New Beer Weekend #159

I was having a hard time in the store yesterday with the dates on all the beers I picked up. I was kind of in a hurry so I took a gamble on this. Jackpot Juice, 5.8% hazy IPA brewed by Two Roads "in collaboration with our friends at Mohegan Sun" (a very large Indian casino in CT). After all its Two Roads, they do many beers well. There is a QR code on the back that lead me to a sweepstakes to win 4 show tickets for the casino, but I did not want their spam in my inbox.

3.27/5 rDev -4.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
Poured from a 16oz can stamped BBE 09NOV23 to a Nonic at fridge temp
The body is lightly hazy (I can see the shadow of my fingers behind the glass) with a decent white head that fades remarkably quickly.
The aroma is slightly off putting, like stale malt.
The taste is the highlight of this beer, mildly lemony with strawberry notes.
The mouthfeel is the thinnest of any “hazy” IPA I have ever had.
This is probably a good beer for the masses at the casino, but in an at home critical review it just doesn’t hold up.

I was only the third reviewer here on this beer. Again, I don't understand how the rDev is calculated with such a low sample. No review was above 3.27.

 

Interesting! I looked at the finder and they do have some available, but not in *any* of the larger bottle shops or grocery stores. Heck, they listed 3 places and I think I’ve ever been to one of them.
I guess they just want everyone local to go to the brewery or something.

 

Thanks for getting us going @Roguer. Can't say I'm interested about the movies, but am curious which author the book signing was for.

I'm jumping in with the next in my lineup of new-to-me singles I picked up at Jack's Abby a couple of weeks ago. Today is one I almost didn't grab as I've had their steinbier version, but very glad I did as I found this one much superior.

Jack's Abby Fire in the Ham
5.4% rauchbier

Pours a dark yellow, light orange very similar to apple cider. Not much head, but I could have been more vigorous on the pour.

Nose is all smoke. The beechwood comes through to a remarkable extent; it's like standing near an open-pit barbecue. A hint of sweetness after it warms a bit, but I still get basically all smoke.

The taste starts off heavy on the smoke as well, but as it warms other flavors pick up strength and start to balance things out. I get a slight sweet bread and apple that then mixes with the smoke and hop bitterness on the finish to give that smoked, honeyed ham flavor.

Light-bodied with a fairly high, but small-bubbled carbonation that helps keep things refreshing without getting carb burn, this goes down real smooth. As a side note, JA has really nailed their carbonation game lately with their traditional natural carb techniques. Makes a noticeable difference in their canned offerings compared to those of other brewers.

I've had Fire Rocks in the Ham, the Steinbier version, and found this to be a better brew. A bit more carmelization in Rocks, but the increased smoke of this is what I came for.

This is my only new brew for the day. Hopefully back with another tomorrow depending on how chores go.

 

If that infection is still affecting you, then get well first! The impressive #2000 can wait until you can properly enjoy it!

 

Central Waters Brewing Can't Smoke Our Way Out Of This One. A Grodziskie beer. @dcotom inspired me to sail west to find this beer. I prevailed. The look is beautiful golden sunshine yellow. With a light foamy top that quickly disappears. The smell is campfire smoke, with a bit of salmon. Delightful to me. The taste is campfire smoke, lemon, and buttered white toast. Blended perfectly. This is definitely lighter than Rauchbiers I have experienced. The mouthfeel is crisp, thick, but light, smooth, and easy-drinking. Overall, this is a special beer. This is a unique experience. I really like this beer. I will seek out more beers of this style.

 

Right, I have come to the conclusion that because Covid seems to have finished off what sniffing skills I had that the subtle beers will not be quite as enjoyable as they used to.
So there was a rep from Waypost Brewing Company in the Crushed Grape (rather small but surprisingly well stocked with local beers) and I have had mixed success with them. But hey, free beer!
They were all decent, but this one stood out.

The pour was a translucent amber color that was capped with a 2” bone white head. I didn’t manage to get the photo soon enough and it did dissipate quickly.
The aroma was lost on my Covid damaged nose.
The taste started with beachwood smoke and some malt bready flavors. As it warmed a little the noble hops became noticeably present. There is a light bitter edge at the swallow, which makes me want to take another sip.
OA, oddly not refreshing, but very pleasant, providing you like the style. Waypost did good here.
Back later with either a porter or Schwartzbier.
Cheers all!

 

Sounds awesome! How far west did you have to go to get it?

 

Drekker There Will Be Prrrrt Mint Milkshake Sour, 6.2% ABV. Pours thick and opaque light-green with a seven-finger light-green head that left puree residue. Nose is mint and lactose. Taste follows, quite sweet. Thick and smooth mouthfeel, overall excellent. Not a fan of mint, but not bad.

4.02/5 rDev -4.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Really have to catch up on my beer reviews, since this was bought for St Patrick's Day.

 

Revolver - Blood and Honey

12oz bottle served in a snulip. Date on the bottle is 06/19/23. Got it in a trade with @MrSandman101.

Pours a hazy dark orange with a small head composed of very fine bubbles. Smell is orange peel and flowers with a light bready undertone.

Taste is moderate clove, light honey, orange peel, and more of that breadiness.

Mouthfeel is a little bit on the heavy side, almost a chewy texture. Overall, not bad.

 

Have a good nbw. Had a hard work summer. Therapy and life are doing well. Getting a raise soon. Now we are on vacation lol. A pitcher of Salty Turtle Hey Zay ipa. 30 bucks on the beach at shoals club. Do I dare get a membership?

