New Beer Weekend #66

Howdy all. First new brew of the day comes from just up the street, Aslan Brewing's Guiding Star Belgian-style Lager. Not sure what makes it "Belgian", but it's a smooth, easy quaffing brew:

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/31399/573780/

 

There's an interesting backstory to Wrench and Torque Wrench. When Industrial Arts opened, it didn't brew hazies. The story I heard was that Wrench was brewed when one of the key brewers was on his honeymoon but it was so immediately popular that they continued to brew it. Torque is the DIPA version of Wrench. It was first brewed in December 2017. I'll never forget that when I stopped at the brewery to try it and buy cans, I was told by a bartender in the tasting room that it was probably a "one-off." Needless to say, Torque also became wildly popular. Pocket Wrench is the session version and Impact Wrench is the TIPA version. To many, the "Wrenches" define Industrial Arts but the brewery produces a lot of great styles.

 

It is time for my mystery beer from @MacMalt in BIF #14. Before opening the bottle, this is what I know: It appears to be 750ml of liquid in a glass bottle, with a metal cap covered in white wax. The contents are not emitting enough radiation in the visible band to be detectable by human eye through the brown paper shielding. Unless Rob's playing tricks on me, I'm going to assume it's 12.1% abv, and the liquid is beer.


I have poured myself a serving as you see above, and will now commence analyzing it, but will not unwrap it until my wife comes home and has a chance to try it blind, too.

It is black with a very small, dense head. It looks thick and syrupy. It immediately exudes vanilla, booze, and chocolate aromas that make me think of bourbon barrels. Putting light behind it makes the "black" conclusion slightly doubtful, I could believe it's a super dark barleywine, especially combined with the dates/raisins I get in the aroma when I put it up to my sniffer. I do get some coffee and possibly some anise, but it doesn't smell particularly roasty, which seems odd for any beer this dark. I do get something fruity, maybe cherry or raspberry, but fairly slight.

Appearance: 4
Smell: 4.25

Taste is moving back toward comfortable BA imperial stout range, but not all the way there. That lovely vanilla and oak, chocolate is light, coffee is a little stronger, more of the anise and less of the dates/raisins. Still boozy for sure, but not overwhelmingly so. Leaning on the sweet side.

Mouthfeel is of course very thick. It's almost chewy. It's very smooth, no chalky/gritty texture at all. Not very lively, but doesn't feel "still."

Taste: 4.5
Mouthfeel: 4.5

Very nice. It helps that I was in the mood for a big, dark beer today. It's raining outside. In conclusion...despite the appearance, it really seems barleywiney to me. I'm going to guess it's some kind of BA barleywine, but I am tempted to say it's blended with a BA imperial stout. Or maybe the other way around.

Overall: 4.5

I'll be back shortly with the reveal, since my wife has weighed in below...

---
Mrs. snaotheus says: Smells like a barleywine, but looks too dark. WOW, that tastes syrupy. Maybe molasses? I think it's barrel aged. I don't think it's a stout. I have to go with a barleywine.

 

That's very cool. I love it when I hear that kind of story, an almost accidental home run becoming a defining beer.

 

I'll be trying a couple of new-to-me malt liquors this weekend as part of the on-going online tasting.

First up is:

Mickey's Malt Liquor
ABV: 5.6%
IBU: NA



Crystal clear yellow-gold, ample carbonation, but my pour started out too gentle and even though I poured the last 2/3 quite vigorously, it still only garnered a short white head that disappeared in a minute or so. Some lacing as I tip the glass. I thought about just chugging it from the wide-mouth bottle for more authenticity, but instead I used the closest glassware I have to what I remember from the dive bars in the 60s - a sham pilsner glass.

Aroma is not bad at all. Kind of nice, actually, if not too strong. Bready and grainy with hints of fruit.

The initial swig starts with an impression of a taste that is, well, interesting. The grain from the aroma is more prominent in the initial sip. The middle picks up some sweet corn flavors, perhaps honey, with the finish and aftertaste being bread doughy with a mellow, doughy, aftertaste. If there is any bitterness there, I almost have to imagine it. IOW, it is quite mild. While my initial impression of the taste was "interesting" (Minnesota-speak for a "nice" way of avoiding stating an opinion), the flavor did grow on me, even by the finish of that initial sip, and it continues to does grow on me the more I drink. I actually am enjoying this, and could see pounding a few in a summer afternoon on the deck.

Mouth feel is medium to thin bodied, more substantial than most AALs.

Overall, as I stated, I quite enjoyed it. The only format I could find was the six pack of 12 ounce bottles, and I won't have any problem wanting to finish the rest.

L: 3.5 | S: 3.5 | T: 3.75 | F: 3.75 | O: 3.75 | Rating: 3.69

 

The conclusion: Kane's 8th anniversary beer, 2920. Not sure what the number means, but I'm guessing it's the brew number.

