New Beer Sunday (Week 735)

New Beer Sunday: German Kellerbier / Zwickelbier

Mornin’ NBSers and a heads up for fans of Kellerbiers. Also a thanks to @cjgiant for his start up this morning.

The weather here today is supposed to be fairly good with mostly sunny skies and a high temp in the lower 60’s. Another good day for taking care of some of the outdoor chores. (Taxes are out of the way for another year.)

This morning’s new beer is the Crooked Stave Von Pilsner.

My review, subject to revision until the beers is finish or breakfast is finished cooking in the oven, can be found here:

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/25191/252326/?ba=drtth#review


The light aromas/flavors are mostly about the bready malt some floral grassy hops and just a bit of lemon-lime. In addition there’s a bit of floral character in the background. On the whole this is a clean, fresh, refreshing beer that I’d be happy to revist right now if I had another. I’ll be looking for this one in the future since I’m a fan of German Pils style beers and this one is both enjoyable and drinkable.

Cheers, all!

 

Purple Haze was in my brain…'Scuse me while I kiss the sky!

That lead is for you Jimi Hendrix fans!

But the “Haze” we will be discussing today is the continuing trend of lager, distributing craft breweries producing beers with the word “haze” in the branding. Recently two additional larger, distributing craft breweries have come out with the their versions of hazy beers:

· Firestone Walker Mind Haze IPA

· Bell’s Official Hazy IPA

Today I will be discussing Firestone Walker Mind Haze.

Now, when it comes to Hazy IPA many (most?) beer drinkers think of the ‘NEIPA’ (or as the Brewers Association labels it Juicy or Hazy IPA) beer style

I have opined in a number of past BA threads my thoughts on what constitutes a ‘NEIPA’ beer. Below is a copy of something I have posted previously:

My crack at defining the attributes/qualities for the so called 'NE' style IPA:

• Low/moderate bitterness
• A turbid/murky/opaque appearance
• A soft/velvety mouthfeel
• A quality that some (many?) folks like to describe using the terminology of "juicy"

But how does Firestone Walker describe their beer of Mind Haze? Well, there is a BA thread for that:

“Paso Robles, CA: After nearly a year of experimentation, Firestone Walker Brewing Company is set to unveil Mind Haze—a hazy IPA that sets the pace with a luscious texture, explosive tropical hoppiness and an unsurpassed shelf freshness for the style.”

https://www.beeradvocate.com/commun...walkers-first-ever-hazy-ipa-mind-haze.601889/

I will drink my can of Firestone Walker Mind Haze IPA with the criteria I listed above in mind.

Served in my Spiegelau IPA glass:

Appearance:

A hazy golden/straw colored appearance. There is a two finger white head with nice retention. The beer leaves a Belgian Lace as the beer is consumed.

Aroma:

I am picking up mostly tropical fruits but there is some citrus as well.

Taste:

The flavor pretty much follows the nose with tropical fruit flavors but the citrus is more noticeable here.. This beer has a quality that some folks would describe using the word “juicy”. There is a moderate bitterness.

Mouthfeel:

This beer had a medium body with prickly carbonation.

Overall:

I really enjoyed drinking this beer. It is very good! From a beer style perspective this beer is lacking a soft, velvety mouthfeel but I strongly recommend this beer regardless since it is a tasty IPA.

Cheers!

@KOP_Beer_OUtlet @rotsaruch @chipawayboy @IPAExpert69 @RobH

 

Happy New Oddball Beer Sunday (Week 735)!

I apologize for not having joined yinz last Sunday, but I was in KofP/Gulph Mills for a monthly bottle share & upon returning to LNC on Su afternoon, I attended a friend's annual St. Pat's celebration.

Oh, man, don't get me started on taxes! It is always such a headache since I retired. I used to simply submit a 1040-EZ form & be done with it, but now it is an adventure unto itself. One of my new favorite brewers is Taxman BC from Indianapolis, IN & while I have some from a recent trade, they will be held in abeyance today as I delve into some of the weirdness that is my hallmark.

