New Beer Weekend #170

Drekker Wildberry Cinnamon Roll Slang Du Jour Sour à la Mode, 6.2% ABV. Pour thick and opaque maroon with a one-finger pink head that left puree residue. Aroma is straw/rasp/blue/blackberry mashup plus strong cinnamon. Taste follows plus shortbread, quite sweet, slightly tart. Nice thick and smooth mouthfeel. Overall excellent.

4.14/5 rDev 0%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

<insert clever comment or off-color joke here>

 

Good Sunday afternoon, New Beer Sippers and commentators. It certainly fees like fall today but the brisk wind and danger of falling black walnuts have driven me to the safety of the basement bar. Today, I'm reviewing Old Youth, a Barleywine/Imperial Stout blend brewed by Highland Park Brewery in Los Angeles. I had an 8 oz. pour during my visit two weeks ago but wanted to do a proper review so I bought two bottles and now wish it had been more (although it's pricey!).

This is a lovingly-crafted brew. Here's Highland Park's description: "This blend ended up being about 85% Barleywine and 15% Imperial Stout. Composed of a Barleywine recipe aged for 19 months in Elijah Craig barrels, a (different) Barleywine aged for 7 months, and lastly a third barleywine recipe that was a double barrel Barleywine (our last barrel of the Fuerte Manana brew) that was aged for 26 months in a Heaven Hill barrel before being barreled again, this time in a Woodford Reserve barrel. To top it off (for evaporation and transfer loss) we added a big Imperial Stout and aged it for another 16 months." No wonder it's expensive!!

Poured at 62°. It's nearly ink black in color. The frothy, dark khaki-colored head dissipated quickly leaving thin swirls of lacing. The nose is big and complex with notes of raisin, black cherry, toffee, dark chocolate, fresh coffee, leather, tobacco, and distinct bourbon. The taste is even better. The bourbon barrel influence is front and center but beneath lies a superb Barleywine with flavors of coffee, chocolate, caramel, raisin, fig, cigar, and earthy peat. The flavors are all quite delicate and blend beautifully. The Stout influence is also strong and keeps it from tasting only like a Barleywine. The mouth feel is creamy with moderate carbonation, and there is no escaping the 14.9% ABV. This is a potent brew that should be sipped and savored slowly. Overall, it's a delicious and delightful treat.

4.41/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Highland Park is a very impressive brewery. While there I also had a NEIPA collaboration with Troon Brewing (from here in New Jersey, an unexpected treat!) and a first rate West Coast IPA called Hello, L.A. Congrats to Socal BAs on having this great brewery close at hand!

Given the ABV, this will be it for me today. Have a great week, everyone. Cheers, NBW!

 

I think this is going to be my last new one of the weekend.


Peanut Butter Porter - Dangerous Man Brewing - Minneapolis, MN - Porter - 6.1% ABV

I don't know how I got a pecan aroma when pouring this beer, because there's none of it in the flavor. I am really liking the chocolate, which is darker in my book. I really like dark chocolate, and really like unsweetened baking chocolate. This chocolate does have some sweetness in it, but not a lot. Smooth peanut butter, and a bit of an oily feeling. I am happy that this my last new beer of the weekend.

Review:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/30349/144472/

3.99/5 rDev -4.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
From a 12oz can.

This is a very dark brown pouring beer. No light comes through when held to the light. The head almost looks creamy, and is 1 1/2 finger. Tan in color, but not too long lasting. There's no lacing on the glass as the head dissipates.
As I was pouring the beer I was getting a nutty aroma that smelled like pecan to me. Up close it's just full on peanut butter and a chocolate note that is a dark chocolate.
This beer has a pleasing mix of chocolate and peanut butter. The chocolate starts it off, and it's more of a dark chocolate flavor with a good mix of bitterness and sweetness. The peanut butter hits more on the back. This flavor is smooth and somewhat oily, like when you taste the oil from the jar of peanut butter.
I am liking the body here. It is smooth and creamy feeling. Quite full, and the peanut oil also adds to the smooth feeling.
I am digging this beer. It is a good combination of chocolate bitterness and sweetness. Smooth creamy peanut flavors top it off. Delicious.

See you all in this virtual bar next weekend. Cheers!

 

Great Football Sunday fellow BA!!
I am sipping on a new to me style that was mentioned in the Barleywine/Stout BIF#1. It was sent to me by an awesome BA BIFer. It is a collaborative brew I believe from Private Press and Cellarmakers. It is a Munichwine Ale brewer with honey and clocks in at 14.6%. “Good thing I’m a heavy weight”.

Look 4.0/Smell 4.30/ Taste 4.50/Feel 4.5
Overall 4.45
Great brew with a nice barrel taste. Honey/sweetness is on the nose and with a wiff you know it’s going to be sweet. The barrel and abv cut the sweetness just right though.

 

Green Man - Porter

12oz can served in a tulip. Can is dated illegibly. My brother sent it to me from South Carolina.

Pours black with a big, short-lived head, that leaves a thin cap with a thicker ring behind. Smell is roast coffee and toasted nuts, slight breadiness.

