New Beer Weekend #195

Time for some Masers golf and a beer compliments of @sulldaddy and NBW BIF 18, a Tree House strong Belgian, pours a rich dark brown nice cap, sweet sugary aroma, carmel, dark fruits, thick creamy feel, rich decadent beer, thanks Sully!

 

A large can of a mediocre pale lager. It is relatively fresh with a boring aroma, good carbonation, and a boring mouthful, but very drinkable, and at an amazing 99c/can pricepoint. It's a great beer to serve at a party when people don't care what they drink.

 

Greetings - enjoying some cooler weather and this suitable beverage from SARA:

4.23/5 rDev -3.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

Batch purchased in 2023. Poured from a 500mL bottle into a snifter. Served at 53F.

Clear cordovan body, light almond collar. Sticky dense legs; vague lacing; poor retention.

Bourbon, tobacco, vanilla, coconut, cocoa nibs, toffee, dates, figs, cherries, and orange zest in the nose.

Sweet and boozy palate entry, rich, layered, and unctuous. Reminds me of a dark aged rum - complex flavors follow the nose. Long, medium finish with low earthy bitterness peaking through at times. Well balanced overall. No oxidation, mild esters.

Oily/creamy, medium-bodied, warming but not fusel.

Powerful, potent, and well crafted, though not quite at the apex of the style.

 

Well I started the weekend with an unexpected miss...
Speedway Stout: Mostra Coffee & Coconut
Canned on 3/16/21
I love Speedway, having said that, this did not live up to the tradition.
Poured like Speedway but with a reduced head retention.
Nose hinted at some earthy, slightly bitter coffee roast and some tapered back malt notes: cocoa, caramel, etc.
But the flavor didn't even really live up to the declared ingredients. The coffee was lackadaisical at best, couldn't find the coconut, and even the malt notes were rather staid. Not bad, but like a base brew specifically created to play with, and nobody came with toys.
Mouthfeel had a nice heft and a slow dry roast that closed out slightly bitter.
Maybe it was due to having a few years on it, but meh.
Of course, if I had a shot at a fresher one, I'd hit it in a minute due to my faith in Alesmith overall.
3.54/5 rDev -14.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

 

So I’m glad we got an early start yesterday. Too much craziness today, celebrated youngest ones 5th today… @FBarber



No time to sneak out for new beer today, but I’ll hopefully join you all tomorrow.

@Coronaeus i really hope we see history tonight; the last stress free home game before it all matters.

Cheers everyone I look forward to the beers tonight and hopefully join the fun tomorrow.

 

Expanding the thread to NBW didn’t do one of the things it was supposed to do (expand the participation of international posters) and chased away a number of OG NBS posters, which is unfortunate, IMHO.

I didn’t mind the start yesterday, but to be honest, the thread doesn’t seem ”special” anymore, again IMHO. Just my 3.7 cents worth, adjusted for inflation.

 

Tulum cerveza artesenal by cervezeria Tulum


3.03/5 rDev -4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Chilled 12oz brown bottle poured into a rocks glass , enjoying the view at the JW Marriott in Cancun

Brewers notes : We come from the sea and water we are today, terrestrial travelers who embrace biodiversity and celebrate our organic essence. We come from the sea, and we are Tulum beer. contributes to the conservation of our seas, and it happens to the gran arecife Maya foundation. Brewed with sea water

One finger white fizzy foam cap quickly fades to a layer over a clear golden brew, a rare bubble floats to the top

Aroma is sweet corn, malts

Taste is sweet corn , beer flavored water

Low carbonation , burp producing , watery

The weather is here, i wish this beer was beautiful

 

I’m going to be honest - I’ve got a LOT of beer to work through at home, given the incredible generosity of @snaotheus in NBS BIF #18 and a very travel heavy work schedule.

So this beautiful evening in Northern Indiana, let’s do a trifecta of beers from @snaotheus . I have the skills and the will to take this challenge on. First up, a kolsch I’ve been eyeballing. Let’s GOOOOOO!!!





4.1/5 rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This delightful kolsch pours an unfiltered golden straw color with a fluffy yet minimal white head. This beer GLOWS in the glass. The nose includes a bounty of floral fruity notes, freshly cut grass, some white bread, and a bit of cereal grain. Very nice.

The taste leans hard to the floral fruity flavors and the rich grassy flavor, which lends a bit of spice to the taste mid-palate, but this beer is well balanced by the bread and cereal grain flavors. Truly a magnificent balance between the myriad components.

The mouthfeel is bright and crisp, making for a refreshing beer. This is exceptionally well executed, IMHO.

 

And so far you’re off to a good start it seems…

 

#2, @snaotheus sent me a great mix of styles in the three (THREE!!!) boxes he sent me in NBS BIF #18, including this dunkel.

I need more of this style in my beer nerd life. IJS.





4.17/5 rDev +1.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
This dunkel pours a gorgeous mahogany brown and settles nearly clear in the glass under a light tan head that lingers. Beautiful beer.

The nose features roasty malt aromas, accompanied by wheat bread notes and a bit of cocoa, exactly as described on the can.

