New Beer Weekend #229

Sometimes ‘old school’ is the best school?

This will be the last beer review of beers from my trip to/from Texas last month. While doing some shopping at an HEB Supermarket I saw a six-pack of cans with the label: 512 IPA: Austin’s Original India Pale Ale.

I was not familiar with this brewery (512 Brewing Company) or this brand but the tagline of “Austin’s Original India Pale Ale” hooked me.

From the brewery’s website:

Specifications:

Malt Bill: American 2-row, Crystal malt

Key Additions: Simcoe, Glacier, Columbus

IBU: 60

ABV: 7.0%

TASTING NOTES: (512) IPA is Austin’s Original India Pale Ale. It’s a classic version of this style with supreme balance between malt and hops. Simcoe and Glacier combine to bring a citrusy and earthly balance and it’s finished with pounds of dank Columbus.”

https://512brewing.com/beers/512-ipa/

Since the can’s label states “original” I wondered when this beer was first brewed. This beer was added to the BA database in 2008 so maybe that is when it was introduced? At 16 years old this could indeed be considered an old school IPA; this was certainly before the Juicy/Hazy IPA craze.

Enough of this chit-chat, time to get back to school.

Served in my Spiegelau IPA glass:

Appearance:

Amber colored with an off-white head.

Aroma:

A combination of citrus and fruity hop aroma.

Taste:

The flavor follows the nose with citrus/fruity hop flavors but also some earthiness as the beer opens up. There is a noticeable caramel malt flavor as well. A pleasant balance of flavors. There is a moderate level of bitterness.

Mouthfeel:

Medium bodied with a dry finish.

Overall:

This beer is very good. I enjoyed the combination of flavors in this beer.

Not from the specific hop aroma/flavor perspective but from a balance of hops and malt flavors this beer is reminiscent to me of Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale. I am also a fan of Celebration.

Cheers!

@rotsaruch @KOP_Beer_OUtlet @RobH @jonphisher @ithacabaron

 

That tagline and can would catch my eye too. If I ever find myself in Austin; I will indeed make sure to try this beer.

 

Cheers to @GreenBayBA for starting us off.

Another BIF#18/LIF brew from @snaotheus Prost!

Gold Dot Luxurious Helles Lager, 4.9% ABV; 4.22 overall

Pours a bright & bubbly gold with one finger of eggshell colored head. Zero head retention & lacing

S: Bready, grassy, perfumy hops once warmed up

T: Follows the nose, a little dryness, plus soapy & lemony hops up front. Sweet bready notes, grassyness, a little lemon as this beer warms up. Finishes a little dry with breadyness, perfumy/herbal hops & a touch of lemon & honey dew

MF: Medium body, subtle carbonation, nice balance

Very nice Helles, superb drinkability

 

Back-to-back posts, come on slackers...

Social Project Rising Hope 24 Hazy Pale Ale. 5.9% ABV; 4.14 overall


Pours a hazed honey color with 2 fingers of cream-colored head. Stellar head retention & lacing

S: Green melons, berries, a little vanilla once warm, wanted more nose. Did get a little more once all warmed up

T: Follows the nose, some grassyness, dryness, a little raspberry as well up front. More vanilla notes mixing with oranges, a little raspberry as this beer warms up, some lime & grassy notes too. Finishes with oranges, vanilla, cotton candy, & a little lime

MF: Medium body, dialed backed carbonation, nice balance, carbonation becomes creamier once warm

Easy to drink, interesting & fun flavors

 

Finally able to share my two (yes, two today!) new beers, the first one is Coco Bänger and it’s pretty good.
But first things first- thank you @GreenBayBA for kicking off our weekend!

The pour is the darkest I’ve seen in a while, used motor oil came to mind. Not much of a head on this and no lacing, but the darkness shines.
The taste started with chocolate and vanilla and coconut with the coconut playing lead role. It almost magically closes with coffee and a bit of harsh roast. Still perplexed how that works.
The feel is lightly viscous, very appropriate for the style and ABV.
OA, I’m always looking for new stouts for my SAN group, this is one I will be happy to share with them.

 

The next one is a surprise for me; I expected something different but neglected to read the description which would have clued me in.
The pour was stout black with a short brown head which left no lacing.
The taste leads with vanilla and caramel and rather stays there. A little cinnamon kicks in as it warms, it was there earlier as a curious tingle on the tongue.
A Macchiato is *normally* more espresso than milk and a little bitter. This is pastry stout all the way.
The feel, once past the tingle, is lightly viscous, very easy quaffing.
If you’re fond of sweet stouts, this might be right up your alley.
Cheers, and good night!

 

It was surprising good, I’m going to try and get some more.

 

More greatness from @snaotheus via NBW#18 BIF/LIF payback chapters...

