New Beer Weekend #180

Alesmith - Speedway Stout Salted Caramel Brownie Edition

16oz can served in a pair of WABL sample glasses. Can is dated 1/11/23.

Pours thick, not quite black, opaque, with a reasonable (small) head for the style, and surprisingly good retention. Smell is dessert. Sweet, chocolate syrup, caramel, maybe a hint of roast, a little boozy.

Taste is thankfully not nearly as cloying as I feared from the aroma. There's definite caramel sweetness, but the chocolate is more bitter and dark, and their is more coffee. Booziness comes in a bit on the back end. Kind of interesting that I can't decide whether it's dominated by the roasty bitter or the caramel sweet, they're both so strong but they're in a stalemate.

Mouthfeel is fairly thick, as I would expect. Overall, there's nothing subtle about this, but it's well made and sort of a miraculously balanced contest of extremes.

 

I’ll join @ZebulonXZogg in dancing with a big Surly imperial stout on New Year’s Eve. Living in Minnesota for 18 years, I was blessed to have access to Surly beers when they were THE brewery in Minnesota and highly sought after with beer nerds literally around the country (I literally shipped Surly beers from coast to coast and most points in between from 2010 - 2017).

That makes it more than ironic that I picked up this bottle in Omaha NE this past June on a work trip. And here we are. Happy New Year, NBSers.





4.58/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Pours a very dark cola brown and settles in the glass a light-absorbing black color, propping up a creamy, substantial mocha colored head that lingers a bit. Beautiful impy stout.

The nose is led by a spicy barrel aroma from the rye barrels, along with lots of chocolate, vanilla, caramel, and stone fruit. There’s a lot going on here, but it’s balanced. I am salivating.

The rye barrel is not bashful - it is very much up front, with a spicy bourbon flavor, and it stakes out its territory at the very back of the palate, leaving a spreading warmth that lingers.

In the middle of all of that barrel presence is a whole lot of chocolate and vanilla, with the literal cherry on this beer a dark cherry flavor that is perfect for this beer. Absolutely delicious.

The mouthfeel is just a smidge softer than I’d like with a beer of this gravity, but this is still a world class BA imperial stout that will please the most discerning beer nerd, IMHO.

 

Happy New Year's Eve. In the homestead and chillin' (literally - its damp and miserable outside and the heat hasn't caught up yet) with a bunch of Thai food. On sports TV overload with all the locals playing.

In the glass:



Amory's Tomb Brrwing Co. Astral Traveller which the call a Saison Modern, 6.4%. Their notes say it is a modern American farmhouse ale brewed with 100% New England barley and flaked rye. Hopped with layers of Crystal, Amarillo,and Citra hops. Fermented bone-dry with a light and peppery yeast strain. This hop forward saison blurs the lines between its American and Belgian influences.

Hmmm...they say a lot, don't they...

Pours crystal clear golden color with a big fluffy white head. Falls to about a 1/8 inch jagged cap, some clinginess.

The smell is citrus leading the way, more orange than anything else. Bready malt in the background. I'm not picking up the more subtle notes I'd expect and it strikes me as a bit one-dimensional and IPA-ish.

The taste is an odd mix. Definitely orange, but also some noble hop character with floral and spiciness. Strong bitterness mid-taste. Lingering spicy pepperiness and a citrus rind-like oiliness that starts annoying and ends kind of on the unpleasant side. A tiny bit of soapiness.

Fell is indeed light and dry. The lingering tingle is no bueno as it accumulates.

Overall this beer seems to suffer from more is better on the hops as the citrus and spice eventually dominate. It's not got enough malt to stand up to the hops, so in my opinion it's kind of an unbalanced amalgamation that seems more IPA like than saison except there's not enough malt. Not diggin' it very much. I'd say a 3.5 will be generous.

 

After a New Year's shift at the liquor store, you know I'm thirsty...

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/22512/681081/



16 ounce can.
Best By 04/16/24.

Moderate pour yields a nearly 2 inch white head over a bright golden body with lacing.

Nose of floral/earthy hops, bread, toast, cracker, and malt.

Taste follows nose fairly closely. Smooth, with hop bitterness slowly taking charge over the bready, slightly sweet malt for a crisp finish.

Mouthfeel is fairly full with medium carbonation.

Overall, an excellent example of the style and definitely worth seeking out.

Cheers!

 

American Solera Palate Jack Zero IBU IPA, 6.5% ABV; 3.98 overall

Pours a hazy gold with one pinky of ivory colored head. Nice lacing & above average head retention

S: Tropical fruits, limes, passion fruit once warm

T: Follows the nose, tangerine notes as well up front. Dryness, grapefruits & limes as this beer warms up, some green melon notes as well. Finishes with pomelo, green melon & dryness

MF: Medium body, slight carbonation, good balance

Drinkable, but glad I just got a single, would work better as a summer beer

 

This looks like my last beer of 2023. I’ve had a nagging cold for almost two weeks now and I’m not tasting much at the moment. Despite this, I sucked it up and opened this one from Olde Mecklenburg to go with the Beef Wellington my wife cooked for dinner.

This is Olde Mecklenburg Yule Bock:



And this is the Beef Wellington with rosemary maple glazed carrots, mashed potatoes and garlic and herb butterflied shrimp.



Pours a deep reddish amber with moderate head that dissipates fairly slowly.

Malty nose. Sweet yeasty bread. Slight hint of spice/pepper. I get a very mild cherry aroma as well.

