New Beer Weekend #266

I would think that is in the sweet spot for that...

 

I recently revisited this very beer and was surprised how little it resembled the amazing beer I remembered. No idea if something changed or my palate changed that much but I was underwhelmed as well.
Ah well, so many beers to try and just one liver.
Cheers!

 

I said I would be back for a nightcap (okay, didn’t actually say nightcap but work with me!)
This is one I have been looking forward to since @Ozzylizard sent it to me (he recently visited town and brought me even more beer!)
This is a bourbon whiskey barrel aged strong dark ale I believe, but knowing Hopping Frog, it may be something two levels above a quad before it gets into the barrel.

The pour is not quite stout black but quite dark. The carbonation didn’t even try to form a head, settling for a thin beige ring on the surface that doesn’t survive the first three sips. But at that ABV, not surprising.
The taste; I have it in my head that Belgian strong dark ales are akin to imperial stouts.
Nope, more like a quad that is darker than normal and has whiskey in the mix. No real edge to speak of, this is all dark fruit (figs, raisins, plums, etc…) and definitely liquored up, not too sweet like bourbon barrels often bring, but not sharp like the whiskey barrel aged stouts I like.
The feel is lighter than I expected, and for the ABV it’s definitely a little thin. Doesn’t hurt the flavor at all, just makes it too easy to drink quickly.
OA, really enjoyed this, and the 250 ml size is ideal.
Cheers all! That is my last for the weekend.

 

Olde Hickory Brewery 2022 Marchuer Irlandais Barleywine Ale ( aged in Armagnay Barrels ), 15.0% ABV; 4.1 overall

Pours an effervescent cola color with fast falling than head. Viscous with zero head retention & lacing

S: Figs, brown sugar, red wine barrels & hints of cinnamon. Tobacco, figs & more brown sugar as this beer warms up. The best aspect of this offering

T: Follows the nose, fortified red wine with pronounced barrel dryness/tartness up front. Strong red grape presence as this beer warms through, leafy hops, molasses & leafy hop bitterness, tart oakyness as well. Finishes with a load of fortified red wine, dryness, a little tartness & leafy/woody hops

MF: Somewhat chewy, near still carbonation, some acidity too. A little more carbonation would've saved the day here

This has 3 years in the bottle, would happily try again if newer. Total sipper this one, not a huge fan of fortified wine, be it Armagnay or what ever

 

Fort George Public House & Brewery in Astoria, OR, recently introduced a brand new year-round beer that they simply call Pilsner.



Fort George Pilsner

The color is a nice rich gold, with superb clarity. The head shows terrific retention and marks the progress of each sip with a sturdy ring of lacing. The nose presents a burst of floral, spicy hops on top of a foundation of clean, sweet malt. The hops also offer delicate mint, lemon peel, and herbal licorice notes. The flavor leads with lightly toasted malt that's a notch sweeter than the nose and maybe 2 notches sweeter than I like in a pilsner. Hops rush in after the initial malty impression. They are mostly floral, with good spice and traces of herbs and wintergreen. The flavor quickly drops off in the finish, leaving only an echo of malt sweetness and a bracing bitterness. The body is on the light side of medium, with brisk carbonation and a crisp finish. Overall, the malt is sweeter than I prefer and doesn't have much depth or richness. The bitterness and hop flavors are quite good, but would benefit from a better balance with the malt. To borrow a line from a recent post in the NW forum, I would place Fort George Pilsner in "the second tier of Oregon pilsners."

 

Well thanks to @Ozzylizard for hitting me with my first Trails to Ales beer. And what a nice sipper. 2 glasses cuz the wife likes Doppelbocks.
Procrastinator

Pours a gorgeous, deep avocado honey amber. The firm head is sandy in color and if this can had a bottle cap, I'd swear she'd hold it high. Great retention and light, layered lacing.
The nose is bountiful. Toffee, wet brown bread dough, dark fruit, and date. Slight hint of herbal spice gently chimes in.
The flavor follows the nose well. But in the mix is a gentle char note that tamps down just a bit of the sweetness.
Mouthfeel has a low level of carbonation, right heft, and finishes a tad thin for style.
4.03/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

 

Would have been an aptly named beer to toss not the Monkeys With Knives NBS BIF years back!