Ymm, Beer!

[devildeac]

Heavy Is the Head-Gizmo BrewWorks

Local? Undoubtedly!

Credit-one for Dark Lord davec, one for dd2, the third for Dark Lord younger son-in-law and the fourth in my collection
Style-NEIPA (more about that below)
Format-lotsa aluminum trees/bushes disappearing
Stemware-nonic pint glass
Appearance-light bronze amber with a bit of haze; moderate head
Nose-citrus blend and pine
Mouthfeel-a shade more bitter than anticipated
Tastes-plenty of orange, grapefruit, pine, resin and rind with hints of orange liqueur
Hops-Idaho 7 and Mosaic
IBU-60ish
ABV-6.9%
Overall impression-alternative facts here as this really tastes like a West Coast IPA, or at least a West Coast/NEIPA "hybrid" (likely no such thing)
Ymm, Beer rating-high cat 2; lotta fans in the stadium here and, given the "fake news," it's a very good beer but not quite top tier; worth a single

[devildeac]

From last PM after over a year in the fridge, one from the D9 Defying Gravity Series:

Voyager-D9 Brewing Company

Sorta local.

Credit-a whim purchase quite a while ago
Style-flavored imperial sour
Format-12 ounce bottle (~$4.50)
Fresh-hell, no, but it's a high gravity sour; 02/11/19 smudged on bottle neck
Stemware-red wine glass
Appearance-raspberry soda; thin, fizzy head
Nose-sour raspberry/cherry cider/vinegar
Mouthfeel-puckery and sweet
Tastes-stuff tastes like raspberry/cherry root beer with a splash of lemon and apple cider vinegar
Adjuncts-sassafrass (I read this had been banned in the US as a possible carcinogen) and vanilla
IBU-gotta be <10
ABV-14% (); potent stuff that took me almost an hour to finish
Overall impression-greatly exceeded expectations
Ymm, Beer rating-low cat 3; I'd buy another from this series if I saw one

[devildeac]

St. Benedict's Breakfast Special "Coconut Curry" Variant-Haw River Farmhouse Ales

Local!!

Credit-one for davec, one for younger son-in-law, one for me and one for a special mule this afternoon
Style-a higher ground than the original
Container-pint can from an aluminum tree
Stemware-Ommegang tulip
Appearance-dark brown; foamy tan head
Nose-coffee and dark, dried fruits
Mouthfeel-smooth with a bit of spice
Tastes-oh, my, what a collection of flavors; coffee, cinnamon, dates, figs, curry, brown sugar syrup, dark chocolate and mild herbal/earthy bitterness
Grain adjunct-oatmeal
Other adjuncts-cocoa nibs, dark chocolate, Peruvian coffee, toasted coconut, garam masala spices, cinnamon, black cardamom and a "few other spices"
IBU-maybe 30
ABV-7.2%
Overall impression-an amazing mélange of ingredients that paired wonderfully with some ribs, smashed cheddar bacon redskin potatoes and homemade slaw last PM
Ymm, Beer rating-mid level cat 3, eyeing the upper tier very closely

[devildeac]

Stiegl Radler (Grapefruit)-Stieglbrauerei zu Salzburg GmbH

Austria ain't local.

Credit-fuse and the Love Ninja; thanks!!
Style-^^^^
Format-half quart aluminum can
Stemware- a lovely Teku
Appearance-slightly hazy pink grapefruit juice; fizzy head, quickly gone
Nose-Ocean Spray grapefruit cocktail
Mouthfeel-cold and juicy
Tastes-high quality grapefruit soda with a bit of rind
Adjuncts-^^^^
IBU-probably 10
ABV-2.25% (no typo); even lower than I thought for the style
Overall impression-very refreshing on a shaded deck on a warm, late summer afternoon
Ymm, Beer rating-high cat 2; very well done combination

[devildeac]

Torn Paper Leaves-Haw River Farmhouse Ales

Decidedly local.

