New Beer Weekend #178

Good day BAs! My new beer this morning is a recent gift from a friend (who was apparently purging his beer fridge of older beers) - Equilibrium’s “Accipiter” Imperial Stout, in collaboration with Horus Aged Ales. Brewed with Coconut Macaroons, Thai Bananas, and Cacao Nibs. Let’s go!



Bottled September 2020. Poured at 58°. Reddish tan tight head leaves large island of micro dots and coconut flecks; poor cap retention; solid ring; spots of lace, lots of coconut flecks on swirl; no legs; black body with ruby edges. Nose is chocolate with a whiff of banana; no coconut. Entry is very sweet chocolate and overly ripe bananas; no coconut. Thick viscous adjuncty feel; heavy syrupy body; little to no carbonation; no warmth from 11% abv. Overall sadly past its prime; syrupy sweet chocolate dominates what little is left of the remaining adjuncts; cloying chocolate finish; undrinkable for even my beer sweet tooth.

4.0 | 3.75 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5

For those who love super sweet pastries stouts, this beer may well be for you - Cheers!

 

Samuel adams just the haze
...cloudy gold /orange appearance
. .medium carbonation with a watery body.
....peach,peach juice,mixed citrus with some mild bitter herbs.
...taste is very watered down but theres some sweet peach,citrus fruit and peel with a bit of a floral bitter element.
...this would be excellent on a hot day after mowing the lawn.
Otherwise this is why na gets a bad reputation as it just comes off like a decent beer that was just watered down

 

A long-time want for me, Bell's Black Note:

Appearance: Black, ok head at first, fades to nothing.

Smell: Strong roast and char, molasses. Surprisingly little barrel.

Taste: Dark chocolate, roasted malt, a little cherry alcohol hit, a splash of black coffee. Lots going on but the flavors are working together. As it warms up, the barrel starts showing up with some woody vanilla. Medium-heavy mouthfeel. More chocolate in the finish as it warms.

Overall: Finally getting to try Black Note, total wine had a shelf full. Very nice BA stout. I've been a little hit-or-miss with Bell's big stouts, sometimes they are not quite sweet enough for my palate, but this beer hits the spot. Very Good!

Is it good enough to save the bottle with some other Bell's classics? Maybe!

 

1 + 1 = 2+?

Or to quote Billy Preston: Nothin' from nothin' leaves nothin'.

The “1 + 1” above is a reference to a collaboratively brewed beer. Today’s beer is a Czech Pilsner brewed at Von Trapp Brewing but in collaboration with Human Robot:

“Did you hear about our collaboration with humanrobotbeer? The newest edition to our Stowe Style series, this Czech-style brew is spicy, earthy, and smooth yet still has that signature crisp finish we all love in a lager.

You know we specialize in lagers up here Stowe, VT, and @humanrobotbeer is crushing the lager game down in Philly. It's the power couple you didn't know you needed. 16oz Stowe Style Czech cans will be hitting all of our markets in the next few weeks! Keep an eye out for orange cans with Highland Cattle on 'em.”

And how the beer is detailed on the Von Trapp website:

“Stowe Style Czech 5.0% ABV 30 IBU | 4-pk 16 oz Cans | | Specialty Offering

This collaboration with Human Robot of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is the next offering in the Stowe Style series: a showcase of traditional techniques and 100% Czech ingredients brewed with Bohemian floor malted barley, Czech Saaz hops, and fermented with Budvar lager yeast, this unfiltered, double decocted pale lager is gold in color with spicy and earthy hop aromatics, a round honeyed malt character, and a smooth and crisp finish.”

I have had mixed results in the past when it comes to collaboratively brewed beers. Sometimes the collaboration ‘worked’ and sometimes it didn’t.

I am a big fan of both Von Trapp and Human Robot beers so I have positive vibes here.



Served in my Polish Pilsner glass:

Appearance:

Golden colored with a BIG white head.

Aroma:

Mostly a sweet-ish Pilsner Malt aroma (a honey note) but there is some spicy/herbal hop aroma as well.

Taste:

The flavor is more balanced between the sweet-ish bready malt flavor (i.e., a honey note) and the spicy/herbal hop flavors. A moderate bitterness.

