New Beer Weekend #153

@Coronaeus has sent me quite a few beers over the last couple years, and his ability to pick out ones that are right in my style wheelhouse has been amazing. This beer continued that trend and then some.

This is Vinus Ricco from Burdock.


4.46/5 rDev 0% (added to database)
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Pours a lively, translucent yellow that is reminiscent of many ciders. Short-lived fizzy head. Looks simple, clean and inviting.

Aroma is excellent. I tend to love apricots in beer (although I don't like apricots in and of themselves) and this greets the nose with a really nice apricot funk with some light oak and earth notes lurking as well.

Taste mostly follows the nose. Less tart than I expected, perhaps due to the grapes mellowing out those edges a bit. The apricot is there, but not in your face. Similarly, the wine doesn't muddle the beer, but rather enhances it. Nice earthy funk. Expertly blended and balanced.

Overall, I'm very, very impressed by this beer.

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Peter, you've done it again. How big is this brewery / do they make a lot of good stuff? I'm loving this.

 

I don't know for sure, but I think it was aged with brett in the barrel and I think I read "mixed fermentation" somewhere. No idea if it was hopped (which technically it shouldn't be, I think) or if all the flavors are yeast driven. It's definitely more on the fruity side but it's not a huge ester bomb, either. It's just a pretty laid back level of funk. It's there, it just doesn't take over. It's definitely an intriguing beer. I have a Proclamation brett IPA waiting for tonight, so we shall see how they compare.

Only my review and one other on here, which seems pretty strange given there's a few BA's within spittin' distance of the brewery. Not much to compare my thoughts to.

No idea on the yeast strain and dowouldn't call this a true version of a sahti, but it does hit some of the marks and at least pays homage to the rest. I could see it simply falling in the wild ale catch-all category, but the brewer knows what he did, I suppose, to justify saying it is more of a sahti.

If I remember right, i think Little Brett from Allagash was 100% brett and it was far less intense than this Provlamation concoction.

 

There's kids in and out all the time.
Despite my best efforts, my son doesn't appreciate beer in any form...
I'll gift a superior beer to my son's friend in an attempt to advocate for better beer.

 

Another West Virginia beer from @DoctorZombies


16oz can Best By 10/04/23 poured into a nonic pint glass at fridge temp 6.5% ABV. The beer pours darker brown with light brown head. The head recedes to a thin ring and single layer of bubbles. Nice, webby lacing. The aroma is mild with roasted malt featuring coffee and dark chocolate. The taste is bittersweet roasted malt with more deeply roasted flavors of coffee and dark chocolate. Moderate bitterness. The mouthfeel is thin to medium bodied with average carbonation and a mostly dry finish. Overall, good porter.

Cheers all!

 

As a fan of Ecto Cooler, I think it looks tasty

 

Lol! I'm not even sure what to make of that...

 

Burdock is great. They have a spot in a nice part of town with a good side-street patio. Good food as well. Not a huge operation, but I believe they have expanded recently. They tend to focus on beer/wine hybrids and what they call ‘small’ beers (lower ABV lighter saisons, pale ales and lagers, goses, etc. in small cans). Both are usually very good. Some of their hybrids are exceptional. I’m glad you enjoyed! Cheers.

 

Once again, I am digging into the BA WCIPA pack. I have had a few beers from Hop Butcher FTW in the past and was never disappointed. Let's pour.

4.37/5 rDev +7.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Poured from a 16oz can stamped “PKF 05/13/23 WHO YOU GONNA CALL” to a Nonic at fridge temp.
Pours clear light gold with a minimal white head. Lacing is nonexistent.
The smell is slightly medicinal but there is a sense of fresh hops rubbed in your hand.
Sap Moss is a good name based on the taste. This is resinous and green. Really hits the West Coast notes in a good way. There are plenty of background herb notes. The finish is ultra dry.
The mouthfeel as expected and hop oils are noted. Carbonation is appropriate.
This is a really good beer.

