New Beer Weekend #11

Starting to dig into my BIF box, first up North Park Strata Rocket. @Dimidiata recommended that I start with the wet hop beers and I’m not going argue with that! I really don’t remember having many beers with Strata hops so it is really nice to have something hopped exclusively with it. Based on this beer I will definitely be looking for Strata hops more often.

4.36/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Thank you Dimidiata for this
16 oz can, dated 9/16/20, poured into a teku

A- A fairly clear golden copper with a two finger white head.

S- Tropical fruits, citrus, grapefruit, dank, pineapple, cantaloupe, some pine.

T- Citrus, tropical fruits, melons, some pineapple, touch of caramel malts, dank, herbal, some pine.

M- Smooth, medium body.

O- A great wet hop beer, great balance of fruity and bitter hops that reminds you this is a west coast IPA.

Cheers!

 

Happy NBW everyone!

Just 2 new beers for me today, first new brew was Masthead's Pumpkin Underverse Imperial Stout which was pretty good: https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/48055/309925/?ba=bluejacket74#review




And my other new brew was Nocterra's Noctoberfest Festbier which I though was a solid one: https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/55253/452969/?ba=bluejacket74#review




Have a good evening everyone, hope you all have some good brews too!

 

My new beer today is compliments of @2beerdogs and NBW BIF 12, Chapman Crafted Beer, Orange CA, Old Towne Fest, marzen style lager. Pours a nice copper with frothy one finger head, disapates with light carbonation, aroma of malts, bready biscuit, taste follows with some carmel smooth medium mouthfeel with a slight hop bitterness. Well crafted beer, thanks Derek!

 

Prepping chicken and drinking Galaxy Dry Hopped Pseudo Sue.

3.97/5 rDev -8.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Poured from a can dated 9/11/2020 to a Nonic at fridge temp.
Super hazy yellow/orange body with a medium white head that fades and laces some, but poorly.
Smell is musty and dank, not fruity at all.
Taste is bitter but good. Galaxy dominates to the max as advertised. Rind, rind, rind.
Mouthfeel is pretty thick for a Sue.
Overall, good, but I would rather drink the original.

 

Another new-to-me beer from Holy Mountain in Seattle, Cone & Cone. I think this might be a fresh hop version of Kiln & Cone, an outstanding beer that (in my opinion) could have become a flagship had they chosen to go that route. But who am I to question those geniuses, I can't say I've ever had a bad beer from them. Cheers!

4.21/5 rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

16oz can into a tulip. Canned very recently, probably this week, but no date on bottom of can (it just says "Mosaic & Azzacca"). Pours a slightly hazy golden/straw color; not the opaque sludgy yellow we are seeing more and more often, but just a glowing, semi-transparent haze that could clear up a bit as it warms.

Aroma is punchy tropical goodness. Pineapple and other citrusy fruit juices, some lemon and orange peel, and gentle spice.

Taste is likewise tropical and acidic, citrus forward. Again, the word "juicy" is appropriate here. Pale, slightly biscuity malt in the background. Presumably this is a fresh hop version of Holy Mountain's delicious Kiln & Cone, which I think could have been a flagship beer for the brewery. Great balance here between the hops and the malt gives it depth.

Mouthfeel is just right, balanced, medium bodied. Nice crisp bitterness on the finish that never feels resinous or overpowering.

Overall, yet another very tasty, well made local fresh hop beer. We are truly spoiled in the Northwest this time of year.

 

I like the “big stout/fruited wild ale/big stout/WCIPA (definitely not a “hazy” by today’s standards)” progression. You are a rockstar, buddy.

 

In the mood for something nice and light. Thankfully, I have plenty of Suarez beers in the fridge, a few of which are new to me. This one is their Helles lager, While. I love the fact that Dan Suarez stays true to what he likes to brew, which is lagers and farmhouse / "country beers" (no IPAs, no stouts etc.). Their lager game is as good as any in the country IMHO. Basic review below, but the summary is this did not disappoint. Crisp, clean and crushable.

4.35/5 rDev +3.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Very clear, straw color with a finger of foamy white head. Smell is bread, grass & biscuits and both spot on for the style and very inviting. Taste is bread & grains with the nice, crisp finish that Suarez does so well. Relatively moderate carbonation with a fairly light mouthfeel. Overall this is a very nice, refreshing beer that you could drink several of without batting an eye.

 

I visited Other Half two years ago. I took my wife on an insane one day trip to New York to see the Pietasters for her 40th birthday. It was such a great time, and Other Half was one of the (many) highlights.

This beer has been resting in my fridge a bit too long. Fresh hops have been butting into the queue. Luckily, it's not ruined. I'm enjoying it.

16oz can served in a big snifter. Dated 07/20/20.

Pours hazy pale amber with a smallish head and medium to low carbonation. Smell is grass and hay and a little pine.

