New Beer Weekend #12

Back for NBW Day #2 with two beers from @Roy_Hobbs in the still ongoing NBW BIF #12, where boxes are still floating around the country.

This first beer is on of three H-F saisons that Ross sent. I have to admit, when I opened the box and saw this one and the other two, I yelped out loud - I’ve been after these for YEARS.

it took all my beer nerd self control to wait for the official share date.

Hello official share date. PS: the beautiful glassware is also courtesy of Ross. This is the greatest day in the history of my beer nerd life.





4.6/5 rDev +5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a hazy straw color with a perfectly white head that is quite bubbly. Simply a gorgeous beer. Funky aromas associated with the style are forward on the nose, but there’s a surprising amount of citrus as well, specifically lemons and mandarin oranges, and some white grape notes, too.

I am officially drooling.

The funk is also forward on the taste, but it is the lemon and mandarin orange flavors that really elevate this - there’s a little sour, but the citrus flavors soften the sour and add depth that I’ve not previously found in this style. Truly incredible flavors.

The mouthfeel is effervescent, drawing you back in for another drink. Truly world-class, IMHO.

 

My first mystery beer of the NBW BIF share! Some last minute needs of my wife’s family mean I’m in charge of the kids most of the day and evening. I’ll likely get to the next one after 10PM or so when the kids are asleep and I’m done for the day.

Here is mystery beer 1 of 3 from @Ozzylizard. Other than the picture of an Estonian Tick (see BIF thread) and a recommended temperature range, I have no real clues as to the beer. The cap is obscured by a sticker and I’m doing my best to stave off my curiosity and look around its edges.



Looks like a 12 ounce bottle. On to the open and pour.



I let this warm from fridge temperature for about 15 minutes before opening.

A quick whiff after popping the crown reveals a
Mild smokiness and some roasty grain notes. I’m guessing it’s a dark one.

the aroma from the pour has the smoky notes fading and the roasted grains dominating. The beer is cola brown with a slight head that dissipates to nothing very quickly. There is a slight metallic note as well.

First sip is all deep toasted grain. There is a Spicy note that takes one by surprise. It is difficult to place. I’m thinking a Porter of some sort or perhaps even a Schwartzbier. The alcohol is imperceptible. I’m thinking lower ABV.

Dark chocolate, cold black coffee and a spicy bitterness as it warms. A sweetness is starting to come out as it warms further. A hint of vanilla on the finish as well. There is even a nutty note in there and I’m starting to wonder if this has hazelnuts or something similar in the recipe.

The last few sips see the sweetness emerge as brown sugar and more vanilla. The bitterness is fading. Spicy note still present.

This has a light body. I’m still thinking lower ABV.

Im going to guess a porter, perhaps baltic(?) with nuts of some sort. Not really sure. I’m not good at this. I like it quite a bit.



We have Pohjala Ohtu Porter. According to the other site it is an American Porter. The spicy quality is obviously from the rye, now that I know it is there. The oats don’t provide much body or any creaminess. No nuts. My bad.

Best of all, my first Estonian Tick! Here’s to encephalitis!

 

Another dusty old TRVE bottle for me this weekend. Right now I'm drinking Black Celebration, a dark mixed culture ale aged on Colorado sweet cherries. I'm assuming this is near the 4 year mark once again, bought a couple of years ago.





This beer pours a dark maroon red-brown black with a thin frothy tan colored foam head that sticks around for a while.

Aromas are lush and captivating, dark chocolate, roasted malt, sweet cherries, some wild funk, notes of coffee roast, char, dark caramel, toasted toffee, molasses, slight acetic vinegary red wine, tart red fruit, with hints of dusty earthy hops.

Tastes tart and acidic upfront, mellowing into a real smooth complex wild dark ale with tart sweet cherries, wild funk, mild leather, slight acetic red wine, roasted malts, dark chocolate, coffee roast, char, dark caramel, toasty toffee, molasses, tart red fruits, vanilla, clove-like spice, and dusty earthy hops. A bit of sharpness at first then moves into a real smooth and balanced wild dark ale flavor with cherries that has fairly restrained acidity and sourness right now.

Feels medium bodied, creamy with smooth moderate carbonation, somewhat drying and phenolic in the finish.

Overall this is a really nice dark mixed culture ale aged on Colorado sweet cherries. I can actually taste the chocolate flavors from the malt, it isn't too sour or funky, you get the cherries but they don't overpower the beer. This doesn't just taste to me like Dr Pepper or Cherry Coke like some dark sour ales do. This is a real tasty and well balanced dark mixed culture ale with sweet cherries. Cheers everyone and happy NBW!

 

Have a few more in me since I have tomorrow off... up next is Foulmouthed Brewing's Fraktur, a Kölsch-style beer made in Maine. The label says that they brew it to be "bright and crisp, yet have a soft and well rounded European hop profile that makes it a perfect pair for nearly any cuisine or mood." Sounds good, and I've generally liked the Foulmouthed stuff I've had.



