New Beer Weekend #239

Nice kickoff Goot! Here we go go.,.

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Adroit Theory Brewing Co. ‘Evangellion XVIIL LILIN’ Hazy Triple IPA

Pint can poured cold into a shaker glass.
This 2024/25 version clocks in at 10.5% ABV.
Loose foam dissipates fast on opaque orange juice looking brew.
Nose is mellow, fruit cocktail, bit of earth.
Taste is flat for hazy-boi style. Not too juicy, not so creamy, way-low bitterness, strong. It is dangerously crushable though. The hops are held back, leading to a ‘meh’ drink with a dry sweet candy finish.
Mouth is smooth and full, low carbonation.
Overall, cool art on the undated can, nice buzz, but lacking in expressive flavors.

3.97/5 in the BA DB

 

Cheers to @beergoot for starting us off

Greenhouse Aleworks Thistle Single Hazy IPA made with Strata & Citra Hops, 7.0% ABV, 4.11 overall

Pours a super hazed straw/gold with 2 fingers+ of pearl colored head. Sheets of lacing & nice head retention, stays murked up throughout the pour

S: Oranges & grapefruit, fades as it warms up

T: Oranges, limes, some dryness, more sour than sweet up front. Some woody dryness, but mostly pomelo & grapefruit rind once this beer is warmed up. Finishes with some acidic notes, traces of pineapple, faint vanilla & more pomelo

MF: Medium body, creamy carbonation, a touch of grainyness; good balance

Decent drinkability brings the juice. Liked didn't love it

 

The art for Adroit Theory beers is almost always appreciated.

I was a little surprised in in your review initially, until I clued in on the Triple IP thing. I can't recall that I have found their uber-proofed IPAs memorable, either.

That said, I have found Adroit's hazy IPAs (7-8+%) to be a nice mix of juiciness and bitterness - sometimes with a bit of hop burn. Then again, it also has been a short while since I've had one of those, so it might be time to revisit.

 

Thanks @beergoot for opening up NBW!

I've got a new malt liquor in my glass, and it's performing about how you might expect.

Olde English 800 • malt liquor • 5.9% ABV • 0 IBUs (I'm estimating) • June 16, 2025 best-by date

So this one's fairly awful. It's a beautiful brew in the glass, loads of sticking and some nice lacing on the way down, and the mouthfeel is solid. But the aroma that starts off decent enough grows a metallic note that sucks, and the opening sip tastes about as sweet as Karo syrup. Fortunately, some grain flavor joins in over time to help balance out some of the sweetness, but never enough. This beer makes Lone Star seem like Rochefort 10.

The official review:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/105/3350/?ba=Premo88#review
2.74 (+27.4% rDev)

I don't score beers below 3.0 often, only when they deserve it. This one deserves it. Glad I have just the one can.

Hope you can beat a 2.74 this weekend, NBWers!

Cheers!

 

So a guy in Colorado gets us started on a thread that can start at UTC midnight?
Well, why not? Thanks for kicking us off this weekend @beergoot!
Tonight I bring one that has been languishing in my cellar for longer than it should have.

Pike 51, a brewery that puts out some good beer but flies so far below the radar that most never know it’s there.
This is their annual BA stout; a milk stout with vanilla beans added in the aging process. This one is number 2, they are up to at least number 7 now, so 5 years at least.
The pour is stout black with a milk chocolate colored head, or at least attempted head, which left no noticeable lacing.
Five year old milk stout, go figure.
The taste actually held up better than I expected, the stout was balanced and full with accents of vanilla dancing in and around. I had thought it might end up being a drain pour but was pleasantly surprised.
The feel is very lightly viscous. It is curious to me that the biggest difference I discern in older beers is that they are thinner in feel than I remember. Not something I expected.
OA, it’s been too long since I’ve been to that side of town, I should go restock. Fresh is likely better.
Cheers all! Talk to you all tomorrow.

 

A Royal beer (well sort of)

Victory Brewing came out with a new beer brand: Royale IPA.

How this beer if detailed on the Victory website (with some emphasis in bold by me):

“Congratulations. You have good taste. With Victory Royale, you've chosen a very fine 6.0% ABV IPA crafted to the highest standard. All-American Simcoe and Centennial Hops meet the mastery of our brewers, making this clean and crisp IPA an easy winner. Welcome to the good life.

