New Beer Weekend #109

Dogfish Head The Perfect Pairing Pale Ale - There is a story with this beer and they worked with Cabot Creamery to create a beer that pairs with their cheddar; and this beer has whey in it. I am a fan of their cheese and while I don't have any on hand, I do have some other cheddar ready.

The can says that this is juicy and hazy (but of course, what else would it be these days?) and also in small print is "Ale with natural flavors." Pours hazy-ish with a nice head. Smell is fruity but some crispness in there as well. Taste is okay, a little bland but there is a sharp sweetness at the end that is pairing well with the cheddar. A mellow easy drinker at 5.5%. Budmo!

https://www.dogfish.com/brewery/beer/perfect-pairing

I'm looking for a single and passed on a six pack for now because it sounds pretty meh. I've been seeing some reviews that are saying Hazy Little Thing is a better choice if comparing and what are your thoughts on that?

 

I’m enjoying this one courtesy of @jonphisher as part of the never ending shenanigans of NBW 15.

Human Robot Stone House Mornings Imperial Maple Stout.



Pours a deep brown/black with a very light head that dissipates to a negligible ring fairly quickly.

Good quality black coffee jumps out to the nose first. A sweet maple note follows, present but not aggressive. A slight smoky/charred aroma sits in the distant background. Appealing.

Espresso with a little sugar starts the sip. The maple slides in behind, again, in subtle fashion. There is a suggestion of sweetened blueberries or maple soaked blueberries in the background along with the char from the nose. Good.

The body is on the thinner side but not what I’d call thin. This makes it very drinkable.

I really like this. The coffee notes have the right amount of sweetness in tow and the maple doesn’t jump out of the bottle to strangle your senses. This is a far more elegant beer than the average breakfast stout in 2022. I’d welcome more of this any time. Thanks Jon!!

 

Enjoying an Enchantments (Temple) hazy IPA from Icicle Brewing in Leavenworth, Washington, as we settle in at our condo here in beautiful Whistler, British Columbia, Canada. A quick review below. Cheers!
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4/5 rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
16oz (canned 8/9/2022) into a tulip. Pours a hazy pale dull yellow with a nice frothy white head.

Aroma is bright clean tropical citrus, Simcoe and Citra evident.

Taste is likewise a crisp punch of citrusy hops layered over a base of sweet pale malt. Brightly acidic.

Mouthfeel is on the heavy side of medium, a bit sticky. Malt bill might be somewhere between a regular IPA and a DIPA.

Overall a really nice, straightforward IPA. Nothing especially unique or fancy, just solid all around.

 

Hello Late Night NBW, Sunday Edition.
2 weeks of school in and still trying to manage this pandemic. We're getting there, but definitely saw a spike at the end of week 1.

But there IS beer.
Getaway Dinosaur
16 oz can 05/27/22 I'm a tad late to this party, but still a fun ride.
Beautiful milky, fluffy head. Solid lacing. Opaque gold-tinged yellow.
Nose pops with citrus, some juicy pineapple, and an almost creamy grain note.
Flavor definitely starts with citrus: floral lemon, grapefruit, orange zest,. Tropical notes come is the form of pineapple, a hint of passionfruit, and some melon. Again, a really nice, almost "gristy" grain base hangs on for the ride.
Mouthfeel has good carbonation and is slightly fluffy. Smooth bitter, almost pithy, finish.
Overall, pretty solid.
3.87/5 rDev -6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

 

I know I don't join in as often as I used to and I do miss it, but such is work and life. It has been a hell of a last couple weeks at work (I mean really it's been a hell of a last couple of years, but that's a whole different conversation...), though this week was more busy, but I could walk out this morning feeling like I'd done some good, and I am cautiously optimistic we're through the worst of it for that particular kiddo.
Our older dog has had some significant decrease in mobility and general severe aging based decline in the last few weeks. He's 15+ at this point, and we are so grateful that my parents live close enough and with some property... and minimal steps to get up and into the house! So he's been staying up with them for the time being, and as difficult as it is to not have him down in the city with us, it really is the best place for him. He came down for a vet visit last week and they gave us kind of a hail mary option, so we are up visiting him (and by extension my folks) the next couple of days. Initial impressions are positive as to his response, and he's actually able to walk a bit again! We're still looking at him probably not being able to come back down to the city (at least not before the baby is born), but at least he's able to maneuver up here and still seems pretty content and excited about his extended 'adventure' up here in the wilds of my childhood home.



Anyway, I'm exhausted so I don't feel like I'm at my best as a reviewer/consumer, but I dug into an interesting one tonight anyway. Metier Brewing is a brewery I've written up here before, and tonight I'm digging into Community & Culture, which is listed as an Amber Rye aged on Rye Whiskey Barrels.

The pour is gorgeous. It's a rusty amber kind of body: darker than I'd expected, with piles of creamy beige foam that leaves some nice lacing, even as it sticks around.

Nose is thinner than expected, and an interesting lead that's sweet with a stone fruit characteristic, with elements of toasted malts, honey/nectar sweetness, and some earthy undertones that feel equally inspired by the malts and the hops.

Flavour is much the same. Fruit forward with notable contributions from all of the ingredients: yeast seems to contribute some of the fruitiness, hops offer some earthy bitter that grows through the culmination, barrel adds definite creamy vanilla, spice, and a strong contribution of alcohol astringency to the finish, sharp earthy bitterness from the rye, raisin and tobacco and stone fruit from all of it and the malts... it's an interesting one.
The build culminates to an earthy bitter finish.

Body is creamy and decent weight. There's some vegetal sharpness that builds with the rye and the barrel. A sweet bump in the middle soon gives way to the earthy bitterness to finish.

This is a really intriguing brew, but honestly probably one that I appreciate moreso than I truly enjoy. Well layered, and an interesting bringing together of somewhat disparate characteristics... it honestly almost has kind of a pseudo-trapist-esque character to it.



Cheers all!!

 

Beautiful looking, enjoy your trip!

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Sending vibes @kemoarps older dog, baby coming soon, busy life...its hard to give the mind a
break sometimes. Hopefully this week gives a little reprieve for you and the fam.


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Glad you enjoyed that one @Coronaeus sort of felt the same way about that being more well balanced and beer like than many adjuncted beers; felt the same way about the kane one I sent too.

I see you removed my Maple Leafs notes I've really been getting the itch for cooler weather and hockey, I need it to be December.

 

The removal was partly unintentional @jonphisher. The tape had become partially stuck to a bag of lecithin my wife uses for some horrible cereal concoction she makes, and I had to rip it off.
Cheers!