Skittles, I reckon. Sharp, clean sour. The raspberry...at this point not a fresh raspberry flavor, tending toward wine-like with jam sweetness. There is an acetic note that flies by quick. Red wine comes through in the finish and as the beer warms up, it becomes less...I dunno...startling? Either I am adjusting or temperature is doing the Vulcan flavor meld here. Likely both. The funk is pretty restrained and essentially plays a minor role in the flavor.

Minimally carbonated, yet it feels a little tingly. While there is some sticky raspeberry jam feel, the finish is acidic and clean. Quite dry.

Liking this quite well, but it took a bit for it to grow on me and for me to understand it. We will see how it finishes up, but its going to land north of 4.0 by a bit. If you don't like raspberry, pass on this one.