New Beer Weekend #143

My kids have a joke like that, how do you tell when Daddy is teasing?

 

StoneCloud Brewing Dublin Debauchery BA Irish Cream Coffee Stout, 13.8% ABV; 4.65 ( Right now my beer of the year )

Pours an effervescent mahogany with a pinky of mocha colored head. Some head retention & lacing

S: Rich barrel notes, dark fruit, some caramel, not picking up any coffee, otherwise, all that

T: Barrel dryness/rawness, vanilla, mocha. certainly, the Rye Whiskey flavor, some caramel up front. Vanilla Mocha, Rye Whiskey burn & spiciness with rich oak & vanilla notes. Finishes with barrel dryness, Rye spice, caramel & some coffee notes

MF: Chewy, low carbonation, warming

Easily the best dark beer I have had from these guys, pricy beer, but worth it. Would hoard this if I found it again, I believe it was the last can on the shelf at Parkhill's in Tulsa

 

Earlier this week I had the distinct pleasure of meeting up, and sharing a beer with a great BA who was on a brief visit to Toronto. On the off chance we were able to meet up, he sent a box of beer from California to his son in New York, so that he could drive it up to give to me after flying in! Incredible.

I’m enjoying the first of that amazing bounty today. Alvarado Street Motor Oil No. 10, a blend of fresh and BBA aged Imperial stout with vanilla and Cacao. Thanks @Highbrow this is great!



Pours a deep black/brown with moderate head that dissipates to a thin edge ring over a couple minutes. No lacing.

Sweet vanilla hits the nose first, followed by more mellow coffee and milk chocolate notes. The bourbon barrel makes an appearance in a supporting but memorable role.

The vanilla isn’t as dominant on the tongue and blends nicely with the other flavours. The barrel speaks up, as does the cocao. Appropriate sweetness for the style.

The body is medium, with a long finish. This is very good and an enjoyable 12% ABV sipper that pairs well with the day’s denouement.

Cheers, and thanks Titus!

 

Another all citra hopped beer.
Noble Shepard Citra Citra Citra 7.0 % ABV NEIPA.

Pours a fairly dark orangish color with a 1&1/2 inch head that leaves some nice lacing.
Aroma is fresh oranges and tangerine.
Medium body that is somewhat chewy. Also has some prickly carbonation.
Taste is all citra; fresh oranges that have a touch of sweetness, tangerines and clementines.
Finish has just a hint of bitterness that helps to minimize the sweetness that you get upfront. Finish is a tad thin for me, also wish it was a touch more bitter.
Overall though this a very good all Citra beer that really showcases the Citra hops, will definitely purchase again.

 

Icarus our riviera
...solid black appearance, minimal head that dissipates quickly
...aroma is roasted malt upfront and dominates. Some dark chocolate, coffee but not too complex but nice
...taste is sweeter than the aroma suggests accompanied by the roasted malt. In the background is some coffee and dark bakers chocolate.
... surprisingly sweet for what I was expecting and the body came off a little watery but still an enjoyable beer

 

Thanks @Roguer for kicking off the weekend here, and an interesting side by side above.
My first new beer this weekend was just received today from @NorsemanOne in NBW BIF

Poured more an unfiltered translucent than an actual hazy and was capped with a nearly white 2 inch head that left copious lacing.
The aroma is still lost on me, stupid Covid after effects.
The taste is hoppy enough to be an IPA, which is what it calls itself, but is listed as a pale ale here. So it’s a hoppy pale ale that has just enough bitterness to cut the thirst nicely but no more.
Easy drinking as many Festbiers, I think I could down several of these back to back.
Nice beer. Thanks Jonathan!

 

Spring break week coming to an end, had a great week just staying home and taking care of the boys, good memories were made by all. My uncle and aunt are visiting from Charleston so my brother smoked a bunch of meat and we all ate too much. Now the beer…

I had read bout this style only recently on here and then saw both @FBarber and @ovaltine post the same two rotbiers. Well a NJ brewery finally decided to make one too that I happened to be able to get. Really excited to try this elusive style, without farther ado…


Source - Coat of Arms (Rotbier 5.6%)



Pours crystal clear amber with a nice chestnut hue to it, dirty white head; moderate staying power, splotches of lace. The clarity of this beer combined with the color make it very appealing to look at.

Nose is greeted by a doughy and toasty bread; touch of hop presence, and underlying whiff of something sweet.

Taste is all about toasty and bread crust; nice little bit of hops on the finish, little pepper like in nature…the aftertaste leans heavily into the toasted aspect but there is also a really pleasant almost cocoa like thing going on, only way I can think to describe it.

Light end of medium body; creamy smooth carbonation, hops with a pretty noticeable yet appropriate bitterness, the finish is clean and mostly dry, but not entirely.

Really cool that a brewery nearby took a stab at this style of beer, I’m glad they did and I’m glad I was able to try it. I’d drink it again.

———————

Brisket, ribs, and pulled pork…courtesy of brother phisher…

 

Back with another Tree House, Quadruple Shot Salted Caramel.



These quad shots are NOT shy with the chocolate notes but it takes a back seat to the caramel, which I find surprising. Along with the caramel there is some milk chocolate, cocoa powder, and just a hint of salt. This is a pastry stout that works.

 

..Genesee imperial stout
...solid black appearance with a very thin tan head
....body is above average, medium light carbonation with a bit of a creamy thick feel
...aroma lightly roasted malt, dark fruit,,dark fudge.
...taste is very strong compared to the aroma, lots of raisin and dark fruit. Mild bitter char as well as some wood. Mildly roasted malt,milk chocolate and a touch of coffee.
...this gets mixed reviews but I totally enjoyed it

 

Bentonville Brewing Co. Ph'amto'm Goose Double Hazy Pale Ale, 8.5% ABV; 4.44 overall

Pours a hazed & effervescent gold /honey color with a finger of eggshell colored head. Great lacing & very good head retention

S: Tons of tropical fruit, some citrus, fades a little down the stretch

T: Pineapple, coconut, guava, dryness & dryness, plus passionfruit up front, a little lime too. Guava, passion fruit & orange, plus a little peach as this beer warms up, a little green melon as well, some pineapple. Finishes with plenty of pineapple, guava, lime & & a little lemongrass,

MF: Medium body, restrained carbonation, very good balance. Mouth feel becomes pretty creamy as this beer warms up

This just needs to be in the permanent rotation, end of story

 

I'm looking forward to @DIM 's thoughts as well

 

Last one of the night, enjoyed with a little Lebanese take-out, is another from Fine Balance, Coast New Zealand IPA. As you might imagine, this is a NEIPA made with New Zealand hops. In this case it is Nelson Sauvin and NZ214, an experimental hop.



Pours a hazy pale straw yellow with significant head that sticks around a long while. Moderate lacing.

Lots of tropical fruit on the nose. Dank.

Taste follows, but with a lot of broad citrus notes. Dank. Negligible bitterness.

The body is big and creamy. Enjoyable.

A solid NEIPA that I would certainly enjoy again.