New Beer Weekend #238

Drekker BRAAAAAAAAins Peach and Passionfruit Double Fruit Smoothie Sour, 5.5% ABV. Pours dirty-orange, with a ring of bubbles that left puree residue. Aroma is an incredible mashup of peach, passionfruit, lactose and vanilla. Taste follows, quite sweet, slightly tart, salt on the close. Smooth mouthfeel, overall outstanding.

4.41/5 rDev +2.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Figure I'd do one review before delving into some BA Stout and/or Barleywine later.

 

Today I have a new beer to me which is also a new beer from Counter Weight, a stalwart of the CT beer scene. Here is the brewery's blurb-
Our new year round Modern take on a West Coast Style IPA - Bright Wave IPA brings big citrus, notes of mandarin orange, ripened berry with an underlying dankness into a wave of hop flavor and aromas. Our modern interpretation is lean, clean, dry and fully saturated with balanced hop bitterness and expressive hop character throughout.
Being new, there is only one other review in the BA database from 2-days ago. Although thier raiting is slightly higher than mine, thier words are harsher.

3.64/5 rDev -1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Poured from a 16 oz can to a Nonic glass at fridge temp. Purchased 2-days ago cold and kept cold. The can is stamped “CANNED ON 02/03/25” (6-days ago).
The body of this beer has a bright gold, crystal clear body. Very tiny bubbles rise continuously through the session. An aggressive 4-finger head sits above, fades to a single layer in 2-3 minutes. Lacing medium to low.
The aroma is not strong, but there is some citrus, floral and pine.
The taste is similarly not strong. Definitely rind, some suggestion of pine and definitely dry.
The mouthfeel is medium and carbonation is fine.
This beer is clean and has some of the right notes, but they are far too subtle. I expect a 7% West Coast IPA to hit me hard with bitterness, pine and dryness. This one has no bad qualities other than being too shy. But it is dry. If I wasn't rating to style I my smell and taste scores would be higher.

 

Good Super Bowl Sunday afternoon, New Beer Samplers and commentators. Like many, I don't have any rooting interest in tonight's game but for those who do - whether red or green - good luck! This afternoon's new beer is Démon Noir, a Belgian Dark Strong Ale from Bonesaw Brewing Company in Glassboro, New Jersey (Iggles' country). It is aged in cherry and apple brandy casks. I've really enjoyed the Strong Ales and Stouts that Bonesaw bottles. It's an under-the-radar brewery. @jonphisher, have you visited the brewery?

It pours a dark mahogany color with a modest, creamy, light khaki head and lacing. A nice, fragrant nose including cherry, raisin, brown sugar, caramel, and just a whiff of tobacco smoke. The taste opens with slightly sour black cherry over an earthy, musty, fairly bitter malt base. I probably should have let it warm a bit before uncapping but over time the brandy barrel notes emerge in a good way and there are some sweeter hints of raisin and brown sugar. But it definitely not a sweet ale. It is medium-bodied and carbonated and it isn't boozy despite its 11% ABV.

Look: 4/Smell: 4.25/Taste: 4/Feel: 4.25/Overall: 4.25
4.14/5.0 rDev +.02%

Btw, I had a great time meeting several New Beer Weekenders "in person" on last night's zoom. Super fun. It's a pleasure to be part of this group!! Cheers!

 

Ozark Beer Co. BDCS 2020
10.2% sweet/milk stout
Thanks to @russpowell for this beer and a 2024 version I’ll review next weekend.

Poured from a twelve ounce can, the beer pours an oily black. Nominal head and no lacing.

Nose is chocolate, oak and vanilla.

Taste follows nose but the flavors are amped up. The sweetness is pronounced but not cloying. I can taste a bit of lactose influence, which I do not mind. Is it pejorative to say a stout is delicious? What I don't taste is neither a malty char nor barrel. The high ABV is deftly hidden.

Mouthfeel is okay and there's a dearth of carbonation.

A good tasting beer that is a barrel aged stout in name but not taste. I really am curious as to how this one tasted fresh and with ostensibly much more carbonation and barrel.

 

I have yet to visit @MacMalt I've wanted to for a long time but its so close, yet also so far...always looks like a great variety on tap and the "lager loft" looks like such an awesome space. Who knows, maybe this is the year I finally make it.

 

I went to the brewery a couple of years ago. Even when I'm in Ocean City it is a decent drive. Very nice space and the beer is quite good. My favorite is an Old Ale called Ominous Synth Music. If you ever see that one in a store, I'd recommend it.

