New Beer Sunday (Week 745)

I am actually home today for a change so I should be back later with a new beer. My wife is my road dog, likes good beer and tolerates me. We have been all over the country and shared beer together, I really appreciate how much she has grown in her beer enjoyment. She still does not like too many dark beers except some of the Dragon's Milk variants. It makes my life much easier when I want to make day trips to breweries or beer stores.

 

Poured into a 13 oz tulip glass not sure when it was canned. Pours a very hazy yellow orange with a solid finger of sticky white head that leaves loads of wavy lace with excellent retention. 4.5

Smell is apricot, guava, mango, tangerine, lemon, and a little grapefruit rind. 4

Taste follows but better mango, lemon, guava, apricot, and just a gentle kiss of grapefruit bitterness. 4.25

Mouthfeel is pretty big, soft gentle feel, sticky but not dry, and at 7.1% ABV very approachable but drinks bigger in flavor. 4.25

Overall this is excellent, never had heard anything about the brewery, but now thanks @Nachos4two I have. Excellent stuff! 4.25

 

Good morning, all, and Happy New Cabernet Sauvignon Barrel-Aged Sour Sunday! This is Avery's Amicitia, No. 47 in their Barrel-Aged Series. Bottle date on this is 9/21/2017. Based on my hoarding habits, I probably got this when it was relatively fresh and stored it cold for most of the time. At any rate, an interesting and complex beer. Aromas and flavors of tart cherry, overripe fruit, a little funk, and a hint of apple cider vinegar. Good carbonation, with intense sourness and a mostly dry and slightly oaky finish. This seemed to hit its sweet spot at just below cellar temperature. I picked this up for the princely sum of $3.99, which represents a huge markdown.

4.33/5 (rDev +3.6%)
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25



Enjoy what's in YOUR tulip today!

 

Good day New BSers! Thank you, @cjgiant, for starting off today's thread. For those of you with SOs that also enjoy beer, it can be a mixed blessing. Mrs. Lizard tried beer once when we were in college, didn't like it, and hasn't tried it since. So I now have an automatic DD for that rare occasion when I pass out in the parking lot and I don't have to worry about uncommon singles disappearing from my beer reefer. On the other hand, I know the names and locations of entirely too many quilt stores in PA, MI, MO, IN, and TX. But on the other other hand, I get a lot of reading time and sleep in quilt store parking lots. So I guess the moral is that life's a trade-off. We're probably heading to ME Monday, so we'll see how well the trade-offs work while Mrs. Lizard is consuming massive quantities of shellfish, any individual of which can kill me on the spot. Which reminds me, it's time to ransom our first-born male child for a new epi-pen.

Today's New Breakfast Beer and NBS entry is:



Received from @jdell15 in NBS BIF #9. Reviewed 6/2/19. Thanks Jacob!
Date printed on shoulder of bottle in white ink but is illegible. 12 oz bottle. Stored at 42 degrees and served at 54 degrees in a hand washed and dried Jester King snifter. Final temperature 61 degrees.
Appearance – 4.
First pour – Dark brown, clear.
Body – Dark brown/black, opaque. When held to the light, still opaque.
Head – Average (Maximum 2.8 cm, aggressive center pour), tan, medium density, fizzy. Rapidly diminishes to a one mm crown and a thin, partial cap.
Lacing – None. Not unexpected with a 11.8% ABV brew.
Aroma – 4.25 – Whiskey and molasses with some weak chocolate.
Flavor 4.5 – Sweet but not cloying, more like a Canadian whiskey than an American. Faint chocolate and molasses with a hint of char. A slow gastric warming occurs. No hops, no malt, no dimethylsulfide, no diacetyl.
Palate – 4 – Full, asymptotically approaching syrupy, soft carbonation.
Impression and interpretation – 4.25 – Surprisingly smooth for a brew with a noticeable whiskey component. Flavor and aroma are both alluring – I had to resist the urge to gulp this down.
Rating 4.31, rDev +4.6%.

 

New Beer Sunday: German Kolsch (sort of)

Mornin’ NBSers with a heads up for fans of variations on a theme and a thanks for @cjgiant for his start today.

Today’s weather here is going to be a bit unsettled. Right now the sun shines brightly and the high temperature is expected to hit the low to mid 80s, but we are also expected in the afternoon and early evening to be having some occasional scattered showers with one of those coming along later in the day expected to be a t-storm that will be fairly severe with possible wind damage, etc.

Who do I drink beer with? Mostly it’s in the evening that I drink a beer often to enjoy an old favorite, but it can also be with a few friends around the TV watching a game. But more often when drinking with friends it’s when we are spending an evening either at someone’s home for dinner or at one of our favorite restaurants that meets two important criteria. I like the beer and, most importantly, my wife likes the food.

