New Beer Weekend #304

A Renegade Beer?

I am a fan of the Styx song Renegade:

“Oh, Mama, I'm in fear for my life from the long arm of the law

Lawman has put an end to my running, and I'm so far from my home.”

Which brings us to today’s beer: Outlaw Mile Hi Light Beer.

I became familiar with Outlaw beer a few months ago in the Brewers Association Annual Report thread, I learned about the new (well, new to me) brewery Tivoli and apparently the beer they produce called Outlaw Light. Apparently Outlaw Light accounts for something like 85% of Tivoli’s beer production.

Tivoli is listed as the 18th largest craft brewery so they must be selling a lot of Outlaw Light beer.

I started a thread on this topic:

https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/the-next-big-selling-craft-beer.683119/#post-8355641

When a US brewery labels their beer via “Light Beer” my first thought is that the beer is a low-calorie AAL beer, like Coors Light, Bud Light, etc. but this beer is different. It is actually a lower ABV Kölsch beer.

For those BAs who are less familiar with the Kölsch beer style I would recommend the article “What is a Kölsch beer?”.

https://www.morebeer.com/articles/Brewing_Kolsch

And an extract from the above linked article:

My Requirements for a Kölsch

• Flavor: a combination of Pilsner malt flavor and subtle fruity esters (white wine flavors) from the Kölsch yeast
• Low-moderate bitterness and zero hop flavor/aroma
• Very light in color: straw colored
• Mouthfeel: light – medium bodied with a crisp/dry finish

I recently visited my local Retail Beer Distributor and not too far from the entrance was a stack of blue buckets which contained a case (24 pack) of Outlaw beers:



While I was curious to try this new beer, buying a case was not something I was prepared to do at the moment. I asked one of the employees, Todd, about whether they had singles and he replied: Yes, we have BIG cans of Outlaw in the beer refrigerator. And he pointed to that fridge. I bought a 24 ounce can for $2.49.

Enough jibber-jabber, let’s drink!

Served in my Firestone Walker Pivo glass (sorta like a BIG Stange glass):

Appearance

A straw yellow color with a BIG fluffy white head. This beer has good head retention and a pretty Belgian Lace is formed as the beer is consumed.

Aroma:

There is a combination of bready (white bread) malt and subtle fruity aromas.

Taste:

Flavor follows the nose with a pleasing balance of bready malt flavor and subtle fruity flavors. There is a low/moderate bitterness

Mouthfeel

Light - medium bodied with a dry finish.

Overall

I enjoyed drinking this beer, it is very good. It also has the quality of good drinkability.

I am not a fan of megabrewed Light beers such as Coors Light but I think this beer is much, much better in comparison. Maybe a bucket of beer is in my future?

Cheers!

@rotsaruch @RobH @KOP_Beer_OUtlet @jonphisher

 

@superspak thanks for welcoming us all to the bar this weekend, glad you got your car all worked out. I will miss the cat updates but I’ll be happy you have more sanity.

Reads and looks like a winner of a beer, I went polar opposite of your purchase and splurged on a pricey four pack, but today was payday so... I couldn’t resist the style and description, a style mostly non existent these days. I cannot wait to open it tomorrow night after what is going to be a long busy day.

Hopefully everyone has got something good incoming.

Happy Friday everyone and cheers to us all.

 

Hello New Beer Weekend!!!

It's beer time and this is my first of the weekend.

Caramel Bock - August Schell Brewing - New Ulm, MN - 5.8%

Apparently they upped the ABV in this release of the beer. I'd say that is a good decision. I am really digging the flavor of this beer. Lots of caramel and nutty notes to it.

Review:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/417/10920/
3.78/5 rDev +9.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
From a 750ml crawler purchased at the brewery. Canned on 04-14-2026

This is a nice clear looking beer in my glass. It has a nice amber color to it. There's a frothy off white colored head to the beer and 2 fingers in size. The head retention is decent, and there's great lacing on the glass.
The aroma is malty. I get caramel notes to this beer. I also get a pleasing nutty aroma in this beer.
The beer starts out nutty and this flavor does linger throughout the flavor profile. There's a nice hint of caramel that is added to in the middle of the flavor. There's a cola like hint on the finish of the beer.
The body feels smooth and clean. It does have a nice depth to it. Not extremely thick, but good enough for the ABV.
This is a very tasty beer. Very well made and is just hitting the spot tonight.


