New Holland Envious - New Holland Brewing Company

JohnQVegas

Tennessee

2.28/5  rDev -29.8%
look: 3 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Bottle into red wine glass. I'm not sure if I should actually thank Jeff (Alewatcher) for this one - he sounded almost vengeful when he described it to me.

Pours a pretty dark red-brown, highlights of ruby as the light hits it. No head at all, anywhere, but nice color - not an entirely ugly beer.

Nose is kind of weird. Like plasticized prunes, bit rubbery, and a bit of overly-toasted breadcrust mixed in there as well. Prunes come off as almost rotting at points.

Taste is both better and worse. Promising, bright raspberry tartness almost instantly evaporate into those same rotting prune and bizarrely chalky breadcrust notes. The pears come through really clearly, which is a shame - this one really leads me to believe that pears have no place in beer. The flavor combo is nigh on revolting, ESPECIALLY when combined with the weird, chalky, bready brown ale qualities this one takes on. Raspberries are there in the finish, and I feel like they could almost turn things around with a different base beer, but not this one. I suppose I could say this one was a bit too ambitious, but after reading the bill of ingredients it looks like something a 12 year old would dream up - I can't imagine ANYONE thinking a brown ale with pears and raspberries and a wee bit of tartness would be a good idea. And it isn't. If they had taken out the pears, it would have moved up a notch, I believe, and changing the base beer to something like a golden ale would maybe move it up another. But as it is, blech

Mouthfeel is medium bodied, moderate carbonation. Finish isn't nearly clean enough for my taste. Drinkability is a barefoot walk through broken glass. You're left dwelling on the awful bits endless, losing any promising aspects way too quickly.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2011 21:05:44 | More by JohnQVegas

StoutHunter

Michigan

3.5/5  rDev +7.7%

05-21-2013 01:41:06 | More by StoutHunter

jklecko2

Missouri

3.25/5  rDev 0%

05-08-2013 14:29:07 | More by jklecko2

drummermattie02

Texas

3/5  rDev -7.7%

04-29-2013 13:52:23 | More by drummermattie02

FLBeerGuy

Florida

3.25/5  rDev 0%

04-28-2013 02:47:20 | More by FLBeerGuy

lewdwig

Michigan

3.5/5  rDev +7.7%

04-17-2013 23:19:08 | More by lewdwig

TheBeerAlmanac

Kentucky

3.5/5  rDev +7.7%

04-09-2013 22:33:20 | More by TheBeerAlmanac

HoistinBrews

Minnesota

3/5  rDev -7.7%

03-31-2013 03:03:31 | More by HoistinBrews

metter98

New York

3.23/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

A: The beer is clear dark reddish brown in color. It poured with a short off white head that quickly died down, leaving a thin collar around the edge of the glass.
S: Light to moderate aromas of raspberries and dark malts are present in the nose-as the beer warms up, pears also become noticeable.
T: The taste is similar to the smell, except that flavors of dark malts are also noticeable. Neither sweetness nor tartness is present.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer is rather malty for a fruit beer and tastes like it has some off flavors, as the malts don't seem to mesh well with the fruit.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2013 22:37:30 | More by metter98

inlimbo77

Delaware

3.18/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

22oz, 2012 vintage
Riedel tulip

A: Pours a dirty ruby red color. Thin collar of off white head. Leaves some sticky lacing bits.

S: Pulling all fruits on nose. Definitely pulling that flat pear character. It's just not an aggressive fruit. Not getting much tartness or raspberries. Or oak for that matter.

T: Basically a flat fruit beer. Wish there was more, but pear isn't an aggressive fruit variety. Dry finish.

M: Medium bodied. Fruit adds to that.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2013 14:48:48 | More by inlimbo77

dvmin98

North Carolina

3.25/5  rDev 0%

03-09-2013 21:51:19 | More by dvmin98

JohnnieNepal

Michigan

3.5/5  rDev +7.7%

02-23-2013 03:06:42 | More by JohnnieNepal

Jsmitty1967

Kentucky

4/5  rDev +23.1%

02-17-2013 00:09:37 | More by Jsmitty1967

BeerThursdays

Delaware

2.5/5  rDev -23.1%

01-15-2013 04:16:39 | More by BeerThursdays

3agle87

Illinois

4.75/5  rDev +46.2%

01-15-2013 02:13:50 | More by 3agle87

tabooky

3.7/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

22 oz bottle poured into imperial pint glass. Dark amber approaching brown. Tan head followed by clinging lace. Nice looking beer.

Smell is dark malts and toffee similar to a brown ale but sweeter and more complex. There’s a medley of dark fermented fruit. Just enough fruity sharpness to liven it up.

Taste is sweet caramel malts with dark fruit at first, but balanced by a moderate tartness that’s hard to define. I don’t taste pear or raspberry, they’ve morphed into that lively tartness. Twinge of sweetly acidic quality hits the sides of the tongue . Dryness on the finish with sweetness still on the lips.

Pretty damn good, not outstanding. To me this is like a very mild brown ale with additional layers of fresh and fermented fruit complexity. I’d certainly drink it again, probably buy it again, but didn’t make my must-have list.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2012 23:53:46 | More by tabooky

Vogie

Michigan

3.5/5  rDev +7.7%

12-18-2012 22:03:25 | More by Vogie

RuckusDu

Colorado

3.5/5  rDev +7.7%

12-18-2012 03:39:07 | More by RuckusDu

mrmitsui29

Illinois

3/5  rDev -7.7%

12-13-2012 06:30:20 | More by mrmitsui29

buddyvelt

Michigan

3.25/5  rDev 0%

12-05-2012 06:33:20 | More by buddyvelt

BYOFB

Wisconsin

3.25/5  rDev 0%

12-03-2012 03:03:48 | More by BYOFB

rolive

4.5/5  rDev +38.5%

11-27-2012 20:16:28 | More by rolive

C-Dog

3.25/5  rDev 0%

11-27-2012 05:41:59 | More by C-Dog

t0rin0

California

3/5  rDev -7.7%

11-25-2012 03:11:52 | More by t0rin0

leprechaunandfatman

Illinois

4/5  rDev +23.1%

11-12-2012 00:58:28 | More by leprechaunandfatman