New Beer Weekend #199

Glad you liked it that much; I did, too. My notes would be the same + a note that there's something, if not a dankness, some kind of astringency (?) that keeps the citrus and tropical fruit from being cloying. The taste lingers, but not in the syrupy way that characterizes too many NE(D)IPAs. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go open my last can . . .

 

Haha, mine aren't going to last that long!

 

Lupulin Brewing BA Doppelbock. Courtesy of @cheeseheadinMinneapolis. The look is dark amber, with red tones that are revealed by the sun. There was no foam that appeared. The smell is dark malt, bourbon, brown bread, grapefruit, Tang, and red sauce from Taco Bell. The taste is sourdough, bourbon, Grape Nuts, Roman Meal bread, and red grape. The mouthfeel is bready, full, and robust, with medium carbonation. Overall, this is an experience. It tastes like a doppelbock with bourbon poured directly into it. It is unique. I don't know if I should drink the whole bottle, but I probably will.

 

Surly Eighteen Belgian Pale Strong Ale, 11% ABV. Pours clearish light-brown, with a slight white head that left little lacing. Aroma is distinctly brett. Taste follows, some malt, slightly sweet, slightly bitter. Decent dry mouthfeel, overall very good. Not a fan of brett.

3.87/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Incredible sunny spring day, perfect for mowing and a walk.

 

That’s the one that I’m kicking myself for not getting enough of the last time I was there.

 

Alus Darbnica Labietis (Latvia) ‘Pelašku Velns’ Herbal Dark Ale

Here’s a 44 cL can, poured chilt into a snifter in Toulouse, France.
Seriously handsome Devil may care presentation, orange-y foam atop black brew with a reddish hue.
Aroma is a backhand slap on the schnozz., toasty barley malt, citrus, earth and grass, chocolate, licorice.
Tastebuds get the front hand; it starts like an American Imperial Stout, roasted caramel malts,., mmm., then, wait for it.,. the yarrow boosts the Citra hops straight down Central Tongue Avenue. Right behind comes serious intensity. In Hungary, there’s an herbal drink called ‘Unicum’ - kinda like Jägermeister. There’s that kind of exotic witch’s brew demon swirl going on late in the hit.,. it lingers. Laughs. Then pounds the senses with a hellüva warm zappity alcohol pinch.
Nicely unique, super delicious.
Mouth is smooth and full. Medium carbonation.
Overall - Latvia?!? Who knew? I’m afraid I’ll kneel at this altar again!

4.34 in the BA DB..

 

Pure Project Euphorik Oak Aged Feral Beer with Mangoes, 6.3% ABV; 3.98 overall

Cheers to @mhksuccess for this Superbowl Squares Payola!

Pours a very hazed & effervescent gold with rapidly disappearing cream colored head. Stays effervescent, zero head retention or lacing

S: Hella Mango, sweet & a touch of tart

T: Follows, the nose, very oaky dry, some hints of lime & salt up front. Oak dryness tart mango, a kiss of sweet & salty after taste as this beer warms up, a whisper of acidic pineapple too, Finishes with oakyness, mangoes & acidity

MF: Medium body, dialed back carbonation, a little acidity

Not huge on sours or Mango as a featured stand-alone ingredient, but this beer held up well. Pretty drinkable

 

Day 2, I haven’t had a beer from Destihl in a minute, something I’m addressing here and now.



4.35/5 rDev +5.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pouts very hazy pineapple color with a soapy white head that leaves moderate, slightly splotchy lacing and a nice little cap on the body of the beer as you enjoy it. Very nice.

The nose includes lots of mango, pineapple, tangerine, and ripe berry notes and is quite dank, which is an attribute I always associate with Citra/Mosaic hopped beers. This is AKA “ovaltine’s sweet spot” so I’m excited to try this.

It doesn’t disappoint, with a delicious helping of mango, pineapple, and tangerine flavors providing the dank citrus base to transition to the substantial ripe berries at the back of the palate. Absolutely delicious.

The mouthfeel is on the softer side as expected. This is a beer I will definitely buy again.

 

Thin man brewery pils mafia
...almost clear amber with a long lasting white head
..medium carbonation with a medium body as well with a little bit of a thick creamy feel which is odd for the style
...aroma is a balanced mix of cereal,grain,bread,with some mild citrus.
..taste is similar to aroma with some mild sweetness matched with an almost dry hop finish that lingers.
...overall this was very good and I wish I had picked up more than a single

 

Drekker Chonk Blackberry Caramel Sundae Sour, 6.4% ABV. Pour thick and opaque maroon, with a 1.5 finger light-red head that left puree residue. Aroma is caramel, vanilla, brown sugar, and blackberry. Taste is blackberry and plum up front, brown sugar, vanilla, caramel, quite sweet, slightly tart, salt on the close. Excellent creamy mouthfeel, overall excellent to outstanding adjacent.

