New Beer Sunday (Week 653)

Discussion in 'The Bar' started by cjgiant, Aug 27, 2017.

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  1. cjgiant

    cjgiant Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,584) Jul 13, 2013 District of Columbia
    Society Pooh-Bah

    ...two weeks ago on NBS:
    Good morning, BAs, and welcome to the continuation of the ongoing series of Sunday threada that are known as New Beer Sunday!!

    A couple weeks ago on the WBAYDN daily thread, @gopens44 mentioned that NBS #666 was coming up in what is now about a quarter of our planet's elliptical travel around the sun. I stepped that off to determine that the date for such an infamously numbered thread will be the Sunday after Thanksgiving, the 26th of November. I wonder if people will hold on or find some unique beers for that day. I wonder how crazy the thread might get, especially if it is also a full moon (my research didn't go that far). I don't know if people might have suggestions for a common theme* for that installment of this thread, but that specific number is only going to happen once.

    While that milestone will only happen once, other "milestones," like birthdays, happen every year, approximately every 52 weeks. Doing a little math, I determined that our thirteenth anniversary will actually fall on a Tuesday after week #679 (@Roguer can check my work**, and I considered the one week I know about where the site we went without a NBS and assumed we didn't jump a number). That would make this week our twelve and one-halfth (12.5) anniversary.

    Okay, okay!! Still, that's a long time and a lot of new reviews that have been shared here.

    Dates and numbers aside, NBS has been going strong for a while. It has continued on because there are BAs out there who enjoy experiencing new beers and talking about them. Equally there are BAs out there that want to listen and learn about new beers and the people drinking them. So why don't you help us out? Grab one of those new beers out of your fridge today and tell us about it. We definitely want to know how it looks (pic helps, but isn't necessary), smells, tastes, and feels. Let us know if you enjoyed it and maybe if it reminded you of other beers as a comparison.

    We also enjoy hearing a little about the beer's background, so if you have a second feel free to tell us about the beer, the brewery, or how you came about it. In your research, you probably stopped by the beer's official page here on BeerAdvocate. Bookmark that thing temporarily and go back and add a review before or after we're done chatting here - believe it or not, not everyone reads this thread. This is especially nice if there aren't yet many reviews for the beer.

    Anyhow, time to let you guys have at it - what new beer is in your glass today?

    (to be continued in 26 weeks...)

    * @TongoRad, when were you planning Turkey Day?
    ** WARNING (math) : 13 years x 365 days + 3 days for leap years / 7 days per week = 678 remainder of 2 + one week with no NBS
     
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  2. Squire

    Squire Grand Pooh-Bah (4,385) Jul 16, 2015 Mississippi
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I'm feeling Belgium this morning. Not that I actually am Belgian although my ancestors did get around a bit . . .

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    Score 4.09
    look: 4 | aroma: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

    Intense dark brown color with orange gold highlights. Light tan cap and lacing.

    Strong aroma of dark ripe figs and molasses accented with ripe dark cherries.

    Wow, pretty complex and sophisticated flavors here. On entry the flavors present all together yet there is a high solo voice of Dry Oloroso Sherry richness that hints at but doesn't achieve sweetness. It's as if someone swirled caramel and honey in a bowl, poured it out then filled the bowl with the ripe fruits mention above. Finish brings dark barley notes of chocolate and unsweetened cocoa. I know, those two sound alike but they're not the same.

    Full texture with balancing carbonation.

    Another roasty, toasty hearty brown that does credit to Belgian brewing tradition.
     
  3. drtth

    drtth Initiate (0) Nov 25, 2007 Pennsylvania
    In Memoriam

    FYI, and FWIW, On 26 Nov. 2017 we see the second night of the emerging first quarter of a new moon, just having, the night before, left behind the waxing crescent.
     
    #3 drtth, Aug 27, 2017
    Last edited: Aug 27, 2017
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  4. utopiajane

    utopiajane Grand Pooh-Bah (3,982) Jun 11, 2013 New York
    Pooh-Bah

    Good morning @cjgiant and thank you for getting us up this morning. Congratulations to NBS for all the milestones and none the least of which is it's infamy or twelfth and a half anniversary. I can't think of any place i would rather be on a Sunday! Cheers to you all.


    When I saw this on the shelf I was excited for two reasons. One because another brewer besides Sierra Nevada was doing an oktoberfest collaboration and that means the bandwagon is official. If you will remember we have grouped the style into two distinct variations; the lighter domestic festbier and the darker export version. I would put this beer in the same category as Genesee oktoberfest which is also the latter. The second reason I was excited about this collaboration was because I was looking forward to a somewhat hoppy take from Otter Creek. Camba Bavaria's list of beers reads like a clinic in beer styles and making beer. It also represents a brand of brewing equipment that is supposed to be designed to deliver a broad range and their name is Braukon.

