New Beer Weekend #170

Earlier in the week I stopped at Saint Arnold's to try their new Kellerbier on tap. 4.9% ABV.

Saint Arnold's description:
Our Kellerbier is an unfiltered, long-lagered Helles. At 4.9% ABV, our Kellerbier has a slight increase in mouthfeel and body, but will still exhibit character of a bright, floral, and crisp lager



I always love their fountain they made out of an old tank ha.



Pours a golden/yellow color with a light haze. That clears up as this warms a bit. A white head forms, and leaves some spotty lace behind.
Aroma seems like Saaz hops to me, with mostly a spicy, peppery and floral aroma. Some biscuit malts in there as well. Very simple, but enjoyable.
Taste wise, like the nose, spicy and floral hops up front. That leads to a nice an nuanced malt character. English biscuits, light honey, light sweetness. A lingering bitterness dries everything out.
A light to medium body. Effervescent and crisp. Super clean and finishes with a nice dry bite. Easy to drink for sure. I can come back to this with ease.

Glad to see another Kellerbier out there. This is a well done pale lager that is simple, but has enough character to satisfy. Love the clean, crisp bite, that Saint Arnold does better than most. Right now this is a restaurant/tap room only release. Would love to see this in cans out at stores. I can see myself getting a lot of this.

Overall score is a 4 all around, a solid B+
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/337/675545/?ba=champ103#lists

I'll most likely be at True Anomaly later today, will probably have some new beers to share from them as well.

 

That fountain is awesome, what a cool idea.

 

The 2023 version

Today’s beer for NBW is the 2023 version of Lagunitas Born Yesterday Fresh Hop Ale.

This beer was bottled 10/2/23 so very fresh IMO.

From the Lagunitas website:

“Limited Release

Born Yesterday

" Here for a fresh time, not a long time. "

Feat. fresh hops rushed from farm-to-brewery in under 24 hrs!

If we could bottle the smell of harvest time in Yakima Valley, WA, we would. Hell, we try every year! Today we get the next best thing: Born Yesterday. See, once hops are harvested, the flavor clock starts ticking’. So we rush a select bunch of whole-cone ‘wet’ hops on refrigerated trucks straight to Lagunitas. In less than 24hrs they arrive and immediately drop into this brew via a stoopid custom-built contraption, injecting all their precious aromatics. Special delivery indeed. Congratulations, it’s a beer!

Beverage Specs

Abv: 7.2%”

Served in my Spiegelau IPA glass”

Appearance:

Pours a slightly hazy golden yellow with a one finger white head which dissipated fairly quickly. The photo below is from after a couple of sips.

Aroma:

A complex combination of tropical fruit, dank and a hint of citrus.

Taste:

The flavors follow the nose: a tasty combination of tropical fruit, dank and some citrus. There is a firm bitterness.

Mouthfeel:

A medium body, some smoothness and an off dry finish. As the beer opens up there is some hop burn.

Overall:

I think this beer is very good, I enjoyed drinking it.

This year’s version is not at the awesome level of past batches (e.g., 2016) but it is a worthy purchase IMO.

@KOP_Beer_OUtlet @rotsaruch @RobH

 

I will follow @JackHorzempa with the same beer. Lagunitas Brewing Born Yesterday. A fresh hop ale. The 2023 edition. The look is peachy orange. There was very little foam. There was a lot of bubbles. The glass was very clean, so I am not sure if it is supposed to look like that. The smell is very strong. It is very nice. Freshly-cut grass, tangerine, lemon, nectarine, and light breadiness odors stand out. The taste features grapefruit and peach flavors at the forefront. It is grassy and bready. Slightly bitter, but clean, with light sweetness. The mouthfeel is light, zesty, and dry. It is crisp and clean. It has medium carbonation. Overall, this is a nice beer, but I am not as impressed as I was with previous versions. As usual with Lagunitas Brewing, this beer is a tremendous value.

 

Thank you for kicking off the weekend @Mdog ! Have two from a new to me brewery from Massachusetts, but from what I’ve heard from it here has been highly praised.

Vitamin Sea Troubles Are Rover



Can Notes: Obtained Saturday August 19th via trade with Adam, @Qu3st on Beer Advocate, and refrigerated thereafter until cracking open this afternoon. "What's Leaking" can stamp dated July 27, 2023 at 1:15 PM. Brewed by Vitamin Sea Brewing, Weymouth, Massachusetts. India Pale Ale 7.3% ABV, 1 Pint.

