New Beer Sunday (Week 755)

My tastes are much more broadly spread but largely untutored. When I went back to College it took me three years to finish to my satisfaction and I was fortunate to get a part time job as an announcer on a classical radio station where I lived. Being junior the evening shift, ending at 11 pm, was mine... One big advanage of that was that on a weeknight when I had an exam next day I could put on some Beethoven or Bruckner and have some nice background music while I studied some and just listened or made a rare station break.

So I can listen to ancient madricals and feel moved, as well as through different more modern genre so I grok your comments about those composers.

 

Blackberry Farm - Boundary Tree

I plan to probably spend the rest of NBS in Belgian but not quite fully Belgian territory. In a NBS a while back, I tried a Funkwerks Saison and stated that it was “perhaps one of best 6-pack saisons I’ve had.” I forgot that Blackberry Farm moved some product from 750ml bottles to 12oz cans. I’d take the Blackberry Farm Classic Saison over Funkwerks any day. I’m being too picky regarding my previous post since I said “perhaps one of the best,” which I wouldn't say is off, but I still wouldn’t have expressed it quite so positively had I remembered Blackberry Farm’s switch correctly.

All of that brings me to 2 new-to-me Blackberry Farm cans. Boundary Tree is labeled a “hoppy Belgian-style ale.” it’s listed on BA as a saison, but I get the impression that Blackberry Farm might be shying away from that term a little these days.

It’s a very pale amber. Smells strongly of hops with tropical and orange notes. This beer just doesn’t come together for me. The various components are somewhat coming together to collectively make this beer over-the-top fruity, but it still feels disjointed regardless. There’s some astringency. This beer even has some resemblance to a mild but bitter orange soda. This beer could use some restraint. It flirts with the IPA realm. Not satisfying.

I wonder if they are “can-conditioning” these cans like they did the bottles.

 

Blackberry Farm - Fenceline

Blackberry beer number 2. This one is simply called a “Belgian-style ale.” I guess there’s such a thing as “Belgian-style.” It’s made with wheat “for a creamy mouthfeel and hazy straw color” and Huell Melon hops. Carbonation is annoyingly prickly in the mouth but not capable of producing a mildly decent head. The yeast is adding a lot of fruit and the hops are providing their namesake honeydew melon quality. I like this better than Boundary Tree, but not tremendously so. It suffers from similar issues but isn’t IPA-ish. I would be happy to try these two beers again to see if I like them any better, but I'm also glad I didn't get sixers of these two.

 

I'll try to give you credit for that phrase as I start wearing it out on my friends over the next few weeks and months.

I've no new beers this Sunday but am enjoying the show as I quietly watch from the side of the bar. Love the topic (as always) presented by @cjgiant. If I could live anywhere I wanted, honestly beer would play a role. I'd love to live in the UK for many reasons, and cask ale/the British pub is one of them. Stratford-upon-Avon right now would be my top choice FWIW.

While the UK is much more of a dream destination than anything else, I will take into account the beer scene as much as is realistically possible if I ever move. I don't need much — just a good bottle shop and/or growler/crowler spot within an hour's drive or so would do me fine.

Enjoy your Sundays and new beers!

Cheers!

 

(Un?)Happy New Jumping Off of the New Platform Beer Sunday (Week 755)!

I have been redding up my house during my CANvalescence from surgery & putting together a number of brewery horizontals in doing so. I had planned, even before its announcement about its sale to A-B/InBev, to drink a buncha beers & a seltzer from Kleveland's Platform Beer Co. for this week's NBS. I was disheartened to hear of the news, especially having read the GI story. I am not one to boycott a beer due to their acquisition by a large corporation, but it did take some of the wind out of my sails.

They are NOT a local place! I live in Lancaster, Lancaster County, PA, 70 miles west of PHL. We have, as a county, more CANbined breweries & brewpubs than any other county in PA! Beer tourism is just another facet of tourism that sees a CANstant influx of visitors to a place that the NY Post calls "The Next Brooklyn" & which recently got a front-page write-up in the NY Times.

With all of this interest, my house is worth more than ever & I am CANsidering an exit strategy following the eventual passing of my mother & my maternal uncle. She owns the family home while he owns their family home, but they are both in their 80s & when they go, I go. Go back to college, hopefully UW (Madison), to remain in the Midwest.

Also locally, a friend hosts a monthly beer blow-out at his place in KofP which @JackHorzempa & his wife have attended & perhaps @drtth CAN also join us this Saturday, beginning at 1100.

Speaking of beginning, I beCAN my day with a girl:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/36487/370118/?ba=woodychandler#review

All right! Now that I am started, I will report back ocCANsionally.

