New Beer Weekend #272

Wow! That must not have made wide distribution. Hopefully they bring it, or one like it back at some point.

 

Unsure. Definitely from my Covid beer hoarding days. Likely ‘20 or ‘21. Time did it no harm.

 

It is really enjoyable. I just poured the last of it between us and the flavours are even more prominent as we enjoy it.

I don’t remember how I got it, or from whom, but it was likely from the old bourbon for beer trading days here on BA

 

Another weekend down. We had a nice cookout today because why not - it was 80 and it's October. Couple of friends from our church and my sister in law. Good burgers and grilled kielbasa, just the right items for the day.

So...lets cap it off with a beer...hopefully a good one for a warm day.



This is No. 1 from Oxbow up in Maine. It is a farmhouse rice ale with lemon peel. It's brewed with 60% Maine-grown pilsner malt, 30% flaked rice, 10% Maine- grown raw rye, hopped with Noble European hops.

It pours pale yellow and fairly hazy with a huge, white, fluffy head that lands as a hefty eigth inch cap with decent lacing.

The smell is light. A candy-like lemon, a little bit of Oxbow funk, just a little doughy yeast, grassy and floral hops.

The taste pretty much follows. The lemon arrives later in the taste. I get some doughy malt, a touch of sweetness. Pretty marked (bit brief) bitter just because it stands out. Earthy funk. It's got a mild touch of grassy and herbal hops with a bit of peppery spice well after the swallow. Maybe that's a hint of rye combined with the hops.

Feel is light and thin, very soft on the palate. Slightly dry.

Overall it's a nice beer but nothing to write home about. I'm liking it probably more for the fact it fits with the day rather than it being a fantastic farmhouse ale. Probably around a 3.6 for me.

 

I love it when this happens, also, sign me up for that dinner

 

Tonewood - Words Unspoken Fresh Hop pale mild

16oz can served in a nonic pint glass. Don't see a date on it. @jonphisher shipped it to me. Aggressive pour.

Hazy dark yellow, medium to thick head on the pour settles into a nice, even skin. Smell is soft but clear hops, tempered nicely by grainy / yeasty notes with something of a woody character.

Taste is right along the same lines. Has a nice cask flavor, hops shine a little brighter, grain melds into a bit of honey sweetness, woody note contributes to a nice, strong bitter aftertaste. Might be a hint of lime rind.

Mouthfeel is soft and dry, little cotton-mouth texture, light but satisfying texture. Overall, really tasty, really nice.

 

I like to end the weekend with a satisfying imperial stout, but I'll take 'em before the end of the day too, if it works out that way:



Breakside Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
Enjoyed on draft in a snifter at Breakside Beaverton.

Look:
So black, yet still brown. A short head of light brown foam turns into a collar that just won't quit. No lacing, but that's fine for a barrel-aged beer that clocks in above 14%.

Smell:
Earthy dark roast coffee and alcohol fight for supremacy, and it's a draw. The undercard is an entertaining bout between tag teams of brown sugar/bourbon and dark chocolate/toffee.

Taste:
The nose, reshuffled. Coffee and bourbon fight for the belt, and bourbon takes it in a split decision. Excellent. But coffee has the better post-fight interview. Caramel and dark chocolate have a lot to say in the middle. Burnt brown sugar and a lavish smoky note lead to a recap of bourbon and coffee in the finish (a victory lap for bourbon). Flavors of almond paste, marshmallow, prunes, and a hint of black cherries add color to the proceedings. The signature Breakside molasses character makes a late appareance like a Marvel Cinematic Universe post-credits scene. Smoke lingers like a premonition.

Feel:
Voluptuous, with velvety texture and soft carbonation. Alcohol shows its claws and reminds you to sip slowly.

Overall:
It feels like it's been a while since Breakside has done a big barrel-aged coffee stout. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is a BEAST. Heavy with rich, earthy coffee flavor from front to back, and a kiss of fruit, but bourbon holds the upper hand. Zweet, but not too sweet. Delightful smokiness in the finish. This is another outstanding offering from Breakside's impressive barrel and blending program.

 

Good evening all!
Tonight I have one that I have looked at and passed on for years, but it’s an imperial stout so had to try it.

