New Beer Weekend #43

A Rare Beer!

I am very fortunate to have this beer today since it was gifted to me by a generous benefactor: The Rare Barrel Apropos of Nothing.

I know nothing about The Rare Barrel so I did some web searching to learn:

“The Company

Why All-Sour?

We are an all-sour beer company. Sour beer is our favorite style of beer. The flavors produced by this unique fermentation and aging process cannot be replicated in any other food or beverage. Due to the involved process, sour beer is not often a commonly brewed style, making it difficult to find. We’d like to help change that.

Aside from our personal preferences for the beer, there are also practical reasons for going all-sour. By focusing completely on sour beer, we can concentrate on learning as much as possible about the reasons why those unique flavors are produced in sours. With our entire focus on sours, we have crafted a cellar around the production of sour beer. Our space is dedicated to the conditioning of barrel-aged sour beers. With high ceilings, a moderate climate and plenty of space, we give our barrels an ideal home to create their unique flavors.

It’s been said that constraint breeds creativity. By adopting a singular focus on crafting sour beer, we plan on thoroughly exploring flavors through both conventional and experimental methods to create exciting new beers.”

https://www.therarebarrel.com/about

Pretty interesting: a brewery that solely brews sour beers.

But what about the beer Apropos of Nothing?

“Sometimes, the most delightful results are prompted by whimsy. Born from an impromptu blending session, Apropos of Nothing is a golden sour beer fermented in oak and aged with elderberries and lavender. In turn, this beer highlights the unique characteristics of both the fruit and flower. With hints of blackberry, lemon, and honey, this lightly tart sour beer is a jammy and refreshing beverage.

• ABV: 6.8%
• Type: Sour”

https://www.craftbeerkings.com/products/the-rare-barrel-apropos-of-nothing?variant=29449249652801

Also on the beer label it lists:

“Apropos of Nothing is a golden sour beer fermented in oak and aged with elderberries and lavender. Fermented with Brettanomyces yeast and Pediococcus bacteria, this beer displays floral aromas and flavors reminiscent of dark fruits, jam and blackberries.”

I must confess that I am real excited to try this beer. When it comes to sour beers I enjoy some sourness, what I would phrase as tartness, to the beer. I am not a fan of sour beers that are so sour that they feel like it removes the enamel from your teeth. Let’s see where this beer is on the sour spectrum.

On a related note every time I see “elderberries” I think of Monty Python:



Served in my Heavy Seas tulip glass:

Appearance:

A deep blueberry color with a thin tan head which dissipates quickly.

Aroma:

Wow! A vibrant combination of floral and fruity (berry) aromas. There is just a tiny bit of funk present. The aroma is very enticing!

Taste:

The flavor follows the nose with zesty flavors of floral and fruity (berry). A sour aspect is there but at a low level – provides a spritzy/tangy feel to the beer. Bitterness is low.

Mouthfeel:

The beer has a medium body with a dry finish.

Overall:

This beer is OUTSTANDING! All of the tastes & flavors (e.g., lavender, elderberry, sour) worked together beautifully.

Cheers!

@RobH @rotsaruch @KOP_Beer_OUtlet @jzainasheff

 

Good Morning All, and thanks for kicking off the thread today @Roguer !

Have two stouts from a great local brewery planned for today. Before I dive in, want to pass along a message to @eppCOS . While at Goose Island Thursday, I spoke to someone who works at Half Acre, and he said COVID throw off their brewing schedule a bit, and to expect Navaja this July!

The beer for today is one I thought I had before, but I only had variants. I am reviewing a 2019 release, missed out on the regular for the regular, but have a 2020 variant planned for Sunday.

Half Acre Benthic (2019 Vintage)


Purchase/Can Notes: Purchased at the 2019 Binny's Lincoln Park GI Black Friday release, cellared until a few weeks ago before placing in my refrigerator. This is 16 oz, canned 10/18/19 @13:29. "Old Trees Just Go Stronger". 14% ABV, Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout with Toasted Coconut & Coffee. From the two can box from the release: "The Bethnos Begins in the Shallows. It rests on the floor where creatures tumble along the contour. The power of the current pulling everything deeper and out to sea."

