New Beer Sunday (Week 789)

Well, they often deserve it. Just cryin', poopin', and pukin' all over the place....


That is not a low rating, it is near my average. The beer was nearly black, which is a ding against a BW. The carb was low, another ding. Other than the various barrels (2? 3? the label is confusingly written), it doesn't really stand apart from most BWs. I'ma call an average beer average.

 

When we go on that pub crawl in Bham, we better be smashing pint glasses on the floor screaming "This ish is MEDIOCRE at best!"

 

So as has been mentioned already, today is NBS BIF #11 reveal/share day, and a lovely day it is! We took the doggos for a nice long walk through the neighbourhoods figuring it would be less crowded, and now we're getting some long overdue planting and maintenance, and what better way to do that than with a mystery??!? BA extraordinaire @Harrison8 sent me a pile of Mizzou goodness during this here BIF and it's been sitting on my counter tempting me the last couple of days, forcing contemplation over what to enjoy on this reveal day. The answer seemed obvious as we got down to the real time, though, as the two mystery beers were upgraded to fridge status last night in preparation (along with one or two others... just in case, you see). I'm going to be starting with the larger of the two mystery cans... the one who's only markings are: "ABV 10.3%." Go big or go home, right? Or in this case, go home, then go big!



Immediately upon popping open the tab on this one I can tell I'm in for something rich and delicious. A dark liquid pours forth, Nearly jet black with a tight but creamy soft looking rich brown espresso head that lingers and lingers. Beautiful sticky lacing as well. This is gorgeous. 4.5+

Nose is again big. Creamy and slightly nutty with a seeming wood influence to the dark coffee and light spice notes. I'm getting a decent amount of creaminess as well as nuttiness, so could this be a stout with hazelnut or perhaps lactose? Smells more like nutty creamy (erm...) than lactose creamy, at least to start. 4.25+

Oily and dry and a nice high point of carbonation that helps usher the whole thing along (4). What it ushers in is cocoa/bakers chocolate and some further light cream. I'm leaning milk stout here, with a nod in the dark toasty side of things. Me likes. Almost kind of a coconut husk kind of thing with the nuttiness I was noting on the nose. 4.25

Ok... AND FOR THE BIG REVEALLL.....



Ozark Beer Company BDCS.
BBA Stout. SO I more or less got the big strokes right, but missed on the specifics. First off, I got the state wrong! He tricked me... all the other ones were Missouri based, lol. But more seriously... I think what I mistook for the milk aspect probably traces back to the oak and vanilla of the barrel, and now that I can see what it is I get more of that (it's funny how suggestion can work). Same with what I called the nutty/coconutty kind of aspect... definitely derived from the barrel. Looking back, it all comes together, and I almost guessed that it had spent time in barrels, but didn't feel that it was quite as spicy or boozy as I'd expect given that lineage, and so hence why I went the other direction with it. It's interesting how lactose and sour mash can come across similar at times I guess.
Well thank you for that fun little exercise Harrison! This is a tasty stout that manages to walk that line between being big and bold without being overwhelming and is a good transition point for the day!! Thanks, and cheers!


UPDATE: So the can only says stout aged in bourbon barrels, but on certain apps that are recently affiliated with this here website it lists it as a milk stout (though here on BA it's filed under the more generic 'american imperial stout' label...). I dug further (the brewery website) and I believe it is indeed a 'double cream stout' which I take to mean milk stout, which makes me feel slightly vindicated in my assessment! Ha. I still get more of the barrel character after the reveal, but it would seem my interpretation of lactose was correct at least! Cheers!

 

greetings all,

Hope everyone is well and staying as sane as possible. I was able to get out with my dog today for a properly social distanced stroll on the beach which was fantastic (for both of us). Probably won't be an option much longer as the weather gets warmer and the state likely closes the beaches due to the potential for crowds. That's actually fine with me since I really only enjoy going to the beach in the off season when dogs are allowed and it's cold out anyway.

