New Beer Weekend #107

I picked up this bottle at Belmont Station in Portland a few weekends ago, the first Hair of the Dog beer I’ve had in a while—pretty good. Preliminary review below:

4.1/5 rDev -1.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12oz bottle into a tulip. Pours a dirty brownish dishwater color with almost no head. Not flat (always my greatest fear with HOTD) but maybe not highly carbonated eithe.

Aroma is a wonderful blend of maple, vanilla, candi sugar, stone fruit, alcohol, and bready malt.

Taste is likewise sweet and syrupy, fruity. Maple and vanilla prominent. Nice warming from the booze.

Mouthfeel is sticky and syrupy, chewy. About right for a barley wine.

Overall a tasty, complex beer.

 

A little afternoon interlude from the cabin on the lake... Powerboats and jetskis are quiet today, and the humidity has been broken a bit by a couple of monster rain showers. Still sticky but hello...lake...instant refreshment. Our grandson went home so the missus and I are on our own. Hmmmm...whatever shall we do... We have stayed in this area before and figured that out when we drove by Oxford Plains race track. Well, right down the road is an Oxbow outpost, so...



Again left to right. Luppulo Italian style pilsner; Farmland a "subtly smoked saison"; Sweet Lullaby a fruited saison with peaches, grapes, cherries; Magenta made with concord grape. We've noted in the past that Oxbow beers kinda grow on us, and no exception here. Seems we do the WTF on the initial sip, then things sink in or something. The Italian pilsner was pretty decent although I like Foundation's Bocce a whole lot better. The smoked saison was a bit off-putting initially with a burnt maybe charcoal taste at the end, so that one didn't recover. The Lullaby was super peachy and not much cherry, but light and tasty - dont bother with the cherries since they aren't at the party anyway, just do peach. The Magenta was like a home made wine (grampy used to make Concord wine from the vines still growing at our home) and beer hybrid, interesting and memory tickling, but just OK. Didn't satisfy the "do we like it enough to buy it" question we have finally learned to ask.

Round 2...



Again and Again - table beer brewed with 100% Maine- grown ingredients was quite smooth and a little rich as far as Farmhouse ales go - good, clean flavor overall. In the middle is Grizaca, a wheat beer that is dry hopped. We'll get back to that one tonight. The third is Surfcasting which the missus wanted to try - I really don't like it since it is overpoweringly lime and the server said yeah they add tequila and make Margheritas out of it. Lime...not my thing. I have worked with at work and at high levels it is just not pleasant to me. You can barely make out the remains of a plate of blistered shishito peppers and deep fried artichokes that were extremely delicious and actually enhanced the beers. The pizzas and salads we saw going out looked great, but we weren't that hungry. Nice spot, tons of outdoor space and a fairly small inside seating area and bar, trail access for various trekking type activities. Super friendly and knowledgeable young folks cooking and serving - enjoyable experience. Oxbow certainly has a niche carved out for themselves with the sours and Farmhouse ales. As we've talked about the different breweries, it strikes us that some have a fervent cult following - Oxbow might fit that bill. It was a full parking lot and a lot of first name banter between staff and customers so I'd guess local and frequent visitors.

 

One of the benefits of drinking indoors is that it's always stout weather! Yesterday, I visited Three 3's Brewing in Hammonton, NJ for the first time. I've had a couple of their IPAs in cans and while good they are similar to what a lot of other breweries produce. I thought the Baltic Porter was exceptional. One of the best American versions I've had. I bought a bottle of their last anniversary release, 2022 Barrel-Aged Ancora Stout. It's aged for 12 months in Knob Creek Whiskey barrels. When I popped the cap there was a gusher and for a moment I was worried about Diacetyl but thankfully that wasn't an issue. This is very good and improves as it breaths in the glass.

Poured at 60°. The color is a very dark walnut - nearly black - with a half finger of creamy, medium-mocha head and modest lacing. The fragrant nose includes cocoa, caramel, brown sugar, molasses, honey, nutty char, and the faintest whiff of bourbon. The flavor has depth and complexity. It opens with burnt coffee, dark chocolate, and brown sugar. There is also a strong earthy, nutty bitterness. As I sip I can also taste the honey. The influence of the Knob Creek whiskey is evident but it doesn't overpower the base stout. In fact, the taste keeps improving as the stout settles and warms in the glass. There is a decisive, dry bitterness at the finish. The mouth feel is good and thick and creamy with lite carbonation, and the 11% ABV is appropriate for a barrel-aged stout but it doesn't come across as overly boozy. That said, it's definitely a sipper. Overall, this version of Ancora is very good. The brewer exhibited a deft touch and understanding of barrel aging.

