New Beer Sunday (Week 641)

I do the same thing. I am the wrost typist and I find many mistakes after the fact. Good mornign everyone and thanks @cjgiant for getting us out of the gate this morning. i have a so many new beers I do not know where to start. I need a little more time.

 

New Beer Sunday: A New Hybrid Beer that may or may not be a Gose

Mornin' NBSers with thanks to @cjgiant for today's start and with special greetings to those quaffers who wish to quell and quench their thirst.

Weather here is shaping up to be Sunny and Warm with occasional periods of cloudiness. All in all, a good day expected.

May or may not be back tonight since we are having some close family members stop off here overnight before an extended trip. That means that there's additional grocery shopping and food preparation to be done as my wife wants the evening meal to be a proper send off. (Naturally that meal may well include a beer and food pairing so it's not clear if I'll get a second new beer in tonight.)

This morning's new beer is the SeaQuench Ale from Dogfish Head. The brewry thinks of it as a hybrid because they brewed a version of three different German styles and then let them all ferment together in the same tank.

As usualy my review, in process until I finish the beer and preparing breakfast, can be found here:

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/64/235905/?ba=drtth#review

The flavors and aromas rely on the Limes, both the fresh and the black, and their peel, but with the salty touch of the sea mixed in. In the flavor mix there’s also what seems to be a bit of coriander that I didn’t really pick up from the aromas. The sweetness and the tartness are nicely balanced so that for me the flavors are about much more than either one of the two. This beer is intended to be a low ABV summer refresher and I’d say it works well for me.

In keeping with thinking about the sea and it's many complexities, on the player this morning is some music by a Frenchman, Claude Debussy. Appropriately enough it is call "La Mer." However rather than link to the full half hour recording, this is by way of a longish trailer for what also might capture some of the nature of the sea.

La Mer

Cheers, all.

 

When I pulled this one out the kids accused me of type casting . . . I told them to shut up and drink their breakfast . . .





Score 4.18
look: 3.75 | aroma: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.75

Dark ruby red gold color with light tan cap.

Aroma led by the scent of wild black cherry. I kid you not, that's what first lept out of the glass. Followed by roasted, coffeeish malt, Dark chocolate and a sense of dryness.

Taste is Belgian Quadlike, big, strong, bold and rich. On entry the roasted malt is primary with chocolaty coffee and dark tree fruit (cherry) trailing not far behind. Each time I raise the glass I'm greeted with the cherry/fruit scent first but don't actually taste those as strongly until the aftertaste where they linger.

Texture is full, chewy, creamy and denser than Army coffee.

This is big rather than complex with strength of character rather than finesse. The 8.5% alcohol is well hidden and not disclosed in either scent or taste. I don't know where the 50 IBUs went, I didn't see 'em, perhaps a slight tingle in the aftertaste but I wouldn't bet on it. For such a big flavor as this one carries hops are window dressing anyway. Just enough in there to balance things out. This is the culinary equivalent of a big hunk of meat hot off the grill.

 

Hello there. After yesterday's tomfoolery and shenanigans, I'll be taking it easy today but I do have TWO new beers left to try. Let me get started with Guinness Irish Wheat,
5.3% ABV

Look: Cloudy pale straw yellow, has a bit of a sunburn on it. The head is frothy and white, decent retention although it leaves very little to ponder on the side of the glass.

Aroma: A bit of hefe bubblegum sweetness, some cereal grains, very malty.

Taste: Much like the aroma with a very sweet taste up front and a lot of cereal graininess -- soggy wheat cereal, barley, a subtle hop finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium to light, very creamy.

Overall: Not really into this one. It reminds me of a hefe and a blonde ale with that soggy cereal thing that I don't like.

I've been to Dublin and toured the Guinness Storehouse so I've always had a soft spot in my heart for the brewery but even their stout is sub-par when packaged and sent over the pond. Oh well. I'll try to sneak in another new beer later, but no promises. I'll probably not be on here for the next few weeks, I'm gonna take next weekend off from drinking to keep myself honest. I still have the tendency to binge drink and that will never change but if I can at least limit it to two weekends a month instead of four, I'll take it as progress.

Slainte

 

My, your up early today! or perhaps still up...

 

El Jefe

For those of you are fans of the TV show Ash vs. Evil Dead you already know what El Jefe means; the lead character Ash Williams is referred to as being El Jefe by his friend Pablo.

