New Beer Weekend #284

Well, here's probably my last of today's new brews, this one from Braxton Brewing aged in New Riff Distilling's OKI Bourbon barrels:

OKI Bourbon Barrel Ale | Braxton Brewing Company - Braxton Covington | BeerAdvocate





Was a little skeptical at first seeing this was a barrel aged golden ale, but then this is a Braxton Brewing product, and they do a great job with their barrel aged offerings. Would like to try this one again sometime! Should have some more new brews tomorrow and Sunday, cheers again everyone!

 

I still use Imgur, it's not quite as many steps as you're doing but it's not quite as easy as it used to be either. I found that I have to use my pics as a new post, and then I'm able to link and copy pics into BA from that post that I want to use from there. Wish I knew an easier way to post pics too.

 

I'm in a green mood...
Anomalism: Citra by ISM in Lomg Beach, CA.

A really pretty beer. Golden crystal clear drink topped with a fairly dense white cap. Decent retention and light lacing.
Tasty nose: orange rind, lemon zest and a bit floral.
Flavor starts off with the citrus notes but then moves into a generally green note that hints at pine resin and grass.
Mouthfeel is on the lighter side. Carbonation dropped off a bit too.

3.72/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75

 

Thanks! I've got some new ones I'm excited to try out over the next few weeks. They have to be better than a sour maple porter.

I usually use Flickr. Easy to upload but there are a few steps to get the proper link to post to BA. You get 1000 images for a free account. I'm hoping we get the new BA forum software and direct image upload well before it hit that limit.

 

Thanks, I will look back into Imgur again and definitely check out Flicker.

 

I email my pics from my phone, download as Jpegs, upload to Imgur on my Windows based desk top. Wouldn't even attempt this from my Android phone

 

Visiting my family in Champaign/Urbana for the holidays. A visit to one of my favorite local breweries...

Riggs Beer Company is a fantastic German style brewery. On occasion they do something a little different...this is one of those.

Their so called Cornwine, at 8.4% ABV. Essentially a barleywine but using their own grown corn for an adjunct. I added this as an American Strong Ale, but could certainly be either type of barleywine as well (English or American) so shrug, don't know where this should go



Pours a clear reddish color. A small, bubbly white head forms and recedes quickly. That leaves no lace behind.
Aroma is dark fruits of cherries, toasted malts. There is a unique cinnamon like spicy character.
Taste wise, follows the nose, with dark fruits, just a touch of toasted corn bread. Plenty of sweetness, with a burnt caramelized sugar flavor. That unique spicy cinnamon flavor is there as well.
A medium to full body. Moderate carbonation that becomes viscous and syrupy. Warming booze, and overall an interesting sipper.

Riggs has made a Wheatwine, and Barleywine before. I have never come across a "Cornwine" before. Following in line with the other variations, its interesting and good, if not exceptional. Though, I still prefer their excellent traditional German styles. Saying that, its good to try something like this on occasion.

Overall score is 3.68, B
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/46277/774560/?ba=champ103#lists

Will see if I get around to reviewing Triptych's English Brown ale this weekend as well...

 

I hope everyone enjoyed their holiday however it was celebrated. It was fairly quiet here and today was pretty much the day to do nothing. It's under 20 F now and we're supposed to get 3 - 4 inches of snow overnight.

I grabbed this one from Just Better Beer's closing sale:



Mortalis Aphrodite - a 10% sweet/milk stout brewed with cacao nibs and chocolate. There's some lactose added, too. That's what the bottle says...description on the data hive says milk chocolate, malted chocolate, cocoa, lactose. Ok...onward...

Pours syrupy thick and essentially black although it shows some deep brown where light feebly tries to get through. Nice cap of tight, brown bubbles that only lasts a minute. There's a very thing ring at the edge and the liquid clings like Karo to the glass.

It smells like malted milk chocolate candies and roasted malts. Its gonna be sweet - that's pretty clear to the nose.

This is stupid decadent. It's rich chocolate and plenty of it. Still thinking malted milk balls - it has that character to me. The base stout provides a nice, roast malt counterbalance to the sweetness. And it is very sweet yet not cloying. It's got just a tiny bit of alcohol sting on the back end and it's plenty warming for 10%. The lactose is in there - definite sweetness and it boosts the milk chocolate flavor. In the aftertaste I getting just a bit of cherry. So this isn't super-complex but who cares? It's a great flavor package.

It's not as thick as the pouf suggests - it's about medium- bodied but it's silky smooth and luxurious feeling. Little bit of astringency and it finishes a little dry despite the sweetness and body. I'm resisting the urge to gulp...enjoying the warmth.

This is a good one and a nice sipper for a chilly (and chill) night. Easily in the 4.3 neighborhood.

My legwarmer...unconscious...one of the herd of 3 rescued Shih Tzus we think is about 10 years old.

 

Winnowing down my HOTD supply with one of Mr. Sprints' best achievements (which drinks better than my rating might suggest) - cheers!

4.33/5 rDev -2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

2019 vintage - poured from a 12oz bottle into a snifter.

Clear black bean body with goldenrod highlights and a whisper of beige foam receding to an ephemeral collar; no lacing, unapplicable retention.

Molasses, smoked pepper, dark chocolate, fig, leather, port, and black bread in the nose. Quiet yet powerful and inviting.

Smooth malt forward palate entry. Flavors lumber along and unfurl slowly with complex alternating waves of stone fruit, cocoa, and malt. Low bitterness throughout; long earthy, medium-dry finish. Wonderfully integrated flavors with no perceptible oxidation or other off notes.

