New Beer Weekend #69

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/50495/572462/?ba=BBThunderbolt#review

Another from @Ozzylizard , Wallenpaupack Lake haze #19: The Hoist. A murkster with a bit of bite.

 

@FBarber sent me this beer as part of a NBS BIF #14 shenanigan: Velvet Rush from Founders. I assume this was also a subtle invitation to the brown ale tasting, where I'll be cross-posting shortly.

12oz bottle served in a footed pilsner glass. Dated 08.05.21.

Pours a kind of murky dark brown with a medium sized head that collapses to about a millimeter skin that creeps up the edges of the class. Carbonation is slow and fine, and appears to be abundant. Smell is intense! Cocoa is definitely the first thing that slaps my nose around, and approach it a bit more cautiously. Yep, it's also the second and third thing to hit me in the nose. If I smell it with coffee in mind, I can certainly get that, too. Same with vanilla. I don't know what milk sugar smells like.

Taste is again cocoa up front, but much softer, maybe balanced out by the vanilla, and interesting to see it teamed up with brown ale instead of stout. I think it goes more in the direction of a milk chocolate than a dark bitter chocolate (could also be the influence of the "milk sugar"). I almost get a maple syrup vibe. There's a little bit of nutty bitterness, but not much. It is kind of boozy, but not overwhelming. Coffee again is there if I think about it. Although that nutty bitterness seems to be building, which is coming across kind of coffee-like.

Mouthfeel is thick, chewy. Overall, this is a very tasty beer.

Thanks, Frank!

 

Yards Long Jawns Winter Lager - This is a nice play on words and for those not familiar "Jawn" is Philly vernacular for just about anything:

• "Yo, you see that jawn over there?"
• "My jawn is out of gas."
• "I just ate a hoagie from WaWa and that jawn hit the spot!"

Yards has been known for their Ales but they have started dabbling in Lagers and I am quite happy with the results and this one is no exception. Pours a nice dark black color, just a bit of red mixed in when held to the light. Head is decent but doesn't last long at all. Smell is the typical Lager and there seems to be some chocolate in there as well. Taste is wonderful and the usual crisp Lager taste with some chocolate and maybe a hint of coffee as well but perfectly balanced and not too sweet. The 6% is very well hidden. I will enjoy this quite a bit over the season. Prost!

https://yardsbrewing.com/collections/seasonal/products/long-jawns

 

Great minds yet again!! First our same hour SN side by side and now this. This is my new beer for tonight was well.

I refrained from reading your post to go in blind. Let’s see how we compare later tonight.

 

American Solera Sensibly Hopped IPA, 7.0% ABV; 4.01 overall

Pours a hazed gold with a thumb+ cream colored head. Insane lacing, slightly better than average head retention

S: Citrus & tropical fruit, not the strength of this offering by any means

T: Orange juice, passion fruit, pink grapefruit & green melon up front, plus dryness. Pink grapefruit & green melon, plus a little lime as this warms. Finishes a little dry, with pink grapefruit, a little lime & passion fruit

MF: Medium body, creamy carbonation, nice balance

Solid take on the style, great drinkability, this 4 pack will be gone soon

This may have scored higher if I didn't still have the bitter taste of Sooners defeat in my body/soul, I digress

 

Ha ha this is fantastic! I can't wait to hear your take.

 

Cheers everyone. Knee deep in the Altbier, Brown Ale (American, Belgian Dark and English) and English Dark Mild Ale tasting, hope you can join us for a pint or two this weekend.

First new to me beer today among these styles.

Revolution Brewing Working Woman



Can Notes: $2.50 plus tax as part of a mixed four pack (with Working Man) purchased at Revolution Brewery. 16 oz, 5.9% ABV, American Brown Ale.

Appearance: Two pours into a shaker pint glass. Crystal clear copper tan base, creamy reach off-white/tan head lingers for a bit before laying a full creamy cover over the base, nominal lacing throughout. Light carbonation. 4.25

Aroma: Piney hops and roast malt, caramel, pumpernickel, and black licorice. Bold and pleasant. 4.25

Taste: Consistent with the aroma, with the malt asserting it's authority, rich caramel that I am really digging, backed by a nice hoppy pine and floral notes. Strong, balanced, well crafted. 4.5

Mouthfeel: Really loving the balance here, sweet taste profile balanced between wonderful sweet flavors and an assertive hops presence I have not experienced before with an American Brown Ale. Somewhat dry, medium slightly creamy body. Faint carbonation, lightly sweet (caramel) and dry finish. Easy drinking ABV wise. 4.5

Overall: This isn't the typical American Brown Ale I am used to, particularly with the hops taste and presence, but sign me up. Rich bold caramel, malt and pine hops, all balance and blend well, truly a rich and decedent pleasure and completely unexpected when I cracked this open. Highly Recommend. 4.5

Have two planned Altbiers from Germany tomorrow that I am looking forward to.