Reading the label, it seems like a pretty cool story: Blend the new anniversary brew with the old ad infinitum (which reminds me of the whiskey infinity bottle concept).

BA classifies it as a strong ale and the description is clearly barrel aged, so I don't think my "barrel aged, more barleywine than stout but maybe a little bit of stout" guess is totally off base. Apparently they used rye barrels, which passed my mind but was quickly dismissed -- not for any specific reason, just because it seemed unlikely and it didn't obviously scream the rye spice flavor that I would recognize. Now that I know it's there and it's warming up a bit, I think the rye is noticeable. I'll give myself a C+/B- on this one.

Mrs. snaotheus only wanted a tiny taste (you can see it hiding in the background) and I'm not sure I can handle the other 21 ounces of this in one sitting, so I'm putting a hat on it, and maybe I'll have a little more for breakfast tomorrow.

This is an excellent, extremely rich beer. Thank you, @MacMalt!

 

I've finally found this Imperial IPA *fresh* enough to buy. "The Jabberwocky" Lone Pint Brewing, Magnolia, Texas bottled August. It's thick and rich with some West Coast bitterness but doesn't finish dry. Fruit, citrus and pine. 114 IBUs. Overall? I'd buy it again. Fresher.
Cheers to each and every one of you for coming out and listening to my bullsh*t.

 

As y'all are likely aware, NBS has a BIF. As part and parcel of said BIF, we receive a Mystery beer to review, blind. Here is my blind review of the Mystery Beer I received from @Ozzylizard :



Mystery beer from Ozzylizard as part of NBS BIF #14. .5 litre, ceramic, swing-top bottle poured into 14oz teku. Poured a solidly, almost muddy, dark brown color with about a quarter-inch of rocky head that had minimal retention and very light lacing. 3.5-4


Very malty, and somewhat alcohol-ey, aromas at the front of the nose. Just some very light, floral hops. The more the beer breathes, the less notable the alcohol component is. 3.25-3.75


Very similar on the tongue, grainy malts and very light floral hops, and a touch of heat at the finish. 3.25-3.5


The body was full and smooth, with relatively low carbonation, and a medium-sweet finish that lingered a few moments. 3.25-3.5


Drinkability was good, a sipper, not a quaffer, for sure.


Overall, a nice beer. I think it’s a Barleywine, English not American, Worth trying if you see it.

 

8 years = 2920 days @snaotheus

Also I spy Legos??? We were building just a few hours ago.

 

Nice! Are they skipping leap days, though?

And yes, my son has littered our still incomplete island with still incomplete Legos.

 

All NBW BIF #14 all day today and tomorrow. All beers and glassware today courtesy of my friend @BBThunderbolt and Wander Brewing out of Bellingham WA. The brewery is one I’ve experienced before in a BIF and a favorite - all thanks to @BBThunderbolt.

He is the Gretzky of beer nerds.

Let’s do this.







4.14/5 rDev +9.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Pours a very slightly hazy golden color with a white head that grips the glass like a 10-year-old gripping the safety bar on his or her first “grownup” roller coaster. Beautiful beer in the WCIPA style.

The nose features nice citrus and pine notes, and those notes translate perfectly to the taste, with the star for me the nice resiny pine bitterness. Straight old school WCIPA, which I love.

The mouthfeel is is medium and nicely dry. If this was a regular rotation beer, it would be a contender for my “shelfie beer fridge IPA.” Really good stuff.

 

Another busy day in tourist town Vermont!.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/31645/572600/



16 ounce can.
Canned 09/??/21.

Moderate to vigorous pour yields a nearly two inch white head (with overly large bubbles) over a hazy golden body with lacing. Nose of dank pine and very slight citrus and tropical fruit. Taste mirrors nose somewhat with fruit coming forward just a tad in the beginning and middle, but the finish is almost all dank pine bitterness with a bit of citrus pith bitterness as well. Feel is light and somewhat flat. Overall, a tasty beer to be sure even with its shortcomings in the head and feel department.
Cheers!

 

After a free night of the new Revolution Hazy Pitch beer and a bunch of Fire swag, more free beer is on tap courtesy of the Zuniga Club at Soldier Field. This is my fist Fire or MLS game (second watched after the Game on Wednesday, first MLS game, first football game here since the 1994 World Cup, and first professional game since the Chicago Sting nearly forty years ago.

First beers are two 11.2 oz cans of Peroni, which I’ve had before but never rated.

Peroni Nastro Azzuro



Can Notes: 5.1% ABV, 139 carbs per 11.2 oz, natural ingredients, imported by Birra Peroni Internazionale Washington D.C..

