New Beer Weekend #195

I'd typically be gun-shy about contributing to a premature New Beer Weekend thread, but similar to @Snowcrash000, this beer is too good to just tell you I'm drinking it and I like it.

Fremont - Double Barrel B-Bomb, 15.9% bomb of a barrel aged winter ale.

375ml capped and waxed bottle served in a curvy Fremont Barrel Aged Series glass. 2023 release. Probably colder than it ought to be.

Pours dark, almost no head despite an extremely vigorous pour. Looks thick. Not syrup, but maybe watered down syrup. Eventually a moderately thick dense tan ring rises up from the depths. No visible carbonation at rest, though moving it around I can start to see some little bubbles start creeping up the edges. Smell is humongous booze and caramel. Vanilla, a little oak and char, burnt molasses. Bourbon with dark chocolate syrup added to it.

Somehow, the taste takes a half step to the side. Singed sticky toffee pudding and dates, again tons of booze and vanilla, now with some cream. Chocolate syrup is basically replaced -- not exactly maple, but more in that direction. Caramel...maybe. Something between caramel and butterscotch. Very sweet, but not cloying.

Mouthfeel is thick, rich, sticky and chewy. Overall, this is really, really good, and really, really interesting. I cannot wait for this to warm up as I slowly drink it.

 

Local 755 by Blackstack


4.35/5 rDev +5.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

New brewery , new beer courtesy of @Victory_Sabre1973 in bif18

New England-style India pale ale.

Brewers notes: A specialty of BlackStack Brewing: soft, juicy, and refreshing. A reserved bitterness lets the pungent aromas from the hops shine brightly. Our goofy favorite, our all time ale if you will. Hefty portions of Amarillo, azacca and a good citra spread out over two dry hop additions. It tastes like home . Citrusy and juicy with a soft hazy glow like 70’s home movies , come join the family pour up !

Hazy yellow liquid with a frothy bone white crown , , settles to a thin layer with lacings

Aroma is lemony citrus , tropical fruits

Taste is orange and lemon citrus, tropical fruits

Smooth juicy with a hop kiss in the finish

Really nice beer

 

Nice!!! Early start to my beer weekend!!! I’ll join our friends @Snowcrash000 and @snaotheus - this beer is too good to just tell you I'm drinking it and I like it.

Courtesy of our friend @Roguer and NBS BIF #17, this is world class, IMHO.





4.5/5 rDev +1.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Pours a pure black color and doesn’t deviate in the glass, the body propping up a creamy mocha colored head that lingers and provides a decent amount of lacing, which is surprising, given the gravity of this beer (14% ABV).

The nose is rich - something I don’t ever remember typing about the aromas from a beer - with decadent milk chocolate and vanilla notes balanced by some roasty char and dark cherry notes. Drool sequence initiated.

The roasty char is a bit more pronounced on the taste, but make no mistake - this beer is all about the rich, decadent milk chocolate and vanilla notes, with some caramel and dark cherry notes for good measure.

And then there’s the warming alcohol that waits to settle in your chest as you luxuriate in the rich creamy mouthfeel.

This is a world class pasty stout - or double pastry stout, as noted on the can - one I’d revisit over and over and over.

 

I love how most just rained NBW posts early Friday night. It’s like the bat signal went out

 

Well, fuck it, if you can't be in Germany join our weekend thread started by someone in Germany on a Saturday Couldn't not join this fun when so many of you just did so quickly. Joining with one I've had but 10 years plus ago now. Mrs Phisher loves IPAs from time to time so I found these cans quite helpful for variety and sharing with her, tonights victim...this one’s for you @ovaltine

Victory - Dirtwolf (AIPA 8.7%)



Pours a mostly clear burnished/orange pale, white head, decent retention but nothing to write home about.

Nose brings a grainy sweetness, with some citrus, overripe citrus as it merges with something dank and earthy.

The taste brings a nice does of orange with grapefruit bite on the finish, light green earthy tones, dry grassiness, some resin and sap coming through too; it finishes with a pretty hefty dose of malt presence but it stops well short of being too heavy.

This is a dangerous beer, big medium body to it, dry, clean, light residual sweetness; bitterness is moderate but gets close to high; the abv is noticeable but not detracting from the beer itself; the malt on this beer tames the bitterness a bit; good or bad depending on what you like.

