New Beer Sunday (Week 802)

Greetings, fellow NBSers, and happy Independence Day weekend.

Right now it's 77° with an abundance of blue skies here in the largest city between Seattle and Minneapolis.

This morning I went for a stroll for an hour, then came back and made some waffles for breakfast. Utterly unremarkable waffles except for the star of the meal, courtesy of @Whyteboar and his NBS BIF boxes:

Last week I actually drank a beer for NBS, but then I got busy with some projects and forgot to post it!
Here it is, a barrel-fermented pilsener from Ft.George:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/16077/417659/?ba=woemad#review
I foolishly deleted my pic, so here's an image plucked from the Internets...

Now I gotta figure out what I wanna hit for today's NBS.

 

Interesting that the the brewers description of this beer says that it has the hops of Very Gggreennn (which I just had an hour ago) and the malt bill of King Julius (which I will have later). Not that VGG was bad, but this is a step in the right direction that gets me excited for King Julius.

4.36/5 rDev -7.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 16 oz can dated 6/19/20.
Hazy orange (no duh) nice medium bright white head that laces nicely, even in an empty glass.
Aroma is mild, just as I found Very Gggreennn. Huh. Mild orange, some dankness.
Taste is very similar to VG, but without the hop sting at the end. This beer is smoother. This does not feel like an 8.2% ABV.
Mouthfeel, as any TH NEIPA, spot on to style.
Very pleasant drinking beer. None of that mild sting finish I get with many of their NEIPAs.
If this was easier to get I would drink it often.

 

Frankly, I'd happily eat Currywurst or a Doner Kebab!
I am sad I didn't try a Berlinerweiss in Berlin when I had the chance (that was back in my Guinness days).

 

What the heck did that bottle opener start its life as?

 

I haven't had a chance to catch up on the thread yet today, but I'll be going back through later today. Meanwhile, here in southeastern Minnesota, we have had several days now of 90+ temperatures and high humidity, and the forecast calls for several more.

Seemed like a good day to go for summer crushers.

Last year, Summit Brewing introduced a Kölsch-style ale with Lime that they named "Cabin Crusher." I liked it a lot.

This year, they put a variation in their sample box with lemon instead of lime. Today, I'll be comparing the two.

The lemon version is the true NBS beer; the lime version is for comparison.

Summit Brewing Cabin Crusher Kölsch-Style Ale with Lemon
compared with
Summit Brewing Cabin Crusher Kölsch-Style Ale with Lime
Both are
IBU: 30
ABV: 4.8%

The photo is a Photoshop combination of two separate photos. This is not a side-by-side comparison, but a one-after-the-other comparison. The two pictures were taken at the same place in almost the same lighting (I forgot to turn on a small table lamp for the lemon one; that is why the can appears a bit darker) so the look, color, etc. is a good comparison between the two.



As you can see, the look is nearly identical.

Hazy (in a keller-sense, not hazebro sense) straw-yellow color. Tall head, thick and creamy looking. (A more vigorous pour for the lime is why the head is taller.) Relatively heavy carbonation visible. The carbonation is heavier in the lemon version. The head fades faster also in the lemon, and it has less lacing.

Aroma is bready/biscuity with lime/lemon as accents in the smell. The lemon version smells a bit sweeter.

For the lime variant,the lime was an accent in the aroma but in the taste it is front and center, carrying on through the middle, resulting in a refreshing finish. At the initial taste, the is lime obvious and bold. While the bold hit of lime does fade through the middle, it never disappears completely, remaining into the aftertaste. It is bold, but not overpowering. The underlying bready malts may be second fiddle, but are hardly shy. Other than the mild (very mild) tartness from the lime, there is little bittering sensation. Bready, biscuit malts, some sweetness, with the sweetness nicely offset by lime. For a hot summer day like today, it hits the spot. This is a great summer beer.

For the lemon, the taste is smooth white-bread malts with the lemon accents riding on top. No bittering to speak of, just the slight cirtus-bite to balance things. The finish is mild and slightly sweet, with the lemon flavor lingering into the aftertaste. Compared with the lime version, this one is sweeter, and with more of a citrus bite. I like the taste of this beer, but I liked the lime version a bit better.

The mouth feel is medium-bodied for both, and slightly tart for the lime and smooth on the palate for the lemon.

Overall, both are good thirst-quencher beers. The lemon adds a bit of smooth sweetness compared with the slight tartness of the lime variant. Both variants are refreshing and summery, even if they play a bit loose with the Kölsch style. I prefer the crisp tartness of the original lime version, though, to the smooth sweeter lemon version.

