New Beer Sunday (Week 725)

New Beer Sunday: Belgian Saison

Morning’ NBSers with a heads up for folks who enjoy chamomile and a special thanks to @cjgiant for his start this morning. Its good to see he's resilient.

Today’s weather is expected to continue bringing us some light snowfall for a while longer yet. The first of the year came last night and I woke up to about 2-3 inches covering everything in sight as well as an ongoing bit of light snow and a temp in the upper 20s. The amount of snow here isn’t as heavy as further south, but it’s still worth being cautious about, especially with a temperature below freezing.

Since I typically get charged with fixing breakfast on Sundays while that’s happing there’s usually time for a new beer. This morning’s new beer is the Perennial Artisan Ales Saison de Lis.

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

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/25888/74388/?ba=drtth#review


The aromas/flavors are floral and spicy with the chamomile, some coriander and some white pepper. The wheat and malt sweetness are in the background but fade away as the ending becomes dry and a bit spicy with the white pepper. There’s also just a touch of herbal, grassy bitterness way in the background. On the whole a well brewed enjoyable beer.

Cheers, all!


.

 

No snow here, not that cold really, but is rainy and dreary. Could use a kickstarter . . .




Clear rich gold color with excellent white cap and lacing.

Piney, citrusy aroma with a distinct touch of grapefruit.

Taste is hop forward and plenty of it. The grapefruit elements are prominent with a sharpness that is strong without being bitter. Malt is substantial without serving up much in the way of malt flavor. More as a carrier for the hops and it does that job well.

Medium full texture with balancing carbonation.

A fairly complex, well designed, well crafted IPA for those who are fans of this American approach to IPAs.

 

Good morning New BSers! It's yet another beautiful day in scummy Pennsylvania, with the newly fallen snow hiding the local illegal junk yards and slag heaps. Today's new beer is one I've been wanting to try ever since @zid posted it a few weeks ago.



Another country ticked! When checking out Bedouin coffee on line, I stumbled across some tourist info that makes it sound like Jordan is a place I'd like to visit. But then, I just finished a book about Masada, so now Israel's on my travel list. I hear they make beer there too. Anyway,

Received from @TongoRad - thanks Michael! Reviewed 11/13/18.
On label “EXPORT 20/11/17”. Bottle stored at 42 degrees and served at 54 degrees in a hand washed and dried Jester King snifter. Final temperature 59 degrees.
Appearance – 4.
Body – Dark brown/black, opaque. When held to the light, slight penetration occurs at the rim.
Head – Large (Maximum 4.5 cm, controlled center pour), dark tan, dense, average retention, diminishing to a three mm ring and a rocky partial layer.
Lacing – None.
First pour – Dark brown, clear.
Aroma – 4.25 – Dates and coffee. Lasts without weakening.
Flavor – 4 - Begins with coffee flavor and date sweetness. Throughout the middle, the date sweetness predominates. It ends with a light coffee flavor and weak coffee bitterness. No alcohol (10.5% ABV), no diacetyl, no dimethylsulfide.
Palate – 3.5 – Medium, almost syrupy, soft carbonation.
Impression and interpretation - 4.25 – The presence of dates lifts this above the average Baltic porter, both in flavor and palate. I don’t know what cardamom smells or tastes like, so I can’t comment on it. I’m not picking up any roasted malt flavor or bitterness – coffee dominates. Overall, a pleasing take on the Baltic porter style. Rating 4.06, rDev +0.5%.

I don't know that the "Export" date is relevant to production date or out date, but it certainly gives an estimate about the length of potential beer abuse sitting on ships at Dog knows what temperatures, or on shelves exposed to fluorescent lights and heat and/or sunlight before being rescued by @TongoRad and shipped to me, but this is still a tasty brew - imagine what it might have tasted like fresh!

 

Happy New CANned Beers From @jkblr Sunday (Week 725)!

I have not been doing much trading of beers lately & I stopped purchasing through Tavour since a) I have amassed QUITE a backlog & b) there is SO much available locally that I don't feel CANpelled to trade. @tone77 was by over the holidays to do a drop-off & pick-up & a nice package arrived from @jkblr the other day with his beers being my focus today.

I, too, had two (2) releases of SN Resiliance, one at the little shop of horrors where I am a barback & another at GIPHL where I like to pop in on Mondays for a barrel-release of a BCBS variant. I scored a CAN of it recently & will be reviewing it shortly. I am especially happy since my mother lives & owns a house in Chico. She was spared, but her house was smoky.

