New Beer Weekend #205

Dealers choice either Hefe or American Pale Wheat Ale...neither are going to be "correct" but whatever. I always like Jacks Abby, but sometimes, beers just don't fit into anything, and its not going to make that much of a difference in the long run ha.

 

4.16/5 rDev -2.1%

look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 16 ounce undated can into a snifter.

Look- Black, opaque, medium brown frothy head, large visible particulate at the edges, above average head retention and lacing.

Smell- Cacao, caramel, very slight whiskey, smells mildly artificial, between medium and high strength of scent.

Taste- Whiskey, cacao, caramel, mildly salty finish, highly boozy, high strength of flavor.

Feel- Between thin and medium body, average carbonation, highly bitter, moderately mouth warming, mildly salty mouth watering finish.

Overall- The artificial caramel flavoring really covered up the whiskey in the bouquet, but could not contain it in the flavor. The flavor was very pleasant, but still had a mildly artificial feel. This beer provided a nice drinking experience, but was not worth the cost.

 

Yes, I saw it on the Instagram too late, unless they are holding some there and not listing it online. I might try calling and heading there Monday during a break in the 90s if they have it.

Several great reviews and beers already. I'm splitting the two HB NEIPAs with a lager offering I've been looking forward to trying once I scored two others to cover the weekend. Full review linked below.

Hop Butcher For The World Butcher Gold

3.13/5 rDev -11.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3



I typically enjoy Hop Butcher offerings over many styles, and was hoping to find a different take @GuyFawkes provided in the Great Lakes forum, but feel the aroma beer would have been very nice, but the taste is like a low tasting AAL. It's OK, but a lost opportunity.

Hoping I saved the best for Primetime Sunday.

 

Did you save one for the tasting? I can’t believe how many local, and non local, craft options are around these days. This was not the case even just a few years ago here. Do you find it similar in the Midwest.

 

Dual Citizen Mayhem and Mischief

Appearance: Dark amber, huge head. Maybe I poured too hard?

Smell: For all that head, not much aroma. Mild dark fruit and a touch of caramel is all I can pick out.

Taste: Mild sweetness that expands. Dark red fruits, black cherry, red wine. Medium feel. Maybe a bit of citrus hops in the finish.

Overall: Picked up a 4 pack at the brewery since I like barleywines and this is a World Beer Cup award winner. Pretty good, on the fruity side instead of the caramel/toffee side, reminds me some of North Coast Old Stock Ale. Tasty stuff.

 

Another day and another new beer. Might as well have one because we don't leave for Warroad till noon.

Helles - Hoppebrau - 4.9% ABV

Quite tasty, though the beer really wanted out of the bottle bad. It started coming out as I popped the cap. I am enjoying this light German treat.

Review:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/40397/612390/

3.97/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
In a 500ml bottle.

Ok, there's a ton of carbonation in this beer. It started coming out of the bottle when I opened it up. In the glass it's a clear golden color. There's a 3 finger white and fluffy head. Great head retention and lacing on the glass.
Aroma is a sweet buttery biscuit. Good grain aroma from the malts.
This is a malty beer as expected. Up front it is more of a sweet buttery biscuit. The back turns to a malted grain flavor and has a good bitterness to it.
Body is quite decent for the ABV. There's a good feeling from the bitterness on the back.
Germans know how to make beer, and this is a good example of a tasty German beer.


I may have one more before Lake of the Woods Brewing later today.

 

This one saturated with Mosaic, Nectaron, Strata, and Citra 8.5% canned with in the last week. Poured into a 16 oz Snulip glass. Pours a very hazy milky yellow with a finger plus sticky white head that leaves thick patches of lace with excellent retention. 4.5

Aroma is tangerine, peach, passionfruit, a hint of blueberry, and apricot. 4.25

Taste follows tangerine, peach, passionfruit, a little blueberry, and apricot. 4.25

Mouthfeel is above average, soft gentle carbonation, not sticky or dry, and at 8.5% massive flavor, but still easy going down. 4.5

Overall I think this one needs another 10 days to settle, but still extremely tasty. 4.25 Cheers all.

