New Beer Weekend #271

You bet! I really dig that beer and what it represents in Milwaukee’s craft scene, but definitely unique. Funky Barrel notes for days! Cheers, Micah!

 

I am not a CT person but I am a big fan of the Counter Weight beers I drank at the annual Logjammin' Lager beer festivals in Philly. At this year's event I lobbied to two younger Counter Weight people working the table to start distributing their beers to PA. They both responded enthusiastically to this request and went on to state they were already advocating this to their boss(es). I still have my fingers crossed here.

Cheers!

 

A Counter Weight collaboratively brewed beer served at the 2024 Logjammin' event:

"The other winner is a brewery that is new to me: Counterweight which is located in Connecticut. This beer was collaboratively brewed with Troegs and they had a placard there:

“A Special Project in Collaboration with our friends at Troegs. We are excited to share Noble Souls Coolship Lager. Providing a gentle sweet and bready character, and hopped in the coolship to provide a herbaceous balance. This lager delivers a refined balance in aroma, flavor and is incredibly drinkable.”

This beer is excellent and I wholeheartedly agree with “incredibly drinkable”. Since this beer was a collaborative effort with Troegs I hope that I find cans locally, and if I do I will buy some. Below is a photo of the Counterweight/Troegs Noble Souls Coolship Lager:

 

Well, wasn't in Germany back then, but I've recounted my first beer-awakening was Lowenbrau Octoberfest bottles in 1973 (stateside). Remember to this day the shock of such a succulent beer, after years of 25 cent Americans.

 

i've got an image to uphold out here!

 

I was minus 4 when that mug was produced. I have a bad habit of picking up cold war era military base mugs when they hit the shelves of the vendor malls. I like to raise a glass to their service even if their family didn't choose to keep it. Whoever earned this one had three consecutive years and designs, but all Lowenbrau from the same base. I only took the one I didn't already have in that shape.

 

My first Pilsner Urquell!
This one took me by surprise,in a good way.. I was surprised to find a significant hop presence.. Clean and crisp with a nice bitterness that has a spicy character to it.. This is a damn good beer..

 

Nice! It is a wonderful beer

 

No shortage of PU fans on this site.

 

St. Benardus/Weheinstpehaner Collab Kobine Unfiltered Helles, 6.0% ABV; 3.69 overall

Pours a slightly hazed gold with one pinky of eggshell colored head. Clears up, better than average head retention & lacing

S: Some pear notes, a little bit of yeast, nose really doesn't up until close to room temperature

T: Pears, grainy sweetness, a little grassyness, lemons & doughy/yeasty notes up front. Green apple and pear, faint yeast notes & white pepper as this beer warms up. Finishes a little bready, with white grapes & apple skins

MF: Medium body, restrained carbonation

Some style deductions here, not tracking as a Helles to me, works as a Belgian Golden Ale, but not a very good one. Certainly not drinkable as a Helles. Would've rated higher as a Golden Ale for me

 

Forgot the pic...

 

Wow, back to back to back

Bell's Tropical Hopslam, 9.0% ABV; 3.78 overall

BBD 25 Nov 2025

Pours a very effervescent & bright gold with a thumb+ of pearl colored head. Good head retention & better lacing

S: Some melon & guava, nose bumps up as it warms, pineapple late

T: Follows the nose, a bit dry, hint of lime upfront. A little pink grapefruit sneaks in as this warms, just a little pineapple as well. Finishes with pomelo, pineapple & green melon

MF: Medium body, fairly firm carbonation, decent balance

This didn't wow me, give more tropical. I will say this is more drinkable, but not something I'd repeat. I'd rather have big brother

 

Happy Saturday everyone! I finally get to participate in my favorite social media.
Had a couple new to me beers last night at SAN, only one really stuck out and not in a good way.
A barrel aged stout that was purchased at (and apparently brewed for) Costco. Brewed by Deschutes Brewing so I was optimistic.
Compared to the other stouts we were sampling, this barely registered as a stout, let alone a barrel aged stout. Around 12% ABV and comes in a 22 oz bomber, so would certainly do the job if that was your goal.
It was the only beer of the night that was not finished. Sorry, I neglected to get a photo.

Today being Saturday I generally try to get a new stout for this thread, but all I have that is new to me at this moment are pastry stouts that I just didn’t feel like trying tonight. However, much to my surprise, I found an oldie but tasty treat that I had never reviewed.

The pour is brown like breakfast roast coffee with garnet highlights and a 2 finger manilla head that leaves sparse lacing.
The taste leads with caramel and leather and is immediately countered with a hoppy edge I didn’t expect after 3 years. The balance between the two is very good.
The feel is lightly viscous, almost ideal for the style.
OA, this is a very good Barleywine that I will definitely enjoy again and again.
What is more is that according to the lady who manages the general store there, they are going to brew this again. I think late October is when it will hit. Rather geeked about that.
Have a great evening and I will see you tomorrow, cheers!

 

Would love to see that down here again!

 

From the awesome @micada via the NBW Imperial Stout/Barleywine BIF#2

Angry Chair Imperial German Chocolate Cupcake Stout, 9.5% ABV; 4.64 overall

Pours an effervescent chestnut/mahogany with one finger of fast falling mocha colored head. Some lacing & head retention, plenty viscous

S: Vanilla, chocolate, dark cherry, some booze edge

T: Chocolate, toasted and sweet coconut, vanilla & a little caramel up front. Lovely coconut & chocolate with vanilla cream, cola & caramel mixed in, some dry boozy/woody notes that make me think barrel in the vanilla aging at least. Finishes super sweet with enough booze bite to remind to sip

MF: Medium body, subtle carbonation, pretty warming

Delivers what's promised, so decadent. Drinks dangerously easy for what it is. A dessert passing itself of a skull splitting Nightcap! This was/is my favorite cake as a kid/adult.

You can bet your ass I will be BOLO for these guys the next time I visit my brother down in Tampa

 

Hello New Beer Weekend!!!

Late to the party, I know. One of my team members got married today, so I had to work to close tonight, because pretty much everyone wanted off for it. I am happy for her and her now husband and hope they have a long life together.

Now, it is beer time.

Pumpkin Spice Scotch Ale - Urban Growler Brewing - St. Paul, MN - 8%

Well, this sounds weird, and I could see it being a hot mess. Thankfully it worked out. The only knocks on it is that it seems a touch light, and the nose is one dimensional. Overall, I am happy with it, and glad I brought it it, and bought it.

Review:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/35306/763924/
3.89/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
From a 16oz can. Canned on September 04, 2025.

This is a dark pouring beer into my glass. It is a very dark amber color, almost black, with amber shining through when I hold it to the light. There's a 2 finger tan head to this beer that looks frothy. The head retention is pretty good, and there's some damn good sticky lacing on the glass.
Aroma hits me while pouring this beer - cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Up close these aromas are even stronger. That's really all I am getting off the aroma of this beer. Since those aromas are so strong, I am not getting any Scotch Ale notes on my nose. Seems one dimensional in a way.
Taste - Ok, while the aroma was one dimensional, the taste isn't. I get the Scotch Ale notes up front with caramel and a hint of a leather flavor. The middle is where the pumpkin spices come into play. Cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves work together, but aren't as overpowering as the nose let on. The finish has a bit of the previous mentioned elements plus a nice hint of bitterness.
The body is maybe slightly light for the ABV. I was hoping for a touch thicker.
I can easily see how this combination could go totally wrong. The end result of this beer actually works and works well. I was interested when I found out about this beer and I am glad I bought it.

I might go for one more new beer tonight. See you if I do. Cheers!