New Beer Sunday (Week 721)

I've been at this point for years. I'm not even sure what would constitute a "mind-blowing" beer, for me, anymore. The first Belgians I tried, decades ago, ? Yup, tripped me out. But these days? Ain't really anything new under the sun. That's why I love the NBS BIFs, somebody sends me a local, well-made can of Pale Ale, Porter, Amber, whatever beer that is oft-times looked down upon here, that is just plain a nicely made, tasty, enjoyable brewski? I love that stuff.

 

Yup, another fine sour from Wunderkammer Bier in Greensboro Bend, VT. Brewed and bottled at Hill Farmstead Brewery.



375 ml. bottle.
Moderate to vigorous pour yields a nearly one inch white head over an almost bright and just slightly hazy golden body with no lacing. Nose of citrus (lemon), earth (dried leaves, moss), and slight funk. Taste of citrus, slightly sour, and so very refreshing. As it warms a bit there is a finish of pink grapefruit that is very pleasant. Nice feel and overall, another nice little sour from Vasilios.
Cheers!

4.34/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

 

Good evening NBS! Enjoying a nice big stout thanks to @JBowenGeorgia, Orpheus Ye Who Enter Here, it’s a great post Dark Of The Dark beer; not wearing a dress for this post, but with it being 14% ABV I might be wearing one at the end of the night

4.36/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Thank you JBowenGeorgia for this
375 ml bottle poured into a tulip

A- Black with a small dark brown head

S- Bourbon, chiles, vanilla, coffee, some toffee, some chocolate

T- Chocolate, roasted coffee, nice heat from the peppers, bourbon, vanilla, some dark fruits, oak.

M- Smooth, full body.

O- A really nice stout with peppers, there is a nice kick from the peppers but nothing crazy, good balance.

Cheers!

 

New Beer Sunday: American IPA

Evenin’ NBSers with an alert for seekers of IPAs that are a part of a Brewery's systematic exploration of hop flavors.

Well the Steelers - Patriots game has ended with the Pats loosing (been a long time since the Pats lost two in a row). Now waiting for the Eagles - Rams game to begin and hoping that the underdog Eagles can pull out a victory tonight.

Meanwhile, this Evening’s new beer is the Luponic Distortion #11 from Firestone Walker.

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

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/2210/353444/?ba=drtth#review


The aroma/flavor profile of this beer is full of tropical fruits, including guava, pineapple and passion fruit. The light bready malt sweetness balances nicely with some bitterness from the citric zest. Definitely a drinkable lower ABV IPA that has lots of flavors to enjoy. I’ll be looking to see if there is more out there on the shelves.

The music on the player tonight is a Concerto by Antonio Vivaldi:



Cheers, all!

 

I meant I was not going to add it at the the time I drank it. Worded poorly I guess. Added now! (Still have to add my review)

 

As is NBS tradition, newest JP available. Stillwater collab. This was excellent. Great fluffy head retention/lacing. Aromas and flavors of big juicy/tart/tangy pineapples, lemon, lime, fruit skin, orange, grapefruit, citrus peel, peach, pear, mango, melon, red/green apple, white grape/wine, peppercorn, almond, coconut, oak, hay, straw, herbal, floral, and grass; with moderate honey, brown sugar, toasted bread malts; light oaken vanilla, leathery/musty funk, white wine vinegar, and yeast earthiness. Light-moderate fruity/lactic tartness; pine, herbal, floral, grassy, citrus peel bitterness; and yeast/oak tannin spiciness on the finish. Medium carbonation/body, and fairly crisp finishing. Creamy/bready/grainy malts; some sticky hops, fruit tang/acids, and oak tannins in the mouthfeel. Light-moderate increasing acid/tangy/tannic dryness; no pucker/astringency. Very smooth, minimal warming 7.7%. Really unique beer, but they still nailed it. Tastes like a Mai Tai as a wild ale. Awesome balance of classic JP house funky Brett/Bacteria complexity, pineapple, lime, almonds, citrus peel, honey, and sugars; nice oak barrel presence, earthy hops, and bready malts against acidity. They don't make a bad beer, regardless of how weird it might sound. 4


Cheers, have a good night NBS.

