New Beer Weekend #197

What a sweet little NBW hang at Tonewood Oaklyn. A crazy thing putting faces I’ve interacted with for so many years, great conversations just like on here.

Thanks for letting me share Tonewood with both of you @ChicagoJ ans @cjgiant. As for those beers you pawned on me hah; I’m gonna try to get to one later tonight for a proper NBW post.

I’ve met three BAs now, all thanks to this thread.

 

Good Sunday afternoon, New Beer Swiggers and commentators. Wow, what a difference a day makes! Yesterday, we were down the shore and it was overcast, with sprinkles, and temps in the 50's. Back home today, it's a beautiful Spring afternoon with lots of sun and temps reaching 80. Unfortunately, my allergies are acting up so after cutting the lawn I've retired to the basement bar.

Yesterday, I visited Bucket Brigade Brewing Co. in Cape May Court House. While I don't frequent this brewery as I do Slack Tide and Ludlam Island, I try to visit a couple times a year. It's owned by retired firefighters (hence the motif) and the folks are so friendly. It's always a pleasure to tilt a couple there. Bucket Brigade has a fairly new Scotch Ale, Widow Maker, which won a gold medal at the Denver International Beer Competition. I'm not familiar with this event but winning gold anywhere is always a good thing. So I had a pint at the brewery and bought cans to do a proper review. In a word, this is a very good effort.

The color is between dark iced tea and ruby and it sports about a half finger cap of creamy, khaki-colored foam and lots of thick, clinging lacing. The smell includes aromas of caramel malt, earthy peat, leather, and spices. The taste is robust with notes of roasted malt, chocolate, toffee, raisin, earthy, woodsy peat, and char. When I had on pour on draught I also noticed just a hint of sourdough but I'm not tasting it in the can pour. It finishes with a nice dose of peppery bitterness. The mouth feel is full-bodied and creamy with appropriate carbonation, and the 7.9% ABV gives it good substance. Overall, Widow Maker is a very good example of the Wee Heavy style. The one element that is missing is the smokiness that characterizes the leaders of the style.

4.02/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

I think this is the best offering I've had from Bucket Brigade. For anyone vacationing at the Deep South Jersey Shore (i.e., below Atlantic City), I'd recommend giving Bucket Brigade a try. These are solid citizens and the beer keeps getting better. Cheers!

 

Wow, back-to-back posts. I guess I'm just old school and like to post on Sunday afternoons. Next is another variant of Silk City BA Stout from Brix City's release last weekend. Except for the O.G. BA Stout, all of this year's variants are based upon ice cream desserts. This on is Neapolitan, aged in bourbon barrels and conditioned on cocoa nibs, strawberry, and vanilla. I don't know how well these adjunct-laden variants will age but when consumed fresh they are outstanding! Brix is very deft with its use of adjuncts. They are always sufficiently understated so as not to come across as gimmicky.

Poured at 58°. The color is a dark walnut and it has a modest, medium-mocha-colored head and thin sheen of lacing. The nose is bourbon-forward with notes of freshly-brewed coffee, milk chocolate, caramel, and faint but unmistakable strawberry. The taste is spot-on: rich, dark chocolate with fresh, tart strawberry. The vanilla is in the background. While the bourbon barrel influence is less powerful in the taste, it's undeniable. The strawberry is the star of the show. You can taste it but it's not overly sweet. This Stout achieves the desired reflection of a Neapolitan ice cream dessert. The mouth feel is moderately viscous; I wish it were a little thicker. But the carbonation level is just right and the 10.5% ABV doesn't overpower. Overall, this is another enjoyable Silk City variant.

4.24/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Cheers, NBW, and have a great week, everyone!

 

The Piggy Brewing Company (France) ‘Monstrous Fat Pigg Stout Vanille Torbée’

4.35/5 rDev 0%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

33 cl ,can poured slightly chilled into a taster’s snifter, in Toulouse, France. Packed 09/2023, BB 09/2028.
Fugly pour. Just flat black. Bit oily.
Aroma hits vanilla right away. The aromatic barrel follows, then assorted Easter chocolates.
Taste is grand! Comes in with dark malt, vanilla, prune. That works for a minute., then the rush of peated whiskey barrel waters the mouth, delivers a cool smoky note, vanilla again, then a surprise kiss of chili pepper, b4 a dry finish. Leaves a layer of sweet on the lips, and the barrel lingers long on the tongue. Earth and fire in a glass, everything in harmony, each element takes a bow.
Mouth is slick, not syrupy. Low carbonation suits it just fine.
Overall, little heavy handed with the vanilla, but the surrounding sensory smells, flavors and texture are spot on. Nice beer!

 

Cheers to @FBarber for this NBS BIF#18 beer.

