New Beer Weekend #178

Hill Farmstead Brewery Marie Unfiltered German Style Helles Lager, 5.0% ABV; 4.31 overall. Cheers to @The_Kriek_Freak

Pours an effervescent & bright gold with one finger of eggshell-colored head. Average-ish head retention & lacing

S: Perfumy hops, breadyness, grassyness once warm

T: Follows the nose, soapy & lemony hops as well up front, plenty of grassyness, plus some dryness too. Dryness, lemon & lime hops, & grassyness once warm. Finishes dry, grassy, with limes

MF: Medium body, soft carbonation, nice balance, skews a touch hoppy for the style

So easy to drink

 

Cheers!

3.94/5 rDev -7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Bottled 7/17/23? Poured from a caged-and-corked 750mL bottle into my Trappist Westvleteren goblet.

Bole body, bone cap. Creamy, soapy, dense and fairly lasting head. Faint sheen of tears chasing the fine sandy lacing.

Malty, estery nose with brown sugar, bubble-gum, banana and raisin bread. Gentle and inviting.

Sweet palate entry with brown bread, chocolate pudding, leaf litter, currants, fig, treacle, alternating. Low but enlivening earthy bitterness throughout. Fairly dry, almost-abrupt finish. Distinctive Unibroue yeast flavors.

A little thin/fizzy perhaps, not quite medium bodied. Moderately warming.

A good example of the style, though lacking the character, complexity, and synergy of the best Belgian versions.

 

Glad my memory kicked in correctly. And I agree, while I'll gladly drink any of them, I prefer Murphy's to Guinness for it's added roast characteristics, and Sullivan's above them both for what turns into a great balance of roast and sweet/fruit flavors as it warms.

 

Another @TCgenny gifted beer. This is Fiden's Sobchak, a 9.2% coffee stout.
I love coffee stouts and was excited about this one. I saved some gingersnaps from a sister in-law gifting for pairing with this. That turned out to be an excellent idea.
I Googled Sobchak. There are two notable Sobchaks that show up in Wikepedia, both Russian, both ran afoul of Putin.

Poured from a 16-oz can dated 12/09/23 to a diagonally cut tumbler at 52F.
The pour stream was really dark brown, but shows as black in the depth of the glass. A nice brown head sits for 3-4 minutes and becomes a 1/16 inch ring for the rest of the session.
I’m taking an aroma pass as I recover from a cold. I do get some coffee smell, but it's a strain for me right now.
The flavor is rich dark coffee with some sugar, nice. There is a background of dark chocolate and figs.
Carbonation holds up despite the head fade. Mouth feel is creamy and lip sticking.
I really liked the coffee in this beer, even with my cold. I have another can left, I’m going to save it for when I am fully recovered because I really love coffee.

 

Good Sunday afternoon, New Beer Samplers and commentators. To me, one of the fun aspects of craft beer is collaborations between brewers I like. So I was excited to learn that nearby Twin Elephant and District 96 had brewed a New England IPA called Snake Trunk. It was released earlier this week so it's super fresh. I'm a big fan of D96. It's hazies are top shelf. This ale is hopped with Citra, Rakau, Comet, and Nelson. The grist bill includes oats, white wheat, and 2 Row. It's a very good NEIPA.

It pours an opaque, dirty tangerine color with a very large, fluffy, milk-white cap and lots of thick, long-lasting lacing. The smell offers lots of fruit, including lemon, pineapple, tangerine, ripe melon, and other tropical notes. The taste is super dank with lots of ripe tropical fruit, including orange/tangerine, pineapple, melon, and the unique snakefruit flavor that characterizes many D96 NEIPAs. The Rakau hops add the flavor of mango and stone fruit. But the sweetness is well-balanced by tart citrus and some grassy, spicy notes from the Comet hops. I like the way the Nelson hops are used; while there certainly are notes of white wine, they are subtle and complement the other tastes. The white wheat and 2 Row provide a dry cracker taste beneath the fruit and there is mild, clean bitterness throughout. This ale has a creamy, sticky mouth feel with pleasant carbonation, and despite being 8.3% it drinks very easily.

