New Beer Sunday (Week 772)

Make room on the CBS bandwagon, I'm on board.

I'm glad I never bought this in a bomber, this is so sweet, 12 oz. is plenty. It is a great brunch beer, and I am happy it showed up on the singles shelf.
It has plenty of carbonation for an 11% ABV brew. No alcohol heat, either.

Look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

 

I was shopping for the St. Bernardus Christmas Ale, and there on the shelf was a St. Bernardus gift pack (that I've seen before, of course, and walked on by) that this time I decided to purchase. It had 1 tripel, 1 quad (Abt 12), and 2 dubbels (1 Pater 6 and 1 Prior 8), plus this very nice looking chalice. I've never bought this pack before, since I was annoyed by it having only one of each for a 4 beer box. I guess the chalice finally sucked me in... Anyway...

Here is the first from the pack:
St. Bernardus Tripel
ABV: 8.0%
IBU: 30



Amber to golden color, rising bubbles are plentiful, up to a relatively tall, creamy, bubbly head from a very careful pour. Slightly hazy with suspended yeast. The head recedes moderately quickly, leaving some lacing just above and following the head down to a cap. Nice sheets on the opposite side of the glass as you drink.

Aroma is bready and fruity. Ripe peaches and apricots. Spicy - clove and black pepper. Slightly funky. Crackery and earthy.

Taste is dry and fruity. Earthy and spicy. The ripe to perhaps overripe fruit - peach and apricots - mellows out a very slight bitterness. No hint of the ABV - the alcohol is well hidden. The finish and aftertaste are very dry. The bready, crackery malts compliment the spicy pepper and fruity esters, but with not even a hint of sweetness.

Body is moderate with noticeable carbonation tingling.

Well crafted beer. A joy to enjoy! ;-).

L: 4.0 | S: 4.25 | T: 4.5 | F: 3.75 | O: 4.5 | BA rating: 4.34

 

Continuing with New Barleywine Sunday, this time I'm going with an American barrel aged version provided by the still on double secret probation BA, @joe1510 .

Central Waters-
Brewers Reserve Bourbon Barrel Barleywine





Just for fun, and to have a final side by side comparison, I've saved just a few little sips from the Sign of the Wolf. Let's see how goes…



CWs Barleywine pours a slightly muddled brown tinted by caramel and fiery orange highlights. A thin khaki foam develops then descends into a creamy looking hairline hugging the perimeter of the glass. A film swirls in the center.

Bold aroma dominated by burnt brown sugar with molasses folded gently in. A splash of vanilla and pre-baked cinnamon rolls are finished off with damp oak.

Sweet, caramel drizzled figs are quickly displaced by bitter dried orange peel. The oak and bourbon are intense, and the alcohol flavor lasts the entirety between sips. Mulling spices come in and out, but develop as it warms.

Pretty rich, silky feel which ends up being an afterthought to the boozy warmth. The sugary sap coats the lips while a burn and bitter bite fill the chest and mouth.

This is a sipper with an enormous alcohol presence. Delicious throughout and a real treat. Central Waters delivers another beauty from the Brewers Reserve Series.

After my official review, I gave CW Barleywine a rating of 4.24 with an rDev of -2.3%. Cheers!

(*On comparison, CW was much more alcoholic, rich, sweet and bitter compared to the Fort George's slightly tart, thinner, more aromatic offering. I'd say a draw, but the Fort George would win for the drinkability factor. For what it's worth, I made a cuvee of the two and that was just right .)

 

Alright my experiment using Postimage since Imgur is no longer bringing in photos for me.

While Pipeworks IIPAs tend toward the higher octane in taste and feel, Emerald Grouper turned out better honestly than most west coast IPAs made in the region!



Do they not post any larger than this?

 

Today I have a new-to-me Kolsch- Handline from Devils Purse Brewing. In the commotion involved in my wife getting the dogs to pose in front of the tree, the beer spilled, thus the paper towels in the pictures.
3.82/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Poured to a Pils glass from a chilled 16 oz can labeled "best by 2/1/2020.
Appearance is almost classic Pilsner/Kolsch -light straw, tiny bubbles rising constantly to a frothy white head however it is not crystal clear.
Straw, grass, a hint of white pepper hit the nose.
Taste is malt front, mild hop finish. Texture is slightly oily, a little distracting from a desired crisp sensation,.
Overall fair to good.

 

I have never asked, but where in France do you liv?

 

Well it was double secret... now it’s just secret. As long as no one else mentions it, we’re fine, though.

 

Good Sunday afternoon, New Beer Sippers and commentators. Thank you, @lordofthewiens for leading off with an interesting topic. Sadly, I never got to know my father-in-law very well. A little over a year after my wife and I married in 1984, he died suddenly of a heart attack at the young age of 59 (my age now). I've always gotten along well with my mother-in-law, who is almost 90, but alas she's in the early stages of dementia which is very difficult for my wife. She's been a wonderful grandmother to our kids and taught them in Sunday School. She was a political junkie with an astute understanding and we generally agreed on things. While she's still alive I rarely see her these days although my wife visits several times a week.

