New Beer Weekend #117

What a Sunday! Beautiful weather and just lounging around the house with the family; burgers and fries for dinner, I’ll get to grilling soon. In the meantime…

Allagash Haunted House was so so good that I was intrigued to try this one. It just appeared here this week so I bought a six pack, but was bottled way back in July…whatever just thought it was weird but I’m going in open minded. Also this beer may have the coolest name label combo I’ve ever seen; well done Allagash.


Allagash - North Sky




Pours a very dark dark brow, as I pour I see some cloudiness but in the glass it’s to dark to tell; off white dense head some really nice retention in the form of a really cohesive cap and denser ring.

The nose is beautiful combination of yeast esters and roast. The aroma is like a chameleon you can focus on one and not the other but then the non focus pokes you and says hey notice me too and thus continues a balanced yin and Yang. As it warms some dark fruit becomes noticeable.

The taste does a similar balanced act of moderate roast and clove like spice; dark fruit is moderately present, some cocoa chalkiness, then the roast comes back full swing a la black coffee on the finish.

A medium body and silky smooth carbonated beer; it gives impression of bottle conditioned but the creamy bubbles envelop the tongue in an incredibly pleasing way. Some drying sensation on the tongue with a noticeable bitter roasted finish.

I didn’t expect to be let down after Haunted House but damn are these Allagash dark beers so awesome. I can think of no equivalent, try this beer if you see it; hopefully it makes you nerd out as much as it did for me. I will thoroughly enjoy the rest of my six pack over the next few weeks.

Planning one more new one tonight, I hope, if all goes as planned, enjoy your Sunday everyone.

 

Full Malted Jacket

bottle stamped 13% bourbon barrel aged scotch ale by Beachwood BBQ & Brewing

Beer poured from a wax dipped twelve ounce bottle. Body is a dark brown with small initial head and no significant lacing during the sampling.

The nose is a light bourbon, a waft of sweet caramel barrel. Inviting!

Taste expands upon the nose to a fuller, but not hot, barrel flavor. Also revealed is a sturdy malt base. Small signs of ABV but nothing approaching its actual percentage.

Mouthfeel is good with nice carbonation and the curt finish expected in a scotch ale.

I could live without a waxed bottle cap beer, but such shenanigans aside a very substantial scotch ale that is a tasty sipper.

 

Good afternoon NBW
Mrs Jkblr and I are visiting our daughter in NC. Her lacrosse game just ended so we're hanging out at Black Mountain Brewing drinking a Märzen that I had to add to the database.

Aetherel Alignment
Draft pour in a becher at the brewery. Mostly bright light amber. Aroma is vague malt with the wind blowing on the outdoor patio. Taste is nutty & light toffee malt. Minimal earthy hops, minimal bitterness. Medium bodied with average carbonation and a mostly dry finish. Overall, very good.

Every time I sit down here, there's an amazing backdrop. Here's the field she played on earlier.

You have to zoom in to see the mountains, because I'm the least artistic picture taker in history, but it's amazingly beautiful here.

Cheers all!

 

Good Sunday afternoon, New Beer Swiggers and commentators. It's another beautiful afternoon. I'd prefer to be imbibing on the deck but the dropping black walnuts pose a serious threat to both body and beer. Today, I'm reviewing new-to-me Red and Black IPAs. The Red IPA from Marble Brewery in Albuquerque comes to me via a trade with @lordofthewiens. Dick has sent some tasty brews! And this is a style I really enjoy.

It pours a hazy, reddish amber with a large, foamy, ecru-colored cap and lots of soapy lacing. There's abundant caramel malt in the smell along with notes of lemon, grapefruit, and pine needles. The taste can best be described as earthy, nutty, caramel with dark toasted bread and a bitter, hoppy bite. The can and the brewery's website on identify "Pacific Northwest" hops so I'm assuming it's brewed with one or more "C" hops. It has a good, clean bitterness throughout. The mouth feel is fairly lite and crisp with appropriate carbonation, and the 8.5% ABV gives it lots of substance. Overall, this is a fine Red IPA with lots of character and I'm enjoying it. Thank you, Dick!

3.98/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

 

I'm glad you enjoyed it! I think Over Head is my favorite regularly available DIPAs brewed in New Jersey (with Carton's O'Dub (077XX) a close second - but they're very different). We have such an abundance of beer available that I don't buy either as often as they deserve. First world problems!

