New Beer Weekend #39

Yeah, I'm a little disappointed myself. This was the first canning of Morning Bite and the mouth feel isn't what it was when I first had it in a crowler. This seems to be the one beer I wish I hadn't sent to you and Derek.

 

Good evening NBS/NBW, drove a few minutes north to see our good friends at Brick and Feather. This throwback (my term) IPA has a lovely pine/citrus tension, on a superb malt base.
Sharp and dilightfully bitter. Love it

Trees Like Tassels
3.99/5 rDev 0%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 16 oz can dated 3/24/21 into the test glass
A - A Deep dark straw color, a bit turbid, lovely white froth
S - Orange reduction, pine forest, candied pineapple.
T - Pine up front, then those lovely tropicals roll in, again orange reduction, some papaya, and unsulphered dry pineapple
M - Medium in body, smooth on the palate, start and finish are semi bitter, a welcome shift from modern sweet IPA's. Excellent finish, water profile is another nice aspect, just enough water treatment to make that bitter pop.
O - A welcome treat from talented brewers, love the nod toward the piney side, well done and cheers to Molly on this one.

 

Now up Von Trapp Helles.
3.97/5 rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

12 oz can poured into a mug

A- A fairly clear golden straw with a small white head.

S- Sweet biscuits, herbal, slightly earthy, touch of grapes

T- Sweet bread, touch of honey, herbal, touch of light fruits, earthy.

M- Smooth, crisp, light body.

O- A nice and easy drinking Helles.

Cheers!

 

Greetings fellow NBSers! Another bright, sunny, and warm day here in the Fourth Corner, as it has been for the last week or so. I made the seasonal switch to shorts last week, and mornings have been a bit chilly on the lower extremities. Had a bit of a share with some friends last night, and many brews were sampled, but I didn't keep track of what all there was. but some cellar gems for sure.

Starting this beer oriented day with another from @Pinz412 's NBS BIF #13 box, River Otter English Porter from Dancing Gnome. A very nice take on the style, easy drinking, and worth your time: https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/47223/537921/

 

Today I'm drinking a new release from Trillium's Fated Farmer barrel fermented wild ale series, this version made with Malbec and Black Muscat grapes.

330ml bottle pours a nice looking translucent orange red color with a quickly dissipating light pinkish off-white foam head.

Smells a bit funky and barnyard-esque, some toasty hay, horse blanket, straw, rustic grainy malts, hint of spice, oak barrel, tart red wine grapes with mild acidity, and some herbal earthy hops.

Tastes tart, vinous, oaky, dry, earthy, real nice balance of everything, tart dry tannic dark black Malbec red wine grapes with some sweeter Muscat notes as well, grape skins, stems, must, almost a dark rosé natural wine taste, subtle vinous notes of strawberry, cherry, raspberry, red plum, hint of citrus peel, pretty crisp and refreshing, lightly acidic, mild barnyard funk notes, toasty hay, straw, oak barrel, rustic grainy malt, earthy spice, dusty herbal hops, a touch of leather, pretty complex and nice, similar to a dark rosé natural wine.

Feels rounded, lightly juicy, medium bodied, smooth with moderate carbonation.

Overall a real nice and balanced barrel fermented wild ale with Malbec and Black Muscat grapes. Smells a bit funky, tastes more red wine grape fruity, crisp, rustic, some grainy malts, lightly tart and acidic, not too sour, not too fruity, really great. Another success from this series and another nice utilization of wine grapes by Trillium imo, really enjoying this. Cheers everyone!

 

Cross post, mostly, with the current NBS BIF thread:

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/52454/429808/?ba=woemad#review
To my long standing WCIPA-oriented idea of what an IPA should look like, this ain't much of a looker, but, man, does it drink well. This is like some sort of tropical mixed fruit smoothie, with a bit of pithy, grapefruity bitterness hanging around in the background on the back end. The can doesn't reveal the abv, so this can definitely Fuck You Up, as it's either 9% or 9.3, depending on if you use BA or UnTapped to look it up. Me, I'm drinking it as a reward for doing dishes and getting dinner going in the crockpot (yeah, nothing quite says irresponsible bachelor like having to reward yourself for cooking and cleaning).

@JayORear, I'm really digging this. I know, New Trail and I had a rocky start at the beginning of this BIF, but, dammit, I'm a fan

 

Rating is to style and brewers intentions (4.56)

This is the most incredible of all HILL variants I've enjoyed (which isn't many). Once you've gandered at the "look" I suggest closed eyes to really take in the experience of this beer. All things considered this definitely is a PB&J in liquid form. Last train to childhood "all aboard." Nailed the interplay of peanut butter and concord jelly....smack of peanut up front followed by a wave of grape jelly which applies to both the nose and taste.

Going to relish my 3 remaining cans.