This morning’s new beer is the first of two from Burial Brewing in Asheville, NC. The beer is called Billows Kolsch and is one that wouldn’t pass muster in Cologne since the hops in the recipe are not those traditionally used. (Effectively it's an unauthorized version. )

My review, pretty much finished, can be found here:

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/31722/231658/?ba=drtth#review


The aromas/flavors are both citric with some floral, tangerine, lime and lemon. There’s also some honey like sweetness and some light bitterness and a bit of grainy character. A drinkable but non-traditional Kolsch style given the hops used. I certainly enjoyed it but have a definite preference for the more traditional hopping.

Cheers, all!

 

Morning all, gotta get out and finish the gardens today. I love it here on the ridge, but the soil here.. well, calling it soil is kind of dishonest, it's rocks with a sparse mix of soil-like material, and I do container gardening. Gonna be out getting more supplies south of here (three beer stores) anyway so gonna continue to try to track down a beer recommended by our very own (can I still say that?) @utopiajane in a review on another page, Ithaca 20th Anniversary. Am hopeful. Will be back to join y'all for sure. See ya inna bit.

 

Central artery by trillium

A German Heller lager, a style that was my preferrred favorite when i first started drinking beers. My tastes have changed and it was nice to revisit a “ classic style “ for me. The Germans do it best, but this is a good representation , especially from a brewer that is known for their IPa’s.

4.08/5 rDev +1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Can poured into beer stein

Clean golden yellow , some carbonation , three finger fluffy white foam cap, good lacings

Aroma is bready malts

Taste is bready malts

Slight lingering bitterness on the finish, gentle nibble

Good representation of the style. Good beer

 

Bock Me & Bock Yinz! I Almost Forgot That It's New Evil Voodoo Twin Ranger Beer Sunday (Week 745)!

Today's prompt is an interesting one from my P.O.V. Usually, if I am at home, reviewing & rating beers on this site, I am doing so by my lonesome. That is what has CANtributed to my CANfounded backlog - if I am not at home, then it is impossible to be drinking, rating & reviewing & I do need to work, so that cuts into my at-home time. I still head out on occasion & when I do, I am usually a hail fellow well met. I will have people join me to discuss their beers, my beers & beers for offer at the establishment.

I was at Hunger-n-Thirst yesterday for Day 2 of their 6th Anniversary Weekend. The Neff brothers who own the jernt are guys from my old neighborhood & one owns a house just up the street from my family home. Plenty of people know me there so it was a grand day out.

Another haunt of mine is the Friendly Greek Bottle Shop (FGBS), where we have the infamous FGBS Drinking Team of which I enumerate myself a member. We used to have bottle shares, but the PLCB put the kibosh to that. 8=(

A former teaching colleague, Bob Measel, is good for meeting for beers ocCANsionally. He has relocated to Lancaster from both RI & MA, where he worked in their Departments of Education before his Gettysburg-born wife forced him to move back to PA. He is good for a ride to The Beer & Beverage Shop on Roseville Road, an accommodating place that will break anything into singles for me. We also generally meet at Dominion Pizza on Columbia Avenue, not far from his house. Good eats & lotsa beer!

Finally, there is the monthly Samm's Underground Bottle Share (SUGBS), held at a buddy's house on the third Saturday of every month in the Gulph Mills/KofP area. I usually go out on F evening, stay overnight on both F & Sa, have brunch with Samm & head home. It is an eclectic group of guests, but almost everyone is educated so it is not simply a buncha drunks sitting around talking sports. Ask @JackHorzempa who has been dropping in of late.

And now, for my first beer of this time-honored ocCANsion. It is the answer to a question posed to me in an interview with Don "Joe Sixpack" Russell a few years ago - "Has [an unmentionable app/website] changed or affected your drinking habits?" Hell, yes! I love those colorful, whimsical badges & this is the third time that I am drinking this beer, this time for the following review:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/192/380214/?ba=woodychandler#review


The rest of the day should be weird, wonderful & interesting so stay tuned for updates. I gotta go to church!

 

Beer, Goats & Glory!

Every year Sly Fox Brewery has a Bock Fest which features beer (duh!) and goat races. It occurs on the first Sunday of May (which was May 5th this year). My wife and I planned to attend this year’s festival but unfortunately it was a very rainy day so…

The winner of the goat race has the seasonal beer of Maibock named after it and this year the winner was Princess Jenny (she won last year as well). Last year by pure chance my wife and I met the owner of Princess Jenny at the Sly Fox brewpub in Phoenixville, PA – his name is Brad White. He travelled from Salem, NJ to participate in last year’s race (and this year as well) and it would appear the trip was worth it. The below video provides a feel for this event:

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=id%3D1859662814085218%3Btype%3Dvideo%3Buser%3Dreadingeaglenewspaper

I enjoy watching the races but for me the highlight is drinking the Maibock which is not served until the completion of the races. They even serve a free firkin of Maibock at the very end of the race:



The year 2019 is ‘extra special’ in that Sly Fox decided to can their Maibock for the first time ever; heretofore it has only been available on draft.

