New Beer Weekend #68

I haven’t participated in one of these in a while, but I have to take notice when Founders adds another variation to what may be their best beer. Sorry, FBS. You and Ninja vs Unicorn, while not being on my 5 Rating beers list, are still my favorite beers of all time. But the KBS family is a cut above for their consistency and quality, so let’s just say I had big expectations of this one.

Unfortunately, I think this is the least of the KBS offerings so far. For the record, my ranking of the family so far goes like this:
Mackinac Fudge-5 rating
the original-4.94
Espresso-4.66

And while this is a very good beer, I understand why it’s the lowest rated of the KBS. I almost think that if they had not made this a member of the KBS family, it would be higher rated.

Adding two more adjuncts doesn’t seem to add much to an already tasty party. In fact, it may take something away because it’s possibly too much flavor. Drank at room temperature. I’ll chill the next one before trying. Sometimes stouts need that chance to cool and then warm up, because it seems to round them out.

Dark and frothy appearance. Strong scents of cocoa, vanilla, coffee, and dark malt, but the cinnamon is strongest of all. The taste is cinnamon forward, followed by vanilla and coffee. For a base beer where chocolate is one of the main ingredients and a variation where cocoa is in the name, I think it’s the most muted of the adjuncts. A bit thinner than I expected, but still a full mouth feel. Definite boozy presence.

A very good beer, but as I said, if you put “KBS” in the name, you better deliver the goods. I’ll try to give my last bottle a bit of time to see if the cinnamon is sublimated next time, and I’ll also chill it as well. Maybe my opinion will change, and I’ll save it for a weekend in case I need to update it on this forum.

L: 4.5 S: 4.5 T: 4.25 F: 4.25 O: 4.50
My rating: 4.38

 

Lucky for you to receive that one!
It's been years since I've had Lunch. It really is a top notch IPA. Dinner is on a whole other level too.

 

My beer cellar is as well stocked with great beers as it has ever been thanks to fellow NBS participants who have been crazy generous ever since I joined the BIFs and this wonderful weekly thread. I hope to try out a few of the beers that have been sent to me recently later this weekend, but to start off I've gone into the cellar to pull up a bottle that @Roguer sent me a while ago (maybe late last year?). I've been eyeing this up ever since, and today seemed like a good day to crack it open.

This is Mixcoatl - a Mezcal Imperial Stout from Cigar City Brewing.


4.62/5 rDev +5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Pours the darkest of dark browns with a slightly reddish hue around the edges once in the glass. The half inch of mocha colored head quickly receded leaving behind the tiniest of rings around the edges.

Aroma is wonderful. Vanilla leads the train, with the barrels following closely behind, and some chocolate notes in the caboose position. Very inviting.

I can summarize how this beer tastes in one word....WOW! This is a great beer. It's wonderfully complex in a way that shows great skill by the brewer. Everything is in just the right amount. Mezcal - check. Brandy - check. Vanilla - check. Chocolate notes - check. All on top of what is very clearly a very nice base stout. It's warm and boozy, but in no way harsh. Each sip seems a little different than the last. There are some brown sugar / molasses notes that create a nice, rich flavor but without ever approaching cloying sweetness. I'm particularly enjoying how the barrel notes & alcohol are clear right when you sip, but then really re-emerge but in a different way on the back end. 20-30 seconds after a sip I'm getting this lovely mix of barrel flavors that seem to morph over time. Full bodied in all the right ways, and absolutely a pleasure to drink.

Andrew, thank you for being so generous and sending this my way. This landed in my top 10 highest rated beers on BA. Absolutely loving it.

