New Beer Weekend #303

I like dogs, but prefer cats. Agreed on being quieter and cleaner/self maintaining, but we still get pet sitters on vacation. I grew up with a Golden Retriever and an Australian Shepherd in the house from being a toddler. I would get either breed again easily, except they need a lot of exercise. Some of the smartest dogs out there. Also purebred dogs cause as much as an old car these days, and I got 7 Cats for free off the street!

Funny you say that the solid Gray Kitten, because that's Graycyn, the one we are keeping. We love Gray cats. Boat is a Nebelung and 11 years old this year. Still healthy on blood work, a lot of bigger cat breeds (he is Nebelung) can live up to 20 due to lower inherited health risks. He's over 15 lbs. A bit yelly but not anywhere near as loud as dogs. He is the closest cat to me in the house, loves head boops anywhere anytime. A lot of dogs breeds get overly excited too much(which I don't like with misophonia), our loud neighbors have 2 pittbull adjacent dogs, and closing the door hard 3 doors down the sidewalk will set them off. We are still trying to get adoptees for 3 of the kittens. Black Female: Midnight; Gray Tortie Male: Stormy; and Male Brown Tabby: Spearmint All wonderful kitties on personality.

Also here is Boat with Stormy and Graycyn shrimping on the floor. He gets a bit antsy with all of them running around lately. It's a zoo in here, but fun!

 

Irori, a peat smoked Scotch Ale from Godspeed Brewery

From a 355ml can dated Dec. 03 2025, poured into a pint glass. A scant two finger bubbly tan head on a very dark reddish brown. the head soon diminishes to a layer that sticks around.

Moderate smoke in the nose. Much more smoke in the first sip. Toffee. Some sweetness and caramelized malt. A long dry finish.

A medium body and carbonation. Overall a fine Smoked Lager. The peat smoked malt is an interesting variation. Well worth a try.

4.15/5 rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

 

Real Ale TXPA, 5% ABV.

Real Ale's description says in part:
TXPA is a Texan take on the most popular craft beer style in Australia, the Extra Pale Ale. We use a touch of rice and some fun enzymes to create a dry and refreshing ale packed with loads of tropical hop aromas.



Pours a brilliantly clear golden/yellow color. A bubbly white head rises to about two fingers at first. Though that quickly recedes to a ring.
Aroma is citrus, kind of tropical, berry/melon fruit salad in the nose. Not much else, but enjoyable.
Taste wise, up front, loads of citrus and juicy fruity salad flavors. A cracker, almost toasted malt character (enjoyable from the rice I assume), and a great lingering bitterness. This is bright, and well balanced.
A light to medium body. Effervescent carbonation that is super spritzy and clean. After some initial fruity hop sweetness, this finishes wonderfully dry. Which all leads to something really enjoyable to drink, that I can down in big gulps.

A really well done Pale Ale. Everything is balanced, and the finish is beautifully bitter, clean and dry. I will be getting more of this, and it might be a new staple for me. Also, with the breweries description of using "some fun enzymes" to create a super crisp bite, has me thinking of the "Brut IPA" style This would certainly fit into that for me. And a good one at that.

Overall score is 4.18, easy A-
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/458/757439/?ba=champ103#lists

I poured a couple while spinning some Kieth Jarrett, one of my favorite piano players, and he turned 81 this weekend...

 

Happy NBW everyone! Started off my stouturday with this tasty barrel aged imperial stout from Upland:

Teddy Bear Kisses - Bourbon Barrel Aged with Cacao & Orange Zest | Upland Brewing Company | BeerAdvocate



It's been a while since this was last reviewed here on BA. Looks like Upland brought this one back at the end of last year and aged it in Bulleit Bourbon barrels for this batch. I enjoyed it, worth picking up a 4 pack if you're ever at one of the Upland locations. Should be back in a little while with another new beer or 2, cheers!

 

Greetings NBWers - didn't have high hopes for Armenian craft beer, but this isn't half bad and I might have to give the brewery's other offerings a shot (pils, weizen, vienna lager) - cheers!

3.79/5 rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Undated. Poured from a 500mL bottle into my Unibroue tulip.

Gamboge to gold gradient, not quite clear, capped by a very low magnolia crown; fine sticky lacing; good retention.

Gentle aroma balanced between malt and fruity yeast esters. Subtle but complex with peaches in syrup, hints of coriander, and an vague floral note.

Sweet and powerful palate entry. Candi sugar and malt eventually give way to a pop of earthy bitterness then peppercorn and lavender. Medium dry finish with some alcohol flavor and some returning flavors of challa/brioche.

Medium bodied, soft yet well carbonated.

A decent take on the style, exceeding my expectations.

 

I decided to make a road trip today and I amat BeerClub Brewing in Mora, MN .

