New Beer Weekend #181

I had that experience yesterday morning. Nothing but rain and mist where I'm at, but about a dozen blocks up the hill there was a dusting of snow. FWIW, even that was gone by mid-day. Supposedly, in the coming week, shit is finally going to get real, weather-wise, but it definitely hasn't happened yet.

 

Now that you mention it, it looks that way, although the owner has a really solid local pedigree.
https://www.schenker.beer/about

 

Hello New Beer Weekend!!!

Well, winter is here in central Minnesota. It is cold out, and we have snow on the ground, even if it's just a dusting. We're going to get below 0 temps later in the week, with more snow on the way. Might as well join the party with a beer that fits this time of the year very well.

Night Witch 2023 - Lupulin Brewing - Big Lake, MN - RIS - 13.2% ABV

I say pitch black a lot when describing this style of beer, but this one is several shades darker than others I've tried in this style. The head, while it lasted, matched this by being several shades darker brown color. Very thick and rich feeling, and quite delicious.

Review:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/40035/676348/

4.3/5 rDev +21.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25
From a 16oz can. Canned on 10/19/2023

This beer is pitch black as I think a beer could get. There's no chance any light would shine through it at all. It also looks quite thick while pouring, in a pleasing way. It seemed like a still looking beer while pouring, but a 1 finger very dark brown head appeared, then rapidly disappeared. All that is left is a faint ring around the edge of the glass.
The nose on this beer is so full of dark fruit. I just am smacked in my nose with plum and raisin. These aromas are backed up by some chocolate and toffee.
Taste - Like the nose, the dark fruit flavors are strong in this beer. Plum and raisin are very strong, and last. These flavors are backed up and mellowed out by chocolate, caramel, toffee, coffee, and vanilla. A very pleasing combination.
Thick bodied and very full feeling beer. Very smooth feeling. There's a bit of a burn that hits and warms my throat.
Very solid RIS overall, and great for a cold day.


I think this is going to be my only new beer of the weekend. I'm probably going to have more WBAYDN beers later though. Cheers to all, and see you all in this virtual bar next week.

 

Finally getting some snow and I am finally getting around to sipping this Barrel Aged Imperial Stout with maple syrup, vanilla, and peacan from Kettlehead Brewing.

Poured into a 16 oz tulip glass bottled October of 2023. Pours a very attractive near pitch black, with a finger plus lite mocha head that leaves a few streaks of lace, as it settles into a ring of brown lace around the edges of the glass. 4.5

Aroma roasty coffee, maple syrup, oaky vanilla, peacan, and charred dark chocolate? 4.5

Taste follows deep dark chocolate, roasty coffee, char, vanilla, peacan, and sweet bourbon in the long lingering finish. 4.5

Mouthfeel is slightly above average, gentle carbonation, a touch dry as I want and expect from this style, and at 10.9% it goes down easy, but drinks bigger in flavor. 4.25

Overall I am really enjoying. They have stepped up in the stout game. I would highly recommend if you are a fan of the style. 4.5 Cheers

 

Just one new brew for me today, watching the Bengals last game of the season today. The Bruery/Bruery Terreux BoysenBBLs sour/imperial stout blend is tasty, but more sweet than tart tasting to me.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/16866/685909/?ba=bluejacket74#lists





Cheers and have a great week everyone!

 

Sounds really good, but alas it's not showing up on Beermenus for me. I'll definitely pull the trigger if it makes it up here, though.

 

Good Sunday afternoon, New Beer Savorers and commentators. We had our first real snow of the season - resulting in some blowing and shoveling today. We live on a cul-de-sac with several older neighbors, and while I'm no spring chicken I like to help clear plow-induced piles at the end of their driveways.

Today I'm reviewing a variant of Ralphius from Free Will Brewing - it's conditioned for two years in Buffalo Trace barrels. I had a pour of this at the brewery on release day but took no notes because the place was a (fun) madhouse. I'm always impressed with the Ralphius variants. I'm a Stout guy and to me they are World Class.

Poured at 59°. It's an inky black with a foamy, medium-mocha-colored head that fizzled away quickly leaving a ring around the edge of the glass. The smell is superb: dark chocolate, strong coffee, caramel, toffee, vanilla, brown sugar, leather, tobacco smoke, and just enough bourbon. Its taste is sublime - largely following the nose but with more pronounced coffee and sweeter chocolate. There are also delicious notes of caramel, vanilla, tobacco, and some nutty char. While the Buffalo Trace barrel influence is strong, the bourbon flavor compliments the other tastes without overwhelming them. That said, you can feel the gravity. Its mouth feel is exactly what I hoped for - creamy, almost chewy, with lite carbonation, and there is no avoiding the 14.8% ABV. It should be savored slowly.

