New Beer Weekend #181

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/67137/685494/

A new weekend, a new brewer and a new beer. Lower West Side West Coast IPA

Poured a473ml can into a tulip. A big four finger head on a cloudy dark amber. great head retention. Lots of patchy lacing.
Pine and citrus in the node.
Again tastes of pine and citrus. Decent hop finish.
Light body and medium carbonation.
Nice. Fairly smooth. a serviceable American IPA. Better than I expected.

look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

 

Pump you up!

Do you remember the old SNL skit with Hans and Franz?



Von C Brewing is a small, local brewery (to me) that has been open for several years and to my great joy they finally got around to installing a hand pump (beer engine) a few weeks ago. The first beer they brewed to be served on their hand pump is a Dark Mild:

“Fishin’ Credits (Beer Engine Pour) Mild - Dark

3.9% ABV Norristown, PA

Our English dark mild ale was designed around all English ingredients. This is a malt focused beer with a mix of roasted and toasted malts to create an easy drinking, low abv beer. Aromas of raisin and toffee with subdued flavors of dark fruit and molasses. Poured using a classic beer engine.”

I spoke to one of the co-owners (Jay) while I was there and shared that I was very pleased that he finally got around to installing the hand pump (we discussed this topic in the past, over a year ago). He told me that he had the hand pump for a long time but some other part was on ‘back order’ (or something like that). I kinda gave him a look but I suppose this is a situation that you shouldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth. I meant to ask what was the genesis for the brand name “Fishin’ Credits” but I forgot. Maybe one of you BAs who is an avid fishing person understands this terminology?

Served in an Nonic pint glass:

Appearance:

A deep amber with a tan head.

Aroma:

There is an intriguing combination: some chocolate, some dark dried fruits, some toffee, some…

Taste:

The flavor follows the nose with the combination of chocolate/dark dried fruits/toffee. There is a low-moderate bitterness.

Mouthfeel:

Medium bodied, a smooth/luscious mouthfeel and a dry finish.

Overall:

This beer is very good - excellent! And I greatly enjoyed the mouthfeel which was accentuated via being served by the hand pump (beer engine). I also appreciated that the beer was served cool vs. cold.

I am quite happy that another local craft taproom has a beer engine to join others in my area (e.g., Forest & Main, Troubles End).

Cheers!

@rotsaruch @KOP_Beer_OUtlet @RobH

 

Thank you @AzfromOz for kicking off this weekend. Sadly, I am coming to my end of beers I traded for last Spring and Summer. It was fun and I was able to enjoy amazing beers that otherwise don't make it to Chicago. My final two selections are cellar appropriate selections from Dave @beergoot I have been looking forward to enjoying.

River North Bourbon Barrel Aged Hello Darkness



Bottle Notes: Received from Dave, @beergoot on Beer Advocate, via in person trade on May 12, 2023, refrigerated at the time and then returning home until opening now. 12.7 oz bottle, vintage 2022. 13.9% ABV, barrel aged imperial porter. Brewed and bottled by River North Brewery, Denver, Colorado.

Appearance: Poured a near still black with minimal tan bubbly head lacing around the rim, nominal carbonation noted. Very thin tan white lacing slides effortlessly and gives a creamer texture as I'm enjoying. 3.75

Aroma: Initial aroma a rich roasted chocolate malt backed by a boozy bourbon. Now 20 minutes in, it's still very cold around the glass, but the bourbon is becoming stronger and smoother, with a nice oak backing, and toffee caramel adding to the chocolate fudge base. 4.50

Taste: First stab and I'm getting a cherry chocolate sundae, then rich chocolate fudge. The bourbon still prevalent on the nose is faint to negligible. I wait another several minutes and cup the glass to warm, and the bourbon begins to emerge, a bit of heat but no burn. Cherry chocolate still leads, but also getting generous hot poured caramel and sticky toffee. Just a wonderful medley of flavors. 4.5

Mouthfeel: Faint carbonation, sticky and creamy texture to an otherwise watery base. Drinks sweet and lighter than the hefty ABV at first, but then it is game on a few ounces in. This is pretty sweet, more so than I typically seek, but no cloying and I'm digging. Chocolate cherry finish. 4.5

Overall: I don't recall a similar porter I've enjoyed with the still pour appearance, or the breadth of flavors as I am enjoying with this one. The booze is felt but has a gentle touch, even a half hour in and substantially through. This is an excellent desert offering, not for everyday but an occasional treat to reward yourself for an accomplishment or other celebration. This is a very thoughtful selection Dave, I really appreciate you including in our trade. 4.5

I have a very special trade selection beer planned for New Beer Sunday #985. Until then...

