New Beer Weekend #273

Just one beer drinker's opinion, really.

Still, it's always been puzzling to me how so many beer people will accept aromas and flavors like "horse blanket" or "milkshake/fruit smoothie" or "cat pee" in their beer. They'll accept eye-watering bitterness or heartburn-inducing sourness or tooth-hurting sweetness in their beer.

But nice clean wood smoke? NOOOOOOO, can't have that...

 

Remedy Blanton's BBA Cherry Imperial Porter, 9.8% ABV. Pours black with a ring of light-brown bubbles that left no lacing. Aroma is malt, cherry, and bourbon. Taste is cherry and bourbon, faintly sweet, slightly tart, moderately bitter. Decent mouthfeel if a bit light on carbonation, overall very good.

3.87/5 rDev 0%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

I recently picked up this 2019 bomber, dusty on the shelf of a small local store. I had high hopes for this given that it's Blanton's BBA, but the base beer disappointed. The bourbon is the only plus here. We've got beef stew in the crock for supper.

 

A Schwarzbier Sunday afternoon - cheers!

3.97/5 rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Packaged September 16th, enjoyed on October 12th, 2025 - poured from a pint can into my Moonlight willibecher.

Opaque sepia liquid beneath a light fawn cap. Fine sandy lacing; decent retention.

Toasted brown bread aroma with a gentle nuttiness.

Earthy, light roast malt on the palate with some herbal hop flavors. Mild astringency and moderate bitterness. Low ashy smoke around the edges. Fairly dry finish with brown bread and toasted nuts returning in the aftertaste.

Medium-light bodied with forward carbonation.

Well crafted, surprisingly refreshing, if somewhat generic/subtle take on the style.

 

A new Tox Brewing beer to me and to them, aparently. It's not in the BA database yet, I may add it later when I'm not so lazy.
Although they are keeping with their theme of naming all beers toxic substances, this can label is a HUGE departure for them. Usually there is a elaborate artwork featuring the toxic substance of the beer name, but always including an Easter egg of their dart frog logo hidden somewhere. Here, the dart frog takes center stage on a relatively basic label.

Purchased two days ago from a store cooler and kept cold until severed. Poured to a Nonic from the 16oz undated can.
The body pours out hazy light gold, but passes light. The original head was thick and puffy and topographical. The head does fade to a surface coating but the lacing is Jackson Pollack. 4.75
The aroma is mildly citrus with a musty background. 3.5
The taste is like a mild West Coast IPA. A little sharp bitter hop sensation and a dry finish. 3.75
The mouthfeel is medium to light. Carbonation is medium. 3.5
A nice drinker. Not amazing, but a good lawn mower or fishing beer at 4.5% ABV. 3.75

 

Good Sunday afternoon, New Beer Sippers and commentators. The storm coming up from this south arrived in New Jersey this afternoon. Thankfully, it didn't affect my flight from RDU this morning. The wind has really kicked up. Perfect day to enjoy a Bourbon Barrel Aged Belgian Dark Strong Ale. This is a 2024 release from Farmers & Bankers Brewing in Woodstown (Salem County), New Jersey. F&B did a nice job with it. The bourbon is a sour mash and it prevents the ale from being too sweet.

It is a murky, reddish-brown color - similar to apple cider. The frothy, light khaki head dissipated almost immediately, leaving just a ring. It is aromatic with notes of apple, raisin, fig, brown sugar, caramel, and subtle but noticeable bourbon. The barrel influence is a lot more evident in the taste. It provides a sourness that compliments the bready, malty base and tangy apple and raisin. The brown sugar is in the background and thankfully the ale is not too sweet. It has a solid mouth feel with moderate carbonation, and it doesn't drink like 12.8% ABV.

4.01/5 rDev 0%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

For a brewery only a few years old, located in an obscure corner of New Jersey, this is solid work! Cheers and have a great week, everyone!

 

Good evening NBW
A new Saison from Three Floyds

Oceans of Time

12oz bottled 05-02-25 poured into a tulip glass at fridge temp 5.8% ABV. The beer pours mostly bright golden amber with off white head. The head recedes to an uneven ring and leaves a little lacing. The aroma is moderate in strength featuring clove, banana, and sweet malt. The taste is semisweet pale/caramel malt with more clove, hay, and honey before medium, lasting bitterness. The feel is medium bodied with average carbonation and a mostly dry finish. Overall, very good saison.

Cheers all!

 

Skydance Brewing's Smells Like Stein Spirit, Marzen, 6.0% ABV; 3.01 overall

Pours an effervescent copper with one finger of sand colored head. Head drops off rapidly. zero head retention & lacing

S: Brown bread, toastyness

T: Some pear notes, a little toastyness, plus woody & herbal hops up front. Toasty with herbal & woody hops up front and a little caramel once a little warmer. Hints of pear, toast & herbal bitterness on the finish

MF: Medium body, minimal carbonation, balance is okay, but under carbonated

Drinkable, but not on style, flaws on full display as my first beer of the session. Had higher hopes for this one

 

Started my new brews today with a couple decent festbiers:

Oktoberfest | Atrium Brewing | BeerAdvocate



Late To The Party | BlackStack Brewing | BeerAdvocate



I plan on having at least 2 more new brews after these, we'll see how it goes. Cheers!

