New Beer Sunday (Week 775)

Happy Last NBS of 2019, New Beer Samplers and commentators. It's hard to believe the year's almost done. I've enjoyed spending Sunday afternoons communing with you all and I look forward to the next year. While I don't plan a completely dry January, I intend to drink more judiciously. Quality over quantity will be my mantra.

Today's NBS #1 is Divided by Boss, a NEIPA collaboration between Rushing Duck and Newburgh Brewing. These two brewers have a history together and several years ago produced a stunning American Strong Ale (a blend of Stouts and Quads) called Greetings from Duckburgh, which was one of the best beers I've ever tasted. So I wanted to give this collab a try although I didn't expect anything nearly as good as Duckburgh. For full disclosure I had a pint of this at Rushing Duck yesterday but made no notes. It was canned on 11/26/2019 so it's a little over 4 weeks old; I generally prefer fresher IPAs. But this is really fine. It's hopped with Rakau and Motueka (a favorite of mine) from New Zealand, along with Nelson Sauvin. It opens with tart citrus and tropical fruit and closes with dry white wine grape. The tastes blend very nicely and it's thoroughly enjoyable so I'm glad I bought a 4-pack. As an added bonus, my wife likes it too.

Here's my full review:

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

Canned on 11/26/2019. Poured into a Rushing Duck snulip glass. It pours an opaque, pale golden-tangerine color with a half finger of fluffy, milk-white head and lots of clinging lacing. A fruity, floral nose featuring tangerine, pineapple, lemon, tropical fruits, and a whiff of vanilla. There is also the unique aroma of Nelson Sauvin hops. It's packed with fruit flavor, including tart lemon and grapefruit and sweeter tangerine and peach at mid-palate. The Motueka hops add soft tropical notes. It finishes dry and mildly bitter with a touches of white wine grape courtesy of the Nelson hops and pine needles from the Rakau. The tastes blend beautifully. It boasts a creamy, plush mouth feel with a pleasant level of carbonation, and it drinks easily at 7%. Overall, I'm very impressed by this collaboration. I wish I had the opportunity to drink it when first released but at 4+ weeks in the can it's still very good. It really showcases the New Zealand hops.

I'll be back shortly with another new beer from the Empire State. Cheers, NBS!

 

Well done, Craig!

 

Ian, I'm really happy that things are going well for you and that you're enjoying your re-balancing. Even if you don't post quite as often I think I'll appreciate them more. Your beer insights are keen and always welcome. Cheers and Happy New Year!

 

The nice thing about pale lagers is that they don't fatigue the palate. Next up...


16oz can stamped 9/25/19 (3 months ago) poured into a Spiegelau IPA glass at fridge temp, no ABV listed on can. The beer pours slightly hazy orange amber in color with off white head. The head recedes to a thick ring and leaves a little lacing. The aroma is faint with sweet caramel and a touch of citrus. The taste is semisweet caramel with muted pine and earthy hops. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with average carbonation and a mostly dry finish. Overall, ok. I received this beer as a gift and it reminds me why I rarely purchase 18th Street here. It takes 6 weeks for the distributor to move the beer here from 5 hours away and then it's not worth the price. I would probably fill a cooler if I ever visit the brewery.

I believe I'm done with new beer for today. I've got a few "old" favorites around that won't let me down. Cheers all!

 

NBSx2. Big thanks from the last NBS BIF to @thebeers for this gem.

Tired Hands
An Unconscious Encore





A gorgeous body walks a line between brass and copper. Not quite to a polished level, but shimmers nonetheless. Above, a bright white foam grows to a three fingered pinnacle before settling back down to barely more than a memory.

The aroma is deeply ingrained with the wild. Damp attic wood from a forgotten barn mixes with the overgrown mossy earthen floor below. Pops of stone fruit, honey, orange and wildflower blossoms transport you directly to a rustic and well loved farm in the dead of spring.

