New Beer Sunday (Week 715)

Good evening, again, NBS.

I’m not going to lie: This is my third can of Sixpoint Meltdown since I bought the six pack yesterday. I was planning to fully review this beer at some point anyway, so I figured why not join you fine people in this thread. Since the first time I had the beer was about 24 hours ago it’s still new to me.

I haven’t purchased a new Sixpoint beer in a few years. Since then, Sixpoint has in part, redefined itself with new people (person?), a ton of new beers, and new technology. I’ve never had an IPA from them that wowed me, and I’m not a big fan of Resin, Hi-Res or Puff.

Let’s dig in and see what they’re all about now.

Appearance: Another hazy, golden amber colored beer. A bone white head of densely packed bubble that create a creamy, foamy look. Some lacing along the glass as the beer settles.





Smell: This beer pops out of the glass for me. Upfront, I’m getting both sides of Mosaic: The green and the juicy. Green onion all day long, with tropical notes of mango. I get some unique aromas as well, including sweet, white grape, melon flavored bubble gum, candied orange peel and honey.

Taste: I’ll keep this plain and simple. Boatloads and honeydew melon, with tropical fruit and citrus undertones.

Mouthfeel: Low carbonation. Feels a tad bit watery.

Overall: I think this beer is an absolute home run. It pops out of the glass, both on the nose and palate, and with some unique aromas and flavors to set itself apart from most other beers on the shelves. Does this beer fall into the nationally distributed NEIPA shelf category along with Sam, Sierra, New Belgium, etc? I think the distribution is more limited, but they’re trying to do the same thing. But at $11.99 for a six pack of twelve ounce cans it’s an absolute no brainer over any others (yes, that includes other local options like Wrench which is the same price for 8oz less of beer).

Well done Sixpoint!

4.16/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25

 

New Beer Sunday: New England IPA

Evenin’ NBSers, with a report for fans of the NE IPA style.

The weather forecast for today was spot on and we didn't see a single cloud all day.

This evening’s new beer is that other famous beer from Alchemist, Focal Banger. Once again I did NOT drink this beer from the can as instructed for the three reasons I mentioned last week.

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

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/46317/111616/?ba=drtth#review


The aromas/flavors are almost all about the hops, their mango and other tropical fruits along with some noticeable resin. While there’s a bit of malt sweetness it only softens the resinous bitterness that becomes prominent as it takes a long time to fade away. As with Heady Topper this is a very well made beer that is enjoyable and worth drinking at least once, if only to see what all the excitement is about. Unlike Heady Topper the bitterness plays a more prominent role.

There’ll be no music on the player tonight as we are watching the Packers-Patriots game that has just started. (My wife is a fan of both teams but I suspect she’d like to see Green Bay take the game even though she expects the Packers to take it.)

Cheers, all!

 

This was a pleasant surprise
as these guys can be rather hit or miss.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/32783/378665/



Moderate pour yields a nearly one inch white head over a slightly hazy, golden body with some pretty nice lacing. Nose of muted herb, grass, and hay with even slighter funk. Taste of lemon, herb, pepper, with a touch of sweetness. Good feel, and overall, a nice little saison-y wild ale-ish offering from Richmond, VT. Cheers!

3.98/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

 

Today was the first weekend day we have been home, had no prior commitments, and it did not rain since sometime in August, I believe. So I fully took advantage of the extra hour and spent close to 7 hours raking leaves, mowing my lawn, splitting a bit of wood, and considering cutting down some more branches (chainsaw needs sharpening so that didn't end up happening). Sure beat watching our favorite football team, who surprisingly scored a TD today yet still couldn't outscore the hockey team's total yesterday.

My new beer today is courtesy of @hardysf for winning his LIF in the NFL 33 BIF. Boss Tweed by Old Nation Brewing is one I've been interested in trying for a while and I'm glad I finally got the chance.



Aroma is overripe fruit. What kind, I'm not too sure, but they're fairly strong.
Pours a goldish color, very opaque.
Taste is similar, but muted - very sweet. There's a bitter bite at the end, too.
Feel is creamy.
Overall it's a decent beer. I think I'm a little let down from all the hype, but I'm glad I got to try it.

One thing I've noticed recently is that I have been getting a lot of spiciness/bitter aftertastes in NEIPAs I've had, which is a new sensation for me. I'm not sure if there's a certain hop that's causing this, I've been drinking too many beers of that style and am getting fatigued, or something else.

 

Hi there late night NBS'ers. Decided I felt like a sour today, and I have a ton of them from an awesome box sent to me during NBS BIF #8 from @Dragginballs76. This was my first bottled beer from Westbrook Brewing:


Looks like it's from a series called Fruit:Wood:Time. This is the black raspberry edition.

