New Beer Weekend #92

Discussion in 'The Bar' started by Roy_Hobbs, Apr 23, 2022.

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  1. Roy_Hobbs

    Roy_Hobbs Pooh-Bah (2,623) Jan 21, 2017 Connecticut
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Greetings fellow beer lovers, and welcome to New Beer Weekend #92. Please join us in sharing your thoughts on any new to you beers you try this weekend. You don't need to write anything brilliant (my reviews are consistently pedestrian!), simply share any impressions of how the beer looked, tasted, smelled, felt, or even your overall impressions. We love pictures, too!

    I hope to see plenty of posts this weekend, as it's our official "share weekend" for NBS BIF #15. Don't know what a BIF (Beer it Forward) is? It's like a secret Santa, but a million times better because it's with beer. I've enjoyed so many great beers that I otherwise never would have without these BIFs.

    Speaking of which....onto the beer! First up for me today is Extended Barrel-Aged D.O.R.I.S. the Destroyer, a double imperial stout from Hoppin' Frog. This beer and glass were sent my way by the ever-generous @Ozzylizard.
    [​IMG]
    4.21/5 rDev -1.4%
    look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

    Pours a very deep brown / black with a good amount of dense, mocha colored head that receded to a thin, persistent cap and ring. Good looking beer. Aroma is rich and boozy. Vanilla, raisin, light roasted malts, oak, fig and maybe some chocolate all combine well.

    Unlike the nose, which lead with vanilla for me, the taste leads with the barrel notes. It's an interesting journey, as I get barrel up front, then more charred barrel, then some clear chocolate notes, with some pleasant light heat from the alcohol on the tail end. I'm not doing it justice, but there's a really nice complexity to the beer. Every sip seems a little different than the last, and as with the nose, the various flavors work well together. Full bodied and smooth going down.

    Overall, this is an enjoyable Saturday morning sipper as I watch Arsenal (hopefully) beat Man United.
     
    #1 Roy_Hobbs, Apr 23, 2022
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  2. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Four grains are better than one?

    Today’s beer is Tired Hands Ourison – Our Four Grain Saison. But there is moar to this beer than just the aspect of the four grains as mentioned on the can’s front label: “Oak Fermented – Can Conditioned”.

    Below is how this beer is detailed:

    “Ourison is our Four Grain Saison brewed with rye, oats, and wheat and hopped singularly with Cascade. Conditioned in oak and then allowed to fully express itself via a relatively lengthy can conditioning period. With this batch, we were pleased to find restrained acidity with a really beautiful presentation of our oak foudres through some light tannin, vanilla, and lemon. Those classic barnyard, hay, earth characteristics that we came to know and love are all there. 4.8% ABV.”

    Three grains are explicitly mentioned above (rye, oats and wheat) and I presume the fourth grain is barley (i.e., Pilsner Malt).

    Also, quite interesting that Tired Hands chose to use Cascade hops to brew this beer.

    Served in my Tripel Karmeliet tulip glass:

    Appearance:

    Straw yellow colored with a one finger white head which dissipates quickly.

    Aroma:

    A combination of fruity, citrusy and some spiciness.

    Taste:

    The flavor follows the nose with a combination of fruity, citrus and some spice. There is a hint of vanilla in the background. There is a tiny bit of tartness and there is low bitterness.

    Mouthfeel:

    Light-medium bodied, a spritzy carbonation level and a very dry finish.

    Overall:

    Very good! The flavors play very well with each other.

    I could envision this beer being a very refreshing summertime sipper.

    Cheers!

    @rotsaruch @KOP_Beer_OUtlet @RobH

    [​IMG]
     
    #2 JackHorzempa, Apr 23, 2022
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  3. Roguer

    Roguer Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,811) Mar 25, 2013 Connecticut
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Good morning, @Roy_Hobbs and fellow Weekenders!

    As some of you may know, this is the official share weekend for NBS BIF #15, the BIF directly in support of the NBW thread. Part of our requirements are a mystery beer.

    I've got a very busy weekend planned to celebrate my partner's birthday that is going to have me out of the house quite a bit both days (quite anomalous for both of us) - although some of that will still involve new-to-me beer. :wink: But still, I have limited availability for the official share, which means I'd better get started! :stuck_out_tongue:

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    And it's mystery beer live review time! Everything will be reviewed and scored live and blind. Scores may be tweaked after the reveal, depending on style (for example, an infected stout wouldn't score the same as an intentionally soured stout), but usually they don't move, except perhaps 0.25 up or down in Overall (which is where I often cover rating to style more than the other aspects).

