New Beer Weekend #210

Single Double by Old Nation


4.19/5 rDev -0.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Brewers notes : To honor the start of another season, Old Nation proudly presents Single Double Hazy Double IPA, the second release in our limited hazy IPA series. Using only a single type of hop (Citra), it delivers the well-known citrus and tropical kick that the NEIPA style is known for. It’s a simple concept that bursts with the sunshine flavor of the most popular hop used in the style and nothing else to get in the way.It's the perfect brew to savor outdoors on a sun-soaked day alongside a folding chair and a live baseball game on the radio!

Received from @Whyteboar in bif18 lif winnings

Canned 3.12, opened 7.25, chilled 16 ox can poured into a Willi Becher glass

Hazy deep orange with one off white fat finger of foam , settles to a layer , decent lacings

Aroma is citrus orange, grapefruit

Taste is tangy citrus orange, grapefruit, little bit of grapefruit pith

Sudsy on the tongue, crisp hop bite on the finish , bitterness nicely lingers on the roof of my mouth , 9.3% abv is well hidden

Good beer, need to find a radio so I can listen to the Red Sox beat the damn Yankees

 

Dang! That’s some mighty praise for some @Whyteboar beer. He sent me one too..might just have to review this weekend as well..

 

Hello New Beer Weekend!!!

I wasn't expecting to be here this early in this NBW. I thank @GreenBayBA for starting us off. The beer I'm having tonight was not the one I planned on having. I decided to go with one that was just mentioned here, and it was also given to me by the amazing @Whyteboar .

Expedition - Bourbon Barrel-Aged Coffee Stout - Bells Brewing - Kalamazoo, MI - RIS - 13.3%

Wow, this is one hell of a beer. The aroma is just off the chart amazing. The flavors are like the nose, but slightly muted from what I was smelling. All I know is I'm happy to try this beer, and so damn thankful I got it.

Review:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/287/692712/

4.44/5 rDev +0.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
From a 12oz bottle. Packaged on 01/11/24

Nice bit of smoke upon opening the cap. This is a pitch black pouring beer, with no light at all showing through. The head seemed like it was going to be minimal, but it expanded to a 1 1/2 finger brown head. Tiny frothy bubbles in the head, and it is damn long lasting. It just doesn't want to dissipate, and I have no clue as to how it lasts so long being a 13.3% beer. There's no lacing on the glass when it finally does.
The nose of this beer is a rich blend of coffee (which is the main aroma), caramel, toffee, vanilla, chocolate, plum, raisin, and bourbon barrel notes. These aromas are very pleasing, and just work right together.
Taste - The flavors mix together well. I get smooth coffee, almost creamy tasting. I get notes of vanilla, caramel, toffee, chocolate, plum, and raisin. There's barrel notes in here, but they're not over the top, like some BA beers can be. The flavors do seem to be slightly less pronounced than the nose suggested, but still damn powerful.
This beer is so thick and smooth feeling. Very full bodied. There's a bit of a burn, but not harsh, just there to let you know to take your time with it.
The flavor does seem lighter than the nose let on, but it is only a slight knock to this beer. This beer is downright delicious. A damn pleasure to get the honor to have it. It is solid, and I do recommend it if you get the chance to get it.

One and done tonight. See you all from the road tomorrow. Cheers!

 

In my glass this evening is Modestman Brewing most recent release I believe. Poured into a 13 oz Snulip glass not sure of the canning DATE! Pours a very attractive milky yellow with a thick ring of foam as it slowly settles leaving other waves of lace. 5

Aroma is peach, tangerine, cantaloupe, hint of green grapes, and apricot. 4.25

Taste is peach, green grapes, tangerine, cantaloupe, and apricot. 4.25

Mouthfeel is above average, soft gentle carbonation, maybe a little dry but it works very well, and at 8.5% goes down very easy. Hop make up Citra, Galaxy, nectaron, and Nelson. 4.75

Overall this is very nice. A little different flavor, with a killer look and body. I recommend for sure. 4.5

 

Thanks for kicking off Micah! Want to concur with Micah's assessment of last weekend, with the enjoyment of meeting familiar and new BAs and enjoying familiar and new beers with true beer aficionados. Traded and gifted dozens of beers which will keep my stocked into the Fall.

