New Beer Sunday (Week 744)

Triple Homestyle from Bearded Iris

Appearance is translucent golden orange with medium egg white head and great lacing. Aroma is floral up front with big citrus and orange juice behind. Taste is exactly the same; huge floral taste on the front with some great citrus and OJ on the back end. The slightest bit of alcohol on the aftertaste with more floral hints after. Mouthfeel is medium, sticky, smooth, pillowy, and soft. Overall this is one of the best triple IPAs I’ve ever had. It’s amazing.

 

Congratulations to all your family!

 

Perhaps expound on that a bit?

 

Greetings fellow NBSers! It was a sunny morning here in the Fourth Corner, but the usual Sea-to-Ski race day clouds have rolled in. I'm currently finishing up a beer from one of my favorite breweries, Deschutes. I almost didn't buy this because I hate the idiotic stovepipe cans, but, I figured I'd give Da Shootz a try. I are somewhat disappoints: https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/63/367046/?ba=beertunes#review

 

Other Half - ddh double mosaic daydream


Pours a murky yellow color with a medium sized head, receeding to a small ring of lacing.


Smells of a profound, herb accompanied lime quality, freshly dried kush and blueberries. This is quite remarkable on the nose, bringing up a kiwi fruitiness, as well as dried green apple and pomelo, all helping to enhance the profound lime impression.


Has a fuller body, exhibiting a creamy mouthfeel with a lower, well fitting carbonation.


Tastes of a sudden lemon bitterness, inheriting a noble, old world vibe among wet grass and blueberries. Turns a little more refreshing then, although the mouthfeel seems to become even creamier with some kiwis and ice-bonbon cutting through. Finishes with even more intense flavors of herbs, lime and ice-bonbon with a lighter, lasting bitterness.


This tastes and smells equally intense of mosaic, highlighted by the beer‘s great mouthfeel. Very convincing on all levels, with just the right amount of bitterness in the end.

 

Alright, on to my third beer of the day now that I am putting some food in my stomach. I ordered from one of my favorite local joints who has yet to disappoint me, so I'm satisfied. What I don't consume now (which will likely be a lot, as I got a cheeseburger club and a small pizza all for myself) will be tomorrow's hangover food. I just added another dangerous nightcap to my fridge, because I'm too excited to wait 'til next week to have it. For now, though, I'm gonna drink something refreshing...

This is maybe the fourth iteration of Charms & Hexes I've had, but it's shaping up to be my absolute favorite. I'm a sucker for passion fruit sours when they're well done, as evidenced by my passion fruit gose showdown from an NBS a couple years back, so this is definitely up my alley.



I had another C&H the other day when finally planting my first raised-bed garden, and it utilizes blackberries. They must be churning these out now, since that was added mere days before this passion fruit/guava version was canned (this is dated 5/8/19). I've definitely had and enjoyed the blood orange one, as well as, I believe, the nectarine/grapefruit one. Anyway, C&H is a kettle-sour fruit beer with a Heidelberg pilsner and wheat malt-focus, hopped with Hersbrucker and featuring a rotating cast of fruit (as you can probably tell). It pours a hazy deep golden color with straw-yellow highlights and just about no head to speak of. However, I'm used to no foam buildup or stability when it comes to a lot of quick-sours, so if they do have that element, I'm usually impressed. Thus, this just looks the part and doesn't do much beyond that. I'm... whelmed, I guess.

The nose is gorgeous and vibrant with super-tart, tropical passion fruit and guava. Notes of mango and papaya round this one out as well. This just smells delicious and on-point. It doesn't have much of the "sweaty" element I typically pull from passion fruit, either... perhaps the guava is participating in a balancing act? Whatever it is, this just seems so awesome. Can't wait to take a sip!

