New Beer Weekend #124

Did you drink coffee while eating your Thanksgiving Pumpkin Pie?

I was visiting for Thanksgiving and coffee was not offered as I enjoyed eating a slice of pumpkin pie but this might have been a good pairing.

Well, today I have a beer equivalent: Elysian Punkuccino Coffee Pumpkin Ale.

How this beer is detailed on the brewery’s website:

“A pumpkin ale with the attitude of a world-weary barista, Punkuccino packs a short shot of Stumptown coffee toddy in your pint with just a shake of cinnamon and nutmeg. Pale, brown, biscuit, C-77 Crystal, chocolate and kiln-coffee malts provide the body, German Northern Brewer lends a touch of bitterness, and lactose sweetens just a touch. Three pumpkin additions, in the mash, kettle and fermenter.”

Well, this beer sure does read tasty, let’s see if it is tasty.

Served in a tulip glass:

Appearance:

Black in color with a very thin khaki colored head.

Aroma:

There is a pleasant combination of pumpkin pie spicing and to a lesser extent some coffee.

Taste:

The flavor follows well balanced between the pumpkin pie spice flavors and coffee. There is a low-moderate bitterness.

Mouthfeel:

Medium bodied with a dry finish.

Overall:

This beer is very good – excellent! The pumpkin pie spicing and coffee flavors play very well together.

Cheers!

@rotsaruch @RobH @KOP_Beer_OUtlet

 

Bad Astronaut in Houston just opened its taproom, and made a visit yesterday afternoon. The brewery itself has been distributing to stores and selling beers at bars for about six months now (it seems). I have had their West Coast IPA before, which is a nice if not very exciting version of the style. Here is an overview of the new taproom and a review of some of their lagers.

Its a big warehouse that has the production facility and big open taproom, just outside of downtown.





With plenty of pool tables, foosbal, and shuffleboard to play as well.



First up for me, is Cloud Punch German Pilsner, 5.2% ABV. Beers right now are served in plastic cups, ugh. Oh well.


Pours a clear yellow/golden color. A two finger white head forms with good retention and lace left behind.
Pale malts and bread aromas. With cereal grains, and light grassy hops. I like the subtle character, but it is also not the most engaging.
Taste wise, like the nose, pale malts and bread. Sourdough like, along with cereal grains. Some sweetness and grassy hops leave a light lingering bitterness.
A medium body with good carbonation. Smooth and clean at the same time, though I wish it was just a bit drier. Easy to drink for sure. I can come back to this with ease.

A good Pilsner that I enjoy and will come back to. Probably not my favorite made around town, but still well done, and can see why some people would like this one a lot.

Overall score is 3.77, boarding on a B+ from me.
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/63715/621078/?ba=champ103#lists

Then I had Cruis'n Through, Helles Lager, 5% ABV.


Pours a clear golden/yellow color. A small white head forms, but recedes quickly. Light lace is left behind.
Kind of an ultra light aroma, as all I can pick up is some cereal grains. That is really it.
Taste wise, again, just some cereal grains. Even a bit of cooked corn. There is some sweetness, and kind of a soapiness lingers.
A light body with moderate carbonation. A bit of a slick and oily feel. Though despite some of the short comings, still something I can come back to with ease.

For sure, not the best example of the style I have come across. There is just not a lot going on overall. Though, its not really bad at all, just kind of there and on the boring side. Pretty average, but a drinkable average that you don't really have to think a lot about.

Overall score is 3.34, B-
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/63715/622382/?ba=champ103#lists

Overall thoughts on the taproom, its a big loud warehouse that is reminiscent of the old way breweries use to be set up around town. Basically a production facility, and a space carved within to hang out. Though back then you could only drink with tokens you received after paying for a tour. I can't say I'll be looking to come back all that often, especially during the internally long summers in Houston as their is no air conditioning. I was never really a fan of drinking in the old warehouses of Saint Arnold or Karbach, but it was all we had for a while. Though I will look for more of their beers around town, and probably pick up a six pack of the pilsner.

My Places review if anyone is interested.
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/63715/?view=ratings&ba=champ103#lists

 

Schell's Snowstorm 2022 Mahogany Lager

Appearance: Murky brown/mahogany, huge head.

Smell: Earthy, mild dark fruits.

Taste: Mild sweetness, brown sugar, some earthiness, more fruitiness starts to come through near and through the finish, raisins. Lasting fruit and earthiness in the finish.

Overall: Always a treat to try Schell's Snowstorm each year, what style will it be? This year is a dark lager that is a half step below a doppelbock. Looks a little strange as it is not clear, but a good head. Interesting earthy/fruity flavor mix, kind of reminds me of a Belgian dubbel but with a more substantial body and feel.

 

And you can generalize that to all spices.

I personally choose to not brew with spices (with the exception of Witbiers) since deciding on:

• What brand of spice to use
• How much of a given spice to use
• When to add it to the brewing process (e.g., end of boil)
• etc.

A very challenging situation.

That is why I appreciate the efforts of breweries like Elysian here. I am confident that it took them several pilot batches to 'dial in' the spice and coffee additions in brewing Punkuccino Coffee Pumpkin Ale.

Cheers to achieving proper balance!

 

Happy Saturday. Some shopping and Christmas tree decorating on the agenda.
Today's new beer is Czech Dam, a Czech style pilsner from Woods Boss in Denver.
Clear gold color, large white head, some lace.
Aroma of crackers, fruit, and flowers.
Taste of crackers, lemon, hop bitterness.
Crisp, hoppy mouthfeel.
Very nice beer.