Appearance: Poured half the can into a shaker pint glass, yielding an impenetrable hazy yellow golden orange base, creamy white generous lacing leaving soapy lacing in its wake and creamy cover over the base. 4.25

Aroma: Poured much of the second half of the glass to get full access to the aroma, which is medium plus in strength, pineapple, citrus, tangerine in disposition. Smells like tropical SweeTarts. 4.0

Taste: Consistent with aroma, backed by a piney bitterness. The citrus and pineapple wins out overall, blends pretty well, sweet components win out. Digging though sweeter than my typical purchase. 4.25

Mouthfeel: Creamy medium plus body, gentle carbonation. Rich and creamy, drinks easy but the ABV comes on about 1/3 in. Citrus pineapple finish with tingly sweetness on and off throughout. 4.5

Overall: This held on well over the past three months, enjoying this version for certain. A bit on the sweet side, but consistent for style. Really like the mouthfeel, and this is an overall excellent NEIPA. Thanks for sharing Adam! 4.25

Saving the Double IPA for tomorrow, looking forward to exploring Vitamin Sea further. Cheers!

 

I agree with you here. Since it is baseball playoff season I will use the analogy that this year's version is not a home run like past versions (e.g., 2016) it most certainly is an extra base hit (e.g., runner in scoring position).

Cheers!

Edit: I just noticed that on the six-pack holder they list the hops used to brew this beer: Simcoe, Citra, Mosaic and HBC 586 (an experimental hop). I am unfamiliar with HBC 586 so a bit of research is called for here (later today).

 

Good afternoon NBW
I figured I'd try this as a single was available.

Bell's Oberon Eclipse

12oz bottle best by 23MAR24 poured into a perfect pint glass at fridge temp 6.3% ABV. The beer pours opaque medium amber with khaki colored head. The head recedes to a thin ring and single layer of bubbles. The aroma is mild with sweet wheat malt, citrus and coriander. The taste is more of the same with the coriander pretty up front and the citrus notes and wheat rounding out the barely bittered finish. Mouthfeel is medium bodied with average carbonation and a semi dry finish. Overall, ok, but I'm not a big wheat beer drinker.

 

Maine Beer Co. Wolfe's Neck IPA, 6.5% - this one goes to 11! Cheers!



-Look: Beautiful cloudy deep-gold with a bone-white clumpy head.
-Aroma: Whoa! Weed and mild grapefruit on a shortbread cookie.
-Taste: Wonderful mild orange, grapefruit rind, one pine needle.
-Feel: Loose and slippery, mildly prickly, goes down fast.
-Overall: Delicious west-coasty IPA with a soft blend of hops and malts!

*Bought a single a couple days ago and couldn't wait, but wanted to share.

 

Harvey's Christmas Ale English Barleywine, 7.5% - $2 on clearance! Cheers!



-Look: Gorgeous dark mahogany with a creamy tan head that stays.
-Aroma: Fig, toffee, vanilla, and walnut cake - nice!
-Taste: Dark fruits, caramel, walnut cake, mild alcohol.
-Feel: Smooth and round, full and soft, warming.
-Overall: Tasty sipper with a wonderful soft dark fruit and nut character!

*Again, bought a single a couple days ago and couldn't wait, but wanted to share.

 

New beer #2


12oz canned 07/22/22 (15 months ago) poured into a tulip glass at fridge temp 8.2% ABV. The beer pours dense black with no light penetration and light brown head. The head recedes to a thin ring and single layer of bubbles. The aroma is mild with caramel and chocolate plus a hint of whiskey barrel. The taste is bittersweet roasted malt with tangy hints of well used oak barrel, dark chocolate and coffee. Moderate bitterness. Mouthfeel is thin to medium bodied with average carbonation and a mostly dry finish. Overall, good stout.

 

Starting off the weekend with a saison from Brasserie Fantôme/St. Somewhere (still quite warm here in SoCal) - cheers!

4.08/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

"Best before end 2015" clearly a mis-print (I believe this was intended to say "2025"). Poured from a capped and corked 750mL bottle into my Unibroue tulip.

Amber body, floral white soft peaks. Thick fine lacing; excellent retention.

Bright, citrus/wildflower/alfalfa aromatics with hints of spice and faint funk.

Sweet, bitter, and complex flavor profile which continues to evolve long into the finish. Malt, spices, burnt sugar, and earthy/herbal notes. Dry finish with a lingering grassy/weedy bitterness not entirely from hops. Hints of wood. Very low tartness/funk.

Creamy, medium bodied, with prickly full carbonation, moderate tannic bite, and alcohol warmth.

Interesting collaboration - though the various elements are competing somewhat.

 

That beer's label made me think of a Bloodhound Gang music video.

Cheers!

