New Beer Weekend #231

Today is mostly a repeat of yesterday….soccer, football, beer and hanging out with the family. Life is good. As with yesterday, my new beer will be one that’s been sitting in my cellar for a long time….over 8 years in this case.

This is XOLOTL - a BA Imperial Stout with cacao nibs, vanilla beans, chiles and cinnamon added from Avery Brewing.

Bottled May 19th, 2016

Thin tan head that didn’t last long sits atop a dark brown / black body. As far as the aroma, is it possible that I’m still getting loads of barrel after 8.5 years of storage? Some chili notes and plenty of sweet malts.

Definitely a little bit of chile heat on the tongue, but it’s mostly subdued. The vanilla and cinnamon have largely faded, leaving a solid base stout with mild heat and some nice chocolate notes.

Overall, a nice 13.7% sipper

 

Brewing Projekt Puff Tart XL Pineapple/Guava/Passion Fruit Fruited Sour, 7.9% ABV. Pours pale orange with a two-finger light-orange head that left puree residue. Aroma is pineapple, guava, and vanilla. Taste follows, moderately sweet, slightly tart, slightly bitter. OK mouthfeel, overall very good.

3.93/5 rDev +2.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Zest-like bitterness distracted from the pineapple and guava. They'd have a winner if it tasted like it smells.

 

Well, my planned new beer today wasn't meant to be, not on tap anymore, but wanted to post anyway for you @ChicagoJ.

Went to Tonewood to exchange gifts with my best friend and have a beer. Since said beer above was no longer on, to honor your favorite beer of your trip I drank a perfect glass of Lumberyard Lager for you @ChicagoJ I hadn't had that one in forever and man did it hit the spot! That is indeed one good beer, sometimes things just work out.

 

House is full today, three grown up sons and their friends playing Magic. Wife's two sisters. But my fun budy here is my 3-yr old grandson. Moment of solitude now to review a beer.
I have a Fox Farm IPA new to me today. Day Lily.
From their website-
Our original Double India Pale Ale dry-hopped with intention using Galaxy, Mosaic, and Simcoe.
Canning December 11, 2024 | 16 oz | 7.8%

4.19/5 rDev -2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from a 16oz can dated 12/11/24 to a Nonic at fridge temp. Purchased cold yesterday at the source for $5.15/can and kept cold.
A yellow opaque body sits below a ½” white head. The head fades to a single layer that stays quite long. Lacing is low to moderate.
Mango, melon and dankness hit the nose. The mango rules the roost.
The taste contains mango and melon, but also berry and a hint of pine resin.
The mouthfeel is medium creamy and carbonation is spot on.
A well done beer.

 

Good Sunday afternoon, New Beer Sippers and commentators. It certainly feels like mid-January today; a good afternoon to review a BA Russian Imperial Stout, Bourbon Barrel Dark Apparition from Jackie O's Brewery in Athens, Ohio. I've had the base stout before but never this version. I haven't seen any offerings from this brewery here in New Jersey. I purchased this bottle in North Carolina last month. I'll say that I'm glad I've been drinking it slowly as it has improved with every sip.

Consumed at 60.8°. An ink black pour. The medium-mocha-colored head disappeared immediately leaving a tiny ring and very modest lacing. Its nose is earthy and fairly bitter with baker's chocolate, burnt coffee, char, and a strong bourbon presence. The taste is much sweeter than the smell would indicate with fudgy chocolate, brown sugar, molasses, vanilla, and toffee balanced by burnt nuts and bitter char. As I slowly sip I can taste some tart black cherry and perhaps raisin in the background. The barrel influence is strong. It adds sweetness but is quite boozy at first. As the Stout breathes it mellows. Drink it slowly; the flavors develop nicely. The mouth feel is excellent: silky, creamy with low carbonation. This batch has an ABV of 12.9% and I can feel it.

Overall, it merits its World Class Rating. I'll look for it again next time I'm in North Carolina and will purchase more bottles.

