New Beer Weekend #51

Good day BAs and thanks @Roy_Hobbs for starting this weekend's thread. Today's NBS New Breakfast Beer is one I picked up a few months ago and has been cowering in my beer reefer awaiting its demise:



As a brown ale, I was thinking "It'll be OKaaaaay, but ..." I was wrong, this beer totally hits all my sweet spots:


Re-Re-Pete 3X from Hoppin Frog. Picked up some 8.45 oz cans at the brewery, price not noted. Stored at home at 42 degrees. Reviewed 11/7/21. Note that I use DD/MM/YY protocol.
“Happy 34th Anniversary” on the front label and stamped “CANNED ON 5.7.20” on the bottom of the can. Served at 55.3 degrees in a hand washed and dried Jester King snifter. Final temperature 57.5 degrees.
Appearance – 3.75.
First pour – Medium Amber (SRM 12), clear.
Body – Brown (SRM 20), opaque. When rear-lite, a beautiful translucent ruby color is evident.
Head – Average (Maximum 1.5 cm, aggressive center pour), wheat, medium density, short retention, diminishing to a 1.5 – 2.5 mm crown of tiny bubbles and a thin scum partially covering the surface.
Lacing – Tight band of near-microscopic bubbles. Fantastic, considering with the 15.6% ABV, no lacing was expected.
Aroma – 4.5 – Begins sweet with weak roasted malt and brown sugar, no hops, no yeast. A deep horning to accentuate the aromas reveals massive ethanol.
Flavor – 4.5 – Begins slightly less sweet than the nose suggests with toasted malt, dark fruit, caramel, and brown sugar. Maybe a trace of Baker’s chocolate but unsure. No hops, no yeast. No ethanol (15.6% (!) ABV, as marked on container) taste or aroma. Gastric burning does occur following the first swallow, but this quickly dampens to a fortifying warmth. No dimethylsulfide or diacetyl.
Palate – 4.5 – Full, creamy to lightly syrupy, soft carbonation.
Final impression and summation: 4.25 Wow! If all brown ales were this good, they’d move up considerably in my estimation and drinking rotation. As the glass warms above 57 degrees, the ethanol becomes strikingly evident. Any evidence of chocolate is at best problematic. Overall, this is one I’ll drink at home when I don’t have to drive anywhere.
Rating 4.41, rDev +13.7%.

 

When did I go to West Virginia? Yesterday is a bit of a fog, but I was pretty sure I only went to Wisconsin. But then....I think I saw a doctor.


16oz can (best by 12/08/21) poured into a pint glass shows a light free, opaque brown body with cola color, at the edges and floats a 2" tall head of milk chocolate colored mixed bubbles that recede to random islands and leaves mostly no lacing.

Chocolate hints lose out to bitter coffee notes above a roasted malt aroma and this continues into the flavor with bitter roast malts led by coffee with a cola-like, and clean, finish.

A smooth, almost creamy, mouthfeel finishes clean.

Overall a fine, solid porter which makes a perfect accompaniment, fortifying both beef stew and patron.

Thanks @scream . Slainte!!!

 

Happy Anniversary!

 

I LOVE Jai Alai, straight up! Unfortunately I am not a big fan of the white oak version, and the rare encounter I have here in CA is nearly always that version.

 

Good morning, NBW! It's early, but this Mosaic IPA from San Juan Islands is juicy enough to be very pleasant. The family is in a 5K, and I'm on my phone. I hate typing on phones, but I may not have another chance to participate this weekend... sacrifices! So, on to Turn Point...

Pint on tap at Peninsula BevCo.

Slight haze, medium head. Tan-amber color. Smell is mild melon rind, some green leafiness.

Taste is bright tropical fruit, sweetness and floral, mild to medium bitter finish again reminding me of melon rind.

Mouthfeel is medium to light. Overall, very good.

 

Cutesy of @colby600

Tree House Brewing Wanderer Helles Lager

Light clear golden color with pure white cap and lacing.

Aroma of fresh yeast rolls seasoned with flowery hops.

Taste of sweet malt and fresh bread like a well made French baguette. Flavor is consistent from entry to a very dry finish with a slight tingly touch of Noble hops in the aftertaste. Subtle yet sophisticated in an uncomplicated way. Very easy to drink and at 5.0 % you can have more than one at a sitting.

