New Beer Weekend #205

Hello New Beer Weekend!!!

Thank you to @FBarber for starting off this week's edition of the virtual bar. Time for my new beer that I picked up today.


Hulk Hogan's Real American Beer - City Brewing Co. - La Crosse, WI - American Lager - 4.2% ABV

I found out today that we had this in stock at a sister store, and went there to get it, because, why not. I didn't have high hopes for this beer. I was expecting a hot mess like other gimmick beers. Well, I was in for a shock - it's actually quite good. Holy heck! This beer has a good grain bill in it. It has a honey like sweetness, but not over the top, combined with a floral element. Very full bodied for 4.2%. Damn! I will be getting more of this for sure.

Review:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/782/706920/
3.78/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
From a 12oz can Packaged on 06/14/24

This is a clear golden pouring beer. There's a good stream of carbonation bubbles rising in the glass to produce a 2 finger white head. The head is quite fluffy looking and has small bubbles. The head retention is decent and there's a good bit of lacing on the glass as the head dissipates.
Aroma is just chock full of grain. I get a ton of cereal in the aroma. I also get a hint of baked biscuit in it.
Taste - Woah. I am surprised. The up front is very sweet, almost like honey. There's a floral element here, that surprises me. I do get a good hit of biscuit in here with the cereal grain.
For a 4.2% beer the body is quite full. I get a good bubbly feeling in my throat.
I didn't have high hopes for this beer. I was expecting a gimmick and a hot mess at one. This beer is actually good, and it feels good. I would get it again.

I think I've got one more in me tonight. Be back later. Cheers!

 

Thanks for kicking things off Frank! Bloody hot and dry here so I thought it was time for Winter Smooth from from Pohjala out of Estonia. This is a barley wine aged in cognac barrels.



The pour is Porter dark with a surprisingly long lasting mocha colored head. There is a little more oak than grape liquor in the nose but there is also some nice smoke in the background. The taste is pretty dry with that smokey oak coming across fairly prominently. There is a little fruit, somewhat jammy somewhat vinous, along with some chocolate and caramel in the background. This comes together well and I'm enjoying it more and more as I sip.

 

Something ‘old’ is new again!?!

The reference to old in the above is because today’s new beer is an Altbier from Von C Brewing and the word “alt” translates from German to “old” in English?

Why would the Germans use the word “old” to describe a beer style you might ask. Courtesy of the Bay Area Mashers homebrew club below is a history lesson:

“The name Altbier, which literally means old [style] beer, refers to the pre-lager brewing method of using a warm top-fermenting yeast like British pale ales. Over time the Alt yeast adjusted to lower temperatures, and the Alt brewers would store or lager the beer after fermentation, leading to a cleaner, crisper beer than is the norm for an ale.

The Bavarian Reinheitsgebot (beer purity law; literally “purity order”) of 1516 was drawn up to ensure the production of decent-quality beer; however, this decree did not affect brewers of the Rhineland. As such, the brewing traditions in this region developed slightly differently. For example, brewing during the summer was illegal in Bavaria, but the cooler climate of the Rhineland allowed Alt brewers to brew all year long and to experiment with storing fermented beer in cool caves and cellars.

The name “altbier” first appeared in the 1800s to differentiate the beers of Düsseldorf from the new pale lager that was gaining a hold on Germany. Brewers in Düsseldorf used the pale malts that were used for the modern pale lagers, but retained the old (“alt”) method of using warm fermenting yeasts.

The first brewery to use the name Alt was Schumacher which opened in 1838. The founder, Mathias Schumacher, allowed the pale ale to mature in cool conditions in wooden casks for longer than normal, and laid the foundation for the modern alt beer - an amber colored, lagered ale. The result is a pale ale that has some of the lean, dryness of a lager, with the fruity notes of an ale.”

https://www.bayareamashers.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/2009-SOQ-3-Altbier.pdf

Below is how Von C describes their Altbier on their website:

“Altbier - Traditional

4.9% ABV Norristown, PA

Altbier dates back to a time in Germany before the discovery of lager yeast. Brewed using the finest German malts and hops before receiving an extended conditioning time at near freezing temperatures. Malty and floral.”

