New Beer Weekend #145

Total washout of day here. We played some family games then sent the kids outside to get drenched. Big fun! They're getting warm and dry and I'm in the mood for something sweet. I am very excited for this one, thanks so much @FBarber ! I feel like I've been tagging you a lot for some reason...



This beer is ridiculous. Huge, over-the-top notes of dates, brown liquor, and prickly, charred brown sugar are what grab my attention first. There is plenty more going on here of course, candied nuts, molasses, tobacco, vanilla, and just so much more. This is absolutely magnificent. Better than VSOJ? Maybe not but a lateral move is nothing to be ashamed of.

 

Many thanks to @sulldaddy for this Tree House 'Tis The Season Smoked Robust Porter, 8.2% ABV; 4.17 overall

Pours a somewhat effervescent mahogany/ebony with one pinky of mocha colored head. Head rapidly disappears. Viscous, zero head retention & lacing

S: Smokey, roasty

T: follows the nose, also dryness & Baker's chocolate up front. Roasty dryness, charred grains, & a touch of chocolate & caramel once this beer warms through. Finishes roasty, dry & smokey with just a little dark chocolate ( like the 100% variety )

MF: Medium/chewy body with minimal carbonation. A little bit more carbonation, becomes silky smooth once warm

This seems like a throwback to beers made 200+ years ago, very nice, a bit of a sipper for sure

 

Happy NBW and New Beer Sunday everyone! Figured I'd have an all Bruery Stout Sunday with their Brandy Barrel Aged Black Tuesday and Tre Fette Imperial stouts!

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/16866/617121/?ba=bluejacket74#lists



https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/16866/630793/?ba=bluejacket74#lists



Probably the last of my new beers for this weekend so cheers everyone!

 

4.37/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a capped-and-corked 750mL bottle into my Troubadour tulip.

Slightly hazy Naples yellow liquid with two fingers of champagne soft peaks. Fine, creamy lacing; excellent retention.

Dead skunk upon pulling the cork, gives way to fruit/floral/peppery notes once the ale has had time to breath. Faintly vegetal, with an herbaceous funk. More inviting than it sounds!

Wonderfully complex palate entry with oranges, marijuana, thyme, pineapple vinegar, vanilla, and lime intermingling. Moderate, earthy/grassy bitterness persists. Tart with a bittersweet note, hints of candied ginger, pear, and a long medium-dry finish. Hoppy and funky in equal measure with some added interest from the malted wheat.

Medium-bodied, well carbonated, creamy yet crisp, with moderate warmth. Refreshing yet contemplative.

Superior, unique example of the style.

 

Counter Common Brewing in Bellaire, TX. Well basically Houston, but just outside

The Opposite of Light, 4.4% ABV. Listed here as European Dark Lager, they just say Dark Lager...whatever that entails. So yeah Euro Lager it is.



Pours a dark brown, with ruby highlights around the edges. A small tan head forms and recedes to a ring. Light lace is left behind.
A malty aroma, chocolate and light roast. That is basically it. Would like a bit more depth, but not bad at all.
Taste wise, like the nose, a malty chocolate and light roast flavor. That is about it, it shows itself up front, and doesn't change. Which is fine, if a little one noted.
A light body, almost watery. Crisp carbonation though. With all the chocolate and malts, this does finish with a nice dryness. Easy to drink, I can come back to his with ease.

I love me some simple beers, but this seems a little to simplistic. If that makes sense, and not contradictory. I would like a bit more nuance to push this over the top. As is, still very solid.

Overall score is 3.59, sold B
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/63368/629309/?ba=champ103#lists

Next is Apollo Moonlight, American IPA, 5.9% ABV



Pours a clear golden/yellow color. A one finger white head forms, that eventually recedes to a ring. Lacing is left behind.
Aroma is citrus and orange peel up front. This becomes oddly vegetal after a minute. Which kind of takes over.
Taste wise, citrus and orange peel, as well as a light melon flavor coming into play. Again, that odd vegetal flavor. Becomes soapy as well. There is a lingering bitterness.
A medium body and moderate carbonation. A bit slick and oily for my tastes. Not bad to drink overall.

