New Beer Weekend #159

I don't recall listing beers enjoyed prior to a weekend in these threads over the years, but had a great outing to Goldfinger with @FBarber and @GrumpyGas on Wednesday, and only gave quick audio notes as to not disrupt the event for the two beers I purchased and rated. My palate was too fatigued to go on any further for the beers Frank graciously provided (Good Word Brewing Resonance (Very Hoppy, like an IPA Lager, unique take I enjoyed) & Human Robot Hallertau Pils (tasty, a bit hoppy, enjoyed!).

This first one is from an hour plus outside of Chicago South, my favorite of the four, and gives me a chance to add to the database. It was rated last evening at Goldfinger, so there is still a chance to try it for those able to make to Downers Grove.

Emancipation Brewing JJI Rye



Goldfinger Notes: $8.76 16.9 oz draft, Rye Lager, 24 IBU, 5.7% ABV, Fairbury, Illinois.

Rustic amber lager brewed with heirloom rye grown by the uncle of the owner of Emancipation.

Appearance: Amber caramel murky base, light carbonation, creamy rich tan white head lingered for a few minutes leaving ample lacing and cover over the base. 4.25

Aroma: Primarily an enticing rye, with caramel and pumpernickel bread backing. 4.0

Taste: Consistent with the aroma, a nice wonderful rye leads, caramel and pumpernickel bread backs well. 4.25

Mouthfeel: Light carbonation, light to medium watery body, drinks light, lighter than the ABV, leans sweet but nice, rye caramel on the finish. 4.25

Overall: Really enjoyable beer, especially for rye lovers. Something for everyone with a light and easy lager perfect in the Summer, getting caramel and malt but for a malt averse beer advocate, it was balanced / not too sweet and really enjoyable. Overall very nice offering, my favorite of the Goldfinger Lager From Friends Festival, which I would gladly order again and also want to check out more from this until now new to me brewery. 4.25


Live Oak Pilz



Goldfinger Notes: $8.76 16.9 oz draft, Czech Pils, 36 IBU, 4.7% ABV, Austin, Texas.

This is a classic Bohemian-style golden lager, decoction-mashed with a single heirloom variety Moravian malt.

Appearance: Golden clear pour, bright white head, nice sustained medium carbonation in the mug. 4.0

Aroma: Grassy, floral, nice pilsner yeast, white bread cracker. 4.25

Taste: Mellow, very light easy Summer drinking, flavors consistent with the aroma. Bready, grassy, floral notes, mild in strength. 3.75

Mouthfeel: Light carbonation, light to medium watery body, drinks light, at ABV. Nothing pops here, clean finish. 3.5

Overall: Very nice mellow pilsner, no salt impact (personal palate note), easy smooth drinking. Glad I had a chance for my first stand alone Live Oak after enjoying a few of their collaborations over the years. 3.75

Thanks for indulging my detour, with New Beer Sunday 963 starting now for all, and later this morning or in the afternoon on my end.

Cheers!

 

Early morning of summer holidays,
loaded for Sardinia prepared (except for a couple of Imperial Stouts from my cellar, all light beers, freshly produced and many of which are local...), there, except in a couple of shops that sell typical quality products, it is very difficult to find craft beers from Sardinian breweries, which by the way have a very high standard.
The I.G.A. style, from which all subsequent "Grape Ale" drew inspiration, was introduced by a Sardinian brewery (Barley) which was the first to use cooked grape must (Sardinian red "Cannonau" grapes) in a beer ( the BB10).
Before a quick lunch, I take a break from packing my bags with this new beer (for me) that I had down in the cellar:

Põhjala (Tallin, EST) - NEUKÖLLN - Blackcurrant Berliner Weisse (5,5%)

