New Beer Weekend #86

I agree here too, even a well made hazy ipa I cannot finish a can anymore. The ones that friends or family members insist on sharing I tend to have a few sips and move on, or sometimes the mrs likes finishing them.

 

Have you tried Vermont Pilsner? I think it is one of, if not my favorite US made German pils. They showed up in NJ once or twice but haven't seen them since. I have to settle for stocking up when we visit our friends up there.

 

In the podcast with Dan Carey he described a beer that had great drinkability as a beer that when you had a few sips left in the glass you felt sad.

I describe a beer that has great drinkability as one where when you take the last sip you really want to drink a second (and perhaps a third).

Cheers!

 

You just described ….. a LOT of the beers I’ve tried, Jack.

 

Brewing Projekt Puff Tart XL Mandarin/Raspberry/Banana Fruited Sour, 8.9% ABV. Pours thick and murky rust-red with a one-finger light red head that left puree residue. Nose is mandarin, raspberry and banana mashup, plus marshmallow. Taste follows, quite sweet, slightly tart, rind bitterness on the close. Great thick and smooth mouthfeel, overall outstanding. One of their better fruited sours.

4.3/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

 

This weekend is St. Patrick's Day (Observed) for new-to-me beers. So, both of my new beers this weekend will be Irish-connected in some way.

Today, I will be doing a side-by-side tasting two Irish Red Ales. The first is actually brewed in Ireland, and is the export version of what is claimed to be Ireland's "most loved ale". The second is an Irish-style red ale brewed in Indiana: Three Floyds Brian Boru Irish-Style Red Ale.

Of course, despite the categorization of both in the same style, before I even start, I can tell this is not really a comparison of similar beers. The Smithwicks is a session ale at 4.5% ABV, appropriate for an evening at an Irish pub. The 3 Floyds isn't. At 6.5% ABV, the 12 oz bottle of 3F contains more than 50% more alcohol than does the 330ml bottle of Smithwicks. 3 Floyd's reputation also lends certain expectations of what is actually inside the bottle.

As an aside, I note that the despite the 3F Brian Boru being too heavy in ABV for the style guidelines, it is ranked #1 in the style on this site. It's not really a beer for pounding at an Irish pub on St. Paddy's Day, though, is it?

Nonetheless, its ranking has put this beer on my "try it some day" list for several years. So, today is the day.

On with the tasting.

Three Floyds Brian Boru Irish-Style Red Ale
ABV: 6.5%
IBU: 40

Smithwicks Red Ale
ABV: 4.5%
IBU: 20

3F has a orangish-red color (bright orange glow with a backlight), a bit murky with clouds and wisps of fine suspended matter within, with low carbonation. A tall head from a very aggressive pour. The head is thick, slightly off-white, with good retention. Very nice strings of sticky lacing as the head recedes. The lacing remains even after the beer is fully consumed.

SW is crystal clear dark golden red, (darker than the 3F), with very active carbonation below a tall off-white head from a controlled pour (a vigorous pour, like I did with the 3F, would have resulted in ⅔ of the glass all head. The excellent retention would mean that huge head will take a long time to recede so I could take a decent whiff, let alone a drink - voice of experience...). The head is whiter than 3F and is incredibly thick, although with large bubble voids, and has lengthy retention. Great sticky lacing all down the glass as I drink. As with the 3F, the lacing sticks firmly to the glass throughout.

The 3F aroma has a lot of citrus, some pine even. If I work at it long enough, I do pick up the malts behind (way behind.)

The SW aroma is sweet malts and bread, perhaps some fruit. A really gorgeous aroma except it could be stronger.

So far, very different beers of allegedly the same style, with the aroma signaling there is a major difference coming.

BTW, after my first couple of sips of each, as foreshadowed by the aroma, I concluded that these two are starkly different - see the taste commentary below.

I ditched the side-by-side approach since the 3F would overwhelm the SW on my palate. I cleansed my palate and finished the SW, and then went back to the 3F. I continued to take notes, of course, but concentrating on one beer at a time.

The SW's sweet aroma primes the taste sensors at the beginning to expect a bready sweetness. The flavor of SW is malty, sweet baked bread, and fruit of the figs and raisin variety. A touch - but just a touch - of bittering comes along in the middle and remains through to the back end. A bit earthy, a touch of spice toward the finish. The finish is a bit coating, but mild and only slightly sweet. The aftertaste leaves a pleasant coating of my tongue with the malts, bread, fruit and bittering lingering. Quite enjoyable and very Irish in overall profile.