The pour is stout black with a tall beige color head that left copious lacing
The taste is more chocolate than coffee with no discernible hops presence, the lactose is definitely lending a little sweetness and smoothness in the feel.
OA, it’s not a bad imperial stout at all, but it’s not a great one.
Think I also bought one to share with my SAN group, it will be interesting to see what they think of it.
Cheers!

 

Hops overnighted to NJ from Oregon; packed up and shipped back to the PNW the day it was released here all for the love of beer.

 

That's awesome
Thanks Jon!

 

7 pages?

New Belgium Voodoo Ranger Hop Dynasty IPA, 8.5% ABV; 3.96 overall

Part of the Voodoo Ranger series

Pours a bright & effervescent gold with a thumb+ pf ivory colored head. Good head retention & better lacing

S: Fairly malty, some honey malt, green melons & peaches. Some toastyness & caramel as this warms, some pear notes, more dryness & a touch of woody hops. Finishes a little dry with some grassy & citrus notes, plus a bit of caramel, nectarine. & green melon

T: Follows the nose, some sweet orange as well, a little dryness

MF: Medium body, moderate carbonation, good balance

Great drinkability, a bit more down the middle variation; no cute tricks

 

I'm in.

Right now I'm sharing a not-New beer with my wife, but this afternoon I picked up an unexpected New Beer that might be of interest to @jonphisher .

And with that I have committed myself to at least one more New Beer. Boom.

 

Now I’m really looking forward to my early morning NBW catch while sipping my coffee on the couch tomorrow pre work.

 

From the generous @micada

Mortalis Brewing Aphrodite S'mores BA Imperial Stout, 13.0% ABV; 4.37 overall

Pours a thick, but effervescent chestnut/mahogany with a sliver of mocha colored head. Below average head retention & lacing, some viscosity

S: Some barrel, coffee, chocolate & vanilla, fades a little once warm

T: Follows the nose, noticeable barrel edge, marshmallow & graham cracker showing up as well up front. I get a trace of mint/girl scout cookies as this warms, doesn't detract. There is still plenty of marshmallow & dark chocolate, coffee in the background & a bit of booze to remind you this is a beer to sip. Finishes with Bourbon edge, dark chocolate & vanilla & coffee

MF: Chewy body, fairly creamy carbonation; very warming. Full marks here. Just a little stickyness on the teeth

Great take on a flavor thew usually leaves me wanting. A lot of s'mores are too heavy on one taste aspect; this is a great presentation that makes me want more

 

Fort George Island Towns
(WCIPA with spruce tips)

This is a bright gold beer with yellow highlights and a head that doesn't last long. Minimal lacing. But any deficiencies in the look are balanced out by that nose. So much spruce! Piny/fruity/hoppy with bright and clean spruce. The flavor follows, citrus up front with pine in the background and sweet (not sweet) spruce front and center. Lemon zest and pine with a spruce-accented finish. Body is light and carbonation is appropriately vigorous. This beer is a perfect intro for Fort George's winter holiday seasonal, Magnanimous IPA. A lighter, leaner version. The pale ale version of Magnanimous, if you will. And plenty tasty.

 

Hi All. New Beer Late Night (Sunday) Edition

Popping in with this smoky warmer for the night.

Thor's Imperial Hot Pepper Porter
Undated can courtesy of the honorable @Ozzylizard

Absolutely gorgeous pour. The darkest shade of brown nearest black. A divine head. A finger so at first, cross between milky and sudsy, mocha hued. Lacing is downright lovely with a soapy, dense ring that leaves gossamer curtains.
Nose is a nuanced melange of char, vegetal, dark fruit, and dark roasted brown bread. But this all moves around in a complex dance.
Flavor mainly presents a smooth, greenish delivery of chili peppers, some charred malts, and a mild earthy note. Does not come off with as much complexity that the aromas foreshadowed but still quite nice.
Mouthfeel is hefty for style. A smooth, warm wash throughout the mouth. There is an almost silky aspect to this. Earth bitterness shares some of the char and pepper on the end.
Overall, a hefty porter that demands respect.
3.88/5 rDev -8.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

 

I use "green" also as a flavor, sometimes aroma, descriptor. I totally get it. And it sounds amazeballs.

 

HAHAHAHA

 

Happy Anniversary Ian!