New Beer Weekend #150

Hello New Beer Weekend!!!

Well, a very interesting day for me today. First work, then a long drive to southern MN to help my mom and niece celebrate their birthdays. Both of their B-days are big. My mom turned 80 yesterday, and my niece turned 21 today. Yes, my little baby girl can now by her old uncle beer. Damn, I feel old. She got Buzzballs from her Aunt Kelly, and a shot of Pink Whitney from me. They tried to get my birthday in the mix, but I put the kibosh on it. Yeah, mine is big, but it's at the end of the month, and I don't want to make a big deal of it.

Well, on to the new beer. I got it going home today. Thanks to road construction in the cities, the route I'd normally take north was totally a bad idea, so I cut across country. I did make a couple of stops along the way at a couple of breweries, but I just did Untappd reviews on them. The beer I am reviewing, I picked up at a liquor store in Kimball, MN, and I'm surprised I haven't seen this locally.


Alpha Centauri - Hop Valley Brewing - Imperial IPA - 9% ABV

I am old, and more old school. I sometimes like the hazy IPAs, but, I love the bitter IPA more. This style isn't seen much anymore. Thankfully, this is a very bitter IPA. The bitterness is coating my throat in goodness, that I've missed so. The IBU count is high - 100 according to UT. It's high alcohol as well. I drank this beer stupid fast, because I was enjoying it so much. This is an underappreciated style in my book. I wish I could enjoy more of it.

Review:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/32408/60332/


4.23/5 rDev +4.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Poured from a can. Consumed on 6-3-2023, BB date Sept 2023.

This is a very clear pouring beer. Golden in color. There's some carbonation bubbles rising in the glass. The head was 3 finger, at it's greatest. It eventually was 2 finger when I got the whole beer into the glass. The head was white in color. Retention was decent. Some great lacing on the glass.
Aroma is from the hops, as expected. There's a good pine bill in the aroma, as well as some citrus. Both aromas are pleasing to a hop head.
Taste - This beer is a hoppy beer, and it makes sure you know it. The hops start out mellow, but this doesn't last long at all. The hops seem to start out tropical, but this changes quickly over to pine hop flavor, and it builds. The bitterness builds and lingers in my throat.
This beer really doesn't drink like a 9% beer. While full bodies, it's so smooth. Yeah the bitterness does slow me down slightly, but, I just can't get enough of it, and it's going down way too fast for a 9% beer.
I miss the days of a super bitter IPA. This brings me back to the good old days. I am happy, and impressed.


I'll see if I can pluck off one more that I picked up today. Cheers.

 

Soul & Spirits Brewing ( Memphis ) Spanish Harlem Amber Lager, 5.4% ABV; 2.87 overall

Pours a chill-hazed amber/copper with one finger of cream colored head. Some head retention & lacing

S: Toasty, some toffee notes

T: Toasty, a touch of grassy & woody hops & dryness up front. A little apple juice creeps in as this beer warms, along with a little toffee & dryness, woody hops try to fight respectability. Finishes with apple juice sweetness, some dryness & a little woody hop

MF: Medium body, fairly firm carbonation

Says on the can to keep cool & drink fresh. Was purchased as a single at room temperature & no discernable date to be found on the can. This is at best, average. The rest of stuff I have tried from them was solid

 

Happy Saturday, New Beer Weekenders. While shopping for beer today I found fresh cans of Dark as Your Soul, an Imperial Stout brewed by Muckraker Beermaker in Franklin (Sussex County), New Jersey. This brewery is known primarily for spontaneous fermentation beers but it's also adept at brewing big Stouts. Dark as Your Soul is a wheated Imperial Stout that is dry and grassy but quite flavorful.

Poured at 63°. It pours nearly black with a creamy, medium mocha head and thin sheen of lacing. The nose offers, coffee, chocolate, caramel, and nutty char. Its taste is big and bold with notes of freshly brewed coffee, chocolate, wheat cracker, and earthy nuts. For a big Stout it's quite dry and grassy. The mouth feel is thick and creamy with low/moderate carbonation, and you can feel the 13% ABV. Overall, it's a solid Imperial Stout that is dry but flavorful.

