New Beer Weekend #252

Thanks to @Beersnake for the start. I don't really do research on beers I want to try, I know by reading the NBW and WBAYDN threads what is "hot" for BA's, but mostly I get beers from breweries I have good experiences with, or think "that would be weird or strange".

In this case, "That would be weird if Leinenkugel's had an ice beer":

From the Leinie Lodge in Chippewa Falls, Leinie's Ice:

Appearance: Clear yellow, good head.

Smell: Sweetness, grapes, hint apple.

Taste: Moderately sweet, then some sweet corn. Remains with the mild corn flavor, the grape/apple “strong beer” notes don't seem to show up. Finishes mildly sweet.

Overall: I'd never visited the Leinie Lodge even though it's only about an hour away, so I finally went. Had to try Leinie's Ice, how often do you see an “Ice” beer on tap? Not bad at all, you could have told me this was about any maibock and I wouldn't know the difference. Kept the malt liquor off flavors away, extra credit there!

 

Good afternoon everyone,

Ive come to realize that I've had many new to me beers over the years but have only reviewed 24 on here. The ones I did write briefly about on the wbaydn posts never made it into the new beer Sunday thread(I think that's what it used to be called)So many missed opportunities. I'm trying to rectify that this year.


The beer I'm having today is Foggy Geezer by War Pigs. I believe it's categorized as an NEIPA.


Pour is from a non dated 19.2oz can. Drinking this cold. Pours a cloudy shade of amber. Does not resemble unpasteurized orange juice as I find most beers in this style tend to. Numerous small bubbles build up just below the thick frothy head that decipated rather quickly .


Nose is of prominent guava.


Taste follows the nose initially. Somewhere in the middle, pine resin notes pop up right before turning into a full on bite of grape fruit. Bitterness does seem to build up the longer you drink it.I suspect this might also be expected with the style of beer(NEIPA)which I admittedly don't have a vast experience with since it's a style I don't reach out for usually.


Zero taste of alcohol , understandedly since it's not 9% or higher which would have taken the beer into the imperial IPA range. Medium body feel on the palette,semi dry finish.I want to mention that there is a faint almost metallic taste that appeared twice while drinking this. Wasn't distracting but I'm glad it wasn't more prominent throughout.


My final impression is that while this beer looks good and gives off a pleasant scent, the taste is the deciding factor on weather I like it or not. This viewpoint might be superficial but it is where it's at for me with anything I consume. What is here is made for those who like that sort of thing. Just doesn't work for me in the end.

 

Good afternoon BAs! I tasted this new beer at the brewery on Monday and bought a couple of bottles to go to do a proper review…truly a new beer, not on Untappd - Burial Beer Co.’s “ Portal Into Infinite Nonexistence”, an Imperial Stout with Toasted cocoa nibs and Madagascar and Tahitian vanilla beans:





Purchased at brewery on 5/12/25. Poured at 55.4°. Creamy dark tan head with a few rocks; very good cap retention leaves a long lasting island of micro dots; heavy ring; some spotty lacing; medium legs on swirl; black body with ruby edges. Vanilla; boozy retro nasal; a hint of toasted bread as beer warms. Taste is vanilla/chocolate; chocolate pudding; vanilla frosting finish. Silky smooth feel; mild burn on tip of tongue; medium plus body; not adjuncty; light carbonation; mouth warmth from 13.5%abv. Overall, vanilla from start to finish; sweet but not cloying; alcohol well hidden in the flavors; kinda like eating a vanilla bbbat and a chocolate bbbat candies at the same time; a tad sweet for pounding, but the alcohol would not hold me back!

4.5 / 4.25 / 4.5 / 4.5 / 4.5
Score: 4.44 rDev 0 I added beer to database.


I’m glad I got a couple of bottles. While a bit sweet, the beer is darn tasty!

 

Had this one yesterday, courtesy of my brother-in-law..

Tamarack - Low Tide oyster stout



Notes:
P black w/ a sm tan cap
N med nose of choc notes, supplemented by light roast
T smooth combo of milk and dark choc, dry roast, and some salinity; a touch of "meaty" character from the oysters; restrained sweetness; really nicely balanced
Mf pretty smooth; light med to med bodied; med carb that flattens out a bit in the fin
O a well executed stout; the oyster character (while fairly subtle) provided a unique savory touch; good drinkability for the style and the additions

Cheers!

