New Beer Weekend #59

Predator – does that make you think of a Schwarzenegger movie?

Today’s new beer is my first beer ever from Off Color Brewing – Apex Predator which they brand as Farmhouse Ale.

I am not familiar with Off Color Brewing so I did a bit of web surfing to find:

“Off Color Brewing is an American craft beer brewery in the Logan Square neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois.[1][2] The brewery began in early 2013 as a partnership between John Laffler, formerly with Goose Island Brewery, and Dave Bleitner, formerly with Two Brothers Brewing.[3] The modus operandi of Off Color's founders when they began operation was to focus on brewing forgotten styles of beer, particularly those made in Germany before Reinheitsgebot (i.e. the Bavarian Purity Law) was proclaimed in the late 15th century, effectively condemning myriad styles of beer not made solely with barley, water, and hops.[4]”

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Off_Color_Brewing

What a small world in that I had the pleasure of meeting and conversing for quite some time with John Laffler when he was representing Goose Island Brewing a number of years ago for a Goose Island event at a local craft beer bar. I discussed this in a past BA thread:

“I had the distinct pleasure to meet John Laffler at a Philly Beer Week Goose Island event. He is an extremely nice fellow! John has responsibility for the barrel warehouse and he was kind enough the talk about the barrel aging part of Goose Island at length.”

https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/behind-the-scenes-at-goose-island.27082/#post-334400

The term “Farmhouse Ale” can have many meanings so I decided to see what exactly Apex Predator is:

“Apex Predator Farmhouse Ale

Saisons are the hoppiest of the Belgian beers and Apex Predator is no exception. But beers with a pronounced hop profile don't have to be defined by it. With a fragrant juicy fruit aroma, dry finish, and a hint of honey, Apex Predator has many distinct layers. We use a free rise fermentation, where the yeast is allowed to get as high as 27 C (or 80 F for silly Americans) during fermentation. When paired with the correct yeast, we create a pleasant bubblegum character. More on that below.

Then, yes, we dry hop it with a bunch of Crystal hops which give the final beer a grassy, floral character. Using honey malt adds a touch of sweetness to an otherwise very dry beer. When this yeast ferments, it turns everything it can into alcohol. Not that we help by adding sugar to the kettle. We package it with a slightly high carbonation level to bring out the aromatics so you can taste it before you take a sip.”

http://www.offcolorbrewing.com/apex

I generally have a preference for Saisons which are not dry hopped but I have enjoyed a few that are dry hopped.

Will I enjoy this dry hopped Saison? Well, let’s see.

Served in my Heavy Seas chalice:

Appearance:

A hazy golden yellow color with a BIG fluffy white head.

Aroma:

A combination of herbal and spicy aromas dominate but there is some sweet-ish malt aroma in the background.

Taste:

The flavors follow the nose with spicy being dominant but there is herbal there as well with just a hint of citrus. There is a moderate bitterness.

Mouthfeel:

Light – medium bodied, with a bit of prickly carbonation and a dry finish.

Overall:

This beer is good – very good. A pleasing end of summer sipping beer.

@KOP_Beer_OUtlet @rotsaruch @RobH

 

Good morning one and all! Thanks for kicking things off today @SawDog505 , and thanks for adding the third day for Labour Day Weekend @Shanex !!! I will bump my previously planned beers to Sunday and Monday, with Sunday's selection a single can purchase this Wednesday based on news from Sweden.

Also, loved your review @JackHorzempa of a local treasure, Off Color's Apex Predator. John and team brews many wonderful beers!

This beer today is one of the ten beers I transferred from my cellar to my refrigerator yesterday. Wild Onion Brewery's Drago has been brewed for about a decade at this point, and my friends recommended this as a great local stout. The cans below are from the 2018 released in 2019, and the latest 2020 release released just before COVID. I will rate the 2018 edition, which is currently available on tap at their Lake Barrington Brewpub on the Cellar Forum this Thursday, and the remaining six over the next month.

Eight Rounds with Drago (Adriannnnn!!!)