33 cl can (€5 at the beershop).
The necessary information on the label: "Produced on: 10/14/2022. Best before: 10/14/2024. Batch: N0306".
Berliner Weisse with added blackcurrant and 5.5% lactose.
In addition to wheat, there is also a percentage of oat flakes.
Berries on the nose (raspberry, blackberry).
Poured is red, dark orange.
Non-existent foam.
In the mouth light and flat body that slips away.
Full taste of blackcurrant, which always brings to mind a taste of forest fruits and berries and tends towards sweet.
Non-trivial sour note that is felt just before the finish causing a slight astringency that cleanses the tongue of the full, almost "marmalade" taste of the currant.
Notes of currant echo on the palate, while the tongue is cleansed without that feeling of dehydration that is sometimes given by a slightly too accentuated note of lactic acid.
Although it hasn't been canned recently, it's still in top form.
Perfect beer for the summer: refreshing, easy to drink and also satisfying.
A praise both for the quality and intensity of the taste, and for the general balance.
The only not entirely positive note is that it is really flat, a little sparkling would not have spoiled, indeed it would have given that pinch of liveliness that is missing.
Excellent price/quality ratio.





I wish everyone a good summer!
Sláinte !
Cheers !

 

Good day BAs! Back again on this blasé sunday to add another entry to New Beer lists. Today's brew is from my favorite local brewery, Hoppin' Frog, and it has one of my favorite adjectives added to the style: Terpene-infused!



Bull Moose Brew Hanger 420 Series – from Hoppin’ Frog. 16 oz can from four-pack picked up at the brewery. In reefer at store, purchased 02/08/23, $ 6.40 (Including tax), $ 0.40/fl oz. Reviewed 06/08/23 (Review 3143). Note that I use DD/MM/YY protocol.
Stamped on the bottom of the can “BEST BY JUL 14 2026”. Stored at 34 degrees at home. Served at 50.5 degrees F in a hand washed and dried Jester King snifter. The final temperature was 56.3 degrees F.
Appearance – 4.
First pour – Pale Amber (SRM 9), clear.
Body – Medium Amber (SRM 12), opaque. Under direct light, same. When rear lite, same.
Head: Large (Maximum 5.3 cm, aggressive center pour), almond, high density, quickly contracting to a 0.6 – 1.7 cm irregular crown and a thin partial cap.
Lacing – None.
Aroma – 4.75 – Massive terpenes when the top is popped – WONDERFUL! No yeast, no malt. No ethanol (7.7 % ABV according to the label).
Flavor – 4.5 – After the initial burst of terpenes, the malt slooowly begins to dominate, adding a sweet, dark dimension to the weedy dry aroma. No yeast. No dimethylsulfide or diacetyl. No gastric warming.
Palate – 4 – Medium; slightly creamy; soft carbonation.
Final impression and summation: 4.25 The aroma is enough reason to drink this! The taste isn’t too shabby either.
Rating 4.43, rDev +8.6%

 

I fell asleep last night before I could add this to the thread. This is Kellerbier from Haven Brewing Company of Peterborough, Ontario. This brewery has gone through some name changes and ownership changes over the years. I don’t think I’ve ever had this one before, even under a different name, so feel fine adding it here.



Pours a bright gold with ample head that sticks around a good while. Light lacing as the beer is enjoyed.

The nose is lightly toasted cereal with some bright floral notes. A hint of lemongrass is there as well

The taste follows very closely. Soda cracker, floral hops and nice gentle bitter finish.

The body is medium with a nice soft character, but a crisp finish.

This was quite good and I’d certainly enjoy it again.

Cheers!

 

Poured into a 16 oz not sure when it was canned, the machine missed the mark. Pours a very attractive dark brown with a finger sticky brown head that leaves thin lines of lace, with solid retention. 4.25

Aroma cocoa, toffee, marshmallow, coffee grounds, and graham cracker. 4.25

Taste follows cocoa, toffee, coffee, marshmallow, and graham cracker. 4.25

Mouthfeel is a little above average, gentle carbonation, not really dry, and at 10% it drinks like 8%. For some that is a plus, but not for my stout likes. 3.75

Overall this is nice, but I was hoping for a bigger body and with a bigger head, that would cling to the glass more. Still a tasty stout. 4

 

"Aw geez, Rick!"