 

#2, my first beer from Alchemist that isn’t an IPA/DIPA. I am so excited, I could cry.



4.18/5 rDev +2.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

An aggressive pour reveals a black beer with a smidge of leakage on the edges to mahogany. Big succulent tan head caps this American porter.

The first aroma on the nose is char, followed by chocolate. I am now salivating. The taste has the char and the chocolate, but there’s a bitterness that doesn’t quite fit the style, but the mouthfeel exceeds the style.

If the bitterness was dialed back a bit, this would be my favorite porter. It’s still a pleasure to drink.

 

Science is Crushable from Benchtop Brewing in Norfolk VA.

L: 16 oz can from 10/31/2018. Pours a hazy orange golden color with minimal head that leaves no lacing.
S: Mango, papaya, pineapple, and orange with some breadyness from the malt.
T: Similar to the nose. Tons of mango and pineapple with a nice smooth finish and minimal bitterness.
F: Medium body and carbonation with a nice mouthfeel and juicey hop flavors that linger on the tongue.
O: A great NE style IPA. Benchtop is really putting out some great beers.

That's it for me tonight. Have a good night everyone!

 

Hello again. I really couldnt wait to crack this one courtesy of the very generous @FlintB. The 2015 presentation of Bells 30th Anniversary Ale, an Imperial Stout.
Pours black as night viscous and with a milk chocolate head that leaves lots of spotty lacing.
Aroma is bakers chocolate, black roasted coffee, caramelized raw sugar, toasted dark malts.
Flavor follows with lots of chocolate, coffee, black cherry, smoke, toffee and anise. There is a little sticky sweetness that is quickly balanced by a astringent bitterness that is piney in nature. Really evens it all out.
Finish is sticky, and a little piney hops coat the tongue on this full bodied brew. The carb is actually more present than you would expect and completes the delicious drinking experience of this very fine Imperial Stout. Drinks so easy for the 11%. You basically cant stop drinking this. A fantastic brew that I had the chance to enjoy thanks to Brian!

 

Back on July 5th, I was sipping on this beer during this sunset along the Oregon coast. I managed one sip before my 2 year old let me know he was ready for bed. By the time I rejoined by wife and family, my father-in-law polished off the whole bottle. I grabbed a few bottles to take back home with me, and here we go for a second chance.

A - dark brown almost black with a thick milk chocolate head that lingers
S - like fruit cake soaked in a great whiskey
T - follows the aroma, lots of vanilla, whiskey and wood with dark dried fruits. Hops linger at the end with mild sweetness that is cut by a dry black Irish coffee
M - amazing. Full and creamy
O - one of the best or best barley wines I've had. Glad I still have another bottle.

 

Good evening and happy New Brew Sunday BAs. Brew was the intended theme as I had three coffee stouts to enjoy for the first time today, but a busy day out in The Gorge may have hindered that plan. Despite this, at least one of these bean inspired beverage will be consumed. A quickly taken pic from the day. Weather is definitely turning:



And of course, no trip out there is complete without stopping at my favorite brewery:



Now back at home, it's time to enjoy one from one of the most generous guys I've had the pleasure of sharing with on a continuous basis.

Revolution Brewing
Café Deth- BA Imperial Stout with Coffee





Cafe Deth coming from one of Deth's admiisters himself, a big thank you goes out to @joe1510 .

A solid black liquid mass, intense and even a bit morbid. What I envision death itself to be like. Dark, soulless, abysmal. The heavily espresso tanned head disappears almost as quickly as it was conjured and leaves nothing but the thinnest of rings solely around the outer ring.

