New Beer Sunday (week 581)

Hello, all! I am back from chauffeuring duties and free to imbibe.

I actually saved a few heavy hitters for today from my first BIF box from @Josholson666 -

Many of those have been consumed over the past few NBS's and some even during the week, but I was still going to be ready today with the big guns. That is, until Josh dropped another load of biggies on me just a few days ago-

Crazy, right?
Yeah- I can't handle all that on a Sunday . So, what to get started with, then?

I'm going for a IIPA, like I planned on doing several hours ago, to sort of ease into it. Then I suppose we'll see how it goes...

So, here's Summit's 30th Anniversary Double IPA-
The nose is bright yet a little reserved at first, but there's also some really nice things going on. It's nicely fruity- especially peachypeachypeachy! Tangerine and strawberries are there, too, as well as a touch of tropical flair. For such a pale beer, the doughy malt character really shines through it all; I really like that, it almost reminds me of the old Victory Hop Wallop in a way. As the foam settles I'm also starting to get background notes of evergreen and citrus peel. The first sip is where everything gets topsy turvy, and the citrus peel and evergreen step to the foreground. But the malt comes on strong and sweet mid-palate keeping the fruit as a part of the equation. Pleasingly, the finish is dry with just enough bitterness to cut through it all. Lingering for a while are the citrus peel, and stone fruits.

I'm digging it. The feel I'm getting is similar to Boulevard's The Calling, where all of the American IPA calling cards are present, but it's handled with restraint and grace. I do wish that the flavor resembled the nose a bit more, but I'm still really enjoying it. A- (4.0)

Thanks a million, Josh! I've really enjoyed everything you sent, and can't wait to get into the rest. Big thanks also to @beertunes and @LehighAce06 for their dedication and stewardship of an event the seems to be taking on a life of its own. And lastly, but not leastly, to all who participated- I've really enjoyed taking this crazy ride with you all. Cheers!

 

Some more great beers posted here. I enjoyed reading the reviews, and looking at the pictures. Considering how strong my next beer is in NBS, it will likely be the last, but you never know.

Brewery Vivant Wizard Burial Ground Bourbon Barrwl Aged Quadrupel Ale 10.4% ABV.
4.36/5 rDev +2.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Poured into my tulip glass.

Pours a nice redish brown color. The head is minimal. There is carbination in the beer. The nose is strong with bourbon barrel smells. The taste is sweet, but not obnoxiously so. There is the bourbon barrel in the taste as well. There's a slight burn as it goes down, but that is pleasing. Not a bad beer at all, and I'm glad I got it in a trade.

 

I knew I'd love these guys when they started distributing and first introduced three beers- one of which was a smoked porter! I'm doing my best to keep it in the rotation, too . Glad you enjoyed it. To me it's one of those beers that you can contemplate if you want, but also works as a beer to just slam down with dinner or snacks.

Thanks again for your box as well- you've got some great beers coming out of NM. Cheers!

 

I drank about a gallon of this about a month ago in NYC and agree that it's about as good a Brandy Barrel-Aged beer gets. So damn good.

 

On to some of the awesome beers @newjack sent me in NBS BIF 3. Too start off, I got into the two sours from Mikkeller he sent me.



Opaque golden color with a thin layer of head that quickly disapates.

Smell is sweet and fruity. Apples and grapes, peach, honey.

Lots of tartness on the tongue. Dry. Not nearly as sweet as the smell suggests. Grape must and oaky favors come through strong. Lingering tartness.

Light to medium bodied with low carbonation.




Berry juice, red thin lacing

Berry juice, raspberries, jam, funk, vanilla

Very tart, oak, berry jam, vanilla

Light to medium body. Medium carbonation

I really enjoyed both of these, though I'd likely give the edge to Spontanframboos (and it's a very small edge). Looking forward to opening more of these and should have at least one more BIF beer on here tonight.

 

Thanks for the reminder. I haven't had a Pranqster in quite a while, and I love that beer it's awesome! BTW, what are you doing in September? We could use someone from SD in the next BIF. We're trying to get more states involved, both to add variety, and to help break up the long shipping distances. Think about it!

 

My pleasure, keep up the fantastic reviews my friend!

 

@TongoRad is probably tired of me calling his name today, but I'm back with another excellent beer from his BIF box.

This go around is Singlecut's 2xTNT IIPA. If juicy dank citrus hops are your thing, this would be right up your alley. Highly recommended.

I've had the privilege now to try several of their IPAs and they have all been fantastic. Thanks Michael for including this in the box!



http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/30452/134356/?ba=richj1970#review

 

mark it ZERO!

 

Good evening, all! Happy New Bière de Champagne / Bière Brut Sunday, and a big Thank You to @utopiajane for starting today's festivities. This is a 2014 DeuS Brut des Flandres, from Brouwerij Bosteels (Belgium). This is the first beer I ever bought that came with an owner's manual. It explains in detail the brewing process and gives detailed instructions on how to prepare it for drinking. First, you refrigerate it for 6 to 12 hours or more. Then you chill it in the freezer for 20-30 minutes, or in an ice bucket for at least 10 minutes. Finally, you pour it gently into chilled flutes. After spending more on this than I would on a decent Napa Cabernet Sauvignon, you'd better believe I followed these instructions with religious fervor. The result is a beautiful clear, light amber-colored pour with a brilliant white head of foam, plus clouds of endless bubbles.


