New Beer Weekend #51

Cool to read your review because it’s exactly how I feel about this beer! It is perfect I’m every way.

 

Stop, do not pass “Go,” do not collect $200, and head back to the safety of the ubiquitous NEIPA if you don’t care for bitterly hoppy old school WCIPA’s.

If you do enjoy the latter, find your way to Fat Head’s distro footprint and consider acquiring a couple more beer fridges.







4.6/5 rDev +4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours the most beautiful golden orange color you’ve ever seen, nearly clear, with a couple of fingers of creamy, foamy white head. The nose is more than a little dank, with a definite weedy aroma, nice citrus notes, and bitter pine. O-M-G.

The taste has that really dank weedy flavor up front, along with ripe tangerine flavors that work together exceptionally well, and a bitter resiny pine flavor that comes at the end of a crushingly dry finish.

This is just about the perfect old school WCIPA, IMHO - loads of dank citrusy hop flavors with plenty of bitter resiny pine to lead you into a drying finish that keeps pulling you back in for another pull on this world-class beer.

 

Good evening NBW
I always find imports I've been looking for while out of town. Today, it's Radeberger Zwickel


500mL can stamped P10.12.20 E10.12.22 poured into a stemless wine glass at fridge temp 4.8% ABV per label. The beer pours hazy, light honey amber with off white head. The head recedes slowly to a thin cap. The aroma is faint with notes of orchard fruit and pale malt. The taste is semisweet pale malt with spicy hop flavor, a bit of mineral and moderate bitterness. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with average carbonation and a dry finish. Overall, good. I would have liked to find this fresher that 9 months old, but would try again.

Cheers all!

 

Enjoying a Brown Ale from Lops Brewing of scenic Woonsocket R.I.
Charlie is deep dark brown yet clear, malty and bold. One of my favorite and difficult to find styles, a little Porter-like yet still a Brownie. Cheers.


3.79/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

A very light pour is needed to keep the coffee-milk colored head from overtopping the mug, soapy with average retention and blotches of lace. Dark amber-brown body, (clear but I can barely see my fingers) with dark amber highlights.

Malt forward smell, sweet, toasted and roasted character. Low hop smell, herbal and floral.

Semi-sweet with above average bitterness, roasted taste contributes the bitterness and holds the caramel flavor at bay. Coffee, chocolate and maple syrup blend with a slightly astringent twinge. Roasted flavor rises at the finish, drying it a bit as sweet flavor looses to bitterness. The aftertaste lingers a while, bitter and malty.

Medium plus body with lots of lasting carbonation, smooth and fairly well balanced. Malty and boldly flavored yet not overly hop-ed. Alcohol is well hidden, even as it warms.

 

#2, nothing to see here, move along.

Unless you’re going to participate in NBW BIF #14 this fall. You may want to pay attention if that’s the case.







4.35/5 rDev +1.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Pours black with some leakage to mahogany on the edges and a creamy tan head, this beer features tart cherries on the nose, a bit of the bourbon barrel, and rich milk chocolate and a bit of roasty malt. Very nice.

The tart cherries are forward on the taste and the bourbon barrel is not to be trifled with, but the milk chocolate flavor is what works for me, providing some balance to the cherry and bourbon flavors.

If you don’t like cherries, this beer will NOT work for you. I love cherries and big stouts, so this is my sweet spot.

 

Good Saturday evening, NBWers.

Last week I presented a new-to-me local beer, and I will be keeping it local today, and I expect for the next several weeks as well.

We had a nice warm (80's) summer day here in my part of MN. After we had a bit of rain a few days ago, the lawn has started to grow again, so I mowed the lawn. So, how about a "lawn mowing beer"?

Maybe a hefeweizen is not your typical lawn mowing beer, but those of you who are regulars here on NBW know how much I like and respect Waldmann Brewery & Wurstery of St. Paul. Their hefeweizen was not in the stores yet at the time of our online hefeweizen tasting, so I get to savor this one by itself!

Waldmann Brewery & Wurstery Hefeweizen
ABV: 5.5%
IBU: NA



Excellent hefe aroma of banana and spices. Sweet breadiness.

