New Beer Weekend #132

Happy Sunday afternoon all!
Most of the driveway is cleared of the astoundingly heavy snow and lunch achieved.
This beautiful beer was sent to me from our own @jonphisher who took pity on me last week and sent me some Wookey Jack so I could try it. (Trade for as yet unknown locals) He sent me a few other beers to, this one was surprisingly tasty.
Most lagers are too subtle for me but this one definitely doesn’t do subtle.
The hops are very evident, even noble like and there is this pepper accent that adds to the bitter side, which is really well balanced by the malts which feature biscuits and other bready flavors. If I didn’t know better I’d think this was a Pilsner, but it is classified as an American Lager.
Check out the transparency on this, just nearly perfectly clear.
I’m thinking if this were local I’d just always have a few in the fridge for a quick thirst quencher. Solid lager, thanks for sharing it with me Jon.

 

Central Waters makes great stouts, and it’s impressive they reached their 25th anniversary! Sounds like you had a great beer weekend, Micah!

Greetings and salutations Beer Advocates across the globe, and welcome to New Beer Sunday #936! February 20, 2005 was the first New Beer Sunday, so we are quickly approaching the 18th anniversary, New Beer Sunday #939. which will be held on February 19, 2023.

It's been a very long time since I tried a new 3 Floyds beer (their fresh hop Broo Doo, which was excellent and rated 4.75 overall October 3, 2021). I used to love having draft versions of new to me beers at their brewery, and hope one day they reopen (closed in March 2020) or open a new brewpub/taproom. They released this Scottish Ale with coffee first in November 2021, and again with this December 2022 batch, just in time for Robert Burns' Birthday and Supper.

3 Floyds Aggromaster



Bottle Notes: Single 12 ounce bottle purchased for $2.50 with tax on 1/20/23 at store temperature from Beer on the Wall, refrigerated for at home until opening. Bottled 12/9/22, 7.5% ABV Coffee Ale. Brewed and bottled by Three Floyds Brewing Company LLC, Munster, Indiana.

As coffee and dark ales collide on the battlefield of flavor, a new hero emerges victorious! Combining a malty, Scottish-style ale with hand-selected roast coffee, the Aggromaster is your champion of full-bodied beers...Destined for greatness and enjoyment.

Appearance: Single pour into a large tulip glass. Very dark brown, near black base, creamy light tan white lingers for a few minutes before leaving a light cover over the base with thicker build around the rim. Fine tiny bubbles cling to the glass, much of which slides back down. 4.0

Aroma: Dark roast coffee and coffee beans. One strong note, nothing else gathered after a few attempts. The dark roast coffee is pleasant. 3.75

Taste: The taste is a bit broader than the aroma, with the dark roast coffee still leading but the lightly peat and smoke base playing peek-a-boo at first before settling in. As this warms, the coffee recedes and the Scotish Ale taste strengthens, with the over ratio of about 2/3 coffee, 1/3 lightly smoky malt base. 3.5

Mouthfeel: Light to medium body, feels a bit creamy, carbonation more seen than the barely felt mouthfeel. Sweet overall based on the malt and perceived cream, held in check by the roasted coffee. Drinks at to above the ABV, coffee lingers in the aftertaste. 3.75

Overall: I am not a big fan of malty beers, so for me the coffee made this beer more enjoyable personally, even though I'd generally prefer the coffee to complement, not overpower, most beers/styles. Coffee may be too strong for some. It was pleasant for me, and while this won't be a regular purchase on my end, I'm glad I tried it. 3.5

I believe the coffee strength will be off-putting for someone looking for a more traditional Scottish Ale. They should probably grab what I believe to be the base beer, Robert the Bruce, for a more traditional treatment. Would like to see this coffee used more gently with one of their stouts.

Cheers!

 

Opacus Oatmeal Stout from Stormbreaker

16oz can served in a snulip. I think the date is 08192022.

Pours dark black with a lively carbonation at start that settles into a lumpy skin and a thickish ring, unusually dark in color. Lots of carbonation. Smell is dark roast coffee, dark toast, some dark chocolate.

