New Beer Weekend #168

I've been enjoying the Double Hypnosis IPA (19.2oz 8.2 ABV.). It's good for about an hour of contemplation.

 

While I haven't had that, its an "Imperial IPA" from Firestone, so yeah, I would expect that to be good ha. Will for sure look for it, but for whatever reason, I have an easier time finding their barrel aged stuff than anything else anymore...

 

Bourbon Baller Stout
Well, maybe I lost more tasting capacity than I thought with my lack of smell but while the pecans were obviously present, I didn’t really notice any bourbon barrel flavor.
The pour was stout black, with a beige color head that left no lacing.
The taste was good, not certain if I would have guessed it was BBA but it did have the extra dimension of the pecan flavor. Just enough for taste, not overwhelming the malts.
The feel is lightly viscous, again, not indicative of BA stouts, but certainly not bad or unpleasant.
OA, Oddsides does a lot of really good Stouts, this one isn’t my favorite, but I did enjoy it. Cheers!

 

Omg the beer cheese smothered burger with pickled okra on the knife garnish was legendary. Never had picked okra before, the texture is weird but taste is great. Welcome to the s'th.


Model A Tega Haze ipa. Really good hazy ipa. Lasting soapy head retention and lacing. Nose has muted wet dog mixed with floral hops? The nose opened up more as it warms. Taste is big red grapefruit, tangerine, peach, pineapple, passionfruit, mango, honeydew melon, berry, citrus rind, peppercorn, pine, wheat, bread dough, toast, herbal, floral, grass, yeast earthiness. Light to medium pine rind woody bitter finish. Medium plus body and med carb. Creamy bready malts and lingering sticky/resinous hop mouthfeel. Nicely soft resin drying with no astringency. Nice juicy and dank centennial, citra, mosaic hops showcase. Nicely soft and well made for the style. 3.93


Cheers

 

Can eat a jar of pickled okra in one sitting.

 

Gotahold Brewing's Cicatrix IPA, 5.7% ABV; 3.65 overall

Idaho 7 & Motueka hops

Pours a slightly hazed gold with a pinky of cream colored head. Never drops completely bright, good lacing & average-ish head retention

S: Some citrus, a little breadyness

T: Dryness, grapefruit, a little pine & tangerine up front. Woody hops, pine & a little tangerine, plus plenty of dryness as this beer warms up. Finishes dry, piney with a kiss of citrus & green melon

MF: Medium body, restrained carbonation, decent balance

Drinks alright, but there aren't many beers using Idaho 7 that every going to get me excited, this just another one that doesn't cut it for me

 

Martin House Brewing Big Country Smoked Pecan & Vanilla Stout, 10% ABV; 3.65 overall

Pours an effervescent & murked up mahogany with a pinky of mocha colored head, drops off quick. Some head retention & lacing

S: Vanilla, cocoa, slight roastyness

T: Follows the nose, dryness & a little booze heat, the smoked pecan hull also shows up in the initial taste. More smokey notes, cocoa, vanilla & dryness as this beer warms through. Finishes dry with vanilla, hints of smoke pecans & a little cocoa

MF: Medium body, fairly firm carbonation, warming. Body thins over time

A serviceable Imp Stout where the smokeyness & vanilla don't seem forced. This would be a decent bonfire beer

 

Kiddos in bed, time to enjoy some beer and perhaps 1989 Leviathan

Kettlehouse - Cold Smoke



I aspire to take as good of beer pics as @beergoot does one day

Canned 5.30.23

Purchased from the dabc for ~$4

Poured at fridge temp into a tulip glass

Pours a very dark cola brown with caramel sides and tall caramel soda-like head that left substantial lacing before settling into a 1/2F ring. 4

While waiting for it to warm a bit, I picked up a bit of plum/ sweet fig and dark toasty malt. 3.75

Hard to pick up distinct flavor notes at fridge temp. Dark malty sweetness, horehound/hard rootbeer candy. Coffee is light and barely noticeable as it warms. 3.75

Body was remarkably light, though most my experience with scotch ale/wee heavy have been considerably higher abv, so I found this refreshing and quaffable. Carbo was moderate and fitting. Goldilocks if you will. Lightly dry finish. 4.25

Overall I really enjoyed this one and liked the body especially for what I consider a perfect mouthfeel + abv experience. Taste seemed a bit light, but I suspect that's due to my familiarity with thicker/ heavier versions of the style. 4

Cheers!