Appearance: Pitch black base, nice creamy tan head lingers for several minutes before leaving fine lacing and thin layer over the base, and generous fine lacing throughout the pour. Looks great! 4.5

Aroma: Was afraid this may have faded over time, but this beer is bursting with excellent coconut. I do note slight coffee, from memory of previous variants I do recall coffee featured, so I'll chalk up lack of strength to the 18 month delay in cracking open, but I do note a light and pleasant roast coffee lurking behind the coconut. It's just that the coconut is very strong. Light mellow bourbon backs well, and notes of dark chocolate. Very pleased at both the strength and qualities, don't recall another coconut stout with a nicer aroma. 4.75

Taste: Incredible. The coconut leads, but is not overpowering several other great sensations. Freshly sliced coconut, nice almond emerges, walnuts as well. Then comes a wonderful dark roast coffee, creamy dark chocolate, brownie. Sweet but not overly, these flavors work well. Lurking behind this is a silky smooth but assertive bourbon, mellow but adding a depth and complements the sweetness well. Definitely want to try fresh now to compare and contrast, but Bethnic at 18 months is an decadent treat. Simply outstanding. 4.75

Mouthfeel: Thick as a brick, creamier than half and half, full rich body. Sweetness balanced by a wonderful bourbon which continues to emerge during the pour (let it warm for 20 minutes before first sip, 20 minutes further bourbon continues to assert itself, but not overwhelming). Light and easy at first, the strong ABV hits you a few ounces in, more like Sugar Ray Leonard love taps over a Mike Tyson knockout. Creamy sweet aftertaste, works for me. 5.0

Overall: This is an outstanding barrel aged stout which has aged well. If you love coconut and a barrel aged stout, this is a must purchase. Will keep my second can to try a side by side over a weekend late this year with a 2021 release (though not same day, 32 oz will Mike Tyson knock me out). Beyond a possible fade of coffee due to time, there is nothing I would change, aroma, taste and mouthfeel are best in class, everything works well, the bourbon understated until this warms, emerges in a most enjoyable way, smooth, sharp, succulent. This is a must annual release go forward. 4.75

Have a 2020 Benthic variant planned for tomorrow, can't wait!

Cheers Beer Advocates!!!

 

Sunny Saturday, should hit 90 today. Would love some rain, it's very dry here.
My new beer for today is Incessant from Bell's, a double New England style India Pale Ale.It was bottled 04/13/2021, with a shelf life of 3 months. The ABV is 8.5%.
The beer is a hazy dark gold color with a small white head and a tiny bit of lace.
Fruity aroma, both citrus and tropical.
Taste of orange, a little grapefruit, pineapple, and mango.
Medium mouthfeel, hoppy aftertaste.

 

Poured into a 16 oz Nordic pint glass canned on 5/03/21. Pours a hazy yellow with a finger plus sticky white head that leaves thin streaks of lace with nice retention. 4.25

Aroma is honeydew, papaya, tangerine, pineapple, and apricot. 4.25

Taste follows honeydew, papaya, tangerine, pineapple, and apricot really balanced and tasty. 4.25

Mouthfeel is above average, soft gentle carbonation, maybe a tad sticky but not dry, and at 7.8% extremely approachable. 4.25

Overall quality and price this is a very good beer. I would recommend for sure. 4.25 Cheers all

 

Ultramoist by Transient

4.5/5 rDev +4.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5



Can received in a ninja strike associated with Bif13 from @ovaltine

Undated canopened on May 14,2021

Appearance

Hazy deep amber orange liquid crowned by a shaving cream white foam cap , good retention , sticky lacings , settles to a pencil thick layer in a stemmed Schilling glass

Aroma
Aroma is orange citrus, pineapple, mango

Taste
Taste is mango , pineapple, hint of dank , tiny hint of pine on the finish

Feel
Sudsy mouthfeel, soft and smooth has some body and presence , hop taste , semi dry finish ,

overall
Very good beer, delicious and repeatable

 

You are welcome! I’m glad you liked it, and I’m happy to have contributed to a beer review milestone - Cheers!