Mouthfeel:

Medium body, a crisp mouthfeel and dry finish.

Overall:

This beer is very good. I appreciated the nice balance of sweet-ish bready malt and spicy/herbal hop flavors.

Na Zdravi

@rotsaruch @RobH @KOP_Beer_OUtlet

 

Good day BAs! Now that Postimages is back up, I feel better about posting to this thread:



This was today's New Breakfast Beer, thanks to @muchloveforhops3 in BSBIF#1:

Badfinger Imperial Stout – Bourbon Barrel Aged – from Philipsburg Brewing. 22 fl oz capped bottle acquired from @muchloveforhops in BSBIF #1. Reviewed 16/12/23 (Review 3196). Note that I use DD/MM/YY protocol.
Undated bottle. Stored at 34 degrees at home. Served at 56.1 degrees F in a hand washed and dried Jester King snifter. The final temperature was 62.6 degrees F.
Appearance – 3.
First pour – Deep Amber (SRM 15), clear.
Body – Black (SRM 40), opaque. Under direct light, same. When rear-lite, goldenrod at the edges and ruby a bit deeper, edging into opacity.
Head: Average (Maximum 0.5 cm, aggressive center pour), wheat, high density, and fizzy, short retention, dropping to a 0.1 cm crown, and no cap.
Lacing – None.
Aroma – 3.5 – Very weak bourbon, like an unwashed glass after a couple of days. A bit of caramel. No malt, no yeast, no hops, no alcohol (11% ABV as marked on the label).
Flavor – 4 – Begins slightly sweet and roasty. No yeast, no malt, no alcohol. No dimethylsulfide or diacetyl. Mild gastric warming. A bit of bourbon and ethanol on the exhale. Ends slightly bitter.
Palate – 4 – Medium; edging into creamy; soft but lively carbonation.
Final impression and summation: 3.5 (After deducting 0.25 point for an undated personal container) I like the simple, straight-forward label. The appearance is the same as 99% of the impy stouts I’ve had over 9% - no head, no lacing, black and opaque except at the edge. Aroma is mildly enticing, flavor is better than some, less bold than most. Still, very drinkable.
Rating 3.72, rDev 0% (First review)

 

4 Hands Brewing and Southern Grist Brewing Voltron. Volume Two. A fruited hazy IPA. With mango, kiwi, Mosaic hops, Riwaka hops, and Nelson Sauvin hops. People my age. Behold. The glory of planet Arus is at hand. This animated television series ruled the mid-1980s for me. The look is random plastic cup after a fraternity party chunky burnt orange. There was a minimal amount of foam when pouring the beer. White chunky floaties swirled aroynd the glass, then gathered at the bottom of the glass. The smell is as advertised. Mango, kiwi, apple, white grape, lemon, grapefruit, and buttered white toast. The taste is sweet and tropical. Lemon, mango, kiwi, starfruit, papaya, apple, white grape, orange, banana flavors blend very well. The mouthfeel is thick, creamy, chunky, and soft. I used a butter knife to mix the floaty floats, for a more even experience. Overall this beer is less desirable than Princess Allura. It is more desirable than Pidge. It is a sweet, fruity IPA, which is not a type of beer I usually pursue. This is a nice change-of-pace for me, but I would not purchase it again, unless they have a can that features Sven, my favorite character.

 

Thank you @MadMadMike fir kicking off the weekend. Still catching up on prior weekend, but it was nice to see @Act25 return to the fold last week and hop to see you showcase new New Jersey and other beers here in the future.

Diving in with beer one of two for the Christmas Winter tasting event, this one scheduled as a common beer for the thread to try and target. I’ve enjoyed this brewery’s beers and hope to continue the streak today.

Brouwerij Huyghe Delirium Noel (Christmas)



Bottle Notes: Single bottle purchased on 12/8/23 for $7.25 at Beer on the Wall at store temperature. 11.2 oz Bottle Code L24-23157 22:28 (Tank 24, bottled 157th day of 2023 or June 6, 2023 at 10:58 PM)). 10% ABV. Refrigerated upon returning home until opening just before the clock struck noon today.

