New Beer Weekend #299

Well thanks for torturing them for us...hope they purr on you rather than doing something else on you. My parents were apposed to dogs and cats as kid but for some reason rabbits were ok, so those were the only pets I've gotten to nurture

 

We had quite the treat this morning. As we looked out into our backyard we spotted a pair of pileated woodpeckers. Once endangered and still quite rare around here. I thought I saw snd heard them on Wednesday but figured no way. Clear sighting today, though. They went to town on the well-rotted heavy branches left in the now essentially inverted and sorted brush pile. They leave chunks of wood which I've seen in the woods before - now I know why I see that and what's making the huge holes in dead trees. Couldn't get a clear picture- too far away. I've got a gizmo that hooks the phone to our spotting scope or binoculars. Might set it up. Been a good year for birds - a plethora of Eastern bluebirds, a kestrel desperately eating suet, now this pair.

Tonight's beer is from Mast Landing. A German pilsner:



Certain Things German pilsner, 5% abv. It uses Tettnang and Saaz hops.

Glorious pour - huge, pure white pillowy foam atop crystal clear golden liquid. Great lacing after falling to a thick rings and spotty islands. It's stunning in the glass.

The smell seems a bit subdued. It's a little floral, a little green herbaceousness, slightly earthy. There's a little bready malt holding up the floor and a meek lemon top note.

The taste is along the same lines with a spicy snap at the end and some mild lemon. It's ever so slightly sweet, but herbal/grassy/floral with earthiness and bready malt rule the taste bud roost. Mildly bitter finish. Peppery spice on the back end that approaches annoying territory as it lingers and builds in sharpness.

Light to medium bodied, fairly clean, and a bit beyond moderately carbonated.

Overall, it's a decent beer. Not quite as crisp as I'd like it to be. The spicy peppery thing is really becoming a distracting factor. In my opinion it could be a little better balanced. Around the 3.75 mark for me.

 

Here we have Meubles: Blender’s Choice, a variation of the Bruery’s 2025 anniversary beer. Initial impressions below. Cheers!
____________________

4.47/5 rDev -0.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

375mL into a tulip. Pours a clear, reddish mahogany with a minimal head. Pretty much identical to Meubles.

Aroma, also similar to Meubles, starts off with subtle tart, vinous notes countered by a fruity sweetness. Ripe bing cherries, leather, oak, vanilla, caramel, toffee. Inviting.

Taste falls decidedly on the sweeter side of the spectrum—dark stone fruits, caramel malt, vanilla, and warm oaky booze. Still just a hint of that vinous, semi-sour character, but it’s fleeting, ephemeral.

Mouthfeel is medium-heavy but balanced. Conceals the ABV well.

Overall an excellent beer and, yes, I’d say it’s just a notch more refined and elegant than regular Meubles.

 

Cool story on the birds, hopefully you can sneak a pic and share next weekend. What a lovely beer.

Busy crazy day here but I enjoyed reading about all the beers today. Cheers everyone.

 

Happy that you enjoyed that beer! Great feel huh?

 

As I was perusing the offerings at the local Horrocks, looking for new beers to try. I spot this one and since it’s April (the anniversary month for Short’s) I thought it was a brand new beer.
But no, it’s last years anniversary ale.
Oh well, it’s still worth trying.

The pour is an unfiltered orangey copper color with a very nearly white head that reaches over an inch and leaves rings of lacing.
The taste is citrus forward; oranges or tangerines aplenty. Didn’t notice the peppercorns. The impression is almost a lambic, but just enough bready malts keep it from going there.
The feel is light, darn near crisp. I’ve not had many wheat wines but I think they are supposed to have some body to them.
OA, it *is* tasty, and I enjoyed it. Just not convinced it’s a wheat wine.

So 0 for 2 for me tonight. The ESB that wasn’t and a wheat wine that is more lambic than wheat wine.

Still, both were delicious and I enjoyed them. Simply not what I expected.

Cheers!

 

Great colors to be sure

 

Nelson Vice by Masthead
7.9% Hazy IPA



Poured from a pint can, the body puts a faded, hazy gold. Good size fluffy white head and good lacing.

