New Beer Weekend #117

Thanks for the kickoff @Beersnake1 , a little different weather than Namibia here in Minnesota as we got snow yesterday. Here's my new beer that works with the colder weather:

Founders KBS Maple Mackinac Fudge

Appearance: Black, ok head.

Smell: Very rich, big chocolate, coffee, wood, vanilla.

Taste: Thick and coating, big chocolate flavor, bit of maple in the background. Chocolate and mild wood on the finish. Barrel is very well incorporated.

Overall: Finally saw this one on shelves again so picked up a four pack. Wow, extremely impressed! This beer lives up to the hype for me, big chocolate but perfectly balanced—not too sweet, not too bitter. Barrel is well integrated, not boozy despite being 11%. Really great stuff!

 

October = Oktoberfest season

There has been quite a bit of discussion in a variety of BA threads about Oktoberfest beers this past month of September. I too enjoyed a few Oktoberfest beers last month but my personal preference is to enjoy these beers, especially the Amber Oktoberfest version, when there is some crispness in the air from cool weather.

So far, I have purchased a number of Oktoberfest brands:

Pale Oktoberfest (Festbier): Weihenstephaner Festbier, Tucher Festbier

Amber Oktoberfest (Marzen): Hacker-Pschorr, Sly Fox, Ayinger, Jack’s Abby

But for today I have a new Oktoberfest beer: Troegs Oktoberfest. This beer is not just a new to me beer but also a new beer from Troegs. This is the first time that Troegs made a distributed Oktoberfest beer.

Below is how this beer is detailed on the Troegs website:

“Our take on this timeless German style starts with a traditional brewing technique called decoction, creating a bright, dry maltiness. A kettle addition of Hallertau Tradition hops adds subtle floral and herbal undercurrents to this toasty sweet Fest Lager. Eins, zwei, g’suffa!

ABV: 6.1%

Availability: Once a Year

Color: Sienna

Hops: Hallertau Tradition

Grain: Pilsner, Munich

Yeast: House Lager”

Troegs has a long history of producing lagers and I am especially a fan of their Doppelbock (they label it Double Bock) so I have high hopes that I will enjoy this new lager from Troegs.

Served in my Sly Fox Bock Fest Willi Becher glass:

Appearance

A deep amber color with a khaki colored head.

Aroma

There aroma is mostly toasted dark bread but in the background there is the tiniest hint of caramel.

Taste

The flavor follows the nose with predominantly toasted dark bread but there is also a tiny hint of caramel sweetness to this beer. A low/moderate bitterness from the hops.

Mouthfeel

Medium bodied with an off-dry finish.

Overall

I enjoyed drinking this beer, I think it is very good.

Another tasty lager from Troegs.

Cheers!

@KOP_Beer_OUtlet @rotsaruch @RobH

 

Maybe you already knew this but beer is very popular in Namibia:

“It is common for some folks to think that the Germans drink the most beer but that is not the case. The Czechs drink the most beer per capita of any nation. From The Telegraph newspaper: “The world's biggest beer drinkers · Czech Republic - 143.3 litres per capita · Namibia - 108 · Austria - 106 · Germany - 104.2 · Poland - 100.8”.

Well, I did not expect Namibia to be in the top five. Cheers to the Namibians!”

https://www.morebeer.com/articles/Czech_Beers

Is there a particular beer style which is most popular in Namibia? Is it like most of the world’s countries where Adjunct Lagers are the top sellers?

Cheers!

 

Brewers Kitchen Notorious Crown Rye Stout. As much as I live stouts, this one just didn't work for me. Bitter chocolate led the way followed by some coffee, taste buds said rye bread and biscotti snacks. I think I'll stick with Imperial Stouts....

 

Hello New Beer Weekend!!!

Thanks to @Beersnake1 for kicking things off today.

I am on the road today, and at a new brewery to me.

https://imgur.io/a/1YaVpUR

Octobeerfescht- Boathouse Brothers Brewing- Prior Lake, MN - Oktoberfest- 6.3% ABV

Malty, as expected. Slightly sweet. Slight bitterness on the back. I am liking this

Review:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/52465/625055/


3.71/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
This beer pours a clear amber color. The head is white with small bubbles. It looks slightly fluffy. There's carbonation bubbles rising in the glass. Head retention is decent, and a nice bit of lacing on the glass.
Nose is slight. Just a hint of biscuit on it.
Flavor - up front I get caramel, that has a hint of sweetness to it. There is a good bread, biscuit flavor going on here. The back has just a faint bitterness - not strong, but pleasing.
Bubbly body, and fairly full.
Delicious.

I will be back for more later today.