 

What a beautiful spot! Great photo.

 

I checked out a new brewery this weekend that just opened up near me. Black Page Brewing in Houston.

First up is Houston Hades, 5.2% ABV, a Kellerbier.



Pours a slightly hazy golden/yellow color. A two finger white head forms with good retention. Plenty of lace left behind as well.
The nose is earthy and grassy hops up front. A bit citrus like, then some cereal grains. Fairly simple, but good and enjoyable.
Taste wise, there is a light and pleasant hoppiness here. Grassy, earthy, and light lemon/citrus like. A nuanced malt character that is rounded and enjoyable for balance. Bread and grains, English biscuits. Just enough lingering bitterness to make this nice and dry.
A light to medium body. Effervescent/crisp carbonation throughout. Finishes clean and dry, which I really enjoy. All making a really nice lager. I can come back to this with ease.

A very nice American attempt at a Kellerbier. This will be a regular purchase of mine with I come back, and highly recommended.

Overall score is 4.02, on that B+/A- border for me.
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/63888/624838/?ba=champ103#lists

Next is Dire Wolf, 4.9% ABV, Dortmunder Lager



Pours with a slight haze. A more golden/orange color. With a two finger white head, good retention and spotty lace.
The aroma, up front is malty, with English biscuit and bread. Also a fairly pronounced buttery aroma, which reminds me of diacetyl. Just a touch of a lemony hop character.
Taste wise, yeah, I get some buttery diacetyl up front. It doesn't stick around too long, but is noticeable. Then the biscuit and bread like malt character. Just enough lemon like hops to leave a light bitterness.
A medium body with crisp carbonation. Not as clean as I was expecting. Once I get past the buttery character, its not hard to drink.

This would be similar to Houston Hades if not for the dreaded D lingering around. Considering how much I liked their Hades this is a slight disappointment. Still glad, they are attempting to do some different types of lagers, and will certainly try this again to see it it does get cleaned up a bit.

Overall score is 3.53, B

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/63888/624840/?ba=champ103#lists

Last was Mambo Sun, 6.6% ABV, American IPA



Pours with a slight chill haze that clears up after a minute. An orange/yellow color. A two finger white head forms with good retention. Plenty of lace left behind.
Aroma is citrus, lemon, herbal, and peppery spicy hops in the nose. Plenty of malts in there as well. English biscuit, and bready malts.
Taste wise, all the hop flavors are there. Citrus and lemon. Herbal, peppery spice. There is a substantial malt character as well. Doughy, biscuit and bread. Lingering bitterness takes over after a while. Which becomes just a bit astringent.
A medium body with good effervescent carbonation. Crisp and finishes dry. The bitterness does become a bit much for me, but other than that a good one to come back to.

A solid IPA for sure. Even it its not perfect for me personally, its still good and I will be coming back to this on occasion when at the brewery.

Overall score is 3.79, boarding on B/B+ range for me.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/63888/624836/?ba=champ103#lists

 

Also, some pictures of Black Page Brewery. Its a pretty cool location. Its right on one of the Bayou's near me, and can see this being a regular spot of mine when the weather gets better...like next week ha. It was 95 degrees this afternoon, highs should be in the 70's next week so I would expect to try more of their beers then.



With a great covered area off the main inside bar. There is also a wooded area with picnic tables closer the the bayou.

 

Good evening all! It’s been quite the day here.
To take a break I grabbed a brown ale from a guy on Imgur who has been swapping beer with me back and forth using the same box. I guess we’ll see how many round trips it’ll last.
On to the beer:

Chomolungma; a brown ale brewed with honey from Jackie O’s.
Poured a pleasing brown color with a light brown head. So far they are nailing the style!
The aroma was bready/malty with an extra sweetness that I attributed to the honey.
The taste followed, all malts and a touch of sweetness over and above what the malts provided. Tasty, and I really enjoyed it, but it wasn’t more than singular in depth.
The feel was good, cannot complain as I drank it likely too quickly. Went down easily.
It’s tasty, simple and thirst quenching. I kinda like it.
Cheers all!