 

Got back to the hotel and Talladega Nights is on paramount. The ultimate Redneck parody movie such hilarious stuff.

New Belgium voodoo ranger fruit force ipa. Canned 7/18/23. BB 1/21/24. Amazing nose that smells just like Hawaiian punch and big taste with ripe passionfruit, papaya, mango, guava, cherry, berries, pineapple, orange juice, apple, melon, citrus peel, pepper, pine, wheat, cracker, bread dough, herbal, floral, grass. Light-med pine/herbal bitterness and light fruit tang tartness on the finish. Medium plus carb and body. Fairly crisp finishing. Balanced bready grainy malt and sticky hop mouthfeel. Lingering resin dryness and minimal hop astringency. Dangerously smooth mild warmth of 9.5%. This meets all expectations. Pahto, Amarillo, Centennial, Galaxy, Sabro, Lotus, and Strata hops. Super juicy red punch notes from hops and fruit. Will buy again. I always love this series. 4.35


Cheers

 

That movie never gets old

 

Up early, and this sounded best.

Epic - Pfeifferhorn Lager



No bottling date

Purchased from the dabc for $3.50

Poured at fridge temp into a trumpet Pils glass.

Pours clear golden (where the glass is skinniest) with a thin and bright white head. Settled into a thin ring and cap. 4

Malty and grainy on the nose. Some muted spicy and noble hoppiness - this becomes stronger as the beer warms. 3.75

Taste follows nearly exactly. 3.75

Fairly malty, lingering hoppy aftertaste, quick fading effervescence and light on the palate. Slightly dry finish. 3.5

Overall it's a fair lager with much more flavor punch than one would expect from an AAL or light beer. Definitely more tasty warmer (maybe 40°?) than right out of the fridge. Can see myself picking this one up time and time again. 3.75

Cheers!

 

Hello NBW.
A very busy week took me all the way into Saturday afternoon. The wife and I finally made some time for ourselves, tried a new (very good) sushi place, and came home to have a dessert beer. Thank goodness for cellar choices. And thank the lawd for the generosity of BA's in the NBS BIFs. This sweet ride was sent to me by @FrankenMiller back in NBS BIF #12.

French Toast by Angry Chair

Deepest brown before turning black is capped by a thin mocha colored head that dissipates quickly. Slight lacing with low retention.
Nose is as advertised. Maple syrup forward with hints of cinnamon, a round coffee roast, and chocolate. But basically, it smells so much like French toast with a side of coffee that I am already tasting it.
So now that I am officially tasting it, yep, still French toast. But now there is some caramel, chocolate, and a slightly charred, almost woody background. This actually gives it a little more depth than the nose. She is still sweet and definitely nails what they were going for.
Mouthfeel is between medium and full, departing from the porter world and leaning into stout range. Low carb and no real heat to hint at the ABV.
Overall, if one is ok with the sweetness, this one is truth in advertising. And one helluva ride.
4.28/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

 

Gotta say @ChicagoJ - I really appreciate that you keep track of the NBS count.
Cheers!

 

Speedway Affogato Edition

12% stout by AleSmith Brewing

Poured from a pint can dated 7-27-23, the body is jet black with a small initial head. Moderate lacing.

Nose is espresso and toasty malt. Inviting!

Taste follows nose and is a coffee stout lover’s dream. Good malty char, well expressed espresso flavor, and nuanced vanilla flavor that complements but does not overshadow the other flavors. No sign of the ABV.

Note: after a quick sip for initial flavor check I let this beer stand for more than thirty minutes then sipped for hours. The initial astringency from espresso when cold faded as the stout warmed.

Mouthfeel is luxurious with solid carbonation.

Super flavorful, easy drinking big old coffee stout. Heaven on a cool autumn night. A near perfect coffee stout for my tastes.

 

If I had to guess, I’d bet Ian has had okra but didn’t know it. It puts the gum in gumbo.

 

Aargh! I’m so sad that Alesmith has discontinued distribution to at least my area of Michigan. I’m going to savor the last ones in my cellar.