New Beer Weekend #150

Greetings all from the great northwest where we are enjoying a sunny summer day.

Today we have Hazematic from Ninkasi.
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/14400/556817/

A fruity brew with medium body.

Until next time

 

Smog City's 12th anniversary ale...pretty good, but happy I just bought a single.

3.81/5 rDev -5.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Packaged on 5/3/23 - enjoyed on 6/4/23 - poured from a pint can into a snifter.

Clear gold body with a thin off-white collar and surface slick. Fine, sandy lacing; average retention.

Aromas are very subtle - orange, peach, and faint dank notes.

Burly malt and hop flavors suggest chives, apricots, citrus, candied ginger, toast and honey. Moderate, herbaceous bitterness throughout. Dry finish with hints of light brown sugar, almonds, and stone-fruit jam. Grows more floral as it warms.

Medium-bodied, well carbonated, fairly warming.

Unique flavor profile, with malt featured more prominently than many contemporary examples of the style.

 

Good afternoon New Beer Weekenders!
Finally tapped into the fruited sour that my sender for NBW BIF #17 - @NorsemanOne
Bumpy Pucker-
Imgur is having parsing issues with my post, hopefully it will come through soon. But until then…
Poured a translucent pale yellow with a 1 cm head that’s essentially the same color except lighter. No lacing.
No aroma for me either, stupid Covid.
The taste is pretty much what one would expect from a raspberry sour; malty and sour with a fair amount of raspberry flavor. Rather enjoyable. No hops noted nor any bitterness.
The feel is really good, entirely too quaffable for a warm Spring day after felling a tree.
OA, makes me want to go get a 6 pack of Freedom of Speech as it was once my go to thirst quencher for the summer. Maybe it will be again.

 

Too late to edit my post so here is the photo:

Thanks Jonathan! My try the Barleywine next.

 

I enjoyed the beer, gave it 3.5 overall. I have no qualms handing out 1s and 2s for a beer I believe is below average, nowhere close for the style or what they are attempting/marketing. I didn't hedge my score because it was given vs. one I picked out.

I enjoyed finishing it more paired with food than solo. Just thought it could have been a special 4 + beer if the same great pepper flavors where more balanced, allowing the base beer to shine, at least somewhat. I have zero insight as to how their Helles are after finishing that beer.

El Hefe by Banger hit my sweet spot for this style, giving the nice pepper flavor but also allowing one to appreciate the wheat beer base. I think the actual pepper flavors were more enjoyable isolated with this beer, but it was all that my palate was able to derive. I feel the same way if I encounter say a BA beer that I get nothing but the adjunct(s). I prefer the barrel only plus base, just a personal preference.

 

Do it! Tradee @IrishMASMS had his yesterday I do believe (at least according to UT)

 

Day 2, I’m going with something light this gorgeous evening in Northern Indiana. I could NOT find this at any of my locals, but I did find it yesterday in a small town (population 8,999 or roughly 30 times smaller than where we live) close to the lake we visit most weekends in the spring, summer, and fall. Whuddathunkit?

PS: you all get the added bonus of a Ranger photobomb, which is nice.





4.6/5 rDev +4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
This behemoth of a beer pours a beautiful copper color that is translucent and sports a sudsy, slightly off white head that has no interest in lacing the glass, which is expected given the 17% ABV. And as the beer warms and settles, it does clear quite a bit, something I’ve not seen before.

The nose has a tart apple note, some toffee, a smidge of resiny pine, and more than a little booze as represented by port wine. And as it warms, the apple and port wine notes expand. Wow.

The booze sticks to the very back of the palate, imparting a significant warming note that lingers, allowing what I can only describe as an apple pie flavor that takes on a crumble note with the toffee flavor and a bit of resiny pine. I’d love to pour this over a bowl of vanilla ice cream and enjoy it as a dessert.

The mouthfeel is full, decadent, and a bit on the creamy side. This is listed as an imperial IPA, but for me, it’s really more of an imperial barleywine that would make a fantastic dessert beer. I am so glad I’ve got another three bottles to enjoy. World class stuff, IMHO.