 

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/48/54453/

From the Christmas Van Steenberge mix pack. I reviewed the pack last year, but I either missed this one or they switched up a bottle this year. All good.

Poured a 330ml bottle into a tulip. A two finger fine white head on a clear amber. Good head retention.
Spicy fruit up front. Some ester.
More fruit as it warms. An almost imperceptible hop finish.
Very smooth. Medium/light body. Moderate carbonation.
An excellent Blonde Ale. Smooth and well balanced.

look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

 

Good morning BAs! Courtesy of @Number1Framer , I drinking BCBS (2022) Wild Turkey:



Poured at 58°. Black body with grayish/ruby edges; fizzy tan head; poor cap retention leaves a small island of micro dots; solid plus ring; initially some some soapy lacing; no legs on swirl. Nose is bourbon, chocolate and caramel; boozy retro nasal. Entry is chocolate fudge, bourbon, oak; dark fruit, figs on backend. Smooth feel; medium body; moderate minus carbonation; full face warmth from 13.8%; not adjuncty; dry wooden barrel finish. Overall, a bit thin for abv, but whiskey shines in parallel with fudgey base.

4.25 | 4.5 | 4.75 | 4.5 | 4.5
Score: 4.59 rDev +1.3%

A darn fine single barrel variant…I hope GI makes these “Easter Eggs” again, and that we can get them in Florida. Cheers!

 

Schell's Snowstorm 2023 Four Rye Dark Ale

My beer for today's NBW is Schell's 2023 Snowstorm. A beer I look forward to every year as Schell's usually tries a different style or an interesting variation.

Appearance: Clear dark amber, big head.

Smell: Dark rye bread, not overly spicy though.

Taste: Toasted bread, then rye chips like the ones in snack mix (but not salty). The rye continues big throughout the finish. Medium bodied but pretty easy drinking.

Overall: Schell's Snowstorm is always a highlight of the winter season. The dark rye beer this year is a good one, plenty of rye flavor, not overly sweet, a good change-up from the other big winter beers.

 

Another nice winter day in the high desert. 32 degrees this morning, warming to the 50s this
afternoon. No wind, which will make my yardwork more enjoyable.
My new beer for today is Spinner, a witbier from Common Roots Brewing Company. The brewery describes it as a "Belgian-style Witbier brewed with coriander and Curacao orange peel."
The beer is a hazy orange color with a small white head and a bit of lace.
Aroma of citrus fruit, a hint of spice.
Taste of orange and coriander.
Not very lively in the mouth.
Not bad.

 

I visited the brewery (South Glen Falls, NY) a few years ago while vacationing in upstate NY. I liked the beer(s) and my wife and I ate lunch. I enjoyed the taproom.

Is Common Roots sending their beers out your way?

Cheers!

 

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/10272/684242/

Poured a 330ml bottle into a tulip. A thin off white head that diminishes to a thin layer on a clear dark ruby.
Sour cherry in the nose. Some whisky notes.
The whisky notes are more apparent in the taste than the fruit. more cherry as it warms.
Smooth. light body and medium carbonation.
Interesting. Not really a Kriek but more of a cask conditioned Fruit and Field beer. Worth a try.

look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

 

Hey what's going on all?

Rain is coming down, not complaining, they kept talking about snow and I am like... you realize the low is only 34 right???

With that said it's a wet mess, and I am slaving over my classic beef stew which I have already started.

As of course with cooking, I need a beverage, and I am still finishing up my New England goodies.

Here is the latest

SSSappp - Tree House Brewing



Poured from the can into a Spiegelau IPA glass. Canned 12/12/2023 Christmas tree.

