New Beer Weekend #43

Deschutes Black Butte Raspberry Porter, 6.8% ABV; 3.61 overall


Pours a chestnut hued mahogany with a finger of tan head. Below average head retention & lacing

S: Plenty of sweet Raspberry

T: Tart Raspberry, roasty dryness, slight smokeyness & cocoa upfront. dryness, sweetness and little tart raspberry with roastyness. Finishes sweet with a little chocolate & raspberry, plus a little woody hop & roastyness

MF: Medium body, firm carbonation, too much so...

Not bad flavor, but the body, meh alright drinkability

 

Next up as I await over time and Hopefully a Bruins win!


4/5 rDev -11.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75


L: Aggressive pour least with 3+10 finger head fade quickly motor oil black thick
S: mid malts get big coconut fruitcake some think Baril and coffee notes
T: sweet up front little vanilla , some coconut
F: syrup like thick but finishes sweet

O: ok light on barrel, lots of mid malts, but overall too sweet

 

Are 78s a thing again?

 

Dessert!

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/30356/491247/



12 oz. bottle.
Dated 08/17/20 on bottom of neck.

Moderate to vigorous pour yields a 3/4 inch dark tan head over a near black body. Head is fleeting with little to no lacing. Nose of dark roasted malt, bourbon, and slight peanut butter and even slighter coffee. Taste mirrors nose with slight chocolate, slight vanilla, and minimal heat from the chili peppers. Nice feel and overall, glad to try this Bomb variant and wouldn't turn down another one!
Cheers!!!

 

I thought we were talking playing speed

 

Hey all! I have one for tonight and some more for tomorrow night after work. This one is Evil Twin's "IPA is the Dizziness of Freedom." Hey, I thought Hill Farmstead was the only brewery allowed to reference Kierkegaard!



This is a DDH hazy IPA clocking in at 6% ABV. It features the classic triad of Mosaic, Citra, and Cascade hops and was canned on 4/6/21. I haven't had any recent IPAs from Evil Twin (I think the last few I had were at least a couple years ago), so this seems like as good a time as any to catch up with what they've been doing in that realm.

The pour is definitely very much an opaque, milky looking beer, building up a solid, retentive finger of foam atop its infinitely-hazed body. Nice lacing and legs as the head recedes to about half its original size. Not much formation here, but what is there sticks around pretty well and looks good enough if you're into this kinda thing. It's probably not gonna win any beauty pageants, but it gets the job done.

The nose is certainly perking up my senses, though. Huge waves of pineapple, passion fruit, dank resin, and grassiness meld with light tangerine and red berry that join the party pretty quickly. Oh man, this smells delicious. Loving the hop expression here right off the bat, and I especially like that it seems to all cut through the yeastiness that this style can sometimes have as its downfall in certain situations. I hate when something is advertised with some of my favorite hops or a pairing that should by all accounts be awesome, and then the smell is just estery and homogeneous; blah. This one actually pops, which is a great sign.

First few sips definitely speak to the quality of the recipe here. I'm getting a lot of complex citrus mixed with pineapple, mango, and redcurrant flavors developing as I sip. Definitely a little bit of hop burn, though, honestly... it's almost too much of a good thing in the finish, with a slick, oily feel that comes across a little bit harsh (even after 5 weeks in can, which is surprising to me). It's not really bitter, per se... at least not in the traditional hoppy way, but the resinous elements are a bit intense and somewhat clash with the distinct, deep fruitiness I picked up early on. I think this is getting into slightly nitpicky territory, though, as I don't want these words to undermine the fact that I think this is very good for what it is, and it is certainly worth a drink! The feel is soft, smooth (for the most part, other than what I just mentioned), and moderately-carbonated with a palate-coating hoppy resinous aspect that, not gonna lie, some people might actually enjoy more than I do. So, if you see it, certainly grab a can or two and drink it without fear. Cheers!

 

Eleven, a bourbon barrel aged barleywine from Double Mountain, bottled in 2018. Another gift from the same BA. Thanks, Ryan!

500ml bottle served in a snulip.

Pours a very dark amber with a pretty big head that collapses to a moderately sized, clumpy cap. Smell is WOOD, and lots of it. Tuning that out a bit, I get some toffee, caramel, nuts, definitely a lot of booze, and maybe a bit of vanilla and raisins.

Taste is really nice. The raisins, toffee, caramel, nuts all come across nicely, meld well, are not an assault -- surprisingly soft. The wood is still there more in the nose than on the palate. Booze is surprisingly well hidden in the flavor.