Taste isn’t as sweet as the nose. That bready/doughy note is present. Again a little spice. Some fruit notes that are quite mild; cherry, grape, pear. Mildly bitter.

The body is medium with a nice mouthfeel.

I’d gladly have this again, especially when I’m feeling better and can taste a little better.

Cheers all and thanks for the hours of enjoyment I have gotten reading through these threads all year long. Happy 2024 to all!

 

From the barleywine/stout BIF #1, from @sulldaddy who saw I had expressed interest in this beer:



Fox Farm - Witch Meadow - BA stout 16%

I had high expectations for this beer, and it met those expectations easily. Great aroma, heavy on the bourbon/vanilla/oak with some chocolate.

On the palate, the barrel is very much present but smoothly integrated. The base beer stands up well to the barrel aging with dark chocolate and roast. Some smoky notes in there as well. Thick but not chewy, this is a fantastic BA beer with depth and complexity.

Thanks Chris!

 

Mmm, Machine House? You lucky guy!

 

Sounds like a fantastic combo, a shame your taste buds aren't at the party

 

Here's to @2beerdogs for this Black Tuesday BA Imp Stout, 19.5% ABV; 4.54 overall

Pours an effervescent hazel/chestnut with one finger of fast failing mocha colored head. No head retention or lacing

S: Dark fruit, Bourbon Barrel, hints of coconut & dark cherries once warm

T: Follows the nose, some cola & molasses notes, plus leafy hops up front. Some coffee, dark chocolate, a little vanilla as this beer warms up, along with oaky char, dark cherry & figs, plus some pleasing, warming Bourbon notes. Finishes with boozy dark chocolate cherry notes, a touch of vanilla, brown sugar, maple & oaky dryness. plus a kiss of Bourbon

MF: Fairly chewy, minimal carbonation, pretty darn warming

Great & very potent take on the style. Great drinkability for the heft. Thrilled to have to finally tried this longtime want! This beer just got better the warmer it got.





Had to dome a third of this monster!

 

I have an Olde Ale style I've been saving but I think it might be a tomorrow thing...
NBW will still be going, right?

 

It is a Federal Holiday, so I believe so

 

HA! I Iiterally finished that book on Saturday!

 

Good day BAs! Off to another long weekend; however, Mrs Lizard and I both have nasty colds and had to cancel our NY eve dinner plans - my taste is so off that I haven't tried any of the massive hits inflicted upon me by @snaotheus and @muchloveforhops3 in BSBIF#1. However, the routine beers I've had in the evenings tasted OK, so I decided to brave a New Breakfast Beer today, choosing one I probably wouldn't particularly enjoy, so no loss if it tasted bad.



Surprise! Looks like orange juice, but, if possible, tastes better!

Final impression and summation: 3.75 (After deducting 0.25 point for an undated personal container) Not fizzy enough to be a mimosa but excellent flavor. Not a beer at all, just a tasty low alcohol aromatic fruit drink, emphasis on the tasty. In fact, it’s hard not to gulp the whole glass.

Rating 4.08, rDev 0% (First review)

 

Happy New Year 2024!

This annual release became a new tradition starting with my first one in 2020, and I look forward to enjoying this each year end.

2020 2021 2022

Trader Joe’s 2023 Vintage Spiced Ale



Bottle Notes: Purchased at store temperature 12/8/23 at Trader Joe's Park Ridge for $6.83. 25.4 oz bottled 7/19/23, best by 7/19/26. 9.0% ABV, Dark Ale Brewed With Spices, On Lees (Bottle Conditioned). Brewed and Bottled by Unibroue, Chambly, Quebec, Canada on behalf of Trader Joe's.

Unique and limited edition, this Belgian Style Spiced Ale is crafted once a year as a special treat for those of you who appreciate flavorful, bottle-conditioned ales with character.

Our Vintage Spiced Ale is a rich, dark and full-bodied ale with a fine and generous coffee-colored beige foam. It's ready to enjoy right away and you may also wish to cellar a few bottles. It will evolve interestingly well, developing more complex flavors as the years go by. Keep the bottle upright in storage.

Brewed with a delicate balance of noble hops, roasted malts and spices, this is a remarkably smooth ale with a wonderfully complex finish. It is best served slightly chilled, around 53 degrees Fahrenheit and pairs exceptionally well with grilled salmon steaks, curried lamb, beef or tuna au poivre.

Appearance: Single center 90% pour of about 10 oz of the bottle into a chalice. Dark chestnut brown near black impenetrable base, bubbly tan white head of near an inch recedes into a creamy thin cover over the entire base, with generous fine lacing bubbles slowly sliding down throughout the pour. 4.5

Aroma: Clove, banana front and center a few minutes in. Cinnamon, spices, root beer candy. Mild plus strength, enjoying. 4.25

Taste: Consistent with the aroma, clove banana yeast the primary yield. Brown sugar, cinnamon spices about the same level, with brown sugar emerging consistent with prior releases as this warms. Enjoying as usual. 4.0

Mouthfeel: Creamy rich mouthfeel, nominal carbonation felt. Medium to full body, sweeter than prior year releases per notes. Light and easy drinking at first, but drinks at the 9% ABV level once I'm beyond the first few ounces. Dry, sweet throughout, sweet sugar and spices linger on the finish. 4.25

Overall: Overall, another solid effort by Unibroue, though now comparing my notes of this version to last, it seems as though the previous year was more balanced and stronger. That said, happy I pooped this open today, and I will continue to turn to Trader Joes / Unibroue with this annual release. 4.25

 

I've traded with @Ozzylizard . He knows how to pick them!