New Beer Weekend #185

Hello denizens of NBW and thank you @AzfromOz for another excellent start!
This is a cross post with the Cellaruary thread - old, but new to me!

Poured used motor oil black with new motor oil smoothness, and just about as much carbonation. Did I mention this was bottled in '21?
Still no aroma, sorry. Stupid Covid.
The taste though. freaking amazing. Those dark chocolate and Italian roast breakfast blend coffee notes mingle with dark fruits and worn leather. No char or bitterness. The coconut comes in at the swallow and lingers. Very enjoyable.
The feel is about what one would want from a 3 year old BBA Imperial Stout that has been aged on wood-fired toasted coconut - viscous and slick; smooth as glass - just excellent
Seriously wish I could remember who sent this to me; it has been quite the treat.
Cheers all!

 

Sierra Nevada Hop Bullet Magnum Edition Imp IPA, 9.5% ABV; 4.04 overall

Pours an effervescent gold with a thumb+ of pearl colored head. Nice head retention & lacing

S: Cakey, pineapple & lime, green melons once warm

T: Cakey, green melons, peaches, lemon-lime up front, some pineapple. Green melon, dryness, limes and cakeyness once warm. Much dryness, woody hops, pineapple & lime & some cakeyness underneath on the finish

MF: Fairly chewy, carbonation seems fairly assertive

A bruiser, had one warm-ish the other night, didn't like it that way. This is a strange, but tasty take from the stalwarts. I'd like to think of this as Bigfoot's cousin from the New England Area, might be hammered? Or trying to do my taxes at the same time...

 

Diamonds and pearls milk stout.
...motor oil black appearance
...light carbonation with a thick,creamy,oily body
...aroma is lactose,coffee,malt,roasted malt,with milk and dark chocolate.
.. taste is sweet but not over done,some coffee bitterness as well as being a bit dry keeps it in check. Definitely malty which coats the mouth and lingers.
...took a chance and glad I did as its q very good dessert beer

 

This is how jammed up these taxes got me...

 

Founders KBS Spicy Chocolate Imp Stout, 12.5% ABV; 4.21 overall

Pours an effervescent chestnut/mahogany with a pinky of caramel colored head. Some head retention & better lacing

S: Cocoa, cola, faint peppery notes all grew stronger as this warmed

T: Follows the nose, dark chocolate is fairly rich a little dry, not a ton of barrel but enough to notice. Spicyness sneaks in with the cocoa as this beer warms up, some, leafy ops, vanilla & a little caramel too, plus more iced coffee notes. Finishes with Dark Chocolate, moderately noticeable pepper spice, caramel, vanilla, watered down coffee & dynes

MF: Fairly thick, firm carbonation, warming barrel presence

A pretty good iteration on this IMHO. I think of this as a counter to BOMB! Not as this thick, but certainly more drinkable ounce per ounce

 

Edit: 4.26 overall

 

I don’t remember the last time I had a rotbier. This was a nice local attempt. Maybe the first local one I’ve ever seen.

True History Office Hours Rotbier.



Pours a bright copper with a moderate head that dissipates slowly.

Light toasted grain on the nose with some faint floral notes.

Biscuity, light sweetness, a touch of floral. Very mild bitterness.

Medium body.

This was very nice and enjoyable. True History makes great beers and I’m glad to have them locally. Cheers!

 

Received this treat from @CarolinaCardinals- Seemed like the perfect candidate for New Beer Weekend..



Notes:

P deep mahog/cola w/ a cap that recedes almost instantly into a thin light tan ring

N med to med bold, lots of smoked malt, light chocolate supplements

T smoke, heavily toasted malts, bourbon, and some dried dark fruit and barrel in there as well- delic; cocoa comes out as it warms; finishes w/ light-med heat; candied smoke and booziness lingers in the aftertaste

Mf med bod; soft med to med carb; a touch slick

O quite the enjoyable brew; the smoke is well incorporated, as are the elements from the barrel-aging; would definitely have again given the chance; thanks again for the opportunity to try it, Tom!

