New Beer Weekend #249

I am at the Yards Real Ale festival and the ‘winner’ so far is a Cape May Keller Pils brewed with Motueka hops served via a gravity pour. This beer is excellent!!

Cheers!

@John_M

 

Surly just arrived in Texas a few weeks ago, and I tracked down some Furious. I have certainly had this in the past, but it was many years ago. Lets see how this holds up...

Furious IPA, 6.7% ABV.



Pours slightly darker amber/orange color. A dense white head forms with retention for days. Plenty of lace left behind.
The aroma pops, with pine and resiny tree sap. Grapefruit and tea leaf. Oh this is good.
Taste wise, that pine resin like quality is up front and center. Grapefruit, and general citrus pith. A bit more caramel malt than expected, but then a lingering bitterness is strong and lasts forever.
A fuller body with moderate carbonation. A chewy resiny heft is here. Which all leads to a well made IPA that I can drink again.

An aggressively pine resin, grapefruit, and bitter IPA...yes please. There needs to be more IPA's like this around, I don't know why these are getting harder to find...or breweries just aren't dialing in their IPA like they once did. Oh well, glad I can get this local now.

Overall score is 4.11, easy A-
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/13014/28203/?ba=champ103#lists

 

Time to close out my weekend with this beer.

Royal Raspberry Sour - Pryes Brewing - Minneapolis, MN - 4.8%

So much tasty raspberry in this beer. The raspberry is tart and sweet. Quite delicious.

Review:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/36629/335888/#navigation
3.92/5 rDev -1.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
From a 16oz can. Canned on 01/06/2025

The beer looks somewhat pink while pouring it, but i the glass, it is more golden colored. There's a quite insane amount of carbonation bubbles in the glass that rise to the top to form a 2 finger white head. The head retention is decent, but there's no lacing on the glass.
The aroma is full of raspberry and the aroma is quite tart. There's an earthy hint to the raspberry aroma.
Taste - The beer is raspberry flavored. There's a nice tartness to it up front. The tartness does linger in my throat. The raspberry does go more sweet on the backside, but there's still tartness there.
The beer is light bodied, but not watery at all. There's a good bubbly feeling. It is clean and crisp feeling.
This is a tasty and refreshing beer.


I will see you all again next weekend. Cheers!

 

Good Sunday afternoon, New Beer Samplers and commentators. I really enjoy Red IPAs. Unfortunately, not many brewers in our area produce them. Last night, when we met for dinner and beers at Somers Point Brewing, my friend Bill gave me a can of Hunt the Hare, a Red IPA collaboration between Heavy Reel Brewing Co. in Seaside Heights, NJ (down the shore) and Ghost Hawk Brewing Co. in Clifton, NJ (in the Meadowlands - near MetLife Stadium). It's hopped with Simcoe, Chinook, Columbus, and Cascade - and it drinks like it. A good, bitter, Red Ale. When I added it to the BA database I didn't know what style to use: Amber/Red Ale or American IPA. I chose the latter because it drinks more like an IPA; but I can convinced otherwise or overruled by the crack BA mods.

It pours a cloudy, rosy-pumpkin orange with a full finger cap of fluffy, ecru foam and sudsy lacing. A good nose featuring caramel malt, lemon, grapefruit, and a whiff of stone fruit. It is more overtly hoppy and bitter than the smell would indicate. Up front is a big dose of pine sap and bitter citrus. As it warms, though, there is increasing caramel malt sweetness but not enough to balance the bitterness (not a bad thing). The bitterness lingers after the finish. It grows on me with every sip. This ale is well-bodied and carbonated, and it drinks easily at 7% ABV. Overall, I'm awarding style points for Heavy Reel and Ghost Hawk having brewed and canned a Red IPA. I wish more brewers would do so.

3.93/5 rDev 0%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I've been to Ghost Hawk and liked the beers I had there. Haven't made it to Heavy Reel yet due to laziness. Seaside Heights is mobbed during the summer so I need to drop in off season. It has a pretty good rep. and does a lot of collaborations.

Hope you all have a great week. Cheers, NBW!

 

I thought I would have a big NBW, but yesterday I had to deal with food poisoning after breakfast until bedtime. I was able to do things, but beer was not one of them.
New day, new me. Another Strangebird beer courtesy of @TCgenny. Winniebego Warrior. This is a 7% WCIPA with Cascade, Amarillo, Chinook and Citra.

3.9/5 rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Shipped to me cold by another BA and refrigerated until served. Poured from a 12-oz can stamped 25065 (which probably equates to March 6th 2025) to a bulbous, tulip-like glass.
Pours out clear, medium-gold. A large, multi-size white head sits above. Lacing is medium and much of it lasts.
Smell is bright pine with a floral/citrus background.
The taste is pine forward also, citrus can be sensed. There is no sweetness involved in this baby. Nice WC feel to it. But there is an extremely subtle medicinal flavor in the finish.
The mouthfeel is appropriate for the style as is the carbonation. Alcohol is barely noticeable with some warmth.
A fairly good example of the style.