Below are some details about this beer from the Sly Fox website:

“Princess Jenny Maibock

Maibock

16.5 OG 28 IBUs 7.2% ABV

Each year, this traditional Spring beer, brewed with German Vienna and Pils malts and Hallertauer hops is named in honor of the winner of the annual Sly Fox Goat Race.

Come on out to the brewery the first Sunday in May to cheer on your favorite goat and partake in the very first pints bearing the 2019 champion's name.

This year Princess Jenny was crowned repeat champion, besting a competitive field of over 30 goats on a sloppy track, and took the title to once again have the Maibock bear her name.”

I have had the distinct pleasure of drinking the beer many times in the past both on draft and from the cask but this is my first experience getting it in the can.

Served in my Sly Fox Willi Becher glass (vintage 2013):

Appearance:

A deep burnished gold color with a BIG fluffy off-white head.

Aroma:

There is notable rich malty aroma to this beer with a hint of toastiness.

Taste:

The flavor follows the nose with prominent flavors of rich malt, and yes some accompanying toastiness as well. There is a medium bitterness to provide some balance to the sweet-ish malt backbone.

Mouthfeel:

Medium bodied with an off-dry finish.

Overall:

For my palate this is an excellent Maibock with the rich maltiness being front and center but properly accompanied by moderate hop bitterness. Perfectly balanced for a Maibock IMO.

Cheers to Sly Fox for canning a wonderful Maibock!

@KOP_Beer_OUtlet @rotsaruch @RobH @NeroFiddled @Ranbot @Jacobier10 @ HorseheadsHophead @nc41 @tzieser @meefmoff

 

Well after missing last week due to showing some visiting family around, I am now sick. So my normal new beer companions (two cats) and I will have to sit this one out and stick to tea. I hope to be back next week.

Cheers everybody!

 

Today I am going to start off with COFFEE! Coffee sent to me by someone who, even though I’ve never met, I feel I have shared a good amount of beer with. From sending to each other, and the discussions we’ve had about beer. This one is from @TheGent

Beer: Irish Coffee (Imperial cream ale with coffee added & aged in oak with nutmeg & mint leaves)
Brewery: Carton Brewing (Atlantic Highlands, NJ)
ABV: 12%

The regular coffee he sent me blew me away and took the guidelines of cream ale to another dimension. I have been excited to try this one, waiting for the right time.

Pouring this from a 12 oz. can into a Willi Becher style glass, this beer pours out a clear, light gold until it gets to the very bottom of the can and slight sediment rolls out and morphs the beer into a burnt gold. A pinky width of white bubbles build up, before dissipating rather quickly leaving only an outer ring attached to the glass. 4

The nose brings a plethora of layers. Everything from nice, creamy coffee to fresh, natural mint leaves and even still manages to keep that cream ale sweetness you expect from the style. This could definitely be used as a wake me up, because it awakens your senses. 4.5

The taste offers a hit of freshly ground mint leaves before mellowing into a smooth, creamy and even chocolately coffee. Nutmeg rides as an accent the whole way through while the oak offers presence in the way of a dry wood feel, instead of much flavor. 4.5

If you weren’t told, you might be able to guess that the ABV here is slightly higher than your average cream ale, but not what it really is. You might guess 7.5, MAYBE 8%, but NEVER 12%. It is just way too smooth. Just like the first one I had, it’s dangerous because of it. The rest of the mouthfeel offers a full body and a creamy presence until finishing dry with the oak aspect. 4.75

Overall, Carton knows exactly what they’re doing with these cream ales and considered world class in my opinion. That is all. 4.5

Thank you for this Anthony, these cream ales by Carton are a true treat.

Cheers NBS, I should be back later!
Until then, I can’t wait to see what you bring to the share!

 

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

Cheers!

 

Very nice, but to be a bit of a contrarian, if this is their first canning

Checking out Red Oaks web-sight, they do brew a Maibock style and I have had it before. It’s a seasonal brew and it’s their 1516 Heller Bock. But it’s been a few years since I’ve had it, I’ll have to revisit it, and they do bottle it. The Heller Bock threw me off.

 

Tonewood revolution porter
...cola black
...medium light carbonation with a slightly thin body
..aroma is oak,peat,earthy,roasted malt,espresso
..taste is almost identical to aroma,v
Lot of oak and wood.
Very mild sweetness but also comes off a bit dry
..overall this a very decent beer,you have to like a wood,earthy flavor which there was a lot of

 

Cheers, Dayton. Glad you enjoyed and nice review. If you haven’t already done so you should check out the YouTube video for this beer. Augie makes videos for basically all of their new beers and explains the INTENT behind each one. Really gives you a foundation for reviewing and rating the beer against what it is intended to accomplish.

 

I doubt you will have a difficult time finding libations. Walk five feet in any direction and I'm sure you'll stumble across something great. Cheers and welcome!