New Beer Weekend #92

Poured into a 13 oz Teku glass not sure when it was canned. Pours an attractive hazy orange with a finger sticky white head that leaves thin lines of lace with nice retention. 4.25

Aroma peach, pineapple, tangerine, apricot, and grapefruit rind. 3.75

Taste follows peach, pineapple, tangerine, apricot, and grapefruit. 3.75

Mouthfeel is above average, plenty of life, maybe a tad dry, and at 7.2% it has big flavor but easy going down. 4

Overall this is nice, far form dazzling but pretty good. 3.75

 

I had a plan …..

And then the plan changed when my wife of 32 years went to the store close to our camper (Meijer’s) and bought me beer unsolicited for the first time ….. ever. She bought it because I’ve been working a lot (true) and she wanted to get me one of “my beer nerd beers” and she picked this one because of the can and she’s heard me talk about Founders a LOT.

So I’m having this at her request, then I’ll be back shortly with a beer from @jonphisher from NBS BIF #15 that I’ve been longing for.

PS: wives can be confounding. On multiple levels.



3.94/5 rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by ovaltine from Indiana

This hazy pours a golden peach color that is indeed hazy, but not murky in the least, and sports a bubbly white head that provides moderate lacing. The nose is loads of peach and mango, and a bit of malt sweetness from the oats.

The peach and mango are even more pronounced on the taste, and work really well with the oats, but there’s no “pop” to this “imperial hazy,” which surprised me a bit coming from Foundets.

The mouthfeel is full and softer per the hazy style. I’d drink this again, but I wouldn’t go to great lengths to secure another pint.

 

New Province Brewing's Tropic Mango & Pineapple IPA, 6.3%; 3.23 overall

Pours a hazy & effervescent gold with a pinky of beige colored head. Average head retention & lacing

S: Mango, pineapple, really the only positive about this beer

T: Mango, a little pineapple & sour orange up front. Some pineapple & orange notes, plus dryness & lime once this beer warms. Finishes dry, a little sour, with lime & pineapple acidity

MF: Medium body, fairly restrained carbonation, okay balance, a little gritty

Drinks more like a juice drink than a beer, doesn't pull together at all. I give this Brewery credit for always trying something new, but this is a miss

 

Honorable mention beer from last night.

Tributary Nebenfluss German Pilsner, reviewed here. Very good Pilsner. We took a quick three day getaway to Ogunquit with pur grandson. He has two books about Ogunquit and Perkins Cove we've read a hundred times, and took him to see the real thing. First time at an ocean beach, walked the entire Marginal Way and found all the places from the stories.

I'll be back soon with a legit NBW beer, but wanted to throw Tributary a little love - don't see them here very much.

 

Well its been an interesting few days around me, as in not really interesting unless you are me Tons of construction is going on around me, and I have had intermittent power outages cause of that. Anyway, luckily I'm never more than a bike ride, or long walk away from many places.

Which brings me to New Magnolia Brewing. They opened in Houston about 3 years ago, and I have been really hit an miss with them. Though they always at least try interesting new styles, I've always come away a little disappointed. Except when it came to their CASK beers. The few English Mild's and even a great traditional English Summer Bitter have all been spot on.

Saying all that, I was really excited when I found out they purchased all the cask firkins from Hay Merchant. A once great bar that use to always have 5 casks on at any one time, which is not something you see very often around here. Not only that, they were true English styles, or if they were being experimental some conditioned Zwickelbiers (or close to that ha).

So, now that basically all Houston breweries have stopped making cask beers (Holler and Saint Arnold always had excellent examples, but basically no more for various reason), New Magnolia is at least trying to take up the mantle, lets see how this goes...Sorry for the long epilogue ha, so I have made bold some of the important stuff.

The first thing I see is a gravity cask on the bar...a little confused as I know they have at least two hand pumps...


The beer itself is called Rauch Sticke Altbier, ah cool a smoked German style. I'm down for this. 4.9% ABV


Pours a dark reddish brown color. A thin bubbly white head forms and recedes in a second with no lace. Not entirely surprised by the pour, but I have had many casks, gravity or otherwise, that looks better than this.
Aroma of camp fire, ash and smoke in the nose. Sweet malts, and that is it. Not a lot of nuance which is a bit disappointing for me.
Taste wise, like the nose, camp fire smoke. More ash like than anything meaty, and becomes a bit acrid. Sweet caramel malts. Again, missing some nuance that I would like, but certainly not bad.
A light body, almost no carbonation, and pretty lifeless. Which is the major downfall for this offering IMO. Good casks are not flat, no matter what anybody says. Saying all that, not entirely difficult to drink, just not something I'm looking to come back to.

I appreciate the attempt. Though its missing on several marks. Smoked beers can have a lot of subtlety and nuance, which this doesn't have. Along with casks should never be this flat. The presentation of this being a gravity cask on the bar, instead of on a hand pump is an interesting decision, or just laziness. I don't know which. Anyway, saying all that, its not all together bad, just not something I would recommend for a full pint. Maybe just a taster will do for most people.

