New Beer Weekend #214

Back at it troops! Today's New Breakfast Beer and cross-post with WBAYDN:



Cherry Uberon – from Bells. Single 12 fl oz bottle purchased from Bells General Store, Kalamazoo, MI, 20/08/24, $ 8.04 (including tax and deposit), $ 0.67/fl oz. Reviewed 25/08/24 (Review 3341). Note that I use DD/MM/YY protocol.
Printed on the label “Best by: (blank). In reefer at store. Stored at 34 degrees F at home. Served at 45.3 degrees F in a hand washed and dried Jester King snifter. The final temperature was 54.5 degrees F.
Appearance – 4.
First pour – Pale Amber (SRM 9), hazy.
Body – Medium Amber (SRM 12), opaque. Under direct light, same. When rear-lite, translucent.
Head – Small (Maximum 0.8 cm, aggressive center pour), white, high density and fizzy, short retention, shrinking to a < 0.05 cm bubble ring and a thin island.
Lacing – None.
Aroma – 4 – Slightly sweet but weak cherry. No hops, no malt, no alcohol (11.2% ABV, according to the label). Not picking up any bourbon or barrel.
Flavor – 4.25 – Begins moderately sweet, nearly cloying, with distinct cherry. No hops or malt. No dimethylsulfide or diacetyl. Slow gastric warming.
Palate – 4 – Medium; watery; soft but aggressive carbonation.
Final Impression and summation: 4 (After deducting 0.25 point for an undated bottle) I also had this on tap 20 Aug 24 at the Eccentric Café, so this review is about today’s bottle with, no doubt, some semi-conscious influence from the café experience. In general, I’m not a big fan of wheat brews, but I buy anything with cherry, so the quandary begins. The cherry is distinct, the bourbon barrel ephemeral at best.

Rating 4.1, rDev 0%

 

Good Sunday morning NBS/nbw and thanks to this weeks host @JackHorzempa for the great introduction. Todays has the feel of seasons slowly shifting, late August in Western Mass can be heavenly.
Todays offering is from Chicago, as advertised this stout has Massive elements, but delivers in the subtle ways a great beer can do (go SEABEES). The coffee aspect has great depth, and of course the barrel treatment is well executed.
Cheers all
Supermassive Café Deth

Oatmeal Stout | 14.8% ABV
Revolution Brewing in Chicago, Illinois

Reviewed by SABERG from Massachusetts

4.31/5 rDev -4% | Average: 4.49
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured from a 12 oz can dated 4/24/24 (coincidence) into the test glass
A - The darkest brown possible, thin cap quickly recedes. The only sign of carbonation after that is a thin ring exposed with a tilt of the glass.
S - Tons of coffee depth, black cherry, char, hints of vanilla, bakers chocolate, and bourbon
T - Coffee up front, then the strong base offerin piles on with that cocoa and char leading into all the barrel components.
M - Slick, medium body with a hint of alcohol, generally well hidden in this 14% offering. The linger is espresso and vanilla.
O - A massive delight, big base, built on with a complex coffee profile. So much going on in the aromatics, but its the tongue that gets the show. A bit prickly with the booze, yet mellow with the oatmeal stout body. Slick with a clean finish

 

Very Special Old (Straight) Jacket
14.4% English barleywine y Revolution



Poured from a twelve ounce can, the body pours a dark brown with a light brown head. No much lacing.

Aroma is a sweet rush of bourbon barrel, toffee, and caramel.

Taste follows nose as the huge flavors translate to taste without diminution. More deep flavors appear: figs, oak, and vanilla. First rate malty goodness here. The ABV is well masked as there is just a little booze on finish.

Mouthfeel is very good, soft with supportive carbonation.

A strong, malty delight. Some folks may find it too sweet, but it's a rare beer that's wonderful to sip and patiently savor.

Cheers to @chicagojfor this tremendous beer. Thanks Jason!

 

Fixed Gear Foeder Oak Aged #06 Peach Saison
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/54434/707989/

From the oak aged series. Poured a 500ml bottle into a tulip. A one finger fine bubbly white head on a hazy apricot. The head diminishes to a layer. good head retention. Some lace rings.

Fruit in the nose. Slight funk.

Fruit dominated the taste up front. A mildly funky fruit finish.

Medium body and carbonation.

An interesting Saison. Fairly mild but well balanced.

look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

 

Cheers @JackHorzempa !

 

Cheers to you, @utopiajane long time no see!

 

Great to see you back, @utopiajane!!

 

Lots of activity yesterday afternoon to catch up on, but not before enjoying my New Beer Sunday #1018 where you can catch us each week, and based on her update will hopefully catch @utopiajane in September!

The last of three from More Brewing with now two locations (OG Villa Park plus Huntley). Liked the hop combo listed, no date on can but hopefully between refrigerating since purchase and a likely May canning date, I will enjoy. Full review linked below.

More To The Trees
4.4/5 rDev +17.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5



I rarely am this far above standard deviation, but really loving this beer which exceeded pretty high expectations due to the hop profile. More is a brewery I need to keep on my to buy list for new releases. Hope everyone has a similar experience today and look forward to our four day holiday edition next week.

 

While tea totalling and teetering on the edge of tedium in anticipation of September, seeing your wry quips in threads is ticklish and reading your NBW posts is tantalizing. A toast!

 

Working through the beers my wife won't drink from the von Trapp mix-pack I bought her.

