Not-So-Secret-Santa Christmas Swap

[RussPDX]

Finally getting around to posting some comments....been one hell of week. Figured I would pop the next in the series and get this done.

Here is what I have had so far along with some pics. Even got to have some on brew day (Belgian Pale) this weekend so there is some keggle in a shot.....thought it was fitting.

Robling porter - amazing. *Rich and dark, not much on the nose although there is some malt depth resent. *Very chocolate and vanilla forward with an amazing roast character. *This might be the perfect desert beer. *I will say that the carbonation felt a touch low.View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1418875775.380836.jpgView attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1418875795.588684.jpgView attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1418875830.495348.jpg By the time I took the picture the head was already dissapearing.

HB Wet hop cascade. Full hop aroma, very floral. *Definitely not clear, but of course I am drinking it 20 minutes after unpacking it. Good beer, there is no missing that grapefruity hoppiness. *The head was nice stuck around for a bit.*

Great Lakes winter ale. *Nice head that persists . Light copper color, good carbonation. *Very spiced flavor. Floral notes perhaps. *Maybe some honey notes.

HB Strawberry Blonde - super cloudy without much head to speak of. *Tastes sour, more like a Berliner on fruit than a blonde, although I couldn't tell you the last time that I had a blonde. *The strawberry defenetly takes a back seat on this. *It is there, but faintly. *No hop aroma or flavor to speak of. *Unfortunately not one I would write home about, but greatly appreciate any HB that is sent my way.

Punkin - not much head going on, but has a really nice nose. *I get the pumpkin and light spicing, but find that there is a little residual sweetness that throws the malt balance out. *I might either have mashed a little lower to dry it out a bit more or gone heavier on the spicing to better stand up against it. *The notes indicate 156 on the mash so I think there is some room there, maybe 152ish. *I think the hallertaur makes a nice addition and is balanced nicely taking a backseat to the spices but providing that touch of bitterness so you know it is beer. *The flavors are really nicely present and the moth feel is full and nice, so keeping that while dropping the residual sweetness would make it sing in my opinion.

Looking forward to the rest!

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[Keith_O]

Ok, Apologies to poptart... this has been a hell of a week, sounds like there is a lot of that going around.
First off, these are the first HB I have had that were not mine, so this is all very exciting.
Second, this entire box is pretty much out of the norm for me, which is awesome!
I have never had skeeter pee or mead, I got 2 of each!
I don't usually do a lot of big beers, I think 7.2% was the only one below 10%! just all around crazy!
Obviously, I'm going to have to space these out...

Berry Skeeter Pee
nice berry aroma - has a tart berry bite, has a little alcohol bite, but only enough that you know it's there.
Pretty good, not an everyday drinker for me, but great change of pace, and SWMBO really liked it...

Mad Elf v1 - **disclaimer**
I have never had a mad elf, I have read the name a few times in the MAW threads, but now I want to try the original as well.
This is a big boozy beer! Strong malty backbone, this may have made the hops seem weaker than they were, not sure.
Very little hop aroma, if any. not sure if that is per the original or not.
Good beer, definitely not sessionable!

Hoptarts
beautiful red color-slight hop aroma-thick full head
This beer has a big full flavor, bittering hops match up pretty well, I feel it could use more aroma hops, but that's just me.
Drinking it, you don't realize it's 10%.
Wish there were 2 of these, good beer

 

[RussPDX]

Just cracked open the Cigar City Madura. They live up to the reputation. Good color and clarity for a brown. Good head formed and stuck around for a little while. The mouthfeel was medium full, not cloying just in your face rich. Not getting much on the nose. There is a great roasty note that really makes me want to go back to my own brown recipe and crank up the roast. All in all a really solid beer and one of the better browns that I have had.

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[Hello]

@DisturbdChemist

Just got my haul. Very excited to try these out. I'm going to stick them in the fridge for a few days beforehand but I can't wait. Thanks for such a generous set up.

Damn those whataburger sauces! I want to bathe my chicken tenders and fries in them.

I feel bad that 98% of my box is commercial beer. I feel like a dick but I didn't have a ton on hand. Hope bford can survive that.

