New Beer Weekend #166

Since my first beer was from a tiny little bottle, one more seems to be in order. This is another one that has been languishing in the cellar. I have only moderate hopes for this one. I fear it may be too sweet for my tastes.

Other Half I Like My Sugar with Coffee and Cream. BBA imperial stout with a whole host of add-junks…



Pours a thick near black with no head to speak of.

The nose has the bourbon barrel in front. Sweet coffee/coffee ice cream and a little milk chocolate follow. It smells sweet.

The taste has that creamy, sugary coffee in strong supply. A little milk chocolate, vanilla and a tame barrel presence. The hazelnut on the label is not perceptible, but this beer is fairly old.

The body is thick and slightly syrupy. Not off-putting, but it makes for a very slow sipper. The full 500ml is a difficult slog. Not boozy. Very sweet.

This kind of thick chewy super sweet pastry stout is not my thing anymore. It never really was, but I used to enjoy them periodically. This languished so long because I just don’t have the taste for these anymore. That said, it’s good and worthy of a try.

Cheers!

 

Dreary, miserable day here with the rainy remnants of the tropical storm slowly going over the region. Tomorrow is looking like a repeat, maybe even into Monday. Yesterday was great and we made a trip to the beer store. Got new beers now for at least a few weeks.

This one I don't want to stash and forget about, so here we go... I knew the store had just gotten this on Thursday, so we headed there Friday afternoon.



New England Brewing Co. Fuzzy Baby Ducks. Canned on 9/8/2023, so as fresh as I'm ever gonna see it in a store.

Pours a moderately hazy kinda brassy gold color, dense head about an inch high that falls to an even cap. Slight cling.

The smell is pretty laid back. Grapefruit, and orange. A bit of a sweet floral note. A tropical fruit pops in that I think is mango. Very fresh. A little malt peeks through. Laid back maybe, but excellent for sure.

The taste is also subtle. Certainly orange and grapefruit forward. Extremely fresh. There is a base of biscuity malt. There's a floral component and some honeydew melon. It's almost like a fruity bubblegum. Slight sweetness, nicely bitter at the end. Mango tropical fruit shows up and it brings some resin with it. A touch of pineapple. A bit of grassiness.

The feel is medium bodied, nicely carbonated, extremely smooth with a bit of a tingle. Nice bitter carryover, somewhat dry.

Overall, this is a very well-crafted, extremely well-balanced beer. Full of flavor yet not overpowering. It seems to capture the essences of both East coast and West coast IPA. Not a juice bomb, but not a face-peeling bitter either. It's hitting a really sweet spot in between. Felling 4.2 - 4.3 or so.

 

Finally joining my favorite beer people to do one of my favorite things of the week...some fun reviews so far and happy to add one now myself. Still hanging at in law fortress but our contractor tells us we may finally be able to move back in in 3 weeks or so, I hope he's right cause we love it here but there is no place like home.

Been a washout here today and tomorrow too, though not as bad as I think they thought it was gonna be which is nice. Just a stay inside and cozy kind of weekend, I have the absolute perfect beer for this weather, courtesy of one of our favorites @snaotheus. I believe this is the beer he though I would love that prompted him to send me the box he did a few weeks ago. I said I'd try and guess what beer it is, he can confirm when he reads this post. @Roy_Hobbs I'll sort of be joining you with this one.

Bizarre Brewing - The Flood (English Porter 3.8%)



Pours absolutely perfect, dark dark brown, a silent pour but it builds a beautiful cohesive light brown head with great staying power, a thick film just sticks around, nice attempts at lacing but it always slowly fades.

Rich nose, touch of tangy sweet, unsmoked tobacco, roast, a lightly fruity powdered chocolate; a lingering earthiness lurks in the background.

Taste is just wow to me; just perfectly balanced mix of so many things...first thing is a unique tangy light sweetness, followed by a light char note that has english muffin/scone character to it, super light smoke, dry bitter chocolate lingers in the aftertaste along the smoke and a cedar wood like bite. Like I said earlier, just wow.

Mouthfeel is just so smooth and creamy, light, yet so full for a session beer; dries out nicely and a roast driven bitterness hits on the finish.

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This is the sort of beer I just want to give 5's across the board to; its all I want in a beer. An absolute privilege to drink this beer on this cool, windy and rainy night here is South Jersey. Thanks a million Ryan!!! Safe travels back home, I'm sure you're ready to see the kiddos and home again at this point. @WunderLlama not sure when you are on your way back home but safe travels as well, and same to you @Roy_Hobbs, man we have a lot of our people traveling lately.