Tart tangerine zest encapsulates the aforementioned with a splash of lemon that was squeezed through a wooden civ. Plum juice is subtle in the background, but is evident in its sweet contributions. Long after sips, a fresh slice of sourdough bread soaks everything in.

Dancing between tart and sour, with sweet, bready, and earthy notes, this ale has depth. There's even a light pinch of bitterness too. It's crisp, light, and bubbly scrubbing clean feeling, yet still intense enough to demand small sips.

Wild ales are an interesting beast. While those crazy bacterias and yeasts seem to impart common characteristics, they also allow for well made beverages shine to masters of the ingredients. This one fits that bill.

Big thanks again, Arthur!

After my official review, I gave An Unconscious Encore a rating of 4.25 with an rDev of +2.2%. Cheers!

 

Cheers to @cjgiant for a fun start to NBS today and for the fantastic pics from the PNW!

Today's new beer is courtesy of @FlintB and it's another winner:



This was a beautiful beer with a slightly hazy pinkish-orange color and a medium white head that possessed impressive staying power. The aroma was dominated by a flowing vanilla scent, with dried oak and tart rhubarb mixed in. Moderately tart on the palate, this was very easy to drink. Bright rhubarb and tart cherry notes were smoothed over by the vanilla. Oak was noticeable on the finish. There was a slight funk throughout which gave the beer a nice complexity. Medium bodied and carbonated. Overall this was outstanding and highly recommended. Thanks again Brian!

 

Perrin No Rules 2018 Imperial BBA Porter, 15% ABV. Pours black with a ring of bubbles. Nose is coconut, chocolate, and brown sugar. Taste is quite sweet brown sugar, caramel, chocolate, bourbon, and coconut, with no bitterness. Excellent mouthfeel, overall world-class.

4.55/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

A world-class pastry BBA porter thanks to @drunkenmess to celebrate the Packers win, if you can call it that. Atrocious passing, and they barely pulled out a win. They won't get far in the playoffs like that.

 

Don't sell yourself short, Craigy. Those are stunning pics. Glad you made it to Fort Stevens

 

Great pics!

 

Who is this Craigy your talking about!?!

 

Hey what's going on!?

Holy Hell! I totally forgot it was Sunday today... I am getting ahead of myself. Is this year nearly over? yeah it sure is!

Well I already did 2 so I will give you a double shot!! How about THOSE apples huh!!

Let's get going!!

What's new for our hero today?



Poured from the can into a nonic pint glass.

Real neat looking fruit beer. Deep dark pink with light purple body color and a slight opaque appearance. Body glows a little bit but also stays away from murky sludge. It's coupled with a real fluffy dark pink to purple cotton candy looking head that makes a real good addition.

Good solid blueberry aroma, but there's a hint of somewhat vegetative if maybe even beet juice sensation. Are my eyes thwarting my nose? Good sense of jam puree thick and rich too.

Palate really hits the spot. Mid palate hits with rich fruit berry flavors and a thick malt presence. I feel like seeds are getting stuck in my teeth as the berry quality feels real expressive. The beer angle is there quite nicely too, rich malt density and backbone, perhaps a touch of wheat or pils chew, and a good bakery bready finish to match.

Excellent fruit beer.

4.19/5 rDev +6.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

AAAAAAAAAAAAAaaannnd!!!!




Poured from the can into a large snifter glass. Canned October 24th 2019.

Wow, is this dark as bananas! Well of course bananas aren't dark (unless they real rotten) but the excitement of the appearance can't be denied. An oil slick out of the can but fills with deep midnight body tones of black and a big shoe polish shine. The head is small in creation but is supper dark mocha, one of the darkest I've seen on any beer, it manages a faint half tall just dark chocolate finger, before sitting in a good creamy collar. This might be about as best as a stout can get in the looks department.

The aroma is impressive, but seems to hint very little touches of barrel character. Still it's large and impressive. Thick tones of chocolate fudge with a creamy underpining. Lots of roasted dark malts in a similar fudgy vein as well on the nose. Ganache chocolate, thick dark bitterness. Just a big thick rush on the nose.

