New Beer Weekend #174

Good Morning! Thanks for starting us off Jack.
I had this one late last night but wanted to throw my thoughts, and appreciation to @CarolinaCardinals , into the mix here.
Tom sent this to me in or Barleywine/Stout BIF #1

White Russian by Southern Pines


Damn near obsidian black. mocha color head quickly dissipates to a thin ring hints at gold in the light. Meek lacing. Low retention.
Nose is coffee and earthy roast that is perfectly suited for a more traditional Imperial Stout. A hint of creamy sweetness pokes in as well.
The flavor is definitely more complex and varied. A really pleasant interplay between the milky sweetness and blissfully deep and round coffee notes remind of a regular coffee Jersey style (but with slightly fancy coffee). As I sip, the more subtle Imperial Stout characteristics come in: some chocolate malt, char, the most subdued earthy peat, coffee, some date, molasses, and even some burnt brown sugar. But this baby really does come back around to a slick, creamy, mildly sweet, deeply roasted coffee.
Mouthfeel is medium to hefty, slick, low carbonation, and only slightly warm.
Overall, I feel they really hit what they were shooting for.
4.15/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

 

This one's from last night too, I figured this is the right time of year to work off some Bourbon County inventory...



Pulled out of my cellar (somewhere in the 55 degree range) and poured into a Goose Island tulip. Very dark brown with neither a noticeable head nor any lacing.

The smell was mostly coconut; banana was also obvious -- probably best described as simply "tropical".

Upon drinking, the bourbon barrel (and the oak) jumped out along with the coconut and banana, the pineapple was there on the aftertaste -- I didn't get any lime at all, despite consciously looking for it.

One of the smoothest beers I've ever had, with just the slightest bit of carbonation keeping it from being what I'd call "flat".

Based on the flavors and my typical preferences, I expected to be disappointed by this beer -- but I definitely wasn't. A very pleasant and delicious surprise, from my perspective. And I'm guessing the brewers (thankfully) accomplished exactly what they were endeavoring to do, however weird it may seem.

following along with @2beerdogs template/format --
4.5/5 rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

 

Good morning, NBW friends. Mrs O and I are wrapping up a great week of vacation in Florida and sitting at the Palm Beach International Airport - and there’s a temporary “tap room” that has a couple of “new to me” beers, so despite the hour, let’s get our “new beer” game on.

One note to share - accompanying us on this trip were Joy’s college roommate and her husband. We’ve been friends with them literally for decades, so they just added to a great trip - and the husband is my beer nerd sensei.



That’s me and Joy on the left and our dear friends on the right. I had been on my beer nerd journey for a few years, and I knew he really enjoyed beer as well, but he sent me his “beer list spreadsheet” about 15 years ago, and sent me down the beer nerd path I’ve followed since, tracking the beers I’ve enjoyed, which led me to Beer Advocate.

This beer is for you, Paul, which is fitting, given your love for all beers styles German in origin.

This is Der Chancellor, a kolsch from Tequesta Brewing Company. Let’s GOOOO!!!



3.71/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours a slightly unfiltered golden straw color with a dense white head that leaves a nice amount of lacing as you enjoy the beer. The nose has a strong grassy aroma with some cereal grain aromas as well.

The taste is more in line with the kolsch style, with the grass and cereal grain flavors accompanied by a nice lemon flavor that adds some brightness to the beer.

The mouthfeel is very crisp per the style, making for a very nice lawnmower beer. Glad I had the opportunity to try this.

 

Beer #2, this is also from Tequesta Brewing Company, and it’s a pumpkin beer, a style that has a wide degree of variability in my experience. This is Oh My Gourd.



4.25/5 rDev +1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours an unfiltered rich brown color with a light tan head that rigs the glass. Beautiful pumpkin ale. The nose is rich with pumpkin, nutmeg, and a touch of cinnamon. Wow.

The taste is in step with the nose, with equal parts pumpkin, nutmeg, and cinnamon providing a flavorful and surprisingly dry, crisp beer that never comes close to cloying, which can happen with pumpkin beers in my experience.

This would be an exquisite beer to enjoy around a fall campfire. One of the better pumpkin beers I’ve had.