Taste is moderately sweet with a slight molasses and black licorice tone, roastiness comes across clearly but doesn't seem bitter, breadiness is contributing to the sweetness. Bitter roast flavors do seem to build up over time.

Mouthfeel is light, effervescent, dry. Overall, nice porter.

 

Gatahold Brewing ( Eureka Springs, AR ) smoke & MARZEN Rausch style bier, 5.7 % ABV; 3.92 overall

Pours a chill hazed amber/orange with one finger of cream colored head. Beer drops bright, average-ish head retention & lacing

S: Some smokeyness, a little toastyness

T: Follows the nose, dryness with a touch of woody hops & pears up front. More dryness & smokey notes, plus toastyness once this beer warms up. Finishes toasty with pronounced but not crazy smoke & a kiss of caramel & pears

MF: Medium body, restrained carbonation, fairly good balance, becomes a touch prickly once warm

A good stab at the style, the smoke is present, but not over powering, nice drinkability Not sure it's Bamberg worthy, but it is pretty good

 

Munich Brew Mafia - Yellow Monk "citrus tripel"

330ml bottle served in a tulip. Bottle is dated Mindestens haltbar bis: Ende Maerz 2025. Brought this home from Europe, I probably picked it up in Munich.

Pours a murky amber with a slow-to-form and short-lived head that peaked around a finger, falls back into a generous ring. Smell is citrus rind, slight booziness, fairly mild overall.

Taste is also fairly mild. Definitely has a strong citrus presence, definitely gives a boozy impression, gives a little bit of a grainy note, but nothing in the flavor really speaks of tripel or Belgian at all.

Mouthfeel is the one thing (besides alcohol content) that really reminds me of tripel -- moderately thick, chewy, but not sticky. Overall...it's not bad, but it's not very interesting, and it's not really much of a tripel.

 

Twin Sails Where’s Walno Black Walnut Stout. This is an Imperial stout brewed with black walnut extract, vanilla and cinnamon. Twin Sails is in Port Moody BC.



Pours a deep black/brown with moderate head that dissipates to a thin ring fairly quickly.

Vanilla jumps out on the nose first. The cinnamon is also there. Toasted grains. There is a faint nuttiness, but that may be because I know the ingredient list.

Taste is great. The vanilla and cinnamon present on the nose are there for sure. The walnut is more evident and plays nicely with the roasted malty notes. Mildly sweet.

The big 13.4% ABV is well hidden. Very drinkable with with a full body.

This is a really good flavoured stout that I am glad to have tried and would certainly search out again. My kids love the label and seeing me drink this, had them run to their room to get their Where’s Waldo books out.

Cheers!

 

Komes - RIS

This is bottled sometime in 2021 so about anywhere from 24-30odd months. I bought it old, and far as I’m aware the beer ages well.



I’m making lamb curry so there’s a bit of intensity in the air, cinnamon and curry leaves dancing underneath this all really brings about some dark fruit and licorice. Phantom, I’m sure.

Pitch black. No head. Quite still in the glass. Malt. Brown sugar, coffee, caramel and toffee. Oily, viscous character detectable in the nose. Quite heady to sip. Like an oil film stop decent scotch.

Very soft on the palate. Very minimal carb here however it’s not oxidized at all which is interesting. Follows the nose. Very easy to sip on. I’ve chilled this and I think that’s a must. It doesn’t feel like it would drink with much complexity when cold.

Good offering. Enjoyable at this age. Mild and approachable and there’s enough to challenge the palate. Enjoying the feint carbonation especially after a euro Pilsner.

At about 4.99 per, a decent option especially at this age, I think its nuances are a major strength.

 

Irish Cream Stout from Eastern Market Brewing Company.
A bit long in the tooth for a 6% stout but it certainly tastes better than the beer I had last night. Canned 2/17/22.
Poured Stout Black with an impressive beige head that left lots and lots of lacing.
No aroma info, sorry.
The taste is a pleasant combination of Irish cream flavors in a decent base stout. Almost Irish coffee like. I think I have to try this fresh to see if it is even better.
The feel is quite appropriate for the style, very slight viscosity and light carbonation.
OA, I suspect that this is better fresh but even now it’s really good for a flavored stout.
Cheers all, I may be back.

 

Day 2, I’m fairly certain I received this a couple of years ago from @Roy_Hobbs in an NBS BIF. He always sends excellent beer and this is no exception.





4.42/5 rDev +4.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Pours a mostly clear brown color with a surprisingly full brown head, and when the beer settles, there are ruby hues on the edges. Gorgeous beer.

The nose is full of tart berry aromas, which I really like, and a nice oaky note, with a tannin note that is reminiscent of a nice wine, and a bit of stone fruit (plums and cherries). Wow.

The taste is tart raspberry, cherries and plums, a nice smooth oak note and a lot of tannin influence, edging toward wine, especially in combination with the medium mouthfeel that is as smooth as the oak, but not too soft.

I don’t get the opportunity to try many beers in this style, but this one is excellent, IMHO.