Bit of a slight murky and turbid body. Pale lemon pie meringue like color, capped off with a solid four fingers of foamed rich off white head. Thick retention and barely even budging, with excellent amounts of clingy lace.

Aroma is a great hop flavor. Ripping grapefruit, and musty earth, mixed into one like a giant bottle of perfume. Sweet touches of caramel like malt also hiding out as well. Excellent hop profile, some slight variety, and just wonderful on the nose.

Delicious palate. Orange and deep grapefruit mid palate flavors, rich and juicy. The texture is light but full and rich malt, syrup like but without the harsh sweetness. Lots of oily zest on the finish, sweet pith and more grapefruit touches with an earthy balance. Maybe a hint of peach as well.

Real straightforward, and not complaining about the lack of complexity, but bold and controlled IPA. Great drinking beer.

look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5 | BA Generated score: 4.46/5

Cheers!

 

Tyrenena Brewing 24. A double barrel-aged imperial stout. Aged 100% in bourbon barrels, then a portion is transferred to, and aged in, brandy barrels. Courtesy of @Danmullens1. The look is pitch black, with brown foam that is initially thick, then quickly disappears. The smell is surprisingly coffee-forward, with milk chocolate, smoke, and caramel. There is not much of an alcohol odor. The taste is milk chocolate, caramel, graham cracker, and marshmallow. It does not taste very barrel-aged. The whiskey and brandy barrels seem to cancel each other out. The mouthfeel is thin, light, smooth, and syrupy, with light carbonation. Overall, this was a valiant attempt to create a memorable Wisconsin barrel-aged stout, but it was not executed well.

 

From the reporting I have seen it appears that I-95 is a 'magical' dividing line when it comes to rain vs. snow. I an northwest of the I-95 dividing line and it is snowing here but I expect that in a few hours the snow will transition to rain. It seems that storm Ember (what an interesting name) is like Real Estate: location, location, location. And timing as well.

Cheers!

 

Happy NBW everyone! Only one new brew for me today, Braxton Brewing's Bourbon Cream Dark Charge Imperial Stout was a good one:

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/35568/685800/?ba=bluejacket74#lists





Should have another new brew or 2 tomorrow, cheers!

 

I'm cheating a little here as I brought this home yesterday and couldn't resist downing two as soon as I got home. Friday evening is basically the weekend in my book.
This is one of the few SN beers that showed up in CT stores within a reasonable time from release. That being said, its already spent five plus weeks in the can.

4.23/5 rDev -4.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Poured from a 16-oz can dated 11/29/23 to a Nonic at fridge temp.
The body is an ultra-clear deep gold. A one inch head of not quite pure white sits on top. Lacing is really good and the head keeps an eighth inch presence for the entire session.
There is a pine aroma, floral notes and some rind in the smell.
The flavor is strong pine resin, a real west coaster. Further sips bring a floral background. Alcohol warmth is obvious but not detracting.
Carbonation is near perfect in a Goldilocks sort of way. There is some hop oil in the mouthfeel. It is clean and non-sticky.
Overall a great beer. Good to see SN quality and consistency is still there.

 

Thanks for so ably kicking us off yet again, @AzfromOz.

Put gas back in the snowblower today and it roared to life on the second pull, so things are good here and fully prepped for the storm. We're forecast to get more than most others, but still not that much compared to past big storms. I'd hope for more except it is going to turn warm and rain for the second storm mid week.

Now for an old wintertime favorite from my pre-BA days. The taste matches my memories but the nitro can did not. I was a bit shocked and had to rapidly swap out glassware. Luckily, no mess.

Belhaven Scottish Ale



Pours a deep amber with a one-finger off-white head after nitro cascade.

Aroma is sweet; toffee, caramel, honey, dried fruit; white bread and nuts.

Taste is wonderful. The nuttiness comes to the fore at the beginning of the sip, mingling with brown bread and caramel through the middle, and then blending in with some earthy roast bitterness at the finish. Fairly sweet, dry, and nutty aftertaste without being cloying.

Nitro can, super smooth. Medium-light bodied.

Overall, a fantastic beer. Big flavors of a scotch ale while being much easier to drink than a wee heavy. In many ways, this is a sweeter rendition of that most quaffable of dark beers: the brown ale.

 

So true! Cheers!