New Beer Weekend #247

Thanks for verifying my thoughts upon seeing this one. Most of the Surly BA Darkness variants are at least excellent. Not sure what they were thinking. Glad I passed on it!

 

Glad you liked it. It's a good one. Overlooked really.

 

Voodoo Brewing Where Our Secrets Go Heaven Hill BBA Imperial Stout, 9% ABV. Pours brownish-black with a two-finger brown head that left no lacing. Aroma is caramel and bourbon. Taste is charred malt, oak, bourbon, and chocolate, faintly sweet, moderately bitter, some nice bourbon burn. Dry mouthfeel, overall excellent.

4.33/5 rDev +1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Thanks to @Ozzylizard for sending this excellent BBA Imperial Stout in a LIF box as part of our Stout/Barleywine BIF.

 

Good afternoon BAs! My new beer this weekend comes from River North Brewery, Denver. CO - “Vicennial: God Complex” (2022), a barrel aged (Belgian-style) Quadruple Ale:



Bottled 2022, 99 cases, release no. 4. Poured at 58°. Deep amber almost garnet body with very good clarity; fast fizzy light tan head vanishes immediately leaving no cap retention, ring nor lace; no legs. Nose is oak, toffee with boozy warm exhale; cherry as beer warmed. Sweet toffee, caramel, sugared raisins and plums; oaky black licorice; spicy hot black pepper finish from the alcohol. Sharp alcohol bite across the tongue; full on mouth warmth from 17.5% abv; light carbonation; medium full body, silky smooth feel. Overall, let’s address the obvious - the alcohol burns in the mouth (it is inescapable and I like it!); layers of dark fruit and spicy alcohol flavors. An excellent barrel aged quad.

4.0 | 4.25 | 4.5 | 4.25 | 4.5


Last year’s Christmas gift from one of my local drinking buddies. I would buy this beer in a heartbeat if I ever see it on Tavour. Cheers y’all!

 

Hi Peter! Love reading your thoughts again.

 

Another day, another new beer. This is Techno Snowman from Parish Brewing Co. Its an 8.5% IPA brewed with Nectaronm and Motueka hops plus some hop extract that is not defined.

3.75/5 rDev -10.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Arrived in an IPA variety package from Half Time pretty much at ambient temperature. Refrigerated immediately and until served. Poured from a 16 oz can dated 2/27/25 to a bulbous, tulip-like glass.
The body is a milky and of a light orange color, approximately SRM 3. The ⅜inch/10mm head is bright white and the lacing is medium. The head vades to a single layer in about 2-3 minutes with some large bubbles here and there. A thin layer remains for the entire session.
I get mostly orange rind from the aroma, but maybe some berry.
The taste is a little more complex. Sure citrus rind, but also peach and a suggestion of bitterness.. Sweetness there except for the finish when alcohol makes itself known.
The mouthfeel is medium to light for the style. Carbonation is about right in volume, but it has a sensation of very small bubbles.
Pretty good, but I probably would have enjoyed it more without the alcohol finish. Sure it's 8.5%, but some beers of that level hide it better.

 

Good Sunday afternoon, New Beer Samplers and commentators. Carton Brewing's Epitome is my all-time favorite Black IPA and one of my favorite beers. Period. It is released on Black Friday each year and I usually go through a case of it during the holiday season. For me, it's a desert island beer. So I was more than intrigued when Carton released a Black IPA called On the Edge of Town as part of its "NJ IPA" series. These IPAs are named for (surprise) Springsteen lyrics.

On the Edge of Town is hopped with Mosaic, Galaxy, and Trident and the grist bill includes Pilsner and Carafoam malts, flaked oats, oat malt, and Sinamar. It very well could be the best Black IPA brewed in New Jersey other than Epitome.

Its color is deep mahogany with dark cola hues and it sports a large, fluffy, light khaki head and lots of thick, clinging lacing. The nose is malty with whiffs of citrus and earthy char. Very tasty! It opens with notes of roasty dark chocolate, freshly-brewed coffee, and caramel balanced by a sharp, peppery bitterness. The oat malt and flaked oats which add sweetness and texture. As it warms there are hints of tropical and stone fruits. It has great depth of flavor. The mouth feel is fairly lite and crisp and it drinks easily at 7% ABV. Although it shares the style with Epitome, On the Edge of Town is a very different ale. It's maltier, sweeter, and much more quaffable. It is also a very approachable Black IPA for someone new to this wonderful style.

4.34/5 rDev +1.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

I truly hope that Carton brews On the Edge of Town annually. It is a great ale to transition from Winter to Spring.

This will be my only new beer review this afternoon so I wish you all a great week. Cheers, NBW!

 

Voodoo Big Black Voodoo Daddy RIS, 12% ABV. Pours brownish black, with a ring of light-brown bubbles that left no lacing. Aroma is sweet malts. Taste is roast malt, coffee, oak, and brown sugar, slightly sweet, equally bitter. Decent mouthfeel, overall excellent.

4.21/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Another excellent Voodoo beer that @Ozzylizard shared in a LIF box as part of the Stout/Barleywine BIF.

 

Hoping that one pops up locally, sounds like one worth trying.

 

Have a good New Beer Sunday. I have been brainstorming for writing an email for a shift brewers position all weekend. I uploaded all my recipes online and I hope I can get it with my homebrewing experience. I will definitely get my Certified Cicerone test done if I get hired. Just haven't been able to find a testing location.

Been reading Zero Fail by Carol D. Leonnig all weekend, and it is one of the best history books from the eyes of the secret service I've ever seen. Learned a lot more under the radar details about historical presidents, plus more since they protected the people who were in campaigns for election too.

