New Beer Weekend #249

Love seeing you guys enjoying the brews! (Although I am disappointed to hear this batch of Unholy Night isn't up to snuff @Bishop Last year's release was absolutely stellar and truly English in nature)

Cheers, friends

 

Love the bottom (and perhaps most critical) portion of your notes, Ryan..

 

Just to be clear, it's not bad as I love American-style and bitter IPAs, but it certainly caught me off guard labeled English as broadly speaking, you would expect it to lean overall sweet, and not have pronounced bitterness like found in American. The toffee and caramel vibes were there without question. It was confusing to me because it was almost like a cuvee between Bigfoot and Straight Jacket, which may make me want to do such an experiment in the future to see how it would compare. (In fairness, I may do this this weekend) Very thankful for the share and nothing to apologize for. Cheers!

 

Okay this World Beater from @bbtkd via the NBW Imperial Stout/Barleywine BIF#2 LIF

Kros Strain Brewing Barleywine Vol 12 Sandhills Crane version, 13.0 % ABV; 4.64 overall

Pours an effervescent & chestnut/mahogany a pinky of fast falling mocha colored head. Stays effervescent through out, pretty viscous

S: Rich Bourbon barrel notes, figs, dark cherries, maple candy

T: The nose all follows over, some leafy hops, loads of rich Bourbon Barrel notes. Dark cherry, rich pipe tobacco, treacle, more maple candy & plenty of big barrel once this beer is warmer. Finishes with a serious barrel smack down, dark cherry, figs, dates, Bourbon & Maple Syrup notes aplenty

MF: Medium/tick body, enough carbonation to push this along, also plenty warming. Teeth clinging stickiness & plenty sticky on the lips

Lethal drinkability, so good. Not sure I see much American Barleywine here other that other worldly Barrel aging expertise. First take on this brewery & I am already in love

 

Man beer,Colorado ipa. I received this as a gift from @beergoot after my wife passed away.
I respectively decided to open it tonight in honor of his sister
....caramel,amber appearance with a lasting white head
....medium bodied with about medium carbonation which added up to a nice feel.
....aroma is malt, an almost fruity caramel scent along with some sweet smelling hops.
...taste has some sweetness, malty,almost a sugary caramel fruitiness. The hops show up mid-tasteand leaves a mild dry bitterness in the aftertaste.
.. interesting, complex very enjoyable beer.

 

New beer #2: (from earlier)

Goose Island - Big Mango Beer Hug



Notes:
O found this one to be pretty underwhelming, unfortunately; the mango is there, but everything else falls short, from the nose through the mouthfeel; thin and seemingly undercarbonated; probably wouldn't revisit

Cheers!

 

Tripping Animals Brewing ‘S’mores Meeting’ Imperial Stout

16.9 oz logo stamped waxed top bottle, poured into a Teku glass. 2023 vint. 13.5% ABV.
Low foam on muddy black brew. That’s the only low spot for this gem though. Killer boozy nose of campfire marshmallows, chocolate, prunes, toasted malt.
Tastes great - the whole idea of a S’more is in there, and can be identified, item by item. The graham flavor emerges as a surprisingly smiley compliment. Great call to age it for 27 months in apple brandy barrels, not bourbon.
Not over dense, and not overly sweet. Low carbonation. Long boozy finish leaves a sticky lip.

After a year and a half waiting in the bottle, this elixir comes to life like a dark genie granting my wish. Outstanding dessert Stout that was quite pricey and traveled with me from the US to be enjoyed with a chocolate croissant for breakfast in France on a gloomy Saturday morning.,. Yum yum yummy yum yum.,.

Solid 4.49/5 in the BA DB.

 

Thanks for the kick off @bbtkd and taking us along on your trip to Tokyo during "Oktoberfest" @snaotheus ! Spent the past week clearing five Goose Island BCBS from the previous decades, looking forward to two nice and easy pours this weekend. The first is local, the selection tomorrow will be one of three I have from Forest & Main's March second annual drop. My selection today probably should have been enjoyed in March, but here we are.

Midwest Coast Irish Tommy

4.15/5 rDev +7.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25



4/26/25 - (Can - Home) (Chicago, IL) Can Notes: Purchased at Beer on the Wall at Park Ridge at store temperature for $2.84 including tax on March 22, 2025. Refrigerated upon returning home until opening this evening. 12 oz, canned 1/28/25, 4.2% ABV. Irish Style Red Ale Done Right. Not all heroes have holidays. The Friend who helps you move. The Neighbor that digs out your dibs. For us it was an Irish Fix-It Fella who saved us some sunshine last Summer with a patio worthy of a saint. Brewed by Midwest Coast Brewing Company in West Town, Chicago, Illinois.

Appearance: Full can pour into a shaker pint glass yields a clear dark red base and generous creamy tan white head which leaves a bit of thin lacing and creamy cover over the base. Looks very good. 4.5

Aroma: Heavy barley and malt, brown sugar and cinnamon, medium strength and enjoyment. 3.75

Taste: Consistent with the aroma, but stronger unexpected hops bitterness which I am digging despite perhaps a light pine all I can draw. Malty, brown sugar, no cinnamon. Very nice! 4.25

Mouthfeel: Faint gentle carbonation, mild btterness provides balance to the pleasant not too sweet malt base. Drinks very light and easy, below the 4.2% ABV. Medium body, malt and brown sugar from start to finish. 4.25

Overall: I sometimes tremble when a malt beer is placed in front of me, but no need with this nice offering by Midwest Coast Brewing company. Glad I picked this up, and this held up well several weeks beyond Saint Patrick's Day. Really nice Irish Red Ale, one I'd gladly turn to in the future. Slainte! 4.25

 

I was so excited by the Habs dominance of the Caps last night in what was one of the most entertaining hockey games I’ve seen in years, that I neglected to log in this tasty IPA I enjoyed from Left Field Brewery of Toronto. This is Queen of Baseball an IPA brewed with Nectaron and Azzaca hops. 15 cents from every can go to support girls baseball programs in Canada.



