New Beer Sunday (Week 791)

jvgoor3786 · Apr 20, 2020

kemoarps said: ↑

So there's a Caribbean place around here that makes incredible food. Actually there's a couple of them, but I'm only thinking of one in particular right now because it is the subject of the story I'm about to inflict upon y'all. So anyway, there's this Caribbean place around here that makes incredible food, and the SO and I especially love their jerk chicken sandwiches (on this super flaky coconut bread... buhhhhhh. So good. Anyway). We've been craving them off and on for a couple of months now, but for a variety of reasons (before the shut down we tried to go a couple of times but they were so busy they were turning people away/I don't always remember what day it is and so it seems like our fiercest cravings always strike on the day they're not open/etc) we have not been able to partake in a while. Well, similar to @Roy_Hobbs it's a sunny 60 or so in Seattle (and similarly, it feels so hot right now, but in a couple of months, the same weather will feel fridgid) so we went on our first bike ride of the year today (just got her a new [to her... I think the bike itself is probably 40 years old] bike so we had to take it out and get her used to the downstem shifters and drop handle bars and the like), and our original lunch/dinner plans fell through. Perfect, we thought! We'll try Pam's and finally FINALLY fulfill our craving of those incredible flaky sandwiches. So we call, put the order in, and start to meander her direction on our way home. (All we'd eaten to this point, btw, was a croissant for breakfast probably 7 or 8 hours earlier.). We get to the restaurant and I run in to pick up our order while Anna waits outside with the bikes. Pam, the propietress is on the phone with her cousin lamenting the absolutely horrible day she's been having (complete with accidentally knocking her stool over as she stood up... the reason for this became clear to me before long). She put him on hold to go grab my order and asks if I drink alcohol. *eyebrows* Cautiously I tell her I do. She tells me that in that case, since she's having such a horrible day, she's decided that everyone who comes in tonight has to do a shot with her and indicates to a tray of rum for me to pour myself one. This story has already lasted way longer than the payoff is worth, but suffice to say the rest of the ride home, in the sun, with a stomach full of nothing but an overly zealous pour of rum (which I'm not usually a fan of anyway... too sweet)...well it was probably smart of us to eat as soon as we got home! And damn if those sandwiches weren't just about perfect amongst all the birdsong. I really hope her bad day wasn't related to business troubles because damn if she isn't a fine cook, but every indication I've ever had is that she is a terrible businesswoman.

--SKIP THE ABOVE IF YOU JUST WANT TO GET BACK TO THE BEER--

OK. So, on to the beer. @Harrison8 sent along a bunch of crowlers of perfect sunny weather beer during the last NBS BIF, including this collaboration I'd never even heard of with Holy Mountain which is right down the street from my old place! Small world, huh?

Past to Present is billed as a dry-hopped pilsner. Sounds like just the thing for the end of this afternoon.

Pour is a beautiful light (but not pale) yellow with a big billowy white head. Decent retention but fantastic lacing.

Nose right off the bat shows off the dry hopping. It took me a moment initially to realize quite what I was pinning down, but it's DH for sure. Round juicy citrus that's almost powdery, layered over crackery malts and grains.

Flavour follows suit: Grassy and citrusy hops that jump all the way into that almost numbing lupulin powder and offers a juiciness that's more juice concentrate than fresh squeezed. Underneath this is a nice crisp crackery pilsner that I could sit in the sunshine and sip at for long stretches indeed (.com).

The body is of medium depth... just thick enough to have presence and create a pleasant drinking experience, but not so thick as to be heavy or cloying. Appropriate level stickles (I made that up) of carbonation round out a really pleasant body overall. Finish is long bitter citrus and floral notes and unmistakably that powdery dry hop character.

I really like the underlying pilsner a lot. I don't feel like the dry hopping really works all that well here, though in full disclosure, I'm not always the biggest fan of dry hopping in general. Every DDH IPA I've had has had that same lupulin powder character that is somewhat offputting for me, personally.
That being said, this is still a quite enjoyable beer, and if you're more amenable to the technique I could see you enjoying it even more than I have. Much appreciation to Harrison for sending it my direction! Thanks, man!

Cheers.
Click to expand...

That's an awesome story.

neenerzig · Apr 20, 2020

Commerzienrat Riegele Privat is an excellent Dortmunder Export Lager. Quite refreshing on this Sunday night and a good NDS beer for me to end my weekend with.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/5850/61875/?ba=neenerzig#review

