New Beer Sunday (Week 694)

Outstanding radler! Great head retention and dense foamy lacing for the style. Aromas and flavors of big juicy/lightly tart ruby red grapefruit, lemon, orange, melon, and citrus peel/zest; with moderate wheat, cracker, white bready malts; light herbal/grassy hop and yeast earthiness. Light herbal/grassy/citrus peel bitterness, and fruit tang/tartness on the finish. Medium-high carbonation, light-medium body, and moderately crisp/clean finishing. Balanced bready/grainy malt, fruit tang/acidity, and light hop stickiness on the mouthfeel. Light-moderate increasing tart/tangy/carbonated dryness. Very flavorful/refreshing, 4.2%. Never watery. This is one of the best radlers I've ever had. Perfectly balanced grapefruit juice vibrancy and wheat beer flavors. Will buy the rest of the 6 pack next week. I had my buddy break it up today. 4.15


Outstanding sour. Amazing head retention and dense soapy lacing for the style. Aromas and flavors of big juicy/lightly tart/tangy cherries, fruit skin/pits, lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit, peach, pear, pineapple, mango, melon, red/green apple, white wine, hay, straw, and grass; with moderate wheat, cracker, white bready malt; light musty/lacto funk, white vinegar, and yeast earthiness. Light-moderate fruity/lactic tartness and fruit tang on the finish. Medium-high carbonation, light-medium body, and moderately crisp finishing. Balanced grainy malts, lactic acid, and fruit tang/tannins in the mouthfeel. Light-moderate increasing acidic/tangy fruit dryness. No puckering sourness. Very flavorful/refreshing, 5%, not overly lactic. This brewery can not make a bad sour. Awesome balance of jammy cherries, Brett/lacto complexity, citrus/tropical hops, and a solid pale/wheat malt backbone. I still got 3 other beers from them yesterday, including the Double Negative. 4.18


Cheers, be back yet again later.

 

New Beer Sunday: New IPA

Evenin’ NBSers, back with a special heads up for SE PA and Jersey fans of IPAs.

Well, after a couple of lightly flavored beers, this evening’s new beer is an IPA called Follow the Gull from Cape May Brewing. CMB is a NJ brewery that has recently been distributing their cans into the Philly area and I’ve enjoyed each of the 4 that I’ve tried so far. So let’s see what happens with this new one.

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

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/25890/284302/?ba=drtth#review


The appearance is what you’d expect of a NEIPA and the aromas/flavors are full of tropical fruits along with a bit of stone fruits and some light grassy bitterness that keeps the sweetness in check. I enjoyed this beer. It’s nicely complex and I expect to do a repeat. If you see it you might want to give it a try.

Tonight's music on the Player is a recording of some Mozart symphonies. While the recording of the symphony currently playing doesn’t have any video associated with it, I once found on YouTube an audio-visual performance of the final movement of Mozart’s Jupiter Symphony.

Mozart’s Symphony No. 41

Cheers, all!

 

I'm back for one more new one tonight. Bearded Iris has been focusing on imperial milk stouts lately, and this one was a collab with Weldwerks, designed to taste like this MoonPie.



This one had the expected opaque dark brown color with a thick and long-lasting tan head. Aromas of milk chocolate, vanilla, and marshmallow. The chocolate dominated, keeping the nose from being too sweet. Sweeter marshmallow and vanilla notes were there on the taste, but they were balanced with a nice bitter chocolate aspect. I didn't get much graham cracker, but I did find this to be fairly well-balanced with the bitter chocolate taste. No floral hoppy RIS notes which kept this one very dessert-like. This is very sweet and somewhat heavy as expected in a big milk stout, with a marshmallow finish that was not too over-the-top. Overall I found this one to be well-crafted and enjoyable.

 

Great start. At least your finding some ways to adjust your game. In basketball, it seems to me the rebounds bounce a little higher than they used to. It can't be that I lost my hops. My shot is still decent, but damn the game seems faster and higher than it used to be.

 

Bells 30th Aniversary, Cherry Stout Reserve
I'm a big fan of the 30th anniversary. Stout, not big on Bells Cherry stout, so I picked up a single of this one. Pleasantly surprised, nice tart cherry with some chocolate, smooth medium feel, some alcohol here that warms, might pick up a 4 pack. Enjoy your new beer!

 

Over the course of the next few weeks I'll be opening all of my remaining JKs. rec'd over three years ago from very near the source.



Blend #1
10.13.2014.

Moderate pour yields a 5/8th inch off white head over a dark purple body with some nice, sticky lacing. Nose of roasted malts and blueberries. Very interesting, with the taste twinning the nose in not the worst way. Very nice, kinda like a tart blue berry pie as it warms! Also very nice feel and overall, I guess I was lucky to have waited so long to open this as I received a box from Austin in January of 2015 which included this gem. What a wonderful surprise and cheers to John R. for this (and many others!)

