New Beer Weekend #193

McEwan scotch ale.in full disclosure im positive I've had this before a long,long time ago
...appearance is a brownish red hue with minimal head
...light carbonation with a medium body, a slight thick malty feel.
...aroma to me is unusual but not unpleasant. Definitely malt and some roasted malt along with toffee and dark bread. Theres also a mild earthy,wood hop aroma thats hard to describe.
There is also a boozy,scotch like element.
..taste Definitely has some sweetness but the alchohol, boozy scotch taste keeps it easily in check.its a blast of malty boozinesss(not sure thats a real word) that probably would turn some off but its a really nice heavy beer.
..overall its probably better to me at night after dinner but still a great beer

 

NBS #2. The little town of Belford, New Jersey, has two breweries. Belford Brewing Co., an unassuming storefront operation, has been open since 2013. I first visited in 2017. On the one hand, this place is no Alchemist. On the other, it serves its purpose well: brewing tasty beers enjoyed by its loyal - mostly local - patrons. I stopped in yesterday to try a special version of its honey ale, cask conditioned with bourbon barrel soaked cubes of Tennessee honey whiskey, which was quite good. So I bought a crowler of its IPA, Waackaak. It's a WCIPA although the hop bill isn't specified. While it won't win glory or awards, this is a nice brew.

it pours a clear amber-cherry-orange color with a very thin, ecru-colored cap and spotty lacing. The nose is fruity with lemon and grapefruit, and lots of bready malt. The taste is better than the look and smell would indicate. There is a very solid malt backbone supporting tart lemon and grapefruit, and a good dose of resinous pine. It has a tangy quality. As it warms, I'm noticing more notes of dark bread and caramel. It's tasty in its own modest way. The mouth feel is almost creamy with moderate carbonation, and at 6.5% ABV it is highly drinkable. Overall, Waackaack is a super easy-drinking American IPA that would be great paired with burgers, sausage or even little necks. It's a modest offering that screams for fun activities at the Jersey Shore.

3.86/5 rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

This ale represents what is still great about craft brewing. Screw Miller, Bud, and Modelo. Folks from Belford, New Jersey, can stop in and enjoy a couple pints of a solid, local beer from a local business they know well. Enough pontificating. Have a great week, everyone. Cheers, NBW!

 

I love how we all can help but be honest when we do this…like we can’t help but confess.

@MacMalt you are the NJ brewery expert; I’m not sure anyone has visited more NJ breweries than you, thanks for always sharing your thoughts.

 

Sunday Evening on Easter weekend

What a fine time for ultimate relaxation. Like looking at the Ocean from the mainland and seeing where your troubles can travel no further. Its time for a cold one!

Stake Brewing Cream Ale with graphics on the tall boy can eerily similar to at least 3 other breweries in Northern Ontario. As a former brewer myself I've always considered the cream ale to be the ultimate test of restraint.

A light brass doorknob colour with some haze and a chunky marshmallow in the microwave bubbling head that subsides to 3-16'. Poured into a litre stein glass mug.
Aroma's of fresh wet bakers dough and Cheerio's sitting in milk for some time. I don't pick up on any hop characters and I couldn't be happier about that for this style. After disturbing the head out comes some aroma of gooey caramel.
Taste is an abundance of malts. Wet crackers, cereal, raw dough bread come toffee sweetness.
Each gulp coats your tongue and even nasal cavities with a sucker punch of straw and malted barely
Overall a failed test of restrain - stay with in your lane Stack brewing; the more you try to be different the more your just like everyone else
A righteous fail at the style. I've taken about 4 good gulps but I won't assault my body anymore with this pompous nonsense. Off to toilet town.

And with that

Happy New Beer Sunday everyone!!!!!

 

Remedy ipa by Remedy Brewing


3.74/5 rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75


Can received in BIF 18 courtesy of @Victory_Sabre1973

Chilled 12 ounce can poured into an IPA glass results in a translucent amber liquid with a one finger, creamy, white foam, cap, multiple streams of carbonation, and some occasional floaters , good lacings

Aroma is pine, malt, and a whiff of orange citrus

Taste is pine, piney, pine needles

Smooth , crisp, slight hop bite on the finish

Good beer, thanks for sharing this South Dakota brew!