Color is dark yellow, a bit hazy, heavy carbonation. Tall, thick white head with good retention, forming a pitted surface as it recedes, 'spotty lacing as I drink that mostly slips back down into the head.

Smooth flavor, banana, clove, crackery bread. No bittering. The middle remains smooth and flavorful, just very slightly sweet. The finish and aftertaste leaves the banana and clove flavors lingering, somewhat stickily, in the mouth. Could be a bit more crisp, but even so, it is a good hot weather refresher.

The mouth feel has a moderate body and good carbonation.

Overall, a very nicely done hefeweizen (as expected from Waldmann).

L: 4.0 | S: 4.0 | T: 4.0 | F: 3.75 | O: 4.0 | Rating: 3.98

 

Thanks for getting us started Roy!
North Park’s Fresacito.

got this one from @SP23 in what may be the final Can-cans BIF. So some sadness there, but not because of the beer.
This poured an apricot colored opaque into my beer glass and the aroma wafting from the bone white head gave nothing away.
The taste was sour, followed by sour, and ended in sour.
Despite the chummy looking graphic on the can, I think the lemon and lime jumped on the strawberry and beat it out of the party. Still good though, it’s a sour!
The feel was excellent, enough body for all the flavors but not chewy.
Excellent sour, thanks man!

 

Last new to me Vermont beer from vacation, the "fall beer sightings" thread had some talk about year round marzen. Black Flannel brews theirs year round, the can is stamped 4/15/20 "all year long" let's see how this one is. I was incredible impressed by their grodziskie so I'm betting this one is pretty well done as well.


It definitely looks the part, really nice deep rich looking amber and for the most part a very clear beer. The head was all perfect circle larger bubbles that dissipated pretty quickly, no lacing left behind or present as I drink. A spotty layer of white remains, it is islands of marzen and islands of white all over. Updating, as I finish there is no head or white at all present any more.

The first smell oddly enough hits me as almost fruity, it sort of masks what is underneath. The aromas underneath are the aromas of a style that I love so much. All the rich dark bread smells, along with some toast and almost a whole grain like smell to it.

The first initial taste is comes off as a dark caramel/toffee but then quickly turns back to the rich baked bread that I was getting on the nose. The last taste present is a very pleasant just ever so slightly burnt/bread crust.

This beer drinks very nice, its going down very quickly...there is no sweetness at all. It is a clean, dry finishing beer, there is no perceivable bitterness. **editing this cause I noticed 20 IBUs on the can, I would've never guessed that. Very surprising, I know it isn't high but I'm surprised I don't notice really any at all.

Two beers from Black Flannel and both have been great. Hopefully next time we go on vacation I'm able to get to their taproom, or at least bring more than two of their beers home. I bet if they can nail the two styles I've tried from them it is safe to say all their beer is probably top notch. I'll be back tomorrow with one more.

 

edit to my post I have a typo meant to write 4/15/21 (not 4/15/20) for can date. Oops.

 

New Hazy IPA Weekend

Things are more relaxed than most weekends in West MI. While youth sports took the weekend off, the pros and Nationals are providing plenty of entertainment. I started the day with Wimbledon coverage (with the occasional check in for Le Tour de France), and wrapping up the evening with Brazil-Argentina in the Copa America.

I picked up a sixer of this tasty brew during a trip "Up North" earlier in the week. It definitely hits the spot.

Upper Hand's Next Up Hazy IPA

This appears to be a different beer than (Next Up Vol. 2) the website shows much different labeling and descriptors for these two brews.

12 oz. bottle from Lynn & Perin in Frankfort MI ($12.99 sixer, bottled 5-20-21) poured into a stone snifter.

A- A normal pour creates 2-fingers of fluffy, off-white head atop a "hazy" golden-orange body (like fresh squeezed juice). Good sustain at a solid 1-finger with wide foamy rings left on the glass.

S- Big time grapefruit and tropical aromas. Sweet, doughy malt backbone. Warmth heightens the sweet, doughy malts and brings out a tobacco-like hop profile.

T- A nice mix of big grapefruit hops and enough of a doughy, grainy malt backbone to keep up. With a little warmth, it opens up leafy-tobacco hops and a little medicinal side. Much more from the grainy-husky malts as well.