 

Good Sunday afternoon, New Beer Samplers and commentators. And thank you to @Beersnake for suggesting this weekend's theme. It reminds me of the old days when our dedicated hosts/hostesses provided a topic that engendered great conversation.

When I began participating in this thread 10 years ago I spent a lot more time in bottle shops hunting for new and interesting beers of different styles, made by new-to-me brewers. Now, I'm fortunate to live in an area with a plethora of excellent breweries which I visit frequently. So most of my new beers are new, local releases. I'm not suggesting that our local craft beer is better than that in other places but it is good and FRESH. I often use the example that I would rather drink a two day old IPA from Autodidact or Double Tap or Twin Elephant than four month old Dreadnaught or King Sue or Todd the Axeman (even though they are terrific when fresh).

So, following that philosophy, my first NBS review today is 10, Magnify Brewing Company's tenth anniversary DIPA. It was released this past Wednesday so it's ultra fresh. Magnify was our first really good local brewery and will always have a special place in my heart. This is my 275th Magnify beer review. This ale is hopped in the boil with Elani, Anchovy, and Citra, and dry hopped with Elani Cryo, Nelson Cryo, Riwaka Cryo and Nelson hop oil. And while it isn't my favorite Mag DIPA, it is nonetheless tasty and fun to drink.

Poured into my 10-year-old Magnify tulip glass (which I only use for special occasions since I don't want to break it). It pours an opaque, bright, honey-orange with over a finger of creamy, eggshell-colored head and abundant thick, soapy lacing. The fruity smell includes lemon, lime, grapefruit, orange zest, red berry, and pine. There is also a fragrant, earthy malt aroma. The taste is complex and leads with strongly bitter, resinous pine notes. The fruity flavors are more tart than tropical. I'm tasting lots of grapefruit and bitter lemon, with hints of tangerine. There are also a lot of herbal, floral notes from the Riwaka Cryo. As it warms I taste red berry and stone fruit, as well. The Nelson influence is subtle and noticeable as it warms. Beneath is a firm, dry crackery malt base. As noted, it is complex and given the flavor profile it should age well for a couple of weeks. This ale has an excellent mouth feel: plush and creamy with pleasant carbonation, and the 8.2% ABV gives it good substance without overwhelming. Overall, 10 is an adventuresome DIPA with a lot of complexity.

4.28/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Cheers to another 10 years for Magnify!

 

I am done with reviewing beers for the weekend, but I forgot to answer the question @Beersnake asked when opening this thread. It is a very good question to ask us all.

I am a fan of trying new beers, a huge fan of it. I really don't look at previous reviews when buying beers. I just go with what sounds interesting to me. That can bite me in the ass - see my review of Trap Rock Brewing Kilt Dropper in this thread. Going with the flow can be good, or bite me in the rear. I guess that's how I swing.

 

Good afternoon NBW
I was lucky enough to grab a six pack of this while at the Sierra Nevada taproom in Mills River, NC last weekend. I had three delicious beers while there, but didn't have the opportunity to share them here. I refrained from sampling this one until now.

Pale Bock

12oz can PKGD 040325 poured into a pint glass at fridge temp 6.8% ABV. The beer pours bright golden amber with nearly white head. The head recedes to a thin ring and scattered, tiny bubbles. Sparce lacing. The aroma is mild with pale malt and floral notes. The taste is semisweet pale malt with grassy & floral hop flavor ending with a medium plus bitterness. The feel is medium bodied with average carbonation and a mostly dry finish. Cleanly lagered. Overall, excellent.

 

Love that label

 

Ommegang Oak-Aged Watermelon Kolsch, 6.0% ABV; 4.17 overall

Pours an effervescent & chill-hazed pink/amber with a pinky of cream-colored head. Above average head retention & lacing

S: Plenty of watermelon & that's about it, fades a little once warmed up

T: Watermelon, hints of strawberry, oaky dryness, some sweetness & a little tartness. Tartness & watermelon rule as this beer warms up, the flavor seems natural, I presume the dryness is coming from the Golden Agave Barrel chips this is aged with. Finishes with some watermelon sweetness, a touch of dryness & just a little tartness

MF: Medium bodied, subtle carbonation

Probably would call this a fruit beer, but who am to argue with the brewers? Super refreshing, this certainly strays from traditional style guidelines. So damn drinkable

 

Happy NBS!

Having a very tasty American IPA from Odd13 (CO), juicy/piney/diesel like, 7.4%

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/32514/746112/?ba=Wasatch#lists

Cheers!