Appearance:

A deep amber color with a big fluffy off-white head.

Aroma:

The aroma is mostly dark bready malt but there is a subtle hint of herbal hop aroma in the background.

Taste:

The flavor follows the nose with the dark bread malt flavor dominating but just little bit of herbal hop flavor in the finish. There is a moderate bitterness.

Mouthfeel:

Medium bodied with an off-dry finish.

Overall:

This beer is very good, I enjoyed drinking it.

This beer would have benefited from a bit more hop aroma/flavor to provide more balance to the profile, for my personal palate/preference.

Prost!

@rotsaruch @KOP_Beer_OUtlet @RobH @speakorspasm

 

Thanks for starting us off @FBarber, I wasn’t gonna open a new one tonight but your post and beer inspired me to open a lager I had in the fridge that @snaotheus sent. This one brewed by the folks at Heater Allen, I’m assuming it is some sort of side project of theirs.

Weekends with little kids are more tiring that workdays Frank, but like you said much more fun Lucky for us the kiddos are sleeping out tonight, as a result I got the hockey game cranked up nice and loud. Enjoy your busy fun filled weekend and hopefully we see you back by Sunday

Gold Dot Beer - Dark Lager (Dunkel 5.4%)



Pours a lightly hazy chestnut light brown, towering light brown head, no lacing but a nice opaque film persists.

Nose has some bread crust quality, medium well toast, some light toffee, sweet character.

Taste is malt forward, some very light sweetness gives way to browned toast, sweet comes back but partially cut but a rye-like hop bite; I do not think there is rye in this but the way the malt and hops mix is very reminiscent of it.

Body verges on medium, I wouldn’t say it’s hefty but it is close; the carbonation is soft and almost creamy, light residual sweetness, and a light bitter finish.

————————

Have a great night everyone hope we have all motivated you to open something new tonight or later this weekend, see you all tomorrow or Sunday

 

Thanks for that little altbier history lesson Jack, never had any idea where that name came from. Pretty neat.

 

Old school is cool school.

Prost!

 

Edmonton is looking real fast in the first period (so far). It will be interesting to see if they maintain this pace, eh?

Cheers!

 

I don't mind this brew one bit! Cheers BAS!
DAB Maibock 7%ABV
3.68/5 rDev +7.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
.50 Liter can enjoy by date 10/4/25 into a chalice.
L: SRM 3.5 Pours clear golden Amber color with very light carbonation, a thin eggshell white head that recedes to edge foam quickly, light random lacing.
S: Caramelized malts, a touch of grains, a hint of wine.
T: Sweet malts, light confection sugar, distant apple, a hint of white grape, a slightly herbal peppery hop note, light bitter citrus zest in the slightly lingering finish, it has a vaporous palate.
F: Gently brisk then smooth, clean, and glossy medium-bodied mouthfeel with a medium length lightly dry finish.
O: A deep tasting beer but there are much deeper ones in this style. It is tasty, easy to drink and is okay to good in the style.

 

I look frwd to tearing into my 6pk this wknd. Cheers!

 

All right, final round tonight, and it comes from a generous @snaotheus hit.


3-Way IPA 2024 - Fort George Brewery - Astoria, OR - American IPA - 7%

I am a fan of a good west coast, and this one is. Great pine hit and a good body to it. Thankful as hell to try this one.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/16077/699503/

4.19/5 rDev +1.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
From a 16oz can canned on 05/20/24

This beer is somewhat clear golden pouring. Very tiny carbonation bubbles rise in the glass to produce a 3 finger white head. Frothy and fluffy looking with great retention. There's a bit of lacing on the glass.
The aroma is decent with hops. I am getting somewhat of a tropical citrus vibe here. Some hints of lemon with a melon vibes also. I get a hint of a pine aroma that adds to this aroma. Hints of a dank aroma also pop into my nose.
Taste - Well, The dank that I was getting in the nose is more strong in the flavor it hits first, but doesn't last. I am mostly getting pine flavor from the hops, and I am liking it. The lemon and melon are a mild part of the finish along with the pine.
There is a good resin/sticky feeling to this beer. The hops just cling in my throat. The body is full overall, and there's a bit of a bubbly feeling here.
Damn tasty beer, and it really hits the west coast vibe well.