Served ice-cold, the aromas and flavors are somewhat muted. It's kind of like champagne, but darker, heavier, and more alcoholic. The typical notes associated with Belgian ales are all there. Surprisingly full bodied, with a bit of sweetness and a noticeable burn. It finishes dry, with very little bitterness and no lingering aftertaste. This is definitely a special treat, but well worth the occasional splurge. I had the privilege of sharing this with my niece (after which we split a 2010 Chateau de Sours Bordeaux, but that's neither here nor there). Rating 4.35/5.

Santé!

 

Haha! I was just thinking I might try to talk him into the next BIF myself! Also was thinking along the same lines about Prankster. Haven't had it in years, and I'm wondering how it would seem to me now.

 

Nice glass! You probably posted that last time, but I didn't notice for whatever reason. Glad I could help you put it to use .

 

@strohme2 sent me a lot of great beer, but this was probably the one I was most excited about, Perrin Black Goat. Seen a few people post reviews and talk this up so here we go!
4.17/5 rDev +3.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Big thanks to strohme2 for this
22 oz bottle poured into a teku

A- Black with a two finger light mocha head.

S- Bourbon, mild oak, hints of vanilla, chocolate, caramel malts.

T- Bakers chocolate, mild bourbon, hint of coffee, some vanilla, caramel malts, oak, well balanced.

M- Smooth, medium to full body.

O- Well done tasty black lager. Not a bourbon bomb, but the bourbon is there. Easy drinking, worth seeking out!

★425 characters

Cheers!

 

After getting some lengthy reading for school done, my first beer today is courtesy of @beatjunkee's NBS BIF box is Foothills Brewing Jade IPA. I saw that @beertunes also got this beer, so i thought I'd crack mine open as well. It pours a light copper color, pretty clear wit good lacing that sticks around. Strong hop aroma is immediately apparent after opening up the bottle, classic IPA aroma of citrus and some pine, flavor is the same a bit more malty than the IPAs we get out here. I thought that this was a great beer, and for sure a beer that I would have never gotten to try had it not been for this BIF. I really look forward to the BIFs and I am for sure in for the next one! Hopefully I'll be back later with more beers from this awesome box.

 

I'm briefly stepping off the NBS BIF train with a Scotch Ale brewed about 6 hours away, by a brewery that sometimes employs someone who has been active on this thread today and whose name rhymes with deerprunes:
http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/701/17007/?ba=woemad#review
Surprised by several things here, not least that I had never reviewed it, and am now not sure I'd ever actually drank it. Mostly, though, by how much I didn't enjoy it. Don't get me wrong, it's actually quite good, but has some flaws that step between it and greatness.

Incidentally, in a rare moment of beer synchronicity I managed to pair this up with a Boundary Bay pint glass given to my by that BA whose name is similar to seerfumes, but I'm mostly not posting pictures at the moment as I find I'm chronically short of smartphone data at the moment, so just think y'all see it!

 

I've always wanted to try that beer but just can't get past the sticker shock. Thanks for sharing it with us today.

 

Howdie, NBSers. Tonight's first submission comes to you from New Glarus, who encourages us all to drink indigenous.



It's not often I get an opportunity to try a Zwickelbier, so I pounce when I get that chance. I picked this up at the brewery (it's only available there), along with the fruit beers for Little O while driving back from Chicago.

The brewery (and beer depot where you buy beer) is awesome - nestled in the rolling hills of south central Wisconsin, it's a gorgeous setting for a brewery, especially a world-class brewery like New Glarus. They don't have an IPA in their regular lineup, though Moon Man is an excellent APA that is available year-round and Scream is a phenomenal DIPA that is available seasonally, but their fruit beers are without peer, and their "regular" lineup is just really good beers (Spotted Cow, Two Women, etc). They remind me a lot of Schell's - they just brew really good beer, regardless of the style.

This is no exception. Pours a brilliant gold, a bit cloudy, with 2+ fingers of pure white head. Aromas are bread and earthy hops, and the taste mirrors that, plus there's a zesty flavor like lemongrass. The feel is effervescent and "tangy," for lack of a better term. I'd love to have this on a sweltering July afternoon.

Rated 4.02.

 

Zombie Dust @ 3 Floyds, earlier today

 

I've got so many New Beers to drink through it's distressing. Here's another beer I received from @garymuchow :



Central Waters BBA Barleywine. It's still a bit hot fresh but I think this will mature extremely nicely.

Thoughts:

3.7/5 rDev -13.6%
look: 5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2015 bottle, 12 ounce. Poured into a snifter. Pulled it from the fridge and let it warm to about 60 degrees.

A- Raisin-colored in the glass with a red wine hue when placed to light. Frothy khaki head. Pools and islets of lace and a heavy film over the body. On point. 5

S- It's hot. Boozy. Has hints of caramel and dark fruit. Exceptionally blasé and I'm surprised but not deterred. 2.5

T- Still getting booze and it's quite a big component of the flavor. Sweet and gooey caramel. Grassy and earthy with hop flavor. Hints of raisin and dark fruit but they seem a tad timid. Becomes more butterscotch and toffee-like eventually. Don't get a ton in terms of definitive bourbon character but that's okay. 4

M- I'll reiterate the booziness. And the caramel sweetness. Spicy, earthy hop feel. Full-bodied, sweet and rich overall. 4

This is good but still a bit young and fresh. I'd age this some time to really get the best of it. I'm also curious about the barrel-aging here as this doesn't show a lot of bourbon flavors.

 

And? What's the verdict? Give us some of the juicy details, please.