New Beer Weekend #88

Brewing Projekt Cow Cow Vanilla Milk Stout, 6.72% ABV. Pours moderately thick and dark black with a 1.83-finger medium brown head that left slight lacing. Nose is milk/lactose and vanilla. Taste is milk/lactose, vanilla and roast malt, moderately sweet, slightly bitter. Excellent smooth mouthfeel with indecently decent carbonation. Overall outstanding. Moo.

4.33/5 rDev +4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

 

I have Inundation, a double dry hopped NEIPA from Counterweight Brewing. Bought a 4-pack at the source yesterday after enjoying it on draft there. BTW, this was the 2nd week with their new building open. It's one of the nicest brewing facilities in Connecticut. However, even though this was the 2nd weekend, it was still overflowing. Despite the enormous crowd, service was very efficient.
The can art appears to be a mushroom cloud of hops. Cool idea in normal times, but a slightly unnerving reminder of reality right now.

4.38/5 rDev +3.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
by woodchipper from Connecticut

Poured from a 16oz can dated 3/17/22 to a Nonic at fridge temp.
The body pours as a completely opaque with a mute apricot color. A full 1.5” white head of equal sized bubbles sits on top. The head fades after 5 minutes but moderate lacing continues to the end of the beer.
The aroma is pretty musty, but there is a mango background.
Taste is mango and apricot. There are notes of hop and alcohol but they are in the background.
The mouth feel is creamy but it can’t be enjoyed but for a fraction of a second as carbonation seems a little high.
Overall quite enjoyable.

 

Cross posting with WBAYDN because this is a new beer to me and a big, delicious beer at that. Kane Red Wine Bourbon Barrel Aged Driftwood. Kane is far and away the king of barrel aged beers in this area and I try to buy everything they put out, or at least have something at the brewery. This one has a LOT going on. The description says it’s a brown ale brewed with maple syrup and molasses and aged in red wine barrels used to finish Jim Beam Legent Bourbon and Buffalo Trace Blanton’s Bourbon Barrels, so. Yeah a lot going on. First of all, looks more like a stout than a brown ale. Aroma a mix of bourdon and red wine. Very enticing. Tastes a bit sweet and a bit boozy, with the bourbon and red wine mixing with the molasses and maple syrup. Honestly it tastes a lot like many other bourbon barrel aged stouts, but just a hint of red wine in the mix. Nice and thick. I could buy another one of these.

 

Hey what's going on?!

Haven't had a chance to acquire more new beers, but did manage to make a quick trip today.

Sadly no tripels, definitely none that I could get that I haven't had already... I like have had them ALL!! sigh... I wish!

But at least this beer is really hitting the spot for me, a little closer to home as well.

What's new for our hero today?



Poured from the can into a Spiegelau IPA glass. Canned March 22 2022.

Turbid and solid filling body, a custard yellow with actually a bit of hinting green as well. Very fine bubbled head, nearly nitrous looking with bleach white color and real creamy like appearance. Excellent sheet and spider like lacing as the beer slowly settles.

Real nice varied hop aroma. Spicy and herbal at first, with a hint of sweet pine and earthy sensing flavors. Much more dank and earthy while exploring, but gives a real thick pungency that is very inviting. Slight touches of cream like sweetness as well, making for a neat hop forward brew.

Palate delivers real well. Creamy sensing body with a nice touch of sweet milky flavors, and maybe even some orange juicy character. Mid palate has a neat spiced earthy burst, which is definitely hinted at from the nose earlier. There's an interesting dry malt sensation to this also, mixing in with some herbal and hot astringency that is so nicely tolerated. Light flavors of creamsicle like orange and melon really take this upward. Abv seems so on point and hardly noticeable.

This beer feels and tastes really dialed in, very well done.

look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5 | BA final generated score: 4.36

Cheers!

 

From the tripel-tasting thread, a new-to-me tripel.

Une Année is a Chicago-land Belgian-style focused brewer.

Une Année Hibiscus Tripel
ABV: 8.7%
IBU: NA

Short reddish-tint head with nearly no retention. And this was from a pour that started out gentle and quickly turned to down-the-middle vigorous once it was obvious this was not going to build a large head. The body is wine-red, hazy, with tiny bubbles rising to what is a very thin cap and ring after just a second or two (it seems - slight exaggeration). On its own, it looks OK, but the short and short-lived head is a bit of a deduction for a Belgian-style tripel in my view.