3 Sons Brewing Co. Dopalicious, 7.5% ABV; 4.12 overall

Pours a very hazed gold with a thumb+ of eggshell colored head. No head retention & lacing, really the only shortcoming of this beer

S: Tons of citrus, guava, mango & green melon

T: Dryness, green melon, mango & guava, just a little sweet orange up front. Powdery dryness with orange, think TANG, some green melon & guava as this beer warms up. Finishes very dry with green melon & more TANG

MF: Medium body, fairly creamy carbonation, nice balance

Fun take on the style, total juicer!

 

Beneath the Green, an American Double IPA brewed by Twin Elephant Brewing in NJ. This brewery lists ingredients used on the side of its cans. This beer is brewed with white wheat, two row and flaked oats. The hops used are Citra,Riwaka and Motueka. An English Ale yeast is used. The result is an excellent brew. It pour cloudy gold with a thick white head. The aroma is of mixed fruit. It tastes great, fruity but balanced with a nice malty body. Full mouth feel and an off dry finish. Another top shelf brew from a local brewery, This write was also posted in the what beer are you drinking now this past Thursday. Just finished up my 4 pack of it.

 

Owe the thread three Tonewood reviews I enjoyed earlier today to kick off New Beer Sunday #1001 New Jersey style. Will enjoy a few beers at Monk’s before hitting the train back to the Burbs. This is my first from this brewery.

Suarez Family Brewery Palatine Pils



Monk’s Cafe Notes: $7 + Tax German-style Pils.

Appearance: Light yellow straw clear pour, light carbonation, bright white head leaves generous creamy cover and razor thin lacing. 4.25

Aroma: Strong cracker, pepper and salty cracker. Solid. 4.0

Taste: Consistent with aroma, nice cracker with salt and pepper in proper measure. Light lemon grass, sulfur and mineral water on the periphery. 4.25

Mouthfeel: Light and easy drinking, slightly dry, malt a little sweet. Crisp salt and peppercorn cracker finish. 4.0

Overall: This is a very nice offering, light and easy experience with strong enjoyable flavors. Glad I stopped in today! 4.25

May get another Suarez.

 

American Solera Phil Bock Vienna Lager, 4.6% ABV; 4.23 overall

Pours an effervescent hazel/cola color with a finger of tan head. Some head retention & lacing

S: Toasty, woody & leafy hops; great nose, some brown sugar once warm

T: Follows the nose, pretty dry, no woody hops, a touch brown sugar sweetness up front. Dryness, toastyness, tea flavor along with woody hops as this beer warms up, Finishes dry, toasty with leafy hops & brown sugar

MF: Medium body, slight carbonation

Solid, drinkable take on the style

 

Installed a new carburetor on a power washer that's been sitting in my garage about 4 years. Baby started right up. I will be washing in the 75°sun tomorrow. Time for a new beer.
Galaxie 500 Foam Brewing
Pours a hazy yellow gold with a white short lived head.
Aroma of peaches, pineapple, ripe orange.
Taste is big tropicals, pineapple, passionfruits, ripe peaches, orange. Very mild pilsner malts. Mildly bitter. Semi sweet, well balanced and I would say, since I just drank a Trillium Vicinity a day ago, that it's in that wheelhouse. Very good
Soft carbonation, almost creamy, low bitterness, lingering flavors with no oily tongue coat. An excellent rep of the Galaxy hop.
Highly recommended.
Cheers!

 

Just a couple new brews today, the first a big imperial stout from The Bruery:

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/16866/513184/?ba=bluejacket74#lists



And then had a tasty ginger brown ale from Cincy's Streetside which was a nice purchase from my local store yesterday morning:

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/47204/690072/?ba=bluejacket74#lists



Should be the last of my new brews this weekend, happy NBW everyone!

 

Happy NBS!

Having a very tasty/juicy NEDIPA from Equilibrium.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/47536/695629/?ba=Wasatch#lists

Cheers!

 

Grabbed a short bottle pour of this one, thinking a full solo bottle would be too much sour wise.

Suarez Family Lo and Behold



Monk’s Cafe Notes: $7 five oz bottle pour, inspired by Flemish Sour Ales.

Appearance: Ruby bronze base, filled to the rim and from bottle so light white ring of carbonation hangs above the rim of the base. 4.25

Aroma: Tart cherry, oak, red wine. Strong and pleasant. 4.5

Taste: Similar to the aroma, but very tart. Cherry, oak, sour. Pucker up, but works for my palate. 4.25

Mouthfeel: Tart and sweet balance well, intense. Alcohol level light and easy. Sour cherry lingers on the finish. 4.0

Overall: This is not for the meek, and with a long trip back I’m glad I didn’t try the whole bottle, but this is perfect for sharing or a long savoring in a relaxed setting. Definitely intrigues me further with this brewery, hoping more remains when I return Tuesday. 4.25

Will try to catch up on my three previous selections when I return to the room and cool down my two gift beers.

Cheers!

 

Day 3, a beer from a brewery that I absolutely ADORED when we lived in Minnesota. My access to their beers is very limited, so I was glad to pick this up in a mix pack that somehow made its way to Northern Indiana - and it was fresh.





