New Beer Weekend #120

I agree with you here but there are lots of craft beer consumers who are willing to go to great lengths (and pay BIG BUCKS) to purchase beers that are white whales. I am not one of those folks.

Cheers!

 

I was up bright and early this AM with the baby, which is fine, and expected, but hot diggity daffodil I am tired. As I was letting the dog out to pee, I could see a lot of haevy machinery and reflective sweatshirts gathering. Shortly thereafter, they started poking holes in the road. This freaked the dog the fuck out, but the baby actually seemed to find the rhythmic thumping, and the shaking of the house to be soothing as she calmed after feeding, and fell back asleep more easily than normal. That's who's in the background there.



Well, as others have mentioned, today is the big share date for the 16th iteration of the NBS BIF (started by our very own @BBThunderbolt!), and it is going STRONG. @Roguer sent me a bunch of beer in that first ever share-a-thon what... seven? Eight? Years ago? Now I've got a fridge full of New England area beer once again, thanks to this biannual... semiannual... (bah english is a dumb language)... twice yearly celebration of locality and generosity. This time, @WunderLlama is responsible for the deluge of beer that is filling my fridge beyond its capacity, and for that I am grateful. He's a mad man, A MAD MAN I TELLS YA!

I'm starting the afternoon off with Mad River Maple, my first ever brew from Lawson's Finest Liquids from up in Vermont. As an unabashed lover of most things maple (Maynard also sent a can of chili-infused maple syrup which is real tasty as well), I was excited to give this one a try. I know others have talked about this one in this thread over the last couple of weeks, so I'm excited to be able to join their ranks.


The beer presents in a beautiful pour. Crisp and clear in the liquid, the colour is that red/brown of mahogany or dark cherrywood. Quite appealing, in my opinion. A good solid finger+ of khaki foam builds before settling slowly down into a light fuzz, leaving a marked ring of lacing around the glass (which Maynard also sent my way!) as it recedes.

The nose is sharp and green. More of the vinous hops/sharp malts... I can't quite bring forth the descriptor I really want to use here, but that's the closest I can come up with on the spot. I had expected more maple in the nose (I honestly find that most 'maple' beers really bring the maple in the aroma, then it kind of fades on the tongue. This is not the case with this beer. Spoiler alert.), but I really don't get much at all. Behind that green item I can't quite describe there is an emerging brown toast/caramel aroma that it grows into as it warms.

I take my first sip and BAM! THERE'S the maple I was looking for. That round sticky coating maple feeling that you get when you swig maple syrup straight from the bottle (don't look at me like I'm weird. I know I'm not the only one!!) is wrapped around an earthy/spicy hop setting, and a malt profile that again trends towards toasted seedy brown breads, with a touch of caramel and maybe a bit of nuttiness that kind of serves as the bridge between that high green note and the maple sweetness (in the way that like fresh chestnuts are kind of sharp but also woody). The maple backs off on subsequent sips, but that first introduction was enough to put a smile on my face. The finish cuts back to that vinousness I can't quite pin down, along with a build of grapefruit hops, all wrapped up in that warming round maple sugar goodness.

Carbonation is appropriate and plays an explicitly supportive role (Seriously... it reminds me of the SEP field from Hitchhiker's Guide... like when I sip and focus directly on it it feels like it's the level it should be, but as soon as I swallow, it's out of my awareness completely and I can't even really remember what it was like). The beer feels like it has two different elements as well as far as consistency: the maple is obviously sticky sweet, but it feels like that's a layer wrapped around a much drier core that is the rest of the beer.

This is an interesting one, and one I am enjoying. Thanks Maynard for sending it my direction!!!

 

No need to apologize. To quote ex-President Clinton: "I feel your pain".

Cheers!

 

The BIG mid-term election is three days away!

Buckle up since afterwards there is likely going to be an announcement for the 2024 election.

To quote Short Round from an Indiana Jones movie: "Hold on lady, we gonna go for a ride!".

Cheers!

 

One more today - was worried (or secretly hoping?) this would taste like a Mounds, but it is too well balanced for that...

4.17/5 rDev -1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Packaged 8/1/22 - consumed 11/5/22 - poured from a 16oz can into my Dogfish Head shaped pint glass.

Opaque seal brown liquid with two incredibly dense fingers of beige foam. Rich, fat lacing; endless retention. Nitro beers often have an edge visually.

Faintly dusty, lightly toasted whole wheat/brown bread, grassy/leafy hop notes.

Deep malty presentation with coconut and bittersweet chocolate. Smooth, rich, with the individual flavors well integrated. Mild bitterness throughout, more to the herbal/grassy side than citrus or tropical. Coconut seems to grow stronger as the beer warms. Medium-dry finish with a hint of spice from the rye.

Full bodied, creamy, soft mouthfeel - the nitro delivers. No heat or acrid notes.

Wonderful stout, rich flavors while keeping the ABV and sweetness in check.

