New Beer Weekend #194

I don't think it was infected, but the way the head fizzed out reminded me of the behavior of other infected beers I've had in the past. No sour notes.

 

Thank you, Ian and Julia, for including us "BA friends" in your big weekend. I know we're all excited for you and wish you both all the best in your life together. You deserve it. And I love that fact that you reviewed a new beer today!! So cool!.

 

The Garden States best brewery, considering price, availability and variety but I also think it goes beyond beer with them.

I’m getting over an annoying cold otherwise I would’ve had added their new beer to the thread this weekend; I added it as a Kellerbier, it’s an all local malt lager, which they do a lot more lately; hallertau mittlefruh and various aged noble hops on lukr, yes please. Hopefully I can give it a try next weekend.

As I say to all, jut say the word, currently in fridge: their Mexican lager, witbier with lemongrass and their can conditioned dark mild

I don’t think you’ve had any Barrington brewed beers yet, their new brewery has done wonders to how clean their lagers are these days.

 

Surly Coco Nitro BA Darkness

4.48/5 rDev +5.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Chilled 16 oz can , gift boxed and received in bif18 courtesy of @Victory_Sabre1973, poured into a pretentious beer glass

brewers notes: We’ve aged Darkness in bourbon barrels before, and we’ve matured it with good friends like coconut, vanilla, and cacao before, but putting it on nitro in market was uncharted territory. Our adventurous spirit was rewarded with the absurdly smooth creaminess of the finished product. You’ve never tasted Darkness like this (literally).

Excellent packaging and artwork

Pitch black motor oil, pencil thick brown foam layer rests atop of the pour, remains intact for 5 + minutes, clinging brown lacings

Aroma is cocoa, bakers chocolate, bourbon, brown sugar

Taste is cocoa, vanilla , bourbon,chocolate cream , milk chocolate , faint coconut , whisper of char,

Absurdly silky smooth , 12% abv is well hidden , no heat, no sudsing , no carbonation, syrupy sweet but not cloyingly so



Good beer, recommended, obscene bar, thanks for sharing!

 

Congratulations! Glad to see you two so happy.

 

NBS #2. Yesterday, we visited Anglesea Aleworks in Wildwood, New Jersey, for the first time. The brewery has been open a little over a year and is located beneath a bowling alley in a shore town known for its 50's architecture and "wild" reputation during the summer. Anglesea's best-known offering is Wah Wah Watch Butterscotch Ale. This ale was voted the second-best "Strong Ale - American" craft beer in New Jersey on Untappd. And while everything about it seems gimmicky (maybe even kitschy), including its name and can art, Anglesea manages to pull this off. I had a pour at the brewery yesterday but bought cans to do a proper review. The style itself is a bit confusing. Anglesea has referred to it as an "Amber Stout" and an Imperial Red Ale but I agree with Untappd. When I added it to the BA database I classified it as an American Strong Ale.

Canned on 1/30/2024. It pours a pretty, honey-amber color with a half finger cap of creamy, ecru-colored foam with a thin sheen of lacing inside the glass. It smells of roasted malt, butterscotch, and faint citrus. Wow, this is much better than I anticipated! There is obvious butterscotch and caramel but it's tempered and not overly sweet. In fact, it is well-balanced by earthy, herbal, slightly bitter hops. The flavors are distinct but mellow. This ale is well-bodied and almost creamy with low/moderate carbonation, and the 9.2% ABV is quite well masked. Overall, this ale does not come across as being gimmicky. It's nuanced and enjoyable. It would pair well with any type of savory meat dish.

While I wouldn't want to drink this ale every day, I would definitely have it again. It's quirky but worth seeking out.

4.03/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Cheers, NBW! And have a great week, everyone.

 

I'm not quite ready to anoint Tonewood as the best brewery in the state but I agree that it's very good. I want to visit the new facility in Barrington. We get limited Tonewood distro in Morris County so I was excited to try Mas Fuego and it's very good. Compared to the rest of the country New Jersey is a small state but there is a huge gap between north and south. It's really like two different states. I'm grateful to spend a lot of time in South Jersey and enjoy the beers that don't reach us up here.

 

I love that you get to spend time all over to cause I get all the intel on breweries throughout our state from you, I'm hoping one day our paths cross. I'll buy you a beer at Oaklyn any time, so long as I can swing it obligationwise.

@ChicagoJ any closer to knowing when you will be coming to Philly/SJ?

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As per underlined comment...

I am, and I said it, and to anyone who disagrees, I will use our states worst and most inaccurate stereotype of all time...

 

Mad props to @FBarber for this NBS BIF#18 Beauty, Roaring Table Brewing Company Muse of Fire, 6.7% ABV; 4.73 overall

Pour's an effervescent hazel color with a thumb of cream colored head. Below average head retention and lacing

S: Smokiness a hint of brown bread
Campfire and Pit Ham, lovely

T: Smokey with dryness and some woody hops up front. Caramel mixes in dryness and smokiness as this beer warms up, the smoke seems to be Beechwood to me. Finishes dry, meaty smokey with Caramel sweetness. and woody hops

MF; Medium body slight carbonation. Carbonation level stays consistent throughout. Sweetness and smokiness balance very well

Lovely Rauchbier, nice drinkability

 

Congratulations on your Wedding/Marriage and awesome weekend! So happy for the both of you and your family and friends able to share the day or send love from afar.

Yes, I will be in there April 27th through 30th, with logistics likely keeping me in Philly/Amber Saturday and targeting the open at Tonewood Oaklyn Sunday afternoon. Hoping you, @cjgiant and anyone else interested in the area can make it.

Will send a DM this week once I figure out the train/bus schedules. Only open question at this point is whether I'm bringing my audit case to bring / bring back beers.

Cheers!

 

Happy NBS!

Having a very tasty/juicy as fuck NETIPA, very easy drinker at 10.5%.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/47536/431763/?ba=Wasatch#lists

Cheers!

 

Oaklyn at opening on Sunday is almost the only time I ever go. Talk about perfect

 

Cheers to @2beerdogs for this Superbowl Squares Payout!

Coranado/Pizza Port Collab, El Rollo, IPA; 7.3% ABV. 3.83 Overall

Pours and effervescent gold with nice brightness and a thumb of eggshell colored head.

S: Oranges; hints of coconut and pineapple

T: Follows the nose, dryness and Kiwi Fruit up front. Dryness, green melon and tangerine as this beer warms up, grassy notes as well. Finishes with pomelo, little lemon, grassiness and Kiwi Fruit

MF; Medium body with low carbonation. Carbonation picks up once warm, good balance

Solid IPA, had higher hopes for this one. Pizza Port usually delivers. Drinkable, but not memorable

 

Do you know if they have one artist do all their work Dave? I love their labeling and most seem to have a certain “style” to them.

 

I'll remember that offer!