 

At Twin Elephant Brewing, E-Town a 6.1 % APA brewed with Irish Malt and crystal Oats hopped with Chinook, Kohatu,Denali and Vic Secret hops. It pour hazy gold with a thin white head. Nice aroma of pine and hops. Nice balanced taste of malts pine and fruit. Full but very soft mouth feel. There is a nice dry finish. Overall a nice easy drinking beer. Well done

 

No need for credit, free use is fine, treat it as your own. (Did take a while to come up with that phrase, though...)

I am sypathetic with your wish and ecourage a visit if possble, but try explore more than the obvious tourist sites and large cities.

If I were to live for a long time in the UK I'd not pick Stratford-upon-Avon, rather I'd visit there occasionally for a dinner and a theater in the round performance. It is very much of a tourist destination. I'd be more inclined to pick a small village, a short drive away from one of the Universities and no more than an hours drive from a symphonic concert all. In that village there'd be 2-3 local pubs and at least one would be close enough that we would be able to walk there spend an evening with guests in a pub such as this one.

The Woodman's Stroke

Been there as a guest an so know it is possible.

 

Zundert 8

Continuing the theme of Belgian-not-Belgian is this Trappist beer from the Nerherlands. First off, let me just say that I seem to like this way more than the BA score. I loved this one. Love the name too... dig the Trappist number method rather than “style.” It’s a really beautiful reddish amber. Big and lasting rocky head. Tastes of plum and cherry with a touch of caramel and a good deal of bitterness. Great drinkability. Couldn’t tell you what spices are in this. Could drink a lot of this.

 

I have not even come close to exhausting the options of local beer. We are awash with options here, even though half the options these days seem to be hazy. However, I mix locals in with near locals - Iowa and Wisconsin , and beers from around the country and around the world.

I have a trip upcoming to the west coast, where I will be picking up some new-to-me west coast beers (CA, OR, WA, perhaps even a few western states' beers that are not on the coast) along with some imports that somehow don't make it to MN. I'll have to set a strict $-limit budget, though.

Today, I will be having a few beers from our neighbor, Wisconsin. First up is not the one I planned to start with, but since I just came in from bush-wacking the back yard - I prefer natural landscaping, but, unfortunately, somebody in the past thought it would be a good idea to bring the evil buckthorn into the state. So, I have to wack it back to keep it under some semblance of control, or it would take over. (There are even businesses in MN that will rent goats to you, since goats like to eat buckthorn... but I haven't gotten that desperate yet, and they are expensive).

But, back to the beer... coming in, hot and sweaty, and stabbed in the arms from doing battle with buckthorn, a crisp lager was calling my name.

City Lights Mexican Lager
ABV: 4.8%
IBU: 18



Crisp aroma, lemon and lime, a little bready malt.

Appearance is clear golden yellow with carb bubbles continuously rising to a 1/2 inch white head. The head drops to a thin cap and ring fairly quickly, but the rising bubbles never stop. Nice looking lager, but lighter in color than I was expecting, given the Vienna Lager style designation here on BA. The color is much too pale to be categorized in the "Dark Lagers" categories (even lighter than the picture might indicate).

Body is thin, but that is expected for the style.

Taste is quite refreshing, actually. Bread dough from the malts brightened up with the lemon and lime contribution from the hops. Hits the spot.

The finish is substantially malt-driven, bread dough, no bitterness, a little sweet, but the lime flavor keeps the refreshment quotient high.

Not bad at all for a light, refreshing beer. It won't win much beer-geek love, but it's exactly right if you're hot and thirsty.

Oh, and as I said at the beginning ... this beer is obviously (to me, anyway) mis-characterized on BA as a Vienna Lager. Somebody must have read the brewer's notes saying he used Vienna malt. However, the color is much too light. Also, according to the brewer, it contains flaked corn. This is an AAL. A well-made, flavorful, and refreshing AAL.

L: 3.75 | S: 3.5 | T: 3.5 | F: 3.0 | O: 3.5 | My calculated BA rating: 3.47

 

I'd like to add that the history of brewing in Lancaster area has a long rich history of brewing to the point that back in the day Lancaster was considered a major center of brewing in the somewhat younger United States.

http://www.welcome-to-lancaster-county.com/lancaster-brewing-history.html

Woody, I don't know if I or We CAN, but will take a careful look at the possibility. Thanks for the heads-up, etc.

