New Beer Sunday (week 797)

Bare Hands Helgian

Happy Sunday, BAs. Thank you to all the previous custodians of this thread. Thanks, too, to @ovaltine for sending me today’s new brew in a recent NBS BIF LIF.

Helgian describes itself as a “strong, medium bodied Belgian pale ale.” It opened with a mighty pffft, with the foam slowly creeping over the opening of the can and poured with an excessively large, airy, yellowed head which slowly recedes to reveal a very cloudy, sunset-orange liquid not unlike a NEIPA. The head dissipated in an uneven, rocky manner leaving thick clumps of soapy lacing.

It has a very clove-forward aroma, reminiscent of a tripel, but with less malt sweetness and no fruity esters. To my nose, there’s a hint of vomit in there, too.

The taste is almost sugary sweet up front. A little rotten fruit (pear, apple, banana) and citrus show mid-palate, but they’re subtle. Strong alcohol burn and some pepper in the finish tempers the sweetness somewhat.

Rather than medium bodied, I find it relatively thick bodied, somewhere between creamy and syrupy, with strong carbonation.

The alcohol heat in this one goes to eleven. It’s not in the same league as the Belgian classics, but is still fairly tasty. I’m enjoying sipping on it and appreciate the opportunity to try it.

 

Good afternoon NBS, I know these are hard times and I hope everyone is safe and healthy. I’m starting my Sunday with Boundary Bay/Chuckanut Nutward Bound, thanks @beertunes!
3.93/5 rDev +6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Thank you beertunes for this
22 oz bottle poured into a pint glass

A- A clear amber with two finger light tan head.

S- Toasted malts, some sweet beard, herbal, hints of citrus.

T- Toasted malts, caramel malts, some bread, herbal/earthy, hints of citrus.

M- Smooth, creamy, light body.

O- A very nice and easy to drink.

Cheers NBS!

 

I have been a member of that club for a long time.

 

Two things, Jack:

1. Nice "Dirty Harry" reference. Love it.

2. You dumped a pour of Alaskan's Smoked Porter? I am incredulous!!! I really enjoyed that beer (4 years ago, got it while Mrs O and I were on an Alaskan cruise at a stop in Juneau). Just goes to show you that palates that are similar in some respects (an appreciation for all things pilsner) can have a significant degree of variability.

 

Three local beer nerds (not one of them was me, thankfully) did an online chug of that beer right after it released.

And then they spontaneously combusted.

Not really. But almost. They were hootin' and hollerin' after downing that monster.

 

Cast Astray ( Simcoe) is a local, very fresh DIPA from Garvies Point.
A cloudy yellow can pour presents below a tall cap of white foam. The aroma is mildly tropical with orange and a bit of pine in the nose.
The flavor is citrus and mango first. Moderate hop bitterness builds. There is a touch of resin.
The mouthfeel is quite smooth.
This is a very pleasant brew.

 

Clocks in at 11%, but tastes even hotter

 

Afternoon NBS residents. Decided I'd actually participate after grabbing a bunch of beer I've never had recently. This Sundays feature is Brasserie Dieu du Ciels Grande Noirceur, with the bonus of it being a 2015 vintage. Out of the bottle it's everything a RIS should be, dark as night with no color whatsoever. Even aggressive pouring yields zero head, both expected with this style and at this age. On the nose I get LOTS of big dark chocolate and bitter black coffee smells, no oxidation detected thankfully. Nose is similar, with some additional dark fruit and sweet malt character showing itself. In terms of feeling it's thick, slick and chewy, but still restrained enough not to be sickly sweet. Overall a real gem of a beer, good enough to hold up just fine after a few years at only 9% abv. If you see this, grab a bottle or two.

 

So, not sure if anyone recalls a couple NBSes ago where I was lamenting what was going on in my relationship with this girl I've been dating a few months, but things seem to be pretty much patched up now, which I am very grateful for. Honest communication goes a long way. Also, being able to go to breweries again and sit outdoors and enjoy some great beers has facilitated our bouncing back to normality. Being all cooped up does the early life of dating someone no real favors. Yesterday we went to Garrison City Beerworks in Dover, NH and lamented only having been able to get a 45 minute reservation, because a lot of this stuff was very good. I took home a few cans of beers I haven't yet had in order to review them today, so let's start with this one.



Blueprint is a Citra hop-focused hazy pale ale clocking in at 5.2% ABV, and this particular can (packaged 5/25, making it just under a week old!) features El Dorado hops as an additional DDH supplement. Sounds fun, let's jump in.

Pours a dramatically-cloudy, essentially opaque peach bellini-looking color with some orange highlights. It's really dense and chewy looking, with a thin but retentive head of bone-white foam. Great lace as the head dissipates. The last GCBW beer I reviewed was back in 2016 before NEIPAs rose to greater prominence, and I recall dismissing their hazy shit at the time but obviously these styles have grow on me because they're freaking everywhere now and have their own odd beauty to them, I think. Just a fun little aside/flashback to a few years ago from a new perspective!

The nose is pretty nicely-saturated with melon, orange, and passion fruit elements lingering behind a slightly dank and grassy overarching quality that feels about right based on what I expected. El Dorado certainly makes itself known here... the tropical and orchard fruit-ish notes are by no means lost, and I'd say ED helps the Citra pop a bit more here. Lessens the typically catty nature of it, I guess, too.

