New Beer Weekend #75

@FBarber No beer for me to review here right now. Just reaching out to say that I know that I speak for everyone on the board when I say that I hope you and your family remain OK throughout the next week. Hope all of you come through it ok (assuming it will spread like wild fire)

 

Sucks. Sorry. Lots of similar feelings going on in our household for a similar-but-not-analogous reason. I understand, and I’m sorry. Hope you guys made the best of it, and I hope you guys end up being able to have a memorable Christmas that may not so directly be tied to that memory. Take care of you and your family.

 

Crates by Trillium

4.47/5 rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5



Bomber poured into chalice

Brewers Notes: Collaboration with Private Press Brewing

Out of the bottle, Crates pours a viscous, pitch black, leaving slow-falling legs after the glass is swirled. The aroma is luxuriously rich, offering notes of nutty dark chocolate, toasted marshmallow, oaky vanilla, and molasses. As the glass warms a kiss of light smoke and bourbon-soaked caramel add layers of depth. Crates finishes round and full on the palate, displaying remarkable softness thanks to its extended time in oak.

Dark cola liquid , pencil thick layer of brown foam quickly fades to a ring

Bourbon aroma, tobacco

Bourbon taste , cocoa powder, caramel

Thick syrupy , velvety smooth , sweet

Good beer

 

Merry Christmas NBW
A Christmas present from my wife after her and my daughter ventured to Brevard, NC last month for a college visit.

Sierra Nevada Barrel Aged Torpedo
750mL corked bottle purchased at the SN Mills River taproom last month poured into a tulip pint glass at 55° Fahrenheit 8.6% ABV. The beer pours bright light amber in color with khaki head. The head recedes to a thin, uneven cap and plenty of lacing. The aroma is mild with vanilla, oak and faded citrus & pine. The taste is semisweet caramel with with a vanilla, oak and bourbon accent. There are traces of the trademark pine & citrus, but they are faded. Heavy bitterness throughout. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with average carbonation and a mostly dry finish. Overall, different and good. Maybe not something I'd buy repeatedly, but worth a try. The bottle is stamped 111219, so I suspect this would have been a far different experience two years ago.

I also got this...

Oh well, at least it wasn't coal. Cheers all!

 

Just finished writing up the review of the Wander Lemon Basil Plum Bob I had yesterday. spoiler alert, it was quite pleasant.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/34416/582791/

 

Antidoot Nacht van de Geit


Pours a slightly unfiltered amber to orange color with a big and stable white head.


On the nose there is an intense interplay between wet wood bark, skunky weed and rustic toffee going on, tied together by a spicy, botanical herbal addition.


Got a lighter body to it, highlighted by a lower carbonation level and a pleasant overall balance.


Tastes of an unforseen herbal dryness, which at the same time unfolds a plethora of subtle herb nuances, gently balanced by the prominent, wooden barrel. Turns even drier then, with a prominent barnyard funkiness to it and a layer of toffee among juniper, rosemary and a note of dried sage. Finishes with soft hay and a bitter herbal punch, feathered by its intriguing complexity and a drop of honey among dried orange peel.


This is quite unusual as for its prominent use of various herbs, which successfully manage to produce a versatile, intriguing flavor profile, defined by its dryness, spiciness and depth.

 

My first entry of this snowy day, Hop Diggity by Mother Earth.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/22610/73049/

 

Good Morning and Merry Christmas! Before I dive in, want to thank @JackHorzempa for his side by side and discussion of his homebrewed pine needle spruce beer and comparison to Bell's. I also want to wish a speedy recovery to Frank's eldest. Also best wishes to anyone unable to visit family they typically spend Christmas time together.

Jumping in with a side by side, though perhaps in two settings, of the two Trader Joe's Annual Unibroue brewed ales. I've only purchased beer from Trader Joes based on BA reports of good beer there, and I love most of what I've had by Unibroue over the years, so have been excited to try these two over the weekend. Pouring 8 oz now, and may review the other and conduct a true side by side.

Trader Joe's 2021 Vintage Spiced Ale



Bottle Notes: Purchased in early November at the Park Ridge Trader Joe's ($5.99 + $0.84 tax), best by 8/18/24, so assuming bottled 8/20/21. 9% ABV 25.4 oz, corked large bottle.

Appearance: Review based on the first approximately 8 oz poured into a chalice. Pitch black base, nice creamy generous tan bubbly head lingers for several minutes before receding to leave a generous creamy lawyer over the base, leaves thin lacing as I drink. 4.5

Aroma: Bold clove, banana, cinnamon and pears. Pleasant. 4.0

Taste: Consistent with the aroma, clove, pears, banana. Taste less bold in strength than the aroma would lead. 3.75

Mouthfeel: Creamy medium body, persistent light fizzy carbonation, drinks lighter than the 9% ABV, though only drinking 1/3 at this setting. 4.25

Overall: This is a solid spicy offering, flavors come together well. Taste less bold than expected based on the aroma, but nice, enjoyable and the flavors come together well. Glad I picked up and curious as to how this ages with the 2020 version planned for later this weekend. 4.0

 

Hanabi Bere Helles


Autumn 2021 release with 4.4% ABV in a 500 ml bottle.