Pours a lightly hazy deep straw gold. Ample head that dissipates very slowly. Good lacing is revealed as it is consumed.

Big aroma upon opening. Lots of peach/nectarine, pineapple and some citrus notes.

The sip accentuates the above with a strong pineapple quality on the tongue. Lightly dank, lots of assorted citrus on the long finish.

Nice body for style.

I really enjoyed this beer. Left Field makes generally quite good beer, but rarely wows me. This was excellent. I think the combination of hop varieties really accentuates the pineapple quality of each which is very appealing to me. I’d love to have this beer again.

Cheers!

(Go Habs Go!)

 

Making its BA debut is a fine example of an American made Irish Dry Stout named Kilrush by Lops Brewing of Woonsocket, Rhode Island. Slainte!



3.84/5 rDev 0% | Average: 3.84
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

A slow pour released a finger of soapy dark tan foam that gradually sank to a creamy lasting cap and ring, no lacing. Dark walnut brown with reddish brown highlights, very hazy almost cloudy.

A brief mild smell of floral hops is overtaken by an assertive smell of toasted bread and roasted grains. Coffee grounds, dark chocolate and earthy roasted grains ahead of caramel and yeasty dough. Ale-like, faint alcohol.

Nuetral taste at first with mild hop flavor and average bitterness. Balanced bready and roasted malts lead with caramel/sweet malts receding as it drys. Licorice and dried fruits and berries appear late and are quashed at the quick drying finish. Above average bitterness lingers, the roasted malt taste clings.

Medium full bodied with lasting carbonation, smooth and balanced for easy drinking. Alcohol and astringent roast is minimal, maybe a bit chalky.

 

Hello New Beer Weekend!!!

On the road today in Sleepy Eye, MN and having a beer at Sleepy Eye Brewing before I head to a meeting.

Pix Light - Light Lager - 4.5%

This beer is just so full of flavor. It is damn delicious. I am a huge fan.
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/58261/742837/
4.04/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
On tap at the brewery.

Clear golden pouring beer. There's a white head to it that dissipates to a ring around the rim of the glass.
Really nice grain aroma. There's also corn notes and it seems very strong for a light.
The beer is quite malty. It does start out more in the bread/biscuit camp. The beer does have a corn flavor on thefinish and it builds.
Light clean and crisp body. Smooth.
This is damn delicious and is very well made.

Be back later today for more.

 

Nillo
11% stout
Social Project Brewing Company



Poured from a pint can, the body is a dark brown with mocha colored head. Lacing was light.

Aroma was a lightly sweet vanilla.

Taste followed nose but the vanilla was amped up a bit. Luckily, the brewers graced us with a sturdy malty backbone to keep the vanilla in check. The bitter char is substantial enough to pair well with the vanilla, which can be a pernicious adjunct if overdone. A small amount of ABV on finish, but it's mostly masked.

Mouthfeel was good: soft and substantial. Carbonation good.

I'm usually wary of vanilla beers as the vanilla can dominate the experience. Luckily here the booze and malt are up to the challenge. Let it warm up to let the balancing act do its job. Definitely is not a beer for those folks who do not like vanilla.

 

Happy New Beer Weekend!!! This weekend I went with a beer I haven’t had in ages and have not reviewed. It is one of Tonewoods flagship beers that has been around for a long time. Mrs. Phisher doesn’t drink much but she likes having a lighter hoppy offering in the fridge, opted for this one and she really likes it. I remember liking the refreshing character of this beer, last time I had it or bought a six was pre-covid days I believe so it has been a while.

Everything is green and popping up here so I figured a beer in a green can sporting a tractor from the Garden State, always brewed with local wheat, was fitting for this weekend.

Let’s see if that “refreshing” character I remember is still accurate in this beer.

Tonewood - Freshies (APA 5%)



Pours a very cloudy, mix of yellow and straw; white head no retention or lacing but a nice thin white film persists.

Very bright and vibrant nose; very citrus forward, tangerine, touch of lime character; floral undertones, light peach fruity vibe.

Taste really leans into the citrus, almost exclusively; pleasant mix of it all with some pithiness; light fruitiness on finish with a dash of pine.

Body is light, soft, maybe a tad watery; zippy and bright due to its clean finish and nice little bit of tingly zesty bitterness.

This is a refreshing beer to drink it’s a really good warm weather hoppy beer; the citrus notes are quite nice; this is a hoppy beer that really begs you to take another sip.

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Some of my favorite flowers that pop up every year in our yard, pre mowing time so I get to enjoy them. They're really neat becaues they close up when its night and only open when the sun is out. When cut and brought in they respond the same way to indoor light, love them.



Hoping the Leafs can pull off the sweep tonight and rest up for whoever comes out of the battle down in Florida. Great game last night @Coronaeus, hoping they can pull off another win tomorrow!!

 

It’s always hard to sweep, but the Leafs look good. I have a feeling you’ll get it done tonight. The mood around here is better than I’ve ever felt it regarding the Leafs.

Last night was one of the most entertaining Habs games I’ve watched in years. Can’t wait for tomorrow night.

Cheers!