New Beer Weekend #100

Plankowner John Paul Jones Colonial Ale. I had this late last night.



This was received in a blind trade and I was quite looking forward to trying a ‘colonial style’ amber ale. Sadly, it tasted a little like it had been brewed and canned in colonial times…

Pours a deep amber with minimal head that disappeared before I could whistle the first bars of Yankee Doodle Dandy. Looks dull and flat.

The aroma is dominated by candy sugar. Some bready malt. No hop notes to speak of.

Sweet and maybe even a little stale, mainly a candy sugar sweetness, but there is a little toffee in there. Hops left this beer for greener pastures some time ago.

Lacks carbonation. I’m guessing a bad seal on the can.

This was - I can only assume - a bad can of this beer. It was flat and stale and overly sweet. Disappointing. I donated 2/3rds of the can to the City of Toronto Water Filtration Plant.

 

Thumbprint Mocha Berry Bock - New Glarus



Here’s another instance where I’ll get rotten tomatoes and pumpkins (and berries) thrown at me:

Look
Looks as it should for the style; Ruddy-amber/brown, topped with a medium tan head. Good duration, good lacing.



Smell
Berry all over the nose. Raspberry is my best guess. Much lighter notes of caramel, toffee, and darker, roasted malt. Very, very clean and neutral.

Taste
SWEET. Much sweeter than I was anticipating on the first sip, and with much less of the mocha (or Bock-like, even) character than I would have expected or liked. A bit lighter and “fizzy”, carbonation-wise. Not sure what to make of that altogether, although I expect (and prefer) Bocks to be a bit fuller in body.

Mocha character emerges about mid-palate, but is very subtle, and is subsumed by the berry character and the overall sweetness. Very little bitterness to this beer, also, so it seems a bit less than what it aimed to be (Bock beer has at least -some- bitterness, right?)

Feel
Much lighter in body than I had expected, but is very, very drinkable despite this.

Overall
The sweetness and fizziness (combined with the berry flavor dominance) is not what I expected, and if I were being 100% honest (with respect to my personal tastes) I’d rate this one a bit lower.

As it is, I expect that this is exactly what the brewmaster was going for, and I also expect that it is the sort of beer that would be well received by the “people who don’t like beer” crowd (this refers to the people that disdained and disparaged American Adjunct Lager for the last forty years or so — some of whom probably still do so!)

Cheers… and Happy Father’s Day!

 

Earth Rider North Tower Stout


Busy yesterday so I'm joining in today for NBW #100 with this excellent stout.

Appearance: Black, ok head.

Smell: Roasted malts, some coffee.

Taste: Roasty and balanced, low sweetness, mild bitterness, roasty finish.

Overall: Saw that this beer recently won a medal at a big beer fest (GABF?) so got a six pack. Very good standard stout, nicely balanced roast flavors, mild sweetness and mild bitterness. Very good stuff!

 

Good day BAs! Thanks @SawDog505 for starting this weekends thread! Well, episode #100 - nearly two years-worth of increased inclusivity by changing NBS to NBW.
Today's New Breakfast Beer is:



One I've been saving for a momentous occasion like today!

Dark Apparition Maple Barrel from Jackie O’s. Received from brewery 02/02/22. $ 15.82 (Including tax and shipping)/12.7 oz bottle ($ 1.246/oz). Stored at 37 degrees at home. Reviewed 19/06/22. Note that I use DD/MM/YY protocol.
Undated bottle. Served at 55.7 degrees in a hand washed and dried Jester King Snifter. Final temperature 60.9 degrees.
Appearance – 3.5
First pour – Amber Brown (SRM 18), clear.
Body – Brown (SRM 30), opaque. When rear-lite, opaque with light penetration at the edges - amber.
Head – Small (Maximum 0.6 cm, aggressive center pour), wheat, high-density, short retention, diminishing to a 0.1 to 0.2 cm crown and a half-dozen thin tiny islands.
Lacing – None. None expected at 12.2% ABV.
Aroma – 4.5 – Burst of bourbon and maple when the cap was removed. Settles into molasses and fainter bourbon as it warms. No hops, no yeast.
Flavor – 4.5 – Begins with moderately sweet caramel with dark fruits, molasses, maple, bourbon, and a hint of chocolate. No ethanol (12.2 % ABV as marked on label) aroma or taste. Mild gastric warming. No dimethylsulfide or diacetyl.
Palate – 4.5 – Full, creamy edging toward syrupy, carbonation.
Final impression and summation: 4 (After deducting 0.25 point for an undated bottle) Smooth! Flavors are well-integrated, so nothing really stands out, just a delicious melding of ambrosial flavors hiding the ethanol. There is nothing in the appearance that prepares you for the delights of the nose and taste buds.
Rating 4.34, rDev +0.7%

 

Very fortunate to stop by Decorah yesterday and enjoyed an Assassin (and several other very delicious brews).