 

Good morning BAs! Today’s new to me beer was part of an IP trade I did this summer with @Number1Framer in Milwaukee - Central Water’s Brewer’s Reserve Rum Barrel Aged “Fantasma Cosmico Chocolate Stout” (2023), with Cocoa Nibs, Cinnamon Sticks, Vanilla, Ancho and Guajillo Chilli Peppers. Sounds like a typical recipe for a Mexican Cake stout, with a rum barrel influence. I’m in, let’s go!




Poured at 58°. Tight light tan head with rocks; brief cap retention leaves a small island of micro dots and solid ring; some soapy lacing, no legs; prune juice black with ruby see-through; floaties/some chunky particles. Nose is rum with a hint of cinnamon. Rum entry with mild green chilies; very little if any cacao or cinnamon; no perceivable vanilla. Medium light body; moderate minus carbonation; mild hot peppers burn on tip of tongue; no warmth from 11.6% abv. Overall, another “Wisconsin Lite” imperial stout offering from CW; tastes fine and drinks easy, just weak aroma and flavor-wise.

4.0 | 3.75 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0
Score: 3.94 rDev -3.9%

I’ve been a fan boy of CW for years, but the beers I’ve had lately are good but not in the same tier as several other breweries’ barrel aged offerings. On the positive, Rum for me often doesn’t work well, and here it is mild and plays well with the other flavors, subdued as they were…Cheers y’all!

 

Enjoying a Founders Vanilla Porter, 6.5% - have a great weekend, you legends!



-Look: Beautiful creamy tan head over a deep, dark brown body.
-Aroma: Vanilla first then chocolate swirling, charred malts, mild coffee.
-Taste: Chocolate and vanilla combine nicely, mild coffee and charred malts.
-Feel: Creamy smooth, medium and slick, finishes coffee-bitter.
-Overall: Delicious vanilla and chocolate combo, a solid robust porter.

If I were V.P. of Labeling, I'd have kept the Dark, Rich, & Sexy lady from the Porter label, and put a big vanilla flower in her hat. Then I'd give myself a well-deserved raise. Cheers!

 

Last night my wife and I took our two grandsons, ages 13 and 17, to see a movie that they really wanted to see, Thanksgiving, a horror flick that takes place around Thanksgiving. They enjoyed it, we didn't. Too gory.
Today I'm drinking Little Red Strawberry Lager from Diamond Bear Brewing.
The beer is a gold color with a little haze. Small white head that dissipates quickly.
Grassy aroma, with some sweet fruit.
Subtle strawberry taste, metallic finish.
Light-bodied.
An enjoyable beer, but not one I would want to drink on a regular basis.

 

Half Acre - Benthic Immortal Vintage Blend 2023

imperial stout aged in bourbon barrels for 10-33 months with toasted coconut and coffee

shiny, oily black pour. lots of bourbon and oak on the nose with chocolate, coconut and coffee. taste is similar. full mouthfeel. this is benthic with a stepped-up barrel treatment.

4.56 overall rating for me.

cheers to new beers!

 

Good afternoon, NBW readers and posters. Stopped by the beer store yesterday to check out some drafts by a new DC brewery and to grab some Double Duckpin (which was sitting one facing over from On the Wings of Armageddon - a lovely sight I haven't witnessed in like 5-7 years).

On the shelf was a new-to-me Jack's Abby beer, in a style I quite enjoy - their Red Tape Munich-style Dunkel. It looked quite nice in the mug on this sunny fall day.


The name isn't the only thing that has some red in it. The beer is on the rusty ruby side of brown when it's not lit up by sunshine - more red when it is. The head from my pic doesn't shy away from the party, even as I start checking out other aspects of the beer.

The nose give me the impression of a very slightly woodsy tea. There are light hints of spice and maybe a little bit of cherry cranberry juice, but I am searching for notes more than the beer is introducing them to me.

A recognizable amber malt note opens things on my palate. This flavor sometimes is oft-enough followed by a mineral to metallic note to me, but not in this case. The woodsy tea works itself in, with an ever so slight nuttiness tagging along. Finish has a spice note that is a little more obvious than in the nose, but not by a lot (no juice).

Across the board, this is presenting to my senses more as a moderately hopped red ale than a Dunkel, based on my modest experienced with the style. I wonder if I can find some von Trapp Dunkel around to do a comparison in the next few weeks, just to see the difference in the American takes on the style. I'll also check out the import section to see what German offerings are available; maybe my style compass is a bit off.

