New Beer Sunday (Week 740)

That’s my favorite quad ever. I’m glad you enjoyed it

 

Good afternoon BAs and happy New Bock Sunday, where I will be comparing the latest von Trapp beer to hit my area against two baselines (as they are). One is @TongoRad's review from last Sunday, and the other is a von Trapp beer that I think fit Mr. Rad's pretty well - so here is a side-by-side of von Trapp's Bock Bier and Dunkel.

In my reading of the style guides on this site, these beers are fairly similar, with the Bock being stronger and a bit more malty. I am in near love with the Dunkel, so let's see if the Bock Bier can stand up.


Looks:
It's hard to tell for certain given the difference in glass size and condensation film on the glasses, but the Dunkel looks a tad lighter and a bit more clear. The head production on the Bock was considerable, creamier, and much longer lasting.

Aromas:
I get a dark pretzel-like bread note from the Dunkel. The Bock has some dark bread, but a softer, fresher bread and a little more dark-malt specific scents. I also get a light dark fruit or dark berry jam aspect, vaguely reminiscent of some darker Belgian styles.

Feels:
The Dunkel is clean, light, and has a moderate or just above level of carbonation. The Bock isn't as light, but seems to sit in that medium-light range. There is a little more adhesion of the flavors to my palate, making it less clean. Add in a lower, medium-light carbonation and the combination of smaller differences in these two beers' feel combine to seem quite distinct.

Flavors:
The Dunkel's taste brings about more of a pumpernickel bread impression than the pretzel-ish nose. A nice amount of bitterness counters and brings out a little nuttiness and perhaps a slight bit of grassy herbal/mint notes. The Bock Bier sticks to this site's description - there's a similar countering bitterness, but it only acts to keep the malt sweetness in check.

I agree with @TongoRad, there isn't as much of a toasty bread quality in this beer. The jam I noted on the nose comes into play quite subtly in the sweetness - like a quick smear of an apple butter kind of spread. I am not getting any chocolate, even the light amount he noted, but I do get a note of light roast coffee - with its lighter bitterness.

Overall:
The Bock Bier is not knocking von Trapp's Dunkel out of its #1 perch for my favorite von Trapp beers. These beers aren't all that far apart in ABV, but the additional smoothness in the more potent beer actually ends up counting against it in my liking versus the cleaner and relatively more bitter smaller brew.

 

New beer #5. Thanks @JBowenGeorgia !

Sympathy Weight - Monday Night Brewing
BA Scotch Ale - 12% abv
Vintage 2018
Score: 4.1 (+3% rDev)



Review:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/26516/378286/?ba=CanConPhilly#review

Synopsis:
A very tasty BA scotch ale. The smoked malt is at the forefront, and the maple + bourbon barrel add predictable, yet welcomed flavors atop the usual “scotch ale” profile. Moderarely sweet, with lots of maple and caramel in the taste, but the booze is almost completely hidden. Body is slightly lacking, but that is forgiveable given the complex tastes going on here. Very enjoyable. Thanks again John!

 

DuClaw - Hell On Wood

I really like DuClaw's American IPA-ish barley wine - Devil's Milk. This is the bourbon barrel aged version. I am not a fan of the entire American barley wine shift to bourbon barrels. Nonetheless, I thought I'd give this a shot. If this beer didn't have a steep enough hill to climb with me already, following the Ayinger Dunkel was going to be a major problem.

This is lovely looking beer. The head is fantastic... and that's a rarity for a barrel aged barley wine. I like a barley wine with a good head. It's a bright brown beer.

The taste is oak, oak, and oak. Damn. "Hell On Wood." I have never had a beer more perfectly named. There is far more oak than a typical bourbon barrel aged beer. The balance is terrible. The wood really drowns out everything. But getting acclimated to it and allowing it to warm a bit, the oak starts to make room for other things to emerge... such as the high alcohol. Devil's Milk is all about the hops and malt. Hell On Wood is all about the wood and heat. When it comes to beer, I know what I want the focus to be on. I was mentioning how the Ayinger beer was rated "very good." Well, this one is rated "exceptional." I must be officially broken because I'd rather have another Ayinger if I had one.

 

Ddh space diamonds


Pours a hazed yellow color with a bigger white head.


Aromas on this are quite pungent, filling the air with ripe oranges, riesling grapes and fresh cut lime. Offers a skunky weed quality atop, together with ripe mango and a hint of bubblegum.


Has a lower carbonated, smooth mouthfeel with a nice, thick creaminess to it.


Tastes of sun ripened oranges, rich citrus and a light hint of toffee, together with a citraic, lighter hop bitterness. That bitterness compliments to the hops in a great way, enriched by a resinous dankness, which lets the fruits stand out in a great way. Finishes slightly herbal, fruity with luscious mango, ice bonbons and a prominent bitterness, defining the long and smooth aftertaste of this.


