New Beer Weekend #295

My favorite beer at the recent German Bierfest in Philly

I once again attended the annual German Bierfest which is held at the Pennsylvania German Society at 6th & Spring Garden streets in Philadelphia (February 27th).

https://www.phillybierfest.org/

There are lots of beers at this event, both German brewed and US brewed. According to the booklet there were about 40 German brewed beers and over 70 US brewed beers. Too many brands to try them all but I got my fair share.

I wrote a ‘trip report’ for a friend who could not make it to the event and a snippet from that report:

“FWIW, the Gold Medal winning beer for me at this event was East Branch Riemer Pilsner. I went back for several pours of this beer!”

Last Friday I met some buddies for beers & lunch at a local craft beer bar/restaurant and bottle shop: Capone’s in Norristown, PA. As good fortune would have it there was Riemer Pilsner beers in the beer refrigerator. It was not a long decision as to whether I would buy this beer (a four-pack).

Will this beer taste the same from the can as to those I enjoyed at the beer festival?

Served in my Polish Pilsner glass:

Appearance:

Straw/Golden yellow colored with a three finger white head.

Aroma:

An enticing combination of is bready/cracker-like Pilsner Malt aroma and hops aromas of herbal/spicy.

Taste:

The flavor follows the nose with bready/cracker-like malt with a pleasing combination of herbal/spicy flavors from the hops. There is a notable bitterness.

Mouthfeel:

Medium bodied with a dry finish.

Overall:

In one word: excellent. Just as good from the can as on draft.

On the can’s label it states: “a classic German style Pilsner”. Yep, that pretty much sums things up.

For folks who might be curious as to the brand name Riemer, it is the name of a man-made lake in Munich.

Cheers!

 

Alright...getting in early today for me

Went to Saint Arnold this afternoon...had a new beer there, and got a new beer to go...

First up is Ye Olde Ale, 7.6% ABV. This is their seasonal Christmas Ale, aged in new American Oak Barrels.



Pours a somewhat murky ruby brown color. A small beige head forms with no lace left behind.
A malty.nutty aroma with light fruity esters. Enjoyable even if I'm looking for a bit more...
Taste wise, nutty, malty sweet. Fruity esters with cherries. A very light oak character, that has a touch of vanilla sweetness. While nothing is over the top, its all well balanced and works together.
A medium to full body. Moderate carbonation that becomes ultra smooth. There is a bit of an oak tannin character as well. Enjoyable to drink, and something interesting at the brewery.

The oak character is very light, and if you are not looking for it, might be almost neutral. Though in my experience that is more typical with "new oak" instead of something that has been used with spirit aging or something that is charred in anyway. Its interesting and good for what it is, but I still prefer regular Christmas Ale for what its worth. Still, a nice unique offering to try if at the breweries beer garden.

Overall score is 3.8, which is right at my personal B+ cutoff.
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/337/792200/?ba=champ103#lists

Just cause I can, I also love their big fountain in the beer garden made of old brewing equipment...



Had a great Fish & Chips for lunch, but you will have to go to the WBAYDN thread for that

 

When I got home, and after my stinking Fighting Illini lost in the Big Ten Tournament (again in overtime ugh)...had this from Saint Arnold...

Monk's Temptation, Quad Aged in Bourbon Barrels. 14.4% ABV.



Pours a dark, nearly opaque brown color. A bubbly beige head rises to about two fingers at first, but recedes to a ring. That eventually dissipates with no lace.
Oh, this is aromatic. A rich malty aroma of baked brown bread, dark fruits, caramelized sugars, and that wood/vanilla oak aroma.
Taste wise, like the nose, this is intense. That malty character goes from baked bread and dark fruits, to Belgian candied sugars, even dried bakers chocolate. Then that deep wood/vanilla/toffee character from the Bourbon barrels lingers. Everything compliments, and the base Belgian Quad is not completely covered up.
A big full body. At first, lively carbonation, but as this breaths this becomes rich, chewy and decadent. The warming alcohol, big body, and sweetness all play to make this a nice, but slow, sipper. Which becomes more nuanced as this warms.

If I haven't mentioned this already...yep this is big on everything. In a way that complements, instead of overwhelms. Its something I just want to sit with, and enjoy over a long slow sipping session. As this becomes more enjoyable and nuanced as this warms, I'm all for that.

Overall, 4.19, easy A- score for me.
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/337/792203/?ba=champ103#lists

And spinning some Joe Henderson, one of my favorite Blue Note jazz musicians. His debut for Blue Note, Page One, and Mode For Joe. A really good sipper, while spinning these records.

 

Though I do not have a new beer tonight I will tomorrow but I'll entertain your question @Beersnake through the post of @JackHorzempa.

