New Beer Weekend #197

Raised Grain Black Walnut

Appearance: Black with a very good sized brown head.

Smell: Interesting, some Belgian-y phenol notes.

Taste: Really dark roasted malts, almost burned, molasses. Kind of an undercurrent of Belgian dark fruits. Very complex. Medium-heavy body. Definitely a sipper.

Overall: A really complex tasting beer here! The Belgian side really complements the rest of the beer instead of taking center stage. Very interesting beer to try.

Thanks to @cheeseheadinMinneapolis for this one!

 

Thanks to @DoctorZombies for kicking off the weekend!

I found a true session beer today at the getting place and grabbed a six-pack the second the wine/beer manager at the store said "3.7% ABV" :

Stesti Tractor Juice, a "Pre-Prohibition Light Pilzner," 3.7% ABV

Listed here on BA.com as a Bohemian/Czech Pilsner, I must say the nose lives up at first whiff. It had all of the wonderful peach/apricot kolache thing I get from most good pils, lots of nice sweet bready malt. But a lot of sediment poured off the bottom, which is generally not a great sign for a lager, and the first taste hit me with both that nice sweet bread-malt pils flavor but also a distinct if light dill pickle tartness. The dill note is very light, and I could be generous and call it "strong lemongrass" or a lemon-lime flavor, but the bottomline to me is this has hints of being at least 10-25% gose mixed with a pils.

Weird, huh?

It's not bad, and this is just can one of a six-pack, so I'll pass final judgement down the road. I do think I'll enjoy working through the six-pack, especially at that ABV.

Official review:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/46725/599913/?ba=Premo88#lists
4.12 (+11.7% rDev)

I might consider editing those numbers as I work through the sixer, particularly the taste and overall scores. Still, it's got three things going for it that I can't deny that I love: lots of flavor, lots of *good* flavor and low ABV. The fact that it strays from the mark of a classic pils might throw the average beer drinker, so it's a hard one to recommend unless you like a bit of adventure.

Cheers!

 

A gift from Sharon in Connecticut, honestly, I was expecting a NEIPA. Several previous reviewers called it an Imperial West Coaster, I won't argue. Dogs & Boats from Beer'd Brewing, Groton, Ct.


4.24/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Slightly foggy looking gold, nice white head, some decent lacing. Nose says, pine, tangerine, orange, taste buds agree getting some grapefruit. Medium bodied, nicely carbonated, a bit sticky, nice bitter finish. Terrific brew.

 

Started my new brews today with Streetside Brewing/Bolero Snort's Cheap Heat:

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/47204/699595/?ba=bluejacket74#lists





A nice purchase that I didn't expect to find this morning. Good pickup to start my Stouturday brews, happy NBS everyone!

 

And finished my new Stouturday brews with a couple good Prairie ones:

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/30356/590455/?ba=bluejacket74#lists



https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/30356/679470/?ba=bluejacket74#lists



Both were good but the Bourbon Barrel Okie Weekend was the best of today's brews! Planning on having another new brew or 2 tomorrow but we'll see, cheers!

 

At Lazy Loon Brewing in Glencoe, MN now and having this beer that I had to add.

Pre Prohibition- American Lager - unknown ABV

Light, refreshing, crisp, clean. Tasty

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/36867/699658/

3.62/5 rDev 0% look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5 On tap at the source. Super clear pouring beer. Light carbonation rising in the glass. There was a bit of a white head. The aroma is a light honey buttery biscuit. Slight grain. Taste - the flavor doesn't punch you in the face. It is a malty flavor. Buttery biscuit. Light hint of sweetness. Slightly grainy flavor. Light crisp clean body. This would be a perfect summer crusher. So tasty and easy drinking.

One more new beer when I get home.

 

Hmmm...I have one of those in my fridge...

 

My first foray into the little thing series - found this quite enjoyable, albeit lacking in IBUs (especially compared to The Waldo's Special Ale that I had last week).