Look: Has a deep reddish/purple color. Bubbles pop as the beer pours, but are gone so fast that no head actually forms. No lacing.
Smell: Starts out with big fruit notes of mostly raspberries with a hint of blackberries and maybe strawberry. Also smell some oak and the smell makes me think it will be pretty sour.
Taste: Much milder on the sour side than the smell would have led me to believe. Big raspberry flavor and a hint of lemon.
Feel: Nice medium body with a dry finish.
Overall: I really like fruited sours, but sometimes find them too acidic. This was very nice because it was on the mild side and had a very nice flavor.

Thanks Mike!

 

Only drinking one beer tonight, opening a fresh can of Creature Comforts King Peach, thanks @JBowenGeorgia!

4.15/5 rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Thank you JBowenGeorgia for this
16 oz can, dated 10/18/18, poured into a tulip

A- A hazy golden straw with a small white head.

S- Peaches, citrus, slightly earthy.

T- Citrus, peach, citrus rind, slightly earthy.

M- Smooth, medium body.

O- A very nice and balanced APA with peaches.

Cheers!

 

Bells expedition stout
...solid black color
...above average body with medium light carbonation
..aroma is roasted malt and dried dark fruit with dark black coffee
..taste is a little dry,coffee bitterness,almost no sweetness at all. The dried fruit seems like the backbone along with the roasted malts. Coffee follows through and lingers awhile
..overall it's an excellent stout,glad I decided to try it, went well with fries and a burger on a pretzel roll

 

Good evening NBS faithful. It was a rather cool and cloudy day along the front range that didn't find me leaving the house except to take the mutts out. I opted instead to be productive indoors and organize the chaos in the basement while the Redzone was on the screen I hooked up. I left quite the man cave in the last house and now I'm warehousing furniture and collectables until the time comes when another is built. Sitting on my comfy couch in the basement and getting down to business with today's new beer.

I went to Oskar Blues Brewery in Longmont yesterday for the barrel aged Ten Fidy release. They also had Stovepipes of the Java barrel aged version, so I figured I'd pick up some of those as well. As a big fan of barrel aged coffee stouts, it sounds like an exciting new beer to review! The can is dated 10/30/17. Over a year old? Not sure what that's about as there was no mention in any of their posts about any specific vintage, so figured it was fresh? Oh well, let's pour this 12.9% mystery in my 10oz. Ten Fidy glass to see what awaits?

It pours a thick oily black producing a few centimeters of creamy mocha colored foam. It settles in quick fashion revealing very little lacing. The smell is bourbon, molasses, coffee, brown sugar and mild char. Taste is bourbon forward, followed by tobacco, coffee, dark chocolate, a hint of anise and a prominent oak finish. The feel is thick and oily with noticable alcohol heat.



While it's a top notch barrel aged beer, I can't help but think a year robbed it of any prominent coffee smell and taste that would elevate it to another level. It's there, just not what I'm accustomed to when drinking them much fresher. I'm left scratching my head why they didn't disclose the date or if this is the norm releasing them aged? That observation aside my score is 4.27 / rDev -0.9%.

Going to finish the Pipe while watching the Pats/Pack game. Have yourselves a great week, here's the official scorecard......

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/2681/204996/?ba=Prager62#review

 

Well played, Michael!

 

Hello New Beer Sunday!!!

Thanks to @cjgiant for starting off this thread today. I am a proud participant of the NBS BIF #8, and it's been a total blast. It's hard to put into words the total amount of fun I've had with this, and it's hard to put into word the amazing generosity of my fellow participants in this thread. Seriously you all ROCK! I highly recommend that the regular New Beer Sunday participants consider joining the NBS BIF. You will not regret it.

Now on to the beer, and, again it is from the NBS BIF #8. This one is thanks to a ninja package from @Bum4ever . I am enjoying it and I can't thank you enough for sending it to me.


Deschutes Black Butte XXX

This is a heavy hitter. Just rich and full of a lot of delicious flavors. It is a very high ABV beer, but in a way, it doesn't drink like one. Just smooth and easy drinking.

Review:

4.43/5 rDev +3.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a rich black color. There's minimal head, but what's there is brown and not long lasting. It dissipates into a ring on the side of the glass.
The nose is rich and deep. I get cocoa notes on it. There's a lot of notes from the barrel as well that makes it smell boozy.
Taste - consumed at 59 degrees F - Chocolate, and almost a pepper like component up front. The chocolate gets a bit sweeter on the backside, mixed in with some caramel notes, Nice notes added from the barrel.
The body is fairly full. It is smooth drinking. It has a mellow alcohol feel, not harsh, just slightly warming.
Very delicious and almost too easy drinking. Full flavored, and has a nice body. Solid, and delicious beer.