Mouthfeel is medium, maybe a bit on the thin side for a barrel aged barleywine. Overall, this is a very, very nice beer. Looking at some of the older reviews, maybe the age has done it some good.

 

Southern Tier Blackwater Series Nitro Coconut Truffle Imperial Milk Stout, 10.0% ABV; 4.44 overall

Pours a hazel tinged chestnut with a finger of tight tan head. fantastic head retention & good lacing

S: Plenty of toasty coconut, a little chocolate

T: Follows the nose, some vanilla, marshmallow & chocolate& a little dryness up front.
Dryness picks up as this warms (roasytness & toasty coconut ), marshmallow & lust little coffee as this warms, just a little coffee cream as well . Finishes with much sweetness, mostly marshmallow & a little toasted coconut dryness, plus a little coffee

MF: Creamy carbonation, medium body

Totally works for me a lot of Southern Tier Blackwater beers are in my sweet tooth wheelhouse & this is another shining example; great drinkability as well

 

Greetings All from the Great Northwest where we are sunny and warm but drought stricken. We need some rain on the wheat in the worst way. But it usually rains here on Memorial day so we have that to look ahead for.

Today we have Wanderland. A nectarine flavor ale.
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/140/503972/

Frankly it's not great. A little to much flavor from the nectarine skin for my taste.

Until next time,

 

Before I review this, last week @Beersnake1 wrote up an intriguing NBW review of Jackie O's Rack & Ruin and I thought "holy shit, I've seen that and didn't jump on it" and the following day went on a search for it. Motherfuck it was nowhere to be found. One guy told me "those are like collectors items; you hadn't been around for a while so I didn't save you one". Fuck it, it's my fault and no one else's so this is my fallback.



Very little head which faded immediately over an inky brown body. Smell is of boozy coconut over a molasses and coffee malt base. Taste follows the smell but richer and more complex. Mouthfeel is the typical Jackie O's big stout chewy feel. This is what happens when you tell the A Team to make you a barrel aged coconut stout. I'm still pissed off over Rack & Ruin but all things considered I'm a very lucky man.

Listening to Incipient ICP (1966-71) - Instant Composers Pool

 

Hello New Beer Weekend!!!

I'm not going to lie: I'm exhausted. I just worked my butt off yet again today. At least I've got a couple days off to relax, and unwind.

Yes, I still totally love my job. I fit in perfectly. I love those I work with. I love the pace. The physical aspects, however, are a bit harder for me to do, yet, I push through and get the job done well. I can see myself doing this for the rest of my working life, as long as I can physically do it.

Now on to my first new beer of the weekend. @ovaltine was naughty and hit me with beer mail. Well, I guess I deserved it, since I hit him first, to help him get South Dakota taken care of for him.


Honeystone - Transient Artisan Ales - IIPA - 8% ABV


I'm really liking this. The honey just adds another layer to a standard IIPA, by adding just a touch of sweetness to this beer. Damn good, and I'm so thankful I got a chance to try it.

Review:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/34258/258316/

3.97/5 rDev -5.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This beer looks quite thick while pouring. It pours a hazy, dank, murky golden color. There's a beautiful, soft looking, cloud-like head that is white and 2 finger. The head retention is pretty good, and there's some clingy lacing on the glass.
The nose isn't too pronounced, however I do get a tropical citrus aroma. I believe mango and guava.
Taste, like the nose, the hops are mellow, but I do get the same guava and mango in the flavor. These flavors are backed up with a hint of sweetness from the honey.
The body is juicy, for sure, and soft. There's some stickiness to the hops.
Overall, a good beer, and a pleasure to try.



I might try one more before bed. I should be heading on a brewery run to northern Minnesota tomorrow with friends, so if I don't do another tonight, I should be on tomorrow.

 

Well Hello NBW.
Great kickoff @Roguer
So I am popping another Mystery Beer, but this is from a surprise hit courtesy of our very own @strohme2
Thanks Justin!

Color is cranberry. Gorgeous, fluffy cotton candy pink head slowly settles. No lacing.
Nose hints at a little sour funk, cherry, cranberry and some other notes I can't nail down.
Flavor follows with the nose but cherry is in the background, foreground is more cranberry and perhaps some bright raspberry (but only a bit, maybe I'm searching here.)
Going to sip a bit.

 

Meant to chime in earlier, but got distracted watching a fun Ms game (I know, right?), but better late than never, yeah?

Once again, my new brew is courtesy of the generosity of the great BA @FBarber during the recent BIF #13.

BA Behemoth is my first ever foray into Three Floyds, and it's one for which I have been very excited ever since I tore into the boxes he sent.