Overall score is 3.35, which is B- territory for me.
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/58057/600425/?ba=champ103#lists

 

Tonight's proper contribution is Mirrorball Magic from Foundation. Frankly purchased for the Pink Boots tie in, but here's the skinny from the brewery:

We gathered together with friends from Maine Beer Company, Allagash, The Thirsty Pig, and Pink Boots Society Maine to brew our Pink Boots Collaboration IPA. We used this year’s Pink Boots hop blend from Yakima Chief Hops (Idaho Gem, HBC 630, Talus, Triumph, and Loral), and brought Amarillo, Idaho 7, and Simcoe into the mix for a well-balanced, 7% IPA that brings together fruity, citrusy, and dank notes.

We are proud to to contribute to Pink Boots Society’s scholarships for women in the brewing industry through sales of Mirrorball Magic!

Grains
2-Row, Wheat, Maine-grown Pale Malt

Hops
Pink Boots 2022 hop blend, Amarillo, Idaho 7, Simcoe

Yeast
House American
ABV
7%

It looks like this:



Yellowish golden, cloudy, transluscent, rocky white head that falls to a soap bubble layer with decent clinginess.

The aroma is very fruity, citrus and melon, some faint stone fruit and I am thinking peach. Pineapple, a little hint of earthy weed.

The taste is straightforward and accurate to the subtype. The citrus emerges as a combo of grapefruit, orange, tangerine. There's a honeydew melon note, not so much peach as the nose suggested, and a fairly decent pineapple flavor. Moderate bitterness hit on the back end with some dank earthiness.

Soft and smooth, not too lively on the carbonation. Very slightly dry.

Ok...so what to do here with a NEIPA. It tastes good, it's well made, but I find again it is one of the huge pack of 4.0-ish examples of the style. Nothing wrong with it by any stretch, but nothing to distinguish it either, at least to my taste buds. Good cause, nice beer, but a nice beer swimming in the sea of similar brews.

 

Another beer from New Magnolia, and apparently a collaboration with True Anomaly. One of my favorite breweries in Houston, that also makes great Saisons.

First Bloom, described as a Tart Saison. 5.1% ABV



Pours with a touch of haze, a golden yellow color. With a white head that forms. Good retention initially, with lace left behind.
A yeasty, plastic and phenolic aroma up front. A touch of sulfur, cooked veggie and mineral. Maybe some DMS? With a slightly fruity aroma as well.
Taste wise here, there is more tartness than I first expected. Almost acidic like, with a yeasty phenolic edge to it. Finishes sweet and fruity and that all mingles in a generic sweet/tart candy kind of way.
A medium body that has a nice crisp bite. Its OK to drink, but doesn't come close to some of my favorite Saisons.

I originally didn't know this was a collaboration with True Anomaly. As these things go, its an OK collaboration. Though, definitely seems more on the New Magnolia side of things, as I have gotten that same plastic like phenolic character from other beers they make. Saison or not. While not bad overall, just seems generically sweet/tart otherwise. Which is fine if not anything special.

Overall score is 3.26, a C+ from me.
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/58057/539303/?ba=champ103#lists

 

#2, this was sent my way by @jonphisher in NBS BIF #15. I had high expectations for this beer and it exceeded them - by a LOT.

You are a rockstar, Jon.



4.25/5 rDev +2.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
by ovaltine from Indiana

Pours a rich brown color that is nearly clear and features an off-white head that provides beautiful lacing straight down the glass. The nose has a substantial chocolate note and some toffee, and a nice grassy note as well.

There’s a LOT going on with this 4.2% ABV beer.

The taste features the chocolate, which is absolutely delicious, and the toffee is a bit more on the roasty side, fitting well with the grassy flavors from the noble hops.

The mouthfeel is crisp, perfect for this rich lager that packs a ton of flavor into a little package.

 

Superflux Color & Shape

4.19/5 rDev -3.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25




Can received in BIF 15 from @Beersnake1

Canned 2.10, opened 4.23.22, poured into a spiegelau ipa glass

Brewers notes: Our flagship IPA. Colour & Shape is our little baby, our image of the everyday IPA. Bold enough to make you take notice, but that keeps you wanting more. Made with large amounts of Citra hops, and full of tropical and citrus fruit notes.

ABV: 6.5% / BITTERNESS: MEDIUM / CRUSHABILITY: HIGH

Pale hazy orange liquid, two finger soapy white foam cap, good retention

BIF bright orange citrus aroma , tropical fruits

Taste is citrus, white grape, pear, tropical fruits, juicy fruit gum

Gentle hop bite, semi dry finish

Good beer

 

Keeping with another @ovaltine beer from BIF 15, this is another Transient, appears to be a collab with Seedz brewery. Funny because I was doing research last night drinking a beer from Seed Brewery in NJ...glass courtesy of @FBarber also via the current BIF.

