New Beer Weekend #169

Will this be a Bella (beautiful) beer?

I was grocery shopping at my local Wegmans supermarket and I was quite pleased to see a stack of new (well, new to me) beers from Jack’s Abby: Bella Lago.

This beer is marketed via the so-called Italian Pilsner beer sub-style.

The name Bella Lago translates to Beautiful Lake as detailed in the beer’s description on the Jack’s Abby website:

“Bella Lago

Italian Style Pilsner

September Release

The Italian translation of this name is ‘beautiful lake’, which captures our inspiration for this Italian Style Pilsner. Dry hopped with a blend of noble & American hops, the pilsner is brite and hoppy with an assertive bitterness and dry finish.

ABV 4.7%”

On the can it states:

“Imported Pilsner Malt”

And:

“Decoction Mashed”

I conducted a web search to learn more specifics about this beer (e.g., specific hop varieties used, malt bill, etc.) but I had no luck here.

Served in my Polish Pilsner glass:

Appearance:

Straw yellow colored with a big white head which dissipated fairly quickly.

Aroma:

Anintriguing combination of citrus (lemon-like), some herbal and a hint of spice hop aromas.

Taste:

The flavor follows the nose with a combination of hop flavors detailed above but also some bready malt flavor. There is a firm bitterness

Mouthfeel:

Medium bodied with a dry finish.

Overall:

This is a very good beer, I enjoyed drinking. After drinking this beer I wanted a second one.

This is indeed a bella beer!

Cheers!

@rotsaruch @RobH @KOP_Beer_OUtlet @JacksAbbyBrewing @springdalebeer

 

I hope that you have good conditions to watch the 'ring of fire'. I have friends that are now in Albuquerque to witness this event and watch the hot air balloons too.

Cheers!

 

Thanks to @NorsemanOne for the kickoff.

Last week I visited the Quad Cities and stopped at a few breweries. Wake Brewing in Rock Island, IL is probably my favorite in the QC so I picked up a few beers for later review.

Wake Brewing To Evil!

Appearance: Hazy dark amber, good head.

Smell: Big barrel notes, vanilla, bourbon, rich, sweet.

Taste: Big sweetness-caramel, then transitions to strong barrel flavors of vanilla and wood. Medium bodied, feels a little light for 13%. Wood in the finish.

Overall: Picked up a 2 pack at the brewery. This is a tasty barleywine, very barrel-forward but works well. Surprisingly not “hot” tasting at 13% but big barrel flavors shine through.

 

Hey what's going on gang!?

I am about to head out, so getting one in for a nice little weekend.

What's new for our hero?



Poured from the can into a Spiegelau IPA glass. Canned Sept 12th 2023.

Pillow cream top head, bright but also really ice cream like white with a soft top. Real nice classic three finger height on a controlled pour, with a body color that is flat opaque, and with at least a bit of shiny custard yellow color.

Aroma is a hop delicious bonanza. Juiced up pineapple and orange, moving towards cantaloup and melon flavors also. Faint touches of grass like herbs that cuts down the sweety fruit aromas nicely. Lots to explore here, and the malts and yeast stay out of the picture.

Palate in every way is just rich. First sip is creamed orange, hinting even of vanilla like sweetness, and even a milky thick texture. Blasting but soft controlled herbal grass finish, which leads to excellent sweet mint and sage like aftertastes. Honey. Cream. Tangerine and pineapple fruit bowl flavors, in a silky juiced creamy malted feel.

Quite a solid amped up and dialed in IPA, with a surprising hop flavored diversity. Exceptionally done here.

look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5 | BA Score: 4.47

Cheers!

 

Thanks @NorsemanOne for the opener….@Roguer we’re gonna ask you to start your Saturday breakfasts a little earlier

Voltaic Stack by Bottle logic

4.5/5 rDev -1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Brewers notes: This Bourbon-Maple Barrel Aged Imperial Stout was inspired by a gratuitous and wholly necessary post-Pastrytown breakfast where freshly sliced bananas, candied walnuts, and rich maple syrup oozed over a life-saving stack of cinnamon-dusted Belgian waffles Voltaic Stack clocks a 13.79% ABV. It's a viscous, small-batch blend of beautiful breakfast flavors built on the base of our fan-favorite #GroundState breakfast stout recipe!

Chilled bottle poured into a snifter, thick black motor oil, dense creamy brown foam layer settles to a thick ring and occasional lacings

Aroma is banana walnut …reminds me of a fresh ripe banana walnut muffin

Taste is walnut, banana , barrel aged bourbon, maple syrup , char,

Sweet, thick, viscous

Great beer

 

Switchback Amber / Red Ale, 5.0% - enjoying this beautiful day! Cheers!