On to beer. I always say that Russian Imperial Stout is my favorite style. Icarus Brewing, in Lakewood, NJ, brews a well-regarded series of them. While I've had - and enjoyed - Kalashnikoffee (a coffee variant), I haven't had the base Stout, Kalashnikov, until today. It's a big Stout at 14.5% ABV. It's basic and no thrills; very roasty and bitter but with a nice helping of black cherry and other dark fruit. I like it a lot and will buy more if I can find it. It's a great sipper on a cold winter's night. Here's my full review:

4.49/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Canned on 11/26/2019. Poured into a pint glass at approximately 55 degrees. It pours an inky, oily black with nearly a finger of frothy, medium-khaki head and thick lacing. When I popped the can I could smell the dark fruit immediately. There is also the aroma of roasted malt and peanut, along with a whiff of caramel. The taste opens super roasty with with abundant char, burnt malt and nuts, and tobacco. While initially it's highly bitter, as the glass warms I'm tasting a lot of black cherry and subtle caramel. While the sweetness somewhat tempers the bitterness, it's nonetheless a very bitter brew (in a good way). This stout is creamy and viscous with mild carbonation, and the 14.5% packs a wallop. You don't taste the booze but you certainly feel it. Sip it slowly and savor it. Overall, I rated Kalashnikov higher than Kalashnikoffee because it's a basic, roasty, bitter Russian Imperial Stout - which I prefer. It justifies its lofty rating. Icarus has done an outstanding job and I look forward to drinking it often - especially on a cold winter's night with snow on the ground. Za vashe zdarovje!

I hope everyone is enjoying their new beer(s) today. I always enjoy reading your reviews. I'll be back shortly with something a little liter. Cheers, NBS!

 

I love France and have strong connections going deep into time. I have an uncle that lives on an island in The Seine just at Paris. He has relatives across the Americas, predating the USA, including me. Some of The Germans (Prussians) were a long standing line that eventually came to the USA, to make cotton reaping machinery to possibly help abolish slavery. It was at the behest of George Washington and Alexander Hamilton. I have books about this stuff...

 

Wooly Pig - Rustic Helles

Huge thanks to @TongoRad for this one. Truly appreciated. Look @Roguer , a little Willibecher. Yep, I'll always tag you with affection under such conditions. This glass, bottle, beer, and label combo has to be the cutest looking beer image I've seen in a while.

I'm surprised by how pale this beer is. It's a lifeless milky yellow. Nice head. Wonderful aroma. It's all corn, hay, and pilsner malt. Intoxicating. The beer is extremely gentle. The big aroma shrinks down to a whisper in the taste. Very light body. There's some acidic lemon character, but I couldn't tell you if it's a result of the Saphir hops, the malt, the process, or a combination of elements. The beer has such little bitterness it's crazy. The overall result is so light that it feels like an amazing little table beer that happens to clock in at a surprisingly high 4.9% ABV. (This is a dangerous beer in that regard.) For me, it drinks like that much more than a typical German Helles, but I really admire it for what it is.

 

Hey what's going on?!

Hope everyone is alright. Man the holidays are seriously sneaking up on me.

I have been cracking some good drink here and there. Got some homebrew bottled, but also had issues during fermentation. The beer is overly lively, still tastes great though! But I managed to have 3 12oz bottles pop. All on different days... that has been annoying.

I still have a very active beer fridge and goodies in there. Hope I can share some new beers and cheers with you all.

What's new for our hero today? Oh here is a fun one. Suggested to me from the shop, as an off shoot from the brewery. Had to add, snap a photo, just to review. Not just brand new NBS beer, brand new BA beer to the site too!



Poured from the can into a nonic pint glass.

Listed as "quad" version of their regular Pumpelly porter. Minimal head creation, but with a classic tan color and one finger appearance. Settles to a good creamy crown, on top of a very dark walnut nearly black body.

Real nice aroma. Deep hints of dark chocolate, a thick vanilla in the mix, and quite a bit of nutty like sensing char quality. Hints a little milky sensing also, but with a thicker presence possibly.

Palate takes some getting used to. Fairly fleeting wet body even for a porter, but has a very odd tasting palate. Lots of berried like ester and wine flavor, not quite hinting infection, but some nice little grape to raspberry like wine fruit almost. Hints faint chocolate and roast notes, and a light touch of porter roast on the finish that suddenly brings back the hint of actual style. Prickly. A little jarring.

Not a bad beer, but for an Imperial porter, things seemed to go in unexplained territory? I this Belgian yeast to imitate a Belgian Quad? Perhaps that’s what I am getting. If that is so, maybe it's not I feel the best partnership for me.

