New Beer Weekend #260

First pull at The Silver Stamp.

Smog City Coffee Porter

4.41/5 rDev +7.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25



7/12/25 - (The Silver Stamp) (Las Vegas, Nevada) Bar Notes: $8.40 16oz draft pour, 6.0% ABV.

Appearance: 16 oz draft in a shaker pint yields a dark brown base creamy tan head and lacing. Nice pour. 4.25

Aroma: Strong dark roast coffee backed by light caramel. Very nice. 4.5

Taste: Consistent with the aroma, excellent dark roast coffee, light hints of caramel and bakers chocolate. 4.5

Mouthfeel: Creamy medium plus body, negligible carbonation, malt and hops yield a nice balance, though dark roast coffee curbstomps everything in its path. 4.25

Overall: This is a decade pint after dinner dark roast coffee treat. No barrel required. Kicking myself for missing Smog City last visit to southern LA County. I won’t make that mistake again. 4.25

 

Away Days is a brewery in Portland, OR which is probably best known for their excellent English-style ales. They've also brewed a number of American IPAs (including the terrific Home and Away IPA, which was one of my good luck charms on match day for the Portland Timbers' 2021 season).

My second New Beer of the day is their new West Coast IPA.



Away Days Group G West Coast IPA

16-ounce can purchased at the Tanasbourne location of New Seasons Market. Date stamp reads "06/10/25". Poured in a tonic half-pint glass.

The beer is a pale and slightly hazy canary yellow. The bright white foam starts out tall and rather sudsy and dwindles to a thin skin. The foam shows remarkable staying power, yet leaves almost no lacing. The nose is a mild combination of lemon peel, pine resin, and slightly toasty semi-sweet malt. The taste starts with bitter lemon followed by light, crackery malt. An interesting wintergreen note appears briefly in the middle. The drying finish is sharp pine resin accompanied by a dull, quinine-like bitterness that lingers into the lemony aftertaste and ends up feeling a bit obtrusive. The body is light and the carbonation is frothy. Overall, Group G is a decent IPA that was neither flawed nor particularly noteworthy and didn't leave much of an impression.

 

That sounds like an awesome adventure you're on.

 

My first of my two new beer experiences today (and wheat beers, at that) was one I was thrilled to find on Friday, at my favourite LCBO at Tecumseh Mall in nearby Windsor, and my first from the brewery: One that is considered the finest wheat beer in the world by BA, with a 98 score: The 5.4% Weihenstephaner Weissbier from Freiling, Germany (each is shown, poured, with a 1954 picture postcard of Pablo Picasso...who knew something about being the world's finest). I found it extraordinary; with a very subtle taste of cloves, and extremely refreshing, with the Humidex of 38 C, or 100 F, today in McGregor (things have definitely cooled down from the 44 C and 111 F of yesterday, but still)...



...Then, my first from Pickering, Ontario's C'est What? Durham Brewing, their 4.5% Ginger Wheat: Green Tea & Blood Orange. It was quite delightful as well, but, in comparison, the company concentrated more on refreshment rather than flavour, though don't get me wrong, it's a wonderful beer. It's just, how do you stand up against the world's best? The ginger and blood orange are quite pronounced, and the green tea very subtle; in fact, if I didn't know the flavour was there, it'd be hard to distinguish...especially since I cooked East Indian food, from scratch yesterday, and, most especially, the Butter Chicken smell is obscuring my olfactory capabilities at every conceivable (and inconceivable!) opportunity...



Cheers from McGregor, Ontario...and the Responsible Beer Drinking Club! =)

 

I love seeing all the Canadian content this weekend!

CarolinaCardinals : I have had a couple of those Cabin Anniversary beers in the past that received in Canadian BIFs. They have all been really good. I was able to visit the brewery on a Calgary trip a couple years back and as @Beersnake says, it’s a great spot.

argock : Les Trois Mousquetaires have been making these great big bottled stouts for about 15 years or more and I’ve yet to have a bad one. Occasionally they release really limited double barrel versions that are fantastic. Sadly, they are rarely available in Ontario anymore.

DoctorZombies : Fat Tug is a classic up here. One of the few beers from BC that was pretty widely available for a time here in Ontario. When I got into trading about 10-12 years ago, I’d often seek out their Fat Tug bombers prior to their availability here. Barn Hammer is a solid brewery from an under appreciated beer city. Lots of good ones there including Half Pints and Kilter.

I’ll try to continue the Canadian flavour going this weekend with an IPA from Québec and barleywine from the Maritimes later on today.

Cheers to you honorary hosers!

 

It’s funny you post Weihenstphaner today. I noticed just yesterday that my favourite German oriented brewery here in Toronto (True Histroy) has added Weihenstephaner Hefe to their offerings. Their first out-of-house beer being offered. Their reasoning for this being that it fills a style hole that is missing from their own offerings. A great beer that I don’t revisit often enough.