The Weisse Zone - Hefeweizen - 5%

The flavor is slightly less than the aroma let on, but what I am getting is delicious.

Review
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/53755/798744/
4.08/5 rDev +5.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On tap at the brewery.

This beer has a beautiful murky golden color to it. It has an almost citrus juice look. There's a sticky white head with great lacing on the glass.
The aroma is a beautiful wheat aroma. I get a ton of banana and cloves in this beer. There is also a slight citrus hint in here.
Up front I get the wheat flavors of banana and cloves. This is a bit more mellow than the aroma let on, but still decent. I do get a citrus notes from the hops used in making the beer.
Great body in this beer. It has a refreshing feeling to it.
This beer is quite tasty. I am enjoying it a lot.

I may be making another stop before I head home. See you all later.

 

For my 2nd new brew of the day, I liked this KBS variant from Founders:

KBS - Double Oaked | Founders Brewing Company | BeerAdvocate





Thought it was good, but the barrel was kinda weak here too so if that was stronger it would have been better. Think I'll have one newer brew, cheers again!

 

Need to finish reading the Saturday posts, but loved your open Jon! Nice hockey evening yesterday with Montreal and Vegas winning. Also enjoyed several great beers reviewed Friday including @cjgiant 's classic..

Way behind getting to sleep too late, so no pre Sox game brewery visit but thankfully have new beers including this one from a favorite West Coast Brewery.

Beachwood Brewing - Huntington Beach Peak Pursuit

4.19/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25



Full review linked above. Think my Overall notes peg this succinctly:

Picked this up for the classic old school hops, and glad the experimental new hops added, not detracted from the experience. Still getting old school pine and bitterness paired with a wonderful fruit basket. Glad I picked this up. Recommend and would buy again. 4.25

Will return like overnight hours for a Sunday pour, and hopefully a post Sox game stop for a second or more tomorrow.

 

I am making another stop in Pine City, MN at Three Twenty Brewing.

Leichtbier - Light Lager

Wow, the flavor is so strong in this beer. Just delicious .

Review
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/49804/792704/
4.08/5 rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
On tap at the brewery.

Clear light golden color to the beer. There's a hint of carbonation and a bit of a white head.
The aroma is a light cereal grain aroma with a floral hint.
There is a strong floral flavor in this beer and it is a flavor that just lingers on my taste buds. The floral is added on to by a very pleasing biscuit and grain flavor. There's also a hint of a honey-like sweetness that just adds on to the flavor profile.
The body is very full feeling for a light beer. Clingy feeling. Very refreshing feeling.
Wow, this is downright delicious and amazing yet refreshing at the same time.

I might be headed straight home after this, but, who knows. It is a beautiful day here in central Minnesota.

 

STiVO Keller Pils ~ Russian River collab with Firestone Walker

STiVO is an unfiltered and dry-hopped Keller style pilsner brewed with our friends at Firestone Walker. Originally conceived in 2016 as a mashup of Firestone Walker’s Pivo Pils with our STS Pils, STiVO is a happily arranged marriage of both recipes, which were already quite similar except for the hop bill. We ultimately split the hops down the middle between Pivo’s German Saphir hops and STS’s French Aramis hops, both of which belong to the new wave of European hop cultivators.

TASTING NOTES: CRISP | LEMONGRASS | DRY

HOPS: SAPHIR, ARAMIS

ABV: 5.35%

Beautiful fresh hop aromatics, earthy, green and grassy with some lemon scents. Like walking into an active brewhouse BA.

Bready malt base. Lemony biscuit/scone with more earthy hops. Very green and grassy. Alfalfa like. Dry and crisp with some lively carb and a flush of bitterness on the back end.

Overall excellent per the style. Probably the best I have ever had. Worth the price of admission!

 

Nice glass and sound like a nice beer. I wish I had both.

 

What an awesome way to start this thread, thank you!

 

No pictures yet, but I’m currently quaffing on a Koch from Bombastic Brewing and working my way through some Torpedo from Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.—somehow both are new to me. Later tonight I’ll crack open Black Sail Serenade from The Bruery, and I’ll post a picture when I do.

Hope everyone is having a great day, my friends.

 

Yes, I saw it.

 

Good beer is good medicine.

 

With my last new to me brew of the day, had this good golden imperial stout from The Bruery:

The Dip | The Bruery | BeerAdvocate





As I said in my review, I've had some mixed experiences with golden stouts in the past but this is one of the better ones I've tried. Still a little weak on the barrel but otherwise it was tasty. Think I'll have some Bourbon or Scotch next since I'm in the mood for one after these barrel aged brews. Cheers!

 

Lager or Ale? Also was wondering the ABV? That looks & sounds great