Heavy in barrel influence, this screams oak, booze, and vanilla. Coffee is an equally abundant ingredient and competes for dominance. Molasses, burnt brown sugar, and tobacco add to the usual suspects of such company. Mouthwatering.

The flavor starts smooth and sweet then plummets into intense alcohol derived insanity. Caramelized fig dusted in chocolate and coffee grounds, dipped in vanilla, sprinkled with cinnamon and anise, wrapped in a tobacco leaf, doused in bourbon, then roasted over an oak sourced flame. Exactly in that order, I insist.

Inky, oily-slick with a sweetness that is quickly plucked into roasty and alcoholic warmth. It's sticky and rich beyond words, but smooth like the liquid itself is Moonwalking across your tongue. The lack of carbonation only intensifies it.

This sappy concoction is one damn fine and intense beverage, and certainly the craziest thing I've had to come out of a twelve ounce can. Unforgiving, and the creeping effect of the alcohol only magnifies this.

After my official review, I gave Café Deth a rating of 4.31 with an rDev of -1.6%.

Cheers.

 

From my 2nd favorite Swiss brewery:
Brasserie Trois Dames!

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/17998/88009/



11.2 oz. bottle.
Moderate pour yields a one inch egg shell white head over a hazy golden body with a bit of clumpy lacing. Nose of citrus (orange, grapefruit), slight funk, and even slighter ginger. Taste mirrors nose very nicely with a real nice tart and slightly spicy ginger finish. Great mouthfeel and overall, seek out this Swiss offering and you won't be disappointed. Cheers to a job well done!

4.37/5 rDev +11.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

 

Hello New Beer Sunday!!!

Home again after another long day at work... but, what's this? I have tomorrow off???

Why, yes I do. I will also have a few more days off this week, and will enjoy them.

These past few days have been fun, even though work filled. I got to visit the new brewery in town that opened up yesterday - Pantown. It is named after the neighborhood of St. Cloud it's in - the Pantown neighborhood. It was built up to supply housing to the workers at the Pan Motor Company founded by Samuel Pandolfo in the early part of the 20th century. Sadly, his car company didn't last because of legal issues, but it is an interesting part of central Minnesota history.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Pandolfo

I also have earned a new user title - Poo-Bah, that I will do my best to wear with honor and pride. I will do my best to continue to contribute to this site and enjoy my title so bestowed upon me.

But, now to the main reason we're here - NEW BEER!


Evil Twin Brewing Some People Are Immune To Good Banana Stout

Holy cow, my pizza that I took out of the oven when I started typing that name is now ice cold. Ok, well it isn't, but that's one damn long name.

Now, is it a good beer?

Yes.

I am a fan of bananas. When it's warmer out, I make a banana smoothie for breakfast that is totally divine. Even at this time of the year I blend up a banana and put it into my oatmeal. So this is right up my alley. The banana isn't strong in the nose, but it is there, and it's more pronounced when I'm drinking it. It adds a hint of sweetness, and a slightly smooth feel to this beer.


Review

4.27/5 rDev +1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Pours a thick very dark brown. The head is 2 finger, brown, and has decent retention. No real lacing on the glass.
The nose is - good. Nice deep with chocolate notes. It also has a slight coffee aroma. Slight banana aroma. Slight maple aroma.
Taste - There's banana in it. I do taste the sweet smoothness of it. I also get maple, and some chocolate. I don't get the coffee hint I got in the nose.
Smooth feeling. Thick also. Not much of an alcohol burn, but there is a slight bit there on the backside.
I am a big banana fan, and I do like how the banana flavor just adds a slight kick to what would be a good beer without it. Tasty.


I might try to get another in tonight, but I'll see how I'm doing after this and dinner.

 

Good evening, NBS!

Back for a couple of quick reviews... spent most of the afternoon outside with my dog, and then packing up some boxes for NBS and other friends. 'Tis the season to spend all of my money on shipping, afterall.

