New Beer Weekend #173

Hello New Beer Weekend!!!

Almost joined you all last night, but I just wasn't quite in the mood for an after work beer. Tonight I am, since I don't work tomorrow. Since it's a stout/barleywine themed weekend, with the BIF, I decided I'd better have one also - stout that it.


Bourbon County Brand Fourteen Stout - Goose Island Brewing - 13.2% ABV

I've been sitting on this for a while, almost 2 years now. It's cold outside, so it seemed right today. There's so much going on here in this beer. So much rye. There's loads of chocolate, caramel, vanilla, caramel, toffee, brown sugar and a bit of dark fruit. I am totally enjoying this beer, and I'm so happy I got it, though I have no idea where I bought it. We sure as heck didn't get it at work with the stupid distribution we get here for Goose Island products.

Review:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/1146/563025/

4.57/5 rDev +4.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
From a bottle, and served at room temp:

Nice hiss and a bit of smoke upon opening. This beer pours pitch black, and no light shines through. The head that formed was quite thick for the ABV - 3 finger. The head retention is actually quite good for the high ABV. Once the head dissipates, there's no lacing on the glass.
The aroma hits when I poured this beer. I got very strong bourbon whiskey notes, and the rye is something I notice. Up close I get so much plum and raisin. I also get loads of dark chocolate, vanilla, caramel, brown sugar, and toffee. I also get those rye bourbon whiskey notes, that are quite pleasing.
Taste - Oh, wow! I get the rye bourbon right away. It has a unique flavor that is hard for me to describe, though it's pleasing. I get loads of brown sugar next. The dark chocolate, vanilla, caramel, and toffee follow. There's a bit of dark fruit that shows up - raisin and plum, but these flavors aren't too strong, and less than the nose suggested.
Such a smooth and full body. There's really almost no burn here, just a very faint warm feeling.
Wow, what a treat, and I'm so happy I bought this. What an amazing beer.


One and done tonight. I hope to be back tomorrow for more. Cheers!

 

I also missed the memo that this being a stout- and barleywine-themed weekend.

Neshaminy Creek Brewing Company - Sweet Hell. It's a smoked Helles lager that is quite tasty.

Cross-posted in What Mid-Atlantic Beer are you drinking now? (2023) and What beer are you drinking now?

 

Thanks Tom! @CarolinaCardinals sent me this in our Barleywine/Stout BIF #1.
Solstice d'Hiver

Pours a slightly roiled brown. Slight head quickly dissipates. Almost no lacing.
Smell is a balance between a smooth date, fig, caramel, and fruity sweetness, and an assertive pine resin bitterness.
taste is more complex in the sweet notes. Dates, figs, toffee, caramel, toasted almond, sherry, and hints of apple brandy yet...A firm piney hop bitterness is not shy. The sweetness is slapped back a bit until a draw is called. Definitely an American barleywine.
Mouthfeel has a medium heft, light carb, and a subtle warmth. Is it ABV, or is it the hops? Not sure. But this is a nice ride.
3.91/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

 

Central Waters - Brewer's Reserve Vanilla Rye Stout

Cross post from yesterday's WBAYDN.

look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This is a very interesting brew in that the nose and taste give off different elements. The nose is all about the vanilla whereas the flavor is predominantly about the barrel and the rye. Wonderful chewy mouthfeel. However, it drinks a lot easier than one would expect. I already intend to get some additional bottles.

 

I think it was a somewhat unintentional theme - there was a barleywine/stout BIF and this weekend coincides with delivery/drinking. Lots of great mystery beers being revealed and enjoyed!

 

We took over. Do not be afraid. You will not be harmed.

 

Posting in here for the first time ever as ordered (I'm not very confident in my reviewing capabilities) as a participant in the Barleywine/Stout BIF. I received this one courtesy of @CBlack85 --

Untitled Arts Vanilla Hazelnut Coconut Imperial Stout:

This started off with a very dark brown, almost black pour, and displayed negligible head and lacing. It has an extremely rich hazelnut aroma which completely dominated the other adjuncts and the base beer. (and actually confused me, since I had misread the label and thought it was just Vanilla Coconut). Upon tasting, the hazelnut was tempered and joined by some nice vanilla and a ton of sweet chocolate. The coconut is in there, but very subtle -- it came out a little more as the beer warmed up, but I might have missed it if I wasn't looking for it. And at 12 oz. and a very well hidden 11% ABV, I didn't give it much time to warm up. This was pretty much a classic pastry stout/dessert beer, and from what I've experienced pretty typical of Untitled Arts.

 

Poured into a 16 oz Nordic pint glass canned on 10/25/23. Pours a very hazy yellow orange with a finger sticky white head that leaves thin webs of lace with excellent retention. 4.5

Aroma is peach, mango, mandarin, passionfruit, white grapes, apricot, and grapefruit rind. 4

Taste follows peach, mango, mandarin, passionfruit, white grapes, apricot, and a little hit of grapefruit in the finish. 4.25

Mouthfeel is above average, soft gentle carbonation, maybe a little dry, and at 7.8% huge flavor, but still very approachable. 4.25

Overall this one has a ton going on, I recommend and am enjoying. 4

 

Good morning BAs! Today’s post walk in the park coffee is Firestone Walker’s “Parabajava” (2022):



Poured at 53°. Creamy light tan head with some rocks; good cap retention; heavy ring; sudsy lacing on agitation; medium thick legs; black body with ruby see through and good clarity. Bourbon and some mild roast coffee in nose; oak takes over as beer warms. Taste is bitter roast coffee, bitter sweet dark chocolate and oaky bourbon; a smidge of oaky vanilla in middle; black peppery oaky close. Medium body; silky feel, not adjuncty; alcohol burn on tip of tongue, warmth in mouth from 13.8% abv; dry wooden tongue coating/finish. Overall the beer tastes good but it’s too oaky for me; the coffee is bitter and the barrel notes push aside the base, i.e., oak dominates the whole and leaves a dry popsicle stick linger in my mouth.

