New Beer Sunday (Week 769)

My interests, professional, and recreational, merged yesterday. I was at the state soccer tournament ( prof. and rec) and visited the Equilibrium Brewery taproom (rec). Soccer conversation followed, but their brews often host physics (prof). names.
Here, E=mc^2
This morning Energy Equals is open, a double IPA.
This, deep amber-orange can pour is opaquely cloudy. The aroma is fully tropical, guava, mango, some orange and grapefruit are present. The flavor follows the nose exactly. The hop bitterness includes grapefruit zest notes. The mouthfeel is very smooth. This is a richly flavored brew.
I’m sure I’ll finish the equation today, but mc^2 is not a new beer for me. I’ll swing to WBAYDN for that one.

 

Good morning and happy New Barley Sunday, BAs. Over the last week and a half, I've been bombed by three very generous BAs and have more unique new-to-me beers than I've ever had at one time. I'll do my best to showcase one from each of them today as I've really got nothing else to do, along with the fact that I'm off double secret probation as of yesterday, so it's celebration time!

First up, honoring my roots and old stomping grounds, from the magnanimous @2beerdogs …

Barley Forge
The Patsy Nitro- Coconut Rye Stout





(*Full discrepancy, I've had The Patsy on numerous occasions. It's delicious. Hell, I've even shared it with a few BAs that frequent this very thread. But I've never had the Nitro version and it sounds just perfect for a Sunday morning beer.)

After a vigorous pour, a solid mass of deepest brown bordering black, forms. There's even deeper shades of red that highlight the sides of the glass when held to light. When the magic finally settled, that classic smooth memory foam mattress of tanned head forms. It descends slowly and leaves minimal lacing.

Toasted coconut clearly dominates right off the bat. Not quite your Hawaiian Tropic lotion levels, but lots of it. Almond and chocolate lay below. Ultimately, this smells like an Almond Joy bar.

Tastes like one too. Coconut over chocolate over lightly toasted almonds. It has a grainy and slightly herbal finish, but not before a mineral water/ metallic flavor gets its say.

With one sip, I can tell this will benefit with some warmth. It's smooth, mildly creamy, and light to medium bodied. Despite all those sweet sounding flavor contributions, this is surprisingly balanced, perhaps even leaning on the bitter side of the fence, especially considering that toastiness.

I don't know if I like this better than the original or not, and perhaps I never will. Right off the bat, this reminded me of Modern Times Nitro Black House, which is saying something cuz I friggin loved that beer.

After my official review, I gave The Patsy Nitro a rating of 4.02 with an rDev of -0.5%. Cheers, and thanks again Derek!

(**It's also recently been brought to my attention that this long time Costa Mesa establishment is going the way of the dodo. A shame really, as they were pioneers and made delicious products. Their staples, The Patsy and Grandpa Tractor, were also comforting standbys. Thanks for all your years, Barley Forge!)

 

A-Pours a very nice golden color with a slight head and lacing
A-Aroma has tart peach hints
T-The taste follows the nose with a nice sour peach flavor
M-A light bodied well carbonated beer
O-A great Wild Ale

 

Poured into a 16 oz Nordic pint glass, canned on 9/28/19. Pours a very hazy yellow orange with a half finger sticky white head that leaves thick webs of lace all over the place, with solid retention. 4.5

Smell cantaloupe, papaya, peach, pineapple, mango, and some apricot. This one is actually really impressing me, look and smell true to the East Coast Style. 4.5

Taste follows really nice melon, papaya, mango, pineapple, peach, and apricot very little bitterness and really juicy. 4.5

Mouthfeel is bigger than average, nice soft gentle carbonation, sticky not dry from the crazy amount of fresh hops, and at 8.6% easy drinking, but loaded with flavor. 4.75

Overall this is very very impressive. Sometimes I get disappointed in these bigger breweries that claim they are making a NEIPA and they can’t get the look, taste, or feel and Rogue delivered the entire package with this one and it was a fresh hop. Really impressed and at $15 a 4 pack going back 4 more. 4.5

 

Jack, could you say what the Saphir hops are adding? Some of that lemon?