Wild Onion Brewery 2020 Drago



Can Notes: 12 oz, 11% ABV, 2020 release, canned 3/11/20. Transferred from room temperature store storage to cellar upon purchase (Capones, 11/23/20, $7.20 per can w/ tax each for 2020 Drago and Variants), refrigerated 24 hours before opening this morning.

Appearance: Very dark brown to black impenetrable base, puffy tan head recedes after a minute, leaving no trace. 4.25

Aroma: Solid bold strong aroma, almonds and malt emerge first, a nice oak barrel backed by smooth bourbon follows, becomes stronger as this approaches room temperature, vanilla lurks as well. Really nice. 4.5

Taste: Consistent with the aroma, bourbon takes the lead, transitioning from jabs to solid upper hooks as this warms. This fighter pumps his hands imploring Drago for more, and he accommodates. Not phased by the onslaught, I carry forward, enjoying the excellent malt, almond and fresh maple syrup, the latter not part of the brewing process. Want to definitely compare and contrast to a fresh version upon the next release, and perhaps the 1 1/2 years in the cellar improved this, but I am really enjoying this stout today, hitting all the high notes. 4.5

Mouthfeel: Faint carbonation, medium creamy and slightly sweet base. Alcohol / bourbon warms the chest in a nice pleasing way throughout. The beer punches well above the 11% ABV, so plan accordingly or Drago will drop you like a rank amateur. Very smooth bourbon, sweet syrupy aftertaste. 4.25

Overall: Pinning for the days when title fights went 15 rounds (or ounces) instead of 12, glad this held up in great shape. Drago joins the list of the annual BA Stouts on my must purchase list after this title fight. Can't wait to try the variants next, but not before a nap to recover from this title fight! 4.5

Musical accompaniment: Bill Conti's Going the Distance and The Final Bell

Cheers!

 

Thanks to @colby600 I am enjoying . . .

Fox Farm Brewery Burrow Imperial IPA

Hazy golden color with white cap and good lacing.

Strong, sharp aroma of citrus and rich hops. I get something like fresh lemon zest as well.

Taste is a pleasing combination of bright hops and juicy citrus. Bold, strong flavors that are well integrated and, while simple, march forth in unison. Citrus elements form the core but hops are singing all the high notes.

Full texture that is soft, velvety and mouth filling.

This is a big bruiser of a DIPA that makes no apology for it's room filling presence.

 

Founders Velvet Rush is a great tasting coffee brown ale with a touch of vanilla to smooth the edge. Coffee on the nose and taste, the beer had good lacing throughout Admittedly, it’s alcohol free. Wait… 11%? The bourbon barrel is background making it a distant cousin to KBS. Despite the hidden barrrel, this beer is another fine mighty Kosmicki product. Thanks to @BigIronH for the beer.

 

Thanks for the opening the tap on this forum @SawDog505 . That’s why I like this forum. For instance, I have never heard of modest man brewing, and it’s not too far away located in Keene New Hampshire.Checking out the reviews on BA, I see they have a lot of beers that are rated above 4.0. To me, that indicates it’s a pretty good Brewer. Although they are not on my usual beaten path. However, if I’m in the area I would definitely search them out.

My new beer is from @FBarber in A beer it forward . I never knew what was a BIF or even an LIF last year but as a result of this forum I signed up for BIF12 . Note that the sign up for Bif14 is ongoing .Are you interested in new beers from across the land? Fun ,games and surprises? Banter and shenanigans? Consider signing up for the BIF 14


https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/nbs-bif-14-sign-up-thread.661088/page-3

My new beer is makes you larger by hidden hand


4.27/5 rDev +2.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

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

New beer, new brewery to me

Pint can poured beer into a Spiegelau ipa glass , canned 6.14

Pours a hazy orange juice liquid capped with a two finger off white creamy foam cap , very good retention , settles to a clingy layer and ring with sticky lacings