 

Founders French Toast Bastard BBA Scotch Ale/Wee Heavy, 11.1% ABV. Pours dark brown, with a 3+ finger sturdy beige head that eventually left solid foamy lacing. Nose is an incredible cinnamon, vanilla, and maple. Taste follows, slightly sweet, moderately bitter, spice, with bourbon burn at the close. Mouthfeel is chewy. Overall excellent. If you're expecting a pastry scotch ale, you'll be disappointed.

4.39/5 rDev +3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

This bastard has an incredible smell, but I was disappointed that the sweetness wasn't there to adequately support the maple, cinnamon, and vanilla.

 

Hey NBW/NB(s) folks,
Been a while, thought I'd make a contribution.

Outer Range Brewing's new west coast IPA, Out + Back. 6.6% ABV. Canned 10.27.22

4.19/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

L - a little copper hued for a west coast IPA, but given the Cascade + Citra and grist, maybe not surprising. Not a TON of head generated with a hard pour, but good lacing as it goes down the pint glass.

S - Definitely playing in more midwest-style 2hearted malt and pine country here; citrus and grain on the nose too. Nothing too overt or dominant.

T - SOLID midwestern version of a west coast IPA (prolly cuz it's clear, rather than hazy like most of the ORB IPAs). Taste follows the nose and appearance, solid malt backbone to this, with just enough citrus-pine bitterness. Maybe not QUITE as good as Lawn Games, but I like it especially for its balanced weight at 6.6. I'd buy this again.

F - Good, CO2 solid as usual, nothing dominant or off - just a good balanced beer.

O - A really solid nod towards the midwestern malty IPA style with just enough pine undertow to move it more westerly in its style. Not sure it stands out among other WCIPAs these days, but it's just a well made beer.

 

Hello New Beer Weekend!!!

I'll just get right to it, because I've got 2 beers that I've been working on this afternoon. Two of them are from @Beersnake1 , and the 3rd is from @MonDak_Joe1953 .

Here goes nothing, or something:

First up from Beersnake1, and it's a doosie. This is also my first in this NBW for the reveal thread.

Kriek 100% Lambic - Cantillion - 5% ABV

Holy cow. I got so much from drinking this beer. I've never had a beer from them before, so this was a huge treat. I will be honest - I did not do justice to this beer in my review. I was getting so many flavors and aromas that I could not put words to, or describe. I try, but, in this case, I know my review is lacking. All I know is I'm so honored to try it.

Review:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/388/1632/

4.96/5 rDev +13.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
I will not do justice to this beer.

Dark red pouring with a white head. Retention is ok, with some lacing.
Aroma is off the charts. There's so much going on here. Grassy, earthy, wild, funky, cherry, sweet and tart, yeasty.
Taste - I can't do justice to the flavor. Cherry is the flavor, but, so many shades of it. It is wild, funky, grassy, yeast, earthy, floral. I get a hint of balsamic vinegar. So much more I just can't put words to.
The body is tart, full, and amazing with a dryness on the back.
World class beer here. I am blown away.


Up next is from MonDak_Joe1953 who so kindly traded me some beers as he was headed through my central Minnesota home.


Papa's Yeller Pils - German Pilsner - Revel Brewing - Park Rapids, MN - 5% ABV

I'm down for a delicious pilsner, and this is one of them. It's got a lot of malty flavor. Tons of bread/biscuit. I also get a whiff of a "wheat" flavor in here - slight banana and cloves. This just adds an extra dimension to this beer. I was glad to have gotten, and thankful to try it. Delicious!

Review:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/59792/627841/


3.91/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Hazy, murky straw colored pour. 2 finger white, fluffy, frothy head. This beer has great retention, and there's some lacing on the glass.
There's not too much to the aroma, just a light bread, biscuit aroma from the malts used.
Taste - Malts are the star of the show here, as expected. I get a good deal of bread/biscuit flavor here. I also get a faint "wheat" flavor that also kicks in this beer. While not a wheat beer, it does add a nice hit of flavor to this beer.
Crisp clean body. While lighter, it is in no way watery.
This is a delicious pilsner, and a pleasure to try.



I will be back for one more later, plus a review of a beer I had earlier today, but am having some technical issues getting my notes transferred over to here. Cheers all!

 

I have a couple of beers to share on a breezy evening in Northern Indiana, courtesy of my friend @woemad and NBS BIF #16. This first one caught my eye as soon as I opened the box, primarily because I absolutely ADORE IPA’s that feature Citra, Mosaic, and Simcoe hops.

That’s my beer nerd hop trifecta.



4.42/5 rDev +6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Pours a semi-hazy peach color with a foamy, substantial head that provides ample lacing. Beautiful beer. The nose features dank citrus (tangerine), mango, berry, and lemon zest aromas, along with an earthy herbal note (thank you, Simcoe hops).

The interplay between the berry, tangerine, and that earthy herbal flavor is a winner for me - so much flavor, in perfect synchronicity with a crisp, drying mouthfeel that keeps drawing me back for another drink.