Cheers, NBWers

 

Hell yes please!

 

Tonewood - Moped

12oz can served in a tulip. Can is dated, but can't read part of it: ??/20/23. Sent to me by @jonphisher.

Pours clear, pale yellow, with a small head, lots of carbation. Smell is a little lager yeast funk, some lemon and grass.

Taste is light, more of the lager funk and lemon. Light flavor in general, a little honeysuckle sweetness in the finish.

Mouthfeel is light, a bit filmy. Overall, pretty good.

 

Got a little behind due to daughter's 13th birthday party activities...

Tonewood - Blackbird, a schwarzbier.

12oz can served in a tulip. Got it from @jonphisher. Can is dated 12/11/23.

Pours dark, mostly black, translucent, small, maybe half centimeter head. Moderate active carbonation. Smell is dark roast and something between maple and molasses sweetness.

Taste is similar, maybe a bit less intense than the aroma. More roast and char, same sweetness, similar proportions. Finish is slow roast bitterness.

Mouthfeel is very light and clean. Overall, very nice.

 

Happy you enjoyed the beer Ryan, I’ve almost finished a case of blackbird over the past two months now. Always a favorite of mine but that smoked lager collab I sent, a really good one that im glad you seemed to enjoy a lot as well

 

Thanks for the video of Alex!

 

OK troops - finally getting a post on this weekend - yesterday's thread
started 'way too late for us early morning reptiles!

Today's New Breakfast Beer:


Coffee Cinnamon B-Bomb 2022 – from Fremont. Received from @snaotheus in a ninja strike during BSBIF#1. Reviewed 04/02/24 (Review 3240). Note that I use DD/MM/YY protocol.
Printed on the bottom of the front label of the bomber “LIMITED 2021 RELEASE”. Stored at 34 degrees at home. Served at 55.0 degrees F in a hand washed and dried Jester King snifter. The final temperature was 60.2 degrees F.
Appearance – 4
First pour – Amber Brown (SRM 18), slight haze.
Body – Black (SRM 40), opaque. Under direct light, same with tiny carbonation bubbles rising. When rear-lite, light penetrates at the bottom edge – ruby – and the top edge, citron.
Head - Average (Maximum three cm, aggressive center pour), brown sugar, high density with a few rocks, fizzy, short retention, leaving a 0.2 crown and partial cap.
Lacing – None, as expected at 13.5% ABV.
Aroma – 3.25 – Chocolate and hints of bourbon. No yeast, no hops, no malt, no spices, no alcohol (13.5 % ABV as marked on the label).
Flavor – 3.5 – Begins bitter-sweet with chocolate and mild bourbon. No yeast, no hops, no roasted malt. On the aftertaste, weak coffee, and cinnamon. No dimethylsulfide or diacetyl. No ethanol. An uncomfortable gastric burn occurs.
Palate – 3.5 – Medium; somewhat syrupy; soft but lively carbonation.
Final impression and summation: 3.75 The label sets expectations high but the product fails to hit them. The flavor is that of cheap caffe mocha with a bit of cinnamon and whiskey thrown in to make it interesting. In general, unharmonious flavors are vying for attention. Aroma isn’t bad, nor is appearance (any time the appearance is the high point, expect problems). Overall, IMHO a missed target from a brewer that usually nails it. Thanks Ryan for sending this one – for me it’s good to know I can’t just blindly order something from a usually excellent brewer!

Rating 3.52, rDev -22.8%

 

Here's a local offering that's hittin' the spot well.
Dual Citizen Elbow Bender Kölsch 4.0% ABV
4.05/5 rDev 0%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
12 oz slim can into a Kolsch glass.
L: SRM 3 Pours lightly yeasty glowing butterscotch gold color with a soapy 1" white head, good retention, large steady carbonation bubbles, random medium-light lacing.
S: White bread dough, a hint of yeast, pear, distant fruitiness.
T: Lightly sweet malts, light bitterness from citrus zest, white wine, lightly floral, pear, a distant bread note, light orange, a whisper of fruit-filled pastry within the finish. Has a lightly fruity aftertaste that disappears fairly quickly. It is lightly rich overall.
F: Crisp, bright, medium-light bodied feel with a fairly fast and moderately clean semi-dry finish.
O: A moderately fruity American Kolsch with a lovely combo of simple tastes. Very well balanced with a remarkably tasty and lightly dry finish. Its inherent crispness allows it to be very easy to drink. It is excellent in its style.

