New Beer Weekend #149

Glad you agree, we've already seen one beer in this thread that has evolved over time that we record under the same entry, and I don't believe this is any different. I also noted in my review that it probably shouldn't be an ESB - more a strong ale of some sort, but I wasn't too hung up on that. For what it's worth, FW put on the box, "imperial special bitter."

Yes, I was happy that the tea-like malt and bittering kept a presence in the beer so that the style could perhaps remain a debate. The barrel is a little heavier than I'm used to from Firestone Walker, but only by a little bit; still, in my first smell I was certain that no one switched out the FW barrel beer for an imposter

 

Good morning NBW
Up first today is a beer I've always wanted to sample, but never had the opportunity.

Tipopils (Italy)
11.2oz undated bottle poured into a teku glass at fridge temp 5.2% ABV. The beer pours opaque medium amber with sticky light khaki colored head. The head recedes to a thin cap and leaves big patches of lacing. The aroma is mild with pale malt and orchard fruit, grass and flowers. The taste is semisweet pale malt with notes of honey, pear and grass before a moderately bitter, earthy finish. The mouthfeel is thin to medium bodied with just above average carbonation and a mostly dry finish. Cleanly lagered. Overall, very good.

Cheers all!

 

I didn’t post new beers here yesterday…today is another day…new to me and long time want - Russian River’s “Beautification” a wild ale style aged in wine barrels:



Bottled 4/3/20. Poured at 52°. Deep gold with excellent clarity; thin tight white head, poor cap retention leaves a small island of micro dots; brief thin ring, no lace. Mild funk, apples and oak nose. Tart green apple, pear; mild funky horse blanket; white grapes middle; oak; mild tart fruit on backend. Light body; moderate minus carbonation; crisp dry finish. Overall, the funk is mild; drinks like a lambic style minus the barnyard intensity; very approachable…a perfect gate-way beer for those not familiar with Belgian Lambics who want to dive in.

4.5 | 4.5 | 4.75 | 4.75 | 4.75
Score: 4.68 rDev +2.9%

An excellent wild ale, I’d gladly drink again. Cheers!

 

Another international find

Santa's Butt
500mL bottle stamped L24 196 poured into a nonic pint glass at fridge temp 6% ABV. The beer pours bright dark brown with chestnut highlights and dark khaki colored head. The head recedes to a thin ring and single layer of bubbles. Slight lacing. The aroma is mild with toasted & roasted malt. The taste is bittersweet roasted malt with with earthy, tangy notes. Moderate bitterness. Mouthfeel is thin bodied with average carbonation and a mostly dry finish. Overall, ok.

Cheers all!

 

TRVE Brewing Child of Night pale ale. A collaboration with the band The Black Dahlia Murder. Who I experienced live last night. It was a very emotional endeavor, since the band's leader and vocalist took his life one year ago. The band decided to carry on in his memory. This beer was thoughtfully given to me by @beergoot. I am splitting it with @superspak. The color is golden honey yellow, with a nice white foamy top. The smell is lemon, white bread, cracker, malt, and yeast. The taste is strong with lemon, and it follows with biscuit, grass, and white bread. The mouthfeel is clean, crisp, and light, with medium carbonation. Overall, this is delicious, unique pale ale. It is a worthy tribute to Trevor Strnad.

 

Micah @GreenBayBA is in my hotel room and I'm a little hungover. First we are sharing the trve child of night pale ale collab with black dahlia murder. Awesome pale ale. Aromas and flavors of red grapefruit, tangerine, peach, pineapple, mango, berries, citrus peel/rind, peppercorn, pine, wheat, cracker, bread, herbal, floral, grass, yeast earth. Medium pine rind bitter finish. Light to medium body. Grainy malt and crisp sticky resinous hops. Lingering resin drying with minimal astringency. Super dank and vibrant hops. These feel like wet hops or something. A bit more heavy on the berries than I expected for Amarillo hops. But super impressive for a pale ale with just a few ingredients. 4.1


Cheers

 

I'm so glad you enjoyed it! I know that it lacks in many aspects but it's a work in progress and constructive criticism from experts like you is invaluable! Thanks again!

 

I can't believe how long that one hid from me.

 

Fremont - Head Full of Dynomite v46

16oz can served in a WABL sample glass. Dated 04/26/2023. Picked it up at the brewery yesterday.

Pours slightly hazy amber, a little brassy tinge. Not much head production. Smell is very tropical, maybe a little melon.

Taste is stronger melon, melon rind and pith bitterness, some light malty sweetness, strong bitter finish.

Mouth feel is medium, fairly fizzy. Nice beer.

 

Hop butcher loophole technicality. Shared with @GreenBayBA fantastic stuff. Aromas and flavors if big red grapefruit, tangerine, oj, peach, pineapple, passion fruit, papaya, mango, honeydew melon, berries, citrus peel/rind, peppercorn, pine, wheat, cracker, bread dough, herbal, floral, grass, yeast earth. Lt med pine/rind bitter finish. Balanced creamy bready malts and sticky resinous hop mouthfeel. Lingering resin dryness and minimal astringency. Minimal warming 7.5%, mild hop burn after the finish. Amazingly dank and earthy Amarillo, Strata, galaxy profile with balanced juiciness. Smooth and nicely soft. 4.25


Cheers

 

Sent me by @ATL6245


4.59/5 rDev -1.5%
4.25 / 4.5 / 4.75 / 4.5 / 4.5
Pours dark but not black, can see through the sides a lil bit like a super dark red color. Moderate head, minimal lacing but looks fantastic and inviting.