 

KBS Booberry

11% stout by Founders

Poured from a twelve ounce bottle, body pours quite dark with a good initial head and lacing during the tasting.

Blueberry on the nose but not a very sweet aroma.

Taste follows nose with a bit of malty char entering the palate. I searched for an expected coffee note but did not find it until the beer completely warmed up. The ABV was well hidden. A solid enough offering but unspectacular.

Carbonation was good and mouthfeel on the lighter side of the stout spectrum.

I like the base KBS and some variants. As always, I'm interested in this stout on tap. Without a heavy ABV hit and light-to-no coffee, I wonder why this stout is given the name KBS. Perhaps that train has left the station and it's just branding. I'm sure I'm out here by myself, but I'd rather have seen a rerelease of Lizard of Koz and its more vibrant blueberry flavor.

 

I'm not sure why I haven't reviewed this one before, but got a handful this week. I know I have had it before...or at least I'm pretty sure I have. And if I haven't, well here you go...

Anyway, good old Hacker Pschorr Weissbeir. 5.5% ABV, Hefeweizen



Pours a golden/orange color. With just a bit of haze throughout, a dense white head forms with excellent retention and sticky lace left as the foam gently recedes.
Aroma of fruity esters, banana, apples. Peppery spice, baked bread all intermingle, snappy wheat. Simple, excellent and very nice.
Taste wise, esters up front, not all banana. Though that is certainly a noticeable component, but also more apple . A little caramel apple like, with just a touch of sweetness. The doughy, biscuit, baked bread like malts, along with snappy wheat to make this all balanced. As is the wonderful peppery spice, that is just enough to dry this out. Excellent.
A medium to fullish body, with crisp carbonation at first. Though that becomes wonderfully smooth. Finishes semi dry, and this is something I can down in big gulps. As my favorite "drinkability" saying goes.

A wonderful example of the style. I don't know why I haven't reviewed this before, but one of my favorite traditional German versions of the style I can get my hands on (if it wasn't before, it certainly is now). Lots of character, all around balanced, and very moreish. Can't ask much for much more than that.

Overall score is 4.33, easy A
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/76/772/?ba=champ103#lists

A great one to drink, while reading on this lazy Sunday afternoon. Ann Patchett's new novel is very good.

 

Have a good Sunday. Had a good open water swim at Caswell Beach. Julia jinxed it by telling me she got stung by a jellyfish in Brazil. So I got stung in the side of my lung lol. It's sore and looks like a welt.

We drove up to the end of oak island in search of beer and food and we found it.


Lonerider shotgun betty. Awesome hefe! Aromas and flavors of orange, lemon, pear, apple, banana, bubblegum, clove, peppercorn, wheat, bread dough, herbal, floral, grass, yeast earth. Lt med herbal bitterness, yeast spiciness and wheat tang/ tartness on the finish. Medium plus carb and medium body. Fairly crisp finishing. Very flavorful refreshing. Minimal warming 5.8%. Spot on style with a wonderful complex German yeast profile. 4.25


Cheers

 

A lazy Sunday. Walked the dogs early to beat the heat, now I'm watching something on TV that doesn't interest me.
My new beer is Dark Logger from Meier's Creek Brewing Company in Cazenovia, NY.
A dark red/brown color. One inch off-white head that fades quickly.
Aroma of caramel, chocolate, and berries.
The taste follows the nose. Caramel, berries, a little chocolate. Light hops.
Medium-bodied.
Easy to drink.

 

Lion brewery - Lion Stout



Lively, fluffy head, no light bleed, cola.
Nose is chocolate and coffee, roast malt, brown sugar, toffee, prunes.

Taste is clean, and oddly both robust and mild. Bitterness upfront and all throughout. This is not sweet. Pronounced oiliness too. Dark fruits and roast malt. Simple as that. Quite a tasty beer. And I suspect can conditioned? There’s a yeast character like one finds in English ales.

Oh I’ve got it, this is the (international) domestic brother of alchemist - luscious. Cheers!

