New Beer Sunday (week 581)

Your reviews are epic to say the least... love the beer lessons you give, for a newbie like myself reading your reviews are very beneficial. Cheers to another NBS....

 

Happy Birthday to the Mrs... and enjoy. Great that the two of you have this in common to enjoy and savor the flavors.

 

Love this beer... I had the pleasure of trying in a bottle share with a group of friends and found the label oddly intriguing as well... not an everyday bottle but a beer worth the effort.

 

Happy NBS BIF #3 Sunday! There will be a lot of new beers posted this week, thanks to the generosity (and, possible insanity) of your fellow NBSers. If you haven't participated in one of the NBS BIFs before, gaze upon the liquid joy shared here today, and realize that one of those boxes could have been yours. Keep your eyes open for round 4, the Sunday after Labor Day. If you have participated in the past, but sat out this round, y'all best keep a spot open for NBS BIF #4: Monkeys with Knives!, with a sign up on September 11, and a share date of October 9. Either way, I expect to exceed the number of participants we had in this round, which was 34.

I started in my box from @richj1970 last week, and I received a ninja box from @beatjunkee as well, so I'm going to post the links to the reviews of the ones I've already had here, and will add new reviews to the thread later today:

http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/40650/177510/?ba=beertunes#review

http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/24134/212198/?ba=beertunes#review

http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/21868/183777/?ba=beertunes#review

http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/23966/157956/?ba=beertunes#review

http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/22655/65913/?ba=beertunes#review

http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/33996/112315/?ba=beertunes#review

http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/34960/123961/?ba=beertunes#review

http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/39467/162366/?ba=beertunes#review

http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/34456/118862/?ba=beertunes#review

Yup, that's 9 beers, and I've got more to go! NBS BIFs are fun, y'all should jump in the next round!

Back later with a fresh round of beers!

 

I also received this in the same BIF from the gentleman @garymuchow and will be cracking mine today at some point. I think either @kemoarps or @woemad received it too and should be giving their thoughts on here. See y'all later with some New Beers from the BIF.

 

I didn't do anything specific to disturb the beer (I did not swirl or shake) but I did not specifically decant either. I simply poured the beer into the two glasses like I would have done for any other commercial beer.

Cheers!

 

NBS!! Jeez, it's felt like it's almost been a whole week since we last met! We're sitting with several inches of snow on the ground east of Cleveland. In February I was outside in a t-shirt happy for April-like weather, now February decided payback's a bitch. I have to head into work this afternoon but have time for a new light beer beforehand to partake in this week's thread.

This is a nice seasonal from some fine folks in Columbus. They call it a wheat ale and indeed it does have a nice wheat base but to me it drinks more like a session IPA as it showcases Citra hops and does a fine job doing so. Fresh pine and citrus zest across the nose and palate. Low-alcohol, light-bodied and went down far too easy. Also nice to see them supporting the Columbus Crew SC. How do you know a beer is fresh without a date on the can? Put that season's schedule on the side.

Cheers!

 

Plus, all 3 WA participants sent the same beer, and both @Stillyman11 and I received a couple of the same beers from @beatjunkee . So we're all gonna try to "share" the bottles today. Yet another fun aspect of NBS BIFs, Virtual Bottle Shares!

 

For NBS beer #1 today I'm going to go whale slaying.



Founders KBS (Kentucky Breakfast Stout)

Founders Brewing Company
American Double / Imperial Stout / 12.40% ABV

4.21/5 rDev -7.7% | Avg: 4.56
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

2016 release

L-The beer pours thick, viscous, and black. No light penetration whatsoever. The head is about 2.5 fingers of fine mocha. The head almost looks like a nitro pour. Lacing clings everywhere and lasts throughout.
S-The nose is coffee immediately, with hints of chocolate midway, finishing with some alcohol at the back end.
T- The taste is initially a pleasant chocolate which transitions to some coffee. There is some bourbon presence, but its much more muted than it is in a BCBS. The alcohol in the nose is covered much better than expected.
F-The carbonation is light as you would expect. The beer isn't as full in mouthfeel as some other stouts, but is thick enough not to detract.
O- As someone who is not a coffee drinker, I was concerned I wouldn't like this beer. Those doubts have been pushed aside. While it's not something I could drink every day, it is an excellent treat. The coffee bitterness is balanced out nicely by the chocolate. The bourbon presence is more muted than I was expecting, but still the beer is enjoyable. I'd rate it a touch below BCBS in the grand scheme.

