New Beer Weekend #86

Thanks @Roguer for the thread. A winner here for sure! 21st Amendment Bla Bla Bla Double IPA.
8%ABV 65+IBU Cheers Advocates!
4.25/5 rDev +7.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
by LesDewitt4beer from Minnesota
12oz can into a pint glass.
L: Pours medium hazed apricot gold w/a slightly rocky 1" eggshell white head, good carbonation, good head retention, decent banding, sheeting & lacing.
S: Caramelized malts, citrus, honey, pineapple pith, light yeast, bread dough, melon.
T: Topped w/hops, rich fruity lightly tangy citrus, melon & melon rind, ripe orange, light grapefruit, pine in the finish. Moderately sweet overall.
F: Firm, crisp, juicy & wet full-flavored medium bodied mouth feel w/a medium length finish and a light linger.
O: A very durable & tasty classic American West Coast Double IPA displaying fresh fruit juices with well balanced sweetness & bitterness. It is excellent in it's style.

 

Thank you @Roguer for getting this train rolling this week!
With all the discussion of cheesecake as an ingredient, I was reminded of one I got out of curiosity - Fudge Cake Imperial Stout from Perrin Brewing. With actual fudge cakes thrown into the mash.

As it's currently about 14 degrees here, a winter sipper sounded good. But like all things I eat that are sweet and desert like, I didn't sip. Alas, it wasn't so much an excellent stout as much as it was a tasty beverage with 8.5 ABV.
Poured black, really black. Dark black. Had a beige colored head grow and dissipate while I poured and sniffed.
The aroma gave me hope - I could smell the chocolate (Not cocoa) but it was riding on a malt base that was dry and coffee forward.
The taste though was pretty much straight cake. Not as sweet as fudge cake is, but there was no escaping the flavor, forward, middle or swallow. I went through the 12 oz drink quickly as I kept expecting the beer to show up.
As a whole, I enjoyed it, and might even try it again. But not when I'm hankering for a stout, because it doesn't seem to be in there.

 

Have a great nbw. Been having an amazing life as usual. Went for Indian last night but my parking brake slipped when I got home and I rolled into the ditch. So aaa pulled us out this afternoon. Been trying to keep 3 workout days per week going. We did this week. Going to Boston and Martha's vineyard at the end of the month.

We are loving the movie A Fish Called Wanda. The scene with the champagne had me dying. Lmao at the recurring dog murders too.

Speciation Erasmus. Never reviewed it. This was amazing. Aromas and flavors of big sour lemon, lime, peaches, fuzz/skin, white wine, tea, oak, hay, straw, grass, leather, lacto, musty funk, wheat, grain, yeast earthiness. Big peach flesh aromas. Good sized sour/tart/tangy fruit/lactic finish. Med high carb and light body. Crisp clean refreshing finish. Acidic, tangy, tannic, light grainy feel. Mild puckering lactic bone dry finish. Very drinkable, pretty refreshing. This is one of the best ones in the Solera series. Glad I let it sit for 3 years. Brett developed great. 4.47 Julia loved it too.


Cheers

 

I was actually pleasantly surprised by it. I had it in the past at their brewpub and it was basically an IPL (like most of their lagers) and in line with what you are anticipating. But this Speed Castle in cans is a lot less hoppy surprisingly.

 

Floyd's likes hops, pretty much regardless of style, and so does Surly, as @MNAle accurately states referencing SurlyFest, which is definitely an over-hopped rye lager (Surly's description) or Marzen (BA's style listing).

Having said that, if I was looking to purchase Brian Boru, and I checked the beer listing here (which I do for EVERY SINGLE BEER I PURCHASE) and saw 40 IBU's listed in the description (which it is) and I knew I didn't appreciate over-hopping of my Irish red ales (BA description: Irish red ale is known for its unique malty taste and is on the lower side of the bitterness and alcohol content scales. If you love American craft beer, the Irish red ale beer remains a great style for beer lovers to seek out and appreciate), I'd probably skip it.

But I love all things hops, so I'd buy it - which I did last year, and I still have a bottle left. I think I'll have to break out that bad boy and see if the hops faded.

I'll report back!

 

........made a stop to buy some singles.......I was never a fan of this stuff.......