 

Poured into a 13 oz Teku glass canned on 5/23/23. Pours a very attractive hazy yellow with a one finger sticky white head that leaves thin lines of lace with excellent retention. 4.5

Aroma is mango, mandarin, peach, honeydew, and apricot.4.5

Taste is mango, mandarin, peach, honeydew, and apricot well balanced and very nice. 4.5

Mouthfeel is above average, soft gentle carbonation, not sticky or dry, and at 8% big flavor with excellent drinkability. 4.75

Overall another winner from one of the best at this style. Highly recommend.this one. 4.5

 

Templin Family - Watermelon Gose



Canned 5.9.23

Poured at fridge temp into a willi glass

Pours a pale tangerine orange with a 1 finger bright white head. 4

Strong melon aroma, as well as tart and sweet kettle. 3.75

Tart, slight puckering sourness, good melon backbone and salty close. 4

Strong biting carbo, though very refreshing nearing juicy. Light and easily drinkable. 4

Overall a very good summer Gose from the masters at TF, whose beers I find 'average' at 4/5

 

Next up a Porter provided by the stellar BA @beergoot. Havent had a Porter in awhile but there was a phase when Sierra Nevada Porter was always in my fridge. Millstream Porter
Pours a very dark coffee color with a red tinged edge. Lots of creamy espresso foam with moderate lacing.
Toffee, coffee, caramel, caramelized sugar on the nose.
Earthy roasted dark malts, strong black coffee bitterness, bakers chocolate, tangy dryness on the snappy finish. Medium/light body, lasting flavor in the mouth.
Great segue back to Porters. As I recall SN was a bit sweeter and less earthy than this. I liked the edge and earthiness in this one.
Great brew.
Thanks Dave!

 

Happy pride month, y'all.

I finally got the little goober down for a nap, so I can join in this virtual debauchery.
While doing our shopping the other day, I wandered by the beer aisle, as I am wont to do. I'm not sure why, but this anniversary beer from Machine House caught my eye and just seemed like a tasty offering worth trying. I wasn't wrong.
I've reviewed MH beers a couple of times here on this weekly thread, and have sent several of them out during the biannual BIFs (typically the dark mild, because it's a fantastic option within that style). Anyway, what I'm trying to say is, they're a brewery that specializes in traditional english cask-style ales, and they are very good at what they do.



Machine House - 10th Anniversary Special Bitter

Pours a ripe copper colour that's more crisp than clear. Swell of khaki head recedes to a thin fuzzy thing, and if left sitting for an extended period of time -- say long enough to feed a baby and get her to sleep -- it recedes even further than that to a simple ring with a few islands. Nice lacing with the fuzz does not withstand the torpor of time, though that's a small sacrifice.

Nose is inviting with layers of sweet brown malts. I got a lot of caramel up front, with some bread (sweet brown as well as spicy rye), and a touch of mole asses. Hops are spicy and a bit grassy.

(full disclosure: the appearance/aroma writeups began before the break to put the baby to bed. I didn't start sipping until she was sleeping, so it sat for some time. That actually feels appropriate, though, as it allowed the beer to come closer to room temperature/cask conditions, and that feels within the spirit of the brewers intentions).
Flavour has two distinct sections: a brief lead in of sweet caramel, which bridges with the brown bread again to get to the main show: the namesake bitterness. And that it is. Dry and bitter for the final 2/3rds or so, it's got layers of earthiness that bring pine and a bit of herbs and spice, as well as a bit of pithy character.
It's thin and dry, which lends it to the sessionability desirous of the style, and has a decidedly bitter finish that is bold and lingers. I don't know traditional British special bitters well enough to know if this is a slight Americanization of the style, or if the old world equivalent would also have fairly robust hopping to it, but either way, it's really hitting the spot on this sunny (and windy) summer afternoon.
I highly recommend giving any of their beers a shot, should you come across them, and if you're in the Seattle area, particularly down south, the brewery is supposed to be a fantastic drinking experience as well (I'm a little ashamed to admit I've yet to make it down there for an in-person tipple).

Cheers!!

 

New from Lawson's!

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/17980/657932/



16 ounce can packaged 05/11/23.

Moderate to vigorous pour yields a nearly one inch white head over a nice and bright body with some lacing.

Nose of slight citrus with even slighter tropical fruit and a hint of pine.

Flavor is light citrus with a tiny malt sweetness in the middle to a finish of slight pine bitterness.

Very nice near full feel with more than medium carbonation.