-Look: Opaque, deep amber with a frothy tan head that falls fast.
-Aroma: Unique malty aroma, dry hay, spices, dark fruit.
-Taste: Balanced, mild complex malts, grassy hops - tasty!
-Feel: Smooth and clean, thin and fast, low carbonation.
-Overall: Tasty and balanced, unusual, but a good beer!

 

Below is a photo that my friend in Albuquerque sent me earlier today:



Seeing a Ring of Fire in person has to be quite impressive!

Cheers!

 

Thank you for kicking off the weekend @NorsemanOne , and for coming close @Roguer ! My theme this weekend is enjoying two beers from Tree House, by way of Adam @Qu3st who visited Chicago on the way home from his Western trip in August.

Going with a desert sounding IPA for my Saturday selection.

Tree House Wafflebanger



Can Notes: Received 8/19 via in person trade with Adam @Qu3st and refrigerated until cracking open this afternoon. 16 oz canned 7/10, Live Well Watch Out For Squirrels the can stamp message. Double IPA, 8.0% ABV. Brewed in Charlton, Massachusetts.

Sometimes you make the joke enough times that the joke becomes reality. Well, here we are - you are holding Wafflebanger. The legend has often been told of this elusive treat, and the world has willed it into existence.

Brewed with grade-A maple syrup and the very best Mosaic hops we could find in Washington, Wafflebanger presents whispers of sweet maple intertwining with layers of rich blueberry-like hop complexity.

It works beautifully and encapsulates the spirit of a rich and fulfilling carbohydrate-heavy breakfast, replete with fresh squeezed orange juice! Enjoy! Who knows if we will do this again...

Appearance: Poured close to 80% of the can into a shaker pint glass. Orange tan murky base, creamy off-white restrained head leaves a creamy cover over the base and a generous wall of thin fine lacing throughout the glass. Cannot see the carbonation beyond the tiny to medium sized bubbles floating to the top, 4.0

Aroma: Bursting with citrus and pineapple flavor at 11 on a scale of 10 from the moment the can is cracked. Getting mild to medium dankness as well and tangerine lurking to jump out when its safe. Fresh glass of OJ Pineapple blend. Yes Please. 4.5

Taste: OK, this is not my typical cup of tea, but comes off as advertised. It's as though my youngest nephew dumped pancakes and syrup in a blender with OJ and Pineapple juice to serve as breakfast. I don't get blueberry, a fruit I really enjoy, but everything else comes as delivered. I am enjoying it more after it warms a bit and my palate is acclimating to the sweetness bonanza. Give this one time to warm like a BA Maple Syrup Imperial Stout. 4.0

Mouthfeel: This is unique and somewhat weird to say the least. The maple syrup comes off more as feel and texture than flavor, which is still noticeable. The Mosaic hops shine, and there is a strong sense of bitterness which curbs any excess to the point at times of chill bruh. But overall, this leans sweet to diabetes, drinks stronger than the ABV from go. Full creamy body, almost like a rich full pastry stout with the maple syrup providing a level of creamy I have not experienced before with an IPA, and rarely with any other style. Carbonation faint and pillowy, indicating yes I'm alive but letting the body do it's thing. Maple syrup citrus pineapple lasts a very long time on the finish. 4.25

Overall: This beer comes off primarily as noted beyond my lack of blueberry perception. If you are seeking a pastry IPA / hazy NEIPA, you should definitely seek this out. Personally this would be a once a year nice pairing with breakfast but too sweet for regular enjoyment. Very unique to try, at least on my end as this is not the type of IPA I typically seek. That said, it's becoming slightly more balanced as I am heading for home. Thanks again Adam, this delivers in a way I would have never imagined they could take an IPA before today. A for effort and ingenuity, C + in terms of personal preferences, and a B / B+ in terms of overall execution and enjoyment. 4.25

My Sunday selection will be a more traditional style IPA that I am looking forward to trying.

 

Good afternoon NBWers. Fall is definitely upon us now in central New England, and we've started the annual heat challenge. We'll see who breaks first (us or the month of October), but it isn't looking good for us so far. We need some more sunny days or it'll likely be a loss for us this year.

I was going to write up a full review but I've gotta say it isn't really worth it. Basically the same brew as Cerveza Atletica, but with a big noble hop profile. Not bad at all for an NA festbier, but so similar that I have to wonder if they only changed the hop bill and left everything else as is. Maybe next year I'll recall this and do a side by side.