 

Parabolita by Firestone Walker

The beer has a pleasant chocolate aroma that comes through up front. At first it smells a lot like a Tootsie Roll but then over time it takes on an aroma of brownie batter and ditches the candy character. It has an aroma of milk sugar in the beer. When drinking the beer it has a big dark chocolate flavor which gives the impression of a Mounds candy bar. It has a pretty good texture, leaning on the upper edge of medium-bodied.

The text on the can advertises this as “salted caramel” and a “bourbon barrel-aged stout with vanilla beans, cocoa nibs, & sea salt.” There is no bourbon character to be found in this beer and it has no woody or barrel-aged qualities. The cocoa nibs seem to take center stage here because the beer has a good deal of chocolate character. I’m not sure why Firestone Walker decided to put a “salted caramel” moniker on this beer because it tastes nothing like caramel. Above the name “Parabolita” is yet again “barrel-aged” and it has no barrel character. It’s a decent beer but it doesn’t taste the way it is advertised.

 

That would be an awesome label! Perfect idea!

 

I've been enjoying reading through this weekend's posts while relaxing with a Long Trail Harvest as I continue to clean out the fridge in anticipation of the holidays. Keep those new beers coming, NBWers!

And nice work on the pic @cjgiant.

 

Hey what's going on!?

Time for a new beer as always this weekend!



Poured from the can into a tulip glass.

Frothy and leggy even bubbled topped head, off white with cream and fine capping looks. Booming orange body, slightly hazed with lemon hues, and a slight hint of carbonation rising from the center. Great looking saison.

Aroma is big and bold and balanced. Rushing yeast esters, with little funk but more dough and fruity touches. Slight hinting honey sweetness and caramel, with an herbal pop of hop as well. Very well put together.

Palate is just a delicious simple rush. Cream and honey sweetness on first, with a touch of mild brett to cut through. Soft bodied, almost cake like malt, with a mix of mint like herbs and sensing white pepper finishing on the aftertaste. Touches of pear and even marmalade like citrus but without the sharp bitterness.

This is very well put together saison from these guys.

look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25 | BA Generated: 4.25

Cheers!

 

Hello NBWers, haven't been around here in a while. Crazy overtime since pretty much this time last year. Finally on a 4 day weekend with the family up north so I figured I'd drop in.

I love winter warmers. Anything spiced around this time of year gets me going. I didn't necessarily expect this to be on par with the spicy, sweet, rich ales I am typically indulging in but I had to pick it up just to see what it was about. I will say it's fairly easy drinking.

Nose is corn, maybe some light cinnamon, malted grain, and a mild earthiness. Taste follows suit, semi sweet grain, very mild spice and smooth finish. Not much body but I feel they designed this beer to be as easy drinking as their other lagers. You'll have no problem finishing a 6 pack of this in your northern Michigan cottage on any given late fall afternoon. Cheers.

 

I’m not some beer purist nor particularly focused on style indicators, but if I grabbed something on the shelf labeled “dunkel” and got red tape I might be quite confused. For context, I adore red tape. Had no idea it was considered a dunkel by JA. Thanks for sharing!

 

I liked that beer so much, and revisited thanks to you , that I sent one to our good friend @snaotheus

 

The week that keeps on sucking continues to suck. So far, the big stuff in chronological order: One of wife's employees unexpectedly died (her shitty boss's response, "Guess you'll have to backfill that position."), a cancer scare that has abated but is not over yet, and now my Alaskan math teacher friend is in the ICU and I don't know why, except that his health has been deteriorating for the last month or so and apparently took a sudden turn for the worse yesterday.

So, @jonphisher, thank you again for this box of beer, which is a nice little bright spot in the week.

Victory - Layered Up

12oz bottle served in a snulip. BB APR1824.

Pours black with a small, frothy black head. Smell is roast coffee, nutty, something slightly sweet and maple-y.

Taste is more bitter coffee, something takes on a slight nutmeg note, something slightly smokey.

Mouthfeel is slightly thick, kind of a velvety texture. Overall, it's a nice stout.

 

Sorry to hear about all the shit storm of bad you’re currently experiencing Ryan. Hopefully things take a turn and/or you and the family make it through to the other side soon.