New Beer Weekend #274

I picked this Anchorage Brewing Wild Ale up today...Bind, 7% ABV.

Mixed culture ale fermented and aged in Missouri oak foeders, finished on hand picked wild Alaska blueberries and haskap berries.

For an Anchorage beer, this was very "reasonably" priced at only about $15 with tax ha.



Pours a beautifully dark crimson red color, and a pink head forms. The foam recedes in a minute with light lace left behind. That color is stunning though.
Aroma is BIG jammy fruits, that range from all kinds of berries..just pick out a berry, its here. To a grape and light vinous aroma. For the most part, simple but excellent.
Taste wise, again that big jammy berry fruit character is up front. There is certainly a fruity sweetness here, but a bit more sourness and acidic character, a bit more oak, and all fruit. As this warms the acidity builds to be just on the other side of balanced. Though I'd rather this be more acidic than sweet, so that is good for me.
A full body with moderate carbonation. The tannin woody character is certainly here. This is a slow sipper for me, but a very enjoyable one.

"I prefer boysenberry. More than any ordinary jam. I'm a 'Citizens for Boysenberry Jam' fan." That Simon & Garfunkel lyric line came to my head while drinking this ha. A well done mixed cultured fruit/sour Wild Ale.

Overall score is 4.13, easy A-
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/24903/654422/?ba=champ103#lists

While not spinning Simon & Garfunkel at the moment...I am spinning the great Kieth Jarrett At Dear Head Inn, The Complete Live Recordings. Which is brilliant.

 

S.c.c.c. coffee stout
...solid motor oil black appearance
...light carbonation with a solid,slick,thick heavy body.overall and excellent feel
... aroma is espresso beans,fresh ground coffee,malty mocha candy. As it warms the aroma of fresh ground coffee gets stronger
...taste definitely has some sweetness along with everything coffee. Fresh roasted coffee beans,black coffee, malty mocha candy .
...overall despite how coffee heavy it is there is complexity and a real nice layering of flavor

 

@ChicagoJ - I love to travel, and visiting new breweries is something I just love to do - though, I've been to that one before. It's too bad, because they only had 2 of their beers on tap, and the rest guest taps. Oh, well.
Tomorrow I'll be going to a local brewery, so, only about 5 miles to drive each way, or so.

 

Fishing this morning with the boys, caught some sun fish, but then...youngest snagged a nice big bass; oldest got so jealous and kept it together only to catch a monster bass about twice as big, we almost reeled it in but then "snap" right at the last minute he handled it like a champ though. Fun morning before the obligatory soccer game we had in the afternoon for the oldest, they played the best team I have seen in his age group and boy did we get smoked anyway...

Back with another fresh hop beer from @snaotheus, after Field to Ferment by Fremont this was the IPA I was most excited to try. I remember being sent Lush from Ryan and remember it as a good clean IPA with some hints of modern, but only in hops, not feel. Fresh hops did this beer good as you will see below...

Fremont - Fresh Hop Lush (IPA 7%)



Pours a copper like gold, light chill haze, sticky and persistent white head, clumpy with loads of lacing.

Aroma jumps out of the glass on this one; incredibly bright; citrus, zest, sap, light pineapple, hidden below is light grainy and sweet malt.

The taste is full of sticky and sappy fruit; orange peels, dash of hawaiian punch, pine, light malt sweetness with grain character.

Medium body, this verges on big IPA territory; it has some heft and warmth but it is also highly drinkable, very clean beer; carbonation is very pleasant on this one, vibrant yet smooth, green sticky bitterness on the back of the tongue.

Another very enjoyable fresh hop beer from Fremont, this is a beer that should be sipped but you have to fight to sip it; 'tis the season of green sticky stuff

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I may open a new one tomorrow but may just sip on some familiar lagers to close out the weekend, we'll see. Have a great evening everyone!

 

I hope this is starting a trend of releasing fresh hop versions of already stellar flagship IPA

Loved that one, and Top Cutter. Not sure I'll find FH Bodhi this year

 

American Solera State Champs DIPA with Galay & Mosaic Hops, 8.0% ABV; 3.94 overall


Pours a super hazed gold with 2 fingers of pearl colored head. Very good head retention & stellar lacing

S: Passion Fruit, some citrus notes. some peach once warmed up, nose held this back a bit

T: Passion Fruit, guava, pomelo, dryness & nectarine up front. Sweet orange notes, white grape skins, a little bit of lime & dryness once warmed up. Finishes somewhat dry with pomelo, white grape, guava & grapefruit

MF: Medium body, fairly creamy carbonation, good balance

Easy to drink, wanted a little more sweetness in this

 

Glad I got to try it. Love their tag line. I am sure I live in one of those 15 states

 

Icarus pound of mosaic feathers
...a burnt orange appearance with a lasting thin white head
...close to medium carbonation with the body having some depth yet at the same time feeling a bit thin.
...aroma is unripe honeydew melon,lime and mixed fruit. Sweet earthy hops as well
...taste is slightly sweet with melon,lime and mixed fruit with a mild bitter earthy hop bite.