I ask because I know I've had something with Saphir in it but can't seem to pinpoint it on my list of reviews.

Thanks for another great post!

 

New Saturday High Sunday

Long time no see NBS crew. I have been pretty lazy about rating beers, let alone reviewing them lately between work and enjoying new ones with friends and family. Probably haven’t even scored 80% of the last 50-100, but I’m home and drinking a new one all at the same time today so...



3.81/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Amber in color. Moderate light tan head.

Smells like toffee/caramel, toasted grains, and light coffee.

The coffee flavor is a little more prominent in flavor than aroma, but still fairly subtle. You get it up front and in the finish, but it lets the beer come through in between. I would guess it’s an English malt base because while it tastes like an Amber Ale, it definitely has some English Barleywine qualities. Fairly rich with a lot of caramelized sugars and toffee. Also some toasted bread and some light hop bitterness.

Body is fairly thin, bordering on watery for the ABV, but it works alright with the flavors.

A refreshingly different take on a coffee beer as they all seem to be stouts most of the time. Enjoyable beer.

Thanks to @Ozzylizard for stopping by the house with a couple of these. Nice to try a non stout or cream ale coffee beer.

 

From Boulevard's six-pack featuring three different Tasting Room beers...

Imperial Sweet Stout Aged in Bourbon Barrels...

Black pour into a large snifter produced a fat finger of dark brown foam that left lace motes down the glass with every sip... Aromas of bourbon and molasses and some drying oaky char... Tastes sweet, of course, but not over-the-top - has rich chocolaty notes, hints of roast coffee and espresso, and ample vanilla... Milky feel lends suggestions of cream and sugar to the palate, and the body is fairly full but not too heavy; mildly carbonated... Better than I expected - recommended...

Best by bottling of 8/26/20; 11.9% abv...

Here's to new beer in your glass, cheers...

 

If its the Peaches from Cherry Street Brewing

This one has a typical NEIPA nose the leads with grapefruit and other citrus fruits. Taste has a ton of peach character, one of the most peach-forward beers I've had for sure. Alcohol is extremely hidden but at 7% abv that isn't hard. Mouthfeel is nice and creamy, this is very smooth and easy to drink with next to no bitterness. I would definitely buy this one again but the sweetness essentially makes it dessert in a glass so I wouldn't want to drink more than one.

 

very good timing Matt. My wants list needs to be overhauled thanks to the savages group. This just made the new list

 

Right on brother!

 

Southern Prohibition Sunkatcher IPA 7.5%

Grains used are malted and flaked oats, barley and a hefty dose of spelt malt.

Hops used are Amarillo, Motueka, Nelson Sauvin and Mosaic.

Hazy gold color with good white cap and lacing.

Aroma of bright, juicy hops with citrus zest undertones.

Taste is hop led with sharp citrusy notes opening like a trumpet voluntary. Clear high pitched notes that sing out with clarity and presence. There is an even balance between the hop flavors with citrus and herbal qualities in about equal measure. Grains play a secondary role providing a creamy textured base for the hops to play off of.

Full texture with balancing carbonation.

A very well crafted and complex beer in the hazy New England IPA style.

 

Ommegang saison rose
..cloudy cranberry color
...above average carbonation with a just above average body
..aroma is yeast,sugar,plum,orange, a little jam
..taste is grape ,grape peel and seed,wine,vinegar, dry grape juice
...very complex flavorful beer that would go well with a whole mixed assortment of food. It manages to be mildly sweet as well as mildly dry at the same time

 

Yes, IMO the subtle but noticeable flavor of lemon is contributed by the Saphir hops.

Below are some more details on this hop from a quick web search:

“Saphir Hops: The Gem of German Noble Hops

The Saphir hop variety, sometimes called Sapphire, Hallertau Saphir, or Sappire, is another aroma hop to come out of the Hop Research Institute in Hüll, Germany.

