New Beer Weekend #215

It's good to have a long weekend, because NBW will have extra day(s)!

Another new arrival to Minnesota, Pizza Port Mongo:

Appearance: Clear gold, big head.

Smell: Mild tropical fruits, low aroma.

Taste: Mild sweetness followed by moderate tropical fruit flavors. Kind of light body and flavor for a DIPA. A little more citrus comes out as it warms up.

Overall: Pizza Port has shown up in MN so I got some singles to try. I thought I already had Mongo, but Port Brewing also has a beer called that—I tried it but did not review since that one was old tasting. This is under a month from canning, tastes OK, but kind of low on flavor for your double IPA.

 

It certainly has some very nice places. The river is 10 minutes from my house (the Flat) but the Grand is about 2 minutes. Great if you’re into kayaking!

 

In a rarity for me, I'm going to drink an IPA. This is Excursions - HBC 586 / Phantasm from Hill Farmstead

3.87/5 rDev -7.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
The standout with the appearance is the amazing lacing that was left behind by the ample head. Otherwise, it's a good looking beer...cloudy translucent yellow.

Aroma has grapefruit, wild onion, and maybe some faint pine.

Taste is grapefruit and mixed fruit. Nice long finish.

Overall, while I'm not really an IPA fan, I'm enjoying this one.

 

Not going to go into a whole big review, but I’m glad for a three day weekend with this post because:

1) we are carrying new beer weekend into a third day

2) I have always wanted to try this beer. It will be one of at least two top 52 BA beers I drink today. And damn, is this one good!

 

A three day weekend lends itself well to reviewing another new to me beer - Jackie O’s’ “overcoil” an imperial stout aged 20 months in 3 different bourbon barrels:



Poured at 57°. Fizzy dark tan head with some mixed rocky bubbles; poor cap retention that leave small islands of micro dots; soapy lace with agitation; medium legs on swirl; black body with ruby edges. Nose is straight up bourbon; mild boozy retro nasal. Bourbon, oak, bittersweet dark chocolate; slightly phenolic. Silky smooth feel; medium minus body; light carbonation; some mouth warmth from 12.9% abv; not adjuncty. Overall a typical Jackie O’s impy barrel aged stout; drinks thin for abv; boozy hot linger.

4.25 | 4.0 | 4.25 | 4.0 | 4.25
Score: 4.17 rDev: -6.7%


A good BBA stout. I wouldn’t turn it down, but I won’t seek it out. Cheers y’all!

 

I do appreciate your stories. Most everyone’s stories actually. Just fascinating glimpses of the past (or in @superspak’s case) the current situation.
Cheers!

 

Nodertor by Schilling


4.25/5 rDev +2.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Brewers notes :Nordertor is a Northern German-style Pilsner inspired by similarly crisp lagers originating along Germany’s border with Denmark. Named after Flensburg’s northernmost gate and fermented with an heirloom yeast, this traditional decocted pilsner features liberal German-grown Saaz hops that lend it light floral and citrus flavors and aromas. These combine with the beer’s complex malt bill to create a traditional, highly sessionable and bitter pale lager. Floral and citrusy, this highly aromatic, crystalline pilsner is hopped with all German Saaz & Magnum hops, for a piquantly bitter flavor profile.

Clear gold
Bright Grassy aroma
Bright Grassy taste with light lemon citrus , gentle breadiness notes
Crisp , clean dry finish

Delicious beer, revommended

 

3 Sheeps, Top Shelf Collaborations Grand Lac Belgian Quad barrel aged in 1792 bourbon barrels. 14.0 % ABV, 16oz can. Canned 11/08/2023. Brewed with figs and molasses.

I'm not sure what this beer is? Is it a variation of Veneration or Veneration 1792?

Look: slightly murky very dark brown body but is semi transparent dark reddish amber when held to the beer light. Has a decent head with a aggressive pour but it dissipates rapidly and completely.
Smell: smells very good. barrel, figs/dark fruit, sweet malt
Taste: Figs is the main flavor. Some molasses. Towards the finish there is hint of earth. The barrel is mild but gets stronger as it warms. The barrel is mostly buried but comes out on the finish. Rather sweet beer, smooth, ABV is well hidden.
Body is medium maybe slightly thin, smooth

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/28879/690059/
https://untappd.com/b/3-sheeps-brewing-company-top-shelf-collaborations-grand-lac/5630583

 

Back from NH, this is Brown Owl ESB by Northwoods



Tasty stuff and sure looks the part. It’s true to style, not much new world hop presence, more in the vein of an old English pint. There’s a smidge of funk all through which I quite enjoy.

Malt sugar, herbs, sweet sugar and some hop, pithy sort of character. Fuggles-esque. Finishes a smidge dry - caramel earl grey. Great pint!

 

Alchemist — Heady Topper

Technically, this is not a new beer for me, but this one was a one-of-a-kind experience.

It pours bright orange with a sticky white head and a decent lacing.

The nose is of ripe fruit, malt, and hops.

The taste follows the nose with the addition of slight dank, sweetness, and muted hops.

A full-bodied mouthfeel completes the picture with a thick hop bitter aftertaste.

Overall, it is drinking amazingly well for a hoppy beer canned ... 13 months ago. That's right— this is the last can from a four-pack purchased on vacation in Vermont a year ago. School starts tomorrow, and it felt right to drink a vacation beer today.

 

Or is it a lack of current situation?

 

Here’s another.

Flannel Friday by Harpoon



Beautiful pour, copper and amber. Clear. Fluffy head, so pretty to look at.

This reminds me of the amber ales I drank as a youngster 9000 miles away. Malty but clean and balanced. Not filling. There’s an orange citrus flavor that reminds me a lot of an “active” cascade useage. Which I think of when I drank cascade in an old world beer in particular, where it has to step up and do a lot of the floral herbal work.

It’s often times just thrown into a hop bill but there’s this pithy, sweet but dry pine character just meandering around. This beer screams patience, patience to brew and patience to drink. Harkens back to the past, boats against the current and all that.

@jonphisher I grabbed this because you gave me fomo last year haha! Cheers folks

 

Awe yes!!!!! I literally was using the beer finder today to see if it was around here yet. I’m happy my post got you to seek out this great beer. I can’t wait to find my six pack, cheers @GlenFarclas