New Beer Weekend #208

First new beer for today comes courtesy of @Dimidiata. When I pulled this out of the fridge, I realized I also incorrectly tagged @2beerdogs yesterday when it should have also been tagged to @Dimidiata. You Californians have sent me so much good beer over the years I get it confused sometimes!

Anyway, this is Amongst Friends from Sante Adairius Rustic Ales

4.09/5 rDev -4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
B2

I find this to be an attractive beer, mostly due to a really nice rusty / copper color that let's through just enough light to really brighten it up. Aroma has a nice musty funk to it, with some oak notes.

Taste is spot on. Tart, but not overly so, and no artificial cherry sweetness at all. Crisp, lively, and just enough oaken funk to add a degree of depth and complexity. Refreshing and very easy drinking for 7.3%. Another excellent SARA beer.

 

Lug Tread Lagered Ale
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/15435/34786/

Poured a 473ml can into a flute. A one finger bubbly white head on a clear yellow. The head diminishes to a ring.. Not much lace.

Sweet grainy nose.

Tastes of fruity toasted grain. A clean, mild hop finish.

A medium light body with good carbonation.

Smooth, crisp and clean. Full flavour and true to the style.

look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

 

Mortal Bloom a 6.2 ABV Hazy IPA from Founders Brewing. This is textbook example of a Hazy IPA. It’s very hazy with a thick white head. There is noticeable aroma of citrus and other tropical fruit. The taste is about the same with just a hint of grains. The mouthfeel is medium the finish is off dry. Overall a nice enough hot weather beer. I guess the world can always use another Hazy IPA, but I have had about enough of them.

 

Raices - Nostalgia, American barleywine.

750ml capped/foiled bottle served in a little tulip-ish glass. Dated 11/23, batch #212/2. @beergoot sent it my way.

Pours a murky caramel-toffee color with a fairly large, dense, tan head, not a lot of active carbonation. Smell is wood, bark, dates, toffee.

Taste is on the Bigfoot bitter side -- bark and earthy bitterness, with some burnt toffee and molasses sweetness, some woodiness. But bitterness is the dominant characteristic.

Mouthfeel is thick, slightly effervescent, a little chewy. Overall -- if you like Bigfoot, this will probably appeal to you. If you don't, it probably won't. I like it.

I should have had @beergoot demonstrate his pouring technique while we were at Raices!

Technically, I had this beer before, when we were at the brewery...it's better than I remember.

 

Had a lot of hope for this. Unfortunately......

3.82/5 rDev -14.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
Poured from 16oz can stamped “TRY NEW THINGS 06.13.2024” to a nonic at fridge temp.
The apricot body is completely opaque with a generous micro-bubble foam on top. The head fades to a ring but lacing is generous through the session.
The aroma is mostly floral and grapes, but there is an onion trace sneaking through.
Taste is predominated by alcohol. Once you get past that there is a sweet grape and stone fruit,but sadly it's overshadowed. Near the end of the session you can kind of taste the fruit better as you get used to the alcohol.
Mouthfeel is creamy and thick as expected in a TH NEIPA.
I really enjoyed Red Fern but this Platinum is a step back due to the unhidden ABV.

 

Good afternoon NBW
Another KBS variant has found it's way to my fridge.


12oz bottled 5.30.24 poured into a tulip glass at fridge temp 12% ABV. The beer pours dense black with light brown head. The head recedes to a thin ring and single layer of bubbles. The aroma is Hershey's syrup and dark roast coffee with a hint of barrel. The taste is bittersweet expresso with dark chocolate behind and faint oak barrel tannins on the tail. No discernable bourbon, but a slight note of ethanol. Fairly bitter. Feel is medium plus bodied with average carbonation and a mostly dry finish. Overall, consistent with what I expect from these KBS variants - notable influence from the named additives and nearly nothing of bourbon or barrel. This one is still tasty, but I don't think it deserves the premium pricing when it's clearly second use (or more) barrels.

Cheers all!

 

Drekker/Elm Creek collab Boil 'em Mash 'em Stick 'em In A Stew DNEIPA, 6% ABV. Pours hazy pale-yellow with a 4+ finger white head that left some lacing. Aroma is light citrus, grapefruit specifically. Taste follows, juicy citrus, again grapefruit, moderately bitter. Decent dry mouthfeel with extra-adequate carbonation. Overall excellent.

4.1/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

 

I do not have any recollection of what vintage was on tap. I think it was also 11.5%, whatever it was. Oh wait, apparently I wrote it down! It was 2022! Maybe this makes some sense.