4.34/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

This will be my only NBW post today but certainly not my only beer. I'm looking forward to the holidays and hope that everyone who celebrates has a wonderful time with friends and family. Cheers, NBW!

 

Great Notion - Purely Passionfruit

16oz can served in a little Georgetown glass. Dated 03.05.25.

Pours slightly hazy orange-amber with a small head, very fine carbonation. Smell is very strongly fruity, screaming passionfruit. Kettle sour is notable but not dominant.

Taste is lots of kettle sour tartness and lots of tropical juice. Actually makes me think of lychee.

Mouthfeel is light, dry, pleasant. Overall, it's not bad, probably very good if you're not overly sensitive to kettle sour flavor like me.

 

Just 2 new to me Bruery stouts today:

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/16866/727293/?ba=bluejacket74#lists



https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/16866/725389/?ba=bluejacket74#lists



Cheers and happy stout sunday everyone!

 

Damn friend, I hope you have someone to share those with. One bottle of Grey Monday damn near killed me.

Wellness check in a couple hours!

 

Well these were both 12.7 ounce (375 ml) bottles so I'll be OK. But yeah, pretty sure I couldn't do 2 750 ml ones that strong.

 

Glad you were able to take an enjoyable beer break from the festivities. Hopefully your wife will be able to make them solo for future Christmas dinners. The in laws can pick up the Opłatek if available in your area.

So cool you remembered and tagged me. That was my first New Jersey beer beyond perhaps a Budweiser brewed in Newark. It’s also one of my top rated beers (4.5) in 2024.

You’re fortunate Tonewood Oaklyn is close to home, and they brew such good beer. Hope to return one day, nice you were able to visit at least once more before 2024 comes to a close.

Also, I’ve become a Leafs fan this year, at least for fantasy purposes, though juggling things currently with both my first overall selection Matthews and in season pickup Stolarz out (also have Marner). They are playing much better for Berube, as are the Hawks with Sorensen after former Maple Leaf Luke Richardson was let go.

Cheers!

 

I drank it cause of you and I’m glad I did, I forgot how damn good that beer was. I may yet sneak over one more time before 2024 ends

Glad you're on the leafs train this year. They’re a noticeably different team; and for the better I think; I’ve loved watching it unfold.

Hope for both our sakes #34 gets and stays healthy soon.

I also hope that the blackhawks finally get some support for Bedard too.

 

River City Brewing ( Wichita ) Dadication Series 2024 Pinners in my Beard Danky 420 DIPA aged on Tequila Barrels, 10.1% ABV; 4.02 overall


Pours an effervescent honey color with a thumb of eggshell colored head. Average-ish head retention & lacing

S: Some citrus, some tequila, Orange Pound Cake notes once warm

T: Follows the nose, barrel dryness. some bready notes up front. Grassy notes combine with lime & Tequila notes once this beer warms up, grapefruit & dryness as well. Finishes oaky dry with plenty of grapefruit, a little orange & some Tequila twang

MF: Medium body, dialed back carbonation, pretty good balance

A sipper, I am not a Tequila guy, but this works, a lot of grapefruit comes to the rescue

 

Querido y Perdido
11% Imperial Stout by Casita Brewing Company



Pint can. Body pours, a dark black with a light brown head no lacing of significance. Aroma is a pleasant mix of cinnamon, vanilla, coconuts, and chilies.

Taste follows nose with the cinnamon and cocoa nibs flavors marrying well. Finish pulls the chilies into the mix though they are not hot and the light sweetness moderates the other flavors. As it warmed, my perception of the cinnamon moved from subtle to the edge of too much. Not much sign of the ABV.

Light carbonation and a soft mouthfeel.

An easy drinking stout that reminds me of Stone Xocoveza though this stout is a bit heavier handed with the spices.

 

Good evening, folks. Tonight's volunteer is from Harper Lane Brewery. Their taproom is 14 miles from my house pretty close to my office. This is a home brewer turned pro and I think they are tenant brewer unless the taproom has a brewhaus in it - I haven't visited the place yet. They have food available from the other tenant in the building and there's a ton of pizza places nearby. Big potential as a local hangout. Let's see if this beer is better than the first one I tried from them.