 

Meaning no offense, I’ve visited Lake of the Woods Brewing in Warroad — my daughter and son-in-law live in Roseau and work in Warroad — and I was, um, rather underwhelmed by the brews there. I find Bemidji Brewing to have perhaps the better beers in that region of the fine state of Minnesota.

 

I've been to both places mutiple times, and I would have to agree with you. Since we're staying in Warroad tonight before we head to the Angle tomorrow, might as well hit up LOW brewing. Now, there's a chance we may stop in Bemidji on the way. Don't know yet.
Now, if we could get the Deep 6 LOW beers at the Warroad Brewery, that would be great.

 

I read that in Wikipedia but you make it much clearer as to the how and why. Thank you sir!

 

One more before the road.

Required Reading- Blackstack Brewing- St Paul, MN - European Dark Lager - 5%

Quite tasty as I am waiting to go. Good malt flavors of licorice and caramel.

Review:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/48592/606729/
3.78/5 rDev -0.5% look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75 From a 16oz can purchased at the brewery last weekend. The beer pours dark brown in color. The head was an off white color and 1 finger in size. The head retention was very poor and no lacing on the glass. The nose has notes of caramel and cola on it. Nothing too strong. Taste - I am getting some licorice to start off the flavor and a bit of bitterness with it. I get caramel notes more toward the back. The caramel provides a check to the bitterness. Crisp and clean body. The body is decent. Slight drying feeling. Not bad at all.

See you all up north!

 

Once More Around the Sun. 3 Sheeps Brewing's 12th anniversary beer. An imperial stout aged twice in bourbon barrels. 14.2% ABV. The look is pitch black with a thick brown foam covering. I failed to capture its glory with a picture. The smell is sweet milk chocolate, vanilla, caramel, graham cracker, and brown sugar. The taste dangerously smooth. It is sweet, but no too sweet. Sweet milk chocolate, marshmallow, fig, molasses, leather, and bourbon flavors blend seamlessly. The mouthfeel is thick, oily, silky, smooth, and full, with light-medium carbonation. Overall, this beer provides a relatively sweet, decadent, velvety, and delightful sipping experience. It is sure to be available at the ultimate BeerAdvocate bottle share I am hosting at 3 Sheeps Brewing on 7/20/24. You have my personal invitation to join us.

 

I so wish I could go to the share on the 20th to try that. Sounds amazing.

 

To add to the fun, I just read the label info- blurb (and the main panel does say wheat lager) and that states the beer was fermented warm, but not whether it is top or bottom. (I'd assume bottom, but JA seem to be meddling with some process things so who knows). I reckon the warm fermentation must push the prominent banana flavors.

@JackHorzempa - would warm fermentation with lager yeast boost production of esters? Or am I really confused about what's going on here?

 

Thanks for the informative history lesson!

 

Aecht Schlenkerla Erle Schwarzbier, 4.2% ABV.

I have been looking forward to trying this for a while now, finally found a bottle this weekend.



Pours a near opaque black color. A khaki colored head rises to about a finger. Good retention and lace left behind.
The aroma...Oh that mix of smoked wood and malty characters is amazing. Baked dark bread, toasted, lightly roasted. The smoke is so well balanced with the rest of the base.
Taste wise, like the nose, this is an OH MY moment. Smoked wood, lightly meaty. Baked bread, toasted malts. Just a touch of sweetness. Even some herbal/earthy hops in the finish. Then the smoke comes back around, without being acrid in any way.
A medium to full body, surprisingly so considering the ABV. Moderate carbonation that is ultra, silky smooth. I have always appreciated Rouchbier's but not usually a style I could "down in big gulps" as my favorite drinkability saying goes. Well, I can with this one.

While the smoke is certainly noticeable, as it always is with this wonderfully unique brewery. This is also so well balanced and moreish. I can also tell that the Schwarzbier base is really well done. A WOW beer for me.

Overall score is 4.41, an easy A. I think one of the highest scores I have given in a while.
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/263/673599/?ba=champ103#lists

A great one to drink, while reading this very interesting novel by Antonio Munoz Molina, that revolves around the Iberian Sephardic Jews, and the Holocaust.