New Beer Weekend #277

Sloop Brewing - Hop Tundra Cold IPA



Some have said this is a gimmicky style, but I've enjoyed all I've had with most drinking like WCIPAs which is my favorite type of craft. On to the review...

3.96/5 rDev 0% | Average: 3.96
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
This is an interesting offering from Sloop. A double cold IPA (says IPA on the front and double in the description on the back...odd) that drinks like a hazy hybrid. It pours a cloudy shade of tangerine presenting a magnificent plume of foam that releases plenty of lacing rings as it goes down the glass. Flavors arrange themselves simply in the form of orange, nectarine, and tangerine with varying other citrus notes. True to description, it has a soft yet full feel that delivers some drying bitterness. On the face of things, this has near greatness potential but just doesn't get there entirely. It's a confusing beer that looks like a hazy, drinks similarly, but is cold fermented like a lager. All things being equal, I enjoyed this beer for its hybrid characteristics, but I'd like more hop brightness in the end.

 

Here's my last new brew of the day, a decent one from Sun King:

Java House Cold Brew Martini Stout | Sun King Brewing Company | BeerAdvocate





This wasn't bad at all, was just expecting it to be better I guess. I should be back on here with some more new brews tomorrow, cheers!

 

Good evening NBW
I didn't even check the date on this one when it showed up in Kentuckiana.

Real American Beer

24oz can stamped 0185 LAX 1724 FLA consumed from the can as intended. 4.2% ABV and typical pale yellow from the little bit on top of the can. The aroma is ok, mild pale malt and nothing unsettling. The taste is very light cereal grain and vegetable notes with minimal bitterness. The feel is thin bodied with average carbonation and a mostly dry finish. Overall, average light beer.

Cheers all!

 

This week I picked up a mixed 24-can case of Tree House IPAs. Plenty of intersting ones in there, but I was most anxious to try this one. This is The Giant, and 8.1% hazy. I think the can art on many Treehouse beers is great, but I really liked this label (that's a painting, not a photo).
Here is the can's text-
(Double IPA, 8.1%, 16oz) We were dreaming of a magical orchard where the trees were as tall as the mountains. Berries bigger than cars and mangos the size of a bus hung from the branches in the morning mist. The deeper we strolled, the bigger the fruits became, and at the center, a peach tree stood in the clouds. The Giant is a beer that came to us in a dream.
We imagined a beer as pale as a white summer peach with a cornucopia of juicy and tropical notes. Utilizing our palest malt bill to date, this hazy Double IPA pours a milky yellow hue with a frothy head. Using our newest lots of Citra, Nelson, Motueka, and Nectaron, sweet fruit aromas jump from the glass. Aromas of sugared grapefruit and crushed white grapes give way to sticky notes of pineapple juice, nectarines, and peach smoothies.
This beer is not in the BA database yet.


Purchased cold two-days ago at Charlton for $21/4-pack. Kept cold until severed. Poured to a pretentious tulip glass from the 16oz stamped 11.03.25.

The body pours out densely opaque and quite yellow, I would say SRM 1 or 2. I wanted to say “creamed corn” but that has too many bad connotations with beer, this one is far from that in aroma and taste anyways. The white head is frothy and aggressive at first but settles to an ultra thin covering with a thicker ring. . After fading, lacing is very good throughout the session. 4.25

The aroma is a wonderful mix of peach, grapefruit and pineapple with jolly rancher sweetness. 4.75

The taste is very nice. I can taste the Citra and Necataron but the Nelson seems hidden. Maybe the Moteuka is the finish. Grapefruit and stonefruit definitely come on strong without sourness, and there is a nice hop bitter finish to balance the sweet start. 4.75

The mouthfeel is classic TH Hazy IPA. Carbonation works well with the creamyness. 4.75

Overall this is a very good IPA if you like fruityness and thick mouthfeel. 4.75

 

Bought this for my sister when she came to town for a family reunion, she's a red ale fan and she said, "tasty'n delicious".
Beer pours a clear reddish brown, big foamy, lingering khaki head with red highlights in the rain, leaves a well laced glass. Nose gets a bit of hops, caramel, toffee. Taste buds agree, some, malty sweetness in the finish. Barrel only noticeable in the finish. A bit thin, nicely carbonated. Definitely drinkable!
My sister has good taste.