Last week (or two weeks ago), people were talking about No Beer January & I declined, mysteriously remarking that I have Dry July to look forward to, but without explanation. I didn't want to be a downer at/around the holidays, but I have been diagnosed with Stage 1 Prostate CANcer. It is ironic, or perhaps fitting, that the founder of The CANQuest (tm) should have CANcer, but there it is. It is very low-risk at this point, which is why my doctor agreed to hold off until the end of School Year (SY) 2018-'19 at which time I will go in to have my pesky prostate removed on W, 12 June 2019. Following that, I will be OOC for 4 to 5 weeks with at least two of them being totally alcohol-free. Dry July, indeed.

In the meantime, there is beer to drink, both Lagers AND Ales & I have both! I begin the day, as I usually do, with a Harlot!:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/31372/102804/?ba=woodychandler#review

& so it begins. I'll be back over the course of the day with updates.

 

Pours a very attractive slightly cloudy orange with a 2 plus finger sticky off white head that leaves a thin wall of lace as it slowly settles, with exceptional retention. 4.75

Smell is really balanced and not over the top at all, brewed with toasted coconut and you get a little of that upfront, along with just a little vanilla, dates, apricot, and a little grapefruit rind, exceptional. 4.75

Taste follows coconut and vanilla are definetly the stand out but it so tame and not over the top, it doesn’t just slap you in the face like some other brewers may and I love that. Dark fruit, hard candy, apricot, and just a little hint of grapefruit in the excellent finish. 4.75

Mouthfeel is on the larger side, soft gentle carbonation, maybe a little dry and slightly sticky, and at 10% ABV extremely approachable. 5

Overall this is probably my favorite Maine brewery and I am absolutely floored with what they did here with this world class Barleywine, so tasty and unassuming that it is 10% ABV and I love how they brewed it with stuff but didn’t let those flavors totally dominate the beer. Awesome stuff! 4.75

 

Happy Sunday, NBS crew! @cjgiant looks like we got about the same as you, which was not expected all the way up here.


Starting today with another new Other Half brew. Thanks to @thisischuck01 , OH was my #1 most consumed brewery in 2018, even more than Tired Hands! 100+ Other Half brews, compared to just under 100 for Tired Hands.

DDH Green Diamonds - Other Half
DDH IIPA - 9.1% abv
Canned 12/11/18 (33 days ago)
Score: 4.04 (-4.3% rDev)



Review:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/33510/386312/?ba=CanConPhilly#review

Synopsis:
An aggressive ipa. This is not a subtle, 0 IBU crowd pleaser. Instead, this thing packs bitterness, booziness, and (alas) the inevitable sweetness that tends to partner with the former two elements. Reminds me more of a WC DIPA, along the lines of the old Palate Wrecker...or even Hopslam (which I have not yet had this year). There’s no way I would identify this as Other Half if tasted blind. I guess it’s good that they’re branching out a bit, although I do enjoy their “house” style (low bitterness, low sweetness, low booziness, dry hops being the primary flavor component) more than this.

 

4 Massive Beers for 2019. HNY.
Super Cluster | Lagunitas
4.34/5 rDev +6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
One of my all-time favorites as an explosive, nova of an IPA.
Up with the greatest, and the best from Lagunitas.
a) Clear, brassy, golden body, laden with hop dust, with tight lacing head.
s) "Citra hops changes everything" wrote a fave reviewer with whom I agree.
Splendid honey, melon, and orange aroma. Big bold tropical, floral forest.
t) Very big caramel honey base layer to support the intense, honey-bitter top layers of mango, pineapple, papaya and apricot and ... more... then landing in a juniper, gin martini pucker.
f) As clean as a martini, fresh, dry, cleansing, scrubbing, maintaining the excellence in long flowing after taste again of juniper, lemon, and goose berries.

Regular Coffee (Nitro) | Carton
4.34/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
So pleased to add the 1st review of Nitro Regular Coffee to this community.
If regular coffee would be made into a liqueur, or a liqueur candy bon-bon, like a Sugar Fina, this would be it.
a) Paints the glass with walls of lace over a "clear as a shot" body the color of shellac.
s) Regular coffee essentialized (not a word), ok, quintessence.
t) resonating, reverb - can be the final after-dinner drink after cheese and dessert. Espresso would be a good back /side/ pairing.
f) again candy on the tongue.
o) Can you buy this? Should be sold in 8 oz shot cans like RedBull.

99 Additions | Carton
4.2/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
If you like to pucker, this is your DIPA.
A) Very orange-red sunset through haze body, with a creamy white cloud head that scuds some lace like a sunset too.
S) Bitter grass and pine.
T) More citrus in the bitter pine and grass, hemp mix.
F) IF you like the pucker, ow. Ow! Wow!

