New Beer Weekend #139

The Veil - Dwell (open fermented lager conditioned in wine barrels - not sure of which batch; bottled 6/22)

thanks to @TurkeysDrinkBeer for this one!

my review:

poured from a 750mL bottle (bottled June, 2022) into a veil willi becher pint glass. pours a beautiful slightly hazy yellow with two fingers of fluffy white foam. wonderful looking beer. aromas of white wine, honey, flowers, lemon and grass. both the smell and taste have the slightest hint of sourness to them but it’s very mild, making this incredibly drinkable. in the taste i get more dry oak in the finish. this is really good. right in my wheelhouse. hard to say “best of both worlds” (as far as farmhouse ale and lager are concerned) but definitely a solid take on a lager conditioned like a farmhouse. i dig it.

4.5, 4.25, 4.25, 4, 4.25
overall: 4.25
rDev: +3.4%

cheers!!

 

Revolution V.S.O.R (Very Special Old Ryeway). I've had the 2019 version, but this is the first of this batch I've had, so I'll consider this new. Drinking this one 14 months in. Per the brewery:
Owing to two years in premium rye whiskey barrels this slightly sweeter blend of our “Ryewine” oozes with malt-derived complexities reminiscent of maple and enough oak to build a bedroom set. With a grist comprised of over sixty percent rye, Very Special Old Ryeway is deceptively balanced given its supermassive body.

Pours a very dark brown color with a finger of tan head that went away fairly quickly. 4.25

Aroma is maple syrup, Werther's Originals, pecan pie, caramelized brown sugar, sweet brown bread, fig, dark cherry, rye bread, big toasted oak tannin, big rye whiskey and bourbon spirit, some vanillin. Decadent, yet balanced from the huge barrel character. 4.75

Taste brings crème brulee, Sugar Daddies, maple and bourbon-drizzled pecan, some molasses, some black cherry, dates, some apricot, rye bread and spice, leather, charred oak, vanillin, rye whiskey and bourbon spirit. Exquisite balance between the sweet characteristics of the base and the rye and barrel presence. Impressive. 4.75

Full body, which is impressive for an extended-aged beer. Just enough carbonation to move the beer through the palate. Slick, sticky, oily, boozy. Dries out on the finish a bit from the alcohol, barrel, and rye spice thankfully, but this still remains a sweet and decadent beer. 4.5

The blending on this is masterful. Wonderful complexity and balance. Revolution's barrel program is finally getting the recognition it deserves recently. Top 5 barrel program in the country imho. 4.75
Overall: 4.7

 

Ex Novo - 2023 Brewer's Edition Eliot IPA

16oz can served in a snulip. Dated 03/07/23. Bought it at the Beer Junction.

Pours clear golden with a small, dense head, lots of active carbonation. Smell is very green -- cut vegetation and hop cones, lots of resin. A hint of honeysuckle sweetness.

Taste is similar, but with a strong lemon rind / pine resin bitterness in the finish.

Mouthfeel is light, clean, dry. Overall, really nice WCIPA.

 

Good Sunday afternoon, New Beer Samplers and commentators. Tomorrow may be the first day of Spring but it certainly feels like winter today. When we woke up at the South Jersey shore this morning it was in the low 30's with a strong NW wind that was decidedly unpleasant. So we drove back right after breakfast to watch tournament hoops.

Yesterday, we spent a few hours at The Seed in Atlantic City. Although it's only been open for a couple of years it's developed a reputation for innovative and very fine beers. They excel at Lagers and lower ABV pub-style beers and big stouts. I wanted to try the Baltic Porter, Until the Sunlight, but it was no longer on draught so I bought cans. And I'm very glad I did! I like this style a lot although few local breweries make it. This is the best I've had - I rated it higher than offerings from Industrial Arts and Rushing Duck. In fact, it could be a desert island beer for me.

Canned on 1/25/2025. It pours a deep mahogany with dark cola hues at the bottom of glass and it sports a large, frothy, khaki-colored cap and substantial lacing. Very attractive pour. On the nose is roasted malt, sweet brown bread, caramel, earthy char, raisin, and plum. There is a lot of dark fruit up front, including raisin, fig, and perhaps some stewed prune. The malt bill also adds the sweetness of chocolate and caramel. This initial sweetness is balanced by notes of freshly-brewed, acidic coffee, char, leather, and tobacco ash. I have to say this is probably the most flavorful Baltic I've ever had. The mouth feel is lite but silky smooth with just the right amount of carbonation, and the 8% ABV gives it good substance without overpowering. It's a magnificent example of the Baltic Porter style from a brewery that excels in lagers.

4.4/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

If I had a working kegarator, I'd consider buying a sixtel of this wonderful brew. Like a few highly ranked teams I'm one and done today. Have a great week, everyone. Cheers, NBW!