My thought about Three 3's is that while the IPAs are good but not great, the dark beers are exceptional. I'll definitely be back. Cheers, NBW! Have a great week.

 

People with me just started talking wine tasting notes. I described what we do here. THEN I REALISED- Thought this was my 1000th beer review. Turns out it is 1001. But only we geeks care about numbers. What if we did not use base 10 we'd be celebrating some other arbitrary milestone.

 

That's worth the purchase just for the label art. Love it!

 

Back! This here is Mast Landing's collab with Equilibrium (so, if you guessed EQ as the answer to the collaboration question from my recent post, you win 1000 beer points [rewards tbd and subject to change at any time; may not be worth anything in actuality; while supplies last; winners don't do drugs])!!



Mast Theory is (you guessed it) a DIPA clocking in at 8% ABV, and it was canned on 6/29/22. Some quick research shows that this particular theory was bolstered by additions of the following hop specimens: Mosaic Incognito, Citra "T90" (aka pellets), Idaho 7 (all in the whirlpool), followed by Citra, Belma, and Galaxy (all in the dry-hop). Any questions? Okay class, let's move on...

Pour is more on the pale side than the previously-reviewed Extra Wavy Days by ML, and its milky complexion owes a lot to EQ's involvement (most likely, anyway). The head is massive and strongly-retentive, which is definitely a boon, although the lacing and legs are a little less than what you'd expect given that positive so... almost like a net-zero equation or something here? Alright, maybe I should stop the science/physics/math puns. Relatively speaking, they're usually... negatively-received... *dodges tomatoes*

Nose is odd, but not bad. Funky in a sense, with strong oaty-ness pervading the scent followed by some tangelo and hints of melon and dankness. Herbal and even a bit floral, somewhat intriguing but also not really up my particular alley. Never been one to love the "alternative hop products," which is something I've made known in many a review/post on this very website, and Belma in particular is just an overall-crappy varietal (I said it, what are you gonna do?!), but I guess the Mosaic is doing an okay job pulling weight and giving some fun definition here over the course of my session with it. Starts giving off some tangelo and onion over time... it's weird. Yeah... what's the flavor like, though?

That's an improvement, I must say. Strong and enjoyable "wacky" Mosaic stuff happening, ranging from blueberry to raspberry to grassy and dank, made a bit more crazy by Citra and Galaxy throwing out tropical fruit notes left and right. Belma does maybe add a hint of strawberry and red currant but I still think it feels mostly ineffectual. Dense and creamy feel with an oat-driven profile. Hidden ABV and low carbonation... kinda "less-drinkable" than I want on a brutally hot and humid day like today. I'm sweating just sitting here with a fan on me. Have to replace the filter in the AC after this post, so that might be part of the reason why... oh yeah, Gunpla build collage time! These are my creations from the past week (yeah, I'm really productive... that's what happens when you're not currently taking classes and you don't want to leave the house)!:



From top left (clockwise), these are:

•HG Try Burning Gundam
•HG Carta's Graze Ritter
•HG Zaku I Sniper Type
•HG Gundam Barbataurus

Cheers... maybe see you all next week!

 

We probably won't make it down again until the end of the month. The traffic's becoming unbearable. I can't wait till the summer season's over to enjoy restaurants and breweries along the shore. We had a great time in Hammonton yesterday. Bought a lot of really fresh blueberries (harvested yesterday), stopped at two breweries, and had a good Greek dinner. I love deep South Jersey!

 

My sister in-law lives in that neighborhood. She happens to be visiting here now and I showed her your pictures. They are not craft beer people, but they know of both places and they are real popular. Can't wait to visit them in ME again now. Thanks.

 

Greetings all from the great northwest where the heat wave has broken at least temporarily, and at times there's a hint of fall in the air. I also saw some Oktoberfest beers in the bottle shop last week. Might be a little early for that? I usually wait until after Labor Day to break out the Oktoberfests.