Credit-another one for davec, one for younger son-in-law, one for son and one for me
Style-golden ale/tripel aged on Brazilian Amburana wood spirals
Format-pint can
Stemware-Ommegang tulip
Appearance-orange amber; slightly cloudy; fizzy, off white head
Nose-cinnamon, vanilla and wet wood
Mouthfeel-creamy
Tastes-lots of cinnamon and vanilla, orange zest and a hint of bubble gum
Adjuncts-unnamed "roots and leaves"
IBU-probably 30
ABV-8.3% (dangerous)
Overall impression-aging a tripel on wood is a wonderful idea
Ymm, Beer rating-low cat 3; what's not to like with the style and the flavors imparted by aging on these wood spirals; I'd buy another 4 pack of this one

[devildeac]

Soft and Sublime-Wise Man Brewing

Local? Certainly!!

Credit-RJ199 trader on Labor Day; thanks!!
Style-NEIPA
Format-another aluminum tree is felled
Drinking vessel-Hardywood 2019 GBS Complete Set Teku
Appearance-mildly hazy, foamy orange yellow
Nose-may I have 3 more of these?
Mouthfeel-tropical/citrus fruit juice blend
Tastes-what a cornucopia of flavors, including Mandarin Orange, peach, cantaloupe, a splash of pineapple juice and hints of orange and grapefruit zest
Hops-Citra, Mosaic, Loral and Cashmere
IBU-53 (no damn way; it's on the label but I think they're lying)
ABV-6.5%
Overall impression-this is a terrific beer with minimal bitterness, juiciness all day and a wonderful blend of hops
Ymm, Beer rating-easily slides into cat 3 for me; I could've sipped two of these with dinner but wanted to put some thought, research and meaning into this post

[devildeac]

Last evening's first sample from Wise Man Brewing to another wise(guy) man:

Chosen Vehicle (draft)-WMB

We'll give you local on this one.

Credit-on somebody else's tab; he's been thanked already
Style-New England Pale Ale (not on their website currently but that's what Untappd claims)
Format-half pint plastic cup
Appearance-light golden yellow; small head (there can only be so much foam in an 8 ounce cup before the customer gets t'ed off)
Nose-light grapefruit and pineapple
Mouthfeel-fruity and mildly bitter
Tastes-IPA lite with orange, pineapple, grapefruit and hints of rind
Hops-only one listed on Untapped is Galaxy
IBU-64 (I'd have guessed 40 to 45)
Overall impression-good starter beer, prepping the palate for a slice of pizza
Ymm, Beer rating-pale ales are becoming a forgotten style but this is a good one, earning an upper level cat 2 score

[devildeac]

Sample #2 (maybe I should dedicate it...) from last PM:

Mountain Calling-Wise Man Brewing

Local? Yep, Raleigh likes Winston-Salem breweries.

Credit-somebody else's expense account
Style-American IPA
Format-another 8 ounce plastic cup (they don't trust us with nice things on a socially distanced patio)
Appearance-a bit more gold than yellow; small head
Nose-tropical and citrus
Mouthfeel-more bitter than the Chosen Vehicle, but expected
Tastes-grapefruit, orange, pith, rind and pine/resin
Overall impression-good pairing with a New Yorker pizza
Ymm, Beer rating-crowded field but still earns an upper level cat 2; better than my last tasting of this, or was that the next sample...

[devildeac]

Body Electric (draft)-Wise Man Brewing

Winston-Salem? Yep, we're neighbors.

