New Beer Sunday (week 524)

No idea. Last year we didn't get anything special Sierra Nevada wise. No regular Narwhal, Bigfoot, Etc. This year we got both plus the BA versions.

 

Picked this up today while re-stocking my supply of Truth IPA. Thought I would try another offering from Rhinegeist.
The first thing I noticed about this beer is the overwhelming hops in the nose. I could smell it distinctly while I was pouring before it even got close to my face. The taste is similar to the Truth IPA at first but the finish is not as bitter. The carbonation is fairly light, making this beer very drinkable.

 

2 new beers, one post.(Dark Apparition in the glass)

The hopslam was a bit of a letdown Truthfully. The appearance was beautiful as was the aroma. Fruit, citrus, pine and a little dankness. However the mouth feel seemed to be throwing off the taste, it just wasn't as full as I was expecting. Great beer, don't get me wrong and I will thoroughly enjoy my case.

Jackie O's Dark Apparition, brewed with brown sugar aged in bourbon barrels. This is my first Jackie O's and I must say I am highly inpressed. A sweet, almost maple like aroma greets you along with a background of warm bourbon. Taste is sweet, warming from the bourbon, but a wonderfully balanced brew. Sweet, rich, complex. Can't wait to try more from Jackie O's

 

Next up.... New Holland Brewing Blue Sunday Sour.

Poured from 22oz. bomber into snifter.

A: Pours pretty dark, a deep brown with cherry red hints. Almost no head, save for a few small foamy bubbles.

S: The aroma is slightly acidic, sour fruit and bitterness. The oak notes are very present as well.

T: Very interesting. The sour, acidic taste is ever present, and behind it hides a very prominent yet well balanced aged oak taste. These two flavors are about it for me, but they play together in a surprisingly nice union, something I was unsure of reading this beer's description.

F: Smooth and creamy, medium body and just enough carbonation. Nice.

O: This beer was significant to me in one way: it proved to me that I truly do love sour beers. There is technically nothing about this brew that I would necessarily like had it not been for the funky sour nature of it. I'm honestly not the biggest fan of barrel aged beer, but this was delicious. Would possibly buy again, thoroughly enjoyed the bomber.

 

Gotta say, I've had a few new-to-me beers today.. but the one that stands out the most is the Hopslam. Finally had a taste of this-been seeing it on draft at a few of the different breweries around town. The alcohol is very well hidden.. expected a much hoppier flavor. A slight bit of citrus comes through at the beginning. I absolutely loved it.

 

I've never really had a saison/farmhouse ale before since I mostly like IPAs. I decided to buy something real quick and picked CynicAle by Surly Brewing. Ugh I'm not good at describing stuff!

When I poured it, it definitely had a lot of head but deflated super fast. I thought it looked flat as hell after it settled. I did taste a citrusy flavor and it does leave a sweet after taste. It's pretty good. I guess I need to try more Saisons since I feel pretty ignorant from lack of knowledge. :/

So that's my sunday booze rant.. enjoying the NY Rangers at Blackhawks game with my doggy.

 

New IPA Sunday: Sierra Nevada Hop Hunter

Evenin NBSers, with special greetings to all you Huggers of Hop Bines.

We think the weather has finally turned the corner here to start into spring. That meant a few outdoor chores were on today's "honey-do" list. We also had some good news that a close family member and his wife have just had a new baby. The little boy has all ten fingers and all ten toes and both he and mother are doing well.

Tonight's new beer is one a few others have already reported having today, the Sierra Nevada Hop Hunter. As usual my review appears here:

http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/140/148052/?ba=drtth

and is subject to revision as I finish the beer.

In honor of the Hop Hunter, tonight's music has been and continues to be a Mozart Opera, the Magic Flute, where one of the main characters (Papageno) is a bird catcher or bird hunter. (About as close as I could get to hops and it at leasts involves a hunter. While there are one or two other operas in which there is also a hunter, the music is not quite as impressive as Mozart's.)

This is one of Mozart's most popular operas and the overture both highlights some world class music and stands on its own as a very popular work even without the opera itself.




In honor of the fact that today is also International Women's Day the aria in this clip is one of the most amazing things I've ever heard. It is simply hard to believe until you've heard it that the human voice can do all these things and it is one of the most famous and difficult soprano arias in all of opera (or any other musical genre you might think of):



Cheers all!