Victory Royale IPA

A VICTORY FOR YOUR TASTE

abv 6.0%

hops Simcoe, Centennial, Cascade

ibu 55

malt Canadian Pils, Briess C30, CaraPils

notes Pine, grapefruit, earthy spice, stone fruit, light malt character”

Served in my Spiegelau IPA glass:

Appearance:

A brilliantly clear golden color with a BIG white head.

Aroma:

There is a combination of herbal, spicy and citrus.

Taste:

The flavor follows the nose with a combination of herbal, spicy and citrus flavors.. There is a moderate bitterness.

Mouthfeel:

Light - medium bodied with a dry finish.

Overall:

I enjoyed drinking this beer, I think it is very good. It sort of reminds me of the Cold IPA beer style that was (still is?) a thing a few years ago in that it emphasizes a light malt/grain backbone with a nice hop aroma/flavor for increased drinkability.

@rotsaruch @KOP_Beer_OUtlet @RobH

 

Okay here's the review, posting on the wrong forum, awesome

Equilibrium Mobus Maple Vanilla Porter, 7.0% ABV; 3.34 overall

Pours an effervescent chestnut/mahogany with 2 fingers of tight mahogany colored head. decent head retention & lacing

S: Cocoa, a little roastyness, some vanilla, just not much here

T: Cocoa, vanilla, roastyness &dryness up front, a little maple candy as well. Dryness, some woody notes, more maple candy sweetness along with a little vanilla as this beer warms up, a little bit of a booze edge. Finishes with a woody edge, more maple candy & a little booze

MF: Medium body, fairly prickly carbonation up front. Carbonation smooths out a little once warm

Not a bad take, just too sweet & not very subtle, seems a bit forced/fake. A rare whiff from these guys

 

Thanks @beergoot for starting things off and also for this beer.
Cumbre brewery mosaic ipa
...super clear light gold/amber appearance with a lasting thick white head
...Carbonation is around medium with about the same for the body,maybe slightly thin
...aroma is a really nice mix of tropical fruit, earthy tropical rind and peel. Floral and malty as well
..taste is definitely mixed tropical fruit, pine, along with bitter earthy hops that linger in the aftertaste.
..definitely a well done beer

 

Sounds about how I’d expect based on their words @JackHorzempa, thanks for sharing thoughts on it.

I also saw New Trail has a new WC called Trail Marker; the last WC, as marketed by them, I tried was a big let down so I’m a little hesitant to gamble on a four pack.

 

Modist Blueberry Second Breffix

Appearance: Black, huge head.

Smell: Strong coffee aroma, over time some blueberries arrive.

Taste: Mild sweetness, then the coffee comes in pretty strong, then followed by the blueberries. Medium-light bodied, especially for a impy stout. Finishes with the blueberries and some coffee bitterness.

Overall: Sounded like an interesting beer so I picked up a single. I suppose I thought the base beer would come through a little more but the coffee and blueberries dominated. Still a tasty beverage.

 

Thank you for your open @beergoot and thoughtful selections by Friday night / Saturday morning Early Birds. Have two nearby, my Chicago selection today and suburban selection tomorrow among my final two drink fresh October selections, and two more for our 20th anniversary celebration from the OG 2/20/05 New Beer Sunday. I may try to kick off Friday evening depending on weather and other factors. I added the photo overnight to the BA database, hopefully it's up soon.

Off Color Le Petite Ferme

4.49/5 rDev +5.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5



2/15/25 - (Can - Home) (Chicago, IL) Can Notes: Purchased refrigerated November 27, 2024 at Beer on the Wall Park Ridge for $3.41 including tax. Refrigerated upon returning home before opening this morning. 16 oz, canned 10/10/24. 4.8% ABV, Saison Farmhouse Ale. Malts: Pils, Flaked Wheat. Hops: Crystal, Sterling. Secret ingredients: Elderflowers. Saison, Botanical. Brewed and canned by Off Color Brewing, Chicago, Illinois.

