New Beer Sunday (Week 683)

How limited is the availability of this masterpiece? My in-laws have their boat parked off the FL coast right now. If it's fairly easily acquired I'd love to have them bring me a bottle. I loved the base beer, can only imagine how much I'd enjoy the BBA version. TIA

 

You're sharing ????

 

Alright, this is my last new beer for this Sunday... and what a beer it is!



Presenting Evil Twin's Imperial Biscotti Chili Hazelnut Break! The base beer here is one of my very favorite beers of all time, but this might actually take the cake... this is better than the BBA version AND the maple bourbon barrel version. But, the biggest caveat to this opinion is that you need to enjoy hazelnuts... if you have had beers like Knee Deep Stoutella and Rogue Hazelnut Brown Nectar (or their really weird yet good Hazelutely Choctabulous) and found your nose involuntarily upturning at the first whiff, this isn't for you. For everyone else (read: The Chosen Ones), this is an absolute godsend, and one of the very best dessert stouts ever!

Pours a terrifying black color into my stemmed glass. Builds up a rather intense light-mocha/khaki head which dissipates to about a finger-and-a-half, leaving behind immensely satisfying lace that seems to last and last in consistent sheets. The surface is slightly hazed with the same khaki-colored foam that the head is built up from. Great looking stuff, as expected.

The nose is super heavy on the hazelnut, as I mentioned in the paragraph above. There's some light coffee and vanilla atop a strong roasty base, but I mostly get hazelnut and light chili piquancy if I inhale deeply. The hazelnut here can come across a little "peanut butter"-like, but I've had some peanut butter stouts/porters recently (Alazar by Omnipollo was an unlikely star of last night's beer share, FYI) that could bias this a bit. The nuttiness in the nose is well-supported by a deep and multifaceted malt approach, which anyone who drinks IBB with any kind of regularity can attest to, but it does somewhat steal the show.

The flavor profile is very chocolate-forward with some Turkish coffee, burnt espresso beans and light helpings of vanilla. There's a very slight note of spice from the chilis toward the finish, just about where the hops would be in a pale ale, for instance. Tons of hazelnut and cocoa in the mid-palate with some lighter notes of dark fruit and decadent fudge. Almost overwhelming hazelnut, in my opinion... but, as a lover of that flavor, I think this is right on the mark. Very accurate to the name, to be sure!

Feel is smooth and oily with low-moderate carbonation and a heavy disposition. Anyone into the IBB varietals knows what to expect here, but the almond is definitely missing. At the same time, it definitely DOES feel like an IBB variant and not an Even More Jesus variant. Great stuff. Wish I had picked up more than one can, but I wasn't sure how well this idea would actually translate. I'm happy to say that this is just as awesome as I wanted it to be.

But. You. Must. Love. Hazelnut! This beer sucks if you don't think Nutella is awesome. I'm impressed by how much spicy chili and coffee come out here, but the hazelnut really does steal the show.


The fact that this song is only a minute long should be criminal! I need to make an extended version...

Alright, that's it for today, NBS! Now I go through older posts to check out what others are drinking, prepare myself for a week of work (minus Thursday, which I took off cuz I'm going to the Spectral Voice/Primitive Man show the night before!) and probably play a little bit of Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild!

 

Good prevening, New BSers! Mrs. Lizard and I went down to Lancaster Thursday night - it's only a 5.5 hour drive - so she (we) could go to the AQS quilt show Friday and the orchid show/spring flower show at Longwood Gardens at Kennett Square on Saturday. Somehow, we were able to work in a beer run to State Line Liquors in Elkton, MD, on Saturday as well. Why that is significant is because I picked up some more brews for my target,as well as for me, of course. Since, like me, my target has no wants listed on BA, there'll be some surprises in his boxes. Because of the lateness of last night's dinner, we decided to stay over Saturday night as well, since the forecast was the same as the last couple of days - cool and sunny. Surprise! When we got up today, is was snowing like hell. After breakfast we headed West and drove out of it before we got to Harrisburg. By Lewisburg, the sun was shining in blue skies - overall, a pleasant drive home.

