New Beer Sunday (week 480)

You will be missed, Matt! Hopefully someone else does carry the torch for this thread, it really is the highlight of my beer drinking week to read and occasionally contribute.

 

I love this thread and Matt I am glad to have met you. You talents for introducing this thread will surely be missed.

 

Someone save this thread!! @Greywulfken I'm lookin at you!

 

Sorry to see you and your awesome openings go.

Im trying this new one. Very hoppy and malty. Long bitter aftertaste which is good. Good brew

 

Matt, sorry to see you pass the torch, you will be missed. I hope we see you stop by and show us a new beer every now and then that you are having.

I think either @Greywulfken or @utopiajane would contribute nicely. I know I have done a few for Matt, but I am better as a fill-in because of my family. I have been drinking some awesome regular beers today. Hope I have enough in me to share a new beer later on.

 

Somebody better pick up NBS -- I haven't posted in it too much, but I do enjoy reading the posts. Here's my go:



$4 single that I've seen at my bottle shop for quite awhile (recognized its scratched cap). The price seemed a bit high, especially considering I'm generally not TOO impressed with Arcadia's offerings, but I went for it anyway. Label says 2010 vintage, and bottled 10/24/11, so since it has quite a lot of age on it (2.5 years), I'm looking forward to it -- I haven't had many beers aged for long because I tend to drink them soon after I buy them. Strange to think that this beer was bottled before I even started drinking beer.

Appearance: Pouring aggressively as possible without splashing it all outside of my glass, I got a two finger, creamy mocha colored head that died down to half a finger pretty quickly. The beer is completely pitch black as well.

Smell: Dark chocolate, cocoa powder, roasted malts, coffee, a fair amount of dark fruits, and also a bit of alcohol? If there is, it's really just an essence. Really smells outstanding to me, and I figure the aging has something to do with that. Maybe a little less pungent than it would smell if it were fresh though.

Taste/feel: Really quite nice and actually quite a bit different than some other Imperial Stouts I've had. First thing I noticed was a bit of a disappointing feel on this. It felt about medium bodied at first, but then somehow seemed to get a bit watery mid-sip? Very strange. The mouthfeel's a bit of a downer, considering I expected my Imperial Stouts to drink almost like a meal, but I can live with it if the beer tastes good -- and this one does. No doubt the aging added some complexity, and this one has quite a bit of it. Right off, I get dark fruity flavors first and foremost. Rest of the way, it's extremely awesomely tasty dark chocolate, roasty notes with coffee, and a slight char. The aftertaste is almost oaky? I like to liken it to a plain cake doughnut sort of flavor. It's a flavor I tend to get in BBA'd stouts, but I get it faintly in this one. I'm surprised the bottle lists this at 90 IBUs, because it's very slightly bitter... probably even less bitter or equally as bitter as a standard cup of black coffee. The thing I still can't get over is the fantastic, lingering roasty aftertaste that has the slightest bit of oaky/doughnut flavor in it... it gives the sensation that it was maybe partially aged in bourbon barrels, even though it wasn't.

This is a very, very good beer. My one knock on it is the mouthfeel, as I really wish it was a bit more beefed up. I cant argue with the rest of what's here though, this is a damn fine Imperial Stout from Arcadia. I have no idea how it tastes fresh, but it's pretty impressive with 2.5 years on it.

 

Greetings NBSer's,
What a bummer to start this week's forum and finding out our gracious host is leaving. Many thanks Matt for your service to the regular NBSer's and BA in general in keeping this fun forum foaming and fizzing for so long...and good luck on whatever roads life is taking you and your family.
Fruit beer Sunday today and a beer from across the boarder, but my guess is like many I enjoy so many of these that it just doesn't seem like and "import".
http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/22/3523/?ba=garymuchow

Here's to you Matt.


Best to all this week and here's hoping to see you next week.

 

Cheers to all on this wonderful Sunday! Weather here in SW VA is absolutely incredible; 70’s and sunny with a nice breeze. If I had a lawn to mow, I’d mow it

I’m having my first Prairie Vanilla Noir and loving it!

A: Jet black with nice thick head upon pour. Carbonated to the point of near overflow...maybe I just poured too hard.

S: Bitter cocoa, some faint whiskey, as it warms vanilla and sweet toffee can be extracted from the smell.

T: Charred malt and bitter cocoa up front. As it warms, vanilla and whiskey come through and are more apparent. Mostly bitter up front with the sweetness coating the tongue in the middle and vanilla on the back end.

M: Quite carbonated and a tad thin....then again I’m probably comparing this to BCBS so nothing less than motor oil is acceptable

O: Not a bad beer at all and certainly enjoyable. I enjoyed the Noir variant much more than coffee or vanilla...or maybe it’s just preference of today.

 

While this is my first time posting on this thread it was always one of my weekly go-to's to find new great brews to add to my wish list. I really do hope someone else carries the torch. Thank you Matt for starting it and running it all these years!!

I cracked this open shortly before midnight today and wrote the review below while enjoying it as it warmed up and opened up to new flavors, it did not disappoint!

Cheers to all!



Poured from 12 oz. waxed bottle into Teku glass. Beer was stored in cellar at 50 degrees and I have been looking forward to trying this one out for a long time. The past week in the PNW has been hot and sunny, today it’s been pouring and the temperature has dropped to the 50s, perfect setting to enjoy this brew.