Aroma is mango, citrus tangerine, pineapple, mango

Taste is citrus tangerine, candied orange, orange, hint of dank on the finish

Low sudsing , smooth , gentle hop nibble

Good beer, liking this one and all thanks to NBW on BA

 

Thanks, @SawDog505 for getting the thread started. Just back from a walk with the dogs, planning to get to the Farmer's Market today. Will see what I can pick up for chilis. It's still nice weather, so we'll be in the pool. Of course, don't forget golf and college football.
My new beer for today is Gigazapper, a West Coast DIPA with an ABV of 8.0%.
Copper-colored beer, modest off-white head, some lace.
Aroma of tropical fruit, citrus fruit, a hint of pine, and sweet malt.
Taste of pineapple, grapefruit, tangerine, lime, and peach. Late pine taste.
Medium-bodied. Easy-drinking beer.

 

Founders has done a great job with brown ales over the years. Velvet Rush, Sumatra Mountain and Underground Mountain (I hope they make that again) are very high in my list of favored browns.

 

Good day Advocates! Trying this bad boy out and I like it. It is sweet, rich, clean and smooth. Rather floral and easy hop-wise for a Bell's ale but excellent all the while. I'll let BA do the math! Cheers!
BELL'S INCESSANT DOUBLE NEW ENGLAND IPA 8.5%ABV
12oz bottle btlg date 4/12/21 into a Spiegelau IPA glass.
4.25 L: Pours a lightly hazed gold with a tall, pillowy eggshell white head with excellent retention. Lots of spotty lacing and medium low carbonation.
4.25 S: Mango, grapefruit, orange, spicy hops, light bread and light pine.
4.25 T: Sweet caramel, earthy hops, mango, peach and light bread malt notes ebb with each drink. There is light pineapple, lemon rind and a trace of alcohol at the finish.
4.0 F: Clean, crisp, smooth, medium-heavy mouthfeel and is gently creamy with a soft and accommodating med-long finish.
4.25 O: Overall the taste of this beer is rich and large. It is sweet and pleasant in every way and is excellent in it's style.

 

Good afternoon NBW
A new to me Oktoberfest courtesy of @BigIronH

Frankenmuth Brewing Oktoberfest

12oz undated bottle poured into a boot mug at fridge temp 5.27% ABV 27 IBU per label. The beer pours mostly bright medium amber in color with khaki head. The head recedes to a thin cap and leaves a little lacing. The aroma is faint featuring toasted malt. The taste is semisweet toasted malt with a bit of tangyness and mild bitterness. Cleanly lagered. The mouthfeel is thin to medium bodied with average carbonation and a mostly dry finish. Overall, good Oktoberfest.

Well, this would have been my 93rd Oktoberfest/Marzen review, but with Todd's announcement today, it's my 85th Marzen. There's also 8 Festbier reviews. It's going to take a little extra time to get to 100 Oktoberfest reviews, but I'm up for the challenge.

Cheers all and enjoy the new beer in your glass today!

 

Agree with the overpowering black pepper. Thinking it might make for an interesting pairing for food, but not the standalone sipper I was hoping for. Easier to admire than like.

 

I'm back with a new style tick.
Sahti from Barrel + Beam courtesy of @BigIronH

The review:
16oz undated can poured into becher glass at fridge temp 6.7% ABV per label. The beer pours hefe-hazy in light orange amber color. The head is off white and recedes to a thin ring single layer of bubbles. Minimal lacing. The aroma is mild with rye malt, juniper and yeasty notes of clove & banana. The taste is semisweet malt with big juniper notes and residual rye, banana, clove, hay, and musty barn. Mild bitterness. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with average carbonation and a somewhat dry finish. Overall, unique. Glad to have finally got a chance to review one in this style.

I've been hunting for four years to close out all 113 (114 as of today) styles here on BA. Sahti and Braggot were my remaining two and now it's one...

This style in particular was aggravating because I know I drank a Williams Brothers mixed four pack of Sahti beers many years ago, but I didn't feel comfortable reviewing from memory.

Cheers all and a big thanks to Harley for helping this happen.