Lime:
L: 4.0 | S: 3.75 | T: 4.25 | F: 3.5 | O: 4.25 | Rating: 4.04

Lemon:
L: 3.75 | S: 3.75 | T: 4.0 | F: 3.75 | O: 3.75 | Rating: 3.85

 

Here's another one from that Troegs Summer Pack:

Field Study IPA

I think it helps to approach this as a Summer IPA. It's gently flavored, light, crisp and dry; a deliberate easy-drinker in other words. It's as affable as it is unobtrusive- good mix of flavors (orange, pineapple, star fruit, a touch of that sweaty hop funk), nothing really stands out. Bitterness is there but not noticeable. A "nice" beer that I will enjoy drinking, but would not really purchase on its own. B+ (3.75).

 

Hello NBS!
Been out for a few weeks working my ass off in Maine. Just finished a 4 day 50 hour week and I am back home fora couple of days. Stopped in Portland today and was able to grab 4 new brews. This my friends is one heck of a town and one hell of a beer lovers dream. So when in Rome...
Definitive Brewing Lens TDH TIPA
Pours a hazy sunny golden orange with a 3 finger beige tinged head with lots of sticky lacing. Large and foamy, bubbles linger for minutes.
Aroma is huge pineapple, pink grapefruit, peach, papaya, tangerine, bubblegum and spruce. Damn.
Taste follows with a big mouthful of juicy tropical fruits, sweet citrus and stonefruit. Pilsner and lightly toasted malts and possibly oats win the day. The sweet hits up front but is pulled back by pithy bitterness with sweetness winning in a photo finish.
Delicious brew.
Feel is medium/full bodied with tiny carb thoughout. Finishes slightly bitter.
A little slick from hop oils. Scary thing is no hint of 10.3% and I am 3/4 through this can just writing this review. If this had just a tiny bit more carb it might be damn near perfect for us TIPA aficionados. That being said a fantastic beer. Looking forward to another Definitive Brewing I have in the bag. These guys are really hitting their stride.

 

That's not selfish (putting a rubber band around the three NBS beers with a note to secure them), that's smart beer nerdery, and you did it in a very polite manner.

If it was me, I would've wrapped the cans in barbed wire to make my point very (potentially) painfully clear. IJS.

 

Doc's been sporting that opener for a long time. I don't even need to see the avatar - when I see that opener in the pic, I know the Doctor is in the house!

 

Good Sunday afternoon, New Beer Samplers and commentators. I hope everyone has had a safe and enjoyable 4th of July weekend. No matter what goes on in this crazy world, I cherish and respect this holiday and all our wonderful country has to offer.

I had planned a different first NBS review today but a box from @TheIPAHunter arrived this morning, earlier than expected. I must admit that I've sampled Jjjuliusss! previously but it was at a bottle share with a small pour and I wasn't able to make proper notes. This is a special beer and deserves thoughtful consideration. It really is spectacular! First, the appearance: it is the quintessential New England IPA with a dense, murky appearance and a thick, foamy head that lasted through the pour. The smell features bright orange/tangerine. The taste opens like a creamsicle but as it warms a bit there is also lemon peel, peach, and mango notes. It starts clean but by the time it finishes there is an astringent hop bite. The mouth feel is great: plush and pillowy and it drinks easily at 6.8% ABV. Overall, my earlier impression is validated. This is one of the best New England IPAs you can hope to drink. I savored it like a stout and was rewarded richly.

I'll be back shortly with a more local offering. Cheers, NBS!

 

Well, I have advanced to the BA NEIPA penultimate (Heady is #1, and I love it, but I am in on the debate that it is not a hazy fruity IPA). So here I am finally reviewing King Julius. Super impressive, but like many whales, it did not change my life in any appreciable way.

4.41/5 rDev -7.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Poured from a 16oz can dated 6/23/20 to a clean, dry Nonic. Poured at fridge temp, but drinking slowly in 86F ambient.
Hazy burnt orange with small-medium white head. Lacing good, not overly impressive though.
The smell is sightly dank with citrus background, not strong.
Taste and mouthfeel go together on this one. Smooth, fruity, berry, no hop sting, alcohol slightly hidden, but not completely. Citrus and strawberry, odd mix but it works.
Really good beer, but not sure why this is #2 currently for the style on BA. Smooth NEIPA, but there are others.

 

New Beer #2
Courtesy of @beergoot


510mL bottled 042920 poured into a pokal glass at fridge temp 4.75% ABV. The beer pours barely hazy light straw yellow with nearly white head. The head recedes to a thin cap and clings to the glass just above liquid level. The aroma is earthy & musty hops with a hint of pale malt. The taste is more of the same with a yeasty, earthy, musty note over the top of subdued malt. Mildly bitter. The mouthfeel is thin to medium bodied with average carbonation and a very dry finish. Overall, good lager. Not a Helles by a long shot with the hazy body, big hop influence and barely there malt. Numerically scored to my enjoyment and not to style.

I'm going to edit my review in a minute. As it approaches room temperature the chill haze disappears to leave it mostly bright. The fullness of the malt is more pronounced and the dry, mineral character integrates into the hoppy profile more seamlessly. Very good - just don't drink it cold!

