New Beer Weekend #179

Relaxing day at home with just the four of us, which is just the way we like it. I'm getting ready to watch the Eagles game, and figured I'd open up this bottle of Clara from Hill Farmstead while I watch.

3.95/5 rDev -4.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Brewed in 2022.

This one was a gusher when I opened it. Once I quickly dealt with that cleanup, the pour revealed a fizzy, dirty orange beer with plenty of short-lived head that receded to a spotty cap. Aroma is a general earthy, oak funk. Overall, nothing jumping out at me in the look or smell....let's see what it tastes like.

The answer to that is a light, easily drinkable beer with nice notes from the yeast, some light earthy funk and just enough spice to add an extra dimension. Like many Hill Farmstead beers (in particular anything in their Saison / Farmhouse range), it's super tasty at a reasonable ABV and goes down very easily.

Overall, very nice beer.

 

What we have here is a BA Russian Imperial Stout from Holzlager Brewing in Woodstock. Label says aged 10 months in Blaum Bros. rye whiskey barrels, I believe they're from Galena, bottled 8/13/21, one of 400 bottles.
4.06/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Thick, dark, oily looking pour leaves a small, quickly receding head and leaves an oily film behind. Nose gets some chocolate, coffee, caramel and a hint of booze. Booze is more noticeable in the taste department, maybe a bit overpowering. Smooth mouthfeel. Not great, but solid.

 

Goudon carolus Christmas
...murky brownish copper appearance
...medium light carbonation with the body being at least average. Overall it has a bit of a chewy thick feel.
...aroma is spice,brown sugar,malt,dark fruit.
...taste is definitely dark fruit,malt,molasses with spice and something like banana. There is an odd metallic,astringent taste that took away from it a bit.
...overall its a nice beer thats worth trying and I wonder if my bottle was off a bit

 

Merry Christmas all! I have my first 10K steps and have consumed 2 liters of water, so I’m ready for something terrible.

I got into a “strong dark ale” kick a while back and picked this up then. Pretty sure it was old when I got it.

Okay, it was definitely old when I got it. But onwards!
Someone who lives 20 minutes from the brewery suggested I drink it cold, which I don’t generally do. Cellar temp is plenty cold for me. So this might be 2 reviews- one cold (spoiler, I think it’s amazing) and one later when it’s not cold.
The cork required a pair of pliers to twist off and there was a soft “pop” when the seal was broken.
Poured the color of cold brew coffee with a little more attempt at a head.
The taste reminds me of why I got on the dark ale (as in not a porter or stout, my normal stomping grounds) Raisins, bread pudding, plum and what I imagine figgy pudding would taste like. All without being sweet, at least not in the traditional sense. Fructose type sweetness, but not cloying at all. Damn, the glass is empty.
The feel is likely more viscous than originally intended, simply because of the age, but it works so well.
OA, Peter, are they still brewing this? I think I want to try a fresh version just to see. Really good beer.

 

Clown Shoes Mangö American Kölsch 5.5% ABV
3.79/5 rDev -2.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
12 oz can enjoy by date 1/31/24 into a Kolsch glass.
L: SRM 3 Pours gold caramel color with a slight bit of yeast, good steady large carbonation bubbles, a thin white head that quickly recedes to edge foam, not much lacing.
S: Notes of fruit bread, mango, background malts, pastry dough.
T: Mango, caramel malts, citrus, a hint of grains, green apple, light melon rind, has a little hop bite, it is lightly pale in the finish & linger. Has a bitter fruit aftertaste.
F: Lightly crisp, medium to medium-light bodied feel with a medium-length taper down to a fairly dry finish.
O: A smooth drinking Kolsch with moderately rich mango and mixed fruit tastes. It has a gently slippery feel and is quite pleasant tasting. Fruity and easy drinking and the tastes are redolent of panettone. It is good in its style.

 

Daily serving blood orange , mango and pineapple


4.43/5 rDev -0.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Can poured into a pretentious beert glass pours a hazy orange juice with an off-white two finger foam cap proceeds to a thick layer

Aroma is orange citrus mango pineapple

Taste is juicy orange citrus, pineapple, mango

Sweet tart, tangy

Good beer

 

Merry Christmas, All.