 

I’d planned to have more beers from my new brewery discovery. I did have the Festbier last night, quite late; too late to think about or review though.

Today was supposed to be an afternoon off with the kids at a birthday party. Sadly, they both woke up with fevers. No other symptoms besides a little lethargy, but no party for them today…

So, I’m entertaining my under-the-weather twin six year olds. My daughter has a little more energy than her brother and wanted to cook. We made a chicken and pineapple stir fry with some pineapple that needed using. It turned out great. Then, with the rest of the pineapple, we baked some pineapple vanilla cupcakes. They smell great as they cool. I’m relaxing now while they watch some TV.

I thought a stronger option than the beer I bought yesterday was in order. This is Twin Sails Goodnight Sweet Prince, an imperial Coffee Stout. Twin Sails is located in Port Moody, British Columbia. I received this from a long time trade partner a few months ago.



Pours a black/brown with ample foamy head. The head falls off quickly and the beer appears to have an oily film on the surface. No lacing.

The aroma is dominated by sweet coffee. Roasted malts sit in behind. Light cocoa notes are also present. No booziness. There is an odd cherry cola note that keeps popping up and fading away.

The taste follows fairly closely. Sweet, milky coffee on the tongue. Some bitter toasted grain in behind. A noticeably bitter finish ends the sip. None of the cherry cola I got on the nose which is good.

The body is full. The beer is slightly oily, but pleasant. The ABV (11.6%) is well hidden. Low carbonation.

This is good. A little on the sweeter side for my tastes, but tasty nonetheless. Now, what do I make for dinner…?

Cheers!

 

Afternoon NBS.
Very warm and humid today in RI.
Sitting poolside after taking my first dip -nice and cold.....and speaking of cold this one seems perfect my first Blind Pig courtesy of the generous @beergoot
Pours a clear pale gold with quite a large snow white foamy head, nice rings and spots of lacing.
Orange, grapefruit and pine on the nose with a floral note.
Taste is classic pine, citrus rind, grapefruit, pils and honey malt base supporting the crisp clean, hoppy, snappy, medium body.
Finishes bitter and dry.
I basically could drink these all day.
Lovely beer.
Thanks Dave!

 

I miss-typed the date on this can it is PKG 5/23/23.

 

This was enjoyed yesterday at the brewery, an unflavored Berliner Weisse called Roll the Weisse by Lops Brewing of scenic Woonsocket Rhode Island. It's summer, a perfect time for light bodied Beers.



3.4/5 rDev 0%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
16-oz pour at the brewery. A thin and fizzy, short-lived head over a light golden straw body, a bit cloudier than expected.

Cracker and toasted wheat greats the nose, very faint, indistinguishable hops.

Slightly sour with low bitterness, an unfortunate cardboard taste prevails over toasted wheat bread and salty crackers. Not as acidic per style, no lactose is detected. The finish is Lager-like quick with the cardboard and sour lemon lingering briefly.

Light bodied with below average carbonation; alcohol is completely hidden. Soft-ish feel, just a bit flat.

 

Good Sunday afternoon, New Beer Sippers and commentators. Today started out hot and muggy and I intended to review a Belgian Blonde Ale conditioned on peaches. Then came the rain and things cooled down. It's still muggy but with the rain dripping from the trees I retreated to the cool, dry basement bar a opened a can of Respectfully, a BA Imperial Stout brewed by Hudson Valley Brewery. I bought a pack there yesterday. This Stout was added to the BA database by my local colleague @Jdells09 on 6/1/2023. It wasn't available on draught but I bought it based upon his 4.55 rating. And that rating wasn't hype. I'm blown away by how good this is! I love BA Stouts and this is one of the best I've had in quite awhile.