I can come back to this when at the brewery. Though I don't see this standing out on its own. The vegetal character is odd for for me, but otherwise a middle of the road IPA.

Overall score is 3.43, B-
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/63368/650813/?ba=champ103#lists

Had their burger for lunch.


And their long hallway leading up to the bar. All the brewing equipment is on the other side of the glass.

 

Sounds like a winner to me!

 

I think I had that on cask at Chuck's Hop Shop (could probably go back a NBW or two and find out), and I really enjoyed it, when I saw it canned I immediately grabbed it for you. I wonder if it's different in the can than how I had it.

I can't wait to see what I predicted!

That's a local classic for me, never sad to drink it. Cheers!

 

I grabbed this because it was on clearance. I don’t know the style, I’ll check shortly.

I believe this is a birrifico beer,

Birrifico Baladin - super



Some sediment in the pour, I have another bottle and will hold that off next time. Murky. Almost a dirty purple. Ugly as can be.

Nose is sweet malt. Oxidized hops. Cardboard. Leather. Brown sugar.

Taste aligns. Soft carbonation. Sweet, oxidized. Clean finish. Coats the palate a while.

Decent offering. I’m sure it was very different when fresh. But I likely wouldn’t have sought it out then I suppose.


3.94/5 rDev +2.1%
look: 1 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

 

Hoppin' Frog - Barrel Aged Chestnut Plum Pudding, a stout aged in bourbon barrels

16oz can served in a footed pilsner glass. Can is marked Best By Dec 15 2025. @Ozzylizard sent it to me in NBS BIF #17.

Pours very dark brown, murky, thick, with very little head on the pour and just a thin ring that grows as it sits in the glass. There appears to be a substantial amount of very fine, very slow active carbonation. Smell is rich, vanilla and dates, made me think of sticky toffee pudding up front. I can definitely smell some of the barrel.

Taste is sweet, leaning hard toward dates or prunes, moderate cake-y sweetness. Booze is quite noticeable, barrel less so. Vanilla is definitely there. Eventually I notice a bitterness that really helps the whole thing out. Not totally sure what to call it, somewhere in the woody direction, I want to blame that on the chestnut but I really have no idea. But wow, that note really elevates this beer from "another sweet boozy stout" to something pretty special.

Mouthfeel is hefty, just a hint of liveliness to it. Overall, this is a quite nice beer, a bit outside my typical flavor vocabulary.

 

There a few of those in my Market, but stupid expensive & not the style I like to roll the dice on anymore.

 

Been out in the 80° sun with the kiddos for hours now, time for a cold and new beer.

Kiitos - Finnish Olut Lager


Canned 4.13.23

Poured at about 40° into a willi glass

Pours a deep honey golden with a dense eggshell colored head. Tapers off to a 1/4 ring and almost full cap. 4

Big cereal grains and sweet malt, my guess is 100% honey malt. It smells like a rich fresh loaf of bread. 4.25

Taste follows on the grains, honey sweetness, lots of sweet breadiness too. 4.25

Moderate prickling carbo, refreshing and light.(nothing wrong with being simple, this beer maybe could have only benefitted from some creaminess) 3.75

Overall I think this new lager from Kiitos will go far locally, it's quite excellent and I think could contend with some of the highest rated lagers in the valley from the likes of Templing Family, Bohemian, etc. 4.25

 

More madness @sulldaddy. # Boxes of destruction on my Porch from BIF# 17!

Counter Weight Brewing Co. Crucial Mass DIPA, 8.0% ABV; 4.32 overall

Pours a very hazed & juicy gold with a thumb+ of billowy eggshell colored head. Sheets of lacing & good head retention

S: Citrus & guava in spades & grassyness, but does kind of fade as this warms up

T: Guava, Papaya, Pomelo & Lime up front, some Green Melon as well, plus Passion Fruit. More Passion Fruit, Guava, Lime & Tangerine, plus dryness as this brew warms up, plus dryness & a little pineapple. Finishes with plenty of pineapple, lime, passionfruit & a little dryness, just a kiss of grassyness

MF: Medium body, creamy carbonation, stellar balance, some acidic feels to this

So drinkable, the ABV is so not tasted or really sensed; Danger, Danger!