 

3 Fonteinen - Druif Muscaris

750ml bottle served in a smallish snulip. 20-21 season batch 16. Sent my way by the magnificent @Coronaeus.

Pours mostly clear orange-amber with zero head on the pour, though eventually a very thin ring arises. Smell is tart and oaky with a slight chardonnay butteriness, and a vague green grapiness.

Taste is tart and fruity, again with the chardonnay butter character, something almost tropical in the juiciness. some woody dryness, and a green grape sweetness.

Mouthfeel is medium, still. Overall, pretty good, but definitely not one of their best.

Merry Christmas, friends!

 

Only one new brew for me today, but I made sure it was a great one:

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/24903/307365/?ba=bluejacket74#lists



Cheers and Merry Christmas!

 

Fresh air by tree house


3.81/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Brewers notes: Fresh Air is made for adventure! In the ever-evolving world of craft beer, one thing endures: the need for a delicious session beer. It is brewed with our beloved Citra hop atop a simple, clean malt base. A clean fermentation results in an immensely crushable beer with exceptional complexity, given its lightness. And it contains barely a gram of carbohydrates. Whether the journey has just begun or you’re planting a flag on the peak of what once felt impossible, this beer is for those moments and the small victories in between.


Clear golden clear liquid frothy three finger white foam crown, several carbonation streams

Aroma is bready malts, whiff of hops

Crisp light bready malts slight citrus hop

Crisp clean light

Nice beer

 

Merry Christmas, NBSers. To celebrate this special day, I have a couple of special beers to share. The first is courtesy of my friend @Roy_Hobbs in a distant NBS BIF that was bottled 4 years ago.

Let’s do this.





4.6/5 rDev +6.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Pours a cloudy golden orange color with a surprisingly dense white head that lingers as a ring around the top of the beer. Lovely looking in my glass.

The nose has a nice amount of funk and is earthy, with a nice amount woody oak and a surprising amount of tart citrus, especially ripe oranges.

The funk isn’t as big on the taste as I’ve experienced in a lot of other beers in this style, and that’s okay, because it really allows the earthy flavor to meld with the oak and the ripe oranges to create a robust flavor profile that doesn’t have as much “pucker” to it, which I really appreciate. Absolutely delicious, IMHO.

The mouthfeel is medium and not quite as spritzy as I normally encounter in this style, which adds to the drinkability, IMHO. This is world class, again IMHO, and probably the best beer I’ve had in this style.

 

Back home after a good time with my family. Now that I'm home, after driving in a pretty heavy rainstorm, I thought this beer was in order:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/417/678433/
Snowstorm 2023 - August Schell Brewing - New Ulm, MN - Rye Beer - 6.3%

Every year August Schell Brewing makes a new Snowstorm beer, and sometimes, like Firebrick, it goes into general production. While the aroma is lacking in my book, it is a very tasty beer, and I wouldn't mind seeing this one more. I am saying that in spite of my being way below average with my review.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/417/678433/

3.7/5 rDev -6.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
From a 12 oz can dated (BB) 03-24-24

This is a very dark amber pouring beer. When held up to the light, I see a fairly clear looking beer, and just a ton of carbonation rising in the glass. The head overall is a 2 finger tan colored head. Very long head retention, and a good deal of lacing on the glass.
Nose isn't too strong. I do get some faint hints of caramel and rye, but not a lot.
Taste - This beer has a good rye bill, and that rye flavor builds and builds in my throat. Some caramel does come into the mix to combine with the rye flavor. Slight bitterness on the backside finishes off the rye parade.
Nice body. Somewhat smooth feeling. Fairly full feeling.
I am enjoying this beer, and wouldn't mind one bit seeing this brought into the regular rotation.


I might have one more in me on this dreary, rainy night. Cheers.