 

Shilling brewery konstantin marzen
....a beautiful amber appearance.
...medium light carbonation with medium body has a slight syrupy feel.
...aroma is malt,malty yeasty bread,pear and apple skin with some mildly floral honey.
...taste is mildly sweet,malt,doughy bread,apple and dark honey.
...this is a well made,flavorful and interesting

 

I have dozens of Grumbacher sketch books filled with script just like that. Journeys, dreams, aphorisms, poems, short stories, and written and dated markers in time. I'm beginning to like works I once disliked. Beer is often a companion then and now.

 

Wow! I’d gamble on a 15 year old beer for sure, at a $1. I’m sure it was a nice surprise when this bottle didn’t taste like the last.

Seeing that old victory label gives me all the feels.

 

Glad you like it, but that porter was just filler. The key beer was actually El Chapulin! I was surprised how much I enjoyed that beer, and at only 4.2%, I knew you had to try it.

 

That was a very good beer too! Drank so so nice…if that was filler then I must have got the golden ticket.

Did I win a trip to Europe?

 

And I'm back, with new beer most importantly!

Red Rock (under local grocer Harmons label) - Bending Branch



"CRAFTED WITH REAL PEACHES, OUR BEER DANCES BETWEEN SUNNY DAYS AT THE GRILL AND COZY NIGHTS BY THE FIRE. ITS DELICATE, CITRUSY FLAVOR NOTES AND RICH PEACH AROMA SETS IT APART FROM THE REST. BENDING BRANCH PEACH HEFEWEIZEN CELEBRATES UTAH'S LOVE FOR GREAT PEACHES WITH A LIGHT, REFRESHING BEER."

Purchased at the grocer for $2

Canned 8.24.23

Poured at fridge temp into a weizen glass

Unfiltered hazy straw yellow gold with a rich 3F bright white head. Leaves a spidery lacing and retains a halfF head. 4.25

Strong fresh peach aroma, perfectly ripe, "green" orchard feel, peach nectar, all peachy. 4

Taste is much more red inner core peach flesh, dark but still fresh and ripe. Clove and wheat actually come out to play as well as it warms up, and mix nicely. 4.25

Creamy, low carbo, with a nice just-heavier-than-light body. 3.75

Overall a fantastic late season flavored beer that showed its hef backbone as it warmed and the brewers cleverness on a great pairing. 4

 

Well, I expected to join you with a BA Baltic Porter from Oddsides, but apparently I’d already rated it. Darn good beer, just not quite a Baltic Porter.

 

So new I had to add the profile for this beer myself: Slayzon, a saison (almost a wild ale) from Ale Apothecary in Oregon.

Preliminary review below:

4.25/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
375mL bottle (packaged 6/2023) into a tulip. Pours a clear bright golden color with a quickly dissipating white head.

Aroma is earthy, funky, grassy. Some tart qualities possibly indicative of a wild yeast strain.

Taste is even more sour/wild than the aroma. Definitely on a tightrope between a saison and a wild ale. Biscuity neutral pale malt, lemon zest, oak. Finishes super dry and clean.

Mouthfeel is crisp and light, refreshing. Lively carbonation tickles the palate.

Overall a tasty, understated saison/wild ale. Surprised I had to add this beer’s profile myself. Excellent stuff.

 

Well I forgot to hit “post” on the above beer until I came to post this one, so it was still showing up as a draft message. So now I look like a real drunk (I’m sure none of you would mind). It’s actually been at least a couple hours since I opened the last one.

Anyway, here we have 5 Golden Rings. Not new by any means (actually retired) but I’ve never had it.

Preliminary review below:

3.68/5 rDev +2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
750mL bottle (packaged November 2012) into a tulip. Label says “suitable for aging up to seven years,” so I’ve missed that window. Pours a clear golden amber with a minimal head, looks almost flat but there is some amount of carbonation.

Aroma is a blend of bready malt and fruity/floral Belgian yeast. Some candi sugar. Pretty subtle.

Taste is likewise sweet and fruity with note of Rainier cherries, apricots, plums. Subtle nutmeg and cinnamon but it’s probably faded somewhat. More of a feeling in the back of the throat than a flavor.

Mouthfeel is medium to full bodied, a tad sticky but not syrupy. Low carbonation doesn’t help.

