New Beer Weekend #155

Thank you so much @Victory_Sabre1973 for kicking off the weekend and your review of a Wisconsin selection. This weekend I will feature two collaboration beers, with the first from Wisconsin though from the southeast portion of the state.

Both of these IPAs were brewed in early Spring, so hoping they held up well over time. This selection was provided by @Danmullens1 during our May Bottle / Can share, and is a collaboration from two breweries I head great things about but haven't tried until now.

Eagle Park Brewing / 1840 Brewing Company Collaboration Joint IPA (2023)



Can Notes: Obtained via trade via BA @Danmullens1 on May 12, refrigerated thereafter until this morning. 16 oz canned 4/6/23, stamp note Drink Two Joints. Double India Pale Ale, 8% ABV. Brewed & Canned by Eagle Park Brewing, Muskego, Wisconsin, in collaboration with 1840 Brewing. Brewed with Citra, Mosaic, Columbus and Eureka Hops.

Appearance: 3/4 of can primary pour into a slender tulip glass as classified on BA as an American IPA. However, this is clearly an NEIPA and a style correction has been submitted. Hazy orange juice base, creamy bright white head leaves clumpy lacing and a creamy full cover over the base after a few minutes. Looks to NEIPA style and also looks great. 4.5

Aroma: Medium plus strength citrus lead, dank pine, pineapple and tangerine. Suspecting this was brewed for 420, and has held up well over 3 months. 4.25

Taste: Perfect morning beverage, very strong citrus and pineapple notes brings a sweetness that cannot be stopped, though it is contained by a nice pine bitterness. Now midway through, really digging the flavor profile and balance here, perhaps mellowed over time but this is great right now. 4.25

Mouthfeel: Soft and gentle creamy body and carbonation, drinks light and easy, far lower than the listed 8% ABV. Lightly dry, balanced overall after an initial impression of strong sweetness. Really nice mix of sweet, dank, light bitterness. Lightly dry, clean finish. Nice. 4.5

Overall: This is an excellent collaboration offering by two widely praised breweries. This is the way all NEIPAs should be brewed, hitting high notes with flavor, balanced, relaxing, balanced. Just a great beer to start the day with. Thank you so much @Danmullens1 , hope this collaboration continues each Spring, as it appears to have been brewed for at least five years. 4.5

I still have one beer left from you, a BBA Barleywine, that I will save for cooler weather. Will return tomorrow with a crosscountry collaboration between a favorite Beer Packie and LBC Brewery.

 

Christmas in July!

It is indeed July weather in my area (Philly area): stinkin’ hot! As the old saying goes: it’s not the heat it’s the humidity.

Last weekend I did a bit of straightening up in the basement and ‘discovered’ a bottle of beer I purchased for Christmas-time drinking: Victory Merry Monkey. My first thought as I held this bottle in my hand was: oh well, save it for next Christmas. But then a second occurred that I could have a Christmas in July ‘party’ and drink this beer now. So, I put the bottle in my refrigerator and now is the time to ‘party’.

Below is how this beer is described on BA:

“This Belgian-style holiday ale combines the beloved flavor profile of Golden Monkey with notes of cranberry, orange peel, cinnamon and nutmeg to deliver a delightfully smooth finish, perfect for merry gatherings with family and friends. And to all a good night.

Malt: Pilsner, Roasted Malted Barley

Hops: Cascade, Tettnang

Notes: Cranberry, Orange Peel, Cinnamon, Nutmeg added

IBU: 35”

I have never tasted this beer, so I have no ‘baseline’ as to how this beer tastes fresh, but I wonder if the flavors from the spice additions might be muted from the several months of cellaring. Well, let’s see what we shall see.

Served in my tulip glass:

Appearance:

Amber colored with a thin white head which dissipates quite quickly.

Aroma:

A ‘Belgiany’ aroma including a mixture of spice aromas.

Taste:

The flavor follows the nose with a combo of ‘Belgiany’/spicy flavors. As the beer warms/opens up the aspect of nutmeg becomes more noticeable. There is a low/moderate bitterness.

Mouthfeel:

Medium bodied with an off-dry finish.