 

Working a Brazilian fish stew and decided to grab another HBFTW today since yesterdays was so good.
This is Amplify the Signal a TIPA weighing in at 10.5%
It's a bit of a risk for me since I'm not a big fan of Sabro and this is hopped with Mosaic and Sabro...let's see.
Pours a glowing hazy orange with a surprisingly large and lasting off white head. Beautiful lacing as well.
Smell is thankfully not coconut forward. Honestly it's barely distinguishable. More sweet orange, pineapple, mango, grapefruit and damp pine.
Taste follows with sweet orange, juicy tropicals, apricot, and just a very slight hint of coconut.
It's full bodied and a bit slick with a sweetness up front that finishes with a drying bitter pine. Honey malts seem to support this beast that honestly barely feels of its 10.5%
Another winner from Hop Butcher. This is one of the better hoppy triples I've had in quite some time. Price was fair at 20 but as well. Def worth a try if you can get it. Cheers and Happy Sunday!

 

Excellent review, Frank! I don't think I've ever seen a Rotbier in this part of the country but I'll definitely look after reading your thoughts. Cheers, man!

 

Agree 100% Abraxas is one of the best American Imperial Stouts I've ever had. It was a long-time whale and I finally had it on draught in North Carolina in January. I've never seen it in New Jersey but would gladly try any variant!

 

Another new to me beer, that I impulse bought while looking for March Beer Madness beers at the total beverage, a dark Czech style lager from Poland that I had never seen before, imported in its original Polish can with a sticker from the importer with ABV in English and our fantastic government warnings.

Apparently this brewery was/is owned by SABMiller, and if I'm not mistaken the European SABMiller brands are now owned by AB-Inbev

3.72/5

Poured from a 500mL can.

On the pour a nearly 3 finger light khaki head formed that over a few minutes became rocky and lost 1.5 fingers of head, leaving some light lacing. Body is a crystal clear, but dark, deep reddish brown.

Aroma is a touch light with some light roasty notes that don't quite reach chocolate or coffee but are sweet and malty. A touch of age or cheapness is showing, but this comes off as quite clean and crisp with dark beer character. A touch of dark fruit maybe comes from the combo of cheap-ish

Taste again is quite light, but very crisp and drinkable. A sweet toasty and roasty malt is present up front with some light nutty notes, perhaps influenced by some very light noble hops. Malted barley flavor itself is present and clearly detectable. The finish shifts to more roast, with light bitterness that grows, but the roast stays a bit sweet, so I suspect this bitterness is from hops.

Feel is light and drinkable, verging on refreshing, but for the low ABV, this is surprisingly full bodied. Not to say this is a heavy beer by any means, there is a definite dryness up front that makes it initially quite light, but the finish does linger with the roast. Dark and drinkable, without lacking fullness.

Overall this is a pretty damn good refresher due to It's ABV, which also makes it very versatile, because it carries a good amount of flavor.

 

From Suarez Family Brewery, a really nice Pale Ale.

4.36/5 rDev +4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Poured from a 16oz can stamped CANNED on 3.1.22 to a Nonic glass at fridge temp.
A bright gold body sits below a beautiful puffy pure white head of many-sized bubbles.
There is a nice hoppy aroma with lemon, hay and pine.
The taste is soapy (in a good way), citrus rind, and a nice dry finish.
Mouthfeel is medium to light, carbonation is appropriate.
This is really good.

 

Sorry to hear about the head cold- I didn’t drink anything on St. Patrick’s day as allergies were attacking me, and I think you have it worse. Allergies can be treated, colds not so much. Godspeed on healing!

 

Good afternoon NBW
I picked up a four pack of this in Northwestern Ohio yesterday. No date on the package, but I rarely pass on an opportunity to review an AAL

Trejo's Cerveza

16oz CANNED ON 07/25/2022 poured into a shaker pint glass at fridge temp 4.7% ABV per can. The beer pours mostly bright light amber with nearly white head. The head recedes to a thin ring and island. Spotty lacing. The aroma is mild with yeasty pale malt. The taste is semisweet pale malt with a crisp, mildly bitter hop finish. The label lists both corn & rice and both are there in the taste and lightness of body. The mouthfeel is thin bodied with average carbonation and a mostly dry finish. Overall, decent craft AAL given the age. I suspect it would be excellent fresh.

Cheers all!

 

The Florida iteration of Pseudo (with Brew Hub in Lakeland from 2015 through 2017 IIRC) was ..... not a beer that I enjoyed very much. Since they built the new brewery in Decorah (opened in 2018), it's a much better beer, IMHO, though a hazy which the OG that I first had in October of 2014 was most definitely not. The same goes for King Sue.

 

If you look up "amazeballs" in the dictionary, there's a picture of Rev's barrel program. It is tippity top world class, IMHO. Great review.