 

Good morning NBSers! I hope everyone out there in Beerland is having an exceptionally awesome weekend. It's been a slow one for me, which has been much needed. Nearly 10 hours of overtime last week had me feeling a little thin, to say the least. Not much on the schedule for today, maybe some tinkering in the garage and grilled ribeyes later on. Anyway, about the beer! This is one I picked up while visiting my mom in Florida a few weeks back. I was waiting for the opportunity to share it with someone, but it just never seemed to work out. Plans cancelled, schedules conflicting...oh well, guess I'll have to drink it myself

Da Beer
J. Wakefield Brewing Company
(J. Wakefield & Evil Twin Collaboration)
East Bound & Down
Berliner Weissbier/Wild Ale/Sour White Chocolate Stout/??....7% ABV




Da Re...view
750 mL bottle poured into a Boulevard Tank 7 tulip. Pours a light, pastel yellow and settles as a solid, transluscent tangerene color in the glass. The carbonation built up slowly in this one, and eventually I had close to 3 finger of crispy, snow white foam. This beer isn't as cloudy or hazy as I was expecting - not sure why I was expecting it to begin with - although it is to a small extent.
This beer had a big aroma right out of the bottle. One of those I could smell as I was pouring. It's intensity has since lessened, but the nose on this guy is still big and bold. Definitely a sour, as there are those giveaway notes of souring bacteria/yeast and vinegary tartness. Beyond that, though, are notes of sweet, ground cocoa, ground coffee, vanilla, and maybe a touch of caramel. Strangely pleasant and balanced, though you'd never think so reading the description.
Upon tasting, I'm met with an initial blast of intense sourness..like, Sour in the Rye sourness. This fades fast, though, or should I say blends, into a complexity of respectable proportion. Nearly as intense as those souring notes, next comes a wave of supremely sweet, masterfully crafted chocolate. Probably the best tasting chocolate beer I've ever had in terms of the quality of the chocolate itself. Intermingling with the aforementioned are notes of caramel, candied sugar, roasted coffee, toffee, and vanilla. Very, very tasty.
The mouthfeel is also very nice. Most sours are pretty carbonated, and this one's no exception. Not overly bubbly, though, like some. For the ABV, and the taste profile, this beer's mouthfeel is spot on. Dense enough to carry those choclately notes without feeling thin, but also light enough to feel like a true sour.

Overall, I had low expecations for the beer, I must admit. I'm generlly not a fan of Berliner Weisses, and the commercial description didn't make this beer sound good at all. I just couldn't imagine a BW, only more sour, and with chocolate and coffee being remotely drinkable. Luckily, thankfully, this beer proved me wrong in all aspects. I've heard great thing about Wakefield, but this is my first offering. I'll definitely make a point to visit the brewery next time I'm in the area. Outstanding beer.

Da Scores
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.34/5 rDev +39.1%

 

It is April right? Where is my spring....? In my nice little corner of Americana we have had an uncharacteristicly cold week for this time of year. That mixed with with simultaneous snow/rain/ice all while sun shining has made for an interesting week in weather.

Anyway onto the beer. Courtesy of @jhavs box from the BIF...

Juxtaposition from Burlington Beer Co.


Billed as a blonde stout with Cocoa nibs and coffee beans.

Appearance is a clear golden blonde with a chalk white head. Not much lacing and the head doesn't stick around too long.

On the nose it has a white chocolate type smell. I've had very few blonde stouts in my day, but they all seem to exhibit this same quality. My guess is that it is some kind of yeast phenol, but who knows. Coffee is present as well. The smell reminds me of coffee with a little cream.

Taste is coffee flashing up front, followed by a creamy cocoa with a slight bitterness. This beer lingers on the palate and finishes with a nice semi-sweet aftertaste.

Mouthfeel is medium plus I would say. The carbonation is nice enough in this beer to be omnipresent but not overwhelming. Just enough to give off a bite found in coffee, but rounded enough to provide a hefty, rounded body.

Overall a very good representation of the style. Pleasant and light for a nice stout. Cheers!

 

Spring? You blinked and missed it. :-)

 

I like the Transformer take!

 

No beer today, thanks to a crazy night last night of strong beers and vodka that landed me in the hospital on a suicide watch :/ (I'm not suicidal, just an over concerned brother who took my party talk the wrong way.) so no worries everythings ok.

I did want to take the time to thank NBS for helping me get to champion. So thanks guys!

 

So today is the day for the big BIF reveal...

I was one of the early recipients of a box and had whittled it down to 2 beers that I was saving for today, but then Thursday, I got a pleasant surprise with a second box from the generous @TongoRad which completely changed the strategy for today.

First up is Seeking Alpha from Captain Lawrence. Really nice balance of sweetness from the malts and fruity floral hops. Getting a lot of apricot, pear, and grapefruit combined with caramel and honey. Very enjoyable indeed.



http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/12959/106767/?ba=richj1970#review

I already enjoyed a growler of Palate Shifter from Captain Lawrence on Friday from this box. Two excellent DIPAs makes me think I need to be on the lookout for more things from Captain Lawrence when I'm back east.

Between the two, I preferred the Palate Shifter ever so slightly.



http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/12959/28318/?ba=richj1970#review

 

Stay healthy, brother -- and best of luck with the job hunt. Always love seeing your posts on those tasty Québécois beers!

 

This may be the most BeerAdvocate post in the history of BeerAdvocate! Feel better buddy, we'll see ya next week!

 

Thanks a lot bud, Things went a lot farther than I planned last night but its just another story for the kids and grankids (when theyre old enough of coarse)

 

lmfao it was a night to remember, Good or bad!