New Beer Weekend #210

Lakefront Brewery 2019 Brewers' Reserve
15.8% barleywine


Thanks to @cheeseheadinMinneapolis for this fine barleywine.

Poured from a 12 ounce can, the body is a dark black with a small initial head. Some lacing

Aroma is mostly bourbon with a wee bit of sweet malt.

Following the nose, taste is a very decadent mix of bourbon and sweet malt. The first swallow comes across as the booziest caramel you have ever eaten. Fortunately the very sweet flavor quickly dissipates. Later warming significantly reduces the sweetness.

The bourbon hit is significant but didn't taste harsh. At that ABV, one might expect more of a burn. Once fully room temperature, the ABV is fully masked. Amazing.

Mouthfeel is heavy and almost syrupy. Carbonation is medium.

Super delicious barley wine that satisfies what I'm looking for in a barleywine.

 

A beautiful day out there. I don't think it's supposed to be so hot here today. Might as well start it right with this.

Warp Zone - Icewind Brewing - Mapleton, ND - Kolsch - 5.1%

I am really enjoying this beer this morning. Light and clean beer. Great flavor. Perfect way to start the day.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/60622/711009/

3.79/5 rDev 0%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
From a 16oz can purchased at the brewery. No date on the can.

This is a clean and clear looking beer and golden in color. There was a 1 finger white head that dissipated rapidly and there's no lacing on the glass.
Aroma is a light clean biscuit with hints of unbaked grain. Light, but pleasing.
The flavor is grain based. I get a pleasing buttery biscuit flavor, that also has a grainy element to it. There's a honey like sweetness that goes along with the grain/biscuit. The beer finishes with a mild, yet pleasing bitterness that ties it all together.
Light, crisp and clean body.
This is so tasty and refreshing on a hot day.

 

This 2019 bottle of Merkel (Montmorency) by Suarez Family Brewery exceeded my expectations. Very good.

4.11/5 rDev -6.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Harvest year 2019, bottled October, 2019.

This is a really nice looking beer, primarily driven by the color. It's an unusual orange with a tint of pink, but in a very natural way. Plenty of light shines through, and there's a finger of head.

Aroma is missing from afar, but up close there's plenty of cherry and just the right amount of light funk.

Taste follows, with just the right amount of natural cherry flavor (zero artificial cough syrup going on here). Low acidity. Light and very easy to drink. This has aged extremely well.

 

Grimm Artisanal Ales — Two Dollar Pistol

A rare brewery visit, or rather pizzeria at the brewery — Lala's at Grimm Artisanal Ales.

This is a smoked red Rauchbier lager — an ambitious version of a rare beer.

The appearance of gorgeous brown-red beer with a nice head.

The nose is Vienna-lager-like malt with just a faintly recognizable smoke.

Taste follows the nose — malt, bread, no trace of smoke.

Overall it is a typical Grimm Lager — clean, clear, and slightly hoppy, based on European originals but unmistakably American.



PS I ended the night at the Other Half and had their Japanese Rice Lager Citra Snaps. No photo, and no review, but it was refreshing for 10 PM.

 

All right time for another new beer, and this is a blind review. All I knew going into it is that it was strong. This was sent to me by a former member here.

????
Ok, I gave it a good go, and with the reveal, I got it somewhat right. I just got one element wrong.

Double Barrel V.S.O.D. Revolution Brewing - Chicago, IL - Oatmeal Stout? - 17.9%

The thing I got totally wrong is there's no maple in this beer. All I know is I like it a lot, and I'm happy I got the chance to try it. Delicious.

Blind Review:
4.53/5 rDev +1.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
From a 12oz can. This is a blind beer review. I have no idea what it is till after the review. All I was told is it's higher alcohol. I have let it sit out a bit to warm up from fridge temp.

Look:This is a pitch black pouring beer, and it looks thick while pouring. There's no light that shines through the beer at all. There's a 1 finger brown head. The head doesn't last too long, and there's no lacing on the glass. 4.5

Aroma: The beer has a very boozy aroma. I get notes of caramel and toffee. I'm getting a ton of dark fruit in here. Notes of vanilla also shine through. I can't see how this isn't a barrel aged stout. 4.5

Taste: This is barrel aged for sure. It is actually mellow up front for a fraction of a second. The beer goes stout like on me then. I get a huge hit of vanilla, caramel, toffee, dark fruit, coffee, and chocolate. The beer has an interesting finish. I get a hit of maple on the finish. This adds some sweetness, but not over the top. 4.5

Body: This is a thick beer. It is very smooth feeling. I know it's high ABV because there's a slight burn, but the burn isn't harsh, just warming. 4.75

Overall: This is a damn tasty beer. Smooth, lots of flavor, great body. Very delicious. 4.5

I will be working on this for quite a while, but I hope to have one more today. Cheers!

