New Beer Weekend #202

Toppling Goliath Munich Weisse Hefeweizen, 5.6% ABV' 4.02 overall

Pours a hazy gold with 2 fingers of cream-colored head. Average-ish head retention & lacing

S: Rubber bands/juicy fruit gum

T: Follows the nose, some grassy notes up front. A little dryness, more rubber band, some bubblegum as this beer warms up. Finishes with a little kiss of yeast, some grassy & grainy notes, plus the rubber band

MF: Medium body, fairly restrained carbonation

Solid Hefe, easy to drink

 

Two more beers from Equal Parts this afternoon.

Augustus, Chocolate Dunkel Lager. 4.7% ABV. This is essentially their Neo-Noir Dunkel with chocolate added.



Pours a dark brown with some ruby highlights. A khaki colored head forms, and rises to two fingers. Good retention and lace left behind.
Aroma is big milk chocolate up front, and some baked bread aromas. Very simple but definitely shows of the chocolate.
Taste wise, again, milk chocolate, and baked bread/light toasted malts. Some obvious sweetness, and that is it, and kind of finishes too quickly for me.
A medium body with soft carbonation. Ultra smooth. It is good for what it is, and fine to drink once. Though I don't see me coming back to this often.

I think others will like this a lot more than me, as an ultra traditionalist when it comes to lagers. I wanted to try it, because Neo-Noir is one of my favorite Dunkels. The chocolate is certainly there, but not much more for balance. I also just want Neo-Noir back, though well made for what it is. Even if its not for me.

Overall score is 3.5, solid and respectable, B
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/44383/704202/?ba=champ103#lists

Next up...

Ponderosa IPA, with Chinook, Citra, Comet, and CTZ hops. 6% ABV.



Pours a clear pale orange color. A dense white head forms and rises to over two fingers. Good retention and lace.
Aroma is Big on the orange, pine, and resin. Simple, but the citrus character here is very nice.
Taste wise, this is a classic IPA. With orange rind, citrus, pine. Just enough cracker like malt for balance. Plenty of bitterness lingering.
A medium body, with crisp carbonation. Finishes wonderfully clean and dry. One I can come back to a lot.

This is really well done. All the classic IPA you would want, glad they are making this. Get some at the brewery, and wish it was more available around town.

Overall score is 4.18, easy A-
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/44383/652264/?ba=champ103#lists

 

This is exactly how I feel. I can take a detour on my commute to hit up the beer hall, and with how many new beers they've been cranking out that look good or at least interesting enough to try, I seem to have a fridge that's always predominantly JA. And it's hard to beat the value for money. It has put a serious dent into my quest to try one pack of everything my local stocks that I might like, though.

My initial thought was fruit and field as well. When I'm stuck between styles like this I tend to ask myself: Is this primarily a certain style with a tweak or is there something unique that would catch your attention? The beer you mention falls into the latter category for me and I'd categorize based on the apple and not the base.



And after reading nearly 400 NBW posts, I've fully caught up. Some really outstanding-looking and -sounding beers the past few weeks! Always good stuff in NBW.

 

Mokah
10% stout by Southern Tier



Poured from a twelve ounce bottle, the body color is an opaque black. Head is one finger high and mocha brown. Light lacing.

Aroma is an inviting chocolate with background malt. Reminds me of the nose from Founders Mackinac Fudge.

Taste follows nose as the mocha flavor is predominant. A wee bit of bitterness arises to partially counter the sweetness. Finish has the last remnants of fading bitterness as the mocha lingers.

Mouthfeel is medium. Nice carbonation.

Good tasting stout that hides its ABV well. A bit more body would elevate this one, but still very enjoyable.

 

Yep, agreed, and added, overall score came out to 4.15. Really enjoyable all around.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/44383/704245/?ba=champ103#lists

 

I just did a quick run to Tree House Sandwich to get this beer…looks delicious

 

I believe your voyage was worth it!

 

Finally joining you all with a beer on this lovely afternoon, we have this amazing streak of warm, today hotter, weather with zero humidity; nights have been absolutely gorgeous. Busy at the Phisher household yesterday, got home later than normal cause of flag football championship, they won and got rings; hilarious watching him adore his ring last night and this morning.

Now I finally have time for first new beer of the weekend. Our friend @snaotheus sent me a nice little box of beer, oh and a cask in a bag, that crazy guy. This is the one I chose to open first...

Machine House - Cambridge Bitter (English Bitter 3.8%)



Pour dirty gold, or light dirty amber, in color, off white head that has to be roused with trickle pour or vigorous pour; got some good film retention; it is cloudy but opaque when backlit.

Nose presents itself as mostly doughy lightly toasted bread, grainy, light tea; hops present in a floral sort of way, with stem in tow.

Taste leans more into the hops than the nose would suggest; the malt does hit first but it quickly takes the backseat...malt still comes off doughy and toasted bread; hops are earthy and lightly resiny.

Light body; low, soft and creamy carbonation make this one super smooth, it finishes dry with a hoppy bite that verges on moderate.

Another pleasantly perfect English beer from Machine House that I get to try because of you Ryan. I will repay with a bitter named after a place sometime in the next few months. All you BIFers have to stop sending him so much so I can repay multiple boxes he's sent me, why, because he is the greatest beer saint of all.

--------------------------

Keep the beers coming so I have some intermission reading. Sorry NY fans Bob needs to finally get his cup, I’ve loved him since he was a Flyer and I really hope he gets one step closer tonight.

See you all with another @snaotheus beer tomorrow and for the next few weeks

 

I like the original better.