    Very good head production and retention for what I assume is a very potent stout of some kind. Appearance: 4.25

    Whoa! This is a potent nose, but it reveals less than you might think. It's barrel aged of some kind - I suspect bourbon or rye, but I'm not ruling out multiple barrels or wine - and quite roasty. Just a touch of aspirin; is it perhaps oxidized? I'm going with a barrel aged RIS from the nose alone, but ... hmm. Additional notes of prune, toast, bitter chocolate, and some neutral alcohol burn. Without knowing the style or possible ingredients (or barrels), rating blind ... Aroma: 4.25

    Just the slightest bit watery on the palate up front, but not in a bad way. It's clearly a big beer, but it's neither thick nor chewy. Certainly full bodied. Long, hot finish. Despite what appears to be double digit ABV, it's not an unpleasant or harsh sip; you can very easily sit, sip, savor, and chew. Lingering chest heat. Seriously long finish, despite the alcohol effervescence, so I'm going to mention it again; I'm still on my first sip, and I haven't even described the flavor yet! Aftertaste is very pleasant. Mouthfeel: 4.00

    OK, so definitely barrel aged, and definitely an imperial stout. I'm still leaning RIS, although it's a bit smoother; there's just enough char, red grape, leather, and bark. It could easily be smoothed out by age or the barrels. It could also be a stout/barleywine blend, which would also explain the flavor profile.

    I'm going bourbon barrels, at least a year; they're prominent. Could be rye, but I'm not getting any peppery spice. My partner said it was a bit sour to her, but the only sourness I'm picking up is from the (presumably bourbon) mash.

    Tasting notes include whiskey, oak, chocolate (moderately bitter, less so than on the nose, but still not exactly sweet), licorice (primarily on the finish), cream, toffee, caramel (but not prominent, like salted caramel), light coffee, toast, walnut, very light but still noticeable char, a hint of raspberry. Flavor: 4.25

    I'm really somewhere in the 4.00-4.50 range on flavor, and I may update mouthfeel, as well. While I prefer a thicker stout, this thing is just insanely easy to drink.

    So final guess?

    Bourbon barrel aged imperial stout, 11-13% ABV, aged 12-24 months. No flavor additives (adjunks). That's it.

    I'm certainly not ruling out the following possibilities: multiple barrels (although I'm really only getting whiskey), mild additives (I suppose there could be coffee, lactose (actually, an imperial milk stout really makes sense given the mouthfeel and hint of cream up front), or something else I'm not really picking up), blended stout/barleywine/old ale/strong ale combination. But if so, I'm not really picking up on them in any significant way.

    Final answer. :stuck_out_tongue:

    Most importantly, I really like this! Thanks, @beergoot !
     
    #3 Roguer, Apr 23, 2022
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  4. Roguer

    Roguer Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,811) Mar 25, 2013 Connecticut
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    The reveal!

    [​IMG]

    Cerberus (I should have known) Cave of Nyx, described on BA only as an 11% ABV barrel aged imperial stout.

    Let's review the guess: "Bourbon barrel aged imperial stout, 11-13% ABV, aged 12-24 months. No flavor additives (adjunks)."

    Looks pretty good for me!

    But wait! Untappd has more of a description. I can't verify this with the Cerberus website (their description also simply specifies 11% ABV barrel aged imperial stout), but this is what Untappd has to say:

    "A smooth 11% ABV stout aged in Four Roses Bourbon and Axe & the Oak Port barrels for over a year, then blended together with a hint of vanilla."

    So to recap reality against guess: stout (check); 11% ABV (11-13%, check - that's probably the craziest part of the whole guess); aged 12-24 months in bourbon barrels (check).

    Then the additional possibilities I considered: multiple barrels (check, although I don't pick up port; I can see the influence now, but it's pretty mild); mild additives (yes and no; no lactose, but "a hint of vanilla," which perfectly explains that bit of cream I taste up front); blended beer (nope).

    In full transparency, I didn't hedge my bet on any of those possibilities, so the multiple barrels and vanilla are technically wrong with regards to my official guess (assuming Untappd is correct, anyway). They do, however, explain the full profile that I described, which is why I said I wasn't ruling them out, even if I couldn't confirm them.

    I'm pretty happy with that call. I got to about a 90% solution blind (98% based on BA, maybe closer to 85% Untappd).

    A very fun blind review. Thanks, @beergoot !
     
    #4 Roguer, Apr 23, 2022
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  5. Roy_Hobbs

    Roy_Hobbs Pooh-Bah (2,623) Jan 21, 2017 Connecticut
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    For a blind review, very well done, & the beer sounds great. Side note, love the opener.
     