3.71/5 rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Poured from a 12oz can stamped “BEST BY 12/08/24” to a Nonic at fridge temp. Purchased in a mixed 12-pack 2-days ago from a refrigerated cooler.
The body is a clear deep amber. Some bubble nucleation can be seen, but not to the extent of an effervescent Pilsner. A .5”/12mm pure-white, frothy head fades rather quickly and lacing exists but is anemic.
The aroma is surprisingly similar to this year's Sierra Nevada Oktoberfest that I just finished-Acorn, honey & faint caramel.
The taste is similar and is quite a battle between dry and sweet. Really, I sense both, but they seem to be going back and forth. I’m a fan of the dryness though.
The mouthfeel is light if slightly oily without quite enough carbonation to clean that out.
Overall, I rank it above Sam Adams Boston Lager and all the Mexican Vienna’s.

 

Sorry I will not be joining today; travel day one complete. Made a stop for one last maple creemee before crossing into Massachusetts so we’re all happy campers.

I will catch up on all the glorious reviews once we’re home tomorrow and settled back into reality. About now we’re off to aunts house for a nice family gathering here in Farmington, CT.

I’m looking forward to sharing some vacation purchases next weekend. Cheers everyone and have a great week

 

Good Sunday afternoon, New Beer Samplers and commentators. What a nice surprise to see the familiar avatar of @utopiajane! I always enjoyed New Beer Sundays with well-written and insightful remarks from Maria and @cavedave. And speaking of Dave, I'm going to review a couple of special releases from Rushing Duck's 12th anniversary celebration this weekend. As I've said many times, Rushing Duck is one of my very favorite brewery experiences. I enjoy visiting the quaint town of Chester, NY (about 1.25 hours north of my home), walking along the rail trail, and enjoying excellent beer created by very nice people. The highlights of the anniversary include both new releases and cellar pulls. I'm glad Mrs. Mac indulges and chauffeurs me to this event each year!

One of special releases is always a DIPA. Rushing Duck likes experimenting with New Zealand hops and Twelve is made with Nectaron and Riwaka. And as I expected it is very, very good!

It pours a hazy, muddy tangerine color with over a finger cap of creamy, milk-white foam and lots of thick, clinging lacing that lasted through the pour. The aroma is intense with grapefruit, pineapple, tropical fruit, red berry, and some earthy malt notes. Its flavor is also big and well-balanced between tart grapefruit and lemon, and sweeter tropical and stone fruits. Although I don't think Rushing Duck used lactose there is hint of vanilla cream that adds sweetness. The malt bill provides an earthy base and there is mild, clean bitterness throughout. This can is fresh and there is some hop burn at the finish. I suspect a week or so in the can will cure that. This ale is luxuriously creamy with appropriate carbonation, and while initially it doesn't drink like 9.8% ABV it sneaks up on you. Overall, Twelve is a sensory delight. A fitting anniversary offering from one of my favorite breweries.

4.39/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I'll be back soon with another new Rushing Duck brew. Cheers!

 

First time with a Trillium beer 'eva. Glad I purchased and was able to try. A very fine & well made beer. However, as I slurred to my wholly disinterested wife, I think this solidified that I'm just not that in to this style. A bit pricey for my caveman pallate, too ($25/4pk). Otherwise, 10/10. No further notes.

 

Another anniversary release from Rushing Duck. This brewery has always made fine Belgian ales. Dated Reference is a Quad with dates. It is just a lovely ale. You can really taste the dates and it's sweeter than a typical Quad but nonetheless fantastic drinking.

It is a hazy, pretty apricot color with a very thin, ecru head that dissipated rapidly leaving only a modest ring. The smell is wonderful: the dates are apparent, as is the appropriate banana, clove, and coriander. It has a very fruity nose with whiffs of musty earth and tobacco smoke. Wow, this is superb! The sweetness of the dates combines with the Belgian spicing and a hint of banana. It's sweet buy not cloying. In fact, it is quite refreshing. It has all the classic flavors of a Quad but they are quite delicate. This would be a super intro to the style. It has a nice, creamy mouth feel with fairly lively carbonation, and the 12.4% ABV is not distracting. Overall, Dated Reference is a wonderful ale.

4.41/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I wish I had bought more than four cans but will savor each one. I guess it comes across that I really like this brewery!

 

Howdy stranger!

 

You deserve better on your birthday!

 

Uberbrew Amora West Coast IPA, 7.0% ABV; 3.65 overall.

Pours an effervescent gold with 2 fingers of eggshell colored head. Good head retention & insane lacing

S: Pine, breadyness, lemons, melons once warm

T: Bready with some pomelo, pine & pronounced dryness up front. A touch of green melon, more pomelo, a touch of pear and dryness once this beer is warmed up. Finishes dry with green melon, pear & lemons

MF: Medium body, moderate carbonation, decent balance

Drinkable enough, but not one I'd pull the trigger on again, hops weren't in my wheelhouse, just doesn't scream West Coast IPA

 

Last new beer for me this weekend. Alias Brewing Cordial Green. Alias is a joint venture between two established brewers, Two Villains and Muckraker. They combined and built a great brewery/taproom in Vernon, NJ. They continue to release beers under their previous names and also brew together under the name "Alias." This IPA is a joint venture and it is a crushable brew.

It's a murky, pastel yellow color with a big, fluffy, milky cap and lots of soapy lacing, The oats and wheat are apparent in the nose, along with lemon, lime, white wine, and some tropical notes. The taste follows. The oats/wheat provide sweetness that balances the tart citrus but allies with the low-key, tropical notes. The overall flavor is mellow but pleasing. It goes down very easily. The mouth feel is creamy with fairly low carbonation, and it's super-drinkable at 6.5% ABV. Overall, the word that best describes Cordial Green is "soft." The flavors blend really well and it's very easy to drink. You can down several of the 12 oz. cans without realizing it.

4.18/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Have a great week, everyone! Cheers, NBW!