Try?
As many of you
know, I’m always on the lookout for something new and different in the beer
world. Recently, while up in my old home state of Rhode Island for a while,
I saw a six-pack that looked interesting from the local brewery. I like
local. Local food, local beer, local music….you get the picture. Sampling
the local goodies is an essential part of any trip I take anywhere.
Anyway, the local brewery In Rhode Island is Coastal Extremes Brewing, makers of the Newport Storm line of beers. Right now, they’re the only bottling brewery in town, though there’s talk of a revival of a Narragansett Brewery. That brand has been bought and is being contract produced for local distribution.
But I digress. Again, if you want a locally brewed bottled beer in Rhode Island, you’ll be drinking a Newport Storm. There are several beers sold under that label, including a flagship amber ale, an IPA, a red ale, and a porter. An annual special release is offered each winter.
To be sure, every beer in the line is a bit different from the norm. That’s true for the new “Cyclone Series” too. The first, “Alyssa”, released earlier this year, was a sort of intense brown ale. The beer under consideration tonight, “Brent”, is called an “extreme bock” (double bock anyone?), and is named for one of the brewers.
In addition to brewing their beer in Rhode Island, Coastal Extreme also farms out some of their production to Buzzard’s Bay in Westport, Massachusetts. I believe their bottled beers are packaged there, though don’t quote me.
Anyway, on to the beer. From the brewery:
The second release in our Cyclone Series, Brent has a delightful balance between the malty sweet body and the dry lager finish. Its high alcohol content leaves a hint of warmth on the tongue. Available in 6-packs of 12 ounce bottles only.
SPECS: 40 SRM, OG 1.074, FG 1.009, 8.2% abv, 26 IBUs. Malts: Pils, Munich, Chocolate. Hops: Hersbrucker, Magnum.
My thoughts:
Newport Storm Brent pours to a dark brownish black color with a light
creamy head formation and a sweet malty nose. The palate is on the sweet
side with lots of chocolate flavor, a touch of fruit, dried nuts, brown
sugar, some soft prune notes, and sticky-sweet Munich notes in the finish.
I’m getting a little Munich flavor here up front, but it seems to build into the finish. The fruitiness seems out of place in a bock. I think the beer would benefit from a little more Munich, a little less chocolate malt. This is a decent beer, though not an exceptional double bock (as the strength implies), at least not when compared to German versions.
It’s worth trying, and I’ll give it three and a half, though to be fair it’s closer to three than four. But hey, if you’re in the area, why not give it a try? It is the local stuff, after all.
Anyway, the local brewery In Rhode Island is Coastal Extremes Brewing, makers of the Newport Storm line of beers. Right now, they’re the only bottling brewery in town, though there’s talk of a revival of a Narragansett Brewery. That brand has been bought and is being contract produced for local distribution.
But I digress. Again, if you want a locally brewed bottled beer in Rhode Island, you’ll be drinking a Newport Storm. There are several beers sold under that label, including a flagship amber ale, an IPA, a red ale, and a porter. An annual special release is offered each winter.
To be sure, every beer in the line is a bit different from the norm. That’s true for the new “Cyclone Series” too. The first, “Alyssa”, released earlier this year, was a sort of intense brown ale. The beer under consideration tonight, “Brent”, is called an “extreme bock” (double bock anyone?), and is named for one of the brewers.
In addition to brewing their beer in Rhode Island, Coastal Extreme also farms out some of their production to Buzzard’s Bay in Westport, Massachusetts. I believe their bottled beers are packaged there, though don’t quote me.
Anyway, on to the beer. From the brewery:
The second release in our Cyclone Series, Brent has a delightful balance between the malty sweet body and the dry lager finish. Its high alcohol content leaves a hint of warmth on the tongue. Available in 6-packs of 12 ounce bottles only.
SPECS: 40 SRM, OG 1.074, FG 1.009, 8.2% abv, 26 IBUs. Malts: Pils, Munich, Chocolate. Hops: Hersbrucker, Magnum.
My thoughts:
Newport Storm Brent pours to a dark brownish black color with a light
creamy head formation and a sweet malty nose. The palate is on the sweet
side with lots of chocolate flavor, a touch of fruit, dried nuts, brown
sugar, some soft prune notes, and sticky-sweet Munich notes in the finish.
I’m getting a little Munich flavor here up front, but it seems to build into the finish. The fruitiness seems out of place in a bock. I think the beer would benefit from a little more Munich, a little less chocolate malt. This is a decent beer, though not an exceptional double bock (as the strength implies), at least not when compared to German versions.
It’s worth trying, and I’ll give it three and a half, though to be fair it’s closer to three than four. But hey, if you’re in the area, why not give it a try? It is the local stuff, after all.
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft
