New Beer Weekend #285

2022, that's when most of the stuff you sent was can dated. Rusty Rail was hit or miss on the information though lol. The sours boded well and most others, even the hazy IPA Fog Monster was 4.03 and I drank it Jan 26, 2025(March 2022 date). I basically just put all the hoppy stuff in the back of the fridge after I got it. Even a Hop Butcher I got from @GreenBayBA after the 2023 Metalfest, it was still just as dank in 2025. I've had plenty of IPA beers that just change into awful malt and pine bombs, but sometimes I get nice surprises. I can't even explain it, but cans are an obvious reason why it's possible. I have about 5 cases left of old stouts and stuff in my cellar / Pantry. I have been chipping away at them to get more space. Still going to total wine for a mixed 6 every month or 3. Still working on all the reviews, and uploading backlogs

That Andy Weir Hail Mary is on my soon list. I got the audiobook narrated by Ray Porter so I know the narration is going to be spot on. I read Artemis a few months ago with Rosario Dawson as narrator and it was really good, like 3.9 good. Similar to Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Heinlein in some aspects.

The average Audience of my wife trying to sleep. Chuck always sleeping on her legs, or kneading them lol. Boat sleeps in the pillows between us, but walks all over her randomly at 16 pounds


Another BIF pull from @Ozzylizard . (512) Whiskey Barrel Aged Double Pecan Porter 2021, bottle # 7913. Poor head retention and no lacing on the glass. Aromas of big caramel, brown sugar, toffee, milk chocolate, pecan nuttiness, raisin, plum, fig, bourbon, toasted oak, yeast earthiness. Taste follows with big caramel, brown sugar, toffee, milk chocolate, pecan nuttiness, raisin, prune, fig, date, bourbon, toasted oak; light vanilla, coffee, smoke, molasses, tobacco, leather, herbal, grass, pepper, and yeast earthiness. Bit of charcoal after the finish. Light-medium herbal/roast bitterness and whiskey/oak tannin spiciness on the finish. Medium carbonation and medium plus body; creamy/lightly silky malts; lingering sticky hop and oak tannin dryness in the mouthfeel after the finish. Lingering warmth of 9.5% and booze of barrel after the finish. No real complaints to have about this, not super rich but adequate, good malt complexity, with unique fruity/earthy English yeast character complexity. I don't like cigars at all, but this would be one of those cigar smokin beers with the type of malt/yeast complexities offered. Didn't necessarily scream pecans though, but if you like English style porter, this is certainly one of them. 4/5


Cheers

 

Good morning BAs! Today’s new to me beer is Boulevard’s Whiskey Barrel Stout (2024):



Fast fizzy, light tan head; no Retention, ring, nor lace; black with gray edges body; no legs on swirl. Whiskey; dark fruit nose. Whiskey; bittersweet dark chocolate; some sugary plum; Oaky vanilla as beer warmed. Medium body; medium minus carbonation; minimal warmth from 11.8% ABV; a little thin. Overall, a solid barrel aged imperial stout; good balance of base and barrel; pleasing whiskey and chocolate finish.

Score: 4.15 rDev +0.5%
A beer that I would gladly drink again.

Cheers y’all!

 

Good day BAs!

Today's New Breakfast Beer:



Speedway Stout - Vietnamese Coffee - Rye Whiskey Barrel-Aged (2025) from Alesmith Brewing. One16 fl oz can from Alesmith on-line, ordered 20/12/25, received 30/12/25. $ 17.17/can (including shipping) ($ 1.073/fl oz). Reviewed 04/01/26, review 3666. Note that I use DD/MM/YY protocol.
Stamped on can bottom “CANNED ON 09/02/2025”. Stored at home at 40 degrees F. Served at 51.0 degrees F (can suggests 50 - 55 degrees F) in a hand washed and dried Jester King snifter. The final temperature is 63.6 degrees F.
Appearance – 4
First pour – Deep Brown (SRM 30), Light barely passes through.
Body – Black (SRM 40), opaque. Under direct light, same. When rear-lite, black and opaque, except at the edges; ruby at the bottom edge and deep amber at the top edge.
Head – Average (Maximum 2.0 cm, aggressive center pour) Tan brown lightening to biscuit as it oxygenates, high density with average retention, ending with a 0.4 cm crown and a thin complete cap.
Lacing – Good. A band of near-microscopic to tiny bubbles remains attached to the crown by short, thin columns. Multiple bands develop as the can is added/finished and the initial band disintegrates to multiple tiny islands.
Aroma – 4.25 – Coffee and a bit of chocolate. No alcohol (13.89 % ABV according to the label).
Flavor – 4.25 – Initially slightly sweet with mild coffee and weak chocolate. Initially, not tasting any rye barrels, but as it warms, some peppery spiciness emerges. No hops. No alcohol. No dimethylsulfide or diacetyl. Mild, pleasant gastric warming.
Palate – 4 – Medium to Full: Creamy: Soft but lively carbonation.
Style: Follows the BA style description.
Final impression and summation: 4.25 Uncredited label art. Decent stout but doesn’t live up to my expectations – definitely needs more rye! Well-hidden ethanol and very nice degenerating lacing – tasty and attractive brew overall. Certainly better than yesterday’s Toasted Coconut Vietnamese Coffee Speedway stout.
Rating 4.21, rDev -7.3%

Good stuff but a bit overpriced.

 

Well time for my next entry in this thread, and Imgur is working today.

Take A Hike - Blackstack Brewing - St. Paul, MN - American Pale Ale - 5%

This beer is honestly just ok. The flavor does seem a bit light for the style, but there's nothing bad about the flavor.

Review:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/48592/757041/
3.57/5 rDev -5.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
From a 16oz can with no date on it.

This is a very clear looking beer.. The color is a nice golden color with a steady stream of carbonation bubbles rising in the glass. There's a 2 finger slightly off white colored head. The head retention is decent and there's a bit of lacing left on the glass.
The aroma is dominated by the hops. I do get pine notes from the hops.
The flavor is, light. I am getting some hop flavor. There's a touch of pine flavor from the hops. There's a bit of bitterness on the backside. Some malty bread notes also show up in the beer.
The body is very clean feeling with a nice crispness. Decent body and fullness. Some clingy feeling.
The beer does taste good, but the flavor is a touch light overall.

I may have one more in me today, so I will likely be back.

 

Chuck loves some sun.


The Bruery A Gust Of Wind Tripel. 12/20/2022 can date. Been in the fridge a while. Nice fluffy head retention and lacing on the glass. Aromas and flavors of big apricot, peach, pear, red apple, white grape, melon, pineapple, lemon, citrus zest, peppercorn, clove, honey, bread, wood, herbal, grass, light banana/pine, and yeast earthiness. Light-medium pine/woody bitterness and pepper/clove yeast spiciness on the finish. Light yeast tang/tartness. Medium-high carbonation and medium-plus body; balanced creamy/bready malt and sticky/light resinous hops in the mouthfeel. Lingering hop resin dryness with no cloying/astringency. I remember tradewinds being one of my favorite US made tripels when I reviewed it in 2014. This one's quite a bit heavier/sweeter with more stone fruit flavors, but all around still nicely complex on yeast flavors that are similar to tradewinds. 4/5


Cheers

 

Long Sleeves from Slake Brewing

From a 473ml can dated 11/04/25. Poured into a pint glass. A bubbly tan head on a slightly hazy light amber brown. Good head retention. The head diminishes to a layer that sticks around. Sheets of fine lacing.

Faint caramel in the nose. Toasted malts up front. Some fruit. A moderately bitter hop finish.

Smooth. A medium/light body and good carbonation. Overall a fine drinkable ale.

3.92/5 rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

 

Good Sunday afternoon, New Beer Sippers and commentators. This afternoon I am reviewing the last of the 2025 A Night to End All Dawns variants: German Chocolate Cake, an Imperial Stout aged in bourbon barrels with cocoa nibs, vanilla beans, toasted coconut, and toasted pecans. It is my favorite of this year's 3 variants and the only one of which I wish I had bought more than one bottle. It's pricey and I generally stock up on bottles of the original ANTEAD.

Poured at 60.4°. Its color is an inky, oily black. The frothy, medium-mocha-colored head dissipated almost immediately leaving some adjunct detritus floating on the surface. It has a great nose featuring chocolate, vanilla bean, coconut, leather, and a strong whiff of bourbon. Its taste is absolutely decadent with sweet chocolate cake batter and vanilla, along with shaved coconut. As it warms I also note the presence of pecans. There are also hints of cigar and earthy char. The barrel effect is distinct but not distracting. The flavors blend seamlessly. This Stout has a thick, velvety mouth feel with low carbonation. This year's batch carries a 12.2% ABV but it isn't overtly boozy. It is ideal for slow sipping for dessert or paired with some sharp cheese to balance savory against the sweetness.

4.43/5 rDev +4.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Kane is the consensus top brewery in New Jersey and its barrel-aged Stouts, Barleywines, and blends are top shelf. Cheers!

 

I first had this in Florida in the Late 80s, remember it being crazy sweet

 

Beer from Ukraine

Mykona IPA, listed as an English IPA, 5.0% ABV; 3.19 overall

Pours a bit of a mini-gusher, nothing horrible with a slight cloudy gold with 2 fingers of wispy pearl colored head. Never quite drops bright, great head retention & lacing

S: Some breadyness, some diacetyl, grassy notes once warm

T: Bready sweet, a little bit pear & herbal hops, mineral dryness & grassy notes. More sweetness, plenty of grassyness & some dryness once warmed up. Finishes a little dry with grassy bitterness, some bready sweetness & some soapy notes

MF: Medium body, creamy carbonation

No idea how old this beer is, there's a lot # A clear one & done. I'd take this over an AAL, but not by much. I rounded up because this didn't get TLC at the retail POS for sure. Seems skunked, but nose doesn't indicate that. Couldn't finish

 

NBS #2 is +57, a DIPA collaboration between 2 New Jersey breweries: Varitage Beer Works in Bloomfield, and The Druery in Pennington. The name refers to the distance in miles between the two breweries. It is hopped with Galaxy and Elani. I received this can on New Year's Eve from a guest. Although undated, my research indicates it was released in August 2025 so it's old by my standard. Nonetheless, I can tell that it is a very good collaboration. It suffers from the bitterness that comes from age. So I tried to discount that in my review:

It pours a hazy, muddy orange with a half finger cap of fluffy, bright white foam and a thick sheen of lacing. It has a fragrant nose with lemon, lime, pineapple, peach, and soft floral hops. It has a fruit punch quality with lots of pineapple, tangerine, lime, and peach. It has a bitter aftertaste that I attribute to age. Actually, I'm impressed by how well it has held up. This ale is full-bodied and appropriately carbonated. The 8.4% ABV gives is a nice kick. Overall, I am impressed by this collaboration between Varitage Brew Works and The Druery. I suspect this was dynamite when fresh.

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

I've been to The Druery but haven't made it to Varitage yet although it is closer to home. I hope to visit within the next few weeks. Cheers, NBW!

 

I thought I'd reviewed, but not the case. Means I haven't seen it since 2005...

 

River City Brewing ( KS ) Rob's Fluffernutter Nirvana w/ Peanut Butter, Marshmallow, Caramel, & Toasted Coconut, 14.0% ABV; 4.04 overall

2024 Stoutman Series

Pours fairly thick with traces of carbonation & mocha colored head. Zero head retention & lacing, very viscous

S: Coconut, marshmallow & a little cocoa, great nose

T: Follows the nose, some molasses notes as well. Some caramel notes once warmed up, more coconut, marshmallow & cocoa once this beer warms up, some peanut butter flavor, but seems artificial. Finishes with some booze bite, marshmallow, coconut, a little dark chocolate & some peanut flavor

MF: Fairly chewy, low carbonation, a little warming & lot sticky

If the rest of the beer was as good as the nose, an A beer alas not the case, flavors are not in total harmony & more carbonation is required

 

Corona Premier.......It is not the worst.

 

Been wanting to try this for years. Stumbled upon one last month, said now's the time.
Nice head, good color, served in a Nonic pint.
At (my) cellar temp. Coolish.
Slight piney aroma, nothing spectacular. We're not from America here.
Thin mouthful at first, but finishes stronger.
Taste, slightly bitter. 4.2% ABV but drinks a little stronger.
Okay, now I know why I held off on this for so many years. Glad to have tried, not my cup of tea.

 

Left in the Dark
10.2% stout by United Brewing

Thanks to @HoppingMadMonk for this beer. Cheers Alan.



Poured from a pint can, the body is a mahogany black with mocha colored head. Fluffy white head. Light lacing.

Aroma is an enjoyable nutty, malty nose. Taste follows nose and features a sturdy malty char. Upon finish, a lingering bitterness arises. No sign of the high ABV.

Mouthfeel is medium. Carbonation good.

Enjoyable Russian Imperial Stout.

 

Another Sunday afternoon walk in the Tualatin Valley Nature Park, followed by a tasty stout at a cozy taproom. This time the taproom is Central Station Taps (near the Beaverton Central light rail station), and the beer is Maine Mean Old Tom on nitro.



Maine Mean Old Tom

Look:
Strong backlighting shows this beer is dark reddish-brown with amber highlights. The dense head of tan foam shows terrific retention but doesn't leave much lacing.

Smell:
The nose is full of dark roasted malt with touches of chocolate syrup and a little coffee. It has to warm up a bit for the vanilla to come out.

Taste:
Flavor leads with roasted malt and a splash of black coffee. It opens up nicely in the middle, softening the roastiness with dark chocolate, waffle cone, vanilla pudding, and a dot of dulce de leche. Not too sweet! The finish is roasty and drying.

Feel:
Medium-bodied with a light, creamy texture and fine carbonation. No sharp corners or rough edges to be found.

Overall:
The only "mean" thing about this beer is the name. This is a good, roasty, mid-strength stout with a superb mouthfeel and well-balanced flavors. I dig that this beer doesn't have to beat you over the head with vanilla character.