Appearance: 2/3 pour and secondary top off pour into a chalice. Very creamy rich and generous tan white head, nice copper red slightly cloudy base yielding heavy initial carbonation. After several minutes a creamy rich thick cover still lingers over the base, and substantial lacing along the sides. 4.75

Aroma: Beautiful spices, orange, clove, banana, cherry, cinnamon, raisins and dates. Strong, enjoyment even stronger. 4.5

Taste: Consistent with the aroma, nice medley of fruits somewhat like a Christmas Fruit cake, with orange, clove, banana, raisins, cherries and dates all competing for attention. Perhaps a little pepper and nutmeg. All come together in a incredibly delightful offering. 4.75

Mouthfeel: Luxurious creamy rich body enhanced by the creamy head still lingering over ten minutes in. Gentle sustained carbonation, neutral to slightly dry. Many sweet malt flavors come off balanced with the hops and alcohol providing a nice offset. Drinks strong, though would say the listed 10% ABV is on point. Nice dark fruit finish lingers. 4.5

Overall: Struggling to consider what, if anything, I'd change with this one and drawing a blank. Simply having a Wonderful Christmas Time, not sure why I never enjoyed this one until today, but it's great to be wowed nearly a decade into my craft journey. Another wonderful Huyghe offering, this may be their finest. Well worth the higher price, my only regret is not finding and buying more. Cheers! 4.75

 

Is that a purposeful Christmas reference!?!

Cheers!

P.S. I just got done setting up our Christmas tree in our living room; it is a Cook Fir and it smells glorious.

 

Cheers!

3.69/5 rDev -5.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Best by 5/15/2024 (I think?) - poured from a pint can into my Westvleteren goblet. This batch is 9% ABV. Reviewed as a Belgian Specialty Ale.

Clear titian red body supports a thin beige finger receding to a collar and burbling surface slick. Dense creamy lacing; average retention.

Malty aroma with fig/raisin/grape and hints of spice/toffee.

Malt-forward palate entry with some eccentric herbal/woodsy notes. Chicory, root beer, and cherry pits lead into a lengthy, evolving, medium-dry finish. Alcohol flavors suggest brandy and glögg.

Medium bodied, fizzy, gently warming.

Adequate winter warmer, but won't be a repeat purchase for me.

 

Badger State Brewing and Toppling Goliath Brewing Pilot Series Tundra Conundrum. A hazy IPA brewed with HBC 1019 hops. The primary stakeholders at Toppling Goliath Brewing are Green Bay Packers fans. Please note the picture of me with Clark Lewey (the owner) from last weekend. Badger State Brewing has a beautiful taproom, two blocks away from Lambeau Field. But they brew average beers, and often refuse to serve me when I visit their establishment after I go to Stadium View bar, where I like to have fans of visiting NFL teams buy me extensive Jagermeister shots. Let's see what they have unleashed together. The look is typical non-elite hazy IPA brewer apricot. There was not much foam to speak of. The smell is tangerine, banana, peach, and honeydew. It is nice. The taste is peach, lemon, grapefruit, cantaloupe, rye toast, and tangerine. It is OK. The mouthfeel is soft, fluffy, sweet/salty, and mild. Overall, I don't know anything about HBC 1019 hops. This beer's recipe was written by the head brewer of Toppling Goliath Brewing, and brewed by Badger State Brewing. It has none of the characteristics of a hazy IPA brewed by Toppling Goliath Brewing. This is an average hazy IPA. Which is typical of Badger State Brewing, but not Toppling Goliath Brewing. I am not sure if the hop, or the brewery, is to be credited for this being an average hazy IPA. I believe if Toppling Goliath Brewing brewed this beer, it would be exceptional.

 

Hey there NBWers! It's been great reading up on everything you've been trying out the past few weeks while I've been slowly drinking down my stash. I made a trip to Jack's Abby and my local this week, picking up quite a few I'm excited to try (some of them based on your NBW reviews).

Onto the beer! For an unseasonably warm day, I've got an out-of-season (but fresh, canned 11/?/23) beer:

Jack's Abby Australian Pilsner
5% (I didn't really know what to do with it, so I threw it into the DB as an American Lager)

JA has swapped out the traditional noble hops for three Australian varieties: Galaxy, Enigma, and Vic Secret.