 

[RussPDX]

Finished the Madura and moving right along to a Homebrewed Graff that Jakesaur sent. This is great. I have not had a Graff so I had to look up the style. Typically I am really not a huge cider fan. Some examples can be good, but just not my first choice. I really like it. Light and fruity with a buttering bite that just is delicious. Somewhat clear, not brilliant, but somewhere in the middle, clean slightly fruity nose. I want this recipe. View attachment 242583View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1418883515.954659.jpg

 

[cmoewes]

I'm waiting to drink mine until this strep/flu/plague goes away. I pulled a glass of my wheat beer last night and it tasted like swamp water so I'm pretty sure my tongue is still on the fritz.

But I did have a little sip of some peach something something that seemed to be good medicine.

 

[BGBC]

But I did have a little sip of some peach something something that seemed to be good medicine.

Schnapps?

 

[pointcity-homebrew]

Package has landed in NY.

 

[bford]

Damn those whataburger sauces! I want to bathe my chicken tenders and fries in them.

I feel bad that 98% of my box is commercial beer. I feel like a dick but I didn't have a ton on hand. Hope bford can survive that.

I'm going to be just fine thank you! Box arrived today...everything arrived in great shape!

First the pics... the homebrews!




Some North Carolina Bombers




More NC Bombers and two Midwest cans!




I haven't had any of these commercial beers... so I'm very excited to get to try them.... new homebrew... new craft beer... it all makes me happy. I'll fridge all of these up and let em retemp for a day.

Going to a big Christmas party tomorrow night... I'm going to take all of the IPA's with me to share with a couple other IPA lovers...

Probably take one of each of the homebrew also.. along with some of mine.


You were worried you didn't send enough homebrew.. ha.. I'm worried I sent to much at five bottles of different brews....I'm only a bit over a year into the game, so while I have liked them, I have no idea what other brewers will think! I did send three commercial craft beers also....

Cheers and thanks for this wonderful bounty.

(side note: Next time I got into the EZ Emaw I was going to just ask for beers from North and South Carolina as I haven't had any craft from there... well that is about to change!)

 

[Hello]

I'm going to be just fine thank you! Box arrived today...everything arrived in great shape!



First the pics... the homebrews!

Some North Carolina Bombers

More NC Bombers and two Midwest cans!









I haven't had any of these commercial beers... so I'm very excited to get to try them.... new homebrew... new craft beer... it all makes me happy. I'll fridge all of these up and let em retemp for a day.



Going to a big Christmas party tomorrow night... I'm going to take all of the IPA's with me to share with a couple other IPA lovers...



Probably take one of each of the homebrew also.. along with some of mine.





You were worried you didn't send enough homebrew.. ha.. I'm worried I sent to much at five bottles of different brews....I'm only a bit over a year into the game, so while I have liked them, I have no idea what other brewers will think! I did send three commercial craft beers also....



Cheers and thanks for this wonderful bounty.



(side note: Next time I got into the EZ Emaw I was going to just ask for beers from North and South Carolina as I haven't had any craft from there... well that is about to change!)

Awesome! So glad they were all safe. I know that box was massive. Hah

 

[Hello]

Okay...all I can say is duuuuuddddeeee @eatmorefrogs. Holy mother of lord. I do need to know what home brews you sent and is that wine?! I'm never leaving the house. And Spencer Trappist? Goly macaroni!

Thank you so dang much.

Home brew and probably wine:
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Commercial:
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And while these chill, I'll paint a room and this is only 1/2 of it.
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[Gentlemans_Ale]

Glad to hear you're interested in the JAOM also. I plan on zesting the orange and removing some of the pilth next time.

The JAOM was great! Sweet, orange spice flavor without any off flavors. I have a feeling the ABV is above 12%.

 

[BGBC]

View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1418959193.685640.jpg

Haul from @JohnnyHitch1. Pretty stoked. I was scared at first because when I opened the bag, everything was pretty wet. Lost about half of the traditional mead, but no breakage.

4 mead varieties
3 apfelwein varieties
3 beers (pumpkin, BA maple porter, and 100% Brett)
And the 2 cans.

Thanks for everything! Any suggestions on where to start?

Oh, and I'll probably use those hooks you put in the noisemaker too, haha.

 

[eatmorefrogs]

@hello

haha, I'll type up full descriptions asap, sorry about that.

