New Beer Weekend #263

Thank you Micah for kicking off the weekend! Was at the start of my review when you posted. I have three Chicago beer days planned, including a likely trip to Revolution to pick up my first Deep Woods release now that the temperatures have cooled from very hot. The first is from Dovetail, my favorite Chicago lager brewery and one I don't get to as much as I'd like nearly every time I'm enjoying one of their selections. This one is no different.

Dovetail Summer Hopfenlager

4.12/5 rDev +2.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25



8/1/25 - (Home) (Chicago. Illinois) Can Notes: Purchased a single 16 oz can from Beer on the Wall at store temperature on May 22, 2025 for $3.98 including tax. Canned April 30, 2025, 4.5% ABV Summer Hopfenlager. Traditional methods, modern hops. Balanced, old, surprising. Vista & Strata Hops. Brewed and canned by Dovetail Brewery, 1800 W. Belle Plaine, Chicago, Illinois.

Appearance: Poured about half the can into a half liter into a Dovetail willi becher glass, yielding a very proficient foam I slurped to avoid spilling. Took a few minutes for the very bubbly and creamy bright white foam to settle over the unfiltered yellow murky base yielding mild sustained carbonation. 3.75

Aroma: Salty cracker, fresh cut grass, wheat, citrus. Flavor above average strength and enjoyment. Really likethe cracker. 4.25

Taste: Consistent with the aroma, salty cracker leads and is as good as the aroma. The secondary flavors less pronounced, wheat and corn the two highlights. Drinking this fast. 4.0

Mouthfeel: Hoppy bitter and dry, beyond expectations but in line with my taste preferences. Drinks easy at first, but at ABV getting into it further. Hoppy, more bitter than sweet, salty cracker and roasted corn finish. 4.25

Overall: This is an enjoyable selection I'm glad I finally got a chance to sample. Nice crispy boi hoppy dry lager, pronounced enjoyable flavor. Just be careful with the pour, as foam will emerge like a rocket. Cheers Dovetail for another job well done! 4.25

 

Thanks @GreenBayBA for the start and glad you enjoyed the Gorm the Old!

I'll have a few new ones this weekend from the Green Bay Blast, starting with:

3 Sheeps Wisconsinitis


Appearance: Clear yellow, good head.

Smell: Does smell creamy with a little fruit cup note as well.

Taste: Very mild sweetness to start, continues into mild corn, then finishes with a light grassy note. Light bodied.

Overall: Wisconsinitis is a very easy drinking cream ale. Very comparable to Spotted Cow, maybe lighter in flavor and body. Would be good for a tailgate or post lawn-mowing beer if you didn't want a macro lager.

 

Wooly pig hefeweizen
....cloudy burnt orange appearance with a lasting thick white head
...lighter carbonation with a slightly thin body but overall a nice feel.
....aroma is banana, wheat, some spice and banana bread
...taste is a nice mix of everything that showed up in the aroma. It has a really pleasant smooth banana bread taste which had a bit of bitter grain on the finish
..overall it was a great beer

 

Thanks for opening the weekend party Micah!
Tonight I pulled a porter out of the cellar, thinking I left it in there too long. But onwards!

Pour is very dark brown with a lighter brown head that dissipates fairly quickly.
The vanilla is front and center. Very potent.
There is some porter around the edges, a little chocolate and coffee, mild presence.
The feel is pleasantly viscous, which for a 5.8 % ABV porter is odd, but not at all unpleasant. Must be the vanilla.
OA, I imagine this is excellent on tap. May need to revisit someday.
Cheers!

 

A new brewery comes to town

Today’s new beer is from a brewery that just started to distribute to the Philly area: Barrique See These Signs Vienna Lager. I am fortunate to try this new beer since it was gifted to me from some good friends.

The Vienna Lager beer style is one I find to be interesting since it is not a ‘big’ beer style but relies on being well balanced in the flavor profile: some maltiness, a hint of hoppiness, a clean finish,…Basically just a pleasant drinking beer style.

Some details on the beer can’s label:

“5% ABV

Production time: 8 weeks

Brewed with Vienna Malt, Double Decocted, Hopped with Tradition and Monroe hops”

Below is an interesting write-up for this beer courtesy of the internet (AI):

“Barrique Vienna Lager, specifically their "See These Signs" Vienna Lager, is a beer characterized by its malty sweetness and toasted bread notes, with a subtle floral hop character. It's a crisp, refreshing lager with a touch of bitterness and nuanced red fruit flavors. The beer is a collaboration with Odd Colony Brewing, and is double-decocted using Weyermann Vienna malt, with a touch of Carafa for color.

Here's a more detailed breakdown:

Malt Profile:

The beer features a base of Vienna malt, with subtle sweetness and toasted bread notes. Some versions may include a touch of Carafa malt to enhance the reddish hue.

Hop Character:

The hops used, such as German Monroe and Tradition, contribute a floral spice and hints of wild berries.

Overall Flavor:

The combination of malts and hops creates a balanced beer with a crisp, refreshing finish. Some describe it as having a slightly sweet, malty aroma and flavor.

Other Details:

The beer is brewed with a lager yeast and is known for its smooth and balanced character, making it a great option for those who enjoy malty lagers.”

Wow! Artificial Intelligence sure sound like a beer connoisseur!! Are BA’s days over!?!

Let’s see what some natural intelligence (my intelligence) thinks of this beer.

Served in my Spiegelau Lager Glasses:

Appearance:

Amber colored with an off-white head.

Aroma:

A notable maltiness: a combination of dark bread crust and some subtle caramel.

Taste:

Flavor is predominantly malty (dark bread, some caramel) but there is a hint of hop flavor in the background. A medium bitterness.

