New Beer Weekend #293

Congrats on your trip to Hawaii! Bring back Kona coffee!

 

Happy NBW everyone! I had SAN last night so nothing new from that (but I did get another 6 out of the cellar!)
Yesterday was also the “birthday” for Arvon Brewing and while I was unable to get there for the celebration, I got here at opening today.
Most of what I got is to go, but I had to try at least one.
This one is brewed in collaboration with Founder’s Brewing Company and the only non barrel aged beer I picked up.
And….. I apparently don’t have enough signal to upload photos. Maybe later.
The name of this beer is “Imperial Coffee Chocolate Stout”
I kid not.
Jeremy Kosmicki comes over and hangs out with the brewing crew and they made a big stout, with Bibs coffee and “chocolate” (no idea what form or source)
It could be Breakfast Stout without the oatmeal. I kinda like it.
The pour is dark, deeper than stout black and had a short, light brown head that left rings of lacing that then slid down and disappeared. Interesting.
The taste is coffee forward, roasted malts and certainly a chocolate presence (thinking cacao nibs) but no cocoa butter.
It’s thinner than I expected, but I was focused on the barrel aged offerings and didn’t adjust. It’s right along style lines, no problem or knock.
OA, got a couple to go, I’ll do a proper review's when I have more than 6 ounces.
And maybe I’ll get a photo uploaded then.
Cheers all!
Back later today.

 

Lion's Tail Brewing Bourbon Trail Rocky Road. 2025. An imperial stout aged one year in Buffalo Trace bourbon barrels, then conditioned on cacao beans, marshmallow fluff, vanilla, and toasted almonds and peanuts. The look is pitch black, with a somewhat thick brown foam cover. The smell is decadent. It smells like rocky road ice cream. Vanilla, almond, milk chocolate, and marshmallow scents explode from the glass. The taste is milk chocolate ice cream, almond, marshmallow, vanilla, cardamom, and mint. It is exquisite. The mouthfeel is thick, oily, silky, smooth, and full, with light carbonation. Overall, this is as good as a pastry stout can be. It is rocky road ice cream in a glass. This may be my favorite selection in this series. This is number four of five in this year's series. I look forward to number five.

 

Yeah but none of that 10% shit

 

Dark Ale from StoneHammer Brewing Co.

From a 473ml can dated 16 July 2025. Poured into a pint glass. A scant one finger fine head on a foggy amber brown. the head soon diminished to a ring. Some patchy lacing.

Fruity malts in the nose. Malt forward. Caramel. Some coffee. Toasted grains. A medium dry finish.

A medium body and low carbonation. Smooth and drinkable. Overall a solid English Dark Mild. Smooth and malty.

3.81/5 rDev 0%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

 

Right. Can’t find the real stuff here anymore, people found out how good it was.
Back in the mid 1980s (Right after I was born, okay? No, working my way through college) I was employed at a Pipe and Tobacco company (cigars and cigarettes world class tobacco and pipes.) The owner wanted something else so he chose bulk coffee and teas. He was sadly before his time, but until then I had put cream and sugar in my coffee and since my first sip of 100% Kona coffee I have been not able to put anything in my coffee, regardless how bad it is. But this is about beer and I finally got the photo to upload from Arvon.

The one on the right is the one that I had.
Cheers!

 

Happy NBW everyone! This will be my only new to me beer for the day, since against my better judgement I bought some more bourbon this morning so I'll probably have some of that next. If you like sherry or sherry cask aged brews then I think you'll like this one too:

Adios Martes | The Bruery | BeerAdvocate





If I decide to have another new beer tomorrow I'll make sure and post it, cheers everyone!

 

Make Milk Bags Great Again from Refined Fool Brewing Co.

Poured a 473ml can into a pint glass. A big two finger bubbly white head on a slightly hazy reddish brown. good head retention. A thin layer sticks around to the end. Sheets of foamy lacing.

Caramel malts and a slight hop aroma. The taste is malts up front. Lots of fruity malts. A mildly bitter hop finish.

A very smooth and creamy texture. A medium/light body and light carbonation. Overall a fine Irish Red Ale. Much better than I expected. Well worth a try.

3.97/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

 

Happy weekend everyone, the weekend means no stress of work, peace of mind and new beers together. Thanks for participating in this weekly special thread here each week. If you happen to stumble upon this thread feel free to join us, the more the merrier.

We have some beautiful warm weather today, mid 50s and strong sun, giving all the spring time coming feels. Our oldest is finally wanted to try lacrosse this year and I’ll be helping coach them starting this week, couldn’t be more excited to be around the sport I love so much again. Two parties for the youngest, so a busy but fun day. In my travels today I snuck into a beer store and grabbed a single...

Another beer from the mostly all lager, all NJ malt brewing company called Wander Back Beerworks. This is their flagship hoppy lager, west coast pils, that clocks in at 5%...100 % NJ malt and decoction mashed as with all their lagers, economically priced taboot at $11 a six pack, though I did go single this time around, this will be a repeat purchase after today.

Wander Back Beerworks - Hugo (West Coast Pils 5 %)



Pours straw-like yellow, slight cloudiness, white head, bubbly with sleek top; collapses nicely with pretty good retention.

Nose is prominently citrus, lemon and lime like; little acidity, nicely pithy with zest; floral with something reminiscent of pine; light fruit character, a pleasant subtle malt presence plays role of anchor.