4.18/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

I'll see you all tomorrow. Cheers, NBW!

 

Good evening all! My evening beer comes to me courtesy of @BigIronH - from a LIF associated with a BIF. Number 16 I think.

The pour was stout black with a seriously aggressive brown head that limited the amount of the 12 oz can into a snifter that holds over 16 oz.
The aroma was lost on me, stupid Covid.
The taste was surprisingly fruity. Granted, the fruit was raisin and plums and, curiously, citrus fruit.
There were roasted malts and cacao and coffee as well, typical stout stuff, but they were second to the fruit. Very little hops or any bitterness.
The feel was viscous enough, not too much, not too little.
Tasty stout, just a little different than the typical. Thanks @BigIronH!

 

All right, I am back again for one final one today. I picked this up at a liquor store in Hutchinson, MN.


Hootie Who Salted Brown - Bobbing Bobber Brewing - Hutchinson. MN - American Brown Ale - 4.8% ABV

As I said, I picked this up at a liquor store, and not at the source. I get this home, and see on the can that it's contract brewed. This sets off so many alarms with me, because I've had so many horrible contract brewed beers. I remember having a beer at Lake of the Woods Brewing in Warroad, and then having the "same" beer in a can that was contract brewed. They were totally different beers, and the one out of the can, contract brewed, was awful. Toppling Goliath beers are another example of beers that were horribly contract brewed.

I have not had this beer at the source, so I am crossing my fingers, and I do hope to try it at the source. So, how did the contract brewer do on this beer?

Well, I am shocked! This is good. Very nutty flavored. slightly earthy. The flavor is very full of nuts, and it's slightly roasted. There's a caramel undertone to this beer, that I also like. I'm glad a contract beer can be good. This is.

I am the 2nd review of this beer, so pleas ignore the rDev on my review.

Review:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/52949/351485/

3.96/5 rDev -10%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
From a can. Found out on the can it was contract brewed. I'm not going to lie, if I would have known it was contract brewed, I wouldn't have bought it at the liquor store. I've had some very bad experiences with contract brewed beers.

This beer is a very dark brown pouring beer. When I hold it up to the light, I get amber hues in the beer. The head that forms is minimal, less than 1 finger. The color is tan, and there's almost no lacing on the glass.
The aroma is quite full of caramel, and a pleasing nutty undertone. The nut aroma is slightly roasted smelling.
Taste - The flavor is actually pretty good. There isn't as much caramel as the nose let on in the flavor, but it's there. It's more of a nutty beer. The nutty flavor has just a hint of caramel that works very well together. There's a roasty undertone that hits more on the backside, and is quite pleasing.
The body isn't too thick. it's on the lighter side, but this is expected.
In spite of it being contract brewed, I'm very happy I got this. I just hope the other beers in the pack are good as this is.

Ok, that is all for tonight, but, I'm sure I'll be back tomorrow for more.

 

Roughtail DERWO DIPA ( Double Everything Rhymes with Orange ), 8.2% ABV; 4.3 overall


Pours a very hazed gold with a thumb of eggshell colored head. Great head retention & average lacing

S: Plenty of citrus, hints of vanilla

T: Tart & sweet oranges, more sweet than tart, plus dryness up front. Sweet orange, some pineapple & a little lime, plus dryness as the beer warms up, just a kiss of vanilla. Finishes with pineapple, pomelo & oranges, just a kiss of dryness

MF: Medium body, restrained carbonation, great balance

Another winner from these guys, I hope this becomes a fixture, super drinkability

 

Far from fresh, but a freebie, and a pleasant night-cap. Cheers!

3.72/5 rDev -6.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Packaged on 2/23/23 - enjoyed on 6/3/23. Poured from a 12oz can into my Dogfish Head shaped pint glass.

Clear amber body with a lasting fat ivory finger. Soapy, sticky lacing; very good retention.