    #5 Roy_Hobbs, Apr 23, 2022
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  6. Roguer

    Roguer Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,811) Mar 25, 2013 Connecticut
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader


    That was also provided by @beergoot in this BIF, so I thought it only fair to feature it in the post. :grinning:
     
    #6 Roguer, Apr 23, 2022
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  7. jkblr

    jkblr Grand Pooh-Bah (5,132) Nov 22, 2014 Indiana
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Good morning NBW
    I need to go mow grass this morning before temperatures soar, but first, hydration
    [​IMG]
    Fats Heads Lime Feelin' Good

    12oz canned 03/24/22 poured into a shaker pint glass at fridge temp 4.9% ABV 17 IBU per can. The beer pours bright, effervescent golden straw yellow with nearly white head. The head recedes to a thin ring and island. The aroma is mild with pale malt and lime. The taste is semisweet limey malt with a touch of cracker type malt as the initial rush of lime fades. Mild bitterness. The mouthfeel is thin bodied with above average carbonation and a mostly dry finish. Perfectly clean lagering with no off flavors. Overall, very good. They did not skimp on the lime here, so your enjoyment of this beer will hinge on your lime tolerance.

    I'm glad I bought a six pack of this one. It's really a no brainer when Fat Heads sends fresh new to me beers this way. Now, let's talk about Hop Juju on the regular here in Southern Indiana...

    Cheers all and enjoy the new beer in your glass this weekend!
     
    #7 jkblr, Apr 23, 2022
    cavedave, eppCOS, MacMalt and 33 others like this.
  8. SawDog505

    SawDog505 Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,922) Apr 9, 2010 New Hampshire
    Pooh-Bah

    [​IMG] Poured into a 16 oz Snulip glass canned recently. Pours a very hazy yellow orange with a finger plus sticky white head that leaves thin streaks of lace, with excellent retention. 4.5

    Aroma is mango, peach, tangerine, coconut, and apricot. 4.5

    Taste follows mango, peach, tangerine, coconut, a little pineapple, and apricot really well balanced and I don’t get much coconut considering the hop bill with Cashmere and Sabro being involved. 4.5

    Mouthfeel is above average, not sticky or dry, soft gentle carbonation, and at 8% it goes down really easy. 4.5

    Overall I am really digging this one and is stands out as different. I would highly recommend. 4.5 Cheers all.
     
    #8 SawDog505, Apr 23, 2022
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  9. BBThunderbolt

    BBThunderbolt Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,846) Sep 24, 2007 Kiribati
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I've got to work security at the theatre tonight, so my contributions today are gonna be a bit thin (I'll probably slide a couple in), but, I did get to a couple breweries yesterday, and after I get the reviews written, I'll post them here.
     
    #9 BBThunderbolt, Apr 23, 2022
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  10. BBThunderbolt

    BBThunderbolt Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,846) Sep 24, 2007 Kiribati
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    #10 BBThunderbolt, Apr 23, 2022
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  11. beergoot

    beergoot Grand High Pooh-Bah (9,310) Oct 11, 2010 Colorado
    Mod Team BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    ...product description of the Axe and The Oak port barrel finished bourbon casks likely used for the Cerberus 'Cave of Nyx':

    In 2018, Axe and the Oak began experimenting with a barrel-aged series. It’s now time to present the first product of our experimentation, the Cask Strength Port Barrel Finished Bourbon. Available in limited quantities across Colorado. Sitting at 114 proof in either Ruby or Tawny variations aged between six and nine months, it takes on a deep red tone along with notes of plum, berry, caramel, and vanilla bean. On the nose, deep dark fruit, cinnamon toast, and raspberry jam.
     
    #11 beergoot, Apr 23, 2022
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  12. BBThunderbolt

    BBThunderbolt Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,846) Sep 24, 2007 Kiribati
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    #12 BBThunderbolt, Apr 23, 2022
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  13. officerbill

    officerbill Pooh-Bah (2,228) Feb 9, 2019 New York
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    While wandering through my grocery's beer section yesterday I came across six 4 packs of a new 6.9% Helles Bock collaboration between Von Trapp and Thin Man (added to the DB by Von Trapp on 3/29). The label simply says Helles Bock Dry Hopped Lager and that it is part of their Stowe Style series.

    Von Trapp's website describes it as "a malt forward, 6.9% ABV, early spring pale lager, using Weyermann Pilsner and Munich malts. A light dry-hopping brings a floral, grassy, and spicy bouquet to the nose. This is a modern take on the classic springtime Bock to ring in the summer days ahead." and that description is pretty accurate.
    [​IMG]

    This pours a translucent amber with a touch of copper, with a long lasting white head that slowly dissolves into a film, and the aromas a fresh wheat and grass with a touch of honey and hint of flowers.

