New Beer Weekend #72

Sending good thoughts to your pup. It's hard to keep them "low activity" especially when they're starting to feel a bit better. That's often when they aggravate the injury and go back to square one.

 

Beautiful glass.

 

My first (yes, I may do *two* today!) relates to @jonphisher and his Christmas Beer Sundays idea. So I went out to get a couple.

This is my first time trying "Our Special Ale" from Anchor and I will say I am rather sad it took me so long. But I digress.
Poured nearly black with a dense tan head and smelt not of elderberries, but malts, hops, and cloves. Maybe a bit of pine, but I think that's more the hops than the tree (Joshua) that they speak of on the label.
The taste, where the rubber meats the road, is good; rather follows the nose quite well with a mingling of spices interplaying with the malts and hops and all wrapped up in a mild clove package. Very easy to drink, the viscosity is right where I'd expect a winter warmer.
Cheers all!

 

That is one beautiful Märzen! Cool label too.

 

I was just thinking the same thing. This thought is weekly for me. @Roguer has there been any discussion regarding bringing back the "like" for reviews? Some BA's out there really are a joy to read.

 

I’ll join you tonight @Whyteboar looking forward to it.

 

Greetings fellow NBSers! a cloudy, chilly, but dry (thankfully) day here in the Fourth Corner. Worked a couple shows at the theater the last couple nights, last night was our local Symphonies holiday show. Friday night was a guitar player from Colorado named Trace Bundy. He played acoustic, but used some effects and delays, and was really interesting. Check him out on youtube.

My first entry today, comes from @Coronaeus , and is probably the biggest 'Want' I've ever had. I had a bottle once, about 12 or so years ago, but dropped and broke it. This bottle of Westvleteren XII however, safely made it into my glass, and my belly:

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/313/1545/

 

Good Sunday afternoon, New Beer Samplers and commentators. I intended this post for yesterday but never quite found the time. For its first anniversary celebration, Bull n Bear Brewery in Summit, NJ released its much anticipated (by me) Boysenberry Porter. It was originally conceived as a high gravity Porter but was instead brewed at 5.5% which I think was a good decision because a second pour is in order. This is an original and very well-crafted beer. In addition to boysenberry, it's conditioned with vanilla beans and just a hint of lactose. The flavor is a great balance of chocolate malt, tart (slightly sour) boysenberry, and vanilla. As you can see it's a very attractive pour. The nose is a bit subdued but opens up as it warms to include chocolate, leather, and tobacco smoke. I'm looking forward to drinking it over the next few weeks as it develops and changes. Congratulations to Will, Mike, and the staff at Bull n Bear for a great first year of enjoyable beer!

4.17/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

 

I’m glad it lived up to expectations. Cheers!!

 

Hello NBW Sunday participants!
How are you? Well I have a little pep talk for you all...in liquid form.

You Are Doing Great a collaboration between Radiant Beer Co. & Pizza Port Brewing Brewing Company.
No canned date. Hmmph
Golden hue, hazy, fluffy white head. Solid retention. Layered, moderate lacing.
Nose pumps out some solid citrus notes: orange blossom and lemon zest. A hint of pine resin comes in as well.
Flavor follows with a nice blend of dominant citrus and an undercurrent of resin. A light crackery malt note provides a nice base.
Mouthfeel is medium, good carbonation, slightly fluffy feel, with a nice finish that is only a tad sweet at first, then mildly bitter.
Overall, pretty solid.

Two solid brewers working together with some nice results.

 

Terry with a review in the mid 4's!!!!!

 

Uh, upper 4's, thank you very much. And, I was still a -rDev!

 

Up next is Rustle, a Festbier by Tree House.

3.64/5 rDev -10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Deep gold & clear with plenty of foamy white head and good lacing. Aroma is sweet, bready malts. Taste largely follows the nose, but is somehow just a tad underwhelming. I find it a bit watery with the malts & bread notes not quite popping. That said, it's tasty enough and certainly goes down very easily. Overall solid, if unremarkable.

 

On to a "real time" review: Clouds, a DIPA brewed by BKS Artisan Ales in Kansas City (Mo.). This is another beer I received from @Harrison8 as a contract hit by the wily @snaotheus. First, let me say that I'm very impressed by BKS Artisan Ales. They're brewing great hazy IPAs in the heartland!

It pours a hazy, pale, grassy yellow with a large, fluffy, bright white cap and thick lacing. It has a great, fruity nose with orange/tangerine, lemon, ripe cantaloupe, a whiff of vanilla, and bright floral hops. The taste features ripe, sweet orange and melon but it's well-balanced with oat sweetness and dry wheat cracker. The website doesn't identify the hop bill other than "a blend of 4 hops." I'm wondering whether it includes Nelson because there is an undercurrent of dry white wine. Whatever the hops used the fruit is fresh and there is clean bitterness throughout. This ale is moderately creamy and very drinkable for 8.2% ABV. It grew on me with every sip. Overall, it's a terrific DIPA. It seems a pity not to drink it on a hot, sunny day.

4.31/5 rDev +0.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Many thanks to Harrison and Ryan!

 

I'm sorry to hear about your dog and hope she heals quickly! They're so special and important.

 

I’m enjoying this today courtesy of @Beersnake1

Mission Heavy Seas.



Apologies for the milky photo. I cracked the lens on my phone’s camera and now everything looks like a submission to Penthouse magazine…

Pours a cola black with a moderate head that dissipates slowly. Baker’s chocolate and mild creamy coffee on the nose. A slight, not quite burnt toast aroma follows. Enticing. Bitter black coffee, cocoa and a moderate bitterness on the tongue. The body is a little thinner than I expect of late from the style but is no way thin. This is a very solid, very enjoyable, straight ahead Russian Imperial stout. I’d certainly drink more if San Diego were a little closer to Toronto!!