New Beer Weekend #86

Nitro Hot Cocoa milk stout from Southern Tier



Twelve ounce can stamped best by 12-01-22. 10% ABV. The beer poured a dark black with a tan head that persisted throughout the tasting but left minor lacing.

Aroma is a delicious chocolate and light marshmallow. Sweet but not overdone.

Taste provides the same flavors but ratcheted up a notch or two. A very good tasting beer, but lacking in malty char found in stouts. Delicious. No discernible hoppiness.

To me, the 10% is imperceptible in the nose or taste. Sorcery!

The magic of lactose and nitro develop an exceptional mouthfeel. Smooth as silk without being cloying.

Fans of Founders Fudgiosity (it might have been named something like Mackinaw) will like this stout. I’m tempted to head back to the store where I hit this single. Recommended.

 

Magnify is pretty damn good. As someone who has only been able to acquire their beers since maybe 2019-2020, I have found a lot of them to be quite great... especially their triple IPAs. Oh, and their imperial pink lemonade sour was ridiculous. So fun to drink, but such a bad hangover.

Second and final new beer... Banded's Breakfast Land!



This is an 8.2% stout with flapjacks, coffee, and Maine maple syrup added. It also utilizes smoked malts according to the label. The pour here is solid. Presentable in that it looks like a hefty stout, but it's surprisingly less visually intense than some other stronger breakfast stouts I've had. That said, it's mercifully on the lower end of ABV for the "style" too, so perhaps that has something to do with it. Light khaki colored head forms and recedes somewhat quickly on top of the dark brown liquid. Decent legs and not much lacing here.

Nose is very woody, which means the maple syrup might have fermented out... Light honeyed overtones with some roast and oatmeal-like elements. It's somewhat laid back in a way, I feel, but there is a robustness here that I think fits the breakfast stout profile to a tee. The use of Summit hops here is smart because there does seem to be a distinct spicy element that bolsters the intensity of the other scents I'm picking up. I can get a hint of anise and tobacco if I really get my nose in the glass.

Moderate mouthfeel that leans a bit to the lighter side for this style (again, the ABV is a bit less than many modern impy stouts, so that tracks) with slight vanilla flavors mingling with woodiness and charred grains in the mid-palate. There is a hint of sweetness toward the finish, and the coffee-driven roast bubbles up here as well, affording some interest in the earthy palate it conjures. The finish itself is satisfying and sippable. Hmm. I think this could be pushed a bit more, but without being too overly-critical, I'll go ahead and say this is a successful breakfast stout. It's not too sweet, it's not too roasty, and it's not too strong. There's something for everyone here, and Banded is kind of known for being more "pleasant" with their final products in practice, even if some of their ideas might be wild in theory. I'd drink it again!

 

My New Beer Sunday entry for the second day of St. Patrick's Day (Observed) - hey, if the feds can move anniversary dates around willy-nilly just to make a long weekend, why can't I move St. Paddy's Day back to fill a whole weekend? Hmmm?...

Where was I... Oh yeah, the beer...

It's from Guinness, of course, but not from Ireland and not a Dry Irish Stout.

It's from Baltimore, and it's a barrel-aged adjunked Imperial stout. But, at least it has a green label!

Before I open the beer, I'm not quite sure what to expect here. Despite the view among the philistines out in bars on the 17th, Guinness Stout is not a thick beer; it is quite thin, actually. It is a session ale, after all. So how much body will this beer have?

Second, Guinness Stout is dry, roasty, arid even, but the bourbon-chocolate-mint on the label of this beer would seem to promise a sweet (or at least sweet-ish) Imperial stout.

The bottle has been sitting out from a 41°F 'fridge for about 30 minutes now, so getting up to drinking temperature. The date code indicates (assuming my decoder ring is functioning) a bottling date of November 3, 2021, but with an Imperial stout, it doesn't matter very much anyway, I expect.

Guinness Chocolate Mint Stout Aged in Kentucky Bourbon Barrels
ABV: 10.8%
IBU: 30

Despite being a high ABV BA stout, it exhibits the classic Guinness towering tan head, thick and creamy, with mounds and valleys as it very slowly recedes, leaving sticky strings of thick lacing that never slide down into the body, as many (most) Imperial-class BA stouts do. Deep black, with brown edges with a backlight, and small bubbles rising within.

Fairly strong aroma. Minty. Then chocolate and hints of bourbon.

The flavor is, as with the aroma, mint, then chocolate and bourbon. The beer starts out on the sweet side, but then transitions to a more neutral stance as the underlying stout flavors start to appear. There is not much (if any) barrel detectable, but the bourbon is clearly present; just not dominant. However, if the base beer is a Dry Irish Stout, there is not a lot of the roastiness present. The finish has dried out considerably from the open. The aftertaste is mint, chocolate, and bourbon. The alcohol is well hidden in both the taste and in the absence of any warming. I was expecting a bit of a sipping beer, but this beer is almost quaffable - very easy drinking. Much too late to warn me that I should slow down, the alcohol warmth does appear in the aftertaste, but only after the beer is mostly gone...