 

Killer apps. Beer cheese was amazing. Standard spicy mustard. Amazing fried mushrooms.


Lonerider peacemaker ipa. Great hazy ipa. Aromas and flavors of big red grapefruit, tangerine, peach, passionfruit, papaya, mango, melon, guava, berries, citrus rind, wood, peppercorn, pine, cracker, toast, herbal, floral, grass, yeast earth. Medium pine rind bitter finish. Medium body balanced bready malt and sticky resinous hops. Long resinous drying finish with minimal hop astringency. Tastes like a lot of citra and mosaic with some Columbus perhaps. Super dank and resinous hazy ipa with a nicely soft hazy malt backbone. 4


Cheers

 

It is gone. Sadly.

 

Good afternoon NBW
I trust Fat Heads to deliver regardless of style and was surprised to see this one in place of G'Suffa this year. I did start a new BA listing as there was an old Oktoberfest listed under Fat Heads, but it was a Märzen and higher ABV. The FH website was not updated, so if this is the same as the other beer, alert the mods to my mistake...


12oz canned on 07/17/23 poured into a mug at fridge temp 5% ABV 25 IBU per can label. The beer pours bright light gold in color with nearly white head. The head recedes to a thin ring and splotchy layer of tiny bubbles. Negligible lacing. The aroma is moderate in strength featuring big, crackery pils malt and faint, earthy hops. The taste is semisweet pils up front with moderately bitter earthy hops hitting hard on the back end. The mouthfeel is thin to medium bodied with average carbonation and a dry finish. Cleanly lagered with no off flavors. Overall, excellent beer. Again, I think it's a bit hoppy and bitter for a festbier, but it's extremely well crafted and infinitely drinkable.

Expanding on my thoughts from the SN festbier yesterday, this one is less bitter / hop focused, and also better integrated and less perfumey. As I was reviewing, I did wonder if I had a chance to try Hofbrauhaus, Paulaner or other imports at less than a month old, would I detect the same levels of hop flavor, aroma and bitterness?

Cheers all!

 

Tox + Little House - Coffee and Donuts

16oz can served in a curvy Fremont glass. Can is dated 04/21/23. @Roguer sent it to me in NBS BIF #17.

Pours very dark brown, black for all practical purposes, with a dark tan head that is fairly small and short-lived. Smell is sugary, strawberries, and coffee.

Taste is also dominated by strawberry and sweetness, but the coffee roast comes out a bit stronger and kind of saves the day for me. Booziness comes through a little bit.

Mouthfeel is thick, chewy, but not sticky. Overall, it's a pretty good beer, but you better be prepared for sweet and strawberry.

 

So funny I had never seen this before and almost just picked up a single of it but passed and grabbed a local single instead. Now I may try it out next time I go to this store, thanks for the notes friend

 

Seeing yours and other thoughts on this beer has me thinking of making a reason to go over to Philly to grab a six of this. I know, not to style, but the 5% is really appealing on it to me as well.

 

Hey NBWs
New to me from Trillium
Cutting Tiles Motueka DIPA with wildflower raw honey 8.5 abv


Poured from a can dated 6/29/23
Light yellow orange thick appearance. Small quickly dissipating head that leaves a thin cap and soapy bubbles around the glass
Aromas of citrus, stonefruit, lemony lime, and a hint of rosemary and basil. Some floral ness.
Taste is kind of muted citrus rind and stone fruit, I didn’t taste the floral notes but rosemary and basil come through on the back end giving it a kind of spicy taste. The honey is kind of hidden
Mouthfeel is not soft, it’s kind of prickly right of the bat. Medium carbonation and a lingering bitter citrus rind finish. Not an overly bitter finish but it stays with you a bit. Kind of sticky but not really sweet No alcohol burn detected.
Overall it’s kind of a unique tasting beer, I couldn’t taste or smell the raw honey and there wasn’t a sweetness to it. I liked it but have liked other hopped varieties more.
4.25/ 4.25/ 4.50/ 4.50/ 4.50 4.43 rDev -1.3%
I was the first review and only the 3rd rating