 

I will chime in tomorrow and i think ive got a good one in the chiller. The missus and I spent the last three days manning the kitchen for our annual fundraiser for our church's music program. It was exhausting, but we raised over $2000 this year - more than I can ever remember going back about 20 years. We kept our prices low given what's going on and it seems we made it up in volume. It was worthwhile, but I'm 67 and was the youngest person working the event - we're definitely feeling that this is our last year. Go out with a bang - it's time to let some young folks take charge.

 

Nice work! My dad and step-mom are both retired(ish) ELCA Lutheran ministers. They can certainly relate, and I am sure I will hear about very similar experiences at Thanksgiving dinner. You earned a special beer or two. I look forward to hearing about your experience with a special beer or two tomorrow!

 

American Solera - Calico

16oz can served in a curvy Monhegan pint glass. No date that I can see on the can. Bought it late August at Full Throttle Bottles.

Pours murky yellow-orange with a smallish head, dregs at the bottom of the can are turbid with sediment. Smell is citrus, maybe lime and tangerine, floral and juicy sweet notes. A little hint of the old hay I was hoping wouldn't be there, but it's a tradition for regular IPAs to languish in the fridge while I prioritize fresh hops in September / October...

Taste is more on the juice and pith side, the old hay is lurking in the background but not very noticeably unless I look for it. Pithy bitterness is nice, a bit of a resin character.

Mouthfeel is big, thick, yet still dry, with a little bit of a chalky texture. Overall, pretty good.

 

Side Project - Simpatico hoppy lager

16oz can served in a curvy Monhegan pint glass. Canned 08.14.25. Got it from @not2quick.

Pours slightly hazy bright yellow with a huge head (in fact foam started to emerge from the can as soon as I cracked it, despite quite a bit of rest in the fridge). Carbonation is quite noticeable. Smell is lager yeast, lemon rind and lemon leaves, more vague citrus.

Taste is dominated by citrusy lemon hops, not quite resinous. Lager yeast is definitely there, strong deep bitterness in the aftertaste.

Mouthfeel is light and smooth, fairly dry. Overall, very nice lager.

 

Social Project - Space Oddity, 10.1% IIIPA via trade with @russpowell. 16oz can served in a curvy Monhegan pint glass. Don't see a date.

Pours murky yellow, a little darker in the widest areas of the glass, medium sized head that settles pretty quickly into a thick, dense, even skin. Lots of carbonation. Smell is screaming hops, makes me think of a lot of the fresh hops I just finished for the season. Booze is noticeable (shocker, at 10.1%, right?). Dank, dense vegetation.

Taste is nice. Juicy, boozy, but a nice resin bitterness to counteract those, tons of citrus rind and tropical fruit skin bitterness. The aftertaste is a hella bitter kick in the soft palate.

Mouthfeel is big, thick, soft. Smooth. This is a really, really nice beer.

 

4 Hands Foam First Czech Pilsner. 4.8% ABV; 3.89 overall


Pours a somewhat hazed gold with 2+ fingers of ivory colored head. almost drops bright, above average head retention & better lacing

S: Grassy, floral & herbal hops, breadyness once warmed up

T: Follows the nose, some dryness & grainy notes up front, faint lemon as well. Sweet grainyness/bread notes mingle grassy & herbal bitterness, plus dryness once warmer. Finishes with grassy & bready notes, some perfumy hops

MF: Medium body, soft carbonation, good balance. A little more carbonation would've driven the flavors more

Solid Pils, doesn't sing to me, but serviceable enough. Drinks fairly easy

 

Founders gilded bock
...a very dark tea/ruby appearance with a lasting off white head
...just below average carbonation with a slightly thick body
...aroma is malt,caramel, toffee, coffee and cacoa. Theres some bourbon and mild wood.
...taste is sweet but not overboard and allows all the elements in the aroma to come through.
....overall its really well done and despite the sweetness I wouldn't call it a dessert beer

 

KC Bier Co. Never Say DIPA, 8.0% ABV; 3.63 overall


Pours a hazed gold with 2 fingers+ of eggshell colored head. Clears a bit, stellar head retention & lacing, stayed effervescent throughout the pour