Smell is of floral hops, dark fruits, dark bread, I pick up a pleasant sweetness that kinda reminds me of honey. Slight bitter and drying but very balanced. Lovely beer, I'd buy it.

Thank you @ATL6245 You can't miss! I appreciate it. I got something in the works for ya.

 

A few comments before diving in today:

• Very glad you enjoyed the Deep Woods offering @beergoot ! I don't drink many barley wines, but Revolution's are among the few I grab with confidence (many seem too sweet for me, or American versions too bitter, and I prefer hops over malt).
• Enjoyed your Summertime review and Quad article @JackHorzempa !
• @jkblr I believe these Polish and other European beers could be good fresh, but we have too many here that sit for a long time. They finally pulled the 1-3 year old Polish and other Eastern European beers from my Polish grocery store, but I would buy more if I knew they were at lost reasonably fresh.
• Hoping I run into one or three of those Allagash Curieux, @ovaltine ! I really like to love

Welcome one and all to New Beer Sunday #953! Saving my first South Carolina review for tomorrow, but really pleased to pull out the second of three this weekend from my trade with @DoctorZombies with more beers to follow in the future!

This has been a long time want after hearing so many good things and people enjoy this in the WBAYDN thread. This is the #15 ranked American IPA on BA, and #3 all time for the State of Georgia, so an all time legendary beer in one of my favorite styles.

Creature Comforts Tropicalia



Can Notes: Procured via trade with David @DoctorZombies on May 11, refrigerated thereafter. 12 oz canned 3/29/23 at 4:00 PM, BB 6/29/23. Brewed and canned by Creature Comforts Brewing Company in Athens, Georgia. India Pale Ale, 6.6% ABV.

Ripe & Juicy / Aromatic / Balanced

Appearance: Primary aggressive pour yields a generous bright white cream head which lingers for several minutes. Clear golden tan pour, mild sustained carbonation. 4.25

Aroma: Bright citrus lead, light dank grapefruit backs. Getting a little lemon and pineapple as well. Nice enticing blend, yields immediately after opeing the can. 4.5

Taste: Consistent with the aroma in terms of strength and yield, though with an added much appreciated emphasis of a dank bitterness keeping excess sweetness in check. Modern/old school mix here, sweeter than old school but works well right to the edge of my preference. 4.75

Mouthfeel: Mildly dry and bitter, nice easy drinking at or below the ABV. Balanced well between bursting sweet flavors and dry bitterness keeping it real. Light dank dry bitter finish. Oh Yes.4.5

Overall: This is a great beer, not surprised so many seek it out and enjoy among craft beer fans. Hits all the high notes, great sweet flavors smelled and tasted, nice dry dank. Blend of New and Old School IPAs. Held up well over two months. 4.5

Well done, glad I may be getting this out west with the planned LA open. Also glad I have three more. Thank you very much @DoctorZombies !

 

Good Sunday before Memorial Day afternoon, New Beer Swiggers and commentators. It seems the lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer have arrived here in North Jersey! I worked up an honest to goodness sweat mowing the lawn.

Our new local brewery, Autodidact Beer, is off to a fast start. On Thursday they released their seasonal DIPA called Dream House. As per usual they won't discuss the hop bill, which leaves me guessing. But this is stellar! Great balance and depth of flavor. And another quirk: The APA I reviewed earlier this month, called Daylily, drinks like an American IPA and this DIPA drinks like a Pale Ale. Big flavor but it goes down so easily for 8%. Ideal summer drinking!

It pours a cloudy (not hazy) lemon yellow with more than a finger cap of fluffy, snow white head and lots of thick, clinging lacing. Very pretty pour. Big lemon and lime on the nose along with a hint of berry, crackery malt, and spicy, floral hops. The tart citrus is well-balanced by sweeter fruity esters that are a little hard to identify. Melon? Tangerine? Berry? Or a little of each? There is also a firm, slightly bready, malt base and a spicy bitterness throughout. The flavors blend and compliment each other very well. This ale is very lite and crisp for 8% ABV and it drinks very easily. Overall, Dream House is a superb DIPA.

4.34/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
It's significantly better than the collab with District 96 which Autodidact released last week.

I have to pinch myself having fresh beer this good less than 5 minutes away!

 

Something new from my favorite local, all of 2 weeks since canning! Tasty stuff!

3.75/5 rDev 0%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Canned 5/16/23 purchased at the brewery.
L: Pours a clear bright gold, decent white head fades quickly leaving some spotty lacing.
A: A burst of pine and grapefruit when I opened.
T: Flavor is citrusy, big bitter finish.
F: Medium bodied, well carbonated.
O: Judging from the label, my hunch is that this is seasonal, hope its year around.