New Beer Weekend #183

My first 2 new beers of the day were from Põhjala Brewery, since it's Baltic Porter Day figured I'd have a couple good ones:

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/37027/594888/?ba=bluejacket74#lists



https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/37027/602186/?ba=bluejacket74#lists



Wish I could get their brews in my area, but I'll just continue to pick them up out of state when I can. Should have one more new beer review later today, cheers!

 

Zywiec 0.0



Corn, grain. Smells like the door of a mashtun just propped ajar in a brewery - while you’re in the taproom right next door. Nostalgic.

Soft on the mouth but sweet and full bodied. It’s not supremely bitter but neither is regular zywiec. Clean and approachable. Corn and grain initially, some malt sugar and spicy hops.

Very tasty. I’m incredibly surprised by this.

Second last Saturday of dry January. Looking forward to a good old boozy IPA next month.

Cheers!

 

My memory is slipping- I logged in earlier to say that according to UnTapped (and yes, I know they are not a reliable source for accurate news) today, January 20, is Baltic Porter day.
So I’ll be back soon with one if I can find one in the cellar that I’ve not reviewed yet.
Cheers!

 

It definitely is today: https://www.balticporterday.com/

Bigger overseas than it is here, but why not drink one or 2 if you have them!

 

Woot! I do have one, maybe two.
Thanks for sharing that!

 

Well I found one, thanks to @Bishop no less!

Poured the color of light coffee from the bottle and looked almost stout black in the glass, but the mahogany accents when back lit showed it wasn’t quite there. Still, the 1 cm tan head didn’t stick around long but managed to leave sheets of lacing with each swallow.
The taste was malty with coffee and chocolate and well worn leather (not sure how else to describe it!) and some dark fruit flavors. The vanilla was present but faded, it’s almost metallic now. Curious. Didn’t detract but it didn’t help either.
The feel is right about par for a Baltic porter; easily crushable- not too viscous, not too thin, just a happy medium.
OA, glad I got to try it. Thanks @Bishop for this!

 

Had a productive morning, but my afternoon consisted of a nap, reading a book and building a fire. Now it's football, beer and maybe some cribbage with the Mrs. if I'm feeling a little crazy. Boring day to some, about perfect to me!

I'm going to cheat a bit with my first beer, as I'm pretty sure I had this once or twice years ago, but I definitely didn't review it and don't remember it at all. I have a section of my beer fridge that has probably 30 older Firestone Walker beers that I need to drink before they fall off a cliff (which none have done so far, thankfully).

This is XXI - Firestone Walker's 21st anniversary ale


4.2/5 rDev -3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Amber on the pour but much darker in the glass. Small amount of short-lived head. Somewhat unremarkable, unlike the aroma, which I'm totally digging. Despite the fact that Helldorado only makes up 9% of the blend, this smells like a Barley Wine, but with the oatmeal stout (Velvet Merken - 42%) and other malts from the Parabola (stout - 18%) and Stickee Monkee (Quad - 17%) clearly there behind the initial sweetness. The only thing I'm not picking up is any Bravo (Imperial Brown Ale - 14%). Regardless, even after 6+ years of storage, this beer smells great.

Taste is also wonderfully unique. Roasted malts (which I'll attribute to the Parabola) right up front, then some very clear Quad malts. I don't get the Barley Wine sweetness that I got on the nose, but there are hints of it on the finish. Very pleasant alcohol warming.

Overall, really enjoying this.

 

Drekker Ice Ice Prrrty Raspberry Strawberry Slush Style Sour, 6.1% ABV. Pours thick and opaque maroon with a one-finger pink head that left puree residue. Aroma is raspberry and strawberry. Taste follows, moderately sweet, slightly tart, faintly bitter. Slushy mouthfeel, overall excellent.

4.15/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Getting primed for the Packers game tonight. This is the primer, I'll get shellacked later.

 

Probably my last new brew today, had a great collab one from The Bruery and Boulevard:

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/16866/671143/?ba=bluejacket74#lists





Plan on having some more new beers tomorrow, cheers everyone!