Eric

Harrison8 · Apr 20, 2020

kemoarps said: ↑

So there's a Caribbean place around here that makes incredible food. Actually there's a couple of them, but I'm only thinking of one in particular right now because it is the subject of the story I'm about to inflict upon y'all. So anyway, there's this Caribbean place around here that makes incredible food, and the SO and I especially love their jerk chicken sandwiches (on this super flaky coconut bread... buhhhhhh. So good. Anyway). We've been craving them off and on for a couple of months now, but for a variety of reasons (before the shut down we tried to go a couple of times but they were so busy they were turning people away/I don't always remember what day it is and so it seems like our fiercest cravings always strike on the day they're not open/etc) we have not been able to partake in a while. Well, similar to @Roy_Hobbs it's a sunny 60 or so in Seattle (and similarly, it feels so hot right now, but in a couple of months, the same weather will feel fridgid) so we went on our first bike ride of the year today (just got her a new [to her... I think the bike itself is probably 40 years old] bike so we had to take it out and get her used to the downstem shifters and drop handle bars and the like), and our original lunch/dinner plans fell through. Perfect, we thought! We'll try Pam's and finally FINALLY fulfill our craving of those incredible flaky sandwiches. So we call, put the order in, and start to meander her direction on our way home. (All we'd eaten to this point, btw, was a croissant for breakfast probably 7 or 8 hours earlier.). We get to the restaurant and I run in to pick up our order while Anna waits outside with the bikes. Pam, the propietress is on the phone with her cousin lamenting the absolutely horrible day she's been having (complete with accidentally knocking her stool over as she stood up... the reason for this became clear to me before long). She put him on hold to go grab my order and asks if I drink alcohol. *eyebrows* Cautiously I tell her I do. She tells me that in that case, since she's having such a horrible day, she's decided that everyone who comes in tonight has to do a shot with her and indicates to a tray of rum for me to pour myself one. This story has already lasted way longer than the payoff is worth, but suffice to say the rest of the ride home, in the sun, with a stomach full of nothing but an overly zealous pour of rum (which I'm not usually a fan of anyway... too sweet)...well it was probably smart of us to eat as soon as we got home! And damn if those sandwiches weren't just about perfect amongst all the birdsong. I really hope her bad day wasn't related to business troubles because damn if she isn't a fine cook, but every indication I've ever had is that she is a terrible businesswoman.

--SKIP THE ABOVE IF YOU JUST WANT TO GET BACK TO THE BEER--

OK. So, on to the beer. @Harrison8 sent along a bunch of crowlers of perfect sunny weather beer during the last NBS BIF, including this collaboration I'd never even heard of with Holy Mountain which is right down the street from my old place! Small world, huh?

Past to Present is billed as a dry-hopped pilsner. Sounds like just the thing for the end of this afternoon.

Pour is a beautiful light (but not pale) yellow with a big billowy white head. Decent retention but fantastic lacing.

Nose right off the bat shows off the dry hopping. It took me a moment initially to realize quite what I was pinning down, but it's DH for sure. Round juicy citrus that's almost powdery, layered over crackery malts and grains.

Flavour follows suit: Grassy and citrusy hops that jump all the way into that almost numbing lupulin powder and offers a juiciness that's more juice concentrate than fresh squeezed. Underneath this is a nice crisp crackery pilsner that I could sit in the sunshine and sip at for long stretches indeed (.com).

The body is of medium depth... just thick enough to have presence and create a pleasant drinking experience, but not so thick as to be heavy or cloying. Appropriate level stickles (I made that up) of carbonation round out a really pleasant body overall. Finish is long bitter citrus and floral notes and unmistakably that powdery dry hop character.

I really like the underlying pilsner a lot. I don't feel like the dry hopping really works all that well here, though in full disclosure, I'm not always the biggest fan of dry hopping in general. Every DDH IPA I've had has had that same lupulin powder character that is somewhat offputting for me, personally.
That being said, this is still a quite enjoyable beer, and if you're more amenable to the technique I could see you enjoying it even more than I have. Much appreciation to Harrison for sending it my direction! Thanks, man!

Cheers.
Click to expand...

That shot of rum would've probably put me over the edge. That's hilarious.

Glad you enjoyed the lager! It didn't even cross my mind that Holy Mountain is from out your way. I think Alma Mader has a few more lagers going right now (based on Instagram); eager to see what they release.

New Beer Sunday (Week 791)

jvgoor3786 Grand Pooh-Bah (4,222) May 28, 2015 Arkansas
Society Pooh-Bah Trader

neenerzig Pooh-Bah (2,885) Feb 15, 2006 Ohio
Pooh-Bah

Harrison8 Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,285) Dec 6, 2015 Missouri
Pooh-Bah Trader

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New Beer Sunday (Week 791)

jvgoor3786 Grand Pooh-Bah (4,222) May 28, 2015 Arkansas Society Pooh-Bah Trader

neenerzig Pooh-Bah (2,885) Feb 15, 2006 Ohio Pooh-Bah

Harrison8 Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,285) Dec 6, 2015 Missouri Pooh-Bah Trader

jvgoor3786 Grand Pooh-Bah (4,222) May 28, 2015 Arkansas
Society Pooh-Bah Trader

neenerzig Pooh-Bah (2,885) Feb 15, 2006 Ohio
Pooh-Bah

Harrison8 Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,285) Dec 6, 2015 Missouri
Pooh-Bah Trader