For those of you who are not fans of the show El Jefe is a Spanish term meaning "the chief" or "the boss".

So, does this mean this beer is “The Boss” of beers!?!

The only details on the can is “Dark IPA 7% ABV”

From the BA description for this beer:

“Dark I.P.A. is packed to the gills with Simcoe hops. The aggressive hop character is enhanced by the crisp, dry finish. Black, bold and bitter as hell!

90 IBU”

I find it a bit interesting in that they choose to label this beer as a Dark IPA vs. the term of Black IPA. Oh well as my buddy John would say: same difference.

Served in my Gulden Draak tulip glass:

Appearance:

Dark burgundy color and an off-white fluffy head.

Aroma:

A complex combination of aromas. There are hop derived aromas of citrus, earthy and herbal. There are also some dark malt aroma as well: chocolate?

Taste:

The flavor pretty much follows the nose with the citrus/earthy/herbal hops being prominent. The dark malts are a bit more prominent on the palate with a subtle but notable chocolate aspect.

Mouthfeel:

Medium bodied.

Overall:

This beer features the hops flavors but there is a nice, pleasant balance of dark malt flavors.

This is the best Black (Dark) IPA I have ever had!! I really, really enjoyed drinking this beer.


It seems like Black IPAs are not all that popular anymore. I would be willing to bet that if there were more beers available that are similar to El Jefe this style would be more prominent.

@RobH @rotsaruch @chipawayboy @KOP_Beer_OUtlet @mythaeus

 

Cheers you all and Happy New Beer Sunday! Today I am digging into my case from Sierra Nevada. Beer camp is here! I have to admit that when I saw the list of brewers represented on this case I was darn impressed. These are the popular, powerhouse, whale brewers. Most of which I would not ever be able to try without the collaboration case from SN.

The Berliner is not usually a style that I frequent and the reason is the sharply sour finish that it has developed over the years. The other beer that I think has overdeveloped it's sour aspect is the gose. But that topic is for another day. The sharply acidic finish imo does not pair well with food. Today I planned a menu that includes steamed greens, baked fish and spiced peaches with nutmeg. Nothing too sharp in flavor and not really anything you could call savory. I am happy with my selection of this beer to pair with my menu today and let me tell you why.


Happy New Berliner Sunday!




Pours hazy with a soft matte glow to it. Bone white head that reached a good height and lasts well. Good spotty lace to cling as you drink.

Nose is generous with cracker malt and tempting with both citrus and stone fruit. Do I smell peach? I think the hop they used for dry hopping must be an IPA hop. The herbal is stemmy. Stiff weeds with a light green herbal. Floral uplifts the nose but you have to wait for the beer to warm before you can notice it. The citrus is fantastic. There is a sour lactic scent on the nose and I kept trying to decide between lemon and orange. The sour makes it seem lemony.

Taste is sensational with texture although you would not call the beer complex. There is shy hop spice that has fallen onto that cracker and made it sumptuous. It rolls through creamy though because the bubble is just firm but not biting. That softer bubble also shows you the hops herbal. They are like the stem on that peach I was telling you about. There is peach on the palate. How I don't know but it must be from the dry hopping. Succulent and a bit ethereal. Finishes crisp dry and with a plenty of malt. The hops really peak in the finish and show you all of their vibrance. This beer is very fresh. Packaged on 4/18/17. Your mouth waters for the next sip and I would say this beer is well done even though I cannot say it is sharp. It has complimentary breaddiness, it's clean and no sensation from alcohol. The abv is not listed.

Cheers to Sierra Nevada and to Saint Arnold Brewing! This beer will go perfectly with my menu today.

 

Morning, folks...

Comin' atcha live with this IIPA from SingleCut, Harry Doesn't Mind...

I'm not sure if the "no vids in NBS" ruling has been lifted, as I have seen some videos posted, but never backtrack to see if they get removed after the fact; so I'm going keep it clean and just leave the link to the song being referenced by this release's name...

Didja know what it was gonna be before ya clicked the link?

Anyways...

Medium gold and hazy body under a couple of fingers of off-white foam; left plenty of lacing down the glass... Aromas of peach, apricot, nectarine, and the like, with a little hint of herbal spice... The flavors bring more drupe-like fruitiness, with a brighter citrus element to boot, and again something of a rye-like spice... Moderate sweetness, mild bitterness, medium-bodied and smooth... One of my recent favorites from SingleCut... 5/10/17 canning...

