New Beer Weekend #218

The rain let up over the afternoon long enough for me to grill some fresh swordfish for dinner. I'm always a little leery of cooking it - it's not as forgiving as other things. These were super- thick steaks and on sale to boot. Came out nice, thankfully. Thick, fresh, cook to 145F - winning combo.

Gracing the glass:



Kettlehead Fourteen Forty, Batch 005, an English Barleywine. It's a big boy beer at 11.9%. Random find in the singles section at a local packy. Here's what the brewer has to say:

This labor of love has been aged in a 15 year Widow Jane bourbon barrel that we used for the Darkside of 1.101 at our anniversary. Scottish heirloom malt paves the way in this Single malt series. Rich malt character is derived from our long overnight boil, then you get a little bourbon character, a little oak, and a little Darkside stout from the barrel. Super rich but drinkable, big malt, caramel, and dark fruit permeates the room when you crack one open. Best enjoyed with friends or by a nice fire. Let it warm up a little and it really blossoms in the glass. Enjoy friends. This is a good one!

Okay - they say a lot. Let's see what's what.

It pours crystal clear with some funky biggish bubbles rising to the top but not forming any appreciable head. The color looks very dark brown in the glass, but decent light shows it's more of a deep red tinted mahogany color. Bright light makes it look kind of dirty caramel color, so im not going to do that... It's stunning under normal lighting.

The smell is malt-driven but there's so much more. There's toffee and brown sugar, woodiness, vanilla and bourbon. I get a red wine-like grape smell, dark fruits reading cherry and raisin. Some sweetness and just a hint of booze. I'm getting a faint other fruit - thinking apple but it could be pear.

Ok..Enough temptation! The taste - with all that's going on - is incredibly smooth and full of flavor. The base barleywine is still the star and is not overshadowed by the barrel treatment. There's a slight alcohol sting, but its not too hot. Sweet and malty. Caramel, brown sugar, and toffee flavors immediately then the party starts with the dark fruits - still thinking cherry and raisins, Medjool date and fig. I do still get an elusive other fruit and I'll go with pear. A bit of vanilla, some oaky phenolics, just a touch of bourbon. There's also a bit of charred malt and smokiness - just the tiniest bit - which I guess would be from the stout originally aged in the bourbon barrels. There's a lot going on and it all works.

Feel is rich. The body is medium once it warms up. A little lip-smacking residual sweetness. Minimally carbonated. The alcohol stings just a tiny bit and that's nitpicking.

This is quite the treat. My benchmark for these beers is Barreled Souls - this is knocking at the door and has it slightly ajar. I really like that the base EBW isn't covered up by the barrel treatment- it's complimented by it. Dangerously drinkable. A fortuitous find - easy 4.2 from me.

 

Hello (Almost) Late Night NBW (Sunday section).
Well I am loving this new one from Sierra Nevada.
Cool Little Thing
12 ounce can purchased at Trader Joe’s.
Only slightly hazy in appearance with an abundant white head, solid retention, and layered clumpy lacing.
Nose is bright with lemon zest, grapefruit zest, hints of mango, and even a little bit of a spicy citrus note that reminds me of the lemon verbena plant at my mom’s house.
Flavor takes all this and launches forward. This is really lush and all the fruity notes, citrus forward, but then other juice comes in à la mango, pineapple, some papaya, An undertones of melon. There’s a slight creaminess to the malt, but it’s light compared to most hazies. Mouth feel is lively in its carbonation, Nicely active, and finishes with a nice, almost pithy citrus zest finish.
4.06/5 rDev -1.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
This could be a regular for me.

 

Nice pic of heaven!

 

Sounds tasty. I just updated my "wants."

 

Sounds like an awesome lady, Ian. She let you shred on your guitar in the house too?

 

And the Prodigal Son returns.

 

Believe me - lucky on both counts!

 

Very nice!

 

Well here is an interesting, but not exciting, one.
¡Ay, coño!

16 oz can, no date, but cool friggin' label. Thanks Danny.

Pretty liquid, but lackluster head, low retention, zero lacing.
Nose has a very light hint of herbal hop and some citrus. A slight mineral note akin to sulphur is barely noticeable as well as some corn/diacetyl.
Flavor is a fairly smooth delivery, corn takes the lead, with a damp, slight bitter finish.
Mouthfeel is low carbonation.
3.2/5 rDev +0.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3

 

That sounds like a gem. Nice write up. I think I'll add that to my wants too.

 

One last one tonight. Wanted something more lively to clean the palate.
Citra Loves Vic Secret

16 oz can from Trader Joes.
Pretty golden liquid but the head formation is spotty. Low retention and lacing.
Nose is herbal upfront, eventually bits of pine, and finally hints of citrus and pineapple.
Flavor is dominated by the herbal notes, backed up by the pine and maybe a hint of juniper. Whispers of pineapple, lime zest, and pepper come in meekly.
Mouthfeel is on the lighter side of medium, decent carb, and finishes dry in it's bitterness.
3.5/5 rDev -5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

 

Yep, been there done that.

 

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. - Oktoberfest (2024)
This is a really tasty Festbier, my first of the season (not counting Marzens). I really enjoyed it - it's crisp, malty, hoppy, balanced, and super drinkable. Last year's SN Festbier collab was really good, and I think that this one is even better!

Cross-posted in WBAYDN #4355 and BeerAdvocate Oktoberfest Tasting! (Sep 21-Oct 6, 2024)

 

Lumberbeard - Disco Weapon fresh hop

16oz can served in a curvy Fremont glass. If there's a date, I haven't found it yet.

Pours clear light gold, big fluffy head that collapses into a thick ring, uneven cap, and heavy but sparse lacing. Smell is bright, floral resin, fresh hop character. Lemon rind, citrus blossoms.

Taste follows nicely along -- grassy, cut greens, lots of resin and fresh hop floral notes, bitter and honey and vague citrus fruit all at the same time.

Mouthfeel is light, clean, crisp, dry. Overall, very good.