New Beer Sunday (Week 733)

Two Ton Brewing

Field Artillery Russian Imperial Stout with Lactose

I was excited to find out that the packaged,
to-go offering from this brewery was a RIS. Then they brought me the two bottles and I read the “L” word on the label. Yes, “lactose.” Disappointed? Yes. Still intrigued to try a stout from this brewery, yes.

This beer is a continuation of my new brewery experience yesterday. I’m sharing the accompanying brewery review here since I just finished writing it.

I see that @MacMalt is the only other one to review this beer.







Look: This beer pours opaque, pitch black. It looks thick streaming from the bottle, but not the most viscous looking stout. An espresso cream colored head that sits a couple fingers high. It settles and leaves just a small amount of lace in its wake. No visible carbonation.

Smell: Coffee, milk chocolate, hint of cinnamon, roasted malt aroma. Creamy vanilla note. Upon warming and a deep whiff the ethyl alcohol comes through noticeably, but not distractingly. I would describe it as a soft vanilla flavored vodka/extract aroma. Again, not overpowering, but notable. The aroma is inviting and generally this beer is sweet smelling.

Taste: Up front a flash of milk chocolate and dark, dried fruit. Mid palate there are some hazelnut, dark chocolate / cocoa powder notes. Then the beer quickly shifts to one focused on roasty, toasty, bitter and aggressively hopped stout. The piney and lemon pith bitterness lingers. Really bitter.

Feel: I like the mouthfeel on this beer. It’s moderately carbonated and smooth. Round. The finish is very dry, with a burnt toast characteristic.

Overall: I’m enjoying this beer. The lactose made me skeptical. But this turned out to be a very nice, aggressively hopped and toasty RIS with a prominent bitterness. A really enjoyable drinking experience starting out with some hints of sweetness, dryer notes mid palate to an all out assault of bitter hops and toastiness. A very good RIS and one that meets my needs for the style. I do wonder WHY they added lactose to this beer. Perhaps it’s helped to dial back the bitterness that I described? I don’t know Perhaps I’ll ask the next time I’m back, which I assure you I will be.



I wouldn’t say the brewery had an overall military or police theme, but there were definitely hints. The name of this beer. There were also Thin Red and Blue Line flags hanging on the wall as well. “In Brothers We Trust” motto which could be taken literally since it’s a family business, and figuratively.

Regardless, the theme of this beer got me thinking about my grandfather (or “papou” as we Greeks say) who was in the Navy. This picture of us sits on the bookshelf in my family room.



Overall, I enjoyed my experience at this family run business yesterday. Cheers, to good beer, and more importantly, good family.

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Brewery Review

This brewery is 15 minutes from me. I finally had the chance to swing by today for a tour and some tasters.

I will not bog down this review with commentary about the beers I had since I added my cursory notes as reviews for each one. At a high level, after sampling 6 beers (Alt, Dunkel, IPA, Dunkel, IPA, Sour) it seems like this place makes quality beer and I will definitely return.

The brewery is located in a small industrial park right off the Boulevard. It’s right off N. Michigan. (Connection between 22 East and Boulevard with The Black Thorn)

Limited parking as I arrived there at 12:30 right after the 12PM open time, with only 2 or 3 spaces available. Spots are indicated with Two Ton parking signs. The Latin Garden food truck in the parking lot. I did not eat any food, but most people there were eating and the food looked and smelled awesome. I could see parking as an issue if the place gets crowded.

By the time I arrived there were a few groups, couples and solos there. Several folks with babies and young kids which seemed welcomed by the brewery. Game and toys to keep the kids entertained. Specifically, the kids were playing with Mr. Potato head dolls.

It’s a small spot with the bar, tasting room, and tanks all right there in the same room when you walk in. In addition to the main room, there is a small, long and narrow outdoor patio area that will be nice during the spring and summer months. There is also a “speakeasy” in the basement. A smaller, cosy room that feels library-esque with lots of books. Four taps dedicated to experimental brews. (They has something with peanuts and another one with habanero at the time). You can rent that space for a private party. Probably would hold 20 - 30 max with the lower end of the range being most comfortable.

