New Beer Weekend #288

For my understanding, is this thread for new beers - for you, or new to BA, or is it just a beer appreciation focus? I would totally support the later.
I believe I have seen people refer to an earlier post/review they made on a beer, that´s why I am asking.
I had proposed a thread where one discusses and reviews a beer new to BA, but I got shot down because I was replicating this thread.

 

Goose Island Bourbon County Stout Cask Finish

Appearance: Black, small head fades out quickly.

Smell: Smells really good, rich chocolate, vanilla from the barrel, a little cherry note.

Taste: Chocolate up front, then a kind of cherry note (that is how I sometimes interpret alcohol). After warming up, it is smoother, more chocolate without the stabs of alcohol. Thick body. Finishes with plenty of chocolate and wood.

Overall: A beer given to me for my birthday, this is a tasty barrel aged stout. Not sure how much different it is from regular Bourbon County. Pretty strong booze note that I get from most/all of the Bourbon County line.

 

Dodgefather
11% stout by Hoppin’ Frog

Yesterday I drank this stout at the brewery's Stout Day while having a spirited, fun chat around the bar. No written notes.



Poured from tap, the body is as dark as night. Neither head nor lacing.

Aroma was a delightful mix of coffee, chocolate and a very light cinnamon. Taste follows nose and the mix sits atop of a healthy malty char that does not become bitter. The cinnamon is very much present but it subordinate to the coffee and chocolate. Super easy drinking as the sizable ABV is masked.

Medium mouthfeel with barely perceived carbonation.

Tasty stout I sipped for more than an hour.

 

Echigo Koshihikri Rice Lager, 5.0% ABV; 3.72 overall

Pours an effervescent & bright gold with 2 fingers of pearl colored head. Minimal head retention & lacing

S: Cereal notes, grassiness, perfumy hop notes & pears once warmer

T: Follows the nose, lemony notes & a little pear up front. Sweet with a little grainyness, lemons, pears & grassiness once this beer is warmer. Finishes with citrus notes, pears, bready sweet notes & grassiness

MF: Medium body, fairly crisp carbonation, good balance

Serviceable take on the style, that is a little hoppier than I expected. On its own or with food this would work



Edit: all the sudden it wanted to post some random picture

 

Oh, that is terrible news! I had the pleasure of meeting Dave twice in person. He was such a nice guy and a great conversationalist on many subjects. His and @utopiajane's hosting of New Beer Sunday was something I looked forward to all week. RIP, Dave!

 

Good Sunday afternoon, New Beer Sippers and commentators although the news about @cavedave makes it bittersweet, indeed. My first review this afternoon is Rieger Rye Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout from Logboat Brewing Company in Columbia, MO. This bottle was given to me for Christmas by my daughter and son-in-law, with whom we visited this week. If you like Rye Whiskey, then this Stout is for you although it is not clear whether it is a one-time release or will be brewed again.

Poured at 64°. It is very dark walnut in color with a half finger cap of frothy, light mocha foam that eventually dissipated leaving clouds at the top of the pour. It has a fragrant smell of roasted malt, toffee, chocolate, leather, nuts, and a good dose of whiskey. At first, the taste is fairly sweet with notes of chocolate and caramel/toffee. But the initial sweetness is quickly balanced by the Rieger Rye Whiskey. The impact of the barrel aging is strong. When first poured it was fairly boozy but it mellowed as it breathed in the glass. Other additions to the taste include charred nuts and hints of earthy peat, anise, and tobacco smoke. This Stout has a pleasantly viscous feel with moderate carbonation, and it drinks big for 9% ABV.

4.35/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

I'll be back later with a new, local TIPA. Cheers!

 

This is supposed to be a thread for beers that are new to us when we're drinking them. People refer to other posts/reviews because sometimes we'll be trying these beers around the same time or within weeks of each other.

 

It is oddly poetic we learn of the passing of @cavedave on a Sunday, a day he helped start for many of us for years in the mid-2010s. It is uplifting seeing how many BAs beer journeys he affected.

I have met quite a few BAs in person over the years, but never had the chance to meet Dave, though we had a few interactions in private chats beyond the open threads. I think I may tell about one or two of them in this thread on an upcoming Sunday when I have a proper new beer in my hand.

To a true lover of beer and the caretaker of this thread for a time and those who remember him

 

Triptych Brewing ~ Czech Style Dark Lager 5.3% ABV
Savoy,IL

A Czech Style Dark Lager featuring imported, floor malted, Czech malts. Plus Bohemie, Premiant, Sladek, & Saaz hops. Brewed to celebrate winter.

Thanks to @falloutsnow for the trade! Every Triptych beer you sent me has been quite good and this one is no exception. Fairly spot on per the style imo. Subtle and nuanced flavors with primaries of toasted pumpernickel and cocoa powder. A touch of woodsy herbals there. Soft feel with some light chalkiness in an otherwise dry finish.
Added to the BA database

Raising a glass to the legendary BA @cavedave
May he rest in peace

 

Good afternoon BAs! A new to me Other Half DIPA - DDH Citra + Mosaic:



Canned 11/17/25. A Tavour purchase. One from Niger of fluffy white foam; hazy, deep gold body; some clarity under excellent cap Retention; heavy ring; medium heavy lace. Nose is grapefruit, tangerine, and pine. Taste follows plus mangoes; firm malt base. Medium body; semi soft feel; moderate minus carbonation; no astringency. Overall, an outstanding hazy lite DIPA with a tropical fruit finish beyond the citrus flavors.

4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5
Score 4.5 rDev 0
I added beer to database.

A delicious beer I can’t wait to share with my pals at the pub. Cheers!

 

To add to this: many of us are also accepting of beers you've had before but have never reviewed on BA. As long as it's a new beer or new review, most of us are happy to have it in the thread. I'm sure there are some who grumble at that slight expansion of what counts as "new," but thus far they haven't thrown us out. I think most would grumble about this turning into a general appreciation thread as there are already of lot of them available in the virtual bar forum.

 

NBS #2: Refined Aggression, a TIPA from Double Tap Brewing Co. in Whippany, New Jersey. It is hopped with Citra, Galaxy, and Dolcita (a new hop to me). I had a mug at the brewery yesterday. It is a true tropical punch. The peach from the Dolcita is the star. It is a very tasty ale!

Reviewed less than a week after canning. It pours a dirty tangerine color with almost a full finger of fluffy, bright white head and thick coating of lacing. It has a vibrant, fruity aroma of lemon, lime, peach, and pineapple, along with some sweetness in the background (oats?). It drinks like a tropical punch with big notes of peach and pineapple. The Dolcita hops add big flavor to the Citra and Galaxy. There is mild, clean bitterness throughout and zero hop burn. This ale is full-bodied with pleasant carbonation, and it drinks very easily for 9.5% ABV. Overall, this is a terrific recipe, well-executed. Also, the name is very appropriate. For a big, fruity, TIPA, it is surprisingly delicate. An excellent offering!

4.46/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

I hope everyone has a great week. Cheers, NBW!

 

This will be my last new to me brew of the day, I liked this one from Wooden Cask:

Corruption (Coffee & Vanilla) | Wooden Cask Brewing Company | BeerAdvocate





I liked this one, it was a good coffee/vanilla barrel aged stout.

Just remembered today is Burns Night too so I'll be finishing my drinking with a dram of whisky. Happy NBW and cheers until next weekend everyone!

 

By All Means Brew Lab High Tide Baltic Porter, 7.2% ABV; 3.74 overall

Pours effervescent chestnut with 2 fingers of tan head. Average-ish head retention & less lacing

S: Dark fruits, faint smokeyness, wanted more from this nose

T: Plums, Baker's Chocolate, roastyness, dryness & woody hops up front. Molasses, plums, & leafy hops as this beer warms up, along with a little brown sugar& Anise. Finishes with molasses, some brown sugar & Anise, leafy hops & dryness

MF: Medium body, subdued carbonation

Solid take on the style pretty drinkable, but expected more from these guys

 

Maple Warlock
8.6% stout by Southern Tier



Poured from twelve ounce bottle, the body is black with slightly tan head. Modest lacing.

Aroma is a maple candle scent; not quite actual maple syrup, but a more artificial almost burnt maple aroma.

