What beer are you drinking now? #2260

This is amazing. Flavors of huge caramel, brown sugar, maple syrup, toffee, bourbon, vanilla, coconut, toasted oak, golden raisin, plum, fig, apricot, cherry, red apple, and biscuit dough; with lighter notes of molasses, leather, herbal/grassy/peppery hops, and yeast eartiness. Similar aromas, a bit of booze as it warms, but not overwhelming. Light herbal, grassy, peppery bitterness; and bourbon/oak tannin spiciness on the finish. Medium carbonation and fairly full body; very creamy/silky malts; some sticky hops, oak tannins; and light slickness in the mouthfeel. Lightly increasing lingering bitter/tannic dryness, no cloying/astringency. Dangerously smooth, mildly increasing warmth of 12.7%, minimal barrel booze. This is just as impressive as I remember. Amazingly rich malt complexity, balanced fruity yeast, and perfect barrel integration; with solid earthy hop balance against sweetness. I think this showcases the maple syrup character better than CBS, easily. Feels more prominent. Base beer is one of my favorite old ales, I hope they bring it back soon.


Cheers

Just found this band, new album will be in March. Featuring members of Inferi, Beyond Creation, First Fragment, Vale of Pnath etc.

 

Last Night: The Bruery, 9 Ladies Dancing.

 

Amazing IPA as always. Aromas and flavors of big grapefruit, tangerine, lemon, peach, apricot, mango, citrus peel/rind, pepper, and pine hops; with moderate honey, toasted bread malts; and herbal, floral, grassy hop earthiness. Moderate pine, citrus peel/rind, herbal, floral, grassy, spicy bitterness on the finish. Medium carbonation/body; balanced creamy/bready malt and sticky/resinous/rindy hops in the mouthfeel. Light-moderate increasing resin dryness, no hop astringency. Very drinkable and not overly aggressive. Even with the new hops they added for the 1.1 version, it still tastes like the original Chinook/Centennial hop profile the most. Perfectly balanced juicy and dank hop complexity; with a nice solid malt backbone. A true classic IPA. Pretty much just as impressive as the first time I reviewed it over 6 years ago. A lot easier to find fresh recently, I'll keep buying them. Price is hard to beat for 16 oz cans, same with the Arrogant Bastard.


Cheers

 

Good morning BAs! Low forties and slight drizzle this morning. Today's New Breakfast Beer:



Meh.

 

Verdant: Photon Trails

 

Fantastic as usual. Big flavors of grapefruit, tangerine, peach, pineapple, lemon zest, orange peel, citrus rind, light peppercorn, and pine hops; with moderate caramel, brown sugar, toasted biscuit, and light nutty/toffee malt sweetness; with herbal/floral/grassy hop and yeasty earthiness. Light-moderate pine, citrus peel/rind, herbal, floral, grassy, spicy bitterness on the finish. Medium carbonation and medium-full body. Balanced hop stickiness and bready malt creaminess in the mouthfeel; touch of slickness and resins/rinds. Light-moderate increasing resin drying finish; never astringent on hops, or cloying on sweetness. Mild increasing warmth, dangerously smooth drinking. I realize this beer is basically Gnarlywine with brown sugar added; but when fresh this is like a blend of Arrogant Bastard-like strong ale and American barleywine. Centennial, Cascade, Horizon, Willamette, and Liberty hops. Always love it. Amazingly well balanced between juicy/dank/earthy hops and malts. Not overly sweet/heavy from lingering dryness. Love it fresh and aged for different reasons. I buy a pack every year.


Cheers

 

Lervig: House Party
Bacon Cheese Fries

 

Mind blowing batch this year as usual. Flavors of huge milk/dark chocolate, cocoa, coffee, caramel, vanilla, brown sugar, maple syrup, marshmallow, molasses, toffee, fudge, brownie batter, whiskey, toasted oak, coconut, dark bread, and light spicy rye/smoke. Light roast/coffee bitterness and rye whiskey/oak spiciness on the finish. Very full bodied creamy, silky, velvety, and rich mouthfeel that is amazing. Minimal chalky roast, oak tannins, or dryness. Insanely smooth, mildly warming 11%, no barrel booze. I still love the regular Hipster Brunch, but this is a whole other level of amazing. Thicker, richer, and more complex than the regular hipster; with perfect barrel presence/integration, without any associated booziness. One of my top favorites every year.


Cheers

 

Todays starter is a "sessionable" triple IPA from Short Fuse Brewing suburban Chicago. It doesn't have much going for it, too sweet, doesn't provide enough "hoppiness" for me.

 

Northen Monk: Jungle IPA
Accurate tasting notes.

 

After a freaky ice-fog drive yesterday, back at home, enjoying one of my usuals.
A little Hotbox in the morning... hilarious WBAYDN late night thread yesterday. And I have to agree that there should be a brewery called "Karl Marx" brewing...
Who's got the stones to start it?

 

First time having CBS - it was pretty amazing. Definitely in my top 20 beers overall.

 

Mikkeller: Beer Geek Breakfast

Verdant: Friday, Georges Darkness Begins

(Both earlier)

Now,
North X / Finback: DDH IPA

 

Post workout refreshment - Bearded Iris Back Talk Pale

 

As nice a day as one could wish for here...51degrees and sunny! The 3 of us walked down into the village of Stockbridge. Mrs. Z went shopping, I went to my favorite pub, the Stockbridge Tap. New on tap, Tiny Rebel’s “Pump Up The Jam”, a jammy IPA:



Quite good and smelled/tasted like sweet grape jam! Next up, “Dark Blast”, a raspberry infused black ale from CamperVan Brewery:



Roasty for an ale, drinks like a porter, and plenty of berries. Nice!

Home now with a Wylam Brewery beer - “Beer + Art Series (01) 2018 DDH Pale”:





Reminds me of Singlecut NEIPAs I had this summer, only watery. Onion grapefruit Skunky mango nose/taste. Bitter lemon rind garlicky finish. Off putting hop astringency. Yeasty/lactose tongue coasting. Bitter citrus linger. A struggle to drink the 16 oz can...not my cup of...”tea?”...Cheers y’all!

 

Continuing the 12 day.......

 

A week of great weather in Colorado and we come home to 15º and a bunch of snow.
Time to start clearing the drive. Time for an IPA.