Pour isn't quite as dark as the picture looks, but it is pretty dark. Deep chestnut with a fuzzy off-white head. Not much retention nor lacing.

Nose is rich with sweet burnt caramel, oak lifts it up, there's a bit of boozy raisin, some light tobacco spice, maybe some fig, and a higher sweet note that is interesting but I can't quite nail down.

Flavour isn't quite as sweet, and leans more into the leather/tobacco side of things. The caramel is still there, as is the sweetened raisins, and vanilla, alongside the oak from the barrel. Classic flavours. Love 'em.

Body is medium, the bitterness is mostly from the tobacco range of things, and the alcohol sneaks up and just kind of swells into a cozy warming sensation as a second act.

This is right up my alley. Barleywines are extremely my jam, and this is a great example thereof. Thanks Frank for sending this my direction!!

 

So the reveal is a bit confusing. It lists both Eastern Market and Ferndale Project. And it requires you to scan a QR code, revealing...Secret Sour series. And Justin wrote #1 on the bottom which denotes Black Currant. Now that I read it, I'm thinking, "Yes, of course, Black Currant!" But as I was searching my mind for descriptors I couldn't retrieve it. But yes, definitely black currant. Just wondering how to enter it in the database. Tasty too. Thanks again @strohme2

 

@Rub_This_BBQ what beer and brewery is this?

come on Bruins!

 

Good morning beer advocates and welcome to New Beer Sunday #846! Several great beers reviewed so far, but waiting for one to add to my "to purchase list" since I've had these (and concur with the praise given yesterday).

Today is part two of the Half Acre themed tasting, this one is a variant of the base beer Benthic. Purchased partially as an excuse to pick up more Keeping Together last December.

Half Acre XTRADUBL Benthic 2020



Can Notes: Canned 10/13/20 #1838 15:12. 13.7% ABV. Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout with 3 Xs Toasted Coconut & 2 Xs Coffee. Refrigerated since purchase.

Appearance: Pitch black pour, light someone creamy dark rich head fades after a few minutes, no lacing. 4.0

Aroma: Strong and pleasant coconut, though no coffee, barrel or anything else. 3.75

Taste: Much richer and more varied than the aroma leads. Coconut does lead, toasted, most excellent. Rich creamy sweetness follows, vanilla, milk chocolate. As this warms roast coffee emerges, dark roast, complements well. The high concentrations of primarily coconut buries the barrel. Light smooth bourbon seeps through at room temperature about 30 minutes in. 4.0

Mouthfeel: Incredibly rich and thick body, perhaps the thickest stout I've tried. Smooth rich and creamy, sweet, sweeter than the base. ABV well masked, perhaps too well masked. Faint carbonation lingers throughout. Syrupy, sweet aftertaste lingers. 4.5

Overall: Solid stout, though somewhat disappointed the coffee and barrel were overwhelmed by the coconut. Rich, smooth, decadent. Glad I tried, but prefer the base beer due to the richer barrel and complexity of flavors, while still enjoying a rich coconut presence. 4.25

That is all for today, I will return next week from the land of milk and honey, where I hope to eclipse 100 new beers in 2021 (eight more to go).

 

Happy Sunday Advocates.
After last night's splendid victory in the derby of the Capital by the team that proudly bears the name of my City and a nice morning run overlooking the sea, I just opened a beer that is always a pleasure to drink for me:

Bibibir (Castellalto, ITA) - BIBIRAUCH - Rauchbier (4,5%)

Bibibir is a microbrewery in a small village in the Abruzzo region.
Just in Castellalto they organize one of the most important beer gfestival in Italy, being that area rich in splendid small / medium artisan realities, of great quality.
I visited the brewery and met Flaviano, master brewer and handyman, who together with his sister and a couple of interns in rotation runs the whole machine up to bottling (or filling cans) and labeling.
All absolutely family-run.
500 cl can.
To be consumed preferably by the end of: 05/2021.
On the nose malty notes and light smoky.
Copper color.
Abundant and soft foam.
Fairly flat beer in the mouth with a light and flowing body.
This low fermentation seems to me very fresh, thirst-quenching and pleasant with a smoky note to make everything more characteristic.
Taste that plays in a valuable way between sweeter notes (honey) of cereal (bread crust) and a balanced, delicate smoking (more than bacon, speck from Trentino Alto Adige) that characterizes this beer for its classic interpretation of the German style of reference (which I like quite a bit).
After the delicate smoky note, there is room for a slight final sweet note to close the drink.
Great work, a slightly more lively carbonation would not have tasted, but for my personal taste that's okay.





Sláinte !
Cheers !