New Beer Weekend #231

Took a trip to Fox Farm today to pick up some holiday beers, but home now. After a couple of low ABV FF beers there, I figured I would go to another brewery's beer and a higher ABV for my first new beer this weekend. This was a good one.
4.32/5 rDev +4.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Poured from a 16 oz can dated 12/06/24, purchased cold yesterday, kept cold. Cost was an extravagant $21.40/4-Pak. Served at fridge temp in a Nonic.
The body is very yellow and completely opaque. Only a 0.5" (13mm) head sits above. The head is pure white and leave a significant lace at the top, but that's about it for the glass, almost like it cleans it off as you drink. The one ring of lacing on the drink-tilt side is gone???
The smell is the most orange-lemon aroma from a beer in a few months. Amazing. There is a background dankness in there too.
Taste is also very orange-lemon forward but with a wicked hop bite. Maybe some black pepper surprisingly. Sweet front, super dry finish. Alcohol is there, but barely noticeable for 7%.
Body is pretty light.
Quite quafable, orange, lemon, fairly thin, dries your mouth pleasently.

 

Through Subliminal Reminders Of Hope Burial Beer Company

Double dry-hopped with Citra, Nectaron, and Motueka. Part of Burial's Manifest Eternity series benefiting NC brewers affected by Hurricane Helene.
4.33/5 rDev -1.1% | Average: 4.38
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

 

Slepy Bear 2024, a BA Russian Imperial Stout (with lot'sa added junk) out of Planefield, Illinois.

4/5 rDev -4.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Pours a thick'n chewy black, no light passes thru, small quickly fading head and leaves an oily film on the glass.
Of course bourbon, vanilla, roasted malts, a hint of licorice.
Tastes buds getting some caramel and licorice.
As this warms, the milk sugar takes hold and it's getting to be too sweet.
Smooth, creamy texture. I'd prefer a bit more carbonation though.
I'd like to try this without the added junk.

 

I love the old label, I haven't had one since it's been changed.

 

Bizarre - Mother Sky, German pilsner at Beer Junction
@Beersnake

 

From @snaotheus from the NBW BIF#19/LIF insanity: Varietal Beer Co. Big Chuck Hunter: Kentucky, Bourbon Aged Barleywine, 12.1% ABV; 4.17 overall Seasons Greetings Ryan!

Pours an effervescent Chestnut with a thumb of tan head. Some head retention & lacing

S: Figs, raisins, plums, candied cherries & Brandy, fades a little once warmed up

T: Bourbon barrel, Maple Candy at first then Toffee, dryness, leafy hops with figs & plums & brown sugar. Brown sugar, Bourbon, figs, leafy hops as this beer warms up, a little woody hop as well. Finishes with booze/Bourbon presence, Brown Sugar, figs & some pineyness

MF: Medium body, low carbonation, warming booze

To me. the hop profile makes me think this could be an English Style Barley Wine, but damn tasty regardless. Nice drinkability despite the heft. I guess it skews a little American closer to room temperature

 

Triptych Dark Lager, 5% ABV.



Pours a dark brown, nearly black color. A tan head rises to over two fingers. Lace is left behind.
Aroma is light roast, baked bread, nutty malty aromas. Very nice.
Taste wise, like the nose, that malt favor is the show. Ranging from light roast, baked bread and nutty, grainy. A bit more earthy hops in the finish.
A medium body with crisp carbonation. Clean, and finishes dry. An easy drinking dark lager.

Fairly simple, but on point Dark Lager. Nothing over the top, and just balanced and moreish. Which goes a long way in my book.

Overall score is solid 4's all around. An easy B+ and another good lager from Triptych.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/30967/641247/?ba=champ103#lists

 

I don't think I have had the Cognac or Bourbon version this year. I was pretty disappointed in the Bourbon Pumkinator this year though. I have loved the Cognac in the past, and the barrel aged Anniversary offerings they have had this year are amazing. The Cognac version of this has always been a weird experience for some though, it definitely has the grape/vinous flavor going on, that might clash with the coffee for some, and that probably gets more intense with age.

 

Hi, I’m ovaltine and this is for @jonphisher , a fellow ratings inflator. I first had this over 9 years ago, when I lived in Minnesota (9 hours away from the brewery) and I loved it.