    Happy Show Me What You Got Sunday


    This is Otter Creek Oktoberfest collaboration with Camba Bavaria

    [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG]
    Amber with a light orange hue. Malty with a light touch or fresh orange and a silky hop herbal. I think I smell what some people might say is allowable in the way of perception of caramel but I would not call it caramel, or nutty or too firm. In fact it's like a bright sweetness that reminds me of the sweetness you get on the Vienna lager. Perhaps that is the point where you can see that inspiration was taken from there. This one is clever in it's use of hops and uses that light moment of sweetness to put a soft and silky measure of hops that I was not expecting. They are lightly peppery, not too spicy and softly sweetly floral. I think Genesee's oktoberfest is hopped similarly to this beer although the malt is a little toastier. Firm bubble breaddy finish, almost no bitterness at first then it does develop. In Genesee's beer no bitterness does develop and that is the small measure of sensational and extra? hops that might be in this beer. They softenthe middle and make the mouthfeel like silk instead of textured breaddy. I would say the bitterness in this beer is just slightly stronger than in the typical festbier. The beer seems to showcase the hops although they are never at IPA strength. They are tantalizing gentle and subtle. It is as though the brewer has coaxed the fruit essence from the noble hop! The malt is toasty enough to appear fuller than the the stemmy hop with a citrusy floral. No real bite from the bubble. This oktoberfest is just slightly hoppy with a gentle bitterness and hints of citrus.

    Happy New Beer Sunday everyone!
     
  5. VABA

    VABA Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,735) Aug 8, 2015 Virginia
    Pooh-Bah

    [​IMG]

    A dark amber color, light head and lacing.

    Very little aroma other than the malt.

    Taste follows the smell with lots of malt flavor.

    Light, little carbonation and not much kick.

    Average beer.
     
  6. drtth

    drtth Initiate (0) Nov 25, 2007 Pennsylvania
    In Memoriam

    New Beer Sunday: A Carolina American Pale Ale

    Mornin’ NBSers with special greetings to fans of hop forward, well brewed American Pale Ales, and thanks to @cjgiant for this morning’s history lesson start up.

    Well, it going to be another family outing today. The weather forecast is for a really outstanding day weather-wise—sunny, pleasant with temps in the upper 70s.

    Having been tapped again for breakfast preparation I’m once again doing the Quiche Lorraine that has been a popular choice for previous breakfasts (and it looks a lot like a full moon when finished :sunglasses:). Now I ask you, while that quiche is baking, is there something better or more productive to be doing than having a new beer? (Probably, but this morning it will be a new beer anyway. :wink: )

    This morning’s new beer is called Napoleon Complex and is from that now infamous and now High End Brewery, Wicked Weed in North Carolina. This was canned in late Jun and so still should be fairly fresh.

    As usual my review, subject to revision until I finish the beer, can be found here:

    https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/30581/216687/?ba=drtth#review

    On the whole this is a quite nice APA and I’d be fine with having another. But it doesn’t really strike me as being better than some of the local APAs so I don’t think there will be a lot of repeats. (Especially since I like the beer scene in SE PA and am happy to support our local brewers when they do quality work.)

    The aromas and flavors are all about the hops in this beer. There’s some grapefruit and citrus zest. There’s some light pine and traces of mango and even what seems to be some peach. All this is against a very light malt backbone sweetness that smooths out the bitterness.

    Once again listening to some music from an original cast recording of an American musical. From Pal Joey with Vivienne Segal,

    Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered

    Cheers, all!
     
    #6 drtth, Aug 27, 2017
    Last edited: Aug 27, 2017
  7. TheDoctor

    TheDoctor Grand Pooh-Bah (3,484) Mar 7, 2013 Canada (QC)
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Really good opening today! And thanks for keeping me from having to do any math, that wouldn't end well for anyone. It's pretty cool that a thread can have that kind of longevity and it is a testament to everybody that takes to time to review on here (and elsewhere). Cheers to 12.5 more!
     
  8. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Do you mind ‘playing’ second fiddle?

    Well I don’t as long as it is Fiddlehead Second Fiddle beer!!

    I am fortunate that a friend gifted me with a can of this beer. Have any of you been following the spirited thread entitled “Fresh IPA snobbery is out of control”? That thread was started by a NYC retailer who was relating the attitude he was receiving from some customers about purchasing Fiddelhead Second Fiddle beers that were (gasp) about 1 month old.

    https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/fresh-ipa-snobbery-is-out-of-control.530916/

    Well, I personally do not have attitude here; I am looking forward to drinking this beer no matter what the age.