4.35/5 rDev +6.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

 

Good evening, NBS. Well, a nice lead post from @lordofthewiens . Now I have tried golfing a few times in my life and have concluded it just ain't my thing. Drowned a lot of golf balls since there is a magnetic type attraction between the two. I could hit the ball a mile...I just had absolutely no idea where it was going. Nope...

Well, I said goodbye to an old friend on Friday:



That is my 1954 Farmall Cub under the bucket of the little Deere. My Dad had a Cub and I bought this one I guess about 30 years ago with sentiment just absolutely beating the hell out of sensibility. It is a nice little tractor and I used it heavily for quite a while, but implement changes take time and usually involve pain. It isn't quite the tractor for what needs doing on my property. Always thought it would be a good restoration project but I just don't have the place to do the work. So I gave it to somebody who does rather than waiting any longer for it to become a total rust pile. Sorta sad, sorta happy. Haven't written a check to John Deere....yet...

So...we are alone for dinner for a change. I saw the spectacular food **** as I skipped thru the thread and I am guessing Maria's work until I go back and read. We spent a bit extra on dinner for two... Grilled ribeyes that I nailed the temp, but did not quite get the sear I wanted...very tasty nonetheless. Fiddleheads with onion, garlic and bacon. The bacon was quite maplelly (?)...but it worked well with the earthy ferns. Lettuce for the salad fresh picked from the garden and I mean 30 seconds from field to plate. Strawberry shortcake will be the dessert, leftover from the church strawberry fest.

The beer:



Lowland Villager, a saison from Shaidzon in Ri. This iteration is brewed with orange zest and grains of paradise. It is a bit more clear than the picture suggests and is quite a good looking beer. The head lasts a while, and clings to the glass with tenacity. The aroma is...again from the same brewer...lacking. It is pleasant enough, but the orange is barely detectable and the spice you would expect is equally tame. The flavor is, however, tight, well-defined, and restrained. Maybe too restrained. Typical saison overlaid mildly with orange and in the aftertaste there is a slight spiciness and a bit of pepper. It is lively on the tongue and not as drying as expected. Decent bitterness.

It is a nice, pleasant beer. It is nowhere near the level of the beer on the glass. I am thinking 3.8 or so when all said and done. It has one "tick" and that tick is a 5.0. Ummm, no. Good, but the "would I drive the hour-plus to get this again" question's answer is no.

Cheers, friends.

 

JL Beers Rebel Monk Tropical Tripel, 8% ABV. Pours golden with a two finger white foamy head that left plenty of lacing. Nose is yeasty, taste is malty with a moderate bitterness. Excellent mouthfeel, overall very good. Not picking up the tropical.

 

It's been way too long. Summer's here, and I'm ready for some NBS.

It's overcast and windy in West MI. Today was full of youth soccer, flag football, and errands. Let's get to the new beer.

No pics, or formal review (forthcoming from my notes).

Today's beer was Salted Caramel Porter from Pigeon Hill out of Muskegon Michigan. It was a decent drinker, definitely get a hit of caramel sweetness. Could be more robust in the flavor and mouthfeel departments. Aroma was great. Overall-3.5.

 

Trying Cucumber Crush for the first time thanks to @y2kawakami, really good stuff!

4.18/5 rDev +5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Thank you y2kawakami for this
12 oz can, dated 11/29/17, poured into a pint glass

A- A slightly hazy golden straw color with small white head.

S- Sour, lemons, cucumbers, touch of wheat.

T- Sour, lemons, some lime, cucumber, some wheat, mild sweetness.

M- Smooth, crisp, light body.

O- A really good sour, cucumber adds a nice touch. Almost reminds me of Warheads candy.

Cheers!

 

I had preplanned my beers for today’s NBS since last week’s NBS ..... and then my buddy I’ve known for 50 years texted me and let me know he was in town, let’s have dinner ..... so off to Scotty’s Brewhouse we went.

Get there, they give us the beer list, two I’ve not had: Blue Moon Mango Wheat and Thr3e Wise Men Tres Amigos Vienna Lager.

When life gives you lemons, make mango wheat lemonade.

First up, the Mango Wheat from Blue Moon. I don’t even know what to say about the orange.



3.46/5 rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Pour is a slightly hazy orange-ish color with a frothy white head. Nice looking beer. The nose is dominated by mango, and it’s a really syrupy sweet mango.

The mango also dominates the taste, to the point that it is cloying, and there are no notes to indicate this has anything to do with a wheat beer. It’s a little refreshing, so it can work in the summer, but this isn’t worth seeking, IMHO.

Next up, Tres Amigos, a Vienna lager from Thr3e Wise Men. No citrus fruits were harmed in the serving of this beer.



3.67/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Appearance is a nice, clear light copper color and a light tan head. The caramalt and toffee notes dominate the nose.

The taste is likewise dominated by the caramalt and toffee flavors. This isn’t bad, but some (any) hop notes would’ve significantly improved this, IMHO. It’s more like an Oktoberfest than a Vienna lager.

