New Beer Weekend #234

Sounds amazing! I for one love rye barrel aging but am not familiar with amburana. You inspired some research...
The Whiskey Closet
By most accounts, the amburana finish makes the whiskey taste almost like a warm cinnamon bun, creating a frenzy of collectors who make a mad dash to the liquor store to find a bottle finished with it.

And I missed this news in the beer world:
"The craze initially started in the beer world when Louisville based Against the Grain Brewery aged a stout in amburana casks and ended up winning gold at GABF (Great American Beer Festival) in the Wood-Aged Beer category in 2018."

Thanks for writing this one up with the specifics regarding ambuarana. I learned something new and will go forth in my search...

 

That's a classic.

 

I'll join @Beersnake with a New Glarus Barleywine 2024

Appearance: Clear dark amber, good head.

Smell: Malty, dark fruits, light.

Taste: Mild sweetness-a little caramel then raisins, a little boozy. Malty, fruity,boozy finish.

Overall: Picked up a 4 pack, this barleywine is pretty good, but kind of lies in the middle between a big, sweet English BW and a caramel-y, hoppy American BW. Worth a try but not too special.

 

Didn’t get a chance to post last weekend, but I did have a new to me and very tasty dark lager from Sacred Profane, very creatively named “Dark Lager”. I need more dark lagers in my life.

Today it’s Big Chuck Hunter Kentucky, a barrel aged barleywine received from the always generous @snaotheus

4.06/5 rDev -2.4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a reddish brown with a small amount of short-lived head. I’ll be kind and call this beer pedestrian looking. Aroma has loads of molasses & figs, with bourbon and vanilla notes rounding things out.

Very nice tasting beer. Rich and boozy without being too much of either. Figs, faint oak, vanilla and a subtle bourbon kick on the finish.

Overall, very well done beer.

 

Rage & Love Cranberry and Lime Fruited Sour from Rainhard Brewing Co. in the #aleyards district of Toronto.

Poured a 473ml can into a tulip. A solid two finger bubbly pink head on a hazy ruby. The head sticks around. Lots of fine patchy lacing.

Lacto-sour and citrus in the nose. Sour up front with a cranberry tart middle. A lime twist finish. Overall cranberry forward. Nicely balanced fruit flavours.

A light body with moderate carbonation. Overall a light refreshing Kettle Sour. Well worth a try.

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

 

My 16 oz BA selection knocked me out yesterday. Will see if I survive this one plus one more this weekend. Leaving the base only Abduction version for tomorrow, this one served with Cocoa.

Pipeworks Double Fudge Barrel Aged Abduction

3.51/5 rDev -14.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5



1/11/25 - (Can - Home) (Chicago, IL) Can Notes: Purchased a single can for $12.12 with tax on August 23, 2024 at the Pipeworks Dojo, refrigerated at home until this afternoon. 16 oz canned July 19, 2024. 12.5% ABV. Imperial Stout aged in Bourbon Barrels with cocoa. Label Art by Beejay Olson. 2024 Pipeworks Brewing Company. Brewed and Canned in Chicago, Illinois.

Appearance: Poured 2/3 of the can into a hand held snifter. Dark black thick pour, faint dark tan black head lasts a hot minute before leaving just a bright eclipse looking white dark tan ring around the base with no cover. 4.0

Aroma: Strong bourbon aroma upon opening, gains fruit (plums, raisins) and chocolate after letting this warm to near optimal temperature. 3.5

Taste: Harsh strong bourbon front and center, cocoa and fruit flavors overcome with an abundance of sweetness, which is too strong for my preference. Missing the depth I expected, bourbon barrels not great either, 3.5

Mouthfeel: Sticky with cocoa and other sweet flavors enhancing what feels like a medium body, negligible carbonation. Drinks strong, the bourbon ever present though unfortunately not satisfying like most BA stouts including Pipeworks. Sweet gooey fruit and cocoa finish. 3.25

Overall: This selection is not my first choice in terms of cocoa vs. a pure barrel plus base, but there is not aspect that standouts out beyond a general sweetness, and a bourbon barrel that is just not lining up for me. Will finish this one, but will stick with base and other barrels for future purchases. 3.5

Hoping the base plus barrel is better tomorrow, and I'm liking the barrel more than today.

 

First, a catch-up post from last week.

@jonphisher Loved your review of the Ipswich. Reminded me of the Laphroaig opinions welcomed marketing campaign from years ago: this beer tastes like burnt toast and ash; it's fantastic. Looking forward to opening one of my cans and trying it out, and to reading your thoughts on the others from the pack--I'm not sure I'll nail them all like you did!


This one was from Monday when I was having my Sunday beer due to a shifted schedule. I suspect you'll allow the bending of the rules as so many of you appreciate some fine head.

Sloop Brewing No Pumpkin
6% NEIPA



Initially pours a slightly hazy pale yellow with a fabulous, frothy, well-structured head. Once I got the whole can to fit in the glass, the sediment of the dregs changed this to a super hazy pale orange.

