New Beer Weekend #280

Lmao what are those prices!?!? How do they even sell any of them??

 

Had mine last night and agree, it’s very good. Glad it wasn’t overly sweet. Not sure I’ll get another at the price point, but GI should know that if they lowered the price of the “basic” variants by like $5 they would probably sell twice as many and make up for the lower cost. Just saying

 

I’ve been rather busy the past couple weeks and have t been present here as much as I enjoy. But, today I have a good hour to relax right now and enjoy a beer before I have to walk my daughter over to ukulele lessons.

This is from the Oktoberfest release from a while back at Toronto’s Blood Brothers Brewing. I find that over the years, Blood Brothers has grown into a very reliable brewery for just about any style, traditional or innovative. So, I was curious to try this bourbon barrel aged Schwartzbier they released combining a bit of both sides of that spectrum.



Pours a deep black brown with a significant, tight creamy mocha head that dissipates very slowly. Moderate lacing.

The aroma is a blend of roasted grain and black coffee, with hint of whiskey in the background.

Taste follows closely. Lots of nice roasted grain notes, some char, coffee, dark chocolate. Very enjoyable. The barrel is mildly present and appreciated as such.

The body is on the lighter side, but with a light creamy quality.

This is really quite good. I think they were smart to let the barrel provide a mellow, background quality to the beer. It stands in behind the beer itself which works perfectly for my tastes. I’d gladly buy again if they ever make it again.


Cheers!

 

I have so many beers in my fridge that would be right up your alley. Have you received any from the states with success? I’m still upset about that last box being lost when it was en route to you.

 

I have not. I may try to have a friend send up some stuff on my dime to test the waters. Illlet you know.

 

Good afternoon NBW
I chose to pick this up based on reviews here and I'm not sorry.

Founders Red Sweater IPA

12oz CANNED ON 093025 poured into a tulip pint glass at fridge temp 6.5% ABV. The beer pours bright copper tinted amber with khaki colored head. The head recedes to a thin cap and leaves plenty of lacing. The aroma is mild with faint citrus and pine over sweet malt. The taste is bittersweet pine and earthy notes over pale malt with moderate final bitterness. The feel is thin to medium bodied with average carbonation and a mostly dry finish. Overall, very good IPA and perfect for cooler weather.

I may have another new one before we get closed down. Cheers all!

 

Goose Island Bourbon County Brand 2025 Reserve Imperial Stout, 15.2% ABV. Pours thick and black with a one-finger light-brown head that dissipated quickly, leaving some lacing. Aroma is rye, rye spice, and chocolate. Flavor follows, no sweetness, slightly bitter, mint in the aftertaste. Thick and smooth mouthfeel, overall excellent. Not nearly as good as the double barrel or the chocolate praline.

4.31/5 rDev -1.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

 

I can be that friend…

 

Trying my first “Shugga “ today! This pours a beautiful copper, almost reddish color with a moderate creamy head. Sweet malty aroma. Somewhat boozy sweetness upfront gives way to a pleasant bitterness. Thin to medium mouthfeel with a very dry finish. Overall, a very enjoyable offering!

 

Good Sunday afternoon, New Beer Sippers and commentators. I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!

I have a lot of very good Stouts that I'm waiting to try, including BCBS and Kane A Night to End all Dawns variants but at Thanksgiving dinner I was gifted a bottle of 2024 Houtenhamer from Burial Brewing that I've been salivating over ever since. This is the first BA Imperial Stout I've had from Burial. Up till now it's been all IPAs and honestly I've felt the brewery was overrated. But this Stout proves I was too quick in my assessment. It is superb!

Poured at 63°. It is nearly ink black and boasts a foamy, medium-mocha-colored head with better than average retention for the high gravity. Very nice aroma featuring chocolate, coffee, caramel/toffee, brown sugar, and leather. The taste feature rich cocoa, freshly-brewed coffee, toffee, nuts, and earthy char. While initially the bourbon notes were quite hot, they mellowed as the Stout breathed in the glass. The Stout is not overly sweet and each sip ends with lingering bitterness. The mouth feel is rich and thick with low carbonation, and there is no avoiding the 15% ABV. This is a big, slow sipper.

I'm a Stout guy at heart and I think this one is World Class. If the nose equaled the taste, then it would be in 4.6+ range.

4.54/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I think I'll be reviewing quite a few Stouts on New Beer Sunday over the next few weeks. Cheers!

 

Next up today was this tasty barrel aged brew from Boulevard:

35th Anniversary Ale | Boulevard Brewing Co. | BeerAdvocate





I thought it was good, although I do wish the barrel aging had more of a kick. Really just a minor complaint though since it was tasty. Should have one more new to me brew next, cheers again!

 

Elora Borealis from Elora Brewing Co.

From a 473ml can dated 02 Oct 2025. Poured into a pint glass. A two finger bubbly white head on a cloudy gold. Excellent head retention. Sheets of foamy lacing.

Lots of tropical fruit, some pine in the nose. The taste follow the nose. Some citrus peel. A bit thin in the taste department. The flavours are quite muted compared to the nose. A dry, long, very mild hop finish.

Medium body and carbonation. clean and easy drinking. Overall true to the style but not great.

3.51/5 rDev -8.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

 

With my last new beer of the weekend, I had a pretty good rum barrel aged imperial stout and think this was my first beer from the US Virgin Islands too:

Hurricane Thanksgiving Rum Barrel Aged Mama Wanna Imperial Stout | Leatherback Brewing Company | BeerAdvocate





Wouldn't mind trying more from this brewery if I ever got the chance to. Happy NBW and have a great week everyone!