4.02/5 rDev -2.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a nearly clear gold orange color with a creamy oatmeal colored head that lingers and provides a decent amount of lacing. Looks great in the glass.

The nose features ripe orange, pineapple, and lemongrass notes, with a bit of caramalt as well, and those notes translate directly to the taste, with the caramalt balancing the juicy citrus notes. Very nice.

The mouthfeel is very dry and crisp, adding to the drinkability. I’d definitely try this again.

 

This post is "liked" but not liked.

 

Greetings, fellow NBWers.
57° and mostly cloudy here in the wilds of Spokanistan.
Today I'm hitting, for the first time in a long while, a beer from New Belgium. Also, for the first time in a long while, it's in the format of a big-ass stovepipe can.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/192/585930/?ba=woemad#lists
This appears to be a fruited imperial hazy IPA, and it's one of those beers that I would say accomplishes exactly what it says it's supposed to do and does so without one iota of subtlety. Big, massive tropical fruit blast in the nose and on the taste buds, with just a little bit of a pithy bitterness for contrast. For a cheap humongo can, it's not bad, but I'm not sure it's something I will ever feel driven to try again.

 

#2, a big beer from @snaotheus and NBS BIF #18. A BA barleywine in a stovepipe can - SOP in these NBS BIF’s.





4.35/5 rDev +7.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours a rich mahogany brown color that looks slightly unfiltered in the glass and sports a sudsy tan head that leaves a splotchy cap on the beer. This definitely looks the part of a big BA barleywine.

The nose is rife with oaky bourbon aromas, which also imparts delicious vanilla aromas, and there’s buckets of toffee notes and stone fruit as well, with plums and raisins offering an enticing view into where the taste will land.

The taste is a magnificent combination of the barrel (oak and vanilla), the “candy” (rich toffee), and the hops (plums and raisins), which flows into a delightful balance between all the components, and the richly decadent mouthfeel for a dangerously drinkable high gravity beer. Exceptionally well done.

 

Maine beer company little whaleboat ipa
...cloudy light amber appearance with a thin but lasting head
...medium carbonation with about a medium body. The carbonation is almost champagne like adding to a nice feel to this one.
....aroma is citrus peel and fruit, minimal pine resin. Seems odd for an ipa and most would say im wrong but theres something in the background that reminds me of toffee.
...taste has a very mild sweetness with a very mild bitterness. Theres citrus peel,very mild pine with some earthy/sweet taste in the background.
...to be honest I'm not an ipa person and I don't usually like pine but this was underwhelming

 

Early today I had the pleasure of drinking with two NBW regulars. @cjgiant and I exchanged about 7-8 beers and I’m excited to use them as beers in this thread over the coming weeks. Tonight’s choice a bigger beer, appropriate for a Sunday night sipper, it’s also a smoked beer.

Port City - Colossal Two (Imperial Smoked Porter 9%)



Really pretty beer; dark brown, some clarity on the edges, light brown head, average retention, nothing to write home about.

Nose is pleasantly smokey, not overdone but like most smoked beers it is what shines first; camp fire like; light whiffs of leather, faint little bits of unsweetened chocolate.

Taste is nicely balanced and the flavors seem to come in waves; a pleasant chocolate laden smoke, then some dark fruit skin, lastly a really welcoming heavy roast driven finish; that likes to linger in aftertaste, very nice.

Body is somewhere on the bigger end of medium; it’s light for such a heavy beer, has a creamy feel to its carbonation, some bitterness shows as well; light chest and throat warming from the abv.

Really cool beer to try and dissect, it’s not every day I see an imperial smoked Porter @cjgiant. So where you were right I lean light it’s neat to try such a unique style from a brewery that I know you and many other respect.

A perfect beer to close out the weekend, thanks for sharing; more in 5 days…

———————

See you all for some more new beers next weekend. Have a great week, cheers!

 

4.98/5 rDev +15%

look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5

2023 Vintage: 12.4% ABV

Poured from a 12 ounce bottle dated 11/23 into a snifter at 56 degrees.

Look- Jet black, between medium and dark brown creamy head, opaque, above average head retention and lacing.

Smell- Rye whiskey, coffee, oak, toffee, cocoa, extremely high strength of scent.

Taste- Whiskey, coffee, toffee, oak, slight cocoa, extremely high strength of flavor.

Feel- Medium body, average carbonation, silky, creamy, moderately mouth coating, highly mouth warming, moderately boozy.

Overall- This beer was an absolute masterpiece. Deep black and opaque with above average head retention and lacing. The bouquet and flavors were very potent. Whiskey and coffee soaked with notes of oak, toffee and cocoa with perfect balance and wonderful complexity. Feel was medium bodied with a very nice silkiness. A great amount of mouth warming and coating properties. The only place this beer could have been improved, in my opinion, would have been a slightly more robust body. Overall this beer was as close to perfection as I have ever had. Hats off to Lagunitas for this one!