New Beer Sunday (Week 781)

I've thought about this as well. Nightshift's flagship beer is arguably Whirpool which they label as simply a New England Pale Ale and is 4.5%. Harpoon's Rec League is 3.7% which they call a "hazy pale ale".

I don't love either of those beers, but I like them more than I do any of the earlier wave of officially labeled "session IPAs". I wonder if the wheat and/or oats help to mitigate the "thin" feeling that dogged the original wave? Whirpool uses both but I haven't been able to find details on Rec League.

Have you had either of these beers to compare with Bell's? You have me curious to try light hearted once I see it out here to see if it's similar.

 

Great to know. I learned a lot from Maria's reviews- she was amazing. Thanks for the info.

 

Good call on Rec League. It would be very interesting to have that one alongside Light Hearted. Now that you mention it, Rec League seems like a bit of a precedent for Light Hearted. I recall thinking that Rec League had more in common with the NEIPAs than Light Hearted did, but maybe I'd feel differently if I had them blind and together. I thought Rec League was very successful for what it was, but not something I'd personally gravitate to. It also fits in with the branding part of the discussion in my earlier post since Rec League went for the "athletic activity" branding approach.

 

Interested to hear your thoughts whenever you do get around to it.

I follow them as well and it seemed like they were pretty quiet when it came to promoting this one. If you like pilsners with more of a modern/American hop profile, this might be up your alley.

Agreed. Von Trapp's site mentions that this beer is dry hopped. I wonder if that has anything to do with how unbalanced it feels. The can says 30 IBU but I would have guessed more. Nice review on the Jersey Girl Black Diamond by the way. I almost bought that one the other day but wanted to either try a single can or read some reviews first before buying. Might pass on it based on your review, but I have to say their Oktoberfest a few months ago was unexpectedly great.

 

All of this talk about session IPAs and low-calorie beers makes me want something else in the total opposite direction... I may gravitate slightly back toward that realm of things after this one, but this seemed too good to pass up...



Central Waters' Rye Barrel Chocolate Porter 2019 is an 11.9% imperial porter aged in rye barrels with cocoa nibs. Sounds straightforward enough to me. The pour is a beautiful, velvety dark hue with a smallish, retentive ring of off-white/khaki foam that sits comfortably at about one finger in height after its initial dissipation. It leaves behind surprisingly-awesome lacing, consistent and tiered, while also bearing quite-solid legs and surface coverage. This is a very, very nice looking beer. I'm excited to dig into it!

The nose is very rye whiskey-forward, to a greater extent than many other rye barrel beers I've had. It has some definitive heat to it, so my initial response is that this could need a few more months of cellar time to even out. That said, there are some notes of marshmallow, vanilla, coconut, espresso beans, and, of course, sumptuous milk and dark chocolate to round it all out. Lightly earthy and nutty without much in the way of fruit or other accents. Woody, slightly spicy and definitely ethanol-forward. Smells stiff as hell. If you like that type of thing, you'll be immediately down with this!

On the palate, RBCP begins with an opening assault of roasty cocoa nibs sitting atop a fruitier-than-expected base porter that feels bolstered and confident, most likely due to the very expressive barrel presence. It is definitely not a subtle beer, though there are some subtleties to the various elements making it up. Flavors of plum, woody tannins, caraway spice, tobacco, and booze match the forward flavors of chocolate and vanilla coming in hot from the base beer. This is like a hot fudge sundae turned into a liquid, alcoholic treat. Smooth and well-rounded feel with a good, warming swallow to it. Surprisingly, it doesn't feel like a boilermaker as much as it seemed like it would; on the contrary, there's a supple and balanced aspect to this beer that speaks of a high degree of knowledge with regards to barrel-aging. I still think this would be slightly improved by, like, 3 or so more months to really smooth it out, but it's not as intense and over-the-top as I initially thought it would be.

I may have one more beer to come, as I alluded to above. Until then, cheers!

 

I took a different path with my year at Osan ROK and brewed 30 gallons of homebrew. But it kept me away from the macro-swill & Soju. I managed to read enough to make E-7, plus put a lot of time in the gym/road running. There was plenty of examples of what not to over there, plus I was convinced the shite was going hit the fan there/then ( 95-96 )

 

Its good to know she is doing ok.

 

The original question asked, which was too groggy from last night to pick up on.... One & dones. There would have been way more, but that just wasn't feasible here or Oklahoma, or Colorado over the last 16 years. Sadly about a good 3rd of the beers I buy locally will turn into regrets. NWA still has plenty of room to grow...

 

Howdy all.

I guess I'd say around 33% of my purchases are one and dones. I nearly always am hoping whatever I buy will be something I'll want to add to my rotation, but sometimes a beer just doesn't do it for me. And cost is definitely a factor in how much disappointment I'm willing to live with.

