New Beer Weekend #237

Carton Basic Coffee, a toned- down version of their Regular Coffee. Both listed as Imperial Cream Ales, with Basic clocking in at 8% as opposed to Regular @ 12%. Basic format bigger, pint- size.
Not all that much difference between the two, same overall taste and aroma.
This is reminiscent of the beloved OG Stone Mocha IPA.

 

4.19/5 rDev +3.7%

look: 4.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

2020 Reserve 3: 11% ABV

Poured from a 12 ounce bottle dated 9-23-20 into a snifter at 55 degrees.

Look- Deep brown, opaque, plentiful small visible particulate at the margins, medium brown frothy head, above average head retention and lacing.

Smell- Ginger, cardamom, clove, vanilla, slight bourbon, between medium and high strength of scent.

Taste- Cardamom, clove, ginger, vanilla, slight bourbon, between medium and high strength of flavor.

Feel- Medium body, average carbonation, highly mouth warming, moderately creamy, mildly sweet, mildly bitter, mildly mouth coating.

Overall- Deep brown and opaque with plentiful small visible particulate at the edges. Bouquet was ginger, cardamom, clove, vanilla and a slight note of bourbon. Taste was cardamom, clove, ginger, vanilla and a weak bourbon character. Feel was highly mouth warming with moderate creaminess and medium body. Overall this beer provided an above average drinking experience, but it would have benefited greatly from more bourbon character.

 

Don't think it's palates. I think it's more like style bias.

 

Pilsner Urquell

Appearance: Clear gold, big head.

Smell: Mineral water with hints of bread.

Taste: Bread with a little honeyed sweetness, balanced with tea-like bitterness. Medium bodied.

Overall: I know I've had Urquell at some point, but never reviewed. It's a fine pilsner but not my preferred hop profile for a pils,I like them grassy instead of tea-like. The malt profile is tasty though.

 

Exactly!

 

Nasu Kogen - Ninetailed Fox, a barleywine from Japan

150ml bottle served in a WABL sample glass. 2024 vintage. I think it's 24.9.23 bottled on and 29.9.22 best by dates. I think it's 11%. Gifted to me by @shigg85.

Pours a slightly murky honey-amber with a small head. Last bits of the pour seemed to have some visible sediment go with it. Smell is bright, floral, grass and lemon, candied orange, marshmallow.

Taste is just a hint of Belgian golden, honeysuckle and grain, bark wood and hops bitterness. Very tannic.

Mouthfeel is light, clean, a little chalky. Very good, very interesting.

 

Church, groceries, home, long nap. Quite the exciting day...just means I won't be sleeping much tonight.

So let's have a biggish beer:



Holly is a 9% Belgian Dark Strong Ale from Tilted Barn that's almost local to me, but it's a bit of a drive. They have good distribution with a couple of Providence shops.

It pours a fairly light reddish-orangey brown with a scant beige colored head that hangs as a ring for a while before vanishing. There's a very slight haze. It's got some legs as the liquid holds to the glass.

Big fruit on the nose - figs and dark cherry. Light sweetness. Rich malts that are a little bready.

The taste is similar but there's quite a bit of a spicy phenolic sting that is aided by the ABV. It's not hot and only mildly warming but the alcohol isn't shy. Nice level of sweetnes. The bready malts give it a sweet bread effect. I don't think they used any spices but I'm getting the holiday ale/winter warmer mulled vibe here - cinnamon and nutmeg.

It feels a bit light bodied. The spice tingle combined with the alcohol is quite sharp. Aftertaste is sweet and fruity. A little sticky on the lips.

Overall this is pretty good. It's flavorful and pretty much to style. I think it could be a little better balanced in terms of the tingly/spicy business. Thinking around 3.75 or so.

 

BA Speedway - 2024 Binny’s edition. Awesome BA Speedway variant. Doesn’t drink anywhere near the 16% abv listed on the can. Good bourbon presence on the nose and coffee and chocolate with hints of mild cinnamon on the nose and in the taste. Thick, creamy mouthfeel. Had been eyeing these for a while and they finally went on sale so I had to grab a couple 2pks. Cheers!!

 

Other Half Space Dream ddh ipa



look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Canned 1/10/25 cracked 2/2/25 pours lightly opaque lemon yellow with a creamy thin head. Very impressive robust aroma of peaches, passion fruit. Taste follows aroma with tropical skittles tart, sweetness, and dank bitterness. Has the classic OH smacky, feels creamy, dry. Pretty damn good!
New Beer People!
Just made it here for last NBW call!

 

Ilk - Obscura en Olympia hoppy red beer

16oz can served in a curvy Monhegan pint glass. Don't see a date on it. Bought it at Chuck's Hop Shop Seward Park yesterday.

Pours dark brown-red with a big, fluffy head that collapses into a finger-thick lumpy mountain range, moderate carbonation. Smell is nuts, lemon, pine resin, orange rind.

Taste is a toffee but not so sweet, lots of nut and a hint of dates, maybe a little dark cherry. Pine bitterness mingles with bark, pine and lemon come across as leaves and earthy bitterness.

Mouthfeel is light and clean. Overall, nice beer.

 

Love the name on the beer

 

Sierra Nevada Hop Tropical IPA, 6.5%; 4,17 overall

Pours a bright & effervescent gold with a thumb+ of eggshell colored head. Very good head retention & insane lacing

S: Guava, pineapple, coconut

T: Pomelo, dryness, a little pine up front, some green melon as well. Dryness, pomelo, a little white grape & green melon as this beer warms up. Finishes with citrus bitterness, papaya, dryness & green melon, a kiss of pine, seemed a little out of place

MF: Medium body, slight carbonation, good balance

If the rest of the beer was as good as the nose, this would be awesome, not bad easy enough to drink, but had much higher hopes

 

But if the person is biased against that style, why buy the beer? And then make the effort to construct a review?

I am not a Psychologist or Psychiatrist but that sounds perverse to me!?!

Oh well!?!

Cheers!

 

Machine House - Cashmere single hop pale ale

16oz can served in a nonic pint glass. If dated, I don't see it. Sediment came out with the last of the pour. Bought it at Hop & Hound on Friday.

Pours a hazy orange-amber with a biggish, fluffy head. Smell is musty, earthy, orange and grain silo.

Taste is grain and English ale yeast, lots of orange and some mango rind, light grainy sweetness and light floral sweetness, some dusty/musty character.

Mouthfeel is light and smooth. Overall, interesting and very nice.

 

Ran some errands.Lo and behold, I am near Windsor Brown's. Not enough time to eat, but one must hydrate...

Mechadoom by There Does Not Exist


Peach hued. Hazy. Fluffy white head with solid retention. Layered lacing tracks my progress.
Green, apricot, guava, orange rind nose. Nice!
Flavor follows the nose well. Grainy note is really pleasant.
Mouthfeel is fluffy. Finish is smooth and gently bitter.
3.81/5 rDev 0%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Also enjoyed:
- Up Top, by Breakside, a hoppy pilsner
-Quaker State by Barreled Souls, a solid oatmeal stout

And tried:
near and far by everywhere beer company

 

A California Classic!