Wine is a cab merlot blend.
PP = Pecan porter
ALA = American Light Ale (that one needs some explaining)
IPA = IPA
MSA = Maple Syrup Ale

On the commercial brews I tried to pick regional beers that didn't have much distribution out of the area and that you probably didn't get in a previous swap.

The tape.....In a gross overestimation when painting, I bought the "contractors pack" and I'm still working on it years later.

 

[eatmorefrogs]

@Hello
For the homebrew you should find abbreviations on the caps. The bottles were filled from kegs on Monday night so you shouldn't get sediment if you want to drink from the bottle.

Pecan Porter (PP) - Just a basic porter recipe that was secondaried on top of some oven roasted, crushed pecans. I've been serving this on nitro, it's a totally different beer on nitro. I bled off the keg and beer gunned it into the bottle, but because it's been on nitro for so long maybe, just maybe, you'll get a hint of the nitro.

American Light Ale (ALA) - This is a franken-recipe. When making the switch from extract to all grain, that was whatever extra stuff was left on the shelf. It's a fairly easy drinker. I forgot irish moss so it's cloudy. If we're in the safety tree of honesty, it's so "eh" that I almost didn't send it, but I decided to pad the numbers. It's not that it's bad, it's just boring. I'm really selling it, aren't I?

Cab-merlot blend - Dry and medium bodied. My favorite of all time. Hope you like reds. This particular batch was bottled February 2013 and it's really hit it's stride.

IPA (IPA) - House recipe from my LHBS. They call it the "Century old explorer" due to Centenial and Columbus Hops. I doubled the recipe and dry hopped with Amarillo. I suppose that technically makes it a DIPA.

Maple Syrup Ale (MSA) - A taste of New England. It's a dark red ale with maple syrup added late in the boil and again in secondary. I made it last year with only a cup and a half of maple syrup and thought it was too weak. This year I did 36 ounces. The maple syrup really hits you in your face. It might foam a bit, watch out. I won't judge you if you make pancakes and drink this with breakfast.

Pretty Things Meadowlark - Depending on how much you follow craft brew news, you might have caught wind recently of the owner of this brewery on a late night drunken tweet binge about corruption in purchasing tap lines. I honestly hadn't heard of them before that, but ever since I've been working through their beers. I haven't run into any that have been less than awesome.

Opa-Opa - Around here these guys mostly just sell growlers directly to the local stores. Given that a growler is $7 + $2.50 deposit and readily available everywhere, this is one of my go-to breweries for both a steady stream of growlers and fresh craft beer.

Spencer Trappist - Probably self explanatory why I included it. It's the only real Trappist beer brewed in America and it's not widely distributed yet.

Smoke and Dagger - Jacks Abbey is one of our local up-and-comers. This is one of their more widely distributed beers. What's neat about these guys is that they only do lagers. I also think they do "smoke" very well. They've got a good sense of how much smoke is the right amount of smoke (unlike me and maple.)

 

[Hello]

@eatmorefrogs awesome! I've never had home made wine. I am fully stoked about everything, even the painter's tape that I'll reuse...hence sticking it to a wall. It took me while to get everything opened. It felt like the Mary Poppins Bag of beer boxes. Every time I thought I was done I'd get another bottle. Good work and thank you again.

 

[LiquidFlame]

@nmfree, did the bottles arrive safely?

 

[jakeasaur]

First off don't judge I work nights. Drinking RussPDX's nut brown. Just what I want from a nut brown. Clear. Good carb. A little roast up front. Malty in the middle and a semi dry finish. Sorry not very good at tasting notes but I went back for a second one and I'm glad he sent three or I should say my brew partner will be when I share it with him this weekend

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[jakeasaur]

On to the next beer sent from RussPDX. Your call. He states "every so often you brew beer that just does not come out anything like what you expected". Been there. dumped a few drank a few. This definitely falls in the drink a few. Clear and brilliant red when held up to the light. Tastes like an Irish red to me. Amber malt in the nose. Definitely taste the crystal malt. Nice bitterness to balance it out. I'm actually really interested to see what he was going for here as it is a damn tasty brew.

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[Johnnyhitch1]

Got a box from pointcity last night!

3 homebrews and some nice extras!
Thx man!

