New Beer Sunday (Week 677)

My first Industrial Arts brew - Tools of the Trade APA. More flavor and better mouthfeel than expected for only 4.7% ABV.

 

Well, the bank clock now tells us that it's 41 degrees at 1:56, and I'm here to tell you that I'm having another Texas brew from Sarah and Ryans care package. A solid Tripel: https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/458/23720/

 

Thanks, I appreciate you sharing this with me as I wasn’t aware of it. I still have half of the bottle left, and will finish it later today. When I do, I may have to revise my review based on this new information. Cheers.

 

Back at it here players with NBS # 2. Been trying to watch the winter games. Most of the events just seem to either be nuts or a glorified drinking game.

Anyway, my second new beer today is Unorthodox, a Russian imperial stout, from Two Roads brewing. Was able to grab a single which is always preferable for a new beer. The brew checks in at 9.2% abv and has a 1/12/18 bottle date.

A black pour with a frothy and lingering tan head. Mostly chocolate malt on the nose with a touch of smoke. The chocolate malt carries right over and hits upfront. A bit surprised at how smokey this drinks. A rather spicy and bitter flow as well as in the finish. The smoke flavor really seems to dominate and drown out some of the other notes. Decent notes of chocolate, tobacco, coffe, and the spicy rye. The mouth feel is rather moderate and even a bit light for the style. It’s funny how the bottle description describes it as “unbelievably full bodied” and yet more body is exactly what I’m lingering for on every sip.

Overall, really just nothing special here. It’s ok, and seems to be getting a bit better as it warms but it’s really average at best. Way better examples of the style abound.

 

Ha! Finally! A departure from the pernicious, wicked weed!

I'm going for a The Veil trifecta by dialing up this Whangdoodle



This pitch black stout sported what can best be described as a dark brown chrome head that went the way of the dodo pretty quick. Nose is so complex that I know for a fact I'll miss something but here goes - chocolate, honey, molasses, vanilla, marshmallow, carob and bourbon.... maybe that's it? Really hard to tell because no one accent takes over. Taste is along the same lines but slightly different. Where everything in the aroma was distinct, it's blended in a way that while you get hints of it all, you don't know where chocolate or vanilla or anything else ends and the new taste began. Perhaps the bourbon stands alone, but it's not by any means overwhelming. In fact, virtually no heat in this at all. Body lacks anything that could be considered carbonation and the thin quality is probably a product of the alcohol. After taste has a roasty coffee flavor not present at any other point in this. Obviously we have a terrific beer here.

 

Which is what makes Curling the Official Olympic Sport of Beer Drinkers. A: Any sport where you could drink while playing (not at the Olympics, of course) is cool. B: Any sport where when you set your beer down when it's your turn, and it stays cold, is extra awesome. C: It's a great sport to help meet the ladies. What woman wouldn't love a dude that is that into sweeping?

 

Continue the rend of Rushing Duck,

I present to you their DIPA

War Elephant --------- ---------8.6% ---------------- canned on 1/31/18

Can Art: Absolutely awesome! It's has to do with unconfirmed Elephants being used during war battles.

This beer is absolutely amazing! NO laddies and Gents its not a NE style DIPA. It's once again it's own thing. Mainly traditional in it's delivery, amber in color but unique in taste. Its a big bold and DIPA, that does what it aims to do and nothing more and nothing less and I love it for that!

Happy NBS BAs!

 

Happy NBS. Trying this Wicked Weed Old Fashioned. Cheers all.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/30581/242912/?ba=cindyjeffsmith#review

 

Enjoying this beautiful beer from @mschrei while watching the Olympics. I'm glad to get a chance to try the Mosaic DH version I've been so jealous of.

I've traveled with beer a lot, and I've never had issues. I usually pack a bunch of bubble wrap and paper knowing I'll be bringing back stuff from wherever i go. The trouble comes every timeti meet up with @cjgiant and have to buy a second suitcase to bring back all the great stuff he gives me!



Pours a bright, hazy yellow/orange with a one-finger soapy head that left tons of sticky lacing.

The smell screams Mosaic with lots of tropical fruits like pineapple and mango along with some orange.

The taste is all deep tropical with mango, papaya, and pineapple with a hint of floral and peach coming at the end.

The mouthfeel is creamy, smooth, and low carbonation.

Overall a very nice showcase for Mosaic hope. Very smooth.

 

Moustache Lawn Beer

No more Bell’s today. Here’s a Long Island cream ale. It’s great seeing one of these without coffee or other nonsense.

This is a beautifully clear rich gold. Gorgeous Gritty and Grainy. Carbonation is nice and soft. Wish it was smoother flavor-wise. This leans more towards sweet than anything else, but not in an overwhelming way at all. There's a small amount of citrus here. I wonder if it's "all malt." Nothing off about it, but not compelling given the price... and that's the trap with a beer like this. Why pay $3 a can if it's not absolutely preferable to similar beers? I really admire Moustache for putting this out there, but I've enjoyed their other beers more. Nonetheless, I could drink a lot of this at the right time. I would assume that this is essentially the same beer that's also listed here as "Get Off My Lawn" but the ABV is different. @beerloserLI , ever have this one?