 

You win some, you lose some. So is this a tie?

 

Helloooo NBW.
Western Standard Time by (new to me) ISM Brewing, in Long Beach, CA.

Can is undated but does mention this is a special edition because it's their first can release.

Pretty solid.
Straw in color, fluffy white head, good retention that leaves moderate lacing.
Nose states off with some fruit notes: citrus zest, berries, grass, onion, and some crackery malt in the background.
Flavor starts off with a blend of slightly pithy citrus mixing with the grassy onion notes. Pine chimes in a bit as well. The malt is timid but creates a stable foundation for delivering the hops.
Mouthfeel is on the lighter side of medium, decent carb, drying finish.

3.71/5 rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

 

Hidden River - The Few Shining Lights

16oz can served in a snulip. Can is dated 11/17/23. Got it from @Braunmeister_1943.

Pours black with a flash of head that becomes a wide ring with a little bit of dusting across the surface. Smell is rich, roasty coffee and maybe some very dark chocolate.

Taste is pretty similar, with a sweetness that makes me think of burnt toffee and heavily toasted nuts.

Mouthfeel is rich, smooth, velvety. Overall, this is really nice.

 

Greetings, NBW friends. After hosting Little O for a week, who has a preference for lighter beers slanted towards lagers, I’m ready for some hops. This is Well Hello Western Mass, a NEDIPA from the hazy masters.





4.35/5 rDev +5.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours a very hazy mango color with a creamy white head that provides significant lacing. Very nice. Tangerine and mango aromas are most prominent on the nose, with some papayas pine as well.

The papaya and pine are more prominent on the taste, with some welcome bitterness (thank you, pine) and exotic citrus (thank you, papaya) that combine with the tangerine and mango and nice bit of oat sweetness and soft mouthfeel for a very flavorful and drinkable NEDIPA.

 

Having a Humble Sea Bay Buds Make Suds WCIIPA. Good beer, could improve in some areas though.I have it 3.89

Typical amber/copper in color. Very viscous white head. While drinking the head leaves some good lacing. Nose was lemont and pine. Taste has a malty taste initially then pine. Not much bitterness as one expects in a WC style.

 

Enjoying a stellar offering from 3 Sheeps Brewing, “Wolf” Double Barrel Imperial Stout. I received this beer last year from @Danmullens1 !

It pours a little thinner than most BA Imperial Stouts. You can clearly get the bourbon aroma as soon as it’s poured. A very thin head that quickly dissipates. Vanilla, some slight oak, cola, and caramel bourbon aromas. Raisins, caramel, and bourbon flavors. Mouthfeel is moderate with very fine carbonation. Overall, this is a world class winner! Thanks again @Danmullens1 !

 

Stonecloud Brewing Astro Pup Session IPA, 3.9% ABV; 3.61 overall

Pours a hazed gold with one finger of beige colored head. Average-ish head retention & lacing

S: Plenty of tropical fruits, some citrus & peaches

T: Green melon, tangerine & lime up front. More green melon, a little dryness & a little tangerine as this beer warms up. Finishes with a little bitter orange, dryness & green melon

MF: Light/medium body, fairly firm carbonation, okay balance

This okay as session IPAs go, the style isn't to my liking for the most part unless we are talking cask ale offerings. Very easy to drink, Wished it lived up to the nose

 

We'll see it in 6-8 weeks

 

#2, this will be my “winter fridge stout.” What, everyone doesn’t have a winter fridge stout?



4.1/5 rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours cola brown and settles black in the glass with mahogany brown colors on the edges, underneath a fluffy, sudsy light tan head that provides a nice bit of lacing.

The nose is indeed roasty as described by the brewery, and there’s a nice amount of rye bread as well, with a smidge of citrus from the Amarillo and Nugget hops. I like where this is heading.

The taste is all about the roasty char and bready rye flavors, complemented by the subtle citrus flavor. This is REALLY well done and oh so drinkable, especially with the medium, smooth mouthfeel.

This is now my winter “fridge stout.” So it is written, so it shall be done.