New Beer Weekend #151

This one caught my eye a while back, never had seen it before either. I did not purchase at the time but if I find a single I may grab one now. Your description of the mouthfeel makes me weary of a whole pack but other than that it reads like a decent beer.

I have actually never had a beer from them, used to see them around quite a bit but cannot say the last time I have. I will have to keep an eye out and give them a try at some point.

 

That 12 packs sounds awesome. Wish I could get that up here.

 

I saw that brew yesterday and almost bought it, but I’ve been burned too often, so I went with new beer from a brewer I trust (Schilling). But your review makes it seem like a beer I might like. Thanks!

 

One of the better ones in a while and it sold quickly in a few stores near me so hopefully more to come.

 

Welcome everyone to New Beer Sunday #955! The second of two Alchemist beers this weekend, one I really enjoyed from Dave's cellar but now a version a week plus shy under 2 months old.

The Alchemist Heady Topper



Can Notes: Obtained via BA trade with @Ocalafox on May 31, refrigerated at the brewery and upon receipt by me. 16 oz canned 4/19/23, 8% ABV, Stowe, Vermont.

Summary Notes: Heady Topper is an American Double India Pale Ale. This beer is not intended to be the biggest or most bitter. It is meant to give you wave after wave of hoppy goodness on your palate. Tremendous amounts of American hops will creep up on you, and leave you with a dense hoppy finish in your mouth. So drinkable, it's scary. Sometimes I wish I could crawl right into the can.

Freshness and control have always been my main concern when it comes to beer. We are committed to providing you with an unfiltered and unpasteurized hop experience.

Appearance: Initially poured 3/4 of the can into a shaker pint glass. Cloudy orange yellow unfiltered base, medium plus sustained carbonation, generous creamy rich bright white head lingers for a few minutes before settling on a nice cover over the base. Top off pour clean, no visible sediment 4.5

Aroma: Dank pine as soon as the can opens, continues with a nice onion and citrus back. 4.25

Taste: Dankness recedes into a nice balanced presentation, pine still dominant over the onion citrus, vegetal blend (celery, lemon grass).. Comes together well, nice blend. 4.25

Mouthfeel: Gental carbonation, creamy full mouthfeel. Dankness outways sweetness, but in the mellow way. Slight alcohol burn first few sips than mellows out. Strong, stronger than the ABV at first but either I adjust or the initial sensation was a false note as this is chill enjoyment. Settles in nicely, dry pine finish. Lingers joyously. 4.5

Overall: This is an excellent offering, really chill and laid back in terms of impact for a double IPA, but strong in terms of appreciated taste. Really enjoying the mouthfeel on this one. Overall a solid DIPA, and one I'd seek regularly if given the opportunity. Thank you John Kimmich! 4.5

My ratings are just a smidge lower than the Focal Banger from yesterday, and a little bit more pronounced than the cellar version provided by @beergoot . Possible hops are slightly different in this batch, but I had a slightly different taste profile in the 8 month old version. I also enjoy single IPAs more than double, many times like a double aged to mellow it out more, so more of a preference on my end than overall reflection of the beer. In either case, I am very stoked to enjoy this again today, and look forward to future chances to savor.

Cheers!

 

Dogs fed and walked, pool chores completed, breakfast made and dishes washed, starting to make some dinner for later. And it's just 10 am.
Whew! I need a beer!
Fortunately I have some. This is Green State Lager from Zero Gravity. A pilsner that is 4.9% ABV.
Pale gold color with a little haze. Nice white head that fades rather quickly.
Grassy, outdoors aroma. A little lemon.
Grainy taste, late hops.
Light-bodied, some late bitterness.

 

Yeah...it just has a funny feel to me, but the flavors are nice. It's got some Belgian-like tastes and some hefeweizen.

And Schilling - agreed - haven't had a bad brew from them yet. Hoping you make a road trip up there this summer and scope 'em out in person.

While we're here check out the Israeli prog metal band Scardust. Amazing female lead singer - literally can sing anything, things I would have thought were studio only but she pulls off live. Rest of the kids are incredibly talented as well.

 

Haven’t had a chance to join the thread but adding a beer for now.

CT valley - ace of aces lager



Not ordinarily a CT valley fan but have had some good ones. This was on close out and it is delicious.

Nose presents sharp lemon, malt, maybe a touch of bitter pithiness too. Taste follows.

A sharp, clean lager with a firm amount lemon on the palate. There’s a healthy dose of hop character parlaying into it.

Good offering. Cheers

 

Sounds cool. I definitely want to get up there soon. Perhaps in the winter. I’m not a skier, but that’s a peaceful place to be in the cold months.