Matchless Brewing Thurston County Imperial Stout, 12.8% ABV; 4.33 overall

Pours a Chestnut hued mahogany with a pinky of mocha colored head. Traces of head retention & lacing; viscous

S: Loads of barrel, dark chocolate, leafy hops. Vanilla, caramel & ghost booze once warmed up

T: Sort of follows the nose, the barrel is a little more restrained, some caramel notes up front, some woody hops as well. Coconut, vanilla & Bourbon dominate as this beer warms up. Finishes a little oaky, a little boozy, with plums, dark chocolate, vanilla & some coconut & caramel

MF: Medium body, low carbonation, fairly warming

Very well put together beast of a beer, no real faults. Drinks great for the ABV

 

Thanks @GreenBayBA Micah for kicking us off. Poured into a 16 oz Snulip glass canned on 11/25/24. Pours a very attractive hazy yellow orange with a finger plus sticky white head that leaves thin streaks of webby lace with excellent retention. 4.5

Aroma is peach, mango, passionfruit, mandarin, and apricot. 4.5

Taste follows peach, mango, passionfruit, mandarin, and apricot nothing dominant very nicely balanced. 4.5

Mouthfeel is above medium, soft gentle carbonation, not sticky or dry, and at 7% big bold flavor, but extremely easy going down. 4.75

Overall this brewery is extremely good at NE style IPAs and finding new stuff fresh on shelves often. I highly recommend this one. 4.5 Cheers all.

 

Poured into a 16 oz snulip canned on 10/24/24. Pours a very attractive hazy orange yellow with a finger plus sticky white head that leaves thick streaks of lace with excellent retention. 4.5

Aroma is passionfruit, tangerine, peach, mango, and apricot. 4.25

Taste follows passionfruit, tangerine, peach, mango, and apricot nothing dominant. 4.25

Mouthfeel is big, soft gentle almost creamy carbonation, not sticky or dry, and at 8.3% it goes down rather easy. 4.75

Overall I am digging it, but with straight up Citra and Oats I wanted to enjoy the flavor even more. Still extremely tasty. 4.25

 

Thanks for kicking off the weekend Micah @GreenBayBA with two Milwaukee selections. Hoping to hit Lakefront this Spring, it's been too long since my last visit.

I bought a bunch of non BA beers to balance out my upcoming weekends, including several from Off Color which I typically love. They have my favorite artwork of any brewery, and Apex Predator is a Summer staple for me.

Going with two sports themed beers this weekend, also likely August/September selections. They don't can stamp, as they instead stamp the four can plastic holders which I don't have access to sometimes when I purchase single cans.

Off Color Beer for Huddles

3.76/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75



12/7/24 - (Can - Home) (Chicago, IL) Can Notes: Purchased a single can, though they failed to scan, on November 27, 2024 at Beer on the Wall Park Ridge. Purchased at store temperature, refrigerated at home until this morning. 16 oz, no can date, released in mid-August per social media. Amber Ale, 5.2% ABV. Malts: Victory, Pale Ale, Munich, Caramel, Roasted Barley. Hops: Zuper Saazer. Secret Techique: Unsportsmanlike Conduct. Session, traditional. Brewed & Canned by Off Color Brewing, Chicago, Illinois.

Appearance: Poured 1/2 and then topped off at 2/3 of the can into a shaker pint glass. Very creamy generous white head lingers a few munutes before leaving clumpy lacing and a nice creamy cover over the slightly murky bronze tan base. Nominal carbonation visible after the initial pour. 3.75

Aroma: Caramel malt and clove the top two leads, really overpowering everything else. It's OK, but too much unexpected clove aromas here. 3.25

Taste: Much broader and more enjoyable than the clove dominating aroma. Caramel and clove are on equal footing, backed nicely by citrus and rye. Not sure how age played a factor here, but this is good likely nearing four months from canning. Enjoying, broader depth as this warms. 4.0

Mouthfeel: Sweet overall, but within style guidelines. Drinks light and easy, a bit dry, medium carbonation and body. Caramel, rye, finish . 4.0

Overall: Beyond the clove aroma, this is an expectedly good selection from Off Color, who doesn't always draw within the lines. Liking the balanced treatment here, the unexpected clove makes this somewhat of a Belgan offering if this was a blind tasting. Digging the rye aspect, as I am a rye *****. Well done. 3.75

 

Tuesday Saison from Burdock Brewing
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/41986/290081/

Poured a 473ml can into a pint glass. A one finger bubbly white head on a cloudy very pale dirty yellow.. The head soon diminishes to a ring. Minimal patchy lacing.

Straw, citrus and bready wheat smells. A mildly sour finish. Tastes of lemon, bread pepper, apples. A dry aftertaste.

A medium/light body. Good carbonation. Overall a light, simple but very pleasant Saison, as billed.

look: 3.75 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

 

In honor of the Iowa State Cyclones attempting to win their first conference title in 112 years, my beer today is from an Ames brewery, Alluvial Waitoreke:

Appearance: Cloudy yellow, big, fluffy head.

Smell: Citrus, bit of tropical fruit.

taste: Mild sweetness, then some orange and grapefruit bitterness, a little white grape or cidery note after the citrus bitterness. Finishes a little acidic, orange-juicy.

Overall: Alluvial had a 4 pack sale while I visited for an ISU game so I picked up the NEIPA. It's pretty solid, interesting mix of citrus and grapey Nelson Sauvin hop notes. Does get a little too far to the OJ side that I don't prefer. Worth a try.

 

512 is excellent, glad you found and enjoyed some. IPA, Pale Ale, and Pecan Porter are all classics. They use to be draught only, and for as old as the brewery is, it took them a while o get into packaged cans and bottles. Finding Pecan Porter on cask at The Ginger Man was always a treat, and always love IPA and Pale Ale.