 

Counterweight - Bright Wave



I seem to recall a Westy they put out last year. Had a smidge more malt character than this. A bit more heft. I like this for today, especially knowing I’ll have some rich food.

There’s feint malt character but the body is robust. It’s not thin or struggling under the hops. Hops are quite restrained. It’s tasty tho but very measured if not delicate. None of these attributes are negatives. In fact, for my palate, they’re arguably strengths.

Additionally there’s this Counterweight-y yeast character so that complexity is a thoughtful undercurrent just playing atop it all. Reminds me, unfathomably, of crucial mass. Cheers!

 

Schlafly Brewing Just a bit Hazy IPA, 5.0% ABV; 3.54

Pours an effervescent & somewhat hazed gold with a pinky od cream colored head. Pretty good head retention & lacing

S: Citrus & grassyness

T: Follows the nose, leafy hops & a touch of pear & a little dryness. More pear, some citrus, leafy hops & grassyness as this beer warms up. Finishes grassy with a little pear, traces of tangerine & a little leafy hop

MF: Medium body, restrained carbonation, okay balance

Drinks alright, but not one to get excited about. 5 more to drink, ugh

 

Me personally, the fresher up to 6 months, the better. I like them with barrel forward

 

After just pouring my 5th of these from this recent release, I agree with you 100%

 

26 swift half session ipa courtesy @beergoot and Oscar
...semi cloudy light orange/gold appearance
...around a medium body with medium light carbonation
...aroma is a really strong hit of various tropical fruits, floral along with some grain.
...taste is sweet,almost fruit juice sweet but theres a soft but consistent hop bite that follows along and makes a great pairing.
...overall this is a really nice well done beer

 

4 Hands Voltron/BKS Volume Seven, 6.5% ABV; 4.27 overall

Pours a hazed gold with one finger of pearl colored head. Sheets of lacing & above average head retetion

S: Passion fruit, guava, traces of orange

T: Follows the nose, & pineapple notes up front. Seet pineapple, some green melon, guava & a little leafy hop & tangerine as this beer warms up. Finishes with pineapple/orange juice, & a little green melon

MF: Medium body, restrained carbonation, some acidity, good balance

So easy to drink, flavor-wise this one is probably the best in the series I tried & also the freshest, not a coincidence

 

Pours a clear amber with a thick head. Aroma is subtle - pine, earth, and wood, along with herbal notes of thyme and caraway. Pretty interesting hop profile. Taste is more of the same, with light toasted bread and some modest caramel sweetness rising as the beer warms, along with a little citrus. Very light bodied and crisp on the finish. Remarkably easy-drinking; this would make a good summer refresher.

I don't quite know what to make of this one. Not bad by any means, but I think I would've preferred the malt:hop balance to be tilted a little higher. That toasty bread flavor was there, but too subdued for my liking.

Cheers, and happy Sunday.

 

World peace imperial ipa courtesy of @beergoot
....slightly cloudy caramel appearance
...medium bodied with the carbonation below average
..aroma is malty, mixed tropical fruits, grainy and earthy
...taste has some sweetness but the bitter earthy hops quickly show up and take over. Leaves an almost acidic aftertaste.
..overall its a great beer thats far from boring

 

New-to-me German Brewery with their Helles.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/2876/6786/



4.21/5 rDev +13.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
500 ml. bottle
On label: 04 .09 .25 L112551
(Best by 4th of September this year?)

Moderate pour yields a one inch white head over a very bright golden body with lacing.

Nose of bread, slight toast and grain.

Taste of peppery grain with a slightly earth, lemony finish.

Medium to full mouthfeel with more than decent carbonation.

Overall, a beautifully bright Helles that I would highly recommend to all!

Cheers!!

 

Hello!
At a friends house for the Super Bowl and brought a few from my cellar. First up is a stout I picked up while in Tennessee last November.

Poured stout black with a light brown head that left scant lacing.
The taste is actually better than many imperial stouts I’ve had; the roast, the coffee, the chocolate and worn leather. The depth of flavor is excellent.
The feel is definitely more than your average stout. Not quite viscous but not thin either.
OA, wish I had picked up more than one. Good beer.
Well, Philly is dominating KC, interesting game.
Cheers!

 

Correct cheese ratio, more onions for me

 

And Philly is still dominating so I had another beer. This one was local, and a porter.

Poured deep coffee brown with a very light brown head that left scant lacing.
The taste is, well, accurately representing what the label says: coffee and vanilla in what I’m thinking is a robust porter. Wasn’t sure what to expect, but I was impressed.
The feel is actually viscous, of course, the additives likely added some body, but not much.
OA, not sweet and discernible coffee and vanilla. Glad this one is local.