New Beer Weekend #91

Good day @SawDog505! Thanks for starting this weekend's thread! I'll chip in with today's New Breakfast Beer, one from one of my favorite breweries:



Double Barrel Dark Apparition from Jackie O’s Brewing. 12.7 oz bottle purchased online from Jackie O’s, $17.11 (Including tax and shipping), $ 1.347/oz. Stored at 40 degrees after purchase. Reviewed 16/04/22. Note that I use DD/MM/YY protocol.
Undated bottle. Served at 51.9 degrees in a hand washed and dried Jester King snifter. Final temperature 58.6 degrees. Sorry, I couldn’t wait any longer!
Appearance – 4.
First pour – Brown (SRM 20), opaque.
Body – Deep Brown (SRM 20), opaque. When rear-lite, weak light penetration at the edges.
Head – Small (Maximum one cm, aggressive center pour), caramel, fizzy and rapidly diminishing to leave a 0.2 cm tan crown and no cap.
Lacing – None. At 14.5% ABV none was expected.
Aroma – 4.25 – Smells sweet with weak roasted malt and strong molasses, some chocolate, and (maybe) cherry. No hops, no yeast. No alcohol. Bourbon in the background.
Flavor – 4.5 – Moderately sweet with toffee and weak bourbon overtones. A bit fruity but less cherry than the nose. No alcohol burn until it hit the stomach, producing a mild warming which slowly builds. No hops, no yeast. Ethanol (14.5 % ABV, as marked on container) is otherwise hidden. No dimethylsulfide or diacetyl.
Palate – 4.5 – Full, creamy, soft caressing carbonation.
Final impression and summation: 4.25 (After deducting 0.25 point for undated bottle) In general, it looks like every other RIS. The aroma is enticing, and the flavor is delectable! The mouthfeel compliments both the flavor and aroma and helps make this a joy to drink!
Rating 4.36, rDev -3.5%

IMHO, Jackie O's is one of the best brewers of barrel-aged stouts and I'm eternally grateful that they can now ship to PA!

 

Good morning, it's time for a beer from one of the oldest breweries in the US, August Schell.

No Frills Pilsner

Appearance: Clear yellow, good carbonation, good head.

Smell: Some sweetness, hay

Taste: Mild sweetness, light corn flavor, some hay in the finish. Light and clean.

Overall: Schell makes some good lagers, this fits the bill. Doesn't say it will knock your socks off, just gives an honest pils with a balanced flavor between sweetness and hay-like hops.

 

Time for some spring cleaning

In 2018 I purchased a few bottles of Duck-Rabbit Barleywine Ale for a friend and even though the Barleywine beer style is not a favorite of mine I figured: what the heck, get a bottle for yourself.

On the bottle label is an ‘interesting’ graphic (which you can see in the photo below) of a rabbit on the right side and a duck on the left side wearing a fancy hat. How the heck did the owners of this brewery come up with a name of “Duck-Rabbit”? From the brewery’s website:

“Some History

Paul Philippon was happily pursuing a career teaching philosophy when the siren song of brewing beer, his hobby since 1987, could no longer be ignored. He went to work for a succession of three breweries until he felt his experience was sufficient to try to open a brewery himself. The Duck-Rabbit Craft Brewery was born! Duck-Rabbit sold its first beer in August of 2004 and has been growing steadily ever since.

What’s Up With That Logo?

Years ago, before he became a professional brewer, Paul made his living teaching university philosophy. A version of the duck-rabbit diagram, which looks like a duck or a rabbit, depending on the viewer’s perspective, appeared in a philosophy book Paul admires (Philosophical Investigations by Ludwig Wittgenstein). He liked the idea of using a logo with ties to his former life.”

So, there you go!

I am not extremely experienced in the Barleywine beer style but from my readings is appears this beer style is well suited for aging. But as I pulled this beer from my cellar, I noticed that on the side of the beer label it lists: “Fresh Beer. For best flavor, please refrigerate and enjoy by date indicated” and the following notches are made: 2/19.

Whoops! It appears I should have paid better attention here? I did not refrigerate this beer (cellared instead) and needless to say but 4/22 is well past the indicated date of 2/19.

Why such a short best by duration for this Barleywine? Again, from the brewery with emphasis in bold by me:

“DUCK-RABBIT

BARLEYWINE

The Duck-Rabbit Barleywine is the hoppiest of all the Duck-Rabbit brews. This is a Farmville-style Barleywine, crafted the way brewers in Farmville have always done. Loads of Amarillo hops give a piney citrusy bitterness that’s supported beautifully by a toffee malt backbone. ABV: 11.0%”

Well, again I should have been more attentive here. I had no idea this beer was so hoppy.

