New Beer Weekend #270

Lights Out from Treehouse. One of my last beers from a Charlton trip a little over 3-weeks ago. I purchased four of these and drank three without review.
Only today did I laugh realizing that the name "Lights Out" would probably never pass ATF permision for a 14%+ ABV beer. This Pale Ale is only 5.8%.

4.22/5 rDev -3.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Purchased 26 days ago at the Charlton brewery cold and kept cold until served. Poured to a Nonic from a 16oz can stamped “NOBODY HOME 08/27/25”. 25-days in the can.
The body is an opaque hazy apricot, approximately SRM 5 or 6. The initial head is 1.25”/32mm and is really thick and hilly, almost like porous shaving cream. Lacing looks like an apartment building full of windows and is impressively clingy.
The aroma is grass and citrus with a slight onion offsetting that.
The taste has none of the usual Treehouse sweetness. It is nicely bitter though. Citrus and a little bit of resin. It's almost like a hazy WCIPA.
The mouthfeel is classic TH, even for a Pale Ale. Plenty of carbonation to clear the pallet.
This is a good quality 5.8% ale.

 

Tiger Beer from Asia Pacific Breweries Limited

I find the reviews for this are all over the place. I suspect that a lot of reviewers are not appreciating what tropical brewers are tying to do to a style. They were probably expecting something different.

From a Singapore brewed 500ml can. A vigorous pour into a pilsner glass produced a big three finger fluffy white head on a clear gold. Lots of foamy lacing.

Malt in the nose. Tastes of malt up front. A bit sweet to begin but a drier finish. Taste is a bit thin. A very mild hop finish.

A light body with good carbonation. Well balanced. Overall a fine hot weather quencher. A bit simple but better than most.

3.67/5 rDev +34.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

 

Tree House Patient Whisper
German-style Marzenbier



Reviewed by TCgenny from New York

4.49/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
This was available for one day at Tree House Saratoga on a beautiful sunny autumn afternoon (yesterday). Pours a beautiful copper with a two finger froth head that mellowed after the shock of air from the pour. Aroma is a blend of caramel, sweet biscuit, yummy bread. Taste follows with hint of bitter up front that is super nice and really adds to this delic bier. This amazing weekend continues with this excellent sticky sweet, roasty Marzenbier! Prost!
-so good!

 

Good Sunday afternoon, New Beer Samplers and commentators. Definitely a Fall-like day here in North Jersey. Perfect beer reviewing conditions. My first review this afternoon is a beer I first drank on Friday night when I was down the shore: Woo Tang DIPA from Farmers & Bankers Brewing in Woodstown (Salem County), NJ. I first visited this brewery in late August. I hadn't seen cans distributed previously but they are now available at Circle Liquors in Somers Point, NJ. The cans aren't dated and my guess is that they are a couple of months old. This ale is single-hopped with Cascade and brewed with blood orange and lactose. The grist includes Golden Promise and 2 Row malts and malted oats. I'll be that it drinks like a Creamsicle when fresh. But it's still a tasty brew!

It is hazy, dark tangerine with a modest, ecru-colored head and spotty lacing. The smell is bright with orange and floral hops. The blood orange is front and center in the taste. It is tangy and nicely balanced by the lactose, malted oats, and Golden Promise and 2 Row malts. The Cascade hops provide notes of lemon, grapefruit, pine, and earthy spice. It is mildly bitter throughout. It has a fine mouth feel for a DIPA: well-bodied and carbonated, and the 7.5% ABV gives it good substance without overpowering.

4.03/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

I suspect that if I drank this fresh I would raise the taste and overall ratings to 4.25. This is a nice beer! I'll be back shortly to review a big Stout that I'm anxious to try. Cheers!

 

You are such a team player!

 

For the children?

 

My second new beer for today and the closer. I guess I passed on this one in 2017 due to economic constraints more than a fear of the style. It's my 20th malt liquor reviewed.

Founders DKML

12oz bottle 07/24/25 poured into a vintage Schlitz Bull glass at fridge temp 14.2% ABV. The beer pours bright, light amber with light khaki head. The head recedes to a pencil thin ring and island. Minimal lacing. The aroma is moderate in strength, sweet and provides vanilla, bourbon and corn. The taste is bittersweet corn based malt liquor, immediately followed by a big earthy dry hop hit and oak barrel tannins. Mild to moderate bitterness. The feel is thin bodied with average carbonation and a mostly dry finish. The ABV is well hidden in the sense that I would guess 10-12. Overall, excellent malt liquor.

A hard style to find these days. Most of the old stalwart brands in 40oz bottles are gone from the stores locally and I rarely find something I haven't reviewed even when out of town. Would love to find a bottle of Schlitz at some point to pair with the glass. I remember the old commercials...

Cheers all!

 

NBS #2: Sorry 'Bout Your Bad Luck, an Imperial Stout from Rushing Duck Brewing Co. I am almost always effusive in my praise of Rushing Duck; it's one of my very favorite breweries. But no brewer gets it right every time. This Stout was released a month ago for RD's 13th anniversary. I had a draught pour which I thought was too sweet but bought cans (sold as singles for $8) thinking it would settle over time. To my palate it is still too sweet.