 

greetings all,

It's a beautiful day here and I've got an interesting beer in my hand - what more could one ask for?! It's an English Style Bitter called Chick-a-Dee from Bunker Brewing in Maine. It's kind of funky in that it's a nitro beer, but it doesn't have a widget - instead it asks you to shake the can the first (I'm assuming this is similar to Left Hand's Nitro Milk Stout where they encourage you to pour it violently into your glass). It clocks in at a style appropriate 4.3% ABV and was canned on March 31st. Let's see what we've got.





Look: gorgeous off white head of super tight bubbles that settles to a 2 inch ring that seems to last almost indefinitely. Even after drinking half the beer it's still a full inch deep. Deep gold color.

Smell: A bit muted perhaps because of the thick and static head. Some Sourdough bread, some raw dough, and very earthy hops. There's a slight butteriness but it's not unpleasant.

Taste: Very mild and smooth. First sip has a slight metallic note but it disappears from then on. No trace of the butteriness. Lightly bready hops and a moderate dose of earthy bitterness. I'm having a hard time pinning down some of the flavors actually but it's very much in line with what I think of as "English tasting beer" to me.

Feel: The head has a really pleasing texture and reminds me a bit of drinking Scottish beer on cask with a sparkler years ago. I'm generally pretty neutral on nitro but this is probably the best use of it I've encountered. Just a very smooth and drinkable beer that you could, as intended, drink for hours. I only bought a single and I'm regretting it right now.

Overall: I *really* enjoyed this! I don't have a lot of specific knowledge about English bitters but this feels in the ballpark of others I've had over the years and is a decent approximation of the general cask experience. When I get another one I'll be sure to let it warm a bit more before gulping it down.

 

I saw this and haven't had a carton IPA in a while, but I loved the can and name for the exact reasons you stated. It's funny, I know the New Jersey that I know and love is far from what people imagine it to be. The pine barrens is the largest coastal pine forest left (seriously it's huge, check out a map, shameless home state love plug), but most people ironically picture the refineries and their smell on the New Jersey Turnpike. So it is neat that Carton has this line of NJ IPAs I agree, I wonder what the next theme will be.

That last part I bolded is really the selling point on this beer for me, I'm gonna try to find a single this week somewhere.

 

I hope you can find it. I didn't drive down to the brewery. I checked Beer Menus and the only place listed was in Glen Rock (I don't know whether that's close to you). I agree about the Pine Barrens. I'm blessed to live in Morris County but spend a lot of time down south. I love exploring the Pine Barrens. Essentially, New Jersey is fairly rural except for a belt extending NE to SW from Bergen to Camden counties.

 

I’m reviewing a trio of beers from Georgia today, courtesy of my beer sensai, who sent me his “beer spreadsheet” in November 2009 and ..... well, here we are, 3,800 of so beers later. Let’s do this.





3.96/5 rDev +3.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This pours a hazy (what the kids used to call “unfiltered” in the beer nerd world) golden straw color with. White head that laces the glass nicely. The nose is some citrus and what for the life of me smells like mint. Hmmmm.

The taste citrus forward (tangerine and mango), and there’s a berry flavor I’d credit to the Mosaic hops. I’m still getting a subtle minty flavor as well, but it works.

The mouthfeel is in the softer side, and the beer is suitably juicy, but I’m not sure where the “Elegant” referenced on the can comes in, but this is pretty tasty and worthy of a “fridge IPA” distinction, IMHO.

 

You were absolutely correct to call me out...I dont know what I was thinking but it was incorrect and I blame it on a lack of early morning coffee..

 

Now trying an oyster pastry stout, thanks @BartS!
4.06/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thank you BartS for this
16 oz can poured into a tulip

A- Black with a small mocha head

S- Chocolate, roasted malts, caramel, vanilla, peanuts, some saltiness.

T- Chocolate, vanilla, caramel, salt, peanuts, molasses, touch of roasted malts.

M- Smooth, full body.

O- An interesting pastry stout. Saltiness helps cut the sweetness, but the flavors seem to clash. I like the flavor and what going one just thing the sweetness could be failed back some.

At 12% ABV this is probably my last new beer for the weekend. Until next weekend stay safe, cheers!

 

Grabbed this one a couple days ago, Italian Pilsner from Lucky Envelope. Not as brightly hoppy as most of the style I've had.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/40494/544944/

 

Wiseacre Bow Echo Hazy IPA, 7.0% ABV; 3.87 overall

Pours an effervescent & slightly hazed gold with 2 fingers of eggshell colored head. Very good head retention & lacing

S: Peaches & grassyness

T: Tangerine, green melon & grassyness, plus a little bready sweetness & dryness up front. Grapefruit and breadyness as this warms, plus grassyness & lime. Finishes a little dry with kiwi fruit, grapefruit & tangerine

MF Medium body, smooth carbonation, nice balance

Drinks very easy, delivers good flavor not a lot tropical, but citrus a plenty

 

Great writeup, Justin.