BFDP | Fair State Brewing
4.2/5 rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Thrilled to be 2nd (and first three word) review of this delightful Saison.
Brewer: My first, want to try all.
a) cider, flat head.
s) wine, cider, astringent.
t) Super pucker without over play. Lemon, cider, overripe cherry, fall fruit.
f) Cleansing, puckering, aperitif.
o) Flanders, fall fruit, cherry like. Winner. As good as any.
Brewer Notes: "BFDP is a blend of our favorite barrels from the cellar."
Another big saison in a session format.

 

Thanks @cjgiant for the start today. I for one still haven’t seen Resilience IPA yet and I’ve only seen one brewer around me announce they did it (and they’re 3 and a half hours away) but I still love the idea of the “universal” share and think something from Sierra Nevada would be a great choice for it. Even the very few who can’t get special offerings by them could surely be helped out by the BA and NBS community.

Anyway, on to the new beer I am going to try on this Sunday. It’s one I am excited for, as I always expect quality from these guys.

Beer: Peruvian Morning
Brewery: Central Waters (Amherst, Wisconscon)
ABV: 11.7%


Pouring this 12 oz. bottle dated 09/3/18 into a snifter glass, this beer pours out a coffee brown. It forms in the glass darker, with highlights around the edges. The bubbles of carbonation dissipate as fast as they can form, ending up with no crown whatsoever. 3.5

The smell brings dark fruit like raisins and figs dancing around dry oak, a warming bourbon, chocolate, leather, and tobacco. All backed by coffee undertones. 4.25

The taste comes in with chocolate present. Coffee undertones come through but I’m surprised at the slightness of the coffee being as it seems like coffee was a focus for this, per the description. Raisins, figs, bourbon and oak are present. 4

The mouthfeel seems to really be lacking in the carbonation aspect for me. It just seems very flat and could definitely use a bounce to it. No burn to it from the bourbon, which is a good thing, but there really isn’t even a warming effect that I atleast like to see in something of this style. Huge dry finish from the oak, leather and tobacco elements. 3.5

Overall, maybe I was expecting too much from this? But I’ve got to say, I don’t quite get the high rating that this has acquired. I like most of the aspects, like the dry oak/tobacco/leather, dark fruit, bourbon, chocolate but the mouthfeel really needs a bounce to make this thing shine for me. I would also like some more coffee prominence. For something that makes it seem like it’s focused on being coffee forward, it was underwhelming in that aspect. 3.75

I should be back with another later, but until then I can’t wait to see what you bring to the share! Cheers NBSrs!

 

Something old is new again!

Victory Brewing used to brew a beer of Hop Wallop, a DIPA beer.

Hop Wallop was first entered into the BA database in 2003 and my guess is that I first drank this beer in that timeframe (likely the winter months of 2004). This beer became discontinued as a packaged beer a number of years ago. Apparently 6 years ago (2013) according to this press release:

https://www.victorybeer.com/news/vi...nounced-changing-autumn-and-winter-offerings/

I have no recollection if I drank my last Hop Wallop in 2013 but that is as good a guess as any. The Hop Wallop of yore featured ‘secret’ hop varieties. Below you can listen to Bill and Ron discuss the ‘back in the day’ Hop Wallop but take note – there is zero mention of hop varieties.



So, the interested reader might ask: what did the Hop Wallop of circa 2003 – 2013 taste like? I wish I could claim that my beer memory was excellent here but as luck would have it I was able to find a review on the internet that is fairly consistent with what I recall:

“Hop Wallop fills the glass with a crystal-clear golden hue and a soft white head. Lemon, orange and pungent, resinous hop scents permeate the beer’s bready malts while a touch of alcohol spice sharpens the aroma. A thin layer of toasted malts spreads out on the tongue while hop flavors build: Dank, piney, almost sprucelike hops fill the mouth, while juicy orange hop notes brighten things up. As the beer washes back, its bitterness escalates, scraping the tongue down the swallow. Although a stronger malt backbone would help carry the intense hop presence, this beer’s bitter finish and bold hop flavors certainly live up to its name.”

http://draftmag.com/reviews/detail/1098

The aspects that I remember the most from the old Hop Wallop is that it was very ‘sticky’, the flavor/aroma had a notable pungency and the beer was on the hairy edge of being too cloying for my palate.

Based upon reading the above my guess is that the old Hop Wallop featured American C-hops, perhaps: Columbus, Cascade, Centennial and Chinook.

