New Beer Weekend #243

Atypical - Bussin Kottbusser from Minot, ND.

750ml can served in a big stein. Packaged 17 Dec 2024. Bought it in Fargo last weekend.

Pours crystal clear, light golden, medium sized head, tons of carbonation. Smell is mild, honeysuckle, a little grass and floral sweetness, some straight graininess.

Taste is mild -- lagery without the funk. Dry, honey and floral flavor without much sweetness. Grain is quite clear, kind of husky. Lots of grass, almost a bison grass character.

Mouthfeel is light, smooth, clean, crisp. Overall, tasty light beer, but not magic.

 

Boulevard Wood Baron Barrel-Fresh Ale ( Listed as an Imperial Porter, but I'll assert it is an Old Ale ), 8.2% ABV; 3.65 overall

Pours an effervescent chestnut/mahogany with a thumb of tan head. Average head retention & better lacing

S: Some fruity notes, a little vanilla, mushroom/dirt

T: Follows the nose, some oaky dryness, woody hops up front. Vanilla is in evidence along with oaky dryness, a touch of figs & toffee, just a little sourness once this beer is warm, a little bit of pine too. Finishes with noticeable dryness, oak, vanilla & some cocoa notes

MF: Medium body, firm carbonation, carbonation smooths out once warm

I like the concept, but there's not a ton of flavor that really wows me. This seems more like an Old Ale vice an Imperial Porter. Whatever it is, this will not be a repeat buy. Okay drinkability, maybe this will age into something good?

 

In the Air Force the question was always Why Not Minot?
The answer: Freezing's the Reason!

Did spend a day there in May about 20 years ago, seemed alright, but them Winters

 

Grew up in a small town, ~70 miles from Minot, ~70 miles from Bismarck, ~70 miles from Dickinson...any of those three towns were the closest McDonalds

 

The next one in my Irish style dry stout weekend.
The pour is dark coffee brown and appears stout black in the glass.
The taste is amazingly reminiscent of regular Guinness, that almost tart aspect that I don't understand but is there. There is the typical coffee and chocolate and malt roastiness, actually a pleasant stout and very typical of the style standard.
The feel is a little less than viscous, making it very easy drinking and the 12 oz is gone before I realize.
OA, a solid take on the style, I'd happily drink it again.
Cheers

 

I will say I must've lied to my wife at least twice when I got assignments for Shock Value. Then you tell her Hawaii...

 

From @Stoutofmymind via the NBW Imperial Stout/Barleywine BIF#2

Private Press/Faction Brewing ( I now see this is a Cali Brew ) Rings of Splendor. Imperial Stout blend of multiple batches, brewed with honey & aged in Bourbon Barrels, 14.4% ABV; 4.33 overall

Pours an effervescent chestnut/mahogany with fast falling mocha colored head. Bottom the bottle pours like old motor oil, near zero lacing & head retention

S: Red wine, molasses, a hint of boozy barrel, figs & raisins. Solid nose

T: Follow the nose, barrel is more up front, carob, cocoa & dryness, plus leafy hops up front. Bourbon barrel bite, dark chocolate, a little vanilla, cola notes, & a little leafy hop as this beer warms up, just a little red grape too. Finishes with rich, dark chocolate, a little vanilla, Bourbon, Red Wine, figs, raisins & leafy hops

MF: Chewy body, moderate carbonation that fades as this warms, super warming beer, sticky

A solid BA Imp Stout that certainly is a sipper but delivers on complex & lovely flavor. Impressed me more & more as the beer opened up

 

Yesterday I went to River Falls,WI
First stopped was The Garage brewery/bike shop. I haven't been there since last fall.
I had a pint of REJUVENATOR DOPPELBOCK. 7.2% ABV.
It was a solid beer. It tasted somewhat like a smooth strong brown ale. Mild roast, caramel, hint of toasted bread. After it warmed there was a hint dark fruit. Smooth and slightly sweet. It looked and smelled OK. The mouth feel was slightly thick but it seemed low on carbonation. Not a bad bock coming from a small brewery.
https://garagebikesbrews.com/brews-on-tap

Next stop was DeVine liquor store. They had a few 3 Sheeps stout beers that were 2 tor 3 years old. I took a chance and bought a 3 year old can of Top Shelf Collaborations - Harbinger. I haven't tried it yet. They also had a odd assortment of beers from other breweries that were 2 to 8 years old
https://untappd.com/b/3-sheeps-brewing-company-top-shelf-collaboration-harbinger/5020542

Next stop was Rush River. I had a pour of Maplefest, a brown ale barrel aged in rye whiskey/maple barrel. A solid beer.The maple came out more as it warmed. A very easy beer to drink, the barrel was mild. Smooth and a little sweet.
@Mdog

 

Is this a 3 day NBW? I only ask because I didn’t get through the Irish style dry stouts I bought for the weekend.
But here is the latest one, and as it’s below that 5% mark, I should have had it before the previous one. No real reason, just how I thought I would go about it.

I really expected more from them, this may be my least favorite of the ones I’ve had so far.
The pour was very dark coffee brown and looked stout black in the glass. The brown head looked like it belonged on a 15% BA Imperial stout that was barrelled so long the carbonation dissipated. It was there, barely, and then it wasn't. Not even a ring, just gone.
The taste features the coffee and cacao malt flavors with an herbal aspect. The normal roast y or hoppy bitterness is present, but very mild.
The feel is surprisingly thin; not sure if I expected more viscosity because the pour brought to mind a BBA Imperial Stout but I did expect a little more body.
OA, happy to have tried it, but not sure I'd buy it again.

 

I hope that thread is left open for the real deal Saint Pat's day

 

Had the opportunity to enjoy this treat yesterday, courtesy of @Beersnake ..

Bottle Logic - Darkstar November (2023)



Notes:
P black w/ a tiny foamy tan cap
N med bold to bold nose of barrel, choc, plum and other dark fruit; inviting for sure
T huge profile of choc, jammy dark fruit, dark sugars/molasses, vanilla, and barrel; zesty rye notes throughout; light med warming finish; outstanding
Mf med to med-full bodied; smooth; soft-med carb
O an exceptional BA imperial stout; so happy to have finally been able to try it; a big thanks again, 'Snake!

Cheers