New Beer Sunday (Week 778)

Looks like you're making our Year of the Rat into the Year of the Dog! Excellent. It's a wonderful thing to rescue. And 2! Bless you and yours.

 

Thanks @lordofthewiens for the great start to this weeks NBS. Will be back later on with a new brew.

Cheers!

 

Happy Sunday, NBS crew! @LloydDobler took me by complete surprise yesterday when a massive box of goodies showed up on my stoop, including this Toppling Goliath beer I’d been coveting for months. I’ve liked everything I’ve tried from TG thus far, and the label on this draws me in, so reasonably sure I would like it.

Holidotz - Toppling Goliath
Cranberry Lager - 4.7% abv
Bottled 11/15/19
Score: 4.35 (+5.3% rDev)



Review:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/23222/382622/?ba=CanConPhilly#review

Synopsis:
If tasted blind there’s no way I would have guessed lager. Tons of tart cranberry, sweet orange puree, and balanced gingerbread spices. This screams Christmas to me, but it’s fathoms beyond any self-appointed “Christmas Ale” I’ve ever tried. It’s a hard beer to rate, since it’s not really comparable to a lager, although that is the style its been wedged into. I can’t stop smelling it, and if not for a great amount of self restraint the entire contents of the bottle would already be down my gullet. Therefore rating this with a high rDev. I think it’s bangin’. Thanks again Chris!

 

I'm so happy that one went over well for you Bob. In our NBS BIF's I take joy in stalking my target well. As I combed through your reviews and hads, I saw a distinct lack of Cantillon. So when I had a chance to acquire her, I pounced. She is a stunner in the glass. I actually never reviewed her. I simply gave an summative score back when that was an option here on BA. (Truth be told, I did buy a second bottle with the intention of revisiting this iconic Lambic).

Reading how well you enjoyed this one brings me to another point. The vibe of NBS is sharing new beers and sharing our thoughts about them. I love this little corner of BA. And when the NBS BIF started around, well I'm not sure how long ago, I'm thinking it was 6 years ago, give or take, it added a new depth and vigor to NBS. (Can you say, "Run-on sentence, boys and girls?") The joy I, and many others, have received by hitting a target with a beer that we love from our home area, and hearing our recipient's feedback is, as the commercials say, "priceless." And as you can see from my sending a Cantillon, the beer doesn't even have to be a local. It's not simply a locals BIF. You can hit your victim, eh, I mean recipient with ANYTHING you want them to try. These NBS BIF's are the most fun I have had in my 15 years on Beer Advocate. I encourage you NBS'ers to give SERIOUS CANsideration (a nod to @woodychandler ) to jumping in to the frivolity, fun, and shenanigans of our next NBS BIF......number 11.

 

Trappistes Rochefort 6


Pours a light brown colored beer, with a fluffy, big head atop.


Smells of burned sugar, cloves and caramel malts, together with dried straw.


Has a light body with a refreshing, well carbonated body, creating a well working counterpart to the otherwise malty, sweet beer.


Tastes of mellow bakers chocolate, raisins and whole grain bread. Atop this foundation settle glazed caramel, spicy cardamom and well integrated rock sugar, establishing a well working sweetness. This finishes malty, rustic, almost a bit wooden, with soft tones of toffee and licorice in the aftertaste.


This is dangerously easy drinking while exhibiting a satisfying complexity, showcasing a hearty sweetness, entangled into spices and sweet malts.

 

That is one fine beer !!

 

A-Pours a beautiful clear ruby color with a very generous head and lacing
A-Aroma has elderberry and lemon hints
T-The taste follows the nose with an elderberry and lemon flavor
M-A light bodied decently carbonated smooth beer
O-A good Fruit and Field beer

 

To Øl Garden of Eden


Pours a clouded orange-amber color with a spongy, big head atop.


Smell is of passion fruit, mango and orange atop of a caramel malt foundation.


Has a light body with refreshing, well pronounced carbonation.


