New Beer Weekend #130

Gansett - Fest (marzen)



I always skipped this one but it was a closeout single so here we go. Looks gorgeous, amber leaning firm copper. Head is just off-white and hangs around while I take a photo and then recedes and laces the glass.

Smell is impressive, more weisn than marzen (won't fine me complaining), just very delicate and nuanced, earthy hops and spice, mild malt body, a general evenness about it. Taste follows. I'm very impressed. Really well produced here, tastes full and robust, very easy drinking, hops come in when they're good and ready and the whole thing marries perfectly. The predominant flavor here is of sharp herbal bitterness dancing atop a very clean, very restrained malt body.

Very nice pint here by Gansett, would buy again.

 

I really wish I was around this thread back then to enjoy beers with you @cavedave. This is always one of my favorite, if not favorite parts of the week. All for the love of beer.

 

Holy Mountain - Downward is Heavenward rustic rye lager

 

That has to be Chuck’s…?

 

Oh yeah I dig this lil' dude. Resinous yet bready malts saddle up and ride the hops. Good stuff for sure. Cheers BA!
Portage North Of There Hoppy Pale Ale 5.8% ABV
4.29/5 rDev +5.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
16oz can into a pint glass.
L: Pours a gently hazed med-dark honey w a thin, rounded eggshell white head w OK retention to a decent skin, low carbo, medium sticky webby lacing.
S: Citrus, pineapple, a hint of bread crust, earthy yeast. Fairly simple and light.
T: Bread crust, some yeast, gushing medium resinous & zesty hops, a light background nuance of smokiness throughout, lightly nutty, firm melon rind, citrus zest, pine resin, caramelized malts, bready & floral. Masterfully balanced.
F: Lightly brisk throughout, juicy & wet, med-bodied feel w a moderately fast finish and a med-length linger that is fairly drying.
O: An excellent tasting & feeling APA that is indeed well-hopped. Borders on an IPA. It has an eloquent touch of toastiness to it which keeps the hops from going free range. Zesty but not too citrusy. Extremely pleasant to drink. It is excellent in its style.

 

If it's not the weekend I am fishing at the Northwest Angle, I'm in

 

Yeah. For sure. That looks like a groovy place to tip a few. What's the joint called?

 

I know how to pour a beer, really! This one was just sooo happy to be out of its can.
Trogdor, a smoked porter from Pantown. No known relationship with Home Star Runner, but with a name like that…
Received from VictorySaber1977 for NBW BIF #16.
24 oz crowler.
Poured coffee dark brown with an amazing head that made me stop pouring into my liter mug.
When I finally got it poured, the aroma was mild for me (damaged nose) but smoky malts were evident, or my imagination provided that.
The taste- good porter, a touch of barbecue flavor which gives it a little complexity but that is about it. It was really hitting the spot.
The feel, well a bit thin but it’s a porter so can’t complain.
I must have really enjoyed it as I finished it before finishing my dinner. Very easy quaffing. Thanks James!

 

6/23/23-6/24/23.

 

If I am correct it is Chucks Hop Shop, there are I think 2 or 3 around the Seattle area. I went while there, overwhelming selection to say the least. Awesome place to beer shop.

 

A couple of beers on a chilly evening in Northern Indiana - with no (as in zero) snow on the ground.

That is not normal for January.

On to a beer from a brewery that I adore. If I ever am lucky enough to visit, I will be in full-on fanboy mode.





4.6/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Pours a beautifully hazy golden straw color with a dense, creamy white head that leaves little space on the glass. Gorgeous hazy. The nose is that ubiquitous Nelson Sauvin profile, with dank passion fruit, green grapes (or white wine, if you prefer), and sweet berry aromas triggering the salivary glands.

The dank passion fruit and grape flavors are forward on the taste, with the sweet berry flavors following for an exceptionally flavorful, balanced beer that drinks way too easily for an 8% ABV beer.

A full, slightly creamy mouthfeel contributes to this magnificent beer’s drinkability. World class beer from a world class brewery.

 

Hacker Pschorr Kellerbier



Despite the stoneware mug, I poured from on high and can say this poured a slightly hazy golden yellow. Ample head that dissipates slowly. Lacing was apparent.

Light cereal. Floral notes. A hint of apple on the nose.

Taste follows. Cereal, light floral notes and an apple finish that rubs me the wrong way.

Medium body. Light carbonation.

This is a decent beer, but not one I’d be grabbing again from the German imports shelf. The apple notes I get are not my thing at all.

 

First visit to RIIP at their RIIP location.

RIIP Loose Trucks



Brewer Notes: $8 draft pint, WCIPA, dank sweetness, pine and hop resin, citrus. 7.0% ABV.

