New Beer Sunday (week 413)

My first Narwhal = delicious.

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/140/86149/?ba=Chickenhawk9932

 

I was brewing here in Chicago too! It's cold, but since I have a Baby Q set up on my back porch, I'm grilling for the family tonight.

Today I opened a Dueschutes Black Butte Porter. We just started getting these in Chicago and I'm always up for trying a new porter or stout. A nice guy at a local grocery store opened a pack do I could mix 2 in to my make you own sixer.

It pours a dark brown, cola color with a generous 2 finger tan head. Really great lacing clinging to the sides of the glass. I can smell milk chocolate and coffee without even trying. A bit of caramel and roasted hops too. The taste was a bit of a let down. I was expecting "WOW" and just got "Eh". The chocolate flavor was present, but tasted sort of artificial to me. The coffee was there also, but not that freshly griund flavor that you would find in FBS, Revolution's Eugene or in Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgereld. The mouthfeel was lighter than I had hoped. It looked so creamy, but felt a bit watery, with a short finish. It's not a bad beer by any means. But with so many other options, I'm glad I only bought the 2 of them.

 

nice glass! I used to go to Cumbies once a week. Dont go as much anymore but still love a bison burger and a nitro porter when I do.

 

It's been a while since I've been there (since I live about 4 hours away), but a bison burger and their excellent nitro porter sounds pretty good right now!

 

The only ones I've tried have been that and the Labyrinth, and they were both good. And now that I can get Uinta in Ohio, I'm sure I'll be trying more soon!

 

Here I am again with the second new beer for tonight. It's a Christoffel Blond, or Bier as it's written on the label, and it's just amazing. Probably the most bitter pilsner I have ever drunk, to the point that I think it shouldn't be on the pilsner category. 6% ABV, unpasteurized, unfiltered and with twice the hops.

 

New English IPA

For my last new beer of the day, here's my review of Worthington's White Shield: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/3349/12627/?ba=bluejacket74



Not too bad of a brew at all! Now it's time for some Hopslam, but I'll check on here later to see the other new beers of the day. Happy NBS everyone!

 

>>>>>> New American Stout Sunday <<<<<<

Checking in with an oatmeal stout from Alaskan Brewing.

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/429/1305/?ba=RJLarse

A serviceable stout and I get it for a great price, under $6.50. I'll have it again.

@mattcrill brew day at my house as well. I missed most of the 2nd half of the ATL-SF game brewing a pale ale in anticipation of spring.

Spring feels like a long way off right now. Haven't been above freezing for a couple of weeks, and the frost never melted off the trees today. Cold, cloudy and now foggy says it from here.

Happy Trails!

 

Okay, so coupla things:

First, how sad is it, that as a guy who grew up with no internet, no home computers, no cell phones, no microwave ovens, and no cable TV that I'm losing my mind this afternoon when my internet adapter craps out and I can't go online? Whatta loser I've become. Holy crap.

Second, the only folks worse off than that (me) are Atlanta Falcons' fans - that's gotta suck, huh? Whew. Roddy White, Julio Jones, Tony Gonzalez, and a QB that (almost) never loses at home, but you keep falling short of the big game? Damn. My condolences, folks.

And, I guess, a third item: shouldn't have put all my energy into the Ruthless Rye - once I got a new adapter (picked up a new router while I was at it), I finally got to my second new beer:

Sierra Nevada's Northern Hemisphere Harvest Ale

Wow. Soooo gooood. I just inhaled the pint-and-change bottle. Waaaay better than the Rye (for my tastes, that is)...
Again, great looking beer:

Dense head with great retention:

Mmmm. Boy, if I had another, I think I'd drink it in a heartbeat, too. As I said in my review, this is a seasonal must-have.

I didn't pay much mind to Sierra Nevada when I first got into the craft beer scene, but I've gotta say, these guys are top-notch. Can't wait to get my hands on a Narwhal.