Aromas of grapefruit, orange, slight pineapple, white grape, and some berry that I can't place. There's also an underlying pine and damp earth dankness more like a WCIPA.

Starts off with all the fruit; orange and white grape are more prominent on the palate and grapefruit, pineapple, and still-undetermined berry all take part. Through the middle of the sip, grape and berry come out a bit more and then mix with earthy and resinous hops. On the finish, fruit and pine continue their embrace, with echoes in a long aftertaste.

Medium-light bodied with moderate carb. Slightly smooth but lively with carb that lingers on the tongue throughout the sip.

Overall, this is a great mix of NEIPA and WCIPA characteristics, with the earth/pine/resin giving the beer an edge and keeping you coming back for the next sip. But best of all: no damn pumpkin.

 

And now time for today's new beer. I've been wanting to try this one out for a while, but whenever I go to Total Wine (infrequently), it is beyond its BB date and of course not refrigerated. Finally found a pack in date (BB 4/8/25) and pulled the trigger.

Atlantic Brewing Coal Porter
6.5% America Porter



Pours very dark brown with ruby edges and a two-finger tan head that dissipates quickly.

Limited aroma off the pour, just some indistinguishable roast. As it warms, cocoa, chocolate, and slight black bread join in.

Taste is good. Starts out with some sweet chocolate and roast coffee, then black bread and dark chocolate. A hint of nuttiness joins in the middle. Near the finish, hop bitterness comes out along with more chocolate. This all blends with roast bitterness through the aftertaste.

Moderate carb and medium body. It has a smooth and slick feel that makes it go down real easy.

Overall, a good porter. Needs some warmth to let the flavors come out and play.

 

Had a couple new Ohio barrel aged imperial stouts today, the first was from Cincy's Narrow Path Brewing:



https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/47904/697151/?ba=bluejacket74#lists

And then one from local Wolf's Ridge, it was new to me even though it was a 2021 bottle. But I bought it a couple weeks ago so there's still some available around here:



https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/33530/533173/?ba=bluejacket74#lists

Both were pretty good, wouldn't mind trying these again. Should have a least one more new brew tomorrow, cheers!

 

I picked up this can while visiting friends down in Portland a few weekends ago. Saison Bruges from Upright Brewing. Preliminary review below. Cheers!

4/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
16oz can (no packaging date visible) into a tulip. Pours a brownish amber with a minimal head—looks more like a Diet Coke than a saison. Interesting.

Aroma is mostly sweet with some vague Belgian saison funk. Ripe banana, clove, spices.

Taste has an intriguing sweet and sour thing going on. Bready malt, vague spices. Not picking up much by way of cacao nibs, maybe a slight spicy heat.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied, balanced.

Overall an interesting take on the saison—not very typical for the style but enjoyable nonetheless.

 

Grabbed this on a whim.



Collessi? Triple Malt.

Sort of barley wine sort of strong blonde beer. It’s tasty. Smidge long in the tooth but I would argue any age sort of accentuates the vinous character. Very soft carb. Tasty altogether.

 

A visit to Equal Parts Brewing in Houston this afternoon. Two new beers from them...

Moon Witch, Czech Dark Lager, 4.5% ABV.



Pours a dark brown, nearly black color. A dense beige head forms from the slow pour faucet. With excellent retention and lace all the way down.
Aroma has a surprising amount of grassy hops up front. Spicy, earthy, with darker malts coming into play as the aroma lingers on.
Taste wise, this has a wonderful balance. The malts and hops mingle really well here. With a light toasted bread, chocolate flavor. Then a lingering earthy, grassy, spicy bitterness.
A light body with effervescent carbonation. Crisp, clean, and finishes wonderfully dry. Really easy to drink. I can come back to this with ease.

For a Czech Dark Lager, it as a very robust hop character, but the malts keep this very much in balance. Another well made lager from Equal Parts.

Overall score is 4.09, A-
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/44383/729815/?ba=champ103#lists

Next is Cobra Fang, Double/Imperial IPA with Citra and Simcoe. 8.6% ABV.



Pours a brilliantly clear amber/orange color. A dense white head forms with retention and lacing for days.
Aroma of pine resin, grapefruit pith, and a light spicy character. Enjoyable, if simplistic.
Taste wise, like the nose, pine and grapefruit up front. Citrus pithy/rind flavors. With a spicy character. Sweet malts take over after a while. A light bitterness, but could have more oomph there. Still, it is enjoyable.
A full body with moderate carbonation. A hefty chewiness from the malts and resin quality. A nice DIPA to drink, and I can come back to this.

Could use a bit more bitterness, but overall this is a well done Double/Imperial IPA. As always Equal Parts makes some very nice offerings.

Overall score is 3.86, B+
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/44383/729813/?ba=champ103#lists

 

A superior offering from Suarez...

4.27/5 rDev +4.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Bottled October, 2022 - enjoyed on January 11, 2025 - poured from a 500mL bottle into my Drie de Fonteinen tumbler.

Clear jasmine liquid supports two fingers of ivory foam. Dense soapy lacing; superior retention.