 

Across the Sea, a Saison on steroids from Twin Elephant Brewing. This brew is Juicy Busey a Saison they have brewed in the past. The grain bill is Pilsner and wheat. The is dry hopped ith Nelson, Sauvin, Citra ,Riwaka and Pacific Sunrise. Saison yeast in used. The ABV is 8%. The aroma is lemon. The taste is a well blended mix of about every fruit one can think of. There is a full mouthfeel and a lasting finish. A very enjoyable brew.

 

I stopped at Slack Tide Brewing Co. today for cans and a couple of pours. First up was Prissy Wicks, a Belgian Pale Strong Ale. This is not a new beer but it’s the first time I’ve had it.

It pours an opaque, dirty tangerine color with a modest, milk-white head and a nice film of lacing. The nose offers subdued fruit - mostly banana and lemon - with clove and pepper. It has a good Belgian smell. The taste really pops with sweet fruit - banana and apricot - along with tart lemon, and is well-seasoned with coriander, clove, and the unmistakably taste of Belgian yeast. It finishes with subtle bitterness and a hint of tobacco. It's quite refreshing. An excellent mouth feel: lively carbonation and a punchy 10.6% ABV that gives it good substance. Overall, I've been wanting to try this Belgian Ale for several years and the stars finally aligned. It's an excellent local rendition of the style with lots of flavor and a really good mouth feel. I'll definitely drink it again. My rating is well below the average but there are a few very high ratings so on the curve mine is quite good.

4.18/5 rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Next up is Slack Tide's newest release, Slammer, a NE IPA.

 

Covert Artisan Ales Initial Estimations Imperial Pastry Stout, 11% ABV. Pours deep brown/black, thick like oil, with no head or bubbles visible, hence no lacing, but does leave puree residue. Nose is maple, coconut, coffee, cinnamon, and vanilla. Taste is coffee, rum, coconut, cinnamon, and vanilla, moderately sweet, slightly bitter. Mouthfeel is thick and smooth, but almost no carbonation. Overall outstanding to world-class.

4.48/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This brewery expanded a lot in the past year, finally opening a real taproom, and though they initially specialized in sours, they have had some great stouts. I've heard that the brewer doesn't rest on his laurels, and constantly tweak the recipes. Can't want to try v2 of this one. They also brew my third favorite beer, Banana Boat, a Banana Imperial Pastry Stout.

 

I’m having trouble posting today as our server seems to be down. Next up is Slack Tide’s newest release, Slammer, a NEIPA hopped with Galaxy.

It pours an opaque, dirty pastel tangerine color with a thin, milk-white head and lacing. I like the soft color a lot. The smell offers lemon, lime, tangerine, and an earthy, crackery malt. Its taste opens with dry, bitter grapefruit rind and lemon peel. As it warms I'm also tasting faint notes of peach and pineapple. The Galaxy hops really shine. The mouth feel is lite and crisp with fairly lively carbonation and it's crushable at 6.3% ABV. Overall, Slammer nicely marries New England haze with West Coast bitter citrus. This is a really good beer. Hopefully, it's still available as we head into summer. I could really enjoy this on the deck listening to music.

4.04/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

 

Finally caved and bought a six pack of these, Radeberger pilsner zwickelbier



Pours a a cloudy straw with a nice dense layer of head. It settles into a nice uneven rocky terrain of nice white head. It almost has a nice thick iceberg of head. Some good lacing and very good retention on this beer.

At first smell I notice lemon like citrus. This is followed by fresh cut crass and breadiness.

The taste very good on this one. It has the refreshing citrus from the aroma along with biscuit. I say biscuit instead of bread here cause well it has that softer, drier, and fluffier feel to it. So the mouthfeel and taste merge in this descriptor.

Mouthfeel is medium side of light, it has a complex feel to it that at the same time is very smooth and clean. It has a nice and appropriate bitterness to it.