I suppose this drinking experience will be akin to drinking an aged Sierra Nevada Bigfoot beer?

To quote Admiral David Glasgow Farragut: "Damn the torpedoes, Full speed ahead!"

Served in a tulip glass:

Appearance:

Brown with a ruby red hue. A small tan head which dissipates quickly.

Aroma:

The aroma is mostly comprised of dark dried fruit (e.g., figs, raisons, dried plums…).

Taste:

The flavor follows the nose with flavors of dark dried fruit but there is more here: some toffee, a hint of caramel, and other malty flavors. There is a low - moderate bitterness.

Mouthfeel:

Medium body with an off-dry finish.

Overall:

While I am not a big fan of the Barleywine beer style I think this beer is pretty good. The nose of the beer reminds me of a Quad. The beer is not too sweet which is a benefit for my palate/preferences.

I have no experience drinking this beer fresh but my guess is that I would enjoy this beer more while fresh; with some Amarillo hop aroma/flavor present.

Cheers!

@rotsaruch @RobH @zid @LeRose

 

Good weekend morn, advocates. Today I have a beer that was discussed in the Beer Releases forum. I thought it sounded interesting and seemingly has a good goal in mind, so I was happy to see this Dogfish Head collaboration at my store yesterday. I'm not expecting much more than a decent Pilsner, and if that or better is achieved with a sustainable grain (as Kernza is stated as being), all is good.


From the linked forum, this is not the only collaboration Patagonia has done with a brewery using Kernza, but it is my first knowing go 'round with it. I have to say, the look of Kernza Pils is pretty solid - light white haze yellow golden body with a puffy white head and a fair amount of lacing. The nose is more grainy than bread-like, but has grass and floral notes with a light citrus edge to it. I might be imagining a very, very light skunk that is reminding me a little of imported lagers.

Unfortunately, things go a little awry from there, though not in any light or oxidation or off note way. My first impression is that they forgot the decimal point in front of the 5% on the front of the can. That is to say it had a bit of that N/A like taste. On the bright side, once I got over that initial impression and expected it, it improved a bit. Also, I started noticing more of the grassy notes I was getting in the nose.


I want to say that what I'm missing is a bit of malt sweetness in this, specifically at the opening. It's like the beer starts midway through the taste as the bitter ingredients start to push the sweeter notes around. That isn't to say this is overly bitter, it's more husky grain and grassy, with a little bit of clay (which I think may have led to my N/A vibe first impression) and a spritz of citrus as it warms.

So, it's not an overly light beer at 5%, but the feel is lighter than its punching weight. It also somehow found a way to grow on me a bit. I'm not sure if it's the best advertisement for what Kernza can do, unless of course it is the best that Kernza can do. And that's too bad, even if the beer actually isn't too bad.

 

Given that this beer is canned it is likely not a situation of the beer being lightstruck (i.e., 3-methyl-2-butane-1-thiol). At the risk of 'leading the witness' would the descriptor of match struck (i.e., the aroma of a freshly struck match) be applicable here?

Cheers!

 

Yeah, I can attempt to clarify. I wasn't trying to indicate that the note I was getting was from a common cause, just that there was a similarity to the end effect. It truly wasn't a big part of the aroma at all (hence the double very), but I tend to review in this thread in the moment, and that was the sensation I was getting in that moment, for whatever reason.

I'll take a second to note in this reply, that the beer unexpectedly grew on me a bit as I reviewed it. I started out thinking I was going to have to find the right times to finish the other four, but ended up thinking I could grab another of these out of the cooler without having to hold my nose

 

Good morning fellow beer enthusiasts. I'm picking up a new car in a few hours (after an eleven month wait, but that's another story for another day), so I'm starting my day with a lighter beer. This one is Penguin Porter (5.5%), from Whetstone Craft Beers in VT. I'd never even heard of this brewery until last fall, but stopped by for dinner when we were in the area and grabbed some beer while there.

3.73/5 rDev -1.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Medium brown on the pour, settling into a much darker fully opaque brown in the glass. 3/4 finger of fizzy, short-lived head. Aroma has some really nice roasted malts with some chocolate in the background. It's simple, but very nice on the nose.

Taste is toasty malts with a touch of bitterness. Again, simple but in a good way. Feel is very light bodied.

Overall, this is a solid beer that I'd be happy to enjoy again, next time preferably at their tap room overlooking the CT river in VT / NH (the state line runs directly through the taproom).