Athletic Oktoberfest
<0.5% festbier

 

I first heard about this beer in a thread on BA, so naturally, I picked up a four-pack when I saw it. It's not quite as good as let's say, Ramstein Imperial Pilsner, but it is not bad. I wish it was less sweet and had more noticeable Pilsner bitterness, but it is still worth trying for floral notes, hidden alcohol, and overall mildness.

 

Hey NBW folks, Tom here, first time caller longtime Advocate. Not sure why i never jumped into this weekly thread as i typically am fully reviewing new beers most weekends. But, with the recent BIF i have joined, and a bet made on the outcome of the NLCS with @DIM , it ias time to get in the NBW game. Enjoying a little college football on a warm fall weekend in Western NC with temps in the lower 70's today but this will change overnight and cool dramatically for a few days.

Onto the review. As per my normal i will have a few BCBS variants that i need to enjoy before the new season starts...This is for Biscotti Stout...

Picked up a bottle from the Appalachian Vintner in Asheville 12-7-22 for $23.99. Drink by date of 18AUG24. Consumed 10-14-23.

Beer poured black with a nice tan head that dissipated quickly. (4.0)

Nose is anise forward with notes of biscotti cookie over the huge malt base. (4.0)

Taste is a large malt base that out of nowhere an anise assault was launched on the palate that was quickly incorporated with cocoa and toffee. Post sip aspirations give me a true Biscotti cookie. Finishes perfectly balanced as the barrel does the heavy lifting here. (4.25)

Mouthfeel is large bodied and very smooth and satisfying with each sip. (4.25)

Overall an interesting BCBS variant. The anise was pretty severe for a flash with each sip but nicely incorporated when all elements incorporated. Definitely a fun one to try! (4.25) Overall 4.18

Cheers!
Tom

h

 

Welcome to the fam @CarolinaCardinals

 

Howdy NBW fam, its been a long feeling week and we finally made it back to our weekly hangout. This will, unless some insane circumstance comes up, be our last weekend away from home and staying with the in laws. I cannot believe we have lived away from our house for 3 months and change, but the finish line is visible. Thinking about it almost blows my mind, summer here, start of school year here, into fall here and the list goes on.

A chilly and wet Saturday, football on, celebrating my sister in laws 30th with a nice big dinner and of course, chaos...onto beer.

I'm surprised I haven't had this beer, my favorite brewery, my brother in law gave me a can and I was excited to try it. This one lives up to being one of those classic IPAs with new school vibes, a little more than I like but it is still good. It reminds me of some PNW IPAs that have been sent my way, hoppy bitter and clean but also lightly fruity and sweet.

Tonewood - Halcyon (AIPA 6%)



Pours dark straw with orange hue; thick and slightly off white color head; sticky blots of lacing here and there.

Nose is fresh orange, zesty and fruity; pineapple, not devoid of malt presence, lightly caramelized.

The taste learns more towards the fruity side; grapefruit citrus like bite on the finish, a touch zesty; little bit sappy and lightly sweet on the finish.

Medium body; resiny hop presence on the tongue; clean and mostly dry on the finish, nice medium bitterness.

This is a nice old meets new ipa, it definitely has some fruity element to it but it mostly drinks like an old school ipa; in both feel and malt presence.

--------

I'm gonna do my best to join again tomorrow but it is quite a busy weekend for us, either way I'll be lingering and hanging out. Enjoy your new brews everyone, cheers! I can't wait to post beer pictures from HOME next weekend, god willing.

 

Well @Roguer last weekend (fingers crossed) at in laws and my sister in law and her fam came to visit so its a grand old party here, its her 30th.

I got the Oregon UW game on, SIL's husband is watching his brothers small college team play and Gigi has ziti baking in the oven, bread, and meatballs; I will be stuffed quite soon.

You gotta tell me what Buffalo potato dip is and also share your sauce recipe....please....

 