I've only been buying cheap, local old standby's of late but I remembered that I have a beer that a friend of mine gave to me because he really hated it and wanted to know what I thought. Seems like a good time now for the experiment. The name doesn't do much to contradict my friend's thoughts: Seasick Crocodile by Prairie Artisan Ales. It's a "Sour Ale with Cranberries, Ginger, Cinammon and Nutmeg". 6.3% ABV is written in probably the tiniest font I've ever read.



Look: Pours a slightly pink, cloudy tan with a very tight half inch white head that disappears completely in short order.

Smell: Is this a beer or a potpouri candle? Wow. Tons of cinnamon and mulled wine/pumpkin pie like spices. I almost feel like I can feel the cinnamon powder coating my nose. Not much else going on. Maybe a little cranberry and apple hiding underneath though the latter might just be an association from all the cinnamon. Did I mention this has a lot of cinnamon in it?

Taste: Thankfully not as strong as the nose but still so much cinnamon that I swear I can feel the powdery particles in it. A bit more cranberry coming through. Mildly tart. Can't pick out any malt to speak of.

Feel: A bit under carbed and by half way through the beer it's basically flat. I think this was canned last Fall though and it looks like a mobile can job to me (sticker label) so it might have lost some fizz since then. Feel in the mouth is light but any crispness is masked by the lingering taste of the spices which feel like they coat your mouth.

Overall: Yikes, did they make this beer on purpose? I can't imagine anyone thought this amount of spice was a good idea. It was actually still barely hanging on to drinkable for about the first third but once it went flat and warmed a little it just became too much. I really can't overstate just how much damn spice they put in this. I just checked and I'm kind of astonished that it actually has good ratings here on BA.

Hope everyone's weekend was better than this beer!

 

Another offering from the NBS BIF, Unsung Brewing Company's Bowtie. This is a hazy DIPA double dry hopped with Mosaic, Azacca, and Amarillo. I don't see Azacca used often by my locals lately, so it's nice to try it in this blend. The strong point of this brew to me were the floral notes that accompanied the juiciness. It added a unique element to a style than can get repetitive. I'm not sure when this was canned, but I got to add it to the BA database and be the first review.

4.09/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Look - Pale yellow thick haze. Creamy white two finger head after being poured into a craftmaster glass.
Smell - The aroma is rather one note. I mostly just orange juice and booze.
Taste - The flavors are much better than the smell led me to believe. Juicy and dank, but also quite floral. It smells much boozier than it tastes. Bitter hoppy finish.
Feel - Soft and fluffy.
Overall - DIPA's are one of my favorite styles and this does not disappoint. I really like the floral quality that I feel the Azacca contributes to. I'd drink this regularly.

 

If I break the glasses, I gotta clean 'em up. And I'm lazy.

Plus, I've already had that convo with most of the brewers in town. They just smile, nod, and pat me on the head. It's almost like I'm being condescended to.

 

That's the only non-Missouri beer I sent you, but couldn't resist. It's just so damn tasty. As you point out, it walks the very fine line of carrying a light booziness without being overly heavy. I would say it's one of the best barrel aged stouts I've had to-date for that very reason. Unfortunately, I think I missed their release this year.

Thanks for the review! The BKS/Oddly Correct glassware looks at home in your space, especially with that greenery!

 

Poured out of a 16 oz can. Imperial oatmeal stout with cinnamon, maple syrup, and barrel-aged coffee from Smugglers Coffee.

