New Beer Weekend #179

Oh my. This was really good.
Oh sorry, spoilers
Poured the ubiquitous stout black with a tall beige head which left little lacing.
No aroma, sorry.
The taste is rather what I expected the last one to be like. The coffee is pretty mild and the stout shines. Almost taste milk chocolate in this. Dark fruit and lactose, though it doesn’t mention being a milk stout.
The feel is excellent, smooth and slightly viscous, again, rather like a milk stout.
OA, this one was bought as an experiment and I will be going back for more.
Cheers!

 

A little bit of a surprise, gifted to the family (lucky to be involved, personally). A beer lover sent up a suitcase of beer from California with my nephew. After dinner, we decided to split this behemoth, Black Tuesday by The Bruery:


Clocking in at just under 20% - the medium thin ring of bubbles is stable, sticking briefly to the glass, though each sip is so small, it is reclaimed as a set the glass down. Nose is pretty straightforward with a fig-laced roasty base and hints of caramel barrel sweetness.

The beer doesn’t show the 19%+ fire within it, with the rich, fairly thick and chewy sensation that perhaps coats my mouth with an ethanol suppressing substance. A little sweet, but in a mix of Baltic Porter, Belgian strong dark ale, and imperial stout with notes of fig, date, molasses, burnt sugar, and bourbon barrel. The bottle mentions crème brûlée, and I sort of get that, but one that say in the oven a bit too long. In some sips, I even get a butterscotch pudding impresión in between the more charred notes.

A very tasty after dinner beer that is sweet without seeming too sugary, though it’s creeping towards the line. It sort of reminds me a little of BCBS, but I won’t get the chance to confirm this in the near future. I’ll slowly enjoy this with the family and be thankful for the opportunity to have tried it.

 

It looks purple in the photo right at the ring at the top and a little reflecting at the bottom. Trick of the light??? Just curious if you saw any purplish tints. Hardly matters - your notes make me want to drink this beer!

 

So it seems to be that season. My wife is wrapping presents, I've conceded to making a christmas playlist, I cleaned up after the first round of baking, the baby has only broken two ornaments so far and is finally asleep, I had to take my handsaw to a tree that had broken and fallen jutting into our shared driveway, and we picked up pretty much all of the donations solicited for my the shelter my SIL manages. Tomorrow the family descends.
'tis the season to be jolly and joyous... falala!



Forest + Main - Best Bitter

Pours a crisp clear copper with a messy swath of wet bubbles that dissipates but not completely, leaving a nice subtle record of it's passing.

Nose is nutty and roasty up front. Some brown bread, and a lot of earthiness.

Flavour is big and bitter up front. Spicy and earthy, with again that brown bread malt contribution that almost gives an impression of like rye bread (though I don't believe any rye was used in the mash, just that's what that combination always brings to my mind). A little sweet kiss layered into all the bitterness, and a finish that has an aftertaste which carries a lot of bitterness, and a little bit of yeastiness that always reminds me, when I encounter it, of homebrews I've done, and is a note that I've always kind of judged a bit as when I encountered it homebrewing it was not a flavour I intended, nor one that enhances the drinking experience for me.

Overall it's lovely, albeit much much hoppier than I understand a traditional british bitter to be (but then I'm going just on what I've read. The last time I was in London was almost 20 years ago and my attentions were elsewhere). But to this american palate, it's quite enjoyable!!



Cheers!!

 

I admit to playing with the photo in this case, overlaying a black and white photo with a full color version. The beer is dark brown at the edges, with a chestnut lean as I neared the bottom of the glass. Staring straight at the middle of a full pour, it looks as black as its name.

Cheers!

 

Nah, I live on the wild side!!!

 

Just had bottle land here. Trying to wait until an occasion or nice window if I have to drink it all myself

 

High Gravity Brewing ( Tulsa ) Pandemonium Barrel Program Obsidian Convergence BA Imperial Sout ( Aged for 2 years in Buffalo Trace Barrels ), 10.6% ABV; 4.02 overall


Pours an effervescent mahogany with one finger of fast-falling tan head. No head retention or lacing

S: Dark fruits, a touch of barrel, cola notes

T: Follows the nose, figs. dark cherry, oaky dryness, cola notes & a little molasses up front. Brown sugar, raw barrel notes & cola as this offering warms up. Finishes with barrel dryness, a kiss of booze, cola, brown sugar, figs & dates

MF: Medium body, subdued carbonation

Solid, but expected more; I enjoy Buffalo Trace, the body is certainly not there in the great range. Usually these guys are gold, this is merely silver

 

Come for the beer ****, stay for the Nordic Lore

 

Have drank a little bit of that spirit, I was pumped to see this. I guess all that glitter isn't gold

 

Since I’m likely not gonna make a side trip to to Arkansas to give you an excuse, tag me when you get a chance to try it; I’d be curious to read your thoughts.

 

Goffel kolsch
...really clear light gold appearance with a lasting white head.
....around medium carbonation with a slightly thin body but overall a nice crisp feel.
....aroma is grassy,hay,cereal,grain,malt,and earthy hops.
...taste has a mild sweetness matched by an equally mild hop bitterness.theres malt,cereal,grain, and a hop bitterness that builds in the aftertaste.
...a very nice kolsch

 

To be fair; I put this as a want God knows how long ago & a lot of BA beer has passed my lips since then.

 

You are putting a lot of pressure on my any term memory

 

Samuel Adams Utopias 2023 American Strong Ale, 28% ABV. The room temperature 4oz pour is very deep reddish brown, with no head since it's uncarbonated. It leaves an oily sheen on the glass. Aroma is clearly boozy, plus chocolate, red wine, and dark fruit, very unique and enjoyable. Wish I had that in a cologne. Taste is not as good as the aroma, chocolate, wine, and dark fruit, quite boozy, not much sweetness, slight bitterness, and tons of bourbon burn. Mouthfeel is excellent, overall outstanding. Very complex. The bottle cap surprised me, but makes sense.

4.57/5 rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

I've been wanting to try this since I got into craft. A few weeks ago I heard they were hitting stores in some markets, so I called a few store managers/owners and asked about it. None had seen or heard anything yet. Later that day, the owner of my go-to store got one and set it aside for me. I happened to come into the store a few hours later, and I couldn't pass up the opportunity. That's the original-style Utopias glass with "Utopias' etched onto the base, one of two I bought on Ebay years ago, in anticipation of this.

 

What were we talking about?

 

Not sure since i received these cans from @DIM .
Cheers!
Tom