New Beer Weekend #222

Thanks for kicking off the weekend party @Victory_Sabre1973 - just had my nightcap and forgot I had already rated it, so no entry for me today.
But the rest of you all, carry on!

 

Cooler weather – Amber Oktoberfest season

It has been quite warm so far this fall in Southeastern PA but this week brought the first brisk chill in the air type of weather. I have been enjoying Pale Oktoberfest beers (e.g., Weihenstephaner Festbier) over the past month but now is time for the Amber colored version with today’s beer Mainstay Oktoberfest.

From the untapped website:

“A traditional fest beer brewed to honor lager beer tradition. Darker kilned Munich malts give this beer a deep cooper hue while Tettnang and Hallertau hops add a gently spicy balance.

6% ABV”

Served in my Spiegelau Lager glass:

Appearance

Deep Gold – Light Amber colored with a BIG off-white head.

Aroma

A dark bread malt aroma. The hop aroma was very subdued.

Taste

The dark bread flavors dominate with hop flavors in the background. Moderate bitterness.

Mouthfeel

A medium body with a dry finish.

Overall

I really liked this beer! It has pleasing dark bread flavors and a subdued hop presence.

Cheers to Amber Oktoberfest beers and brisk weather!

@ KOP_Beer_Outlet @rotsaruch @ @RobH

 

So, what exact style do you think that Heady Topper is?

And maybe "this beer just blew me away" because it is not the style of your preconceived notion?

Cheers!

 

Thanks for the start @Victory_Sabre1973! Better get in a beer before heading to Iowa tomorrow.

Fair State Creative Brief

Appearance: Clear yellow, big head.

Smell: Citrus rind, chalky note.

Taste: Mild sweetness, then green citrus and a weird melon-like note that is not sweet, like maybe an unripe version of said melon. Mild bitterness, medium bodied.

Overall: This was OK, but maybe the experimental hop gave the weird unripe melon flavor that missed the mark for me. Didn't remind me of simcoe or chinook—the other hops in the blend. A rare miss from Fair State.

 

I've drunk dozens (maybe even hundreds at this point?) of Headys and can't see ever tiring of it.

 

Mind blown…

 

But, but, but he is drinking from a glass vs. from the can!?!

Maybe that is the source of the explosion!?!

Cheers!

 

Mind blown again…

 

Thanks @Victory_Sabre1973 for getting us going

Ozark Beer Co./Fossil Cove Brewing collaboration ELKASAURUS HEF German Hefeweizen, 5.0% ABV; 4.52 overall

Pours an effervescent & hazed honey color with 2 fingers of eggshell colored head. Above average head retention & lacing

S: Cloves, juicy fruit gum, breadyness

T: Follows the nose, dryness & grassyness plus green apple skins upfront. Some sweet breadyness, along with green apple skins, phenols, white pepper & dryness as this beer warms up, a kiss of floral hops as well. Finishes a little dry, grassy with a little juicy fruit gum, cloves & a bit of peppery yeast bite, plus a little Fuji apple at the tip of the tongue

MF: Medium body, fairly delicate carbonation

Nice drinkability, classic Hefe

 

Old Schoolhouse - Fresh Hop Stowaway pale ale

16oz can served in a half pint shaker glass. Don't see a date. Bought it at Full Throttle Bottles six days ago.

Pours slightly hazy whitish amber, smallish head, moderate carbonation. Smell is tropical juice, floral and sweet.

Taste is much more on the bitter end of the spectrum than I would have expected from the smell. Pine and fruit skin, still has the floral sweetness but dominated by the bitterness.

Mouthfeel is light, smooth, dry. Overall, this is quite good.