Also, Durham is great. I think that is their only beer I haven’t had before. NB: I think the brewery was at risk of closing before it was able to join forces with C’est What! a year or two ago. Considing the brewery has been supplying the bar with their house cask beers for decades, it was a match made in heaven for fans of classic English style beers. Blak Katt Dry Irish Stout is always a treat in cask when I see it around town.

Cheers!

 

Kiri, a Witbier from Godspeed Brewery

A 355ml can dated 16 April, 2025. A one finger, fine white head on a cloudy light amber. The head diminishes to a layer.

Wheat and slight coriander in the nose. Tastes of orange peel up front with wheat malts and coriander bringing up the rear.

A creamy texture. Medium/light body with moderate carbonation. Overall a fine Witbier. True to the style, it manages to express the peel and coriander in a way that many Witbiers from other brewers fail to do. Generally Godspeed focuses on East European styles, but this beer shows that they can creditably interpret other styles as well.

4.14/5 rDev +6.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

 

Coranaeus, thanks for the info of both brews! I've just found out recently about True History myself (finding two of their brews at The Cookie Bar in nearby Windsor to bring home). Therein lies another tale to tell! Cheers! =)

 

Good Morning NBS/nbw and thanks to this weeks host @JackHorzempa for the fine introduction.
Its cooler today, a welcome repreive. We are a few days away from Team#1 arriving, so final prep is underway. Work has backed down a bit, from insane to manageable My sweet heart has 2 weeks remaining in her corporate career and timed the retirement, to coincide with Team #1 being here.
Todays offering is from Firestone Walker. A bold stout worth locating. I have some older vintages in the basement, this is the first time having one upon release.

Parabola

Russian Imperial Stout | 13.8% ABV
Firestone Walker Brewing Co. in Paso Robles, California

Reviewed by SABERG from Massachusetts

4.3/5 rDev -6.5% | Average: 4.6
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
The 2025 version poured from 12 oz bottle inot the test glass.
A - Dark brown with a lovely everlasting mocha cap. No lacing. It is nice to watch the carbonation climb the glass interior.
S - Char, a bit of fudgy chocolate. some spicy black pepper. A hint of citrus bitters.
T - Nougat, bakers chocolate, a bit of cigar wrap tobacco. espresso fresh ground.
M - Full but not to rich, pleasantly dry on the palate. The finish has a hiint of alcohol on the exhale. Linger is spicy cocoa.
O - A delight in every aspect, texture is fantastic. the aromatics are complex. The finish is ashen. Sets the standard

Cheers all


.

 

It’s great to hear that True History is finding their way around the province. For me, they are second only to Godspeed - and by a very tiny margin - for my local lager fix. I’m lucky in that True History is about a five minute walk from my mother’s place. I stop in whenever we visit.

If you ever find yourself up here in the Big Smoke, let me know and I’ll buy you a beer. Cheers!

 

Godspeed is exceptional...I first found out about them through Small Batch Dispatch's monthly curations--I didn't mind spending a little extra simply to find out about other superlative breweries out there. And, I'm hoping to take you up on your stellar offer--my lady Pamela and I are getting married October 25th, and then going on a craft beer road trip honeymoon. We'll see how things go! And, the offer is also there for you, should you come down to nearby Windsor, near my neck of the woods. Cheers! =)

 

Another day, another new beer.

The Crudites - Other Half Brewing - Brooklyn, NY - Imperial IPA 8.0%

Well, this is a nice layered beer. The flavors come in waves, but never disappear - they just build and add on to each other. A great way to start this Sunday morning.

Review:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/33510/660774/
4.21/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
From a 16oz can. Canned on 05/22/2025

This is a very murky, hazy and juicy looking beer. The color is a pale golden color. There's a 2 finger white head to this beer that looks quite fluffy and frothy with great retention. There's some good lacing on the glass as the head dissipates.
The nose is tropical. I am getting melon in the aroma. Notes of pineapple also show up in the aroma.
There's a pineapple hit up front that does taste pleasing. There's a bit of pine in the middle, which was a pleasant surprise. Some melon flavor is the main finish, but all the flavors are represented in the finish. There's a lasting bitterness to this beer that sticks in my throat.
I am liking the feel of this beer. The hops do stick and cling in my throat, as does the bitterness from them.
Very tasty beer overall and a pleasure to have had the chance to try.


I will have another new beer later today. Cheers all.

 

All this Canada talk, Mrs Phisher said we should all make a push to get our passports as a family. But you know how it goes, a thousand other things all going at once, we’ll see…

@SABERG thats awesome on wife retirement and timing, I imagine the excitement in your house is quite high right now.