Yeah, this is really chewy... not sure it's quite as crisp as I want it to be. I have a feeling I am gonna want to finish it while it's fridge temp rather than letting it get to room where it'll definitely be a bit too heavy for a less-than-6% beer. That said, pretty good flavors here, and it actually doesn't lose the grains much. I swear there's some rye in here or something to give off a slightly-spicy and odd character, but there definitely has to be oats/wheat in here to give it that chew. Flavors are a bit lighter than what I'd want as well, but I do pick up some guava, passion fruit, papaya, muted melon and peach notes, and a touch of orange as well. Not bad but I don't think I'd really want four of these. Then again, I will call myself a bit biased here because even though I understand the use and positive qualities of El Dorado, I'm really not what you'd consider a huge fan of the varietal. It generally feels a bit too much like a niche hop and tends to act strangely with others. But, maybe that's just me. I'll be back in a bit with a very different beer from GCBW; one I am quite excited for.

 

Yup.

But, that was a vert long time ago and in all probability that was my first smoked beer? Would I enjoy that beer now?

I tend to think not since they beer came off real 'meaty' to me at the time and I am still not a fan of 'meaty' smoked beer.

I would certainly try another sample pour if given the opportunity though. You just never know.

Cheers!

 

Kane Bourbon Barrel Mexican Brunch


Pours night black with a solid dark brown head, revealing a spongy texture, which slowly receeds to a coating lacing atop the glass.


Smells of cinnamon milk chocolate, espresso beans and of warming spices, coming from the Bourbon barrel.


Drinks with a slightly creamy silkness and just a light carbonation spark during the finish, creating a nice refreshment without concealing the heavier body of this.


Tastes of milk chocolate, lighter earth from the coffee and cinnamon, creating a rather sweet first impression, gently enhanced by the warming barrel. Turns even sweeter then with rock sugar and slightly enhancing bitter chocolate, peaking with just a faint spicy Bourbon presence. Finishes with an interplay of sweet maple syrup and dry, roasty coffee among maintaining cinnamon and a light heat impact from the oak barrel.


Solid adjunct leaden Ba Porter, ranging on the sweeter side of things. The barrel in this is pretty faint, adding just a note of sweet spices and a warm hint, with a mouthfeel which does not entirely convince, due too its thinner nature.

 

Poured into a 16 oz beer canned pint glass, canned 5/27/2020. Pours an attractive hazy orange with a finger plus sticky white head, that leaves nice thin webs of life, nice retention. 4.5

Smell is ripe melon, guava, pineapple, strawberry, and apricot. 4.25

Taste follows cantaloupe, strawberry, pineapple, guava, and apricot really nice and rather unique. 4

Mouthfeel is pretty big, soft gentle carbonation, a little sticky, and at 8% goes down rather easy. 4.25

Overall another excellent offering from Kettlehead Brewing. It stands out as a little different and that is always a nice change of pace. 4.25

 

My band usually gets together on Sunday afternoon so I haven’t been able to check in for a while, but we aren’t getting together today so here’s some input from central Virginia

first up is a one from a new brewery, which happens to be the closest brewery to me as of yet - Crazy Rooster Brewing

Devil’s Pay Amber Ale



3.94/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Beautiful thick beige head, clear deep coppery body. Nice looking beer. Nose seems a bit muted, just get a little hop spice. Taste is very satisfying and works really well with the body. So, depth in character as the slightly fruity bitter hop fades perfectly into a sweet caramel maltiness. Although the body seems a little thin, the depth of taste make this very flavorful and light drinking. Pretty well crafted

 

I've been looking forward to trying this one out ever since the very generous @ovaltine sent it to me in NBS BIF #11. Not only does it look like a great beer, but when it arrived, my daughter had just finished a school project on Eugene Debs a few weeks before where her group had to run his "campaign" against the other presidential candidates from the major parties back in the early 1900's (I don't remember the exact year). Anyway, great brewery, great can art, and a beer that's named after Eugene Debs. What's not to like?

Campaign poster my daughter made



Coffee Eugene - Revolution Brewing
My daughter said I should say that it tastes like socialism, but let's steer clear of any hint of politics when reviewing our beers!

4.19/5 rDev -0.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Poured into a tulip. Jet black with very attractive inch of light tan head that held its own for a while before slowly dissipating. Smells of coffee and alcohol, but in just the right amounts. While it's not overly complex on the nose, in that I don't pick up lots of different notes, it sure smells good and inviting. Taste largely follows the nose. Smooth, with clear coffee notes. Feel is just a hair thin, but at 6.8% seems about right. Overall, a very enjoyable beer.

Thanks for sharing this with me @ovaltine. Really enjoying this one.

 

Funny, I don't remember dipping my facial hair into the bottle...

 

I love that beer. Even here in Quebec it kind of suffers from being in Péché mortel's shadow, though. I think it is one of the more graceful aging beers I've ever had. Just a nicely made, relatively straightforward imperial stout. Interestingly, the name ("Great Darkness") and the label are references to the period here where the government and the church ran everything with an iron fist, eventually leading to the quiet revolution in the sixties and the birth of modern Quebec.

They tried to do away with it as a seasonal this year and there was enough of an outcry here that they brewed a mini-batch. But I worry that it probably won't be back next year. Shame.

Good news! I do remember you mentioning that. I can't imagine how hard this situation would be that early in a relationship. The beer sounds tasty to boot.

Nice post! Sounds like a cool project. That's a really interesting period of history. Tell her the beer sounds pretty tasty, too