It’s hard to pin-point exactly when the breeding program that resulted in Saphir began, but it was released in 2000 (PDF). So knowing that, we can take an educated guess by using an average of 10 to 14 years to bring a new hop onto the market, which gives us a start window of between 1990 and 1986.”

And:

“Use: Saphir is an aroma hop, having much the same character as other noble hops. However, many of the beer styles Saphir is most often associated with do not require high bittering, allowing for the possibility of Saphir’s use throughout the brewing process.”

Also:

“Sensory Description: Saphir is described as having a noble hop character. Mild and pleasant, it has spicy notes melding with tones of sweet fruit, like berry and light tangerine citrus; soft, but with distinct hoppy tang.”

https://learn.kegerator.com/saphir-hops/

Cheers!

P.S. Firestone Walker Pivo Pils is dry hopped using Saphir but you need to find this beer extremely fresh to be able to perceive the aroma/flavor contribution of Saphir in this beer. I have only once been able to purchase fresh Pivo Pils (i.e., less than 1-2 months from bottling) and while I was able to perceive the Saphir in the first few bottles from that 6-pack for the last 3-4 beers aroma from the Saphir hops diminished to the point of not really being perceptible. Hindsight being 20/20 I should have consumed that 6-pack within just a few days of the date of purchase.

 

Badger State Brunchfest Coffee Stout, 5.8% ABV. Pours black and somewhat thick, with a one-finger light brown head that left some foamy lacing. Nose is coffee and slight chocolate. Taste follows, slightly sweet, moderate bitterness. Excellent mouthfeel, overall outstanding. Nice coffee stout that isn't overrun by coffee bitterness.

4.29/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Thanks to @GreenBayBA for providing this great Green Bay beer in an in-person trade. Our Packers have a bye this week, so we get to cheer for whomever is playing the Vikings, Bears, and Lions. Not to be petty or anything.

 

Good afternoon NBS and thanks to @cjgiant for the start today. We have been out and about the last few days and am happy to be home.
Today's offering is from our dear friends at Cambridge Brewing Company. The annual Heather Ale, A delicious Gruit that sings in the aromatics and the palate. Drinks wonderfully while not hiding its roots.
Cheers all
Heather Ale

Cambridge Brewing Company
Scottish Gruit / Ancient Herbed Ale | 5% ABV

4.16/5 rDev +14% | Average: 3.65
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 750 ml bottle, from 2019 into the test glass.
A - Lite amber color, excellent clarity. Gentle carbonation puts on a trance inducing steady dance. A thin ring wraps an archipelago of tiny islands.
S - Heather, leads the way other botanicals chime in, lavender, sage, rose hip, lemon verbena. This is like a florist shop, so many layers all very nice.
T - I certainly get the lavender and heather, add in some red raspberry, red wheat, just a kiss of tart fruit. A gentle touch of mixed culture maybe? Lots of back and forth on this front, Excellent tension adds depth.
M - Medium in body, sweet start, then a slide toward the the tart side ever so slightly. Finish is similar to young Riesling.
O - A very good gruit, the total package is so enjoyable, Lots of flavors riding and impressive aromatic. Clean , crisp and loaded with twists and turns in the best way. Pair with a soft runny cheese and enjoy

 

Guinness, Open Gate Brewery Baltimore - Stock Ale

@TongoRad , if you're opening this beer today too, skip my post until you have yours.

There was a thread in the Beer News section about the release of this beer, and I expressed my disappointment there about this beer on a conceptual level. It's a bourbon barrel aged barley wine and stout blend. On paper, I would have been really, really happy with them releasing a regular barley wine or more traditional stock ale. This direction was frustrating. Despite that, I hoped for the best and was excited to grab an expensive four pack. Unfortunately, on first sip, I'm just disappointed again.