Hi-Wire Easy Pitch IPA. canned on 5/5/2022, but been in my fridge for over 2 years. Fantastic head retention and lacing. Aromas and flavors of big red grapefruit, tangerine, lemon, lime, peach, pear, pineapple, mango, melon, berries, citrus zest,cedar, peppercorn, pine, wheat, cracker, white bread, herbal, floral, grassy hop earthiness. Light-medium pine, herbal, woody, spicy bitterness on the finish. Medium carbonation, light body, and crisp/clean/refreshing finish. Balanced bready/grainy malt and sticky hop mouthfeel. Nearly bone dry finish with no lingering resins. Outstanding for a session IPA, no aggressive bitterness. Vibrant Citra and Cashmere hop flavors with a clean malt backbone. 4.18/5


Cheers

 

Happy weekend, everyone. I’m drinking, or sipping, Deschutes, The Abyss. It’s marked, “best after 08/16/14”. Today is 04/13/25, hopefully on schedule.

It’s very smooth blend. The bourbon and wine are up front. The right amount of sweets to balance the booze. I’m enjoying it.

Yes, it’s new as per consumption, despite owning it for more than a decade! Cheers

 

Yea I have seen these before, but I have not used them while actively reviewing. I just have drastically increased my vocabulary from reviewing craft beer for 15 years lol. I can envision in my brain what everything on that wheel tastes/feels like as a matter of fact. I've seen it all in beer. Also I am almost at my 10,000 uploaded on BA official. I got an excel opened right now with hundreds more beers

 

Unfortunately, I haven't seen it up here. My buddy bought some at Carton and I traded him for one of the Autodidact anniversary releases. If I see it in one of our local stores, then I'll definitely buy it.

 

Anderson Valley The Pilsner. No can dating. Poor head retention and lacing. Aromas of big apple/pear fruit, cracker, herbal, grass, peppercorn, pine. Too fruity of a nose. Taste is spot on: cracker, white bread dough, herbal, floral, grass, wood, peppercorn, pine, light yeast earthiness. Light-medium pine, woody, spicy bitterness on the finish. Medium-plus carbonation, light-medium body, and crisp/clean/refreshing finishing. Balanced bready/grainy malt and sticky hop mouthfeel. Nearly bone dry finish with no lingering resins. A bit too yeasty in aromas, but taste is cleaner on lager flavors. Not a bad attempt at the style. 3.85/5


Cheers

 

Always fun to participate in the New Beer Weekend thread. Thanks to @Beersnake for his initiative. Last time I used the Hop-Taste Ouji board, the divination puck travelled to loser, indicating that my use of smacky as a taste descriptor was rejected by the Id of @superspak , who, we know is a divine beer god, and great guy.

Fidens The Path Less Taken


4.34/5 rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Canned 2/24, cracked 4/13, pours golden yellow semi Lucent with thin head that retreated to the glass, aroma is grapefruit, floral, piney. Taste is distinctly grapefruit, pine needles, sweeter mango in the middle with a bitter pine dankness , cannabis.
Oofa really good, clean, crisp, smacky, dry finish. 7% abv and it’s well hidden.

 

Smacky is like the same as refreshing, as you are opening and closing your mouth. Tongue/roof action. Bone dry-like finish with no lingering hop resins disturbing the drinkability with astringency

 

Ian, that is totally it!

 

@cjgiant - I have to catch up with the threads, but saw your post first. My only experience with Amburana were a few from the Deep Woods series this year. The others I tried had more of a sangria wine flavor, but this was the first where the cinnamon was front and center, at least for my palate. Thanks for mentioning as I will know what to expect in the future. Quite honestly, I thought the others were all right, but this one was the best for me this series.

Welcome to those still straggling in to a late New Beer Sunday #1051/ The Sox almost completed the sweep (plus a Hawks win in Boston Thursday), but was still a great series. Home with a free beef race sandwich and this pairing more appropriate than my final Deep Woods of the season.

Revolution Double Dry-Hopped Nelson Hero

4.21/5 rDev +5.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4



4/13/25 - (Can - Home) (Chicago, IL) Can Notes: Purchased at Beer on the Wall at Park Ridge at store temperature for $4.55 with tax on March 22, 2025. Refrigerated upon returning home until opening this evening. 16 oz, canned 3/6/25 @ 7:58:34 AM, 7.5% ABV. Double Dry Hop Nelson Hero, Hazy India Pale Ale. Brewed by Revolution Beer LLC, 3340 N. Kedzie Avenue, Chicago, IL.

Appearance: Poured about half the can into a Revolution short narrow IPA glass, yielding a pineapple juice base and a creamy generous bright white head yielding soapy lacing and a cream cover over the whole base. Looks very good. 4.25

Aroma: Pineapple, citrus, tangerine. A wonderful tropical fruit medley. 4.5

Taste: Consistent with the aroma, pineapple and citrus battle it out, with the former winning out and a nice tangerine as well. Really liking this presentation of the Nelson hops. Fresh, crisp and delicious. 4.25

Mouthfeel: Faint carbonation, nice bitterness balance to the sweet fruit flavors. Drinks a little below the ABV, consistent with the brewery declared Hazy IPA style. Medium body, mild burn somewhat surprising. Pineapple tangerine start to finish. 3.75

Overall: This is an enjoyable offering and solid presentation of Nelson hops. Bursting with flavor, fresh strong hops, nice bitterness. A solid hazy option to consider on future Revolution trips. 4.0