Though my sample size is small the one beer I've had from East Branch was their kölsch, Der Bach, shared in NBW #18, in 2020, so I'm gonna go with yes the above beer has that "thing" from the brewery, well made German style beer.

One day I hope to try more of their beers if the opportunity arises.

--------

I'm excited about the beer I plan to purchase tomorrow to share here tomorrow, has my favorite hop in it

 

I’ve had a beer so new I actually had to add it!

Founders Easy Drinking Beer.

Start with Kona Big Wave. Make the hops a bit cleaner and fruitier. Make the beer just a bit lighter.

That’s this.

 

East Branch Brewery is located in Downingtown and would be on your way to visit the 'Mecca' brewery of Troegs in Hershey.

Just sayin'

Cheers!

P.S. And maybe buy a 12-pack of Yuengling Lord Chesterfield for the trifecta!?!

 

Hey, adding a new Founders beer is something, its a popular brewery that someone is always ahead of the game with...at least IMO ha. I get to add a lot of Houston area beers cause just not a lot of people add beers in this area unfortunately. That use to not be the case, but almost all the old guys I knew in the Houston area aren't here anymore or on that whats it app...Untappt or whatever its called, ha.

 

I should add my Houston beers from two years ago!

 

If they haven't been added before...

 

New-to-me brew and brewery is Green Wizard by Widowmaker Brewing of scenic Braintree Massachusetts. A fine example of a West Coast IPA. Cheers!



An easy pour released two fingers of off-white creamy foam with very long retention and large blotches of lacing. Semi-clear golden-straw body, yellow-straw in bright light.

Citrus hops greet the nose with substantial malt aromas (cracker, biscuit and white bread and toast). In the background, piney hops, toasted grainy wheat and faint alcohol.

Semi-dry with above average hop flavor and bitterness, herbal hop flavor appears and balances with the citrus and pine. The middle is hop controlled with citrus leading (lemon, lime then grapefruit), followed by a big malt taste (a blend of toasted barley, wheat and grain). Faint taste of alcohol, acceptable for a 6.66% ABV. Remaining semi-dry throughout, the finish is surprisingly low on bitterness and high on hop flavor featuring pine. Pine and the remnants of malt linger.

Medium bodied with above average carbonation, balanced with a soft malty feel.
This is one of the best West Coast IPAs I have enjoyed from an East Coast brewery.

 

Happy Friday again NBW. Thanks for starting us off @Beersnake. I Was up all night after sleeping all evening again. I read Apple in China by Patrick McGee all night to finish it off before it was due at the library at 11 AM. 5/5 book, amazing look into their supply chain and transition to 90% of manufacturing of Hardware in China. Pretty bleak work conditions and shitty use of temporary workers so they never get any benefits. Workers at Foxconn took their own lives because they were working 18 hours for a few dollars a day. He also mentions a book called Dying for an iPhone by Jenny Chan all about that in greater detail. Started Atoms and Ashes by Serhii Plokhy about nuclear disasters in history. Started off with Castle Bravo. 4.25/5 so far. I have to get moving because I have 3 books due in 3 days at the library.

Roxie had kittens last week and they are doing well(5 total now, 2 passed away on day 2), just starting to open their eyes now.

Got some Wendy's with a gift card, their prices are pretty reasonable compared to McDonald's and I like the taste more. I used to work there in high school on the grill lol. Double big bacon classic and chili cheese fries.


Fair State Brewing Pils. Canned 5/13/2025. Great head retention and soapy lacing on the glass. Aromas of lemon, cracker, white bread dough, herbal, floral, grass, wood, peppercorn, pine, and light yeast earthiness. Taste follows with lemon, cracker, white bread dough, herbal, floral, grass, wood, peppercorn, pine, and light yeast earthiness. Medium pine, herbal, woody bitterness on the finish. Medium-high carbonation and light-medium body; fairly crisp, clean, refreshing finish. Balanced bready/grainy malt, and sticky/light resinous hop mouthfeel. Lingering hop resin dryness with no hop astringency. Very clean lager flavors with minimal fruity/yeasty notes. Very flavorful for 4.9%. Perfectly balanced clean pils malts and Hallertau Mittelfrüh hop flavors. Zero warming ABV. 4.12/5


Cheers

 

My first Milk/Sweet Stout and a new brewery, Alpine Lace by WeldWerks Brewing Co. of scenic Greeley Colorado. Cheers!



3.94/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A sturdy pour produced two fingers of soapy tan foam with average retention and a lasting ring; small blotches of large bubble lacing remain. Very dark (almost black) brown body, semi-opaque with ruby-amber highlights.

Milk chocolate and marshmallow greet the nose followed by cocoa with faint toasted and roasted bready malt, powdered milk, caramel and confectionary sugar.