 

Had a nice Mexican Stout lined up for NBS and that will come today in due time. But when I saw the beer fridge stocked with this NEPIA (thanks to my son) I figured I would start here. And it was so good, I am going to have another after I post this.



4.23/5 rDev +6.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Poured from a can dated 1/17/18 to a nonic.
Deep gold with aggressive head that stays to 1/4" for the hole glass with lacing that looks like its glued on.
Tangerine is right. Sweet citrus, not bitter.
Front of taste is similar to aroma, but rapidly smacks you with a bitter wack. You think you might pucker but it fades to a malt reprieve on the back. Nice experience.
The mouth feel follows a similar timeline. The carbonation prompts the bitter wack, but the fade to malt is accompanied by a tongue coating feeling.
Nice beer. Not quite a pantheon of NEPIA, but a great experience no matter what you call it.

 

No pictures showing here, just big blank spaces with a circle in them. You may want to change photo hosting services.

 

Dang, its showing up for me. Never had issues with Google photos.

 

Might not be the hosting service then. Are the pictures showing for you in the copy of your post made when I replied above?

 

Greetings all and thanks to Cjgiant for kicking things off. I've got a beer I know nothing about other than vaguely recalling that the brewery was mentioned in a positive light on the New England forum recently. It's Jess IPA from Amherst Brewing and clocks in at 7.3%. That area of Western Mass seems to have a pretty good brewery scene as there are quite a number of them out there. UMASS's flagship campus as well as some high end little private schools clustered in the area probably make it fertile ground for such an otherwise rural and sparsely populated part of the state.




This pours a somewhat opaque amber honey color with a nicely frothy head that leaves super thick lacing even once it's settled. The nose is mostly melon (more honeydew than cantelope) with maybe some orange and some actual honey as well. Taste follows with a bit more malt than is trendy these days. That might be where the honey aroma is coming from as the malt has a honey-ish character that contributes some sweetness as well. Moderate bitterness but it finishes fairly clean and doesn't linger. Mouthfeel is on the crisper side and more like a classic west coast IPA but that honey malt character makes it feel a bit rounder and smoother somehow. Carbonation seems average. ABV is completely undetectable so this could be dangerous if you're not paying attention.

I like this a lot and it has kind of a unique combination of things going on. It's melony rather than tropical or citrusy, malty but not caramel-y, and bitter without any pine or grapefruit rind.
Will be interested to see more from this brewery.

Cheers all!

 

Cruising close to my one thousandth review here on Beer Advocate, but I intend to save that beer for my birthday in 6 days. What it will be, I'm not entirely sure. I have a handful of bottles I've been saving for such an occasion. Until then, I figure I should check in at least one more new beer for this Sunday. I need something to sip on as I sift through the photos from my photo shoot today. Figured it best to sip on this, as I don't want it getting any older.



Tree House's Very Green.

Pours a murky, opaque orange with a finger and a half of white foam on top. Head retention is good, with good lacing left behind. Aroma is a sharp hit of papaya, mango, grapefruit, and orange zest. Lovely depth, although it focuses and centers on a single dimension - citrus hop notes. Flavor profile is mango, papaya, grapefruit, and orange and lemon zest. There is a slight dank, and pine hop note in the finish of the flavor profile. Very Green starts off semi-sweet, and finishes just a touch bitter. There isn't much difference between the sweet start or the bitter finish, just a subtle shift in dynamics. Malts are well hidden, but hit notes of biscuit and bread. Mouth feel is a bit fizzy, and grainy, giving this beer a more velvety feel, as opposed to a crisp, or even a juice-like feel. It has a medium thickness. Overall, loads of citrus notes in the aroma and flavor profile. It comes off a touch more full in the flavor and feel than it's single IPA (Green) sibling, with a notable bump in aromatics.

Score: 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.75 | 4.25 | 4.75 | BA Score: 4.63 | rDev: -1.1%

Personal notes: This just barely loses out overall (by 0.01) to Green, reviewed earlier today (and with plenty of time to clear the palate). If I could pick either one to sip on or stock up my fridge? I'd pick Green. Just seemed a touch more well-constructed, although these Double NEIPAs are not something I'd stock my fridge with no matter who is making them. They're often too sweet and decadent, making them a welcome addition upon occasion, but not a go-to choice for weekly consumption. At least, for my personal tastes.

 

Good evening NBS, hope everyone is enjoying the end of the weekend once again. Thanks to @cjgiant for getting us started off this week. Had a bit of an interesting drive this morning to get some errands done. I got stuck on a residential side street for a half hour, but luckily some people came out and helped push my car so I could get out of there. I am contemplating buying a new Wrangler soon after that experience. I work on the program anyways lol. Going to be another pretty busy week, hopefully not too stressful. Made my usual bottle returns and got a mini new beer haul as usual. Still have a lot of stuff to work through currently.

