New Beer Weekend #101

Devil Child


12.4% English Barleywine by Evil Twin

The stout pours a lovely mahogany. Small head that quickly dwindles to a small ring at the glass edge. Carbonation was low with a heavy viscous feel.

Nose is an inviting mix of raisin-fig, vanilla, maple and malt. Sweet that some may find off putting. Not me.

Taste is big. Heavy sweetness found in the nose is extended into taste. Added to the mix is the ABV. A warming is felt more than a hot blast. Compare with KBS - I like both approaches. More maple in the taste than aroma pairs well with an appropriate amount of bitterness for an English style Barleywine.

I have a few ounces left in a glass from last night. Aside from the oddity of no carbonation (even low carbonation makes a big difference) the taste is still there. I’m tempted to try to cook this remnant down to see what kind of sauce it would make…

Sweet, malty, powerful. Highly recommended.

 

This is how we roll!?!

Today’s new beer (to me) is a Hefeweizen from Stark Brewing in Manchester, NH. I am fortunate to have this beer since it was gifted to me from a good friend.

Some Hefeweizen beer drinkers prefer to mix up the sediment in the bottle/can and one method is to roll the bottle/can on a flat surface to mix up the sediment with the beer. An alternative method is to hold the bottle from the neck and perform a swirling action. As a homebrewer who bottle conditions my beer my personal practice is to leave the dregs of the bottle behind via decanting. I carry this through when drinking commercial Hefeweizen beer as well.

It has been a number of years but I use to homebrew Hefeweizen beers. My goals when I made my Hefeweizen beers were:

· Strike a balance between clove and banana flavors

· A robust carbonation level – an effervescent beer with a large head

· A medium body

From an ingredient perspective brewing a quality Hefeweizen is fairly simple:

· For the malt use something like a 50/50 mix of Pilsner and Wheat Malt

· Use a modest amount of a noble hop added at the beginning of the boil for low bitterness

· Select a German Hefeweizen yeast stain (my personal preference is Wyeast 3068 which is reportedly the Weihenstephaner yeast strain)

But from a process point of view a quality Hefeweizen requires a bit of effort. For mashing, at a minimum you need to conduct a step mash which includes a step at 112 °F which is referred to as the ferulic acid rest; this step is essential for creating 4-vinyl guaiacol which yields the clove flavor in the resulting beer. Some brewers choose to also conduct decoction as part of the step mashing which will generate some Maillard Reaction Products to be part of the flavor profile (e.g., some additional richness to the malt flavor profile). During fermentation conducting an open fermentation is beneficial to increase esters (e.g., the banana flavor). And I have found that in my homebrewing that fermenting at 68 °F is the ‘sweet spot’ for achieving a balance of clove and banana flavor with the Wyeast 3068 yeast strain and I make sure to not over-pitch.

On the back of the can is the below story:

“Stark Brewing Co.

Hail the Ale

This is an unfiltered German style hefeweizen with a subtle balance of clove and banana. Made with 50% wheat malt, it has a beautiful pale straw color and thick head but is light enough in body to not be too filling. Prost!”

Lass uns trinken (Let’s drink)!

Served in my Kapuziner Hefeweizen glass (which was gifted to me at a Philly German Bierfest):

Appearance:

Golden colored with a slight haze. The best I could achieve was a two finger white head despite a very vigorous pour; the head dissipated very quickly.

Aroma:

A pleasant combination of clove and banana.

Taste:

The flavor follows the nose with clove & banana being the main flavors. There is a low bitterness. As the beer opens up the beer becomes quite sweet-ish.

Mouthfeel:

This beer is light – medium bodies with a low carbonation level.

Overall:

This beer is good with a pleasing flavor profile. Unfortunately the foam/carbonation is lacking in this beer.

I find the Hefeweizen beer style to be an enjoyable summer beer style.

Cheers!

