New Beer Weekend #249

I'm definitely going to try more. Do you have a favorite?

 

I would've lost money betting on whether No Label still existed. Good for them, I guess, though you have to wonder how long they are for this oversaturated market world. I will say I always liked their Don Jalapeno Ale. It was very much a "mood" beer for me back in the dark ages of my beer geekery, not one I'd drink every day, and I wouldn't expect anybody else to like it. But it always hit the spot when I was in the mood.

Sorry to see you had to deal with the dark side of living in the big city today. You get at least +20 for trying to make chicken salad out of the other thing.

Cheers!

 

I hate those kind of pours. What makes it worse is that a lot of bartenders think they're doing you a favor for it.

 

It wasn't all bad, I got to visit my friends coffee shop, which I never get to do anymore. His wife makes the best English Sausage rolls, which are just as good as The Great British Bakery in Dripping Springs. If only Acopon was serving excellent cask beers near by, instead of No Label...well then, now we would be on to something

 

I'll put them on my shopping list. Thanks for the info!

 

Intrigued by the sausage rolls.

 

Yeah, it would also be one thing if it was a dive bar on the west side of town or something, but not at the brewery.

 

Damn. You “forced” me to open this. I “was” going to pop the new Mortalis BA Erberus Vanilla Amburana stout, but after having a draft WW Coconut Medianoche earlier, a barleywine sounded good.


First Cell Maker beer. The aroma is fabulous, smashing the nostrils a foot away. Wood meets leather meets some Old Spice (in a good way). The first tastes are sipper friendly hits of spicy wood, a flash of bourbon spiciness, and a killer caramel backbone. The initial hits are reminiscent of last year’s Triple Mash, akin to Samichlaus, if it were barrel aged. However, this has loads more complexity. I can definitely find the Heaven Hill and Old Fitz flavors in the spiciness. Each lends an earthiness to the sweetness, and a wet barrel tannic vein. Weller has always been a subtle barrel flavor for me to find, and I never had Handy for reference. An absolute treat in an English style, with no hop burn erasing the surface of my tongue. Smooth. Caramel, like a Buffalo Trace syrup. Mouthfeel is medium, but leaves an unexpected viscous coating. Further inspection of the Glencairn reveals that viscous coating on the glass. I can agree with a fig vibe swirling in the mix, with memories of a fresh Stickee Monkee. Alcohol brings warmth and a wallop. Great brew, with skill pulling out distinct barrel flavors and a juxtaposition of bright and dark flavors.

 

Having trouble getting the damn imgur links to work again. It apparently thinks 2 images is more than 2 now. Anyway, Bummin Beaver - Weisenbock. IDK when the last time I had a Weisenbock was, but they were writing it on the chalkboard when I stepped up to the bar and that was a sign. Smells and tastes super bready. Might have preferred the wee heavy or whatever else was on tap, but it's the experience that counts.

Second visit here along with Crooked Pecker.



8th Day - 60 Miles South - wee heavies tend to be a must buy and this was no exception.

Also, Banshee Irish stout - Irish stouts are also underrated. These don't have to be world class to be enjoyable. Another nice place, toasty and pleasant stout without ornamentation. Nothing beats spending a free day listening to decent music at some relatively local place. Sportspuck season will continue for a little while longer and that's a plus in a world that otherwise feels like the brink of disaster.

 

Step Step Dad Dad
Hazy Double IPA
The Veil
Richmond, VA

4.01/5 rDev -5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

04/17/25. Poured into a Samuel Adams Perfect Pint.

A: Opaque hazy gold with 1-2 finger frothy white head with decent retention and solid lacing.

S: Aroma is blandly fruity with some herbal, earthy dank notes. Light fruity esters.

T: Flavor is a big upgrade with a lot of green fruit and gritty hop vegetal, herbal note with more aggressive earthy, dankness in the finish with light berry and melon on the aftertaste. Low bitterness. Esters are light and fruity-floral.

M: Drinks very easy for its heft with medium body and the hop structure provides some bite.

O: Step Step Dad Dad is a fine DDH hazy double IPA from The Veil. It has a lighter body despite the 8.5% with enough hop structure and character to push it into the excellent range for the style.