Taste is nicely hop forward with great balanced malt; depth reminiscent of bread and crust, slightly rustic, cracker like in lightness; zesty citrus, woodsy spice, peach skin, resiny.

Light body, so refreshing; hops in no way inhibit drinkability; dry and clean; good hop sticky on the tongue with moderate snappy bitterness; this beer gives off a great “take the next sip” sensation; nothing lingers but a parched like smacky feel that makes you sip again.

Highly drinkable and well constructed beer; strikes a beautiful balance of great malt character and hop presence; the bitterness and sticky round it out to produce a great beer with great snappy character.

Looking forward to watching this brewery grow as they settle into home eventually, like I said last time, I'd highly recommend this brewery to the curious beer explorers out there.

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Looking forward to seeing what everyone else is drinking this weekend. Cheers! May or may not have another to add tomorrow, we'll see how the day goes and what I end up being in the mood for.

 

Northern Rivals, a collaboration from Fair State Co-Op and Central Waters, a sessionable 12% Barleywine, purchased at Beer Bazaar, used to be in Hainesville but have moved to Grayslake.

4.17/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Caramel color, light reddish tan head, some nice lacing. Snot locker get some burnt sugar, caramel. Taste is similar, some fig and resinous hops. Medium bodied, well carbonated.
I'd buy it again in a heartbeart.

 

Good evening NBW
I picked up this six pack at Aldi because it was cheap and I was nearly out of yellow beer.

Cerveza Tesoro Especial
12oz undated bottle poured into a pilsner glass at fridge temp 4.4% ABV per label. Brewed by ABW Virginia Beach. The beer pours mostly bright pale gold with nearly white head. The head recedes to a pencil thin ring and island. No lacing. The aroma is mild with corny, mildly skunky Corona notes. The taste is semisweet pale malt with more sweet, corny vegetable oil and mild bitterness. Microwave movie theater extra butter popcorn finish. The feel is thin bodied with average carbonation and a mostly dry finish. Overall, there are better lagers out there, but a $7/6 pack is worth a shot.

 

[/IMG] I can't recommend this. At 12% ABV it is basically an alcohol delivery system with maybe the merest hint of the claimed dark chocolate and coffee overtones....if you use your imagination. IMO, there are better barrel-aged stouts available at less $/ounce, including Dragon's Milk at 11% ABV, which is widely available in 12 oz. bottles at places like Trader Joes. This one is a 22 oz. bottle, which means you better be sharing with a friend or have nothing on the agenda for the rest of the day. Somewhat disappointing because Deschutes brews some other nice beers, including Obsidian Stout. The scores copied below are because I am feeling generous today

look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

 

Hey, everybody. What a week - all snow removal all the time! My little tractor got a workout, but better it than me! I was just finishing up the ends of the driveway Wednesday after they cut back the edges with the plow trucks when an enormous payloader comes along and REALLY cut back the edges. The driver goes " you ain't done yet?"...I pointed at his machine and mine... But he didn't block my driveway and actually cleared the mailbox. Couldn't see out the driveway with twelve foot high piles, but it settled a lot and it's melting pretty good - 50 degrees today. My veg seeds showed up and that itch is starting....

So...a lightweight tonight:



Schilling Maly 8 - Czech/Bohemian pilsner at a whopping 3.1% ABV.

It pours very slightly hazy straw gold color with an inch of pure white foam. The head falls to a nice cap with a few islands and respectable lacing.

It's got a bready smell with just a bit of toast and slight sweetness. Lots of floral and grassy hops, a little spice. Quite earthy. A hint of citrus.

The flavor follows with doughy bready malts in the forefront along with some sweetness. It's well-hopped. Grassy and floral flavors aplenty accompanied by a mild lemon taste and a bit if a peppery kick at the finish. Less earthy than the aroma suggested. Balanced bitterness.

The feel is on the lower edge of medium and it's soft. Medium dry on the finish. Middle of the road carbonation.

Well - a 3.1% brew with plenty of flavor. Nicely done here. Obviously highly drinkable. Surprisingly flavorful. Right around the 4.0 mark.

 

Great minds drink alike this is certainly a style I think has taken hold and quickly it seems. I continue to see more and more; yours reads like a tasty one as well.

 

Greetings, New Beer people. Head nod to @bbtkd for opening the taps this weekend.

People, it has been a week. Tonight I am at the Albuquerque airport, eagerly awaiting my flight back to Portland. There's been a lot of renovation here at the Sunport over the past year, including a brand new taproom for Steel Bender Brewing that served me a tasty New Beer tonight.



Steel Bender Red Iron Double Red IPA

Brilliant red-orange body with persimmon highlights and superb clarity. The head of thick tan foam lazily compresses to a clumpy skin that loads the glass with lacing.

The nose is spicy with orange peel, pine resin, hints of caramel and cherries, and earthy undertones. The flavor has a nice toasty malt intro, not too sweet. Citrus joins quickly with orange oil and a splash of juice. Finishes with deep caramel, a bit of roasted malt, pine, earth, and lingering caramelized orange notes. Bitterness is assertive but won't melt your face.

Medium-heavy body that's somewhat sticky and mouth-coating, with emphatic carbonation that scrubs the palate clean for the next sip.

Overall, Red Iron does an admirable job of balancing huge malt and hop presence into a beer that ends up big and chewy yet drinkable. Would drink again. If they sold cans here I'd bring some home tonight.

 

Safe travels back home @vurt that beer certainly sounds like a winner.