Taste is starting to show a little old hops characteristic, but not yet dominant. I definitely get grass and hay, I definitely get pine and grapefruit zest. I also get some tropical fruit, lots of juice.

Mouthfeel is medium to light, dry, almost fluffy. Even at ~2.5 months old, this is a nice beer. Would love to try it fresher. I have really enjoyed Other Half beers in the past.

 

I will have a Suarez lager, courtesy of magnificent you, to share here tomorrow. You are correct, their lager game is Hall-Of-Fame level, IMHO.

I actually may have a 2-pack or even a 3-pack courtesy of you tomorrow. Have to sort things out.

#FirstWorldBeerNerdProblems

 

Good Saturday afternoon, New Beer Sippers and commentators. We're at the Shore this weekend and had to run errands on the mainland so stopped in at Ludlam Island Brewing for a few pours. It's a beautiful autumn afternoon for outdoor drinking. I was impress with Amontillado Double Bourbon Barrel Coffee Stout. The brewery shares an industrial building with Harry & Beans Coffee Roasters and this Stout features strong, freshly-brewed coffee, along with vanilla, brown sugar, and earthy, burnt nuts. The barrel influence is strong but surprisingly delicate. The bourbon is not overly sweet - more like sour mash. And it's surprisingly un-boozy; it's hard to believe the ABV is 13% . I really didn't expect to find such a well-crafted BA Coffee Stout today. Very nicely done. Cheers, NBW!

 

Hello, NBW, aka “Best Thread On The Site” IMHO. I see my NBW BIF friends are offering their thoughts on our BIF shenanigans today, so I’ll save that elevator speech for tomorrow. Today, though, I offer a couple of beers from Indiana’s most iconic brewery (by a LOT).

The first is a beer I’ve had from them before, but never did a proper review - and it’s uber fresh. It’s been probably 3 or 4 years since I’ve last enjoyed it, and I will correct that today. It’s classified here as an Imperial IPA, but it’s actually an Imperial Pale Ale. So without further ado, here’s my favorite 3 Floyds beer that doesn’t include “Dark” or “Lord” in its name.







Moderately hazy burnt orange color with a dense, foamy pearl white head that is as clingy as a 15-year-old boy with his first “real” girlfriend that he thinks likes someone else, this massive imperial pale ale resiny pine and citrus aromas, specifically tangerine, and a noticeable caramalt aroma. Wow.

The tangerine flavor is fully front and center, then eases into a particularly bitter resiny pine flavor (can you say “100 IBU’s?), before the the caramalt flavor takes the wheel and guides this beer smoothly across the finish line, with just the slightest hint of the 10.5% ABV to be found.

This is Zombie Dust’s burly big brother. What a pleasure it is to drink a beer executed this well, IMHO. Rated 4.50, as it was a few years ago.

 

#2, also from 3 Floyds. This is my second BIB offering, and it’s an interesting take.

PS: Ranger is hunting squirrels. They have no chance - he thinks they’re trying to steal his Frosty Paw.





4.25/5 rDev +8.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

This pours black, but it’s loosely black, with a lot of leakage to mahogany on the edges. The tan head provides some nice lacing, and leads to aromas of bittersweet chocolate and espresso (or intense coffee).

The tast is led by the bittersweet chocolate, but the interesting byplay is between the espresso and citrus flavors that follow. What an adventurous flavor ride this is.

I’m glad I have a few more bottles of this, because I’m interested to see how this changes as it ages.

 

Poured into a 16 oz Nordic pint glass canned on 9/15/20. Pours a hazy yellow orange with a half finger sticky white head that leaves a bunch of thin streaks of lace. 4.25.

Smell is loaded with tangerine, pineapple, and apricot simple but nice. 4

Taste follows tangerine, pineapple, apricot, and grapefruit. 4

Mouthfeel is bigger than medium, a tad sticky, soft gentle carbonation, and at 7.5% very easy drinking. 4.

Overall this is a nice NEIPA, a tad one dimensional but pretty darn tasty just the same. 4

 

Went for a long walk, mostly shade. Feels like almost 100 degrees. Stopped by the store. Grabbed a water and a Russian River Mind Circus Hazy IPA. 7%. Glad I tried it. Shoulda tried it sooner. Reminds me a little of Heady Topper.

 

Stemma's "It's a Double" DIPA. Bought it at Whidbey Brew Works a couple weeks ago based on the owner's recommendation.

16oz can served in a big snifter. Dated 09/17/20.

Pours hazy light amber with a smallish head. Smell is hop resin, cut greens.

Taste is bright lemon and citrus, some pith but more zest, and maybe a medley of orange, lemon, and grapefruit. Moderate juicy sweetness with a moderate to strong zest bitterness.

Mouthfeel is medium. Nice beer.

Not stellar, but quite enjoyable.