Today's New Beer:



$ 10.67 (Including shipping)/22 oz capped bottle ($ 0.484/oz), from Tavour, Seattle, WA.
Date in yellow ink on bottom rim – partially gone. Stored at 42 degrees and served at 42 degrees in a hand-washed and dried Jester King snifter.
Appearance – 4.
Body – Light yellow, clear, some effervescence. Thick layer of sediment
Head – Large (Maximum 7.2 cm, aggressive center pour), white, dense and creamy with a top layer of rocks, slooowly diminishing to a two mm ring fed by effervescence and a round, entire, crateriform island of tiny bubbles that nearly covers the entire surface. Head retraction leaves a wide ring of finely-laced foam.
Lacing – Very nice.
First pour – Light yellow, clear. The second pour was more controlled to minimize disturbing the sediment but still produced a large, creamy head.
Aroma – 4 – Weak mango and slightly sour.
Flavor – 3.5 – Begins slightly fruity, possibly mango, with just a touch of bitterness in the aftertaste. Malt and alcohol are absent, as are diacetyl and dimethylsulfide. Post-consumption belches have more mango than the initial flavor.
Palate – 3.5 - Light to medium, watery, lively carbonation.

Impression and summation – 3.75 – This is well on its way to becoming a lawnmower beer. Throughout the aroma and initial taste bud analysis, the mango is weak and uncertain. The perhaps too lively carbonation does serve to accentuate the mango in the gaseous secondary taste phase. Overall, I’d drink this on tap or in 12 ozers but I think the bomber price point is a bit extreme.
Rating 3.7, rDev -0.8%.

 

Well, maybe I took a little license with your statement that "so now that it's spring it's time to toss aside those high ABV, heavy dark ales and break out the lighter, refreshing ones." To me, a fruity, 7% single IPA fits that description.

 

I finished my Boon Geuze box this afternoon. Shocking, everything there is amazing

The Vat 91 is much more subtle that the rest, and while I probably like some of other better, I might be able to actually drink this one more just because of the subtlety.


Vat 92 has a more pronounced grapefruit and citrus character, even bitterness...if that can be detected in an Oude Geuze. Then becomes all "cheesy" funk.



Full reviews below...
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/47/298512/?ba=champ103#review

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/47/298513/?ba=champ103#review

 

Happy New American Impy Stout Sunday!

Pretty nice day here on the Western Slope, sunny, windy, around 58 at the trailhead. Having a pretty tasty brew today, definitely one of the best I've had from this brewery. Picked up some chicken tacos as well. A little MLB and NCAA watching right now.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/24817/334941/?ba=Wasatch#review

Cheers!

 

New beer #6. Thanks @LloydDobler !
Future Shock - Central State
IPA - 6.5% abv
Score: 4.12 (+7.3% rDev)



L - 3-finger billowing head atop an orange/yellow body.

S - pine, citrus, a little cheese.

T - follows the nose. Piney orange-crusted cheesy bites. It works.

F - medium body and carb.

O - I dig this like I dig stinky cheese (i.e. a lot)

 

Good evening NBS, finally having time to crack a beer. Starting with 2SP Deathwish, an oak aged English Barelywine, and hit beer number 1500!!

4.07/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

750 ml poured into a snifter

A- A deep ruby red with a two finger white off white head.

S- Apples, caramel, some oak, figs, some vanilla, sweet bready malts.

T- Cherries, apples, caramel, figs, some molasses, sweet bread, some vanilla and oak, finish is a little earthy.

M- Smooth, medium body, carbonation is a little high.

O- A tasty Barelywine on the sweet and fruity side. Pretty complex, excited to see how this ages.


Chees!

 

Happy Sunday NBS players. A rather cool sunny day here on the island. A bit of a let down after temps hit the 50’s yesterday. I’m rocking a hotel room so my glassware is rather limited.

My first new beer today is also New England ipa from Sam Adams. Was able to score a single can so why the hell not right? The brew checks in at 6.8% abv and has a bb date of June 2018.

The pour gives a murky straw yellow color with a good fluffy white head. The nose is rather pungent and floral with lots of citrus fruit notes. The drinking starts really creamy upfront with rather muted citrus hop notes as compared to the nose. A decently smooth flow and ever so slightly bitter on the finish. That creamy mouth feel really dominates and may be a bit overdone. It seems to really mute the hop punch to the brew and takes away from the juicy feel.

Overall, it’s ok but far from anything great. The hops don’t pop enough and the style just seems forced. Doubtful that I will purchase anymore. I’m in the 3.5/4 range on the nose here players.