Now I live 7 minutes away from the brewery and still love it, but I’ve somehow never reviewed it. I’ve also shipped this over the years to a lot of folks that post in this thread.

And my rating is the highest of them all.





4.35/5 rDev +3.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours a crystal clear golden orange color with a pillowy white head that leaves a nice little cap on the beer and splotchy lacing. Beautiful WCIPA, IMHO.

The nose is led by citrus hop aromas, specifically tangerine and grapefruit, and they are juicy. There’s also a nice bit of resiny pine that hints at bitterness to come.

The bitterness is confirmed on the taste, and that resiny pine is a delicious accompaniment to the juicy tangerine and grapefruit flavors that are balanced by a bready malt component. Delicious.

The mouthfeel is medium and VERY dry, a dangerous combination for a 7% ABV WCIPA that is WAAAAAAY too drinkable. This is exceptionally well done, IMHO.

 

Picked this up today at John’s Marketplace here in Portland—Ponto session IPA from Pizza Porr. Surprised to see it had only two ratings and zero reviews dating back to 2017. That ends today. Cheers!

4.04/5 rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
16oz can (packaged 11/8/2024) into an American pint glass. Pours a clear pale golden color with a big white head that gradually subsides, leaving behind lots of patchy lace.

Aroma is big citrus and pine notes—grapefruit, melon. Enticing.

Taste is likewise bready and citrusy—a balance of pale crackery malt and hops.

Mouthfeel is crisp and light and, as expected for a session IPA, a bit thinner than normal.

Overall a crisp, refreshing beer that could be enjoyed repeatedly at a sitting.

 

Good evening NBW
I missed last weekend with a cold, but I have a couple new-to-me beers remaining from a 3Floyds mixed 12 pack.

3Floyds Turbo Reaper

12oz canned 10/24/24 poured into a Spiegelau IPA glass at fridge temp 7% ABV. The beer pours mostly bright orange amber with khaki colored head. The head recedes slowly to a thick cap and leaves a web of lacing. The aroma is moderate in strength featuring peach, pineapple and candied citrus. The taste is more of the same with subdued caramel and pale malt, peach, grapefruit, orange and pineapple. Strong final earthy & dank bitterness. The feel is medium bodied with average carbonation and a mostly dry finish. Overall, very good IPA from 3Floyds.

Cheers all!

 

I remember trying that one from you I love the name.

 

Well I wasn’t gonna have a new one tonight but then @ovaltine posted one. Obviously I had to heed the call and contribute one myself tonight.

Mrs Phishers aunt is here from Michigan and she texted me earlier this week “any beer?” I remember discussing this beer with her, she enjoys beer, so I asked if she could grab me a four pack; so here we go…

Wernesgruner Pils



Pours liquid gold, crystal clear, thick substantial white head, well above average retention; clings to leave some nice lacing.

Nose is a touch sweet, some light cereal, ritz cracker; hops present; a touch floral but mostly earthy grass.

Taste is again a touch sweet; makes me want to say ritz again; hops a touch more grassy.

Mouthfeel is light and super clean; the light sweetness disappears almost instantly; moderate bitterness that lingers lightly, contributing to a follow up sip desire, this one falls into the drinks easy and unintentionally quick category.

Overall; a really good German pils at a bargain price, no reason not to try this one if it’s available to you. It’s a shame Aldi, along with other grocers, cannot stock beer here in NJ.

——————

Hoping to make it a three beer weekend with one tomorrow too, we’ll see. Have a great night everyone.

 

Block 15 - Imagine, Stroopwafel Edition, Belgian Style Imperial Stout matured in bourbon barrels with stroopwafels

500ml bottle served in a little Georgetown sample glass. Bottled 2024, 14%. Bought it at Full Throttle Bottles a couple weeks ago.

Pours dark, basically black, small to medium sized head for the style on the pour, settles into a clean black surface with a thin, even ring. Smell is burnt coffee and tons of caramel sweetness. Boozy.

Taste is boozy, sweet vanilla cream and caramel, most of the char is lost.

Mouthfeel is medium to light. Overall...it's too sweet, it's too thin, it's too boozy. It's not bad, but it's definitely not stellar.