    First a little bit about Fiddlehead Brewing since I am personally not familiar with this brewery. A short write-up from the Fiddlehead web site:

    “Fiddlehead Brewing Company is located in the beautiful town of Shelburne, Vermont. Our mission is to produce full flavored beers with the true beer connoisseur in mind. We focus on depth of flavor, freshness of ingredients, and incorporating local products when possible. Renowned brew master and owner Matthew Cohen (known industry wide as Matty O) is on a continual quest to craft the perfect pint. While several seasonal selections are always available on tap at the brewery, our flagship beer- the Fiddlehead IPA, can be found on draft lines all over Vermont.”

    Well then, let’s see how Matty O’s Second Fiddle beer tastes.

    Served in my Gulden Draak tulip glass:

    Appearance:

    Amber colored with a BIG fluffy white head.

    Aroma:

    The dominant aroma is a combination of pine/resin but there is some citrus in the background.

    Taste:

    The flavor pretty much follows the nose with pine/resin but some citrus as well

    There is a firm bitterness as well. There is a bit of malty sweetness as the beer opens up.

    Mouthfeel:

    Medium to full bodied with moderate carbonation.

    Overall:

    I think this beer is very good. It motivates me to want to drink some other Fiddlehead beer if good fortune presents that to me.

    Cheers!

    @RobH @rotsaruch @KOP_Beer_OUtlet @Seacoastbrewer

    [​IMG]
     
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  9. TheDoctor

    TheDoctor Grand Pooh-Bah (3,484) Mar 7, 2013 Canada (QC)
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    How old was your can?:stuck_out_tongue:
     
  10. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    You win the prize!!

    I just knew that somebody would ask that question. The answer is that I do not know how old the beer is. There is a black smudge on the bottom of the can. I assume that is where the canned on date would be but as I stated it is unreadable.

    Cheers!
     
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  11. cjgiant

    cjgiant Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,584) Jul 13, 2013 District of Columbia
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Well, this AM seemed like a "juice morning." I may have a new stout or two lying around, but they'll have to wait. Today's opener is partly inspired by seeing some DC-area breweries at the Belgian beerfest that @Beersnake1 is attending. 3 Stars Brewing is officially in DC, though I've heard some claim it to be from Silver Spring, MD (it is pretty damn close to the border).

    The brewery makes a variety of beer, but their saisons seem to be the most distributed around here. These are enjoyable enough, but my favorite beers by them is a Milk Stout (Starsky and Dutch) and an Old Ale (Madness). Seems they may be making more wild ales, though this is the first I've taken notice of, Trouble in Paradise is a sour ale with mango and guava:
    [​IMG]

    The nice white head you see atop those chill-hazed glasses lasts a little while, but does eventually leave completely. It does answer to the call in the form of a little agitation of the glass, however.

    The nose doesn't hide the tartness nor the added fruits, a very light white wine vinegar with the guava seeming more prevalent to my nostrils. Of course, that could be because I think that is the more tart of the two fruits. I do get a little more sweetness if I give a decent swirl of the glass before putting it to my nose.

    Taste hits with the sour up front - I'd guess lactobacillus and purely based on the delivery mechanism, I'd guess kettle soured (wouldn't be shocked to be wrong, either). Their website doesn't list the beer (surprisingly).

    There is a little tingle of carbonation at the tip of the taste, but it doesn't last (my very first sip had me thinking grapefruit mimosa, but that did not last). Grapefruit sour with the mango providing some balance after the initial wave. The beer stays nicely tart but the fruit additions accent and keep my palate's attention from being consumed by this key aspect of the beer.

    I think this would be an interesting second step for those being introduced to sours. It has a consistent and obvious sour/tartness throughout, but brings a little tropical fruit to distract a little from this. It's not too complex, the fruit juice notes are pretty straightforward, but it's not quite single-noted, either. An enjoyable opening to the day.
     
    #11 cjgiant, Aug 27, 2017
    Last edited: Aug 27, 2017
  12. Beersnake

    Beersnake Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,884) Aug 17, 2013 California
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Nice!
     