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[RussPDX]

On to the next beer sent from RussPDX. Your call. He states "every so often you brew beer that just does not come out anything like what you expected". Been there. dumped a few drank a few. This definitely falls in the drink a few. Clear and brilliant red when held up to the light. Tastes like an Irish red to me. Amber malt in the nose. Definitely taste the crystal malt. Nice bitterness to balance it out. I'm actually really interested to see what he was going for here as it is a damn tasty brew.

Thanks Jake. If you like roast, I think you will really enjoy the Porter.

What I had sent Jakeasur was

Fuzzy Nut Brown - The recipe was the first AG batch I had ever done and I really liked it so other than playing with different yeast strains, the recipe has pretty much stayed the same. Happy to share, but my computer died the other day and I have not had time to install Beersmith on the replacement yet.....I split this batch half 1099 Whitbread Ale and 1968 London ESB. You got the 1099 as the 1968 is at my brew partners house so we just keg and share as needed. I actually think that I prefer the 1968, I found that it fermented just a little bit cleaner.
Your Call - This was Jamil's Hoppiness is an IPA recipe from BCS. It was a midweek stovetop extract batch. I have made it before and gotton nothing but compliments.....but this time.......Instead of giving me Pale/Light LME, the LHBS packed me up some Amberesque stuff and I didn't realize it. It calls for Munich extract as well which I generally weigh out but this time my scale died and I didn't have a fresh battery so I guessed. It is way darker than it was intended and when I first kegged it, it was aweful. The bitterness was way out of balance but I decided to just let it sit. Two months later it has really come into its own and I am enjoying it. My Brother-in-Law who is a total hop head was over last night and he liked it too, so just goes to show you....Beer is magical and can fix itself.

The two others that I sent are a London Porter that is Gordon Strong's recipe from BYO Porter issue several months ago. I have made that 3 or 4 times now and really like how roasty it is although I might try cold steeping the dark malts just to see if I can smooth it out a touch. Last is a brew that my brew partner made that he called ORtoberfest. He made it late September or October but wanted an Octoberfest and there was no time to start making a lager so it is his Ale version. Essentially just an easy drinking Amber.

 

[poptarts]

Ok, Apologies to poptart... this has been a hell of a week, sounds like there is a lot of that going around.
First off, these are the first HB I have had that were not mine, so this is all very exciting.
Second, this entire box is pretty much out of the norm for me, which is awesome!
I have never had skeeter pee or mead, I got 2 of each!
I don't usually do a lot of big beers, I think 7.2% was the only one below 10%! just all around crazy!
Obviously, I'm going to have to space these out...

Berry Skeeter Pee
nice berry aroma - has a tart berry bite, has a little alcohol bite, but only enough that you know it's there.
Pretty good, not an everyday drinker for me, but great change of pace, and SWMBO really liked it...

Mad Elf v1 - **disclaimer**
I have never had a mad elf, I have read the name a few times in the MAW threads, but now I want to try the original as well.
This is a big boozy beer! Strong malty backbone, this may have made the hops seem weaker than they were, not sure.
Very little hop aroma, if any. not sure if that is per the original or not.
Good beer, definitely not sessionable!

Hoptarts
beautiful red color-slight hop aroma-thick full head
This beer has a big full flavor, bittering hops match up pretty well, I feel it could use more aroma hops, but that's just me.
Drinking it, you don't realize it's 10%.
Wish there were 2 of these, good beer

Well glad I could get you something you haven't had before. The mad elf recipe is on this site, there are quite a few HBTers trying to clone it up. it never had much hop aroma to begin with but its about a year old so its pretty much down to the yeast and malt for aroma. Here is a list I psoted earlier but it got burried pretty fast so not sure you saw it or not yet. should give you a better idea of whats in the bottles.

On FedEx vehicle for delivery, so here goes.



Apple Pie Mead: it’s getting close to 2 years old now, Getting better every time I open one, still could use more time if you want to wait if not its completely drinkable as is.

Skeeter Pee: Pretty much original recipe, used a bit more sugar so it got up to 10%, nothing special.

Berry Pee: Skeeter Pee second batch but with black tea, and back sweetened with juice concentrate and close to 13% abv.

Bogarts Barley Wine: @KingBogart made this one 1.111OG tons of dark fruit flavor and aroma.

