New Beer Weekend #245

New Glarus Thumbprint Imperial Pilsner

Appearance: Clear gold, some particles, good head.

Smell: Not a lot, some grassiness and maybe a bit of bread.

Taste: Balanced start, gives some sweetness that has the slightest bit of grape soda and an indistinct creamy note. Syrupy slick mouthfeel. Low bitterness. Finishes kind of sweet and slick.

Overall: A new thumbprint beer was available when I stopped by New Glarus, this imperial pilsner. Not a super hoppy version, no crazy boozy flavors, just an extremely drinkable 8.7% lager, which is a white buffalo for rarity.

 

She did

 

White Fern by Tree House Brewing

4.21/5 rDev +1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Brewers notes: As we continue our journey deeper into the brush, the ordinary recedes, becoming a distant memory. At our flashlight edge, Kiwi birds lob the little clay pots of their bodies across the trail, scurrying out of sight of these foreign visitors. Strange calls dot the encroaching darkness, and prehistoric eyes flit between the tangle of trees. As the ground sags beneath us, a sudden translucence flickers ahead, spectral hands saluting the night in silent rows. White Fern is a Double IPA blending our favorite New Zealand hops. Pouring a golden yellow, tropical notes jump out of the glass. Peacharine brings forth aromas of soft Saturn peaches while Motueka swirls with notes of summer watermelons. Paradisi and Nelson hops blend

Hazy golden yellow, two finger foam settles to a ring with spotty lacings

Aroma is peach, whiff of pine

Taste is peachy

Smooth with a hop bite on the finish, thick , taste nicely lingers

Good beer

 

Good morning all. Thanks for getting us going @Bishop . Central NH has some less than favorable weather for the entire weekend and I made sure my fridge was ready!

Poured into a 16 oz Snulip glass canned on 2/7/25. Pours a very attractive hazy yellow with a two finger sticky white head that leaves loads of webby lace with excellent retention. 4.5

Aroma is peach, mango, passionfruit, mandarin, white grape, and apricot. 4.25

Taste follows peach, white grape, passionfruit, mandarin, mango, and apricot. 4.25

Mouthfeel is above average, soft gentle carbonation, not sticky or dry, and at 8% big flavor, but easy enough going down. 4.5

Overall this is a unique hop mixture with Luminosa, Citra, Strata, and Nelson. I really enjoyed it, but not a saturated juice bomb. 4.25 Cheers all.

 

Dunno what you're watching, but the cc makes it sound(read) like a hoot!

 

Good day BAs! Thanks @Bishop for opening the thread!

Today's New Breakfast Beer:



Big Bad Baptist Cinnamon Roll from Epic. Purchased at Franklin Beer (Franklin, PA) 11/03/25. 16 fl oz can, $ 12.00 (Including tax)/ $ 0.75 fl oz. Reviewed 29/03/25 (Review 3486). Note that I use DD/MM/YY protocol.
Bottom of can stamped “LOT # 21191 9 9.8%ABV.” Stored in reefer at distributor and at 39 degrees F at home: served at 55.0 degrees F in a hand washed and dried Jester King snifter. The final temperature is 63.6 degrees F.
Appearance – 4.25
First pour – Amber Brown (SRM 18), clear.
Body – Deep Brown (SRM 30), almost black, opaque. Under direct light, same. When rear-lite, ruby fading to amber at the edges.
Head – Average (Maximum 2.2 cm, aggressive center pour), wheat, high density, short retention. Drops to a 0.15 cm crown and a thin partial cap.
Lacing – None.
Aroma – 4.5 – Cinnamon roll! No yeast, no malt, hops, no alcohol, no whiskey barrel. As it warms, however, some whiskey aroma appears.
Flavor – 4 – Begins short of cloyingly sweet. No yeast, no hops. No alcohol (9.8 % ABV, according to the can bottom). A bit of frosted cinnamon roll, but not as much as the nose suggests, in the background. No dimethylsulfide or diacetyl. Slight gastric warming. Ends slightly sweet with whiskey overtones.
Palate – 4 – Medium: watery: soft but lively carbonation.
Style: Loosely follows the style guidelines as condensed by BA.

Final impression and summation: 4.25 Begins as an excellent cinnamon (my favorite spice) roll, not too sweet. As it warms, the cinnamon aspect fades a bit and the whiskey barrels become evident. No cacao presents itself to either my taste or nose. Still, this is the best BBB variant I’ve had in a long time, although the price point is a bit high.

Rating 4.19, rDev – 0.2%

 

Well traveled beer!

 

C.R.E.A.M. Ale from Prince Eddy's Brewing Co.

Poured 473ml can into a pint glass. a two finger fine off white head on a hazy dark amber. the head diminished to a layer that sticks around to the end. a fine veil of lacing.

Some very subdued spicy malts in the nose. The taste is fruity up front. Some caramel. An almost imperceptible hop finish.