Overall, a low alcohol beer with way more flavor than expected for a 3.4%er.
Find it and crush it!!
Cheers!!!
A moment ago Edit Delete

 

Hey friends; back again for round 2 today...this is one of the beers I got in a trade from Oregon recently. Got revisit some great PNW IPAs; including Fort George Vortex and Von Ebert Volatile Substance, this was the new to me one included. I usually think the term dank gets thrown around a lot and maybe its because of my nightly ritual but I don't usually find too many beers to actually be that dank or weed like. I've had some that do, let's see if this one lives up.

Bend Brewing Company - Devils Cabbage (Dank IPA 7%)



Light golden in color, verges on crystal clear; head shows above average retention as well as lacing.

The aroma on this beer is a nice mix, there is a slight pungent character which to most equate to dank, does this smell like weed?? Yes and no; more like that lingering “Jon did you smoke with the garage door open?” smell, not flower. I pick up more in the form of bright orange and overripe fruit, that quickly turns rind like and a touch of pine brightness.

The taste definitely has more weed like qualities than the nose suggested to me; strong and lingering too…it’s the first thing to hit and also sticks around in the aftertaste. There is a moderate malt presence, some overripe citrus, earthiness and resin also present.

Medium body, overall clean and quite drinkable, very nice bitterness; minor throat warming from the 7%, dry on the finish with minimal to no sweetness.

I enjoyed this beer a lot; lived up to its name for the most part, clean, drinkable and bitter. Glad to have tried. If I have another beer it'll be a Summerfest or nothing so that means I'll see you all next week. Have a great week everyone.

——————

Very close to finishing a shelf with brackets made from old wood from our house. Our house was built in 1948 and when they demo’d our bathroom this fall I saved the beams that I could. Literally the hardest wood I’ve ever felt, can’t even dent with a hammer; it’s also incredibly beautiful, check out these dense rings…



I’m guessing wood like this will never be used or found again; I couldn’t bare to let it be tossed. Plan to save more when our kitchen gets the same treatment later this summer. Thought it was a neat share as I was just applying some wood butter to it today.

 

Cheers Lads! I did not get to write up my thoughts about Saison Dupont, but did just enjoy another new beer to me.

Perennial Artisan Ales – Saison de Lis - A Belgian style Saison with Chamomile Flower
Final tally on this one is 4.18

L- Nice 80% transparent pale yellow/orange color with nice spongy white foam that fades quickly and leaves some lace. 4.00

N- Light floral note with a fair amount of honey as it tempers along with some floral yeast. 4.00

T- Light honey tinged flower-chamomile with a bit of mineral hop bitterness balances the floral note. No phenolic or ester notes are apparent and no residual candi sugar to make it sweet. There is a bit of tang that makes this really refreshing and easy to want to pound. 4.25

M- Very fine and slightly prickly bubbles that focus on the tip and center of the tongue. This is only for a moment as the ale quickly turns smooth and a bit like honey although the body is on the leaner side of medium. A fresh and dry finish reinforces the floral notes, yet you can make out the Pilsner malt 4.25

O- A really different Belgian style that is all about a light floral vibe. Chamomile tea for example, is quite a bit more strong and earth and dusty compared to the notes here. It might be fun to have a bit of phenol or ester notes, yet I could see how it might upset the delicate presentation going on here. I have to check the price (I think $13 for a 4pk of tall boys) so this may be a repeat buy is any more is to be had. 4.25

 

Lucky man! I've been itching to get more MH English styles ever since @snaotheus spoiled me with their Cambridge bitter (cask in a bag form)

Beginning this evening with one I should have bought more of and am kicking myself for not doing so.

Silver Reef - Down Winder



Canned 5.3.23

Poured at fridge temp into a willi glass

Pours a light coppery gold with a fluffy and tight eggshell colored head. Some fair and nearly solid-sheet-like lacing. 4.25

Piney and slight grapefruit and pineapple notes. 4.25

Initially piney hops, followed by tropical fruitiness and a very pleasant malt backbone finish. Tropicals begin to float and become sweeter as it warms up. 4.5

Chewy, solid medium body, and slight hop oil lingering aftertaste. 4.25

Overall a killer wcipa I wish I had more of. Feels very sessionable even though it certainly isn't. Silver Reef nailed it with this one! 4.5

 

This one cracked me up @kemoarps it sounds amazing except for the touch of mole ass

Typo at its finest right there!