Which brings us to the new part:

· Victory has decided to one again brew a beer branded as Hop Wallop

· Bill & Ron are not so secretive on which hops they chose to use for the updated beer

On the label of Hop Wallop 2018/2019 it lists:

“Hop Wallop IPA

Citra and Simcoe hops impart fruity and earthy notes for a new twist on a flavorful friend. This IPA packs a hoppy wallop!

ABV: 7.5%”

So, this version uses ‘new school’ hops:

· Citra was first used by a handful of breweries in 2007 and was patented in 2008.

· Simcoe were first made available in 2000 so perhaps this hop was used to brew the first version of Hop Wallop in 2003?

Another change for the 2018/2019 version is a decrease in the alcohol level from 8.5% to 7.5%.

One last comment upon changes is that the cartoon figure on the label has changed. This beer used to feature an old dude prospector with a long white beard (he even had a name: Horace ‘Hop’ Wallop). The cartoon on the new label looks more like a lumberjack to me (despite the aspect of the pick).

Boy, all this typing got me mighty thirsty. Let’s drink!

Served in my Spiegelau IPA glass:

Appearance:

A brilliantly clear golden color with a one finger white head.

Aroma:

There are aromas of pine, earthy and some fruit.

Taste:

The flavor follows the nose with pine, earthy and fruity flavors. There is a firm bitterness.

Mouthfeel:

Medium bodied with an off-dry finish.

Overall:

I enjoyed drinking this beer! It is notably different from the 2003 - 2013 version of Hop Wallop. A differing flavor/aroma profile due to changing hop varieties but also the difference in amount of malt (e.g., ABV level) as well. FWIW I enjoy this version more than the old.

Cheers to Victory for this new version of Hop Wallop!

@rotsaruch @KOP_Beer_OUtlet @RobH @kadonnay @ SixpointMikey

 

Bowcraft a 5.9% ABV Blond Ale from Twin Elephant. The brewery does not call this a Belgian Ale just Belgian inspired. Drank it at the brewery Thursday and have a growler of it for this afternoon. It's brewed with Belgian Pilsner, Maris Otter, Munich malts and flaked oats. It has a nice hoppy kick but I don't know what hops are used. It pours cloudy gold with a thin head that does not last. The aroma is bready with hint of fruit. In simple English this brew tastes good. It has hints of biscuit, spices and fruit The finish is dry with a lemon kick. The mouthfeel soft but full. Overall another winner from a brewery which is on a roll of late.
The name Bowcraft comes from a now closed local amusement park.
.

 

Beer raised to you and hopefully everything turns out in your favor! May the wind carry positivity your way.

 

A-Pours a very clear golden golden color with a slight head and lacing
A-Aroma has citrus hints
T-Taste follows the nose with citrus flavors
M-A light bodied very well carbonated and crisp beer
O-A good very dry Brut Ale

 

Thanks to @cjgiant for the great start to this weeks NBS. Will be back with a new brew to me later on.

Cheers!

 

Stone cocoveza
...solid black
.. light carbonation and a really nice just above average body
...aroma isnt overpowering but there is nutmeg first followed by spice/pepper, black coffee and roasted malt
...taste is definitely nutmeg and heat forward. The base beer is really good,mix if black coffee,roasted malt and espresso

 

Nice,and I want that beer. I used to drink it many years ago and at that time it was considered a big boy beer. Look forward to seeing it here, and I like the stated hop combo paired together. I don’t know, but Hop Devil is long gone here, the only Victory I see is old ass Prima and Java Cask.

 

Got a chance to try that brew about a month ago and I was very impressed. By far the best Jordanian beer I've ever had. definitely fed me dreams of visiting Jordan too

 

I know nobody has ever posted about this beer on this thread before but I finally found a bottle so now it’s my turn.

Surprised there was no head pouring this (2018 batch). Smell is everything that’s described - coffee primarily, dark malts, caramel, a bit of bourbon. The taste matches but everything is bolder than the nose. A full mouthfeel, fairly bitter, slightly sweet. Overall well-made and can hold its own with any of the other amazing breakfast stouts out there.
Cheers!

 

New beer #2. Thanks @Bum4ever !

Single Shot - Tree House
Milk Stout - 6.4% abv
Canned 12/6/18
Score: 4.33 (-0.9% rDev)



Review:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/28743/200370/?ba=CanConPhilly#review

Synopsis:
Fuck this is such a well-balanced beer. Not sweet at all like most milk stouts. Instead, the high-quality coffee and dark chocolate are the stars here. I could probably kick a sixtel of this solo. Love it. Thanks again Josh!