The palate really performs. Still there is not much hint of oaky character, but the flavors loom large and grand. The biggest surprise is the lacking mouthfeeel, while supportive, isn't bringing a round richness. There's also a bit of fizz hiding in here. However, the flavors still pack a wallop, crispy dark chocolate waffer like malt. Fudge char blasting with a big bitterness of roast that is almost mineral hot. The aftertaste is a bit fast, but also provides some hop bitterness in the mix too.

Very different barrel aged stout, and a unique one. It almost seems like it give the base beer a better showcase and leaves the barrel character forgotten.

4.32/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Cheers!

 

Craigy, Craig, Greg, Greggy... He likes nicknames. These are only the nice ones he's accustomed to.

 

Had a couple new to me local brews today:

Rockmilll Mads & Mathilde Barrel Aged Holiday Ale:

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/23737/455400/?ba=bluejacket74#review






And Endeavor Brewstillery Tor Barrel Aged Sour Ale:

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/50500/454326/?ba=bluejacket74#review





Those are my only 2 new to me brews today. I'll check out everyone else's new brews later today or tomorrow!

 

Hey folks hope everyones enjoying their Sunday. Thanks @cjgiant for the fantastic poetic opening.
Todays first beer comes courtesy of @SawDog505 very generous bif box.
Been drooling over anything Kettlehead so lets go with:
M16 DIPA
Pours a very hazy yellow amber gold with a 1/2 head dissapearing rather quickly leaving spotty lacing.
Aroma. Holy crap this beer just infiltrates your senses with huge ripe peach, candied orange, sweet passionfruit, some juicyfruit, high quality cannabis, pineapple and maybe even a touch of overripe banana.
Taste follows with sweet peach, tropical fruits, onion, dank marijuana, and a touch of bitter pine and grapefruit. This is delicious. I cant stop drinking this 8% beauty that finishes with a nice balance of sweet, bitter and a tiny carb with lingering hop and fruit flavors.
I had high expectations that were exceeded. Loving Kettlehead!
Thank You Tim!

 

The sun has set in the upper midwest. I'm relaxing, sipping a nice BA Imperial stout, watching as the black silhouette of the trees fade into the sky as it goes from dark navy to black. Too cloudy for any stars, but the neighbor's Christmas lights are shining 400 yards across the wetlands out my back window. Otherwise, completely dark.

I'm sipping on Lagunitas Willettized Coffee Stout, also tasted earlier today by @dcotom.
ABV: 12.4%
IBU: 32



Aroma is strongly roasted malts with sweet dark fruits, chocolate, and whiskey. Despite the name, no coffee detectable.

Deep black appearance, opaque even with a backlight - not even letting light though around the edges. 3/4 inch light chocolate shake head, thick, creamy, with decent retention leaving some streaks of lacing, but mostly just a ridge above the head as it recedes to a bubbly cap.

Body is substantial to thick, not much from any carbonation that may be present (can't see any due to the previously mentioned impenetrable opaqueness). Smooth and luscious.

Initial taste is chocolate with a sweet almost syrup taste, and dark fruit flavors. Hints of coffee now in the taste, especially in the initial hit. Strong whiskey and alcohol flavors. A bit hot from the alcohol. Quite boozy. I'm not a rye whiskey drinker, but the barrel and whiskey are definitely different from the typical bourbon barrel aged stouts. The difference sets this one apart, and in a good way as a change from YABAS (yet another barrel-aged stout).

A slight bitterness and alcohol burn is present in the finish and lingers into the aftertaste. The finish is sweet, but nicely balanced by the slight bitterness. There is a good complex interplay of flavors that I fear my words do not do justice. Excellent, and quite different from the norm.

L: 4.25 | S: 4.0 | T: 4.5 | F: 4.25 | O: 4.25 | BA rating: 4.29