4oz pour at the brewery
A: Pitch black, no head
S: Bourbon, cocoa, touch of heat
T: Delicious & complex; bourbon/cocoa/vanilla/hints of maple & coconut
M: Full-bodied, super smooth, none of the heat of the nose
O: Very well made, very enjoyable beer

 

Happy Fathers Day fellow dads out there...today I treat myself to a little sample size sweet treat pour to enjoy with my BLT for lunch in peace and quiet. That's right, mrs phisher took the kids to her parents house. Now I celebrate a few hours of peace which always end the same, with me missing my family hoping they return soon. Am I the only one that on Father's Day feels like I more owe it to my kids and wife for making me a dad to begin with??? I can't be...

Human Robot - Stone House Mornings (stout with maple, coffee, and chocolate I think)



This one pours nicely, slow moderately thicker stout. Head forms slowly, nice initial look quickly turns into a little ring. This beer is black in color.

Very pleasant nose; nice maple sweetness followed by some rich coffee and dark chocolate. The sweet maple goes nice with the bolder less sweet sides of chocolate and coffee.

The taste mirrors the nose closely but the maple takes the backseat. It is first and foremost rich roasty stout, with coffee and dark chocolate. There is almost a berry like fruity as well.

Big body, creamy mouthfeel, bitter coffee note on the finish with a pleasant sweet sensation on the tongue.

As far as adjuncted beers go this one is pretty tasty and well balanced. I'm glad I bought some to give it a try. See you all later today with several more, gonna enjoy this beautiful Father’s Day this year.

 

Inspired by @Ozzylizard's Maple Barrel Dark Apparition, for my first beer today I've chosen Brandy Barrel Dark Apparition, courtesy of.....you guessed it, @Ozzylizard in our most recent BIF.


Dark brown on the pour with a reddish tinge that is no longer discernable once in the glass. Thin, dark khaki head that quickly receded to a thin ring. Nice legs. Aroma is rich chocolate, molasses and a really nice added dimension from the brady barrels (note I'm getting more of the brandy on the nose than the barrel itself)

On the tongue, there's a brilliant medley of flavors. The roasted malts lead off, and remind me of coffee, although I don't believe any was added in the beer. Mid-palate is where the chocolate and other sweet flavors show up. Finally, the brandy barrels show up on the long finish. They all work together to form a very tasty, full bodied beer.

 

4.01/5 rDev -12.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 ounce can into a tulip glass.

Look- Very deep gold, moderately hazy, no visible particulate, frothy white head, above average head retention and lacing.

Smell- Clementine, pineapple, biscuit.

Taste- Clementine, pineapple, sweet biscuit, moderately astringent.

Feel- Medium body, moderately bitter, moderately astringent, creamy, average carbonation.

Overall- A malt heavy pale ale with a pleasant nose and moderate astringency.

 

Fremont BBA Coconut Cacao Barrel Aged Dark Star 2022 Imperial Oatmeal Stout, 13.5% ABV. Pours thick and black with a half-finger brown head that left no lacing. Nose is coconut, cacao, and bourbon. Taste follows, plus toffee and vanilla, with coconut in the lead, slightly sweet, slightly bitter. Incredible thick and smooth mouthfeel with adequate carbonation. Overall outstanding to world-class adjacent. Not a pastry stout.

4.43/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Kids coming over for BBQ pork in the crock, and I'm starting with a special beer for father's day. I appreciate that Fremont uses real wax, not that heavily plasticized crap others use to keep you out of your beer. Broke the wax tail off opening it though.

 

Welcome one and all to New Beer Sunday #904! Pulled out a bottle I finally came across after hearing great things.

Allagash Coolship Resurgam



Bottle Notes: Packaged November 2021. Purchased at store temperature from The Beer Temple, $15.99 + tax. 12.7 oz, 6.3% ABV, brewed and bottled by Allagash Brewing Company in Portland, Maine. Spontaneously fermented ale aged in oak barrels.