Sweet taste of (mostly) chocolate quickly changes to a semi-dry, astringent roasted taste melded with booze. Low bitterness at first also rises quickly from roasted malt/booze. Adjuncts rule over malt flavor. Brewers' notes: "Imperial milk stout brewed with milk chocolate, milk sugar, cocoa powder, marshmallows and 150 lbs. of Swiss Miss hot cocoa mix", this is the majority of the taste. The finish is dry with average bitterness, drawn out with chocolate flavor remaining with a long aftertaste of cocoa, milk/lactose, roasted malt bitterness, booze and sugary syrup.

Full bodied with lasting carbonation, in spite of all the adjuncts and the ups and downs in flavors, a balance is somehow struck. It warms very well; sweetness rises as it becomes smoother. Lactose taste/smell is below average; alcohol is noticeable and warming yet moderate for 7.8% ABV. The back and forth of dry bitterness vs. sweetness is a battle worth participating in.

ALCH-008
01/23/26

 

New-To-Me brew and brewery is Milk Stout Nitro by Left Hand Brewing Co. of scenic Longmont Colorado. Cheers!




4.12/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A moderate through-the-head pour released a pinky finger of creamy tan head which lasted to the last sip and left dissolving/sliding sheets of lacing behind. Semi-opaque dark brown body (almost black) with copper-amber highlights, bright light barely shines through.

Low smell of cold coffee and cream (lactose) followed by chocolate, roasted and bready malt and faint indistinguishable hops and alcohol.

Semi-sweet with low bitterness at first, chocolate taste is equal to coffee with roasted malt and lactose close behind. Hop flavor (floral/herbal) is high for the style with a low roasted malt astringency and a very low alcohol taste. Malt flavor remains roasted tastes first with toasted wheat/sourdough bread. The end of the middle taste quickly dries as roasted malt, with a rise in bitterness, takes over and lessens the sugary sweetness. The finish is slow and relaxed as hop flavor rises ahead of the average overall bitterness with sweetness dropping off and roasted tastes lingering.

Medium-full bodied (a hair light during the middle) with impeccable carbonation (Nitro), lactose taste/smell is below average and a bit sugary yet adds some richness to the feel. Warms very well, coffee and sugary sweetness rise equally. Very smooth and balanced, easy on the adjuncts. Alcohol is under control, subtlety warming.

PACKED ON DEC 29 2025

 

Cheers to @Beersnake for kicking us off. This beer I am drinking now,I claim no expertise on. Just thrilled I've got to try so many. cheers @MutuelsMark

Treehouse Fog Town Pacific NW Plislner with Mt. Hood & American Tettananger hops, 5.2% ABV; 4.19 overall

Pours a bright & effervescent gold a thumb of pearl colored head. Average head retention & better lacing

S: Very bready/doughy at first, some grassyness & herbal hops

T: Grassy, lemons, breadyness & spicy/peppery hops & dryness up front. Herbal & grassy hops, lemons, bready & cracker notes once warmed up, some soapy hops as well. Finishes dry with grassy, herbal & citrusy hops, cracker notes atoo

MF: Medium body, fairly firm carbonation, nice balance

Spot on, would've swore this was from Germany, so easy to drink

 

Chuck always cuddles up on top of me when I lay in bed listening to books all day


3 Sheeps Wisconsinitis Cream ale. Good foamy head retention and light spotty lacing. Aromas of lemon, pear, red apple, cracker, corn, wood, herbal, grass, and yeast earthiness. Taste follows with lemon, pear, red apple, cracker, corn, wood, herbal, grass, peppercorn, pine, and yeast earthiness. Medium pine/woody/herbal bitterness on the finish. High carbonation, light body, and very crisp/clean/refreshing, nearly bone dry finish. Balanced light grainy malt and sticky/resinous hops in the mouthfeel. Light lingering hop resins and minimal hop astringency. Great balance of Hop, yeast, and malt flavors. Slightly watery but very spot on for the style, and extremely drinkable. 3.83/5


Cheers

 

Mad props to @masamuel2 for this wonderful beer. Other Half/Omnipollo/Green Cheeks Collab

Dankest Dads DDH Imperial IPA, 8.0% ABV; 4.38 overall

Pours a fairly hazed straw color with a thumb+ of tight pearl colored head. Great head retention & stellar lacing

S: Super weedy, a little melon, peach, grapefruit & white grape once warm

T: Follows the nose, some green melon, lime, a little pineapple & dryness up front. More cattyness, green melon, cantaloupe, a little tangerine, dryness & pineapple once warmer. Finishes plenty dank with pineapple, pink grapefruit & green melon

MF: Medium body, fairly firm carbonation, slight acidity& some sticky on the teeth. Nice balance

Superb drinkability, totally lives up to the name