 

Runoff Red IPA from O'dell form me this Sunday. Very good! Some frost this morning so tee time was delayed from 10:07 to 10:35ish, about 30 but sunny when we teed off.Warmed up to 55 and sunny by the back 9, shorts weather for us! Crazy warm winter here, usually still snow covered, been golfing for a month already!

 

Greetings All:

Checking in from the great northwest where daylight savings time signals the start of grilling season.

Today it's Sam Adams Crystal Pale, part of a spring sampler.
http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/35/130925/

A decent pale ale, long on earth notes and short on fruity flavors, but drinkable.

Now to get those rib eyes on the grill.

Until next time,

Happy Trails!

 

Time for something different to end the week-

Stillwater Surround Oak Smoked Imperial Wheat Stout

Mild smoke shares a fairly strong nose along with dark chocolate and espresso. Some dates and caramel lurk underneath. The palate is dominated by the dark chocolate, with the smoke coming out mostly on the long finish. This is most reminiscent of an 85% dark chocolate bar- both in terms of taste as well as bitterness (which is fairly prominent). Caramel and dark fruits are present mid-palate, and are mostly adding subtle complexity at this point. The real joy of this beer, though, is in the dry yet velvety mouthfeel- supremely drinkable and not even remotely cloying; I bet this is the wheat's contribution. As I sit here mid-glass, the bitterness is subsiding and the more subtle qualities are coming to the fore- a very promising sign. A- (4.25)

A few Brooks Williams tracks for the Hot Tuna fans-

 

Terrapin Turtleneck, side project number 24 which is a gingerbread winter warmer.

 

It is a little late for my first new beer of the day, but better late than never. Enjoying Flying Dog Mexican Hot Chocolate Stout.

4.06/5 rDev +10.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle poured into a pint glass

A- Black with a three finger mocha head.

S- Chocolate, roasted peppers, some cinnamon, hint of coffee bitterness.

T- Dark chocolate, some malt sweetness, hints of vanilla and cinnamon, mild heat from the pepper that lingers and builds nicely, flavor nicely balanced.

M- Smooth, lighter body.

O- A really nice regular stout, well done. Would like to see an imperial version of this.



Cheers!

 

Ommegang Adoration, one of the most beautiful labels I've seen. The beer could use a few years in the cellar.

 

Good evening to the BA NBS crew. Not sure if I held onto this too long - thought it was very good and figured a little age would not hurt but noticed 'Drink Fresh' printed on the bottle. Very tasty, nevertheless, beautiful black/brown color with nice aromas and a great mouthfeel - not thin at all. Taste was very good with subtle hints of coffee, chocolate and spices. I hope they brew it again so I can try it fresh, like the man said. Cheers and TG for the change in weather. Hope everyone has a great week ahead.

 

New Michigan Brown Ale

It was a wonderful weekend in West MI. Blue skies and temps in the low 40s were a welcome change from the cold grey days of winter.

Had a long day of coaching Special Olympics yesterday (1st place at the District Tournament!), along with a baseball assessment, swimming, and more basketball for my own kiddos. With just a birthday party for our youngest, today felt much more relaxing (if not too short).

Winding down with the newest member of the Planet Series. A very solid high abv brown ale. Full review linked below.

http://www.beeradvocate.com/user/beers/?ba=GRPunk

 

Damn it.. I wanted to find this for my brother and I to try but to no avail.

 

I can finally contribute. it's a sunday, and I had a new beer!
aun mas chili jesus
had on tap (I unfortunately heard that it likely will never be bottled. 'tis a shame!)

Many are familiar with aun mas jesus... a lovely deep stout made by evil twin. This is their special batch that contained an ungodly amount of chilis in it.

Looks very dark, almost no head, very light carbonation. It's very thick and syrupy. Initial taste is heavy with chocolate and coffee. The booze is hidden well. Then the chilis kick-in. what I loved about this brew is that it had the pure heat of the chilis without the bitterness/vegetal off-flavors that often accompany them. Just like spicy food, the heat built-up the more you sipped....
which for me (a chilihead beerphile) made me get a second glass.... then a third......

one of the best beers I ever had....

 

Toby G's by 5 Stones Artisan Brewery. My third different beer I've had from them and now looking forward to the fourth. If you liked spiced ales or winter warmers, check this one out

 

I have one bottle left of it. part of me wants to save it because it's amazing, but I know it will fade into oblivion. I should really crack it open soon