New Beer Sunday (Week 799)

Toppling Goliath King Sue NEIPA/DIPA, 7.8% ABV. Pours hazy orange with a 4-finger white head. Nose is citrus and zest. Taste is grapefruit, zest, and pine, heavy bitterness. Excellent mouthfeel, overall excellent. Had hoped for more fruit.

4.06/5 rDev -12.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

I'm a bit disappointed in this one considering its high rating.

 

L‘Ermitage Laboratoire d‘Alchimie travail numero six


Pours a clouded yellow with a medium sized, spongy head.


Smells of flowers grass, lime zest and lighter tart yogurt among a pleasantly light barnyard funkiness.


Has a light, very carbonated mouthfeel with a solid dryness towards the finish, making this very easy drinking and refreshing.


Tastes of fruity hops, which not only produce a vibrant bitterness but blend into a pleasantly refreshing, lighter tartness. The beer produces a calming bread dough quality then, leaving the spotlight entirely on the hops and the prominent yeast in this. Finishes tart with a faint bitterness and a bubbly, metallic carbonation leading to pretty much nothing but a bubbly, spritzy watery finish.


Certainly not a great Kveik Ipa since the mouthfeel is just too heavily carbonated in this. The citra in this works well but appears a bit subdued and not being able to benefit from the yeast very much.

 

Back when everything hazy was being retconned into a NEIPA classification on this site, I argued that this beer (and many other TG beers), while hazy, was not a NEIPA (to no avail).

 

I'd concur, definitely a DIPA. I also put in a request earlier today to have Sosus switched to a DIPA.

 

Good Sunday afternoon, New Beer Samplers and commentators. And thank you, @zid for doing the honors today. Tomorrow, those breweries in New Jersey with outdoor seating will be reopening. A hopeful development! I expect things to be a madhouse for awhile so I think I'll demur till later in the week. I feel sorry for the brewers that don't have an outdoor option.

My New Beer today is Counter Current, a 6.5% New England IPA from Slack Tide Brewing in Cape May County, NJ. It was released on Thursday and I bought a pack yesterday and brought it home (didn't cheat last night). This is a nicely-crafted NEIPA; it opens with ripe, sweet melon balanced with tart lemon and grapefruit. Unfortunately, Slack Tide doesn't give a lot of info as to the hop bill other than saying they used Lupulin powder in the boil. Whatever they did, it worked. It finishes with significant bitterness. The mouth feel is killer: plush and creamy with a highly drinkable ABV. It's a nice beer! Here's my full review:

4.09/5 rDev +2.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Reviewed 3 days after can release. Poured into a tulip glass. It pours a cloudy, dirty orange color with a half finger of creamy, bright white head and thick sheen of lacing. It has a true NEIPA appearance. The aromatic, fruity nose features ripe cantaloupe melon, lemon, grapefruit, tangerine, pine resin, and floral hops. The taste opens with a burst of both tropical fruit and tart citrus that balance nicely. But the Lupulin powder adds an earthy bitterness without much astringency. It finishes with a significant bite. The mouth feel feel is terrific - it's plush and creamy - with the Lupulin imparting a slightly oily feel. The level of carbonation is nearly perfect and with a moderate 6.5% ABV a second pour is not a problem. Overall, Slack Tide has done a nice job with Counter Current. It will satisfy your inner sweet tooth and hop head.

I'm one and done on NBS but I have lots of good beer to drink in the Virtual Bar. Cheers, NBS!

 

Thanks for kicking things off @zid ! I too really love trying fresh new European beers. Based on your brewery and beer previews, I really want to visit De Dolle Brouwers when I make it to Belgium!

My choice today is not as adventurous. I've had a few Maplewood Brewery (Chicago) pours in the past, and they have been good or very good. I picked up two of their flagship beers refrigerated at a local grocery store on sale, one pour for this Sunday, and one the next.

The pour today is Maplewood Brewery's Pulaski Pils, named after Revolutionary War Hero General Casimir Pulaski. General Pulaski is considered the Father of the American Calvary, and led numerous successful battles before being shot by British forces in the Battle of Savannah on October 9th, before dying two days later on October 11, 1779. General Pulaski is honored in numerous places throughout the United States, including a long stretch of our 4000 west street named after him.