3.33/5 rDev -18%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
by ZebulonXZogg from Illinois

Hazy? Hell ya', pale yellow, nice thick frothy white head, that lingers and forms foamy islands, lotsa lacing. It's aromatic alright, smells like my morning fruit smoothie, orange, pineapple and mango. Doesn't taste nearly as good as my breakfast smoothie, but the again, itsa beer. Thin, nicely carbonated. Good thing I bought one. Worst beer I've had from Half Acre.

EDIT: I think I'll go wash my mouth out with a Centennial!

 

Samuel Adams Wicked Double Hazy - Another day in PA, another season; yesterday it was 60F and today there was a bad storm that went from rain to ice to snow. Bitter cold now and tomorrow but don't worry, it will be in the 60s again next week And we turn the damn clocks ahead this weekend too and I'm just not a fan...we should just stick to standard time.

I've never had this beer and decided to give it a try. I like hazies but I usually find that the doubles are just a tad bit too much (same with regular DIPAs). But I've had some winners too, though, so what the hell. Pours a dark yellow/light orange and it's hazy, but not as much as I had expected. Big fluffy head. Smell is the usual, juicy and tropical fruity. Taste is pretty good and what you would expect. It has a nice body to it but not too over the top, hard to believe that it's 8.3%. I would gladly drink this again and there's a Wicked Hazy mixed pack out right now that also contains this beer, may be a good pack for me to toss into the fridge for when I am in the mood. Budmo!

 

Good evening everyone, sorry for the delay...
my weekend actually started on Thursday... Flight at 6:45 to Brussels Zaventem, car with a stop in Utrecht (wonderful weather, pure spring, warmer than Rome), where I got nice loacl stuff and also a boulder of American stout... at 17 we were in Arnhem, we took the away game in the Conference league and went to Amsterdam.





Half day where I drank purely craft beer from Brouwerij 't IJ and Oedipus, plus some American bombs at the legendary Beer Temple ... I returned home at 11.40pm on Friday.
I send something:





This was given to me in utrecht at the De Morgenster pub when I asked for something local, that wasn't too demanding .. I was told that I couldn't find anything more local than that, it was just from the area.
Tasty and juicy (peach, pineapple, mango, ripe citrus) New England Ipa, perfect for the day of extreme spring ... an extra bit of bitterness would not have tasted, but it is qurlla that "I convinced" to drink at all company, seeing the consumption of Heineken or Jupiler as a personal affront, as well as a waste of resources and time.

There I also bought this bomb, thick, mellow but incredibly delicious ... the thing that drives me crazy is how they managed to disguise the alcohol with all that concoction of flavors ranging from coffee to chocolate, from cream to gianduia to vanilla. The warm note is there, but it is more of a bourbon note than a real ethyl note.

 

I think a big component of high user beer ratings pastry / haze / kettle sours (beyond the straight 5s posted by beer “traders”/ scalpers hyping their products) are due to the fact that many of these beers are consumed as part of a festival setting (2-5 oz pours) and/or bottle shares. Drinkability beyond a few ounces is not considered. I suspect a good portion of fans of these styles may not drink full servings of beers they have rated 4.5-5.0, since they are not 4.5-5.0 when you consider drinking a full, responsible serving size.

I’ve personally rated 2-5 oz festival beer pours, and also a few 4-6 oz bar or brewery flights in the past. After further reflection since my latest beer festival (Leap Year Day 2020), I’ve settled at 5-8 oz minimum pours for double digit abv beers, or a full standard serving size (8-16 oz) for abv beers under 10%, to qualify for a beer rating.

I’ve also been clearing the cellar, and many of the beer types purchased in my exploratory craft beer stage (2015-2019) are no longer considerations for purchase at this stage of my craft beer journey. For example, I would pass over purchasing the beer I tried today (BA quad with brown sugar added) for just a quad (first preference), or perhaps a BA quad with nothing added.

I have also found myself returning to “old” favorites vs. always seeking to try every beer I haven’t had before on brewery or bar visits. I also enjoy picking up my favorites at the beer store, and limiting new beer purchases to beer that “tastes like beer”.

I think many have gone through similar phases, we are all just at different stages on our craft journeys.

PS - I both enjoyed and agreed with your side by side of the two “Irish Style Reds”, and your rant @MNAle .