@rotsaruch @RobH @Bierman9

 

3 Global 4+ IPAs to get today... CA, France, NY
Pliny The Elder Russian River | 8% | DIPA
4.64/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
by Act25 At Healdsburg CA, near the source, everyone serves Pliny (at weddings, Bardiva, SFO Uncorked, Mill Valley) etc, and it’s tempting to stick to this perfect legend where it’s so fresh.
a) Acres of lace over a perfect clear golden body.
s) Straw, sun baked grass, herb, hemp, over toffee malt,
t) carmelized core overtopped with marmalade rinds, blossoms, grass.
f) That extra kick in the final swallow is interesting.
o) So glad to enjoy a week of Pliny on vacation.

Mad Fat Pride- Interboro NY 7% NE IPA
4.07/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
1st Review by Act25 on NY Ferry
A) Clouded and typical. Decent lace and last.
S) Too faint, mostly pineapple.
T) Sharp, pineapple, cedar wood, spice cabinet, medicine cabinet.
F) tangy, sharpish, powdery.
O) Spritely Juneteenth brew.

Delta IPA | Brussels Beer
4.04/5 rDev +4.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
by Act25 in Marais, Paris, France.
A) 4 finger massive rocky head over a copper hazed body. Lasts long and laces completely. Sudsy, foamy.
S) Wood shaving, peaches, fruity, malty, spice.
T) Follows aroma, more sawn wood, spice cabinet, all subtle and floral. Balanced tart and sweet.
F) Mid body, moderate carbonation.
O) My first of brewer, would try them all, as this is complex, light, subtle, not obvious.

 

A couple from one of my favorite local breweries, Fair State.

Big Doinks

Appearance: Hazy yellow, big head.

Smell: Citrusy, fruity.

taste: Mild sweetness, pineapple, citrus, mild bitterness. Kind of a coating feel to it.

Overall: Bought a Fair State mixed 12 pack, I've probably had Big Doinks before but hadn't reviewed it. The can says it is west coast style, but it does not show the bitterness of a WCIPA. Tastes good enough, though the mouthfeel is more coating and not as dry as I'd like it to be.

Party Forward

Appearance: Cloudy yellow, huge head.

Smell: Citrusy, candy note, kind of a spice note?

Taste: Sweet, fruity, very soft feel. The spice note from the nose shows up as a light hefeweizen-like clove note.

Overall: This is an easy-drinking NEIPA, kind of interesting spice/clove note in the smell and taste makes it stand out a little bit, though I'm not sure that it's supposed to be there.

 

Great review. Makes me want to brew one. It’s a style I like, but have never brewed. Kudos!

 

Now is a good time IMO since I think the Hefeweizen is a great summer drinking beer.

If you want you can brew it extract as well (e.g., Briess Bavarian Wheat malt extract).

And IMO this beer is best packaged via bottle conditioning but it would be good as a kegged beer.

Cheers!

 

I don’t have the time this summer, but I’m thinking 2023. Luckily, a new development is that we have a good amount of local Hefeweizens available locally. I’d just do bottles as the gnome ready grouses about how much beer I have I’ll quiz you again in the spring. Thanks again.

 

And that is indeed a very good thing since with this beer fresh is best.

Every once in a while I will luck out and find a fresh batch of Weihenstephaner Hefeweizen on my local beer retailer's shelf and I will buy those but unfortunately more often than not those beers are quite old. Locally produced beers are a benefit here.

Cheers!

 

Another thunderstorm this morning. We've had some rain four of the last six days, a good start to monsoon season.
After the rain stopped, I went to the recycling center, picked up groceries, and walked the dogs.
Now it's sunny, approaching 90 degrees, and I can see some pool time in my future.
My new beer is Fast As You, a sour red ale brewed by Bow and Arrow Brewing in Albuquerque. ABV is 7.5%.
The beer is a dark reddish/brown color with only a hint of a head.
Aroma of sweet fruit, vanilla, and a bit of funk
Taste of tart cherry, vanilla, late kiss of hops
A nice subtle sour.

 

Greetings fellow beer geeks. Thought I'd be out of town this weekend, but plans fell through. Pan B is to enjoy several new to me saisons / wild ales. First up is Vera Mae from Hill Farmstead.

