New Beer Weekend #231

Better the toy than the adjoining couch cushion!

 

Maine Beer Company's Lunch IPA
7% ABV • 16.9 oz. bottle • Oct. 22, 2024 born-on date

My first MBC brew and I believe a legend among the heads.

So how do I say this on Christmas Eve, when all is joy and happiness and wonder? Short version: I don't love American IPAs. *ducks and covers* There. I said it. Don't love doesn't mean hate, and I enjoy a good hopfest like the next BA, but I don't drool and slather over them like I drool and slather over a proper pint, a good German/Czech pilsner or a funky farmhouse ale.

With that preamble, I can honestly say if I were capable of rating to style properly, this would get 5s across the board. OK ... it's not lacing that much, so maybe the look would get a 4.25, but only because of the lacing thing. It's an incredible example of the American IPA, and I 100% get why it's so highly rated.

For me, it's of the grapefruit bomb variety with that citrus fruit dominating pretty much everything. Unfortunately it's almost entirely grapefruit peel with little-to-no sweetness coming from the malt. Just a tick more balance and that peel would turn into grapefruit juice, and I'd enjoy this beer even more.

The official review:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/20681/68916/?ba=Premo88#lists
3.96 (-9.6% rDev)

As it warms, the malt is trying to offer a pinch more sweetness. If that gets going, I'll sneak back into my review and adjust the score accordingly. Either way, it's a solid beer and one I'm glad to finally get to enjoy.

Happy Christmas NBWeek, NBWers!

Cheers!

 

Hello and Happy Christmas Eve everyone!
I got out of work early today (woot!) so got my steps in early and decided to pop open one of my gifts-

Sent to me by @Ozzylizard (Thank you!)
The pour is straw - unfiltered yellowish amber with an impressive 1.5” head that would have gone higher if my pint glass was bigger.
The Beer’s sole identity was “one pint ale” no ABV, style, description, nothing. Very odd. So I went in blind and found spice, almost like pepper, the kind that is usually found on dinner tables.
Eventually some pine and a little mango elbow in.
The feel is light and crisp, but with some body behind it.
OA, I enjoyed it, tasty gift!
Be back later with another, I hope you all have family around you (or if you are not fond of your family, then friends)
Cheers!

 

True,better than the couch but not everything survived his wrath. He thought we wouldn't notice the duct tape

 

If memory serves me, this beer is courtesy of @brutalfarce as part Superbowl Squares pay out

Bottled Logic Dark Matter Coffee Vanilla Imperial Stout, 11.2% ABV; 3.94 overall


Pours an effervescent Mahogony with s thumb plus of mocha colored head. Great head retention and okay lacing

S: Coffee, cocoa, vanilla, hints of molasses once this beer warms up

T: Follows the nose, pretty dry, some booziness on the tongue up front. More coffee, dryness, & traces of vanilla, carob & cocoa once this beer warms up, still traces of booze. Finishes a little dry with coffee, & a little vanilla, woody hops & molasses

MF: Medium body, fairly firm carbonation, warming. Carbonation smooths out once closer to room temperature

Solid effort delivers on the advertised ingredients, but near their best Dark Matter offerings. People who really like coffee dominated Imp Stouts, may have a different take. Improved as it warmed up

 

Edit: Barreled Souls, my mind was drifting there...

 

Sounds like a great beer and a nice way to spend the evening

 

Getting close to zero hour in the US of A, and Europe is already celebrating Christmas.
But here we wait a little longer, and that’s okay, more anticipation, right?
My nightcap is one that I’ve been saving for an occasion and tonight was that occasion. I seldom get Jack’s Abbey as it isn’t distributed in west Michigan, so I savor them-

Poured “stout black” with a very enthusiastic light brown head that was half the glass until I let it settle.
The flavor is vanilla bourbon forward, neither outweighed the other, with the porter flavor filling in the rest. And it is a really good porter. Lots of chocolate and figs and maybe some cherry, wasn’t sure.
The feel is heavier than the typical lager but not quite viscous. Making it way too easy to gulp. And there was at least one gulp.
Seriously good beer.
Merry Christmas all, I know it is a little early but some are already there. Merry Christmas indeed.