Anyway - Sam and I both enjoyed the afternoon outdoors - beautiful day here, above forty degrees, and plenty of sunshine. I could handle six months of winter like this - I sure wish Minnesota would comply. Here's Sam again, being a good boy.



Sweet dog, yes - photogenic, no. Something about rescue dogs - they just do not seem to enjoy being photographed.

On to beer again...

Continued my afternoon on a lighter note with an IPA from The Brewing Projekt:



While there are many English major jokes I'd love to make, I'll stick to reviewing - Literally is a very pleasant NE style IPA - hazy, sweet, and just a bit boozy. It finishes clean and goes down quite easy, booziness and all. I'm a fan, though simcoe doesn't often do much for me - a friend and I generally agree that simcoe tastes like cat piss, but it's inoffensive in this particular beer. Kudos to The Brewing Projekt - another winner here.

Onward to a stout - as mentioned earlier, I bought quite a few Untitled Art cans - here is the next.



Curious - Untitled Art's Coconut Milk Stout pours a bit thinner and lighter than I might have expected. It's more brown than black, and just a bit transparent. The coconut is quite present in the nose and taste though, which makes it an easy sell for me. It's sweet and quite pleasant, though as noted, it is thin. Nice head, as seen above - very pleasant nose, and I love the cinnamon and coconut to it. I'd like to see what happens to this beer when barrel-aged. Fingers crossed!

Long weekend, as previously mentioned, so I'm probably out for the day - quite tired already. Cheers, everyone - wishing you the best for your week, and if we don't see you before the holidays, Merry Christmas and happy new year to you and your loved ones.

 

Happy New Beer Sunday, everyone!
I won't be up for too much longer, but I thought I might have time to sneak a couple of beers in.
This one is new to me. New Holland Tangerine Space Machine.



A "New England-style IPA", ostensibly brewed with tangerines.
The first thing that hits my nose is fresh orange zest. Smells very pleasant. Beneath it I get some orange, mango, and slightly piney hops, and cracker malt. Very tangerine-forward, though.
The taste follows the nose. Big tangerine and orange peel upfront, leaning toward Hi-C/orange drink/diluted orange juice, without compromising on the bitterness of the peel. The malt is soft, doughy, and wheaty. I get some mango and pine from the hops. It finishes lightly dry, with lingering citrus flavors.
This is quite nice. It's like a mimosa beer. Very orangey.

 

Wut you talking 'bout? Sam is very photgeneic! He's a good doggo! Any faults are thos of the hoomin!

 

Tomorrow Who's Gonna Fuss?

IIPA from SingleCut...

Deep hazy gold under a tall ivory head... Kicks off lots of sweet fruit aromas suggesting apricot, peach, and pineapple, but with a husky, dank tone... Flavors are similar - fruity and way more sweet than bitter - not bright or citrusy but rather dank and chewy... Some resinous pine elements shellac the tongue and add heft to the feel... Full-bodied, a little sticky, and moderately carbonated... A big DIPA with it's 11% abv, and for my tastes, a little thick and fleshy, but I'm thinking that's just part of the deal here... Real good stuff from SingleCut... Canned 11/28/18...

Here's to that new beer in your glass, NBS...

 

Next up Winter Landscape courtesy of @TongoRad. Wish I had a winter landscape as backdrop to enjoy this to. @Roguer supplied the perfect glass.

16 ounce can dated 11/20/18. Poured into English pint glass.
Pouring wise, it appeared a cola brown. As it sits in he glass it is a black with a creamy latte cap of foam. Reddish brown highlights. Thin layer of head as I drink it down with a few legs. The nose is roast, grains, bit of ash. Diner coffee and licorice are faintly in the background.
Nutty, roasty, malted milk, ash, dusty chocolate. Dry finish. Really flavorful especially at cellar temps.
Smooth mouthfeel, mellow but dry finish. This would be perfect on a nitro tap.
Delicious beer which is going to inspire me to try more black lagers.
4.44 rDev +0.9