L - Pours pretty much pitch black with a 3/4 finger mocha head that dissipates quickly. Could use a bit more carbonation judging the appearance. 4

S - Aroma is maple, molasses, cinnamon, gourmet coffee, very slight vanilla and oak from the barrel the coffee sat in, cocoa powder, slight roasted malt. 4.25

T - Taste follows the nose well. Maple, good amount of cinnamon, molasses, coffee (brings roast and acidity), slight barrel presence (vanilla, oak tannin), bittersweet chocolate chip, oatmeal, slight roasted malt. It's sweet, but decently balanced by the cinnamon and barrel-aged coffee. 4.5

F - Medium to high medium body. Slightly under-carbonated, slick, sticky, silky. Pretty smooth, with a warming sensation as it goes down. Could use a bit more robustness to it, especially considering it's an imperial oatmeal stout. 3.75

O - Overall this is a well done pastry stout. Aromas and flavors lean sweet, but still in decent balance. With more body and carbonation, this could be excellent. At any rate, Windmill continues to make some pretty good stouts. 4.25

 

You’re right, he is 80 pounds of solid muscle . As strong as an imperial stout

 

Had to do it to 'im... (I got an irrational amount of pleasure reading through his journey of discovery with that one)

Thanks, ha. I totally agree! I used the glass last night for the saison that I fell asleep before posting to @FBarber's online saison share (which it worked great for as well), and luckily it got washed this AM, so I cautiously snagged it for this purpose. And it fits the bill just right. I'm a big fan, ha. Thank you!

Speaking of glassware, man that's a sweet glass! (and it sounds like the beer is pretty good too!)

 

On to beer number two from @beertunes, Everybody’s Brewing Mountain Mama.

3.89/5 rDev +14.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Thank you beertunes for this
12 oz can poured into a teku

A- A hazy golden copper with a two finger white head.

S- Citrus, oranges, pale malts, a little earthy, touch of cooked vegetables.

T- Citrus, pale malts, earthy, some biscuits, slightly floral.

M- Smooth, light to medium body.

O- A solid pale, nothing out of the ordinary but easy to drink.

Cheers!

 

I'll admit, having it at the source might be an influencing factor;

 

Ahoy Sunday BA's
Found this on a curb near Miskatonic at exactly the time I requested. Dungeon Master series: Barrel Aged Mimic 11% abv
16.9oz bottle released this past March.


Inky black body oozes into a snifter and self levels to a headless pool and leaves a clean glass behind.

Aromas of coconut and chocolate front the booze.

Taste matches with just enough coconut, cocoa, and oakey bourbon to allow for an equal appreciation of all.

The full, creamy feel is best at just below room temperature. At fridge temp this beer is tight, close, and ordinary, but with some warmth the creaminess explodes along with the bourbon.

Overall a great tasting, smooth drinking barrel aged imperial. A pleasure.

 

Another one for the NBS BIF.



Hitchhiker Brewing Company's Triple Shakes.

Pours a dark burgundy-brown that looks black when not held against the light. Aroma is coffee beans, which comes off with a bold, mildly acidic, roasty quality - thinking cold steep brewing technique. Malts are toasty, nutty, lightly roasty and earthy, adding a little substance to the coffee. It legitimately smells like a cup of cold brew, evoking memories of iced cold brew on the screened-in porch. Flavor profile follows much the same, bringing up memories of cold brew coffee. Coffee mingles with toasty, nutty, earthy, caramely, bready and lightly roasty malts. It's slightly bitter, earthy coffee. Alcohol is molded in well. Mouth feel is still with a medium thickness. Very mild texture. Overall, roasty coffee in each sip, this is one coffee beer that really hits the coffee side hard, placing it in the focus of each whiff and sip.

Score: 4.25 | 4.25 | 4.25 | 4 | 4.25 | BA Score: 4.23 | rDev: +3.2%

 

Prairie Weekend

A: Beer initially comes from bottle with a jet black body and a rich milk chocolate like head that almost instantly disappeared. Beer has no noticeable amount of lacing while drinking. Unremarkable beer based strictly on appearance.

S: Lots of different aromas going on here with the beer. First noticed the strong smell of booze. After settling down somewhat I notice more hints of chocolate and marshmallow sweetness. Also picking up a slight amount of coconut. Really balanced aromas from a non barrel aged beer by Prairie.