Overall:

I enjoyed drinking this beer. I suspect that perhaps the spice additions/flavors have become more muted over the several months of cellaring but frankly I rather enjoyed the subtlety here. I will have to make a mental note to purchase a bottle next November/December to see how this beer tastes when it is fresh(er).

@rotsaruch @KOP_Beer_OUtlet @RobH

 

Got my chores done, so time for a new beer, DAB Export:

Appearance: Clear yellow-gold, big head.

Smell: Slightly toasted bread, hint of tea.

Taste: Bready-slightly honeyed. Slight minerality to the flavor. Clean and crisp, not much bitterness. Medium-light body.

Overall: Four pack for $5 on discount, so picked one up to try. Solid “drinking beer” not too sweet or bitter, balanced and easy to drink. Nice slight honeyed flavor.

 

Did some outdoor work before it gets too blazing hot, now it's time for a beer.
Brewed at Decadent Ales, this is AC/DC Power Up, a juicy IPA.
Straw-colored, some haze. Small white head, some lace.
Fruity aroma, subtle.
Taste of orange and peach, somewhat bitter.
Bitterness triumphs over fruit in mouthfeel.
I'd call this an average NEIPA.

 

Toppling Goliath Brewing and Radiant Beer Places I've Been IIPA. The look is murky and hazy marmalade orange, with a light white foamy top. The smell very tropical. Lemon meringue pie jumps out, followed by mango, orange, and lime, with a bit of dankness at the finish. The taste has Toppling Goliath Brewing's unique bite. There are fruit flavors, but there is more bitterness than I expected from the smell. Flavors of grapefruit and orange combine with earthy, piney, and woodsy highlights. The combination is good, but not remarkable. The mouthfeel is typical for Toppling Goliath Brewing, but it does not have the buttery electricity of their finest IIPAs. It is soft, smooth, clean, and full, but not remarkable. Overall, this beer is like the other Toppling Goliath Brewing collaboration IIPAs. They are always very exciting to purchase, but they usually are not in the same league as their flagship IIPAs. This is an average beer.

 

Phase Three Brewing Marmalade hazy IPA. I have much higher expectations for this beer than my last beer. The look is gorgeous hazy and murky sunflower yellow. It has a thick white ceiling, which leaves nice lacing on the glass. The smell is lucious dank lemon. White bread and lime linger during a deep breath. The taste is strong with lemon. There is a whisper of dankness, but it is mostly tropical fruit. Grapefruit, mango, and tangerine sit in the backseat of the car lemon is driving. The mouthfeel is super soft. Light, smooth, and thick, with low-medium carbonation. Overall, this beer is incredible. It is similar to the beer I reviewed before this, but better in every way possible. Toppling Goliath Brewing continues to erode my enthusiasm for their beers, while Phase Three Brewing can do no wrong.

 

Brewery Nonic Root Down Burdock Ale. From Eau Claire, WI. Courtesy of our host, @Victory_Sabre1973. The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire are the Blugolds. I just noticed the color scheme. They are the bitter rivals of my alma mater, the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Warhawks. The look is A&W root beer. The smell is similar, but with more of an Earthy tone. Sweet, but with an alcohol presence. The taste is similar to a brown ale, though sweeter. Squash, brown bread, cinnamon, and root beer play an equal part. It is perfect for a summer day. The mouthfeel is thick, full, and bready, with medium carbonation. Overall, this is a refreshing beer, on a perfect day. I am glad I have a crowler. I will sip on this well into the evening.

 

Correction. This beer was from @cheeseheadinMinneapolis. Thank you, sir!

 

Grey Sail - Captain's Daughter, a beer I've seen posted here and on WBAYDN a jillion times, has been on my mental want list for years. Perhaps @Roguer can read minds.

16oz can dated 05/18/23, served in a big snifter. Provided by @Roguer in a LIF associated with NBS BIF #17. Long time want, unexpected got.

