New Beer Sunday (Week 738)

New Smooth as Silk Sunday

I was the recipient of some west coast beers courtesy of @2beerdogs in this round of our NBS BIF. One of them was a quality Marzen, and this is another good lagered (I assume) beer.


Based on my knowledge, I have always treated Baltic Porters as an Imperial Schwarzbier. I was reading through some style guidelines to see exactly how the judges approach them.
http://www.bjcp.org/style/2015/9/9C/baltic-porter/


I have to say, if you read through that, this beer touches on every aspect. Easy to see how it won a medal. The all lager brewery in my county has a great Baltic that is probably one of their top 3 beers, and I’ve had Jacks Abby, and this is better.

4.54/5 rDev +11.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A 16 oz can with a 1/24/19 and BB 7/23/19 stamp.

While it looks like an opaque glossy black, closer inspection reveals that it is actually a reddish tinted, very dark brown ale color with a bit of light transparency. Big, thick tan head with nice retention.

There is a strong toasted aroma. Short of the roasted malt you would get from a Russian Imperial Stout, but heavier than your Festbier toasted bread. A hint of chocolate, some dark fruit that is like plums or red grapes, and a hint of red wine like esters/alcohol.

The flavor is incredible and super smooth. Semi sweet with some caramel/toffee up front, followed by dark toasted bread, plums to cherries, and ending with what tastes like a chocolate covered coffee bean and some nutty brown malts. Very clean finish.

Insanely smooth. Worthy of the “Silk”. And I just noticed as I finished typing that it was 9.3%. Would never know it. Would have guessed 8 having had a few, but enough carbonation almost makes it drink like 6-7.

I can’t imagine where they would improve this in any way. Which makes me wonder why I don’t have 5s across the board.

 

Having another one from @thebeers that I received in the NBS BIF. Really excited to open this one up.

Cork under the cap in a green bottle. Pours a slightly cloudy straw color. Thin off white layer of fine bubbles with a slightly thicker ring around the edge of the glass.

Aroma has some wine grape, hint of oak, tiny layer of green bottle funk/skunk.

Crisp, little bit of sweetness, balance of tartness and earthy oak. Bit of funk, citrus hops. White wine grape.

Moderate carbonation, soft body, sort of dry.

Great brew, love the level of tartness, funk and barrel.

Thanks Arthur!

 

Well Ive been stumped. And its been really cool. A great learning experience.
No Brut IPA or Stouts but some roasty notes for sure. Just 3 Cream Ales all Wolfs Ridge. I did get the Coffee and Vanilla notes correct. However even after revealing that last beer Im not getting alot of cinnamon.
A very crisp representation of the style. All very good. Thanks for the beers and the taste test Corey! @WesMantooth

 

You were definitely close and picked up a lot of the flavors and I do think they are crisp for the style. Even it they actually fit the hybrid beers description on here. I also didn’t get as much cinnamon from mine, which is a bummer because it is usually pretty pronounced and sets it apart from the reg Daybreak.

Definitely would be a hard style to pin down. That’s why I thought it would make an interesting blind taste and progression. Plus they are low abv so you can drink a strong one now

 

Yeah really awesome string there. The cinnamon is starting to come through on that last one as a slight astringency, but not in an offensive way. Im kind of surprised about the head on that first one. I would have thought there would be more of a lasting head on a cream ale. As I said though it was a cool journey!

 

I know it's not beer.
Remove this post if you must.

Hop Seltzer anyone?

I seriously thought this would be disgusting, but it isn't.
It's very refreshing, but, at $3 a bottle?



Lotsa zeroes!



L: Slight green tinted water.
S: Nose of slight hops.
T: Taste of slight hops.
F: Nicely carbonated.
O: Biggest surprise of my week!

Cheers!

 

I’m not a huge fan of the base, but I love the variants. Especially the Daybreak for $10/6 during college gameday for football season.
My favorite cream ales, of which 2 others are in OH, have more body/less carbonation

 

That would be fun to do, but most have been misses for me

 

The Bruery Share This Mint Stout with cocoa nibs. 10.5% ABV, 3.79 overall

Pours an ebony-tinged chestnut with 2 fingers of mocha colored head. Zero head retention & lacing

S: Girl Scout Thin Mints, fades down the stretch, still some mint presence

T: Very mint forward, dry, a touch of Baker's Chocolate & iron up front. Mint is driving this train, some chocolate & dryness, just a little coffee as this warms. Finishes dry with plenty of mint & just a little chocolate, got better at room temperature

MF: Medium body, restrained carbonation

IF you like mint, this your huckleberry, was hoping for more chocolate to go with this. ABV is very well hidden

 

@Coronaeus #6. BBA Imperial porter. He sent the base beer as well, but I'll do it first anyways. This was incredible. Lasting rocky head retention/thick foamy lacing the whole glass. Aromas and flavors of big milk/dark chocolate, cocoa, coffee, caramel, vanilla, cream, marshmallow, brown sugar, toffee, bourbon, coconut, toasted oak, roasted nuts, biscuit, and brown bread/crust; with light notes of molasses, dark fruit, smoke, herbal, grass, pepper, and yeast earthiness. Light herbal, grassy, peppery, roast bitterness; and bourbon/oak tannin spiciness on the finish. Medium carbonation and medium-full body; very creamy, silky, velvety, bready malts; light sticky hops, chalky roast, and bourbon/oak tannins in the mouthfeel. Lightly increasing lingering bitter/spicy tannin dryness; no cloying/acrid flavors. Super smooth/soft, minimal warming 8.8%, no barrel booze. Perfectly balanced super clean/rich malt complexity, vanilla, and bourbon barrel presence/integration; with solid earthy hop balance against sweetness. Not overly bitter/charred, spot on for the style. Very dessert-like. 4.28


Cheers

 

Happy New American IPA Sunday!