Jacks Abby's ale division, Springdale, has recently launched a flagship IPA. Prior to this they've had a handful of rotating IPAs in distribution and I'm not sure if this is replacing them or is simply in addition to them. Either way, it was canned on Jan. 21st with a 6.2% ABV and boasts Citra, Sultana, Amarillo, and Galaxy Hops. Price was right at $11 for the four pack.



Look: Pours a surprisingly clear honey color with plenty of bubbles and a thick, tight head that doesn't seem to have budged in the couple minutes since I poured it. I say "surprisingly clear" because the other Springdale IPAs I've had have all been quite hazy. I'm returning half way through the beer to say that head is still hanging in there.

Smell: Nose is sharp and crisp and brings to mind tangerine rind, lemon and a dry grassiness. Maybe a little dankness as it warms. Just a hint of some wheaty malt.

Taste: Follows the nose with a bit more of a honey malt flavor sneaking in. Moderate bitterness on the back end. Lingering aftertaste of bitter citrus. And towards the end there's a bit of what I think of as a "flour-y" taste that I sometimes get with modern IPAs.

Feel: Crisp and almost a little thin feeling for a 6% abv brew. That aftertaste feels like it coats the throat a bit though.

Overall: Pretty good beer. Not a home run for me but it's an interesting blend of newer school hops, newer school malt profile, and an older school look and mouth feel if that sort of thing sounds attractive to you. Cheers all!

ETA: just wanted to chime in on the Von Trapp Keller discussion that was going on above. I agree this was a miss for the reasons stated. Big disappointment since I figured this should have been right in their wheelhouse.

 

A-Pours a hazy amber golden color with a generous head and lacing
A-Aroma has grape and oak hints
T-The taste follows the nose with a pleasant grape and oak flavor
M-A light bodied decently carbonated smooth beer
O-A good American Wild Ale

 

Good Sunday afternoon, fellow New Beer Samplers and commentators. Yesterday, I took a non-BA beer-drinking buddy out to a couple of local breweries. He thanked me with a few cans from Asbury Park Brewing, which I haven't yet visited. The first is Double Dragon, a 9% DIPA. The can is undated. And unfortunately, neither the can nor the website lists the hops other than to say it's a "complex hop bill."


It's darker than most East Coast IPAs; a pretty, ruby-orange color with a thick, ecru cap and lots of lacing. It's nose is typical English/Southern IPA: heavy on the caramel malt and resinous pine with hints of bitter citrus. And the taste starts out that way. But there's an unusual, tangy berry taste. Perhaps it's infected or maybe they've included Belma hops but it's not your typical West Coast taste. It's not bad; just different. This batch is 9% so I'm glad it was a 12 oz. can. I could see tilting a few of these on the beach and then stumbling off incoherently. Which wouldn't be such a bad thing. I'd like to try this fresh at the brewery, provided my wife is driving. Here's my full review:

3.78/5 rDev -2.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Poured from undated 12 oz. can into a Spiegelau IPA glass. It pours an attractive ruby-orange color with a large, fluffy, ecru-colored head and thick, soapy lacing. You don't see many local DIPAs this color. The nose is primarily caramel malt with some soft lemon and grapefruit notes and floral hops. It's an unusual flavor. It opens with malty caramel notes like an English IPA and there is the expected lemon, grapefruit, and resinous pine but there is an unanticipated, tangy berry taste , as well. It finishes with a strong and bitter bite worthy of its 80 IBU. The website simply says it has a "complex hop bill." I've honestly never tasted anything quite like this. I can best describe it as a West Coast IPA with a berry twang. It's mouth feel is lite and a bit thin, with pleasant carbonation, and this batch is potent at 9% ABV. Overall, I'm not quite sure what to make of this DIPA. There's nothing wrong with it; it's just unique.

I'll be back shortly with a Stout from this brewery. Cheers, NBS!

 

1st-11th Beer Review of My recent favorites 9 Feb 2020:
Cuban Coffee | Carton | 12% Abv Cream Ale
4.28
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
2d Review, after many in the coffee game series. Is this beer or a LIQUEUR - a strong, sweet alcoholic liquor, usually drunk after a meal?
a) Lace over a brandy colored still body. brandy with lace?
s) Hints of coffee, crushed espresso beans, vanilla, smoke.
t) Amps it up, and never is too sweet as an after dinner treat.
f) Smooth, rich-bodied, stinger like finish. Gets the bite right.
o) Perhaps the best coffee in the series (but I've not tried Foster yet!)
Love Language | Bronx | 7.5% ABV DIPA
4.16
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
1st Review. Added by Act 25. My 20th beer of Bronx - a favorite local. NY water is best.
a) After so many haze bombs, it's refreshing to see another color than yellow murk, this one an almost chocolate red, sporting ample head and lasting lace.
s/t) What it lacks in AROMA, it over delivers on TASTE! Redtail like hops and malt aroma profile (*my first craft beer).
Massive flavors, none in the direction of grapefruit - at last! - Caramel, grass, melon, vanilla, spice cabinet, malt base, and a lovely bittering ending. None either in the direction of cola. This is great.
f) Creamy, yet astringent and scrubbing.
o) My favorite hazy DIPA at this moment.
Party Hat | Sixpoint | Brooklyn | 7% NE IPA
4.1/5 rDev +1.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 411th review. Love NY & my local NJ brewers due to the mineral water and the underdog craft.
My girlfriend loved this which says alot.
a) murky yellow body with too few lace or head last.
s) Like wine, abundant fruit, tropical fruit, citrus, melon, and the fruit salad nectar, then finishing bitter. White pepper.
f) Astringent like wine vs orange juice - good!
o) Winner.
Bait And Click | 18th St | Gary Indiana | 6.2% APA
4.1/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3rd review, my 1st from brewer. this is better than BA rates.
a) Aprocot, afro hazed body with big lacing and lasting head.
s) Ample, clean, melon, peach!, tropical, grass (fruit salad).
t) Follows smell, and resolves into minor bittering notes. Malty core.
f) not thin, well balanced and finished, nice tongue feel and weight.
o) On the apricot, peach, melon fruit side and should be blind tasted against any 6-7% IPA.