I really like the information provided on this 16 oz can, which all brewers should provide.

Grain: Pilsner & Vienna
Hops: Santium & Warrior
Vitals: Lager; 4 SRM; 25 IBUs; 5.1% ABV; canned 4/23/20

On to the review:

Appearance: Heavy carbonation throughout the pour, light off white head fades fast leaving no lacing either when receding or throughout the pour. Faint clear straw colour. 3.25

Aroma: Primarily corn, which I do not believe was used, light bread backing. This smelled more like an AAL than I expected. 2.75

Taste: Salty taste leads, light cracker backs, light. 2.5

Mouthfeel: Light body, carbonation holds well throughout the pour, clean crisp finish. 3.25

Overall: Felt more like a corn based AAL than a Pilsner, better options elsewhere. 2.75

Perhaps this batch is off or the beer not properly stored for a significant time. While I will unlikely pay for this in the future, I will continue to explore other offerings and hope their second pour purchased for next week fares better.

I look forward to reading the great reviews found on this thread, noting extra special offerings for future consideration.

Cheers!

 

Happy New New England IPA Sunday!

Pretty nice day on the Western Slope, at the trailhead, sunny, around 86. Pretty tasty brew now, should be back with another. Might just finish up Picard today.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/45814/451329/?ba=Wasatch#review

Cheers!

 

I'm with you on your general statement about Single Cut. Great beer, but not as great as the price.

 

Good afternoon NBS
My second new lager of the day. Valley Gold by Farmstrong Brewing Company Mt. Vernon, WA. Made with 100% locally grown and malted grain...

The review:
16oz undated can poured into a perfect pint glass at fridge temp 6% ABV 21 IBU per can label. The beer pours bright, gold tinted straw yellow with nearly white head. The head fizzles away to a thin ring and small island of tiny bubbles. No lacing. The aroma is all grainy malt with no hops or flaws. The taste is semisweet pale malt with a pleasant lemongrass hop note that lingers. Minimal bitterness. The mouthfeel is medium to thin bodied with average carbonation and a dry finish. Very clean, no off flavors or odor. Overall, very good. There is something distinct and enjoyable about the Skagit Valley Malting Co. malt. A toasted whole grain bread vibe with no additional sweetness. I would drink this one any day and all day.

Thanks again @beertunes. Awesome box! I'd do back flips down the street if there was one brewery local to me that could match the variety and quality that you sent.

Cheers all and enjoy the new beer in your glass!

 

I thought it was a Champale smell.

 

Somehow I'm up to NBS beer #3, which might be a record for me. While I'm well aware of the fact that my reviews aren't anything to write home about, I know nobody here judges me for my lack of refinement, both in my palate and in my words. I have come to genuinely look forward to Sunday's and the "virtual camaraderie" that comes with this weekly thread. If / when the world gets back to "normal", I hope to tip one back with some of you in person some day. In general, I find people are pretty awesome, but much of what you see on the internet masks this fact. BA seems to represent what the internet should be, not what it mostly is.

Here's to recognizing that there is good in almost everybody, and that there is more that we have in common than we often realize. Cheers all!

Beer #3. Also courtesy of @JayORear . Lumen by Grimm Artisan Ales. New brew for me and new brewery.

4/5 rDev -8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a hazy dark yellow with a relatively thin layer of foam. Minimal lacing. Nice tropical smell. Mango & other tropical aromas, with the taste closely mirroring the nose. Smooth and not at all bitter. Nice lingering aftertaste. Overall this is a pleasant, if somewhat unremarkable NEIPA. For somebody like me who isn't all that sophisticated with my reviews, this is middle of the road. Better than many, not quite a standout. The fact that I say that about a beer like this is indicative of how far we've come in the last ~5 years A few years ago this would have been a standout, but there's just so much good beer out there now that it's getting harder and harder to separate from the pack.