The body is on the thin side for a BA Imperial Stout, but not too thin. The creamy feel helps make up for the lack of a robust body.

Overall, I'm enjoying this one. But, then, I prefer a more subtle BA stout, rather than one where the barrel socks you in the face while you think you might be drinking bourbon on the rocks. Just know that it has the body of a Guinness, excellent "drinkability", and the ABV will get you if you drink it down like it invites you to.

L: 4.5 | S: 4.0 | T: 4.25 | F: 3.5 | O: 4.0 | Rating: 4.08

 

NBS # 2 is one I couldnt find in RI but CT had it.
Smuttynose Double DIPA.
Pouring a golden amber, off white head receding to a thin cap with nice lacing. The smell is a little dissapointing - fairly muted notes of grapefruit, earthy pine and subtle hints of tropicals.
Taste is orange, pine and grapefruit.
Oily at mid palate and drying on the mono finish. Nothing complex here, which is what I expected but the malt base isnt enough to support this bitterness out. Was expecting a little darker sweeter malt. Its medium to heavy/medium in body with shots of alcohol in the mix. Just barely evades a syrupy feel. Decently carbonated. Hits all the right bitter notes for a WC leaning DIPA theres just something missing. Its decent but not something I would seek out again. Worth a try.
Honestly I think I prefer Finest Kind better.
Cheers BAs!

 

Day #2, I absolutely LOVE these hop-centric series that breweries like Firestone-Walker and Lagunitas offer. This old school WCIPA with a new school hop is an intriguing beer, so let’s dive in.



4.42/5 rDev +14.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
by ovaltine from Indiana

Gorgeous orange color that is practically clear with a fluffy white head that is three fingers deep after an aggressive vertical pour and clings to the glass like a suction cup.

The nose is nicely dank and features candied oranges, a bit of pine, and peaches and apricot that provide a bit of earthiness. Wow.

The taste has oranges and a bit of the aforementioned pine and a heaping helping of ripe peaches and apricot that work well with the other flavors. This is truly delicious if you like peach and apricot, which I do very much.

The mouthfeel is full and drying in the WCIPA style. I really enjoyed the first two offerings in this series, and this is another winner - I’m heading back to my beer store tomorrow to pick up another 6er, because this works REALLY well for me.

 

Nice glass!!

 

I know - I saw your Surly tulip, too!

 

#2, I’m joining my friend @FBarber in trying this beer that is the latest “flavor of the month” in our beer nerd world.

Let’s do this.





4.24/5 rDev -2.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
by ovaltine from Indiana

Pours black with a thick and creamy tan head that provides ample lacing, which is surprising given the 12% ABV. The nose is crammed full of roasty coffee, rich chocolate, and scintillating hazelnut - but where is the barrel?

The barrel is also absent on the taste - the hazelnut, roasty coffee, and chocolate fit together perfectly, but there’s no discernible barrel flavor, and the mouthfeel is thin on my palate, taking on an almost cola quality that misses a bit for a beer that references a “decadent drinking experience” on the label.

I’m glad I tried this, because it’s truly delicious, and I have three more bottles, so I’m gonna sit on a couple of those and see how this beer evolves.

 

I lied, have one more for tonight...



Since it's only 3% ABV, I felt I should be able to fit it in even though it's past my "drinking cutoff time" for a Sunday night (pshhh).

This is Rising Tide/Oxbow's collaboration grodziskie, Alba. It pours a very pale, hazy liquid into my glass. Topped off with a generous dollop of white suds, Alba looks exactly as I expected it to in my glass. I love this under-represented beer style and wish more breweries made it. The nose is mineral-driven with a hefty iodine-like smoke quality bearing some earthiness and light rustic funk. For those not in the know, grodziskie (or Grätzer as it's known in German-speaking areas) is an ale made exclusively with oak-smoked wheat malt. I am a bit surprised they didn't bother clarifying this beer in the traditional way, but perhaps it's to avoid the use of isinglass (which would make the beer non-vegan, since that is derived from fish bladders). Anyway, this smells great. A bit sulfuric, but that seems to fade after a few minutes in the glass. Probably some of the more volatile components evaporating.

Taste is strongly smoky, and it seems to clock in a bit stronger than it actually is. I pick up some of the minerals from the nose here, for sure, along with some hoppy bitterness. The feel is nice and light, with the traditionally-high carbonation element present in the finish. Deft treatment of the wheat malt with smoke allows the whole thing to come across as well-integrated and nicely-rendered. I would absolutely drink a four pack of this... it's a nice Spring-ish beer, considering it still has some of the robust flavor of a "Winter" beer given its smokiness, but also feels light and airy in a way that speaks to the arrival of new life usually associated with the upcoming season. Prost!

 

After drinking several homebrewed aged Saison and brewing a breakfast stout. I will diverge to a fruity beer. No picture, I just gave it 4.25. The lime gave the beer some depth against the Marshmallow, berries, and pineapple. A deft hand was used to make this beer.
Limeapple Berry Puff Tart
4.55 ABV
Gave it a 4.25

 

Good evening BA
It's been a nice Sunday with my mother-in-law & her husband visiting along with having my son home from school. Made a big Sunday lunch for all. Figured I'd sit down and take down another bomber from the beer fridge before my shipment of Belgian beer hits later in the week.