Pours a slightly-hazy golden color with a straw-yellow highlight to it if held up to light. Good head formation and retention, and it leaves behind some super nice lacing as it dissipates down to a half-finger. Great legs and tons of sudsy lace... I'm into it, even if it's a bit hazier than traditional Kölschbier.

The nose is pretty muted and nondescript, but I guess if I really get in there, I can pick up some apples, hay, light herbal hops, minerality, and a subtle rustic maltiness. It's pretty much anonymous-smelling, but that's not an awful thing in this style.

On the tongue, Fraktur presents with a good mix of wheat-like, crackery malt and subtle Noble-type hop character, drinking nice and easy... pretty clean and well-defined, and rather refreshing to be sure. It's not my favorite modern American Kölsch (that honor likely belongs to Exhibit 'A's Goody Two Shoes, a consistently-great recipe that I will buy whenever I'm in the mood for an easy-drinking beer), but it's definitely pretty solid. Feel is somewhat effervescent, though slightly lower in carbonation than I'd prefer, with a semi-dry finish that comes across satisfying and enjoyable. Would drink again, but it's not likely to be a beer I'd seek out.

 

Who else but @Ozzylizard to give you an Estonian tick(*)! It's a beautiful thing.

(*- not too long ago he arranged a trade with me just so he could tick a Jordanian beer, so he sure seems to be good and dedicated at collecting those international ticks! )

 

Ghost in the machine
..cloudy dark burnt orange appearance..Teddy gave the look a high score,couldn't keep his eyes off it.
...below average carbonation. On one hand body feels average yet there is some heft and heaviness to it
..aroma is pine,bitter citrus peel, citrus fruit, hay,funk, mildy sugary orange
...taste is spilt between citrus peel/fruit and dank.thats what mostly dominates,coats the tongue immediately and lingers.
...overall it was super flavorful and leaves a strong impression

 

SABRO Hops impart the coconut taste
https://www.yakimachiefranches.com/brands/detail.html?varietyid=9

 

#2, it’s “Mystery Beer” time!!!!! I love “Mystery Beer” time!!!!! I can’t stop yelling!!!!!

This is also courtesy of that beer nerd extraordinaire @Roy_Hobbs, and the glassware is courtesy of @Ozzylizard in NBS BIF #007, 2-1/2 years ago.

These BIF’s are the gift that truly keep On giving.

I’m going to review this live without a net. Fasten your seatbelts, NBW friends, the ride could get a little bouncy.



The first thing I think when I pop the top is “Mosaic hops.” Dank, earthy, citrus aromas with some berries.

An aggressive pour reveals a very hazy, orange-ish colored beer with a dense off-white head that provides nice lacing.

The aromas after the pour into the glass are still in”Mosaic-hopped” range, with dank citrus aromas, and the continued presence of that earthy, herbal aroma.

The taste is right on that Mosaic-hopped flavor trail - really dank citrus, with tangerine and mango flavors, some berry, and still that herbal note - and what is this at the back end of the taste? Lactose??? Mind blown, truly.

Given the 6.6% ABV and the aroma/flavor profile, I’m calling this a milkshake IPA with Mosaic hops and lactose added. Firmly in the 4.35 range for me.

Let’s see what we got on the reveal, which will follow shortly.

 

Happy Sunday all! My mystery beer review courtesy of the NBW BIF thanks to my incredibly generous sender, @Roguer



Hand drawn label "This is why we drink - a 2020 Ale" with the world on fire lol.

Ok already starting off tricky. Beer pours very dark. On the edge of the darkest brown but not quite black. Somewhat transparent on the edges of the glass. So I'm thinking not an imperial stout. Minimal khaki head dissipating quickly

First whiff is bigtime whisky. But it's not typical bourbon... Its Scotch or *possibly* Irish whisky. Not much roasted malt to speak of on the nose. Again adding to the curveball quality of this beer. Porter perhaps? But still the traditional roasty coffee/chocolate isn't really there. Can't be because its already dated, it still smells nice and fresh. Theres too much other flavor going on. Molasses, fig, caramel, nuttiness.

First sip. Ok holy hell it is definitely Scotch barrel haha. I love it. Smokey goodness. But the hops are so big too. Mouthfeel is surprisingly lighter than what is was expecting. Some kind of dry hopped milk stout? Blended with something? Too black to be a barleywine but not getting the hallmarks of anything else. Based on the other beers he sent me I know its gonna be much trickier than just a Scotch barrel aged stout.

Final guess before opening is Scotch barrel aged porter/barleywine blend of some sort. I'm digging it too. The warmer it gets the more the barrel and whiskey comes out without being too boozey.

And the reveal.....



Ahhh wow I was pretty close! Scotch AND bourbon barrel aged black barleywine. Love the unique style choice, thanks so much @Roguer ! These blind tastings are always so fun, cheers everybody!