Today we have Tropical Golden IPA from Deschutes.
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/63/600403/

A clean crisp brew.

Until next time

 

Surprised I didn't review this one, though I think I might've been sharing it at a celebration which would've preempted such activity. Either way, what I recall seems to fall right in line with your preliminary thoughts.

 

Well... project... is getting frustrating... but at least getting done...

Time for a much needed break, then return to the drawing board...

Aslin Brewing - Purple Starfish IPA



Poured from the can into a Spiegelau IPA glass. Packaged July 28th 2022.

Pale light lemon with an opaque but not totally turbid body, almost a straw like glow. Big and bold bright white classic head, easily reaching three to four fingers possibly of minor soapy retention bubbles. Good cling and lace with a bit of island like top as well.

Nice balanced dank hop like aroma with a touch of briney salty like qualities. Flirts with a light tropical note in the background as well giving to some real complexity too. Fairly neutral malt presence also.

Palate really adds a delicious layer. Soft bodied with a good push of almost sweet bready flavor, mixing in with a real nice hop angle. Mid palate welcomes a real touching mineral earth and tropical delicious hop blast of rocky mango and juiced up melon. Finishes with even more so, and a spicy note that covers nicely. Full bodied and rich, but with such a mild abv that is hardly noticeable.

A real powerful drinking IPA, that is light in ABV making it even more impressive. Sign me up for more!

look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5 | Final Score: 4.39

Cheers!

 

T.O.R.I.S. The Tyrant - Bourbon Barrel-Aged

13.8% stout by Hoppin' Frog

Poured from a pint can bought at the brewery. The body pours like motor oil with almost no head. No lacing throughout.

Nose and taste feature a heavy bourbon with notes of bourbon, chocolate, bourbon, and more bourbon. A malty char is there, available as the pour warms.

Mouthfeel is heavy with a bourbon sweetness that approaches cloying but does not get there for me. YMMV. Carbonation is present but minimal.

Overall a spectacular beer for fans of bourbon barrel aged stout.

 

Today is all NBW BIF #15 and @jonphisher, as I go for the always sought after but seldom seen “NBW Daily Trifecta.”

Let’s smash some pints, beer nerds.





4.54/5 rDev +5.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Pours a golden straw color with the slightest smidge of suspended haze and a soapy white head that laces the glass beautifully. The nose is all about the Saaz hops, with that spicy herbal note that presents as earthy fresh cut flowers and a bit of bready malt.

That spicy herbal flavor is PEGGED on the taste, with a delicious lingering bitterness at the back of the palate, along with bit of bready malt for balance.

Absolutely incredible flavor profile, as is the mouthfeel, which somehow manages to be full and crisp in such a low ABV beer (3.8%).

This is world class, IMHO. I’d buy this by the pony keg as my summer beer if it was possible to do so.

 

Just got down to AC. Multiple backups westbound, you weren’t kidding traffic wise going home. I cruised down no problem though


yea @ovaltine that beer is damn good; I’m very glad you liked it.

 

#2, I didn’t mention the glassware in my first post today - it is also from @jonphisher, and is a favorite of mine because it easily holds a pint, and looks magnificent.





4.35/5 rDev +9.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours black with mahogany brown on the edges and a creamy, substantial tan head (little lacing). The nose has a little smoke and a LOT of cocoa and a bit of stone fruit and toffee. Very nice.

The nose is significantly more pronounced on the taste, and works exceptionally well with the still substantial cocoa and nice stone fruit flavor, with a bit of toffee lingering in the background.

A full, slightly creamy mouthfeel closes this delightful beer, from a “new to me” brewery that executed this not-so-often-seen style really well, IMHO.

 

Last one, some more hops here, all courtesy of @jonphisher. Let’s finish the night off with a bang!





4.17/5 rDev +2.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Pours a nearly clear golden color with a sudsy off white head that is fleeting but leaves some lacing behind. The nose is dank citrus notes and a nice resiny pine note.

That dank citrus is forward on the taste, with some nice bitterness from the Chinook hops and the aforementioned resiny pine. What a flavorful, easy drinker this is.

The mouthfeel is medium and just a touch soft, but overall this is a solid candidate for the “hops in my beer fridge for the summer” beer that we all seek.