Transient/Seedz - Zwic Flair


Pours a beautiful pretty much crystal clear dark shade of gold, head settles to thin thin layers of see through white islands with a rind around the glass.

Aroma is instantly bread like with some grain and husk notes mixed in, along with just a touch of sweet.

The taste mirrors the nose very closely...very nice bread crust like bread notes, rustic like. The grain notes show themselves much less than expected, the sweetness shows in the absolute smallest way like a watered down drop of floral like honey.

Great feel to this one, the carbonation is very present but soft and it finishes incredibly clean, semi dry, I'd say pretty much zero bitterness.

This beer was very enjoyable, it is much more complex than you would think based on its color. This would be a fun beer to give someone blind (glass as well). I would suspect many would think it is much darker than it tastes, a fun fun beer. Thank you for sharing your beer world with me @ovaltine

 

4 Hands Brewing Co. Single Origin Imp Stout. 10.5%; 3.82 overall

Pours an effervescent cola/mahogany color with minimal tan head.

S: Vanilla, iron

T: Vanilla, cocoa, mocha & blueberry ( front & center ) & cola notes, & just a little coffee up front. Coffee, dryness, vanilla & blueberry are dominant as this warms. Finishes dry with mocha & blueberry notes

MF: Medium body, fairly lively carbonation, smooths out rapidly, warming

Solid, drinkable take on the style, my hopes were higher for this one though

 

Hey what's going on?!

I am actually laying low, I did a giant bunch of gardening and mulching and I am so exhausted.

and holy carp am I thirsty...

I am already on my 4th beer and I am still thirsty!

However, this one was new and it was quite a unique animal, so let's check this out.

Sapwood Cellars - Sail Into The West, New Zealand Lager with added Sauvignon Blanc Grape juice.



Poured from the can into a Libbey style pilsner glass.

Pale and bright lemon yellow, with total clarity. Has a bit of that "doctor" sample look to it unfortunately, with a big bleach white head that is low in retention and quite bubbly. Top ups, will cloud the body eventually.

Aroma is huge on a big grape like must character no surprise. There's also a huge amount of smokey woody and big earth coming off of this. Not too unfamiliar with this aroma, but if you are into Sauvignon Blanc or that certain riesling like character, you know what this is, and to some it's real offensive. Bold and really brash, I am very curious to see how the palate turns out though. There's also a real nice stoned fruit and particular apricot like quality coming off.

Very interesting and unexpected experience on first sip. Clean and good malt backbone but filled with a touch of tropical and grass like flavors. The added grape juice gives to wild earth and even cidery like flavors that are musty, smokey, and large on apple and pear. Finishes a bit clean but also peppery and somewhat cider bubbly and prickly, with real good dried nectarine apricot stone fruit character, maybe even marmalade...

Neat unique tasting lager, with the added Sauvignon Blanc grape juice, but this might not be everybody's cup of tea.

look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4 | BA generated Score: 3.93

Cheers!

 

This is a new beer and a new brewery for me however I am the second one to review it.
Otto's Barn by Ankrolab Brewing Co. of scenic Naples Florida. A well-made American Amber Ale.
Cheers.

3.84/5 rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
by Amendm from Florida

A strong pour from a 32-oz. crowler (canned to order at the brewery) was needed to reach a skinny finger of light tan soapy foam with short retention and no lacing. Clear light amber-straw color.

Caramel malt greats the nose although it is faint. Floral and herbal hops are second. Very faint cookie dough and toffee.

Semi-sweet with low bitterness. Sweet malt leads the way with balancing hops, the dough smell is replaced by a bready taste with some toast. General graininess and raisin sweetness ride the solid malt backbone. The finish is fast with hop bitterness rising to average and sweet malt lingering for the aftertaste.

Medium bodied with below average carbonation. This beer looks like it goes flat quickly, however a swish will bring it back somewhat. Clean and well balanced, alcohol is hidden behind the hop bitterness. Smooth a session able. The low carbonation is not a deal breaker, I plan on trying this one again.




Beer and hockey, nice combo.

 

Greetings NBW - well I didn’t realize today was Saison Day, so instead here’s the very tasty Aosta Italian Pilsner from Schilling Beer Co. courtesy of @WunderLlama from NBS BIF #15.



This is a nice-looking pour - clear yellow gold with a large frothy, bright white head that slowly fades to a full cap, leaving lots of lacing. I should have gotten a pic. First impression is grainy malt and bread aroma with lemongrass. Flavors same, adding white pepper and grassy hops with a long, crisp peppery finish. Crisp medium carb and light-medium body. Nicely balanced – fresh and spicy, this is excellent stuff.

4.18/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

 

This is a monster of a beer!. Fantastic take on a TIPA Hazy loaded with fruity hops, akin to fruity pebbles. The malt holds this beast in check. It is a touch green and has a slight nail polish undertone; nevertheless, I look forward to consuming it again if I have the opportunity. 4.16