 

My daughter’s best friend’s dad is from New Jersey. They drive down a few times a year. He says it’s not a bad drive at all. He’s not a beer guy, but I’ve noted his route passes a few great breweries… Lots to do up here for the whole family. Your money goes further here if that’s a selling point!

Of course, there is a beer waiting for you when you come! Cheers!

 

Indeed!!
Cheers

 

Time for my next beer, and this one was sent to me by @falloutsnow .

Dunkel Lager - Riggs Brewing - Urbana, IL - 5.3%

Wow! Why did I wait so long to enjoy this beer? So much flavor here, and I have a feeling they might have used the German Purity Laws to make it. Delicious!

Review:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/46277/532340/
4.13/5 rDev -2.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
From a 16oz can. Canned on 12/31/2024

The beer is a beautiful copper color in the glass. Nice clarity to the beer. There's a 2 finger tan head that does have pretty good retention and a bit of clingy lacing on the glass.
There's a bit of caramel malts that hit my nose with tones of toffee. Notes or a roasted nut aroma also show up in the aroma.
Wow, the flavor has a lot going on here. There''s a great roasted nut flavor that does linger. There's nice bits of caramel and toffee also hitting my taste buds. I also get a faint hint of a chocolate malt on my taste buds. Very well balanced flavors. This reminds me of something made in Germany.
The body feels so damn good. There's a crisp and creamy feeling to this beer. It has a great fullness that seems more than it should be for a 5% beer.
Wow, this is damn good tasting overall. A very well made beer. I am not sure if they're using the Reinheitsgebot standards to make this beer, but, it wouldn't surprise me if they are.

I'll see if there's one more in me this weekend. Cheers to my fellow bar patrons.

 

While enjoying a leisurely lunch at home today with no expectation for any driving about, I am having this excellent DDH IPA from the good folks at Brewsky in Montréal. This is the last of the beers I brought home with me while on a short family getaway to Montréal at the tail end of June. BreWsky are among the more popular breweries in Québec making the hip styles (hazy IPAs, flavoured stouts, sour slushes, etc.). I’ve never had a bad hazy IPA from them before, and today’s offering is no exception.

This is DDH Monocle Citra, a double dry hopped IPA with Citra hops. Monocle is their series of single hop IPAs.



Pours an opaque light orange with significant foamy head that dissipates very slowly leaving a tight ring around the top of the beer as it is enjoyed. Light lacing.

Bright citrus aromas including bitter jaffa orange, candied peel and a slight dank undergirding. Tropical fruit notes permeate the background.

The taste is similar to the aroma. Lots of orange pith, bitter orange and orange jujube as well as some grapefruit and broadly blended tropical fruit. Flavours are well integrated and the bitterness is a welcome aspect to the beer The dank character hits a little harder and is most welcome.

Body is lighter than expected given the opaque, hazy appearance. None of that thick sludginess one sometimes gets with the style that I don’t really enjoy.

This is a very good example of a hazy New England style IPA. While I tend to prefer the New Zealand hop varieties in the style generally, I have to admit Citra works so well when crafted by a deft hand. This is really good.

BreWsky is lovely brewery to visit. Located in old Montréal, which despite being a touristy nightmare is well worth a days strolling. It’s located in a great old building with lots of character and fantastic outdoor summer seating. It’s on par with the best in the city for the styles they put a focus on (like Messorem and Mellon) and they always have a great selection beers on tap and to go.

I’d gladly enjoy this again.


I plan to return later with an Obscure Barleywine from the Canadian Maritimes brewed in collaboration with a Beer Advocate member.

Cheers!

 

Seeing all these Canadian beers makes me sad that we got to the store in Sprague, Manitoba about a half hour before they opened for the day on our way back from the Northwest Angle. We were able to make it work once for the stop 2 years ago, and they had a good Canadian craft section in this little town in the middle of nowhere.

The duty free shop on the border, which is no longer there, had jack crap for Canadian craft.

 

Alaskan Class 5 Pale Ale 5.5%
3.97/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
12 oz can into a tulip glass.
L: SRM 5 pours 95% clear caramel color with a domed 1/4" off white head that has very good retention, a steady carbo bubble mix, head is rocky and gets creamy, medium-heavy complex lacing.
S: Fruity, citrus, caramelized malts, candied fruits, cookie dough.
T: Taste follows aroma plus pale sweetness, a light distant bread dough note, very light hop bitterness fills out the finish. The fruit tastes are wet.
F: Brisk then smooth and quite soft in a medium bodied mouthfeel that has a lightly dry and plump finish.
O: This beer is well-rounded on every level. Very smooth drinking and mellow tasting. Soft water. Great balance and tastes. It is excellent in its style.