Overall an OK Belgian-style golden/pale ale. Maybe I should have opened it sooner.

 

Good evening NBW
I have been diligently hunting three styles that were most recently added to the BA database with no luck. I had previously reviewed all 112 of the recognized styles. A recent trip to Cincinnati yielded me 2 of the 3. This is style #119 for me with only Czech Amber Lager left to find.

Fair State Side Pull

16oz can stamped STPSIP6 B: JUN/23/23 poured into a mug at fridge temp 4.1% ABV. The beer pours hefe-hazy very light golden amber with off white head. The head recedes to a thin ring and partial layer of bubbles. The aroma is faint with pale malt and light floral or lemony hops. The taste is semisweet pale malt with a herbal, floral & lemon slightly bitter finish. The mouthfeel is thin bodied with above average carbonation and a mostly dry finish. Overall, very good.

Cheers all!

 

Following up with a country tick here.

Saigon Export
12oz bottle BBD 032923 (missed the black print on the neck in the store) poured into a shaker pint glass at fridge temp 4.9% ABV. The beer pours bright light gold in color with off white head. The head recedes to a thin ring and island. The aroma is faint and resembles beer. The taste is semisweet pale malt with fruity hints and mild bitterness. Mouthfeel is thin bodied with above average carbonation and a mostly dry finish. Overall, good AAL, especially considering it's 18 months old.

 

Skydance Brewing Newzilla New Zealand IPA, 6.2% ABV; 3.81 overall

Might easily considered a New England IPA, but didn't say that... Newzilla? & Nectaron Hops

Pours a very hazed gold with a pinky of beige colored head. Nice head retention & lacing

S: Some tropical notes, breadyness

T: Green melon, guava, pomelo, dryness & a little strawberry up front. Passion fruit, lime, green melon & pronounced dryness as this beer warms up. Finishes with lime, a little grassyness, dryness & green melon

MF: Medium body, restrained carbonation, pretty good balance

Solid, nice drinkability, but the hops don't quite pull together for greatness

 

All Systems Czech, Bohemian / Czech Pilsner
Brewed at 2 Doors Down Brewing Co in collaboration with District 1.
Had a full pour at District 1 and bought a 32oz crowler for home and I'm drinking it now..4.5% ABV.
Look: transparent straw/light gold body. Decent white head at leaves some nice lacing.
Smell is good. hint of bread then plenty of lemon.
Taste is a little bread and biscuit, next lemon drop, Next some hops kick in: grass and a mild noble hop spice
Slight sweet at first then bitter towards the end. Crisp and clean.
Nice never ending carbonation release.

This is a solid beer.
4/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
https://2doorsdownbrewing.com/#tap-list
https://untappd.com/b/2-doors-down-brewing-co-all-systems-czech/5525465

 

On cask???

 

New brewery to my state from what I've seen in the past couple years, courtesy of our great neighbor Colorado.

Ska Brewing - The Pinstripe



Not sure if canned on or BB 9.8.23

Purchased at Dabc for $2.09 (not sure where they get their pricing or audacity )

Poured at fridge temp into a nonic glass

Pours medium, nearly clear amber with a 2F sandy colored head and visible rising carbo. Nice sheet lacing trailing behind. 4

Strong and sweet caramel malt, leaning towards over-sweet. However it's nearly balanced by apple fruitiness, akin to cider/old nondescript orchard apples. 3.75

Taste was unexpected in the best way. Initially some lightly bitter hops, and then brilliantly balanced malt with a caramel afterthought and neutral is the best way I can describe it, apple. Barely sweet apple, apple skin, some light fermentation, and touch of grain as well. 4.25

Moderately dry, light carbo, frothy and on the medium bodied side. 3.75

Overall a pleasant and enjoyable red. 4

Cheers!

 

Only one of yesterday's beers that wasn't, although I've seen it at other pubs on cask over the past few days.

 

Back for New Beer Sunday after watching Iowa State defeat Oklahoma State yesterday, and managing to NOT get rained on.

New Glarus Edel Pils

Appearance: Clear yellow gold, good head.

Smell: Bready and kind of spicy.

Taste: Bready, a touch of honey, a little grassy note, medium bodied. A good beer-tasting beer.

Overall: Had some on tap at the source and picked up a bottle for review at home. It's a nice easy pilsner, I really should have grabbed their other pilsner for a side-by-side. Good stuff.