The aroma is quite nice. It is weak, though … perhaps this is due to the lack of any head at this point. I have to almost dip the schnoz into the beer to get a good whiff, but when I do, the reward is there. Apple-cherry aroma, floral with spice, presumably the hibiscus. TBH, I really don't know what hibiscus is supposed to smell like. I know it is popular in herbal teas, but I'm not into herbal teas. Hibiscus or not, the aroma is, as I stated, nice.

Very good flavor, bringing the apple, cherry, spice, and floral. Some tannin-like character, but no bittering. The initial taste starts slightly sweet, but this is quickly dispensed with by a somewhat acidic tannic drying. The apple and cherry mingle nicely on the tongue, enhanced by the floral spice and tannin. The middle becomes dryer, and the finish is actually quite dry. The aftertaste has the fruit tannin lingering. The beer drinks much easier than its ABV should allow. Quite refreshing, actually, almost like a lambic.

Mouth feel is wine-like; no carbonation, and a bit of tannin.

Overall, nicely done. I really, really enjoyed it, even if it is not a prime example of the tripel style. I like the creative extension of the style this beer presents. Just don't drink it too fast, as the beer invites this and your head may regret it later!

NB: The following rating is not a rating to style! This beer has several detractions from a strictly "to style" rating, including in the look, feel, and flavor aspects. I did not deduct points for being "off style". I chose to rate it hedonically (as @islay used to say; BTW, I miss his participation on these forums. His views were challenging, but in a good way to foster discussion, IMO. I miss him.). This beer is actually quite good; the beer is a much better "style independent" beer than it is a tripel.

L: 3.75 | S: 4.0 | T: 4.25 | F: 3.75 | O: 4.0 | Rating: 4.06

 

New Beer Sunday #892 continues with a final beer planned for the weekend is also my final Tripel, this the first and only local (in Niles), or American version purchased for the tasting.

Une Annee initially set out to brew these classic Belgian beers and Wild Ales. However, but just like Monkish, found gold in them there hills (Monkish with NEIPA / Une Annee/Hubbard's Cave with Pastry Stouts), but both still brew what they set out to brew when they opened.

Une Annee Tripel



Can Notes: 16 oz, first batch brewed in 2022, likely in late February or early March based on the drop to the seller. 8.7% ABV, Abbey Ale.

Appearance: Single pour into a large glass. Bronze orange cloudy base, a short cream head recedes within a few minutes leaving a light ring above the base. 3.75

Aroma: Light sweet aroma, light clove, banana, pears and light pepper. 3.5

Taste: Much stronger taste. Hops bring bitterness and soft peach, blended well with clove and light banana. 4.0

Mouthfeel: Stronger carbonation than a typical Tripel, light to medium body, ABV felt from the onset and is potent throughout. Lightly dry and leans bitter, though sweetness lingers at times. 4.0

Overall: This is a good locally brewed tripel, like the balanced taste, properly measured, nice yeast strain used. Overall, this is a solid tripel I would order in the future, glad a local brewery is committed to this style. 4.0

A have a few more BA stouts in the cellar planned for the first portion of April, and I'm hoping some warmer weather finally sticks to begin pulling out lighter beers later in the month.

 

Good Sunday afternoon, New Beer Swiggers and commentators. What a weird day! We drove up from the shore and arrived to snow flurries. I had hoped to review some beers outdoors but that's not happening. Carton has been brewing a series of what it calls "NJ IPAs" with different hop bills. These are big (for 7%), bold ales that are intended to exude our local "attitude." Carton brews with Kolsch yeast and its local water is more "hard" than the shore towns further south. The name of each release is based on a Springsteen lyric. This one, East of Eden Mama, comes from Adam Raised a Cain on the Darkness on the Edge of Town Album. I confess I'm not a huge Springsteen fan but that was a great album. And this is a great American IPA! It was released last week. I added it to the BA database and @Act25 posted the first review yesterday.

It pours a dense, murky, muddy tangerine color with a big, frothy, milk-white cap and thick, soapy lacing. The smell is fruity and bold with lemon, grapefruit, orange, floral hops, and a whiff of cannabis. It's dank as hell. There is more tangerine/orange than in the nose and it balances the tart, bitter citrus. The Comet hops really shine and also provide earthy, herbal, hemp notes. The Lemon Drop is delicate and the Citra adds a smooth, clean bitterness to the fruit. And you can detect the Kolsch yeast. This tastes like a Carton beer. The mouth feel is excellent, as well: pillowy with pleasant carbonation and very drinkable at 7% ABV. Overall, this is a very nice "NJ IPA". It's big and brash and really tasty. It exudes attitude. I think it's surpassed Neath the Refinery's Glow as my favorite of this series.