Standing room at the main bar, a small bar with stools running along the brewing area and several table and chairs along the side and back. A couch and coffee table area as well. I chose to stand right at the bar since I was solo and wanted to chat with the servers.

It’s a nice spot. An industrial feel. Nothing crazy, but not dump or boring by any stretch of the means. Just a nice, cozy venue. The tanks are situated behind a glass partition so you are right there next to the brewing equipment which I like.

I tasted 6 beers while I was there. I will start off by saying that I think $9.00 for four 4oz tasters is too expensive. Putting that aside...

Great variety of style available. See my comment above about the different ones I had. There were 11 beers on tap. Big, chalk board menu on the wall and printed menus on the tables/bar. In addition to the beers I had there was a blonde ale, a Nitro chocolate vanilla porter, coconut nut brown ale, two dry hopped Berliner weißes, a pomegranate version of the sour IPA I had and an American Barleywine. Like I said, great variety. They seem to like / specialize in brewing German styles as well.

The girl and guy working the counter were super chill, friendly, nice and funny/chatty. I really enjoyed hanging out there. The owner was as the bar on his laptop and seemed like a nice fellow as well. The brewer, Jim, was running around as well. To illustrate how nice of a guy he is: I have a friend who owns a craft beer bar/restaurant who knows the guys from Two Ton as a result. I said to the brewer that my friend told me to say hello. He grabbed two tasters, took me back to the tanks and we shared a couple tasters of IPA right out of the tank. Talked for a about 5 minutes about the beer and whatnot. So cool, nice, genuine and friendly.

In summary, I really had a great time. I would characterize the beer as well made by style. All good to excellent. They also do some twists and funky tweaks. Clearly they know what they’re doing and I look forward to going back.

 

Happy Sunday NBS players. A very rainy and grey day here on the island today but looking forward to some warmer temperatures to come later this week. Feeling a bit behind today thanks of course to the spring ahead shit. Probably gonna just crash on the couch all day. I've got a two new beers on hand today but as usual we'll see if I actually cover both.

My first new beer today is Fantastic Voyage, milk stout brewed w/ coconut, from Perennial artisan ales. The brew checks in at 11.5% abv and has a bb date that I can't seem to make out.

A black color on the pour with subtle carbonation and a big frothy brown head. The nose seems on the lighter side with roasted chocolate malts. The drinking hits big and sweet upfront with a rush of the malts. Very smooth on the flow with a slightly bitter finish. Nice notes of fudge, lactose, tannin, smoke, and brown sugar. I'm not getting that much in the way of coconut. More of a simple nutty flavor but its a bit overtaken by the sweetness. A rather full bodied feel that drinks silky smooth. I'm barely noticing its high abv level.

Overall, good/decent stuff. Probably about as imperial as you can get for a milk stout. It just doesn't overly wow me and the sweet milk flavor can be a bit much at times. I may grab another can to see if my opinion changes but for now I'm right around a 4 here,

 

Love your photos!

 

Thanks a bunch! There's a good chance I'll be in the area this week, so perfect timing then. I'll probably just get a few cans of the Fastenbier, because I can still get the Helles-Marzen 4 packs at a much better price.

 

My brother is a UVA and Carolina grad. He attended UVA 65-69 and I visited often and I attended The University of Richmond starting in 69. I played basketball and well remember Bill "Hoot" Gibson as coach in those days. I chose Richmond thinking that I would play more. The Jeff Lamp and Ralph Sampson eras were a fun time. Bennett is a fine coach and I hope they move farther along this year than last. I really like his system and recruiting style.

 

Post as many pictures as you like. Practice makes perfect.

 

A tremendous thanks to @alexsergio, for getting me this beer to me. The label is part of West Virginia History. I remember watching a documentary on the Hatfields and McCoys. A feud between the families lasted for quite some time. First beer from West Virginia and I am eager to proceed with the review. The beer is 48 degrees and served in a pint glass. The pour of the beer produced a two finger thick head that is airy, billowy and frothy. The retention on the head is excellent and left a generous amount of lacing on the glass. The head is bright white and glistens in the light. The color of the beer is SRM 4 is pale gold with light amber hues. The beer is moderately clear with a touch of haziness. Overall the appearance of the beer is beautiful.