4.47/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I'm glad I bought a couple bottles of this wonderful Stout. Cheers, NBW!

 

I cant stop drinking that one

 

I’m a fan of a good Swartz beer so when I see Archival had one on tap, I stopped by to try it.

The appearance was very subdued, not much life or head. Maybe it’s been on tap longer than I thought.
The taste is likewise subdued- it doesn’t have the depth of flavors I generally get in a good Swartz, but it is certainly easy to drink. The malt is very present and unless I’m mistaken they used Noble hops in this, which seems to argue with the malt as to which is meant to be more noticeable.
The feel is light and crisp, so far the best thing about it.
OA, I would certainly drink it again if there were no better options, but I don’t think I’d make a trip just to get it.
Cheers all, back for a nightcap later!

 

I've had the opportunity to try a few of their beers. Their Kolsch was excellent and also one of their hazies was also very good. Cheers

 

Ozark Beer Co. Too Many Vibes Hazy IPA

 

We ended up with a bit of snow today, but it was fairly light and the snowblower demolished it with ease. The wind was up though, so I looked like Yeti by the time I finished. After that and some shoveling, I was looking for a nice refresher.

Grabbed this one, which Jack's Abby are marketing as a winter lager. It was good and definitely fit what I was looking for, but lacked the flavor of their other pale offerings, so probably not something I'll stock too frequently.

Kogarashi
4.8% Japanese Rice Lager



A vigorous pour reveals a bright yellow beer with a three-finger white head. The head first dissipates to a merrangue-like coating then to a ring with great lacing.

I'm not getting too much aroma. An earthy or woody aroma with maybe a hint of floral all over a subtle base of cooked rice and white bread.

The taste is buttered white bread with a bit of honey, a slight amount of rice comes out in the middle, with earthy and mildly spicy bitterness joiningnin at the end. The finish is moderately dry and nothing lingers too long on the aftertaste.

Carb is pretty high, but really fine, with light body, leading to a refreshing beer.

Overall, this is quite good. My first in the style so I can't say whether it is true to form, but it certainly hits the spot if you're looking for something a bit drier and more refreshing in the colder months.

 

Good to know, and I did see a couple of other styles at the store. Thanks!

 

I was out this afternoon at one of my favorite local spots in Houston.

Cafe Brussels...which you guessed it, is a Belgian cafe.

St. Bernardus Wit was on draught. Which for some reason, I have never had, let alone seen on tap around town. 5.5% ABV.



Pours a yellow color with a light haze. A one finger white head forms that leaves some lace left behind.
Citrus peel up front in the nose. Yeasty, peppery spice, clove light banana. Oh this is really nice.
Taste wise, follows the nose. With the citrus peel, light banana esters, even apples, with peppery spice/clove. Yeast flavors, that is just a bit heavy on the phenolic character, but no real bother. A very light hoppiness that almost leads to bitterness in the finish.
A medium body with effervescent carbonation. The crisp carbonation then become ultra smooth. Which leads me to want to down this in big gulps.

A classic example of the style, as one would expect from this brewery. If the phenolic character was just a tad less, I would score this higher. Though a very small grip, and maybe I was just not in the mood for that at the moment I tried it. Regardless, this is very nice and highly recommended.


Overall score is 4.14, easy A- and probably should be higher.
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/259/7879/?ba=champ103#lists

Excellent with their Les Carbonades à la Flamande..ie Flemish Beef Stew.


I love this place

 

This beer is on my try list for spring, I’m pretty sure I’ve seen it around; just never have given it a whirl. I will keep in mind, thanks for the post.

 

Hello NBW.
Got to hint another version of Copra Kai by Southern Grist. @Buck89 hit me with the original a few years back and I lOVED it. This one did not miss.

German Chocolate Cake Copra Kai
Canned 12/1/22
Purchaases at Windsor Homebreww Supply in Anaheim, CA. <--Love those guys.

Pours a deep mahogany. Fluffy tan head carries a lot of smooth almond, and lightly toasted coconut. Chocolate notes come in afterward..
The flavors follow the nose faithfully. The almond and coconut really do partner well. Vanilla is nuanced and the unsweetened chocolate notes provide a lush base.
Mouthfeel is creamy, medium to full body, and just wow.
Overall, a truly blissful milk stout.
4.45/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

 

Cheers to Friday as the kickoff.

 

Just made the WANTS list based on this writeup. Thanks.

 

Fortunately I'm not prone to jealousy but st Bernardus wit on tap and that beef stew is making me a bit envious. Looks really good