This is a very enjoyable beer to me. It’s very drinkable and at the same time it has the right amount depth to it. Also at 8$ a six pack of 500 ml cans it’s a pretty good deal.

 

Thanks for the good news on Navaja.

 

Going to keep it short and sweet today. May have a couple new beers but I have a gig tomorrow so Im kind of wrapped up in that. I received an outstanding Ninja Box from the great BA @JayORear - alot of Tired Hands and New Trail and all new beers. What a treat. Thanks again!
Always up for a fine pils-
The Ground Walks - Dry hopped Keller Pils
Pours an unfiltered lightly hazy lemon yellow with a bone white, foamy, large bubble head that recedes quickly leave sparse spotty lacing.
Aroma is bready, white dough, grassy, grainy, floral and citrusy hops.
Taste follows, clean pils malt, light sweetness, lemon/lime, bready, yeasty grains on the back.
Medium/ High carbonation light sweet to a drying bitterness. Very clean no "butter". Excellent Pils. Thanks Jay!

 

Didn't participate last weekend as we were celebrating Mother's Day and had guests using us as a cheap hotel so they could get their daughter to a local specialist doctor (specialty unavailable near them), although we tried a lot of beers that were new to me. But, today I'm enjoying a beer from a very generous BA while my wife is shopping and my kids are in online theater rehearsal.

Mi Casa Es Su Casa from Sunriver, a Mexican mocha barrel aged imperial stout with C4K coffee, lactose, vanilla, ancho chilies, cinnamon, and Ghana cocoa nibs. Should be a simple, straightforward beer, right?

16oz can served in a big snifter. Canned on 11/18/19.

Pours black, thick, small head, substantial amount of very fine, very slow active carbonation. Smell is cinnamon, chocolate, coffee, roasty/burnt stuff, definite Mexican hot chocolate vibe.

Taste is fairly sweet in the hot chocolate direction, but definitely not cloying (which is a relief, since I'm soloing this pint). Cinnamon might come across a little too strongly (I think I'm more sensitive than most to cinnamon in my beer, FWIW). Has a definite roast bitterness, a mild bitterness I might actually associate with the chilies. I might possibly get a little bit of a spiciness, but only if I think about it. I think this would benefit from a bit of spiciness.

Mouthfeel is thick, very slightly effervescent, smooth, rich and satisfying. Overall, this is a very nice beer.

Thanks Ryan!

 

When I made my posts in the Back to Basics thread, I knew I had this beer in the 'fridge.

And, this beer does demonstrate true innovation.

How, you say?

Pearson's is a 100+ year old candy company, founded in Minneapolis, now in St. Paul.

Tin Whiskers Brewing, a St. Paul brewer, has released a series of beers in collaboration with Pearson's.

First (if I have the order correct), Tin Whiskers released a a Pearson's Nut Goodie Porter.

Then they released Pearson's Mint Patties Double Stout.

Then, a Pearson's Nut Roll cream ale with milk chocolate .

Now, we have a Pearson's Nut Roll cream ale with white chocolate.

If that is not innovation, I don't know what is! </sarcasm>

Pearson's Salted Nut Roll is my favorite Pearson's candy bar, so how could I resist?

Tin Whiskers Brewing Pearson's Salted Nut Roll Cream Ale
ABV: 5.5%
IBU: 12



Hazy amber/orange. Nicely carbonated. The pour results in a 1 inch off-white airy head that doesn't stick around too long. No lacing.

Strong caramel, chocolate, and peanuts in the aroma. Pretty much to the exclusion of all else, promising a liquid Pearson's Nut Roll, perhaps without the salt.

Taste is just as the aroma promised. Heavily caramel, chocolate, peanuts, vanilla, and very sweet. I can pick up the malts trying to poke through, but only just. Also there is a brief appearance from the hops, with some very mild bitterness quickly subsumed by the overall candy bar flavor. The finish is sweet, as is the aftertaste. While it does proclaim itself to be a candy bar beer, this beer would be better with a bit more balance to the candy bar flavors.