4.56/5 rDev +5.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

2019 vintage poured into a HF stem glass. Bright vibrant golden color with plenty of medium density white head that receded to a permanent cap / ring. Aroma is a really nice mix of flowers, lemon, honey, and grassy funk. Definitely multi-layered.

Taste is an explosion of flavor. Lovely balance of honey, grass, funk, yeast, dandelion and more. Can't do it justice with words, Just wonderfully complex. It's sweet, it's tart, it's earthy, and there's a little bit of bite. Crisp, light and well carbonated. Delicious beer.

 

Hoppy Saturday Advocates and thanks @FBarber for NBW. This is a lovely Weissbier and I'm feelin' lucky to enjoy it here. Cheers!
Konig Ludwig Weissbier 5.5% ABV
4.19/5 rDev +9.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
by LesDewitt4beer from Minnesota
Two 11.2oz bottles into a 22oz tall Weiss glass.
L: Pours hazed apricot amber w/good carbonation, 1/2" rocky white head with fair retention, random light lacing.
S: Caramel malts, clove, light citrus & rind.
T: Ripe orange, peach, banana, citrus zest, honey, light grass, a gentle suggestion of bread dough, it is gently sweet.
F: Light bodied, clean with a fast finish.
O: A masterfully brewed, simple, clean and fairly fruity tasting Weissbier that is easy drinking and fairly light in body considering it's full flavor. It is excellent in it's style.

 

Epic Double Barrel Big Bad Baptist BBA Imperial Stout, ABV is either 122% or 12.2%, probably the latter, but looks like the former. Pours thick and black, with a one-finger light-brown head that left no lacing. Nose is whiskey, coffee, and chocolate. Taste follows, mainly coffee, slightly sweet, slightly bitter. Excellent mouthfeel, slightly dry. Overall excellent to outstanding. If you like BA coffee stouts, this is the one for you.

4.29/5 rDev -1.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Incredible summer day here, sunny, windy, and upper 70's after two weeks of hot weather.

 

A new one from Kettlehead Brewing. Poured into a 16 oz Snulip glass canned recently. Pours an attractive yellow orange with a finger sticky white head that leaves thick streaks of lace with excellent retention. 4.25

Aroma is cantaloupe, orange starburst, papaya, apricot, and a whiff of grapefruit rind 4.5

Taste follows orange starburst, cantaloupe, papaya, apricot, and a little tickle of pink grapefruit in the balanced finish. 4.5

Mouthfeel is above average, not sticky or dry, soft gentle carbonation, and at 7.6% bigger in flavor but real easy going down. 4.5

Overall this is some really impressive stuff. I highly recommend this one if you see it. 4.5 Cheers all.

 

Today's new beer is brought to you by a newer-ish NJ brewery. They happen to send there beers to a store down the street once a week. They seem to brew one or two traditional beers each week, along with the crowd pleasers. Today's @jonphisher pleaser is a nitro english bitter; I was very excited to see this as one of their canned offerings last week so I grabbed a four pack. Let us see how they did...

Source Brewing - Down the Pub (4.5% nitro canned bitter)




Pours a cloudy light brown with shades of orange, head is off white in color, nitro can gives a nice thick lingering forever head. It’s interesting these are bigger bubbles for a nitro beer, still small, but not that creamy look that other nitro beers have.

Nose is doughy and just slightly yeasty, honey like sweet note, and a little bit of toastiness with some earthy hops.

Taste is similar biscuits bread, honey, and some toasted graininess; some earthy and musty hops on the finish.

Great mouthfeel; light body, cask like carbonation, this one hits it better than other nitro cans, I’ll expand below. Again like in the nose low to moderate hoppy finish. Pretty dry on the finish.

Thought this mimicked cask better than most nitro cans. Sometimes nitro adds some extra creaminess that to me is not present in a cask pour. This was flipped in appearance as it wasn’t as pretty as most nitro pours or cask pours.

Overall a very well made bitter; highly drinkable and balanced beer. I will continue to try this brewery's traditional styles from time to time.

I may not have another new beer until tomorrow but I'll be lingering here all day long.