Pours a straw yellow with a three-finger white head that dissipates to a merrangue-like coating.

There's an immediate hit of fruit aroma (pineapple, grapefruit, orange, pear, and maybe some mango) followed by pine and woody/earthiness. This is where the beer shines; really nice.

The taste comes back a bit more to a traditional pilsner as the aromatics don't reach the palate. Light malt brings white bread and honey, biscuit, cracker, and bread dough. This is followed by hop bitterness on the tail of the sip which lingers a bit through the finish. I do miss the peppery finish that noble hops provide as all I get is hop bitterness without imparting any flavor. Finishes moderately dry.

Medium-light body and fine carb that makes it a smooth drinker.

Overall, this provides some nice variety to JA's pale lager lineup. The hop aromatics that folks have come to love without the huge bitterness of an IPA.

EDIT: As usual it's taken me so long to type this out on my phone that the beer has had a chance to warm. I'm now getting some subtle fruit notes along with hop bitterness on the palate. I'm not sure many folks drink their pilsner slowly, but this one rewards you if you do.

 

Happy New Beer Weekend everyone! Started off my stouturday with Goose Island Bourbon County Backyard Stout:

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/1146/666472/?ba=bluejacket74#lists



And then had a good Ohio brew with Listermann's XV Anniversary Imperial Stout blend:

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/3474/674990/?ba=bluejacket74#lists



Both were pretty good stouts, definitely worth picking up if you haven't done so already.

 

And then continued my stouturday celebrating Ohio University's bowl game win earlier today with a local Athens Ohio brew in Jackie O's Anvil Chorus:

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/1432/588912/?ba=bluejacket74#lists





Should have some more new brews tomorrow to finish NBW. Cheers!

 

Lupulin Polarnattens Paradis Imperial Coffee Stout from Big Lake Mn.

4.08/5 rDev +1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Dark brown pour, frothy tan head, some nice lacing. Nose says coffee, lots of it. Taste of old bitter 4:30 am gas station coffee. Fairly thick, smooth and creamy.

Canned 11/03/21, the coffee flavors held up quite well.

 

Nice seeing you again @KP7

Congrats on the win @bluejacket74 if you’re a bluejackets fan, that was one hell of finish agains the leafs the other night. Your team held on after some leaf magic.

@ZebulonXZogg i know the exact taste you’re talking about with that amazing description “4:30 AM gas station coffee”

 

A couple of Chicago beers this unseasonably warm evening in Northern Indiana (46 degrees after dark is NOT normal), this first one is from one of my two favorite lager masters in Chicago.





4.25/5 rDev +5.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours a clear rich brown color with a dense oatmeal colored head that provides ringlets of lacing as you drink the beer. Beautiful dunkel. The nose features bready notes, with some roasty malts and a nice bit of honey. This is gonna be good.

My opinion after a couple of deep whiffs is confirmed - this is really good, bordering on fantastic. It is so easy drinking and flavorful, with rich bread and honey flavors, balanced by roasty malts at the back of the palate. Wow.

The mouthfeel is clean and crisp, as expected. Such a pleasure to drink on a beautiful late fall evening.

 

After being up 5 goals that night they never should have even made it to OT, but a win is a win I guess The Jackets have unfortunately given up quite a few multi-goal leads this season.

 

#2, I’m joining our friend @Blogjackets in enjoying a BCBS variant. He has excellent taste, IMHO.





4.44/5 rDev +6.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
I am really enjoying this year’s prop, which is indeed remindful of a decadent rice pudding. It pours onyx black and sports a dark tan head and looks absolutely gorgeous in the glass.

I’m really picking up a vanilla custard vibe in combination with stone fruit from the raisins, a nice bit of cinnamon, and a welcome alcohol warming at the back of the palate from the barrel on the taste, which mirrors the nose. Delicious stuff.

The mouthfeel is full and decadent, perfect for this beer. Much preferred by this old beer nerd to last year’s prop, I’m glad I have a second bottle to see how it develops.