4.17/5 rDev -3.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Amost black, 1 finger of khaki head that quickly fades to a ring. A whiff of cocoa and a healthy snort of whiskey. Flavors are more pronounced, some roasted malt, licorice, choco/vanilla, bourbon has a warming effect. The original and BA versions always seem thin to the style. I've never seen this locally and was purchased at Total Wine in Wisconsin.

 

Pleasant couple of days in the kingdom. Getting slowly caught up on gardening tasks.

And now for something completely different...



Barreled Souls Mr. Freeze. The label says sour ale - I entered it into the data base and called it a fruited sour but now I don't think it is. It is brewed with raspberry Kool Aid and non- dairy vanilla soft-serve ice cream.

Yep...it pours lime jello green, crystal clear, fleeting appearance of soapy bubbles. I expected raspberry Kool aid to pour blue...

The smell is slightly sweet, a pretty good bit of vanilla and actually a little dialed back on the raspberry. I can also get some of the base sour- light malts and a promise of some sourness.

I might lose some karma points but I dig the taste. It's a weird combination of all of the above- the sour beer is present like it is in the Speakeasy beers and their other sour series - its certainly overshadowed by the additives, but it's there with the light malt and slight sourness. The raspberry and vanilla combine like a frozen dairy concoction. Slightly sweet, slightly sour, actually decently bitter, artificial raspberry and vanilla. I should hate this, except I dont...

Feel is light and a bit prickly. Fairly refreshing while cold. Not much carbonation.

Overall, I'm not sure what style it is - it has some trademarks of a their other sour series and fruity gose takes minus the fruit and cocktail homages. I thought Berliner weisse, but thats way off. Whatever it is I like it, it's funky and fun. I'll say 3.8-ish but it's hard to judge against a particular style. It's a well done whatever it is.

 

JJJuiceee Project Citra+Peacharine_HBC 1019


4.37/5 rDev +0.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Brewers Notes: JJJuiceee Project Citra + Peacharine + HBC 1019 is an imperial IPA by Tree House Brewing Company. Deviating from our customary process, we utilized a small amount of hop extract in the kettle and saved the entirety of the hhhoppp onslaught for the cold side of the brewing process. We carefully adjusted the base beer, crafting it to carry a bigger body and denser mouthfeel than the "ordinary" Juice Project, resulting in a deft balance of flavors. Citra leads the charge with classic grapefruit aroma and flavors of fresh squeezed orange juice. Fused within these bright citrus notes, Peacharine offers up a burst of lime popsicles and juicy nectarines. Rounding off this juice bomb is a brand new hop that is nothing less than a sensory delight

“Live well” printed on the bottom of the can

Canned 5.29.24, opened 6.1.24

Thick off white shaving cream, excellent retention, remains mountainous five minutes after the pour over a hazy, murky orange marmalade , solid lacings

Aroma is orange citrus, grapefruit , peach,

Taste is citrus orange, grapefruit, lime, peach

Soft, smooth, juicy mouthfeel, hop kiss

Good beer

 

12 hours outside coaching my son's soccer tournament then watching my other son's baseball all-star game. I'm hot and tired and happy. Having this delicious semi-local beer because of @beergoot thank you!



Hoop Driver from Free Will, an apple brandy and bourbon barrel aged Scotch Ale.

This is a sweet but nuanced treat for sure. The apple notes are fairly subdued while the bourbon is a bit more potent. Light smoke, vanilla, candied nuts, caramelized brown sugar, and more at work here. This is a gem. Thanks again @beergoot !

 

You know how you listen to elevator muzak for ten minutes and have to head bang for an hour to reset your brain? Lime green beer and I liked it...

Something I fully expect to enjoy:



Jack's Abby Bohemian Dawn. This is a Czech Pale Lager brewed with traditional techniques, heritage Czech grain, and classic Saaz hops. No Kool Aid in this puppy!

Pours a rich golden color with just a hint of haze. About an inch and a half of pure white foam. A little cling to the glass that falls to a hefty ring and about 1/8 inch of a cap. Beauty!

The smell is doughy malt and fairly strong - I suspect one of the traditional techniques was decoction mashing. A little grassy/floral and every so slightly spice. Simplicity.

The taste opens with bready malt with a nice depth of flavor- decoction? There is a bit of a honey taste, just a touch. Straight up Saaz hops character - earthy, herbal and a bit grassy, light peppery spice on the finish that comes through as a clear aromatic. A decent level of bitterness carries through in the sip. Nicely balanced and clean. Straightforward.

The feel is medium bodied - almost light but not quite. Moderate carbonation. Slightly dry finish with the hop aromatics lingering nicely.

This is a very good beer. Simple, straightforward, well-crafted. I'd call it elegant. Lots of flavor going on. The hops hit just right. I'm thinking in the 4.3 landing zone.

 

@beergoot makes you wonder if Santa Claus actually lives in Colorado, and @beergoot is closely associated with how it all goes down. We all know Santa Claus actually lives in the northern reaches of Finland, but @beergoot providing barrel-aged tidings of joy opens your mind to the possibility.

 

Agree @jonphisher ,I like reading about a beer that makes me want to seek it out,nice review

 

Touche...

 

Back for my night cap-

Picked up a 4 pack while in Colorado and hoping the rest will look better than the first one. Way more solid particles (yeast?) than would be expected.

(The photo doesn’t show what the eyes see, and not shown is the strainer full of “solids”)

The taste was sweet, maybe sweeter than it normally was if the particles were indeed yeast as that’s what is supposed to eat the sugars and create the alcohol.
The feel is fine until I got to the solids.
OA, I’m really hoping that the rest of the 4 pack are “normal”
Cheers all!

 

There was a North Pole Amusement Park west of where @beergoot lives, just saying...