New Beer Weekend #276

Cheers for getting us started, was living in fear I might have to start this...

Surprised I never thought about this blend as most of better pumpkin beers I've like were stouts or porters. Since I have this pumpkin beer, I may do this soon.

 

Mad props to @snaotheus for this one. Cheers Ryan! Machine House Fresh Hop Simcoe IPA, 7.0% ABV; 4.65 overall

Pours an effervescent gold with 2 fingers of pearl colored head. Good head retention & great lacing, never drops completely bright; but all is forgiven. Stays effervescent throughout the pour

S: Grassy, melons, pears. Peaches & white grapes once warmed up, more grassy notes too

T: Pretty dry, pomelo, green melon & grassyness up front. Grassy & herbal hops dominate as this beer warms up some bready sweetness & green melon as well. Finishes dry with green melon, grassyness & pomelo. Minor deduction for being drier than I prefer

MF: Medium body, creamy carbonation, great balance, slight grittyness to this

Super drinkability, probably one of the best Simcoe focused beers I've ever had

 

Really interesting blend @JackHorzempa love it.

I opened this, this afternoon. The cost was kind of high...but hey, have to treat myself every once in a while

Tilquin Oude Pinot Gris Fruit Lambic. Traditional Lambic with Pinot Gris grapes of course. 8.4% ABV.



Pours with a bit of haziness, an amber/orange color. A white head forms for a minute, but recedes to a ring quickly.
Oh man, this is aromatic. White wine and grapes, citrus pith. Spicy, honey, lavender kind of aroma. Just the slightest hint of the musty/funky yeast.
Taste wise, like the nose, lots going on here. Zesty, spicy citrus, mingles with white wine and grapes. Some musty funk for sure, and I love that puckering tartness. A bit of honey like sweetness, and pink tart grapefruit in the finish.
A medium to full body. Effervescent carbonation at first, but smooths out. The puckering tartness is a real treat, and makes me want to keep coming back. This is fantastic all around.

No surprise this is all around excellent. I really love the mingling of the grapes, other citrus like fruits, funk and the tartness all balance out perfectly. Very glad I splurged on a bottle, and might have to again.

Overall score is 4.47, which is one of the highest scores I have given in a while.
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/25923/368016/?ba=champ103#lists

My pupper, Moe, and I were enjoying the courtyard on this beautiful day, and I'm taking my time with this beauty while I'm getting close to finishing this masterpiece of a novel by Adam Johnson.



So, definitely a good afternoon. I might end up at a local brewery tomorrow with some friends...maybe they have something new, and maybe I'll have time to review them. So a bunch a maybes for the rest of the weekend

 

That is a high score for you. Love that pic of Moe!

 

Moe says Hi and Thank You

 

I thought they all did...

 

Thanks for the kickoff and sharing your annual blend experience. I never did, but perhaps should consider this more, that beyond a Guinness / Harp at an Irish bar, or mixing a mound bar with my Deth’s Tar BA oatmeal stout. Also always nice catching up with Moe, especially with the outdoor opportunities dwindling with Winter approaching.

Dedicating by November for exploring the Beer Advocate Big Beer Box. Six of the eight are new breweries and beers, Firestone Walker and Transient the two breweries I have loved in the past but with new to me selections. Like many in the dedicated tasting thread, I’m starting with the one I suspect I might not like as much as the others, primarily due to also a new to me style (Fruited Kettle Sour) that looks more Slurpee than beer and Rum Barrels, but you only live once. Smiles everyone, smiles!

Corporate Ladder Tiki Sour: Rum BA Escape To Fantasy Island

3.79/5 rDev -5.3%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75



A few minutes later…



11/01/25 - (Can, Home) (Chicago, IL) Can Notes: Purchased via the Beer Advocate Fall 2025 Big Beer Box. Noncan date, but brewery released to the general public 10/17/25 per their Facebook post. Refrigerated upon receipt of shipment. 10.0% ABV 16 oz can. Rum BA Gluten Free Tiki Sour aged in rum barrels then conditioned on mango, pineapple, lime & ginger. Corporate Barrel established in Palmetto, Florida. Brewed and packaged at Corporate Ladder Brewing Company, 50 Capital Drive, Walstonburg, North Carolina.