Poured at 60°. The color is a very dark walnut - almost black. The reddish-mocha-colored head fizzled away in seconds leaving no lacing. The smell is great! Roasted malt, dark chocolate, and a strong but inviting aroma of whiskey. It tastes even better, opening with rich, dark chocolate, complimented by leather, cigar, and earthy char. The effect of the 22 month aging in Hillrock, Weller, and Blanton's whiskey barrels is wonderful, adding robust flavor and sweetness but not overpowering the malts. The barrel notes are soft and mellow. All of the flavors compliment each other. Its mouth feel is luxuriously thick and creamy with lite carbonation, and it drinks big for 12% ABV.

I highly recommend this Stout. I wish I had bought a second pack!

4.62/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

This is my highest-rated beer so far this year. Have a great week, everyone. Cheers, NBW!

 

And another WCIPA-

3.75/5 rDev -9.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Poured from a 16oz can stamped 05/24/23 to a Nonic at fridge temp.
Pours clear light gold with a minimal white head. Lacing is minimal.
The smell is hoppy but not strong.
Taste hits all the style notes, but it's not super exciting.
The mouthfeel is medium to light and a little under carbonated.
Don’t get me wrong, I would not refuse this beer, it’s just not stellar

 

Congrats on running the table!

 

Notch session pils


3.78/5 rDev +4.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Brewers Notes: Czech style pale lager known as Světlé Výčepní. The 10 plato strength (4% ABV) is the most popular in the Czech Republic, as opposed to the 12 plato strength (5% ABV) that is more familiar in the US. Brewed with European malts, Czech Saaz hops and soft water.

#14 rated Czech pale lager on Beer advocate

Chilled can poured into a stemmed bearded iris glass , one finger white foam froth, great retention, no lacings, clear golden liwuid, numerous active carbonation streams , settles to a pencil thick layer

Aroma is malty, bready, slight sweetness

Taste is malty, bready, slight hops, The bready taste lingers

Smooth, clean, soft mouth feel

ran 8 miles as an ar1 and a referee in over the hill Mens finals , good beer for after a hot, humid day on the turf

 

Time for another!
Green Ritual DIPA
A collab between Widowmaker and Other Half.
Pours a turbid pale orange like peach or pear nectar. Very nice large white head with lots of lacing.
Peach juice, passionfruit, mango and orange on the nose.
Taste is fruit salad with creamy orange dominating up front than stonefruit middle, tropical fruit finish ending with perfect bitterness that balances the sweetness but doesn't linger. But the flavor does.
Full bodied, very soft pillowy feel, creamy,
Finishes quite dry and hop tangy.
Damn good beer here to me.
This is a perfect example of the hazy style. What I mean is this might be one that a hazy hater might even enjoy.
Cheers!

 

Hello again my friends,
The rain that normally curses every holiday in Michigan is finally here. (We’ve had, I think, .25 inches of rain in 6 weeks) Very Un-Michigan like.
So to celebrate I pulled this out of the cellar- I had been saving it for a SAN but rain demanded the good stuff.

And good it was.
I’ve heard good things about Arvon brewing but they price their beers out of my normal budget. That stated, a BA Stout with vanilla and coffee? Had to try it.
The pour was espresso brown and opaque black in the snifter. The very enthusiastic head didn’t know if it was coming or going so it left. No lacing either.
The aroma, not much getting through my nose since my bout with Covid but I did get a sharp, almost whisky smell. Interesting.
The taste has zero whiskey flavors. Plenty of bourbon, touches of vanilla and coffee may be in there or it’s just malt, not sure. Lots of roasted malts and no harsh notes or hops detected. I think this is a delight to drink. Did I mention the bourbon?
The feel is good, sufficiently viscous for the ABV. Nice sipper.
I picked this up for research. Yeah, that’s the ticket, research. Wish I could have afforded the 4 pack so I could stick a few in the cellar. Ah well. If I find it again I’ll definitely pick one or two up for NBW BIF purposes. Gotta have good beer to bomb porches with!
They are not up to Transient standards yet, (regarding stouts at least) but I suspect that they will be if brewers don’t leave for better money somewhere.
Cheers all!