 

Well, this was supposed to be a dry week for me, after seven straight days of debauchery in Florida. Turns out, I have zero self-restraint, and these IPAs just aren't going to drink themselves - two generous BAs from the Newbies group bombed me with some amazing things, and I just had to get a start on them. Thank you again @Elkevjoe and @Elneenee

This is a totally new tick AND new brewery to me; Baby Fleeb Juice is apparently Masthead's first NE style IPA - this surprised me a bit as it has some serious chops to it. This thing tastes like a recipe that has been tested and is damn near perfected. It's exceptionally juicy, with that lovely citrus nose that promises a delicious, fresh IPA. There's a slight backbone of bitterness (which is totally my speed). This is a very nice, light, soft, juicy beer and one that I would happily drink many times over again.

Thank you again to the Newbies group - I'm really enjoying what I've tasted thus far!

 

Good evening NBS, hope everyone is enjoying the end of the weekend once again. Thanks to @cjgiant for getting us started off this morning. Pretty typical weekend for me, not much going on, just relaxing and reviewing as always. I have a big shipment incoming from the BIF, to the tune of 60 lbs tomorrow according to fedex. Going to try and get my targets box finished up as well. It will not be light weight. Did my usual bottle returns, grocery run, and finished up the laundry for the week. Hopefully work won't be as boring as it was last week. Review 6500 was also last week, and I still have a ton of stuff to work through. Been doing some king can macro reviews all week. Been an enjoyable experience so far. Bought some more today too.

New Beers:

Thanks @The-Adjunct-Hippie. Delicious American porter. Fantastic lasting head retention and soapy lacing on the glass. Flavors of big milk/dark chocolate, cocoa, coffee, caramel, brown sugar, nuttiness, dark/brown bread, and toasted biscuit; with lighter notes of smoke, charcoal, and herbal/woody/peppery hops. Similar/muted aromas. Light-moderate roast/char and herbal/woody/peppery hop bitterness on the finish. Medium carbonation/body; nice creamy/bready/grainy malt mouthfeel; some sticky hops and chalky char/roast. Lightly increasing hop/char dryness, never acrid/astringent. Easy drinking, 5.5%. Textbook example. Really nice richness of English dark/brown/roast malt complexity, with nice hop presence and balance without being overpowering. Big fan. 3.91


Sour IPA. Stillwater/Oliver collab. This was outstanding. Aromas and flavors of big tart lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit, peach, pear, pineapple, passion fruit, papaya, mango, melon, green apple, guava, berry, citrus peel/zest, hay, straw, floral, grass, and light pepper/pine; with moderate wheat, white bready malts; light lacto funk, and yeasty earthiness. Light-moderate lactic tartness and light herbal/grassy/spicy bitterness on the finish. Medium carbonation/body; balanced bready/grainy malts and lactic acid in the mouthfeel; light sticky hops. Light-moderate increasing acidic dryness, no pucker/astringency. Refreshingly drinkable, not overly lactic, 6%. Damn this was really impressive. Pacific Gem and Hallertau Blanc hop showcase. Perfectly balanced Lacto and citrus/tropical hop juiciness; with a nice bready malt backing against acidity. Touch of dank/earthy notes. Will grab again for sure. 4.15


Last of the 3 TH cans my friend gave me last week, 2 weeks old dated for all 3. This was insane as expected! Insane lasting head retention and thick soapy lacing on the glass. Aromas and flavors of big tangerine, grapefruit, orange juice, lemon, lime, peach, pear, pineapple, apricot, passion fruit, papaya, mango, melon, kiwi, guava, berry, citrus peel/zest, and light pepper/pine hops; with balanced wheat, cracker, biscuit, white bread dough malts; and herbal, floral, grassy hop earthiness. Very minimal pine, zesty, herbal, grassy, spicy bitterness on the finish. Medium carbonation and medium-plus body; very creamy/silky/bready wheat/oat mouthfeel. Light sticky hops and lightly increasing lingering bitter dryness. Never aggressive or astringent. Drink ability is downright unreal. Minimal warming 8.2%. Softest of the soft mouthfeel was perfect. Insanely juicy and lightly dank hops; balanced malts, not overly sweet/heavy feeling. Felt Green was the best, followed by this, then Alter Ego. Alter Ego was just a touch too bitter/drying. All were very close. 4.43


Cheers, be back a bit later on NBS.