 

Sorry about not adding a picture, Postimage is nor working today.
Just imagine a 10-oz Weisen glass with a very dark, almost black liquid inside topped by a thin beige head with dark ruby highlights.

This is an excellent Black IPA enjoyed fresh at the brewery. Making its BA debut, Black Tip by Naples Beach Brewery of scenic Naples Florida. Cheers.

4.24/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
by Amendm from Rhode Island

10-oz. pour at the brewery. Deep dark brown color, almost black with dark ruby highlights topped with a creamy beige head. Sheets of lacing remain. Clarity is noticed in front of light.

Bold smell of roasted malt with both piney and citrus hops.

Semi-dry with high bitterness, 64 IBUs. Roasted character and hops lead the way ahead of grainy bread and some toast.
As bitter as it is the hops are not overpowering, leaving the roasted malt in charge. The finish is a bit dryer with a slight rise in bitterness. Pine and roasted malt linger, alcohol is hidden behind these.

Medium bodied with lasting carbonation, a little bit astringent but well balanced in spite of the bitterness.

 

Maplewood Barrel Aged Cuppa: Peanut Butter Coconut. Brewery's description: This variant is blended from Cuppa aged in Buffalo Trace, Heaven Hill and Weller barrels for 12 to 18 months. The Weller barrels’ age is notable: 7, 15 & 16 year were included in this blend. Conditioned on cacao nibs, vanilla, coffee, toasted coconut, and peanut butter.

Pours like motor oil into the glass. Pitch black. A finger of a reddish, dark mocha head that dissipates quickly. Coats the glass with a dark reddish tint as you swirl it around.

Nose brings big coconut macaroon, milk and dark chocolate, chunky peanut butter, vanilla, slight dark fruit, some roasted malt, molasses, some coffee bean, bourbon, some charred oak.

Taste is outstanding. Milk chocolate coated coconut macaroon, some Hershey's syrup, chunky peanut butter, bakers chocolate, coffee bean, brownie, caramel, some vanilla, molasses, little roasted malt and dark fruit, bourbon, vanillin, charred oak. Like if you took a coconut macaroon, dipped half of it in some quality bourbon, spread some chunky peanut butter on top of it, and dipped it in some melted chocolate. Reese's vibes too. The barrel gives off a good amount of vanillin and coconut, complementing the adjuncts.

Full body, thick. Impressive body for a barrel aged beer. Soft, creamy, oily, sticky. Mouth coating.

In a city full of great barrel programs, Maplewood's barrel program holds it own very, very well. Barrel aged "pastry" stouts tend to overlook the barrel and be all of those adjunct flavors. This one does not fall into that category. Don't get me wrong, the coconut, peanut butter, cocoa nibs, coffee, and vanilla are strong with this one, but the barrel quality is significant even after 15 months and integrate extremely well into the base beer and the adjuncts added.
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75 = 4.66

 

Even in Amsterdam I drank only craft, also finding some beers that cost less than a bottle of water, which is normal there (being very imported), but which always makes my eyes widen...









I also took two American bombs at the Beer Temple that were there
Toppling Goliath - DIGITAL DOWN - New Englan IPA (7.8%) and the very light
Rack & Ruin by Jackie O's + Buxton - Bourbon Barrel Aged (13.7%) Imperial Stout with vanilla, almonds, pecans and cocoa
Amazing, masterpiece.









I actually asked for an Alesong - Coconut Rhino Suit, a Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Sout, but was told "I don't recommend it if you don't like sour".
After asking three more times during the chat if I understood that Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Milk Stout was seriously called "sour", the only question I have left is why if a beer has gone wrong for you. keep still attached ... because I tried to make it clear that that beer, by its nature, should not have anything "sour"... anyway, I must say that it went great... that Rack & Ruin was truly sensational.
I'll proceed to insert everything in the database as soon as possible.
Sláinte !
Cheers !

 

Postimage is back up, Cheers.

 

Happy to be back having a beer with you all...it was very nice yesterday, windy and cold today. Our favorite local water ice place just opened up for the season yesterday, so despite the cold we couldn't resist an outing.



It is one of our favorite family outings throughout the warmer months, aside from gardening and plants what other traditions/outings are people looking forward to as we creep into spring?


The topic of drinkability came up a little earlier, well tonight I have the polar opposite beer in mind. My only new beers are high ABV sippers which actually seem very appropriate given tonights weather.

