New Beer Weekend #64

Love this post, and the beer sounds amazing!

 

@beergoot, I echo the "life is good at the moment" comment. I'm home this weekend for maybe the second weekend in 3 months, and man, is it glorious to just hang out, watch some football, drink some beer, and get stupid little stuff done.

Up next for me today is Sultan of Smash, a Pale Ale from Chapman Crafted Beer that was sent my way by @2beerdogs in the latest NBS BIF. I still have no idea if Derek is my official sender, but I know he sent me a great box of beer!

3.68/5 rDev -1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Pours a golden amber with a finger of loose slightly off white head that makes an early exit from the party. Aroma is very reserved. Possibly this is just what a single hop of Cascade smells like, but it's definitely muted. When you get up really close, there are some nice tropical notes, they just take some work to detect.

Things start to come together better on the tongue. This has a really nice old school vibe about it. It's not juicy, it's not in your face, it's just a really tasty pale ale. The hops are in the leading role, with moderately resinous pine notes that are solidly there, but not overwhelming. Medium bodied with somewhat less carbonation than I would have expected.

Overall, a very enjoyable, drinkable beer.

 

Lambo Door, NE DIPA from Grimm.

 

I love this so much haha

 

So what's the verdict? WC NEIPA legit, or fakers (with a side note that you probably need to travel a few hours north to really be able to make that determination)?

 

West coast NEIPAs are fusion beers, mostly. Way more bitterness and resin, a la west coast, in a format that is clearly NE inspired. But there is a creaminess and smoothness here that is mostly lacking on the west coast.

Not failures. But not legit, if Lambo Door is my guide.

 

I was hoping this would be within your range. I love Cascade, but I felt this was a nice spotlight on a single hope without trying to be heavy handed.

 

Invisible Touch Helles Lager from Grimm.
I have a new favorite NE brewery.

 

American Solera These Hops Are Wet IPA, 6.0% ABV; 4,16 overall

Pours an effervescent & bright gold with 3 fingers of cream colored head. Great head retention & lacing

S: Grassy, catty, a little breadyness

T: Follows the nose, a little bready dryness, grapefruit up front, a little herbal hoppyness as well. Woody hops, dryness, & cattyness as this warms. Finishes dry with some weedyness & a little orange

MF: Medium body, low carbonation, pretty good balance

You certainly can taste the Cascade Wet Hops, old school wet hop IPA

 

Definitely was. Not over the top, extremely drinkable, and didn't leave me thirsty, which is one of my big beefs with many IPAs.

 

I fixed that for you. Putting my decision to be pedantic aside, sounds like you are having a good time. There are few things in life that I enjoy more than drinking new beer at a new to me brewery. Enjoy!

 

Cooler days call for darker beers so I was pleased to come across Ayinger's Altbairisch Dunkel; even though the bottles were almost a year old (L0329 AKA 11/24/20)

Altbairisch defines how a dunkel, as opposed to a schwarzbier, is supposed to look; a beautiful dark, rich brown/amber, like a seriously strong cup of breakfast tea. The foamy, khaki head slowly dissolves into a thick ring with a few islands.
Unfortunately here's where the beer's age started to tell.
The aroma was muted rich malts with a touch of coffee and chocolate, something like day old Russian rye bread.
The taste followed the aroma with smooth slightly sweet roasted malts, a hint of coffee, a hint of dark bread, a hint of ... you get the picture; all of the flavors were faded.

My bottles of Ayinger contain a good dunkel; tasty, satisfying, a pleasure to drink, but all of the signs are there that six moths ago these bottles contained an excellent dunkel.

4.02/5
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

 

Good Sunday afternoon, New Beer Sippers and commentators. As I've posted on the NBS BIF #14 thread, I was overwhelmed yesterday by 3 boxes from @FBarber, and I understand that #4 is on the way. It's not just the amount of beer but the quality that astounds me - as it has in previous BIFS. The BAs who participate in this BIF are supremely generous and serious connoisseurs of beer. Over the years I've received amazing beers from some of the top contributors to the site. It's humbling. If you enjoy the NBW forum, then I'd heartily recommend joining in the mayhem and comraderie of this semi-annual event. Nuff said.

Frank sent me a crowler of Shamrock Stout from Goose Island Brewing. I'm assuming it wasn't bottled or canned. It's based on the BCBS recipe but this variant is off the chart! Poured into a snifter at 59°. It pours a very dark walnut - nearly black. The medium-mocha-colored head fizzled away almost immediately. The nose offers roasted malt, dark chocolate, caramel, brown sugar, oak, tobacco, and soft but noticeable bourbon. It bursts with fudge, roasted malt, vanilla, and nutty char. The barrel notes are strong but do not overpower or distract. It is very sweet but fairly mellow for such a big Stout. The mouth feel is luxuriously thick and creamy - almost chewy - with lite/moderate carbonation, and it's surprisingly drinkable for 14.6% ABV. In fact, it's the sweetness more than the elevated alcohol level that calls for deliberate drinking. It's a perfect dessert sipper. Overall, Shamrock Stout is exquisite. I'm grateful for the chance to try it. Thank you, Frank! (you'll be hearing this a lot over the next few months).

4.5/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

Cheers, NBW!

 

Time for Dinner, @WunderLlama, this has been on my wants for some time, and thanks for sending it! Pours a nice opaque orange, with a frothy two finger head that leaves a cap, aromas of citrus, huge grapefruit, orange a bit of onion in there, very dank, medium bodied, dry bitter finish, just the way an American IPA should be. Thanks Maynard

 

Very impressed by this brew. Delicate and delish. Very refreshing and light for a 2X IPA. I needed that. Cheers!
4.33/5 rDev +7.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Sawyer Chainsaw Squatch Down Under Double IPA
16oz can into a Spiegelau IPA glass.
L: Pours a hazy gold with a lofty 3+ finger white head that slowly recedes to latte foam. Lots of sticky lacing, no visible carbonation.
S: Pineapple, grapefruit, mango, sweet berries, light bread/biscuit. Lightly flowery.
T: Sweet semi-juicy pineapple, berries, light yeast, poignant cedar resin though not dank at all, citrus oil, orange pith, no trace of alcohol. Straight butter caramel at the end. It tastes very pretty.
F: Light bodied, smooth well balanced and a fairly soft mouthfeel that is lively and fresh with feel. It is heady and has a moderately fast finish that is not drying.
O: A very pleasant tasting, easy drinking beer from Sawyer. It is the lightest Double IPA I've tried. Quite delicious in every way it could be a quaffable 2X IPA. It is delightful and very excellent in every way.

 

Catbot Strikes Back DDH IPA from KCBC

 

Good evening NBS/NBW, and thanks @Shanex for hosting this weekend.
It has been busy weekend, to say the least. Taking tomorrow off.
Enjoying this fine treat from Allagash.
Cheers

World on a String

Red Ale - American Amber / Red | 9.5% ABV

Allagash Brewing Company
Portland, Maine

4.06/5 rDev -2.4% | Average: 4.16
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from the 12 0z bottle, dated 9/15/20 into the test glass
A - Tawny colored red/brown. a bit of haze cant hide the gentle carbonation. A thin off white cap starts to dissipate immediately. Thin ring rides the glass interior through the remaining experience.
S - Candied orange, vanilla, roasty malts, some brown sugar.
T - Caramel, brown sugar syrup, Orange reduction , vanilla all work quite well together.
M - Medium, to heavy on the palate. A bit sweet while avoiding the syrupy texture trap. Finish is suprisingly dry, linger calls for more.
O - A really lovely, and hefty ale. The 9% is well hidden, the flavors move as one. Worth seeking out.