New Beer Weekend #192

I used to like that chain. PART OF TOWN, MAY BE MORE IMPORTANT these days. One handed typing still.

 

This from a LIF from BIF 17. Cheers to @2beerdogs

Bootleggers Galaxian Barleywine style Ale, 10.8% ABV according to my can. 3.74 overall

Pours an effervescent copper with a pinky of cream colored head.. Average head retention and lacing

S; Cakey, toffee notes. Fades as this warms up

T; Follows the nose, dryness and pineyness up front. Piney, dryness, a little brown sugar as this beer warms up. Finishes Piney with a little dryness and toffee, a kiss of orange as well

MF; Chewy, subdued carbonation; pretty good balance

Solid, the ABV is felt. Very much an American take on the style

 

I like how they try to guilt you into using the same towel for extended periods of time. Save the planet or some such.

 

Brewer's Reserve Cassian Sunset

11% stout by Central Waters

Poured from a twelve ounce bottle, the beer is a deep brown with almost zero head. Light, sparse lacing.

Aroma is bourbon barrel and coffee with a light cinnamon.

Taste follows nose with vanilla appearing and balancing the cinnamon. The barrel is assertive, but not overwhelming, and is met with a sugary sweetness which nicely balances the two strong flavors but masks (for me) the coffee flavor carried in aroma.

Mouthfeel is good, a coating of a bourbony goodness and tingly carbonation.

An excellent stout that kept getting better as it warmed. This morning the uncapped beer, despite being flat, was fantastic. Enough cinnamon had faded to bring the taste into my wheelhouse. Another winning stout by Central Waters.

 

LOL and applause for "plump & unfiltered".

 

Thanks to @FBarber for this BIF18 Goody!

Hop Butchher Peak Mosaic 3X IPA, 10.2 % ABV; 4.27 overall

Pours a very hazed gold with a thumb of eggshell colored head. Sheets of lacing and nice head retention

S: Melons, peaches, papaya

T: Follows the nose, dryness, Pomelo and some white grape skin up front. Lime, dryness, Pineapple and papaya as this beer warms up, a little vanilla and lactic action as well. Finishes with acidic Pineapple, Tangerine, some dryness and green melon, plus cantaloupe

MF: Medium body, delicate carbonation. Acidity once warm that works, great balance

Great New Age DIPA, lethal drinkability. A little too dry for perfection

 

Really enjoy all your side by sides, including this new iteration of side by side comparisons with other reviews. I primarily write reviews so I can remember what to buy / not to buy in the future, but glad sharing my experiences here have some meaning as well. Have no formal training, and feel my reviews can get repetitive, perhaps because I seek similar beers, styles and breweries, but I'm happy to find more winners these days narrowing down trusted breweries and styles.

Maine is more of an occasional treat at their higher prices. I wish they and Russian River (when I'm out West, and soon Philly) would join most other breweries and shift their IPA packaging to cans. I don't see a benefit in bottling these or any style of beers beyond the few styles fit to cellar. I guess both breweries can charge higher margins for what some (perhaps many) view as a more premium presentation via bottle.

Glad this one was fresher and was solid. That said, need to either jump on these in the future during drop week at the closer store, or pick up at the Beer Temple, further away but apt to refrigerate nearly all drink fresh styles.