S: Melons & tropical fruit, citrus once warmer

T: Pomelo, dryness, passion fruit, watermelon & cantaloupe up front. Pink Grapefruit, passion fruit & a little dryness once this beer is warmed up, a little bit of pear as well, just a kiss of aspirin. Finishes with green melon, pomelo, dryness & woody hops

MF: Medium body, restrained carbonation, a little gritty. More carbonation please, okay balance

Easy to drink for the style & ABV. Wouldn't buy another sixer, but wouldn't be mad if I saw it at a party or tailgate

 

Okay back to back Pick it up slackers

Boulevard Rum Barrel Aged Pecan Pie Imperial Brown Ale, 13.5 ABV; 4.13 overall


Pours an effervescent chestnut/auburn with one finger of fast falling tan head. Zero head retention & lacing , viscous enough

S: Tons of Rum barrel, brown sugar, a little maple syrup & the booze of course. Some coconut late, nose fades a bit

T: Rum barrel, molasses, a little vanilla & toasted coconut & a kiss of pecan up front. Pecan is more dominant, but not as much as the rum, still plenty of coconut showing up, works for me, but swims against the tide of any Pecan Pie I've ever had & I've had a lot! as this beer warms up. Finishes with barrel dryness, pecans, coconuts & dark rum

MF: Medium body, restrained carbonation, some warming

Super drinkability, rum characteristics dominate, but enough pie shows up. The coconut I can't explain, but I do enjoy it, minor deduction on taste

 

Allagash gatherwell bourbon barrel aged stout
....solid black appearance with zero head
. ..light carbonation with an above average body. Bit of a thick mildly creamy feel
....aroma is roasted coffee beans and espresso which dominates but there is also some wood and bourbon.
...taste is almost dry, roasted coffee beans,malt, wood and bourbon
...overall its really nice,tough to have after a sweeter beer as this is dry but not bitter

 

Busy weekend at FOBAB (Festival of Barrel Aged Beers). Might be my sixth and last, not because it’s not a great festival, but because just getting too old to drink a lot of these type of beers (had about 28 oz today plus a 12 oz NA, and about 16 total yesterday as a volunteer - it’s a long shift at least for me at 6 1/2 hours)). Would still highly recommend for those able to enjoy four hours Jake @brewskis , volunteer experience fun as well if your pouring.

Anyway, got two large enough pours to start today to get in at least a decent take, before shifting tomorrow to my regular full can / draft allotment. Also enjoyed a 12 oz NA Kolsch, which I will formally rate in an upcoming weekend with my comped six pack from their vendor.

Seedz Mitten Life

3.86/5 rDev -4.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75



11/08/25 - (Draft, FOBAB - Lager Lounge) (Chicago, IL) Draft Notes: 4.2% ABV 4 oz draft.

Appearance: Four oz sample pour into FOBAB plastic cup, yielding a slightly unfiltered golden base, light carbonation, and an egg white head with nice generous lacing and base cover. 4.25

Aroma: Nice grain, lager malts and mineral water. Some cracker Pilsner malts and hops as well, not sure of the actual types used, but really enjoying. 4.5

Taste: Malty and a bit sweet, sugary, light corn and grain. More like an AAL than expected with the aroma. 3.5

Mouthfeel: Light and easy drinking, sweet overall with light dryness. Sweet malt start to finish. 3.75

Overall: Nice Lager, though woukd have preferred less sweetness / malt. 3.75

Cerveza 7 Vidas

4.09/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25



11/08/25 - (Draft, FOBAB - Wild Beer Mixed Culture (acidic) (Chicago, IL) Draft Notes: 4 oz draft, Wild Beer Mixed Culture (acidic) competition - Beer #1113. Flanders style red ale, aged in red wine barrels (french oak) with our house culture (Lacto/Pedio/Brett)+ Roeselare culture.

Appearance: Four oz sample pour into FOBAB glass, yielding a bronze amber crystal clear base, no carbonation, tam white lacing. 4.25

Aroma: Nice strong tart cherry aroma. 4.0

Taste: Tart cherries front and center, red wine flavors and light oak backs well. 4.0

Mouthfeel: Light and easy drinking, medium sweet enhanced body. Tart cherries start to finish. 4.25

Overall: Solid Flanders Ale, glad this Peruvian brewery brought this all the way from Peru for our festival. My first beer from Peru, nice start for their country on my end. 4.25