Medium full texture with balancing carbonation.

Outstanding example of a Helles Lager that I can recommend to just about everyone irrespective of their level of beer knowledge. Crisp, clean and a delight to drink

 

It's funny how I enjoy both onion and garlic but can't stand it in my beer so I am with you here and beers with this flavor profile are usually a one and done for me.

 

Happy Anniversary!

 

yup, with you on loving it too. I have a big garden bed full of onion and garlic but even a note in an ipa, No thank you.

 

I have a flight later today, so I’m jumping into the thread today a bit earlier than usual. All the cool kids are raving about 450 North’s kettle sours, so I figured I should give them a try. I can see why they’re so popular.





4.15/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Pours a slushy thick purple grape color with a sudsy pale purple (is that a color?) head. As you drink this, fruity particulate sticks to the glass. The nose is tart cherries, raspberries, and boysenberry.

The tart cherries and raspberries lead the taste, and there is a definite “slushie/smoothie” component to this, both in the flavor profile and the mouthfeel.

 

Hello NBW'ers. And thanks to @Roy_Hobbs for the great start.
It seems like no matter what my calendar indicates (yes, I'm technically on "vacation") life never slows down. Thankfully, there is beer. I record this from a friend in Mass.

Another gem from Trillium, Speed Mettle

Canned 04/20/21
Wow, the nose burst forth with citrus zest, pineapple, mango, and sweet wet grain.A tingly herbal dank note pops in after the fruit flush.
Flavor follows the nose, and then goes forever forward. Zesty lemon, mango, peach, and undertones of grass. A very pleasing sweet bread dough carries this melange of fruitiness. Again, the herbal note heads toward lemongrass and mild weed.
Mouthfeel is active in the carbonation, a bit fluffy in feel, and the finish goes a tad dry with the herbal notes becoming a bit peppery.
Really solid.

4.2/5 rDev -5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

 

Stopped at my brother-in-law's place after the 5K, and just before I fell asleep on the couch my BIL sent his sister over to 'ask' if I wanted beverage, and gave me a choice between a well-known-to-me beer (Fremont Head Full of Dynomite v29) or DDH Hissyfit from Great Notion...so here are my thoughts on this hazy IPA!

16oz can served in a shaker pint. Date is the 29th of something...maybe April. Numbers are mostly rubbed off.

Pours murky whitish yellow, with a small clumpy head that lasts, despite little apparent carbonation. Smell is huge, juicy fruit, alittle pine resin.

Taste is super juicy, with a ton of resin. Pineapple, honeydew, honeysuckle.

Mouthfeel is full, rich, with a hint of resinous chalk texture, makes I thick and dry-seeming simultaneously. Overall, very good beer.

 

This week I have a can of Missing which is brewed at Beer'd Brewing in a collaboration with Outer Light Brewing and Barley Head Brewing. I tried to have this on tap yesterday at the brewery, but my order immediately kicked the keg. Figured I'd at least take some home in cans.

Interesting, but sad story behind this beer. There is a farmer that feeds his cows with the spent grain from these geographically close breweries. A blurb on the can reads- "It's a bummer when people steal things, especially from good people. This beer is dedicated to Jim and his stolen grain trailer. This collaboration aims to raise funds to help him get a new trailer so he can continue to recycle our grain to feed his cattle. Mean people suck." I'm glad to help.


3.9/5 rDev -3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 16oz can stamped "06/02/21 DRINK BEER FEED COWS" to a Nonic at fridge temp.
Pours hazy bright apricot with medium white head that laces well.
Aroma of citrus rind with a hint of dankness.
Taste is orange and melon with a little bit of hop burn but not distracting.
Overall, pretty good.

 

Good afternoon NBS/NBW and thanks @Roy_Hobbs for the hosting this week
Todays offering is from Lawsons, In full disclosure I had a bottle of this years ago.
Hopcelot is a delight for the eyes, and quite a hop hammer. Great expression that walks a thin line quite well. My sweethaeart said she could smell hops from across the room. I guess thats an endorsment??
Do good
Be well

Hopcelot

IPA - American | 7% ABV

Lawson's Finest Liquids
Waitsfield, Vermont

4.11/5 rDev -6.4% | Average: 4.39
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Poured from a 16 oz can dated 6/29/21 into the test glass
A - Excellent clarity, gently carbonated, a thin cap is quick to receed
S - Pine, pineapple juice, a bit of green onion, as well not offputting, just vegetal
T - Citrus reduction, piney thread is strong, malts add a semi sweet offset to the bitter hops.
M - Medium in body, semi sweet start is quickly bulldozed by a blizzard of hops. Finish is surprisingly dry.
O - A very good, bold IPA, with a hops parade that is quite something to experience.