 

Howdy NBS.
Well great weather here and Im out in the deck after watching my Giants with another improbable win. Yup NY football is for real again....
A new beer today is from a brewery that hasnt dissapointed yet.
Little Willow Free Spirit DIPA w/Citra.
Pouring a muddy orange/gold with a large off white head that lingers for quite awhile leaving lots of lacing and a foam island after receding.
Aroma is a bit muted of orange, pineapple and mango.
Taste follows with orange, tropical fruits, peach and grapefruit.
Smooth, creamy, medium heavy body with light carbonation throughout. Finishes with a nicely bitter grapefruit and pine bitterness. Nicely balanced and an easy drinker for 8%.
Another good beer from LW.
Worth grabbing any of their beers if you see them. Cheers folks!

 

Always enjoy your weekend posts @champ103 I feel like I get a mini Houston tour every weekend.

 

Ha, thanks.

 

Goose Island Wild Herd Kölsch, 5% ABV. Pours golden with a one-finger white head that left foamy lacing. Nose is malty, taste follows. Decent mouthfeel, overall very good.

3.93/5 rDev +5.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

 

I was expecting this to be darker. It's delicious tho. Balanced hop malt ratio with loads of coffee notes, nice lingering finish. Wish I had grabbed the 4 pack.

Cheers y'all!

 

OMG. Swakopmund just made my list. Thanks so much for sharing.

 

NBS #2. Backcountry Black IPA from Deep River Brewing Co. in Clayton, North Carolina. Black IPA is another style I really enjoy. I've been drinking Lawson's Big Hoppy as I await the November release of Carton's Epitome, which to me is the gold standard for the style. Backcountry is the most smoky, bitter Black IPA I've ever drank. It lacks the balancing malt sweetness of the Carton and Lawson offerings. That doesn't mean it isn't a beer worth drinking. I'm glad I did.

It pours a dark cola color with a large, foamy, light khaki-colored cap and lots of lacing inside the glass. The nose is earthy and bitter with a strong smell of cigar ash and notes of burnt coffee grounds and char. As it warms a bit I'm also noticing the scent of anise and pine needles. There is basically no sweetness in the taste; it's burnt and bitter with smoky pine, burnt coffee, and just a hint of baker's chocolate. It has a strong, bitter hoppy bite at the finish. Neither the can nor the website reveals the hop bill but if there is such a substyle as "West Coast Black IPA," then this is a good example. Only as it warms is there a faint hint of chocolate malt. It finishes distinctly dry and bitter. The mouth feel is fine: medium-bodied with pleasant carbonation, and a potent 7.9% ABV (per the can). Overall, if you're not into Black IPAs, then I would avoid this one. It's very burnt and bitter. On the other hand if you like the style and are adventuresome, then I'd recommend giving it a taste.

My Dad's family is originally from rural, Downeast North Carolina where it's common to burn farm debris. This ale reminds me of that - but in a good way.

3.9/5 rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Have a great week, everyone. Cheers, NBW!

 

Drekker Prrrt So Good Cotton Candy Sour, 7% ABV. Pours thick and opaque brick-red with a half-finger light-red head that left puree residue. Nose is blueberry, strawberry, and cotton candy. Taste is blueberry and strawberry, quite sweet, equally tart, with cotton candy on the close. Decent creamy mouthfeel, overall excellent.

4.03/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

 

Poured nearly black with a light brown head that dissipated fairly quickly.
The aroma was more about the whiskey barrel than the beer it seemed. Not unpleasant, but not quite Baltic Porter-ish either.
The taste was good, not truly porter like but more BA stout like. Which I very much enjoyed but it wasn’t what I expected.
The feel was good for the ABV, at over 10% you wanted to sip this.
OA, glad I got to try it, and it is really good. Just not the Baltic Porter I am looking for.
Oh, right, the beer-

So now I have to really try their BA stouts.
Cheers all!

 

Back at it with something I picked up yesterday at Boathouse Brothers Brewing:

Stouty McStoutface - Boathouse Brothers Brewing - Prior Lake, MN - Irish Dry Stout - 4.9% ABV


This is quite delicious. The flavor is so full of coffee, and chocolate. Tasty.

Review:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/52465/349129/


3.92/5 rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Pitch black pour with a 3 finger brown head. The head retention is decent, but no lacing on the glass.
The nose is malty with hints of chocolate and coffee.
Taste is chocolate an coffee. Roasted malts are here.
Dry feeling, maybe a bit thin.
Delicious overall.

I may be back for one more today, if not Cheers All!!!

 

Greetings all from the great northwest where baseball season is over, after a marathon playoff game.

Today we have Westbound Train from Brick West brewing.
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/58359/475834/

It's a nice somewhat fruity pale ale.

Until next time,