Succulent tropical fruits and ripe grapefruit rind-like citrusy notes abound upon my first sip. Tangy Meyer lemon-like acidity and well-rounded pilsner/wheat malt backbone helps keep everything in the realm of "beer" despite the intense and heavy-handed fruitiness. The finish is certainly more passion fruit than guava, but, once again, there's no weirdness from the usually-strange passion fruit here. And, to be honest, the guava is less catty than I'm used to. Is this the best tropical fruit combination ever? It might just be. Medium body with a tart, effervescent finish. Full of bubbles and quite lively. A joy to drink. Banded might be mildly hit-or-miss at times, but this series is pretty much win-after-win for me. Not sure I would've bet on this brewery to nail the fruited sour category so consistently, but here we are in the wild world of 2019... it's happening!



This guy is a genius. One-man melodic black metal/atmospheric folk/synth-driven progressive metal combination project he's been at the helm of for over two decades. So good.

 

Hoppin' Frog Plum Tuckered-out Double Double Porter, 16.8% ABV. Pours dark black, with a slight ring of tan bubbles. Nose is sweet dark fruit and chocolate, taste follows with raisin, plum, quite sweet with no bitterness. Several other flavors popping as it warms, quite complex. Not much hint of the alcohol, so the drinkability and 16.8% ABV could sneak up on you. Decent mouthfeel, even if slightly under-carbonated. Overall outstanding.

4.45/5 rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

 

Your pics often do not show. Please consider telling us the brewery and the beer itself so we will what you are speaking about

 

Migraines suck so today's NBS entry is somewhat delayed. Better late than never I suppose.



The Black Knight

Queen City Brewery
American Imperial Stout / 9.80% ABV

4/5 rDev -0.5% | Score: 4.02
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

L- The beer pours black with little light allowed through. The head is a modest 3/4 finger of tiny mocha bubbles. The head disperses pretty quickly leaving a thin film behind. No lacing is present.
S-The nose is pretty even mix of chocolate, roast, and whiskey. Rather than layers it comes together in a pleasant mix.
T-The chocolate is strongest up front. Then it transitions to a touch of roast. This doesn't last long however before the big whiskey finish. All of that 13.2% is evident in finish and the beer gives you that warming finish.
F-Mouthfeel overall is medium. Not the thickest you'll ever have, but at 13.2% its not to surprising. Carbonation is light and a little prickly.
O-This is a solid locally made whiskey barrel stout. The barrel presence is pretty strong so you better like whiskey. I do so I'd have it again. I wouldn't mind it a touch lighter in the alcohol department, maybe in the 11.5% range.

 

Good evening NBS, hope everyone is enjoying the middle of the holiday weekend. Thanks to @lordofthewiens for today's introduction. Another typical weekend. Got 2 beer hauls to restock the fridge. #8500 was last night, which was Big Sky BA Ivan The Terrible 2015. Was a big want for me for a least 7 years. Just got it yesterday. I have been having friends sell me all their old beer they will never drink, so it's a good way to keep reviewing more stuff I'd never have access to otherwise.

Beer:

Excellent pale lager. Great fluffy head retention/spotty foamy lacing. Aromas and flavors of lemon, cracker, corn, white bread dough, and lightly toasted biscuit; with moderate herbal, floral, woody, grassy, peppery hops. Light-moderate herbal, floral, woody, grassy, peppery bitterness on the finish. Medium-plus carbonation, light-medium body, and fairly crisp/clean finishing. Balanced bready/grainy malts and sticky hops in the mouthfeel. Slight lingering resins. Light-moderate increasing bitter dryness, no hop astringency. Very clean lager flavors, minimal fruity/yeasty notes. Very flavorful/refreshing, not watery for 4.3%. Very clean pils malt/grain showcase, and great noble hop presence/balance for the style. Not overdone on adjuncts. Really impressive. 4


Cheers

 

Cheers to the grandkids

Dhop16 by equilibrium

4.49/5 rDev +5.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Can poured into teku glass

Translucent golden yellow, two finger soapy white foam cap, good retention

Juicy fruit bubble gum aroma, melon, pear , whiff of white grape

Taste is sweet peach, pear

Medium sudsing, sweet , hops nicely linger, no bite

Good beer, repeatable

 

Moving on to this beaut. Received from a friend who is not on BA but exhibits the qualities of a a beer advocate.

