New Beer Weekend #247

This is my final entry today. I picked this up last weekend when I stopped at Brickfield Brewing in Grantsburg, WI.

Barrel Aged Belgian Tripel - 9.1%

This beer is weird as fu(k! I just don't know truly what to think of it. It is so full of bourbon. It has wild and funky elements. It does taste good to me, somewhat, but is it to style? I just don't think so. It looks like a brewery exclusive, so I'd say go there and get a bottle for yourself. Maybe I am off base here.

Review:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/53868/741297/#navigation
3.72/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
From a bottle. The label says it's a 16oz, but it's probably more like a 22oz bottle. This is the 2023 release. Fill date 11/6.

There's a bit of smoke upon opening the bottle. This beer looks somewhat orange in color. The beer is dark looking. There's a good deal of carbonation rising in the glass. The head was 1 finger and white colored. The retention isn't the best, and there's no lacing on the glass.
Well, the aroma is quite interesting. I am getting a ton of apple in the aroma. This beer smells a lot like a cider. I get a funky earthy aroma. I am getting a wine like aroma. I am getting hints of bourbon on the back of the aroma. There's a lot of stuff here, and I fully can't grasp it.
Ok, the flavor is just a humongous hit of bourbon barrel up front. Holy cow. These flavors mellow out. I then get a brown sugar hit. There's a bit of wild and funky elements on the back with strong green apple notes.
There's a huge barrel burn up front. It feels very boozy, yet "only" 9.1%. Very full feeling. I am getting a very bubbly feeling to this beer.
This beer is a really confusing beer. I do think it tastes good, but it really doesn't seem like it fits the style. I just don't know what to think about it.

I should be back tomorrow. Cheers once again all my fellow patrons of this virtual bar.

 

It's been a while NBW. Singles of this hit locally and for $5, I gave it a try.

BA Old Rasputin XXVII

12oz bottle poured into a tulip glass at fridge temp 12% ABV. The beer pours pitch black with nearly no light penetration and medium brown colored head. The head recedes to a thin ring and single layer of bubbles. The aroma is moderate in strength resembling a bourbon soaked expresso fudge brownie. The taste is bittersweet roasted malt with big charred oak and bourbon. Less sweetness than the nose and big finishing bitterness. The feel is medium bodied with just less that average carbonation and a mostly dry finish. Overall, excellent, if a bit barrel intensive right now.

Never had a bad beer from North Coast. I wish we had more consistent distribution here in Kentuckiana. Cheers all!

 

Tonight I pulled one sent to me by @DIM during the recent Stout and Barleywines BIF, and it’s from a brewery that I would never have been able to try as Michigan doesn’t allow beer to be shipped in. Or out, or within.

Poured an unfiltered (yet gave the impression of transparency) an orange brown color with an impressively tall beige head.
The taste is almost more IPA than barleywine; a stronger hops presence than the typical malt dominance. For a 12 year old beer, that’s pretty impressive.
The feel is untypical for a barleywine too, rather thin. Not at all unpleasant, just not what I expected.
OA, I am very happy to have been able to try this treat.
Thank you @DIM!

 

Social Project Brewing Warpigs Arkansas Pale Ale, 5.4% ABV; 3.52 overall

The guy at the bar said this will become their 3rd Flagship Beer. If you are trying to make money this beer should do it around here, not one for the hop heads and this one will be crushable during the plenty of hot weather we get here

Pours a bright & effervescent gold/honey color with 2 fingers of cream-colored head. Above average head retention & better lacing

S: Breadyness, grassy notes, a little citrus

T: Follows the nose, fairly dry, a little lime, just a little grainyness up front. Grassy, dry with crackery notes & more lime as this beer warms up. Finishes grassy with a little citrus & pronounced dryness

MF: Medium body, fairly firm carbonation, good balance

Spoke to staff today at the bar and this beer is on target for what they want, easy drinking & middle of the road. One for the tailgaters. Easy to drink, but doubt I'll spring for another 4 pack, but wouldn't turn down a free one

 

New trail crisp lager
....almost clear very pale gold with a lasting 1/2 inch head
...medium carbonation with a close to medium body which produced an overall nice feel
....aroma is cereal and lemon with grain,malt and lemon peel
. Taste has a mild sweetness, grain,cereal with some citrus.
...overall its not world class but its very enjoyable

 

Social Project Brewing Sails of Charon Sails of Charon BA Imperial Stout, 13.5% ABV; 4.55 overall

Pour an effervescent ebony with fast falling hazel colored head. Viscous as all get out, zero head retention & lacing

S: Bourbon barrel, figs, coconut. Molasses, Cherry Brandy, some hard booze sneaks past the smoothness, just for a second as this warms up. Nose was a little wanting, but my nose is hit & miss, some ethery notes at the very tail end

T: Plenty of luscious Bourbon Barrel, lesser amounts of coconut, vanilla & Baker's Chocolate, Maple Candy on the edges up front. Dark Choclate, rich Bourbon notes, more barrel rawness & rich coconut, toasted & creamy once this beer warms up. Finishes with super smooth Bourbon notes, Black Cherry Liqueur, Dark Chocolate, & Maple Candy & just a little Oaky dryness

MF: Silky smooth carbonation & medium body, warming, but seductive on how subtly it happens

Best beer I've had from them, their BA stouts are all on point, but this is the King

 

Toms river stick toss kolsch
....clear light amber appearance
...just below average carbonation with about a medium body
...aroma is sweet grain mash, apple/pear, bread with sweet sour cider
...taste is really similar to aroma. Very mild sweetness along with an odd but pleasant sourness.
...overall its an interesting beer,unusual but enjoyable.