 

Greetings fellow NBSers! A warm and sunny summer day here in the Fourth Corner, with the ms looking to sweep the Anaheim AnHells of Los Angeles of California, from America of Orange county, North of San Diego. or something.

Starting my beer day with a Pilsner from a brewery best known for their IPAs (they are located in the middle of a hop ranch after all) Bale Breaker Pilsner:

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/31389/498975/

 

Interesting to read your thoughts @SABERG and it highlights how we all can taste different things.

Main differences…I love pine and pick up none at all in this beer. We did pick up on the same green onion, to you, not off putting. To me any time I pick that up in an IPA I cannot stand it.

On most other things we seemed to taste or feel the same thing.

Always like reading and comparing how we each perceive the same beer

 

Good Sunday afternoon, New Beer Swiggers and commentators. Bull N Bear Brewery in Summit, NJ is one of my favorite local breweries. It's been open less than a year. While they brew the obligatory New England and West Coast IPAs, their sweet spot is European and other less trendy styles (their English IPA and California Common are fabulous!). I'm usually not an aficianado of Czech Pilsners. I know that the brewery made one earlier this year but it wasn't to their standard so they didn't release it. When I learned that they were canning Profit & Loss Pils before releasing it in the tasting room because they liked it so much, I was really intrigued.

This is damn good! Poured from 16 oz. can into a pint glass. It pours a hazy, translucent golden honey color with a modest creamy eggshell-colored head and thin film of lacing. The smell is spot-on: cracker with subtle hop spices. The taste is bolder than the nose. It opens with toasted biscuit and bready malt which provides initial sweetness that balances the generous amount of spicy bitterness. The Hallertau and Saaz hops are used to excellent effect. P&L has a big, spicy taste and a bit more of an attitude than other locally-brewed Czech Pilsners. In this sense it's similar to some of Bull N Bear's other euro-style offerings. It's grassy and floral with a hint of lemon peel. The mouth feel is lite and crisp with a pleasant level of carbonation and the 5% ABV is entirely appropriate. You can drink a couple of these without difficulty. Overall, this is an excellent example of a Czech/Bohemian Pilsner. Bull N Bear may have finally converted me to this style.

4.12/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Cheers, NBW!

 

I always try to stop by KC Bier, or at least pick up a six pack, when I'm in town. They are a nice balance to the hyped breweries in town which are mostly hoppy.

 

Antidoot L‘Ambigu (Gemischter Satz)


Pours an unfiltered golden color with a noisy, immediately receeding white head.


Smells of juicy, slightly peppery white wine grapes, enriched by a note of honey, as well as dried dandelions and matured herbs. The aromas got a leathery undertone going, highlighted by an earthy, oaken tartness which builds a well working foundation for the prominent, vivid grapes.


Drinks well balanced, perfectly carbonated and refreshing, due to its lighter body.


Tastes of red apple chips, apricot pith and unripe oranges among bitter, leafy hops, which produce a herbal dryness, blending flawlessly into dusty gooseberries, oily artichoke and dry limes. This unusual, vinous rollercoaster gets balanced by calming, gnarled oak, lighter fungi and a playful, leathery tartness. Finishes with fresh picked almonds, dried mango and lime zest, leading to a dry, herbal finish, which also inherits a pleasant, long going sourness.


This is surprising, complex, even exhilarating. The grape blend they infused the beer with in this holds up a plethora of unforseen and well working flavor characteristics, which makes this unique. At the same time, it’s the base beer’s dryness, which gives the drink its direction, while emphasizing the powerful grape melange just as well. Lovely throughout.

 

Up next if a 'Lite" beer from District Brewing in Mt. Vernon, Buzz Lightbeer (they're located in an old movie theater, and all their food and beer have movie themes). This one is a bit boring: https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/57486/558620/