Overall this is the beer I remember it being, quite hefty and hearty but also quite drinkable considering the ABV it has.

Cheers all and we'll see you on the weekend

 

I have fond memories of that one.

 

Just a really nice big big bitter clean IIPA, I’m glad I got to try it again.

 

That label pairs perfectly with your description it was a warning sign; fireball and a biohazard symbol.

 

WTH? I'm in...

 

That is a FANTASTIC beer, Jon. I like the way you roll.

 

@Snowcrash000 - I wish I could say “great minds” and all that, but while I wondered how to start this thread early, you actually did it.
Mox nix, I have a good beer to share, though it might not be available anymore.

poured stout black with a light brown head that struggled to cover the surface. Not even sure when this was brewed.
The taste is coffee forward, with the associated bitterness but lacks nothing in the way of malty goodness. Mild chocolate accents and some very mild dark fruit notes.
A bit more bitter than the OG, but no less tasty.
Cheers!

 

Lags Beat of Both Worlds B-Coastal IPA, 8.0% ABV; 4.02 overall

Pours an effervescent & bright gold with 2 fingers of eggshell colored head. Very nice head retention & lacing

S: Green Melons, Tropical Fruits & citrus

T: Green melons, dryness, white grapes & pomelo up front. More pomelo, dryness, & green melon as this beer warms up. Finishes crisp, dry with white grapes, green melons & lime zest

MF: Medium body, restrained carbonation, good balance

Was hoping for more, drinkable enough, but not one of their greats, Flavor just wasn't all that

 

Love the Friday kick off to New Beer Weekend, be it ad hoc like today, planned for a holiday weekend or perhaps permanent to increase my new beer experiences!

Have one beer that is not part of a natural new beer pairing to pull out this evening from a brewery on my personal "Top 10 Brewery List" as featured on Beer Advocate.

AleSmith Speedway Stout - New Orleans Cafe Edition



Can Notes: Purchased at store temperature from Beer on the Wall for $5.50 all in on March 21st. 16 oz canned 2/2/24, refrigerated at home until opening tonight. Special Release, Imperial Stout with coffee and chicory. 12.0% ABV. Proudly brewed and canned in San Diego, California, serve at 50 F - 55 F.

This Speedway pays tribute to the deep history and vibrant coffee culture of New Orleans. For this brew, we have added coffee and chicory to give a richer, Earthier, and nuttier brew to capture the essence of the city's beloved coffee tradition in every sip. Cheers!

Appearance: Poured about half the can into a small snifter. Near black with hints of dark brown base, short head lingers a few seconds before clinging to the sides of the rim. 3.75

Aroma: Mint coffee several minutes after pour, doesn't change throughout. Mild plus strength and enjoyment. 3.75

Taste: A bit more complexity, the coffee with a nice semi dark roast, dark chocolate, hazelnut and getting the mint as well and a bit of wood as this warms to near room temperature. Never thoughtfully enjoyed chicory before, so you'll have to look elsewhere for how this compares. I like the fact these flavors come together well, in a measured enjoyable manner. Strength of the flavor is mild. 4.25

Mouthfeel: Light medium body, sweet overall, drinks lighter than the strong ABV to start but hits me about a third in. Nice blend, mint coffee finish. 4.0

Overall: This is a nice offering. AleSmith usually comes through with their Speedway Stout variants, and this is another example. Should have enjoyed this around Saint Patrick's Day, but glad I pulled out tonight. I'll be on the lookout for this in the future, hopefully this will return. 4.0

Will see you tomorrow with regularly scheduled programing.

 

Tree House - The Biggest One, IIIPA via @Roguer in NBS BIF #18

16oz can served in a Monhegan pint glass. Can is dated 3.26.2024.

Pours murky amber, whitish-orange, medium sized creamy head, settles slowly into a thick uneven cap. Light amount of active carbonation. Smell is right up my alley. Green, hop resin, floral without being sweet. Lemon zest.

Taste subtly but undeniably boozy, strong rind flavors across the spectrum, resin bitterness, unconventional but quite tasty.

Mouthfeel is rich and creamy, moderate to high chalkiness that I often experience with NEIPAs but Tree House seems to accentuate. Overall, really nice.

I don't know how you got this to me so fresh, Andrew. Delayed in shipping, plus another 4-5 days in my possession before I got to it, and still 17 days old. Damn good.