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

Watching some hockey and having a beer courtesy of @LehighAce06 .



Tired Hands Austere Modular Nine - dry hopped pilsner - 5% abv.

Glad I have proper glassware... from another BIF that I can't even remember who sent this now. I'm the worst. Pours a brilliant pale golden with plenty of off white fluffy head that leaves rings of lacing. Floral and fruity on the nose, light spice. Taste is even fruitier with a nice citrus bitterness on the finish. Just a hint of malty sweetness. Light, crisp, and supremely crushable. Thanks, Kevin!

 

After missing most of a week's worth of the thread's action due to being out of town and occupied with that real life thing, it's time to catch up. I'm sure as shit not doing that without some liquid refreshment, though.



Digging back into the contents of the first box from @Ozzylizard, I opted to start light with Farm Hand from Brewery Vivant, a 5.5% ABV farmhouse ale. I've got the Sharks/Kings game on in the background but seeing as neither team is playing terribly well, they've been kind enough to leave me enough mental cycles to both taste beer and catch up on the thread.

Pours a hazy pale gold with a half-inch of loose white head that quickly recedes to scant lacing.

Nose is led by mildly sweet wheat, followed by banana, pear, green grapes, lemon with a light acidic edge, and hints of cracked pepper. Some wisps of stone fruit come through as it opens up, but the malt profile steadily increases as well, revealing a doughy country wheat bread note that acts as the centerpiece of the aroma.

The palate largely follows the nose, with a wheat-driven malt profile acting as a canvas for fruity esters - more pear and green grapes, less lemon and stone fruit - along with some faint peppery phenols and grassy hops towards the backend that lend a sense of dryness, leading to a light, slightly rustic finish.

The body is a bit heavier than I'd prefer for a 5.5% ABV saison, with the wheat adding some noticeable heft. However, it's nicely carbonated and the hints of acidity help lend some perceived brightness and leanness.

Overall, it would benefit a bit from a lighter body and tweaking the ester profile away from banana, but it's a nice, crushable saison. Thanks again, @Ozzylizard!

Score: 3.5

 

Are you participating in the upcoming IPA Cyberfest? They have a Revision in the package.

 

So you already have one? Bruery or Terreux?

 

I wanted to post this as another shout of of "Thanks" to @MacMalt
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/48768/541056/
Another fine District 96 offering, X-Ray Photo IPA

 

Next up, from @Mbgreg. Westbrook Strawberry Shake ipa.



Pours a murky orange with a distinct reddish cast. Thin white head quickly dissipates. Smells like strawberry Creme Savers candy. There's a hint of an unpleasant smell way in the back, almost sulfur-y. Taste is all strawberry candy that finishes with a bit of a citrusy bitterness. Mouthfeel is thin for this style - I expect a pillowy creamy mouthfeel for a "milkshake" ipa, and this isn't it. I'd also expect a softness on the finish, but some bitterness does stop this beer from being overly sugary and cloying. Not my favorite style, but it fits the idea of a strawberry milkshake beer. Thanks, Mark!

 

Yeah I really liked that one as well, VERY hoppy for a Pils (or any lager, really), it reminded me a lot of IPLs from Jack's Abby.

As a forewarning, the Trendler lagers are much more "true to style" in a traditional sense; also supremely crushable but without all the hops we Americans insist on adding to everything.

 

I've had a couple of these myself fairly recently, and they're doing pretty well. The coffee might not be quite what it once was but is still pretty strong, whereas I find the barrel to be REALLY subtle. I do like a lot of barrel in my stouts, but in this case it isn't missed too sorely because the base stout comes through well and is pretty solid, age has helped smooth the rough edges a bit.

@FBarber it should be noted that the 3 bottles of SMS you have are the B1, B2, and B3, if I'm not mistaken.

 

If anyone (else) can do milkshake style well I would think Westbrook would have a good shot at it, so this beer having the flaws you mention reaffirms my belief that only TH can really do the style perfectly.

That said, I love me some strawberry creme savers so it still sounds quite tasty!

 

Delayed reaction to my aforementioned absence, but holy shit, there were some epic boxes in here. Well fucking done, everyone!

And catching up on a few specific responses...

Never know, it could be a quadruple IPA with hazelnuts.

Congrats on the offer and impending move, sounds like an excellent reason to celebrate with good food and drink!

North Park Beer Co's Hop-Fu. I believe @Roguer tried it and wasn't a huge fan - sorry, I know I missed some tags and alerts so the details are fuzzy - and admittedly, the current batch was a small step backwards. However, it's consistently an absolutely stellar beer that exemplifies what I want out of the classic WC IPA profile - massive hop aroma that blends citrus, tropical fruit, and resinous pine sap; a noticeable but restrained malt profile; huge hop flavors that drive the bus on the palate; and a firm bitterness. As much as I enjoy the new-school WC IPA with a cracker-thin malt profile and virtually no bitterness, it rarely hits me the same way as a classic WC IPA.

All of that said, everyone has different views of what the ideal balance and characteristics of WC IPA are. Hop-Fu just hits the mark in a way that, for me, goes beyond technical prowess and resonates deeply.

I'm sure my fridge will still be bursting at the seams by then, but there's always room for more cans - I'm down.

 

It's just the one that Christine linked to.

 

I need to get one those, super cool

 

I'm still in for drinking Summer Life for sure!

I was a little afraid the it wouldn't keep the tension and fly off in the middle of the night, but it's worked really well the times I've used it. I did have one bottle that it didn't quite fit over, but I forget what that bottle was at the moment.

 

What you're describing is why I enjoy many Knee Deep and Beachwood beers (and Pliny, of course). Out here in PA, The Shape of Hops to Come fits that bill, as did (does) 4 Giants from Founders.

 

That's what I was planning on.

 

The boxes have been fast & furious, that's for sure.

All hands, y'all are bringin' it!

 

Somebody send this man some Revision!