I may have another in me tonight. Only time will tell. Cheers.

 

Wow @Victory_Sabre1973 I haven't seen Caramel Bock in years! I reviewed it in 2008 and gave it a 3.83.

Central Waters Iced Bourbon Barrel Barleywine


Appearance: Clear dark ruby, small head that fizzes out.

Smell: Strong booze, wood, caramel.

taste: Sweet, then the booze comes on strong. Big wood note mixed with booze. Doesn’t feel super heavy but just super boozy. Finishes with alcohol and some caramel remnants.

Overall: Curious to try this iced bourbon barrel barleywine. Really hits hard with the alcohol, the base beer and even the barrel struggle to balance out the enhanced alcohol from the ice process. Really seems to bring out the wood note as well, not vanilla, more straight toasted wood.
Thanks to @cheeseheadinMinneapolis for this one.

 

Good Friday evening, New Beer Weekenders. And thank you, Ian, for emceeing this week. We always appreciate your detailed reviews! Very rarely do I post on Friday night but I have three new beers this weekend and want to spread them out to give each of them special attention.

One of our fine local breweries, Twin Elephant, celebrated its 10th anniversary last weekend. I've spent many happy hours there and have reviewed over 150 of its offerings on BA. This one is special: Bone Memory, a TIPA collaboration with Troon Brewing. The hop bill is Pilsner pale malt, oats, white wheat, and farro. It is hopped with Citra Cryo, Eggers Nelson Sauvin, and Eggers Riwaka Special X. Twin Elephant and Troon have brewed Stouts together in the past but I don't recall their collaborating on an IPA, which is Troon's specialty. Some big-time collaborations disappoint but not this one. It is delicious!

It pours a dense, opaque, muddy tangerine color with a full finger of fluffy, egg-white head and very thick lacing. The fragrant smell includes white wine, lemon, lime, oats, and soft floral hops. Its taste is spectacular. The grist leads with oaty sweetness, wheat, Pilsner malt, and farro. The Citra Cryo, Nelson, and Riwaka hops contribute mild lemon, lime, grapefruit, passion fruit, and Pinto Gris. The most appropriate descriptor for the taste is "soft." The flavors are mild but blend magnificently. There is mild bitterness throughout. This ale has a thick, luxurious mouth feel with moderate carbonation, and it is hard to believe the ABV is 10%. Overall, Bone Memory is the exquisite work of Twin Elephant and Troon Brewing, and a fitting collaboration to celebrate TE's 10th anniversary.

4.53/5 rDev +0.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On Sunday, I'll review another Twin Elephant 10th anniversary collaboration - an Imperial Stout. I also have a very good DIPA from Autodidact. A great drinking weekend in store. Cheers!

 

“No Rules” day was last month and I think this is the last new one I have to review, and it really hit the spot tonight.
Well crap. Something is wrong with the BA image attachment tool, at least on my iPhone, so maybe I can’t share the picture but here’s the description.

The pour is stout black with a beige color head that manages to cover the surface for a few seconds at least.
The taste is pretty much what I would expect from Perrin and this flagship beer.
No Rules is a sweet beer as is, adding maple syrup, extra bourbon and pecans amps up that sweetness. The maple syrup is prominent, and the pecans are present yet mild. The bourbon rather blends into the base. Still, it’s a very good variation.
The feel is viscous, darned near perfect for the style (Imperial Pastry Porter)
OA, happy to have tried it, pretty much a dessert and sometimes that’s what you want.

 

Cheers to Ian for getting us started. I haven't lived in a state that requires annual safety inspections for so long, I forgot that was a thing. Actually, the last place was Germany 20+ years ago.

Heirloom Rustic Ales Chalk Streams English Style Bitter, 5.1% ABV; 3.75 overall

Pours a sightly hazed effervescent gold with a thumb of pearl colored head. Never completely drops bright, some head retention & lacing

S: Fruity, bready

T: Pears, breadyness, grassyness, dryness & crackery notes up front. Dryness & pears dominate as this beer warms up, some grassy bitterness, plus some woody hops as well. Finishes fruity, bitter & dry

MF: Medium body, restrained carbonation, good balance

Has a lot of English Bitter characteristics but doesn't pull together for greatness

 

Posted this earlier WBAYDN...