Tastes of sour fruits, with a surprising, ongoing tartness among bitter lime and brighter, exotic fruits. Has a maltier, watery middle part with breadier turning malts and an almost distracting sourness. Finishes a little more noteable on the limes with a sweet peak to it, lighter passion fruit and pineapple and a prevailing sourness, blending quite pleasantly into a bitter aftertaste.


Solid ipa with a sourness as prominent as questionable.

 

A-Pours a very light hazy amber color with a nice head and lacing
A-Aroma has piney and citrus hints
T-The taste follows the nose with a piney and citrus flavor
M-A light bodied decently carbonated beer with a pleasant bitterness
O-A good Session IPA

 

Picked this up Friday

Compared to other Founders beers this is definitely more artificial tasting. It's like someone took a brown and poured Torani hazelnut syrup into it.

It's good but it's disappointing after how good KBS Espresso was.

3.75/5

 

Hey BA’s
I hope @lordofthewiens that your brother in law has a peaceful painlessly rest of his time. We go back and forth on taking a cruise, my wife as gone across the Atlantic about 10 time when see was younger to Ireland, her mother and father didn’t like to fly. I like you don’t like crowds, so we haven’t taken one yet

I’m drinking KBS Expresso for the first time, on a glorious Sunday in January for these parts, I might add
It poured typically colored for a stout with a fairly decent chocolate like head
The first aroma impression was spent coffee grounds and a tad sweet malt
The taste was coffee forward with the chocolate coming out the more it warmed. It finished expresso almost almond like
The mouth feel was full and melted mocha like. Pretty smooth and rich
Overall it was hard to sip, it tasted so good. The 12%abv crept up on me
I liked it a lot and am going back for more

 

The Day The CANQuest (tm) Nearly Died On New Beer Sunday (Week 778)!

The day CANtinued innocuously with:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/25696/265483/?ba=woodychandler#review

but there was CANtinued room for hope with a:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/25696/85336/?ba=woodychandler#review

but she simply set me up to take:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/25696/92222/?ba=woodychandler#review

Oof! Clearly, it's time to take my NBS in a CANother direction. See yinz soon.

 

Savage Henry a Red Rye IPA that is 6.4% ABV from Twin Elephant Brewing. I've had Rye IPAs and Red IPA in the past but this is the 1st time for a Red . Rye IPA. This beer is brewed with Oats and Rye and hopped with Belma, Mosaic and Nugget hops. American yeast is used. Savage Henry pours a bright Scarlet with a off white head. Nice aroma of Rye toast and various fruits The taste is Rye and the fruits with hints of coffee. The mouthfeel is full but soft. The finish is dry. Overall an excellent beer and a nice change from the hazy IPAs that are so popular these days. Going back to the brewery to get another growler for the gams to day.

 

Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Reserve Rye Stout, 14.5% ABV. Pours thick and black, with a 3+ finger brown head that left no lacing. Nose is chocolate and rye/bourbon, with slight sweet dark fruit. Taste is strong and slightly sweet chocolate, rye/bourbon, vanilla, and oak, with a slight bitterness. Mouthfeel is world class, overall world-class.

4.73/5 rDev +6.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

This was part of a surprise and very generous porch-bomb from @Justonemore91 and it's incredible, as were all of the other beers he sent.

Maaaa, come look at this, the crazy old guy across the street is grilling in the snow and drinking beer. Maaaaa! And look at that crazy looking cat...maaaaa!!!!!!

Yup - burgers for lunch and steaks for supper. It's a balmy 3 degrees out. Getting ready to watch football.

 

Opened Saint Arnold's Bourbon Barrel Aged French Press this late morning/early afternoon. This is the first time I have had this. I really enjoy the regular French Press, as it is one of the more integrated and balanced Coffee Imperial Porters/Stouts out there. 9.9% ABV and aged for a year in Bourbon Barrels.



