New Beer Weekend #130

Yep, he got it! And yes, it's a nice place to drink a few. Attached to a book store, and also sells ice cream.

 

Yes, crowlers and growlers (saw I guy get a 64 oz fill). I suggested the beer to the couple next to me, who love Amalgamator, and they brought 64 oz with them.

Looking forward to hearing your Beachwood and LA area takes!

 

Really impressed with the beer, space and vibe here. Skipping Green Cheek to be responsible. Tried 3 oz of their Kopech, and would definitely order next visit if available. Going with a style I don’t see much, and order when I do.

RIIP Black Ripper



Brewery notes: $8 16 oz draft. Black IPA, 7.0% ABV, hoppy, dark, unforgettable. 2022 GAFB Bronze, 3 X GAFB Silver

Appearance: Very dark brown black, tan cream head leaves dusting over the base. Very small fine carbonation reaches the surface. 4.5

Aroma: Citrus and pine, roast chocolate malt nearly equal in strength, nice blend. 4.25

Taste: Dark roast chocolate malt leads, a dank pine follows, don’t recall another dank Black IPA. Really enjoying. 4.5

Mouthfeel: Dry, a little chalky, but could be my trashed palate at this stage. Drinks light and easy, well under the ABV. Sustained prickly tint carbonation bubbles add to the medium leaning sweet body. Pine lingers and for that I am grateful. 4.5

Overall: Heard high praise for RIIP for my visit, and I must say it is warranted. This is an excellent Black IPA that hits expected flavors with a heavier pine and unique darkness I do not recall experiencing previous with this style. If you like what you hear buy with confidence. So glad I stopped here today. 4.5

Not sure it would be fair to assess near beers without a significant break, so will return either later tonight or tomorrow from a likely nother rainy day in LA.

 

I feel like I'm seeing more black IPAs and CDA recently, and I'm excited.

 

Art History - Wenceslas, dark Bohemian lager that @FBarber sent me, because he's some kind of a beer angel.

16oz can served in a little dimpled stein. Canned on 11/23/22. @FBarber sent it to me.

Pours dark brown, translucent with light behind it, about a finger and a half of dense head, just a little active carbonation. Smell is roast coffee or grain, maybe a bit of burnt toast, just a little bit of a grainy sweetness, a little bit of anise.

Taste is similar, but the sweetness and roastiness come together and makes me think of slightly burnt chocolate pudding. Anise comes through a little bit, maybe a bit of fig sweetness. Roastiness does provide a little bit of bitterness to balance out the sweetness.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied, smooth, maybe a bit still. Overall, nice beer.

 

Well, after a long battle with my mind to decide this is the beer I settled on...also comes via @snaotheus cause he is some sort of beer prophet, or saint, or something like that...

San Juan Island Brewing - Black Boar (4.5% English porter)



Pours very dark brown, great clarity when backlit; bubbly light brown head, very generous lacing.

Nose is a chalky earthy mix of chocolate and light coffee; slightly learning towards dark fruit.

Taste is a mix of light chocolate; lightly sweet, with a nice drying roast in the aftertaste.

Light body, very smooth, possibly just a tad thin; but still creamy feel to it, noticeable dryness, minor roast driven bitterness on the finish.

I really enjoy beers like this Ryan, thank you for sending my way.

 

Good beer and some piggy fun for der kinder.

 

The first couple beers I had from San Juan did not impress me.

The last couple beers I had from San Juan have impressed me quite a bit.

Glad you like this one!

 

I will be passing through this summer I believe enroute to Michigan. I will BOLO

 

Boulevard Space camper Cypersonic C-Hops DIPA ( Cascades, Centennial, & Chinook ), 8.6% ABV

Pours a bright gold/honey color with one finger of eggshell colored head. Average-ish head retention & lacing

S: Oranges, nectarines, not much else

T: Follows the nose, some dryness, green melons, a little white grape & pineapple up front, just a little pine. Grapefruit shows as this beer warms through, Dryness, green melon & nectarine in the finish, along with pineapple, & tangerine

MF: Medium body, slight carbonation, lovely balance

Very much a traditional West Coast IPA with a little newer flavor slant in spots, drinks so easy

 

We had a great post-rehearsal dinner in a Greek restaurant. Lots of fun and good Greek wine. But I'll admit I was looking forward to sipping on Appalachian Walker, an English Barleywine aged in brandy barrels from Olde Hickory Brewery. I love big, BA Barleywines and the BA ratings on this were stratospheric. It didn't disappoint. Some Barleywines are overly sweet. This one isn't and in my mind it bridges the gap between the English and American styles.

It pours a dark cola-iced tea color with a small, ecru-colored cap that dissipated rapidly leaving a thin film of foam and modest lacing. It has a really aromatic nose with lots of toffee, brown sugar, raisin, fig, roasted malt, leather, and a whiff of tobacco. As it warms I also smell the influence of the brandy barrels. The initial taste is more bitter than the smell would indicate with earthy char and bitter hop notes. The rest of the flavor, though, is spot-on with the sweetness of brown sugar and caramel/toffee and abundant raisin, fig, and sweet malts. As it warms and breathes I notice the brandy, which adds oakiness to the already complex taste profile. The mouth feel is thick and creamy with moderate carbonation. This batch carries a 12.04% ABV, which is warming but not overly distracting.

4.41/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I'm glad I bought 6 bottles of this gem. I doubt whether I'll be posting anything tomorrow so I wish everyone a great New Beer Sunday and a good week. Cheers, NBW!