 

MobCraft Beer Padishah The Festival Blend. A barrel-aged stout made for Festival Foods, a premier local grocery chain. MobCraft Beer, known for their infamous Date Grape debacle, is an innovative brewery, but I have not been overly impressed with their creations. Festival Foods has great service, but is more expensive than the competition. The look is pitch black. There is a light brown foam ring. The smell is very nice. Fudge, brownie, vanilla, cream, and almond. The taste is excellent. Quite complex. Fudge, brownie, graham cracker, vanilla, almond, molasses, and light bourbon. It is unique. Similar to other good bourbon barrel-aged stouts, but it does not remind me specifically of any others. The mouthfeel is oily, smooth, thick, and full, with light carbonation. Overall, this beer is a pleasant surprise. It is my favorite beer from MobCraft Beer.

 

The Bad Touch?

 

True Anomaly's Redstone, Vienna Lager. 5.7% ABV.



Pours a reddish/orange color with some clarity. A dens beige head forms with good retention and lace left behind.
A spicy earthy hop and even a fruity aroma up front. That becomes more malt like, with toasted malts and baked bread aromas.
Taste wise, a rich malty character balanced with spicy hop notes. Malts go from lightly toasted, to bread like, and caramelized sugars. Spicy, earthy hops, and some dark fruit flavors of cherries help to balance. Very nice.
A medium body with crisp carbonation. This is very clean, and a tad on the sweeter side, but not cloying at all. A very nice, slightly darker lager that I can come back to with ease.

Like always from True Anomaly, Just solid, well done, and balanced all around. The malt character is very nice, as it should be with the style. Not much more to say, as this is always a quality brewery.

Overall score is 4 across the board, another B+ that is very solid. I got a couple of cans to go as well.
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/55586/446123/?ba=champ103#lists

I also have a new Saison from True Anomaly that I will probably open later today or tomorrow.

 

Cape May - Longliner, a lager gifted to me by @jonphisher months ago, which was abandoned in the fridge while I traveled for a month and then soaked in fresh hops (which I ran out of yesterday).

12oz can served in a pilsner glass. Can is dated 042523.

Pours clear pale yellow with a largish head that settles quickly into a thick skin crawling about a centimeter up the side of the glass. Definitely some active carbonation, but it's pretty fine and surprisingly slow. Smell is mild lemon, yeasty dough, some grass.

Taste is definitely on the bitter side, lots of grassy notes, something a bit earthy, yeastiness is toned down as compared to the aroma. Light honey sweetness in the background.

Mouthfeel is light, clean, and dry. Overall, I think this is good.

 

Greetings, fellow NBWers,

It's a bright, sunshiny 70° day in the Inland Northwest. Could well be amongst the very last warmish days until next year.

I've been hunting down a lot of fresh hop beers this fall. Yesterday I went over the border into the People's Republic of Idaho and mostly came up short of fresh hop beers, although I did manage to grab a tasty Doner Kebab sandwich at Bier Haus, washed down with a Veltin's pilsner.

Today, I'm back on the fresh hop train, with Erik Freshstrata (that's a great name), from Vancouver, WA's Vice Brewing.
.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/63619/671297/?ba=woemad#lists
Pretty different from most of the fresh hop beers I've had. Grapefruity and herbal, with just a little undercurrent of tropical fruit in between.
Got a couple more FH beers on deck. I'm also considering a run to someplace to watch EWU vs Weber St, Community Pint being a likely spot, so those other new beers may have to wait till tomorrow.

 

Have a good Saturday. Dying Fetus tonight with a sold out show and my lover. We are at jakes billiards again. Untappd verified. Appetizers and Wheatwine.


Boulevard/firestone walker ba Wheatwine. This is amazing. Aromas and flavors of big caramel, brown sugar, toffee, bourbon, vanilla, oak, raisin, fig, date, light coconut/molasses, pepper, herbal, floral, grass, and yeast/oak earthiness. Light herbal bitterness on and oak tannin spiciness on the finish. Medium carb and medium full body. Very smooth and silky barrel feel with light drying tannins. Mild increasing warmth and booze of 9.9%. Top tier for the style. Superbly balanced barrel, malt, and yeast complexity. 4.4


Cheers

 

We’re visiting my Mom in Dayton, so it’ll be a quick one and done for me today. I picked up a 6er of this because I really like the OG iteration and I absolutely LOVE the brewery, so this was a no brainer for me, especially with the opportunity to join our friend @jkblr in reviewing this.





3.93/5 rDev +6.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Pours a beautiful unfiltered golden color with a foamy off white head that lingers. Love the way this looks in the glass. The nose is some citrus and coriander and a nice amount of wheat.

The taste follows perfectly, with the coriander most pronounced, complemented by a very nice citrus flavor and smoothed out by the wheat. Really good flavor profile, I just wish the mouthfeel was a little less watery.

Glad I bought a 6er of this, it’s a nice fall version of Oberon.