 

Good morning BAs! A cross post from WBAYDN. Finishing yesterday’s Friday imp. stout this Saturday morning - Cycle’s fairly recently released “Friday OG 2021 Breakthrough Infection”:



Bottled 2021 (label is from 2020). Poured at 53°. Cycle’s Simple Stout BBA 2 years then aged with 2 lbs per barrel of a mix of Mexican, Ugandan, and Madagascar vanilla beans. Pours black with ruby edges; fairly fast fizzy dark tan head that quickly dissipated leaving a small island of a cap, a thin ring, and a few spots of lace; thick legs on swirl. Semi sweet chocolate malt and bourbon nose. Taste follows nose; vanilla middle; oak; cocoa nibs finish. Silky smooth feel; not at all adjuncty; full minus body; moderate minus carbonation. Overall, another outstanding BBA imperial stout from Cycle; there’s some vanilla on backend, I would have liked more, and yet the flavor adds to the well balanced barrel and base notes.

4.25 | 4.25 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5
Score: 4.43 rDev 0 …First Review

 

Good morning, BAs! For the one or two of you who saw my Thursday WBAYDN post, this review might not come as a surprise. The fact I am splitting a single 12oz beer for a review might be for some (@jvgoor3786).

For an intro to my post about Utopias Barrel Aged World Wide Stout, I tried to find some information about a little "ABV War" that I thought occurred between the two involved breweries (which I know are sort of one legal brewery, now). I feel my Google skills are pretty solid, but sometimes you just know something else is going to be more popular in the results (in this case, many articles about this beer itself).

However, I started thinking I was mistaken about the competition (although I was aware of the BrewDog vs Schorschbrau, which showed up in my results). Anyhow, I finally found something, and decided this link to a BrewPublic article from 2010 was good enough, even though it's short and just as much about the European competition.

(Side note: one other find from an archive was fun for me to see web design circa 2002)

Anyhow, the idea that a presumedly friendly battle that in some way involved these two beers, which were then thrown into a collaboration upon the merger of the brewers just struck a nice chord with me. As such, it's a beer I've really wanted to try since it became a thing last year. Let's see if the beer is as much to my liking as the allegory.


First 4oz goes into a glass. Some large bubbles crowd in one "corner" of the round glass and I am thinking, "I don't think this is expected to be still, like Utopisa itself." After a dramatic pause, a small rush of tiny brown bubbles surfaces. They fill out the circle, and fade to a nice, but thin, creamy ring.

I bring the pours brews to the computer and hand one to the GF. She takes a look at what I am giving her and takes a sip. No overt reaction. I'll get back to her, I have some typing to do, "First 4oz goes into..."

Time for some literary license to break the loop.

Nose is nicely rich. There is a coconut brownie vibe to it (as gross as that may sound to some). There are also some dark fruits that join in, and I'm thinking the Utopias is bringing that effect.

I swirl the glass, and the tiny bubbles respond to my request. They bring a bit of burnt sugar and some alcohol vapors with them, leaving me wondering if I shouldn't have disturbed them.

So I decide that perhaps consuming a few of them will produce an appropriate attitude correction. The medium heft brew brings a little boozy heat, but not too bad for a 35 proof beverage. A mix of dark cherry and raspberry tartness is added to the date/fig dark fruit in the nose, all of which is spread over some toasted dark bread. The brownie and coconut have mostly evaporated, or at least been pushed back.

My tongue is still feeling the beer after the non-coating volume has exited towards my esophagus. I am left with a bit of a fortified wine impression, though carbonation really knocks that down a bit. The carbonation isn't scrubbing very hard, though, and my tongue has a thin coating left after each sip. The beer has warmed slightly, and I am getting a little more dark chocolate in the mix.

I am betting there are a number of people who will claim this "a little thin for my tastes," and to which I can't argue against anyone's tastes. However, I think this beer has a nice feel for such a big beer. I also think it will be a fun one to share a glass of in the upcoming winter months.

Enough about me... is something I have not ever said in a serious manner

But, to get back to the GF's impression, who says, "I like it, it's tasty." Which is what she very often says. So, I press the issue.

"I like it," she says with a chuckle. "I don't get the coconut in the nose, but I get the chocolate."

When pressed, "Yes, it is a little alcohol bitey in the end."