 

Going for the double shot--both a new beer to me and a Cellaruary beer!

Deschutes Black Butte 28

Appearance: Black, small head fades out relatively quickly.

Smell: Barrel, wood, vanilla.

Taste: A measured opening, some roasted notes with a bit of dark chocolate. Dark chocolate and barrel wood in the middle, then a bit of bitter coffee in the finish.

Overall: Never had this when it first came out, a local store had these for $5 so I picked up one to try with 7.5 years on it. If this was handed to me blind I would not be able to tell this was 7.5 years old. My guess is that the flavors have dulled but it is still a solid BA beer.

 

What the heck took you so long?!

(Hello NBW folks, it’s been a while. )

 

Poured into a 13 oz Teku glass canned on 1/23/24. Pours a very attractive hazy yellow with a 2 finger sticky white head that leaves thick streaks of lace with nice retention. 4.25

Aroma is buttery Chardonnay, peach, passionfruit, and apricot. 4

Taste follows white grapes, peach, passionfruit, and apricot. 4

Mouthfeel is above average, soft gentle carbonation, maybe a tad dry, and at 7.8% big flavor and easy sipping. 4.25

Overall if like Nelson you will love this, if appreciate Nelson you will dig it. 4

 

Good Sunday afternoon BAs! Today’s new to me beer comes courtesy of @mickyge - Bourbon Barrel Aged Framinghammer, Baltic Porter from Jack’s Abby Brewing, Framingham MA:



Canned 11/2/23. Poured at 58°. Creamy light tan head with a few rocks; poor cap retention leaves an island of micro dots and a thin ring; a few spots of lace on swirl, no legs; dark brown with ruby edges. Nose is bourbon and chocolate malt. Taste follows with a little bitterness from the Centennial hops; oaky bourbon/vanilla on backend. Light plus body; silky feel; moderate minus carbonation; some warmth in mouth from 12% abv; dryish barrel finish. Overall, barrel and base flavors are nicely balanced; tasty oaky bourbon linger; drinks thin, but hey, it’s a porter.

4.25 | 4.25 | 4.5 | 4.25 | 4.25
Score: 4.35 rDev: +0.5%

A very nice BBA porter, and I look forward to drinking again. Thanks Mike!

 

So far, I've the highest rating of this beer...because I think it's great. Cheers!
Untitled Art Beer Beer American Pilsner 5.5% ABV.
3.99/5 rDev +20.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
16 oz can enjoy by date 10/27/24 into a tall Pils glass.
L: SRM 2 Pours straw light grayish yellow with a domed 3/4" bright white head that has VG retention, lush steady carbo bubbles, head recedes with a center cap, dental lacing with rhythmic banding lines.
S: Lightly fruity, light caramel malts, lemon, a mix of citrus.
T: Light lemon, citrus zest, resin, a hint of pear, white grape skin, sweet pastry dough, yeast, has a slightly broad flavor overall and a medium-length fruity linger.
F: Lightly brisk then fairly smooth medium to medium-light bodied feel with a cushy medium-long finish.
O: Extremely tasty & fresh, exceptional looking and drinks quite smoothly. It has zest and pronounced fruit and is quaffable due to its lush mouthfeel. It is excellent in its style.
*** I am rating this beer based on its overall style components and overall drinkability. My cans are fresh and I use a PILSNER GLASS for Pilsners. There seems to be some confusion as to what style this beer is. Like many, this one fits between. It is American. This isn't an attempt IMHO at a Czech/Bohemian, German, or the like. It is an American Pilsner, which doesn't really have its own category here. American Pilsners are in their own class.