The flavor of the 3F is also primed by the aroma, but it's the citrus and pine as I start to take a sip. The flavor itself follows with citrus, pine, some tropical fruit aspects, and just a touch of the bready malts. Not too bitter in the beginning, but the bitterness does start right away, and does intensify toward the finish to result in a bitter finish. The bitterness grows as I drink, so after half-way thorough the beer, it becomes quite bitter. The aftertaste has the citrus and bittering lingering in the mouth, and is clean and dry. It's not bitter in the WCIPA category, but this is definitely brewed for IPAmerica, and not Irish-America.

The mouth feel of the SW is on the thin side, but smooth.

The 3F has a moderate body with a nice bite from the hops.

Overall, the Smithwick's is much more Irish, much more appropriate for St Paddy's Day, much smoother and easier to session. While it is a "macro-brewed" ale, it still retains the essential character of aroma and flavor expected of the style. Enjoyable.

On the other hand, the 3F is a more enjoyable beer if you're looking for a slightly malty IPA. Quite hoppy and quite flavorful and satisfying. But, style-wise, it is a Red IPA, NOT a Red Irish Ale.

If I had a choice between these two in a pub, my choice would depend on my intention.

If I wanted to be Irish for the night for a long St. Paddy's Day session, or if I was looking for a sweetish baked bread malty beer, I'd go for the Smithwicks.

If I wanted to have a quick one or two to enjoy and then go home, wanting to scratch the hop itch, and having a distinctly American IPA on St. Paddy's Day is fine, then the 3F.

As with my side-by-side last week, I'm rating to style. The 3F suffers on this scale, and deservedly so. The 3F is a better beer, sure, but rating it to style?

Well, let's just say it is NOT a Red Irish Ale. Not, not, not.

The SW may not be a better beer, but it is a better Irish Red Ale. In fact, strictly to style, I probably STILL overrated the 3F beer!

3F: L: 3.75 | S: 3.25 | T: 3.25 | F: 3.75 | O: 3.25 | Rating: 3.33

SW: L: 4.5 | S: 3.5 | T: 3.5 | F: 3.25 | O: 3.5 | Rating: 3.54

----------- EPILOG------------

Warning: this is a rant.

This 3F "Irish-Style Red Ale" illustrates a complaint I have with how our esteemed membership rates certain styles of beers, especially the malty seasonals.

If some highly regarded brewer puts out an IPA, but calls it by the name for a more malty style, ZOOM, right into the top ten, if not the very top, of the ranking by style it goes.

The 3F beer is too strong and far too hoppy to actually be considered a Red Irish Ale. Perhaps this beer is in the lineup and named an "Irish-Style Red Ale", so 3F can have a St. Patrick's Day seasonal that caters to their usual fan base. And, as with the 3F fans, we here at BA do love our hops. Hence, we effectively punish all the real Irish Red Ales by pushing this beer to the top of the ratings in the style.

As an interloping IPA, this 3F beer is crowned at the top of the ratings for the style because it is hoppy, citrusy, piney, and bitter, (all things we love) and it is from a hero brewer. Ugh!

The brewer calls it an Irish Red Ale, so it should be rated to style. It is an IPA, though, effectively a ****oo egg in a warbler's nest, hatching and pushing the warbler eggs out.

BTW, for another example of a ****oo egg beer, see the former SurlyFest.

I realize that, in general, rating to style is hard. But, in this specific case, it was very easy.

 

Drekker Chonk Spumoni Sundae Sour, 7.2% ABV. Pours thick and murky blood-red, with a one-finger medium-red head. Nose is light vague fruit. Taste is chocolate, cherry, and nuts, moderately sweet, slightly tart. Excellent thick and smooth mouthfeel, with decent carbonation. Overall outstanding. One of the better Chonk variants.

4.4/5 rDev +5.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Trying to get caught on reviews of beers that have to be kept refrigerated, getting the evil eye when we run out of fridge space.

 

I can very much relate to you here.

My most recent batch of Tmavý Ležák (Czech Dark Lager) has just completed the bottle conditioning process (I tried my first bottle a couple of evenings ago) and I plan on drinking a bottle (or two or three) later this evening while watching Villanova beat Creighton (I hope) in the Big East tournament final. The past two games in the tournament Villanova won in very exciting, end of game, fashion.

My wife created a label for this beer and she calls the beer Dark Angel. A photo from a previous year's batch:



Cheers to Czech Dark Lager beers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

We have a couple of brewers in the region (Drekker and Covert Artisan) that have made cheesecake sours. They both just chuck cheesecakes in, and filter out the bigger pieces afterwards. This leaves particles of cheese and crust, so of course it has to be kept refrigerated. I've had several cheesecake sours from several brewers, and the funny thing is that every one of them either nails the cheesecake nose or the taste, but never both.