 

Gigantic Most Most Premium 2017 Bourbon Barrel Imperial Stout ( 12.4% ABV ). Nice beer, perhaps a touch past its prime? 4.08 overall


Pours lack as night with minimal caramel colored head. Big-time viscosity, a little lacing, no head retention

S: Much dark fruit, a touch of Bourbon, vanilla once warm, plus smoke shows up late

T: Follows the nose, a touch of booze warmth, carob & dry oakyness up front, just a little smokiness & chocolate. Woody dryness, dark chocolate, vanilla as this warms, just a little boozey barrel as well. Finishes with barrel dryness/boozeyness, a touch of vanilla & chocolate raisin

MF: Fairly chewy, low carbonation, warming

A very good Imp stout with barrel aging, I do suspect this beer would've been better 6 months or so ago, some aspects are tamped down. Drinks pretty easy for its whopping 12.4% ABV. Love this brewery, they are 4/4 in my books

 

Time for another new beer!

Poured from the bottle into a Bruery tulip glass.



Creamy rich top tan head, filling on a short pour with an easy filling two fingers of lathery suds, and milkshake top retention. Walnut dark body, opaque as night and a dark rust like red and brown body color. Aggressive and inviting.

Aroma seems divine. Creamy touches of malt and vanilla character, with a thick milk chocolate angle that seems gooey. Not much of a fruit angle, but a good sensing cake like sweetness that kicks in nicely. Robust and rich sensing, just an excellent nose.

Palate tones things down, but in a very nice way. Simple bodied with a soft if hinting wet palate feel. More sensing flavors of actual tart cherries not hinted on the nose which is a very nice touch, but comes more unexpected in the experience. Mid palate hits with soft cherry notes, slightly runny and just lightly tart if that. Milky sensing mouthfeel with chocolate notes, and light dusting cocoa powder abound. Powdered sprinkles and jimmies seem quite a noticeable flavor in this which makes for a shaved chocolate kick, along with a cake like vanilla tastes to match.

I can definitely see the black forest cake angle in this, but goes for a lighter easier drinking experience. Barrel and oaky character seems considerably muted if not absent, but a still delicious beer is to be had.

look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25 | BA Generated: 4.24

Cheers!

 

Evil Twin is very expensive where I am at in Western PA. Is it worth the price?

 

In 2012 when I got back into beer, the regular lineups available from so many breweries I'd never heard of intimidated me to the point that I dared not fool with the seasonals. How could I buy a seasonal when I hadn't tried all that brewery's regular offerings? That was how I thought of it then, but I got over it. I love seasonals. And it seems like each year I drink more seasonally than the previous year — especially drinking stouts/dark-malt beers when it's cold and saving the farmhouse/wild ales/sours for all the hot weather we have down here.

Plus, @Squire's point about freshness is 100% spot on. So long as you avoid the dreaded last-year's-batch dilemma, you're guaranteed relatively fresh beer when you buy a brewery's seasonal.

Speaking of old batches, here's a So-Called New Past It's Best-By Date Stout Sunday:

Never considered looking for a date (it's a biggish stout after all, right?) but I guess I should've:

2/23/18 ... so I'm a month late.

But what's an "old" stout taste like, anyway? Honestly, I didn't think such a thing existed ... or that such a thing existed en masse like an "old" American pale ale/IPA/DIPA where "old" means more than two weeks.

This old can of Irish Channel Stout isn't bad. In fact, it has that burnt hoppy floral flavor like a "fresh" West Coast-style Russian imperial stout ... floral and almost tropical fruit-like but buried under a load of dark malt. Weird. It's also super earthy/woody at times, and the aftertaste has an especially burnt-woody flavor. The nose starts off like red wine and yeast but sweetens as it warms into molasses/brown sugar. The flavor never has much sweetness in it, enough to make it drinkable but no more.

The review:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/18854/63124/?ba=Premo88#review
3.53 (-11.3% rDev)

I'd say I'd like to try a fresher version of this beer, but if the malt hasn't taken over by now, what chance would it have fresh out the vat? Or am I missing something?

@cjgiant — Sounds like the actual cherry blossom festival trumps the cherry blossom festival beer. I'm sure I've bored NBS with this before, but the last time I visited D.C. the cherry trees were in full bloom (and in perfect synch with the festival). A friend had suggested timing my vacation with the festival, and I figured why not but didn't expect much. Dumb me. My eyes liked to have popped out their sockets as I rode into town from the airport — it was as stunning a sight as any I've seen.

Cheers, NBSers!

 

Sharing a bottle of Raspberry Halo from Cigar City with my daughter, along with their overly dramatic preview of the beer. Really cannot do a formal review of this beer as I cannot get past the overpowering artificial raspberry flavor. Tastes like a concentrate of a Jolly Rancher. Regrettably a drain pour for the two of us after about a quarter of the bottle.