Pilsner 221, a German Pilsner.

Pours with a very slight chill haze, kind of a medium golden straw color. Lively white head thst was almost an inch tall, falls to a nice cap with respectable lacing.

The smell is sweet malts, a bit grainy, mild floral hops, a little grass-like note. Very faint and vague spiciness.

The taste reads sweet and slightly grainy/bready malt. The hops come through a bit more on the taste - floral and a bit peppery. That bit of grassiness in the aroma is in thd background. Pretty decent bitterness and a bit of mineral/sulphur tang.

The feel is fairly light-bodied, moderately carbonated. It falls a little flat on the finish - not quite but almost crisp? There's a bit of peppery spice in the aftertaste.

Overall this is pretty good but I think it needs a tweak or two. It hits the style guidelines pretty well but I think it could have a better finish. I'm thinking in the 3.75 neighborhood. It's much, much better than a stout I tried from them.

Hope everyone enjoys the holidays however you choose to celebrate. We're in music mode right up to ten or so on Dec. 24th...then we get a brief breather. I'm on vacation plus the holiday time off. We may try to finagle a couple days away from the homestead...Barreled Souls is whispering to me!

 

Wooly Pig Anniversary Lager
7.1% honey bock



Red-brown with white fluffy head. Mostly clear body with good lacing. A nice looking beer.

Full malt aroma with a hint of honey.

Taste follows nose as the flavor is the hefty malt bill with a strong honey flavor. The ABV is well masked and welcome as I walked around the property when drinking most of this beer on a brisk winter day.

Mouthfeel is heavy with solid carbonation. The sweetness is substantial but does not approach cloying. A light hop flavor is present, but it only cuts into the malt bill. This is not a hoppy beer.

A solid choice for an anniversary beer that showcases their talents with a big wintry beer.

 

Good evening, and happy NBS! Yeah, I remember when it was just one day. Gotten to appreciate the time frame it’s taken, like I needed an excuse to drink a new (to me) beer.
Tonight’s nightcap is from Central Waters, and heaven help me but I can’t remember if Micah gave it to me or if I bought it at the brewery. But my money is on Micah because he loaded Garth and I down with quite a few from Central Waters.
Anyway, the beer is their Brewer’s Reserve BBA Vanilla Bean Stout.
Spoilers, this is really good!

The pour is stout black with a brown head that tops out at 12 or 13 mm and dissipates slowly. The glass is coated with a film when I finished it.
The taste surprises me - most vanilla stouts, BBA or not, tend to have some sort of sweetener to soften and bring out the vanilla flavors that most people are familiar with. But not here - this is raw vanilla bean, which alone isn’t sweet, so it really works well for me.
The feel is lightly viscous, very appropriate for the ABV.
OA, wish I had more of these, will have to pick some up next time I’m in Wisconsin.
Cheers all!

 

River City Dadication Series 24 Mash Cherry Stout. Brewed with Cherry Mash Candies aged for 2 years in Maker's Mark Barrels, 13.0% ABV; 3.51 overall

Pours like 2-year-old 50 weight motor oil with fast falling cocoa colored head. Not a trace of head retention or lacing; viscous as can be

D: Dark fruit, dried plums & hints of Bourbon. Bourbon fades all dark fruit& leafy hops once warm, hinst of cherry cough syrup, but in a good way

T: Follows the nose, leafy/tobacco & cherry pipe tobacco hops, slightly bitter dark cherry & raw barrel, plus bitter chocolate up front. More raw barrel, Li Hing Mui saltyness/plums, a little dried chocolate cherry once this beer warms up. Finishes with more Li Hing, dried cherries & some booze/barrel bite

MF: Chewy as Hell, warming, a bit sludgy, but recovers a bit once warmed up

A sipper, preferably split this at least 3 ways. a beast, not enough depth/layers of flavor. Lack of carbonation is a problem; this is a River City flaw with their BA canned big beers