Appearance: Poured into a large .50 liter tall tulip glass. First two color pour, the first a lemonade color followed by an orange citrus color with mega floaters of which I left a bit in the can. Head slowly emerged before pour finally settles into an orange slurpee bottom half, a clear/orange topped by a rust orange creamier fine head at the top. I think it looks good for what it’s supposed to be (never had this style before), but also looks like a poorly made slurpee. I did enjoy watching the metamorphosis. 2.75

Aroma: Tropical citrus plus Long Island ice tea rum. More like a cocktail or tropical drink than a beer, but it smells good beyond the rum, and I’m trying to go with the flow and rate for style. 3.75

Taste: Exactly as smells, more tropical cocktail than beer, but it is enjoyable starting with a nice citrus pineapple, backed by lime, mango and nominal rum, which works for me. Pleasant surprise. 4.0

Mouthfeel: Light gentle to slightly fizzy carbonation adds to the watery light body. Sweet, a bit more than my preference, but likely on point with the style. Rum, which I do not typically like, is subtle, which works for me, but the alcohol punch is definitely there; at or above the 10%. Citrus pineapple limes tart to finish. 3.75

Overall: This is for people who like a cocktail which I guess people classify as a beet, but is not like a beer. I liked more than I anticipated, but also likely won’t seek another of these down the road. Glad Beer Advocate broadened my beer scope. 3.75

 

Cool tradition and opening @JackHorzempa i could definitely see that being a tasty combination for sure.

 

Really digging this brew right here BAs. 3 bucks a can at the store. Very tasty for sure.
Blackstack/Double Elbow One Trick Ponies Lager 5%
4.21/5 rDev +2.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
16 oz can into a pokal.
L: Pours a clear caramel gold color with medium-light steady carbo, a thin white head that recedes to edge foam, light wispy full circumference lacing.
S: Caramel malts, a hint of bread dough, distant apple and a general orchard note.
T: A fruit bread malt note, lemon, lemon zest twang, lime zest, a gently sweet caramel note, it is fruity and has a long light yeasty halo. It is fairly bitter in the finish.
F: Crisp & bright, fairly snappy medium-light bodied mouthfeel with a long drying finish.
O: I really love the attitude of this beer. A bounty of flavors focusing in on laser-straight lemon-lime and yeasty bread dough malts. Both are riding high. A balanced and mildly intense tasting craft Lager. It is excellent to outstanding in its style.

 

Was a little too busy to post last night so this beer is a day late to fit with the holiday.
Allagash Haunted House

Appearance: Very dark brown, big head.

Smell: Hard to pick much up, maybe some roasted malt.

Taste: Balanced arrival, roasted malts with a grassy undertone. Medium bodied. Gets a little hoppier with further sips. Finish gives more of the same, roasted malts with hops following.

Overall: Another single, I've liked other Allagash beers. This might be a touch old, canned around 3 months ago but was refrigerated. Pretty good black ale.

 

Yumtasic! For the record, the best tasting pumpkin pie I ever had was cream cheese/choco/pumpkin with a graham cracker crust and some choco shavings on top. Damn! Might be good as a beer or be good with a Peanut Butter Porter...your version looks great!

 

Kakkō from Godspeed Brewery

From a 355ml can poured into a pilsner glass. A one finger fine, off white head on a slightly hazy dark amber. The head diminished to a layer. Sheets of fine lacing.

Caramel malts in the nose. Tastes of bread and toast. Some fruit. A dry, very mildly bitter finish.

A medium light body with moderate carbonation. Overall a fine Vienna Lager. Well worth a try.

4.24/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25