The cocoa is significantly more pronounced on the taste, which I appreciate, with the roasty malt and wheat bread flavors providing balance and depth to the beer.

The mouthfeel is medium and leans to the creamy side of the spectrum, which fits the beer nicely. This is an outstanding dunkel, one I’d always have in my beer fridge if I had access to it.

 

Another new one for me from a recent mini haul. Decent enough yet due to the price of $16 on sale for 4 or $18 regular, I will not be buying more.

Monkless Belgian Ales – Four Devils – Belgian Style Golden Ale

L- Nearly clear mid golden color with smallish head that disappears in a minute or so with scant low lace. 3.75

N- Yeast, a touch of produce dept funk and a whiff of spices, hop and alcohol. 3.75

T- Fairly strong opening note for this ale which presents as spicy alcohol. Spice note could be clove on top of light pineapple and unripe banana perhaps. A nice bit of lightly sweet malt centers on the tongue to counter the former notes. This is a rather dry tasting Belgian with a fairly brash alcohol that mellows just a bit as it warms. Still a warm ABV forward ale. 3.75

F- Body is medium with a drying mid palate and finish due to the alcohol. Light carbonation with tiny bubbles 3.75

O- I was expecting a bit more from this beer,. Taste and enjoyment is alright, yet for the dollars charged I would expect a bit more flavor and some more finesse with the alcohol. Wait, did I mention alcohol too much. 3.75

 

Last one, the first one from @snaotheus were relatively light.

This one is not. I’m jumping in the ring with mid-80’s Mike Tyson.

Wish me luck.





4.42/5 rDev +4.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
This monstrous WCTIPA pours a slightly unfiltered golden color and sports a soapy white head that provides a nice ring around the body of the beer and a decent amount of lacing, which is surprising, given the gravity of this beer (10.5% ABV).

The nose is led by a magnificent orange blossom note that absolutely shines, and there’s also a bit of grapefruit and pine tossed in for good measure, as well as a bit of caramalt.

The caramalt is more pronounced on the taste, and resides at the back of the palate, which is good, because the orange blossom, grapefruit flavors, annd pine flavors are ….. brawny. Like massively brawny.

But they’re balanced by the caramalt, and the 10.5% ABV is hidden by the crisp and crushingly dry mouthfeel - until it settles in your chest and you realize you grabbed a tiger by the tail and he’s very willing to bite you.

This is world class, IMHO, a beer I’d stand in line to acquire.

 

Good luck!

I’m actually watching your game at the best beer bar in Toronto right now! Review to follow. Leafs just scored.




I’m sort of hoping for a loss against the Sens tonight myself to solidify our pre-lottery draft position at five. Hoping for a Lane Hutson goal though. Cheers and Happy Birthday to your boy!

 

Hello Day One NBW.
Well this is a nice one, courtesy of Mr. @snaotheus

Pines
No date evident.
Beautiful pour. Golden hued, fluffy white head, solid retention with layered lacing.
Grass, citrus zest, pine resin, and even a hint of weed. All in all, very green. Lovely.
Flavor follows the nose faithfully. Very green upfront: wet grass, lemon verbena leaf, tangerine rind, some resin, a mild hint of green onion, and some sticky icky weed notes. As I sip I can pick up glimmers of berry as well.
Mouthfeel is great, smooth bitter finish, consistent carbonation that stays just active enough to keep this lively.
4.04/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Thanks, Ryan. This was a joy to drink.

 

A new to me IPA from Fat Head’s - Groovy Juice Hazy IPA:



Pours deep gold/hazy peach juice color; clarity under tight white head; excellent cap retention; heavy ring and lots of soapy lacing. Tropical fruit punch nose. Mango, passionfruit, lemon and guava; firm malt base. Medium body; moderate minus carbonation; no warmth from 7.1% abv; no astringency. Overall a fruity HazyLite; not too sweet; easy drinking.

4.5 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0
Score: 4.03 rDev -.7%

From the mixed 12/pk I got in Ohio this week. I’ll gladly drink another.

 

I think that was part of the discussion when we were pondering expanding from Sunday only. I think would be great, but in the meantime, I like when some y'all from "over yonder" start on your time, and we get an early start.
Danke!

 

Yeah that's a beauty right there. @FBarber hit me with it also.

 

Look man. I wanna see a mystery beer, or the de Garre.

 

I’m out at a great beer bar in Toronto this evening: Bar Hop. I’m usually on kid minding duty on weekends as my wife works weekends a lot. I almost never go out so this is nice treat for me. Bonus, my friends’ band has a show in town tonight too and I’ll be going after a couple beers. I used to hang out with these guys 30+ years ago in Montréal. I can’t wait.

First up is Muddy York Absolutely Guaranteed, an APA.



Pours a hazy straw gold with a nice pillowy head. Much lacing as enjoyed.

The aroma is clean, herbal, lemongrass, and some citrus pith.

Taste follows fairly closely. The lemongrass note is more prominent. Light citrus notes through the swallow.

Light in body with a crisp finish.

This is a good beer from a good local brewery.

Cheers!

My friends’ band, in their ‘Hey’ day.