New Beer Weekend #92

Something new to me from Lagunitas, bought during this morning’s beer run - “Maximus Colossal IPA”:



I like Lagunitas. I’ve been to the Petaluma brewery several times over the years, and their beers are often what I want to drink. But I rarely buy it because the packaging makes it difficult to determine canning/bottling dates and in Florida it is usually months old (want to drink old IPA?…grab Lagunitas off an un-refrigerated store shelve in Europe!)…I guess at least, while hidden somewhere, there is a date…this time, the bottling date is in small black type inside the 6 pack carry case; one would have to take each bottle out, then look inside each sleeve, only to find that one sleeve has the date…such unwarranted obfuscation…pathetic…

Bottled 1/22/22. A thin, tight white head with a few rocks sits atop a pale amber liquid with excellent clarity; good cap retention; heavy ring; bands of medium sticky lace. Sweet caramel malt; grapefruit, orange and a whiff of pine; some earthy hop aroma as beer warms. Taste is sweet malt base followed by bitter grapefruit peel hops; orange peel middle; very little pine with some earthy hop dullness on backend. Medium light body, moderate minus carbonation; no warmth from 9% abv; no astringency; smooth malty/sticky feel. Overall, the beer verges on sweet vs. bitter; it reminds me of The Waldo’s but less sweet and less phenolic; admittedly, this is my DIPA wheelhouse - West Coast baby!

4.75 | 4.25 | 4.5 | 4.25 | 4.25
Score: 4.38 rDev + 9.8%

A tasty DIPA approximately 90 days out. Some brewers still don’t date their beers. Sad. Lagunitas is not much better…I bought this beer on a flyer because I had not had it before, and at the higher abv figured it would still be tasty to me, notwithstanding looking for their archaic Julian dating on bottle necks (none) and finding nothing on the outside of the packaging at the store…upon going through the packaging at home, carefully, I found the date inside the carton sleeve - I call Bullsh!t.

Cheers gang!

 

White Elm Oliver Sir Chungus Imperial Pastry Milk Stout, 11.5% ABV. Pours thick and black with a one-finger brown head that left great lacing. Nose is incredible chocolate, marshmallow, lactose, and cinnamon. Taste follows, quite sweet, moderately bitter. Excellent mouthfeel with adequate carbonation. Nose is much better than the taste, but still excellent.

4.29/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

I don't know how I missed the picture of the cat on the label, but finally spotted it, and figured out the cat must be Oliver Sir Chungus. Their labels usually don't have humans or other animals.

 

Well, entering all those reviews from yesterday was thirsty work, so I reached for something from @Roy_Hobbs boxes during NBS BIF #15. Came up with Alternating Currants, a sour ale with black currants. It's pretty nice: https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/59482/600493/

 

Good afternoon NBW
I was so excited to find an English beer that I forgot to check for a date.

Trooper: Day of the Dead
500mL bottle coded L1209 (7/28/21-9 months ago...) poured into a three sided Bass glass at 55° Fahrenheit 4.7% per label. The beer pours bright light copper in color with very light khaki head. The head recedes to a thin ring and single layer of bubbles. The aroma is mild with sweet caramel malt and floral, grassy and lemony hops. The taste is semisweet caramel malt with faded grassy, lemon hops and moderate bitterness. There's a note of cardboard beginning to creep in. The mouthfeel is thin bodied with just less that average carbonation and a mostly dry finish. Overall, ok. I would drink again if I remembered to check the date first and it was relatively fresh.

The beer is drinkable, but not really scratching my English Ale itch. There's nothing available locally anymore. Stores don't even carry Bass. I did get the chance to break out the old Bass glassware, so not a total loss.

Cheers all!

 

I had all intentions of making Double Sunshine Ruby Red Grapefruit my new beer Easter Sunday, but 350 miles from here with family I rarely see consumed all my time. I was lucky though to post from some new brewery stops along the way.
Fast forward to today, I was really happy to finally have patio weather and review my first outside beer of the year. Before I finished the session a front moved in with clouds and wind so I finished the beer inside.

4.28/5 rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
by woodchipper from Connecticut

Poured from a 16oz can stamped “Canned on 03/23/22” (about a month old), to a Nonic at fridge temp.
A nice off-white head of maybe 2” with a medium pour. Bubbles near the body are small and consistent in size. The head gradually changes towards the top, which is mixed in size with a mountainous surface. Body is a translucent gold with rising bubbles visible, though not as many streams as in a text-book pilz.
I was expecting grapefruit in the aroma, but all I get is a subtle dankness.
Grapefruit is present in the taste, and it is not hogging the show, i’d say just right. My memory tells me Grapefruit Sculpin was more aggressive in this regard, but it's been a long time since I've had that beer (1 billion dollars, hah, where did it get them?). Shining through the grapefruit is that nice clean hoppiness of the Lawson Sunshine series. The alcohol is noticeable in the taste. Have to admit, I never had “standard” Double Sunshine so I don’t know if this is a trait with the higher ABV Sips. (Disclaimer, I call standard Sip Of Sunshine my house beer, as I can always get it fresh as it is contract brewed in Connecticut and I really like it).
The mouthfeel is medium with a hint of hop oiliness.
Overall well done, but I think I prefer standard Sip of Sunshine.

 

First to Fall grisette from the Good Society

8oz pour at the brewery. On phone.

Mostly clear, small fine head, amber-gold. Smell is banana, spices, sweet earthiness.

Taste is similar, maybe lighter, more of a grain character.

Mouthfeel is medium but very effervescent. Overall, very nice.