Credit-someone else's account
Style-DNEIPA (or should that be NEDIPA?)
Format-plastic cup with 1/4 quart of liquid
Appearance-see photo (no can)
Nose-citrus/tropical juice bomb
Mouthfeel-fruity with a bite
Tastes-pineapple, grapefruit, peach, melon, mango and various rind flavors
Hops-El Dorado, Citra, and Mosaic (more Ymm, Beer)
IBU-90 (hard to fathom, but no typo here)
ABV-7.5%
Overall impression-I *think* I had an outdated can of this in the past because Thursday's helping of this was excellent
Ymm, Beer rating-low cat 3; I liked this a bit better than the previous samples; would certainly buy a 4 pack of this and distribute to other wise men/ladies

[devildeac]

Day Patrol: BRV (draft)-Forgotten Road Ales

Local? Closer than Winston-Salem, so heck yea!

Credit-my host's credit card had one more beer approved
Style-fruited sour
Drinking vessel-quarter quart plastic cup (recycled, no landfill space wasted)
Appearance-unfiltered raspberry juice
Nose-berry pleasant
Mouthfeel-some sour, some sweet
Tastes-a mixed berry smoothie
Adjuncts-raspberries, blueberries and vanilla; if they listed lactose, I'd call it a sour milkshake and have the killerlefts go buy a 4 pack of this
IBU-probably <10
ABV-6% (yep, a boozey smoothie)
Overall impression-liquid pie (are you reading RJ199?); no cheap boxed pastry here; a delicious finish when I was almost full of pizza
Ymm, Beer rating-high cat 2; worthy of a stop several blocks off I-85 in Graham, NC; our older daughter and her husband have shared a beer or two before

[devildeac]

Drogon-Commonwealth Brewing

Local has expanded to the Tidewater area.

Credit-RJ199 and *the* beergoddess; thanks and thanks!!

All the descriptors above are money, especially the orange, lemon and grapefruit/pith. Some of the bitterness is guava-like, yet, some stone fruits (peach and nectarine) make appearances on my palate. I'll guess IBUs in the 60-70 range.

This is an outstanding DIPA and I'm sad to see it evaporating from my snifter.

I'll try to do a bit more justise to the beer/review by researching those new hops tonight or in the AM.

[devildeac]

Joy-Brewery Bhavana collaboration with Cruz Blanca Brewery & Taquería

Local? My Hometown...

Credit-now who do you think got a recent shipment of Brewery Bhavana Cellar Door "stuff?" (many thanks to RJ199, of course!!)
Style-white wine barrel aged rice lager
Format-pint can
Freshness-canned on 5/27/20 (I think as this was a Saturday night dinner beer with sauteed shrimp and roasted veggies and the can has been recycled )
Appearance-slightly cloudy, light amber with a moderate, foam head
Nose-bread, flowers and white wine
Mouthfeel-smooth
Tastes-lightly toasted bizkit, flowers, Pinot Gris, slight bitterness
Adjuncts-rice (hey, we're not budwizer here )
IBU-probably 20
ABV-4.3%
Overall impression-very interesting twist to a lager; not sure I've ever had a white wine barrel aged of the species
Ymm, Beer rating-high cat 2 for tastes and creativity

[devildeac]

People Power-Burial Beer Company

Local in Asheville.

Credit-RJ199 and the beergoddess; thanks!!
Style-DDH IPA
Format-pint recyclable can (no landfill for this one!!)
Canned on-6/17/20 (birthday beer )
Serving vessel-pint glass
Appearance-white grapefruit juice; moderate foam topping
Nose-pineapple grapefruit juice
Mouthfeel-mild rindy bitterness
Tastes-grapefruit, pineapple, guava and mango
Hops-see above
IBU-55
ABV-6.5%
Overall impression-yes, RJ199, you should have liked this better () but it's not a typical "wow" Burial product, nor is it a DIPA; the Cascade hops may distract a bit
Ymm, Beer rating-high cat 2, which is only a bit higher that RJ's rating but a cat 3 is not even in the discussion; solid and rather tasty IPA

[devildeac]

Consumed last PM, not this AM.

Things Unimaginable-Burial Beer Company collaboration with Eighth State Brewing

Local? Yes, our brewers in Asheville are like neighbors to us, especially since they opened their tasting room in downtown Raleigh.