A great Ipa. Aromas and flavors of red grapefruit, tangerine, peach, pineapple, mango, melon, berries, peppercorn, pine, wheat, cracker, toast, herbal, floral, grass, yeast earth. Medium pine rind bitter finish. Long resin drying finish. Clean. No astringency. Very classic tasting hops like centennial and Simcoe flavors. Nicely soft. Mild warmth of 6.3%. 4.0




Cheers

 

80 minutes. Right in the middle of all the waters in Wisconsin.

 

You guys are the best!

 

Hey, all,
The last week has been pretty hot without being truly scorching (daytime highs in the mid-90s), but today is more mellow. It's around 80, and rather smokey. There's been two big fires SW of Spokane towards Cheney. Today some rain is exp
I decided to visit a semi-local brewery that had escaped my in-person scrutiny up til now: Big Barn Brewing.

They apparently grow their own hops (I tried to include a pic but apparently we can only include two pics per post now).
Technically in Mead, Washington, it's operated by one of numerous families that operate u-pick farms (mostly selling fruit, but I passed one that had a hazelnut orchard) in an unincorporated area called Green Bluff. In terms of fruit, Big Barn does business under the name Bodacious Fruits & Berries. I think they've been around for nearly a decade. I can get some of their beers packaged in a few grocery stores and bottle shops around Spokane, but I often give them a wide berth as they don't date their cans and bottles, and the majority of their beers are kinda hoppy varieties.
This is their Pale Ale (the majority of their offerings have real names, but this one doesn't for some reason), and is 6.1% abv.

This is a time travel beer. It's like a lot of West coast-ish pale ales I would find in little breweries back in the late 90s. Grapefruity and piney, and a kind of sappy flavor.

 

“633” American Pale Ale by Boothbsy Craft Brewery


3.81/5 rDev +5.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Brewers Notes: It is a mildly hoppy pale ale using a 2 row pale base malt and several other specialty malts for body,color, and head retention. It is hopped with American west coast hops later in the boil giving it a nice citrus hop flavor and mild aroma. Slight addition of a roasted caramel malt gives "633" it's signature 'sunset over the harbor glow'.

Pint on draft at Cozy’s Harborside in Southport , Maine. Warm sunny afternoon on the dock , paired with a dozen Darmiscotta oysters

Translucent copper colored liquid capped by a soapy one finger white foam cap, good lacings

Grapefruit citrus hop aroma , whiff of pine

Grapefruit citrus hop taste , pine , malts , grains

Gentle hop bite, clean, crisp, medium sudsing

Good beer refreshing , sunset over the harbor indeed

this is a sunrise ove Boothbay Harbor, same colors, you get the picture

 

I have a couple of beers to share today from iconic breweries in our beer nerd world. The first is from a brewery which I’ve rated/reviewed 130 of their beers.

That’s a lot. Obviously, I’m a fanboy, so take that into consideration with this review.

Let’s GOOOOOOOO!!!





4.19/5 rDev +1.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours a crystal clear golden color with a substantial, foamy oatmeal colored head that lingers and provides a cap for the beer’s body as you drink it. The nose has a substantial biscuity malt note up front with some grassy hops and floral hops as well.

The taste is a dance between the delicious biscuity malt flavor and the subtle grassy hops and not-so-subtle floral hops. The malt definitely leads, but it in no way steps on the toes of the hops, allowing for a very nice balance of the flavors.

The mouthfeel is medium and very crisp, spot on for the style. I very rarely purchase 12-packs of beer anymore, much less a 12-pack of a single beer, but I’m glad I bought a 12-pack of this because I am REALLY enjoying it.

 

Seriously!?!?! We are two peas in a pod you and I, I just bought this an hour ago for this weekend's post. I will refrain from reading your post until after, I plan to have mine tomorrow, streaming Phish tonight so I'll just be enjoying some non-new to me beers.

All I can see from your post is REALLY enjoying it...

 

Why can't I get the new Sierra Nevada stuff anymore? Not aimed at you of course, just my general ranting. Can't get Nooner or Ruthless Rye, or whatever that mix pack that has been floating around I see everyone with on the forums here. If I can't get this years Oktoberfest I'll be genuinely disappointed

 

Logging this, finally. NBW

Crooked Stave's Juicy West. 6%
canned 5.30.23 (if I'm reading this right)

= solid, if unextravagant. What I enjoy is the ABV, balance, and overall profile.

Is it distinctive? Not particularly, but it's solid, and it's sold as a 6 pack of 12 ozs (huzzah!)

[sorry for the fuzzy pic, but the appearance isn't really the strongest point of the beer anyway, despite my 4]

3.83/5 rDev +2.7%

look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

L- unfiltered but not wcipa. Good lacing and a decent head at first
S - vague pineapple lemon and guava whiff.
T - yeah a little tropical and some strange coconut taste. Might not have been kept cold?
F - smooth and balanced just not sure about the hop bill.
O - glad I tried it but needs some better definition and identity as a beer.

 

Jacks abby ray catcher
...semi clear light gold appearance with a thin but lasting head
...light carbonation with about a medium body but overall a nice feel
...aroma is definitely grain upfront, cereal, slightly earthy and floral.
...taste has some mild sweetness with a minimal amount of bitterness at first but then the bitterness builds in the finish and lingers. If I didn't know it was a rice lager I don't think I could have figured out the taste but its there almost like mildly toasted brown rice.
...overall its just really good