Man, that didn't last long...

*that's what she said*

Gonna pop open my other can and head over to WBAYDN...

Here's to new beer in your glass, cheers...

 

Good morning from stormy SWFL's St. Pete, also known as "Sunshine City". Ha! Thunderstorms all week end, and forecast for upcoming week. I guess one could stay indoors and drink beer...

New Coffee Stout Beer Sunday features "Uber Joe" a "Maplewood Stave Aged Imperial Stout with Coffee, Cocoa Nibs & Vanilla", from 3 Sheeps Brewing, Sheboygan WI:



Bottled 4/5/17.



Poured at 54 degrees; black with thin watery grey edges; clarity under very thin beige/khaki cap that fizzled and disappeared immediately leaving almost no ring or lace. 3.5



Strong coffee nose with vanilla right behind. 4.0

Roast coffee, cocoa nibs and whisper of vanilla; no hint of the alcohol; the maple wood staves impart a wooden flavor; coffee on the end. 4.0



Mouthfeel verges on watery; lite carbonation; some dryness in the finish. 3.5

Overall, a coffee stout that has plenty of coffee, but drinks more like a brown ale/lite porter; there is a wooden, roast coffee linger, and I could have done with out the wood; to sum, robust flavors of coffee and cocoa get high marks, but wimpy body takes away. If you like a high ABV, coffee forward beer that is lite, dry and easy to drink, then this stout is right up your alley. 3.75

Thanks @Number1Framer for keeping me plugged into the Wisconsin beer scene.

Cheers and have a great Sunday y'all!

 

Nice start to NBS @cjgiant. Will be back later on with a new brew or two.

Cheers!

 

I'm back. I don't know why but I generally like watermelon beers. I'm not a huge fruit beer fan but I think watermelon is pretty in-offensive as far as intensity goes.

I added this beer to the database, Boulder Beer Bump 'n' Rind. 5.6% ABV

Would you believe there is another beer from another brewery with the exact same name? Well this is a kolsch style beer brewed with watermelon, so let's see how it goes:

Look: Spectacular. Clear pale light golden body with one of the nicest rocky white heads I've seen in a while. Wonderful thick lacing.

Aroma: Please don't laugh when I tell you this, but there is no beer aroma to be found! In it's place instead is something I can only describe as ripe gym socks that have been worn and sweated in repeatedly then left at the bottom of the dirty laundry pile in a very humid, warm room.

Taste: Well thank the beer gods it doesn't remotely taste like it smells! Watermelon is immediately present but subtle as it coats over a dry hay and malty body. Hop bitterness is about perfect in this, and the finish cooly reminds you again about watermelon.

Mouthfeel: Light and dry.

Overall: Surely won't be difficult to work through the sixer but won't be drinking this again anytime soon. I prefer New Belgium's watermelon beer to all others.

Worth repeating: This beer really smells horrible. Really bad.

See you all in two weeks, probably try to crack open a new beer on Fathers Day

 

I think that style can work extremely well as long as the hops stay on the citrusy side. After all, the basic flavor profile stems from the classic West Coast Stout substyle, and there seems to be a lot more cohesion with the hops and roast malts that way. When the newer fruity hops are used is when it comes across as though there are two different ideas competing against one another in the same glass (like in the dark Enjoy By series). This one looks like it followed the 'correct' path, at least for my preferences . I'll look forward to trying it some day.

BTW, I had the Alchemist's Porter a few months ago, and really love what they can do with a dark beer!

 

Happy New Beer Sunday BAs

First thing this morning I wanted to say was that I had a lot of fun yesterday checking out the Duvel selfies for Duvel day over in WBAYDN. Fun times had by all I'm sure.

Switching gears today for NBS. The last few I have highlighted new to me brews like Zombie Dust and Black Note. Popular brews that most here have probably had. Today I am picking a somewhat local lesser known beer.

First I want to highlight the brewery. RedRock Brewing out of Salt Lake City. These guys have been putting out great beer since 1994. With a good mix of classic lagers and ales. The best way to describe RedRock beers is solid. Their linup includes awesome beers like Elephino, their DDH DIPA one of Utahs best beers to their Frolich German Pilsner, a classic Pilsner that is sure to find its way in my fridge every summer. One of my favorites is Le Quatre, a French farmhouse ale that brings the funk, lots of funk. They also make some pretty great special or limited release beers. Forbidden Peach a Belgian golden ale aged in Chardonnay barrels with peaches, Reve a barrel aged Belgian triple and Furlong a Imperial stout aged in High West bourbon barrels that I believe to be on par with the likes of BCBS.