Good day all!
My dad was just asking me about the eclipse. I had no idea it was today. It's raining and completely socked in on our lonely little hill top. At least we finally have internet!
(TO SKIP THIS TRAVEL-RELATED PORTION SCROLL DOWN TO WHERE THERE IS AN IMAGE. THAT'S WHERE WE GET INTO THE BEER ITSELF)
My wife, 1 year old daughter, 9.5 year old dog and I spent the month of September driving across the country. We have moved! We now live on the east coast, and I've noticed a number of things already in comparison to my familiar PNW scene. The first couple of things that have stood out to me here in upstate* New York re: beer are availability, price, and size.
Back home beer stores are multitudinous. I mean like specialty beer stores that sell beer (and sometimes cider, but the focus is beer). I've yet to find one out here, and searches on this very website and other have led me primarily to either large liquor stores, grocery stores with a decent selection, or directed me to just visit specific breweries in particular. It may well just be a hyper-specific thing to this small area, and not a full on regional thing, but it's stood out to me. I also feel like there are just fewer breweries in general. Not that they're few and far between, but I got spoiled being in Seattle where every little neighbourhood had at least one, if not a dozen or so breweries (looking at you Ballard).
The second is price. I realize I'm in Westchester, so maybe that influences it, but even when I was housesitting at my MIL place just across the border in CT, the prices have stood out to me. Four packs are like 18-20 bucks, if not more! I thought prices were bad back home! This will take some getting used to, and will probably help me to cut back on my intake, which is probably a good thing anyway, ha. I mean I'm probably overstating it somewhat, it's not like I was getting sixers of craft for 8 bucks or anything, but like you COULD get them for 10-12, and four packs I seem to remember being more in the 14-16 range. Not that that's a HUGE difference, but it's enough that it's stood out to me. An extra dollar a can (whether individual or as a four pack) isn't insane, but it is an adjustment.
Finally, I know they always say everything's bigger in Texas, but we all know that's never actually been true in any useful way, but y'all love your stovepipe tallboys out here, ennit?? I think I'd only ever seen them for macro stuff back home. 16oz cans are everywhere, of course, and most places will do crowlers nowadays, but I've definitely noticed the taller cans of good stuff out here. It's another situation where, like, honestly 19oz vs 16oz isn't ACTUALLY that big of a difference overall, but even just visually it's noticeable. I actually kind of like it, honestly. Most of the time I'm drinking out of like a 10-12oz glass, and pouring a 16oz can into that means that you can't pour the whole thing, but when you do go to pour the rest there's only a small bit left and it's inevitably kind of a letdown, ha. With the taller stovepipe, I feel like I'm getting a proper refill, even if it's not actually a whole another glass!
Anyway, I apologize if this sounds like I'm complaining or anything: that's not my intention. Just a handful of items that have stood out to me in the time I've been out here thus far (and this is before getting into style prevalence, etc. Though I will say, I've also seen far fewer high-octane items as a default for darker beers. It's kind of nice being able to grab a stout again without having to commit to double digit ABV!)

*My wife hates and always rolls her eyes when I say we moved to upstate NY. We're in Westchester county. I could hop on the train and be in the city in about an hour. But it's outside of the five boroughs, so it's upstate! This is one of my new favourite ways to torture my lovely wife.

That sure is a lot of words, huh.
I should probably actually get to the beer at some point.



I think I'll go with Hëvvy Mettül, from Alvarium Brewing over in Connecticut.
smile

The beer pours a tawny deep brown that's lovely, but honestly a bit lighter than I expect coming from a stout. As artificial/arbitrary a distinction as it is, but this looks much more like a porter to me. Decent little khaki head settles to just a fringe with swirls fairly quickly.

The nose is not particularly strong, but it imparts notes of sweet roasty malts up front, with a back side of dry ashy char.

First impression is a little bit sweet (not like additive sweet, just kind of the sweet of brown nutty/roasty malts), but this impression does not last. It's got some of that same ashy char from the nose, and some round roast that borders on an almost woody/nutty note. The finish tends towards the bitter element of the ashy char.

Carbonation is sharp, which somewhat covers up the oily smoothe body underneath, which is one of the appeals of an oatmeal stout, to me anyway.

Overall it's fine. Reasonably enjoyable. I'd drink it again, but wouldn't prioritize it.

Whew, anyway, four hours after I launched into this massive wall of text I finally have a moment to sit down and press 'post reply'.

So to commemorate, and keep it within the themes of the title of the beer, and keeping it local, here's a band from Westchester County:

 

Hello New Beer Weekend!!!

Well I am done with work today, and I saw, while doing life invader for work, that my local had a new IPA on tap. I couldn't resist so a 3 block detour was in order.

Old School - Back Shed Brewing - Waite Park, MN - American IPA - 6%

I am old, and I am old school, I love a pine forward bitter hoppy IPA.Yeah, the hazy NEIPAs can be good, but give me a bitter pine bomb, and I am happy. Yes, I am happy.

Review
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/61553/674760/
4.12/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On tap a the brewery.
Clear amber pouring beer. A 1 finger creamy white head formed that had great retention, and very sticky looking lacing.
The nose has a lot of pine on it. I also get a faint tropical aroma from the hops.
Taste - oh wow! There's a lot of pine here. Great bitterness in this beer and it lingers. There are a few tropical notes, but the pine is the main hop flavor.
Nice full body. Bitter feeling lingers.
This is like it's name - a very solid old school IPA, and I love it.

I will be home shortly for some more NBW fun. Cheers all.