Since this is such a heavy hitter, it's likely it for tonight. See you all next Sunday for NBS, and throughout the week in WBAYDN!

Cheers!

 

Delicious maibock. Fantastic head retention/soapy lacing on the glass. Crystal clarity. Flavors of big cracker, white bread dough, lightly toasted biscuit, light honeyed/nutty malts; with some herbal, floral, grassy, light peppery noble hop. Similar aromas; a bit fruity/yeasty, but not overwhelming. Light herbal, floral, grassy, peppery bitterness on the finish. Medium carbonation and medium-plus body; very creamy/bready/grainy munich malts, and light sticky hops in the mouthfeel. Lightly increasing lingering bitter dryness, no cloying/astringency. Very clean lager flavors, minimal fruity/yeasty. Minimal warming 7.3%. Spot on stuff for the style. Very clean and rich Pils/Munich malt showcase, with solid earthy noble hop balance against sweetness. No complaints other than the aromas. Was a Jan 2018 batch, so not terribly aged. 3.91


Awesome sour as expected. Great head retention/spotty lacing. Aromas and flavors of big sour/tart/tangy peaches, apricot, fruit skin/pits, lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit, pear, melon, red/green apple, white grape/wine, oak, hay, straw, and grass; with moderate wheat, cracker, white bread malts; lighter notes of peppercorn, leathery/musty funk, white wine vinegar, and yeast earthiness. Moderate fruity/lactic tart/sourness, fruit tang; and light yeast/oak tannin spiciness on the finish. Medium carbonation, light-medium body, and fairly crisp finishing. Balanced grainy malt, lactic acid, fruit tang, and light oak tannins in the mouthfeel. Moderately increasing acidic/tangy/tannic dryness, minimal puckering sourness. Very smooth, not overly lactic, 6.2%. Spot on stuff as usual. Super juicy fruits and balanced Brett/bacterial complexity; nice oak presence, and pale/wheat malt backbone against acidity. On par with most expectations. I've seen better from them for sours, but mostly in the "dark fruit" area. 4.1


Cheers, have a good night NBS.

Music is my will to live.

 

Haha! Been there, standing in the airport off to the side, not quite chugging a beer I don’t want to waste. Damn you airlines and your weight limits!

Opened the 4th Anni just about a month ago. I liked that one just a bit better but both scores here are pretty similar.

 

Happy NBS, all. I’m joining in late, as usual, but I look forward to reading through everyone’s reviews tonight. Also, thanks @cjgiant for the as always very thoughtful opening.

In keeping with the idea of shared beers, my two beers for this week were received in a recent trade with the super generous @falloutsnow. They’re also both Halloweenish beers that I meant to drink on that day but forgot. The first one is Dark Thoughts, a black IPA from Baerlic Brewing-



And it’s pretty darn fresh with an “undead on” date of 10/15/18-



The beer pours cola brown and appears almost black in the glass. The head is tan and settles to a nice thin coating and it leaves spotty lacing.

The taste and smell are similar with lots of juicy tropical and citrus hops along with subtle roasted coffee and bakers chocolate. The malty notes are in the background, but they are a little more prominent in the flavor. There’s also a good amount of bitterness.

Body is medium and there’s moderate carbonation. Finish is moderately bitter and the bitterness lingers.

Overall, I really liked this a lot. It’s basically a “juicy” black IPA, and the contrast between the juicy hop notes and roasty malt notes are working well for me. It’s kind of weird, because I don’t like to drink coffee and OJ together, and this is the beer equivalent of that. I think the key is that the malt flavors stay in the background. If they were more pronounced, I’m not sure I’d like it as much.

 

Happy NBS, folks! I had several new beers over the weekend, but I saved this one for today. Madonna from Zero Gravity.



It comes in an expected cloudy orange color, with a huge creamy white head. The aroma offers overripe fruits--mango, apricot, tangerine, and cantaloupe--with some grassiness and subtle spice.
The taste follows the nose. Very ripe and sweet mango, cantaloupe, and tangerine upfront, leaning towards candied and jammy cantaloupe and tangerine. The malt backbone is pillowy and creamy, offering some bread crust and honey. The mid-palate has that honeydew melon note that all Zero Gravity IPAs seem to have. The finish grows more bitter, the tangerine turning into bitter orange peel and scrubbing the palate clean, as well as a spicy earthy bitterness that reminds me of classic West Coast IPAs.

