New Beer Weekend #252

I tried a handful in Belgium & a few here. I loved the location of the brewery, spent a very buzzed Saturday night there a few decades ago, those bottle labels still bring back the nostalgia.

 

The Ardennes as whole was magic. History, Nature, Beer; what else do you need?

 

Interesting things to ponder, @Beersnake - especially since my reviews of new beers are highly sporadic these days.

In making me think, I’ve come to a potential conclusion. First, I don’t look for new beers much any more. Part of it is the question of whether there is anything that new to me at this point. Mostly not, but there are still surprises.

So I like trying new places and seeing what they produce; so when I am at a new place, there is limited research. I want to check out the breadth, mostly anything old world-ish.

Buying a four pack and the beer store? A different story, and usually it needs to be something specific I’ve seen here, though there’s a little room for experimentation for a brewery people I trust on this site have hyped (looking right at you @jonphisher - though we did meet at the source before Tonewood started probing my region).

Long story short - take home beers generally take research. On site beers, I’m more adventurous, especially with the increase in the offering of half pours.

 

I'm in the same boat. I don't give a hoot regarding Untapped ratings. Got burned there a couple times. Sometimes I peruse the ratings on BA, check on Poobah's because they have been doing it for a while.

 

Another solid one from @russpowell


Vendetta by Social Project
Apricot color with a swirl of haze that pumps up a bountiful white fluff. Great retention and clumpy lacing.
Nose is tropical. Grapefruit rind, mango, peach, and a slightly herbal papaya and lemon leaves.
Flavor jumps off with a bright, bitter kefir lime pop followed by grass, mango (with the skin) and subtle undercurrents of peach and apricot.
Mouthfeel is fluffy and has a perfect feel.
Overall, a solid offering.
4.01/5 rDev -3.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

 

Really enjoyed your open and question to kick things off. I miss the themed weekends in the past and hope this revives the interest for future Weekends / Sundays.

Several thoughtful responses already that match my process. I have been introduced to many great beers and breweries in this thread and WBAYDN. I DO read through the reviews posted in this and the style tasting threads, and have bought dozens if not over 100 new beers recommended on BA, most of which turned out very good to excellent. Dozens of beers have also been shared or traded in person with my brothers, friends and several in person trades or meetups with other BAs. These have led to great memories and beer experiences.

I don’t recall ever looking up a review while shopping or ordering, but I do have a list of what I want to buy from the online menu, including the new to me breweries and beer offerings. The primary change over the past few years is focusing more on tried and true breweries, and less so on randomness.

Congratulations to your Brother and all of family and friends to celebrate!

Typically I post everything live, starting with my introduction, then I live review of the beer and ending with my posts here and then on WBAYDN. I try not to write reviews while out with others, so I posted this in WBAYDN just under an hour before the allowed opening of this thread, captured brief audio notes, and here is the brief review that follows. I really enjoyed the 2017 similar version of this offering, but this is a separate offering created in 2021 (they brought out several older kegs to celebrate the Deep Woods Library this weekend).

Revolution X.O. Lynott's - Single Barrel

4.45/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5



5/16/25 - (Draft - Revolution Brewery) (Chicago, IL) Draft Notes: Received comped ($8 + tax retail) by Revolution Brewery as part of the Deep Woods Season ticket promotion. 5 oz, 14.3% ABV poured into a plastic sample cup. 2021 Extra Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Milk Stout with vanilla. Revolution Beer LLC, 3340 N. Kedzie Avenue, Chicago, IL.

Appearance: Dark black base, rich creamy dark tan head lingers around the rim. Base impenetrable. Looks great. 4.25

Aroma: Nice minty flavor and bourbon lead, baker’s chocolate and vanilla compete for bronze. 4.25

Taste: Fuller flavor than the aroma, a very strong smooth bourbon and nice rye competing for attention. The base is Consistent with the aroma, mint and smooth bourbon, base backs well. Vanilla faint to null. Really enjoying, this held up well. 4.5

Mouthfeel: Easy to drink compared to the high 14.3% ABV. Body luxurious, full, creamy body, like French Silk pie. Bourbon and mint flavors start to finish. 4.75

Overall: There is no added mint component to this pour, so don’t want to mislead anyone, but that’s what I pulled and really enjoyed. Base, bourbon, very light vanilla, possible fade or intentional. Either way this is the beer I came out specifically for based on my 2017 experience, and this hit all the high notes. Only my lowered tolerance prevented me from getting more this trip, but hopefully I can return for one or two more if the weekend kegs last. 4.5

If things go as planned, which didn’t happened Friday, I will be making my first trip to a well known brewery’s new location.