 

New Rauchbier Weekend:


Aecht Schlenkerla Weichsel
cherry wood-smoked rauchbier
16 oz. can poured into nonic • 4.6% ABV • no born-on/best-by date

Short version: Tastes more or less like what Schlenkerla does with the smoke/wood notes leading and only enough sweetness from the malt to balance it enough to keep it from being too earthy or bitter. The nose shows a bit more sweetness, a nice barbecued peach or a toasted peach kolache. The flavor is more woody with a tangy finish that reminds me of a woody red wine aftertaste.

Overall an excellent version in their lineup. It's not the first I'd reach for, but I like that they offer some variety.

Official review:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/263/657672/?ba=Premo88#review
3.96 (-6.4% rDev)

Thanks due again to the inimitable @champ103 for directing me back to Premium Draught, where I found this one a few weeks ago. I'm off to pair this with a peaty Islay whisky and pretend to do housework while watching Astros-Dodgers. Hope your weekends are going well and have a great week!

Cheers!

 

Good morning, fellow NBWers,

It's a sunny 73° today in the wilds of Spokanistan, with the NWS predicting a high of 86° today. Things are a little hazy due to wildfires, but so far it's not too severe (knock on wood).

Today is my last day at my long time work place. I started a new job back in May that only pays once a month, so I have kept working at the old job on weekends to keep a few dollars coming in while I got my brain used to changing how I budget things, but working for three weeks with no day off, and then working four 10hr shifts during the summer and having one day off a week since the second week of June has taken it's toll, so, after today, I'll have weekends off again, and time to breathe a little! It'll be weird, having been at my old job for 22yrs, but it's more than time for a change, and I've got something special waiting for me in the fridge tonight when I get home to celebrate with.

So, last night, after working my next-to-last shift, I cracked open a can from outside of my region. How far outside? The other side of the Pacific Ocean!


https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/3553/489524/?ba=woemad#lists
I couldn't review it with the knowledge of what Sakura Mochi actually tastes like, then whether the brewers actually got it right, but I can tell you it drank like a somewhat mellow pastry stout, and it works just fine as a not particularly boozy dessert beer. Being an unusual import beer, it's not particularly cheap, so I'm not sure I'd drink it again, at least on the regular, but I would encourage anyone who stumbles across it to give it a shot.

 

Living in York, we learned very quickly to stay away from the interstate and Route 1 on weekends. The traffic can be insane! At least you got to When Pigs Fly, one of my favorite spots.

 

A beautiful day here. Walked the dogs and watching Olympics. Daughter and grandsons coming over for dinner.
My new beer for today is Charlie Blackberry, one of a series of sours from Diebolt Brewing (there's also David Frambowie and Gene Persimmons).
The beer is a clear garnet color. A large pink head that disappears quickly. No lace.
Sweet blackberry aroma.
Tart blackberry taste, a hint of lemon late. Sweet.
Tart, but not too tart. I get just a tickle in my salivary glands.

 

My new beer today is Cloudscape from New Park Brewing in West Hartford CT. I visited this brewery early in their life back in 2019 and I distinctly remember every beer I had was really good.
Here we go with my first canned, retail purchased beer from them.
3.98/5 rDev -7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Poured from a 16oz can dated 6/4/2024. Drank from a nonic, poured at fridge temp. Purchased locally by someone else, I do not know what they paid.
There is 3-4 finger white head, lacing is pretty good but not full by any means.
Tangerine is the predominant smell. This is backed up by some hop aroma.
The taste is also tangerine (not overly sweet) and mellon in the middle, and a slightly dank finish.
Mouthfeel tries to be tongue coating, but the carbonation really comes alive in the mouth so you never get a full sense of the body.
A pretty good NEIPA.

 

Good afternoon NBW
One of the few (non Dark Lord) Three Floyds beers that I've not reviewed

Pride & Joy
12oz bottled 05/03/24 poured into a tulip pint glass at fridge temp, no ABV listed on label. The beer pours mostly bright light amber with light khaki head. The head recedes to a thin ring and island leaving behind some spotty lace. The aroma is mild with caramel malt up front followed by pine and citrus. The taste is semisweet caramel malt with more pine and zesty lemony hops. Moderate bitterness. The feel is medium bodied with average carbonation and a mostly dry finish. Overall, good pale ale.