 

Clown Shoes Mad Perf Sesh DH Session IPA 5.2% ABV
I really like this brew a lot. Not seen it here free from a variety pk. Cheers!!!
4.14/5 rDev +10.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
12 oz can enjoy by date 1/31/24 into a Becher glass.
L; SRM 2 Pours murky light caramel color with a rounded 1/4" eggshell white head, good retention down to a thick skin, light carbonation bubbles, random skeletal, sticky med-thick lacing displaying light sheeting & banding.
S: Grapefruit, pineapple, citrus zest, lightly vinous, a hint of lemon.
T: Lightly tart & fruity hop notes, grapefruit, light melon rind, citrus zest, yeast, wheat notes, moderately floral, has lemon & citrus zest within a lingering finish.
F: Brisk, slightly voluminous, plush and lightly juicy medium-light bodied feel with a medium-long moderately dry finish.
O: A great tasting session IPA. Overall rather zesty, dry, and lightly bright. Full tastes with a light, crushable appeal. This is an excellent American Session IPA that should not be compared against standard IPAs. Its style characteristics check every box and it is genuinely excellent. I would buy this again.

 

Feeling a little better so I decided to have one I was hoping would be good.

This is Dark Streets of London ESB by Clifford Brewing of Stony Creek, Ontario. Clifford makes the best straight ahead local Porter so I have high hopes.



Pours a light mahogany with minimal head. No lacing as the beer is enjoyed.

Nice malty nose. Some cooked fruit.

Bready on the tongue. That cooked/stewed fruit is in evidence. Great even bitter finish.

Moderate body.

This is a solid, enjoyable bitter. I’d gladly have this regularly.

I’m being called to the dinner table so I had to make this quick!

Exit stage left…!

 

Okay, so I waited for the Terrible to warm up and the guy who recommended I drink it cold was spot on.
I seriously thought it would be better at the temperature I normally drink my beer, but it tasted old. Many of the same flavors were still there but it just wasn’t as good.
How is that even possible???
I still really want to try this fresh, and according to BA it’s still active so I hope to find it soon.
Anyway, that’s the story. Hopefully you are having an awesome Christmas!

 

Drekker Passionfruit Colada BRAAAAAAAAins Double Fruit Smoothie Sour, 6.3% ABV. Pours opaque bright-orange with a 3 finger light-orange head that left foam and puree residue. Aroma is passionfruit, pineapple, and vanilla. Taste follows, plus coconut, quite sweet, faintly tart, salt on the close. Thick and smooth mouthfeel, overall excellent to near-outstanding.

4.42/5 rDev +1.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

 

The seed brewery kolsch
...cloudy gold appearance.
...medium carbonation with about an average body.
....aroma is bread,cereal,,malt,yeast.
..taste almost dry with what seems like very mild sweetness which gets covered up with a slow building hop bite.
....overall its a very nice beer from a local brewery

 

#2, I’ve held this beer for a year, but I can resist no longer. I think this is gonna be awesome, but what do I know?





4.75/5 rDev +4.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Pours a beautiful mahogany brown color with a slightly creamy light tan head that lingers a bit. Absolutely gorgeous beer as it fills up my goblet.

The nose is boozy - oh so boozy. But not so much that you miss the decadent toffee, vanilla, fig newton, and almond notes. This is shaping up EXCEPTIONALLY well.

The taste is rich, decadent, and slightly dangerous, with the big barrel notes imposing their will on this beer - but allowing the toffee, vanilla, stone fruit, and nutty almond flavors to shine as well. This a lollapooza of a barleywine. Like supreme level world class.

The mouthfeel is full and decadent (there’s that word again), perfect for this beer. This may be my favorite BCBS beer ever.

I’m reluctant to type that, but it’s true.

 

I've had this one in the fridge for long enough and couldn't wait any longer

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/25923/436889/



2018/2019 375 ml. bottle.
Best Before 21/03/29.

Moderate to vigorous pour yields a 1/8 inch very light purple head over a reddish purple body with some lacing.

Nose of fairly intense blueberry, slight oak, and slight funk.

Taste is sour blueberry and citrus after a brief instant of ripe blueberry. Finish is quite dry.

Mouthfeel is rather full with a bit more than medium carbonation.

Overall, what a treat this is. I'm trying my hardest to savor this and not drink it too fast. I should have brought home another bottle to open right now!!

Cheers!!!