 

Love by Treehouse

4.25/5 rDev -2.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25




Bottle poured into a treehouse snifter

Brewers notes : Love is brewed with a host of ingredients - heaps of vanilla, cocoa, chocolate, a smidge of dark-roasted coffee - to emulate the flavor of the difficult-to-describe red velvet cake. The aroma is so sweet and enticing that it sticks to your nostrils. Pouring a pitch black color in the glass with a thick mocha colored head, Love tastes of vanilla, cream frosting, mild cocoa powder, and classic white birthday cake. This is a sweet treat and one that will reward the senses as complex layers of flavor are revealed as it warms. We hope it can contribute positively while you celebrate the season of love with someone you love.

Thick black motor oil , thin taupe layer quickly fades to a thin ring

Aroma is cocoa, chocolate and vanilla

Taste is cocoa, chocolate and vanilla

Smooth syrupy mouthfeel with a tingly finish

Good beer

 

Thanks @Roguer for kicking things off.
Poured into a 16 oz Nordic pint glass canned on 3/01/22. Pours a very hazy yellow with a solid finger plus sticky white that leaves a thin wall of lace, with exceptional retention. 4.75

Aroma is passionfruit, tangerine, papaya, and apricot. 4.25

Taste follows passionfruit, tangerine, papaya, and apricot. 4.5

Mouthfeel is above average, not sticky or dry, maybe a tad too little carbonation, and at 8.7% it goes down very easy. 4.25

Overall another excellent NEDIPA from one of the best at brewing this style. 4.25 Cheers all.

 

Enjoyed your review! In my experience of drinking way too many 3 Floyds beers, this is a hallmark of them. They hop up almost any style they make. Brian Boru is a great beer, but it most definitely is not an Irish Red.

 

A young fella at the local emporium suggested this beer since the beer I inquired about was out of stock and I grabbed it because it was available as a single for $3.

I will state that my taste bias is not aligned with most juicy hazy beers that are on the sweet or orange juice side. On with the tasting notes.

New Belgium - Voodoo Ranger Juice Force- Imperial IPA.


N- Tang or Tang dust (yea the space drink), big artificial smelling orange/tangerine and sugar notes. Then yeast I might say guava and/or banana notes.

T- Screwdriver, yup first thing that came to mind,; Alcohol and OJ, well, a fizzy version. My memory banks are being triggered by the aroma of Tang. Not Minute Maid or anything else. Sweetness abounds but is held in check by the alcohol, not that is predominately hot or big but it is there. Notes of apple? come through as it warms up.

I think they could market this as a cocktail. Finish is dry and not cloying with hints of pine and ethanol.

M- Fine and abundant carbonation helps with the overall sweet OJ vibe and a good amount of dryness from the alcohol and hops.

O- This is a pass for me, yet I can see how it would appeal to many. The orange/ tangerine/ guava notes are just too over the top and seem artificial yet not nearly as sharp or acrid for me as Tangerine Express.

Scored it as follows:
3.29/5 rDev -9.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

The banana bread shown cooling scored 4.5

 

Good afternoon NBW
I spent about eight hours in the van today retrieving my son from college for his spring break. I thought I'd sit and enjoy a new beer, but my excitement at the words peat, Scotch and barrel clouded my judgment. Sipping, but not really enjoying...

Moody Tongue Scotch Barrel Aged Peated Scotch Ale

12oz bottle labeled 2019 vintage and purchased recently when it hit shelves locally, 11.8% ABV per label. The beer pours medium brown in color with khaki colored head. The aroma is malty and fairly intensely earthy. The taste is semisweet toffee malt with trailing notes of salt, seaweed, and earthy bog peat. Mild to moderate bitterness. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with average carbonation and a semi dry finish. Overall, pretty rough. I get none of the Scotch barrel and a mouthful of salty, boggy earth.

I will re-evaluate this beer as it warms, but I don't see it getting better. The scores have trended down with each year in the database and mine is the lowest yet. Had I seen the 2019 label, I probably wouldn't have bought it, but who knows.

I just mail ordered 16 Belgian beers in an effort to stop buying at our local, crappy liquor stores. At least I'll have tripels for the upcoming tasting.

Cheers all!

 

Poured into a 16 oz Nordic glass canned 2/24/22. Pours a very attractive orange with a 2 finger sticky white head that leaves all kinds of webs of lace, with excellent retention. 4.5
Aroma is passionfruit, mandarin, peach, stone fruit, and apricot. 4.5
Taste follows passionfruit and peach start the party with mandarin and apricot balance out the finish. 4.5
Mouthfeel is above average, not sticky or dry, soft gentle carbonation, and at 8% it goes down very easy. 4.5
Overall this one they kept the fruit tame and that is a great thing. I would highly recommend this one. 4.5