New Beer Weekend #256

I almost weep when that happens when I send a beer i get it not everyone has my shite tastebuds

 

You too are now an honorary Sooner. BOOMER!

 

Mrs. Powell assures me I am never late to one

 

I think DST has thrown you off, because without it Midnight forum time is 6pm Central. The forum time does not use DST.

 

I'm with you - I thought it was 1900 EST, too.

 

This one sounds really good @champ103 and I agree with your looker assessment, when I see all those dancing bubbles in a crystal clear beer with a good head it really gets me pumped to take a sip, or sometimes just sit and admire for a while.

Since you mentioned:

What would be on your list of Texas Classics?? You can make it as long or as short as you want, this way if I ever get to Texas I will start with these beers

 

I tend to feel this way a lot too @cjgiant even as I add beers to BA from local breweries I wonder "will this one ever be brewed again??? what's the point in adding??? or reviewing???" that being said though I still continue to add and review potential one off's.

I'll get more into my answer when I get around to posting my beer/s this weekend but I do have to say I get some extra satisfaction when I review a widely available beer because of what you mentioned above, someone may read and it may help them determine whether to try said beer or not.

This weekend's beers will not fall in that category however but I'll still happily share later, with some reasonings to address @bbtkd 's question...

 

Hmm...an unofficial "classics" list, off the top of my head...and not necessarily saying these are the "best" or whatever, just some that have been around a long while, are of quality and influence for other breweries...

Saint Arnold Amber
Lone Pint Yellow Rose IPA
Live Oak Hefe and Pilz
Real Ale Brewhouse Brown
512 Pecan Porter
Jester King Atrial Rubicite, and La Vie En Rose
Austin Beer Works Pearl Snap Pils
Celis White

New comers that should be classics that stick around:
Equal Parts Pislner Resov
Acopon Hommunculus Dark Mild on cask


Of course this is my subjective, biased opinion, on an ill defined subject matter that people can interpret in many different ways, ha. I have left off anything remotely hazy (outside of Yellow Rose ha), but I'm sure others would say Pint House Electric Jellyfish, and Spindletap Houston Haze...but I really don't care about those sorry

 

The Sox 3 PM start time makes it unlikely I’ll head out before or after for in person brewery reviews today. Pulling this one from Forbidden Root, which has two Chicago plus a Columbu, Ohio location, but hot some reason this beer is brewed by DESTIHL down in Normal, Illinois on their behalf. The last posted review here was New Years Day 2021, with two subsequent tics.

Forbidden Root Radio Swan

4.16/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25



6/14/25 - (Can - Home) (Chicago, IL) Can Notes: Purchased May 6, 2025 at Beer on the Wall at store temperature for $4.55 including tax, refrigerated at home until opening this morning. 16 oz canned April 17, 2025 at 2:44 PM. India Pale Ale, 6.4% ABV. Malted & Flaked. Rye & Wheat. 2 Xs Dry-Hopped with El Dorado, Citra & Belma. Art by Tony Fitzpatrick. Brewed & Packaged by DESTIHL Brewery, LLC, Normal, Illinois for Forbidden Root, Chicago, Illinois.

Over on his side of the boat, he saw a number of black swans lolling on the water off Montrose Harbor, like black flowers, sweating and shimmering in the heat, rising and falling, tidally, with the waves in slow, linen-like motion. He remembered this is when he started to sing a Merle Haggard song as loud as he could at this, and every other night.

Appearance: Poured about 2/3 of the can into a shaker pint glass, yielding a yellow murky base, bright white creamy generous head leaving clumpy lacing and a generous cover over the base. Looks good for this style. 3.75

Aroma: Pineapple, tangerine, grapefruit, peach. Mild plus in strength, this fruit medley is higher in enjoyment. 4.0

Taste: Consistent with the aroma. Pineapple, grapefruit and peach, more mellow or subdued than the aroma leads. Hefe like wheat, rye emerges a bit as this warms and I’m digging. Let it sit a bit for maximum enjoyment. 4.25

Mouthfeel: Light wafer thin body, faintly felt carbonation. Drinks at the listed 6.4% ABV level. Sweet flavors but the hops and rye keep things balanced and consistent with proper attempts at this style. Pineapple tangerine finish. 4.25

Overall: This is a solid NEIPA. Rye and fruit a combo I don’t find often, one reason I picked up this beer. Bottom line, not sure why DESTIHL is brewing this fir solid brewer Forbidden Root beyond perhaps capacity management, but the receipt and execution works well, and I’d gladly pick these up down the road. 4.25

 

That looks like a really tempting list of beers @champ103, I just looked at the list as I use up the last of my free time this AM...based on my readings I'm gonna go 100% yes please that whole first list minus the Jester King (style preferences) and Yellow Rose since I've had it before..Brewhouse Brown and Celis really got me drooling.

