New Beer Sunday (week 612)

Well, this did not work out as planned. Just arrived at my hotel in Wisconsin Rapids and food and personal safety on dark, somewhat unfamiliar roads took priority over beer. A busy weekend followed up with air travel which I really do not enjoy plus an hours and a half drive. We manned the kitchen for two days straight at our church, and we did raise almost a grand for the music fund selling sandwiches, hot dogs, brownie sundaes and apple crisp, but the missus and I were the Crispy Critters after really four days of work with the prep stuff.

So,..no beer tonight, but maybe I can find a couple during the week for the other long running thread.

And I cant even say I am signing off from high atop the Hotel Mead since I am only on the second floor..was hoping to have a fine WI brew as a late entry. Doubt Gatorade counts.

Will read the rest in the morning, well later in the mornng, but so glad to see @cavedave enjoyed that rauchbier... And yeah, I do have a couple more stashed. I don't think they are making more any time soon, which is unfortunate.

Cheers, friends!

 

Spring House Big Gruesome

Being a "chocolate peanut butter stout," this beer isn't the sort that I ordinarily put in my cart, but I like to occasionally go out of my typical range to challenge my preferences.

I'm trying to drink most of the beers that I have stashed away before the end of the year. That's why I've been drinking so many stouts lately. This beer is from 2013.

The peanut butter hits you on the first sip, but it's surprisingly measured. I actually forgot that it's labeled as a chocolate peanut butter stout while I was drinking it and I was surprised to get so much chocolate flavor in this beer. It's more of the star than the peanut butter. The beer has a roasty bitter quality that makes one think of baker's chocolate or cocoa nibs. The peanut butter component isn't bad, but about midway through a pint it has disappeared a bit and the beer is definitely better for it. This is yet another porter that tastes better if you don't take a break from drinking it. It's dry and a bit thin. I expected a sweet dessert beer going into it, and it's not that kind of beer. It's more drinkable than expected. Carbonation is very nice - good head and soft feel.

Before making this post, I looked at the Beer Advocate entry of this beer to see the ABV. Then I noticed that the commercial description of this beer claimed that this beer was made with cocoa nibs. I wasn't imagining that flavor. A light bulb went off. I looked at the name of the beer and realized it said "chocolate" in big letters right on the label. I'm an idiot. The description also claimed that it was made with vanilla beans. I didn't get that flavor... thankfully. I don't like vanilla in my beer or tea (my wife keeps giving me tea with vanilla in it).

 

Well Hello Late Night NBS.
Sadly I have nothing to share for today. Read a few posts. Been hella busy with report cards, family stuff, and an "overall malaise" or "post election hangover." I guess I'm glad it's over. Been the ugliest I've seen in my five decades. So I hope all of you are well and I hope to contribute something good next week. I look forward to a little cellar skeet shooting due to my brother coming into town from New Mexico.

Cheers All.

 

I would have enjoyed sharing that bottle with you and trying it too.

 

Late entry for me tonight, but worth it after seeing an old friend from college last night and a great football game this evening.

Going with Iron Horse's 20th(?) anniversary brew: 2 Live Brew.



Pours out darker than I would have expected for a brown: almost cola black with a dark cherry stain to the edges when held up for further inspection to the light at its back.

Nose begins tight and nutty/pumpernickel dark breads, but truly blossoms as it warms, gaining depth and breadth.

Flavour carries a similar trajectory of primarily dark malts of indiscriminate origins with a nice balance of nutty and a little bit sweet with minimal bitterness to be found.

Body is sticky but clean and easy to get through a glass. Just really well executed. Impressed by this one to be honest, especially as an anniversary brew. Doesn't jump out and try to push extremes, just executes a more subtle and underappreciated style very well.
Cheers Iron Horse and welcome to your second tenth anniversary!



And cheers to the rest of you as well!