New Beer Weekend #171

It's Stout weather and I have a great one on hand: Kane's 11th anniversary (2022) Stout blend, 4018. Here's the brewery's description: Blend of barrel-aged imperial stouts and porters hand-picked to create a beer inspired by one our childhood favorite chocolate ice cream treats. This blend was aged for an average of 16 months in Buffalo Trace Blanton’s Bourbon, Buffalo Trace Weller 12 Year Bourbon, Widow Jane Bourbon, and 10 Year Wild Turkey Russell’s Reserve Bourbon barrels. We conditioned it on Madagascar vanilla, maple syrup, Cacao nibs from Haiti, Ghana, and the Phillipines, and crushed waffle cones.

And it's stunningly good! Poured into a snifter at 61° A very dark walnut. The fluffy, medium-mocha head dissipated quickly leaving swirls. The smell is fantastic! There are scents of rich chocolate, caramel, nuts, maple syrup, and a whiff of dark fruit. The bourbon influence on the nose is surprisingly subtle but Kane is very deft at barrel-aging. The taste follows. There's milk chocolate, toffee, peanut brittle, freshly-brewed coffee, and the smallest hint of dark fruit. Again, the bourbon barrel influence is amazingly delicate; you can taste it but hardly know it's there. Most brewers slap you across the face with bourbon but Kane just blows a kiss. The mouth feel is about as good as it gets; thick, chewy, like motor oil, with lite carbonation, and the 13.1% ABV is very well-hidden. You could pour this over vanilla ice cream and have it for dessert. Overall, 4018 is simply exquisite. Kane is known for its barrel-aged stout blends but this is one of the best I've had from our state's top brewer.

4.56/5 rDev +2.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

I'll sleep well tonight after 16.9 oz. of this wonderful brew. Have a great week, everyone!

 

Bierol - Schwoicher Helles

330ml bottle served in a footed pilsner glass. Bottle date is 30.05.2024 #1174/75. I think I bought this in Munich.

Pours a clear burnished brass with a medium sized head that fades into a thin, uneven cap. Active carbonation is quite noticeable. Smell is bready, grainy, a little yeast, moderate honey sweetness.

Taste is not nearly as sweet as the aroma promised. It's grainy but more in a husk sort of sense, a little bit earthy. Grassiness is just a shadow in the background.

Mouthfeel is light, clean, super dry. Overall, nice beer.

 

Having a second, G-rated, pour of Rocky Mountain Oyster Stout from Wynkoop courtesy of the legend @beergoot thanks Dave! The risque first pour pic is available if you hunt for it.



Apparently Rocky mountain oysters are actually bull testicles and they did roast some to age this on. Largely marketing I guess? I might get just a touch of smoke but nothing else out of the ordinary. Having said that, this is a really good stout. Dry and roasty with very nice bitter chocolate and coffee notes plus a little brown sugar sweetness.

 

Good evening all! Been raining off and on all day which really messed up my plans for moving leaves and finishing up a dog house.
Saw this at my local favorite bottle shop and being a fan of the brewery and stouts, it was a no brainer.
The pour is very nice; stout black with a 1 finger beige head which left reasonable lacing.
Aroma lost to me, stupid Covid.
The taste is very much a coffee stout- the oatmeal, which is often just a feel and a smoothness to the flavor, is largely obscured.
The cream/lactose aspect is present but not, IMO, to the point of being in the primary description..
The feel is very good for the ABV, it rather matches the flavors.
OA, for when I want a “sessionable” stout, this is pretty good.
Cheers all!

 

Ruckley Reserve by Transient


4.31/5 rDev -1.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25


Brewers notes: Imperial Stout aged in a Whiskey Foeder then aged in Pikesville Rye Barrels with Vanilla, Tugboat Coffee, and Michigan Maple Syrup. Total time in oak - 2.5 years.

Bottle received from @ovaltine in BIF17, chilled and poured into a snifter

Brown tight bubbles over a dark brown liquid, settles to an island with a ring

Aroma is bourbon whiskey,

Taste is whiskey , brown sugar, slight maple sweetness, coffee. The maple and coffee flavors come more forward as the glass warms , whiskey and oak taste comes out more at room temperature

Low sudsing, slight heat , coffee bitterness on the finish



Good beer

 

Day 2, one and done for me tonight on a dreary day in Northern Indiana, but it’s a big one and fitting for the season. Juiiiiccceee!!!





4.67/5 rDev +5.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Pours a hazy, nearly turbid mango color with a creamy pearl white head that literally coats the glass like paint. Spectacularly gorgeous hazy.