 

Thank you @SawDog505 for kicking off the weekend! I typically have a theme for my weekend choices (same brewers, same styles, etc.) but I have no common theme this weekend. Operation Cellar Clear is going well, and I will still have 19 more new to me cellar beers to clear after this weekend.

This will likely be my only opportunity for a beer from the brewer, Saint Somewhere with "somewhere" being in Tarpon Springs, Florida, as they closed a few years ago. It is a collaboration with another brewer which I hope continues brewing for a very long time. I liked the five honey imperial stouts brewed by FiftyFifty pulled from the cellar in February.

Hope this held up as well. This is the oldest bottle in my cellar, as I didn't even get into craft until 2015.

Saint Somewhere & Jester King Collaboration - Bouteille Vert



Bottle Notes: Purchased at Local Option in May, 2020, cellared until 1/9/22, refrigerated thereafter. 5% ABV Farmhouse Ale brewed with honey. 25.4 oz. No bottle date, cork lists 2015.

Brewed in collaboration with our friends at Jester King Craft Brewery, Austin, Texas, with local orange blossom honey. We both tend to be sticklers for tradition. Open fermentation, wild yeast, simple grain bills, even down to the packaging. The beer is following in the footsteps of those who we most admire. The Farmhouse brewers of Southern Belgium & Northern France where the bottle of choice was and still is green. Some things in life are expected. Caviar is salty. Great artisan cheese is funky. Sea Island cotton wrinkles. Farmhouse ales come in green bottles. Embrace it. Enjoy it.

Appearance: Poured about half the bottle into a large tulip, capped the bottle to save the rest for later. Murky golden orange base, medium carbonation, bright white puffy head leaves within a minute or two, faint soapy lacing throughout. 4.0

Aroma: Funky, lightly tart. No skunky notes, likely properly cellared by Local Option and definitely by me (no light, unheated underground basement). Lemon and white grape. Not getting the honey I hoped for. Strength somewhat muted, but good considering the age. 3.75

Taste: Consistent with the aroma, light lemon and grape lead, getting a bit of honey taste and grass notes. Taste somewhat dull / muted, assuming time ravaged the freshness. Grading on a slight curve based on the 7ish years on the green bottle, but this is a good tasting saison. 3.75

Mouthfeel: Light body, carbonation is faint after a few minutes. Tart, dry, funky. Sweet flavors are kept in check. Lightly dry aftertaste. Packs a good punch for 5.0%, stronger than the ABV. 4.0

Overall: This bottle held up well. Aroma and taste somewhat faded, but still enjoyable. Wish more honey came through. No longer have a chance to try this or anything else from this closed brewer fresh, but this is a nice Saison, and I'm glad I finally cracked this open two years after securing this bottle. 3.75

The beer planned for tomorrow was purchased for the cancelled bock tasting. It will be my first Eisbock, so I will need to brush up on this style before taking the plunge.

Cheers!

 

Two new beers for me so far this weekend. At Southern Yankee in Houston earlier. Always a great brewery and restaurant.

Firs up is King Monkey Weizenbock, 9.1% ABV



Pours a dark ruby brown color. A one finger beige head forms, and recedes to leave a little lace.
This nose has a big malty, bready and spicy aroma. Along with banana esters. Really inviting.
Taste wise, all that bread, spice and esters are the show. Dark baked bread, cinnamon, and banana. Enough sweetness, but doesn't ever get unbalanced or cloying. Very nice.
A full body with moderate carbonation. This becomes ultra smooth, silky, and moreish. Really warming. without any alcohol heat, and welcoming to back to again.

This is a pretty darn good example of a dark Weizenbock. All the malty goodies are there while being balanced and very warming. I really enjoyed this one, well done.

Overall score is 4.09, A- for me.
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/54216/589509/?ba=champ103#lists


Next is Centurion, Biere De Garde, at 8.0% ABV



Pours a dark ruby red color. A one finger white head forms and recedes. Some lace is left behind.
A balanced malty and hoppy aroma. Baked bread, with grassy and earthy hops.
Taste wise, like the nose, malty, grainy and bread like. Some earthy hops and a candy like sweetness. A light lingering bitterness.
A medium body with crisp carbonation. This becomes smooth at the same time, as it breaths. Not hard to drink at all, something I could come back to if in the mood.

I appreciate the attempt here, at making a Biere De Garde, more than anything. Though its more of a generic red ale. There is nice balance, and its fine for what it is. There is just nothing that really distinguishes this as a Biere De Garde, as I would like more yeast and ester character to come through. Still cheers for the effort.