I must admit, I am thankful that this site has become more inclusionary as time has passed. Things marked as "Premium Malt Beverage" are more accepted than in the past & why shouldn't they be? Is it wine? No. Is it distilled? No. Is it beer? Well, marginally, but since the site wants to keep atop all trends, it fits. The catch-all "American Malt Liquor" is a great style designation since it allows for some products that are looked down upon & pooh-poohed, but which still merit inclusion. That is where I come in. I am willing to put my neck on the line with an add & a pic, especially if it inspires others to do the same.

I began with:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/302/405680/?ba=woodychandler#review

Wow! That was ... different. I'll be back later with more ... stuff.

 

A touch of fruit in my morning brew , , ,






Deep coppery amber gold color with large white cap and lacing.

Aroma of citrus hops and ripe mango.

Taste is hop forward that emphasized a fresh citrus approach resting on the ripe fruit tinged malt base. Mango is present from start to finish but remains a servant to the hops. I believe there's a touch of pine in the hops as well. I also find something in the aftertaste that I can only describe as slightly nutty. Don't know where that comes from but I like it.

Medium texture with balancing carbonation.

It's balanced, refreshing and a bit more interesting than the usual Session IPA but it's not something I find interesting enough to buy again.

 

How much did it cost?

 

Thanks to @cjgiant for the start. They don’t care if you do your taxes wrong if you end up owing them because of it, just the other way around.

All this tax talk is taxing. I need coffee. So I’m starting out with this, courtesy of the good BA @Dragginballs76


Beer: Skillet Donut Stout
Brewery: Burial Beer Co. (Asheville, SC)
ABV: 8%

Pouring from a 16 oz. can into a snulip glass, this beer pours out a dark shade of brown before it transitions into the glass a black with minimal highlights. It formed a pinky width of khaki colored crown. 4.25

The aroma carries a detectable, roasty coffee to the nose first thing. It then shows way to an underlying sweetness playing the background. It’s got some slight, burnt and brown sugar presence with a little lactose like creaminess smell to it. 3.75

The taste brings back the coffee presence, but with less roast to it. While also opening up those layers of sweetness. Brown sugars and milk sugars being backed by a touch of chocolate. 4

One thing that I’m learning about Burial stouts, is they have the mouthfeel pretty down pat if you ask me. They have all been creamy with a beautiful silkiness to them. This one adds to those aspects, a little, with the mild bitterness in the coffee. Medium bodied, with an ABV that is nowhere in sight. 4.25

Overall, it’s an enjoyable breakfast stout that doesn’t rely too much on either of the aspects of sweetness or coffee. It tangles them together and makes them interact to create an enjoyable drinking experience. 4


And I don’t ever do this, but I have to with this beer. I enjoyed this yesterday, celebrating getting tickets to my first DLD. But I have to give it a shout-out here in case anybody likes the sensory notes. Also courtesy of the good BA @Dragginballs76

I enjoyed a Crown of Divination by Burial yesterday (a 10% chai milk stout) and it was like no other beer I’ve ever had. It blew me away. Complex with notes of cinnamon, nutmeg, root beer, ginger, licorice and black tea all tangling throughout. With a wildly and amazingly creamy, silky mouthfeel and none of the 10% ABV in sight. The creaminess so thick, it almost didn’t resemble beer.

I loved this beer. I could see how it wouldn’t be for everybody, but it sure was for me!

Now the rest of my Sunday will carry on a theme of New Brown Sunday, and those will both be courtesy of @Dragginballs76 too! (I did mention him as a good BA, didn’t I?)

Cheers NBS!

 

I believe it was marked $9,99. I bought two six packs of different brands and the total was around $20.

 

Ermals belgian style cream ale. Super Creamy

 

Stag Series Rye IPA from August Schell



Pours a dusky, clear red-amber in color, topped with an off white head. I would think that this one would have near-excellent (“brilliant”) clarity, but it’s a bit murky, with very fine carbonation.