Cheers all!

 

Dovetail - Kolsch
4.6%


Poured from a pint can, the body is a cloudy gold with large fluffy white head. Good lacing.

Aroma is a light grass and cracker. Perhaps a wee bit of citrus.

Taste follows nose with the grass provided a light bitterness to complement the sweet cracker flavor. These flavors are deftly combined

Mouthfeel is good supported by strong carbonation. Light on the palate but crisp in finish.

Super easy drinking kolsch perfect on a warm summer day like the day sampled.

Thanks to @ChicagoJ for this kolsch.

 

I definitely like and enjoy this offering from Schlenkerla. Though I have been obsessed with their Erle black lager. That is amazing, I think the only place I have seen it around town is D&Q. I have asked the guys at Premium to try and get it, maybe it is unavailable now though?

Anyway, on that note...I made it to Equal Parts this afternoon again. I wanted to try their Smoked Lager, you see I'm tying this all back together

Anyway...

Equal Parts, Lil' Smokey, 5% ABV. Smoked malts from a local Houston BBQ joint, Khoi Barbecue.

Side Note: Starting this book from Herman Wouk as well...really enjoying it so far, very different from his big historical fiction epics he is known for.



Another, anyway...on to the review.

Pours a brilliantly clear copper color. A dense white head forms with excellent retention and lace all the way down the glass. Yep, this is a looker.
Aroma is toasted, cereal, baked bread like malts. Light grassy hops, and if any smoke is apparent it is even lighter.
Taste wise, follows the nose. The malt character is really nice, that goes from toasted, cereal, and baked bread. Just enough grassy hops to balance. Though again, I get almost no smoke.
A lighter body than expected. Though crisp, clean, and finishes dry. A very nice lager to drink, and I can come back to this a lot. Just don't expect a lot of smoke character.

A well made lager as always from Equal Parts. I took off some points, just because I don't really get any smoke. I always appreciate restraint and balance, but I would personally like some more smoky umph. Side note: I know they collaborate with different BBQ places around Houston to smoke the malt, my batch was from Khoi Barbecue...maybe the smoke emphasis is different with each place.

Overall score, a respectable 3.76, B, bordering on a B+ for me.
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/44383/622558/?ba=champ103#lists

 

Good Sunday afternoon, New Beer Samplers and commentators. Our daughter and son-in-law recently traveled to Turkey and Greece and included several breweries on their itinerary. One was Chios Microbrewery on the island of Chios in the Aegean Sea. They brought me back two bottles and this cool pub glass. Today, I'm reviewing the brewery's best known offering, its House Ale, which in BA is classified as an American Amber/Red Ale. It was bottled on 6/1/2024 so it is quite fresh. And most enjoyable.

It pours a pretty, honey-orange color with a modest, fluffy, egg-white head and soapy lacing. Its smell includes musty malt, subtle spice, and some sweet fruit in the background. The flavor is more robust than I anticipated. There is a strong base of sweet caramel malt balanced by burnt toast and notes of tangerine/orange zest with a strong, earthy bitterness throughout. This ale is fairly creamy and well-carbonated. It drinks very easily at only 4.9% ABV. Overall, I have no complaints. This ale is well-crafted and flavorful. I'm not sure it is available in the USA but if you are vacationing in Greece, then I recommend seeking it out.

3.76/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

I can imagine either drinking this ale in the cool brewery after a day of exploring, or enjoying it outside watching the world of Chios.

 

Good Sunday afternoon, NBS/nbw, and thanks to our esteemed BA @GreenBayBA for hosting this week. The botle share meet up did indeen sound epic.
Todays offering is from Berkshire Brewing, a dry hopped Pilsner. The beer is very good, and worth a try if you have access.
Cheers all

Sun Love Pils

German Pilsner | 5% ABV
Berkshire Brewing Company in South Deerfield, Massachusetts

Reviewed by SABERG from Massachusetts

4.09/5 rDev 0% | Average: 4.09
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Poured from a can dated Born On 7/24/24 into the test glass
A - Light straw color, very good clarity, classic lager carbonation. A loose white cap dissipates quickly.
S - a bit of fruit, peach, Yuzu, than some eaarthy piney notes. An interesting and very nice element.
T - Clean malt, bit of baguette crust, then the hops rule. The aromas are consistant with the flavor. Peach , yuzu, a bit of earthy piney. I very much like the hop choice.
M - Crisp, medium in body, quick dry finish.
O - A very good summer beer, enough going on to interest most everyone

 

A few responses and comments before diving in today.