 

A-Pours a nice golden color with a generous head and lacing
A-Aroma has citrus and tropical hints
T-The taste follows the nose with a pleasant citrus and tropical flavor
M-A medium bodied well carbonated beer
O-A good NE Imperial India Pale Ale

 

Good afternoon beautiful people,

It's awesome & ironic that I logged-on today, as it's the 15th Anniversary of NBS! Yes, back before we could hold virtual reality in our palm, us pioneers & early adopters would sit at our desktops/laptops with a new beer to savor/review/share with whomever would take the time. Remember when the Bros made it possible to post a pic?! Haha!

I ducked-out of the craft beer scene in 2013 for rebellious reasons, and dove into wine. It's interesting to witness the evolution of craft beer (since 1992, personally). I even work 1 day a week at a nice bottle shop, where our wine/liquor/beer selection is pretty stellar. When I survey our large beer section, it looks very similar to the comic book sections of book stores from yore. I still enjoy craft beer, most definitely. But I'd love to share a '15 Savennieres with you when you're in Mid-Michigan

Thank YOU ALL for keeping our baby alive and well. NBS always strived for quality dialog and encouraging rapport. Looks like we're still heading in that direction. Take care and cheers!

In the undying spirit of craft beer,

Malty

 

Great to hear from you, Dave! I'm thankful to hear that your health is improving!

 

Thanks for the great review. I have a can in the fridge that someone gave me during the holidays but I haven't been motivated to open it; especially with cans of IAs' Winter Landscape beckoning. I know some folks think the world of Jersey Girl but with the exception of King Gabrinus I haven't been impressed. Some breweries really improve with experience; sadly, Jersey Girl isn't one of them IMHO.

 

A-Pours a hazy dark amber golden color with a nice head and lacing
A-Aroma has orange citrus hints
T-The taste follows the nose with an orange citrus flavor
M-A medium bodied decently carbonated beer
O-A decent India Pale Ale

 

Glad to hear you're on the fast track! Hopefully you're still shrooming….

 

I am always a fan of Saint Arnold in Houston. They do a lot o styles, many of them not in with the "in crowd" but always well made. I'll drink Amber Ale and 5 O'Clock Pils as long as I'm in Houston, or as long as Saint Arnold wants to make them (I continue to here rumors the 5 O'Clock is going away, and that will be a sad day for me).

Anyway, they also do an excellent Divine Reserve series and whats called a Bishop's Barrel series. A lot of times it is the barrel aged version of a DR release. I always look forward to these, but even with my fandom, I had no idea they did this in January until a few days ago when I saw a bottle. Bishop's Barrel 25 is a Baltic Porter aged in Port Barrels. Which is based off a DR 17 release they did in 2017. Got it? Maybe not, but thats OK.

Just know its a Baltic Porter aged in Port Barrels for eight months. ABV according to the website is 9,2%.



Pours an opaque black color. A two finger tan head forms with excellent retention and spiderweb looking lace down the glass.

Aroma is of dark chocolate, baked bread, warm malt aromas that I want to warp myself in. Some wood aromas, and a bit of dark fruit pokes through, but man love that malt character.

Now, it becomes incredibly nuanced taste wise. Dark and bitter bakers chocolate. Bread, toasted malts, again a wonderful malt flavor. Wood and dark fruits pop as this warms. Dark cherries, plums, even a touch of acidity. All incredibly well balanced.

A full body that has really good carbonation, especially for such a big beer. Though becomes ultra smooth at the same time, if that makes any sense. A great sipper, one that I would want to come back to on a real cold night and a good book.

This is a perfect example of what makes Saint Arnold great. Tons of nuance and balance with all the flavors complimenting each other just right. I will be looking for more bottles of this immediately. Overall score is 4.38, and my review I added to the database below:

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/337/463328/?ba=champ103#review