New Beer Weekend #201

Couldn't find any new to me Russian Imperial Stouts to cross post at this point with our ongoing weekend tasting event through Monday, so will be pulling double duty to cover both threads.

Hopefully this thread will also be available through the Memorial Day holiday weekend @Beersnake .

Going with another heavy hitter after starting the day with the 2024 Firestone Walker Parabola, which by memory may be their best version yet. This selection is another variant to my tally of the fine Dragon's Milk series. Full review linked below

New Holland Brewing Company Dragon's Milk Reserve - Triple-Mashed

4.27/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25



Going in, I figured this would be a very strong experience, and it definitely is. While my general preference would be a more balanced treatment of base and barrel, this was a great rare experience in terms of really hitting the strong bourbon, a nice smooth enjoyable bourbon, and also getting some depth the first 30 minutes in terms of aroma and flavor. Once you near the hour mark, it's bourbon bourbon bourbon.

Assuming my candy ass survives the rest, I'll be back tomorrow, perhaps with another strong stout or maybe a visit of a local brewery.

 

I think this is the perfect time to set a NBW page record. We get to expand until Monday with the Holiday and we have been going for nearly 12 hours already.

Poured into a 16 oz Snulip glass, canned on 5/09/24. Pours an attractive hazy yellow orange with a finger plus sticky white head that thin streaks of lace, with nice retention. 4.25

Aroma cantaloupe, peach, papaya, passionfruit, and apricot. 4.25

Taste follows cantaloupe, peach, passionfruit, papaya, and apricot very well balanced. 4.25

Mouthfeel is a little above average, soft gentle carbonation, not sticky or dry, and at 7% it drinks that. 4

Overall I think this is nice, it would a great hot day crusher. Worth a shot for sure. 4.25

 

Double Bastard
11% strong ale by Arrogant Consortia



Poured from a 12 ounce can, the body is a deep amber color with good initial head. Excellent lacing during the tasting.

Aroma and taste are a massive explosion of bitter hops and a heavy malt bill. As the beer warms, the heavy malt counteracts the bitterness to a degree.

Mouthfeel is heavy and approaches syrupy without being sweet. Good carbonation.

Only for fans of very, very bitter beer. If you are such a fan, like me, don't miss this one. Probably a hard pass for many folks.

 

I have not had that fresh in years and never out of a can. I need to get some.

 

I’m pretty sure I had this one when it was released under Stone (more ten years ago). A must try for fans of bitter beer.

 

Poured into a 16 oz Snulip glass canned recent, says Summer 2024. Pours a very attractive near pitch black with 2 plus finger sticky mocha head that leaves thin lines of lace with amazing retention. 4.75

Aroma peanut butter, chocolate, coffee, toffee, with a hint of raspberry and strawberry it all works well. 4.5

Taste follows peanut butter and chocolate are dominant, with some coffee, toffee, raspberry, and strawberry in very small rolls and it works extremely well. 4.5

Mouthfeel is above average, soft gentle carbonation, not sticky or dry, and at 7.6% drinks slightly larger. 4.5

Overall this one is very impressive. I am so happy they didn’t over do the fruit, very nice stuff. 4.5

 

Indeed Imperial Pistachio Cream Ale

Appearance: Clear gold, big head.

Smell: Nuts, vanilla.

Taste: Moderately sweet then pistachios and vanilla cream soda. Not super sweet though. Beer-y grain in the aftertaste.

Overall: Grabbed a stovepipe to try as the regular pistachio cream ale is pretty good. Not bad at all, the 8% is hidden, it's not super sweet, and actually feels like a beer. Still, it's more of a curiosity than a beer I'll return to.

 

After getting my power back very early Thursday. Was out for almost a full week after that storm we had, I was ready to bust out. Ended up at one of my favorite local hangout bars, Johnny's Gold Brick yesterday.

They had Equal Parts Shared Strength, Charitable Lager on at 5% ABV. I didn't know much about the beer itself, just that Equal Parts always does really good lagers, and it was for Mental Health awareness (obviously a charity they are doing).