I've got another Helles in the fridge and I might be back. Enjoy the new beer in your glass today

 

Two years ago today I was in Astoria, Oregon. Feeling blessed to have this magnificent IPA today from Astoria today in Texas.
Beautiful glowing peach color with a large frothy head that clings to the glass after each sip.
Aroma is full of ripe peaches, mandarin oranges, pineapple, and some bitter citrus/grapefruit.
Taste is just like the nose. BUT, after the rush of juicy fruit is a strong and dry bitterness. It begs for more and more big sips.

An amazing IPA that is full of nostalgia for myself. But, can definitely play in the big league of juicy hazey IPAs. Sooooooooo many juicy IPAs are so one dimensional on juicy sweetness, they leave me one and done craving a classic WCIPA. This hits all the notes and is so balanced. Yes sir, may I have another!!!!

 

Back with another Maine beer.
I really have liked this brewery but they recently let me down when I bought a 4pk of one of my favorite brews- Epiphany. It was obviously a bad batch and shouldnt have been canned.....but we move on.
Vivid DIPA Foundation Brewing
Pours a hazy gold/yellow with a modest off white head that dissipates quickly.
Aroma is of overripe pineapple and lemon, guava and apricot and cannabis.
Taste follows with tropicals, grapefruit, lemon and pine bitterness with a nice deep and fruity dankness.
Feel is medium, decent carb, pleasant bitterness, dry finish.
A flavorful, easy drinking "summer style" DIPA. 8.4% is dangerous though.
Good brew.

 

NBS #2. Toys in the Attic, an APA from Twin Elephant Brewing here in New Jersey. One thing about TE that is either endearing or frustrating, depending on your perspective, is that the brewery frequently changes the recipe - and sometimes even the style - of a named beer. As a result, you can review a beer but the next time you have it, it's quite different. This iteration of Toys is different from the one released for brewery pours last year. I think it's more complex with wheat, malted and flaked oats, and wildflower honey. It opens tart and tangy but sweetens as it warms. At 5.8% it's crushable but I recommend drinking it slowly to appreciate how it changes with the temperature.

As a side note, I'm fascinated by how Twin Elephant decides what to can in these COVID times without in-brewery pours. When this APA was initially brewed last year it seemed like a one-off but obviously the brewers decided to rework and can it.

 

Hey what's going on?!

Hope everyone had a good 4th. Worked well for me. Speaking of which, in the DC area it's usually horrible hot humid weather, but the evening was downright pleasant. Sat in my backyard on the patio table with great grilled food and heard all the neighborhood shooting of fireworks..

good times.

With that more Summer drinking is in the cards. So what's new for our hero today? Oh who says stout is only for Summer drinking?



Poured from the can into a snifter glass. Canned December 2nd 2019.

Frothy and nicely bubbled up three fingered light mocha brown colored head. There's a little bit of staying power here too, with a real creamy fine top. Body color is opaque with a dark and very solid nearly black bodied walnut brown color, mentioned as 70 SRM on the can.

Aroma is very enjoyable. Creamy notes of malt chocolate, and soft chewy oak and hinted whiskey. Hits with a light caramel but thick smelling aroma of molasses and light sweet toffee. Rich and cake like as well. Very impressive nose.

There's a hint of milky mouthfeel on the palate, but the palate still delivers real nicely. Light bodied but supportive, and with a rich flavor. Big hints of milk like creamed coffee and charring carbon all over the palate. The aftertaste is rich in whiskey and controlled milky like sweetness, matching with spicy and splintery wood flavors on the finish. Fruity warmth mixing in as well, touches an almost cherry note with time.

Very nice drinking aged stout here.

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

Cheers!

 

Hello, NBSers, happy to be back.
Today, a new TRVE beer for me: Seven Doors, a grisette-style ale. Quite interesting. 6.1%
June canning. Delightful. That's the short version. More? OK... and cheers...

3.99/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

June 8, 2020 canning. Opened 7.5.20
L - 4.25 - has that unfiltered Belgian/French grisette opaqueness look to it, good head, decent lacing as the glass drains.
S - 4 - Lemony white grapefruit yeast, galore. Dry herb oak scent too, really interesting.
T - 4 - Delivers in spades on the Grisette expected taste profile of dry, chalky light lemons, but some added oomph. At 6.1% this is not a light example of any Grisette. It's metal, yo.
F - 3.75 - Good, crisp feel, yet the taste falls off the cliff on the palate after a few seconds. Super drying, like most TRVE beers, but I dig it. Just hoped for a bit more after-taste.
O - 4 - A great spin on the traditional Grisette, done with attitude. Awesome. I'll be seeking this out more often.

Posed with my new kitten (from March) whose name is... yep... Grisette.