New Beer Weekend #55

Thanks. This brewery seems a bit of a hidden gem given that Danny McGovern is kind a legend in ME craft brewing.. If you are looking for straightforward, no-nonsense beers that are pretty much true to style, this is one place to visit. They make a blueberry sour that makes a dynamite summer refresher. I believe they self distribute, but I find them once in a while down in southern Mass where we live for now. They alternate between two food trucks (one run by a local restaurant) but both are outstanding, they host trivia nights, and feature live music periodically in their outdoor area. Very locally "flavored" and locally socially active. You might have to plan a visit! You can swim, boat, or kayak to their brand new dock now which is pretty cool even if requiring some good judgement on consumption.

Here is some background on the brewery.

Cheers!

 

Still work on the back log from my fridge, hope to review two more today, see what my stomach says about that. Now up is Oozlefinch Zaddy Juice, tons of adjuncts in this and they clash some.
3.92/5 rDev +8.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

16 oz can poured into an oversized wine

A- An opaque bright ruby red/violet color a small pink head.

S- Tart berries, some apple, maple sweetness, hints of lactose.

T- Maple syrup, apples, tart berries, some vanilla, touch of lactose, slightly earthy.

M- Smooth, medium body.

O- An interesting beverage, more sweet than sour. Not bad flavors, but the flavors clash some.

Cheers!

 

True to my word, I haven't been doing anything so far today. I do have another new beer, Single, from Bruz Beers in Denver.
Gold color, slightly hazy. Tiniest of white heads.
Aroma of earthy hops, some sweet malt.
Taste of lemon, biscuit.
Light-bodied.
An easy to drink beer.

 

Dance Language - Mesquite Blossom by Oxbow



4.18/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

I went to Oxbow while on vacation in Maine. Had a Dance Language on tap, sweet clover, which was good and I wanted to purchase a bottle. They were sold out, bummer. i returned later in the week when i saw dance Language on the menu. Available in a n assorted four pack was Mesquite Blossom .

Tasting notes: biere de miel brewed and bottle conditioned with mesquite blossom honey

Bottle poured into a chalice produced a two thing thick, dense, foamy, fluffy white cap over a straw golden yellow hazy liquid. Good retention, good lacings

Aroma is yeasty, funky, and a gentle whiff of mesquite smoke. Imagine a a child born from a saison and a rauchbier.

Taste is farmhouse funk and yeast with a hint of smoke.

Smooth, sippable, refreshing

Good beer

 

You’re probably just seeing things with the kind of few days you seem to have had. That stinks!!!!!!!

Hopefully the beer helps and you have a better week this week!!!!

Cheers!!!

See what I did there!!

 

I am enjoying a crowler of Bierkeller's Ur-Helles

Deliciously fruity and malty. Say what you will or may about South Carolina, having brewers like Bierkeller is a blessing.

 

@zid - Thank you for your response and your clarification regarding what I missed with the beer notes vs. the guidelines and their approach to this beer. I have really learned a lot from you over the years here.

Thank you also to @LeRose for your additional information and the link regarding St. George Brewing. I hope to hit a few East coast breweries and have added Lake St. George to the list. Maine is such a great place to visit, especially August - September.

Second new beer today, this one brewed solely by Goldfinger.

Goldfinger Polish Pils



Can notes: 16 oz canned 7/27/21 at 9:55 AM. 5.1% ABV. This Polish Style pils was brewed using 100% Polish hops, and a special Thiolized Lager yeast strain from Omega Yeast Lab. Dry. Lemon Zest. Herbal.

Appearance: Very light faint straw color clear base, medium to heavy carbonation, generous head upon multiple pours into a large Pilsner glass, head subsides after a few minutes leaving nominal clumpy lacing. 3.75

Aroma: Bready cracker, lightly salted, light grassy backing. Pleasant, light in strength 3.5

Taste: Consistent with aroma but much stronger, cracker, salt, with honey. Very hoppy, the hops overtake any semblance of sweetness. Malt minimal here. Really enjoying this Pilsner. 4.0

Mouthfeel: Very dry and bitter, aggressive hops complete dominate this one. Nominal carbonation, light to medium body, crisp clean and easy drinking, dry bitter aftertaste. 3.5

Overall: This Pils was brewed to my overall beer taste preference, dry and bitter, so worked very well for me, but could be considered too bitter and dry for someone looking for a traditional Pilsner. I have little familiarity with Polish hops, the few Polish beers I've tried were Polish Macro equivalents with a nominal hop profile. What I do know is I like this offering, and overall what Goldfinger is doing, and will look for this down the road. 3.75

Music accompaniment, also a 1980s song from a Polish-American.

 

My final new-to-me beer of the weekend (too early in the afternoon to say "final beer" though...) is a one-of release from August Schell.