3.95/5 rDev -3.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Packaged on 4/7/2024, enjoyed on 4/27/2024 - poured from a 12oz can into a snifter.

Cloudy amber body with a finger of soft peaks. Sticky/soapy lacing; excellent retention.

Tropical fruit (mango, lychee) and citrus (orange, maybe a little lime) suffuses the nose. Sweet and inviting.

Flavors follow the nose, somewhat candy-like (hints of watermelon and gummy bears) at first, but the clean/crackery malt bill asserts itself and dries things out into the finish. A wave of fruit flavor returns along with a low herbal note. Mild bitterness. Distinctive, albeit fairly neutral house yeast.

Medium bodied with full carbonation - rich yet refreshing. ABV well disguised.

Well crafted and enjoyable, with some unique flavors due to the hop combination, but simplistic overall.

 

We’re at the lake and I’m grilling, so a quick one and done this evening on Day 2. I am negative rDev on a hoppy beer, which may be the biggest upset since Chaminade beat Ralph Sampson and Virginia in college hoops in The Maui Invitational in the early 80’s.





3.67/5 rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours an unfiltered golden straw color and sports a sudsy, fluffy white head that provides a decent amount of lacing. The nose is all about the lemon - especially lemongrass, and there’s a bit of floral hops and slightest smidge of orange.

The taste is likewise all about the lemon upfront, with lemongrass most prominent, although the floral hop flavor is more pronounced. Still, this is pretty one note, though it is pretty refreshing and very drinkable.

 

Hello NBW.
Great start @DoctorZombies
Wow, 4 pages in, I'm late!
Thanks to @zeile33 for another Tree House offering, received in our little sideshow of Chaos...NBS BIF #18. Yes, it was born in NBS, and thus it shall stay named as such.

The Prodigal Haze part II

Stamped LIVE WELL 02.22.24
Opaque apricot nectar in color capped by a slightly yellow tinged fluffy head. Solid retention, clumpy lacing.
Nose pumps a massive, zesty tropical and citrus front that eventually makes room for some more subtle mango and grassy notes. Slight phenolic note that a little herbal and bandaid. But not necessarily a bad thing here.
Flavor is more tropical forward with a citrus zest chaser. Mango, papaya, pineapple, and then wet grass, tangerine and grapefruit rind. Again, there's an herbal spice that peeks in.
Mouthfeel is medium, well carbonated, and finishes a tad warm.
3.75/5 rDev -11.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

 

Barrel aged Big Ivan by rendezvous brewing


3.92/5 rDev -3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

New beer, new brewery, courtesy of @Victory_Sabre1973 in BIF18

Chilled. Crowler dated 2.26.24, opened 4.27.24, poured into a snifter

Pitch black motor oil, thin 1/2 pencil brown layer that quickly fades , no lacings

Aroma is a faint bourbon, hint of coffee, hint of cocoa, hint of roasted malts

First sip was malty, roasted malts , bourbon, slightly acrid coffee, hint of cocoa baking powder , faint taste of licorice

Full rich mouthfeel , slight sudsing, weighs heavy on the tongue but not syrupy , bourbon on the finish

Good beer. Flavors are subtle , nuanced over a malty base

 

Happy Saturday beer friends, trying to stay calm before tonight’s game. The bruins leafs series has been some of the most intense hockey I’ve ever seen, period. I mean if this keeps up either team deserves to win and I may end up with a heart attack. Ok onto beer…

I’ve wanted to try this one for a while and finally found a single, motivated by the “American Pilsner” thread, I’m curious to see if this beer does indeed have a defining feature, other than the hops used (liberty, crystal, mt hood), let’s find out shall we…

Carton Brewing - Whip (American Pilsner 5%)



Pours a lemon like color, touch of gold though, puffy bubbly white head, above average retention and lacing; very cloudy, almost wit like in appearance.

Nose is quite prominent; hops are front and center for sure but some light malt lingers in the background, the hops are really distinct and different; there is a very lightly herbal, some woodsy character, earthy, woodsy, and wet.