 

New Belgium Voodoo Ranger Citrus Slayer, 9.0% ABV; 3.7 overall

Rating this as a DIPA

Pours an effervescent gold with one finger of eggshell colored head. Very good head retention & lacing

S: Plenty of oranges, a bit artificial & one dimensional

T: Oranges, a mix of sweet & tart, dryness up front. Some lime bitterness counters the orange sweetness as this beer warms up, fairly dry as well, just a kiss of pink grapefruit. Finishes dry with mix of lime, pink grapefruit & oranges

MF: Medium body, moderate carbonation, good balance for what it is

Not a great DIPA but pretty darn drinkable; would take this all day, every day over Juice Force

 

Havent been on top of things or I would have thought of this earlier...are we extending nbw through tomorrow??

United brewery left in the dark imperial stout
....an almost solid black appearance with a very thin brown head
...light carbonation but definitely an above average body. Bit of a thick,creamy,oily feel about it
...aroma is smoke,char,wood malt,roasted malt, wood and aged plum
...taste is malt,roasted malt, earthy and mildly bitter with a hefty boozy element to it.
....overall it was very good,fell a bit short of very good but still enjoyable

 

I found this brew to be quite nice and true to style.
Minocqua Culper Spy Ring WC IPA 6.8% ABV

4.04/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
16 oz can enjoy by 3/12/26 into a Becker.
L: Pours a straw amber color with a thin domed dull white head, steady fine carbo, medium stretched lacing with 2/3 banding lines.
S: Grapefruit, caramelized malts, a hint of hard candy.
T: Caramel malts, moist fruit bread, tart and slightly tangy dried orchard fruits, grapefruit zest, distant lemon, dried pineapple, tangerine marmalade, a background note of yeast in the finish, resin & zest linger. Malts are not lost.
F: Brisk medium to medium-light bodied mouthfeel with a medium-long fairly drying finish.
O: Gently sweet with a bitter finish overall. A lovely balance between caramel & fruit notes. Very refreshing and has a nice brisk mouthfeel down to the last sip. It is excellent in its style.

 

Had a couple more new brews today:

Schnitzengiggle | Voodoo Brewing Co. | BeerAdvocate



Wernesgruner Dark | Wernesgrüner Brauerei AG | BeerAdvocate



Thought both were decent enough and worth trying again. Still debating on if I'll have another new brew today or not.

 

Happy NBS!
Going to have at least two tonight, bought a few new ones recently and want to try them all. But I won’t.
This is one I added to the database as it’s new to everyone apparently.
That said, I’m not clear why they did this one.

The pour is honey colored and unfiltered looking, which is curious for a Pilsner, Michigan type or not.
The paper white head was impressive, took up half the glass and left rings of lacing.
The flavor is not terribly Pilsner like, it does have coffee notes, but carbonated coffee is just odd. There are some bready malts and I think the hops were noticeable but they may have been my imagination.
The feel is good, nicely crisp and very easy quaffing.
OA, interesting to try, but likely won’t buy more.
Definitely going have another.
Cheers!

 

Oh, I’ve been meaning to ask - as tomorrow is a holiday, will NBW carry on another day?

 

Decided to have one more after all, but pretty sure it's my last new one for today.

Queen Bee Imperial Honey Cream Ale | Remedy Brewing Company | BeerAdvocate





I liked this honey cream ale, pretty easy drinking too. Happy NBW everyone, not sure if I'll have any new brews tomorrow or not.

 

40th Anniversary Expedition Stout
13.9% Russian Imperial Stout



I drank this stout from tap while at the Eccentric Cafe with fellow Advocate @Whyteboar. I'll revisit rating if necessary when tried from bottle. Three of us were chatting so no written notes or lengthy reviewing.

The deep black stout had a boozy aroma that pleased this RIS fan. This is a big beer and in its infancy there is no subtlety. ABV is up front but not over the top. The chocolate malt and vanilla notes were present as in previous versions. Notes of coffee and earthy, bitter hops (though light) . A pleasant warmth is felt as I sipped the beer.

Mouthfeel is good but not as heavy as anticipated. Medium carbonation.

I'm not one to age beers, but I will let this one to sit and mature for before cracking one open.

 

4.29/5 rDev 0%

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

Poured from a 16 ounce undated can into an IPA glass at 50 degrees.

Look- Pale gold, mildly hazy, white frothy head, above average head retention, average lacing.

Smell- Pine resin, grapefruit, medium strength of scent.

Taste- Pine resin, grapefruit, herbaceous, medium strength of flavor.

Feel- Between thin and medium body, average carbonation, moderately prickly, high bitter, mildly creamy, mildly mouth warming, mildly dry finish.

Overall- Nice fresh hop WCIPA. Simple, but classic pine and citrus aromatics and flavor with a moderate amount of fresh hop character. This was a solid beer in all aspects that provided an enjoyable drinking experience.

 

Said I was going to have another (or even one after) as I have so many new to me beers this weekend.
This is one from a brewery that used to make my favorite (this was years ago before BIFs rocked my world) so when I saw something new, stout wise, I had to try it.

The pour is coffee black with a barely there beige head that left no lacing whatsoever.
The taste is actually pretty nice, definitely coffee and cream flavors in addition to the base stout.
The feel is smooth and soft; either oats or lactose will add a softness, both are velvety smooth. Decadent without being too sweet.
OA, this is a very nice stout that punches above its weight.
Enough of the light stuff, next up will be a barley wine.
Cheers!