Taste is assertive but not oppressive. More in the coffee and chocolate zone, and more than a little bit of anise. Slight nutty sweetness.

Mouthfeel is a bit thicker than I would have expected, probably the oatmeal's effect. Overall, nice beer.

 

Well for me Craig it is local and now that I’ve consistently found it relatively fresh it’s always in the fridge. Such a beautiful looking beer too I agree, crystal clear.

It’s funny, I added it as American lager when they first made it cause I hadn’t tried it, and they gave no info on what it was other than “lager”. I think we should update cause it’s German pils through and through to me.

Really happy you liked that one, I love sharing it when I can.


And PS…

@JackHorzempa i suggest you try this one if you have the chance. Both my brother in law and I have been long time prima fans and it reminds me of prima of old.

 

Jolly Fox Brewing's Foxy IPA from Pittsburg, KS, 6.1% ABV; 2.32 overall. Easily the worst beer I've had in a very long time

Pours an effervescent & bright gold with a pinky of eggshell colored head. Good head retention & lacing, this is really the only part of this beer they got close to correct

S: Apples & doughyness

T: Aspirin like bitterness, green apple, dryness up front. More astringency & dryness & green apple skins, this is a disaster

MF: Medium body, moderate carbonation. skews way too bitter

In short, a drainpour. I have 2 others from this brewery, sure hope they are better

 

Sneaking in a beer in the middle of the Eagles game. Will catch up on thread later.

Go Birds!

Shining World - an Italian Pilsner from Post & Beam Brewing.

3.72/5 rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Added beer to database as a German Pilsner given lack of an "Italian Pilsner" option.

Appearance is a very light yellow with extreme clarity, but a somewhat disappointing thin-ish white head that at least hung around for a while. Aroma is really nice biscuit, grass, cracker and faint lemon. Very nice smelling.

Taste largely mirrors the nose, but with some nice peppery spice mixed in to go with the crackery malts. Very light, crisp and refreshing. Overall, pretty well done.

 

Troegs Double Nugget Nectar - Decided to end my dry January today because A) E-A-G-L-E-S, EAGLES! B) It's been over a month now since I had a beer so I'm good there C) I scored a single of a beer I missed out on last year and it's even more limited this year and disappearing quickly. However, something tells me that I may regret having a 9.5% beer after a month+ of not drinking.

Pours from a 16 oz can (FB 05/18/23, canned on 01/16/23) a fluffy head, very carbonated, looks like regular NN so a nice looking beer. Smell is hoppy and malty sweet but just a bit tame on the nose. Taste is...eh, okay. I'm picking up sweetness as I usually do with DIPAs and the alcohol is definitely there. I'm drinking this beer slowly and like most DIPAs it's getting a bit maltier/sweeter as it warms. Nothing wrong with this beer but nothing special either.

This is not a bad beer and pretty much a run of the mill DIPA, maybe leaning a tad bit old-school with the darker color and on the maltier end. But a one and done for me and nothing I will be seeking out again. Budmo!

 

Good Sunday afternoon, New Beer Sippers and commentators. This weekend marks the 4th Anniversary of one of our locals, Untied Brewing Company of New Providence, NJ. Not only does Untied brew some very good beer but it's one of the friendliest breweries I frequent. The owner, Matt, always makes an effort to chat with his customers, which I really appreciate.

In addition to a couple of special IPAs, the brewery released the "Brewers Reserve" version of its Russian Imperial Stout Left in the Dark. The base version of this Stout is outstanding, and I've received very positive feedback from recipients of it in the NBS BIFs over the years. The brewery has done a bourbon barrel-aged version before but this one supposedly is aged in specially-selected barrels. I'm not sure what that means but I like this version a LOT!