 

Southern tier peach hefeweizen
....semi clear orange/light amber appearance
...medium light carbonation with around a medium body.
...aroma is peach puree, fresh peach and peach skin. Far in the background theres some bread/toast and jam.
...taste is peach puree, peach and that dry peach skin.
...overall I liked it and treated it as a dessert beer which it worked great as

 

Dustbowl Brewing Co. This is a year old & it shows, mark your damn 12 boxes

Mouthful of Miracles Cold IPA. 6.6% ABV; 2.85 overall

Gusher pours chill hazed & very effervescent with copious ivory colored head. Above average head retention & lacing

S: Doughy, grassy, no hops really here

T: Follows the nose. pretty dry, grassy up front. Wet cereal & sweetness, grassy, traces of citrus once warm. Finishes sweet with wet grain & grassy notes


MF: Medium body, firm carbonation, out of balance

Out of date, but if you can't put a freshness date on your mixed 12 box; you get what you get. This is review is a cautionary of a sup bar IPA genre with too much age. Below meh. Last 4 ounces in the drain

 

I am home now, and I decided to open up this big boy I bought today. I added it to the database.

Five - Sleepy Eye Brewing - Sleepy Eye, MN - American Barleywine - 10.1%

Damn! I almost didn't buy this beer. I have a lot already, but decided to buy it before we left the brewery. I am so glad I did. This is downright delicious! So much flavor. Wow, I am impressed as hell by it. I plan on heading back that way in the next few months, and hope they still have some left, because I'd love to buy more.

Review:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/58261/742934/
4.44/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
From a 750ml bomber purchased at the brewery. This beer was released in 2024 to honor their 5th anniversary.

There was a huge pop when I opened up the bottle, with a nice amount of smoke coming out of the bottle. This beer is a dark amber pouring beer in the glass. There's a hint of murkiness to the beer, but very slight. There's a ton of carbonation in this beer and it shows in the amount of it rising in the glass. There's a 2 finger light tan colored head. The head retention is great and there's a bit of lacing on the glass.
The aroma is quite powerful and strong. There's just a ton of biscuit and rye bread in the aroma. I am getting a huge amount of caramel malt notes in here. The aromas are well balanced and quite pleasing.
Taste - There's a ton of rye bread starting off the flavor hit parade. I am getting a good hit of caramel and toffee next. There's a faint cherry note that hits my throat, but it is fast and doesn't linger. The next thing I get surprises me - a hint of smoke, light, but there. There's a bit of hops that hits on the finish that is pine in nature that adds a nice lingering bitterness.
The body is quite full feeling. There's a slight warming feeling to this beer.
Wow! I am totally impressed with this beer. I almost didn't buy it because I have a lot of beer right now. I am so glad I bought a bottle, and when I go there next, I'd love to buy another bottle.

This is the closer today. I will try to behave and save the rest for later. Hopefully I'll be back tomorrow for more new beers. Cheers!

 

Piece of the Action
Hazy IPA
The Answer
Richmond, VA

4.17/5 rDev -2.1% | Average: 4.26
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

No canned on date. Poured into a Samuel Adams Perfect Pint.

A: Hazy light amber with 1-2 finger frothy white head with good retention and thick bands of lacing.

S: Aroma is medium-intensity with mostly grapefruit and dank herbal with light berry.

T: Flavor has much more berry character (especially in the aftertaste) with plenty of pine, grapefruit, and dank weed, herbal character. Bitterness is moderate. Low fruity-floral esters.

M: Feel is slightly sticky-tacky with medium body and dry finish.

O: Piece of the Action from The Answer is an excellent Mosaic beer.

 

Cassian sunset brewers reserve
....solid black appearance
...light carbonation with a just above average body
...aroma is cinnamon on top of malt,roasted malt,coffee and rich fudge like chocolate
...taste doesn't stray too far from the aroma and there is some sweetness but it comes off more dry than expected.
..overall a rich intense well done beer

 

Cheers to @muchloveforhops3 for this one!

No-Li Wrecking Ball Imperial Stout,9.5% ABV ;4.32 overall

Pours an effervescent chestnut/mahogany with 2 fingers of tan head. Solid head retention & lacing

S: Roasty, coffee, some woody notes

T: Follows the nose, plenty dry, woody hops, cocoa & vanilla up front. Roasty with dryness, woody hops & a trace of vanilla as this beer warms up. Finishes roasty & dry, with woody hops

MF: Semi-chewy, smooth carbonation, a little warming

Super solid, no-nonsense Imperial Stout; great drinkability for what it is. A balls to the walls AIS