 

Social Project Brewing in collaboration with Soul & Spirit Brewing ( Memphis ) Since UBEn Gone Stout with Vanilla, Coconut, Chocolate & Coffee, 8.2% ABV; 4.07 overall

Pours an effervescent amber/hazel & tinges of purple with a thumb of purple-ish head. Average-ish head retention & lacing

S: Coconut, cocoa, coffee & vanilla once warmer

T: Toasty coconut, vanilla, chocolate & coffee & dryness up front. A little dryness, more toasty coconut, cocoa & coffee once warmed up. Finishes with toasty coconut, a little coffee & dryness

MF: Medium body, dialed back carbonation. body thins a little, once warm

This beer is different, but tasty. Easily my first Ube beer

 

Tonight the Portland Timbers played their last match of the regular season. Before walking across the street to the stadium, I stopped in at the Timbers Army clubhouse for a quick beer.

It turns out that Portland's Gigantic Brewing did a collab with the Timbers Army for a beer that's only available at the clubhouse. Well now, I'm a Timbers fan, and a dues-paying Timbers Army member, and I like beer. Let's give this a try.



Gigantic Our Haus Kölsch

I drank this one out of the can, so I can't tell you much about the color, the head retention, or the lacing. Nor can I tell you much about the smell, except that it's a pretty typical kölsch profile. Light scent of clean, slightly sweet malt. Delicate note of ripe pears. Decent hoppy character, more PNW than noble. Flavor follows that profile faithfully. Malt-forward and slightly sweet with a subtle pear note. Hops are more prominent than the nose let on, and the finish is more bitter than I'd expect from a kölsch. Body is light with carbonation that's as lively as the North End after a home win against the Sounders. Excellent drinkability. Overall, Our Haus is a tasty beer and it will make a fine go-to on those hot mid-season matchdays next summer.

 

Sounds like a solid Kolsch. Had to look up the Portland Timbers, as I’ve not followed MLS. I like that Portland (and California) make owners pay for most of their stadium costs, hope our state holds firm against the Sox and Bears demands for billions more.

This brings us to New Beer Sunday #1078, and the promised Saison by Forest & Main.

Forest & Main The Lady

3.84/5 rDev -6.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75



10/19/25 - (Can - Home) (Chicago, IL) Can Notes: Purchased at Beer on the Wall at Park Ridge at store temperature for $4.55 including tax on September 12, 2025. Refrigerated upon returning home until opening this morning. 16 oz, no can date, distributed week ended 8/9/25. Saison, 4.5% Alcohol By Volume - Highly Carbonated, Open With Care, Pour Slowly. Hops: Hersbrucker. Malt: Barley and Spelt. Brewed and packaged by Forest & Main Brewing Company, 241 N. Main Street, Ambler, Pennsylvania.

Appearance: Slow poured 3/4 of the can into a large tulip glass, yielding a slightly unfiltered golden straw yellow base, heavy sustained carbonation throughout, a full creamy bright bubbly head which results in substantial clumpy lacing but a creamy sustained 1/4 inch cover over the base and a thicker creamy ring around the rim. 4.25

Aroma: Clove, banana, pepper, lemon. Medium plus strength, slightly higher in enjoyment. 4.0

Taste: Tart lemon, subdued clove and banana, light but good and consistent with the style. 3.75

Mouthfeel: Light, crisp clean and refreshing. Hop bitterness runs this sensation, lightly dry, light body bolstered by persistent slightly prickly carbonation drinks very easy, even for the style. Lemon clove the entire ride. 3.75

Overall: This one worked out well, consistent with the style. Aroma stronger with more breadth than taste. Enjoying as Summer weather is coming to a close. 3.75

Nice way to end the beer weekend. Cheers!

 

This drop boasts simplicity and a well-hidden 9% ABV. Rather sneaky I say. Cheers!
Minocqua Muck Raker Imperial Stout 9%

3.95/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
16 oz can pkgd 5/30/25 into a snifter.
L: Pours black with a 1/2" creamy beige head that recedes to frothy skin, low carbo, lacing has back half sheeting with light spots on the sip side.
S: Molasses, chocolate, a hint of vanilla, heavily toasted malts, it has a moderately earthy halo and has a hint of alcohol with warming.
T: Earthy roasted malts, bitter dark chocolate, coffee char, light molasses, prunes, grain char, distant sea salt, subtle sweetness bends to bitter choco & char.
F: Gently brisk then primarily flat and lightly smooth medium-heavy bodied mouthfeel with a medium-long slightly dry finish.
O: Wow. Very simple with no alcohol taste or burn. A no-frills straight ordinary American Imp Stout that seems low profile but actually delivers quite a bit. Superior balance and incredibly easy to drink. It is very good to excellent in its style.