Taste for follows nose as the maple bomb is revealed. If a basic stout flavor is here, everything is masked by maple. Normally I appreciate restraint in pumpkin spice. But this beer could use anything to combat the maple bomb.

Mouthfeel and carbonation medium.

By my tastes, a terrible beer. I won't give this one an official rating as I'll chalk it up to my own limitation. Unglaubich!

 

Struggling to pay attention to reviews what with the NFL conference championships going on, but I shot this one in. Interesting the power of this new to me Dolcita hop





Confirmed Eternal
Hazy Imperial IPA | 8.5% ABV
Tired Hands Brewing Company in Ardmore, Pennsylvania

Reviewed by beerdedking from Pennsylvania

4.35/5 rDev 0% | Average: 4.35
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
This is an excellent Hazy DIPA with Citra, Simcoe, Motueka, and Dolcita

This exhibits an interesting profile of hops with Dolcita seemingly stealing the show. Dank and ripe with serious depth, the flavors are hop forward with a serious tropical sharpness featuring a strong coconut/Mai Tai note which must be produced by the Dolcita addition. Typical Citra, Simcoe, and Motueka notes are available. However, the beauty of this beer is delivered by what would be an otherwise unknown source. Enter Dolcita. Dank citrus is available with papaya, peach, tangerine, and other similar familiar notes. Then comes the islander flavor of coconut via Dolcita which seperates this beer from other NEDIPAs of its ilk. Tropical coconut flavors come through strongly. Drinkability is high, feel is bold, sweetness is low. This is a well done hazy DIPA that challenges the palate.

 

Embrace Blended. A Belgian Dark Ale. Aged on Blended Whisky Barrels. Ridiculously expensive for 11.2 oz, 9% ABV.

Thin, thin head. Not what I was expecting.

The whisky barrel aroma is the first thing you notice after the pour has settled, leading to barleywine thoughts. Wine barrel notes also prevalent.
Mouthfeel is fairly thick, yet has an not unpleasant oilyness.
Taste wise, feels like a barleywine. Was expecting more of a Strong Dark Belgian/Quad.
Overall: uh, ok, but not a repeater. Thought this would be apt after this snow- shoveling blizzardy day in SEPA.
Oh well, this whole weekend hasn't gone as I'd imagined, so why think my first pour would defy the trend. Since tomorrow is semi-canceled already I'm gonna go against my usual practice and open another top shelf brew as my follower.

Note: NY Times exquisite Hamburger Helper recipe on the stove. Here's hoping.

 

I went to the TW today to look for some requests that I am trying to find and found out that Yuengling is now distributing to Michigan. Good grief, I drank this stuff by the case back when I went to western Pennsylvania every year for an SCA event. But now it required getting one out of recognition that it was here.
So the only one I found singled out was their Black and Tan.

The pour is deep brown, transparent looking (but not possible to see through)
The taste is much fuller than I expected, it actually tastes like a porter. The “lager” portion adds some lightness, light crackers and faint herbal hops notes. It’s actually quite good for the ABV.
The feel is lighter than many porters and a bit fuller than most lagers. Seems like they nailed it.
OA, I would be happy to drink this in the pub anytime. Better than I remembered!
Back with at least one more that I finally found singled out but is probably past its peak.
Cheers!

 

Wizards Vacation is a 5% ABV West Coast Pilsner brewed in collaboration by Pizza Port Brewing and BattleMage Brewing. This crisp, easy-drinking beer features notes of citrus, stone fruit, and papaya, utilizing Superdelic, Dolcita, and Mosaic Cryo hops.

The West Coast Pilsner is alive and well here in the West Coast 'natch and I am here for it BA
This drinks like 90% IPA and 10% Pils. The aroma and palate are bursting with a melange of fruity hop flavors. I get bright tangerine with the stone fruit by way of peach/apricot and something closer to pineapple flesh in my mind. Moderate percieved bitterness. Then comes the finish giving way to the reveal of a light Pilsner malt cracker snappiness letting you know this is not an IPA after all. Well I have been wanting to see this "style" delivered from my beloved Pizza Port at the helm BA. This collab does not disappoint. Very high crushability factor for sure! Snoogens