 

I went to the Schell’s website to learn (with bolding by me):

“This year’s Snowstorm is a menagerie of specialty grains with notes of sweet bread and spice. It smells of rich mahogany, and is best enjoyed while surrounded by many leather-bound books.

ABV: 6.7%

IBU: 25”

It does indeed read like a unique beer, maybe a ‘new’ beer style of its own?

Cheers!

 

Rye Barrel Brick Kiln


12.7% English style barleywine

Poured from a bottle, the body pours a dark brown with little head. Not much lacing.

The nose is a delightful sweet mix of rye, figs, and caramel. The taste follows nose and the rye comes through in flavor, but not heat. Dark fruit flavor and the barrel join to create a luxurious flavor.

Sweet without cloying. Carbonation is light and mouthfeel is lovely.

Perhaps not the most complex barleywine you'll ever drink, but it might be the most delicious. A must try for fans of rye and barleywine.

 

Thank you @Roguer for starting the thread, and to @champ103 for his beer and brewery review. I'm with you on the plastic cups, bring my own taster glass to Revolution on crowded Deep Woods release days and pour their 5 oz pours into them (they serve glass all year except the half dozen release days due to large crowds).

I don't see much in this thread or WBAYDN regarding Maplewood, but they are one of Chicago's top breweries, both in quality and volume, with their year-round regulars handled by contract brewery Great Central Brewing Company, a brewery I love as well. This beer is a seasonal first entered into BA four years ago.

Maplewood The Chill Air



Can Notes: 16 oz, 5.5% ABV canned 10/3/22 @11:38:43. Brewed by Great Central Brewing Company on a contract basis. Single can purchased at store temperature for $3.00 w/ tax from Beer on the Wall at the end of October, refrigerated thereafter until this morning.

Appearance: Multiple pours into a large Pilsner glass. Clear copper bronze base, egg-white head generous leaving lumpy lacing in it's wake. Persistent medium carbonation throughout. 4.25

Aroma: A bit spicy lead, cinnamon, rye, a bit of honey. Light in strength, enjoyable. 3.75

Taste: Malty, rye bread, caramel not getting the other aroma flavors. Hops contain sweetness, but not a discernable flavor. German Hersbrucker hops are noted on the brewer's website, but not very familiar firsthand with the taste profile. 3.5

Mouthfeel: Carbonation negligible a few minutes in, tastes a bit flat and watery. Near medium body, very light and easy drinking, malt with minimal hop interference. Malt lingers a bit. 3.25

Overall: Overall, this is a average Vienna Lager, enjoyable but not a special beer to seek out. 3.5

My planned beer for tomorrow is also from my "Chicago Beer Ground Zero", though a brand new beer by Revolution Brewing within a short walking distance from Maplewood (and The Beer Temple, DMen Tap).

Cheers!

 

Farm to Fast, this is the 3rd review for this nice-looking Märzen by Tilted Barn of scenic Exeter, Rhode Island (home of R.I.s best IPA The Chosen One). I really enjoyed this one and wanted more but it is no longer for sale to-go in cans. The glass may have been cleaned improperly, there is a spot on the middle right of the class that is producing a slew of fine bubbles. As mentioned in my review this bad boy was drunk late in the season and will need to be revisited earlier next year. Cheers.



3.96/5 rDev -2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A 12-oz pour at the brewery was topped with thin eggshell white head with long retention and fat rings of lacing. Copper-amber color that shows gold-amber in sunlight, clear with small, cap supporting bubbles.

Bready smell of toasted wheat and grains, a bit yeasty with the perception of sweetness and medium-low floral hops.

Semi-sweet at first with medium-low bitterness. toasted whole grain bread leads the taste with rising dough and some wheat germ. Hop flavor is low yet balancing, faint unsweetened apple juice and pear appear. The finish is neutral (maybe slightly dry) with hop flavor dropping off first, the remaining tastes follow close behind. Toasted malt flavor lingers briefly.

Medium light bodied with lasting carbonation, great balance of sweetness and bitterness. Alcohol is well hidden; the aforementioned balance leads to a smooth feel. This beer has been consumed after Märzen season and they are sold only on draft now, no more cans. I suspect this beer is a little old, so I plan to get this one earlier next year. Sill very good.

 

Dave, do you have any idea when the flavorings (chocolate, orange) were added to the beer. Three years in the barrel is an extended aging process. Do you think that the flavors would 'survive' that long of a time?

Cheers!

 

Is that an intentional pun since this beer is barrel aged!?!

If so, you are a punny guy!

Cheers!

 

Thanks for the opening @Roguer

Had to referee some soccer ( futsal actually) this morning…did I miss any good games this morning? Watching the Aussies and the Argies kick it about



Uberholt by jack’s Abby

4.24/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Brewers notes: TRIPLE DECOCTED LAGER
November Release 2022

Überholt loosely translates to old school, and for us that can be a good thing. Decoction is an old-school process of extracting flavor and sugars from grain, but we use it regularly to earn that signature Jack’s Abby flavor. This lager takes it to the limit with triple decoction mash that makes old school new again. American lager has little in the way of hop and malt character. A straw to gold, very clean and crisp, highly carbonated lager. Hop aroma and flavor are low to medium-low, deriving from noble-type hops. Hop bitterness is medium. Toasted, biscuit-like, and/or bready malt flavors along with low levels of fermented-malt-derived sulfur compounds may be evident.

Canned 11.1, opened 12.3, poured into a new Glarus pokal

Clear golden liquid with numerous active carbonation stream, one finger off white fizzy foam top that quickly recedes

Aroma is grassy, straw

taste is malty, bready, biscuity, slightly sweet, grassy

Light mouthfeel, crisp, dry finish

Good beer, recommended