 

Wow. This is a lovely drop. Clean, brisk, well balanced w gentle resin in the finish. A bright and sunny beer! Cheers!
Sawyer Chainsaw Squatch WCIPA 6% ABV
4.22/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
16oz can into a pint glass.
L: Pours lightly yeasted bright gold w a 3/4" off-white pock-marked head, VG retention, VG fine carbo bubbles, med-light lacing with banding lines and tight sheeting btwx.
S: Lightly tropical, pineapple, mango, melon, caramelized malts, a hint of honey.
T: Bright hops, sweet caramelized malts, a touch of honey, a hint of bread, stone fruit, orange flower, citrus zest, very light yeast, a hint of resin in the long subtle linger.
F: Clean, crisp, snappy, med body w a fairly fast, slightly brisk, lightly drying finish.
O: A very EZ drinking and delicious tasting American WCIPA that is brisk to the last sip. Clean, bright, moderately med-light overall yet has a semi-big flavor and a firm grasp on the taste buds. Another fantastic beer from Sawyer! It is outstanding in its style.

 

Breakfast juice by tree house brewing




4.63/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

Brewers Notes: Breakfast Juice is a companion beer to Breakfast Shake! A Triple IPA brewed with guava, peach, and mango pureé, Breakfast Juice is a more potent and focused experience that eschews the use of milk sugar. Pouring a beautiful orange color into your glass, it carries intense notes of juicy fruit bubblegum, mango gummies, clementine, apricot, and peach with a pervasive yet pleasant hop character throughout. Breakfast Juice is a hugely enjoyable beverage whose flavor profile is derived from simple ingredients working in harmony with our refined Triple IPA brewing practice. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

Four pack purchased at tree house Tewksbury, dated 2/14 opened 3/19, poured into a tree house tiki

Hazy deep orange liquid capped by a creamy one finger off white foam cap , good retention , settles to a solid layer and grasping , cloaking lacings

Aroma is juicy fruit gum, tropical fruits, bubble gum

Taste is tropical fruits, bubble gum, juicy fruit , peach, orange juice, melon, hint of mango

Smooth, juicy, low to medium sudsing the 9% abv is very well hidden

Amazing beer, smells good, tastes great , unbelievably smooth TIPA

 

First and probably last beer of the day is Vanilla Bean Catharsis from Tree House. I think I have an anti-Tree House bias, but this one was quite good.

4.1/5 rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Good looking beer. Dark brown / black with deep tan colored head & good retention. Aroma is loads of sweet vanilla, cocoa & roasted malts . Excellent smelling.

Taste is heavier on the roast and lighter on the vanilla, but still really tasty. Vanilla shows up predominantly when it hits the tongue and on the finish, but not in between. Light mouthfeel.

Overall, very good.

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@jonphisher loved your post. Only thing I can't figure out is how you fit a child into your glass of beer. Big glass or small child? Both?

 

3.9/5 rDev -7.1%

look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Poured from a 11.2 ounce bottle dated 10/13/21 best by 10/13/26 into a tulip glass.

Look- Deep amber, moderately hazy, no visible particulate, sudsy light tan head, above average head retention and lacing.

Smell- Floral, apple, plum, between medium and high strength of scent.

Taste- Earthy, plum, apple, moderately bitter, slightly grassy, weak strength of flavor.

Feel- Between thin and medium body, slightly above average carbonation, moderately bitter, highly dry finish, mildly creamy.

Overall- Look was deep amber with above average head retention and lacing. Bouquet was pleasant with floral and fruity notes. Flavor was good, but was much weaker than expected. This beer had between thin and medium body with slightly above average carbonation and a highly dry finish. Overall this beer was enjoyable, but nothing stood out for me.

 

Tree House - Very Hhhazyyy

my review:

poured from a 16oz can into a narrow gauge stemless wine glass. been a minute since i’ve had a TH beer! this one pours like mountain dew but settles in the glass a hazy orange with almost three fingers of fluffy white foam head. nice lacing as the liquid is consumed. pure hop candy on the nose - papaya, mango, orange and grapefruit. taste follows with a lovely hop flavor and slight alcohol burn to remind you that you are drinking a damn beer 9% DIPA! full, thick and creamy mouthfeel from start to finish. always seems to be a highlight / trademark of these TH IPAs. of all the amped up versions of their core lineup i always felt like very hazy was the best and while it’s been too long since i’ve had haze or very hazy, this one seems to follow suit. massive DIPA with a fruit / citrus explosiveness that’s augmented by a soft mouthfeel and extreme drinkability. damn good stuff.

4.5, 4.75, 4.75, 4.75, 4.75
overall: 4.74
rDev: +2.4%

cheers!!

 

Haha. I kept telling him to move, he’s a jokester and kept popping back in frame, and then I said you know what it shows how clear this beer really is