All of of these beers listed are on point and sure to satisfy even the toughest critics. All this brings me to the beer I am highlighting today. The new to me Paardebloem.



Paardebloem (Flemish for dandilion) is a Strong Belgian ale made with hand toasted Pilsner malt, grains of paradise and fresh picked dandilion greens. Barrel aged one year and 100%bottle conditioned. Paardebloem was created by RedRock Brewing in conjunction with New Belgium Brewing and has had much success collecting 6 medals between GABF and World Beer Cup including Golds at both.

Although dandelions are concidered a nuisance weed around the world, dandilion greens are a natural toxin-remover and show up throughout modern history in various tonics and folk remedies.

Paardebloem poures a hazy deep golden color, almost amber. Has a nice light maltyness too it that gives way to spicy peppery character of the dandilion greens. You pick up a fair amount of fruity esters and that classic Belgian yeast character is easily discernible. It has a nice light oak character that is not overpowering to the beer. Light bodied and a real drinker at 9.2%

If you are ever in the area whether it be skiing, buisness, national parks or just passing through I recommend checking out RedRock Brewing.

Cheers NBSers

 

Happy New Gift Beer Sunday (Week 641)!

Ah, the pleasures of having a reputation ... Between the Internet & IRL, I have a polarizing personality. Ppl either really like me or really loathe me, but nobody feels indifferent about me & says, "Oh, yeah, Woody's an okay guy." It just does not happen, not in the beer world, not in the classroom, nowhere.

I also have a reputation for being a square-shooter with regards to my beer reviews on this site. I am lenient on my scores, but I try not to rate a beer without justifying my score with a review. That is part of the reason that I have remained on this site for so long - back in the early goings, the only way to keep track of beers that one had drank was to write a review of some stripe. It did not have to be long & intricate, but a review was required.

The polar opposite was RateBeer.com, where "Cold, liquid, refreshing on a hot, humid summer's day. Liked it." was sufficient. As a lifelong reader & a writer since my early-20s, I felt that I could do better & never signed on/up with that site & as I have watched this week's revelation unfold with ppl jumping ship, I feel vindicated in my decision.

That said, I am also a frequent user of an (ahem!) mobile app's site, in which I can simply check-into a beer & never give it a rating since it is tough for me to write a review in 140 words, let alone 140 characters. Instead, it gives me an opportunity to engage in wordplay & allusions. If you want to read a review, look for me here. If you are just looking for me, Google "Woody Chandler Lancaster PA" & get ready for an eyeful (or just call the local constabulary - they always know where I am).

The reason for all of this prelude, not to an afternoon with a faun, but a morning with beer, is my commitment to transparency. During a tap takeover a few months ago, a Starr Hill rep mentioned that they were putting together a mailing list to get their beers into the hands of ppl that would review them without fear of prejudice or favoritism & I was one of those who came immediately to mind. I receive the occasional box from them & try to get my reviews in & up on a quick-fast basis. Today is one of those days.

My first was one of their rotating releases, a part of the "Heavy Rotation Series", which is a concept that I totally dig. I mean, a logo of a 45 RPM record with the center insert in place?!? There is a generation that would not even recognize that important piece of equipment! My first ship was the USS Fulton (AS-11), welded to the pier (or so it seemed) in New London, CT from 1983 to 1986 & while I found it completely stultifying, I used to listen to WCNI-FM, 91.1 from New London College religiously, especially on Sundays with "Top 40 Deprogramming". Ha. I was a regular at The El 'n' Gee Club as well as a frequent caller & before long, I was invited to sit in help spin disks. Lots of bands put out one-off 45s back then & we gleefully played them as they came available.

My first review: https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/13667/227029/?ba=woodychandler#review


and for an encore, a Remastered version:

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/13667/284939/?ba=woodychandler#review

 

For @drrth:

How in the flying f**k did we both manage to allude, unbidden, to Debussy this morning? Zid noted my love of "Repo Man (1983)" last week & if the Lattice of Cosmic Unconsciousness was ever evident, it is today!