Appearance: Poured a quarter of the can and slow poured thereon out due to very aggressive and generous creamy and bubbly white head formation in the Off Color tulip glass. Crystal clear golden yellow base, constant sustained generous carbonation, soapy clustered lacing and bubbly full creamy cover over the base. Excellent. 4.75

Aroma: Wild flowers, generous funk, banana, clove, nice strength and enjoyment. 4.5

Taste: Consistent with the aroma, with the same great flavor mix, but more restrained vs. the strong bursting aromas. For me, the taste strength is just right. Flip the script with banana clove lead, and funky wild flowers backing well. 4.5

Mouthfeel: Very light and easy drinking, consistent with the style, and easier than listed 4.8% ABV. Carbonation consistently gentle, seen more than felt. Nicely dry, flavors blend well, banana clove finish. 4.25

Overall: This is another great saison by off color. Hits all the right notes for me, light and easy drinking but packed with traditional flavors and the added touch of elderflowers. Well done, very happy I opened on this cold February morning. Highly recommend! 4.5

 

I actually really enjoy this one, albeit only once a year. I host an Old English dinner every Christmas and I love to theme my beers. I usually have a can of the OE 800 while cooking, an Old Speckled Hen with dinner, Old Fezziwig ale as we watch some iteration of A Christmas Carol and eat figgy pudding, and then Sam Smith's Yorkshire Stingo as a nightcap after the crowd has left.

 

New Belgian Weekend pt 1

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Stopped at a beer store while out of town, and picked this one up in a whim. I really enjoy the classic Duvel and thought this would be a fun one to try.

I don't know if they've brewed this consistently since they released it for their 150th anniversary in 2021, or if this is 4yrs old. It has a best by of 11/2025 so it's plausible this is pretty old.

And it tastes like it's past it's prime. Still lively and refreshing, but lacks a lot of character. The hips are present but minimal, and there is an emptiness in the mid palate that is disappointed. Finishes crisp and dry. Quite quaffable, but won't revisit unless I'm sure it's a fresh vintage.

 

A nice sunny day here. Thinking about taking a hike.
Before I get going, I'm drinking La Cumbre's Project Dank. This is the Mars edition, featuring Simcoe, Chinook, and Mosaic hops.
A clear gold color with a one inch white head and some pretty lace.
Dank, fruity aroma.
Nice taste. Grapefruit, orange, pineapple. Some pine.
Nice hop bitterness throughout.
Canned 12/24/24
Best by 3/24/25

 

Happy New Beer Weekend to you all, a good week and now we get a three day weekend! Sorry to those who don't have off Monday VERY EXCITED for tonight's USA Canada game, the first two games were so much fun to watch. Seeing enemies come together on the same team is a really cool thing to see, and tonight several close teammates become rival enemies. The game tonight is gonna have some intense energy, and at times animosity I think, I hope everyone joins to watch, anyway, enough hockey talk onto beer...

Was excited to see this new one from Great Lakes, who I know has wide distro, so hopefully this review helps some of you if this beer was on your radar.

Great Lakes - Conway's Irish Stout (Irish Stout 4.8%)



Pours very dark brown; light brown head, puffy with sculpted top, settles nicely with very good retention and lacing.

Nose is mostly roasted malt; it’s a dry roast presence, some cocoa powder but it’s light in chocolate; light but quite noticeable hops; earthy with grassy quality.

Taste is very nice; it’s quite bold but really nicely balanced, roasted malts, good hop presence; particularly on the finish, good earthiness with grassy bite; a pleasing dry ashiness pairs with roasty aftertaste

Mouthfeel is light but comes off nicely fill, very high drinkability; noticeably dry and couple with a nice clean and firm bitterness.

This beer is a real winner and I’m very happy to have grabbed a six pack; highly recommend this one if the style interests you. Good on Great Lakes for creating a new beer like this, I’ll gladly purchase this every year.

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Hope to share another one tomorrow but as always, time will tell. Have a great Saturday!

 

Wiseacre Brewing - Astronaut Status
12.2% American Stout

A bourbon barrel, aged imperial stout with cinnamon and vanilla beans. Thanks to @russpowell for the beer.




Poured from a twelve ounce can, the body is dark brown with a tan, foamy head. Good lacing.

Aroma is mild barrel with light cinnamon and vanilla: just the right amount of cinnamon, which can be off-putting to my palate.

Taste follows nose there's a little bit more cinnamon here than an aroma. The barrel asserts itself to a certain degree. I enjoy this bit of booze and it is not overly hot. Nice background flavors of malty char, unsweetened chocolate and a trace of bitter hops. An enjoyable mix.

Mouthfeel is good, mid-weight body that's soft with good enough carbonation. Things dry up nicely at finish with a light bourbon fade.

An enjoyable stout that was a very enjoyable sipper.