 

Maibock from Enegren
Poured from a 16 oz can.
Gorgeous. Orangey amber in hue. Sandy head fluff up confidently asserting 2+ inches before slowly laying down as a firm, almost milky, head. Great retention and some light layered lacing.
The nose pumps an inviting toasted caramel malt meets brown bread dough. A mild hop note teases with some herbal notes akin to pepper and a mildly ready delivery of citrus.
Flavors definitely chime in to style. The malt is sweet enough but not too much. Honey, brown bread, mild caramel malt notes. Grassy, mildly herbal, and a hint of orange rind provided by the hops tame the sugars gently.
Mouthfeel has a gentle carbonation and a crisp finish.
3.83/5 rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

 

Good day BAs! Been hoarding this beer for close to three weeks now, patiently waiting for a NBW to share!



Bourbon County Brand Stout Reserve (2023) - Eagle Rare 2-Year from Goose Island. Received from @bbtkd 27/03/25 in a LIF associated with BS BIF #2. 16.9 fl oz bottle. Reviewed 13/04/25 (Review 3502). Note that I use DD/MM/YY protocol.
Front label stamped “03SEP28.” Stored in at 39 degrees F at home: served at 56.3 degrees F in a hand washed and dried Jester King snifter. The final temperature is 61.7 degrees F.
Appearance – 4
First pour – Deep Amber (SRM 15), nearly opaque.
Body – Deep Brown (SRM 30), opaque. Under direct light, same. When rear-lite, red-amber at the edges.
Head – Average (Maximum two cm, aggressive center pour), brandy lightening to biscuit as it oxygenates, high density and fizzy, short retention. Drops to a 0.2 cm crown fed by heavy carbonation, and a thin, partial cap.
Lacing – None.
Aroma – 4.25 – Strong, sweet bourbon, toffee. No yeast, no hops, no alcohol.
Flavor – 4.5 – Begins slightly sweet and a bit maplely. A mild, sweet bourbon flavor erupts. No yeast, no hops, no vanilla, no oaky tannins. No alcohol (14.5 % ABV, according to the label). No dimethylsulfide or diacetyl. Mild gastric warming occurs.
Palate – 4 – Medium: a bit watery but approaching creamy: lively but soft carbonation.
Style: Follows the style guidelines as condensed by BA.
Final impression and summation: 4.25 Pleasant aroma, cries out “Drink Me!” I did – it was excellent! Thanks Tom - possibly the best variant of BCBS I've ever had!
Rating 4.37, rDev - 3.1%

Ohoh. I'm beginning to get curious about the science behind wood barrels for aging "stuff." Ssp of oak are extremely common and contribute at least in part to its popularity for barrel-making. What about maple here in the northern hemisphere? Shit - I feel a bout of research coming on...

 

You're welcome. This one is by far my favorite BCBS variant, and tied for my highest rated beer.

 

St-Ambroise Oatmeal Stout from McAuslan Brewing

Poured a 473ml can into a pint glass. A three finger brown head on black. The head sticks around. Sheets of lacing persist to the end.

Smells of toffee and coffee. The taste follows the nose. roasted dark malts. A coffee and cocoa finish

A smooth creamy texture. A medium light/body with good carbonation. Overall a fine Oatmeal stout. Well worth a try.

rDev -1.7% look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

 

3 Floyds Floyds Deluxe


Appearance: Clear yellow, big head.

Smell: Light corn aroma, with a sweet spike in there.

Taste: Moderately sweet, corn, light bodied, with a little grape soda finish going on.

Overall: This tastes like any old light lager, which I suppose is the point. Light, sweet, easy drinking, inoffensive. Pretty cheap, too, $7.99 for a 4 pack of 16oz cans.

 

Good Sunday morning NBS/nbw and thanks to our host this week @Beersnake.
It is full on New England spring this weekend, snow each morning, raw and reaching into the 40s during the day.
Todays offering is from Bunker Brewing in Portland Maine,
purchased at Coopers Corner in Florence Ma.
A very nice lager with an elegant simplicity, one that keeps you engaged.
Have a great day all

Quiver

Doppelbock | 7.3% ABV
Bunker Brewing Co. in Portland, Maine

Reviewed by SABERG from Massachusetts

3.94/5 rDev 0% | Average: 3.94
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from a 16 oz cand, dated 2/25/25 into the test glass
A - Dark copper color, a bit of haze, nice frothy cap to begin. Cap settles into a steady ring of collected carbonation
S - A bit of caramel, light brown sugar, hint of noble hop, slight grassy thread
T - All the aromatics in the mix, with more of a sweet malt presence.
M - Medium in body, with a sweet start that moves to center quickly. Finish is semi sweet, and nicely dry.
O - A very nice lager, very easy to enjoy. A nice looking beer, that has very good flavor and texture

 

A true Canadian classic. Cheers!

 

I think you sent me that one and man do I remember it; visually it was beautiful and that silky smooth bitter roast was so so good.