 

Hello New Beer Weekend!!!

Well, it's snowing outside. Oh, well, at least I'm ready for it, and this medicine really has helped.


Parabola 2021 - 14% ABV


Holy cow. This is really hitting the spot tonight. So rich, boozy, filled with such strong and pleasing flavors. I'm very happy I bought it at work, and it's a pleasure to try.

Review:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/2210/549630/

4.47/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

Pitch black pouring with a 1 finger tan head. The head retention is pretty damn good for such a strong beer, however, there's no lacing on the glass.
The nose is full of caramel, and this is backed up by coffee, vanilla, toffee, chocolate, and raisin.
The flavor starts off with caramel, then the rest of the cast kicks in - coffee, toffee, chocolate, vanilla, raisin, plum.
The body is very thick. It is smooth, and there's very little alcohol burn.
This is an amazing beer.


All right, this might be it for the weekend, though, I'm walking in the snow over to my local in just a bit here. Maybe one there? Who knows. Have I had their alt-bier?

See you all later.

 

Steel Reserve Tiki Series Island Punch





Look:
Pours a pale orange in color, topped with an off-white head which dissipates quickly, leaving very little lace. Abundance of carbonation, and it looks like “Tang” — if that’s even still around?

Smell:
Fruit forward, absolutely, with no hop aroma. Pineapple, indistinct berry, a bit of coconut, mango, and passion fruit. I have little doubt that the flavors are enhanced with “natural fruit flavors”,
just as I have no doubt that there’s an artificial color at play*.

Taste:
The taste is very good for a malt liquor, and especially considering how the parent brand rates here at BA. The dominant flavor is pineapple, but all of those flavors which are apparent across the palate are the he same as those you will get a hint of after you crack open the can and pour into your drinking vessel of choice!

As far as commercial goes examples of other beer that smell and taste this way? I can’t think of any offhand. In fact the nearest approximation is a cult favorite soda pop — Tiki Punch, from Shasta. Trust me (I -did- once work at Jamba Juice, so I know my fruit bases), it’s much closer to Tiki Punch than it is to like-themed soda pops, Hawaiian Punch and Tahitian Treat!

Feel:
Very easy drinking altogether, and the 10% ABV is practically imperceptible.

In fact, we this one is very, very good and dangerously drinkable up until the point where the confluence of acidity (remember that carbonation I mentioned?) and sweetness kicks-in, and it’s about midway through the 16ounce can.

To that end, I consider this a “cocktail”, and would highly recommended pouring it over the rocks in a nice sized lowball, or better still — Tiki mug.

Overall:
A decent, flavored Malt Liquor. Not to everyone’s liking, certainly, but considering the reputation that malt liquor has in these parts, it could’ve been much worse.

Additional thoughts:
I thought a couple of times before entering this one into the database. Mainly, I’m totally lazy (and preoccupied with my homebrewed, potable libations), and figured: “Someone else will do it.” But also, why even bother? Malt Liquor is as well-loved on this site (and its popular App parent, not to mention RateBeer, and other places where “serious” beer knerdz hang out) as a six month old IPA!

But then I thought about all of the good and bad beers that I’ve drank (and entered into the database) in the past, and decided to go for it.

The fact is, this brand (and its line extension) fills a very interesting niche, at the confluence of two areas of pop culture and gastronomic pique which — while perhaps not wholly, uniquely American — were strongly impacted by U.S. consumer trends over the past 100 years: Malt Liquor and Tiki Culture.

As a fan of both malt liquor AND Polynesian (“Tiki”, yes, I am well aware of the fact that cultural appropriation was in full effect) I am tickled pink to have this product turn up!

I will doubtless purchase many cases to stockpile in my bomb shelter, alongside my Martin Denny records and Lawrence Welk reels.

Format / package:
16oz cans, 4-pack.

*The can reads: “certified color.”

Review is here, too: second try is the charm!

 

Sorry, my phone camera isn't the best. It's the Autumn Edition.

 

I had plans to offer up a triumvirate of beers that included a kelp ale (that is not a typo), but winter struck today in Northern Indiana with a dusting of snow and a general chilly dampness that portends the weather here in the months to come, so I pivoted.

That’s right, I said “pivoted.” I am an adaptable old beer nerd.

So both beers this evening are courtesy of @BBThunderbolt , as is the glassware. He is a rockstar beer nerd of the highest magnitude.





4.1/5 rDev +12.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a hazy golden orange color, but not turbid by any means, and there’s a sudsy white head that provides some lacing. As the can suggests, the nose has substantial berry notes and there’s also some citrus.

The strawberry stands out on the taste, and I love strawberries, so this works really well for me, especially with the way the strawberry allows the orange flavor to shine a bit as well. Delicious stuff.