Here’s the new shilling brew I’ll be trying later today. I’m excited.

 

A cellar delight started out today from @Whyteboar

Founders - Backwoods Bastard (2016)



Bottled 9.22.16

Poured at fridge temp into a tulip glass

Head gushed out as I popped the top, pours a light cola brown with light coming though on the ends and a 1F tan head that settled quickly but persisted down the glass. 4.5

Scotch heat and warmth off the nose, sweet malt and caramel. A delight for sure. 4.5

Malty, scotch, oak and barrel, lingering earthy hops. It's a fantastic sipper and good cold or cellar temp. 4.75

Warming but solid moderate body with just the right amount of bitterness and carbo. 4.5

Overall the best wee heavy I've had to date and would love to try again. 4.5

Thanks again Craig!

 

Just one new beer for me today, a local-ish one from Dankhouse:

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/51336/658884/?ba=bluejacket74#lists




Might end up finishing the 4-pack Cheers everyone!

 

Next up that paired great with a brat lunch.

Bewilder - Cerveza de Mayo



No canning date (likely early may since it's new)

poured at fridge temp into a willi glass

Pours a clear and clean golden with a loose soapy head that dissipated quick. 3.75

Grassy and grainy straw-like aroma. Very light and slightly sweet. 3.75

Taste follows with a pleasant earthy/grainy hops aftertaste. 4

Sharp biting initial carbo that levels off quick. Light and crushable. 4

Overall a very nice Cerveza I've gotta go back for more. 3.75

 

Roaring Table Scamper Wagtail Golden Pub Ale. Per the brewery: This Summer Ale heralds the warmer days to come with bright, crackery malt and a blend of fruity and piney hops. We fermented it with yeast cultured from a particularly delicious cask of Yorkshire bitter. Hopped with Cashmere, Wai-iti, and Amarillo. Roaring Table makes excellent old school/obscure styles of beer, so I have high hopes for this one.

Pours a cloudy straw yellow color with 1.5 fingers of a white soapy head that dissipates somewhat slowly. 4.0

Aroma has a distinct English yeast character that gives off some banana and clove. Also getting some lemon, slight orange, some dankness, and light pine from the hops. Some breadiness from the malt. 3.75

Taste is light and refreshing. The esters from the yeast give off some banana and clove, but it's much more tame compared to the smell. The hop character is more amplified, bringing lemon, orange pith, some earthiness, and pine. Cracker and slight bread from the malts. 4.0

On the higher side of a light body. Decent carbonation. Smooth, silky, and dry. Very drinkable. 3.75

This is very enjoyable. The hop character from the Cashmere, Wai-iti, and Amarillo in combination with the English yeast make for an interesting beer. Light, but complex. 4.0
Overall: 3.92

 

Thank You Friends Hopfenlager, Revolution + Dovetail, at Revolution on Kedzie

 

Busy couple of weeks here. My wife keeps getting offered lucrative new work contracts which is great, but it means that lately, all she has time for is work. So, I’ve been lead parent of late. I don’t mind that at all, but it seems to curtail my beer drinking somewhat.

I finally have a few minutes to enjoy and muse briefly about beer this weekend as I get supper prepped. This is from a bunch of beers my oldest friend gave me on my way home from a surprise visit to see him in Montreal for his 50th birthday.

This is Brasserie Artisinale Gallicus Pils d’Inspiration Italienne. This is a Pilsner hopped with Saaz and Nelson Sauvin.



Pours a slightly hazy straw gold with a bubbly head that sticks around a while and leaves moderate lacing as the beer is enjoyed.

Strong aromas of lemon peel, mixed grasses, and lightly toasted grain.

On the tongue this is grassy, herbal, floral primarily. Very crisp, moderate bitterness.

Medium body with that crisp bitter finish.

I’m really enjoying this beer that is from a brewery I have never had anything from before. I will keep my eye out next time I’m in Quebec.
Cheers!

 

Today I have Starchild from Frost Beer Works.

3.97/5 rDev -1.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from a 16oz can stamped 04/26/23 to a Nonic at fridge temp.
The body is a very light hazy orange. A puffed white head of about ½” sits on top and fades to a rim clinging head in about 4-5 minutes. Lacing is moderate. The body practically glows on a bright day.
The aroma is white grape, and citrus rind.
The taste is similar with the rind being the prominent flavor. There is a nice bitter hop finish that fades back to the white grape well after the swallow with the only suggestion of alcohol.
The mouthfeel is medium to light for a hazy.
A decent refresher.