4.3/5 rDev +0.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

I'll be back shortly with another beer from the Jersey Shore.

 

@MNAle - The Hibiscus was also available when I purchased Une Annee's standard Tripel, but I stuck with their "clean" version to start. I may try the Hibiscus down the road on draft, but I would anticipate liking their standard version, which I hope you get a chance to try.

I'm thinking they released the Hibiscus to loop in some of their Wild Ale customers, and also perhaps reach for some of their pastry fans looking for a more sweet version.

@Victory_Sabre1973 - I like your review of Tome. Half Acre produces many similar beers with I term as "Winnetka Haze" profile. I did rate Tome higher, and while Half Acre is on timeout for me at this point, I typically prefer their standard IPAs such as Navaja and Space. Sadly, they converted some of these beers to their Winnetka Haze profile over time. Daisy Cutter is another solid offering. I hope you get Navaja and Space down the road, I believe you will like both more than Tome if you are seeking a more traditional WCIPA or American IPA.

Cheers!

 

Prairie Thai Delight Treat, Sour Ale with Mango, Flaked Rice & Coconut Cream, 5.1% ABV; 4.09 overall

Pours an effervescent & somewhat hazed gold with fast-falling beige head. Floaties, zero head retention & lacing

S: Sour mangoes, pineapple juice.

T: Pineapple, a little coconut, tartness & a touch mango up front. Sweet/tart pineapple juice, muted coconut & a kiss of mango once warm. Finishes sweet, a little dry & tart with plenty of pineapple & a little coconut

MF: Medium body, delicate carbonation

Very drinkable. Would be perfect with breakfast or some curry

 

Easily one of my favorites in the style

 

The Hibiscus version was available here, but the standard version was not. So, I went with Hibiscus!

 

Another new-to-me tripel cross posted from the tasting

Val-Dieu Tripel
11.2oz bottle Best before end 20/05/23 poured into a chalice at 53° Fahrenheit 9% ABV. The beer pours mostly bright honey colored amber with nearly white head. The head recedes to an uneven cap and leaves a web of lacing. The aroma is slightly sweet pale malt with additional notes of banana, apple, pear and clove. The taste is semisweet pale malt with restrained banana, appleand clove. Mild earthy bitterness. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with above average carbonation and a dry finish. No trace of the ABV in the aroma or taste. Overall, very good. Nicely balanced & dangerously drinkable at 9%

This one was quite enjoyable to my taste and I'm quite happy to have a bottle of their quad in the fridge as well.

Cheers all!

 

Over the past few years Ludlam Island Brewing has quietly established itself as one of the top breweries along the South Jersey Shore. It's versatile and brews some outstanding IPAs, along with Stouts, Porters, and Brown Ales. It's also a great place to visit; quiet, friendly, low key. It's now a regular stop for me, along with Slack Tide.

Ludlam brews an authentic Oyster Stout each Spring. It collaborates with Ludlam Bay Oyster Company. This is a style of beer you don't see in North Jersey or in many other places. The fresh oyster shells are added to the boil and add a unique briny, mineral flavor to a good base Stout. Poured into a pint glass at 55°. It pours a dark cola color with two fingers of thick, fluffy, light khaki head and lots of thick, clinging lacing. The smell offers burnt coffee, dark chocolate, brown sugar, tobacco smoke, and the telltale brine that denotes an oyster stout. This spot-on. It opens like a Porter or lite Stout with bakers chocolate, burnt coffee grounds, and bitter, nutty char. But then comes the unmistakable taste of the oyster shell; it's briny with a mineral-like quality and the subtle saltiness nicely balances the roastiness of the base stout. It's very tasty. In terms of mouth feel it drinks more like a Porter than a Stout; it doesn't have the viscosity of Ludlam's other Stouts. The carbonation level is just right and it drinks easily at 6.5% ABV. Overall, it's a pleasure to be able to drink an Oyster Stout at least once a year - and a well-crafted one at that.

4.17/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

If you get the chance to try this style of Stout, then give it a shot. It's a fun beer to drink. Cheers, NBW!

