New Beer Weekend #193

The 2024 Bigfoot is awesome! 1st one of the yr. Cheers!

 

Superstratum by Bottle Logic

12.5% ABV Fruit Parfait Imperial Stout

Happy Easter Sunday Cheers New Beer Weekender's

"We're exploring a new side of breakfast stouts as we layer our lactose stout base with softly sweet Tahitian vanilla, recirculate it through vanilla granola, and finish off this morning masterpiece with a vibrant combination of blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries!"

This drinks exactly like sweet chocolate covered berries - or a cherry cordial...you get a bit of the strawberry, raspberry, and even blueberry here however. If you have ever had any sort of Harry & David's confections this is exactly that in liquid form. Waves of chocolate and vanilla with a kick of berry tartness and some granola all deliver as advertised; yet it somehow strikes a chord of not being too over the top or off in any one direction. Thick and coating with a creamy texture overall. I am always a bit hesitant with any lactose beers but this is the perfect Holiday decadence type of sipper that I am pretty happy with in the moment BA

 

You up in the mountains?

 

What gave it away?

 

Snow in California…

Did I win a prize?

 

Elder Pine Brewing & Blending Co - Death Below
It's a very tasty New Zealand-style pilsner hopped with Riwaka

 

We have one mountain lol Big Bear and we were lucky enough to catch this recent storm

 

More haulage from @FBarber via the NBS BIF#18

Goldfinger Brewing CASCADIAN Dark Lager, 6,8% ABV; 3.91 overall


Pours an effervescent Cola color a thumb of tan head. Good head retention and better lacing

S: Some roastiness a little bit of pine

T: Roasty grain and Pine, plus dryness, a little smokiness slight sweetness up front. Some sweetness, roastiness and pineiness as this beer warms up,slight sweetness as well. Finishes dry and roasty with a slight molasses sweetness

MF; Medium body with low carbonation, pretty good balance

Interesting beer with good flavor a little hard to drink but worth it

 

Glad it held up. I forgot I sent that. I always struggle with sending a cellar beer with more thank 5 years on it cuz:
A) Of course I'm always worried about how it's held up.
but also
B) Worried about how the recipient perceives an "older" beer.

I personally am giddy to take a shot at an older classic when somebody sends one but I don't want people to think I'm dumping on them.

 

Phew!

 

Thanks Mike! Although I'm sad for the lady Hoosiers.

 

Cascadian dark lager…I read the description, what a cool beer. Cape May did a collab a few years back that was a black IPL, was one of the coolest tastiest beers.

 

Goldfinger...num num num. @FBarber hit me with a boatload of their beauties.

 

Well, it looks like you're right on them being closed. Holy cow, I didn't know about that, but it would expain why I haven't seen them in distro locally lately.

Now to my final beer of the New Beer Weekend, and thanks to @Whyteboar



Sumo Sumatra Imperial Stout - Austin Brothers Brewing - Alpena, MI - American Stout - 11.4%

Ok, most elements of this beer are amazing. The one element of it that is a let down is the flavor. I just don't know what to think of it. I am, however, honored to try it and thankful it was sent to me.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/43197/400214/

4.01/5 rDev -2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
From a 12oz can packaged on 10-27-2023

This is a beer that pours pitch black. There's no chance any light will shine through. It also looked thick while pouring. The head is brown in color, and frothy, at 2 fingers. The head retention is quite good, and there's some clingy lacing on the glass.
Damn! the aroma is off the charts here. So much chocolate, coffee, caramel, toffee, vanilla, and graham cracker. Jeez!
Taste - Well, the flavor isn't as strong as the aroma, and, sadly, by a long shot. Am I getting the flavors that I got on the aroma? Yes, but muted, sadly. Yes, I am drinking at close to room temp. I do get bit of a coffee hit, and it has a nice roasted bitterness. Some chocolate, caramel, toffee, vanilla and graham cracker show up, but all are muted.
The body is thick and full. Smooth for the most part, though a slight bitter feeling clings in my throat on the backside, which is somewhat pleasing.
I am not sure what to think of this beer. It started off amazing, with looks and even more so with the aroma. The flavor was a let down, because the flavors seemed way muted. The body was good. I am at a loss here. I'm honored to try it, but it seems to be a let down at the same time. I did rate it, but am not sure I rated it right.

As I said, this is the end of the weekend for me. Cheers all!

 

Hey, you get down here a lot don't you? I see you have entered a lot of GameCraft into the DB as well as a few other places down here. How often are you down in LA/OC/SD area?