Aroma is a delightful waft of Nelson hop. Reminiscent of a Sauvignon blanc. Taste follows nose as the Nelson is in the foreground. A light bitterness is met with a slight malt backbone, which balances nicely. Finish dries quickly but there is a brief bitterness. No sign of the ABV.

Mouthfeel is lively but light with good carbonation.

Another good IPA by Masthead. Easy drinking and a good example of how to use this somewhat divisive hop.

 

Those ladies do nice beers. Their biggest selling beer (I think) is Cowbell Cream Ale. And that Chili beer has a really big arrow pointing to creamy re feel. It's what they do good.

 

Twice this summer I have music scheduled at Big Axe Brwg and they make a Habanero IPA called Fire Cat, which @Blogjackets had and I think @superspak but it might have been a Kros-Strain brew...either way...and brother lemme tell ya, that's a hot as hell brew. It is its own force against nature but somehow I keep wanting it. Much much hotter than the Urban Growler and lustrous, but nowhere near the UG feel.

 

Right beer and brewery but wrong pic. I did drink the other one yesterday. Here’s the correct image. Cheers.

 

I can handle those beers if I chase them with a lager or Pale Ale

 

Great Divide Blueberry Muffin Yeti, 9.5% ABV; 4.19 overall

Pours an effervescent mahogany with 2 fingers of mocha colored head. Above average head retention & great lacing

S: Serious blueberry muffin

T: Blueberry muffin, coffee & a little dark chocolate up front. Blueberries, vanilla & coffee as this beer warms up, a little cola as well with restrained booziness. Finishes with blueberry, vanilla, a little chocolate, lesser amounts of coffee, booze & pine

MF: Medium body, restrained carbonation

The best one in the 12 pack besides the OG. flavor combos worked well. thought it drank great

 

Or with some dry rub BBQ....oh behave!!

 

pFriem - Vinifera Saison (2024)

375ml corked/caged bottle served in a snulip. Bottled on 03 06 24. Pours a bit too vigorously and some of the sediment went into my glass.

Pours murky pinkish-brown, rush of head on the pour that settles into a few isolated islands that are sustained by loads of active carbonation. Smell is tart, green grapey, some funk, and some kind of lush flower.

Taste is similar, more in the fruity realm, throw in something kind of plummy and some red grapes. Funk is there, too, but pretty muted and bouncy. Definite vegetation bitterness.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied and an interestingly lively creamy texture. Very nice.

 

North Park - Sing a Song of Simcoe

16oz can served in a snulip. Bought it a couple weeks ago during a trip to California, probably at Glendale Tap. Closest thing I can find to a date is 11/10 stamped in a random location on the label. Not sure why I picked this up...usually this wouldn't have passed my "confirmed three months or younger, or a reason to buy it anyway" rule for IPAs.

Pours clear yellow with a smallish head that sustains pretty well with a healthy level of carbonation. Smell is Simcoe all the way -- dank and piney with a lemon and cat pee background.

Taste is more dank and piney, but the lemon and strong. Don't get as much cat pee as I did in the smell, but it's noticeable.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied with just a hint of a chew to it. Solid beer.

 

Well, had to chime in at the end with a doozy.
Straight Jacket by Revolution
2023
Thanks to @Ozzylizard for gracing me with this glorious gem. stamped 10/25/23
Pours a profoundly deep amber to jasper in hue. But it shines. The khaki colored head starts out with larger disorganized bubbles seemingly lost among the slow forming silky froth. A thin, gossamer lacing tracks my bliss.
Nose is elegant. Toffee, meaty dates, all things caramel malts, annnnndd a smooth bourbon barrel sweetness and warmth. Some subtle char and a mild smoke chime in at the end.
Flavor starts out warm in its delivery of the bountiful malt notes. Tis time there is a balance of bourbon with all of the toffee, dates, and caramel notes. Light phenols come in a tad smoky and fruity, adding a nice nuance to the sweet.
Mouthfeel is spot on in heft. Low carbonation, slightly oily, and a little gastric warming on the finish.
Solid, lovely offering.
4.29/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25