This is an incredibly complex and well nuanced beer, featuring a great and unforseen interplay of sweet and juicy fruits, bitter lime, dank herbs and ice bonbons. Atop of this, the beer features a fantastic, smooth and creamy mouthfeel, making this one of the greatest ne-ipas I‘ve ever had. Its strong headed, versatile and tastes great from the beginning till the end.

 

Light yellow gold color with white cap and lacing.

Slightly tart aroma of somewhat vinous ripe fruit. Just a bit of graininess and grassyness.

Taste is a little more sour/tart than the scent implies with a flavor primarily of ripe fruit. It's a clean, clear natural fruit flavor that is somewhat lower in intensity than some other Passion Fruit beers I have tried. There is again a grassy touch that doesn't detract at all. Other than the fruit flavor I can't identify much else.

Light medium texture with balancing carbonation.

A lightly tart fruity refreshment on this warm Sun dappled early Summer day.

 

Greetings, fellow NBSers, and thanks to @lordofthewiens for getting us underway.

BEGIN RANT
Can't agree more with you re: vaccines, Doc. It's disturbing to me how many people discount real medical advice from professionals and put their trust in a long discredited argument that they aren't equipped to judge one way or the other on it's own merits, for no other reason than they read it on the internet. Oh, and those people who are willing to let their kids die on the hill of not giving any of their dollars to "Big Pharma?" There's a special place in Hell for them.
END RANT

Today is fairly nice outside, but cool. While there's been some rain this week, we seem to have been trending upwards to warm spring temperatures (at least during the day. It's still high 30s when I go to work in the a.m.) until yesterday, when things dropped back into the 50s for the high. Right now it's 52°, with warnings that the overnight low will be back down in the high 20s. Spokane springs don't do consistent.

Right now, I'm hitting a longtime want that I'm finally getting to try courtesy of @ovaltine and his insanely generous, 5 box, 400+ounce beer onslaught upon my premises, launched under the guise of the most recent NBS BIF:

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/287/130990/?ba=woemad#review
Huge, delicious, initially seemingly smooth and refined, as time goes on the booze comes out to play, at least with this relatively young vintage (bottled mid October of last year). Delicious as it is (and it's very delicious), I'm glad it's in a 12oz bottle, as a bomber of this would eventually turn into a chore. Big, rich, smooth, and, ultimately, boozy, this would be amazing after a big meal or as a nightcap on a cold, winter's night.

Thanks for hooking me up with this one, Mike! It did not disappoint.

 

Maine Beer's Spring is a great find. A gave it 4.25 across the board.

Poured from a 1/2 liter bottle dated 3/26/19 to a Nonic.
Orange with a slight haze, but you can still see the tiny bubbles rising from the bottom of the glass. Head is off-white and is medium sized, consisting of multi-sized bubbles. Glass lacing is beautiful and stays the entire session,
Spring has a refreshing hoppy nose, suggestion of citrus, but definitely hop created.
Damn this thing tastes good. A complex hop profile serves it well while the mouth feel is just right, free flowing with perfect carbonation. The perfect bitterness for my pallet. A nice vacation from the fruity IPAs I frequent too often.
Overall a refreshing treat. I hope I find more before this one-off is done.

 

Nice review! This is such a fun beer to mess around with age wise, and I always enjoy peoples’ perspectives.

You noted the differences in hop profile. It is probably the hop pop that puts me in the fresh camp on this one.

Cheers, man.

 

I thought I was the only one. I like Orval fresh rather than aged... but I intend to put that to the test again in about a week or so.

 

This is Bound By Time, a 7% IPA from Edmund’s Oast. The brewer’s beer garden-restaurant is a favorite of mine in Charleston.
This clear amber can pour is fruity in the nose. The flavors include strawberry and melon with a bit of pine resin. The hop bitterness is moderate. This is a balanced, and quite pleasant IPA.

 

If I can find it “fresh” I’ll do the same.

I look forward to your thoughts!

 

New beer #6. Thanks @vabeerguy !

Barbarianna - The Veil
IPA - 6% abv
Canned 4/8/19 (20 days ago)
Score: 3.88 (+1.3% rDev)



Review:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/41018/409042/?ba=CanConPhilly#review

Synopsis:
Rather vegetal, with potato and carrot being prominent tastes. Quite sweet and buttery too, but there’s some nice orange flesh and grapefruit rind that fights through the sweetness. Good body, and perfect bitterness. Thanks again Mike!

 

Qualify pils


Pours a golden, slightly clouded color with a huge, froth head.


Smells of fresh crushed barley, enriched by additional wheat and dried herbs. Atop of this foundation settles in a light bread dough quality, creating a surprising richness on the nose.


Has just the perfect amount of carbonation with a very refreshing, lighter mouthfeel, a fantastic crispness and a lasting, light dryness.