BTW, long been wanting to ask, what are your two most favorite CANned beers? (A slightly longer list is OK. )

 

Good afternoon NBS and thanks @cjgiant for the kick off today. I have livened in the Pioneer Valley of western Mass all my days, the local beer scene has a solid mix of old and new. Over the last 5-9 years the same impact in craft brewing have been felt here. excellent newcomers pressuring the market. great range of style and quality offerings are the current state of affairs.
Todays offering is not local, but from our friends at Jackie O's. Not as good as other offerings in their barrel saison program but still very good.
Cheers all

Primary

Jackie O's Pub & Brewery
Belgian Saison | 5.5% ABV

4.04/5 rDev +2.5% | Average: 3.94
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Poured from 2018 a 500 ml bottle into the test glass
A - Very light straw color, almost still, very little carbonation. A few meandering spheres poking around in there.
S - White wine is the theme, grape must, a bit of cider vinegar, some green apple skin. lemon verbena. Add in oak, a kiss of vanilla, straw and touch of funk
T - Oaky tannin to start, then waves of lemongrass, green grape skin, some love chalky mineral, delicate grains here with a tilt toward wheat.
M - Semi tart start, then that tannin that has been present helps a bit of sweetness in fruit be noticed. Interest tension with these elements. Very clean and dry finish with again a chalky component that I find delightful.
O - A very nice mixed culture offering from this team, with an increase in the carbonation to assist in the texture, and you have a real winner

 

Good afternoon NBS, hope everyone is enjoying the end of the weekend once again. Thanks to @cjgiant for today's introduction. Been pretty busy this past week, made a few new friends to share beer with that live in my Apartment complex. Been nice to have some people to hang out with and enjoy beers now. I have too much beer, would rather give some away anyhow. Got a big haul yesterday from my usual store. Stocked up the fridge again.

Made another brewery run today. Milford was crowded with some Summer festival going on downtown, so I had to take a detour. Stopped at Rivers Edge for some prowlers, then a pint + crowlers at Rustic leaf.

Rustic Leaf Wit, Lav, Love. This was delicious. Aromas and flavors of big lavender, basil, peach, pear, melon, red apple, peppercorn, clove, and light banana/bubblegum yeast; with moderate wheat, cracker, biscuit dough malts; herbal, floral, grassy hops and yeast earthiness. Light-moderate herbal, floral, grassy bitterness; pepper/clove yeast spiciness; and light wheat/tang tartness on the finish. Medium carbonation/body, and fairly crisp finishing. Balanced creamy/grainy wheat and sticky hops/spice in the mouthfeel. Light-moderate increasing bitter/spicy dryness; no astringency. Refreshingly smooth, no warmth of 6.6%. Great balance between Belgian wit yeast, spices, and pale/wheat malts. Light residual sweetness with lingering dryness. Not overwhelming on any aspect, the Lavender/Basil replace the usual coriander character really well. Rarely been disappointed with anything they have been making. I always stop by for new stuff when they tap a new keg. I like talking to the head brewer every time go in. 3.9


Cheers

 

Your idea is perfect. There's about 10 of those types of small villages w/pubs on Midsommer Murders, and I'd be happy in any of them.

Stratford is definitely a tourist destination, but I loved it — for me, it was the small village I want to live in, and the Garrick is the pub I want to be able to walk to. Shakespeare is to me as the symphonic concert is to you, if that helps frame the picture. I'm not sure when I'll get back, but I will. When I do, I'll try and tour more of the area in search of the perfect village pub.

All of that being said, the truth is when I mentioned "in" Stratford, what I really meant was a few miles outside of town in the country, probably between Stratford and Warwick. Or further south between Stratford and Oxford would be cool. I wouldn't be able to walk to the pub, but I'm not the type to over-imbibe, so driving home from the pub shouldn't be a problem in this dream world. Taking the train from London to Stratford and seeing small farms and country homes tucked into a landscape that looks like The Shire from Tolkien's Hobbit/Rings books, all I could think is, "I want to live here."

 

I'm Having a UFO White Ale by Harpoon. It's a warm summer day and the bottle advertises it as, "Crisp, light bodied and brewed with orange peel & coriander". Sounds perfect for summer. The head is fairly small and fades quickly leaving minimal lacing. It smells of orange & wheat, the advertised coriander isn't present. Taste follows the nose, orange & wheat with no noticeable spice. Feel is as advertised, light & crisp with better carbonation than the head led me to expect. It's okay. I could see myself pounding these on a friend's deck in the summer if this is what he was serving. But it won't be served at my house.

 

Starting my Sunday with The Veil pinkferrari, thanks @thebeers!
4.01/5 rDev -2.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Thank you to thebeers for this
16 oz can, dated 7/22/19, poured into a teku

A- A hazy dark orange/copper with a two finger white head.

S- Citrus, citrus zest, peppercorns, dank, oranges.

T- Citrus, citrus rind, some peppercorns, some oranges, dank/earthy.

M- Smooth, medium body, a little creamy.

O- A good IPA from The Veil, just not as good as the other car beers I’ve had from them.