 

Arthur is on my short list of "if I could only have one beer for the rest of my life" beers. Some of that is due to my love of the style, but it's also just a great beer. As far as shelfies go, I'm not sure you can find any better always available beers anywhere in the country than HF's Arthur, Anna & Florence, especially at a very reasonable $10 per.

 

Howdy NBW12"s
I've been waiting all week to try this one

Summer by Tree House Imperial IPA canned 9/4/20 8.1 abv
hop profile is Magnum, Citra, and Amarilllo. Flaked oats and pale malt.

poured into can glass yields a 1/2 a 1/2 inch foamy head that lends to soapy lacing. Color is kind of a glowing yellow/orange haze

aroma is tropical with a blend of sweet mango, orange and clementine

Taste is sweet with a bit of orange rind and mango. Some malt come through, little to no alcohol flavor.

It has a sticky full mouthfeel, low carbonation, smooth feel and finished a tick acidic with a lingering clementine rind taste.

Overall I loved it. Great aroma while being poured, nice taste and a smooth finish makes for a easy to drink refreshing beer. Another Tree House gem.

 

Wow that was way beyond subtle, I was assuming an adjunct. It was like eating a coconut bar. I think the dryness of the beer threw me off as well, just a tad more sweetness would have been a plus. Just a tad. I was assuming blueberry because if the color, surprise.

 

Had mussels for dinner.


R. Shea Hot Chocolate With Marshmallows. Delicious. Lasting rocky head/foamy lacing. Aromas and flavors of big milk/dark chocolate, cocoa, coffee, marshmallow, cinnamon, habanero, roasted nuts, toasted biscuit, and dark bread/crusts; with lighter notes of vanilla, smoke, char, wood, herbal, grass, peppercorn, and yeast earthiness. A bit of dark fruity yeast in the aromas. Light-moderate herbal, woody, grassy, peppery, roast, charred bitterness; and light pepper spiciness on the finish. Medium carbonation and medium-full body; very creamy/silky/bready malts; some sticky hops and chalky roast in the mouthfeel. Light-moderate increasing bitter/spicy dryness, no cloying/acrid/astringent flavors. Nicely smooth/soft, mild increasing warmth of 8% and lingering pepper heat after the finish. Definitely a bit more for people who like peppers in their beers. It has a good bit of a spicy edge to it, but not overwhelming. Really well done! 3.91


Cheers

 

If you ask me, you nailed it.

 

I’LL HAVE ANOTHER!


Head Full of Fresh Hops: Mosaic & Talus

4.32/5 rDev -2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Poured from a 16 ounce can into a IPA glass.

Look- Dark straw, hazy, sudsy with a white head, average head retention, above average lacing.

Smell- Grassy, slight pineapple, grapefruit, resinous, peppery.

Taste- Spicy, resinous, grapefruit, slight pineapple.

Feel- Medium body, average carbonation, prickly.

Overall- Tasty fresh hop NEIPA.

 

If Arthur and the relatives are a shelfie at $10 for a 750, looks like it’s time to tell Mrs O we’re moving to Vermont.

 

Glad you like that one, I have an even better version coming your way.

 

I've had some really good J. Wakefield beers, and some that have been a bit questionable (especially considering the prices they typically command up here... I think I paid almost $7 for a single can of this; yikes), but this one seemed awesome. I really do like rainbow sherbet and have many great memories of it from my childhood, but I recall having a rainbow sherbet beer from Prairie that was awful and drain-pour worthy. Will this one hit the mark? Damn, I'm excited to find out!

The pour is a humorously "healthy"-looking smoothie-like concoction of muted reddish tones topped with a thin cap of micro-bubbles that settles down to nearly nothing. Opaque and unmoving, Spilled really captures the "don't give a fuck" fruited sour appearance to a tee. I'm glad it has some color, presumably from some of the added flavors, but... yeah, this one is ruddy as hell.

The nose here definitely hooks me. Sure, maybe it's a bit overly-lactic and seemingly "artificial" to some extent, but I get a lot of very authentic raspberry and tangy lemon/lime/citrus aspects really wafting off the top here. It actually does remind me of the tantalizing dessert from my childhood, and the milky note is somewhat convincing too!

Wow, this is delicious. They did it! It's not overly sour, but the flavor profile is a perfect balance between all of the different flavors found in a rainbow sherbet, distilled into an alcoholic form that still drinks like a nice, full-bodied beer. I would drink this every goddamn day if it were more available and more affordable. It's lightly-sweet with huge punchy raspberry flavor, but nicely tart and fun with the big bumps of lemon-lime and orange/tangerine in the finish. Creamy and acidic by turns with a well-defined finish that leaves me wanting more. If this sounds up your alley, I highly recommend seeking out a can and giving it a shot. I love it... it's stupid but I love it.

 

The reveal of the “Mystery Beer” from @Roy_Hobbs .....



Pora is identified as an IPA. CHECK!!!

No idea if Mosaic hops are on the hop bill, or if there’s any lactose. My 4.35 rating still represents my thoughts on this beer.