 

NBS #2. And I almost forgot to take the photo. This is Ch'ip 3, a TIPA from Bakes Brewing Company in Wall Township, New Jersey. If you know the Jersey Shore, it is the next town inland from Belmar. I stopped by briefly on Friday and drank 2 IPAs, which were excellent. Ch'ip 3 had been canned on Thursday, 5/15 so I bought a pack. The recipe is not publicized and I will not try to guess the hop bill because I'm sure I'll be wrong. But it has a definite southern hemisphere vibe. Alright, I'll guess that the hops include Nelson and Motueka - maybe Riwaka. If the brewer reads this review, then he will probably laugh at me and bar me from future visits. But I really like the ale!

It is a pale, grassy yellow color with more than a finger of fluffy, milk-white head and lots of thick, clinging lacing. Mostly lemon, lime, grape, and grassy, floral notes on the nose. But the taste is a sweeter than I anticipated. In addition to the tart citrus there is passion/tropical fruit and a hint of ripe melon and white wine. There is a pleasant, sweet malt base - almost donut-like. There is mild, clean, bitterness throughout. This ale has an appealing mouth feel: thick, plush and creamy with moderate carbonation, and it doesn't drink like 9.6% ABV. Overall, Ch'ip 3 is flavorful and a pleasure to drink. I've enjoyed all of the Bakes Brewing IPAs I've had so far.

4.28/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

I've enjoyed reading all your posts this weekend and wish you all a great week. Cheer, NBW!

 

sounds terrible

 

George Gale & Co Prize Old Ale (1998), 9% ABV. Unsurprisingly, the cork had dried out and broke in half, was able to pull out the bottom half, but left cork pieces, which I strained. Black with no head. Aroma is dark fruit, dark sugar, no alcohol detected. Taste is a bit salty, dark fruit, no sweetness, faint bitterness, no alcohol detected. Slight cardboard oxidation. Watery mouthfeel, no carbonation remaining. Overall very good, considering it's 27 years old.

3.94/5 rDev +13.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to @Ozzylizard for sharing this with me in a LIF box associated with the Stout/Barleywine BIF we're in, providing a rare opportunity to try a real old beer. Definitely feeling the alcohol now, but there was no hint of it in the aroma or taste.

 

Still waiting for their Medford location to open, it’s only 10 minutes away from me. Happened to drive by the other day, still looks a ways off from opening.

To this day I do not believe I’ve had any Magnify beers.

 

Sadly, it was. This isn't the first high octane beer I have had from them that was not good. I may visit there again, but, if I have better options, I will go elsewhere.

 

Darling from the Ale Apothecary, an Ales for ALS beer. Review below. Cheers!

4.24/5 rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
500mL bottle (no dates or codes) into a tulip. Pours a clear honey golden color with a minimal head.

Aroma is bright, funky and tart—pear and green apples, damp hay, fresh-squeezed lemon.

Taste is likewise tart and crisp, not quite puckeringly sour. Crabapples, oak. Delicious.

Mouthfeel is light, dances on the palate. Finishes bone dry. Refreshing. Can’t stop sipping this.

Overall a tasty, well-constructed, straightforward/no-frills wild ale. Hard to imagine not enjoying this.

 

Thank you @Beersnake for your cordial invitation to NBW and your excellent question about new beers to try.
Although I’m on sabbatical from answering questions from college professors on sabbatical , I will make an exception today.
Like my reviews I am as deep in selection of beers like a sudden rainstorm in the desert, which to my knowledge is nothing deep and everything flash flooding.
For me to participate in this group is great because I really enjoy what BAs have in their glass, and the creative and expressive ways to communicate what it it is you like .
Usually if I haven’t gone out during the day, and I actually have a new brew, viola, here I am.



Reviewed by TCgenny from New York

3.54/5 rDev -0.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Best had by 10/25/25, this is a major college drankin brew this semester as my daughter returned home and had 2 BAPPLEs to try. Looks like a standard beer: urine sample, no head, no problem. Nose is apple cider, taste is apply, tart , sweet and a lil smacky. I can see this goin down in quantities as a college student although the persistent tartness, and mild smack would be a barrier to the true Busch Light College experience. We’ve all been there. I chatted up the college girls in my daughter’s condo: Viv says her boyfriend loves craft beer, and was super excited to get his hands on the craftiest: BAPPLEs!!!

 

Excellent brew