A dark mahogany pour. The light mocha head fizzled away so fast that I couldn't snap a decent photo. The nose is mostly freshly-brewed coffee and dark chocolate, along with some delightful dark fruit notes. The taste is overwhelmingly sweet. I'm noting cocoa, cola, black cherry, fig, caramel, and molasses. It could use some compensating char bitterness. The mouth feel is thinner than I'd hoped but the carbonation level is appropriate and the 14.9% ABV is warming. Overall, I'm not sure what Rushing Duck was trying to achieve but I honestly, this is a mess.

I have 3 more cans. Hopefully, they will mellow. In the meantime, I could serve this with vanilla ice cream for dessert.

As always, I'm enjoying reading your excellent reviews. Have a great week, everyone. Cheers, NBW!

 

Kent Falls Brewing purchased Stewards of the Land's facility and farm in Northford CT. I believe they may eventually brew there. Personally I can't believe Stewards of the Land lasted as long as they did. As my wife likes to say "200 breweries and my husband has only walked out and left unfinished beer on the bar at 2 places".
Anyways, back the Kent Falls new facility. They've only been open for 1-week. Place was pretty crowded, but service was good. I had 4 beers on draft, including this one. Walked away with a 4 pack of my favorite, and of course, my wife's favorite ( a Pilz).
We visited the Kent Falls mothership about 6-yrs ago and was impressed. They are all about farms.
This label actually states "1 PINT=4sq ft of Northeast grains".

4.4/5 rDev +7.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Purchased yesterday at the 1-week old Northford CT taproom, but it was brewed at the Kent Fall brewery. It was cold when I bought it and kept cold until served. Poured to a Nonic from a 16oz can stamped “CANNED 09/01/25, PEAKS BY 01/01/26”. I have never seen a can stamped with canned on and BBD. Nice.
The body is an opaque hazy and quite light, approximately SRM 2 or 3. The initial head is 1.5”/37mm, very white, very aggressive, despite a mild pour. Lacing is good.
The aroma is mostly citrus.
The taste of a very pleasant citrus rind. There is a hint of grapes and stone fruit in the background.
The mouthfeel is medium. Carbonation is fine.
I really enjoyed this bitter beer.

 

Drekker BRAAAAAAAAins Peach Pomegranate Double Fruit Smoothie Sour, 6.5% ABV. Pours murky brown with no head. Aroma is peach and vanilla - and I have no damn idea what pomegranate smells like. Taste is peach, and sour fruit I presume is pomegranate, equally sweet and tart, salt on the close. Low carbonation, overall good. They misspelled pomegranate on the label.

3.78/5 rDev 0%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

 

I’m still planning to open that brown ale later on.

I had a few minutes to visit the LCBO across from the music store where my son takes drum lessons. I was looking for festbiers. I know the LCBO brought a few in, both local and imports, but the selection at this location was limited. At least with the seasonal stuff at the LCBO you know it isn’t too old…

I grabbed the only two that were there, one of which I’ve had in the past. The new one is this one:



Mascot OktoberFresh Marzen.

This pours a bright amber with a substantial pillowy head that sticks around for the duration.

Bready aromas that are rather mild with the slightest herbal quality peaking through.

That herbal note is more pronounced on the tongue (I assume form the Saphir noted on the can). Toasted bread, sweet caramel sugar. A hint of bitterness on the finish.

This is fairly clean with a slightly creamy quality.

I’m glad to have tried it.

Cheers.

 

We had a choice to make yesterday
That Diving at the ICA, or the Lowell Kinetic Sculpture Race, chose LKSR. Great time
That photo is spectacular
Cheers

 

Happy Sunday, absolutely beautiful day today, finally back home for the night after soccer and Eagles game at the in laws, as is the norm during football season. Oh yea, how about that finish!!!!! I decided to celebrated the day with this beautiful final beer from a nice little box @vurt sent me. I'm not sure I have a favorite style but if I was forced there is a good chance the words German Pilsner would come out of my mouth, this beer is a stunning rendition.

Closing out the weekend with...

Gold Dot Beer - Pils De Pils



Pours vibrant gold; light chill haze, white, little soapy, clumpy with really nice cling from initial pour.

Nose is nice; lights straw, crackers, fresh baked bread with vibrant grassy character.

Taste has great malt presence; bread crust that is so perfectly light, some toast; rustic vibe to it; great deep earthy hops that slowly bite like fresh green grass with good spice presence.

Body is light to medium; carbonation is smooth and vibrant; the malt lingers for a second and instantly vanishes upon swallowing, bitterness is moderate; for how much I’m commenting on malt this one has a real snap on the finish, I suspect this beer was decocted but I’m unsure; curious to find out.

This is a really stunning pils; the malt depth and mouthfeel are remarkable for a beer that is still perfectly hoppy and incredibly drinkable. Really really enjoyed this one @vurt, closed out your box with a bang; thanks again for sharing such wonderful beers from your homeland.