Sometimes, collaborations are disappointing. This one isn't.

4.29/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Cheers!

 

This is a newbie carryover from the Holiday Beers Tasting thread, Toy Soldier by Lops Brewing of scenic Woonsocket, RI.
Based on an American Brown Ale, this one is well worth a try. Cheers.



3.74/5 rDev 0% | Average: 3.74
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

An average pour released a finger of espresso foam colored creamy froth with a lasting ring, small spots remain. Cloudy dark reddish-brown body with red/orange highlights.

Mild smell of classic baking spices greets the nose with an American Brown Ale malt profile, I think this is based on Zamboni Brown. Mild indistinguishable hops in the background.

Bold taste of toasted bread, roasted grains and some caramel malt; balanced by a balance of hops and spices. An attempt at a general fruit sweetness falls short. Starts semi-sweet with average bitterness, the finish is soft from carbonation, semi-dry, bitterness reaches above average. All of the tastes linger evenly.

Medium-light bodied with loads of carbonation, soft and smooth for an 8%-er. Alcohol is well hidden behind the spice. Warms very well, flavors build as the alcohol remains cryptic yet gains that warming effect.
11 minutes ago

 

How does this one compare to Schlenkerla beers? I see you reviewed the Urbock, Marzen and the new Erle, inquiring minds.....

 

A very special New Beer Sunday for us in this house...had a nice little family brunch gathering with bagels from this awesome spot right down the road, fruit salad, and cookies galore. This was all for our oldest's birthday, he turned 7 today, can't believe those years just go by in a flash when it feels like some days and weeks just never end. The human experience is certainly a wild one.

As per beer I'm 99% sure I tried a can of this when it became a flagship of Cape May's but I truly remember nothing about it so I wanted to get it, since, well, I remember nothing about it. A Belgian White brewed by Cape May Brewing, I thought it was appropriately paired with this unseasonably warm weather and the accompanying rain that is headed here from the south. I love the color combo and label on this beer too. Here we go...

Cape May Brewing - Cape May White (Witbier 5.2%)



Pours lightly cloudy burnished straw, white head; average retention, leaves a nice film cap; some erratic lacing.

Nose is potpourri like aromatic; lightly floral, light orange, coriander, some bubble gum, hints of vanilla; this is a really pleasant smelling beer; not overpowering either a very harmonious mix.

The taste has much of the same spice hits first with some lightly sweet malt, again my brain tells me vanilla like, orange which shift slightly towards rind-like on the finish.

Light to medium body; vibrant but smooth carbonation; creamy on the tongue, soft beer, a lightly dry pop on the finish, clean drinking beer.

This is a good witbier IMO, I tend to grab a wheat beer here or there in the spring and I most definitely will grab this one again come spring time. I'd recommend this to anyone who likes a good wit, leans lightly sweet but never inhibits drinkability and refreshingness.

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That's all for me today, gonna cozy up with a schwarzbier later and watch Christmas Vacation with Mrs. Phisher on this rainy night. Hope you all have a good week and we'll see you in 5 days time, enjoy your new beers

 

Happy NBW again everyone! For today's brews I had a couple of this month's Urban Artifact Small Batch Society releases with their Banana Coffee and Apricot Cobbler fruit tarts:

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/40297/682611/?ba=bluejacket74#lists

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/40297/682612/?ba=bluejacket74#lists





Might have another new brew review on here later, cheers!

 

Social Project Mocha Grounded Coffee Stout, 8.0% ABV; 4.02 overall

Pours an effervescent chestnut with one finger of mocha/brown head, drops off fast. Zero head retention & lacing

S: Tons of coffee, some vanilla & chocolate

T: Straight ice coffee, with vanilla & cocoa powder, dryness up front. Plenty coffee, dryness, a little woody hop profile, vanilla & chocolate once this beer warms up. Finishes some pronounced chocolate & vanilla sweetness fighting through coffee beans & dryness

MF: Medium body, dialed back carbonation, body thins a touch as this beer warms up

Pretty drinkable for the ABV; if you are into coffee forward Stouts, you'll like/love this

 

Kane Sneak Box an excellent American Pale Ale

 

One of my faves. After a long bike ride or run, sooooo good. I wish we could get the other offerings from them.