The aromas of the beer are oranges, pine, orange, resin, grapefruit, floral esters, lightly toasted malts, a pinch of solvents, toasted crackers, and bay leaf.

The aromas of the beer are pine, earthy, grassy, oranges, pineapple, floral esters, crackers, solvent, a hint of cardboard, yeasty, bay leaf, resin, grapefruit, lightly toasted malts, and passion fruit.

The mouthfeel of the beer is astringent and crisp.

The body of the beer is medium, medium-high carbonation, and full finish.

For me, I would have like to have tasted a firmer malt backbone. The hops are there but not as strong as I would have presumed from IPA. Thinking about Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, the hops are just on par with this profile. The beer has this solvent note on the backend of the taste that is a tad annoying. Overall, a solid IPA and would recommend it to any hop head.

4.01

 

Brasserie de la Senne - Jambe D'Erable

I'm wrapping up my Belgian theme with a pair of 10% tripels. This first one is a 2017 collaboration with Novare Riot / Novare Res Bier Cafe in Maine. I'm assuming it's a variation of the brewer's normal tripel - Jambe-de-Bois. This is an "extra tripel with Brett and Maine maple sugar." This is clearly the sort of beer that Brasserie de la Senne would only do as a collaboration. I'm not 100% sure that this one is new to me... but I think it is.

It's a hazy light amber. Big head and ridiculous lacing. Smells rich. Tastes like candy but it's not overly sweet and there's some dryness to it. Alcohol is detectable but it's light bodied for it's size and very drinkable as a result. This is like a melted pineapple candy with some balancing bitterness and a light silky body as opposed to anything syrupy. This is a really well done "special occasion beer" and it's quite unique.

 

At this point, I wouldn't recommend the Krausen over the Fastenbier. I opened one of each the other day. They are both very enjoyable, but my Krausen had developed some off flavors and the Fastenbier was insanely good. Well worth the extra money in my opinion.

 

Why?

 

NBS beer #2



Icing on the Cake

Grimm Artisanal Ales
English Sweet / Milk Stout / 10.00% ABV

4.28/5 rDev +5.2% | Score: 4.07
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

bottled Dec 2017

L-The beer pours a silky black with a modest 2 finger tan head. The head recedes to a thin film leaving moderate lacing behind.
S- The nose has a bit of roast up front which gradually gives way to fairly strong milk chocolate presence.
T-The flavor here is more balanced than the nose. The chocolate aspects are closer to dark chocolate. The bitter sweet balance here is very well done leaning ever so slightly bitter. This keeps it drinkable for a dessert stout. The vanilla leaves a little lingering sweetness in the aftertaste.
F-Mouthfeel overall is medium to medium full. Carbonation is fairly light, but has enough to keep the beer from getting heavy or cloying.
O-This is probably the most balanced and drinkable dessert stout I've had. I'll have no problem draining the bomber. Highly recommended.

 

New beer #6. Thanks @smanson56 !

Cacao + Chili El Lechedor - Night Shift
BBA Stout - 10.3% abv
Vintage 2019
Score: 4.13 (0% rDev - 1st review)



Review:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/28609/395775/?ba=CanConPhilly#review

Synopsis:
Very boozy. I’d suggest sitting on this one for awhile if you have one. Beyond the booze though, this is a very well-made stout. Tasty chocolate, cinnamon, and vanilla, with a great body. Peppers only make an appearance on the finish. Lots going on here. Thanks again @smanson56 for the chance!

 

Bell’s Official.



I was a bit surprised to see this show up recently, and though it’s not my go-to style, it is about what I’d expect or a mass-marketed (or as close to such a thing as Bell’s gets) take on the style.

 

A tremendous thanks to @alexsergio, for getting me this beer to me. The first Treehouse beer I drank was delicious. The New England Style IPA is growing on me. When I first tried them, I remembered WTF is this beer style. I love the aggressive west coast IPA that are super piney, grapefruit, and resiny. Now, I enjoy them and the art form that followed. The beer is 48 degrees and served in tulip glass. The pour of the beer produced a frothy, airy, and creamy two finger head. The retention on the head is excellent and left chunks of lacing on the glass. The color of the beer is SRM 4 a pale gold color with straw color hues and hazy. The beer's appearance is elegant.

