New Beer Weekend #74

Good evening all!
We had “Christmas” with our local kids today, they are all grown and busy so we take it when we get it.
This one was courtesy of @Roguer and an LIF related to NBW BIF #14.
Poured a lovely golden amber, slightly translucent and capped with 2 fingers of bone white head.
Aroma was, for a TIPA, remarkably mild and sweet. Honey! I actually smelled honey in this. There were some faint citrus and grassy parts but not at all what I expected. Wonderful smell.
The taste is even better, holy cow I wish this was a crowler as 12oz went by way too quickly. Honey leads and just subtlety wraps up the hops and any malts with smooth gentleness. I think I could drink a gallon of this but for the ABV.
The feel was excellent for the style, so smooth, I could detect no bitterness at all.
So good, so dangerously easy to drink and the glass is empty far to soon.
Thanks for sending this to me @Roguer - it was amazing.
Cheers all!

 

I was wondering how in the world you mistook that other beer for the scotch ale, seeing this can explains it.
Thanks for sharing!

 

Yea, you say that like we can walk to the corner store and pick some up. Sigh.

Glad to hear your partner is doing better, and you too of course. Very good indeed.

 

The pre-2017 recipe was a 5.5% ABV beer that they marketed as a Scottish Ale... compared to the current 7.5% beer that they market as a Scotch Ale.

 

KC Bier Co. Mandarina IPL, 5.6% ABV; 4.01 overall

Pours an effervescent gold with 3 fingers of cream colored head. Hazes a bit, Great head retention & lacing

S: Bready, grassy, citrus notes, floral notes & cattyness once warm

T: Follows the nose, some dryness & lime up front. Grassyness & tangerines as this warms, along with grassyness & a little breadyness. Finishes grassy with some bitter citrus notes & dryness

MF: medium body, delicate carbonation ( naturally carbonated ), skews hoppy as it should

Pretty drinkable, not a huge fan of this style unless I am in love with the hops being featured. I'd happily revisit this

 

Mocha Rhino Suit by Alesong

4.24/5 rDev -3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25



Bottle received from @snaotheus in Bif14, new brewery, new beer for me

Brewers Notes: A blend of imperial stouts aged over 10 months in Heaven Hill bourbon barrels and finished on hand-selected and freshly roasted coffee and cacao beans from the local artisans at Slightly Coffee Roasters and Chocolate Alchemy. Velvety layers of vanilla and coconut marry with dark cocoa and roasty coffee flavors for a decadent treat any time of day.

500ml Chilled bottle poured into a Spiegelau stout glass, dark brown cola liquid, pencil thick brown foam layer quickly dissolves into a thin island with a ring

Aroma is bourbon, coffee, roast malts, cocoa, leather, tobacco

Taste is cocoa, coffee, roasted malts, dark fruits

Fizzy mouthfeel, lighter body,

Good beer, thanks @snaotheus !

 

Angry Scotsman Brewing The 9th Knuckle Rye Whiskey Barrel Aged Barleywine, 11.6% ABV; 4.3 overall

Pours an effervescent brown/chestnut with fast falling tan head. Head retention & lacing in a Nil/Nil draw

S: Rich barrel notes, dark fruit in spades ( figs & raisins ). Barrel gets stronger, dark cherry figs shine through

T: Barrel dryness, Rye spice, a little vanilla, some woody & leafy hops up front ( 112 IBU! ) , choke cherry & figs as well. Leafy hops, woody hops, some rye & oakyness as this warmed up, a touch of cherry pipe tobacco too, molasses as well. Finishes with huge Rye Barrel presence, dark cherry, figs & just a hint of vanilla

MF: Fairly chewy body with low low carbonation, warming to say the least

Not a cheap Brew, $ 9+ for 12 ounces , glad I got to try it. A sipper for sure, I'd happily pay this much for this as Opposed to $ 14 for a BCBS, more barrel here, well done Angry Scotsman!

 

Easily. I am definitely more focused on stouts (long story, but I’m fine with it!) but this would definitely knock whatever is in my top 5, at least a few of them, down a notch and take its place up high. I *really* enjoyed that beer!
My only complaint is that I cannot get it locally.
Cheers, and thanks again!

 

Bell's Christmas Ale
ABV: 7.5%
IBU: NA

Clear ruby red with active carbonation below a ½ inch off white head. The head retention is short with little lacing until I tip the glass.

Fairly weak aroma but a pleasant one. Fruity and malty, almost a fruit jam sweetness.

The taste is as foreshadowed by the aroma: fruit and sweet malts. Some spiciness in the middle, along with a mild bittering. The finish also develops a bit of an earthy flavor. While I would not describe this beer's flavor as complex by any means, it does have enough going on to keep it interesting.

The body is medium, if a bit thin for the style (for the style, not objectively thin). The mouth feel is easy and mild.

Overall, a pleasant drinking holiday beer. Probably too quaffable for its ABV and not the best Scotch Ale, but a good beer for this time of year.

L: 3.75 | S: 3.75 | T: 3.75 | F: 3.5 | O: 3.75 | Rating: 3.73

 

Early start for me today on this glorious New Beer Sunday #878. May come back later if I hit a brewery or two this afternoon, but have one I just opened for the Weekend tasting.