Schell's Talk To Me Gose
ABV: 4.9%
IBU: 10



Clear golden yellow from the front, bright yellow with a backlight. Tall, bubbly and creamy head with decent retention, leaving a rocky surface as it recedes with a bit of thick lacing. Moderate carbonation.

Citrus and peppery spice in the light aroma.

Flavor is lemony, spicy, with some salt. Very light, almost hidden, tartness. No bittering. The middle is smooth with the malts, coriander, and salt. Not over spiced - a nice light touch. The finish is just a bit simple. The salty lemon-like spicy flavor lingers. Goes down easy. Enjoyable.

Moderate-thin body with some carbonation.

Overall, this is a nice drinking beer. Fairly simple in flavor. Good hot weather refresher. Good, not great.


L: 4.0 | S: 3.5 | T: 3.75 | F: 3.75 | O: 3.75 | Rating: 3.71

 

4 Hands State Wide Hazy Pale Ale, 5.5% ABV; 4.12 overall

Pours a hazy gold with 2 fingers of eggshell colored head. Average head retention & lacing

S: Green melon & peach

T: Follows the nose, a little orange & Kiwi Fruit as well up front. Passion fruit, peach & watermelon as this warms . Finishes juicy with a little peach, strawberry & orange

MF: Medium body, slight carbonation, nice balance

Very easy to drink, well done take on the style

 

Another new one from Bravo Brewing of scenic Pascoag, Rhode Island.
Sour Series: Raspberry & Passion Fruit. A Berliner Weisse. Cheers.



4.44/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A strong pour from a 32-oz. crowler released two fingers of fizzy white foam that sinks quickly and becomes craggy. A ring remains leaving behind islands of lacing. Semi-opaque golden straw color, I can barely see my fingers.

Mild and lightly tart fruity smell with grainy and toasted wheat, the fruit smell is mostly passionfruit.

The taste begins mildly tart and sour from under-ripe raspberries, this is not a bad thing. Second is a fresh wheat taste which blends with the sour for a semi-sweet tang. The finish is Lager-like crisp with fermented fruit flavor blended to a general exotic fruit taste, low bitterness (not hops I don't think) builds at the end with the fruit lingering.

Light bodied with lighter carbonation per style. Refreshing and well flavored from fruit while allowing that Berliner Weisse taste to shine. Alcohol is an afterthought, highly session-able. Enjoyed brewery fresh.

 

Scary thought! If people ever learn anything from me, it's usually that it's best to ignore me.

 

Now up Burley Oak J.R.E.A.M. Strawberry, Cherry, Marshmallow Pie. Burley Oak was one of the early breweries with these super fruited beers with their J.R.E.A.M. series and one part I’ve enjoyed about them is the somewhat Berliner Weisse base isn’t completely over powered by the fruit and there is some sourness coming through from the beer. On the the review:
4.11/5 rDev 0%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

16 oz can poured into an oversized wine glass

A- A somewhat hazy red with a very small off white head and a small amount of stuff floating around.

S- Sour, strawberries, hints of lemon, some cherries, undertones of brown sugar and vanilla.

T- Sour, strawberries, some cherries, hints of lemon, undertones of vanilla and brown sugar.

M- Smooth, light to medium body.

O- Flavors aren’t as big as other JREAMs, but it is still nicely done.

Cheers!

 

Good Sunday afternoon, New Beer Samplers and commentators. It's a beautiful Sunday afternoon for early August here in North Jersey with low humidity and a nice mild breeze. Perfect for reviewing a couple of beers. The first is from the brewery closest to our home, Glenbrook Brewery in Morristown, NJ, which opened earlier this year. It's owned by our neighbor and is named for a street in our neighborhood. All of Glenbrook's beers are locally themed and commemorate Morristown's important role during the American Revolution. One thing I like about this brewery is that they've limited the number of beers they brew, releasing new ones slowly, and working hard to improve each batch.

When Morristown Style IPA was first brewed earlier this year, it was a West Coast style IPA. It was good - my rating was 3.95. Last week, the brewery canned for the first time and they changed the recipe. It's now a hazy, fruity IPA hopped with Citra and Centennial. All I can say is, what a difference! This is a very flavorful, easy drinking American IPA. I'm very excited to see Glenbrook make the "leap" from startup to experienced, confident brewer. Props to Heath and his team! I've rewritten my original review and updated the rating.

