NBS BIF #13: Peninsular Envy 2 (The Rocket-Ball Inception)

Pretty much constantly, but now I can close two of them at least.

Glad they all made it safe! If USPS is to be trusted, you should have another tomorrow, and then another on Friday.

So happy they made it safely! I've been biding my time since you ninja'd me way back in a Rookies BIF over a year ago. The St. Eldritch and Spiral Bloom seemed right in your wheelhouse, hope you enjoy them all!

 

I'll let @Roy_Hobbs know that he will be getting a beer from the 2nd oldest family owned brewery in the nation in his 2nd box. I picked it up today when I went to southern MN, to visit, and honor my dad. I should have done what other late cemetery board members have done, and popped opened a few Schell's beers, and shot some guns at the cemetery. I know dad, Ron, grandpa, and others would have approved.
Too bad it was too F-ing cold, and windy AS-F to be outside for too long. Plus no game around, though, lots of gopher holes dotting the cemetery.

 

Soooo @swenny916 I just got a shipment of mead from VT. like this post and I will include a few cans in your box going out Monday.

 

knocking off the first of @Pinz412 's hit, Big Hop from East End. solid brew!

 

How could I turn down mead??

 

I just got home from shopping (my wife has been on vaca for 3 weeks and I ran out of kibble) and witnessed the destruction that @Mbgreg has wrought upon my poor porch. I have to put perishables away so I'll be back with pics soon!

 

If I had a nickel for every time my flat rate flaps didn’t touch, I’d have enough to pay your bill.

 

I've been VERY lucky with Flat Rate boxes.
The same can not be said with standard boxes, well, one box, anyway.
A good friend of mine was involved in a beer trade on FB. He had legit issues so he couldn't complete the beer trade. I offered to finish the trade, and sent off a massive box, with minimal compensation, to his trader, to make up for the issues. He was sent a massive central, MN box of goodies.
Well, his box languished in north Florida for a month (said target is in the Tampa area). It was so bad I sent off a 2nd box, a USPS Flat rate box. It got there first, and, after opening a dispute, the original box got there a week later.
That was annoying as hell.

 

Thanking @Rub_This_BBQ for the Hopulence from Wormtown, that came in his ninja strike today. It's a good beer.

 

I’ve been hit, Part Deux .....



Another wonderful hit from @WunderLlama, this one from my Mom and Dad’s home state of Tennessee. But first, a moment of silence for a fallen soldier .....



I believe this was a tulip glass from Bearded Iris, but it sacrificed its existence for the safety of the rest of the box, like this awesome t-shirt .....



..... and this assortment of fantastic beers .....



I’m really looking forward to the Bearded Iris stuff (I’ve only had the pleasure of a couple of their beers) and the Barrique beers look amazing . Thanks SO MUCH for your generosity, Maynard.

 

The inspection team with the box, they came, they sniffed and didn’t care.
They wanted 1) out to visit a tree or two and 2) get fed.
So they got priority even over the groceries.
At some point I wanted to eat too.

After all the above was taken I turned my attention to the box. Carefully opening (how much tape can there be on a box?) it up I began pulling out beer. And kept pulling it out.

15 cans later including 4 from Westbrook (second row) Low and Slow, Idaho 7 Cashmere, Four Claw, and Strawberry Shake. 3 from Creature Comforts (far left) Bibo, Duende, Tropicalia. Bearded Iris - Escape Artist. Resident Culture - Juice Runs the Game. Flying Machine Scotch Ale 5000. Edmund’s Oast - Plasma Gun. 2 from Wild Leap - Local Gold and Alpha Distraction.
The lonely stout is from Fonta Flora and is named Outer Visions.
Last but not least, the mystery beer!

Thank you so much @Mbgreg , I don’t think I have had any of these and haven’t even heard of half of the breweries!

 

Love the inspection team! Tell ‘em there’ll be another exercise next week!

 

Iz gittin' hawt in hear!!!!!

 

Dammit! The do it yourself, assemble your own bier glass didnt ship with the instructions?!!i’ll check with the manufacturer about that...the glass is replaceable, glad the tshirt wasnt soaked...

 

The beers were all in tip top shape, thank the beer godz. The glass looked like a rhinoceros hit it. All good though - I've got glasses. Great beer is much more difficult to secure. Thanks again, Maynard!

 

Was told by a friend I'd be able to get one of the original food items I'd planned to get @Victory_Sabre1973 at a particular grocery store in the small town adjacent to where I work. That quest failed (although I did score some Sanders candy for my Dad, and a certain highly regarded regional IPA with an outstanding freshness date), and I had no chance to mail box #1, so that'll be going out with a local agricultural product (one that is legal for me to send to Minnesota, I hasten to add) tomorrow.

Box #2 is pretty much all set, but I'll finally have a chance to get a proper food item on Friday, so it won't ship before then. Plus, I still need a proper swag item.
BTW, @Victory_Sabre1973, are you strictly a straight whiskey guy, or are you a drinker of cocktails?

 

That's a great pile of beer @Mbgreg sent you, and some awfully cute doggos!

 

Been a busy few days but finally diving into the sahti that @Ozzylizard was kind enough to send from Brewery Vivant. I can't even remember the last time I had a sahti - probably either DFH's Sah'tea or the old New Belgium Lips of Faith Sahti - and as such, I have little frame of reference for the style. But hell, it's an unseasonably warm evening - cracked this open, cranked up Moonsorrow's "Verisakeet," and we'll see where it goes.

The nose is dominated by the malt profile - driven by freshly baked brown bread with touches of spice - which is complemented by a maple syrup that's assertive, but not overly sweet. Spruce wafts around in the background, but plays a subtle role, which is far better than overdoing it. Malty, spicy, floral, herbal, and surprisingly balanced considering the ingredients.

Doughy molasses bread opens the palate, giving way to a bigger and presentation of maple syrup than the nose foretold. It doesn't tread into cloying or unpleasant territory, but it throws its weight around quite a bit more. As it moves towards the backend, the spruce tips again provide subtle influence that melds into a hint of floral bitterness, but ultimately gives way to a malt-dominated finish.

It's impossible for me to score this based on style considering how long it's been since I've had the style, and how few times, but I can safely say I'm enjoying it. I suspect it's not entirely popular due to both the spruce and use of maple outside the sphere of pastry stouts, but it manages to work from both the standpoint of being interesting, as well as tasty.

Thanks again, @Ozzylizard!

 

That poor box. No one should have to deal with having trouble getting out of Kent!