The aromas in the beer are fresh oranges, lemons, grass, floral, crackers, lightly toasted malts, a hint of grapefruit, earthy, and a touch of pine.

The flavors in the beer are herbal ( kinda like bay leaves), lemons, loads of oranges, grassy, floral, toasted crackers, lightly toasted malts, grapefruit, pine, earthy, pineapple, orange rind, and botanical.

The mouthfeel of the beer is creamy and crisp.

The body of the beer is medium-plus, medium carbonation, and a full finish.

Overall, this should sum up my impressions of this beer. If orange juice had a best friend that was a beer, this beer is it. Bright fruity flavors, crisp yet velvety on the mouthfeel. I thoroughly enjoyed this beer and wish I live closer to Treehouse.

4.49

 

Another beer break, another new IPA

When you get a 75 degree day in March outside drinking takes priority.
Like everyone else I'm intrigued by "pungent American hops combined with wheat and pilsen malt"
It is smooth with a beautiful head. The hops are delicious but seem muted. Interesting but not my favorite combination. It has a unique aroma I suppose from the Pilsen malt that really sets it apart
Glad I tried it.

 

4 x 4-rated Beers of the month
St Kitts Coffee & French Coffee (similar marks) | Carton
4.49/5 rDev +1.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Thrilled to buy (and review as among the first) this at brewers tonight. It looks as good as it tastes.
a) Dark, grand marnier body that throws up a good lace and a ring of last.
s) Crazy strong brandy, http://www.grand-marnier.com/ nose and taste. So happy the coconut not overone (as it is over at (Death by... Oskars)
t) Amazing that beer is so brandy-like with essence and distillation of orange-brandy with hint of coconut.
f) Smooth sipper, long in the draw. totally worth the price. Sip, meditate, simmer. Totally let it resolve to cask temp!
o) Hard to discern between French and St Kitts the best of the coffee series? St Kitts by a husk of a tiny margin.
The Hook | Carton
4.15/5 rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Thrilled to be first reviewer of the HOOK. Happy name for our community as it lays inside the bayward curve of Sandy Hook that separates our bay shores from the Atlantic, and over which we see Manhattan gliding silver, golden, or gray - depending on the time of day.
A) This beer slams forward with fruit in the late hopped NE pale style. Hazed bomb with puffy white lacing and lasting head.
S) Fruit I wanted to dive in. Hop fresh barrel.
T) Hop fruit wheat treat.
F) Slick, finishes clean and bitey.
O) One of the best contemporary NE style late hopped fruit pale ales ever.
Schöfferhofer Hefeweizen | Binding-Brauerei
4.09/5 rDev +12.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
In Berlin 2019, this was the best Hefe I've ever tasted. 500ml bottle,
a) How could you not high mark this hazed, amber body that mounts a massive head that rises/puffs the best height, then lashes and laces the glass all the way down?
s) Or the fresh fruit, lemony, banana bread, flower closet, herbal aromas?
t) Or the fruity, lemony, banana bread box, yeast, spice, pepper, flavors all tempered by a chalky, soft earthy dryness?
f) Finished by chalky, aspirin, powdery, dry finish?
o) Perhaps it must be enjoyed fresh - I suspect so - based on the rating divergence.

 

Onto new beer # 2 with a local collaboration here players.

This is Come On With The Order, ipa brewed w/ cherry and vanilla, collabo from Moustache and North Fork brewing . The brew checks in at 6.7% abv and no canning date. Thanks to social media, I have it as a late December release around 12/19 give or take. So just shy of three months on her.

A murky off-yellow color on the pour with a fast non-lingering white head. The nose is decently floral with tangy hops and a sort of berry tone. A rather frothy and juicy start upfront, on the drinking, with the tangy and slightly bitter citrus hops. The vanilla seems to hit more on the finish and provides a nice transition from the hops. I get more of a strawberry flavor than I do cherry. Additional fruit notes of lemon, orange, and grapefruit. The body holds up really well at light/moderate and really seems to have pretty good balance despite a lot going on. I really like the flow of the beer from the tangy juicy hops to the creamy finish.

Overall, pretty decent stuff. I really wasn't expecting too much here but It's very drinkable. Again, I'm at a 4.