 

Toppling Goliath This meeting could've been an email DIPA; 7.8% ABV; 4,2 overall

Pours a very hazy gold with a finger+ of whippy eggshell colored head. Pretty nice head retention & lacing

S: Citrus fruit &a touch of grassyness, not the strong suite of this beer for me, some tropical fruit once warmer

T: Pineapple, tangerine, green melon & a little dryness up front. Sweet oranges, passion fruit & pineapple as this beer warms up, along with dryness & a little peach. A little dryness in the finish, a touch of lime, green melon & acidic/sweet pineapple

MF: Medium body, pretty firm carbonation

Super drinkability, really delivers on the flavor & juicyness. I will be picking up another 4 pack of this

 

Good evening NBW
I've been trying to drink down my "stash" and here's another that's been in the cellar fridge for a while.

Avery Imperialis
12oz bottled APR 25 2022 (about 18 months ago) poured into a tulip glass at 55F 12.7% ABV per label. The beer pours dense very dark brown with light brown head. The head recedes to a thin ring and island. Slight lacing. The aroma is moderate in strength featuring bittersweet notes of chocolate, caramel, vanilla, oak and bourbon. The taste is bittersweet with the sweeter vanilla and caramel up front before the oaky barrel notes really establish themselves. Somewhere in between is super dark chocolate and coffee flavors. Moderate bitterness. Mouthfeel is medium plus bodied with average carbonation and a mostly dry finish. The ABV is incredibly well hidden here. It's a warming beer, especially at room temp, but no in your face ethanol. Overall, excellent.

Not likely to be any more beers today. Cheers all!

 

Well NBW fam, it is nice to finally join you all on this weekend. It has been a wild ride, we finally moved back home after 3.5 months living with Mrs. Phisher"s parents while we got a renovation/addition. This weekend has been exhausting to say the least so it is one and done for me this weekend, but better late than never.

This one comes thanks to @kp7, I had this beer many ages ago and had forgotten about it like so many other great beers of the past. His post last weekend prompted me to revisit and boy am I glad that I did. This beer is a beauty and it is exactly what I want out of a beer, smooth, balanced and drinkable.

Long Trail - Harvest (Brown Ale 4.4%)



Pours deep dark chestnut brown, crystal clear, very good retention and above average lacing on a light brown head; an absolute beauty of a beer.

Rich malt forward nose; some bitter molasses, darkened toast, some minor hop presence.

Taste is so rich in malt with no sweet or syrupy feel; the syrup contributes this interesting combination of molasses and darkened syrup but with bitter burntness to it; almost give impression like if you scorched maple syrup, finishes with a nice little hoppy bite that lingers with light earth coffee.

Light body but so full creamy and smooth, this thing drinks so easy; the richness dissipates immediately and it finishes clean with a lingering burnt bitterness.

-------

I can't even believe we lived out of our house for so long, it is so weird to think back that we moved out the day after hosting a whole ton of people at our house on the 4th of July. Now I'm finally back home and drinking dark beer in sweats, mind blown...

It also got me thinking I wanted to get home so bad only to realize that we were home with the in laws, home is wherever family is and I was almost sad leaving; yes I'm being dramatic, we see them every day and they live only 2 miles away. I guess I just didn't realize how much of a routine I, we all, got into at our home away from home until we left. Can't wait to get settled in though, it is like we half moved and our house is still has stuff all over the place, time to get to organizing again...until next weekend everyone.

Have a great week!

 

Hope you enjoy the newly renovated home. You know what goes well with a newly renovated home? A box of beer from the Great White North. Make sure the contractors reinforced that porch my friend. Something will be on its way in a week or so….

 

Last year’s black ops



Nose is oak, malt, sugar. Coffee toffee and licorice. Taste follows.

Fresh I felt it was quite abrasive but that has settled. More balance present now. Clean and approachable. The barrel character has settled. Does not taste as green. Enjoyable.

 

This was oddly nostalgic to read. When we moved into our current diggs (or whatever Americans refer to as diggs) we stayed with family for a couple months and leaving was oddly tough. I can’t place why. But yeah. Strange stuff.

Being human is this, I suppose. A mix of idiosyncrasies balancing off of each other, spiraling nonsensically. Thanks for sharing, as always!

If I’m ever in NJ and nearby we should meet up for a cape may or whichever brewery you’re pedaling! Cheers!

 

#2, I’ve had this for two years. I’m committed to reducing my cellar, and it starts here.





4.6/5 rDev +6.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Pours onyx black with a sudsy mocha colored head that is surprisingly resilient, leaving a cap around the edge of the beer as you enjoy it. Beautiful imperial stout.

The nose is all about the interplay between the barrels, which provides a nice amount of booze (but not too much), rich cocoa, vanilla, and caramel. This smells magnificent.

It tastes magnificenter, with the rye and the booze preventing this from getting too sweet, but allowing room for the maple, cocoa, vanilla, and especially the decadent caramel to shine, then finishing you off with a nice bit of alcohol warming at the very back of the palate.

The mouthfeel is rich, full, and creamy, commensurate for a beer of this gravity. This beer is an example of Transient at their finest, IMHO. When they’re dialed in, they are tippity top world class, IMHO.