New Beer Sunday (Week 793)

The way that smokestack of a bottle is seeming to spew forth, I'd have assumed it was a Rauchbier

(or something similar to the beer @champ103 reviewed)

 

Hello New Beer Sunday!!!

Ok, I'm trying very hard to stay positive in this insane day and age. It helped that I had a very good call from my mom, and I know she's on my side, and that's a good feeling knowing I'm not alone.

But, I really should get to the beer, here, and it's, well, a first for me on here.


The Rusty Nail from Fremont Brewing. @Orca_Whale so kindly sent this to me.

As I said before it's a first for me. This is my first all 5 beer. My words that I wrote about this beer really don't do justice to how blown away with this beer I am. I've come close to nirvana before, I've come to the very edge of it, but have finally achieved it here.

Perfection!

Review:
5/5 rDev +9.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

2018 vintage consumed on 5-3-2020.
This is one hell of a thick pouring beer. Pours pitch black. 1 finger brown head. Head retention is amazing for such a beer. No lacing on the glass, though the head forms a nice ring around the edge of the glass.
The nose is full of licorice. A hint of cinnamon. Some vanilla. Some caramel. Some raisin.
Taste - Oh my! This is a flavor bomb, and I know I won't do justice to it. Licorice, caramel, toffee, vanilla, cinnamon, raisin, and even more that I can't quite pin down that just all work together perfectly.
Smooth as hell. Thick, rich, full bodied. Minimal alcohol burn.
I think I've hit beer heaven here. I've come very close in the past, but I've been to the mountain top here, and I love the brew. My first perfect 5 here.


Cheers all!

 

You’d think I could find that beer here right, but not yet anyways.
Be nice if you stuck around here a bit, makes it more interesting.

 

It was impossible to get in the Twin Cities a few years ago, unless you were willing to take off of work and chase trucks.

I remains on the shelf for months here now, at least in some stores. IDK if that is due to more production or beer geeks moving on to the next new thing.

Still tastes great, though.

 

The cloud was looking too perfect for this, thanks for noticing.

 

On my second 750 ml crowler of the day already... I need to find something else to do for the rest of the day!

My 3rd beer from Lakeville Brewing.

Lakeville Brewing Sesher's Rye Pale Ale American Pale Ale (APA)
ABV: 4.7%
IBU: 30



Nice grapefruit-citrus aroma. Touch of bread and spice.

Dark amber, clear, lots of bubbles of various sizes rising to a 1/3 inch light tan head. The head becomes a thick bubbly cap in only a few minutes. Nice looking, but would be even better with more of a head (and my pour started somewhat gentle, but when I saw the head was not rising, it turned more vigorous).

Flavor is quite varied and interesting (in a good way). The initial citrus is leading, which transitions fairly quickly to a spicy and somewhat musty bread flavor. The rye adds a nice spiciness and solid backing to the citrus flavor from the hops. The finish brings in a good level of bitterness, with the aftertaste being a lingering mildly bitter rye bread. All around excellent and varied flavor.

The beer has a moderate body, perhaps just on the thin side of moderate, which is commendable given the ABV.

Overall, another very good beer to accompany a meal. This is the best of the Lakeville beers I have had so far; good enough to grab at any time. Lakeville is clearly focusing their beers on their brewery-restaurant business model, and it shows with well-done beers to enjoy with a meal or with friends at the pub.

L: 3.75 | S: 3.75 | T: 3.75 | F: 3.5 | O: 3.75 | Rating: 3.73

 

Bierkeller Helles
4.9 ABV, sold when crowler cans are available by curbside pickup.
In a normal year this would only be available at weekly pop up bier gardens in our scenic riverfront park accompanied by a German food truck and some live music.
The lovely spring weather is here, but the hazard of Covid 19 contagion makes outdoor gatherings unwise.
So I am enjoying a crowler as the temperatures rise into the 80's in the backyard.
It pours a perfectly clear gold with abundant white head. Apple, cut grass aromas. Light mineral note, pear, biscuit, floral flavors. Light, good carbonation, goes great with cookout menus. Delicious, like all Bierkeller products.

 

Good afternoon NBS, starting my Sunday with Stemma Guava D’Haze, thanks @beertunes!

4.08/5 rDev +12.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thank you beertunes for this
16 oz can, dated 4/10/20, poured into a teku

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

S- Guava, citrus, some grapefruit, slightly piney.

T- Citrus, hints guava and tropical fruits, piney.