 

Cigar City Florida Man - I have been interested in trying this but wasn't expecting too much after reading some reviews. Recently I was in the mood for some Jai Alai and instead of picking up a pack of it I grabbed their mixed pack instead, as the lineup is pretty good and the price is nice for my area (the pack contains Florida Man, Jai Alai, Guayabera, Florida Cracker). This beer is quite good and I am pleasantly surprised. The 8.5% is dangerously hidden and it doesn't taste as big as it is. I would still prefer Jai Alai or probably Guayabera if choosing but definitely worth trying out.

 

Many great reviews so far. It's cool @Roguer was able to pick up Clean IPA from a brewery a nice walk from my house. I will be making that walk either tomorrow or Tuesday to pick up this offering as well. It's great Chicago breweries are beginning to discover/rediscover WCIPAs, and I will always lend my support. Phase Three Brewing released Terrazzo last week, and I am glad to have eleven more in by refrigerator.

On to local pour number two, DDH Tropic Hero by Revolution Brewing canned and refrigerated since May 13. It is a 7.6% DDH Hazy IPA.







Two additional pictures added to highlight the great artwork on this can. This was the first beer concept and name Revolution's CFO Doug Veliky, aka @BeerCruncher , proposed upon his hire at Revolution five years ago. He goes more into the inspiration in this linked blog post, including the video game which inspired the artwork.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CAOrju4Hc3f/

Revolution has great artwork on many of their offerings, and on their large beer chalkboard at the Brewery, a sight I really miss after three months and counting. On to the review.

Appearance: Murky light creamsicle colour pour, off-white bubbly head fades quickly leaving soapy lacing. 3.5

Aroma: Faint sweet tropical fruit aroma, pineapple, tangerine and citrus. 3.25

Taste: Very sweet taste, tangy, tangerine, pineapple and melon lead, citrus backs well. 3.75

Mouthfeel: Tingly sweet on the tongue, lightly dry and slight bitterness attempt to offset the sweetness, sweet wins out. Creamy body, nominal carbonation, slightly dry finish. 3.5

Overall: This is a good DDH offering. 3.5

I am glad I tried, but if the brewery was open, I would have tried on draft and likely brought home another four pack of their collaboration with Piece. I really hope the brewery and brewpubs are able to reopen soon, with the large brewery outdoor back area a prime candidate for eligible early opening until they can accommodate indoor patrons.

So many great beers out there, sadly time and dollars are limited. Support your local breweries, and I'll see you next week!

 

Hey what's going on!?

Enjoying this weekend, very productive, some real good weather, and my bbq grill is working some real tasty overtime!

With that good food beer is just crawling out and made for it. Have a few random new pickings for beer, so what's new for our hero today??


Poured from the bottle into a Spiegelau IPA glass. Best before August 09 2020.

Pale orange body color, with large amounts of chunky floaties in the body. Lots of it is suspending through the beer. Head creation is a little minimal, manages just over two fingers, simple white color, but with little retention or lacing. Things could be worse.

Interesting aroma. Quite different than expected, a big touch of juiced apricot notes, but also lots of herbal to tropical hop presence as well. There's more of a canned fruit smell kicking in on this though after some time, which makes for less appealing experiences. There's a big of candy gum drop aroma to this also.

Palate doesn't make much of a huge splash. First taste is fruit apricot puree, with a very light wet body presence. Minimal sensing tropical and guava like notes, but also has a real over fruited finish that is bordering on a mix of sour with sharp hop herbal bitterness that clashes.

A drinkable IPA, but also a bit of a non complimentary set of flavors and somewhat messy.

look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25 --- 3.3/5

Cheers!

 

Just wanted to say that this is the first batch of this beer that really impressed me . . . I don't know if there's that much batch variation, or I just wasn't drinking it fresh enough, but it never wowed me until this batch. Singlecut also had a DIPA last winter (I guess? it's hard to tell time/seasons anymore) called Desert! that blew me away. After my first can, I went out and located every can I could. Out here in PA, Singlecut 4-packs (including SSMS) are around $20, so it's worth the gamble.

 

Pretty views!

Beautiful pour. Good review. BA classifies it as an American Wild. But I see the brewery calls it a sour IPA, which I'm not sure is a style. Yet, anyway.

 

Agree on this one; it's also hard to dial down from that Singlecut to this beer. If you can ever get a hold of fresh Grimm Tesseract, it's amazing.