 

Thank you @Beersnake1 for kicking off the weekend and continuing to present African beers we rarely see here. Not very warm here at this point, but it is Sunny and I have two new to me Saisons I want to get in before the first freeze (and possible snow) this Fall in the current forecast for Monday evening.

I don't believe this collaboration was distributed beyond Chicago, but there are still plenty left to purchase at the Brewery. This is my first shot at Afterthought, and Revolution's first shot at a Saison.

Revolution & Afterthought foreknowledge



Can Notes: Four pack 16 oz cans purchased refrigerated at Revolution Brewery on 9/7/22 for $13.33 with tax. Refrigerated since purchase until this afternoon. Canned 8/5/22 @ 18:09:53. Experimental Dry Hopped Saison with HBC 1019 Hops. Dry Hopped Saison Ale, 5.0% ABV. Brewed by Revolution in collaboration with afterthought brewing company.

Appearance: Multiple pours into a tall tulip glass. Clear golden straw color base, glorious bright soapy white head leaves generous lacing. Mild carbonation. Looks fantastic. 4.75

Aroma: Banana clove the primary feature, light in strength, backed by lemon grass. 3.5

Taste: Hops neutral in the taste department, balances out any sweetness beyond a light banana clove. Light lemon as well. Getting much more feel than taste throughout. 3.5

Mouthfeel: Hops presence heavy for a saison, though consistent with the dry hopped description. Minimal carbonation, very light and easy drinking, the hops providing the depth and a much hoppier feel than most saisons, the strongest I can recall through memory. Drinks as light or lighter than the 5% ABV, slightly dry, clean easy finish. 4.0

Overall: The dry hop heavy presence and mouthfeel my primary takeaway. Drinks neutral as I am not getting flavors from the hops, and it blunts rather than enhances the banana clove yeast. I will enjoy my remaining four pack, and want to explore afterthought's more traditional offerings further. Nice effort and collaboration. 3.75

 

Thanks for kicking off the thread @Beersnake1 . I'm green with envy at all the beers you're getting to try on your trip.

Drinking Stone W00tstout.



Ebony with a 1/2" tan head, slowly fades. Light lacing. 4.5
A nutty aroma with notes of chocolate, molasses, coffee, rye. 4.5
Tastes of nuts, chocolate, molasses, coffee, oak, vanilla, caramel, a rye spiciness. 4.75
Full bodied, thick & oily, light carbonation. Semisweet finish. 4.5
An outstanding Imperial Stout. I expect nothing less from Stone. 4.5
4.6 rDev +11.4%

 

Orchestrated Parking

8.5% New England IPA by North Park Beer Company and Orchestrated Minds

Poured from a pint can, the body pours a hazy dark yellow with an nice initial head. Good lacing during the tasting.

The nose is a wonderful pineapple and Nelson with a bit of danky goodness. Body follows nose but adds pine, orange, mango, and more thanks to an all star hop bill includes Citra, Mosaic, Simcoe and Nelson. Good juicy flavor with a light bitterness on finish.

Carbonation is good and mouthfeel is nice but might benefit from a softer feel.

Overall a solid NE IPA that is an easy drinker.

 

I’m in Austin TX for work through Tuesday, so my beer nerd compass is ALL mixed up - I never drink this early, but we’re having trouble getting a couple of crates of material delivered for a show we’re working that begins tomorrow, so we’re sitting in a bar watching Texas play Iowa State and day drinking!

This is a relatively local beer that features my favorite hop (Mosaic) and LOTS of floaties, which I love. Let’s see where this beer takes me.

#DrinkLocal



4.02/5 rDev +5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a nicely hazy straw color with a creamy white head that provides maximal lacing. Dank citrus aromas dominate the nose, with tangerine, grapefruit rind, and a bit of passion fruit and some berries. Definitely a Mosaic-hopped beer.

The taste is all about that dank citrus, with tangerine and grapefruit rind most prominent, but backed up by a nice dollop of berry flavors at the back of the palate. The medium mouthfeel is on the softer side and fits the style.

This is a very crushable hazy, especially if you like Mosaic hops. Guilty as charged, your honor.

 

My wife and I had our omicron booster and flu shots yesterday. I have two slightly sore arms, but my wife is feverish and achy. Tylenol and rest seem to be helping.
Today's new beer is Overhead from Kane Brewing in Ocean, NJ, acquired in a trade with @MacMalt. Rob has been extremely generous in acquainting me with a sampling of New Jersey beers.
A hazy orange color. Modest white head with plenty of lace.
Aroma of citrus and pine.
Taste of grapefruit, grapefruit rind, and pine.
Good bitter mouthfeel.

 

Yes indeed. It's very tasty!