New Beer Sunday (Week 742)

Opened up this beaut from @beertunes while grilling up some of my homemade turkey burgers at my wife’s request. It’s the least I can do for her today. Mrs Strohme2 is an amazing mom to our 2 boys

500ml bottle poured into a tulip glass. I don’t have a proper glass for this yet. No date seen but I’m confident it’s within its freshness range.
Pours a rich mahogany brown, held up to light appears to have garnet highlights. A generous cap of light khaki head. Good retention and whispy fingers of lace on the glass.
Nose of berries, toffee, overall sweetness.
This is a classic tasting doppelbock. Toffee, dark fruits, medium roasted malts, almost a pecan pie note and chocolate just as a complement. Definitely full flavored.
Smooth, no indication of any alcohol. Slick mouthfeel, easy drinking.
Overall, I enjoyed this one tremendously and don’t understand the low ratings.
Great!
4.28 rDev +13.5%

Thanks Terry this was wonderful!

 

Back from visiting Mom
Enjoying this delightful offering from Honest Weight
Cheers all

 

Happy New Nitro (N2) CAN Mother's Day Beer Sunday (Week 742)!

I spent yesterday on the grounds of the PA RenFaire, a last-minute invite by Peter Belz, the local rep for Oliver Ales & Charm City Meadworks. I was really tired by the time that the day wound to a close, so I have been taking it easy today.

I seem to have a plethora of N2 CANs in abeyance & so they become today's focus. They make for a nice mouthfeel, but the tradeoff is that it kills the taste, muting any subtle nuances that may have otherwise existed. Oh well.

I began with:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/46063/389794/?ba=woodychandler#review

followed by:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/148/366367/?ba=woodychandler#review

& now:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/31987/280949/?ba=woodychandler#review

 

Every triple IPA that I can remember trying, I thought, "I wish the brewery had just made this a barleywine instead, because they're trying too hard to 'hop' this up and it's not balanced."

To illustrate this further .....

 

Another brand new Ascension release. This was fantastic. Nice head retention/soapy lacing for a sour. Aromas and flavors of big tart/sour lemons, limes, citrus peel/zest, orange, peach, pear, melon, apricot, red/green apple, white grape/wine, sea salt, tequila, oak, hay, straw, and grass; with moderate honey, agave, wheat, white bread dough malt sweetness; light peppercorn, lacto funk, and yeast earthiness. Light-moderate fruity/lactic tart/sourness, fruit tang; and light tequila/oak spiciness on the finish. Medium carbonation and medium-plus body; very creamy, silky, grainy wheat; some lactic acid, fruit tang; light oak tannins and salinity in the mouthfeel. Light-moderate increasing acidic/tangy dryness; minimal puckering. Very smooth, not overly lactic/salty, minimal warming 6%. Amazing balance of juicy/vibrant lemon/limes, Lacto complexity, and tequila barrel presence/integration; with a great pale/wheat malt backbone against acidity. Minimal residual sweetness from lingering acidic dryness. Tastes just like a margarita. Another easy winner from these guys. One of my new favorite locals. Need to go down there one of these days. 4.2


Cheers

 

Ya know they’re never a bad beer, far from it, but they never seem to hit me as great beers. There’s a point of diminishing returns, and Triple IPAs are just that for me, there’s just a nice balancing point of hops and malt that seem to check into the 7-8 abv mark.

 

I'm happy to be back home after a great Mother's Day brunch with my better half and my parents - very grateful that I get this time with them! Thanks to @lordofthewiens for the NBS kickoff and theme for the week - I paradoxically stress way too much over low-stakes things like master's sporting events but don't seem to get overly worked up over the big things like work and money - go figure. It must be vanity, I suppose.

Yesterday was a fun day of running errands that conveniently led me to Southern Grist, where I got to meet up and share some beers with @Jimmy_Kneecaps and his better half. On the way home, I was able to "swing by" another local brewery and pick up their latest can release, featured here:

Stick Horse Cowboy, TailGate Brewery, Nashville, TN


It's hard to see from the picture, but the beer was very hazy but not turbid like most NEIPAs. there was a yellow-golden color with a two-finger white head that lingered in the glass. The beer had a fantastic aroma - bright tropical fruit and ripe oranges with a hint of dank resin. The taste did not disappoint, and the fruity notes were all present. Bitterness was low and soft, just like the feel. A great blend of fruit with dank resin, something I quite like. Overall an outstanding IPA. Cheers!

