New Beer Weekend #133

A pastry Baltic Porter? Someone jumped the shark. Or something. Ah well, these are the times we are living in. More, more, more!
That stated, a good beer done well regardless the adjuncts and additions is a good beer. It’s got to be harder than it looks though.
Cheers!

 

Next up is another beer I received from the very generous @BigIronH in last Fall's BIF: The Undertaking, an Imperial Stout from Big Lake Brewing in Holland, Michigan; it's my first beer from this brewery.

Poured into a snifter at 61°. It pours a very dark walnut color approaching black. The finger of foamy, medium-mocha colored head dissipated slowly leaving a thin film of lacing. The nose offers roasted malt and earthy char balanced by molasses. The taste follows suit but with the added complexity of burnt coffee, bitter baker's chocolate, and caramel. This Stout also has one of the strongest molasses presence I've experienced. It presents a great balance of bitter and sweet. The finish is quite bitter with lots of earthy, nutty char. Its mouth feel is full and rich with low/moderate carbonation, and you can feel the warmth of the 13% ABV. It's a slow sipper for sure. Overall, what I like most about The Undertaking is the deft use of molasses.

3.97/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Thank you, Harley, for a most enjoyable Stout! Have a great week, everyone!

 

Pieces maybe. This one is kicking my proverbial butt. But still really good. The red wine does come out a bit as it warms, adding an extra layer of flavor.
Take anything that I post for the rest of the day (and maybe some of the more recent posts) with the grain of salt. Or the hops. Or the malts. Take your pick.

 

Howdy NBS.
It's amazing how 45 seems spring like after the last few days of sub zero temps and wind chills.
If ever in the Providence area this little boutique style brewery is a must try.
Longlive is brewing some tasty stuff under the radar.
Skull Medallion DIPA brewed with Talus, Citra, Topaz and Rakau- not a common blend which already peaks my interest.
Pouring a turbid amber/orange with a voluminous off white sea foamy like head that has excellent retention and leaves alot of sticky lacing.
Aroma of fresh pineapple, mango, orange, grassy herbs and pine resin.
Taste follows with tangy orange and rind, tropicals, a tiny bit of coconut, pine resin and citrus rind on the bitter finish.
Creamy feel, medium/full body, resinous, slick, sweet-bitter well balanced. Hop oils coat the tongue on the finish. Light carb. Absolutely no hint of 8.5%
Hop lovers dream. Delicious beer. Haven't had anything I don't like from them yet. Dont hesitate if you ever get the chance. Cheers!

 

Yay!

 

New beer #2 for the weekend.

4.18/5 rDev +1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
12 ounce can poured into a dimpled mug.

Super dark brown but it blacks out the glass and has a two finger tan head. Foam is very persistent and rocky.

It gives off cola-like caramel and light roast aromas, it also has a clean rainwater aroma. The flavor starts malty and lightly sweet, caramel and hints of dark chocolate, but quickly sharpens for a dry finish with moderate roasted bitterness. Mouthfeel is light-ish and mostly smooth, but not creamy, with a small rising crispness in the middle.

Really nice lager, a bit more malty and less sharp than a Schwarzbier, but still very easy drinking and left me wanting a second.

Now I’m goinig to finish it while reading page 3. Cheers!

 

Hawk Moth Brewery & Beer Parlor Peach Cuve'e Ale, 7.3% ABV; 3.9 overall

Pours a bright gold with an instantly disappearing beige head. Zero head retention or lacing

S: Oak & peaches

T: Tart peach, lemons, salt & oakyness up front, also getting white grape & green apple skins. Pretty tart peach, oaky dryness, salt & white grapes as this beer warms up, picks up a little sweetness from the peaches. Finishes with sweet & tart peached, oaky dryness , a little salt & white grapes

M: Medium body, a little sticky, minimal carbonation

Says it's a blend of golden ales aged in French Oak Barrel and finished with peaches. Presenting as much a like a Gose a wild ale. This was not the case when I had it on tap. Solid offering, a sipper to be sure

 

One last new beer for the weekend. This one came from a friend of mine who saw it on his way back from NH a couple months ago. I have to say that when your name is Ross (as mine is), which isn't exactly the most common name, you really don't expect to see your name on a beer can. The irony in this case that, much to my wife's chagrin, I'm not at all a hugger.

Logged under Hugs from Pat, but the actual name of the beer is Hugs From (they insert various names in during canning). @FBarber or @Roguer not sure if you or another mod can update the beer name and take it off the retired list. If not, then Hugs from Ross will have to live under Hugs from Pat for eternity!

3.94/5 rDev -8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This one is Hugs from Ross, with a best by date of 2/15/23. Pours an attractive glowing orange with plenty of thick off-white colored head that had good retention and lacing. Aroma has loads of citrus & grapefruit. Taste follows with plenty of tropical notes and grapefruit bite. Cleaner than most of the IPAs I've had in the last year or so, which tend to be murkbombs. This has a nice full mouthfeel and is a pleasure to drink. I don't tend to enjoy IPAs all that much, but this one is hitting the spot.

 

Jack's Abby has been doing that for years.

 

@FBarber got me hooked on good Baltic Porters and I am very impressed and appreciative of the style. So when someone with the reputation of Jacks Abbey releases something less than impressive in that category it seems, well, disappointing. But that’s likely my lack of experience speaking.
It’s all good, as it’s all beer, and anything I state is, well, an amateur speaking.

 

Hmmm, well, one would think that they were better at it then.
Kidding obviously, I’ve had I think one from them and it was really, really good. I guess I thought everything from them would match.
But even the best don’t always hit home runs.
Cheers!

 

No such thing as an amateur. We all have different tastes. There is no room for anyone to critique any BAs personal tastes....this coming from a real amateur.

 

I'm with you on that I like their straight Baltic Porter more than anything else.
Lagerness Monster was pretty damn good

 

Stepping it up for round 2.

3.91/5 rDev -10.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from a 16oz can 01/18/23 to a Nonic at fridge temperature.
An opaque glowing apricot body sits below a pure white head. Lacing is quite nice.
This is a dank smelling beer.
Taste is more citrusy with a dank musty finish. There is a pretty sweet start of apricot and guava, dank middle, dry finish, apricot/guava returns in the afterglow.
Mouthfeel is medium to large with good carbonation.
I liked this, but it's not as good as other TH NEIPAs.

 

Hows about a Veil Beer!
Not many sightings around here so nice to grab some.....
Burger Burger DIPA
Pouring a hazy orange with a nice head with lotsa lacing.
Juicy orange, peach, grapefruit on the nose.
Grapefruit, orange, peach, pear in the taste with a slightly sweet malt character that fades into a pleasant citrus rind bitterness.
Soft in feel, low carb, no alcohol detected.
Very good beer. 2 for 2 today. Good day.