    The taste is sweet malts, fresh hay, a bit of honey, flower petals, and some peppery spice that feels thick going over the tongue and leaves a very slight bitter and pepper aftertaste.

    Overall this is a very nice helles bock. Rich tasting without being filling. The hint-of honey malts are sweetly satisfying and the hops show up primarily as background grass and flowers. A pleasant way to welcome in a new spring.

    4.12/5 rDev 0%
    look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
     
    #13 officerbill, Apr 23, 2022
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  14. BBThunderbolt

    BBThunderbolt Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,846) Sep 24, 2007 Kiribati
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    #14 BBThunderbolt, Apr 23, 2022
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  15. GreenBayBA

    GreenBayBA Grand Pooh-Bah (4,265) Aug 30, 2015 Wisconsin
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    [​IMG]
    BlackStack Brewing Spaghetti Western WCIPA. It has a light foamy white top that quickly dissipates. It presents a pristine clear golden apple juice color. The smell is not very strong, but it has a pleasant light citrus and pine scent. The taste is piney with prominate grapefruit and lemon flavors. The mouthfeel is light, smooth, and crisp. Overall, this is a nice, easy-drinking beer.
     
    #15 GreenBayBA, Apr 23, 2022
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  16. neenerzig

    neenerzig Pooh-Bah (2,885) Feb 15, 2006 Ohio
    Pooh-Bah

    #16 neenerzig, Apr 23, 2022
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  17. BBThunderbolt

    BBThunderbolt Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,846) Sep 24, 2007 Kiribati
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    #17 BBThunderbolt, Apr 23, 2022
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  18. BBThunderbolt

    BBThunderbolt Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,846) Sep 24, 2007 Kiribati
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    #18 BBThunderbolt, Apr 23, 2022
    Last edited: Apr 23, 2022
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  19. BBThunderbolt

    BBThunderbolt Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,846) Sep 24, 2007 Kiribati
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    #19 BBThunderbolt, Apr 23, 2022
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  20. ChicagoJ

    ChicagoJ Grand Pooh-Bah (5,247) Feb 2, 2015 Illinois
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Thank you @Roy_Hobbs for batting leadoff this weekend!

    Have two Jester King cellared beers planned this weekend. The first features the first batch of this saison brewed 5 1/2 years ago. The last review here listing a 2019 bottle. Untappd of course has many recent reviews, with no words or information, so not sure if this is still in their rotation.

    Jester King Saison Americaine

    [​IMG]

    Bottle Notes: Batch #1 - 12/12/16. 25.4 oz, 5.2% ABV. Authentic Farmhouse Ale, Austin, Texas. Purchased from Local Option in May 14, 2020, cellared until January 9, 2022, refrigerated thereafter.

    Ingredients: Texas Hill Country Well Water, Malted Barley, Malted Wheat, Hops, Mixed Culture of Brewers Yeast and Native Yeast and Bacteria.

    Notes: Saison Americaine embraces tartness as an intrinsic character of modern American Farmhouse Beer. An American emphasis on Mixed Culture Fermentation in Oak with souring bacteria has created a vein of beer distinct from it's classic Franco-Belgian counterparts. Unfiltered, unpasteurized, and 100% naturally conditioned.

    Appearance: Original photo did not save correctly, I've attached a photo of the second pour above. Bright white lingers for a few minutes before leaving soapy lacing. Murky golden orange base, heavy carbonation upon opening, mild carbonation sustained throughout. 4.25

    Aroma:     Nice bold aroma, oak, grassy, funky and tart. White grape and lemon. leans sweet but tartness checks it. Smells really enticing. 4.5

    Taste:     Consistent with aroma in both strength and flavor profile. Lemon lime grape leads, getting some barrel, grass, hay and oak as this warms. Funky, less tart than the nose would lead, all comes together very well. Light sourness as well. I love it when a saison comes together. 4.5

    Mouthfeel:     Light, crisp, refreshing. Mild carbonation after the heavy initial burst. Drinks light, even for a 5.2% ABV saison. Lightly dry and tart, easy drinking, clean finish. All as it should be. 4.5

    Overall:     This saison really held up well over the years. Taste, aroma, flavors all come together very well. Sour, tart, bursts with flavor, funky, all at proper and enjoyable levels.

    Really refreshing on this first over 80F day in Chicago this year. Would definitely pick these up if available down the line, would like to compare and contrast to a fresher version. 4.5

    Hope my planned beer for tomorrow, a Mild English Dark Ale, has held up as well.

    Cheers!
     
    #20 ChicagoJ, Apr 23, 2022
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