Appearance: Fluid heavy carbonation, white creamy head leaves fine lacing clinging to the nonic glass. 4.25

Aroma: Nice citrus pine mix, slightly dank. Inviting. 4.0

Taste: Consistent with aroma, citrus on equal terms with the pine, nice and easy, comes together well. 4.25

Mouthfeel: Nicely dry, fizzy carbonation lingers throughout, light to medium body, lightly resinous, dry pine lingers a bit in a nice way. 4.0

Overall: This is a nice easy straight up WCIPA. Love the dryness, flavors solid, no malt bullshit. Solid option. 4.0

Likely one more here.

 

Congratulations to the happy couple
And to the extended family.
Cheers all

 

Komes Barleywine, 12.0% ABV; 3.93 overall

Pours a less than brown/chestnut with a pinky of tan head. Some head retention & lacing

S: Dark fruits, brown sugar, nose intensifies once the beer warms up.

T: Woody hops, plums, figs, dryness, brown sugar & some booze bite up front. Brown bread, booze, figs leafy & woody hops as this beer warms up, pretty dry, plus some brown sugar. Finishes dry with woody hops, a little brown sugar & figs

MF: Medium body, moderate carbonation, pretty warming

Solid take on the style, but there is no doubt this is a sipper

 

#2, Rhinegeist is a brewery I’ve visited and a brewery I really enjoy, so I’m excited to try this.





4.24/5 rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours a cloudy mahogany brown color with a sizzling, soapy tan head that is quick to evacuate the premises in seconds. The nose has tangy berry notes, chocolate, a bit of vanilla, and a smidge of booze from the barrels.

The taste is led by a combo pack of the tangy berry, chocolate, and vanilla flavors, with a bit more than a smidge of barrel heat. The flavors are really good, but a bit more barrel would really elevate this beer, IMHO.

The mouthfeel is lightly carbed, with significant gravitas, commensurate for an 11.4% ABV beer. I love the brewery, and I’m glad I had the opportunity to try this beer. A little more barrel and this approaches world class, IMHO. Really good stuff.

 

Yup! Their third and newest location, in Seward Park. Really busy today, which is nice to see!

 

Right arm. Thanx brother!

 

Good evening, NBW/S crew. Miserable weather here...cold, raw, drizzly. I wish it would just snow, already! Went out for breakfast, did the grocery chores, so made the best of it and patterned around the house.

Tonight's totally inappropriate for the conditions beer split with the missus is:



Mast Landing Splash. This is the cranberry, orange, and ginger variant of what is apparently a rotating series of flavored kettle sours.

It's quite effervescent, doesn't build or hold a head of any sort so it's like most beers of this ilk. Burnished reddish gold color, very clear.

The smell is spot on with the label. Orange is quite pronounced, the ginger sneaks up but ends up equally strong. There's cranberry in there because I know what to smell for but it's pretty subtle.

The taste is a bit soda pop like for me. Strong orange anchored by an earthy ginger buoyed up by some cranberry tartness/phenolics and red berry flavor. There's some sourness and I find it a little problematic. There's the bright fruit sour of the cranberry and orange plus whatever was done in the kettle. To me they are competing with quite different profiles. Both also clash a bit with the heavily earthy ginger. I'm picking it apart, obviously, and the whole is better than the parts.

Feel is light and reasonably bright, not overly carbonated despite the effervescent look on the pour.

Overall, it is to me a mediocre beer and maybe something not yet in Mast Landing's wheelhouse? It's going to be around a 3.6 on the BA scale. Tried it, it was OK - personally I'd prefer a non-soured base and let the adjuncts do the talking. The verdict from the missus is slightly less kind...

 

A festive NBW, we got weddings (congrats @MacMalt), 50th birthday parties via @Victory_Sabre1973, and engagements via @FBarber...seems to be a pretty wonderful weekend around these parts. Congrats to all of you and/or your family members.

This weekend's first beer, a munich dunkel, comes courtesy of my friend @snaotheus, from Portland via Washington...The can had some complicated instructions on it...

Instructions:

1. Open
2. Drink

Luckily I think I managed to pass the test...evidence below.

Wayfinder - Time Spiral (5.5% munich dunkel)



Pours somewhere between amber and brown, lightly cloudiness, light brown and cohesive head that lingers as a thin film, never disappearing completely but slowly turning into a dense ring, no lace.

The nose is toasty, slightly nutty, doughy dark bread with some hints of sweetness, as it warms some minor noble hop presence.

Taste leans into the doughy dark bread, same toasty grain, low peppery hops on the finish; along with the same nuttiness, comes off as walnut skin.

Body is heavier side of light, slightly chewy, very creamy smooth carbonation; dry on the palette a low but noticeable bitterness.

A pretty decent dunkel; that is a little hefty and has some minor residual sweetness Thanks for sharing Ryan. Now decisions...which to choose next...