New Beer Weekend #251

A beer of nobility?

As many of you likely know I am a homebrewer. Keeping up with all of the new hop varieties is a constant challenge (a good challenge?) for me. Today’s new beer is branded as Von C Contessa Pale Lager:

“Contessa Lager Lager - Pale

5% ABV

This pale lager was designed around Hopsteiner’s US grown, noble style hop named Contessa. These hops impart green tea, pear, and herbal notes to this clean and balanced lager.”

The is the very first time I have heard of Contessa hops so I just had to try this beer. For science you know:



Below is some information of a quick web search for Contessa hops:

“Hop growers and brewers alike are constantly looking for the next innovative hop varieties, one of the latest us a U.S. cultivated hop with German noble hop characteristics called Contessa™ The new hop is described as a cross between Fuggle and Cascade and is said to be perfect for lagers, and a unique flavor for other styles that call for more subtle varieties.

Hopsteiner, a vertically integrated hop supplier and grower boasts that Contessa is perfect for lagers with its aromas of floral fields, light pear, soft green tea, and lemongrass. With it's relatively low 3-5% alpha-acid content and 5-7.4% beta-acids, the chemical makeup of Contessa may make its way into the burgeoning dry-hopped lager trend epitomized by Italian-style Pilsners.

Hopsteiner says the name "contessa" was a customary title bestowed upon a woman of nobility in certain European countries. So, they felt their latest elegant hop breed would be worthy of this title of nobility.

According to Hopsteiner, Contessa’s™ aroma lends a smooth and delicate bitterness while delivering an elegant fragrance, making it a perfect fit for the lager beer style and unique addition to many others.

Contessa™ was born in Yakima, WA under stable growing conditions of the Pacific Northwest (PNW). The PNW offers great advantages for hop growing, but none better than consistency. Because Contessa™ is a U.S. cultivated hop variety, there are additional shipping and availability advantages to be had for U.S. brewers.”

https://newschoolbeer.com/nsb/2020/...a-a-new-u-s-cultivated-noble-hop-variety.html

Served in a Von C Nonic Pint Glass:

Appearance:

Golden yellow with a white head.

Aroma:

There are subtle aromas of floral and herbal.

Taste:

The flavor follows the nose with subtle flavors of floral and herbal along with a light bready malt flavor.. There is a moderate bitterness.

Mouthfeel:

Medium bodied with a dry finish.

Overall:

I enjoyed drinking it, a very good beer. This beer has the quality of good drinkability.

Cheers!

@rotsaruch @KOP_Beer_OUtlet @RobH

 

I doubt that you will give this beer a second chance but if you do I would suggest maybe a fresher version. A fresher version will likely have a noticeable difference in the balance of hops and maltiness.

In a past NBW (maybe NBS at the time) I did a side-by-side of Surly Furious and Sierra Nevada Celebration:

"Overall

Surly Furious IPA: This beer is very good. I really enjoyed the aroma.

SN Celebration: This beer is very good. I always buy Celebration Ale every year and this year is a ‘bonus’ year since I purchased a case (24 bottles) during a recent trip into my neighboring state of Delaware.

This side-by-side tasting was intriguing. I preferred the aroma of Furious but I preferred the flavor of Celebration especially the floral aspect. Two enjoyable ‘old school’ IPAs.

Oh, and my wife expressed her preference for Furious. Her exact words were “I like A” (Furious was marked as “A”)."

Just something to consider.

Cheers!

 

Pipework pastrami on rye
...very dark amber/caramel appearance
...medium light carbonation with about a medium body, slight thick chewy feel
...aroma is malt, sweet brown sugar and some spice. Theres some smoke and mild mustard in the background.
...taste has some sweetness and the mustard seed shows up more as it warms. Not exactly but it does come off like a sandwich in a can yet still retains its ...beerness.
...overall I was apprehensive but its definitely a well done beer. For a novelty beer it delivered and was very enjoyable

 

Thanks for kicking us off, @Premo88!

First new beer of the weekend is..

Great Burn - Cold Trail Pale Ale





O a pleasant pale ale with an old school vibe to it; earthy and herbal hops over a hearty caramel/crystal malt body; a fair amount of bitterness in the finish; nicely contrasted flavors; not too shabby, overall!

Cheers

 

Fairly fresh? I notice that one doesn't age well IMHO

 

Great side by side!

 

Dinner looks yummy

 

Cheers to @Premo88 for kicking us off

Social Project Brewing Luxury Lager Italian Pilsner, 5.7% ABV; 3.93 overall

Pours an effervescent gold with a slight chill-haze & 2+ fingers of eggshell colored head. Average-ish head retention & better lacing

S: Bready, grassy, some floral hops once warmed up

T: Follows the nose, fairly dry, some lime notes up front. Grassy bitterness & dryness dominate as this beer warms up, a touch of lime too, some bready sweetness as well. Finishes dry with grassy bitterness & bready sweetness as a counterbalance & a little lime

MF: Medium body, crisp carbonation, decent balance

Good drinkability, solid take on the style

 

Good evening denizens of NBW!
I was inspired this morning by a post from @AzfromOz in WBDN in which he spouted wonderful words about Tynt Meadow-

So I had to try the one I had in my cellar just to see. Pretty spot on; this drinks bigger than it should; so much malty goodness.
The review:
The pour is maple syrup (late season) dark amber with a light beige head that reached over an inch which left sparse but lasting lacing.
The taste is outstanding, plums and chocolate and vanilla pudding. (I thought I tasted figs but decided it was likely my imagination) A certain dryness is at the swallow, keeping everything from getting too sweet.
The feel is properly viscous, all that flavor needs some body to it.
OA, glad this is available locally, I may need to make it a regular part of my rotation.
Cheers for Trappist Ales!