Distinctive varietal presence of plum in the nose - floral with hints of umeboshi along with an undercurrent of mild funk and yeast.

Tart/floral/fruity palate entry - largely following, concentrating, and intensifying the nose. Bright but mild acidity with hints of strawberry, chevre, and hay. Medium-dry, lightly dough-y finish. Delicate and wonderfully balanced. Fruit persists but never overwhelms the base beer.

Medium-bodied, well carbonated, soft yet refreshing.

Superior example of the style with its own signature.

 

Excellent write up Tim! GI needs to make more barleywine...

 

Howdy, NBWers! There are some amazing-looking brews in this thread, no?

I bought this one a few weeks ago to have in the fridge come holiday break but never got around to opening it. Today's the day:

St. Feuillien Quadruple
11.2 oz. bottle • 11% ABV • Jan. 30, 2024 born-on date

I poured it into a large Belgian tulip thinking it would push up a huge head of bottle-conditioned foam, alas as you can see, not so much. No worries ... lackluster pours and so-so looks maketh not the beer, and this beer gets high marks in all the right places.

The highlight is the aroma — dark chocolate-covered cherries and a sweet gingerbread cookie with little bits of candied cherry baked in are just the start of the nose. It includes other things, good stuff I often get from good quads like fruitcake, molasses, brown sugar, stewed dark fruits and that yeasty pop that reminds me so much of a perfect pizza crust.

The flavor is darker and earthier than the nose and takes awhile to open up, but when it does, it's got enough fruitcake sweetness in it to balance the earthier bitterness.

Official review:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/2874/514964/?ba=Premo88#lists
4.12 (-1% rDev)

I hate falling in the minus rDev category here, but that's fine. Bottom line is I would buy this one again. A pretty solid quad with a world-class nose.

Cheers!

 

Hey friends! Another weekend, another new beer…this one another from my @KP7 care package. The cold continues, I’m in the garage with the space heater, the Leafs on and a smoked dark beer; this is about the perfect type of night for me and why I love winter. I gotta catch up on today’s action during intermissions.

For now here is my contribution:

Jack’s Abby - Smoke and Dagger (Smoked Dark Lager 5.6%)



Pours dark brown; light brown head, builds fast, sustains as a thin attractive film.

Nose is ashy smoke, light roast, dilute cocoa; may sound weird but there is a graham cracker like note; light earthy hop note.

The taste is much of what the nose implies; there is more chocolate character though, almost bittersweet chocolate like on the finish; toast, roast, and light smoke; again an earthy hop character.

Mouthfeel leans towards medium; smooth medium carbonation, light bitterness, hard to distinguish whether it’s roast or hop driven, kiss of residual malt sweetness.

I very much enjoyed this beer, it has a good balance or dark malt character and smoke. Some may say more smoke but to me it’s in a sweet spot, very good beer @KP7 thank you for sending my way.

———————

Hope to be back tomorrow with another new one. Have a great night everyone!

 

Hey, kids. At work this week we did the workspace shuffle. During the coldest stretch we have had for a long while, the windows in our office area were replaced. We could at least find warm hideouts, but the crew doing the windows got really cold! They did a great job - neat, tidy, polite. All that's left is the inside trim pieces.

Stumbled on this one from Jack's Abby - last can in the store cooler so it was my civic duty to purchase it and help it achieve its destiny, right?



Toy Soldier lands in the herb and spiced beer category here, although I suppose it could be called a winter warmer. The can just says Holiday Lager. It's brewed with honey, rye, orange zest, nutmeg, and ginger.

Pours a slightly chill-hazed reddish brown with a scant tan head. Foam doesn't last and there's no lacing. Hmmm...

The smell is laid back but inviting in a kind of holiday cookie way. Lightly toasted malt, a bit of honey, very mild orange and ginger followed by the dry spice. Very nice.

The taste was a surprise. I've not had the best run with this type of beer, but this one is delicious. Honey, rye, and toast provide the foundation. Slightly sweet initially. Then comes the fun stuff. Mild orange introduces the spices. Nice level of ginger - enough to taste and feel some earthiness from, not enough to be "dirty" earthy. The nutmeg is nicely restrained but noticeable. The aromatics in the aftertaste are orange peel and ginger with a peppery rye tang. I'm diggin' this combo and a big part of that is the restraint - this is NOT a "more is better" attempt. It's the right combo in the right amounts - adding cinnamon just to cover the traditional holiday spices would have train-wrecked the flavors. Sweetness - specifically honey - comes back at the end. It's actually a pretty intense flavor versus the aroma, but it's not out of control in any way. Harmonious and smooth.

Medium bodied with a wee bit of warming. Carbonation is a bit prickly but that helps keep the taste buds clean.

Well, it won't be everybody's cup o' beer, but I like it. I especially enjoy the good judgment shown by the brewer in selecting and utilizing the ingredients to create a pleasant-drinking beer that doesn't rely on amping up the additives to eleven. This is a cohesive beer from the ground up and will be on my watch list for 2025 holidays. Nit pick on the appearance, but it's more than made up for by the taste. Easy 4.0 or maybe a bit higher for this one.