New Beer Sunday (week 584)

I agree with you. I like malt character and balance in IPAs. I am getting a lot straight up sugar, though. Like corn syrup. I probably have a sensitivity to it. I certainly don't dislike the beer. That characteristic just sticks out.

 

Fantastic! That must have been like a religious experience?

 

The Cellar Reserve Old Stock is in 500ml. The regular Old Stock is in 355ml bottles.

 

Yep. The epitome of an English Style Old/Barleywine. And brewed in the great state of Colorado!

 

After the non new beer, another new beer.


3.95/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

This beer pours a light golden/amber color.
The head is thick and frothy.
The nose is some citrus, but almost a mango smell as well.
The taste has those more tropical fruit taste. Mango, and others. Some citrus. Some hop bite as well.

Not bad all.

 

Happy New Smoked Porter Sunday, all, and thanks to @cavedave for getting things off to another rousing start today. Well, I finally reached my 100th-style milestone. Smoked beers were among the most difficult for me to find here where I live. I had a West O Smoked Red that I was saving for a style tick, but this one was recently reclassified as an American Amber / Red Ale. That left the Evil Twin Ashtray Heart as easily the most accessible of this style, so I picked up a single a couple of weeks ago. I've had a couple of smoked porters in the past, but I thought this one had some rather unique characteristics. The appearance is quite attractive: an impenetrable blackish brown with a tan head that dissipates rather quickly, leaving some spotty lacing. This was poured from a 12-ounce bottle into a round-bottomed glass.


Some of the descriptors that I am about to use are not meant to disparage in any way, shape, or form. With that in mind:

S - There is a vegetal thing going on with the smokiness on the nose. I spent some time trying to figure out what I was picking up. There are aromas reminiscent of a produce section of a grocery store, along with new tires (!) and a little bacon. It sounds odd, but it is really very pleasant on the nose.

T/F - The smokiness seems to have a slightly artificial quality, but it is not at all overpowering. There is some espresso bean and dark cocoa on the palate, as well as a little black-cherry tartness. The finish is quite bitter, which I would guess to be attributable to the character of the roasted and smoked malts used. Mouthfeel is substantial, not too syrupy or heavy but far from thin or watery. The body allows the unique characteristics of the beer to shine through.

O - An outstanding porter. Or stout. It could be either, depending on which side of the label you're reading. This is another of those beers that isn't going to have universal appeal, due to the intensity of the aroma and taste. The bitterness and smokiness may be off-putting to some. I really enjoyed this beer, though. Not only did I find it very tasty, but I also found it to be pretty good to cook with. I deglazed my pan with it after browning a beef roast, then poured the liquid into the crock pot with the roast. It made a fine braising liquid, adding some nice depth of flavor to the finished roast (which I enjoyed with a 2012 Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon, but that's neither here nor there). 4.38/5.

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday!

 

My third and final New Belgian Sunday beer is this commonly found Tripel.



Westmalle Trappist Tripel

Brouwerij Westmalle
Tripel / 9.50% ABV

4.16/5 rDev -2.6% | Avg: 4.27
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Best By 12/16/16

L-The beer pours a pale yellow until I botch the decanting as usual. The head is significant. it is foamy white and about 2 fingers in height. Lacing is moderate and lasting.
S- The nose is sweet with honey and candied fruit. I wanna say peach, but that isn't quite right. Nectarine maybe. Alcohol finishes the nose only after the sweetness has played itself out.
T-The initial sips were a little on the rough side. This bottle is getting older and I can't vouch for the storage. Alcohol is more than present. Bottom line is I'm drinking this too cold. After warming some the beer smoothes out nicely and mimics what I expected from the nose. The honey and fruits up front with some candy sweetness which is cut some by the warming alcohol at the finish.
F- The beer is highly carbonated. The prickliness of the carbonation helps smooth the transition of sweetness to the alcohol in the finish. Medium overall mouthfeel despite the high carb levels.
O- Obviously the beer is a really good example of the Tripel style. You know since they are one of the originators. Still I find this one a little strong on the alcohol presence for my personal tastes. I might enjoy this one more if it were on the younger side.

 

I find Lagunitas can be like that, too. They make it work for me, as long as their stuff is fresh; otherwise whatever balance is there goes right out the window.

 

Never seen it around here. I'll keep an eye out for it.

Cheers!

 

Heck yes! Chores are (mostly) completed and it's time to dive into something new!

The Beer: FFF Gumballhead




Mildly hoppy nose with a promise brimming with Simcoe hops. Entry is subdued, but sweet on the tip o' the tongue.

Midtaste has wheaty depth and the finish is light-n-bright Simcoe Hops...just as promised. Well done FFF!