Coolship Resurgam is brewed with Pilsner malt, raw wheat, and aged hops. The beer is cooled overnight using outside air temperature in a traditional large, shallow pan known as a "coolship". During the cooling process, naturally occurring microbiota from the air inoculate the beer. In the morning, it is transferred into French oak wine barrels where fermentation and aging take place.

Coolship Resergum is a blend of this one-, two-, and three-year-old spontaneously fermented beer, The finished beer has aromas of apricot, lemon zest, and candied fruit. Notes of tropical fruit and flavors of funk lead to a clean, tart, and dry finish.

Appearance: Single pour into a large tulip glass. Golden orange base, slightly murky, heavy carbonation. Substantial creamy rich white head lingers for a few minutes before leaving a rich layer over the base. Lacing slides back to the base after a short burst of glory. 4.5

Aroma: Nice tart aroma leads backed by a lighter funk. Lemon, pear and apricot blend well, getting some apple as well.4.0

Taste: Consistent with the aroma, sweet lemon predominant, apple backing. Mouthfeel more substantial and broad than tastes beyond these two flavors. 3.75

Mouthfeel: Blend of sweet and tart, consistent with sweeTarts. lightly dry, nice levels of funk, carbonation substantial visually but soft like a pillow on the tongue. Drinks light and easy, sweeTart aftertaste. 4.25

Overall: This is an enjoyable beer, the sweetness somewhat out of the boundaries I typically enjoy, but this works well. Nice, mellow and easy drinking, sweeter than typical for the style, enjoyed the tart lemon. Good offering. 4.0

 

For decades I've bounced back & forth between Boodle's and Broker's as my everyday go-to, lately I've been liking Citadelle when I want something a little less juniper forward.

Jack's Abby has released their summer variety pack consisting of four 4% ABV radlers; Lil' Lemon, Lil' Lime, Grapefruit, and a Pineapple/Guava/Passion fruit. The only info given is that radlers were invented for German cyclists and that this is the "most refreshing beer style for fun in the sun". The lemon and lime aren't even listed on JA's website.



Lil' Lime turns out pretty good.
A translucent pale tannish green (like 2/3 ripe lime 1/3 straw) with a short lived eggshell white head and the faint aromas of malts and lime zest.

The taste is light malts (about 2/3 strength of their Haus Lager) over a backbone of quality limeade. Unfortunately the "quality limeade" drifts into lime popsicle territory as the beer warms.

Light bodied with lots of carbonation leaving a clean, dry, lime zest aftertaste.

Lil' Lime is a very nice summer beer as long as you drink it cold. Light bodied and refreshing without being filling. The lime is present without dominating. This is an enjoyable beer for a hot summer day.

4.13/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

 

Up next is this bottle of Cygnet, from Off Color Brewing, courtesy of @FBarber. Frank, you've sent me so much beer the last few years that I'm not even sure which BIF this was associated with.

The bottle describes this beer as "Foedre Aged Wild Ale With Koji Added". Did I know what Koji was? No. I had to look it up. Would I have been better off not looking it up? Maybe.

Pours a bright, golden color. Brilliant clarity. Small, short-lived head. `Aroma is lemony funk. Taste is relatively understated. There's a solid amount of funk without being overwhelming. Tiny bit of lemongrass, but beyond the funk there's a unique taste that I don't think I've picked up before in a beer. Could it be the Koji? Maybe, but not sure. Bright, and lively. Interesting, enjoyable beer. Digging the small bottle (8.5 oz) format as well.

 

Had to add this one, so my 4.18 rating is the standard. Spent two hours painting in the hot sunshine and this was amazing.
Poured warm straw color with very active carbonation and a 1” off white head.
The aroma was faint for me (chemically damaged nose) but grassy something and crackers seemed to come through.
The taste followed, really good combination of the noble hops and German malts. Crackers abound in a grassy, herbal base that is amazingly refreshing.
The feel, with it’s very active carbonation, seems ideal. I’d rate it higher but I don’t know what perfection is for this style.
OA, it’s so good I had to get a second pint.
Cheers all! I will be back later.

 

Next up in the Jack's Abby summer pack is their Grapefruit Radler


This one pours an almost clear gold, with a reddish blush and an off-white head that quickly dissolves into a ring, and the faint aroma of fresh hay and grapefruit zest.

The taste of ruby red grapefruit juice is well balanced behind some sweet malts, noticeable without dominating.