Pretty nice day here on the Western Slope, around 64, partly cloudy, some sun, at the trailhead. Having a pretty tasty brew, nice to see this brewery around here. Should be back with another new brew later on.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/18006/292702/?ba=Wasatch#review

Cheers!

 

Makes sense. I tend to actually draw the line differently than most. American brewers labeling their bourbon barrel aged barley wines “English style” is a pet peeve of mine no matter the hop level. But just to be clear, the brewer of the beer I reviewed just calls it a barley wine. It’s categorized as “British” here... and “American” on a different review database. When it’s got to be one or the other due to the system, the audience is forced to pick when they reach that fork.

 

I hit Two Ton every few weeks when they have something new. Last night my buddy Bill and I both bought growlers of Hammer and Ale, the DIPA, which paired well with Portuguese food at a restaurant in Kenilworth. Two Ton has opened up its outdoor space, which is pretty small and was filled up last night. The Library room in the basement is a nice space. I wouldn't say Two Ton is top fight yet but they are moving in the right direction. Sort of like Twin Elephant a couple of years ago.

 

I’ve tried a few new-to-me beers recently. First up is Enjoy By... from Stone. Honestly I am a little underwhelmed given the price and the WELCOME TO THE DANK SIDE graphic on the can. As an IPA it’s good, but it isn’t all that dank. The fact that I’m currently champing at the bit for Waldos Special Ale from Lagunitas may have affected my perception.

 

If you end up liking the base beer too, let me know if you’d like me to send the cherry version. Cheers.

 

Ah, alcohol, carbs, and calories; I'm back!!!

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/47/298512/



Brewed on 1/7/2015, bottled on 12/19/2016.
(a birthday of mine).
Moderate pour yields a 1/2 inch white head over a bright body a little lacing. Nose of funk (cellar floor), citrus (lemon, yellow grapefruit), slight apple, and biscuit. Taste follows nose in the citrus department through the middle with added apple from the Calvados barrels, and a nice morphing into a wonderful, dry finish. Very nice feel and overall, a damn fine Geuze right here. Cheers!

 

Okay I'll drink it tomorrow and let you know

 

Hello again, NBS.

Toppling Goliath recently began distributing to NY and NJ. This is the only one I’ve picked up, as I have not yet tried it (until last night ) and it was by far the freshest of their beer that I’ve seen. This can was packaged on 3/18/2019.

Look: Opaque, murky yellow and amber color. Off-white head that quickly disappears without leaving any lacing. An attractive color for the style. No visible carbonation.



Smell: Upon first sniff I get one of my favorite IPA aromas that I’ve had before in Toppling Goliath, Trillium among others. The only way I can describe it is crushed smarties. A fruity, citrusy candy note. It faded over time, but was present when I cracked the can and it was delightful. Mango, passion fruit, vanilla. The vanilla is interesting and I’m really digging it. Lemon and lime citrus.

Taste: My first impression of this beer is New England IPA with some West Coast characteristics. Maybe that’s just in my head though since the can says the beer was inspired by a trip to the West Coast. Grapefruit and pine really come through. As well as some bitterness. Mango, passion fruit, grapefruit, peach.

Mouthfeel: Low carbonation and creamy body. A dry chalky note on the finish. A little burn.

Overall: This one started out with a bang and finished the same way. It’s not the smoothest of IPA’s, but it’s a great tasting beer.

 

Well it's snowing here and the kids are outside having a snowball fight. Also just got home from seeing Shazam - my 7 year old absolutely loved it. As a super hero movie fan, I liked that it was light hearted in tone, funny, and still 'comic bookish'.

Also - long time lurker, first time poster. I want to put in some work to hopefully participate in a NBS BIF down the road.

This little bit of GA goodness was sent to my be @JBowenGeorgia . USA Today readers seem to like the brewery and I can understand why after drinking this one.



Alpha Abstraction - Wild Leap Volume 6 DIPA highlighting Lotus hops. 12 oz can

Pours a hazy, golden yellow/orange into a IPA glass.
Nose is sweet and slightly hoppy - pineapple and orange - maybe a little orange rind as well. Makes my taste buds water.
Tastes juicy, sweet. Getting candied orange, sweet, ripe pineapple. A little malt at the end but nothing that stands out too much.
Feels soft on the palate, right amount of carb for my tastes.
Overall - I like to use the terms 'memorable or would seek out' with beers that I really enjoy. Both can be used here. While I'm not familiar with the Lotus hop profile, I hope to see other brewers utilize it as the flavors it imparts work well with what I like in a hazy IPA. This is an introduction into the Wild Leap brewery and it has started with a bang.

I see a lot of people posting songs on here and this one came to mind today

 

A bargain($2.59?) 9.4% Baltic porter, the original in fact, and a Poland tick? Sure, why not?
Turns out to be very good.
Looks and smells like a typical porter.
Taste likewise, with the slight (positive) exception being a coffee+cocoa+lactose sweet note on the finish. Body is a bit thin, for what it is, but not terribly so.
All-in-all, I'd recommend it, if you like porters.

4.41/5 rDev +17%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/5504/17055/?ba=mikeinportc#review

3.77 overall rating for it?
I'd guess it's some combination of old/badly-treated bottles, raters not being fans of the style, and the low price influencing expectations. *shrug*