 

A side by side with Swami's would be fun with this:
Coronado Weekend Vibes IPA 6.8%
4.22/5 rDev +5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
16 oz can canned 2/17/25 into a Becker glass.
L: SRM 6.5 pours a clouded golden Amber color with a 1/4" rocky off white head that has good retention, lush steady carbo, head recedes to thick frothy, medium-heavy complex random lacing.
S: A citrus note, caramelized malts, mainly fruity.
T: Moderately bright citrus & zest, lemon, grapefruit, light apricot, gently sharp, slightly sweet caramelized malts, lightly rich, mildly full-bodied tastes. It has a zesty linger and a light citrus aftertaste.
F: Bright, brisk medium bodied feel with a plump middle and a long fairly dry finish.
O: A great tasting beer. Fruity, gently tart and sharp with a dry finish and a zesty linger. A brewed on dated can is always a bonus. This is a fine WCIPA that is outstanding in its style.

 

I can't speak much to overall Japan, just Tokyo area.
I'd say it's pretty rich. Dominated by small places, but I see craft beer from other parts of the country like Osaka, Miyazaki, Nagoya in stores. A few bigger places that are well known in craft (Isekado, Yoho, Baird) and available in some form most places that specialize in craft beer. Some "darlings" that are small and unusual to see but have a reputation (Inkhorn, Uchu, Black Tide, West Coast).

Style wise, the spread is pretty similar to what you see in the US. Maybe a bit more experimentation, and some of the experimentation is weird to an American (sakura, sake "yeast").

Quality wise, most places are all right. Maybe the percentage of places whose quality makes me decide not to return is slightly higher, and the percentage of places where I'm like, "Wow, they really know what they're doing" is lower. That may also be due to my inability to read or talk. In the US I can find out a lot about a place or a beer before trying it. In Japan, even with the beer in front of me, I can't read the description without using Google Translate, and I'm lucky if I can get a halting English explanation which may be completely misleading.

So...it's an adventure!

 

Back with another new one. Parish Brewing Super Nova.
Brewery's website description in italics (BS about the name excluded).

Inspired by one of our most requested IPAs, Nova Vert, we present Super Nova. Hopped heavily with Mosaic, Simcoe, Cascade, and Amarillo adding notes of passionfruit and peach, it builds on its predecessor by being more saturated and with a higher ABV. This is how a supernova would taste if handcrafted — as if, after burning for billions of years, our Nova Vert IPA collapsed in on itself and exploded, releasing all its dank hoppiness in one glorious burst.
Style
Double IPA/IPA
Flavor Profile
hazy/hoppy/pillowy
ABV
8%
Hops
Amarillo/Cascade/Mosaic/Simcoe

Really don't understand what the astronot has to do with a super nova. Was he killed by it????

4.57/5 rDev +5.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Shipped to me warm from Halftime but refrigerated immediately until served. Poured from a 16-oz can stamped Canne on 02/18/25 to a bulbous, tulip-like glass.
Pours out opaque, hazy apricot-color. A really large pure white, fine bubble head that just doesn’t quit. Serious head, lots of topography, lots of lacing, lots of perseverance.
The aroma is unique also, berries, floral, citrus and resin are all there.
The taste is pine forward also, citrus can be sensed. Nice bitter finish.
The mouthfeel is appropriate for the style as is the carbonation. Alcohol is noticeable on the finish.
Beautiful looking beer with a unique flavor.

 

This one from @muchloveforhops3

Radio Brewing Co. Where's me Pants? Scotch Ale, 7.8% ABV; 3.97 Overall

Pours a chill hazed hazel color with one finger of tan head. Above average head retention & lacing

S: Toastyness, cake notes

T: Follows the nose, some peaty notes, plenty dry & a touch of leafy hops up front. Hints of caramel mix in with Peat & leafy hops as this beer warms up. Finishes with some toffee notes, dryness with woody & leafy hops & just a trace of peat

MF: Medium body, moderate carbonation

Solid take on the style, pretty drinkable

 

Roses By The Stairs Kapka Rosy Czech Pale Lager 5.3%
4.04/5 rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
16 oz can into a pokal.
L: SRM 3.5 pours a lightly straw yellow gold color with good steady carbo, a thin white head that slowly recedes to edge froth, medium complex lacing with some banding.
S: Bready, a light hop note, distant fruit.
T: Bright fruits, pear, mild apple, citrus zest, a touch of pine resin, distant yeast, lightly bready caramelized malts. It is moderately pale and fruity. Zest and resin mingle and linger. It is lightly tangy.
F: Gently crisp medium-light bodied feel with a medium length dry finish.
O: Simple and excellent tasting. Very easy to drink and has definitive flavors. Rather fruity overall and is quenching. A pleasure to drink and doesn't morph with warming. I wish the cans were dated. Kapka Rosy is excellent.