M- Medium-full body. Very dry. Light hoppy bite.

O- A nicely balanced, full flavored, easy drinking IPA. It checks a lot of boxes and went well with grilled burgers.
A-4.5 S-4.25 T-3.75 M-4 O-4

 

Toppling Goliath Pompeii Beach IPA with Pineapple & Mango, 4.35 overall

Pours a hazed & effervescent amber with a finger of cream colored head. Slightly below average head retention & above average lacing

S: Plenty of the advertised fruit, fades a touch as it warms

T: Follows the nose, sweetness & just a little acidity & dryness up front. A little dryness mixes in with the mango & pineapple. Finishes with a little pineapple acidity, dryness & plenty of tropical punch sweetness

MF: Medium body, fairly smooth carbonation, lovely balance

Soo drinkable, some may find it too sweet, but this is how I like my Tropical IPAs, don't need to be hinting for the flavors. This is a must repurchase, since it is only 3 weeks old

 

I'm going to update a couple this weekend since my brother is getting married next weekend. I'll definitely be drinking, but not sure if I'll have the time to add anything here.

Going with Fremont 11th Anniversary Barrel-Aged Stout. It's a blend of barrels that included a barrel with tart cherries and another barrel with vanilla. Thanks to @TurkeysDrinkBeer for this one.



4.54/5 rDev +2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a silver waxed 22 ounce bottle. Pours a thick black with about half a fingers worth of foamy head. The foam dissipated after about 15 seconds. I get a lot of the bourbon on the nose. I know cherries and vanilla were in the blended barrel, but I'm not getting that at all on the nose. On first taste, chocolate stuck out with a bit of the bourbon on the back. As it started to warm, the tart cherry started to show, but it wasn't overwhelming, which worked very well. I'm glad I took this one solo and slow, as the vanilla did start to show up, but It took quite a while as it warmed. It had an average body and was a nice sipper.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/20680/501705/

 

Lively Beer Works Digital Love Imperial Stout, 10% ABV, 4.02 overall

Raspberry Chocolate Imperial Stout ( Valentine's Beer )

Pours an effervescent ice tea color with 3 fingers ( vigorous pour ) of caramel colored head. Tons of lacing & above average head retention

S: Raspberry, dark chocolate
T: Follows the nose, a light hint of cinnamon as well up front. Dark chocolate & cocoa powder & plenty of mostly sweet, a little tart raspberry with dryness as this warms. Finishes dry & plenty sweet ( mostly raspberry )

MF: Medium body, lightly carbonated, somewhat creamy, slight warming from the ABV. I think Nitro would help this

Solid dessert IMP Stout, wanted a little more chocolate, but plenty drinkable. Would love to try this fresher, but it might be better with age if it is knocking down the raspberry

 

Anchorage’s Endless Ending.
4.35/5 rDev -4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottle in trade courtesy of davidtarnow
L: black with creamy brown head.
S: Fig, brown sugar, caramel & vanilla.
T: Caramel, raisin/figs from the barleywine, with chocolate and vanilla. Brown sugar sweetness.
M: Soft mouthfeel, a little thin.
O: I heard that this was the inspiration for “For Gabe” and that intrigued me. Though I haven’t had that beer, I was definitely expecting more.
It’s a great blend, but being hyper critical it is a little too sweet and thin for my palate.
On a side note I generally haven’t loved bw/stout blends as much as fellow beer enthusiasts I know.

 

Thanks @Roy_Hobbs for opening the tap on this weekends Nbw



In Kansas City for the US Youth Futsal national Championships. The day starts early and ends with BBQ. Joe’s KC has become our de facto dining spot and we end the day with ribs and other smoked meats . They have on tap the most excellent Boulevard Tank 7 , highly recommended

My new beer is Dunkel by Kc Bier

3.77/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

On tap at KC joes/ Oklahoma Joe’s bbq, poured into a pint glass

Clear russet brown liquid thin taupe layer

Aroma are malts , bread , biscuity

Taste is malty, bread , biscuit, slight sweetness

Medium sudsing , slightly sweet , pairs well with bbq ribs , balanced the saltiness of the bbq with a malty sweetness

Good beer