 

Paw Paw 100% Chinook IPA. Very nice stuff. Amazing lasting head retention and thick soapy lacing on the glass. Flavors of big grapefruit, tangerine, lemon, peach, pear, apricot, melon, citrus peel/rind, mint, peppercorn, and pine hops; with moderate toasted biscuit, light caramel malts; and herbal, floral, grassy hop earthiness. Similar/muted aromas. Light-moderate pine, citrus rind, herbal, grassy, peppery bitterness on the finish. Medium carbonation and medium-plus body; balanced creamy/bready malts and sticky hops in the mouthfeel. Light resins/rinds, increasing bitter dryness, no hop astringency. Very drinkable, not overly aggressive, 6.2%. Pretty textbook Midwest IPA as I expected. Juicy, dank, and earthy hop complexity; balanced bready malts, and mild lingering sweetness. Chinook hop profile is as expected. Minimal complaints other than the aromas. 3.91


Keeping up the tradition of reviewing JP beers on NBS! This is the Boysenberry/Guava version. Outstanding as usual. Awesome head retention and soapy lacing for a sour. Aromas and flavors of big juicy/lightly tart/tangy raspberry, blackberry, cherry, cranberry, guava, fruit skin, currant, raisin, plum, fig, peach, pear, apricot, melon, red/green apple, red grape/wine, hay, straw, grass, and oak; with moderate caramel, brown sugar, and toasted bread malts; and lighter notes of roast, oaken vanilla, pepper, leathery/musty funk, red wine vinegar, and yeast earthiness. Light fruity/lactic tartness, fruit tang, and yeast/oak tannin spiciness on the finish. Medium carbonation and body. Creamy/bready malts, some lactic acid, fruit tang, and light oak tannins in the mouthfeel. Lightly increasing acidic/tangy/tannic dryness, no puckering sourness. Very drinkable, not overly lactic, 6.7%. Spot on Flanders red as usual, but not as sour as I recall the base beer. May need some aging. Perfectly balanced Brett/Lacto complexity, fruit, oak, and dark/bready malts. Need to revisit the base beer some time, believe they are in 375ml now. This was nearly just as impressive, despite the less intense sourness. 4.15


Cheers, have a good night NBS.

 

Best by 15th of April, 2018 and it's way more than fine.



Moderate pour yields an over one inch white head with a slightly hazy, light golden body. Nose of spice, bread, and some yeast. Taste mirrors nose and then some. Beautiful example of the style and can't believe I'm reviewing this for the first time. Definite breadiness on the finish in a delicious way with some hop bitterness back there as well. Well done, bald guy!
Cheers!

4.19/5 rDev +6.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

 

Happy New American IPA Sunday!

New brew #2 for today. This is pretty tasty, nice to see it around here.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/14400/302256/?ba=Wasatch#review

Cheers!

 

Looking at those Maine winters in the rear-view mirror is a lovely prospect. You'll miss Maine, but learning a new place is a different charming time. I always found that any putting woes- especially "the yips"- was a direct result of either tension in the hands and arms, or "brain" and neck. I've always been a good putter and my mantra was forever; "the worst thing that can happen is, I'll miss". Somehow this always freed me up to make a reasonably good stroke.

 

Allagash Map 40
..pours a solid black
..above average body, a bit of a thick heavy feel. Carbonation is just below average
..Aroma is roasted malt and roasted coffee beans.
... there is some alcohol in the front but the roasted coffee beans is the obvious focus of this brew. It gets more complex as it warms but again the roasted malts and coffee masks any other flavor
.Overall it is an excellent beer,alcohol isn't very well hidden but doesn't ruin the taste

 

Not sure if I enjoy your beer reviews or your music selections more. Keep up the good work. I love the horns in today's music selection of yours

 

These guys from up north are doing some amazing things with their beers, artwork, and music. Check 'em out!



Moderate pour yields a one inch tan head over a dark, dark brown body with some sticky lacing. Nose of roasted malt, chocolate, and a bit of vanilla, caramel, and plenty of oak from the bourbon barrel. Taste mirrors nose very nicely, not very boozy, and a real nice mouthfeel. Overall, a great late night liquid dessert. Cheers!

4.35/5 rDev +6.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

 

Happy New G7, I mean, D9, New Beer Summit, I mean, Sunday (Weak, I mean, Week 694)!

I have some bottles & CANadians, I mean, CANs to ignore, I mean, pay attention to, before I enjoy a nice Hite Lager with my good pal, Kim Jong-un, beginning with:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/33376/132001/?ba=woodychandler#review

Wow! That was unexpected. Let's move along to:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/33376/221752/?ba=woodychandler#review

& then:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/33376/187377/?ba=woodychandler#review

I wept following that one! Time for something else:
I just lost power, so this is going to be the wrap-up!
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/33376/150173/?ba=woodychandler#review

No promises as to next week as I have an out-of-town monthly bottle share to attend on Saturday. I love yinz, but none of yinz sends me beer, 'n' 'at. Have fun!