New Beer Weekend #55

Hello New Beer Weekend!!!

I know I'm a bit late to the game here. This (past) week was the Benton County (MN) Fair, and I returned to the restaurant business for the week to help run my booth out there. Insane, doesn't begin to describe how busy it was, and we did twice the sales of a normal fair, and set 2 all time daily records.

The booth is all closed up till next year now, and I'm back in the liquor business again.

Speaking of liquor, well, beer. @SouthernSips was VERY naughty, and ninja hit me this week, of all weeks. He sent me a big flat rate box of goodies, and about half are blind ones. He suggested chugging them, but, well, I'm not a big fan of chugging something I've never had before, and may never may have again.Besides, I'm too damn tired to chug.

So blind review time:

And reveal:


Here's my review of it, written blind and copied here.I thought it was a IIPA, or NEIPA. Well I was close, as it's a IIIPA. Off by one "I". I am so happy to be enjoying this beer, and thankful to try it.

3.99/5 rDev -4.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

What I write here is from a blind review on 8-8-2021.

Hazy, murky, juicy looking pour. Orange colored. 3 finger frothy head poured from the can. There's decent retention, with a bit of lacing on the glass. 4.25
Nose is juicy, and tropical. Pineapple, mango, guava. 4
Taste - There's some citrus, as in the flavors described in the aroma - pineapple, mango, and guava. I also get a little bit of malty, biscuit here as well.
4
Body is decent, but there's a hint of an alcohol burn going on here. Not totally smooth, or juicy feeling here. 3.75
This is a IIPA, or a NEIPA. Good for the style. 4


Considering I've been running on Turbo force and Beer (you have no idea how many I drank to keep me going there) this week, I might be up for one more, and it might be another from said box. We'll see.

 

Well Hello Late Night NBS, er uh New Beer Weekend (Sunday edition)
Too busy to tell all that's going on, first day with students tomorrow. Mask. Check. We're doing this...But it will be GREAT to be back with the students in person once again. But sadly, I need to miss a good chunk of this first day. And writing sub plans is always a bitch, but for the first day of school it's hell. And for the first day back for most of my kids for almost a year and a half, well, I'm flummoxed to describe the stress.

Anyway, going back to old school, in person...beer that is.

Opt Outside by Chapman Crafted


This is straight up "Old School" West Coast IPA. The Cascade and Summit hops really pop with bitter citrus, some pepper and spice. Some onion notes peek in as well. And that's just the nose. Flavor follows suit. While not quite a palate wrecker, this is unabashedly bitter. The citrus sometimes nods in the direction of the lemony Citra but gets pulled right back. And a solid malt base to boot. Mouthfeel is spot on for style.
Overall, this might be too much of a blast from the past for some folks who think they like the old way of doing things and then discover their recent experiences are only tame versions of an assertive Cascade-Summit 1-2. But I love it.
3.99/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

And they had some fresh cans. Just saying' NBS BIFfers...