Anchor Our Special Ale 2021



Bottle Information: Purchased six pack ($10.99 + $1.34 tax) a few weeks ago, 12 oz bottled 10/12/217.0% ABV.

Merry Christmas Happy New Year 2021 Western Joshua Tree Yucca brevifolia
Ale with natural flavors. Union made in San Francisco.

This is the forty-seventh Our Special Ale from the brewers at Anchor. This Ale, made with natural flavors, features a new recipe & tree every year, but the intent with which we offer it is the same: joy & celebration of the newness of life. Trees symbolize the winter solstice when the earth, with its seasons, appears born anew. The natural beauty of the California high desert is epitomized by the western Joshua tree. Threatened primarily by climate change, it is a candidate for protection under the California Endangered Species Act.

Appearance: Full pour into a large chalice. Dark brown near black base, creamy short tan head leaves creamy layer over the entire base. 4.25

Aroma: Roast malt, bakers chocolate, pine and a pleasant mint represent this jubilee, somewhat sweet, strong and pleasant. 4.0

Taste: Taste fuller than the strong aroma, but more focused, with a strong roast malt dominating the proceedings, a light pine mint playing a cameo but lighter than reflected in the aroma. Frango Mints heavy on the chocolate are what comes to mind. Very enjoyable. 4.5

Mouthfeel: Sweet malt leads but a piney hop presence and roast malt helps hold this together well. Lightly dry, drinks below the 7% ABV, very light and easy. Medium somewhat creamy body, easy clean finish. 4.25

Overall: This is only the second version (2019 the other) I've enjoyed, and I'm really glad I picked these up. Nice blend, flavors and aromas well incorporated, well done Anchor - I may seek more before they are all gone. 4.5

If I don't return later today, I hope the powers that be at Beer Advocate consider an extended New Beer Weekend the following two weeks to take advantage of the Christmas and New Years extended weekends for many of us. Til then, I hope you are able to celebrate a nice new beer or two later today.

Cheers!

 

Hello New Beer Weekend!!!

Well, I can't sleep yet again, so I might as well enjoy a new beer.


Peeper - Maine Brewing Company - American Pale Ale - 5.5% ABV

This is really good, though, I haven't had a bad beer from Maine Brewing yet. Quite a good way to start the day.

Review:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/20681/51512/

4.04/5 rDev -1.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

This beer pours a lighter golden color, lemon looking. It is semi murky. The head looks quite fluffy, and ends up being 2 finger and white. Retention is good, and there's some nice lacing on the glass.
The aroma is from the hops. I get some citrus - lemon notes - and a slight earthy aroma.
Taste is citrus, but light and pleasing. It doesn't punch you in the face. I get some lemon and orange notes in the flavor.
The body is lighter, but not too light. It is somewhat crisp and refreshing.
This is another good beer from Maine Brewing. Recommended.


I'm sure I'll be back later. Cheers.

 

Good day BAs! Off to another NBS. Today's entry is Mystery Beer #2 from NBS BIF #14, courtesy of @Roy_Hobbs.



Marked on the foil is "6.4%" so I'm assuming it's something I want to taste and I'll let it warm up a bit.




from . Received from @Roy_Hobbs in BIF #14. 16 oz can. Stored at home at 38 degrees. Reviewed 19/12/21. Note that I use DD/MM/YY protocol.

(DATE). Served at 46.5 degrees in a hand washed and dried Jester King snifter. Final temperature degrees.
Appearance – 4.
First pour – Deep Amber (SRM 15), clear.
Body – Brown (SRM 20), opaque. When rear-lite, red and translucent.
Head – Large (Maximum 4.5 cm, aggressive center pour), almond, average retention, diminishing to a five to thirteen mm crown fed by effervescence and a rocky, thick cap.
Lacing – As the head recedes, lacing of extremely tiny bubbles coats the glass. Evolves into torn curtains.
Aroma – 4.5 – Coffee, no malt, no hops, no yeast.

Flavor – 4.5 – Taste follows the nose with some caramel as well, but becomes slightly bitter as it warms, no malt, no hops, no yeast. No ethanol (6.4 % ABV, as marked on foil) taste or aroma. Mild gastric warming. No dimethylsulfide or diacetyl.

Palate – 4.25 – Thin, watery, soft carbonation.
Final impression and summation: I'll go out on a limb here and guess a coffee-laden lighter style brew, like a lager or something of that ilk.



Fox Farm's Scatter, a coffee-forward brown ale! Pretty good. I never thought of a brown ale since I rarely drink them (37 out of 2797) unless someone sends me one. Coffee definitely improves them!

 

Regarding your last line, I don’t think there’s coffee in that beer (but I can’t tell if you are under that impression). It’s likely the chocolate malt providing that flavor.

 

Good morning NBW
A partial cross post from the tasting thread

3 Floyds Aggromaster

12oz bottled 11/09/21 poured into a tulip pint glass at just above fridge temp 7.5% ABV. The beer pours opaque dark brown with minimal light penetration and tan colored head. The head recedes to a thin ring and uneven cap. The aroma is moderate in strength featuring cold brew sweetened coffee. The taste is more coffee, burnt sugar caramel, toasted malt and earthy hop notes. Moderate bitterness. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with average carbonation and a mostly dry finish. Overall, very good.

Cheers all!