 

Not a style I love or go out of my way for, but this is a well constructed beer. Poured into my 13 oz thin tulip Game of Thrones glass, not sure when it was canned. Pours a very attractive yellow orange with a finger plus sticky white head that leaves a thick ring of lace as it slowly settles, with excellent retention. 4.25

Smell is hibiscus, clove, banana, melon, and pineapple. 4

Taste follows stuff is bold, hibiscus, melon, clove, melon, banana, and pineapple is rounding this beer out. 4

Mouthfeel is bigger than most, a tad dry, plenty of life, and at 9% ABV loaded with flavor but very approachable. 4.25

Overall this is not my normal jam, but this stuff is extremely tasty and amazingly balanced. 4

 

Digging back into the box from @thebeers I have been dying to try this SMS variant and it does not disappoint. Weyerbacher Chocolate Pretzel SMS, clocking in at 12.6% this barrel aged monster is really easy drinking. The bourbon comes through so well while not being overpowering and the sea salt at the end really ties it all together. Thanks Arthur for the chance to try this one!!



Appearance 4.25 - Pours black with a thin mocha colored head that quickly settles to a thin ring around the glass. No lacing.

Aroma 4.25 - Huge punch of bourbon and barrel right off the bat. Little bit of vanilla and coffee, roasted malt and dark chocolate and caramel.

Taste 4.5 - Wow really smooth, up front the bourbon and a big dose of wood. Rich chocolate, vanilla, hint of coffee I love the way the salt at the end ties this all together. Lots of flavor layers in this one boozy, salty, light sweetness and bitter chocolate.

Feel 4.25 - Big creamy smooth feel, little warmth from the booze smooth drying finish.

Overall 4.35 - Really well done variant of SMS, the salt really does wonders for this. The chocolate and bourbon work so well together. The coffee seems like an after thought but this one drinks really easy for the ABV.

 

Happy New American Smoke Porter Sunday!

Happy Mother's Day!

Pretty nice day here on the Western Slope, 75 at the trailhead, sunny, some clouds, slight breeze. Having a pretty tasty brew, nice to see it around here, especially since it is a limited release. Might be back with another new brew.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/42/369408/?ba=Wasatch#review

Cheers!

 

Good evening, NBS folk and happy Mother's Day to any mothers out there! I'm obviously cranking some Zappa here in honor.
As for stress, I am lucky to be able to handle it pretty well I think, but I definitely agree with @lordofthewiens that a lot of times the most difficult thing is forcing yourself not to focus too hard on what you're doing. It can seem counterintuitive, but I see it all the time working as an English teacher with adults. I see it every day with my students (in English) and with myself (in French or Spanish). There comes a point where the worst thing you can do is to overthink. Everyone that has ever learned another language before jokes and laughs about having a couple drinks and suddenly being able to communicate, but it is absolutely a real phenomenon; your inhibitions are lowered and you take some risks without worrying about the consequences. Plus, since more knowledge exists in your head than what you are able to produce this ends up with you being able to communicate "better than normal" or at least more effectively. Now, I don't know how that applies to golf, but it definitely applies to a lot of things (sports, public speaking and, yes, even reviewing beer). Relax and let things flow. If only it was always an easy thing to do. On that note, it is high time I had a new beer while I cook up some dinner.

This is a mysterious saison that I got in the Canadian BIF recently. I have had one other Four Winds beer and it was spectacular and I had one by an off-shoot of FW yesterday that was also excellent. So my hopes are high. Interestingly, this one appears to have been recalled or something, which is kind of cool.

I've never had anything marked like this before. I will be extra careful pouring it, just in case.

