New Beer Weekend #20

Good afternoon, NBW. First (and probably only) beer of the day, after putting up the Christmas lights on the house, is beer #5 from the Costco advent calendar my wife gave me.

Graminger Weissbrau's Kirta dunkles weissbier.

500ml can served in a tulip. Dated "EXP 2022/05"

Pours a somewhat hazy dark amber / nut brown with a big thick head that collapses to several millimeter thick layer. Some active carbonation, but very fine. Smell is yeasty, wheat, a little of the banana/clove aroma I would expect.

Taste is pretty interesting. Primarily the banana/clove, but with something slightly nutty, and maybe a little hint of a date flavor.

Mouthfeel is very dry, almost chalky. Overall, not too shabby. I'll reuse a phrase I wrote in another review yesterday: Kind of on the borderline between "Perfectly happy to drink it, but not excited in any way" and "It's not unpleasant to drink, but I'd be looking for other beers" -- but this one leans a little bit more on the positive side.

 

Founders KBS Espresso, 12.0% ABV; 4.21 overall

Pours an effervescent ebony with 2 fingers of fluffy mocha colored head. Below average head retention & lacing

S: Plenty of coffee, vanilla

T: Follows the nose, a little dark chocolate lurks in the background along with dryness up front. Much dryness, from the barrel, along with a little booze bite, plus plenty of coffee, a little vanilla & chocolate & a little caramel. Finishes pretty dry with some raw barrel & a little booze, coffee still hanging there with a kiss of vanilla

MF: Medium body, fairly firm carbonation

ABV is well hidden on this, flavor is there wanted more complexity & depth of flavor . Was looking for a little more thickness on the body. I have found the last few batches of regular KBS too coffee forward, this seems only little more in this court, but I expect it here

 

On this NBW weekend, it will be all Transient, all the time. They’re certainly my favorite “local” brewery (40 miles or so from home), and they may be my favorite brewery period. Big stouts, lagers, wild ales, and of course hazies, they excel at all styles, IMHO.

This one is so new, I had to add it to the database. I absolutely LOVE to add beers.





4.41/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Pours a hazy pineapple color with a bone white head that yields moderate lacing. It certainly looks the part of a NE-style IPA, and the nose fits the bill, too, with a heaping helping of dank ripe oranges, pineapple, and passion fruit literally leaping from the can after you pop the top.

The taste is really led by the dank citrus flavors, and the pineapple and passion fruit add some character to this Citra-hopped beer (there’s also Strata hops, IIRC). The mouthfeel is medium and soft per the style.

Transient has this style absolutely NAILED. Truly a pleasure to drink.

 

Im elated that you enjoyed it so much. As I told you, I've mostly moved away from pumpkin beers. But I find this one to be one of the best examples of a strong version. I'll enjoy a small glass, but that's about it. I wanted to get these bottles into the hands of people who love them.

 

In spite of all of the COVID chaos, a brewery opens. A reminder to keep hope alive!

 

Sounds very interesting. Thanks for writing it up so thoroughly.

 

Loved reading your contribution! Come back regularly.

 

#2, I didn’t add this, but I am the first to review it. That’s a shame, because this is world-class, IMHO.





4.6/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours jet black with a dark tan head that sizzles a bit and draws you into a nose filled with rich milk chocolate, peanut butter, caramel, and some more peanut butter. Wow.

The taste is led by the milk chocolate and peanut butter, and there’s a hint of the caramel and vanilla. This is a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup on PED’s - it’s very sweet AND very salty. I’m a big sweet and salty guy, so this is truly my jam.

The mouthfeel is full and creamy, worthy of the massive flavor profile it’s supporting. I was worried this would be cloying, but those worries were unfounded, because this is perfectly balanced for my palate.

 

Good evening NBW
Another Scotch Ale from Traquair

House Ale
500mL bottle stamped BBE MAY 29 poured into thistle glass at just above fridge temp 7.2% ABV. The beer pours light to medium brown in color with reddish highlights and milky, light khaki head. The head recedes to a thin ring and single layer of bubbles. The aroma is faint with rich malt, cocoa, leather and earthy hops. The taste is rich, deeply toasted malt with subtle smokiness. Earthy flavors of leather, tobacco and oak can also be found before a moderately bitter finish. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with average carbonation and a dry finish. Overall, very good. Subtle, balanced and complex.

I enjoyed this one more that the Jacobite for sure. Very well made and happy to have had the chance to try both. Cheers all!

 

Harmonic wavelengths by equilibrium & spyglass

4.54/5 rDev +2.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5



Can purchased at fort point market in Boston poured into a teku

Creamy , fluffy , white three finger foam cap , excellent retention . Settles to one finger solid foam after five minutes over a turbid pale orange liquid

Aroma is orange citrus , peach , papaya

Taste is orange citrus , papaya , tropical fruits

Smooth , creamy mouthfeel , hop taste no bite

Great beer , repeatable, recommended

 

ISO that BBQ

 

Have you guys read "A Gentleman in Moscow" by Amor Towles? It is a very beautiful and fun book.

 

Re-reading my post, a "junior barely wine" sounds either redundant or incredible weak. Jeez, I just hate catching typos in my posts after the edit period expires.

 

@Jimmy_Kneecaps that is no bbq.

I have a French restaurant near me that finally reopened for dinner. The chef trained under Julia Child and has Guy Fieri and Anthony Bourdain visit his restaurants. Ordered takeout . Duck breast medium rare, cauliflower , whipped parsnips , raclette salad. My wife had steak and pomme frites. An excellent meal from Mallebar Brasserie, support your local restaurants or we lose them

https://www.mallebarbrasserie.com/

 

makes me want it even more!