A golden lager that is almost clear. Head when poured but minor lacing. Handsome looking beer.

Nose is a pleasant sweet grain and corn. Flavor follows nose but adds a light honey-like flavor. Minor-but-present hoppiness. Very easy drinker with a modest mouthfeel that ends with a welcome carbonation. Really nice lager.

Thanks to @beergoot for this beer.

 

Back again with another new brew, Mesmeric Gaze IPA by Foreland. Solid and enjoyable on this snowy morning. You might not see them in the pic below, but there's a couple bucks in the backyard, a 6 pointer and a notably larger 4 point. They're eating the bare grass under one of the Douglas Firs out there.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/60183/562702/

 

Goose Island Neon Beer Hug IPA, 7.0% ABV; 4.19 overall

Pours a bright & effervescent gold with 3 fingers of ivory colored head. Above average head retention & great lacing

S: Guava & passion fruit, fades as it warms

T: Follows the nose, some green melon as well, fairly dry as well up front. Some grassy notes, along with lime, & guava once warm. Finishes dry with guava, passion fruit & lime, some grassyness

MF: Medium body, delicate carbonation, good balance

Easy to drink, not next level, but I would buy a sixer of this if fresh

 

I've been waiting years to find this beer before it successfully made it into Vermont distribution this past summer.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/2216/39096/



375 ml. bottle.
Bottling date 07/01/2020. (July 1st)
6.3% abv.
Best before 10/26/2040.

Moderate to vigorous pour yields a 1/2 inch light pink head over a hazy cherry red body with no lacing as the head disappears in seconds.

Wonderful nose of cherry and raspberry with slight funk.

Taste mirrors nose with the funk a bit more prevalent.
Very tart in the best way at the finish.
Wow!

Good feel after the initial appearance.

Overall, a delicious lambic!
Seek this one out!!
Cheers!!!

 

Firestone 25 Anniversary Ale, 11.5% ABV; 4.45 overall

Pours an effervescent chestnut with one finger of tan head. Traces of head retention & better lacing

S: Dark fruit, vanilla, a touch of barrel

T: Toffee notes, figs, dark cherries, dark chocolate, a little leafy hop & barrel rawness/dryness up front. Some molasses notes mix in with figs, dark cherry, raisin & brown sugar as this warms, along with leafy hops & dryness, a little dark chocolate as well. Finishes with a little barrel twang, dryness, figs, dark cherries & brown sugar

MF: Chewy, low carbonation, warming

This is drinking great despite record breaking high temperatures here today, I am rarely less than blown away by these anniversary offerings & this is no exception. Great blend of flavors

 

I'm a big fan of the basic Xocoveza. This Tres Leches version came in a stout gift pack I recieved, but I would probably not purchase it on purpose as I'm not a fan of sweet stouts nor stouts with vanilla, but that's just me. Still curious as to how Stone did on this one though.

4.09/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12oz can dated 10/21/21 to Nonic.
A great looking tan head sits above a dark black body.
The aroma is ruled by cinnamon but some vanilla and nutmeg comes through.
Taste is quite sweet, as expected. The chile pepper hits you on your fist few sips but kind of dissapears during the session. Cinnamon, vanilla and nutmeg all make an appearance.
The mouth feel is coating, sticky and overall fools you into thinking this is a higher viscosity beer that looks predict.
Overall, very well done.
Still wouldn't buy it on my own due to my personal preferences.

 

Merry Christmas to all who celebrate! I'm always excited to try a new Christmas beer and this year it's Straffe Hendrik Xmas Blend II from Huisbrouwerij De Halve Maan in Belgium. I've seen beers from this brewery over the years but this is my first purchase.

It pours a cloudy, dark burgundy with a thin, ecru-colored head and lacing. It has a lovely nose featuring toffee, candied dark fruits, and deep red wine. The first taste I notice is a heavy, burnt oak, along with cigar, leather, and earthy notes. But as it warms the fruit really comes to the fore: plum fig, and sour apple, along with burnt toffee and Cabernet grape. It's well-layered and nuanced. The finish includes quite a dose of spicy bitterness. The mouth feel is moderately thick and creamy with pleasant carbonation, and the 11% ABV is noticeable and warming. This is a Quad to be sipped and savored. Overall, it's a delicious Christmas treat that will become a part of my annual celebration.

4.24/5 rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

I wish everyone a peaceful holiday. Cheers!

 

An old new beer next, courtesy @66jzmstr , is New Belgium. Oud Beersal Transatlatique Kriek. Indeterminate age (I had to add it to the site, and the code on the label was indecipherable). it still taste good, we enjoyed it.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/192/582809/