This is the first beer for me from these guys, and I am a HUGE fan. Delicious stuff.

 

Up next is Cobbler, from Tree House. From the can: "Cobbler is Julius conditioned atop a heavy dose of freeze-dried peaches"

Pours a cloudy light orange. Good amount of off-white colored head that receded after a minute or two to a quarter inch then stayed there for a while. Small amount of lacing. Aroma is heavy on the citrus. Despite the fact that this was conditioned on top of peaches, I'm not picking any up directly on the nose. That changes a bit on the tongue. Up front, I get the citrus and tropical notes I associate with standard Tree House Julius but in the middle and particularly on the finish the peaches show up. (Update: the more I sip this, the more peach I'm getting) Nice soft pillowy feel, which is typical of Tree House beers. I'm not a big fan of IPAs, but I love peach in beer. So how does this one sit with me? It's solid. I can't say I've been dying to have peach in an IPA, but it's an interesting twist that was worth trying.

-----------------------------
Crushing loss for the Union in the MLS final. Hoping the Phillies have better luck tonight!

 

Thank you all for the warm welcome ,I really appreciate it!! Have used this thread over the years to find many new beers to purchase...and to avoid buying some others!! Hope to join in more often.

 

#2, also from @woemad and NBS BIF #16, I don’t get the opportunity to try many Belgian dark strong ales, so I am really excited to jump into the ring with this big, brawny BDS.





4.35/5 rDev +3.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours a cola brown color with a creamy light tan head that provides a bit of lacing. The nose features rich molasses and estery stone fruit aromas. I am officially salivating because I don’t get the opportunity to try many Belgian dark strong ales, and this checks all the boxes for me thus far.

The molasses is forward on the taste and absolutely delicious, combining with dark cherry flavors and that spicy, estery flavor to yield a flavorful Belgian dark strong ale that masks all the 12.2% ABV, which is a tough thing to do in my experience.

The mouthfeel is rich and chewy, fitting this big, brawny beer. Exceptionally well done, IMHO.

 

Onyx coffee stout by Ozark beer company

4.21/5 rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25


Ranked #1 American Stout #2 beer in Arkansas, new brewery for me . Growler received in Bif16 from @russpowell, poured into an Ozark brewing snifter also from him , thank you!

Dark cola brown liquid , thin taupe foam layer that quickly dissipated to a ring, no lacings

Aroma is fresh brewed coffee , roasted malts , faint chocolate aroma

Taste is green , fresh brewed beer . It’s that fresh fresh brewery taste .fresh brewed coffee, no acrid bitterness.

Thin , light mouthfeel, low sudsing more like a porter than a stout

Good beer

 

Happy Anniversary!!!

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/1805/626686/#navigation



Canned on 10/11/22.

Moderate pour yields a 3/4 inch white head over a slightly hazy, light golden body with sticky lacing.

Nose of tropical fruit, citrus, very slight pine with a bit of floral aromas as well.

Taste is citrus and a bit of tropical fruit with very slight citrus pith bitterness on the finish.

Feel is nice and semi-soft with medium carbonation.

Overall, quite delicious and quite crushably smooth.
Find this beer and you won't be disappointed.
Cheers!

 

Final round for today. The review I wrote for this beer was a blind review - I had no clue to what this beer was, other than it's higher ABV. This is from @Beersnake1


My blind review:

Mystery beer #2:
This review is written blind. I have no clue as to what it is when writing this. All I've been told is it's higher ABV:
Looks - 4
Dark brown pouring with a 1 finger tan head. The head retention is not good, but considering I was told it's high ABV, not surprising. No lacing on the glass.
Aroma - 4.5
This is a boozy smelling beer. I get some brown sugar, plum, caramel, toffee. Quite deep and rich smelling.
Taste - 4.5
This beer has a lot of sweetness to it. I get brown sugar flavors, caramel, toffee. I also get a hint of coffee. I do get a hint of plum that hits right up front, but dissipates rapidly.
Feel - 4.25
Thick, and full body. There's a bit of a burn, but not too much. Smooth feeling for the most part, in spite of the burn.
Overall - 4.25
I am probably wrong as to the style, like I was with the last blind beer I did. I would guess it's barrel aged, and a Scotch Ale. It is quite delicious.

Reveal:

The Morning After Den Haag - Hoppin' Frog Brewing - Old Ale - 16.65% ABV
4.36/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Well, not as far off on the style as the last blind beer I reviewed. I love my big beers, but I do not always like the big format. I love sharing big beers, but it's not always easy to do so, and I'm getting too old to drink a 750 myself of a big beer. This size can is perfect for 1 person to enjoy. It's delicious, and I'm honored to try it, and we do not get their beers here, though I can get them in Wisconsin.

Since it's such a big beer, and I have to work tomorrow, I will call it a night. See you all tomorrow. Cheers all!