Floral/tropical fruit aromatics have faded but suggest rosewater, orange blossom, pineapple, guava, and mango.

Soapy, bitter-sweet palate entry with pine, orange candy, mint, and chicory. Hop-forward, with some crackery/biscuity malt to balance. Finishes dry with a residual scalded honey note. Alcohol seems a bit stronger than the ABV.

Zesty, medium-bodied, slightly creamy and well carbonated.

A little unfair to review this so far out from canning, but I believe this was a fresh purchase (took one home from a picnic). Decent enough in any case.

 

TRVE Brewing The Middle of All. A saison with vanilla and grapefruit peel. Courtesy of @beergoot. I went fishing today to prepare for my visit with @Victory_Sabre1973 in a couple weeks, so I should also review a beer to get fully locked in. The look is golden sparkling champagne, with a couple inches of white foam covering, which leaves nice lacing behind. The smell is buttered popcorn, white toast, vanilla, and grapefruit. The taste is dinner roll, champagne, corn, vanilla, and grapefruit. Yeasty, but sweet. Very pleasant. The mouthfeel is dry, light, crisp, and sparkly, with champagne qualities. Overall, this beer is exactly what I hoped for. TRVE Brewing makes unique, special beers. This style is their specialty. Thank you so much, @beergoot, for allowing me to have this experience.

 

Kent Falls - Buddy Sprinkles, again through the tender porch destruction of @sulldaddy in NBS BIF #17.

16oz can served in a snulip. Can is dated 04/03/2023.

Pours fairly hazy pale yellow, big fluffy head, leaves thick lacing and a lumpy cap. Smell is a little melon, a little citrus, lots of general fruit that leans a little bit toward tropical.

Taste is more on the citrus side, some zest bitterness, a lot more of that melon coming through in the flavor as well.

Mouthfeel is light and quite effervescent. Overall, very nice beer.

 

Well Hello NBW.
I have been a bit absent for the last 2 weeks. End of school year kicks my ass normally but now I am clearing out 23 years or acquired resources. I will not be in the classroom next year as I am taking on a very different role. And this situation evolved fairly quickly and although I was prepping for the last few months, this final stage is daunting. Ugh...

But on to new challenges.
@FBarber sent me this in NBS BIF #17. I thought I liked where it was heading, but then it didn't quite get there.

Herbasaurus by Phase Three
Canned 3/29/23
Pretty. Orange-tinged golden color is capped by a fluffy white head. Fairly transparent with a steady stream of tiny bubbles replenishing the head. Pretty good retention, slight lacing.
Nose is brash and dank. Weed, pine resin, hints of juicy grass and citrus.
Flavor goes a bit sideways. It starts like it's going to be weedy/oniony, but then gets scattered and almost volatile. For a moment I think it's going towards citrus but it just kinda gets hot, and then back to a no longer dank herbal burn. At times, I still get some weed and resin-leaning notes but still the harsh aspects dominate.
Mouthfeel is light, a bit fluffy, but warm on the finish.
I would still like to hit this again, maybe just an off can. I was really tempted by the nose.
3.14/5 rDev -11.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3

Still glad to have tried it. Thanks, Frank.

 

Give me a ring

 

On to #2. Whoa, I like this one.
Beef Dipped by Hop Butcher for the World

A true gem, thanks @FBarber Another one from his very generous onslaught.

She's pretty. Turbid, brassy, and topped with a bountiful white head. Solid retention, gentle, layered lacing.
Nose pumps orange zest, tangerine, mango, grass, and some berry. A smooth grainy note chimes in as well.
The citrus is still there in the flavor but more berry comes in now, blueberry, underripe blueberry. And some resinous, almost oily drops come in as well.
Mouthfeel is somewhat fluffy & creamy, well carbonated, and finishes with a very light warming dank bitterness.
Overall, yes!
4.1/5 rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

 

Good day BAs!