The mouthfeel is soft and creamy. Medium body and carbonation. Overall a fine Cream Ale. Well worth a try.

rDev +9.4% look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

 

Returning this weekend with two light and easy selections from Indiana, before planned trips to see the White Sox weather permitting. This first one is from Upland, and I like their Champagne Velvet, so hopefully this is a similar experience.

Upland Hoosier Game Day Lager

3.79/5 rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5




3/29/25 - (Can - Home) (Chicago, IL) Can Notes: Purchased at Beer on the Wall for $3.41 on March 21, 2025 at store temperature, then refrigerated at home until opening this morning. 16 oz, canned 12/4/24. 4.7% ABV. A classically smooth & refreshing beer. Collegiate Licensed Properties, official craft beer sponsor of IU athletics. Proudly brewed by Upland Brewing Company, Inc., Bloomington, Indiana.

Appearance: Poured about half the can into a narrow tall pilsner glass, yielding a golden clear base, generous bubbly and soapy head that leaves clumpy lacing and a cover over most of the base, concentrating stronger around the rim. Steady, sustained medium carbonation after the initial pouring burst. Looks good. 4.0

Aroma: Corn front and center backed by mineral water and fresh cut grass. Noble hops as expected. Nice range and drawing me in. 4.25

Taste: Consistent with aroma, a solid mix of noble hops, corn notes right there, mineral water and grassy. Tastes syrupy sweet and has AAL characteristics. 3.75

Mouthfeel: Syrupy, sweet overall. Light and easy drinking, with the light to medium body enhanced by the perceived sweetness. Sustained lightly prickly carbonation, corn and noble hop finish. 3.25

Overall: This is a good gateway beer for non craft drinkers. Starts off nice, but becomes sweeter for me as I go. Not sure if the corn is intended or just my perception, but feel as though this leads more toward a traditional American lager similar to Champagne Velvet, with the sweeter Budweiser taste than enjoyed in the 1980s - 1990s. Good effort, not sure I'll pick this up again beyond celebrating a Hoosiers Championship. Indiana, we love you! 3.5

 

I truly enjoyed this one:
Eichbaum Helles 5%
4.13/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
16.9 oz can into a tall Lager glass.
L: SRM 3-4 pours clear golden yellow with a 1/2" soft white head that has very good retention, large steady carbo bubbles, head recedes to skin, light soapy lacing.
S: Very bready malts, yeast, lightly grassy, a faint metallic note.
T: Lightly caramelized malts, pear, pastry dough, distant sweet apple, yeast, hay, a delicate and lengthy citrus zest linger.
F: Brisk with a light body and a medium-fast bright and lightly dry finish.
O: A very refreshing and lightly fruity tasting Helles that has a beautiful structure and very pleasant, delicate tastes. Masterfully balanced. It is excellent to outstanding in its style.

 

I just saw this brewery pop up here too, have you tried the Pilsner yet?

 

Is that scenery close to home?

 

I have not. The Helles was/is very pleasing and quite flavorful. Betcha the Pils would be as well.

 

Sam Adam's Cold Snap
5.3% witbier by Sam Adams



I had the beer poured from tap. The body was hazy and with a light gold color. White fluffy head rapidly diminished. Not much lacing.

Aroma was a mix of light citrus and wheat.

Taste follow his nose and adds a light clove as expected by style. The citrus wafts in and out with a light lemon flavor, but not too bright. Most of the flavor is carried by the wheat which is bready but moderate. No bitterness.

Mouthfeel was light and carbonation was medium.

I like the style but this one is not great. At the risk of damning with faint praise, an inoffensive witbeer.

 

Reichenbach Falls!
No? Rats. Cool photo anyway.

 

3 Sheeps Brewing Cuvee Blend. 2025. 11% bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout aged 23 months in Evan Williams bourbon barrels. 50% bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout aged 34 months in Elijah Craig bourbon barrels. 28% bourbon barrel-aged Russian imperial stout aged 33 months in Heaven Hill bourbon barrels. 11% bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout aged 31 month in Elijah Craig bourbon barrels. The look is pitch black with a couple-inch brown foam top that remained for several minutes. The smell is succulent milk chocolate, caramel, and, and vanilla. There is a light bourbon breeze, but it smells like a candy bar. The taste is very complex. There are waves of flavor. Milk chocolate, nougat, caramel, vanilla, graham cracker, marshmallow, almond, and bourbon crash onto my palate. It blends in a sophisticated and delightful manner. The mouthfeel is very silky, velvety, smooth, thick, and full, with light-medium carbonation. Overall, this may be the best edition of one of my favorite annual releases from 3 Sheeps Brewing. This beer is a piece of art.

 

Regal Lager from Royal City Brewing Co.

Poured a 473ml can into a pint glass. A one finger bubbly white head on a very slightly hazy pale gold. The head diminishes to a layer. Good head retention. Some patchy lacing.

Very slightly sulphurous malt smells. Tastes of toasted bready malts. Medium sweet. A mild hop finish.

Mouthfeel is smooth. Medium body and carbonation. Overall a fine lager. Better than most.

rDev +5.1% look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4