New Beer Weekend #109

A Green Ghost!?!



A couple of years ago I discussed in NBW (well it was NBS at that time) the first beer I tasted which was brewed using Grüngeist hops. That beer was Von Trapp Keller Lager and for the interested student you can re-read that review here:

https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/new-beer-sunday-week-784.635289/#post-6819777

Unfortunately I never saw that beer at my local beer retailers again so it was not a repeat purchase for me which is a real bummer since as I stated in my post: “This beer is very, very good.”

A bit of a repeat from that above post concerning Grüngeist hops:

“This German aroma variety was developed in the Hop Research Center Hüll (Hopfenforschungszentrum Hüll). This hop research institution focuses on hop breeding, hop harvesting, and hop chemistry. It is located in the largest continuous hop-planting region in the world, Hallertau Germany in the state of Bavaria.”

And:

“The unique combination of peach and passion fruit are equally balanced with a hint of lemon zest and floral essence. The flavors, aromas and specs (2.90% alpha acids, 9.00% beta, 19.20% CoH, 38.30% CoL and 1.2 total oils) make Grüngeist an extremely versatile hop.”

https://hopheadfarms.com/grungeist-the-green-ghost/

Which brings is to today’s new beer, Mocama Prosim Pilsner, which was very much a spontaneous purchase for me since I never heard of Mocama Brewery before. In the past I was a big fan of Saint Benjamin Pilsner Prosim and five years ago I discussed this beer in a NBS thread:

https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/new-beer-sunday-week-646.525176/#post-5535127

For those interested in the meaning of the word “Prosim” it means please in Czech.

A short description from the Mocama website about today’s beer:

Prosím Pilsner

Available Year-Round

5% ABV 38 IBUs

Inspired by exceedingly drinkable Czech pilsners we all know and love, Prosim is unfiltered and delicately dry hopped. Our goal was to strike a balance between the familiar bitterness of Saaz and the florality and fruitiness of Grungeist, a relatively new German aroma hop that in this recipe imparts the smallest amount of peach, lemon, and passion fruit. The Saaz in this case is Michigan grown Zuper Saazer.

Available in a 6 pack of 12 oz. cans.

Grains: Pilsen Malt, Vienna Malt, and Caramel Malt

Hops: Magnum, Zuper Saazer, and Grungiest

Yeast: German Lager”

Well, after all of this writing I am quite parched; I sure hope that I am “pleased’ by this new beer.

Served in my Polish Pilsner glass:

Appearance:

Golden yellow with some haze and a BIG white head.

Aroma:

A vibrant aroma of citrus (lemony) with a touch of herbal/floral and some bready malt as well.

Taste:

The flavor follows the nose with a combination of hop flavors (mostly citrus/lemony but some herbal/floral in the background) and malt flavors (bready Pilsner Malt flavor). A very enjoyable flavor profile. There is a moderate bitterness.

Mouthfeel:

Medium bodied, soft-ish mouthfeel and a dry finish.

Overall:

This beer is very, very good. There is a quite a bit going on here and the variety of sensory characteristics work very well together.

@rotsaruch @RobH @KOP_Beer_OUtlet

 

There has been lots of talk about IPA's just taking over more breweries lineups. Now North Coast has a newer IPA out. Pacific Magic. They are one of the breweries that seems to not really follow trends (mostly), and I'm always happy to try something new from them. As they are just quality IMO. The only problem is, they are loosing shelf space, and its becoming harder to find around me.

Anyway, Pacific Magic IPA, 6.8% ABV


Right from the bottle, pours a crystal clear golden color. A dense white head rises, with excellent retention. Rings of lace are left all the way down the glass. This is a looker.
Citrus and grapefruit rind billows out of the glass immediately. Peppery spice, floral, with an English biscuit like malt character. Wonderful.
Taste wise, like the nose, that citrus and grapefruit burst out. Really fresh tasting, just a bit of pine resin. Peppery spice, lightly sweet biscuit like malt character. Finishes with the perfect amount of bitterness. This is really well done.
A medium body that is beautifully crisp and effervescent. Finishes wonderfully dry. Which all leads to this being really easy to drink. Incredibly moreish, and I'm looking for another way too quickly.

Simply, an excellent example of a classic West Coast IPA. So glad North Coast came out with this. I love when these older legacy breweries can come out with a great no frills no nonsense IPA like this. For me, way better than any of the newer trends I have had in a while, and I hope this sticks around.

Overall score, 4.29. Easy A for me.
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/112/609113/?ba=champ103#lists

Enjoying this while reading Marianne Wiggins' new novel Properties of Thirst. Which I can't put down. A well written historical novel on water/land management in California, while the government is trying build one of the first internment camps for the Japanese-Americans after Pearl Harbor. She finished this after suffering a massive stroke, but the writing is still incredible.

 

Damn you! Maybe this will show up here. @beergoot mentioned this one and your description is just as I imagined it might be from what I read. Really enjoyed your assessment.