People's Brewing Ardelle 2021
Wheatwine Style Ale

750mL bottle released 12/1/21 poured into a tulip glass at 50° Fahrenheit 11.2% ABV per brewer's website. The beer pours mostly bright medium amber in color with meager light khaki head. The head recedes to an irregular ring and leaves little lacing. The aroma is mild with an unexpected citrus & pine note. The taste is bittersweet malt with notable ethanol and more of the pine & citrus hop flavor. Moderate bitterness. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with less than medium carbonation and a mostly dry finish. Overall, not great. This is way outside the curve for a wheat wine with little malt, harsh hopping and notable alcohol presence. Drinks like a poorly made triple IPA. My first real miss in this series, but also the freshest I've sampled.

My brain is still playing catch up as I sip on this glass and ponder the goal here. I'm sure I'll continue to buy from People's whenever I visit Lafayette, but I'm never sure what I'm going to get with them.

That's all the new beer I have left in me this weekend. I'll be in Belgian mode the next several weekends with 16 new-to-me beers headed my way this week. Cheers all!

 

KBS Hazelnuts


12% hazelnut stout from the masters at Founders.

Black as night body with tan foamy head and solid lacing throughout.

Aroma of hazelnut (this will be common in the following description), coffee and some chocolate. Upon smelling I immediately thought it would be great mixed with my morning coffee. Not to be outdone, the barrel is a welcome presence.

Taste follow nose as expected, but the background char of a stout is present, moving this beer a bit from its course as a novelty. The bourbon makes sure we know where the 12% comes from and provides welcome warming.

Mouthfeel is good, but not exceptional.

If you don’t like hazelnut, don’t buy this beer. If you do like hazelnut, belly up to the bar.

 

Another new beer from a brewery in CT that has put forth some pretty good DIPAs in the past but honestly they are have been getting boring and one dimensional from what Ive had lately- which isnt terribly often. They remind me of Fort Hill for some reason. Always soft on the palate but full bore abv.
This is their 10th Anniversary TIPA so..
After aggressive pour its golden in color and hazy but not turbid. Head is large. Off white and creamy with very good retention and lots of lacing.
Aroma is tangerine, melon, peach, passionfruit, floral and earthy notes.
Taste folllows with fruits, citrus and
And a juicyfruit bubblegum yeast. Its quite sweet but in almost a saccharine like sweetness. The bitterness does pull through though. It has a medium/ heavy feel with nice carbonation. The 10% is very well hidden. A good heavy IPA that follows all their previous standard DIPAs with a boost. The sweetness that seems just a bit artificial is what brings the whole package down a little. Drinks easily for sure. Worth a try.
EDIT: Im starting to think this may contain lactose..

 

That label reminds me of the spray paint feature in Microsoft paint.

 

From a little earlier this evening courtesy of @Roguer from a surprise box associated with NBW BIF 14.

Lawson’s Finest Liquids Hopzilla DIPA.



Pours a deep amber with a substantial head that dissipates slowly. Lovely lacing as the beer is imbibed.

Big pine notes on the nose. A little indistinguishable fruit in the background. Slight caramel note from the malt.

Big citrus burst with some graininess on the sip. This gives way to great pithy bitterness. Lots of pine throughout. Great stuff.

Full bodied with ample carbonation. Great mouthfeel.

I really enjoyed this as I have all the beers from Lawson’s over the years. Thanks Andrew.

 

Yes this one got away from me. Poured into a 16 oz Snulip glass bottled with in the last 2 months. Pours a very attractive near pitch black with a 2 plus sticky brown head that leaves thin lines of lace, with excellent retention. 4.75

Aroma fudge, hazelnut, vanilla bean, and a little alcohol is noticeable.4.5

Taste follows fudge, vanilla, hazelnut, and a little alcohol in the balanced warming finish. 4.5

Mouthfeel is big, soft gentle carbonation, not dry, but maybe a little sticky, and at 10% it drinks maybe a little bigger, but so balanced and tasty. 4.75

Overall this is one exceptional stout, for me a serious wow factor. I would highly recommend. 4.75

 

Well I was well under the rDev. I found it very interesting but didn't love it.

 

Tonight's victim is a DIPA from Mortalis called Demeter. I can't find any info from the brewery on this one.



Pours to the pineapple side of things in color and overall appearance. Nice dense foam floats on the liquid, lasts seemingly forever. Falls to about a quarter inch, tenacious clingy chunks on the glass.

The smell isn't as strong as expected, but it is bright. Citrus...grapefruit, tangerine, some orange and a bit more tropical note. Slightly sweet.

Milky kind of texture, smooth. A bit of citrus oil kind of zing.

It's good, but I feel it is another in in the mountain of well-made simuilar beers. Flavorful. Tasty. Easily drinkable. But something that is pretty readily available from a bunch of different breweries.