Well, that and a few more, "I like it"s and I think I've exhausted trying to get two reviews into this exhausting post (for you, not me ). Hope there's enough space on this page for the rest of y'all.

Of course, this is my first impression, and I expect to try this beer a few more times, likely to include a side-by-side (-by-side?) at some point.

 

I definitely think this is best appreciated on a fresh palate. It's a perfect morning sipper, at least for me.

 

No surprise here. You and I have split a pour of that base beer. Although, thinking back, not sure if you recall that...

 

I recall you ordering a few shots of it for us, but the GF said yours actually had Guinness in them.

 

Now that it gets down to the 40s at night, it's time to close up the pool.
It's also time for some fall beers. This one is Pump Action, an imperial pumpkin ale from 4 Noses Brewing Company. Not bad.
A clear dark amber color with a small white head.
Pumpkin pie spice aroma.
Taste of cinnamon, clove, ginger. A little sharp.
Malt-forward.
Canned on 9/30/31

 

Thanks @Victory_Sabre1973 for getting us started. @cjgiant I have one those monsters for today or tomorrow. This has always been my favorite party on here and for me with 3 kids 12 and under I love that it is 2 days now. Some weekends I don’t have time to just sit back and take my sweet time with a beer.

Poured into a 13 oz Teku glass canned on 10/08/21. Pours a very attractive orange yellow with a finger plus sticky white head that leaves thick streaks of lace with excellent retention. 4.25

Aroma honeydew, pineapple, coconut, mandarin, apricot, and some white grapefruit rind. 4.25

Taste follows honeydew, pineapple, mandarin, coconut, and a little hint of grapefruit. 4.25

Mouthfeel is above average, not dry or sticky, soft gentle carbonation, and well I don’t know ABV assuming 8%, but not marked on the can but it is loaded with flavor. 4.25

Overall this brewery always delivers a well made and tasty beer. This is unique in my opinion. 4.25

 

White Elm Campfire Karaoke Unplugged Edition BBA Imperial S'mores Pastry Stout, 13% ABV. Pours black with a 4+ finger medium brown head that persisted, ultimately leaving real nice lacing. Nose is huge coconut, plus marshmallow and chocolate. Taste follows, plus graham, moderately sweet, slightly bitter. Bourbon is hiding in the aftertaste. Excellent smooth, and slightly dry mouthfeel, with decent carbonation (vs. indecent?). Overall world-class, as with the plugged rendition. Still wondering who the hell puts coconut in s'mores. I have no idea what's unplugged, tasted just like the original.

4.54/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Another great sunny and warm (65 degrees) fall day. One more nice day, and then temps drop.

 

Hey what's going on!?

Getting into a nice Fall weekend here, but yeah those evenings are dipping into frost. So goodbye garden! and harvest for one last time.

Taking it easy now, got some errands done so now it's time to just chill.

I am gonna chill with my beer homies! So this sounds appropriate.

What's hew for our hero today?



Poured from the can into a Spiegelau IPA glass. Packaged Sept 1st 2021. Enjoy by Dec 30th 2021.

Getting myself a little late to the party, the beer pours real soft and silently, hitting the glass with a light but deep orange amber color, mostly clear, and with just a hint of suspended trub in the body. The head formation is classic IPA, good solid strong height of three fingers maybe more, and off white with dare I say not khaki but honey like yellow in color. Very fine, almost nitrous but kind of soupy looking. The retention makes up for it with good staying power, and a nice creamy top.

Honey angle on this really is noticeable on the aroma. Even from a distance I am getting like a candle beeswax like quality. More inspection provides a real nice fruity hop angle that's surprising. Juiced up dark berry fruit and mild touches of citrus and maybe even some lemon in there too. Candy and light sweet perfume hits real nicely creating a very distinct and unique nose. Really like this.