 

Ommegang Cooper's HopTripel IPA ( Mosaic Hops ), 10.5% ABV; 4.0 overall

Pours an effervescent & bright gold with a thumb of pearl colored head. Really nice head retention & lacing

S: Bready, melons, & guava; nose could be more

T: Follows the nose, hints of lemon drop candy, limes & a little dryness up front, some pear & Kiwi Fruit notes as well. Dryness, white grapes, green melon, limes, grassyness, pears, & passion fruit as this beer warms up. Finishes a little dry with bready sweetness, pears & guava

MF: Medium body, fairly firm carbonation, pretty good balance

ABV is well hidden, pretty nice drinkability. Nose holds this beer back a bit

 

Allagash — Ski House

I still have a few cans of the Summer limited edition Surf House lager and the Fall limited edition Haunted House dark ale is sold everywhere, but the Winter limited edition Ski House white ale already started to show up.

The beer pours bright yellow, with one finger head.

The nose is spices, hops, and bright fresh ginger.

The taste is mainly ginger, with a touch of hops.

A creamy mouthfeel, with a pleasant spicy aftertaste, completes the picture.

This is an easy-drinking beer... too easy. It is like Allagash White, but with more alcohol well covered by ginger.

 

Three opening comments regarding Friday featured selections before diving in.

• Dave @beergoot gave me my first cellared Heady Topper, and it really held up well over time. I enjoyed that one after my first overall and first fresh can from Vann @Ocalafox . I actually enjoyed Focal Banger fresher and Heady Topper with some time on it, consistent with other experiences with DIPAs. I will never forget these offerings, or the generosity of two BA legends.
• Don't let @JackHorzempa razz you about the beer style. It was listed as an NEIPA before I finally succeeded after my second or third attempt to have it changed to the proper category of an Imperial IPA, consistent with The Alchemist's classification. All done before I ever tried it (but had knowledge of it and discussed with many before I got involved).
• I'll be on the lookout for Allagash Ski House @shkin , they are one of my favorite breweries that I want to visit.

I've been waiting patiently to dive into my BA beers until all my drink fresh new beers were enjoyed. I start this weekend with two from Dave @Blogjackets from a very impressive brewery based off the selections I've enjoyed so far. I believe I selected the right BA selection, but this 2023 release is 1.9% ABV higher per the bottle (13.2% vs. the listed 11.3%).

Jackie O's Bourbon Barrel Aged Dark Apparition

4.47/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5



Full review linked above. Bottom line, this was like a King's Island roller coaster, from strong bourbon domination before it warmed, to chocolate fudge decadence on first sips gulps once it warmed to a return of the bourbon on equal terms with the base. Overall a great experience. Like most BA stouts, let this warm for full enjoyment and breadth of flavor. Thanks again Dave, look forward to my next Jackie O's selection tomorrow.

 

Brasserie La Debauche (France) ‘Amorena’ Imperial Stout - brewed with marzipan, Italian Amorena cherries, aged in French oak barrels on a bed of raspberries. (Damn.,.)

2024 Edition (an annual release since 2016). 33 cl bottle poured lightly chilled into a snifter.
Pours xlnt, a full middle finger of spongy foam floats on deep black brew.
Nose carries a sour fruits funk that scared me initially. It mellowed as the beer warmed.
Taste is layers of wow. Comes in bold with chocolate covered cherry, rides on the tongue with mouthwatering hoppiness, marzipan adds texture and nuttiness which brings the oak barrel note forward. The hit exits with perfect 14% ABV warmth and finishes with a lingering chewy raspberry note.
Mouth is full, yet glides light. Medium carbonation.
Overall, a classy and sensational dessert Stout rich with flavor layers and depth.

4.57/5 in the BA DB

 

Peach Apricot Berliner Gose from Brothers Brewing Co.
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/42356/720076/

Another trifecta for me. Added the beer, uploaded the photo and reviewed the beer.

Poured a 473ml can into a pilsner glass. A two finger white head on a slightly hazy yellow. The head diminishes to a layer. Lively carbonation. No lacing.

Peach in the nose. Peach flavour up front which is overtaken by mild sourness. Light salt brings up the rear. No hop bitterness.

Light body and good carbonation. A refreshing light summer beer. Although listed as Berliner Weisse. I find this one closer to the Gose style. Very good.

look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4