 

Oskar Blues Dale's Double DIPA, 9.0% ABV; 3.88 overall

Pours a very effervescent gold with 3 fingers of rocky pearl colored head. Good head retention & great lacing

S: Bready, piney

T: Piney, bready, dry & a little orange up front. Pine & cakeyness dominate as this warms, some woody hops, a little lemon as well, a little dry. Finishes dry with woody hops, & cakeyness & a little pineapple

MF: A little chewy, slight carbonation, pretty good balance

Not a bad take on the style, just doesn't impress me; ABV is well hidden

 

Howdy everyone. Bit of a late start for me today but I've been caught up with laundry, grocery shopping, and Elden Ring. Forgive me!

Here is my first new-to-me beer, a new Italian-style pilsner from Widowmaker Brewing. It's a collab with Good Word Brewing out of Georgia, and it's called "Once Upon a Time in Massachusetts."



Ah, the Italian pilsner. We've started seeing some more of these as of late, haven't we? I was pretty confused about what exactly the style entails until I stopped by Foundation last year and tried their Bocce Pils on tap, which also proclaimed to be an Italian style pilsner. Their description mentioned it being dry-hopped, which I found intriguing. I wondered "is that part of what sets this regional variant apart from, say, a German pils?" Looking it up and doing a bit of further research on the spot, I came across an article elucidating the stylistic differentiation defining the sub-style. As it turns out... yeah, they're basically dry-hopped, very crisp, low ABV pilsners. Also, Bocce Pils was freaking great, so grab that if you see it around or if it's on tap next time you're up at Foundation in Portland, ME. You won't be sorry.

Anyway, this one pours a 75-80% clear straw-golden color with a good bit of quickly-building head on top. This head bubbles away slowly but surely, leaving behind a bit of frothy lace as it does so, but slight hints of effervescent bubbles in the body still remain after the reduction of the sudsy cap to a quarter-finger or so.

Nose is surprisingly dank with powerful peach and passion fruit notes that I have to say I didn't expect. That said, they do feel somehow "on style" with what's on order here. The malt backbone seems very barebones but there is a hint of nuttiness and wheat-like graininess. Evidently, this was brewed as a decoction mash with Eraclea pilsner malt, a Weyermann brand that has roots in Mediterranean beer and is grown northeast of Venice itself. Fair enough; at least they did their research here! The beer was hopped with Saaz and dry-hopped with Grüngeist hops. Funnily enough, this varietal can provide (you guessed it!) peach and passion fruit notes if utilized as a dry-hop! Swear I didn't know that off the top of my head going into this review, which means my senses seem be working well.

Definitely very crisp and nicely bitter on the tongue, and the finish is coming across so clean and bright! Very impressive. Light notes of lemon and florals with sage and apricot coming to mind in the mid-palate with subsequent sips. Just delicious, honestly. I'd certainly crush a four-pack of these when the weather gets nicer. Which hopefully is soon. Pretty damn sick of random freezing mornings driving to work. C'mon Mother Nature... I know we're murdering you on the reg, but get your shit together.

At least one more coming soon!

 

This sounds awesome. I think I have had a few Oyster Stouts in name only, but they didn't really use oysters...hmm. Just using the imagery, and saying it is good paired with oysters or some such nonsense. Great review.

 

Evening NBS.
No Tripels for me today but I was lucky enough to run into this Double.
Pours an almost clear burnished gold with a slightly off white voluminous head that has excellent retention leaving nice lacing. Beautiful look to start.
Upon popping the top and sticking my nose in Im getting an intial rush of tropical pineapple and passionfruit followed by that juicy grapefruit. As the beer warms I'm getting some more citrus in the form of orange and some pine. This beer is incredibly balanced with a tad of sweet, resins, and pith and pine bitterness. Honey malts anchor the hops.
The body feels like the lighter side of medium and there is a crispness. It has a nice lasting carb that keeps it lively - each sip creates another off white cap of foam. Nice. No hint of the 8%.
You would think Grapefruit would stand out but this is wonderfully crafted and so well balanced.
This, my friends is one outstanding IPA. I could drink a number of these in one sitting. Delicious.

 

Back with another Counter Weight beer. This is a Bohemian Pilsner.

3.77/5 rDev -8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
by woodchipper from Connecticut

Poured from a 16oz can dated 2/14/22 to a Pilz glass at fridge temp.
The body pours a clear light gold color. A decent white head sits on top. The head fades quickly though and further lacing is moderate. Tiny nucleated bubbles rise through the body during the entire session.
The aroma is of composting grass with a bready, biscuit note.
Taste is similar with a subtle malt finish.
The mouth feel is crisp but a little oily.
Overall good but not comparable to the best in this style.