 

By All Means beer Lab Barrel Aged Marzen+ Franconian Red Blend Lager ( Aged in Bourbon & Red Wine Barrels ). ABV not listed on the bottle, seen it cited both 5.0 & 6.5% ABV; 3.63 overall

Bottled in 2023

Pours a ruddy auburn/chestnut with a thumb+ of tan head. Stays fairly murky, minimal head retention & lacing

S: Red wine barrels, apple pie spices figs, best part of this beer

T: Follows the nose, some cherry notes, a touch of caramel, leafy hops & dryness up front. More apple pie spices, red wine, cherries & leafy hops, plus dryness once warmed up. Finishes oaky dry with cherry tobacco, & apple pie

MF: Medium body, subtle carbonation

As with most barrel aged German Style beers, this is a head scratcher. Drinks alright, but not real impressed with it

 

Finally! No clue what the problem was, but now I can post pictures again.
This is the picture that goes with my earlier post. Even had to add it to the database.
Cheers!

 

American Solera The Juice Cold Pressed Hop Juice DIPA ( w/cold pressed Wai-Iti & Waimea Hops Strata & Tangier, 8.5% ABV; 4.65 overall


Pours hazy gold with 2 fingers of ivory colored head. Great, tight head throughout & epic lacing

S: Melons, dankness, passion fruit, & a little citrus

T: Dankness, green melons, dryness, strawberries & peaches up front. Pink grapefruit surfaces as this beer warms, plenty of catty notes mixing in with dryness & passion fruit as this beer warms up. Finishes dank with grapefruit, dryness, green melon & limes

MF: Medium body, creamy carbonation, great balance

Stellar take on the style, through the roof drinkability

 

That one sounds outstanding! Cheers, Russ

 

Greetings, New Beer people! Thanks to @superspak for opening the bar, and also for using such an awesome album as his profile pic.

My first New Beer of the weekend is a light, tart saison from a brewery I haven't tried before but will certainly try again soon.



Funky Fauna Greatest Heights
Wild ale with Oregon strawberries and juniper berries

The slightly cloudy body is an attractive peachy gold with a subtle pink tinge to it. Zero head retention or lacing. The nose is mild, and offers notes of strawberry preserves, SweeTarts, sourdough bread, and low-key earthy funk. The flavor is tart with a delicate sweetness and the marvelous strawberry preserves character promised by the nose. There's bread dough and spicy phenolics in the middle. Strawberry flavor lingers in the background to the very end. The finish has a light mineral character, some crackery malt, and an unfortunate trace of solvent. Maybe a brief ping of bitter juniper, but it's really hard to pick out. Light-bodied with brisk carbonation and a touch of astringency.

What an intriguing beer! The strawberries are delightful, the tartness is restrained, and there's a rewarding amount of flavor in a beer that still feels delicate. You can add me to the Funky Fauna fan club. I can't wait to try more beers from them.

 

Vista Lunch from Great Lakes Brewery

From a 473ml can packaged on 03 31 26. Poured into a pint glass. A three finger bubbly white head on a cloudy apricot. The head soon collapses to a rocky cap. lots of lacing.

Citrus hop in the nose with some berry notes. The taste follows the nose. The lighter body allows the hop flavour to be more distinct. . A dry, very mildly bitter hop finish.

A medium/light body, lighter than i expected. Good carbonation. Overall an interesting American Pale Ale, showcasing an unusual hop variety. Well worth a try.

3.77/5 rDev 0%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

 

Cheers to NBW! Thanks for the very nice start @superspak! I have had this one before some years ago when it was 8.5% ABV versus 9%. Having checked my reviews, I just wrote it up to present here. Have a great weekend!



Hammock
Imperial IPA | 9% ABV
New Trail Brewing Company in Williamsport, Pennsylvania

4.13/5 rDev -4.4% | Average: 4.32
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
New Trail's all Citra NEDIPA is an all around good beer doing everything well. It has a robust pour with fluff and suds creating a dense cloud atop its deep orange juice appearance. Scents and flavors reveal no surprises, just solid Citra boldness and ripe complexities of lemon/lime, orange/tangerine, cantaloupe/mango, etc...Its body is adequate enough to disguise a 9% ABV and carbonation is in nice order delivering dank fruits and creamy oats across the palate. Another above average NEDIPA from New Trail