Taste is a little different than expected; hops are a little more straightforward, mostly earthy, a very unique almost cedar like finish; the malt presence is there but most entirely neutral like wonder bread, also lightly sweet like wonder bread.

Body is light; semi dry finish, some lingering sweetness, some light bitterness; smooth carbonation; light parching sensation does indeed make you crave another sip but it lacks the crispness to go with it, slightly heavy and the sweetness has an odd twang to it.

This beer is different than other pilsners and did have some distinct and unique character. I enjoyed trying to describe it, and I really am not sure how I did. A tad heavy and not the lightest or cleanest lager, little sweet, I wouldn’t turn this one down but one and done is fine with me on this one.

————————

See you all tomorrow but I’ll be lingering when I have to look away from the game tonight to calm the nerves. Cheers everyone.

 

Crowded with at least 1/4 kids screaming here, so will go to their Pub after this one.

Forest & Main 12th Anniversary IPA



Brewery Notes: 12th Anniversary IPA - 6.4%. $7 16 oz pour into a clear plastic cup due to their anniversary.

This silky Hazy IPA was brewed with barley and oats and hopped with lots of Cashmere and Riwaka. It has really celebratory notes of electric pineapple, psychedelic honeydew, a fog of marijuana smoke, edible tangerine body scrub, and some quite ripe papaya. This one will zip ya right up.

Appearance: Murky bronze orange pour, steady carbonation visible along the sides. Creamy white head lingers briefly before leaving thin razor cover over part of the base. 3.75

Aroma: Pineapple, orange juice, tangerine, offset by partial dankness. 3.5

Taste: Consistent with aroma, tastes like a pineapple orange cocktail. Likely not getting the best version between the plastic cup and delay between pour and drinking trying to find a spot. 3.5

Mouthfeel: Persistent fizzy carbonation, sticky tropical flavors the primary feel here. Drinks at ABV, sticky. 3.75

Overall: The second NEIPA I’ve tried from this brewery, they are OK, but one and done for me. Not getting the depth, primarily the dankness, as stated on the tasting notes. 3.5

 

Clean slate new jersey pilsner
..incredibly clear light gold,amber appearance
...medium light carbonation with a slightly thin body but overall a nice feel
...aroma is grain,cracker,yeast,sweet floral and a little earthy.
..taste has a mild sweetness that comes off like grape juice.theres grain and yeasty bread behind the dominant sweetness.
...its a tad bit different in a good way and enjoyable

 

After a long winter, long-term restrictive eating, including a 72-hour fast two weeks ago, and a brutal exercise routine, over a long period, I traveled to Central Waters Brewing on a flawless spring day, drank the finest beers, and ate a severe amount of fast food on the way home. My senses have been put to the test, but are at their strongest. I feel a sense of complete euphoria. I must keep it going. Central Waters Brewing French Toast Stout. The look is black, but dark brown is present, when held up to the sun. There is a light brown foam ring as its ceiling. The smell is Croonchy Stars cereal. The finest batch Swedish Chef ever baked. The taste is smooth, sweet, and maple syrup-covered French toast. Not store-bought. Baked by actual French chefs. There is maple, cinnamon, vanilla, chocolate, coffee, and souffle flavors, blended meticulously. The mouthfeel is a bit thin, but it is silky, smooth, buttery, and full. Delightful. Overall, this is a true pastry stout. One to seek out.

 

New Magnolia Brewing's Czech Style Amber Lager, 5.0% ABV

A new-to-me beer from a new-to-me brewery in my new hometown Houston.

I'll cut to the chase: No great, no bad. I likely wouldn't buy this one again, but it's good enough to have me interested in trying more from the brewery.

The highlights are a beautiful look, nice crusty wheat bread nose that shows hints of almonds and toasted grain and nice complexity in the flavor.