It pours an attractive clear brass with a billowing white head that is there for the long haul. The aroma is earthy, acetic, tart, floral, with some savoury somethin-or-other, walnuts(?). The flavor is earthier than it is tart, floral sweetness, lingering sweetish dusty funk kind of aroma thing. It verges on a slight yogurt twang but never goes all the way there. It is drinkable, complex and refreshing. Zesty, dry, bubbly. This is a nice wild beer that doesn't go too hard to the sour side of things for me but is nonetheless a sour. A good balance between crusty bread, light spices and a little tingle on the tongue. One thing I found interesting is that this one has the same hard-to-place savory element in the finish and flavor that the beer I had from their sister brewery (or whatever). I'm assuming that here It is perhaps from the wine barrels, but I could be wrong. It is not bad, but it is definitely different from the funkiness I'm used to. Regardless, this is a nice beer that I'd gladly have the non-recalled version of any day. The protein doesn't seem to make a difference in the look as far as I can tell, but it is pretty foamy in the bottle between pours. Tasty beer. Thanks, @Ferris !
Cheers!

 

I’m not exactly sure what’s going on here but either @AyatollahGold or “Fake Gold” as he claims was very thoughtful to send you those. Especially that sexy ass glass!

 

Up next, from NBS BIF #9 and @CanConPhilly , is a pretty nice Brett Saison. Would make a great summer drinker, methinks: https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/25191/302836/

 

Happy NBS. Enjoying this very nice and very unique Bamburana. 4.49 for me. Cheers all.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/2681/382422/?ba=StraightNoChaser#review

 

Happy Mother’s Day, NBS friends. I’m taking Mrs O out for a sorta fancy dinner to celebrate her day, so I’m only offering a single tonight (unless the restaurant has something I’ve not had before, which I don’t believe to be the case).

This is from our friend @beerloserLI in the recently completed NBS BIF Nein, and the glass is also from him in NBS BIF #4, in the fall of 2016. Yes, NBS BIF’s are a hootenanny - and a way to try a boatload of fantastic beers.



4.34/5 rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Very hazy sunshine color with a white head that dissipates almost immediately after an aggressive pour. The Galaxy hops impart dank tropical hop aromas, with juicy oranges and passion fruit most, and a creamy aroma as well, making this potentially the greatest orange creamsicle in a beer ever.

The tropical fruit flavors are outstanding on the taste, but the cream flavor is what elevates this for me. It would be very easy for this to be too sweet, but for me it is a really nice balance between the pungent hop flavors and the creamy oat notes.

I’ve tried a number of beers from Other Half, and they always impress. This is no exception, IMHO.

 

I mentioned earlier I had picked up a couple of German Kellerbiers... here is the second one:

St. Georgenbräu KellerBier

ABV: 4.9%
IBU: NA



Almost a lemony or minty aroma with yeast and bread.

Amber cloudy, hazy appearance. Vigorous bubbles rising to a 1/2 inch off-white thick, creamy head, receding moderately in the middle, leaving a ridge of head up the sides of the pilsner glass.

Good presence of the carbonation on the palate, moderate body.

Mild flavor of mint and bread. Some bitterness in the middle, continuing on through the finish and into the aftertaste.

Clean dry finish.

L: 4 | S: 3.75 | T: 3.5 | F: 4 | O: 3.75 | BA 3.69

 

I’m not sure what’s going on either.

I think “Fool’s Gold” is going crazy.

A sexy ass glass indeed!

 

Abomination Brewing. Amazing NEDIPA. Lasting rocky head retention/thick foamy lacing the whole glass. Aromas and flavors of huge mandarin orange juice, red grapefruit, lemon, lime, peach, pear, pineapple, apricot, passion fruit, papaya, mango, honeydew melon, guava, blueberry, raspberry, gooseberry, citrus peel/zest, wood, and light peppercorn/pine hops; with moderate wheat, cracker, white bread dough, toasted biscuit, light honeyed malt sweetness; and herbal, floral, grassy hop earthiness. Light pine, citrus peel/zest, herbal, floral, woody, grassy, peppery bitterness on the finish. Medium carbonation and medium-full body; very creamy, silky, bready, grainy malts; some sticky hops, and slight lingering resins/rinds in the mouthfeel. Lightly increasing lingering bitter dryness, no cloying/astringency. Amazingly smooth/soft, minimal warming 8%. Amazingly enormous Galaxy, Mosaic, Topaz, and Meridian profile. Extremely juicy, vibrant, and fairly dank/earthy hops; with a perfectly balanced wheat/oat/malt backbone. Light residual sweetness with lingering bitter dryness. Nailed it out of the park for the style. 6 lbs per bbl of hops and it is obvious! 4.4


Cheers