12 ounce can, not sure on the date as I already recycled the can but an assumed and obvious fresh can. Poured into a tulip.
Pours a dark brown, with a mocha head. Opaque when held up to light. Aromas of roast, dark red fruit, not quite raisin, but dogs and dates are present. Cinnamon roll and brown sugar are what I’m smelling here.
This beer has a lot going on. Raisin, cinnamon, red berry, vanilla, cocoa, old burnt coffee, tobacco leaf. This tastes like Saturday breakfast-a cinnamon roll with raisins and coffee. Mrs. Strohme2 said if this tastes like if you took a drag from a cigarette and then took a bite. I don’t get quite the smoke aspect but do get the fragrant tobacco leaf. The brandy barrel is evident with a deep and dark fruit aspect. Not much as far as whiskey as I can interpret.
Thick body, an easy sipper. No booze or heat.
Interesting beer here for sure. I enjoy the barrel experiments and the complexity it brings.
4.3 rDev -3.6%

 

@CanConPhilly glad you enjoyed the FO and am happy to hear you like the glass. Holiday weekend means having a few moments to post here. Had All Jammed Up from Transient today.


Pours cherry red with a pink foam head. The nose is fresh raspberry, not getting much strawberry. The taste is initially raspberry but quickly followed by strawberry. Nothing bitter here - just juice. From a feel perspective, nothing stands out - maybe even on the watery side. Overall, this is an enjoyable weiss/fruit beer. Enjoy the holiday!

 

Sorry about that. I tried a different picture sharing app this time, guess it still didn’t work. Thanks for the feedback man. This one was mango salt on the rim from southern grist.

 

Excellent Irish dry stout. Fantastic lasting rocky head retention/thick soapy lacing. Flavors of big dark chocolate, cocoa, coffee, molasses, roasted nuts, toasted biscuit, and dark bread/crust; with lighter notes of licorice, raisin, prune, fig, date, smoke, charcoal, wood, herbal, grass, pepper, and yeast earthiness. Similar/muted aromas, a bit too fruity/yeasty. Light-moderate herbal, woody, grassy, peppery hops; and roast/charred bitterness on the finish. Medium carbonation, medium-plus body, and fairly crisp finishing. Very creamy/silky/bready malts; some sticky hops and chalky char/roast in the mouthfeel. Light-moderate increasing hop/char bitter dryness; no cloying, acrid, astringency. Very smooth, not overly bitter/charred, no warmth of 6.7%. Awesomely clean/rich English malt complexity; balancing earthy hops, and restrained fruity yeast. Mild residual sweetness from lingering crisp dryness. Spot on stuff all the way through! 4.06


Cheers

 

Ok, been out and about revisiting breweries, and figured I’d post here, since this thread is all about revisits, right?

Ok, you know how it goes, breweries have to have new beers to keep us fickle lot interested, so I’ll give some quick takes on what I found.

First stop, Sinistral, which we first visited around Halloween last year. They’re on the outskirts of downtown Manassas, VA (two major Civil War battles named after the city by the Confederacy).


Learned that the brewer was from Portland, OR, and apparently he missed the beer from there. He also apparently has some sort of culinary chops. The latter comes out more in their beers than the former.

Their sours I tried were pretty good, though both relied on fruit as much as the kettle souring. I had a Wilbur Perlick’s Guava Lime Sour and the Key Lime Berliner Weiss.

The former had a nice flavor of guava with a light countering sweetness from the malt. The latter had a wonderful nose of the pie it was trying to mimic, thanks to lactose and graham cracker additions. The taste was a more straightforward sour, though.

Next up was Tucked Away Brewing, a place that caught my attention on our last visit (our second). One beer stood out, and I wrote a full review of 5 Round KO this visit.


So not new, but a nice balance of whiskey barrel and a perceived delicate base that really worked in this case. I also did a quick review of their newest beer Fox Four, a Hefeweizen in the background there. It hits on a lot of the aromas and flavors you’d expect from a Hefe, but trips a bit on feel. Still a very solid effort that shows the wheat, light banana, and clove spice you’d expect.