Hoptarts: An American barley wine, brewed summer 2014, took first in barley wine category at KROC comp with score 38. Fairly hop forward but nice sweetness on the back. Was going to brew with poptarts in the mash but chickened out last minute, will do it next time though lol.

Raspberry, Vanilla, Earl Grey Mead Stuff: Young and should get some age, close to 15% had to rush to bottling for Christmas gifts, pretty smooth for only being a little over a month old.

Apple Pie Ale: Pretty tasty one, I apologize if its not carbonated, had issues getting this batch to carb up for some reason but all the others from that 6 pack were so here is to hoping. Won our local club comp, has decent amount of malt with some crisp green apple flavor.

Mad Elf: Belgian dark strong, my attempt at a clone, pretty close but a little dryer than the original. Sent it off to the Big Beers and Barley Wine Comp so hoping to get more feedback on it next month when the results come back.

The Abyss: Year old RIS, clone attempt aged on oak and cherry bark. A bit thinner than and not quite as complex as the original if you have ever had it. Overall though, it has turned into a good beer over the past year.

I look forward to hearing about likes and dislikes as well as any flaws you find. The only thing under 10% is the Apple pie ale and its 8% so just keep that in mind.

 

[Keith_O]

@ Wolfhound180
Everything ok? Saw it was delivered yesterday afternoon.
I apologize for the lack of HB, but my HB lately has been a comedy of errors.
P- is a pear cider
D- is a ummm, not sure, well, let's call it a double dunkel.
Last is a Cascade pale ale, but it was bottled in June, I think, so it is starting to fade a bit.
The rest are some local craft beers.
Hope everything made it ok.

 

[Keith_O]

@ Poptarts
Anything special on aging the mead longer? temp requirements and such?
It's a perfect box!
The point of this for me was to try stuff I've never had, be it HB or craft. I would have been thrilled either way.
You hit that spot on. I didn't KNOW I liked barley wine, that Hoptarts was good stuff though.
Excellent job sir!
Merry Christmas!

 

[poptarts]

Glad you liked it, its on of the better beers I have brewed I think. And mead is pretty much a wine so cellar temp is fine, cool, dry, dark, you know the drill.

 

[poptarts]

I hope my package shows today, could use a beer or 2 after work

 

[Johnnyhitch1]

Pointcity Citra Pale ale

Ap: dark for an ipa, heavy carb leaves a lasting finger and half head

Ar: very muted but do get some citrus hop, would of guessed cascade or amarillo just not getting that citra punch. Sweet malt out back carries the hop a little further.

T: high carb scrubs the palate before i can really get anything on it. Getting some malt sweetness and a dry bakers chocolate thing going on. Bottles seems like it could be a little fresher.

O: drinkable but ok. Need to work on your attenuation/yeast health and hop additions. Quick look into Water chemistry might help also. Seems like you have soft water.

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[Johnnyhitch1]

Pointcity Apricot Cream ale

Ap: similer to the pale in color but on the lighter side. Was expecting a shade to 2 lighter but thats the beauty to this isn't it.

Ar: ohh that is apricot!! Subtle and not so in your face, which i like. also very authentic feel over artificial extract. Bit of stone pit complexity out back.

T: Perfect carb on this one. Palate is dry and a touch thin but the apricots make up the perceived sweetness and mouthfeel for sure. Once again very authentic feel to it. Goes down easy and the touch of acidity out back leaves me wanting more. As it warms some acetaldehyde is detected but not overwheling and sorta helps with the fruity aspect...sorta. None the less great palate.

O: Very nice! Color fooled me but it ended up being very good. To be honest didnt finish the pale ale bottle but finished this one. Great apricot feel this and let me tell ya. Apricots are one of my favorite fruit. Thx for this!!

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[pointcity-homebrew]

Thanks for the feedback, the fact that it's a drinkable beer makes me happy. It was brewed back in march so the hops have faded a bit.


Glad you liked the Apricot, I have had positive reviews on that one . I had positive reviews on the pale ale when it was fresher .

I am not expecting much out of the vanilla orange cream ale, but that's why I participated in this .

Sent from the future using neurological impulses.

 

[campbellmike]

Received shipment from inkman15 today. Packaged very well, took me 20+ minutes to unpack.