Later, if its not too late: Avery's Uncle Jacob's stout - a true finisher (some crazy double-digit abv, like 16%+ or something?).

Alright, back to the Pats-Ravens.

Cheers!

 

*** New Winter Ale Sunday ***

Greetings to an action packed NBS,

Tons of good beer being enjoyed today and some stuff I am going to have to watch for.

A mildly sunny day with mid 40's temps in Southern CT today. Most of the day was spent taking care of some work prep and chores. My wife made some great Maine corn chowder for dinner which prompted me to crack this Bestefar to enjoy with a fire and football.

Tis beer was fantastic. I a becoming a big fan of Haandbrygert.

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/15711/63901/?ba=CHADMC3

 

#3 for the day, still trying to find a raspberry beer to fill the void that Founders Blushing Monk has left in my life.

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/1924/78982/?ba=match1112

Sadly this was not it.

 

My first NBS on my first Sunday as a registered BA

Release #7(1800 bottles) in this Exponential series from Epic Brewing. A fantasic stout! A heavy roasted character to it with the trademark chocolate and coffee that balances very well!

 

=== New ESB Sunday ===

Beautiful clear and chilly weather in Nashville today. I got to have a nice walk outside this afternoon ^_^

Pulled out this gem I picked up in Charlotte to taste while dinner was cooking - very pleased with it
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/779/4687/?ba=sommersb

 

This bottle has been sitting on the shelf of this shop for at least a year. They were finally down to their last bottle, so I picked it up. $11.99 for one-litter swingtop half growler. Not too bad, since I can re-use the growler.

A: Black with two finger mocha head. Good lacing.

S: I can't really smell much after I pour it into my snifter but when I first opened the bottle I got lots of chocolate, coffee, molasses.

T: It's tasting great! Dark chocolate, molasses, brown sugar, roasty malt. Small hop bite but not much.

M: It's not bad but it's a tad bit thin. Good amount of carbonation.

O: Very very good classic Imperial stout. Smooth, relatively easy drinking.

 

New Amber Ale Sunday (Made in Michigan Edition)

Late addition here.

Cold, cold, cold in West MI, and windy. Light dusting of snow. Calling for Lake Effect storms tonight, but I'm not buying it.

Stayed inside today. Treadmill miles at the Y, got a haircut, and went into work for a while. I feel today's beer was earned.

I tried to visit this Up North brewery this summer to find Right Brain had closed during their transition to a new site. Glad they're bottling.

This is a tasty brew. Everything I'd had from them previously has been something I'd call experimental (additions of mint, fruit, chocolate, etc) during festivals. They did some good things here while sticking to guidelines.

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/16503/89240/?ba=GRPunk

 

My last bit of new beer advocacy for the day...

Glad to say this was the best beer of the day, too - what a treat - have y'all had this?

Avery's Uncle Jacob's Stout

Leapt into my top 10 Imperial stouts easily - it's sitting right under the Speedway Stout for me at the moment, but I'm thinking I'm gonna have to get another Speedway Stout soon just to to make sure this isn't, dare I say, slightly better...?

Fantastic finisher for the day in any event.

May your new beers be delightful, your internet connected, and your loved ones well - have a great night, all!

 

IRISH DRY STOUT ​

My 3rd new beer of the day was...

Brooklyn Dry Irish Stout​

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I must revisit this from yesterday. I did, in fact, pick up a 6 pack today I enjoyed it so much. But it's a completely different beer. It's hoppy, smooth, and good as hell. But nothing like I described yesterday. It does not seem to be unfiltered. I must have gotten an old bottle. There are no dates on the box or bottles which will lead to me not buying this again. In the IPA world, age counts too much to drop 12.99 on a six pack when you don't know what lies ahead. Good beer both times, but disappointed in the breweries practice.

 

I visited there on my way AND back from The Great Taste of the Midwest (best beer fest in da USA) last August. Their Anti-Hero was exquisite and the Wit was so delish!!!