4.5 | 4.0 | 4.25 | 4.0 | 4.25
Score: 4.18 rDev -7.7%


I like coffee stouts and drink them frequently , and while I liked this beer, it left the base behind and even the bourbon flavor took the knee to the King of the Oak. Cheers and have a great day y’all!

 

I can talk for hours about the Susquehanna and surrounding area and it is a beautiful, unique place with some really interesting facts and quirks.

 

All right, time for another round, and here it is.

Oktoberfest - Big Axe Brewing - Nisswa, MN - 6% ABV

This beer is ok, but nothing special. Good and easy drinking, though very light in flavor.

Review:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/40627/216535/

3.58/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
From a 12oz can.

This is a clear amber pouring beer. Ther's a small bit of carbonation rising in the glass. The head that forms is 2 finger, and a bit off white. Decent head retention, but no lacing on the glass.
The nose is malty, with a bit of caramel and some biscuit.
Taste - Somewhat light flavor. There's some biscuit and caramel, but the flavor is pretty light.
Light bodied, somewhat bubbly.
Ok Oktoberfest, but nothing crazy.


I'll see if I've got another today.

 

Agreed, I'm glad so much of it readily accessible for us. We spent 5-6 hours outside yesterday and I doubt we walked 4 miles. Just so much for the kids to stop and explore. The bird life, history, and scenic splendor all keep us coming back. It even has the prettiest industrial waste site I've seen, the white cliffs of Conoy.

 

Good morning NBW
Mrs Jkblr and I attended the wedding of one of her coworkers daughters last night, so I'm just now checking in here. I am out of interesting new beer due to so many familiar favorites hitting shelves right now, but I have some from the Sam Adams winter mix pack and the Costco calendar to review.

Sam Adams Winter Lager

12oz bottle Best Before April notched poured into a perfect pint glass at fridge temp 5.6% ABV 22 IBUs. The beer pours very bright copper tinted amber with khaki colored head. The head recedes to a thin cap and leaves a little lacing. The aroma is mild with sweet caramel and toasted malt. The taste is semisweet toasted malt with a hint of earthy hop flavor. Very restrained cinnamon and ginger show up as it warms.
Moderate bitterness. The mouthfeel is medium plus bodied with average carbonation and a semi dry finish. Cleanly lagered. Overall, good.

Cheers all!

 

Tree House - Raven (Black IPA)

4.48/5 rDev +10.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Opaque black with a beige head that forms wonderful lacing. The aroma is of coffee and burnt bread upfront but it turns into pine. The taste is a mixture of cold brew coffee with pine resin, with a citrusy aftertaste. There is a lingering bitterness after the citrus flavor goes away. Wonderful complexity. Medium body and smooth carbonation. Thanks @Roguer!

 

This is my first post in New Beer Weekend,
today, I’m drinking Fidens Sobchak Coffee Stout



4.45/5 rDev +4.7%
look: 5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
This beer pours a beautiful obsidian black, with a dark brown head that quickly dissipates to a thin brown collar around the top of the glass. I did see some chunks of sludge drop into the glass as I was pouring. The smell is somewhat muted, there is a hint of roasted malts, but not much else. The taste is of rich dark chocolate malts with a slight hint of booze, but nowhere near what you would expect from a 9.2% ABV stout. I'm not picking up any coffee in either the taste or smell, but that may be attributable to fact that I purchased this beer almost 6 months ago. The feel is thick and almost chewy, there is a bit of prickly carbonation that would be better if toned down a little. Overall, this is a great stout, it is tasty and very drinkable. I think it compares quite favorably with other big-name stouts I've had in the past.

Please note, the description of this beer is incorrect in the beers section, it is not a Sweet/Milk Stout and it is 9.2% ABV not 6.5%. I'll post a picture and try to get the stats corrected

 

Well, I am back, and this is one that @cheeseheadinMinneapolis so kindly gave to me.

Can't Smoke Our Way Out Of This One - Central Waters Brewing - Amherst, WI - Grodziskie - 3.9% ABV

I am going to be honest, I am a babbling idiot drinking this beer. I have never had this style, and am just amazed by it. The aroma was a bit off putting - I got a medicinal vibe from it. The flavor has none of it there. It is a beautiful banquet of smoke styles and malt. Holy cow. I am so amazed by this beer, and wish we could get it locally. Maybe I should ask my CW rep. about it to see if we can get it here? Thankful, and blown away.

Review:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/652/668400/
3.85/5 rDev -2.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
From a 16oz can:
This is a very clear pouring beer from the can. Golden in color. There's no carbonation bubbles rising in the glass. The head that formed is 1 finger and white. Not super long lasting overall, but there's some beautiful lacing on the glass.
I get tons of buttery biscuit from the aroma. I also get a lemon like smell from this beer. It does, and this will sound weird, but it has a medicinal aroma that is light, but there. Not sure how that fits in, or makes sense to this old man.
Taste - Oh, wow, the smoke in this beer just builds and builds. It's layered and nuanced. This smoke isn't stupid crazy, but just lingers in my throat. I do get the buttery biscuit and lemon also, but, holy smoke. I'm guessing the strange aroma was from the smoke.
The smoke just oats my throat. That is the main feeling for this beer. I do get a citrus like feeling also.
I am babbling thinking about this beer. I like it a lot, but, I could see how some would not. It is a very well made beer in my opinion.

I honestly do not know if there will be another today. Maybe later. Cheers all.