New Beer Weekend #153

Sticky Mousetrap B.A. from Frontaal in the Netherlands. Barleywine aged in both bourbon and scotch barrels (not sure what kind!). Comes in at 12% ABV.

Poured from a can at fridge temp. Pours very dark brown with minimal head. The nose is sweet maple and toffee candy. Prunes and slight citrus peel as well.

The taste is really interesting. Getting some roasted malts, tobacco, peat smoke, coffee grounds, and burnt toffee. Some bready malts, along with honey and almonds. A hint of maple comes through as well. I'm not sure what the scotch barrels were, but I sense that they were peated scotch barrels.

The mouthfeel is medium bodied and the aftertaste is quite bitter - like charred wood and slight grapefruit peel. Very interesting barleywine! Not my favorite, but glad I got to try it.

3.73/5 rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

 

Revolution Brewing Co. -- Thundertaker
Imperial rye stout aged in bourbon barrels
ABV: 16.2%; pouring temperature: 42 °F; canning info: FILLED 07/27/2022
Source: @ChicagoJ
Auxiliary vice: Mashbuild -- Wheated



4.46/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Dark reddish brown body; initial thick head that settles to a thin wisp, khaki colored. Deep, dark malt mixture; richly balanced; dark chocolate with a hint of barrel wood; subliminal spicy rye notes. The taste follows the nose, perhaps a bit sweeter; milk chocolate; boozy; figs and tobacco juice; low-level earthy spiciness. Slick and heavy body; velvety residual sugar feel; fairly intense alcohol warmth.

Mmmm. I like this beer. Its richness and depth of flavor come across quite nicely and result in a very satisfying dark beer experience. A beautiful behemoth of a beer.

 

Ok. I had some new beers this weekend, but wasnt in good spaces to do reviews AND forum postings. So I am catching up now. The first one I will share is actually from Friday. this is Bickersons Brewhouse in Renton, Washington and their 1st Anniversary Bourbon Barrel aged stout. A continuation of my efforts to drain the west coast beer love in my cellar from @snaotheus and NBS BIF #17. Thank you!!

onto my review:

This bottle says first anniversary and the label says established in 2018. So I imagine this is a 2019 vintage of the beer. Ive had the bottle for about 2 months and its been in my cellar the entire time. All part of the NBS BIF #17 chaos.
Pouring the 22 oz bottle into my snifter at cellar temp.
The beer pours a black coffee color with .5 cm dense beige head that fades to nothing soon after my pour.
the aroma on this beer is sort of mild but it does check the boxes of a bourbon barrel aged stout. I get some dark chocolate and black coffee with hints of charred wood and bourbon. no hop notes and the booze is hidden at this step of the game too.
First sip reveals a lighter than expected body, maybe due to the age of the bottle? Texture is pretty smooth but does leave a little coating on my palate after each swallow. Carbonation is soft spacious and almost non existent.
Flavor is what the nose advertised and what I expect for the style, but again much more mild than I would have hoped.
I get some dark chocolate and molasses notes mixing with bourbon and again some charred wood. No hop note here and the booze is pretty well hidden with no warmth or black pepper bite.
This is an okay vintage imperial stout. No flaws, but feels less bold than it should be. Still glad to have a beer from a relatively unknown to me brewery.
3.77 in the BA DB

 

...yesterday was an alcohol-free day for me...didn't plan it like that, but truly enjoyed drinking only water...made it easier for me to cut loose a bit today...I will be doing more 'one or none' days in the future...don't see doing a whole dry month thing, but like intermittent fasting, a day or two without a tasty adult beverage does have it's benefits...

 

Had this one today after a good series of yard work and house tasks. definitely earned a beer today and something light and easy drinking fit the bill. This is Cloud Burst Brewing out of Seattle, Washington and their Bleed American 4.8% American Lager. Another west coast beer courtesy of @snaotheus and NBS BIF#17.
Thank you for the opportunity!

onto my review:


Cold 16 oz can poured into a .5L dimple mug.
Date stamp appears to be 2/19/2023
The beer pours a rich golden color. Liquid is clear and a few lazy streams of carbonation rise towards the surface. I have a fluffy bleached white head of 1.5 cm. This foam fades to almost nothing except a thin edge layer pretty quickly after the can empties.
Aroma is grainy lager malt noted and hints of spicy hops, but malt driven on an overall mild nose.
First sip reveals a very light body and smooth texture and crisp tingly carbonation. Easy to drink beer on the physical traits.
Flavor is similar to the nose with grainy malt notes and a bit of sweetness and then some spicy or herbal hop finish.
Beer drinks very easy, isnt overly complex and is just about perfect after a day of yardwork.
Glad to have tried another beer from Cloudburst.
4.02 in the BA DB

 

...I find it interesting that DC is considered a state for purposes of drinking beer from all 50 states, so in essence, BA has 51, but one does get karma points if you've had a DC beer but are still missing on actual state...regardless, congratulations on hitting that target of 50 states...

 

...I still prefer Blind Pig over Pliny the Elder...both great beers, but am happier this one than the double IPA...

 

My final drop of new beers for the weekend. This is Matchless Brewing out of Tumwater, Washington. Their 7th Anniversary Strong Ale. 11.1% in this can means its probably curtains for Sully after this post!
Another west coast beer courtesy of @snaotheus and his overly generous, bordering on insanity volume of beers shared as part of NBS BIF#17. Thank you!

onto my review:


Im sampling a cellar temp 16 oz can poured into my trusty snifter. The beer was canned on 3-14-2023. First beer from this brewery.
The beer pours a very dark mahogany color with only very little light passing through the edges of the glass. A creamy beige head of 1 cm foams up and fades to a thin edge layer after the pour. very scattered lattice forms if I swirl my glass.
Aroma on this brew is malt forward with brown sugar, molasses, some leather and a bit of whisky note and some oak too. Slightly boozy nose, no hops anywhere that I pick up.
First sip reveals a medium body with sticky syrupy texture and very spacious and fine carbonation. Beer coats my palate with each sip and leaves a sticky feeling on my lips and palate.
I also get a tingling and warming on the swallow reminding me of the booziness here.
Flavor is brown sugar and toffee with again leather and some whisky. Not super sweet and definitely some peppery booze.
Im enjoying this beer and glad to have tried this one. A tasty malt forward boozy beer that isnt overly sweet. Worth a try if you can find a can.
4.15 in the BA DB