Appearance: Two 11.2 oz can pours into a short plastic cup. Clear straw base, light carbonation and bright white head disappears quickly leaving a white ring around the rim and fine lacing. 3.5

Aroma: Faint malt despite a few attempts. 2.25

Taste: Faint barely there taste, faintest of hops or malts, I guess grainy but this is close to fizzy water. Inoffensive but also close to non existent. 1.5

Mouthfeel: Fizzy carbonation lingers throughout, light body, light dryness, easy drinking. 2.25

Overall: I guess this is beer based on the can, lightest of light beers even though not billed as a light beer. Would never pay for this, inoffensive, nothing. 1.75

Musical accompaniment Pearl Jam.

 

#2 from @BBThunderbolt, it should be a felony to make a beer this good. IJS.





4.25/5 rDev +8.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Pours a gorgeous copper color with a little bit of haze and a creamy white head that laces the glass nicely. The nose has caramel and toffee malt notes as expected and a floral, fruity hop note as NOT expected. Wow.

The taste is a really nice balance between the caramel/toffee malt flavors and the fruity/floral hop flavors - and all crammed into a 5.8% ABV beer that is the very definition of “quaffable.”

I could literally drink this beer until it came out my ears. Excellent stuff, IMHO.

 

Next up, a new to me brewery and beer from Eugene, Oregon. Free courtesy of the Chicago Fire FC.

Hop Valley Bubble Stash IPA



Can Notes: 12 oz 6.2% ABV, 45 IBU, best by 12/21/21. Our stash of Mosaic Cryo Hops bring a blend of fruit citrus tropical flavors and a touch of resin to this new age IPA. You won’t want to pass on this one.

Appearance: Multiple pours into a small plastic glass Orange clear base, creamy egg white head covers base and leaves fine bubble lacing. Nominal carbonation. 3.25

Aroma: Light but pleasant citrus aroma, sweet but contained. 3.25

Taste: This is a good ipa, citrus predominant, light pine and grapefruit. 3.5

Mouthfeel: Light to medium body, light creamy malt balances well against the hops. Easy drinking, clean finish. Nice. 3.75

Overall: This is a good IPA, mild and balanced, easy going. Glad I sampled, would drink again. 3.5

Likely dove with new beers today, see you for New Beer Sunday!

 

Hello New Beer Weekend!!!

Another week around working our way around the Sun, and a week closer to winter.

I'll cut to the chase today, and post my new beer. It's interesting.


Cut Off Flannel - Arvon Brewing - Imperial Stout - 11.5% ABV.

So why is this beer interesting? Because it was a total gusher. I started to pop the top and it started looking like Old Faithful. Everywhere. On my coffee table (not like anyone would notice), my computer, my tablet, my carpet, kitchen floor, sink, and on me as well. No damage, but a lot of clean up needed.

Now,seeing all that carnage, you'd think it's infected. Well, It sure as hell isn't at all. It's really how it should taste. Great flavors, and aroma. This, in spite of the problems, is a damn good beer.

Review:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/54017/542266/

4.07/5 rDev -4%
look: 2 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

I'm going really low on the look here, not because it looks bad in my glass, but because, when opening it up, it exploded in a geyser all over my coffee table, my computer, my tablet, my carpet, kitchen floor, and sink. I've got a lot of clean up here.

After all that, it pours a pitch black into my glass. There's about a 1 finger tan head. This head dissipated almost immediately, and produced no lacing on the glass.
The nose is rich with barrel notes. I also get chocolate, caramel, coffee, and lactose on the nose. Quite pleasing, and it's a sign it's not infected.
Taste - not infected at all. I get a lot of lactose in the flavor, which makes sense, considering the style. I get caramel, toffee, raisin, plum, and chocolate, as well. These flavors are damn good.
Thick, smooth, creamy body. Very little burn, just the faintest hint.
In spite of the start, it ends up very well.


Probably it for tonight. See you all down the road.

 

What a beauty of a fall day here today. Maybe a bit warm for a while, but not for long. We have had reports of a black bear sighting here way down in Southern MA. No bear signs in my six acre slice o' heaven, but we spooked two deer out in the back this afternoon.

So...in the glass, and not too late yet:


Sierra Nevada Oktoberfest, 2021 version (thankfully).

Pretty attractive on the pour with super clarity and wild honey amber color. Nice cap of a tan head. Laces decently as the foam recedes fairly quickly.

Smell is caramel, slightly toasty bready malt, a faint grassy herbal and vaguely spicy note.

The taste is very smooth. Slightly sweet, lightly toasted bread or biscuit, caramel. There is a very nice herbal top note going on and there is a slight but noticeable spiciness on the finish that I can't quite define. Reminds me of rye - that kind of spicy/peppery.

I'm thinking this should be a bit more full bodied than it is, which is medium at best.. Lightly carbonated.

Easy drinking and smooth. It is a well-made beer and hits the style markers well enough. Be good for an October cookout. But it is not a gotta have for me. Objectively it is a 4-ish beer, but subjectively not a fave.