Poured at 59°. It's a dark cola color with a thin, frothy, light mocha head and minimal lacing. The bourbon barrel is strong on the nose along with roasted malt, coffee, leather, tobacco, caramel/toffee, and just a whiff of dark fruit. While the bourbon is noticeable in the taste it's rather delicate and not distracting. I'm tasting more dark fruit than I smelled which is a real plus. The coffee is fresh and acidic and there's more than a hint of dark chocolate in the background. It's earthy but there is little bitterness or char in the flavor. The mouth feel isn't quite as thick as the base stout. I also noticed that with the "regular" BBA version. But the 10.2% ABV is very well-hidden and it drinks with ease.

4.32/5 rDev 0%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

If it could hold its head a little longer and were a bit more viscous, then my rating would be off the chart. That said, this is a very fine Stout. Hopefully, there will be some more bottles left!

 

I finally got an audience with the king. I had fun, but he didn't live up to the hype.

4.22/5 rDev -10.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25
Poured from a 16oz can stamped THIS IS KJJJ 01/17/23 to a Nonic at fridge temperature.
The body is hazy and completely opaque apricot color but glows nicely with the room lighting. A ½” creamy white head fades within 2-3 minutes to a ring but lacing is a heavy foam coating through most oft the session.
The aroma is hoppy, citrusy, and really nice.
The taste is heavy guava but there is also pineapple and stone fruit. In the end the alcohol stops hiding.
Mouthfeel is, well, Treehouse.
I could do with a more subtle alcohol finish, but everything else is spot on.

 

What a great review, Az! I've got a few years on you and I'm also more and more prone to reminiscence. I sometimes think about certain females of the past although I know I'm blessed beyond belief by Mrs. Mac who is truly my best friend. Finback brews some great beers and while I live approximately 35 miles away from the brewery our distro is spotty at best. Based upon your eloquence I'm gonna look for Helo.

 

Now I'm challenged to go to Oakflower next Saturday and tilt one with you.

 

Happy Birthday, Fred!

 

Czig Meister is located up our way, in Hackettstown. The owner used to be a brewer at Kane. They are really good with the barrel-aged stouts and barleywines (like Kane).

 

A Head Hunter IPA as we close out the half:



Touchdown! Go birds!

 

I looked up some reviews and the people who don't care for it as much are describing it as "too thick" and "syrupy" and that is in line with my feelings also. I have no issues finishing it but it's going slowly.

 

Happy Birthday to Mrs. Lordofthewiens!

 

I’m one of the lucky ones who was on the receiving end of your BIF porch howitzers and remember the Left in the Dark that you sent me. So good. I shared it with my SAN group and even compared next to BBA stouts it was the top choice of 3 of the 4 of us.
I can only imagine how the BA versions compare!
They are only 4 years old? They had a clue when they got started!

 

Wait! A guy from West Virginia who lives in Florida is rooting for the Eagles? Only in America.

 

Not enjoying this football at all so far.

Sierra Nevada Cryo Fresh IPA, 7.0% ABV; 3,94 overall

Pours an effervescent & bright gold with a thumb of pearl colored head. Nice lacing & above average head retention

S: Green melon, tropical fruits & citrus, fades as it warms

T: Follows the nose, some nectarine, tangerine, dryness & kiwi fruit up front. A touch of white grape to go with kiwi fruit, dryness & pomelo once this beer warms up. Finishes dry with pomelo, green melon & a little pink grapefruit

MF: Medium body, fairly moderate carbonation, good balance

Solid effort, but had higher hopes for this

 

Back again. Yesterday I got a 12-can mixed case of Treehouse Trail (their Pilsener) each dry hopped with different single hop. Up first, Trail Simcoe, clocking in at 5.1%.
to

4.26/5 rDev +4.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Poured from a 12oz can stamped simply WINTER 2023 to a Pilz glass at fridge temperature.
The gold body is slightly hazy but translucent. A healthy, puffy pure white head sits on top. Some nucleated bubbles rise, but not generously. Lacing is medium.
The aroma is hoppy, but there is a hint of onion.
The taste is hoppy and clean with that mild onion note not found at all. There is quite a dry finish.
Mouthfeel light with a slightly oily. I know, I said dry, but it is not sweet at all and there is hop oil for sure.
I really like this beer.