 

RAR Chessie's Hoppy Pils 5%
3.87/5 rDev +2.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
12 oz can canned 3/9/25 into a Pils glass.
L: SRM 3 pours straw light yellow with a large soapy matte white head, light steady large carbo bubbles, numerous small pours to fill glass, head recedes to a frothy drift, medium soapy lacing.
S: Dank herbal hops, lightly fruity, very light earthy expressions.
T: Light tastes of all ingredients. Softly sweet, gentle fruits, pale, fruit bread with zest in the finish. I get notes of pear, lemon, apple sauce, a hint of white grape. Malts emerge near the end.
F: Brisk then a fairly flat and semi-juicy medium-light bodied feel with a medium to med-long slightly drying finish. Good dry-hopping.
O: A curious beer that is fairly light in every way. It is refreshing and slightly zesty. A very splendid summer beer for sure at 5% ABV. Easy drinking and is very good in its style.

 

Good evening all. Here we go with a beer I never expected to drink. One I've heard about since I joined the site. Now I feel like I'm finally in the club - huzzah!


TLR version - hits all the happy buttons and it's worthy of every syllable of the hype it receives.

Purchased at Tully's in Wells, ME - totally fortuitous find. It was bottled on 04/05/2025, no less. The guy working said they get a Russian Rover drop every couple of months and it sells out rapidly no matter what they get. I'd checked Tully's media and before we went to the store, Pliny the Elder wasn't mentioned. By the time we got back to the hotel, it was posted. I am glad (now) that the missus convinced me to buy two.

Pours a pale, clear, light yellow gold color. Enormous, dense off-white head that falls to a hefty cap with super-tenacious cling to the glass.

The smell isn't super strong and it's pretty straightforward. A little pine resin, slightly sweet malts, orange peel, grapefruit. Lightly floral, a touch of honey, and a bit of peppery spice. This is really setting the table - very much a "drink me" aroma.

Right off the bat, the taste is superbly balanced. I get a little sweet taste up front along with orange peel and tangerine. There's floral hops and a surprising honey flavor. Clean, crackery malt provides a perfect base. There's a bit of pine resin, fairly strong grapefruit supplements the orange and tangerine. Kind of a white pepper spiciness and the floral notes come out in the aromatics after a swallow. The bitterness is not overly assertive - just enough to give a taste bud reset.

The feel is medium-bodied, the carbonation is medium but it is not prickly - gentle I guess is the word. Sharp, crisp, clean, dry. Supremely drinkable, incredibly balanced.

Absolutely hype-worthy. One of the easiest A-plus beers I can imagine. Just a question of how far over 4.5 this goes.

 

BeelzebubbBy The Alchemist
American stout at 8%



Poured from a pint can, the body is oil black and completely opaque. Good initial head and very good lacing.

Aroma is an interesting mix of Citra hop and malty character. Intriguing.

Taste follows nose. A very earthy hop though not overly bitter. No sign of the ABV. As the stout warmed the malty flavor revealed itself, offering a good roasted char. The resultant mix of hop and char make a distinctive stout flavor.

Finishes surprisingly dry given all that is going on during tasting.

Mouthfeel is good and is medium weight. Solid carbonation.

Solid beer that feels odd at first but developed into an enjoyable stout.

 

My absolute favorite alchemist beer, awesome!

 

I’d love to try this stout on tap. It took two cans for me to “get” the beer, but it is a fine stout. Cheers.

 

I really liked this beer. Big tastes and low ABV.
MORE Lil' Dusty Citra Dry Hopped Session Pale Ale 5.3%
4.11/5 rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
16 oz can into a shaker pint glass.
L: SRM 3 pours a hazy white grapefruit juice color with a thin rounded white head that has good retention, low carbo, head recedes to thicker creamy froth, medium-heavy complex lacing.
S: Fruity and tropical. Very light and simple.
T: Tropical fruit punch, a suggestion of coconut, a bit full-flavored, a distant berry note, light pith, green melon rind, and a zesty note in the finish.
F: Velvet smooth, soft, almost creamy medium bodied feel that has a subtly punchy center and a medium length moderately dry finish. The feel becomes fluffy and cushy with warming.
O: Super tasty. Nice and light but I don't want to crush it, but rather sip it. Scrumptious fruit flavors, a welcoming feel, and an acceptably dry finish. It is outstanding.