Pours a clear golden/orange color. A one finger white head forms, and recedes to leave some lace behind.
The aroma is very subtle, with cereal grains and toasted malts.
Taste wise, while similar to the nose, this works better. With toasted and cereal grain like malts. Baked bread, along with some honey. A nice nuanced malt character. A very light grassy hop flavor in the finish.
A light body with effervescent carbonation. Crisp, clean, and finishes dry. Very easy to drink. I can come back to this, and enjoy more.

This is simple, with a less is more attitude. Another very nice lager that Equal Parts has made. It is also for a charitable cause, during Mental Health awareness. So two reasons to get this.

Overall score is 3.87, solid B+ and I probably like it more than the score suggests.
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/44383/703106/?ba=champ103#lists

 

I echo this sentiment, you heard him, and @ChicagoJ is pulling double duty this weekend we all can add a beer or two or three in the next few days. Can we make it to 10???

I know I have at least one in my for later today, after that I may have to sneak out and buy a single or two.

 

That looked as bad as a Hurricane. Glad you are on the better side of things

 

Good day BAs! Thanks @Snowcrash000 for starting us off!

Gots no new Russian Imperial Stouts to share, so no cross-posts. However, I do gots some new (to me) barleywines, so ...



Barrel Aged Saddle Up – from Pipeworks. 16 fl oz can purchased from Half Time, Mamaroneck, NY, 17/05/24, $ 12.00 (Including shipping and tax), $ 0.75/fl oz. Reviewed 25/05/24 (Review 3281). Note that I use DD/MM/YY protocol.
Undated can. This is the 2017- 2018-barrel aged barleywine ale with 2020 barleywine ale finished with cherry. Aged in Heaven Hill Bourbon barrels, 2020 release. Stored at 34 degrees at home. Served at 64.5 degrees F in a hand washed and dried Jester King snifter. The final temperature was 68.5 degrees F.
Appearance – 4.
First pour – Medium Amber (SRM 12), hazy.
Body – Brown (SRM 20), muddy and opaque. Under direct light, same. When rear-lite, same, except for amber at the edges.
Head – Average (Maximum 3.5 cm, aggressive center pour), tan, high density and fizzy, average retention, leaving a 0.3 cm crown fed by carbonation and a thin partial cap.
Lacing – Fair. Band of near-microscopic to tiny bubbles.
Aroma – 3.75 – A bit sweet with bourbon and cherry(?). No yeast, no hops, no roasted malt, no alcohol (11.3 % ABV as marked on the label).
Flavor – 4.5 – Moderately sweet with bourbon notes, very smooth! Weak dark fruits and weak cherry. No yeast, no hops, no malt, no alcohol. No dimethylsulfide or diacetyl. Faint gastric warming.
Palate – 4 – Medium; lightly creamy; soft carbonation.
Final Impression and summation: 4 (After deducting 0.25 point for undated personal container) Really quite tasty and reasonably priced – the cherry is still apparent, and the bourbon is very smooth – makes me think I should add Heaven Hill to my shopping list.

Rating 4.12, rDev -1.7%

 

Same. Can't remember the last time I had anything Bastard or Stone.

 

Definitely worth a look. Recently they have been brewing some old favorites. Cheers.

 

Stone — Double Bastard

The appearance is a dark ruby murky liquid with a fluffy light-brown head.

The nose is malty sweetness.

The taste is rich and complex like a bitter liqueur.

The mouthfeel is prickly and rich with a bitter long-lasting aftertaste.

Overall is not unlike Dirty Old Bastard, but the bitterness is overwhelming.

 

Cocoon Brewing Gilded Birdwing. A triple hazy IPA. Brewed with Riwaka, Citra, and El Dorado hops. The brewery is near my house. I thought about going there, since they have a butterfly habitat where you can drink beer outside, and it is a gorgeous day, but I decided to stay home. The look is hazy mango orange, with a somewhat thick off-white foam top, which quickly melts. The smell is grapefruit, lemon, papaya, and honey, with a little dankness. The taste is grapefruit, honeydew, peach, and green apple, with a bready finish. The mouthfeel is smooth, full, spritzy, and clean, with a light finish. Overall, this is good triple hazy IPA. My expectations for all beer brewed within one hour of me are low, so I am happy with this beer. I will bring all the people camping in my yard for the 2025 NFL draft to this brewery. Hopefully they have this on tap then.