• @Whyteboar - I'm looking forward to trying Weathered Ground's Sixteen Shots in Munich from @DoctorZombies in a future weekend. Glad you enjoyed it. Also glad you liked the Wolf, included a can with my trade with @Blogjackets .
• @champ103 - I look forward to exploring whatever I can access from Harviestoun, and love your comments about the Beer Styles which I agree to always abide by the brewery. I'm going to ask Beer Temple what they can acquire beyond Old Engine.
• @jonphisher - Old Engine Oil is 6%, but felt a bit stronger on my end, but still managable.
• @Beersnake - I've only been to Bottle Logic once, primarily because it is hard to reach without a car, but will next road trip to the OC.
• @dano213 - Loved my visit to Human Robot, hope we get some drops here in the future.
• @Ozzylizard - Love that your Jester King snifter is alive and well.
• @Roy_Hobbs - Do glad to have finally had a chance to try Suarez Family Brewery at Monk's Pub this Spring. Excellent!

Getting ready to start my late for me Sunday review.

 

This is my 3,000th BA review. And it's special because I purchased this bottle of Helen the Owl at Last Flight Brewing Co., in Jefferson City, MO, while tilting a few there with our daughter and son-in-law two weeks ago. Btw, I really enjoyed visiting this brewery. I had a couple of very good IPAs on draught and a good conversation with one of the owners. In addition to this Stout, I purchased bottles of the Wee Heavy which was also excellent.

When I read the review of @zeff80 (a Poo-Bah whose opinions I respect), I was concerned that the Stout would be overly sweet but his review was from March and it appears to have mellowed. It's now a very well-balanced and enjoyable BBA Imperial Stout.

"Kentucky Batch." Poured at 62°. It pours almost ink black with a modest medium-mocha cap that dissipated quickly leaving just a ring. The smell is fragrant with roasted malt, caramel, freshly-brewed coffee, char, cinnamon, and bourbon. The taste is dryer and more bitter than I anticipated, in a good way. The prevalent flavor is bitter char and burnt coffee and nuts. There is just a hint of cocoa nibs, caramel, and cinnamon. The bourbon is still potent but not overpowering and it contributes nicely to the taste. I was concerned it would drink like a pastry stout but it doesn't. In fact, it grew on me with each sip. The mouth feel is good but not as viscous as I'd hoped. But the carbonation level is ideal and I like the 10% ABV. Other brewers might have gone much bigger. This Stout is very drinkable. Overall, Helen the Owl is a very enjoyable BBA Imperial Stout. My one suggestion would be to bottle in in the 500 ML format.

I'm glad I bought a second bottle and may have to request more from my local reps in Central Missouri, which I would gladly repay in Carton Boat and Kane Overhead.

4.21/5 rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

That's it for me this busy weekend. Have a great week, everyone. Cheers, NBW!

 

I can only handle Mochi in Ice Cream/Frozen form & it's got to be a flavor I like

 

From @not2quick Civil Life GOAL!DEN ALE, 4.8% ABV, 4.03 overall

Here to the Ladies handling business against Germany today!

Pours bright, effervescent & golden with a thumb of pearl colored head. Nice head retention & lacing

S: Bready, lemons, loads of nose

T: Follows the nose, plenty grassy & dry up front. Very malty, cakey almost, dry with some sweetness, a little lemon & more grassyness as this beer warms up. Finishes sweet, dry & bready, just little bit of grassy hops

MF: Medium body, fairly firm carbonation, good balance

Good old school offering, takes me back to the 90s, pretty drinkable

 

Very thoughtful gift from your daughter and son-in-law @MacMalt ! Also glad you enjoyed the Dovetail Kolsch @Blogjackets , don't see Dovetail in this thread a lot, but they are my favorite traditional brewery here.

Welcome one and all to New Beer Weekend #1014! I was so glad to finally find this selection enjoyed by many, but especially @champ103 's review on June 22. I love this brewery and loved seeing a new selection to try, as smoked beers are among my favorites, and not many breweries dabble in this realm.

Schlenkerla (Heller-Bräu Trum) Aecht Schlenkerla Erle

4.67/5 rDev +10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75



For those seeking an intense wood smoked experience, bold aromas and flavors with a wafer light ABV, this is an experience you must try to secure at some point. This is one of my favorite breweries, and so glad I finally came across this bottle after reading so many good things in the Spring and early Summer. Truly a "Prime Time" offering for my Sunday selection. Just a great weekend overall, don't sleep on European classics.