Kane Brewing - Tenth Anniversary (a blend of barrel aged stouts)



Pours a slow deep and dark brown, semi vigorous pour yielded minimal head. All that remains is a medium light brown ring and what looks like a spiral galaxy of light brown that moves and swirls in the middle. Swirling the glass leaves a nice coating of the beer that slowly works its way back to the glass.

Nose yields a touch of heat, rich dark chocolate, some char, and a little vanilla note.

Taste is rich chocolate, with the same char that I noted in the nose. What is a pleasant surprise to me is a noticeable maple note, no indicator in the nose of it at all. The taste is very well balanced.

Big beer, low carbonation with mouth coating, but not thick, feel to it. There is a slight heat that builds in the throat as I sip on it. Little bitterness in the form of char.

This is a very well made beer, it is very pleasant to sip on especially when its cold and windy outside.

Well I have one more new to me beer, another sipper for tomorrow which I hope to open while watching the Leafs play in the heritage classic, I cannot wait!

 

Happy time travel weekend, NBW friends. I have two beers from breweries that are probably 25 miles apart as the crow flies (if you fly over a little pond named Lake Michigan).

The first beer is emblematic of the beer nerd times we live in - and so is the second.

Sorta. If a 15.5% ABV can be “normalized.”

But first for #1. Let’s do this.





4.17/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
by ovaltine from Indiana

Pours a very hazy pineapple color with a creamy white head that laces the glass beautifully. The nose is heavy on the tangerine, along with a significant white wine note, and some pineapple for good measure.

That tangerine flavor is forward on the taste, and works well with the white wine flavor (or green grape is probably more accurate), and the pineapple is accompanied by a creamy oat flavor on the finish. Very well executed, IMHO.

The mouthfeel is medium and on the softer side. It’s just another very nice notch in Rev’s Hero holster, of which I am a fanboy.

 

Here's another from Mortalis that the missus split with me:



Well, it looks a lot like the one we split last week, but it is slightly different, and actually tastes quite different.

Mortalus Hydra Jahmba Jelly Donut. This one is brewed with boyseberries, raspberries, strawberries, and...jelly donuts...yup.

The same dark red as last week's example, but not as thick. Still chunky, but much more liquid.

The smell is of course fruity berry goodness, very fresh. I swear there is a smell of donut icing...it's pretty persistent and definitely there. I can easily find the components of fruit and a glazed jelly donut in the smell.

The taste is no surprise either, but it is very good, fresh berry, and dang there's some combo of flavors that taste like a damned glazed jelly donut. That manifests as only slightly sweet, vanila donut glaze, and definite bready taste. Whatever jelly was in the donut chucked in durkng brewing is lost among the dominant fruits. More obvious sour base beer presence in this one, along with the sharper acidity of the fruits. Mildly bitter on the finish.

Luscious and thick, no doubt. Looks thicker than it drinks, actually.

Overall, another good experience with this style and brewery. It is a little humbling and maybe a bit scary to admit that I am liking this style of beer (whatever it is) as a treat and massive change of pace. There has been a beer detectable under all the additives in both Mortalis fruit frappe beers so far that both taste great and are fun to drink. They will not hold up to even a few weeks of aging and I can certainly see where these could be incredibly horrible train wrecks, except in my opinion they aren't. A treat, not an every day drinker. It will be around a 4...yeah. thereabouts.

 

#2, speaking of Three Floyds, how about a little ol’ 15.6% ABV BA Imperial Stout with coconut.

I have three bottles left and NBW BIF #15 is getting ready to launch in a week or so. I wonder if this will make it into a box(es)? Hmmmm …..





4.6/5 rDev +5.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
by ovaltine from Indiana

Pours as black as 3 am - this is a “no light” zone - with a creamy tan head. The nose features boozy, oaky barrel notes, some char and dark chocolate, and a significant coconut aroma. O. M. G.

The taste has a nice boozy flavor up from, with oak leading the way, but the oak quickly gives way to a rich dark chocolate flavor that is stunningly delicious, and gives way to the roasted coconut flavor. This is Dark Lord without the Indian sugar. IJS.

The mouthfeel is rich and creamy, perfect for this big beer that is definitely an imperial stout, but features some pastry stout attributes. World class stuff, IMHO.