The nose bursts with dank citrus notes that are loaded with mango, candied orange, ripe grapefruit, and passion fruit. Big juice bomb headed my way.

The taste exceeds the nose, with all of that mango, candied orange, grapefruit, and passion fruit perfectly balanced by a healthy helping of sweet oats. There is no way this drinks like a 9.2% ABV beer. Absolutely no way.

The mouthfeel is rich, soft, and creamy, fitting the beer perfectly. This is a juice box for beer nerds of epic proportions, IMHO. What a pleasure to drink.

 

This just landed here, and it's going on the list for my next trip to the dabc, looking forward to it!

Something light to start.

Alaskan - Pilsner



Best by 8.19.23

Purchased from the grocer for about $2

Poured at fridge temp into a pokal Pils glass

Pours clean and clear golden straw. Generous if not aggressive foamy top. Excellent lacing trail behind and sturdy retention. 4.25

Sweet grassy aroma, some cracker and biscuit. Simple but I think it smells great. Perhaps a touch of earthy hops as well I noticed as it warms up. 4

Lightly floral but mostly earthy hop bite, grassy grains, crisp cracker, and sweet honey. 4

Light and thin, just enough sharp carbo bite and residual hoppy aftertaste.4

Overall this is absolutely going to be a regular for me going forward, and the stovepipe was the perfect format to enjoy it. Really a good hoppy Pils, even out of date. 4

Cheers friends!

 

Good Sunday evening, all. Drizzly afternoon and it's gotten fairly cold outside. Our flowers, being mostly under our pergola, have held up incredibly well but we may be seeing the last blooms. Beautiful clear skies for the harvest full moon last night with Jupiter nicely in view. It was like dusk all night - short walk in the woods was beautiful and spooky.

In the glass:



Matsurika - a Bohemian pilsner from Japas Cervejara featuring the addition of jasmine petals. While it wasn't my highest scoring stout from the BA Extreme Stout box, Black Daruma from these young ladies was one that I found most enjoyable, so let's see what they do with a pilsner.

If you want the short version, this is an outstanding beer.

Sharing with the missus, so two pours. The foam didn't quite form up as well as expected, but it was very persistent. Sticky on the glass. Color is golden, and there's a ton of tiny floaties that settle and leave a beautifully clear beer. I guess maybe particulates from the jasmine, but not sure.

The nose is subtle. Bready and earthy, definite presence of floral jasmine tea. A hint of lemon. A little sweet smell - just a tad. But it's clearly a pilsner smell with the jasmine being complimentary.

Initially the taste was a little ho-hum, but this beer bloomed as it warmed a bit. Slightly sweet malts, toasty and bready, lead the way. A touch of honey-like sweetness. Lemon makes a brief appearance, then the jasmine tea comes in as a new layer - bright and floral, a little green, herbal earthiness, but it doesn't take over. Mild earthy bitterness. The tea taste lingers along with the sweetness and I get an ever so subtle peppery spice at the very end.

Smooth and silky feel, a little drying, a little mineral tang. The herbal tea notes linger.

Overall, a wonderful, delicate beer with a clear pilsner identity that has been greatly enhanced by the tea. While I am a little confused by what Japas does - seems like they are recipe developers who's beers are brewed somewhere in the USA? I don't really care - whatever the ladies are doing, I have enjoyed two really nice brews. This one is at least a 4.2 in my book.

 

All right I am done with work today, and it's beer o'clock.


Seventeen - Surly Brewing - Minneapolis, MN - American Strong Ale - 11% ABV

Boy, I will say that this is a strange beer with a lot going on here, and I know my review doesn't really scratch the surface with it. I know it's a well made beer, but, at the same time, I'm not sure I like it. I will finish it, and reviewed this beer on the qualities, but I can't see myself trying it again.

Review:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/13014/665391/

4.33/5 rDev +1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
From a 16oz can.

This is a darker pouring beer. It looks cola like when pouring. When I hold it to the light it's an extremely dark amber color, and it looks fairly clear. The head that forms is quite thick at 3 finger. The color of the head is a light tan color. The head retention overall is great, and there's some nice lacing on the glass as it dissipates.
The nose is quite layered. I get some orange. I get notes of bourbon barrel oak. I get some raisin in the mix, as well as some molasses. Quite pleasing mix.
The flavor is quite interesting, though I'll really have a tough time describing it. There's a good amount of orange in the flavor. I get some raisin, and molasses. The bourbon barrel oak really stands out to me. I get some vanilla and caramel to top it all off. There's also a decent, but not overpowering bitterness in the mix also on the finish.
The body is decent and full. There's a good, yet smooth, burn going on here.
While I'm not sure it's for me, I do know this is a very well constructed beer. The flavors work together. Very interesting indeed.