Cheers!

look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
3.51/5 rDev 0%

 

My wife is a great person. Beautiful, smart, hard working and fun. She comes from a great family. My mother in law is a saint and one of the nicest, sweetest people to have ever walked the planet. My brother and sister in laws ar great people. My late father in law was a brilliant tax attorney and a “ character.” I am very lucky to have the in-laws that I have

My new beer features a new hop Zappa. Modulation #13 from Stellwagen brewing

4.08/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

“Utilizes a new hop called Zappa. Showcasing flavors and aromas of tropical fruit, mint and fruity red berries. Malt 2 row, malted oats, flaked oats, carafoam, white wheat hops, Zappa and enigma hops.”

On tap at the brewery, translucent golden yellow, thin White foam head

Followed up by a can purchased and consumed at home. poured into a teku. One finger fizzy white foam cap over a hazy amber orange liquid. Some lacings, good retention

Aroma of pineapple, pine, tropical fruits

Taste is more pine

Medium sudsing, hop nibble lingers on the back of the tongue, semi dry finish

Good beer

 

This thread is either slower than usual, or I am drinking earlier than usual, but here is my 3rd of the day and it's only on page 2 of the thread!

I didn't mention the side topic of today (in-laws) since mine are were more unusual than anything else, and they are both passed on now. I enjoyed visiting with my father-in-law, perhaps because he was about as anti-social as I am, and would only last an hour or so at family events before he would make an excuse (or sometimes not even that) and just leave. My MIL was just a bit strange.

Anyhow, on to the promised beer #3.

Bell's This One Goes To 11 Ale
ABV: 11.0%
IBU: 75



Strong and vibrant aroma fills the area as this beer is poured. Pine, citrus, sweet malts.

Color is dark red-amber topped by a thick off-white head with a slightly red tint. The head has good retention for a beer this strong, hanging around for a good 10 minutes before it drops to a thick cap. It leaves disconnected icicles of lacing down the glass. As you drink, the lacing becomes more prominent, and sheets down the glass after each sip on the drinking side, while remaining on the opposite side.

Nicely balanced flavor up front between the hops (citrus and pine) and the caramel malts. The malts are on equal footing with the hops, but it never gets close to sweet territory. The middle is where the bitterness begins, carrying through the finish, and lingering pleasantly on the tongue in the aftertaste.

The mouth feel has a moderate (toward the substantial side) body, with a smoothness interrupted by the hops bitterness.

Overall, an extremely well-balanced ale where there are strong hops flavoring inter-playing with substantial malts taste, and a nicely bittered finish. There is very little alcohol in the taste; no alcohol burn, but a definite alcohol effect hits before you get to the bottom of the glass! Big beer, big taste, big like!

L: 4.25 | S: 4.25 | T: 4.5 | F: 4.0 | O: 4.5 | BA rating: 4.38

 

New Beer #2

The review:
11.2oz bottle BBE JAN 20 L 8304 poured into a tulip glass at fridge temp 6.1% ABV. The beer pours dense very dark brown with rusty brown head. The head recedes to a thin cap and leaves a little lacing. The aroma is mild with chocolate and roast malt. The taste is barely tangy roasted malt reminiscent of darkly roasted coffee with a hint of oak before a moderately bitter finish. The mouthfeel is medium to thin bodied with medium carbonation and a dry finish. Overall, good to very good. This beer is over a year old and was aged with Irish whiskey barrel staves giving just a bit of oaky dryness to the beer at this point in it's life. It's a very nice English stout and would probably have a higher BA score if the words "barrel aged" didn’t appear on the label.

Cheers all. Hopefully I have one more in me today.

 

NBS #2. Open Mic, an "Oak Soaked India Pale Ale" from Funk Brewing in Pennsylvania. A friend gave me this can at Thanksgiving. The odd thing about this beer is its smell. Something about it reminds me of a Bloody Mary: tomato and spice. But the taste is full of peach, citrus, and sweet oats. While not the best offering from Funk, I enjoyed it. This would be a great summertime beer. Here's my full review:

3.79/5 rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Canned on 11/7/2018. Poured into a Spiegelau IPA glass. It pours a hazy honey-orange color with a huge, gelato-like, bright white head and thick, soapy lacing. It smells of orange, lemon, grapefruit, onion, and (I swear) V-8 juice. It smells a little like a Bloody Mary. I'm not sure whether that's intended. The taste features peach, tangerine, lemon peel, grapefruit, straw, and mildly bitter hops. As the glass warms I also taste and oaty sweetness. It's lite and crisp with moderate carbonation, and drinks very easily at 5.5% ABV. Overall, this is a pleasant IPA that has lots of flavor and drinks easily. I could be a great summertime beer and would be a great beverage to accompany burgers, dogs, grilled chicken or sausage.