Let's not forget the people who help make this stuff happen!!!

 

Evening hope everyone is enjoying their Sunday and thanks @cavedave for the wake up call. And for helping others to take care of our Mother. Beginning this week ill be back under the microscope at work- more reports and some more micro management. Not much I can do. Its the way of the world now and this (trying) selling the hospitality business groceries and commodities aint what it used to be. Lots of competition and the money is shrinking..... hell we all have our problems.
Dream Job: flip eggs in the morning and play gigs at night
That being said there is time for a new beer and that is a good thing. I still have 3 stouts left from @foundersasap BIF #3 box that I am looking forward to but today I have one I have to drink now-

Trillium Brewing Mettle Double IPA. My first double from them.

Pours a cloudy orange color with a finger of bright white head that settles to a thin ring with spotty lacing. Looks like many of Trilliums beers.

Aroma is of tangerine, stonefruit, fresh cut grass and some pine. Citrus blossom aromas and earthy white pepper also come through on the nose along with some passionfruit/sauvignon blanc. There is a damp/earthy dankness. Really nice aromas.

Taste follows with lots of juicy citrus, grassy hops, peachy white wine and a rind like citrus bitterness. Layer upon layer of hop flavors coat the tongue and fill the mouth with flavor. There is a just enough sweetness to support this hoppiness with a peppery finish. Which I find out after they use rye malts. Wow - this beer has it all..

Feel is an oily hop tongue coating that is washed away by a dryness and a perfect bitterness and of course the signature "fluffy" mouthfeel of all Trillium brews. Flavor lingers on. And the body is so light for a double. They are so good at packing flavor into a lighter body.

And....this is a great brew. And I'm sitting on the fence because I'm still on the belief that their beers that aren't doubles-
(even double dry hopped) are their best beers. They are perfectly crafted and completely unique. And why add more and more when one is enough......well because everyone that is enthused about craft WANTs more. Have to appeal to the masses. Nothing against this I'm just stating my opinion in this instance. Love the beers.

For New Old Vinyl Sunday I'm spinning Simple Minds- Alive and Kicking. Because Trillium is.....
Thanks for listening and have a great week.

 

Freaking awesome man!

 

@Ri0 re: Dilirium Tremens

This is a beer that I've passed up for years, the pink elephant always catches my eye but I never pull the trigger. Finally decided to give it a try. Poured from a 16oz can. Clear, golden, good carbonation, solid 1/2'' head. Smell is light refreshing, possibly a hint of lemon, bubblegum esters typical from Belgian Yeasts. Taste follows, the phenol is subdued, 8.5% alcohol is well hidden, but does leave a lingering stickiness which detracts from the other refreshing qualities. Admittedly I'm not a huge fan of Belgians but this one was pretty good.

 

You probably won't see it, sadly. I probably won't see it again even when I visit Colorado again.

 

I'm joining the NBS party later than usual since I've spent the day cramming for an advanced pharmacy practice certification exam I'm taking tomorrow. The first time I've had to do any significant studying/cramming since college/boards and I sure don't miss it. Since chemistry is the bases of pharmaceutics and most drugs are some sort of chemical structure I figured this was an appropriate choice to try

A bit disappointed, to be honest. I haven't had much DFH recently but in the past I've enjoyed most of their stuff. This one tasted more to me like a brown ale than an IPA; I certainly didn't get any of the apricot/mango mentioned on the label, mostly malts and caramel. Not bad as is just not what I expected given the style/description. Overall 3.59 rDev -4.8%
Wish me luck tomorrow (I'm definitely going to need it) and CHEERS!

 

I would like to hear what you think of that since that is one of my favorite brews- and I like it even more in cans. I found out that they actually can that in another facility- not the brewery where they actually bottle it. Whatever it is I think
it tastes better in cans- and is worth the 20 price tag....

 

Well done! I've wanted to try this one, but I've never been able to find it here. Thanks for the review.

 

I am not a brewer but I have been looking into it and I am surprised by the amount of dextrose (a processed sugar mostly from corn, I understand) in IPAs. Presumably to keep the malt flavor lower and while getting the alcohol up. (What would be the difference between this and an adjuct?) Anyway, I am sure I pick it up more than others because of my overall sugar intake.

 

World class post. But you know me...I am a sucker for certain things.

 

New American Wild Ale Sunday

And for my 2nd new beer of the day, I had Avery's Raspberry Sour: http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/30/155430/?ba=bluejacket74#review




I thought this was good too, it's a nice tart and fruity brew! I think I'll have one more new beer today, I'll make sure to post it here. It's always nice seeing all your new beers, even though I don't participate every week.