The beer is near black with reddish brown highlights. It's essentially opaque in the glass and quite pretty. With this being Guinness, I was hoping for a subdued bourbon barrel impact. For me, this wasn't the case. The beer is surprisingly overwhelmed by the bourbon barrels. It's unrefined. Surprisingly once again, the alcohol is too upfront. The beer is sweet. Tastes of char, raisin, dates, dark fruits, and nuts. It's more palatable as it warms, but the beer is a bit of a chore and I'm not thrilled that I bought a four pack. Maybe I'll open up another one later tonight for a second take.

 

Excuse the man boobs, but I am part of a few FB groups and I promised a guy who has been arguing with me a live video like he likes to do. 4.75L, 4.75S, 4.75T, 5.75M, and 4.75O. Amazing beer and a lot of my different voices is for him.

 

Good day, NBS. Most of my yard appliances are now prepped for Winter. My snowblower needs some work, but that will be a project for next weekend.

Today’s first new beer review and amazingly proper glassware comes to me courtesy of @Oconomowocian

I’m very excited about this beer! Barleywine is a favorite, and I had no idea that New Glarus brewed one. It seems this beer was born in 2012.






Look: The beer pours a medium to deep amber color with a murky and translucent appearance. A finger of tightly packed khaki colored head when I pour. It eventually settles down to thin a layer of bubbles across the top of the beer with some specs of foam on the side of the glass. No visible carbonation. The murky amber color is what I like to see in this style.

Smell: White raisins, prune, soft sherry, and some sweet holiday spice that reminds me of candied orange and nutmeg. Label says graham cracker. I get some of that too. Some rotting peach and lemon. Bready.

Taste: White raisins, white grapes and sweet fruit bread on the tip of tongue. Mid palate the bitter, resinous and lemon pithy hops show up. Earthy and citrusy tea. Lemon herbal tea. Caramel and toffee. Dried apricot.

Feel: Medium level of carbonation. Smooth. Warming on the palate and in the pipes. Exactly the feel good want in a 12% Barleywine.

Overall: This beer drinks like an American Barleywine that’s aged gracefully, taking on soft oxidation notes. I prefer English Barleywine over American. That said, I’ve come around over the past couple years, and I love an American Barleywine that gives way to the hops over time, coupled with some nice oxidation. I would’ve enjoyed the opportunity to try this beer fresh, but am basking in the glory it’s become over the past 7 years.

Thank you @Oconomowocian ! This beer is a real treat!

 

Good afternoon, all.

Regarding mixed recycling... I have always been suspicious that mixed recycling is more of a feel-good thing than a practical thing, and much of it ends up in the landfill anyway, given the problems that would be associated with actually separating it all back out. But, I have no experience in the recycling industry, so maybe my suspicions are unfounded. Whatever, we always have more in our mixed recycling bin than in our garbage bin. So the "feel-good" part works for us.

On to today's beer. Today will be a porter day for me, as I have 3 on standby for today.

First up is:
Anchor Porter
ABV: 5.6%
IBU: 20



Rich aroma, if not too strong. Sweet caramel, raisins, chocolate.

Deep dark brown, nearly opaque even with a backlight. Tall, thick and creamy milk chocolate colored head that takes its time receding, leaving behind rings of lacing and an uneven bubbly top of the remaining head.

Rich taste as well, dark fruit, chocolate, and smooth initially, with some bitterness coming through in the middle, leading to a relatively dry finish and bitterness lingering on the tongue, along with the very flavorful malt body - again, hints of caramel, chocolate, dark fruit, and roasted malts.

The body is medium, tending toward substantial, especially for a porter.

Overall, a well-constructed porter. Rich and complex flavor, good body, roasted malts complemented by sweet caramel, raisins, and chocolate, moderated by the hop bitterness. The finish is relatively dry, but with hints of the sweetness remaining.

Top notch. Extremely enjoyable and flavorful.

L: 4.5 | S: 4.0 | T: 4.5 | F: 4.0 | O: 4.25 | BA rating: 4.28