New Beer Weekend #137

A Prior (brewed) beer!

Today’s new beer is a beer I had on draft two days ago. It was a nice ‘spring’ day and my wife and I went for a long walk in the Norristown Farm Park and afterwards visited Von C Brewing.

There is an interesting backstory to this brewery in that it was started by three brothers, who are now of retirement age, that have ties to the old Schmidt’s of Philadelphia Brewery (which closed in 1987). You can read the story here:

https://voncbrewing.com/family-brewing-history

On one wall of the tasting room is a big (my guess 15’ tall and 30’ wide) photo/mural of Schmidt’s brewery from ‘back in the day’:



Today’s new beer is “Prior Preferred Czech Pilsner

5% ABV Norristown, PA

Steeped in Norristown tradition this Czech style pilsner is a nod to Adam Scheidt’s faithful recreation of the original Pilsen lager. Brewed with Czech ingredients and allowed to lager for at least four weeks this pale lager has soft yet balanced bitterness. Saaz hops are the star of this beer as they lend their delicate spicy and floral aromas to this classic Bohemian style.”

Adam Scheidt is an old-time brewery which closed a long time ago (sold to Schmidt’s in the 1960’s). There is an interesting story about Adam Scheidt Brewing Co. brewing a Bohemian (Czech) Pilsner branded as Prior waaay back in the day (circa 1940). See information posted below courtesy of jesskidden.

As I was paying the bill, I asked the bartender if there was anybody from the brewing team who I could discuss this beer with. She replied “that guy over there with the checkered hat”. I was able to meet & chat with Zack. He was not directly responsible for brewing Prior Preferred but he did provide some insights:

· This was a small batch; brewed on their Pilot Brewery

· The recipe was formulated by Adam Brozzetti (based on Adam Scheidt logbooks?). Adam first worked for Schmidt’s in 1969 as a Coop from Drexel University.

· They plan to re-brew this beer on their production brewery and package (i.e., can) those beers

Let’s see how a re-creation of a beer originally brewed circa 1940 tastes.

My Prima Preferred beer was poured via a Lukr faucet into a dimpled mug. Von C has four Lukr side-pull faucets/taps:



Appearance:

Golden yellow with a big fluffy (and long-lasting) white head.

Aroma:

There is a combination of bready malt and herbal/spicy hop aroma; very enticing.

Taste:

The flavor follows the nose with a combination of bready malt and herbal/spicy flavors; the malt profile is quite rich in character. There is a moderate bitterness.

Mouthfeel:

Medium bodied, a very smooth mouthfeel and a dry finish.

Overall:

This beer is very good - excellent! This beer is very nicely balanced between the malt and hop flavors and I really enjoy the richness aspect of the malt profile.

Na Zdravi

@rotsaruch @KOP_Beer_OUtlet @RobH @Reidrover @springdalebeer

 

Thanks for getting us started this weekend @Roy_Hobbs and with a Legendary BA Stout in my opinion.

Poured into a 20 tulip glass canned on 2/15/23. Pours a very attractive near pitch black with a 2 plus finger sticky light brown head that leaves little spotty lace, with nice retention. 4.25

Aroma is dry coffee grounds, cocoa nibs, toffee, caramel, and vanilla bean. 4.25

Taste follows coffee, cocoa, toffee, caramel, and vanilla nicely balanced. 4.25

Mouthfeel is above average, maybe a little dry, soft gentle carbonation, and at 10% it drinks like that and goes down rather easy. 4.25

Overall my expectations were a little higher, still nice but I wanted a bigger body and a little more aggressive flavor. A nice stout anyway. 4.25 Cheers all.

 

A NEDIPA collaboration from Kettlehead Brand Upper Pass.

Poured into a 16 oz Snulip glass canned on 2/22/23. Pours a very attractive yellow orange with a 2 finger sticky white head that gobs of sticky lace, with really nice retention. 4.75

Aroma is mandarin, mango, cantaloupe, passionfruit, apricot, and a little white grapefruit bitterness. 4

Taste follows mandarin, mango, cantaloupe, passionfruit, apricot, and a little grapefruit bitterness in the rather balanced finish. 4.25

Mouthfeel is above average, soft gentle carbonation, not sticky or dry, and at 8.2% big flavor but easy going down. 4.25

Overall this well balanced and rather tasty, it might be little sweeter than I prefer, but I still would recommend. 4.25

 

Modist Gifts of the Sacred Father

Appearance: Clear dark amber, good head.

Smell: Sweet, perfumy floral note.

Taste: Bready—like dark bread, nice sweetness, caramel, slight raisin/date note, a touch of root beer, good hefty feel.

Overall: A solid doppelbock, nice malty flavor without being cloying. It's still doppelbock season, nice to have a good one from a brewery that usually does hazies.

 

Ummmm.....sounds like an opportunity could come your way Dave. I have a couple 2022's in the back room and pick up the 2023's a week from today. Let me get my hands on the 2023's and we can work out trade details in a PM if you really want to go for it....cheers!!!!