Before I dive in, Note to Moderator Team - I submitted a requested edit for this thread title. This week should be numbered 210, and the previous week thread should have been #209 (the thread last week was numbered 208 for the second consecutive week). @Beersnake @beergoot @Roguer

My theme this weekend is International, as I bought two of the three at great Woodman's prices, plus recently picked up a highly recommended offering by @champ103 and others. Starting with the first from a $3.99 plus tax four pack, still have several weeks before the best by date, so hoping it is as good as intended. I believe I've had this before out of a large rolled bottle with orange slice from bars long long below before I ever even heard the term craft beer.

Hacker-Pschorr Bräu GmbH Weissbier

4.32/5 rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5



Not sure why I haven't returned to this classic I enjoyed in the 1990s, but so glad for Woodman's sale which prompted me to finally pick up. Close to 11 months old, tastes as fresh many local month old cans. Such an awesome brewery and experience, will be adding this to my rotation in the future.

Cheers!

 

3.75/5 rDev 0%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours a foggy reddish brown, small khaki head is gone in a flash, no lacing. Snot factory says this is a boozy beast, hints of chocolate and caramel. Taste buds are getting some plum and honey. Thick, sticky mouthfeel. I'd buy this again.
..as a side note I see that ShortFuse bought the rights and recipes from Metropolitan, looking forward to the return of some of Metros brews this summer!
EDIT: Now that I've finished this, I will have to sample some Scotch. (I don't think that's my booze).

 

I can’t take credit, I just bought the beer. But I found it pretty amazing.
Dammit I miss Larry Bell.
Oh, sorry, back to your regularly scheduled programming.

 

A Bit Much!?!

Or perhaps I should have titled this as per the advertising on the can: “Bitte ein Bit”. Which translates to “One Bit, Please”.

I have had Bitburger before as small, sample pours at beer festivals but today’s tasting is my first full pour of a Bitburger (from a 500 ml can).

I was motivated to purchase a four-pack of Bitburger due to two BA threads:

@Providence started a thread back in April with the ‘colorful’ title of: “Fuck these pilsners, buy Bitburger”.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/fuck-these-pilsners-buy-bitburger.676928/

Needless to say, but Providence is an advocate for Bitburger and that thread was quite active with a total of over 300 posts. One BA who seems to quite experienced/knowledgeable about Bitburger ironically has the BA name @Bitburger and in one of his posts he opined:

“40 years ago Bitburger was a great Pilsener. 48 IBUs. Now it´s mainstream...sad!”

Not an exactly rousing endorsement there but…wait there’s more!

I started a thread entitled “A Psuedo-Blind Tasting of Six German Beers” which included a video to Nate Lanier (Tree House Brewing) and in that video Nate seemed to be quite pleased with his blind tasting of Bitburger.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/a-psuedo-blind-tasting-of-six-german-beers.677855/

I think it is likely that the Bitburger of today is notably different from how this beer was brewed many decades ago but maybe it is a ‘good’ beer nonetheless?

Below is how Bitburger is described on the brewery’s website:

“Our straw-coloured pilsner is crystal-clear and perfectly hopped, boasting a light taste and a lasting foam head with extra-fine bubbles. This all combines for a moment of pure pilsner enjoyment.”

And:

“Our gracefully slender pilsner combines intense flavor with a light elegance. On the palate, a fine liveliness brings forth mild fruitiness and freshness with a hint of malty sweetness yielding to a crisp hop tone and ultimately a harmonious finish. For two centuries we’ve brewed our beer using only the best ingredients, and following the renowned German Beer Purity laws. It’s no wonder the distinct barrel-fresh taste of our Bitburger Premium Pils is a firm favourite amongst beer fans, and the most popular draft beer in Germany!”