I think this is likely my last new beer of the weekend. Only 2, I must be slacking. I should do better next weekend when I am going to be making a brewery road trip (weather permitting). See you all then. Cheers!

 

This is my third time having it, but first time reviewing.

Revision x Belching Beaver - To Dream



Canned 10.5.23

Purchased from the dabc for $4

Poured at fridge temp into a fake Pretentious glass/vase

Pours a slightly dark mango orange with a 2F tan head. Persistent ring but hardly a residual cap. 4

Fermented fruit, dank, strong and slightly spicy tropical hops. 4

Exactly as advertised, candied orange and mango, akin to really good/fresh dried mango. Some green herbal hops too. 4.25

Light resinous body, moderate carbo. Some stickiness and cream. 4

Overall a delightful IPA I'll keep coming back to that hits a bit different than everything else. 4

It's the IPA that got me back into the style, and while I've had significantly better (thanks TreeHouse) Revision is still an awesome IPA factory.

Cheers!

 

This offering is alright but kind of a mess. If it didn't taste as good as it did it'd be a home brew I think friends could sling. Kind of a disappointment but it wasn't awful. Cheers BAs!
Blackstack I Thought You'd Never Ask DIPA. 8.1% ABV

3.81/5 rDev -5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
16 oz can into a nonic pint glass.
L: Pours SRM 3 hazed thick dull gray-hued sweet corn yellow color with a thin eggshell white head that quickly recedes to a thin skin, very low to almost no carbonation, large chunks and lumps of sediment, almost no lacing. In the end, heavy sediment sludge at the bottom of the glass.
S: Melon, light fruits, distant American cheese funk and dank notes.
T: Sweet caramelized malts, citrus, orange, grapefruit, confectionery sugar, stone fruit, citrus zest, melon, melon rind, pine resin, light yeast, wheat/oat grains, a hint of corn. Malts are candied and are quite sweet.
F: Smooth, velvety medium to medium-heavy body with a full middle and a medium-long lightly drying finish. It gets smoother and unfortunately loose and flat with warming.
O: A quite sweet tasting DIPA that is hop-forward and has robust citrus tastes. It's radiant & rich sweetness makes it a sipper IMHO yet a light bitter finish rounds it all out. Aside from the sludge-like sediment, it's a pretty mess that's good in its style.

 

Hey what's going on?!

Been having a crazy weekend, insane warm weather so I have been outside as much as I can!! This sure aint gonna last so I took in as much as I could. (yeah aint aint in the dictionary so sue me..)

Not too much new beer, but some exceptions. I thought I'd combine my post this weekend about everything new this weekend I tried. Surprisingly... a little bit underwhelming...

Let's get this train rolling

Idiom Brewing - Roll The Dice



Poured from the can into a Spiegelau IPA glass.

Slightly muddy body brown and amber color, with light orange touches. Fairly still appearance. Head creation is very booming and lengthy. Four finger tall glass filling creamy fine foam, clingy and very clumpy like lacing that is impressive with a bright white appearance.

Aroma is a bit odd and slightly off putting. Bright grass like tones, with an almost medicinal bitterness and sweetness at the same time. Luckily repeated exposure seems to bring out a juiced tangerine quality that gets a bit more prominent on the nose.

Palate comes out a bit uninspiring. Wet bodies more like a weak session IPA, not giving much sweetness depth or even malt character. The hop quality is supplanted on this weak body, with a light astringency somewhere between flat orange soda, and pine needle garden mulch.

Aside from being a lackluster IPA, this hardly even tastes like a NEIPA on top of it. I would have expected at minimum a New England like Pale Ale, but you don't even get that here. Still at least not awful.

look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25 | BA Score : 3.34

Schlafly - Just a Bit Hazy IPA



Poured from the can into a Spiegelau IPA glass.

Slightly clear, with mild hinting haze and a light amber orange to yellow body color. Sud rich, and spider foamy lacing of a simple three fingers, with off white color and a simple classic appearance.

Soft and leafy like tea hop, with a mixing chewy sensing herbal sweetness that is very delightful on the nose. Aroma even hints of perfume like quality, and a light touching caramel note.

Palate manages to be rather basic but gets the job done. Chewy body slightly, with a nice hop touch of tea and soft grass like herbs. Somewhat of a prickly playful finish that jars the palate a little bit. Mild touches of orange citrus even manage to sink in.