See you all tomorrow.

 

I really like the taste of this brew. Cheers!
Deschutes King Crispy Pilsner 4.8%ABV
4.12/5 rDev +7.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12 oz can pkgd 2/29/24 into a Pokal.
L: SRM 2 Pours 97% clear pale light yellow with excellent steady carbonation, a 1/4" frothy white head that has soapy edges, head recedes to a thick skin, loose random complex lacing.
S: Bready malts, a hint of hops, gently floral, lightly metallic, pastry dough.
T: A touch of fruits, bready malts, apple, citrus zest, complex bitterness, lemon, very lightly metallic, bitterness lingers long, has a background yeast note. Overall a bit fruity and almost lightly tart. Very fresh.
F: Crisp medium-light bodied mouthfeel with a medium-full bodied lightly drying finish.
O: A very solid Pils. Hits every style mark well. Fruity and crisp with superior balance. Quenching and tasty, it is excellent in its style.

 

Thanks for kicking off the weekend @FBarber . Sounds like a great weekend planned, and I hope to run into that beer before the Summer is out. Enjoying the hockey game and the first of three planned covering recent Hop Butcher For The World offerings. This first one is a collaboration with Perennial.

Hop Butcher For The World & Perennial Artisan Ales Thoroughly New

4.18/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25



Overall: This is a solid collaboration brewed by Hop Butcher For The World. Not familiar with Perennial's NEIPAs to draw a comparison, but this is consistent with several Hop Butcher offerings. Nice Tropical Flavors, dankness and bitterness balances this out to an enjoyable experienced. Look forward to future offerings from both breweries down the line. 4.25

If you like Hop Butcher For The World offerings, this collaboration will work for you. My remaining weekend pours are a lager and then another NEIPA.

 

Sunday I will be tasting more beers and depending on how late I sleep in after a BrassZilla show Sat eve, I might even slide over to Hudson, WI for a couple of new things. NTL, Augustiner Hell is on the books.

 

Started my weekend off with this during happy hour.

New Magnolia Brewing in Houston.

Two Bananas, a "Double Hefeweizen" with coconut and vanilla. 8.8% ABV, and self described by the brewer as having "developed a Hasselhoff-like following." Well, I'm not sure what that means, but I can guess...



Pours a cloudy yellow color. A one finger white head forms and recedes after a minute. Light lace is left behind.
Typical hefe aromas. Bubblegum, banana esters, with some coconut milk.
Taste wise, like the nose, bubblegum, banana esters. Even some plastic phenols. Coconut milk, and a cloying sweetness lingers on. I'm assuming that is coming from the vanilla, though I couldn't ID it as such. It is super sweet though.
A medium to full body. Moderate carbonation. With a sticky, oily feel from the additives. It becomes a chore to drink after a while.

They call this a "double Hefeweizen" with coconut and vanilla added. This doesn't work for me, way to sweet, and just an OK hefe beyond that. Get a Vitus if you want a more amped up "double" version, cause it still has that wonderful ester character (ah man, now I need to get one quick). Which is world class, and not gimmicky like this.

Side note, if this has a "a Hasselhoff-like following" then that must mean a lot of people have really bad taste, and/or just enjoys cringe. Sorry, had to get a bad zinger in, no hard feelings

Overall score is 3.19, blah...I did end up getting some Vitus for this weekend yay.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/58057/519002/?ba=champ103#lists

I also have a Schlenkerla Erle Schwarzbier that I'm going to open later this weekend. Which I'm really looking forward to and review tomorrow or Sunday.

 

OK kids...thinking of having this one tomorrow and need to add it to the collective. I have no idea what style to pick - another odd beer hall exclusive from the people in Framingham... Thoughts? I mean other than what am I thinking for drinking it in the first place...

B-A-N-A-N-A-S WHEAT
WHEAT LAGER
May Release
BEER HALL EXCLUSIVE

B-A-N-A-N-A-S Wheat is a strong and assertive wheat beer with, you guessed it, notes of banana. Our pilot brewing team had some fun pushing lager boundaries with this one double decocting it and utilizing our open fermenter.