Tastes of crackers, dough, malt and a little bit of sweet and rustic wheat, establishing a great balance from first glance. Develops a herbal, noble bitterness, which goes astonishingly well with the beer‘s foundation, featuring dried leaves and a hint of spruce. Finishes almost a little fruity with some oranges coming up, more leaves, a light bitterness and a lasting rustic maltiness.


Fantastic, incredibly well balanced Pils, with a foundation, many traditional Pilsener might be getting jealous of. Really appreciate the unusual but well fitting orange appearance, which adds an additional layer to the beer, without overpowering anything in it. This is just great.

 

Alright, finally awake and back with a few more new ones. Right now is Grimm's blended mixed culture dark sour, Shadow Work.



This pours a brown-ish ruby sort of color with a surprisingly great head that lasts and lasts. It's pretty hazy, but I can still see through it a little bit, which is impressive. Lace is fantastic and this one has great legs, too... a wonderful pour. I can tell a lot of care was put into this!

When I first put this to my nose, I was amazed by the tannic structure it seemed to give off. The label doesn't say anything about oak being involved at all but I guess it's somewhat implied by the "blended" element at play. Lightly metallic with slight notes of date and plum, apple and red grape. A bit of caramel maltiness as well. Looks like this is going to be an "oud bruin" style beer!

Medium tartness and pretty solid body with a little bit of grape-like fruitiness and some orchard fruit notes as well. More oak and tannins on the palate. Easier to drink than I expected, but it's also pretty complex. A good hit of sour cherry here for sure with a little bit of earthiness toward the finish, which is dry and sherry-like. No acetic character here, which is nice... full maltiness on display and a touch of cocoa and toffee as it warms alongside the dark fruit character and well-developed sourness. I dig this one and would like to age it for a year or so to see if it changes at all (Grimm encourages this in the press release), but it was a little bit pricey. Probably won't be a priority for me to buy into again, but it's enjoyable and well-made overall.

 

Thanks for the opening, @lordofthewiens ... I am constantly frustrated by the prevelance of foolish pseudoscience, flat out fradulent "studies", and fear-mongoring that goes on today, and the vaccine "debate" is top of that list. There should be no debate for any rational person. Unfortunately, it is the kids, and many times the kids of the community at large who suffer from this ignorant foolishness. /rant

On to beer:

Today, I have 2 red ales, one from Wisconsin and the other from Michigan.

First, the Wisconsin beer.

Fixed Gear by Lakefront Brewery.
This beer used to be called "Fixed Gear American Red Ale"


I kept putting off trying this beer, and now I see it is called an "American Red IPA"... hmmm... pure marketing, or did they tweak the recipe?

Let's have a taste.



Tall, thick, yellow-ish off-white rocky head from a vigorous pour, receding leisurely to a very bumpy surface, leaving spotty lacing. Head has dropped to a rocky cap in 3 or 4 minutes. Deep and hazy amber with visible bubbles rising and lots of fine particulate matter suspended. Very slight aroma, faint citrus if anything. Hoppy, bitter initial taste, some citrus notes, with a solid malt backing. There is a musty bitter taste that is predominate from the initial through to the aftertaste. I keep mentioning the bitterness not because it is especially strong, but mostly because it and the mustiness are pretty much dominating the taste. Thin feel. The overall impression is relatively unbalanced, like the brewer attempted to convert an amber ale into an IPA (a theory which the name history of this beer supports).

Too bad. Maybe I would have liked it better as an American Red Ale.

L: 3.5 | S: 3.0 | T: 3.25 | F: 3.5 | O: 3.25 | BA: 3.23

 

Verhaeghe Duchesse de Bourgogne
6.20% ABV Flanders Red Ale
Best before October 2020



Served around 50 degrees. Dark red-brown with a wispy off-white head. The nose is apple, cranberry, and caramel, and the taste is similar. It opens with subtle lemon tartness then transitions quickly into apple juice, berry, and caramel. Medium sweetness and mouthfeel. Overall, enjoyable but so apple juicy on the backend that it lacks funky complexity and almost tastes like mead or cider. 4/5

 

This next one is courtesy of @kemoarps and his incredibly generous ninja box from the NBS #nein that I’m still working my way through. This one is Gobsmacked by Reubens brews.



Amazing appearance and great head production/retention. Golden hue and crystal clear. On the nose there is YUUUUUGE pine, grapefruit, pineapple, sweetness, orange, lemon zest. On the taste, huge pine resin smacks you as the name suggests. Very bitter at first. Some grapefruit and lemon zest. Finish is insanely bitter. As I acclimate to the beer, the bitterness and initial harshness does down and the underlying sweetness makes its way through. Although not too much so as it is perfectly balanced by the pine assault at the front when it warms. The mouthfeel is fuller than medium, sticky, and not creamy but kind of slick? I’m at a loss for words on that one. Overall I really liked this beer and it’s a different take on a TIPA than I’m used to. Thanks again Kestrel!