M- Smooth, light to medium body.

O- I was hoping for more guava like in the nose, but it is still a nice NEIPA and easy to drink.

Cheers NBS!

 

Good to know, I assumed Schlenkerla Helles was smoked for some reason, but that is one of the few I have not had from the brewery. Not sure if I have seen it in Houston, which wouldn't surprise me its not here. I also think its a good style for Houston Smoke as its not over the top, and the crisp clean lager features are still very much present.

 

It's a glorious Sunday here in CT. Mid 70's and sunny. Did a nice medium length trail run yesterday and a medium length bike ride today. Trail running on somewhat technical terrain is exponentially more difficult (and rewarding) than road running, so my legs are feeling it big time today. Next weekend it's going to be high 40's / low 50's, so I'm going to enjoy today for all it's worth.

Up first (hoping I'll have a second beer to review later) is Truck Chaser "Creamsicle Double IPA" from Wild Leap and courtesy of the extremely generous @Mbgreg who sent this to me in a ninja box. Back East is a nearby brewery, and their flagship is "Ice Cream Man", which I've never tried despite it's availability. As such, this is my first beer meant to evoke thoughts of ice cream. This bad boy was brewed in late January, so I probably should have tried it sooner. Let's see how it held up.



The verdict? I liked this more than I thought I would, and it has held up quite well. A very good choice for a beautiful day.

4.06/5 rDev -1.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Very attractive pour. Glowing yellow with two fingers of lasting head that left behind thin lacing. Smells vaguely of orange soda. This was canned in late January, so presumably the aroma has faded a bit, but it still smells quite nice. Taste is in line with what I would have expected based on the beer's description. Smooth and creamy with nice carbonation. Very little bitterness. Hints of a cream soda taste, and I still get a carbonation vibe that reminds me of orange soda. Overall, this is quite tasty and has held up well.

 

I don't know about the beer but I love the name

 

Not to mention providing a good target to rant about!

 

The smoke in their Helles is perfect level. Anyone who hasn't tried that beer should give it a try post haste.

 

Good afternoon BA’s. I’ve had today’s beer in the chiller since I received it...Long time coming...@Number1framer sent me this beer 2 years ago, and I’m ready to roll - Revolution’s Double Barrel “V.S.O.D.” an Imperial Bourbon Stout Aged in Bourbon and Whiskey Barrels (according to the brewer, “during the second year of aging, a small number of Deth’s Tar barrels are blended then finished in fresh Woodford Reserve Double Oak and Whistle Pig 10yr Rye barrels):



Canned 1/4/18. At 56 degrees pours an opaque black (SRM 40+) with ruby edges; streaming carbonation; fast fizzy reddish/dark tan head quickly leaves a thin ring; poor cap retention; heavy legs sheet the glass with micro dots of lace on swirl. Aroma is whiskey, caramel malt and fruity esters - sweet plums and raisins; boozy exhale...whiskey more so than bourbon; as it warms, almost like sniffing a sweet young port. Intense bittersweet dark chocolate, toffee, caramel, whiskey, oak and vanilla; sugary raisins and ripe plums; toasted brown bread and chocolate middle; almost sweet boozy port-like finish. Warm but not hot silky mouthfeel from 17.8% abv; medium full body; moderate carbonation; dry, almost dusty finish. Overall, a “wow” beer; amazing balance of dried fruit, malt, and barrel flavors; a bit “thin” feel wise, but still a sipper even though I didn’t find it boozy; assertive layers of chocolate, toffee and whiskey; the dark fruit notes, and the additional bottle aging which renders semi sweet port-like flavors, enhance the tasting experience; sublime and delicious; highly recommend and can’t wait to drink again.

4.5 | 4.75 | 5.0 | 4.5 | 4.75
Score: 4.81 rDev: +8.8%

 

Schroll Bräu Landbier


Pours a lighter hazelnut brown color with a medium sized, spongy head.


Smells of toffee, whole grain bread and some marzipan.


Drinks soft and refreshing with a well dosed carbonation, which adds a nice mineralic note to the otherwise profound malt backbone in this.


Tastes of smoked wood, bakers chocolate and fresh baked bread with some noteable caramel on top. Turns a bit more rustic then, with a well entangled sweetness to it. Finishes with a light, restrained bitterness, which mingles well into glazing caramel and toasty grains.


This is quite good with a well working maltiness, getting gently accompanied by a lighter, herbal hop antagonist.