BIG hop character on the nose - probably the “hoppiest” and most aromatic lager or ale ever brewed by August Schell, although there have been a few close contenders. Rye character also apparent on the nose. Spicy...

Spicy, and very lightly sweet, with plenty of “juiciness” on the first sip. Notes of citrus and tropical fruit... it’s almost as if the brewer(s) are channeling the current IPA trends! Berry (strawberry) notes, a bit of indistinct pepper (black/white) from the hops...

There’s some warmth here, too, as is to be expected for the style; My guess is that this one pushes the 6.5 a 7.0% ABV range, but it’s super-easy to drink at this strength.

Rye aromatics dominate the drink, and make for a very enjoyable and very drinkable beer. Lighter to medium bodied. Bitterness is there, I’m guessing around 65 IBU, so it’s a fairly traditional take on an American style / West Coast IPA.

Altogether a decent beer and worth tracking down as the first IPA from a brewery that for many years swore that they would never brew an IPA!

 

Can you tell us a bit more? Appearance, aromas, flavors and what you thought of the beer, e.g., would you buy it again? Why?

 

A “Belgian-style cream ale?” What on earth?

 

Happy Sunday, NBS crew! @thisischuck01 crushed me this week with a ton of Other Half ipas, including this one co-brewed with one of my favorite brewers in the land...which I will be visiting in July, if I remember @jhavs schedule correctly! @FlintB @Vidblain you will need to drag me out of there, fyi

Mouthful of Diamonds - Other Half feat. Foam
DIPA - 8% abv
Canned 3/11/19 (13 days ago)
Score: 4.31 (-1.4% rDev)



Review:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/33510/403170/?ba=CanConPhilly#review

Synopsis:
An absolutely killer nose and body. Looks incredible too. The taste starts magically, with Galaxy-driven pineapple and grapefruit. But then, Old Man Nelson shows up, squashing the tropical dream with his dirty socks, sweaty armpits, and general disdain for happiness. The nelson isn’t too aggressive, but it takes over mid-sip, then it’s all I can taste. I still really dig this beer, but damn, it could have been a 2019 contender. Thanks again Charles!

 

A-Pours a dark amber color with a nice head and lacing
A-Aroma has chocolate and marshmallow hints
T-The taste follows the nose with a chocolate and mars mellow flavor
M-A medium bodied decently carbonated beer
O-A good beer

 

I love that beer! They really nailed it in my opinion.

 

Good morning NBS and thanks for getting us started @cjgiant.

My taxes became easier this year as we weren't close to being able to itemize like years past. I still intend to catch up with the Taxman later today, but I spied these four packs while picking up some trade beers and couldn't resist....


The review:
500mL canned 1/22/19 BB 1/22/20 poured into a pint glass at fridge temp 4.9% ABV. The beer pours brilliantly bright light golden yellow with nearly white head. The head recedes to a thin cap leaving a few spots of lacing. The aroma is equal parts bready and yeasty. Very pleasant. The taste is bready malt with lemon zest trailing off to a low to medium bitter floral and grassy finish. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with just above average carbonation and a dry finish. There are no glaring flaws or off flavors from brewing or fermentation. Overall, very good. This is an exceptional product in the correct packaging at a fair price.

There you have it. Two liters of fresh German Helles for $2 less than the 6 pack bottles. I hope they can keep this one moving and therefore fresh. Cheers all!

 

Saugatuck blueberry maple stout
...solid black appearance
...light carbonation with a better than average thick feeling body
...aroma is a really nice blast of maple syrup and blueberries that smell real,not artificial at all. There's roasted malt,coffee,and some dark chocolate
..taste is completely identical to aroma with blueberries and maple being very forward. The base of roasted malt and coffee follows quietly but is still very pleasant
..overall it was a very nice surprise of a beer. I dont find blueberry in beer to work usually but this was great

 

A-Pours a slight hazy light amber color with a nice head head and lacing
A-Aroma has hop hints
T-The taste follows the nose with a hop flavor
M-A medium bodied decently carbonated beer
O-A decent American IPA