 

Great post, Jack. I like the mixed packs some breweries are packaging these days. They provide a good opportunity to compare style differences within the same brewery lineup.

The decoction mashing debate is always fascinating. Brülosophy claims their experiments show statistically most people can't tell the difference. Here, two different malts are used, so it's hard to compare. Where do you land?

 

@Beersnake, if not for this thread I would rarely try new beers anymore. Sure, everyone now and then I grab a new beer at the store that peaks my interest and of course any new Tonewood beers @cjgiant but for the most part it’s always something I know and love.

This thread forces me to, at least most weekends, go find a single or new six pack I’m curious about.

 

Gordon Hill Hefeweizen from Royal City Brewing Co.

Poured a 473ml can into a weizen glass. A two finger fine white head on a cloudy pale apricot.The head diminishes to a ring. Some patchy lacing.

Yeasty fruit smells. Very slight banana. The taste follow the nose with subdued banana, bubblegum and some apple. Definite hefe flavours but very dialed back. A mild spicy yeast finish.

Medium body and carbonation. Overall a a very mild Hefeweizen. It mostly fits the flavour profile but slides a bit into American Pale Wheat territory.

3.64/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

 

Double dry hopped Trailside by Trillium


4.03/5 rDev -4.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Brewers notes: Fresh-peeled clementine, tangelo, and candied Meyer lemon notes are complemented by overripe pineapple, mango nectar, and fuzzy peach. It’s juice-forward, no doubt; but an underlying ruby red grapefruit bitterness keeps us reaching back for more. Characteristically soft and palate-coating, we hope you enjoy DDH Trailside while exploring the beauty of Blue Hills and beyond.

Hazy milky yellow with a three finger shaving cream foam top , spotty lacings

Aroma is citrus, grapefruit Big hop, lemon ,

Taste is tropical fruits with grapefruit

Big hop bite

Good beer

 

Normopathy Pilsner from Rorschach Brewing Co.

Poured a 473ml can into a pilsner glass. A big four finger fine fluffy white head on a hazy pale gold. Excellent head retention. Sheets of fine lacing.

Herbal, spicy malt smells as soon as the can is popped. Bready biscuit flavours. A slightly sour citrus pith brings up the rear. A mild hop finish.

Very smooth. A light body and moderate carbonation. Overall a pretty fine Pilsner.

4.02/5 rDev +6.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

 

A non-simple 'answer' so I sent via PM.

Cheers!

 

A better attitude by the locals. Give me Flemish culture any day...

 

Thanks @Beersnake for the thread kickoff.


Kros Strain Brewing's Barleywine Volume 10 (Williquors)

4.34/5 rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Undated can courtesy of @bbtkd

The appearance in the glass is near black although the pour itself is more of a deep mahogany. One inch of quickly-dissipating head turns into a thin layer of mocha bubbles. No lacing. Nose is sweet with notes of brown sugar, vanilla, toffee, and raisin. Taste is vanilla, toffee, caramel, bourbon and a spicy element that I would peg as rye, cinnamon, or anise--it's not overbearing and works. Mouthfeel is low-to-moderately carbonated, thick body, somewhat sticky. Finish is anise (black licorice), dark fruit (raisin and cherry come to mind) and introduces some barrel oakiness.

Thanks for the tactical grenade Tom!

 

I cannot wait to finally stop by there again on our annual trip to Vermont this summer. Hoping they have some unique and new ones on tap; and end of August when we’re there I’m sure Oktoberfest will be available to go

Have tog tried their marzen? It has been one of my favorites in recent years.

 

I have but it was quite some time ago (2017). I discussed it in a NBS post as a side by side with Sly Fox Oktoberfest:

"Overall

Sly Fox: I really liked this beer! It epitomizes the quality of good balance between malt & hops.

Von Trapp: I liked this beer. There is a nice/pleasant bready aroma/flavor. The bitterness level is a tad too high (lingering, bordering on harsh) for the style but I enjoyed drinking this beer nonetheless.

In my opinion, the defining feature of a well brewed Oktoberfest beer is good balance: a pleasant balance between bready malt flavors and Noble hop flavors. For my palate the Sly Fox Oktoberfest hits this mark with respect to the balance aspect but in all fairness I did indeed enjoy drinking the Von Trapp Oktoberfest beer."

https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/new-beer-sunday-week-658.539100/#post-5660900



I almost purchased Von Trapp Oktobersfest (Marzen) last year but at my stores it was only available in 12-packs and I only wanted a six-pack of this beer so...no purchase.

Prost!

 

Two labels that are now long gone; is it fall yet?