The beer does have a moderate body, so not too thin, and a bit of carbonation presence in the mouth that does help a bit with the sweetness. But just a bit.

Overall, this is a very sweet beer. While I think the word is overused in beer reviews, this one IS cloying. It leaves a sweet coating in the mouth. I can't say I was deceived at all by this beer, after all, the label places the "Pearson's The Original Salted Nut Roll" in large Pearson's trademark type face. But, it's not my kind of beer. I hate to rate it down just because it is what it says it is. So, just know, this rating is based on delivering on the promise, not based on my personal preference (or even the supposed style, for that matter).

Even on that basis, however, it could have been a bit more of a beer and a bit less of a candy bar with alcohol. IOW, it was not well integrated or balanced.

Anyone buying this beer expecting anything other than a sweet candy bar has only themselves to blame. Also, heed this warning... drink this beer on the cold side. IOW, don't let it warm. I does not improve as the temperature rises.

L: 3.5 | S: 3.75 | T: 3.5 | F: 3.5 | O: 3.5 | Rating: 3.56

 

3 Maibocks for May 2021
A lager brewed to bock strength but lighter in colour, less malty, and drier and hoppier, associated with springtime and the month of May.

Capria Di Maggio | Carton | 6.6% | NJ
4.2/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25=
1st review. Fan of Carton of Dead Guy Rogue - also M Bock. Unsure what makes this blonde bock Italian, perhaps Italian alpes?
a) Clear bronze tinted golden body with dotty lacing head.
s) Malt, grain, Vienna malt, Pilsner hop.
t) Woody, almost a bit of cherry, takes this in right direction, with bready, crusty base and that clean bright hop finale.
f) Light but creamy, like fresh baked bread. Therefore great cheese pairing.
o) Up there ahead of the Dead guy.

Marybock | Fifth Hammer | 7% | NYC
4/5 rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
2d review, 5th Hammer NYC.
a) Color, head, lace, stands up like dark bread.
s) Malt, caramel, bit of wood.
t) Lots of wood, fresh sawn and varnished with dark fresh baked bread on top, herbs embedded in the crust.
f) Creamy, dreamy.
o) Super Maibock true to style, better and more berry.

Dead Guy Ale | Rogue | 6.8% | Oregon
4s across. One of my 1st reviews on BA.
A classic, sweeter and more caramel than expected, but an original and thoroughly enjoyable ale.
A - Pours a dark hazy copper, amber with a white, two-finger head. Left a bit of lace.
S - It smells original. Caramel, and of many sweet malts and grasses. A little earthy, original stink in a good peaty way.
T - Follows smell, these sweet, candied, toasted malt and tiny bit of hops and grass/herb/clove.
M - Almost dense mouth feel, like a doppel bock, good weight. A medium-bodied beer. Nice finish. Nice after dinner with robust cheese. A good night beer.

 

Alright, I caved. I usually enjoy 2 beer samples before reviewing a new beer but this one was solid, so...

Schilling Beer Co's MODERNISM, a Czech-style dark lager. 4.8% Canned 2.15.21 (eek) but still good.

3.96/5 rDev -1.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

L - A dark brown lager, and a light one at that, but good head foam for a few minutes. Not a ton of lacing, but some monster clouds cling to the glass as it descends.

S - A bit of a let-down if it's too cold (it's not); smells like wet stones and dark bread. Not a stand out feature of the beer.

T - Where it comes back; a nice mix of light toast, coffee, bits of molasses-chicory playing in here, and a good malt-biscuit crisp finish. Typical of most American dark Czechs, it's a little hoppier but solid. Probably helps the can is from 2.15.21 is now 3 months old so the hops don't dominate. Good malt balance here.

F - Good carbonation, nice and lively, not heavy in the mouth but has dark roast presence on the palate. No issues here.

O - a really great dark Czech lager. Wish I'd seen this sooner at my local. Will seek more of these out as I love lower ABV beers that taste like something. Well done Schilling!