New Beer Weekend #228

This beauty from @snaotheus

Single Hill Brewing, Ursa Minor Stout, 4.6% ABV; 4.32 overall

Picked the wrong glass, thought this was a heavy hitter...

Pours an effervescent chestnut/mahogany with 2+ fingers of mocha colored head. Average-ish head retention & lacing

S: Cocoa, iron, roastyness, just a great nose!

T: Follows the nose, fairly dry as it should be, lactose presence for sure up front. Cocoa & Baker's Chocolate, a little roastyness & ever so faint woody hops as this beer warms up, more iron as well. Finishes dry with roastyness, Baker's Chocolate, & iron

MF: Medium body, carbonation is initially firm, but then smooths out

Great drinkability, packs a lot of flavor for low ABV

 

Good evening all, back with my nightcap - a barleywine from Kentucky Brewery.

I wrote this before I realized it was 10 years old - 2014 was when it was packaged.
But if you have one, this is your warning-

Wow. I never thought a Barleywine could be rendered to a third class craft beer, but they managed to do that.
The appearance is not bad at all, the color of strong iced tea with just a bit more carbonation.
The taste is really hard to describe, I don’t think I’ve ever tried anything like it, and that isn’t a compliment. Astringent comes to mind, a little caramel and salt.
The feel is like water, no discernible carbonation or viscosity.
OA, no, I wouldn’t recommend this to my friends.

 

Never had thing from that brewery that I didn't think wasn't terrible

 

Odell Wire Walker DIPA, 8.0% ABV; 4.01 overall

Pours an effervescent & bright gold/honey with a thumb of cream-colored head. Above average head retention & lacing

S: Green Melon, grassyness, a kittle tangerine & peach once warmed up

T: Green melon, some nectarine, dryness, some tangerine up front. Green melon, nectarine & a little pineapple whip once this beer is warmed up. Finishes with pineapple, nectarine, green melon & some citrus notes

MF: Medium body, subtle carbonation, nice balance

Drinks pretty easy, solid offering, no clue as when this was canned

 

Cheers to @muchloveforhops3 for this one

Upslope Brewing Co. Pumpkin Ale, 7.7% ABV; 3.68 overall

Pours an effervescent copper/hazel with a thumb of cream colored head. Above average head retention & stellar lacing

S: Cinnamon, cloves, other pumpkin pie spices

T: Follows the nose, a little vanilla, hints of pumpkin bread & caramel, plus dryness up front. Hints of metal, this is always what happens with on these beers, not overwhelming, a little booze, then all the spices, plus dryness as this beer warms up. Finishes a little dry with Pumpkin Pie Spices, some vanilla & caramel

MF: Medium body, pretty firm carbonation, a little warming, carbonation smooths out once warm, then turns prickly, weird

Not a fan of the style, but this drinkable & not a slouch. Pumpkin beers, I really like are rare birds, the higher ABV helps

 

Maine Beer Company - King Titus
A very tasty, balanced Robust Porter. No surprises here, Maine Beer Company knows what they are doing and they always deliver.

Cross-posted in WBAYDN #4425 and What New England beer are you drinking now? (2024)

 

I'm drinking a 16oz can of Big Doc Wee-Heavy Scotch Ale by The Explorium Brewpub in Glendale/Milwaukee. Bourbon barrel aged. 13.1% ABV. Canned on 10/10/2023 So about 14 months old.

You can tell from the aroma and taste this beer is past peak freshness. But it's still ok and not a drain pour. The taste and smell is toffee, dark fruit, bourbon and maybe a hint of roast. I don't notice any smoke or peat. Its smooth and sweet. The mouth feel is good, not thin and smooth.

I will give this one a 3.78/5 as it is.