 

Troeg's Double Blizzard.
I had reservations about this, but their Double Perpetual has been outstanding. Had one last night. And Troegs is real good at doubling down.
This is ok, not under-whelming, but pretty much what I'd envisioned.
Not a lot of aroma and OK head but thins out fast. Mouthful a little "thin" also. Taste-wise, well yes hoppy and bitter as advertised.
Not disappointed, think this will fare better on further tastings. Also a good option on BYO restaurant outings (Pennsylvania!).
Bright spot, it's got me convinced to go find some more Double Perpetual.

 

Today's first New Beer is a style I haven't reviewed yet. It comes to me courtesy of the generous @jonphisher and New Jersey's Tonewood Brewing.

(You will see those names again today in this thread.)



Tonewood Vermillion Vienna Lager

This beer starts off gorgeous, with a bright amber-gold body capped with creamy, vanilla-white foam. The foam leaves lacing as it shrinks, before I've even had a chance to take a sip.

As gorgeous as it looks, though, Vermillion only gets better from there. The nose is classic Vienna lager: toasty, mildly sweet malt with balancing noble hop character that starts out spicy and turns floral as it warms. (Not that I've given it much of a chance to get warm.) The flavor starts moderately sweet but dries out quickly and takes on a delectable nutty character. Gentle noble hop flavors ease in next. Bitterness rises to meet the malt, then recedes in a long, clean finish of nutty, toasty malt, whole wheat breadcrust, and floral/herbal hop spice. Medium-light-bodied with moderate carbonation and a crisp, snappy finish.

Vienna lager is kind of a tough style for me. I've had too many that erred on the "too sweet" or "too bitter" side. This one threads that needle to perfection. I'm starting to think that Tonewood Brewing can do no wrong.

Thanks, Jon!

 

To finish of my long weekend, I was at Equal Parts Brewing this afternoon. What do you know, they have a handful of new beers

Firs up is...

Arbor, Citra Hopped Pale Ale, 5.4% ABV



Pours with a touch of haze, a yellow/orange color. A white head forms with good retention and rings of lace left behind.
Aroma is ..oh, that Citra hop character is up front and center. Orange peal, grapefruit. Not particularly complex, but it doesn't need to be, as its so very aromatic.
Taste wise, follows the nose, with all the Citra hop character you can handle. Lemon, orange, grapefruit. There is more of a malty presents here, some grains and sweetness. Even a woody hoppy flavor I can get sometimes. A light lingering bitterness.
A medium body with effervescent carbonation, and finishes dry. I can easily drink a lot of this.

You get exactly what is advertised here...a Citra Hopped Pale Ale. I do get a bit of a woody flavor, which is sometimes a detriment for me with hoppy beers. Though its very light, and doesn't get in the way of anything else really. So, its just an all around solid and well made Pale Ale that I want to have some more of.

Overall score is 4.05, A-
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/44383/771622/?ba=champ103#lists

Next is...

Ketzer, a traditional Helles Lager, 4.8% ABV



Pours a perfectly clear golden/yellow color. Plenty of noticeable carbonation bubbles rising to the top. Forming a white head with good retention and lacing left behind. This is a looker.
Aroma is of baked bread, biscuits, and a light spicy hoppy character. Simple, but spot on for the style.
Taste wise, like the nose, big on the baked bread. This is like walking into a bakery. A bit of honey like sweetness, the lightest of spicy grassy hops. Which, again, leaves just a bit of bitterness. Subtle, simple, and excellent.
A light body with effervescent carbonation. Crisp, and finishes super dry and clean. Downed in big gulps, and I want more.

A great example of less is more. A really well done Helles Lager that has a bunch of character, that a lot of other local breweries seem to miss for whatever reason. Excellent all around.

Overall score is 4.21, basically an A
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/44383/771623/?ba=champ103#lists

 

Last from Equal Parts...

East End Hefeweizen, 5.9% ABV



Pours with the requisite haze for the style. A white head forms with good retention and lace left behind.
Aroma wise, there is a little too much plastic phenolic character up front here. That does give way to banana esters.
Taste wise, the plastic like phenols are still here, up front as well. The banana esters are the show in the finish.
A medium body with lower carbonation than expected. Certainly not a favorite example of the style for me, but its not hard to drink at all.

A few nit picky things just add up here. Not really bad at all. There is a big yeast presence, but its not the right kind of yeast I'm looking for. Which is more phenolic than anything. There is an ester like character as well, but seems to be second fiddle. Not bad, but not doing it for me.

Overall score is 3.52, B
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/44383/771624/?ba=champ103#lists

And that is it for me on this long holiday weekend..cheers all

 

So glad you liked it!

I've drank a lot of this beer since it became a seasonal staple three years ago and you described it better than I could. I had one yesterday and it just hits and finishes so perfectly.

Feel like you really hit the nail on the head describing this one with the "threads the needle" comment just above.

I couldn't agree more...Beer For Life

 

The Wolf - Ancho Chiles, Cinnamon, Vanilla and Cocoa Nibs
12.5% stout by 3 Sheeps



Poured from a twelve ounce can, body is an opaque black with neither head nor lacing.

Aroma is an enticing mix of vanilla, cinnamon and cocoa nibs.

Taste is an enjoyable mix of the adjuncts with a just trace of barrel. A trife more bourbon heat would have been a fine addition. Not a RiS, there is no malty char or bitterness. The peppers provide a light addition without heat. Often pepper addition adds a vegetal flavor that I find unpleasant, but I'm happy to report no off putting flavor here. The sizable ABV is well masked.

Mouthfeel is medium to heavy and lightly slick. Carbonation is there but barely noticeable.

Enjoyable stout full of flavors but not overly done.