Lots of carbonation with a thin coating on your tongue and a pleasant sweet/tart pulp, pith, peel aftertaste.

This is a very fine light bodied, fairly low (4%) ABV beer for sunny days. My favorite of the variety pack. JA has this in a 16 oz 4 pack and that's probably what I'll buy next time

4.18/5 rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

 

Happy Fathers Day to all the Dads past and present.
Another tough week at the restaurant. This summer is killing me so far.
But...Im off today. Didnt have any new beers so I grabbed this Little Willow.
Had one of their beers just a little while back and it was excellent.
Unfortunately I didnt read the label and just noticed its Sabro and Citra.
Just reviewed a Sabro beer last week-
Not one of my favorite hops but it turned out swell.
LW Beachcomber DDH IPA, 7%
Pouring a hazy gold with off white head thats quite large and creamy with great retention and nice rings of lacing.
Smell is very citrusy- orange, tangerine, lemon-lime. Not getting any coconut yet.
All juicy cutrus in the taste with some pine and grapefruit bitter on the end with yes, just a touch of coconut. Really balanced easy drinking creamy middle with a drying finish. Medium body no hint of alcohol.
Well another really nice beer from LW.
Once again proving you dont know you like it until you try. The Sabro was not offensive to me at all here. I actually dug it.
Cheers!

 

Lost Coordinates by Bottle Logic Brewing

4.51/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5




Bottle received from the generous @Beersnake1 in Bif15

Brewers Notes: This three vanilla bean blend is the grand finale of our Fundamental Coordinates vanilla showcase series. The base liquid is a diligently selected blend of Fundamental Observation 2019 for a little extra-aged complexity and double mash Fundamental Observation brews from 2020 for a chewy, silky body. Once our favorite casks were selected, they were aged with a combination of Cook Island, Comoros and Costa Rican vanilla. Floral aromas (Cook Island) melt into sun-soaked dates and raisin on the mid-palate (Costa Rica), with a nutty, brown butter-chocolate finish (Comoros). What was once lost is now found …three points of origin converge with sun-soaked island tones of raisin, tropical fruit, and soft florals

Poured into a Smog City snifter is a Pitch black motor oil as viewed at midnight, thick, dark , viscous , pencil thin dark brown creamy foam layer quickly recedes to a ring

Aroma is bourbon, vanilla, whiff of raisin

Taste is sweet , bourbon, vanilla , hint of roast malts without the char , hint of a chocolate note , hint if subtle spice such as a cinnamon

Soft luxurious mouthfeel , the 14.5% abv is invisible

Smooth , sweet and delicious, a well crafted beer as they have expertly hidden the high abv behind a wall of flavor, good beer

 

Happy Father's Day to all BA Dads and Dads of BAs! It's been a fun, relaxing weekend for us. I FaceTimed with both progeny which was great. Our daughter the archaeologist is still in Israel working on an excavation. Thankfully, she'll be back in the States soon. Our son is spending his weekend at the beach (not the Shore) in North Carolina.

Yesterday, Mrs. Mac and I hit two new-to-me breweries in Orange County, New York. The first was "Dubco Acres," which is the upstate tasting room of Destination Unknown Brewing Co., which is located in Bay Shore, NY (South Shore of Long Island). This venue is located on a farm near Warwick, NY. It's about 5 minutes away from Drowned Lands and maybe 10 minutes from Tin Barn. Rushing Duck is less than a 20 minute drive so it's in very good company. I've never seen Dubco cans in New Jersey but I've had a couple of their beers and have been impressed so I was excited to visit.

Cosmic Continuum is a NEIPA. It recently won the gold medal at @tapnyfest. And it's a very good ale! It pours a hazy, dirty tangerine color with two fingers of fluffy, eggshell-colored had and a thick coating of soapy lacing. A classic New England appearance. A great, fruity nose featuring pineapple, tangerine, melon, lemon, lime, grapefruit, and soft floral hops. The taste follows the smell closely with sweet, sticky, ripe honeydew, pineapple, and tangerine, along with tarter notes of lemon and grapefruit. The hop bill is a bit hard to discern; the only reference I could find is "Yakima Chief CryoPop hop blend." It certainly provides a lot of citrus and a clean bitterness throughout. It's well-balanced between sweet fruit and tart citrus. The mouth feel is thick and creamy with appropriate carbonation, and it's surprisingly lite for 8.8% ABV.

4.31/5 rDev +5.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

This won't be my last visit to Dubco Acres. Cheers, NBW!