 

Other half poetry snaps
...very pale clear gold appearance
...medium carbonation with a close to average body.
... aroma is mild malt,earthy honey,cereal and grain. Theres a mild amount of yeast and bread.
....taste is rice along with other grain,cereal, toast and a very mild citrus earthiness.
... overall a very pleasant beer.

 

Cheers to Doug @muchloveforhops3 for this Great Burn Brewing Tie-One-On Coconut Brown Ale, 6.5% ABV; 4.21 overall

Pours a slightly turbid hazel/chestnut with 2 fingers of tan head. Above average head retention & great lacing

S: Toasted coconut, some nutty notes, toastyness in the background

T: Toasted coconut, woody hops, toastyness, brown sugar notes & a little dryness up front. Faint coffee notes mix in with the coconut, a little brown sugar, woody hops & toastyness once this beer is warmed up. Finishes with sweet coconut, brown sugar, dryness & toasyness

MF: Medium body with moderate carbonation

Super solid brown, the coconut really works for me

 

I think this is exactly how I would have reviewed Furious the first time I had it...which was like 15 plus years ago now. It just so happens...I had this again for the first time in forever...again in like 15 plus years ha. And reviewed it a couple of weeks ago. I don't disagree with your review, I just somehow have really come to enjoy these kinds of IPA's. I don't know how that came about over the years, as I use to really dislike them. Though maybe the on-slot of NEIPA's or juicy whatever...just makes me want to crave this now..or I don't know ha.

Anyway good review.

For reference...my review from a couple of weeks ago...

https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/new-beer-weekend-249.680545/page-6#post-8169962

 

A lovely beer via a LIF from the NBW Imperial Stout/Barleywine BIF#2 from @bbtkd

White Elm Churrouta Here Imperial Stout with Vanilla, Cinnamon& other natural flavors, 13.0% ABV; 4.3 overall

Pours an effervescent & slightly chill-hazed chestnut/mahogany with one finger of mocha colored head. Average-ish head retention & pretty good lacing

S: Plenty of vanilla & cinnamon, dark chocolate, just gets better as this warms up

T: Follows the nose, cola notes, some woody hops up front. Chocolate cake notes, some cinnamon, cola & back tea hoppyness as this beer warms up. Finishes with woody hops, cinnamon & vanilla & some treacle notes & a little dryness


MF: Medium body, slight carbonation

ABV is well hidden, cinnamon is restrained here, otherwise this would get a much lower rating from me

 

Thanks for the kick off and discussion @Premo88 . The beer is several weeks before best by. Definitely fresh “enough” with a three month window, with a six month, then perhaps revisit though you’ll more than likely reach the same results. I enjoy bitterness and Furious.

I posted a few years ago I could not find my rating for this beer I’ve enjoyed for several years, from a brewery I will always visit every trip to San Diego / Miramar. I have the hazy and Imperial properly recorded, but the time for the OG is now!

AleSmith .394 San Diego Pale Ale

4.54/5 rDev +10.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75



5/10/25 - (Can - Home) (Chicago, IL) Can Notes: Purchased at Beer on the Wall at Park Ridge at store temperature for $2.84 including tax on May 6, 2025. Refrigerated upon returning home until opening this morning. 16 oz canned April 17, 2025. 6.0% ABV Pale Ale. The collaboration with Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn that took San Diego by storm is now here for all to enjoy. This West-Coast style pale ale is packed with bright citrus and tropical fruit notes, subdued hop bitterness and a malty sweet finish creating ultra-smooth drinkability. Experience AleSmith’s 394 pale ale and put a little California sunshine in your glass! Proudly canned and brewed in San Diego, California.

Reviewer note: I’ve loved this beer over the years, but either lost my review or never wrote one, so rectifying this now!

Appearance: First pour about half the 16 oz into a shaker pint glass, yielding a crystal clear golden tan base, steady sustained carbonation, and a very generous and creamy rich bubbly bright white head, which looks great and lingers quite a while before finally leaving a creamy cover over the entire base. Quite excellent! 4.75

Aroma: Pine leads and is fresh and enticing, followed by citrus in a dual pole position. Backed well by light tangerine and caramel malt in the proper measure (light). 4.50

Taste: Consistent with the aroma though more bitter, with the bittering hops keeping everything in check like an owner holding an eager dog on a firm leash. Pine bitterness to be exact, with the citrus definitely playing second fiddle after the pine floored it at the start line. Tangerine and caramel malt very faint, but still there, with the malt a bitter heavier than memory of past attempts. 4.5

Mouthfeel: Bitter and quite dry. Drinks at the above, sustained lightly prickly carbonation adds depth to a light to mild body. Bitter and pine start to finish, mild citrus to provide contrast and enjoyable flavor mix. 4.25

Overall: This is a classic offering for good reason. West Coast all the way, as great as the San Diego Padre this beer was created with and mentor to honor, Definitely a home run and must try for someone seeking a pale ale packed with flavor but lighter than an IPA. Thank you AleSmith for brewing this all these years, and for distributing to Chicago so returning fans and new beer drinkers can experience greatness that only legends like AleSmith and Tony Gwynn achieve. 4.75

See you tomorrow with a new to me for the first beer, Scout’s Honour.