 

Der kletterer red lager
....murky caramel color with slight head
....just below average carbonation with about a medium body
...aroma is malt,caramel, toffee, sticky sweet doughy bread.
...taste has a very mild sweetness, malt,caramel, sweet bread and toffee.
...overall at first i wasnt overly impressed but as it warms its packing a lot of flavor

 

Merry Christmas Beer Advocates across the globe beyond the Orthodox who celebrate in 13 days!

This weekend's New Beer Weekend overtime reminds me of classic NHL playoff games of lore which lasted up to 6 overtime periods. Going with a hockey themed beer to get me over the three day holiday break. It's nice the players get to spend time with their families for Christmas.

This selection is from a Top 4 Chicago brewery for me, and really loved the art work on this one, more so than even most of their other incredible artwork.

Off Color Beer For Power Plays

4.36/5 rDev +6.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5



12/25/24 - (Can - Home) (Chicago, IL) Can Notes: Purchased a refrigerated single can on November 27, 2024 at Beer on the Wall Park Ridge for $3.41 including tax, refrigerated upon returning home before opening this morning. 16 oz, no can date, likely distributed in September or October.7.5% ABV Baltic Style Strong Dark Lager. Malts: Pils, Munich, Extra Special, Dark Roasted. Hops: Nugget, Saaz. Secret Ingredients: Ice Cold Lagering. High Gravity Lager. Brewed and canned by Off Color Brewing, Chicago, Illinois.

Appearance: Initial 1/2 can pour into a large Off Color tulip glass yields a very dark brown base and generous tan white lacing, puffy and bubbly, that lingers for several minutes before leaving soapy lacing, a thin cover over most of the base and more accumulation around the rim. Looks great! 4.75

Aroma: Caramel malt, bakers chocolate five minutes for fighting. plums and freshly backed biscuits two minutes minors assessed at the ten minute mark. Medium plus strength, a bit higher for enjoyment. 4.25

Taste: Consistent with aroma, caramel malt and bakers chocolate contend for the heavyweight title, like Domi vs. Probert of Christmases long ago. Light root beer and biscuits back. Really enjoying the core battle here. 4.25

Mouthfeel: Light and easy, watery, light carbonation slightly adding to the depth. Malt and sweet flavors balance well, drinks a tad easier than the listed 7.5% ABV. Fresh caramel backers chocolate biscuit finish. 4.5

Overall: Would have bought from anyone with the name and can art. Had high expectations for Off Color, because Off Color, and this met to exceeded these high marks. Just a wonderfully brewed offering, brewed to style, hitting the high marks and my preferences in this Baltic Style Strong Dark Lager. Well done as usual, better than even your high standard. Well worth the trip to the box. Merry Christmas!!! 4.5

 

Poured into a 20 tulip glass not sure when it was bottled. Pours a very attractive mahogany with a two finger light brown head that leaves a few lines of lace with nice retention. 4.75

Aroma is dark fruit, toffee, caramel, rum soaked raisins, oaked vanilla, and bourbon a ton going on. 4.5

Taste follows dark fruit, caramel, toffee, pecan, woody vanilla, and slightly charred bourbon again a crazy complex sipper. 4.5

Mouthfeel is above average for sure, a touch dry, gentle carbonation, and at 12.4% it is a slow sipper that due to all the complexities makes you sip more often as you find a new flavor each one. 4.75

Overall this a special beer. My wife got this for me for Christmas and she spent some big money, but man what a treat. Beer #3400 for this guy. 4.5 Merry Christmas all.

 

Sucks about the car @Victory_Sabre1973 at least you got a good beer to help ease the stress.

Love your hockey themed review @ChicagoJ and I always think of the same thing you do during all these Christmas Day games. I love the NHL players still get a break to be with families before they’re back at it on Friday.

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Hope everyone is enjoying the day, if I don’t check in with a beer; Merry Christmas and/or happy holidays to my favorite beer loving friends.