The appearance is viscous and obscure, blackberry in color – motor oil would be an appropriate descriptor as well. Almost no head was formed, even after the last portion of the pour was done at 90 degrees into the glass. The little head that briefly formed was mocha in color and quickly dissipated into the darkness of the liquid it covered, forming a thin ring that perfectly surrounds the glass. As I poured the beer its appealing aroma of vanilla and oaky bourbon escapes the confines of the glass, its scent is sensual and inviting. Faint traces of coconut, dark chocolate, licorice and cinnamon linger after the vanilla and the bourbon are absorbed. Upon tasting the beer, you feel it’s silky creamy body touch your tongue and make its way towards your palate. The first feeling you get is a slight burn from the alcohol immediately followed by a balanced invasion of vanilla extract and toasty oak. As the beer dances further in your mouth, dark chocolate and cinnamon make a cameo appearance, albeit short. The aftertaste leaves you with a French roast coffee flavor beneath its aforementioned dominating flavors. Carbonation is very mild, which in my opinion bodes well with its flavors and allow them to take center stage.

Overall – this is an excellent beer that will make it to my permanent ISO list. So rich, well balanced, and easily enjoyable. I also love the fact that such a great BBA Stout is available in a 12oz presentation. In my opinion this tastes & smells like a distant relative to Parabola.

Cheers!

 

I am hoping that @Greywulfken or @cavedave and @Ri0 /to include anyone else are able to also take some weeks then I would be honored to start this thread on most if not all Sundays. I can not ever hope to fill Matts shoes as an emcee but thank you for even thinking of me.

We're gonna keep this thread as long as we can!

 

New Raspberry Wheat Ale
​

First of all, I apologize for not showing up here more than I should have as this thread was all time favorite of mine that shows how we as a beer community can come together and learn about what different styles of beer, and people's opinions of those beers. In my opinion, this is "beer advocacy" at its finest.
Second of all, to @mattcrill thank you for all of the time you've put in and being able to demonstrate beer advocacy in a fine way. You will be missed and I hope I can say this for most of us, but we respect your decision and hope you won't be a stranger when you are able.

Alaskan Brewing Company's Raspberry wheat from the grumbler. Purchased from Breeze In, Lemon Creek, Juneau. I'm glad to see Alaskan brought this back.



If anything, I'm glad I tried it.

Thank you for the wonderful years, Matt.

http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/429/58251/?ba=BeerKangaroo

 

Thank you for your weekly contributions in these threads! A true BA legend!

 

I talked with Matt earlier in the week, and (mostly due to my West coast location and nocturnal lifestyle) I can't host every week, but I am certainly available as a "relief pitcher" on occasion. Maybe @Bitterbill would be interested, he seems to be up and at 'em fairly early most weeks.

 

New Belgian / White IPA Sunday

A raise of the proverbial glass to Matt Crill for his generosity of time and thoughts to this thread. Thanks Matt. Hope you enjoy something great today.

Weather here in Southern, CT is sunny and breezy- pure awesomeness. My wife is away for a few hours today while we await the arrival of baby #2 in 8 days (allegedly). My daughter and I went to the park for a while after morning chores and an early bike ride and now while she naps I'm enjoying a FreshSlice.

Really a great beer and my guess is that if this were another style it would be rated higher. This beer is delicious and one I will seek out again. Te Belgian IPA doesn't seem to get as much love as its American counterpart. I would actually call this a BelgoAmerican IPA (maybe that's what a white IPA is anyway?).


http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/119/116088/?ba=CHADMC3




I'm happy to help keep this thread going to whomever becomes the new worthy thread master.

 

YAY! That makes me very happy. And how about this? - if you get in the mood to host this thread and this includes anyone - just say so and that week is yours. I will copy Matt's regular quip about what to post have it for you if you need it.

 

Traveling today but wanted to get a new beer in on Matt's last week.

In the Atlanta airport, I stopped into Sweetwater brewing and tried the Road Trip Pilsner.

I had fairly low expectations since Pilsners are not my favorite style, and this one is average.



http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/273/36744/?ba=richj1970

Fortunately, their IPA is much more my speed!



Cheers!

 

Greetings fellow NBSers! I haven't joined y'all the last couple weeks due to a couple busy weekends with work, beer fests and general laziness. We had a lovely week this past week, but today is mid-50's, cloudy, windy, and offering off and on rain.

On Friday night Chuckanut Brewery here in Bellingham hosted a fund-raiser for the Red Cross, for their efforts in the recent Oso mudslide. I volunteered, and ended up running the silent auction, which featured over 45 great donations. Some friends and I went in together, and had the winning bid on a 6 liter jereobam (sp?) of St Bernardus Abt 12, bottle 596/999, signed by the brewer. 6 of the 7 local breweries were there pouring, we had soo many gifts to raffle off, 3 local bands played and a great time was had by all. With the bad weather across the South this week, perhaps some of you could donate to the relief organization of your choosing.

Wander Brewing opened their tasting room here in town yesterday, and I'll be swinging by later today, after I finish babysitting my Nephew, the Mastiff. To start, a nice Pilsner from the "Big Brewery" in Bend: http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/63/1028/?ba=beertunes. I'll be having another brew while I watch this NASCAR race, and I'll be back soon.

 

Oh, oh! Two new beers Sunday here... well sort-of.

After enjoying that BBPt5 in the wee hours of this morning, I've now moved on to another great new brew. Here's to you @mattcrill for all those years championing this thread! Cheers!

==== Central Waters - Bourbon Barrel Aged Barleywine Ale ====
Pours brown to dark brown, effervescently and cleanly. Forms a quickly disappearing head that boasts bourbon, oak, malt and molasses/brown sugar aromas.

Taste is very close to its nose, but after the first few sips and their accompanying alcohol stings subdue, vanilla and dried fruit appear to complement well the sweet and oaky bourbon flavors.

Something I loved about this brew is that the nose and the finish are remarkably similar - almost forming a "perfect loop" cycle / sensory experience.

Definitely deserves most of the hype it gets.

Full review: http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/652/41300/?ba=HoppySeb



Cheers!!