 

Back home from time with the family. I just hate driving in the Twin Cities metro, and I need a beer, and it's one thanks to the amazing ninja hit of @Roy_Hobbs .

Oath - Fox Farm Brewing - Salem, CT - American Imperial Stout - 11% ABV

Damn, this is downright amazing. I was thinking of stopping at a brewery on my way home, but am so damn happy I got the hell out of the metro, and back to rocks and cows land. So happy you sent this to me Ross!

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/45832/695010/

4.37/5 rDev +0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
From a 12oz can canned on 01/17/24

I followed the can instructions, and gently shook the beer, and did an aggressive pour. The color of this is pitch black, though it was a bit lighter as the head settled out from the beer. The head is very thick at 3 finger, and very long lasting, even more so when you consider this an 11% beer. The head has very small bubbles, and looks quite fluffy. There really isn't much lacing on the glass.
The nose is very rich in chocolate and coffee. The chocolate aroma seems to be more of a sweet chocolate. I also seem to get a hit of lactose on it, but none is listed.
Taste - The chocolate hits right away and has both sweet and dark chocolate notes. The chocolate does fade a bit and that's when the coffee hits and mixes with the chocolate. Roasted and dark coffee flavor. Not getting any lactose flavor in this beer, that I got in the aroma.
Thick and very full body. Smooth, creamy feeling. Very slight burn, and I mean slight, from the alcohol.
This is a damn solid beer, and a pleasure to try.


Be back later for at least one more.

 

Celebrator double bock. Father @jonphisher i must confess as I am a sinner.i am pretty sure I had this one maybe decades ago
...cola dark brown appearance
...medium light carbonation with about a medium body.
...aroma is malt,roasted malt, wood, earthy,toffee, with just a mild amount of caramel in the background.
...taste is almost dry despite there being a strong malt flavor. Comes off more boozy than the 6.7 suggests. Malty,earthy,wood with again some toffee and caramel.
...overall its a top notch beer

 

Thanks @2beerdogs!

 

Your sins are forgiven

 

I have another beer from my friend @snaotheus and NBS BIF #18.

It’s a big one (TWSS).

I’m raising my glass with this magnificent beer to my Dad (RIP, Chief), a bunch of high school friends, and my beer nerd friend @2beerdogs for the big win they enjoyed with Purdue advancing to the Final 4 for the first time since 1980.

As an IU fan from the early 70’s, that shows how evolved I am.





4.6/5 rDev +3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Pours a dark cola brown and settles onyx black in the glass with the most luxurious, creamy mocha colored head you’ve ever seen. Absolutely gorgeous winter ale.

The nose is a mouthwatering mix of cinnamon, rich cocoa, oak, toffee, plums, and bourbon. There is a LOT going on here, as expected with this 14.7% ABV behemoth of a BA winter warmer.

The taste fits my palate perfectly, with the oak and cinnamon setting the table for the rich cocoa and toffee flavors that follow, with some plums and a big dollop of bourbon and a hint of ginger (!!!) at the back of the palate that settles with a welcome alcohol warming. Wow. Just wow.

The mouthfeel feel is full and edges towards creamy - simply spot on. This is a delicious beer, one I’d love try with the 5 years of aging mentioned on the bomber. World class stuff.

 

Thank you Father,at last im at peace.or maybe just a little buzzed,not sure

 

Cheers, Mike! Glad you're enjoying it.

 

Happy NBS!

Having a very tasty local (CO) NEIPA, juicy. Made some chili, definitely different taste without a couple of bottles of stout/porter mixed instead of water.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/59593/696453/?ba=Wasatch#lists

Cheers!

 

Here's the latest offering from Albany, VT.
Pale Ale with bugs!

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/47666/696396/



500 ml. bottle poured semi-vigorously to yield a 3/4 inch white head over a slightly hazy, pale fresh hay (greenish yellow) colored body with some lacing.

Nose of woody herbs and citrus.

Taste has lemon-forward citrus tartness with grassy hay and a very light candied lemon sweetness near the finish which turns tart at the finish. Very interesting in a deliciously tart kind of way.

Very good mouthfeel with medium carbonation.

Overall, this pairs really well with our sautéed salmon, asparagus, crimini mushroom, red pepper, garlic and onion mélange!

Cheers!!