 

Our company left today, and we're going to rest. We've been beat up by a one-year-old and a three-year-old.
My new beer for today is Dark O' the Moon, a pumpkin stout from Elysian. It's not bad.

Black in color, tan head with good retention.
Aroma of cinnamon and chocolate.
Lots of cinnamon in the taste, some chocolate.
Too much cinnamon.

 

Happy NBW all!

Last week there was quite a bit of rice lager talk and @beergoot is keeping us going; now it is my turn. I do not think I have ever had a rice lager until this beer. Brought back from my Connecticut adventure last weekend.

Alvarium - Crunchy Roll



Super pale; clear with just the slightest cloudiness, bubbly white head settles with some splotchy lacing, decent retention.

Nose is instantly reminiscent of refreshing lemon like citrus, little bit of of a grainy white rice note, with some floral undertones.

Taste leans into the lemon, with a black pepper cracker like bite; the malt almost gives the impression an AAL devoid of sweetness.

Very light body, super soft on the palate with a really nice bright yet smooth feeling carbonation; noticeably dry on the finish and absolutely clean with a really nice medium bitterness.

This beer has a very high drinkability and was super enjoyable to me.

 

This is a special beer from a special brewery, which is located in my hometown of Milwaukee, WI. It has a neat backstory. The look is murky but beautiful light copper/orange. There is a two chicken finger foamy top, with nice lacing in the glass. The smell is a bouquet of fruit: honeydew, pear, apple, tangerine, and banana. There is a bready/grainy presence, with light funkiness. The flavor is fruity: pineapple, grapefruit, guava, cherry, and white grape. The mouthfeel is smooth, lively, bubbly, rich, and juicy. Overall, this is the 1840 Brewing experience at its best. This bottle is almost $10, but it is worth it. Especially for me. A beer that is a tribute to Milwaukee's godfather of beer, Mike Romans. (Romans' Pub.) Consumed by a caporegime of beer drinking, from Milwaukee. (Me.)

 

The New Abnormal a some coast IPA, from River Horse Brewing in NJ. I call this brew some coast because it does not fit into any category. This beer is dry hopped with Vic Secret, Mosaic and Citra. River Horse used a “technique called biotranformation “ to dry hop this brew. I have no idea what that means. If anyone wants to enlighten me feel free to do so. This brew has a very abnormal IBU for an IPA 20. The ABV is a normal 7.8. In any case The New Abnormal is a delicious and refreshing brew

 

Thanks for kicking us off, @SawDog505!

Lupulin SCARS India Pale Ale
ABV: 6.5%
IBU: 75

“The Scars Foundation has been established by Sully Erna and Godsmack to help raise awareness of the mental health issues that so many are faced with today.”

Lupulin Brewing (of Big Lake, MN and Sioux Falls, SD) has brewed two beers in collaboration with the Scars Foundation and to benefit the Scars Foundation. But, confusingly, both of these beers are merely called “SCARS” and they even have identical label graphics (except of the addition of the word “India”.)

The one already entered into the BA database is the Scars pale ale (5.5% ABV, 35 IBU) whereas the one I am having today is the Scars IPA (6.5% ABV, 75 IBU).

These are clearly different beers, and it’s not just the “specs” that say so, but also the brewer’s description.

Anyhow, here is how the brewer describes the IPA:
“This is a classic throwback to the good old days. Good memories flood back into view of sipping that fresh India pale ale on a warm summer’s night with good friends. Malty, with a solid bouquet of fruity, citrus and woody notes.”

Sounds inviting. Let’s see if they lived up to it.

Dark gold, clear, moderately carbonated body. 1 inch tall while, fluffy/creamy head with excellent retention. Nice looking thick lacing is left behind as the head slowly recedes.

The aroma is mellow citrus, a touch of tropical fruits, bready malts.

The taste starts out with the mellow citrus, backed by bread. Almost immediately a pleasant bitterness hits, with the tropical fruits joining in the middle. I like the intermingling of the flavors. While it is quite bitter, it is actually well balanced with the bready malts providing a solid counterpoint to the citrus/fruit/even a touch of pine hops.

The mouthfeel has decent carbonation with a moderate toward substantial body.

Overall, a very good American IPA. Not hazy. Bitter. Excellent hop flavor. Good aroma. Nicely balanced. Not a juice box. Did I say “not hazy”?

I may have slightly overrated this beer just because it is such a welcome new IPA that is (wait for it) not hazy! But, if I did it was only slightly. This is quite good.

L: 4.0 | S: 3.75 | T: 4.25 | F: 3.75 | O: 4.0 | Rating: 4.02

 

I am very excited to try this beer. The color is strikingly golden copper. Dark and beautiful. A slight bright white foam. The smell is strong. Bourbon and caramel. An uncommon combination. Fresh warm brown bread. Raisins and figs. The taste is primarily bourbon with caramel on the back end. Pumpernickel bread with butter. A nod to Founders Brewing DKML, but with less vanilla flavor. The mouthfeel is boozy. Thin. Not very Octoberfesy. Overall, this is an interesting experience, but not very festive. I would rather have a good traditional German Octoberfest beer and a shot of Jagermeister for the same result.