Starting off sunday (prior to Noir Alley) with:



Port Barrel-Aged D.O.R.I.S. from Hoppin’ Frog. 22 oz bottle picked up at the brewery 24/05/23, $ 12.86 (Including tax)/bottle - $ 0.630/fl oz. Reviewed 04/06/23 (Review 3120). Note that I use DD/MM/YY protocol.
Undated bottle. Stored at 34 degrees at home. Served at 55.2 degrees F in a hand washed and dried Jester King snifter. The final temperature was 59.1 degrees F.
Appearance – 4.5
First pour – Deep Brown (SRM 30), allows a little light through while pouring.
Body – Black (SRM 40), opaque. Under direct light, same. When rear lite, still opaque, even at the edges.
Head: Average (Maximum 2.5 cm, aggressive center pour), mahogany lightening to burnt sienna, high density with a rocky top, quickly diminishing to a 0.3 – 0.4 cm crown and a thin partial cap.
Lacing – None.
Aroma – 4 – Heavy roasted malt. No hops, no yeast. No port, no barrels. No ethanol (10.5 % ABV as marked on the label).
Flavor – 4 – Begins slightly sweet and chocolate malty, no hops, no yeast. Moderate fruity port on the aftertaste, no barrels. No dimethylsulfide or diacetyl. Medium gastric warming, stable.
Palate – 4.25 – Full; creamy; lively carbonation.
Final impression and summation: 4 (After deducting 0.25 point for an undated personal container) Although the fruitiness of the port hangs on, it only compliments the routine tastiness of the D.O.R.I.S. – the roasted malt and oatmeal goodness of the RIS still shines through. There is a little oakiness on the exhale.
Rating 4.12, rDev -1.2%

 

Juicy Truth
Rheingeist Brewing
6.5% IPA

Poured from a buzz sized tallboy can, the beer is an attractive opaque yellow with a dense head. Excellent lacing throughout. A good looking beer.

Nose and taste are nice enough with a citrusy nose that has pineapple, lemon and orange notes. The taste has a mild hoppy bite that is somewhat bitter.

Carbonation is strong and mouthfeel okay.

The main problem with this beer is that the underlying beer (Truth) is much better to my tastes. Under no conditions would I buy this beer if the base were available.

Haze bros ought to give it a shot since it is a well made beer that simply is a variation that I have grown to avoid. I like my IPAs bitter. This is the way.

 

Always enjoy a side-by-side

Did having them together make you feel you noticed things in either that you might not have otherwise?

 

Sorry, yes. I got pulled away from my start on it by the vet calling me to pick up my dog earlier than expected from the vet. Thus half way through, writing some notes, pulled the foil off, and I was gone. Then my daughters had friends coming over, cleaned up the foil, and took the can to the kitchen. By the time I got back, I got caught up in the meds routine for my very skittish pup, feeding guests, etc...
By the time I got back to my notes, I had forgotten this was a mystery beer. But I did remember it was from you, Frank.

 

Greetings, fellow NBWers,

Over the last week we've had consistently late spring like weather in the wilds of Spokanistan - mostly sunny and warm, with highs in the high 70s - low 80s. Pretty much my favorite weather. Long grinding, workweek as always, but it has the advantage of three days off, so I started my New Beer Weekend on Friday.

From @russpowell and his first BIF # 17 box:

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/31393/650756/?ba=woemad#lists
Nice, tropical and stonefruit-y flavors up front, with a stabilizing grapefruity bitterness on the back end. Very drinkable stuff, consumed while wearing Jorts, 'natch.

And from his second(!) box, comes this TIPA (yeah, it says DIPA, but any IPA over 10% abv is a TIPA in my book), which I hit last night:


https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/38015/631748/?ba=woemad#lists
Also quite fruity and easy going in the flavor dept, but.. Wow. That was a biggun. While there was a slight bit of boozy heat at the swallow, it was almost imperceptible and certainly didn't convey just how much of a beast this was. This was downright dangerous, in an enjoyable sort of way.
Got a lot of chores to do today, so I may not be back with today's New Beer until my evening time.
Cheers!