New Beer Weekend #201

Bama is my last one.

 

Thanks. It's a move that's been long overdue, but I'm ending up with more hours than I was getting, a better salary, and fantastic benefits. I just need to really put my head down and work for a couple of months, as the new gig only pays once a month, and I won't get my first check until the end of June. That's being juggled with almost certainly having to move soon, as my apartment is almost doubling in rent with no matching upgrade in what I'm paying for.
So, I won't be posting as many new beers going forward for a little while. On the other hand, strictly rationing my beers consumption during April really paid off in terms of weight loss, so it's not quite a tragedy.

 

Thanks for this! Sometimes Donna would go a little overboard for me. This was a really nice Bobby/Donna duet.

 

Win. win awesome

 

Back for another, though I actually had this one earlier. My mom is keeping me busy (my choice, she’s in her 80’s now so shouldn’t be doing some of the things she is used to doing, but does them anyway)
Anyway, this is a common one I have wanted to try ever since Fuller’s ESB was discontinued from Michigan distribution. Finally found it while in Colorado.
Poured a warm amber color that sported a

beige cap which left sheets of lacing.
The taste was almost alternating between hoppy and malty, I’m sure it wasn’t but it seemed like it. Bitter, but balanced. I think I could drink a few pints of this regularly.
The feel is like carbonated water, way too quaffable.
OA, I enjoyed this for what it is. I know Left Hand is distributed in West Michigan, maybe this can be special ordered.
Cheers all!

 

Weathered Ground - Dark Side of Bliss, dunkelweizen

16oz can served in a footed pilsner glass. Can is not dated as far as I can tell. Got it from @Victory_Sabre1973 in NBS BIF #18.

Pours dark brown, moderately clear, gigantic dark tan head. Smell is wheat, grainy yeast, moderate dates, maybe some banana. But it's mostly yeast.

Taste is very much hefeweizen (moderate banana, lots of grain and yeast) with a lot of toffee and dates added to it. There's a surprisingly crisp bitter finish to it, earthy hops and grass.

Mouthfeel is fairly light, basically pretty fluffy. Overall, pretty good, if you're looking for a dark version of a hef (or a hef version of a dunkel).

 

I'm not sure I've ever seen a beer from West Virginia before in NBS/W.

 

I didn't even notice, that's my first WV tick! One state closer to all fifty, Arkansas and Mississippi to go! Thank you, @Victory_Sabre1973!

 

OK, looks like I'm posting the first Bonus Memorial Day new to me beer today, this one a local collaboration between a brewery and Hop Grower.

Goldfinger & HVG German Hops Cooperative Collaboration Heller Bock

4.1/5 rDev -1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25



Full review linked above. This was a fun experience, and I'm adding both the Taste and Overall rating notes here.

Taste: Sweet, led by malt and clove, bread pudding, wheat as well. Stronger sensation than the aroma, equally shifting with each take. Giving it about 10 minutes to warm further, it settles into a malty sweet corn, would say closely resembles certain malt liquors I enjoy (looking at Colt 45 here). Taste score bumped upwards accordingly. 4.25

Overall: Perhaps I'm enjoying this for unexpected reasons, but this resembles a European Strong Lager or American Malt Liquor, and I like it like Mickey likes Life cereal. I'm not well versed in Maibocks, and generally are not into malty beer, but whatever magic Goldfinger and HVG did with this one, I am into and want more. 4.25

Looking forward to catching up the thread either later today or after my Russian Imperial Stout Tasting duties have reached conclusion. We have 100 selections and counting, and you have all day today to join us for one more or perhaps your first or just conversation.

Cheers!

 

You’re welcome, and I will thank fate for having having these sunshine themed beers in my fridge

 

Really neat seeing this one reviewed, one of those early craft options I used to enjoy. I loved its old label, they must have pulled distribution here cause I haven’t seen in ages.

I learned, I think correctly, that Descartes has pulled from NJ, or at least my area too.

 

Are you saying you need us to send you free beer? I know we’re pretty good at that

 

I love Buckee's! I always stop at the three I drive by in TX - cheapest gas around, clean restrooms, and I love me some beaver balls (although they make my fingers sticky). Never found any interesting beers but I guess I wasn't searching hard enough!

 

I got you on the Arkansas tick

 

Really loved your review, and agree we should respect all beer. Thanks for posting and glad you enjoyed!

Yes, it took me some time to finish my four pack, as it was quite intimidating.

Congratulations on your new job, and hopefully you also win out on the new apartment hunt!

 

This is a tasty little brew my wife picked up a few days ago. I've 3 cans left so I might nudge my rating numbers. I enjoy this beer.
Ska Lager 4.8% ABV
3.79/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
12 oz can into a Becker.
L: SRM 2 Pours straw very light yellow with a slightly soapy 1/4" white head, excellent steady carbonation, head recedes to a light skin with edge foam, medium lacing with moon surface sheeting.
S: Light bready notes, an expression of hay, a distant apple note, pear.
T: Lightly bready, yeasty, malts, fruits like distant apple, a hint of pear, subtle citrus zest. Not much aftertaste except for some light zest.
F: Crisp and gently lively medium-light bodied mouthfeel with a medium-short lightly dry finish.
O: A clean drinking and clean tasting Lager with very tasty and balanced bread & fruit overtones. It has a pre-prohibition natural taste and is very good in its style.

 

Poured into a 16 oz Nordic pint glass canned on 5/13/24. Pours a very attractive hazy yellow with a solid finger sticky white head that leaves loads of thick lace with excellent retention. 4.5

Aroma is blood orange, papaya, pineapple, cantaloupe, and apricot. 4.5

Taste follows blood orange, papaya, pineapple, cantaloupe, and apricot well balanced. 4.5

Mouthfeel is above average, not sticky or dry, soft gentle carbonation, and at 8.4% massive flavor, but easy going down. 4.5

Overall this what you expect from probably the best doing this style. Impressive as normal. 4.5 Cheers all and have a great day.

 

Good morning NBW

Blonde Bomber Ale - Props Craft Brewery

12oz undated can poured into a straight sided glass at fridge temp 5% ABV. The beer pours bright light amber with off white head. The aroma is mild with slight grain and vegetable notes. The taste is semisweet pale malt with notes of tart vegetable. Minimal bitterness. Feel is thin, fizzy and mostly dry. Overall, ok. Probably way past it's prime.

 

Fair State The 400 Club


Appearance: Cloudy orange-yellow, huge puffy head.

Smell: Citrusy, bit of melon, mildly tropical.

Taste: Soft and sweet, nice citrusy flavor mixed with tropical fruit and a seeming bit of honey. A little melon too. No hop burn, soft feel and medium-light bodied.

Overall: A collaboration between Fair State and Hop Butcher, this was an auto pickup at the store. Very nice NE-style IPA, bordering on pale ale. Nice to see the 6.5% abv, doesn't overwhelm with alcohol, just a nicely sweet treat.

 

Another local Ft Walton beer


12oz undated can poured into a straight sided glass at fridge temp 4.5% ABV. The beer pours bright light amber with nearly white head. The head recedes to a pencil thin ring and nothing else. The aroma is mild grain. The taste is semisweet tangy pale malt. No real bitterness. Mouthfeel is thin bodied with average carbonation and a mostly dry finish. Slight diacetyl. Overall, ok.