Overall, a very well made NEIPA. I like this more than Bing Bing. I recommend it.

 

What a weekend! My best friend got married yesterday. Since both my wife and I were in the wedding party we've been occupied with activities since Thursday. Today I went straight from the house we stayed at to the Raven's game. The weekend flew by but was a ton of fun, great vibes all around. I'm finally getting a chance to catch my breath and actually sipping a beer.

Big thanks to @Yabey for this one. The Remix by J Wakefield. I've heard great things about this brewery so I'm delighted to have a chance to try a can from them. This review will be a bit of a challenge since the beer is labeled as a 'sour ale with fruit added,' but it doesn't specify which fruit. Also pictured is a drinking horn, which was part of the groomsmen's gifts this weekend.



Pours a orangey color that reminds me of a darker shade of grapefruit. Head was medium bubbles which dissipated quickly.
Nose is tangerine, Sweet Tarts, faint bubble gum note. Something sweet like cake is on the back end as well.
Taste is orange and lemon. Medium tartness. Different fruit on the back end, maybe cherry? I taste a faint woody note as well.
Mouthfeel is full for a sour. Some prickly carbonation.
Overall, this beer is nicely balanced, its got a good depth and is intriguing based on the fruit being a mystery. Glad to have the opportunity to try J Wakefield too.

 

I thought Raul was going to stop reviewing beer?

 

Good evening fellow NBSrs!

I have a beauty here provided by @GoatmanBrewsMD via a friendly trade!





Hopefully I can sneak one more in tonight....

Cheers all!

 

Haven't posted in a bit, and for that I apologize. But last night I was lucky enough to be at @thebeers place for a share full of folks in the BIF. Twas an awesome time, with some incredible beers (a 6 year expedition vertical? Genealogy of Morals? You bet. Not to mention the side project, dark lord, darkness, and myriad of other brews that were opened up and sampled) and finally being able to put a face to the screen ames here on BA .
After the share, everyone had brought cans for others to take home; Here's one I opened up today from @JBowenGeorgia

Creature Comforts - Imperial Trop Haze

Pours a clear caramel, settles into the glass an opaque orange. easily one of the most orange looking beers i've ever had. The picture makes it a bit darker than it actually was...this was seriously orange.
Smells like an absolute citrus bomb. Oranges, tangerines, grapefruit...all there on the nose.
Tastes fantastic. Melons, peaches, candy. Sweeter then I was expecting, but some serious hop presence. Was surprised not to get much citrus on the palate, but still a lovely beer overall
Mouthfeel is soft and airy, smooth and pilllowlike. Quite nice, though feels like a fuller mouth than most other IPAs.

Overall, a delicious beer! thanks John!! I gave it a 4.0 on Untappd

Also. just noticed...Last night at the share we had 2 Creature Comforts beers (both sours)...Those were my first CC beers!!! so this one is only my third, all of which came by way of @JBowenGeorgia

(the pic does make it darker, and possibly even look oxidized, but its just super duper orange)

 

Barrier - No Can Defend

This beer was brewed for Underdog, a cocktail bar in Manhattan... but this beer can makes it look like a self defense school. There’s probably some pop culture reference that’s over my head here.

Barrier has made beers for NYC places many times in the past, and they’ve also brewed with Rishi tea before to. This beer was brewed with Rishi tumeric ginger tea.

The can says this is a pilsner... which is why it’s listed on BeerAdvocate as a Bohemian Pilsener. Here’s where I’m at odds with the classification system, ‘cause to me this isn’t a Bohemian Pilsener by any stretch of the imagination... it’s spice soup. This thing is just a spice vehicle. Besides the flavors in the tea name, I’m getting plenty of lemon. Sure enough, when looking at this tea on the Rishi site, lemongrass/lemon flavor is mentioned as a major component.

This is nice for what it is, but what it is isn’t somthing I really like.

 

My next new one for the night, also courtesy of @falloutsnow, is Story of the Ghost from Block 15. It’s a “hauntingly” pale ale and it clocks in at 8.75% ABV.



The beer is an opaque pale golden orangish color with a fluffy white head that settles slowly and leaves tons of lacing.

Smell and taste both feature dank weed, tangy citrus and tropical fruit. The nose is pretty subtle but the taste is explosive! In the flavor, im also getting a little grapefruit pith and pine towards the finish, as well as a little crusty bread.

Feel is medium bodied and fluffy. Finish is semi-dry with just a bit of bitterness.

Overall, this is an intensely flavorful, juicy DIPA ( I know, they call it a pale ale, but it’s 8.75 abv for crying out loud), and I wish I had more than one of these.