 

A busy morning. Walked the dogs, dropped off the cardboard at the recycling center, and picked up the groceries.
Now I have a new beer in my hands. This is Buntastic from Prairie, an imperial stout with cake mix, carrot, and carrot cake flavor.
Very dark brown, nearly black, color. No head.
Aroma of carrot, chocolate, and spice
Taste of carrot cake, chocolate, with a little cinnamon
Big-bodied beer, sweet

 

Well, since I just checked I'm holding a 4 year vertical and will have #5 next Saturday. If a @scream celebration reunion with @GreenBayBA , @DoctorZombies @GrumpyGas @Danmullins and others could be pulled off I could fly up with all 5 years @beergoot that would be epic!!

 

It is The Wolf day at 3 Sheeps Brewing. This is The Wolf with Ancho Chiles, Cinnamon, Vanilla, and Cacao Nibs. The color is pitch black with a foamy brown top. The foam has various shades of brown, like coffee. The smell is Mexican hot chocolate. It is strong with chocolate, spices, cinnamon, bourbon, and vanilla. The taste is strong with cinnamon, vanilla, chilies, bourbon, and chocolate. The mouthfeel is smooth, oily, and full, with medium carbonation. Overall, this is a wonderful variant!

 

First up for the weekend as I eat a quick lunch is The Steam Machine Beverage Co. Voodoo Ranger IPA.

“What’s that” You say?

“Hold on a second Coronaeus, that’s a beer brewed by New Belgium” you say.

Well, in this case you’d be wrong. This is a can of Voodoo Ranger brewed for the Ontario market by Steam Whistle at their Etobicoke production brewery.



Notice the bilingual labeling. Moreover:



So, my question to you is this: should this be added as a Steam Whistle Brewing offering, or do I log this beer under the New Belgium listing?


Anywho…

Pours a medium clear copper with a pillowy head that dissipates slowly leaving a light film and moderate lacing.

Citrus pith, light pine, some broad tropical notes on the nose.

Taste follows closely with an added gentle malty sweetness. Some bitterness on the finish.

Medium body with a rather quick finish.

A solid serviceable classic IPA that reminds me of the US brewed original, though I haven’t enjoyed one of those since before joining this site. I decided that the fact this beer, as brewed by Steam Whistle is new to me, it would count for the NBW thread.

Cheers!

 

Athletic lite
....still have a few more hours of having to be productive so starting out light,literally.
...very clear gold appearance
...medium carbonation which quickly dissipates to medium light. Body is close to average.
..aroma is corn,malt,not too much else,maybe a little floral but it came off as pleasant to me
...taste wasn't overpowering but there was malt,corn,with a very mild earthy hop.
...overall for na it was pretty good but I've noticed with na beers it is very hit or miss with people.
I liked this but wouldn't argue if someone didn't enjoy it

 

Brewing Projekt Hazelnut Ssslurppp Imperial Stout, 7.9% ABV. Pours black with a half-finger light-brown head that left slight lacing. Nose is hazelnut, chocolate, and vanilla. Taste follows with hazelnut and chocolate right up front, slightly sweet, slightly bitter, with chocolate lingering. Excellent mouthfeel overall outstanding. Would be world-class for me with more sweetness.

4.38/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

One of the most chocolaty stouts I've ever had, it really brings it.

 

Thanks for your open @Roy_Hobbs , loved your review and articles (including the one listing an exclusive Chicago representative from and South Ashland Ave office), and it sounds like you’ll have a great day at 3 Sheeps @GreenBayBA ! May be able to return there mid May.

Have two suburban / “Chicagoland” beers planned for the weekend, the second I’m really excited and anxious about trying after all the news the past few weeks. The selection for today is a little less well known, and a bit pricey so only bought a single.

Roaring Table Into the Tilt



Can Notes: Purchased 3/2/23 from Beer on the Wall for $4.50, 16 oz canned 2/7/23). 5.8% ABV, American IPA. Hops: Amarillo, Centennial Incognito, Columbus Cryo. Brewed & Canned by Roaring Table Brewing, Lake Zurich, IL.

Dank, resinous, and citrusy in turn, this expressively hoppy beer cycles through waves of nostalgia before returning to the present with a sticky resolve. We dig it.

Appearance: Primary pour followed by a top off into a shaker pint glass. Darker brown / yellow clear base, light carbonation, creamy egg-white head leaves clumpy lacing and a creamy cover over the base. 4.0

Aroma: Pine is strong, citrus backs well. Digging this. 4.25

Taste: Nice old school piney vibe, citrus plays a supporting role. Sweet notes of tangerine and pineapple beyond the initial citrus. Would call this a modern take on the WC style, light and easy.

Mouthfeel: Dry, resinous. Drinks light and easy though, consistent with the lighter ABV. Faint, negligible carbonation. Very enjoyable, light and easy, joyfully lightly dry pine lingers on and on. 4.5

Overall: This is a beer I'd give someone new to craft to introduce them into a solid but light and chill WC styled Pale Ale. This would be perfect on a very hot day, easy drinking, though really perfect for any weather. Glad I picked this up, worth it even though slightly more expensive than the typical PA/IPA. Well done once again, Roaring Table!

_________________________________________________________________________

The incognito and cryo hops which have tasted artificial / forced in the past came off well with this offering beyond the initial aroma which led to brief concerns. It's in the way that Roaring Table brewed this that made this a great experience, more so than other experiences with said hops.

See you tomorrow with what I hope to be another incredible offering for New Beer Sunday #941!