New beer:

Very good IPA. Aromas and flavors of tangerine, lemon, grapefruit, peach, pear, pineapple, white grape, passion fruit, mango, melon, berry, citrus peel/rind, light pepper, and pine hops; with moderate toasted biscuit, light caramel malts; and herbal, floral, grassy hops earthiness. Light-moderate pine, citrus peel, herbal, grassy, spicy bitterness on the finish. Medium carbonation/body; balanced creamy/bready/grainy malts and sticky hops in the mouthfeel. Slight resins, light-moderate increasing dryness, no hop astringency. Refreshingly smooth, never aggressive. Nice balanced mix of juicy, vibrant, and dank/earthy hop complexity; nice bready malt backbone, mild residual sweetness. A bit old on the can, but I really enjoyed it. 3.78


Awesome fruit sour. Great head retention/lacing for the style. Aromas and flavors of big tart/tangy red grapes, cherry, plum, raisin, fig, berry, lemon, green apple, white wine, oak, hay, and grass; with moderate caramel, brown sugar, toasted biscuit malt balance; and lighter notes of oaken vanilla, pepper, and lacto funk. Light-moderate fruity/lactic tartness, fruit tang, and yeast/oak tannin spiciness on the finish. Medium carbonation/body; creamy/bready malts, some lactic acid, and light oak tannins in the mouthfeel. Light-moderate increasing acidic/tangy/tannic dryness, never puckering. Refreshingly drinkable, never overly lactic, 6.5%. Straight up kettle sour, but it has great complexity. Great balance between fruity Lacto, grapes, oak, and dark/bready malts. More of a sour red. 4.1


Yet another brand new JP review on NBS as is customary. Oak aged for 11 months. Bit of a slight gusher. This was outstanding! Aromas and flavors of big lightly tart lemon, lime, orange, peach, pear, pineapple, passion fruit, papaya, mango, melon, guava, berry, white wine, citrus peel, peppercorn, oak, hay, straw, floral, and grass; with some wheat/crackery malts; and lighter notes of oaken vanilla, leathery/musty funk, and yeast earthiness. Light-moderate peppery yeast/oak tannin spiciness and light lactic tang/tartness on the finish. Medium carbonation, light-medium body, and moderately crisp/clean finishing. Balanced grainy malt and sticky hops in the mouthfeel. Light lactic acid, oak tannin, and barrel silkiness. Light-moderate increasing peppery yeast dryness. Insanely drinkable for 7.8%, pretty refreshing. Another wonderful saison from JP as is expected. Classic JP fruity/funky Brett complexity with awesome barrel presence, and a solid pale/wheat malt backbone. They rarely make a beer that I don't love. 4.15


Cheers, be back a bit later NBS.

 

Back to opening post. Kudos to the Eagles & their big win. It pains me as a Cowboys fan, even more so, because they seem to be set contract-wise to stay strong for a few years.

Traveling with beer? My last flight from Milwaukee was a debacle, was up their for training, made a stop the night before flying out at a store previously unvisited. Got greedy. Hit the check in 10lbs over weight, Had to jettsion most of my heavy clothes & work boots which were a big part of the protection plan. They went in a carry on purchased at the airport ( not crazy priced, but didn't really need another bag. ) Had at least 6 cans puncture & a bottle break. Could've been worse. Bag still sort of smells like beer & all that bubble wrap went in the trash.

On this dreary icy, foggy, misty day I give you Clown Shoes Porcine Unidragon. An Imp Stout aged in Bourbon Barrels with some smoked beechwood in the mix, it shows. Good, a little too dry & smokey for my wheelhouse, but very enjoyable.

4.02 overall

Pours an effervescent ebony with 2+ fingers of caramel colored head. Better than average head retention & lacing

S: Smokiness, cocoa, a touch of booze & barrel as well once warm

T: Follows the nose, dry and a touch of red grape up front, along with woody barrel, just a little vanilla on the edges. More dryness, smokiness, a touch of vanilla & cocoa once warm. Finishes uber-dry with smokiness in a good amount, but not overpowering, charred grain & a little vanilla as well

MF: Medium body, restrained carbonation that recovers as as it warms

A solid IMP Stout that leads with dryness& smokiness. A little harder to drink as a result, but worthy of your consideration. I will always buy Clownshoes hoppy stuff & Imperial Stouts sight unseen, a solid bet

 

Back again with a "big beer" as promised. And what a big beer.

3.89/5 rDev -8.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Poured from a bomber without dating to a diagonal cut snifter.
Dark brown hint of red on the periphery. Thin, quickly fading head.
Alcohol smell is strong with this one, but some notes of coffee, caramel and cinnamon.
Taste, chocolate hit in the front, turns to sharp alcohol bite in the back.
Its too bad this bottle is not dated. I think its quite old. Almost a barrel aged effect without the wood.
The chocolate hit is the best part of this, otherwise, too much for me on the back end.