New Beer Weekend #39

Torch and crown restless dark lager
..a very murky cola brown appearance
...just below average carbonation with around a medium body.overall a very nice feel
...aroma is an odd but really nice mix of toffee,sweet bread,and toast theres some cereal, malt and a little molasses.
Taste is a little sweet with most of what is in the aroma showing up. A mild sweet malty molasses taste coats the mouth and lingers.
..overall this was hard to describe but a really nice beer.

 

Next up, a new California Common from Chuckanut, Skagit Tulip Ale. The annual tulip fest is at peak color right now down in the Skagit Valley, and this brew is a nice companion to it.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/18879/542136/?ba=BBThunderbolt#review

 

I have the Fox Farm and Kent Falls versions of this beer, but haven't opened them yet. That may change in a few minutes.

Thought I'd jump in with more background on this beer. I believe at least 9 breweries brewed their own version of this (Beer'd, Finback, Four Quarters, Fox Farm, Kent Falls, The Guild, Tilted Barn, Trillium and Vitamin Sea). Dave Witham, the founder of Proclamation passed away in 2020 at the too young age of 45. All proceeds are for the benefit of his seven year old daughter. I've never tried Proclamation's Derivative, but apparently it was one of Dave's favorite beers.

 

This is an above-average interpretation of a Dunkel lager; far better than the better known Warsteiner Pilsner. Very refreshing with hints of chocolate, molasses, and brown sugar. I have always passed this one in the beer store; now I pick up a six-pick now and then.

 

I almost cracked this one last night,
but I wanted it to be the first of the evening.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/26/46080/



16 oz. can.
8.6% abv.
Canned Monday, 04/12/21.
4 days from the Indiana brewery, to our distributor, to our store in Vermont!

Moderate pour yields a one (+) inch white head over a slightly hazy golden body with a bit of sticky lacing. Nose of citrus (orange mostly), slight tropical fruit (pineapple), and a hint of pine resin. Taste is fairly similar in flavors to the aromas with the pineapple coming forward. On the finish the pine is there with a slight to less than medium presence creating a smooth experience to be sure. Nice feel and overall, this (now 5 day old offering) is another standout from Munster, Indiana.
Cheers!

 

Inspired by @WunderLlama, I too will crack open a Second Derivative (see prior post for backstory on this beer). This one was brewed by Kent Falls. Review below, but the summary is that this one didn't really hit the spot for me. I don't recall specifically having Vic Secret hops before, but I assume I have. Not sure if I just don't like that hop, or if this was my normal negative style bias. It was still a solid beer, but I usually really like Kent Falls beers of all styles. I'll try to review the Fox Farm version tomorrow for comparison.

Pours a murky darkish yellow that I don't find that appealing. This is offset by a nice foamy head with excellent lacing. Aroma is all tropical fruit, with pineapple the dominant smell, then a generic blend of other fruity aromas that I can't pick out individually. Taste is very different than what I expected. My mind was anticipating a typical juicy NEIPA, but this one has more bitterness than juiciness. For some, that would be a plus. For me, it doesn't connect. Medium bodied and fairly smooth. Happy to have supported the cause, but this was fairly meh for me.

 

SARA Tone and Tenor, thanks @BartS!
4.43/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Thank you BartS for this
750 ml bottle poured into a mug

A- A fairly clear lighter red with a three finger pink head.

S- Tart, raspberries, boysenberries, oak, some funk, some wine, a little earthy.

T- Sour, raspberries, boysenberries, some fruit skin bitterness, oak, earthy funk, a little herbal, some wine.

M- Smooth, light body, dry.

O- A great barrel aged saison with a fruit, flavors are balanced and come together nicely.

Cheers!

 

It should be a felony to brew a beer that good, IMHO. Absolutely love the beer and the brewery.

 

Mrs O and I are entertaining tonight, so I’ll be brief - I am really digging this IPL from my local.





4.3/5 rDev +3.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

Pours a minimally hazy golden color with a sudsy white head, the nose is full of citrus and resiny pine aromas. Full-on salivating.

The taste follows the nose, with delicious citrus (oranges and grapefruit) accompanied by resiny pine, and some bready malt flavors from the pilsner malt.

The mouthfeel is a bit overcarbed, but otherwise this is one of the better IPL’s I’ve had.