A solid basic tasting IPA, that doesn't so much go for a juice or haze bomb as it claims, but that's not complaint of mine.

look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4 | BA Score: 4.06

 

Finally (cant post more than 2 images in a post)


Hillside Haze - Manor Brewing Co.



Poured from the can into a Spiegelau IPA glass. Canned October 5th 2023.

Fluffy topped bright white head, that makes a fistful of huge height, but still manages to be in control. Opaque body, definitely haze but not so much in the turbid vein at least, but has a bit of an unappetizing light brown hued mustard color. Some nice pill lacing and staying power at least round out some final eye candy.

Interesting aroma. Muted hop surprisingly, but of a sort of grass and dill pickle like note. Lots of hinting dill on this but also quite muted. Have absolutely no idea what kind of hops were used in this, its closed and quiet nose while pleasant is not giving up any secrets.

Palate seems to come out just as muted. Flat and nearly session like mouthfeel. Candy fruit that isn't distinct, with minimal sweetness and more of a chalky dryness to match. Flirts slightly Jolly Rancher citrus fruit punch with a touch of tropics, but otherwise leaves you feeling like something is missing.

Drinkable, but nothing much to get excited about, but nothing terribly at fault either. Definitely not a NEIPA juiced up sweet bomb that's for sure.

look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Cheers all hope you had a great weekend!

 

Needed a bit higher ABV stout, so had one of these:

This is another beer with chocolate and salt, in this case, Dead Sea Salt
The pour was stout black with a rather short lived light brown head that left no lacing.
The aroma is lost on me, stupid Covid.
The flavors are coffee and chocolate and light salt. Really well balanced and tasty.
The feel is mildly viscous, quite appropriate for the style and flavor.
OA, good beer. I’m happy to have found this.
This will likely be my last new beer this weekend, hopefully you all have a great evening.

 

Toppling Goliath Peacharine Dry Hopped Psedudo Sue, 5.7% ABV; 4.19 overall


Pours a very hazy gold with a thumb+ of whippy beige head. Solid head retention & lacing

S: Mangoes, peaches, papaya, fades a bit once warm

T: Papaya, passion fruit, green melon, dryness, a little pineapple up front. Lime, green melon, tangerine, dryness & a little pineapple as this beer warms up. Finishes dry-ish with pineapple & tangerine, plus a little green melon

MF: Medium body, moderate carbonation, nice balance, a little acidic/pineapple kick

Nice drinkability, flavors seemed to start strong & then tail off a bit

 

Ohhhh that looks purty good! Perhaps Oddside could Collab with FFF and brew an Undead Sea Salt Oaxacian Zombie Stout??? Cheers!

 

Fremont + Fort George - Remainders Barrel Aged Cuvee (2023), a blend of barrel aged barleywine and stout.

22oz bottle served in a little tulip-like glass. 2023 vintage.

Pours black with basically no head during the pour, though a thin ring emerges later. Smell is chocolate, bourbon (booze and all), vanilla, with some char in the background.

Taste is similar, with an excellent mixture of savory/bitter and sweet flavors. Bitter dark chocolate, coffee, and oak, with vanilla cream and chocolate frosting. Some dates, some toffee and caramel.

Mouthfeel is thick and satisfying. This is a really nice beer.

 

Here's a great beer. Feelin' lucky to get a 4 pk.
Weldwerks/Toppling Goliath Extra Extra Dino Bits HDIPA 9% ABV
4.57/5 rDev +5.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
16 oz can canned 9/15/23 into a nonic pint glass.
L: SRM 3 Pours hazy medium dark orange with a thin off white rounded head, ok retention, low carbo bubbles, head recedes to full skin and thick edge foam, medium lacing with busted dental banding.
S: Orange, citrus zest, pineapple, light melon, slightly catty, lightly floral.
T: Moderately bright citrus & zest, melon rind, mango, oats, a touch of yeast, tangerine, grapefruit,. Lightly rich and large tasting but shortly as it moves to a gently fruity and zesty finish that lingers.
F: Brisk then lightly crushed & smooth, mildly dense medium-heavy bodied with a full center and a medium-length finish that is gently dry at best. It is mildly sticky.
O: A bold and full-flavored HDIPA. Absolutely superb structure and balance btwx sweet & bitter. Alcohol is not detected. Very pleasant drinking. It is world-class in its style.

 

Is so! No lawsuits required.

The strong proscription against ain't in standard English has led to many misconceptions, often expressed jocularly (or ironically), as "ain't ain't a word" or "ain't ain't in the dictionary." Ain't is listed in most dictionaries, including the Oxford Dictionary of English and Merriam-Webster.

 

I like it! Cheers!