The mouthfeel is medium, and to style. This would be a great “sit at the bar and have a couple of pints” beer, IMHO.

 

I've been 'pimping' their beers for awhile. They've really put us on the map IMHO, so glad to see that reflected in your ratings. Glad I was able to share that one with you.

Cheers.

 

New-to-me beer from a new-to-me brewery.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/49601/412511/





12 ounce can.
Canned 20210828.
5.8% abv.

Moderate to vigorous pour yields a 5/8 inch tan head over a black body with scant lacing.

Nose of roasted malt, chocolate malt, and a bit of caramel.

Taste mirrors nose nicely with a finish of slightly bitter chocolate.

Good feel; and such an easy drinking beer.

Overall, I could have this in the morning with no problem.
Go out and find it!
Cheers!!

 

Here is a monster of a beer from @MacMalt in NBS BIF #14: Rushing Duck Single Barrel Barleywine. I poured myself a big ol' glass (pictured) before I learned it's effing 17.6%. Couldn't find the abv on the bottle anywhere. Or a date, for that matter. Luckily, it's only beer #2, and it's not that late in the day. And I think Mrs. snaotheus may steal some of it from me when she returns from an errand (if 'retrieving our children' counts as an errand).

500ml capped/waxed bottle served in a tall stem tulip.

Pours a murky, muddy brown, with a small flash of carbonation and then almost no retention, a half-dime sized island floating around and zero lacing. Although there is a little active carbonation bubbling up from time to time. Smell is super boozy (like I yelled "WHOAH"), behind that is a ton of figs/dates/toffee (very much reminds me of sticky toffee pudding). Something like dark roasted walnuts -- nutty and bitter and almost burnt -- that comes to mind. I think I get some anise, but I'm not so sure.

Taste is also intense alcohol up front, and then leans hard into the toffee and dates and dark roasted walnuts. I'm more confident that I get some black licorice here.

Mouthfeel is thick, almost chewy, and fairly still. This is a very interesting and also very good beer.

Thank you, Rob!

 

And now for the trifecta…an even rarer (for me) double cross-post from the tasting event and WBAYDN…and “while I snuffle up my sleeve”, Rocky:

Hey hey BAs! I’ve been slacking off on almost all of the tastings (Mrs. Z frowns on such event participation) but if I may tonight offer up - Listermann Brewing Company/Triple Digit Brewing,Cincinnati OH, “Triple Digit Series: Chickow”, a double brown ale with hazelnuts:



Poured at 57°. A recent IPtrade with a friend back from his visit with family in Ohio and Indiana. One finger of mostly creamy beige head with rocky bubbles; good cap retention that ultimately renders small islands of micro dots, a heavy ring and medium heavy lacing; dark brown liquid with ruby highlights; thin legs at best. Nose is chocolate, hazelnut, and light roast. Taste follows nose with a semi sweet malt base, and with distinct hazelnut. Medium light body; moderate minus carbonation; no warmth from 10% abv. Overall, there is something artificial/metallic in the finish/linger, which drops my score; otherwise, the ale looks great, has hazelnut galore as advertised, and is a very tasty nutty brown ale…but that linger…

And I’m informed by my pal that the “Chickow” is from the sound effects in the movie “Ferris Bueller’s (sp?) Day Off”… can you hear it?


4.5 | 4.25 | 4.25 | 4.25 | 4.0
Score: 4.22 rDev +1.9%

My best friend from law school is driving down from Gainesville following today’s embarrassing Gator win, so I expect more beer will be consumed upon his arrival…Cheers gang!

 

Cold air came back today so this is a fitting beer. I’m pretty excited to try this new seasonal from yards.

Yards - Long Jawns winter lager


I poured this and immediately noticed how dark it was. It looks as such in the glass too, very dark, some light does penetrate if held up to it. That being said it’s much less than your average black/dark lager. Nice initial head settles to thin see through layer of light brown.

Really rich malt smell comes off of this beer, followed by roast and burnt aromas. There is also a hint of raisin/dark fruit as well.

Taste has some rich molasses flavor going on at first. Followed by smooth black coffee and some dark chocolate and roast on the back end. The molasses flavor comes back to say goodbye in the aftertaste.

Mouthfeel is medium but nice and full. It avoids being sweet, just very heavy malt profile that goes down very smooth, clean, and easy. It somehow has a warming feel to it, though not from alcohol burn or anything. That may sound weird but I don’t know how else to put it.

This is a really well done beer. Sort of reminds me of a doppelbock but it’s also different. I’d say if the idea is a nice rich dark lager to sip on in the cold it doesn’t get much better. Now let’s just hope we have a snowy year so I can sip this while snow shoveling. If not some cold nights by the fire pit will do. Great beer.