4.37/5 rDev -4.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

 

#2, this is from @Roguer and an NBS BIF last year. I’ve been eyeing this for a while, time to do the dance.





4.5/5 rDev +10%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Pours a dark cola brown “in the air” then settles in the glass black with a creamy tan head that leaves a surprising amount of lacing given the 11% ABV. Absolutely gorgeous Baltic Porter.

The nose features a glorious amount of cocoa, with some roasty malts, a bit of honey sweetness, and a subtle barrel note tossed in for good measure. Wow.

The taste likewise is led by that cocoa note, but this beer pays its bills with that balance between the honey, roasty malts, and little bit of barrel flavor at the back of the palate. This is WAAAAAY too drinkable for a beer this big.

The mouthfeel is actually drying, and substantial enough to carry the weight of this beer. This is an astounding Baltic Porter, one I would try again and again.

 

A full and busy day here, I’m trying to get everything situated for the family Monday and Tuesday since I will be away, unfortunately at a a funeral. Anxious about leaving the family and flying, @snaotheus I need some tips. Or anyone else who has, or had to, travel for work regularly.

And now for the beer, one of the beers @cjgiant gave me at our meetup. I was very excited for this one, even though it’s not “optimal wit” weather, cold and overcast. I had to open this one cause I read your neat side by side with the wit that I gave you.

Port City - Optimal Wit (Witbier 4.9%)



Pours bright yellowish straw, bubbly white head, settles at medium speed to nice layer of froth; nice wit cloudiness to it.

A very bright and vibrant nose, the citrus pops with minor zesty quality, banana bread, some bubble gum; the spice blurring the lines between the two.

The taste is lightly sweet and somewhat bready; the yeasty esters take more of a supporting role in taste as opposed to nose, there is some definite zing of citrus on the finish; this is also when the bubble gum and spice rears its head up again.

Body is light-medium, some residual malt sweetness on the tongue before a bright refreshing finish.

Thanks for sharing this one @cjgiant it is really a treat of a wheat beer, a style I really enjoy during the spring months. I definitely agree with your side by side assessment this is more bright and leans more towards allagash than does Holly Beach; having said that I wouldn’t turn down either beer, great wits all around.

——————

May or may not be back tomorrow, got an early flight out Monday morning so I may lay low; or have an early beer. Guess we’ll see, either way I’ll be reading all your reviews no matter what

 

First off, I wouldn't turn down either... well, either.

As mentioned (somewhere), Optimal Wit has medaled in GABF quite a bit (2021 being a fun year when it won gold and Allagash White won silver), and won the World Beer Cup in its category this year. Port City seems one of those breweries that likes entering competitions. I actually forgot until recently that, in 2015, they won Small Brewing Company of the Year at the Great American Beer Festival.

So there are threads about how much those awards matter, and we all fall somewhere on the spectrum, but I'm glad you've appreciated the beers you've had from them. I've definitely enjoyed the beers you offered, as well.

 

Mostly nice day here, but a tad bit chilly. Yesterday was our annual trip to a great garden center in Southern RI. So I'm a bit worried about the plants we bought yesterday but have them huddled up near the house. Doubt we'll have a frost, but I don't know what's been acclimated to outside temps.

Anyway, going to supplement my serving of fruit for the day:



Mortalis Brewing Co. Twilight Hydra. It's a 7% sour ale brewed with blackberries, raspberries, peaches, and Graham crackers.

The pour isn't as ugly and chunky as some beers in this family. I like the color and the fizz trapped by the fruit was cool - kinda made a creamy top for a few seconds.

The smell is all of what the label says plus a but of vanilla. I can go with a fruity pie here.

And it tastes exactly the same. Blackberry and raspberry forward, a layer of peach, then the Graham cracker crust. Slightly tart - all fruity tart - any semblance of a base sour is obliterated by the fruit, at least for a bit. It's slightly sweet, a quick taste of vanilla initially. At the end of the taste there's a vague beer character that comes in.

It's pretty smooth on the feel. Not as thick and chunky as some other Mortalus offerings. A little berry seed comes through on the finish.

Ok...it might it might not be a beer but I generally enjoy these things. This one is pleasant, a little more refreshing than some in this genre. It's fun, fresh, and fruit-i-licous. Keeping in mind what it's supposed to be, I'm thinking around a 4.2.