Pours a hazy orange tilting a little bit toward golden. Initial pour had a fairly modest head, maybe a bit less than a centimeter, which dissipated into a thick and fairly even skin that retains its boundaries about a centimeter above the surface of the beer. Smell is tropical, mango and pineapple, very ripe, approaching overripe. A little bit of an orange blossom sweetness.

Taste is right in the same channel, juicy and easily avoids over-sweetness, nice bitterness, orange rind in nature, pretty strong, I think providing the counterbalance to all the juicy stuff going on.

Mouthfeel is medium with a hint of grittiness. Overall, this is a really nice, really well-built beer.

 

Post lunch beer this hot, rainy day - Bourbon Barrel Oro Negro (2022), an imperial stout “aged in Bourbon Barrels and infused with cacao nibs, vanilla beans, habaneros, and cinnamon sticks.”



Purchaed at the Athens, OH brewery in June 2023. Poured at 56°. Thin layer of rocky tan bubbles which vanished quickly, leaving no cap retention, ring nor lace; no legs; black with ruby edges. Spicy nose, followed by chocolate and a bit of bourbon; hot spicy/boozy (13.7%) retro nasal. Spicy hot green chilies sauce entry; black pepper; chocolate (Oreo cookies come to mind); bourbon; cinnamon as beer warms; minimal vanilla; no walnuts from the the base beer. Hot mouth warmth from habaneros, spices and alcohol; thin watery body; light carbonation. Overall, unbalanced; my mouth is on fire; it’s so hot the beer burns all the way down my gullet; not enjoyable; I like spicy Mexican cake style stouts, but this beer is extreme; glad I only bought one.

3.5 | 4.0 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5
Score: 3.62 rDev -19.2%

I like Jackie O’s beers. It’s got a great barrel aging program, and I generally find its beers to my liking. This 2022 version/recipe not so much. Cheers y’all!

 

I've been inspired by Christmas in July and will join you! I have a bottle of Red Rock Griswald's Holiday Ale, 2022

Although it is in need of an update (which I submitted) as it's changed from 4% to 8.5%abv

Be back tonight!

 

Hello NBW Fam, it is a pleasure to be back...we have had quite the week, we moved out of our house for a major reno on Wednesday, photo below at closing. Just finally settled in at the in laws when their AC broke so now we moved in with my dad for the next few days till in laws AC gets fixed Monday or Tuesday. We could take the heat but our poor snow dog, not so much. Anyway, three homes in 5 days, its been a wild ride. This, a beer I'm guessing we'll see more of in this thread in the days to come...I'm sitting in a peaceful quiet house with my dad, no better time for a beer.

Schlenkerla - Rotbier (Smoked Rotbier 4.6%)



Beautiful color and clarity to this beer, it is lightly amber but when backlit by brighter light some nice red hues show, crystal clear; the head is off-white, slightly bubbly, shows a little bit of lacing with average to slightly above average lacing.

The nose is an earthy and woodsy sort of smoke, sort of like when my neighbor is running his smoker; just a very pleasant not over the top aroma. After the smoke there is some nice dark bread like aromas that have some crustiness and toast like qualities to them, upon swirling there is an aromatic note that is both lightly floral and lightly sweet in nature.

Taste is quite unique, a light dry smoke is the first thing to greet my pallet, wood chip like with hints of smoke; then a really pleasant dose of bread like toasty malt coats the tongue before finishing with a nice little dose of grassy and earthy hops, hint of dark fruit skin. There is a VERY pleasant aftertaste on this beer, everything just sort of lingers in a very balanced way. It gives off a slightly marzen type vibe but lighter in nature.

Light bodied beer, with nice fullness, goes down very smooth, tongue coating soft creamy carbonation, perfectly dry and clean, bitterness that verges on moderate.

Drinking this beer was a very pleasant experience, unique and different, very well balanced and highly drinkable; a very fun beer to ponder and dissect. Would recommend to any beer nerd. Cheers everyone I plan to be back again tomorrow, probably not tonight as now we have to set up shop in yet another home...

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The Phisher residence is out of commission for the next few months, that is about half our kitchen coming down, foreman sent it and so far we couldn't be happier with the team we hired, top notch crew...

 

I can get bottles or cans let me know I can ship some to you.