Cheers!

 

Other Half Raspberry Crunchee


Pours a pinkish red with a thin head, which vanishes immediately after pouring.


Smells of artificial water melon chewing gum, extremely sweet raspberry jam and a light, pleasant roastiness from the coconuts.


Has a very mellow mouthfeel with a lighter body to it, with almost no carbonation at all.


Tastes of sugared raspberries, which reveal a pleasant lighter tartness, among nothing much else but an artificial tasting fruit sweetness. Turns a little more sour then, with no funk to it but a profound sugar backbone, numbing down any possible complexity in this. Finishes effervescent and refreshing, with a light nuttiness to it, apart from the sugared raspberries.


I was wondering how an imperial fruited berliner might taste like, and all the adjuncts in this don‘t help to surpass the notion of added syrup. This drinks simple and not very pleasant, it reminds me of a raspberry bonbon with a sour core.

 

New Wild Ale Sunday (Week 755)
Greetings fellow NBSers from on the ridge in Mid Hud Val, NY. Beautiful day here.

So I usually end up with a freezer full of stored shrooms at the end of the fall and I love to give them as gifts, they not only are the result of much effort to get them, so I give something quite personal, but I don't have to spend money to buy gifts, and they're enjoyed as much as any gifts I could buy. Such great fun to find them, well, most of the time lol. This is the last bowl of cooked chants not already vacuum sealed, and in the freezer. Maybe if you are nice not naughty Santa will reward you with one of those freezerpaks. Wish I could reach out and let you guys dig into these...


Captain Lawrence the answer to what brewery was the first of true excellence around here. Psyched beyond words to finally get a chance to sit and savor this Flaming Fury. Will add a review to database later.


2014 edition
Fresh and over ripe peach hit first from this full strength aroma., some spicy and rotted fruit funk notes join it, very fragrant oak notes accentuate the white wine character that is here. I may be crazy but I get a bit of strawbery. Malt is light sourdough that is rounded tart with hint of sweet. Can't get my nose from the glass. Peach is so tasty in this.

Oh man, that peach though, fresh fruit flavor all these years later, overripe peach notes too, just brilliant peachy goodness, sooo much peach. Rounded sourdough tart is strong also. Oak balances it, a clean not at all tannic flavor like the scent of a fresh barrel. The wine character is less than in the aroma. It is all about the peach, it is all about the other flavors, it is all about balance. Sip ends with spicy funk, cresting tart, and a light herbal hit to jmake this perfection.

It is silky, easy drinking, low/med. carb, very viscous, clean as a whistle, finish is a long linger of excellence.

Complex mix of oak and fruity funk, a mix of ferm bugs and yeast flavors, light sweet that isn't jammy, and nice balance of them, yet simple in that it is driven by stunning peach. It is well balanced art that is a treat creating great happiness for me right now. Highest recommendation.

Hope you also have a Great American Beer in your glass. Cheers!

 

Good afternoon to most of you and happy New Belgian Sunday, BAs. To hit on @cjgiant 's topic of moving, I'd like to live right here where I already do, thank you very much. I admit it took me 35 years to move away from Southern California, but there is no place I'd rather be. Just so happens the beer ain't too shabby either. The views are pretty nice too:









After that Friday hike with the family at Latourell Falls, I had to stop by my favorite beer spot (and pick up a growler since I was there). Had a taster of this and deemed it worthy to give it a proper go.

Thunder Island
Fabio's Locks- Belgian Strong Ale



Not anything to write home about, appearance wise. Light apple juice golden body with a thin white head that escapes in a hurry, only enhancing the impostership of said fruit beverage. Still, a clean and inviting enough looking drink.

From sight to scent, this follows suit. Apple skins and unmistakable Belgian esters of pear and banana. Throw in some sweet honey, mix them all together, and bake some bread.

Once again, consistency throughout as banana nut bread is the first thing to come to mind. Caramelized apples with a touch of nutmeg, and an afterthought dash of pepper to balance things out a bit.

A bit thin, watery thin I'd say, and lacking that Belgian bubbly that's desperately missed. Sweet overall, but that hint of freshly cracked pepper saves it from being too much. Very easy to drink, dangerously so, especially as there is little to no indication of it's elevated abv.

Thunder Island doesn't deliver an instant classic here, but it's a great entry into a beer world that is seeming to go extinct. I'm not going to think of Fabio's Locks as a premier example of a Belgian Strong Ale, but I am gonna give it some love, as it's a refreshing change of pace and something you don't see many new US breweries attempting these days.

After my official review I gave Fabio's Locks a rating of 3.8. Cheers!

 

I just eyed that one yesterday...I think I need to go back and grab it.