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See you all next weekend hopefully, got a festbier I've really been wanting to try; and now that our O-fest thread is open I believe it is time, until next one. Have a great week everyone

 

Many years ago my homebrewing buddy and I tried chewing on the Amarillo hop pellets we got from the homebrew store.

The eye-watering bitterness overwhelmed the Amarillo flavor. Ah well.

Making tea might yield better results. You'd have better control over the concentration, and you could even add a little sugar to bring out the hop flavor and mitigate the bitterness.

Side note: Do not attempt to make a car air freshener by bundling some hop pellets in a bit of mesh fabric. They smelled good the first day, but the light and heat made them go skunky and cheesy by the second day.

 

I went to the Red Bull event at the ICA and managed to score a front rail position . Incredible event, athletes and atmosphere

https://www.beeradvocate.com/commun...-image-of-the-week-2025-edition.679443/page-8

 

Not too shabby. Curiously good.
Broken Clock Farm Aid Fam Hoppy Pilsner 4.8%
4.03/5 rDev -1.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
16 oz can canned 9/9/25 poured gently into a pokal.
L: Pours clear medium-light yellow color with large steady carbo bubbles, a thin white head that recedes to edge froth, essentially no lacing.
S: Fruity hops, citrus zest, pineapple, a note of grains.
T: Zesty fruity tangy hops, a hint of white grape, a subtle bread dough note in the palate, a fruit zest linger that borders on being resinous. It is lightly sharp & tangy overall.
F: Crisp then quite wet with a medium-lite bodied mouthfeel and has a medium-long moderately dry finish.
O: This great tasting beer has a West Coast halo about it. Tall, zesty, fast-moving hop notes, sharpness, and a dry finish. Quite WC. It is quenching and I really enjoy this beer. It is excellent in its style.

 

So, today is Bell’s 40th anniversary so Garth and I went to help them celebrate (and buy lots of beer from the general store)
They had no new (to me) stouts on tap so I selected 4 that I hadn’t had or in the case of Hell Hath No Fury, just hadn’t had in a very long time.

The one on the left is the dubbel (Hell Hath No Fury) and it was a delight to drink it again. Bought a couple bottles to bring home for a real review.
The Q Falls is a malt forward lager, brought marzens to mind.
Mars is one from the planet series and I foolishly skipped most of them. Solid imperial IPA, like most of Larry’s IPAs seem to be, a very malt centric beer but has enough piney hops that insist on being noticeable that it almost seems like two beers at the same time.
The 1st Friday is, I think, supposed to be a next day hopped beer and they used, I’m guessing, a local hop that I am not familiar with or it just tastes that different as ultra fresh.
I then had their Oktoberfest but my palate was not capable of switching gears that quickly and it was curious but refreshing. I’ll pick up a single and review it properly.
I may be back with another later.
Cheers!

 

I brought three of these to Japan to share with my two favorite local bars' staff and @shigg85.

Breakside - Fresh Hop Simcoe (2025)

16oz can served in a curvy Monhegan pint glass. Pretty sure I picked this up last weekend at Beer Junction. Dated 09/01/25.

Pours fairly clear yellow-amber with a medium sized head, quite a bit of active carbonation. Head is small. Smell is gorgeous, just exudes fabulous bubble gum and melon and fruit cup.

Taste is all that, a slap of juiciness, hint of grain, with a deep and satisfying bitter resin and slight dankness.

Mouthfeel is light, smooth, a little prickly. This is an excellent beer.

 

Imprint Hydra Schmoojee à la Mode
7% sour with strawberry,pineapple, coconut and cream



I’ll admit to being horrified when viewing the beer. It got better.

Poured from a pint can with a body the color of Nestles Strawberry Quik.

Nose has wafts of the berries and cream the coconut stands out.

Taste follows nose as the smoothie, I mean beer, ingredients are front and center. No hop presence. No bitterness.

Mouthfeel is medium despite no carbonation.

Overall an interesting drink, perhaps even good, but not something that would satisfy a craving for beer.

 

Superb. Thanks @DoctorZombies for this gem. A memorable one.
Revolution Rye Ale aged in rye bourbon bbls. 15% ABV
4.62/5 rDev +6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
12 oz can canned 10/31/24 into a tulip glass.
L: Pours with a cola-like fizzy look. It is a murky dark leather color with steady carbo, no head but a trace of edge foam, no lacing.
S: Toffee, chocolate, woody bourbon barrel, malts, caramelized grains, maple syrup with warming.
T: Toffee, dark sweet overripe fruits, malty, caramelized sugars, a woody note, maple syrup, it is nutty, distant lingering bourbon barrel, rye notes are subtle and are more so in the finish. They blend with the fruit tastes and sweet malt. It is sweet on the lips and palate.
F: Silky smooth medium-heavy bodied mouthfeel with a long and feather soft dry finish.
O: Tastes like English toffee & chocolate. The barrel notes caress an already relaxed taste and feel. It does lean a tad sweet but it is not intense. Incredibly saturated and balanced. I found it to be sort of a Barley Wine. NTL it is world-class in its style.