 

Have a good Saturday. Woke up around 11 after being up to 2AM watching MST3K bad science fiction films. The Pumaman and Women of the Prehistoric Planet. I saw Blow for the first time 2 days ago, and that is an amazing film with Depp. I will definitely find the novel.

Had a small snack just now of Elizabeths Pizza leftovers. Italian combo and meat stuffed.


Random cat picture from this afternoon


Been a while since I tried a @FBarber NBS BIF beer. I still have a lot to try. Dovetail Hefeweizen. He sent the Willi Becher glass as well. Amazing all around. Solid head retention and spotty lacing on the glass. I swirled the yeast into the glass for the end. A lot hazier now. Aromas and flavors of big banana, bubblegum, clove, peppercorn, pear, apple, wheat, cracker, white bread, herbal, floral, wood, grass, and yeast earthiness. Light-moderate herbal/woody/grassy bitterness, yeast spiciness, and light wheat/yeast tang/tartness on the finish. Medium-high carb, light-medium body, and fairly crisp/clean finishing. Balanced creamy/grainy wheat and sticky hops in the mouthfeel. Light lingering resin drying, after the finish, no astringency. Highly refreshing, zero warming 4.8%. I would be able to throw these back at will. Very true to classic style, maybe a bit more stern on bitterness, but its amazingly balanced between classic yeast complexity, hops, and malts. Very flavorful for the ABV. 4.32


Cheers

 

Thanks @SawDog505 for your thread opening. @champ103 I agree with your North Coast assessment. I’ve only had Old Rasputin, because I can’t find fresh Pils, and I haven’t seen anything else by them. Both Pils I saw out here were bottled over two years ago.

This is the last of the four coffee variants of the mixed four pack I purchased from a local Vegas brewery.

Khoury's Neighborhood CoffeeHaus 2022 - Bad Owl



Brewery Notes: $16 16 ounce four pack plus tax & tip. 4.8% ABV canned 7/25/22. Refrigerated at the brewery and upon my return to the hotel until now. This is a Schwarzbier. Brewer and canned by CraftHaus Brewery, Henderson, Nevada.

A true local collaboration brewer up between CraftHaus Brewery, Khoury’s Fine Wine and Spirits featuring Bad Owl Coffee Roasters. Your neighborhood represented right here in one ultimate show of community.

Appearance: Split the 16 oz can with my brother, two 8 oz snifter glasses. Black base, light tan creamy head leaves a slight cover over the base and a richer ring. Fine thin lacing throughout. 4.25

Aroma: Excellent dark roast coffee, wonderful and strong, backed rich chocolate roast malt. This and the Dark Moon are my favorites of the four. 4.75

Taste: Taste lighter, with the sweet roast malt leading, lightly bitter coffee follows but much weaker than the aroma would lead. The taste is the weakest of the four versions.3.25

Mouthfeel: This carbonation was at the right measure, unlike the first three which featured a too heavy carbonation. Lightly dry and bitter, sweetness peaks through at times. Very light and easy drinking alcohol wise. 3.5

Overall: This is an ok offering, but the weakest of the four. Malty with a light to negligible coffee. Sticking with the Dark Moon variant if I am revisiting, but glad I tried the sequence. 3.25

Had the 2021 BCR Blanton’s yesterday. Similar experience where the nose was strong, had a wide range of flavors, but the same one note flavor experience.

 

Good afternoon NBW
I'm trying to hit 100 total Marzen reviews this year so I've lowered my bar significantly. I'm sitting at 94 currently with four qued up. I'm not particularly excited for any of them, but we'll see.

Toppling Goliath Oktoberfest
16oz canned 7/19/22 poured into a mug at fridge temp 5.2% ABV. The beer pours bright light copper in color with light khaki head. The head recedes to a thin cap and leaves a few spots of lacing. The aroma is mild with mostly caramel malt and baked bread in the background. The taste is semisweet caramel malt up front with more traditional bread and noble hop notes coming after the swallow. Moderate bitterness. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with average carbonation and a semi dry finish. Cleanly lagered. Overall, good. I'd prefer way less sweetness and no caramel malt.

Well, I've got 2 new to me oktoberfest beers from the evil empire and a barrel aged version to look forward to this weekend. Cheers all!

 

Wiseacre Black Forrest The Beach Within Reach Dark Berliner Weisse, 6.8% ABV; 3.68 overall

Pours a very effervescent pinkish purple with a finger of fast falling sand colored head. Zero head retention & lacing

S: Cherries, vanilla

T: Follows the nose, also cocoa & a little bit of tartness up front. Sour & tart cherry as this warms, a little dryness too, just a little chocolate. Finishes tart with salty cherries

MF: Medium body & moderate carbonation

You certainly get the Black Forrest Cake flavors along with tartness, alright as a one off