 

Snuck in this little Flanders Red Ale from Suarez today - while I don't usually seek out cherry beers, this is one of the better ones - cheers!

4.21/5 rDev -1.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

November 2022 - poured from a 500mL bottle into my Rodenbach flute.

Unfiltered cerise body with a low stand of misty rose. Very fine lacing; excellent retention.

Clean, mild nose, with hints of watermelon and wheat.

Delicate yet rich malt synergizes perfectly with the oak - cherry pits, apricot pits, and pear. Tart with a low red wine quality - mellow/aged yet somehow fresh and bright. Lightly phenolic yeats notes. Fruity, fairly dry finish.

Crisp, medium-light bodied, with no astringency.

Not quite to style (lighter, less acidic, less astringent/vinuous), but very enjoyable and unique.

 

Boy, that last one went down stupid fast, and now I am enjoying one from @Whyteboar .


Hodag - Transient Artisan Ales - Bridgman, MI - NEIPA - 7.5% ABV

First off, I had to submit a not retired request for this beer. Second - DAMN! This is juicy as heck. It tastes like pineapple juice. I am worn out with the style, but when made well, I still love it. Thank you so much for this beer Craig.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/34258/495007/

4.29/5 rDev +5.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
From an undated 16oz can.

This beer looks like I opened up a can of pineapple juice. Very murky and hazy looking. The head is a frothy 2 finger white head. Quite long lasting. A good deal of sticky looking lacing on the glass.
The aroma hits while pouring hitting me with notes of tropical fruit. Up close I get so much pineapple in this aroma. I also get an earthy dankness to the aroma.
Taste - Was I tricked here, is this pineapple juice? That's the flavor profile I'm getting here. This pineapple flavor just lingers and clings to my throat. There's also an earthy element to the pineapple flavor. Yes, I know pineapple comes from trees, but it seems the pineapple just came from the earth, and it has that in the flavor.
Smooth as heck. Soft, and juicy. Full bodied.
Downright delicious overall, and a well executed beer of this style.


I'll see if I have one more in me.

 

From @MutuelsMark Bearded Iris Homestyle IPA. 6.0% ABV; 3.9 overall

Pours a hazed gold with a thumb of cream-colored head. Below average head retention and lacing

S: A little Citrus and tropical fruit

T; Oranges, dryness a little pineapple and green melon up front. Papaya tangerine and dryness as this beer warms up a kiss of lime as well. Finishes dry with lime, papaya and tangerine

MF: Medium body, restrained carbonation, good balance

Drinks really easy, good flavor, the nose could be better, didn't help the overall rating

Part of my luck Superbowl Squares Payout

 

Easter done...fun with the boys this morning, then its over to my sisters for our yearly make your own breakfast burrito bar, home to recoup then off to in laws for dinner, I still feel full. Now back home settling into the evening with an English beer.

I was super excited to stumble across this beer the other day, I've seen a few of you, @SABERG, being one that I remember post about this beer a while back now. Now I finally get to try.

Coniston Brewing - Bluebird Bitter (English Bitter 4.2%)



Pours darkened gold, mostly clear; slight off-white head that never really builds but it leaves a nice thick film that really persists and leaves some decent lacing, this is a pretty beer to look at.

Nose on this one is quite dull, there is a little bit of yeast character that reminds me of some homebrews, pale malt that has some biscuit quality, some earthy hop notes and perhaps just the lightest hint of something fruity.

The taste is nicely malt forward, again biscuit like with maybe some marmalade character presenting itself in there, very light hint of hop character pops on the finish, nice little balance of sticky, earthy and spice.

Really digging the mouthfeel on this beer; its light and so soft and smooth, some residual malt character lingers on a very clean finishing beer, it has a low but quite noticeable bitterness on the finish, drinks really really nice.

No idea how old this is but it is still delicious; it has that soft smooth English character that I love so much. It also reinforces how well Tonewood brews their English beers (@cjgiant ), that soft mouthfeel on this beer is almost identical to why I love their English beers oh so much. In fact, I'm gonna close the night out with their dark mild

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Hope you all have a wonderful week and I'm looking forward to shopping for a few new singles to share this coming weekend. Looking forward to reading your posts tonight and tomorrow morning with breakfast.

PS...wow just look at pictures of Coniston, England...after my dream beer trip to Germany I'm going to Coniston.