 

Go for a double to catch up, rather than posting twice. First, a cranberry sour named Incipient from Speciation.

16oz can served in a little Cantillon glass. Don't see a date.

Pours clear, slightly pinkish golden with a smallish head. Smell is very tart, some cranberry if I choose to label it as such, some oak, maybe some lemon and/or lemon pith.

Taste is tart, something slightly umami about it, maybe herbal is a better word (in the sense of herbs that might typically be used on beef, like rosemary and thyme).

Feel is medium. Overall, nice beer.

Second, a gift from a generous BA (thank you Ryan!), Haole at the Moon Hawaiian Barrel Aged Imperial Stout from Sunriver.

16oz can split between several tasters. Canned on 11/22/19.

Pours black with very little head and no retention. Smell is chocolate, roasty notes, and pineapple.

Taste is sweet chocolate, light flavors of roasted grains, definitely some pineapple (which is really contributing to the sweetness), and maybe a hint of anise.

Mouthfeel is on the lighter side of thick, slightly chewy. This is a very nice beer.

 

Evening, all.

Beautiful sunny day in the inland northwest. It's around 75° outside, my optimum outdoor operating temperature.

Last night, I drank a goodly number of hoppy beers, including a DDH Coconut Alien Church, courtesy of @JayORear. Shared among 6 people, conditions weren't favorable for a proper BA review. Let's just say it was outstanding!

Today, feeling a bit hopped out, I'm going in a different direction for my first NBW beer of this weekend. Also from @JayORear and one of his multiple NBS BIF boxes, this was an outstanding schwarzbier that I'd hit regularly if local:

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/52454/540745/?ba=woemad#review
Thanks, Jay!

 

Good evening NBW
I was excited to find a Vienna Lager in a sea of haze at my local and forgot to check dates

Blackberry Farm Brewery Mountain Lager
12oz can stamped 11/30/20 (4.5 months old & brand new to my local store's shelf) poured into a pilsner glass at fridge temp 5.1% ABV. The beer pours barely hazy in a orange amber color. The head is khaki colored and recedes to a thin ring and leaves a little lacing. The aroma is mild with bready caramel malt. The taste is semisweet toasted malt with with minimal tea-like hop bitterness. The mouthfeel is thin to medium bodied with average carbonation and a mostly dry finish. Overall, good. I would definitely try this again fresh if I had the opportunity. Shows promise.

5 hours on the road to Indy and back today to attend my daughter's lacrosse game. I talked her and my wife into a stop at Big Red Liquor in Bloomington on the way home to pick up some trade beer. Happy to be joining in tonight. Cheers all!

 

Evening BAs. First one tonight is Fox Farm Quiet Night, a 5.3% Czech-style Dark Lager generously supplied by @Roy_Hobbs .



A: Very attractive pour - deep dark mahogany with clear reddish edges. Medium sized light-brown head that gradually fades to a lasting ring and leaves some nice lacing
A: Toasted dark bread, coffee beans, hint of molasses, dark fruit, grain.
T: Lightly roasted malt, toast, raisin, earth, cocoa, just a hint of sweetness
M: Light and soft carb gives a somewhat silky texture, light-medium body and lingering toasty finish.
O: Love it. Easy drinking but plenty of complexity. Open, enjoy, repeat.

 

I'm finally getting around to a new beer - one I received from @Roguer's stupendous box of Stouts: Xmucane's Imperial Stout 2020 from Cigar City Brewing. I can only say, WOW! It's big and bold but surprisingly delicate.

Poured into a Cigar City tulip glass. It pours a deep, dark walnut - nearly black. Its medium mocha colored head fizzled out quickly leaving minimal lacing. The fragrant nose features roasted malt, raisin, brown sugar, leather, tobacco, peppers, vanilla, and cinnamon. Wow, this is amazing! It opens with cocoa, fresh coffee, and subtle but distinct macadamia nuts and quickly segues into mild pepper, vanilla, cinnamon, and a good cigar. All of the flavors are delicate and they blend amazingly well. It's all subtle - but delicious. The mouth feel is thick and chewy with moderate carbonation, and the 11.6% ABV is amazingly well hidden. I can only say "wow" (AGAIN), this is a tremendous Stout. It is big enough to serve as a dessert beer but lite enough for casual drinking. This is a Stout that every BA should have the chance to enjoy. Thank you, Andrew!