The drawbacks are the yeasty/earthy flavor that is turning more and more into that copper penny note I don't love in many American-made Oktoberfests/Vienna lagers. Instead of the sweet bread malt flavor washing over that, it stays hidden and lets the copper penny dominate too often. Still, I give the brewer credit for not serving up a sickly sweet caramel bomb, which is where I thought this beer was head after one sip.

Official review:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/58057/482930/?ba=Premo88#lists
3.82 (-1.5% rDev)

It's probably been six or seven years since I've reviewed two NBW/NBS beers in one day, so I'm going to celebrate by possibly drinking a third.

Cheers!

 

Good evening everyone. Planted kale today and made some tweaks to a terrariumim playing around with, learning on the fly. Perfect sports night - Celtics at 6 and takin' care o' business for the moment. Bruins start at 8 so there should be no overlap.

So Allagash is having saison day. Well, I can't find my Allagash glasses but I have a dynamite Maine saison....and the glass is from ME so close enough.


This is Hexen from Oxbow. A Farmhouse ale with 100% Main malts and hops, dried elderflowers, conditioned on raw estate honey. Collab with Pink Boots Society and the Oxbow women.

Would it be surprising if it poured a honey color? Light honey color, slight bit of haze that mostly clears with warmth. Thick, soapy white head that hangs forever. It falls to about a quarter inch, mad cling to the glass.

TL : DR version - it's wicked good. The end.

Fabulous aroma. Starts with a nice level of funk that seems Brett to me but I think this is a mixed fermentation. A little yeasty, a nice white wine grape, mild citrus, estery and floral and wildflower honey. Jasmine tea. Grassy and mildly spicy like Noble hops. It's got some funk yet it smells clean.

The taste is taking the morphing path with each sip hitting a bit different with a lot going on. Wildflower honey yet not overly sweet. The citrus comes thru as tangerine to me. Jasmine tea with bright floral aromatics. I do get a Noble hope taste and a nice little bitter kick. A spicy clove flavor pops up waaaaaayyyy into the aftertaste. Mildly funky, no souring at all. The grain - light and earthy fresh rustic bread.

Light feel, bright and refreshing. Fairly lively.

This tastes like Spring in a glass to me. It's delicate, the flavors are subtle and layered and work together cumulatively. This is what Oxbow does but it is more what Oxbow IS. Great beer and no way I did it justice. Easily 4.3 to 4.5.

 

Forgotten boardwalk Vienna lager
...really nice reddish,amber appearance
...medium carbonation with about the same for the body.
..aroma is toasted bread, malt, cereal, and some dark honey which all added up to a nice effect
...taste has a mild sweetness, malty,with grain and hops offerig a nice mild hop element.
...overall its a really nice lager which is a bummer as I believe they have closed up shop

 

Mystery Beer from @ovaltine in NBS BIF #18!

16oz can served in a giant snifter, classily ensconced in a jacket of foil.

Pours with a modest head that settles quickly into a broad but thin round island and a moderately thick ring. Color is in the direction of cola, but not quite as dark, kind of a toffee-ish color. The pour looked slightly thick and the small head makes me think it might be kinda big. It came in a box of gigantic stouts, though, so it may be puny in comparison.

Smell is vanilla and toffee, smells sweet but not boozy, knocks down my suspicions of colossalness. Seems like a strong nuttiness, and maybe some cocoa.

Taste is not completely in a different direction, but bitterness arrives here. Nuts and toffee resolve a bit more, slight roast bitterness combining nicely with some earthy hops bitterness. Maybe some coffee bitterness. Massivity is no longer believable, though it doesn't seem light.

Mouthfeel is medium, much more effervescent than the appearance suggests, almost a slight wateriness in the texture.

Overall, this is a tasty and drinkable beer. I think it's likely a red IPA or a hoppy amber, I would guess in the 7.5% abv range.

And the reveal...

Dovetail - Czech Style Dark Lager. It makes more sense now, and it's quite tasty.
Thank you Mike!