T: Really sweet dessert beer. The marshmallow becomes more noticeable as I continued drinking. The high alcohol content is obvious but not overpowering. A nice milk chocolate flavor is here as well but takes a backseat to the marshmallows.

M: Solid mouthfeel here on this beer. The ABV is noticeable. However, it is masked with the marshmallow mouthfeel. Above average thickness to this beer. Nice but not outstanding.

O: One of the better non barrel aged beers I have had from Prairie in a while. The aroma is the high point of this beer. I wish there was more of a coconut presence on the taste. The double digit ABV is prevalent but not overpowering. Overall, a nice non barrel aged beer and solid beer overall.

 

Third and final beer of the day from the NBS BIF #11. As with the other two, this one is from @ovaltine. He hooked me up with several different beers from 3 Floyds, all of which have been quite good. This time, I'm having Skoll, an "imperial porter brewed with honey, cocoa nibs, guajillo & chipotle peppers and aged on oak"



4.12/5 rDev +1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a tulip. Dark, dark brown, almost black. A finger's worth of coffee ice cream colored head that disappeared reasonably quickly. Thin lacing. Taste is very interesting. The chipotle peppers add just the right amount of spice. Enough to make it interesting without overpowering the other tastes. This is different than any porter I've had before, but in a good way.

@ovaltine, can't thank you enough for all the great beer you sent me. Cheers!

 

Poured out of a 16 oz can. Dated 2/20/20 and enjoyed on 4/5/20. Hopped with Citra and Mosaic.

Pours a beautiful golden orange color with a full haze. Two finger rocky white head that dissipates slowly. Excellent glass lacing.

Aroma has a nice contrast between green and fruity qualities. Get ripe pineapple, ripe clementine, freshly-cut tangerine, mango juice, bright floral, sweet lemon, apricot, herbaceous dankness, green chive, pine. Doughiness and confectioners sugar sweetness from the malt.

Taste follows the aroma nicely, bringing ripe clementine and tangerine, lemon and pineapple sorbet, bright floral, ripe mango, ruby red grapefruit, yellow peach, herbaceous dankness, slight green chive, pine, doughy breadiness, confectioners sugar.

High medium body. Great feel to it, as it's nicely carbonated, yet stays soft and slightly creamy. Slick, slightly sticky and oily. The carbonation makes it drinkable like an IPA should be despite the elevated body.

The hop combo of Citra and Mosaic has been well overdone, but this one manages to stand out due to it's green qualities and elevated complexity of fruits. In addition, it had a great body and feel to it. Riverlands continues to show they are one of the top haze producers in the Chicagoland area.

 

enjoyed this beer outside in the 60 degree sunshine after a nice mountain bike ride, been a great day so far. This beer came from the generous @Dimidiata and BIF NBS 11.
Modern Times, Gravity Hammer, a Berliner weisse, 10% ABV, not a style I’m familiar with but for sure an Imperial, very tart, wine like, raspberry, cherry, crisp with light mouthfeel but a sneak up on you when you least expect it! Probably the coolest can art for sure. Thanks Christine


And here is the money shot, well done, thanks for participating Christine !

 

That’s a dangerous beer, used to only be available in a bomber. The stovepipe format seems to be a bit of an eye wink: “Sure, we’ll can it, but in a size that will fuck you up anyway!” Glad you liked it, one of my favorite OG facemelters.

 

Nice collaboration of IMO, the two best IPA brewers on Long Island. Canned on 3-20

As you can see, a light murky pour, which laces the glass as I work through the pour. Aromas of lemongrass, fresh honey, and musky hops. Flavors have a initially sweet Fruity Pebbles flavor, that gives to an earthy bitterness. Balance is nice and this is a more drinkable 7.4% ABV than many of the DIPA's Barrier and sand City are known for, Overall this was a treat, and one that I suspect benefits by being fresh.