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  13. Beersnake

    Beersnake Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,884) Aug 17, 2013 California
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Trying Cantillon Mamouche for the first time. This was poured at the Brussels Beer Fest from draught. I knew diving into this one that reviews are polarized. Tried to eliminate any bias. Pours a golden yellow with slight opacity. Carbonation is good, although head is minimal. Nose is quite strong - getting elderflower, a nice bold citrus peel, some barnyard funk. Taste is crazy. Not parallel with the nose. Slight bitternesss and menthol quality. Heavy horse saddle, leathery taste. A grassy taste with the feel that I'm eating the dirt and grass at the same time. Definitely some floral notes - perhaps some rose petals. Mouthfeel is dry and sticky. Taste persists for minutes on the palate. Very interesting, and distinct, beer! Cheers!

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
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  14. cjgiant

    cjgiant Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,584) Jul 13, 2013 District of Columbia
    Society Pooh-Bah

    No pressure, but still awaiting your thoughts on Ocelot and The Veil :wink:

    With the awesome opportunities like your review above, I wouldn't rush over. But if you did get to them.... :slight_smile:
     
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  15. Ocalafox

    Ocalafox Grand Pooh-Bah (4,505) May 17, 2016 Florida
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Happy NBS everyone! Hope we can all enjoy a drama-free day today. Thanks to CJG for an excellent launch to the day. Two hours of work done, 25 mile bike ride done. Time to carb reload with a new beer for me that I'm sure I'm a bit late to the party for. I'm really enjoying this more than I expected. Somehow I was under the impression that this was a raw, undeveloped DIPA, I couldn't be more wrong. Golden color with bubbly head and slight lacing. Smell of citrus and mango, piney with a well balanced taste, hides the 8.7% pretty well. Heard of hangover symptoms with this beer, I'll chug a quart of powerade next since I'm sure I'm dehydrated from the bike ride. Happy Sunday Folks!
    [​IMG]
     
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  16. Beersnake

    Beersnake Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,884) Aug 17, 2013 California
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    This one is for @cjgiant. Coconut horn-swoggler from The Veil out of Richmond. I'm really happy that this was recommended! Pours jet black with beautiful dark brown head that quickly dissipated. Nose is out of this world. Roasty, slight tobacco, chocolate, coconut, and marshmallow. Very creamy! The nose is so smooth and inviting! Taste is amazing. Marshmallow, coconut, truffle, vanilla, and some caramel. Mouthfeel is so creamy and thick. Truly amazing beer! Cheers!


    [​IMG]
     
  17. Wasatch

    Wasatch Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,050) Jun 8, 2005 Colorado
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Thanks @cjgiant for the great start to NBS today. Should be back with a new brew later on.

    Cheers!
     
  18. cjgiant

    cjgiant Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,584) Jul 13, 2013 District of Columbia
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Gonna do a little experiment here, folks. I am curious how my impressions may change with the passage of a little time and the ingestion of food. I'll give a better description in my second post, which will happen after lunch. Bur for now, I am splitting a new beer from Aslin with the GF now, called Sweet Berry Wine. This is a triple IPA infused with berries.

    Pre-lunch thoughts:
    A kinda ugly murky rose, cloudy like just about all Aslin offerings, though head and lacing is commendable.

    Nose is of the Aslin profile, which I think is some combination of yeast and adjunct wheat/oat. The berry does come out to compete with this, covering any noticeable hop aromas for me.

    Taste follows with a creaminess almost like a fruit smoothy. If there were more sweetness from, say, lactose, this could be a "shake" variety of IPA. A citrusy hop note seems to combine with the berries in a tasty fashion.

    Quite enjoyable, juicy, and way too easy drinking for its 12.8%. Not too sure it hits the "fruit rollup" concept they were going for, but it's also not far off.

    Let's see if I feel the same in a couple hours :slight_smile:
     
  19. meefmoff

    meefmoff Pooh-Bah (1,922) Jul 6, 2014 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Another cool thing about Fiddlehead is that they share a building with a very good pizza place where you are welcome to drink the beers you just bought while you eat.

    I just had Second Fiddle for the first time in ages myself and your review pretty much sums up my feelings as well. What's funny is that I remembered this being further down the path of the NE IPA style than it is. I distinctly remember thinking this was notably fruity back when I first had it, but it barely registers on that metric these days. Not to mention the malty sweetness and bitterness which are practically dirty words these days.

    Still a great beer as you say. I'm not a particularly big fan of their single IPA, but their other DIPA "Mastermind" is pretty fantastic as well.
     
  20. VABA

    VABA Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,735) Aug 8, 2015 Virginia
    Pooh-Bah

    [​IMG]

    Very dark pour with minimal head and no lacing.

    Lots of pumpkin aroma.

    Taste follows the smell with lots of pumpkin flavor, which is very nicely and evenly distributed.

    Light with little kick.

    A well done pumpkin stout.
     
    #20 VABA, Aug 27, 2017
    Last edited: Aug 27, 2017
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