Mouthfeel

Medium bodied, moderate mouthfeel with a dry finish.

Overall

I enjoyed drinking this beer. Tastes more like a Marzen (Amber Oktoberfest) beer to me due to being very malt forward.

Cheers!

@rotsaruch @RobH @KOP_Beer_OUtlet

 

Thanks for the kickoff, @GreenBayBA . And for using the phrase "scandelous perfume" in a beer review.

I'm putting a rough Friday at work behind me with a very tasty beer in front of me:



Hetty Alice DDH Pale

It isn't hazy; that's mostly condensation on the glass. But it isn't perfectly clear either. This pale yellow body has the slightest glow of haze, and a creamy head of foam that dissipates quickly and doesn't leave much lacing. The nose starts with grapefruit, and then shifts into nectarine, berries, a bit of tropical diesel, and something dusty. Flavor leads with a cocktail of stone fruits. Through the middle it opens up like someone scored a big hit on a piñata filled with melon balls, grapefruit pith, orange marmalade, and a couple lime Skittles. Light-medium body with energetic carbonation and high crushability. This is a terrific pale ale. File it under "I shoulda bought two."

 

Local craft store had a bunch of 3 Sons BA stouts and barleywines marked cheap, so I’ve been hitting those. I mean, I’m all about stouts and barleywines, so it was a no-brainer. After earlier Even Caramel Sundays and Vintage Nektar 2025, I’m on to a 2025 Big Sexxxy.

Pours a relatively clear but opaque ruddy chestnut color. Not much carbonation seen once the annular head fizzles away, with loads of legs on the glass. Aroma is a slightly over-ripe peach meets velour joint. First sips are a pleasant wave of dark burnt caramel notes, with a healthy dose of tannins to keep it from being too syrupy. Wild Turkey barrel notes are strong, with an earthy quality, almost like Heaven Hill, but spicier and metal (like stainless metal, but maybe metal music). Mouthfeel is full and bordering syrupy, which for English style barleywines is perfect for my palate. Alcohol brings a little bite up front, and lots of warming, nice for this slightly cool evening. I have a couple more to cellar. Good stuff!

 

Cheers to Micah for getting us started!

Another full disclaimer: My best buddy from HS works for these guys

Cabarrus Brewing Co. Rocky River IPA ( West Coast Style ) 6.5% ABV; 3.92 overall

Pours a chill-hazed gold with one finger of eggshell colored head. A few floaties, below average head retention & lacing

S: Some breadyness, a little citrus, some melon notes once warmed up

T: Malty with grapefruit & dryness & pine up front. Pomelo, white grape & woody hops as this beer warms up, a little dryness. Finishes with grapefruit, a little dryness & pine

MF: Medium body, fairly crisp carbonation, great balance

Super drinkability, good straight forward West Coast IPA, wish the nose was more

 

Alesmith speedway grand prix imperial stout with coffee and maple
....solid motor oil black appearance with a very thin tan head
...light carbonation, thick, super full heavy feel.
...aroma is malt and maple blend, coffee, as it warms the maple comes off much stronger but real as opposed to artificial.
...taste definitely has some sweetness but despite the maple its not overdone. The coffee makes a much bigger appearance in the taste than the aroma and mellows out the maple.
....overall its an excellent beer that if you allow it to warm becomes more complex and interesting.
Mucho gracias senior @Blogjackets

 

This one is from @RochefortChris

Armored Cow Brewing Porter of the Phoenix, 6.5% ABV; 3.54 overall


Pours an effervescent chestnut with a thumb+ of mocha colored head. Average-ish head retention & lacing

S: Roasty, a little smokey, some molasses notes

T: Roasty, dry, with woody hops & cocoa notes up front. Roastyness, a little cocoa & a touch of woody bitterness as this beer warms up. Finishes with woody hops, a little dark fruit & molasses & much roasty dryness

MF: Light/medium body, restrained carbonation, was hoping for more creamyness, little thin & flat once warmed up

A decent stab at the style, a little astringent at the end. Drinkable, but not more-ish

 

Bloody Hell Back to Back

Olde Hickory Brewery 2022 Appalachian Walker Barleywine Style Wine 12% ABV; 3.95 overall

2022 Vintage

Pours an effervescent chestnut/cola with fast falling tan head. Viscous, minimal head retention & lacing

S: Tons of dark fruit, earthy & rich barrel, molasses notes. All fade a bit down the srtetch

T: Plums, toffee, trace & oaky barrel rawness up front, some leafy hops up front. Red wine barrel comes through once this beer warms up, treacle, plenty of dark fruit & leafy hops too. Finishes with some serious red wine barrel notes, leafy hops & molasses

MF: Medium body, slight carbonation; warming & oaky dryness

Very solid stab at the style was hopping for more, drinks easy for the heft. Wanted more nose! Needed to try this fresher

 

Happy NBW all. Just sipping the last few ounces of this English barleywine from Fremont that I opened this afternoon. Quite good as usual. Review below. Cheers!
_________________
4.43/5 rDev -0.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

22oz bottle into a tulip. Pours a murky brownish mahogany with a half-finger head. Looks like raisin juice.

Aroma is bursting with toffee, caramel, brown sugar, vanilla, dark stone fruits, and booze.

Taste is likewise sugary sweet with a gently bitter counterbalance. More of the aforementioned aromatic qualities on the palate, along with a nice warming effect from the alcohol. Bourbon-soaked figs/dates. Good complexity while also managing to be a pretty straightforward affair.

Mouthfeel is sticky and medium-heavy, lingering finish.

Overall another stellar anniversary barleywine from Fremont—happy 15th a year late!

 

I opened an Olde Hickory Irish Walker last week that I think was from 2016, and I thought it held up well.