Pours a deep, and impressive near opaque black color. A dark beige head rises to over a finger and sticks around for a little. Light lace is left behind. As with the base, the coffee component is really well integrated. Aromas of roast, dark malts, and baked bread. Vanilla and wood. Flavor is similar with more of a milk chocolate character that goes along with the roast and malts. Vanilla and again wood. Though the wood flavors are subtle and in the background.

A full body that is well carbonated, ultra smooth and not overly viscous at all. There is a bit of warming heat, mixed with the very welcoming malt and coffee flavors makes for a really enjoyable sipper.

I would like a touch more wood flavors to stand out, but as always from Saint Arnold a subtle and well made offering. 4.02 overall score, full review below:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/337/453270/?ba=champ103#review

Listening to some Esperanza Spalding, who I absolutely adore:

 

Good afternoon NBS and thanks @lordofthewiens for the opening today. Cheers to you for story shared.
I worked up north most of this week, it was winter for certain.Storming and cold, just like it should be.
All that winter has me staying in and making Chicken soup today.
Todays offering I picked up at Harpoon in Windsor Vt on the way home. Black IPA's i loved when they were around, This one is a nod back from Clown Shoes/Harpoon. Well balanced and I really like the delicate piney tension with the slightly roast malts. Makes me want more.
Cheers all
Hoppy Feet Black IPA (Throwback Series)

Clown Shoes
American Black Ale | 7% ABV

4.1/5 rDev +2.2% | Average: 4.01
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 16 oz can dated 11/18/19, into the test glass
A - Black backdrop, hides all, the pour yields a wonderful off white froth, rings of lacing clings to the glass.
S - Pine forward, hints of toast malt, a bit of cocoa powder in the mix.
T - Follows the nose with little variation.
M - Medium in body, sweet start with a beautiful pivot to bitter side. quick to dry with hardly a linger
O - A good Black IPA, well balanced , flavorful and easy on the palate.

 

I was actually just discussing cruises with the GF recently. We have a coworker who SWEARS by them. They are very much her jam. Myself (and my SO feels the same), I have absolutely no interest in one. A not insignificant part of that is the crowds. There's (a lot of) other reasons as well, but I just am not into large crowds of people, nor norovirus. I can get enough of that at work, thank you very much! Glad it sounds like you had a positive experience with it overall though, even if it has not sparked a newfound love of giant floating amusement parks!

Today I'm popping into this can of Old Pine IPA, from Matchless. I picked it up... I want to say a couple of weeks ago? Don't remember the exact date. Can lists a canned on date of 11/25/19, so a little older than I would prefer, but certainly not decrepit.



Pour is a pretty light yellow 'beer' colour that I have missed. Clear with a capper of wet white bubbles. No lacing, but decent drifts into the corners, and enough to muddle the middle.

Nose is a bouquet of yesteryear with light sweet caramel met by grassy fruity hops. Mildly citrus, maybe?

Flavour is pleasantly enjoyable to start, and continues the impression of breezy nostalgia. Grassy fruit hops, with a dull bitter hop finish that reminds me of traipsing through Golden Gate Park back when I lived in SF. As I work though the glass, though, the sweetness does build a bit and give me pause to slow down. It's not a sweet of malts and caramel, which I think would work better, but more the sweet of hops and fruits, which is where it gets to be like a song with too many high notes turning tinny. As much as I like brass, I actually get this with a lot of sax-heavy songs.

Clean drinking with a dull moderately bitter finish, and apart from the above mentioned oversweetening for the rest of the profile, a pleasant trip down memory lane. Five or ten years ago this would have made a fine flagship that may not get folks excited, but it would certainly let them enjoy themselves. Just a tad too much of the modern seeping in for it to stay completely true to that vision, however.
I feel like the Simcoe and Amarillo come through moreso than the Centennial and Chinook.
I feel as though the name is a misnomer. While it is a throwback and that, I get little to no pine tree from the hops here. Minimal sap, no wood. Maybe some earthiness, but I would anticipate a beer of such name to have PINE NOTES. Still decent overall, but was expecting a much bigger coniferous load.