 

Thanks @bbtkd for the start. I review beers to "collect" them and to have a record of what I thought about the experience. I try to participate in NBW every weekend to contribute to beeradvocate.com.

This weekend I was trying to get a lambic style tick, but even though this beer tastes nothing like a wit, that's what it is listed as in the database. Oh well.

Timmerman's Lambicus Blanche (in patented blur-o-vision)

Appearance: Clear gold, starts with a small head but disappears quickly.

Smell: Sour note, butyric, hint of apple.

Taste: Much better than the smell, but underwhelming. Apple juice, a little tang/sour note, really light breadiness.

Overall: Picked this up as a hoped style tick for lambic, but it's listed as a witbier on BA. Doesn't taste anything like a wit to me, just a kind of boring apple flavor that doesn't remind me much of a beer. Drinkable but pretty boring.

 

Side Project Brewing CWH Parfait. A blend of barrel-aged imperial stout and imperial stout, with espresso, vanilla beans, and orange peel. The look is very thick black. It poured almost like a chocolate ice cream shake. There was no foam. The smell is absolutely succulent, like a candy bar. Espresso, vanilla, and orange scents fill the air. Milk chocolate finishes the bouquet. The taste is chocolate ice cream. This not taste like an alcoholic beverage. The espresso, vanilla, and orange flavors are there, but if you did not know about those flavorings, you may think you are drinking melted chocolate ice cream. This is absolutely delightful. The mouthfeel is thick, silky, oily, smooth and full, with light-medium carbonation. Overall, this is a delicious breakfast or dessert treat. Crafted artistically.

 

Not like I needed any more beer, but I went shopping this morning anyway. Glad I did, found the Flying Monkeys Box O' Chocolates stout sampler 4 pack that I haven't seen before so I picked it up. Started off with these 2 selections:

D'Lovely | Flying Monkeys Craft Brewery | BeerAdvocate



Ooey Gooey | Flying Monkeys Craft Brewery | BeerAdvocate



I liked the raspberry stout better out of these. Have 2 more to go so I'll posts those in a little while, cheers!

 

There was a change in plans for me and I am at Sunken Ship Brewing in Princeton, MN.


Dividing the Depths - Imperial Stout- 10%

This is a traditional Stout. Nice and full bodied. Great bitterness. Delicious.

Review:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/63527/740626/
4.19/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
On tap at the brewery.

This beer pours pitch black like the deepest depths of the sea. There's a bit of a tan head to the beer.
Nice hints of chocolate and roasted coffee in the nose.
Thick and very full bodied. Smooth. The bitterness lingers in my throat.
This is damn delicious.
The flavor is so full of roasted chocolate and it Is a dark chocolate flavor that is nice and bitter. There's lots of coffee also in this beer nice and roasted.

Be back for more, and I don't have to drive.

 

A new one from Fair Isle for me.

Eugene, Nelson Sauvin hopped Saison. 6.5% ABV



Pours with a slight chill haze at first, that clears up as this warms. A dense white head forms with retention for days. Light lace is left behind.
A big aroma. Oh that Nelson Sauvin hop punch is up front and center. A berry and melon fruitiness as well. Incredibly aromatic with that grape, vinous, funk character.
Taste wise, that Nelson Sauvin hop bite is up front as well as the berry, melon fruit medley. This becomes tart and acidic. Grape and funk in the mix, and finishes a little sweet.
A medium body that is well carbonation. This could finish a little drier for my preference, and surprisingly so considering everything else from this brewery I have had finishes like a dry Champagne. Though still very enjoyable to drink.

This is a really nice representation of Nelson Sauvin hops, and in a funky Saison to boot. I think the fruity sweetness I get from the hops takes over a bit too much in the finish, but still really well made. Having this from the can, it doesn't seem as spritzy as some other bottles I have had from them...wondering if there is a difference in the way they are conditioned (they both can and bottle conditioned)? Anyway, they always make really good stuff, and this is another.

Overall score is 4.08, easy A-
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/57519/513816/?ba=champ103#lists

 

What are your thoughts about ABGB (Austin Beer Garden Brewing) beers? None of their brands are worthy of being categorized as “classic”?

Cheers!