 

This afternoon’s new to me beer has been a longtime want - Samuel Adams’ Utopias (2023):



Poured at 64°. Murky brown pour but settles down to almost full clarity; no head, ring nor lace; heavy legs on swirl. Nose is Sherry, boozy caramel with a phenolic exhale. Entry is boozy hot Sherry like flavor; sugary raisins; sweet caramel malt. Viscous, almost chewy feel; medium plus body; hot mouthfeel from 28% abv; alcohol burn on tip of tongue; face flushing warmth. Overall a power house of a high abv strong ale; potent; looking forward to enjoying this beer many times!

4.25 | 4.75 | 5.0 | 4.75 | 4.75


Cheers gang!

 

Next up is my first beer from Revision Brewing Company in Nevaday, Reno as F*ck. I received it from @Limazulu in a trade. This ale has a basic hop bill of Citra, Mosaic, and Simcoe and provides a great balance of sweet and tart citrus and a firm malt base.

It pours a hazy, bright tangerine with a half finger cap of bright white foam and sheen of lacing. On the nose there is clementine/tangerine, lemon, grapefruit, and pineapple. A really nice aroma. Delicious, with an great balance of tart citrus and sweet, tropical fruits including pineapple, tangerine, apricot, and red berry. The tried and true bill of Citra and Mosaic always works well and the Simcoe adds earthy, grassy, piny notes that complement the fruit. The mouth feel is luxuriously thick and creamy and it drinks surprisingly lite for 8.4% ABV. Overall, this is a terrific New England IPA.

4.18/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

 

Even tho I got burned on price for this 12pk, it's still what I was after. Real good craft quality, a somewhat wide variety and fresh. Plus I prefer stronger brews in 12 oz portions or less.
Clown Shoes Royal Standard Wee Heavy Ale. 8%ABV. Rating/Review in progress...

Cheers!!

 

Central Waters Simplicity DIPA, 9.2% ABV. Pours clearish golden, with a 5+ finger light-yellow head on an aggressive pour, leaving great lacing. Aroma is fruity and malty. Taste is fruity, moderate sweetness, equally bitter, can taste the alcohol on the close. Decent mouthfeel, good carbonation, slightly dry. Overall excellent.

4.08/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to @GreenBayBA for giving me this excellent SMaSH DIPA. Nice and fruity, not overly bitter. This would be a great picnic beer.

 

My last new beer review this weekend is a glorious mistake. Autodidact Beer tried to brew a Winter Warmer. But as the brewery freely admits the spicing didn't turn out the way they had hoped. Well, that sometimes isn't so bad. What they managed to brew is a smoky American Porter with a nice touch of cinnamon. I tried it at the brewery yesterday and immediately decided to buy cans. Forget the style, this is a tasty and enjoyable beer! Autodidact is going to brew another batch to try to get the Winter Warmer spicing right but I'll drink this "mistake" any time!

It pours ink black with two fingers of frothy, khaki-colored head and very thick, clinging lacing. On the nose is chocolate, freshly-brewed coffee, caramel, tobacco smoke, nutty char, and cinnamon. It drinks like a smoky Porter with dark chocolate, earthy, smoky char, and just a hint of cinnamon. It is rich with nice depth of flavor. The mouth feel is thick and creamy with lite/moderate carbonation, and the 6.6% AVB gives it good substance. The brewery freely admits that this beer doesn't have the spicing expected in a Winter Warmer. So as a Winter Warmer I'd give it a low rating. However, as a smoky Porter, this is very good!

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

I just wish my professional screw ups would turn out this good. Cheers and have a great week, everyone!

 

Nice! I have one in the cellar calling to me to try it. Just waiting for the right moment, hopefully before Dryuary.