 

Well, I thought HammerHeart released their last beer from Lino Lakes some weeks ago, but it turns out they canned the final (I assume this is really the final this time) three beers from their Lino Lakes brewery a week or so ago. Presumably, the Lino Lakes site is now closed. They have said little about their new brewery/site "up north" (as we say in Minnesota), and even less about any progress on the contract brewing front.

I picked up two of the three last week, passing on the "Thor’s Fury Returns" Imperial Porter. While I did enjoy their "Thor’s Imperial Pepper Porter", this beer doubles up on the pepper heat from that one. That does not appeal to me.

Anyhow, today I am tasting the Snösmältning Smoked Lager. When I first saw the name, I thought perhaps HammerHeart was making a Swedish-style portmanteau of "snow" and "malt". I put the word into a translator and found out "snösmältning" is Swedish for "snowmelt" in English. Apparently, this was intended as a late winter release, but if so, it's just a bit late for anywhere south of Hibbing! . (But, then, their new brewery is going to be north of Hibbing!)

On to the beer.

HammerHeart Snösmältning Smoked Lager
ABV: 7.1%
IBU: NA

Clear amber-orange color, nicely carbonated, topped by a stark-white thick head (with airy bubbles up against the glass, with very good retention. It leaves sticky and thick lacing as it slowly recedes.

Aroma is, as promised, smoke – campfire smoke – backed by fruity hops/malts. A slight hint of smoked meat.

The taste is, again as promised, smoke – lightly done. The initial taste is malt, a touch of vague fruitiness, and light smoke. No bittering to speak of. The middle and finish brings out a bit more, including the flavor (but not the heat) of peppers There is a brightness in the taste as well, reminiscent of north woods. The finish is dry. The aftertaste is where the pepper heat begins to build; even so, it remains at a level of pleasant warmth making for a very enjoyable sipping lager (if that is your bent – it is light enough and dry enough to also be a quite quaffable beer. I’m preferring to let the flavors linger.)

The mouth feel is lager-thin, but smooth, spiced up (so to speak) by the heat.

Overall, this beer underscores the loss to the Twin Cities brewing scene at the closing of the HammerHeart Lino Lakes brewery. Another wonderful, well-balanced smoked beer from them. As I’ve said before, I do hope they pursue the contract brewing they previously announced with due speed. Speaking selfishly, I’m much rather they do that than open a new small brewing operation up north!

L: 4.25 | S: 4.0 | T: 4.25 | F: 3.75 | O: 4.25 | Rating: 4.14

EDIT: I meant to also say that this beer is brewed in collaboration with Old Irving Brewing (Chicago? I believe).

 

This is a beer that requires review. The look is midnight black, which remains true with additional lighting. The smell features coffee, oats, brown sugar, black licorice, and vanilla. The taste provides flavors of black licorice, oatmeal, vanilla, burnt toast, and dark chocolate. It is well-balanced, and quite delightful. The mouthfeel is thick, oily, full, and smooth. Overall, this is as delicious as I expected. A triumph for Larry Bell, as he crosses the finish line.

 

It might just be a honeymoon phase, but I'm almost liking this Ruby Red slightly better than SoS, which I also get fresh on the regular, and which is more or less my house beer, too.

 

Good Society - Winter Lager

8oz pour at the brewery.

Dark amber / toffee color, translucent, small head. Smell is nutty, grain husks, toasty.

Taste is grain elevator (the smell/taste being in or around grain elevators, it's distinct and I don't know a better description), toffee and dates. Light roast, moderate grainy sweetness.

Mouthfeel is light and clean. This is really nice.

 

Where is the notepad shot?????

 

Be careful of the things you say...if I don't see you review by mid summer, incoming....

Also happy birth day to your better half...enjoy the day.

 

Hi Folks. I happened across this at the packie today on search for OEC's Maibock. Alas, I didn't procure that but grabbed a couple 4 packs of this.



I searched a ways on the can to see what it was hop'd with (really hoping it was of the noble variety). Turns out it's mosaic and citra. Unfortunately, I'm not really a fan of "hoppy" lagers. I prefer lager lagers, where not everything is turned into an IPA. But in any event, this is quite good. Wish I had only bought the one 4 pack though because it's not really what I wanted. Nice beer though. I'm sure plenty of folks will really enjoy this.

I think in my mind I was expecting something like the zwickel by Radeberger. This is well balanced though I find the malt elements are most of what you're getting. Perhaps because of all the floral notes of the Citra and Mosaic kind of blending into that. I suspect it'll grow on me. Cheers!

 

Thanks for opening up early Ross @Roy_Hobbs .
And a bigger thanks for sending me Mindfulness by Little Log cabin !!!
This gem is labeled as a QIPA (Quadruple) But the ABV is sooooooo hidden.
Stamped: BABY BORN ON 03/24/2022
Pours a fairly turbid golden orange. Fluffy white head leaps nearly 3 fingers in altitude before settling to a pillowy, consistent 3/4 inch cap.
Nose pumps abundant notes of pineapple, fresh squeezed orange juice, creamy malt that reminds me of the smell of cranberry orange scone batter, mango, and hints of wet grass.
Dear Lord, the flavors follow the nose faithfully. Mouth is awash in mango, pineapple, orange, and sweet grain. But all are fully present, yet none outshine the other. Smoothly sweet and subtly bitter all at once. What a finish.
Mouthfeel is medium, velvety, nicely carbonated, and finishes slick.

4.27/5 rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

 

114 proof?!? Fortified.