Creamy, medium-bodied, low carbonation, fairly concealed alcohol.

An idiosyncratic yet masterfully crafted strong ale perfect for contemplation on a Winter's eve.

 

Time for my new beer of the night.

Focus Group: Krush - Blackstack Brewing - St. Paul, MN - American IPA - 7.1%

I am really enjoying this beer tonight. Nice flavor to it.

Review:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/48592/727166/#navigation
3.94/5 rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
From a 16oz can with no date on it.

This beer is clear and is golden in color. There's a 2 finger white head. The head retention isn't the best, and there's no lacing on the glass.
The aroma has a nice light hop note to it. It has a bit of a citrus character to it.
The flavor is based on the hop used. It has a bit of pine to it and it also has a slight citrus note to it. There's a bit of bitterness to the beer.
The body is nice and full feeling. There's a bit of a clingy feeling.
I am happy with this beer. It has a nice flavor and a good feeling.

See you all tomorrow. Cheers.

 

Eschenbacher hell
...super clear light gold appearance
...close to medium carbonation with a slightly watery body
...aroma is grain,cereal, grainy cracker, malty, earthy honey
..taste is a bit sweet balanced with an earthy bitterness in the finish
...overall a decent hell but not necessarily memorable

 

American Solera Mango Tango Boomboom Smoothie Sour Ale, 8.0% ABV; 4.51 overall

Pours a turbid orange juice color with one finger fluffy orange-ish head. Looks like a smoothie not a beer, some head retention no lacing, but plenty of pulp

S: Tons of Mango, some citrus once warmed up, a little marshmallow

T: Mango, orange, vanilla & coconut upfront. Tons of tropical here, mango, oranges, coconut & plenty of vanilla once warmed up. Finishes sweet, tropical & with plenty of citrus

MF: Medium body, slight carbonation, a little pulpy, sticky on the teeth, some acidic notes. Very creamy

Man, I would love to put this dangerously drinkable beer in the summer rotation, working well on this Boxing Day with record heat. This was in my sweet tooth wheelhouse

 

St. M hefeweizen
...burnt orange appearance with no head whatsoever
...lighter carbonation with the thicker body i often associate with a hefeweizen
...aroma is banana out front followed by spice, orange, dark sweet dessert bread and buckwheat.
...taste has a little sweetness with a bit of dry earthy bitterness. Bread and candied orange peel that lingers in the aftertaste
...at first not impressive but as it warmed the flavors intensify and become way more enjoyable

 

went to return a bunch of cans and bottles today and I found 3 new beers in the first three stores, so on a mission to find a couple beers on someone’s wants list and found so much more.

The pour is stout black with a tan head that left reasonable lacing.
The taste, maybe it was subliminal suggestion, but I got chocolate. Like Hershey’s chocolate. And that stayed with me throughout. But the stout kicked in and gave a good fight. Pretty good fight actually. Lots of roast and coffee - just enough to keep it from being too sweet.
The feel is oddly ideal, it fits the flavor profile to a tee.
OA, it’s almost a perfect pastry stout. If you like that sort of thing.
Cheers all!

 

Hidden River - Makeshifter IV, black IPA

16oz can served in a big snifter. Can is dated 10/31/2025. Got it from @Braunmeister_1943 in a trade.

Pours black, slightly translucent, with a thin even coating of head with a few bubbly blemishes. Smell is roasty resin, pine and coffee.

Taste is similar, throw in some molasses and caramel and cola. Grapefruit rind becomes slightly more orangey. More singed bread crust, burnt coffee.

Mouthfeel is light and smooth. Nice beer.

 

More from my Kansas haul. Drekker Igor's Horn Black IPA w/Simcoe & Mosaic Hops, 5.7% ABV; 4.29 overall


Pours an effervescent chestnut/mahogany with a thumb+ of tight tan head. Very nice head retention & lacing

S: Very roasty, some pine, a touch of chicory late

Follows the nose, some Baker's Chocolate, a little dryness up front. A little chicory coffee as this beer warms up, more roastyness & more pine, some cocoa on the fringes as this warms up. Finishes a little dry, piney with roastyness & chicory

MF: Medium body, fairly creamy carbonation, nice balance

Drinks fairly easy, solid take on the style

 

Toppling Goliath hallow rush maple ale
...dark orange ruby tinted appearance
...light carbonation with at least a medium body
... aroma is definitely a strong hit of maple syrup that comes off fresh and not the least bit artificial. Some dark fruit and raisin bread as well as a little bit of earthiness
...taste is again definitely maple syrup but theres also raisin bread and some dryness
...overall its a really unique well done beer

 

14 year old daughter she wanted to watch Stranger Things, but not alone...and I'm the only one in the house qualified to watch it. We started yesterday, hit season two today. I'm reviewing a beer while she's playing with her and her brother's single serving ice cream maker Christmas presents, so here goes...

Hidden River - Eyeless, WC IIPA

16oz can served in a big snifter. Cannot read the date on the can, but it looks like both the month and the day start with a 1, so it's probably fine. Plus, I got it from @Braunmeister_1943 and I doubt he'd send me old stuff.

Pours clear glowing amber orange, small dusting of very fine head, fair amount of very fine active carbonation. Smell is orangey and piney. something musty, some earthy bitterness

Taste is pine bitter but screaming citrus. Moderate honeysuckle sweetness fighting its way through to be noticed. Lemon rind, earthy bitter, some hay, something fresh-cut-woody.

Mouthfeel is light and smooth, nice tickle of prickliness. Overall, pretty solid WCIPA.