One aspect that was discussed in my above linked thread is the importance of freshness when it comes to imported beers such as German Pilsners. I am grateful that Bitburger places dates on the bottom of the can:

“2025 05.08

2024 05.08 12:01”

It would appear that this beer was canned on May 8, 2024 and the brewery suggests a best by date of May 8, 2025 (which is ridiculously too long IMO). This beer is a little over 2 months old which means it is very fresh in the context of an imported beer. I hope that it was transported in a refrigerated container to ensure it was not subjected to heat during the long journey on the ship across the Atlantic Ocean.

Served in my Polish Pilsner glass:

Appearance:

Straw colored with a white head.

Aroma:

The aroma is a combination of bready malt and some fruity and herbal/spicy hops aromas.

Taste:

The flavor is predominantly bready malt but also some fruity and herbal/spicy flavors as well. There is a low-moderate bitterness.

Mouthfeel:

A light-medium body with a dry finish.

Overall:

In think this beer is good. It is well brewed with no technical brewing flaws but having stated that there is nothing especially special or thrilling. I suppose the word “solid” applies here.

I should make mention that it is economically priced (I paid $8.99 for the four-pack) so this makes it a good ‘bang for the buck’ sort of beer. A summertime sipper!!

Cheers!

@rotsaruch @RobH

 

Is Live Oak distributing to Colorado now? If so, for how long?

Cheers!

 

Couldn't swing a dead cat without hitting that beer when I was stationed in Sembach, Germany; especially at Volksmarches. Solid, but a little too ubiquitous for me, still. My local had this & ParkBrau

 

From @not2quick Narrow Guage Brewing Co. ( so excited to get to review some of their beers ) Fallen Flag DDH Hazy IPA with Citra, Mosaic & Columbus Hops, 7.0% ABV; 4.46 overall

Pours a very hazed gold with 2 fingers of eggshell colored head. Slightly better than average head retention & lacing

S: Mangoes, passion fruit, green melon & peaches; great nose

T: Follows the nose, leads with tropical flavor, a little dryness, a kiss of pomelo up front. Green melon, dryness, tangerine & lime as this beer warms up & a little cantaloupe & pineapple. Finishes dry with a little pineapple, tangerine, green melon & pink grapefruit

MF: Medium body, creamy carbonation, nice balance. Body thins a touch as this warms up

Easy to drink, well executed. Grapefruit really comes on as this beer warmed up

 

This is a LIF beer from NBS BIF#18 from the Awesome @Whyteboar

TRVE Brewing Co. ( Thrilled to try this brewery ) Obsidian Crown Imperial Stout, 10.0% ABV; 3.44 overall


Pours a pretty effervescent hazel/chestnut color with 1 finger of sand colored head. Pretty good head retention & lacing

S: Roastyness, a little coffee & a little vanilla

T: Coffee with a with a booze smack on the tongue, some vanilla on the edges as well. Coffee, vanilla, woody hops & a touch of booze once this beer is warm. Finishes dry with woody hops & weakish coffee, some booze bite

MF: Medium body, fairly prickly carbonation

Solid for style, the body doesn't say 10% ABV, the flavor does. A little uneven on execution, but wasn't a chore to drink by any means

 

Sipping a very interesting and tasty beer from Kettlehead Brewing and Spyglass Brewing. Brewed with Lotus, Citra, and Madagascar Coffee 10%.

Poured into a 12 oz tulip glass canned on 7/01/24. Pours an attractive hazy orange yellow with a solid finger sticky white head that leaves thick streaks of lace with excellent retention. 4.5

Aroma is vanilla hits first, tangerine, pineapple, and apricot in supporting roles. 4.25

Taste follies the vanilla actually works better than any other IPA so far and this is a NETIPA. A little tangerine, pineapple, and apricot play so well some how. 4.5

Mouthfeel is above average, not sticky or dry, soft gentle carbonation, and at 10% goes down way too easy, but still packs some massive flavor. 4.5

Overall this is a huge surprise because I have not love most like this. Well done for sure. 4.25 Cheers all and enjoy your Saturday.