First sip and that mouthfeel is superb. I am guess this added honey has created a lot of depth and body to this, as the beer just doesn't drink it litteraly slides like your throat and stays away from syrupy qualities. Still the coating of honey and other hop glory sticks like a bonanza. Grape and blackberry like candy, with touches of light menthol. Honeydew… hee hee, could it bee? Oh stop… Finishes with just minimal bitterness and hop bite.

This does hint of fade, but it is so unique and in many ways I think it might even be better this way. Very unique IPA from two classic powerhouse brewers. Love to have this again.

look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25 | Final Score: 4.32/5

Cheers!

 

Thank you @Victory_Sabre1973 for your Savage kickoff to the proceedings. You picked a great beer to start the day!

Judiciously working through the cellar, beyond a couple hit or miss single beer purchases upcoming including a few for the Brown Ale tasting next week. Limiting cellar selections for this thread to beers available for purchase, either one offs or re-occuring seasonal or ongoing releases. The two I have planned for the weekend remain available at Half Acre's to go shop.

Keeping Together Make Art Not Content



Bottle Notes: Released 12/23/20, purchased at Half Acre for $16 plus tax and refrigerated both there and at home since purchase. 750 ML, unfiltered, unpasteurized, and bottle-conditioned. Made with Geta Bore, a single origin coffee from Ethiopia roasted by our friends at Metric Coffee in Chicago, IL. Saison with coffee, sage, peach leaves, and honey.

Appearance: Multiple pours into a tulip glass. Golden orange pour, white creamy head lingers, and leaves a rich creamy coating over the base throughout. Persistent carbonation throughout, base somewhat cloudy. 4.25

Aroma: Primarily dark roast coffee, strong and pleasant, backed by hits of lemon and peppers. 3.5

Taste: Strong somewhat bitter roast coffee grinds, backed by light vanilla, lemon. 3.75

Mouthfeel: Tart and slightly dry, balanced to bitter with the coffee bitterness dominating the proceedings. Thin to medium slightly creamy body, faint fizzy carbonation, very light and easy drinking, bitter coffee aftertaste lingers. 3.25

Overall: I like the taste of coffee, so this worked for me, but more one note and lacked the complexity I've come to appreciate from Keeping Together. Missed the complexity of peach not noted at all, and faint complementary flavors noted in the beer's description. Am enjoying it, and appreciate the unique take on a saison (first coffee version I've seen or tried). However, even as a coffee lover, wouldn't seek purchasing another bottle. 3.5

Hope you are enjoying the day wherever you are, and I'll see you on New Beer Sunday!

 

Pours a very attractive purple, with a solid finger rhubarb head that leaves behind a few thin lines of lace with for the style solid retention. 5

Aroma blueberry, blackberry, vanilla, and a little black cherry. 4.75

Taste follows blueberry, blackberry, vanilla, and black cherry really nicely balanced and a little tartness but not crazy. 4.75

Mouthfeel is pretty big, plenty of carbonation, for maybe little dry, but I get that out of most sours, and at 5.5% it is massive on flavor but easy going down. 5

Overall this belongs in the conversation of best sours I have ever had. Serious near perfect. 4.75

 

Hello NBW! I spent a large portion of my morning at a nine-year-old's birthday party, but now I'm home with another @MacMalt beer: Old Grounds, a WC IPA from Slack Tide Brewing in Cape May County, NJ.

16oz can served in a Kane tulip. Received from @MacMalt in NBS BIF #14. No date on the can, but based on MacMalt's review, I imagine the canning date was close to the beginning of October. BA currently lists it at 7%, but my can very clearly says 7.3%.

Pours a clear light brassy golden with a big head. Head settles slowly into a thick ring and a thin layer with some hearty lacing. Smell is citrus and pine and some honey or honeysuckle sweetness.

Taste is leaning more toward pine resin bitterness, not harsh but not gentle. Some of the sweetness is there, but like a WC IPA should, it's more about the bitterness.

Mouthfeel is pretty close to the middle of the medium range. Fairly effervescent. Overall, this will scratch that itch for sure.

Thank you, Rob!