Overall score is 3.6, B
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/54216/599113/?ba=champ103#lists

I have a Saison from a brewery in Seattle that I have never had before. I have never seen the brewery in Houston, so I'm looking forward to it later on today or tomorrow. Fair Isle Fay Fuller Saison. I'll be back then.

 

Making it's BA debut, Beach House by Naples Beach Brewery of scenic Naples Florida. A well made Saison that was enjoyed yesterday afternoon.

The first thing I noticed is that distinctive Belgian yeast smell. Cheers.

4.04/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
by Amendm from Florida

From a 10-oz. pour at the brewery. Golden straw bodied with a thin white cap with short retention. A slight yeast haze clears away.

Belgian yeast greets the nose with faint bready malt, hops are faint and floral. A faint hint of banana and citrus fruit.

Semi-dry with low bitterness, malt and hop flavor are well matched, Apple and pear are added to the light fruity taste. Slightly funky with a twinge of sourness at the fast, Lager-like finish. Yeast and the floral hops linger briefly.

Light body with high carbonation, well balanced and brewery fresh. Session-able, smooth and easy to drink. Goes well with 90-degree weather.

 

Revision's Cryptic Love, a collab with Ghost Town. Brewed with Mosaic, Galaxy, Cryo Simcoe, Cryo Mosaic
3.78/5 rDev -5.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Appearance: exceptionally clear gold with lots of carbonation flow, minimal head
Smell: indiscernible subtle fruit, a little pine
Taste: mango, melon, slight pineapple on the finish. Below average bitter for the style
Mouth: medium (-) body, above average carbonation, clean dry finish. The best attribute of this beer.
Overall: On these collaboration beers, sometimes seems like the two breweries fail to merge their two visions of what the beer should be, and the lack of alignment in purpose and conflicting hop bill ends up with a muddled beer that doesn't live up to expectations. So it is with Cryptic Love.

 

Another new one from my new favorite brewery, Backcountry Brown Porter by Naples Beach Brewery of scenic Naples Florida. This was enjoyed last night, Friday has always been the weekend to me.
Cheers.

3.83/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
by Amendm from Florida

An easy pour from a 750-ml can (filled to order at the brewery) created two fingers of tan soapy foam with average retention that sunk and became rocky as scattered large bubbles popped. Very dark brown, clarity is noticed when glass is almost empty. Ruby highlights in front of fire.

Big smell of roasted malt, grainy and bready (fresh backed dark bread) with mild floral hops.

Neutral taste with low bitterness, coffee is far in front of bread and grain with a hint of burnt toast. Bitterness comes from roasted character more than the hops. Pleasing taste of sweetness trying to peak through. The finish lasts a while as bitterness builds to average; it dries to semi-dry with coffee lingering on.

Medium bodied with low carbonation, smooth and session-able with well-hidden alcohol. A bit too much coffee for my taste and it goes a bit flat halfway through a pint. Enjoyable none the less and easy to drink.

 

Maybe the theme is "Spring Cleaning"?

Cheers!

 

A nice day, with temperatures expected in the mid 80s. A trip to the recycling facility done, groceries have been picked up, so all my Saturday chores are completed. We'll probably take the puppy to the farmer's market so he can continue with his socializing skills.
Today's new beer is Omen, an imperial stout from Progression Brewing Company in Northampton, MA. It is 8.6% ABV.

A very dark brown color. Small tan head that recedes quickly.
Aroma of coffee and chocolate.
Very strong espresso taste, dark chocolate.
Coffee bitterness lingers, creamy mouthfeel.
Very nice.

 

By request of @Danmullens1, here are my thoughts on this beer. I have been really looking forward to trying it. Sometimes I review a beer, and immediately determine there is not much that really stands about it. I don't think that will be the case here. The color is black, though it has a slight red tint, like seeing fires burning in the distance at night. The smell. Wow. Very strong. Ginger root, lime, rum, peat, and a hint of A&W root beer. The taste is super unique. It does not taste like beer. It tastes like a rum and cola cocktail, consumed with huge chunks of lime and hot charcoal in your mouth. The ginger, lime, and rum flavors are very strong. Too strong. The aftertaste has a cigarette component to it. It burns and is unpleasant. The mouthfeel is spicy, harsh, and quite simply like a rum and cola cocktail, not a beer. Overall, this is a unique beverage, but it is not something I would seek out again. I credit Central Waters Brewing for trying something creative, but this is not a delicious beer.

 

Did you buy this in CT? I don't drink much Prairie Artisan (somewhat hit or miss for me), but this sounds great.