As I was reviewing this, and the comparison with Bigfoot obviously came to mind, I was looking at that November '23 date on the bottle, thinking, "I like Bigfoot most fresh, and around 3 years old -- this would be nice to try in those ranges." The 1-2 year range for Bigfoot is among my least favorite, because it tends to taste like a harshly bitter, old DIPA for me. I wonder if I'm getting a similar experience from 1-2 year Nostalgia as compared to not-exactly-fresh-but-fresher-than-that-range Nostalgia.

Whatever the case, thank you for the thoughtful box!

 

I was deciding what to try out this afternoon and then remembered what day it is and the choice became obvious. This is a France-themed lager with which Jack's Abby is exploring the notion of terroir in beer. Could I tell that it used French malts and hops? Nope. Does that detract from it being a great beer? Nope again.

Jack's Abby Noble Matter: France
5.0% Landbier



Pours pale yellow with a one-thumb white head that dissipates quickly.

Aromas of honey and lemon straight off the pour, joined by biscuit and some floral notes as it warms.

The malt is more prominent on the palate, with classic cracker, biscuit, and white bread, all suffused with a bit of honey. Through the middle of the sip this becomes much more complex, with notes of berries (raspberry, strawberry) and some strong white grape vibes. The fruit notes mix with those from the malt instead of supplanting them. Then it adds more on the finish with an earthy bitterness that lingers through the aftertaste as an interplay with sweet fruit.

Pretty high but really fine carb that creates some effervescence on the tongue. Fairly light bodied.

For me, this beer is like a good white wine: I may not be able to describe it well, but I can certainly appreciate the nuance compared to a mediocre bottle. This one was a true pleasure to drink.

 

Cerveja Letra Brewpub in Porto, Portugal.,. ‘Point of View’ Rye DIPA.,. Cheeeers!

My goodness., good food here, but super heavy!

 

It is lower tier in that Genre IMHO

 

Equilibrium Moksamarga DIPA, 3.94 overall

Pours a very hazed gold with a thumb+ of fluffy eggshell colored head. Better than average head retention & a little better lacing

S: Pears, light breadyness

T: Follows the nose, some pomelo & white grapes as well, a little dryness up front. Pomelo , white grapes, creaminess from the oats & grassyness as this beer warms up. Tangy orange in the finish, some lime, white grape & a little grassy dryness, a little dried mango & pineapple as well

MF: Medium body, slight carbonation, pretty good balance

A solid take on the style, good flavor, but glad I just bought a single

 

Heat advisory #3 has begun here, possible record highs Monday and Tuesday just grilled up some burgers early, with possible storms during normal grill time. Euro Final is on and I'm about to try a new brewery that is from the town over. Never have tried their beer, mainly due to their astronomical pricing, I'm not sure how they will continue to survive charging said prices but I guess they are for now. This can was given to me by my dad so I didn't pay anything

Time to try some of the most overpriced beer I think I've ever had, heck I don't even think they most hyped, expensive breweries charge as much as they do; let's see how it is.

Farm Truck Brewing - Czech You Out! (Czech Pils 4.59%)



Pours lightly dark straw; mostly clear with some light haze; head is white, settles with nice cap and swirling brings back nice head.

Nose presents nice pilsner malt presence, shows light sweetness; accompanied by some light floral and very light spice character, simple and balanced.

Taste is in line with aroma, that light sweetness hits the tongue first; hops on the finish, same light floral character.

Light and drinkable beer; residual sweetness does unfortunately linger a bit, light bitterness, nice creamy smooth carbonation, no off flavors, clean and inoffensive.

A pretty well made beer, if that sweetness dried off on the finish it would improve this beer a lot, it’s simple, balanced and drinkable.

———————

I grabbed a single today I’m looking forward to but will hold off till next weekend. Blueberry season is at its end here in South Jersey, my beer will celebrate its finish next weekend with a littler Garden State history lesson

Have a great week everyone, if you’re stuck in this insane heat coming up like us, don’t worry, we’ll push through and survive. See you all next weekend!

@Streaky

 

@JackHorzempa No kidding, I'd be happy to drink Jack's home-brew!

 

I have LOVED that beer forever. Used to chub up every time I secured one in a trade. Glad to see they ae now canning it.

 

I am loving this one. Had it yesterday, maybe I should pop another and write up my impressions...

 

I liked it better than the first can, but my throat was a little raw