Canned on 8/3/2021 so 5 days old when reviewed. Poured into a pint glass. It pours an opaque muddy tangerine color with more than a full finger of fluffy, bright white had and soapy lacing. It has a bright, fruity aroma with lots of lemon, lime, and notes of melon and berry. The smell is also quite floral and slightly herbal. The taste is big with lots of tart lemon peel and bitter grapefruit rind. Only as it warms do I begin to taste some berry and tropical sweetness but it's subtle. The Citra hop presence is huge. Behind the fruit there is a solid crackery base that adds depth. The Centennial hops provide clean bitterness throughout. This ale has a crisp, lite mouth feel with pleasant carbonation, and it's easy to drink at 6.3% ABV. Overall, this iteration of Morristown Style IPA is much better than the original. In fact, I think this is the best beer that Glenbrook has yet brewed. This is a first rate American IPA and I'm excited to see it produced by our local brewery.

4.19/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

I'll be back momentarily with another local IPA. Cheers!

 

KC Bier Co. Weizenbock , 7.5% ABV; 4.18 overall

Pours a hazed & effervescent gold with 3 fingers of pear colored head ( into a Hoffbrau Muncher Kindl Weiss glass ). Drops bright, but has no head retention or lacing

S: Green banana peel & breadyness

T: Sweet & green bananas, cloves, dryness, some lemon & a touch of yeasty breadyness upfront. More lemon notes mix with green banana, grassyness & bready notes. Finishes grassy with green banana, cloves & dryness

MF: Medium body, low carbonation, a little grtittyness

Easy to drink, true to style

 

Didn't think I'd be able to post this weekend, but the stars have aligned. This is Island Summer Ale from St. John Brewers. Picked a six pack of this up under the "when in Rome" thought process.

Beer rating below, and the beer is definitely better than a anticipated. Setting for drinking the beer gets a solid 5.0 rating.


3.56/5 rDev +9.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Appearance is tall and brown with curves in all the right places. ok..I admit, I didn't pour this into a glass. Some beers are made to be consumed out of a bottle, which is how I've chosen to enjoy this one. I can pick up the aroma even through the think bottle neck, and it doesn't have a whole lot going on. Not that I expect much for the style, but it has a very generic AAL aroma to it. Taste is somewhat of a different story. I went in expecting pretty much nothing, but this is actually very nice if you rate it to style. Light, bready malts, clean and crisp. They go down extremely easily, which with some beers is exactly the point. I bought a six pack of this and will be returning to the local market to buy more.

 

NBW #2. Hedison's Medison, a QIPA from Four City Brewing Company in Orange, NJ. It was initially released for the brewery's first anniversary last August, then released again in May 2021. If memory serves (and it may not given the constant assault on my brain cells), @dennisthreeninefiveone reviewed this beer on NBW last week. It was canned on 5/24. I'm usually too much of a beer snob to purchase cans that are 10 weeks old but I missed out on this beer last year and didn't notice it's re-release until Dennis' review. I saw it in a bottle shop yesterday and want to give it a whirl.

Poured into a pint glass. It pours an opaque tangerine color with a very large, fluffy, bright white head and thick, clinging lacing. The nose is a bit subdued (perhaps because of age) but I'm smelling lemon, grapefruit, ripe melon, and a malty base. The taste opens with lots of sweet fruit; ripe melon, red berry, lemon, lime, and lychee. The Mosaic and Citra Cryo hops are in full effect. There is a base of earthy malt in the background and distinct notes of cannabis from the Strata hops. I'm also tasting some subdued pine and herbs. There is little hop bitterness. The mouth feel is pleasantly thick and creamy with moderate carbonation, and the 9% ABV is well-hidden. I missed this ale when it was first brewed for Four City's first anniversary and I'm drinking it at about 10 weeks so it may have lost something. Nonetheless, it's still very good, which speaks well of Four City's brewing ability. This is a brewery to watch.

4.19/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Have a great week, everyone!

 

My first new beer tonight is the same one @jkblr has yesterday. I saw @BigIronH poat he tried it and I was intrigued, I’ve slowly been exploring more and more German beers the past year or so, here’s another. Mine was canned 3/23, so freshness probably pretty similar @jkblr

Konig Pilsner



A really nice looking pils, crystal clear light gold with a nice perfect white head. Settled into a nice pretty thick sheet of rocky white, really nice retention and decent lacing as well.

It has a very snappy aroma to it. Reminds me of those water crackers mixed with some nice spice/peppery and grassy hops. Also maybe the slightest hint of citrus. All aromas in this project a very refreshing beer.

The nose didn’t deceive, this beer tastes much like I thought it would based on aroma. The one thing I didn’t expect was it started out softer than I thought it would, almost white bread like, but then quickly turns to spicy/peppery hops that I expected.

Mouthfeel is what I’d expect from a good German pils. It is light body, super clean and dry with a really nice bitterness to it.

Very glad I bought this beer, incredible price and it’s exactly the type of German pils i want. Super easy to drink, dry and nice and bitter. I will definitely buy this beer again in the future.

what a view @Roy_Hobbs I think my second new beer tonight may be similar to that one

 

Great review! I hope you continue on the NBW thread. We learn a lot from each other and there's great comradery.