 

Blue Moon Extra

Appearance: Cloudy orange, big head.

Smell: Orange peels, seltzer water, crackers.

Taste: Mild sweetness, then the orange peels and some nondescript breadiness. The booze shows up in the finish, neutral in flavor, not really enhancing or detracting. Not super heavy.

Overall: I was intrigued when I saw this come out a few months back, is it amped-up Blue Moon? My evaluation is that it seems they just dumped some vodka in a regular Blue Moon and called it a day. No amping up here, just some extra booze. A mild but somewhat expected disappointment.

 

On a puppy watching lunch break and enjoying a Schwarzbier from Guidon Brewing in Hendersonville, NC. They do justice to the traditional German styles. I recommend them if you are in the Western NC region.
Onto the review:

4.03/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Picked up a 16 oz single from the Appalachian Vintner in Asheville 8-2-25 for $5.22. No canning date; consumed 10-19-25. Cold stored since purchase.

Beer poured dark brown with a nice beige head.

Nose has notes of roasted malts and chocolate.

Taste is a medium roasted malt base that originally game me coffee but now getting more chocolate as the brew warms up. Hopping is spot on to balance nicely.

Mouthfeel is soft and very smooth making each sip pleasurable.

Overall, another nicely done lager from Guidon!

 

Cream Ale from Muskoka Brewery

From a 473ml can packaged on Apr 17, 2025. Poured into a pint glass. A big two finger head on a hazy copper. the head diminishes to a persistent layer. Sheets of fine lacing.

A faint caramel smell. The taste follows the nose. Finishes dry with the faintest hop bitterness.

A creamy mouthfeel Medium body and carbonation. More body than most Cream Ales. Overall a basic but malty cream Ale. Drinkable and well worth a try.

3.77/5 rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

 

4.21/5 rDev +2.7%

look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Poured from a 16 ounce can dated 9-29-25 into a tulip glass at 51 degrees.

Look- Pale gold, very slightly hazy, white frothy head, slightly above average head retention and lacing.

Smell- Dank, pine resin, grapefruit, between weak and medium strength of scent.

Taste- Pine resin, grapefruit, herbaceous, pith, between medium and high strength of flavor.

Feel- Between thin and medium body, average carbonation, highly bitter, mildly dry finish, moderately creamy, very slight prickliness, mildly mouth warming.

Overall- Appearance was a very nice pale gold and almost clear with slightly above average head retention and lacing. The nose was a very pleasant mix of resinous pine and citrus, but underpowered. The flavor was a classic WCIPA mix of pine resin and grapefruit with good intensity. The mouthfeel was great all around with the exception of fresh hop character, which was understated. Overall this beer provided an enjoyable drinking experience with classic WCIPA attributes.

 

Whisper marzen by Tree house


3.99/5 rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Brewers notes: Whisper is our Oktoberfest-style lager brewed with German Pilsner, Munich, Cara Munich, and Vienna malts. This crisp and malty Lager carries notes of toasty bread crust and subtle caramel.

We have waited for years to brew this beer.

Whisper is our inaugural Oktoberfest-style lager. Brewed with German Pilsner, Munich, Cara Munich, and Vienna malts, it is fermented cool with a traditional Märzen yeast and then transferred to our horizontal stainless lagering tank for extended refinement and conditioning.

Featuring natural carbonation, a smooth body, and rich, characterful malts balanced by an ever-present kiss of noble hops, we find Whisper to be an ideal companion to crisp weather celebrations and companionship.

With a dense, billowing head and a remarkably creamy mouthfeel, this is a beer we are proud of and trust that you will enjoy it as much as we do - Pröst!

Whisper is our Märzen! Brewed with German Pilsner, Munich, Cara Munich, and Vienna malts, it is fermented cool with a traditional Märzen yeast and then transferred to our horizontal stainless lagering tank for extended refinement and conditioning. Featuring natural carbonation, a smooth body, and rich, characterful malts balanced by an ever present kiss of noble hops, we find Whisper to be an ideal companion to crisp weather celebrations! We are immensely proud of this beer! Pröst!

Chilled can poured into a mug, creates a tan pencil thick layer that quickly fades over a clear copper colored liquid

Aroma is sweet caramel malts

Taste is bready , malty , caramel

Smooth , low carbonation , clean

PAired with charcoal grilled knockwurst on a toasted and buttered pretzel roll

good beer