So, on the odd chance you’re way out in the DC ‘burbs of Manassas, I’d say give Tucked Away a chance (if you can find it, the name is intentional). Sinistral is a local place that seems to have a lot of regulars and good beers and it is pretty easy to stop by if you’re walking around old town.

 

5 New 4+ Jersey Beers of the Month
Light & Sweet | Carton Brewing 4.2/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Thrilled to be 1st review. One of my faves from brewer.
Light & Sweet is a better coffee lover's rendition of a coffee Cream ale. .
a) Head persists over a clear amber body, laces as well.
s) Cream, coffee, sugar over hops and malt - authentic.
t) follows smell
f) Cream, full bodied for 6% abv.
o) Intense, amazing treat.

Larry | Carton Brewing
4.1/5 rDev 0%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Pack myriad flavors into a 4% sour and you got me.
a) bright light yellow body floating champagne style head and lace. '
s) The salted melon memory lifts this sour into major, memorable zone.
t) Salt, melon, wheat, yeast meld.
o) Only the transparent shall apply and win this beer tasting audience.

Fuego | Tonewood
4.1/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
One of the best NE Hazed IPAs I've tasted in a while.
a) Hazy pale orange juicy body with last and a bit of lace.
s) Grapefruit and sliced oranges and lemons tempered by grass, woods, spruce and pine.
t) Big tropical fruit, mangoes, lemons, pineapples and grapefruit. Fills in with pine hops, flowers shop, and grasses.
f) Mouth filling, drying.
o) Overall - must blind taste against all other NE Hazed.

Hoppy Java Coffee IPA | Flying Fish Brewing
4/5 rDev +5.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
The reviews here are much higher, as is mine, the 3rd review, of this nice coffee backed IPA.
a) As with most all additive beers the look is pulled down by a weak, less lacey head. But otherwise, bronze tinged copper (it's the coffee!)
s) As expected a well formed IPA with that back layer of fresh black coffee no cream, nutty and fresh.
t) I like the refractions of hop bitter and strong bitter nutty coffee as an undertone to an otherwise solid IPA.
f) Even has a coffee like pucker along with the dry, hoppy pucker.
o) Well done, not as overdone, or as intense as many others which are more Imperial. I think this finds a super mid note.

Two Hops This Time | 902 Brewing
4/5 rDev 0%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Added 2 Two Hops, 1st review.
Starting off, like a mob operation, 902 has 3 addresses on the web hence the 2 hops!
Formerly at:
902 Washington Hobken
4201 Tonnelle Ave, North Bergen, NJ 07047 GMaps
Now at new digs: 62 Monitor St, Jersey City, New Jersey 07304 Fbook
But here they mean Citra and Eukanot - 2 favorite hops in a rotating series:
a) Lovely look of hazed ne style IPA with milky, powdert head that lasts and laces a bit.
s) Solid bright, juicy LOCAL hops over caramel malt base. Ahhh Drink local!
t) Straightforward hoppy, powdery, chalky taste. Follows aroma to lead to well-assembled cask temperature juicy, citric, grassy, hempy IPA. Nicely tempered, flavorrich without too much sharp acidic citrus!
f) Chalky, powdery, cleans up nicely. Great feel.
o) Lovely and must try more and visit the brewer in JC.

 

Did some grocery shopping, put gas in the car, did some cleaning, and now it's time to hit a new beer this Sunday!

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/28383/400303/?ba=woemad#review
Courtesy of @CanConPhilly this is a wild yeast saison brewed with buckwheat, blueberries and vanilla beans, and is exceptionally well balanced between tart, funky and sweet. All of these attributes are noticeable, but no one of them dominates the others. Thanks, Matt!

Lifted this one to the folks we celebrate on Memorial Day, especially the ones who didn't come home.

Might be back with one more later on tonight, but if not, have a great holiday and a great week.

 

Having a collab between Matchless and Logsdon whilst waiting for the NASCAR race to start (dang, they do like to drag out their ceremonies), Precision Guesswork. A fairly typical murkbomb with some yeast funk: https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/47868/417244/