Credit-RJ199 with the delivery and the beergoddess with the assist; thanks!!
Style-DDH IPA
Format-no trip to the dump here with this pint aluminum can
Stemware-Hardywood 2019 GBS Complete Set Teku
Appearance-hint of orange dropped into a glassful of hazy sunshine yellow; moderately foamy
Nose-orange and pineapple
Mouthfeel-citrusy bitterness
Tastes-orange, rind, pineapple plus a bit of core, grapefruit, lemon
Hops-listed above
IBU-above
ABV-above; technically, not quite IIPA territory, but certainly fits the NEIPA RJ199 posted above, but not claimed that way on the label
Overall impression-a cornucopia of delightful hops; easily socially distanced from/above People Power
Ymm, Beer rating-low cat 3; sooooo well done; delighted to have received one of these

[devildeac]

Bourbon Barrel Aged Creepshow-Warped Wing Brewing Company

It was local when purchased.

Credit-trader from son of devildeac; thanks!!
Style-BBA smoked porter
Presentation-375 ml bottle
Drinking vessel-Founders snifter
Appearance-dark brown with a modest, foamy mocha head
Nose-bourbon and chocolate coated caramels
Mouthfeel-smooth
Tastes-chocolate caramels, bourbon, hint of char/burnt grain, earthy hops, whiff of smoke
IBU-40
ABV-7.666% (yes, they did that)
Overall impression-quite the nightcap sipper that "flavored up" even more over the hour it took me to enjoy as a nightcap
Ymm, Beer rating-low cat 3; a well executed concoction with plenty of chocolate and bourbon flavors and not too much "ashtray"

[devildeac]

Place-Brewery Bhavana

Local? You bet!

Credit-RJ199 and the beergoddess; thanks!!
Style-foeder fermented tart saison ale (it sez so on the label)
Format-no landfills will be affected by this 16 ounce can
Recency bias-06/04/20
Stemware-small Allagash tulip
Appearance-pink Zinfandel with a 1 mm head that disappeared quickly
Nose-cherry cider vinegar
Mouthfeel-a little pucker
Tastes-sour cherries, apple cider vinegar, lemon, lime, Zinfandel
IBU-probably 10 to 20
ABV-6%
Overall impression-another fine pairing with some leftover ravioli, Parmesan garlic toast and a Caesar salad
Ymm, Beer rating-low cat 3; another excellent one word named Brewery Bhavana creation (but not a one word/syllable reply)

[Bob Green]

Starr Hill Oktoberfest Lager is my beer choice for Saturday.

[devildeac]

Starr Hill Oktoberfest Lager is my beer choice for Saturday.

This Saturday or for next Saturday's German Virtual Pub? Or both?

[Bob Green]

Starr Hill Oktoberfest Lager is my beer choice for Saturday.

This Saturday or for next Saturday's German Virtual Pub? Or both?

Today for starters.

[devildeac]

Oktoberfest Weissbier-Erdinger Weissbräu

Nicht local!

Credit-my $$ to buy the beer to match the beergoddess' theme
Style-though it may say Oktoberfest on the label, this ain't your traditional Oktoberfest; it's a wheat beer
Format-11.2 ounce bottle
Best before end-05/2021
Drinking vessel-pint glass because I don't own any fancy German stemware
Appearance-mildly cloudy, orange tinged yellow with a huuuuge foamy head
Nose-bananas, clove, bubblegum
Mouthfeel-wheaty
Tastes-same as the nose plus some OJ and a bit spicy, but not hot
Adjuncts-wheat
IBU-maybe 20
ABV-5.7%
Overall impression-given the beeradvocate of 83, I expected mediocre but was duly impressed
Ymm, Beer rating-mid/upper cat 2; those Germans know how to brew bier; good pairing with a spicy, grilled southwest chicken salad