 

Man Steve was my childhood hero and I am still so had he's gone! That certainly brought out some big feels

 

Did you get that at Amity?

 

It was delicious, part of me wondered if maybe there was sediment kicked up in transit that never settled back down?? I loved all the flavors it had going on though, and the feel was spot on.

 

Day 2, I’m still working through the Tree House hops blitzkrieg @Roguer bombed my porch with in NBS BIF #17.

I could get used to the Tree House beer nerd lifestyle.





4.42/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Pours a very hazy orange color with a creamy white head that is Chantilly lace on the glass. Lovely beer. The nose is the typical tropical citrus bomb, especially grapefruit and passion fruit, but what intrigues me is the significant peach aroma.

The taste is indeed comprised of grapefruit and passion fruit notes, but there are a LOT of peach and apricot flavors as well, and the clincher - a nice bitterness at the back of the palate. I could drink a 4-pack of this through a beer bong in a MINUTE.

Nice full, pillowy mouthfeel for a nice hazy drinking experience. This works exceptionally well for me.

 

Jjjuiceee project mosaic+mosaic+mosaic


4.27/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25



Brewers notes : Double IPA, 8.7% ABV, 16oz) This special batch of JJJuiceee Project showcases Mosaic + Mosaic + Mosaic. Yes, you read that right! Featuring our beloved American hop in both the kettle and dry hop, this version of JJJuiceee also gains an extra layer of juicy complexity through the use of a concentrated liquid hop product called Spectrum. Our close partnership with American growers has allowed us to consistently source incredible Mosaic hops throughout the years, and this beer represents the ultimate expression of this iconic lupulin powerhouse. Pouring a stunningly hazy golden hue into your glass, Mosaic + Mosaic + Mosaic boasts an aromatic explosion of ripe blueberry, zesty tangerine, and luscious papaya. It presents a sharp bitterness that dissipates swiftly, tempting you to take another sip. Enjoy!

Canned 4.20, opened 4.30

“With a rebel yell” printed on the bottom of the can

Poured into a teku, hazy deep orange crowned by one finger of white shaving cream foam , recede to a ring, spotty lacings

Aroma is orange citrus , tangerine, lime , passion fruit , floral

Taste is citrus rind, tropical fruit,

Smooth mouthfeel, slight hop bite , semi dry finish

Good beer

 

Hello NBS friends!
First up today is a lager that was sent to me by @NorsemanOne in NBW BIF #17 shenanigans.

Trying to beat the rain (and snow?) so chopping wood to burn off some invasive plants.
The beer is Brew Ski, and it’s labeled as a “Mountain Lager” which apparently translates to “Pilsner” - has biscuits and light pepper and a touch of lemon and hints of grassy herbs. Really nice and it hits the spot. I am pretty sure I could drink 6 packs of this.
Good beer!

 

Back from 6 hours at the hospital with Mom in law not doing well.
Figured a beer was in order. Made a brief stop on the way home. I certainly dont need anymore beers right now but couldn't resist this twist on a cocktail from Lags. These stove pipe beers seem to be a rapidly growing category - saw SOS in a stovepipe.
Tiki Fusion IPA with notes of orange, lime, grapefruit and allspice. (Zombie inspired)
Slightly hazy very pale yellow with a effervescent white head that recedes quickly with no lacing.
Strong aroma of orange and lime lollipops. No allspice detected.
Citrus candy in the taste again with no malts perceived. There's a bitterness as well like ground spices that dry on the palate. Def tastes like a cocktail more than a beer. There is a little medicinal taste on the finish. Alcohol is barely detected at 10%. Not terrible and not nearly as bad as NB Fruit Force. Falls somewhere in the middle between Mas Agave Lime (prob one of my top "cocktail" beer and FF).
Won't revisit unless I'm desperate for a buzz after work on a hot day. Falls closer to this rapidly becoming popular gas station "4Loko" brews.
Cheers!