New Beer Weekend #279

I enjoyed a couple good beers yesterday, but none of them were New Beers.

Today, however, is a different story. I am eagerly looking forward to cracking open a brand new smoked lager from Gold Dot after the day's errands are done.

(How new? Canned last Thursday. Yes please and thank you.)

 

Howdy all, and happy NBS!
I hope to help get us to the 7 pages predicted above, here is the first one.
Had to add it to the database:
Barrel Aged Scottish Wee Heavy aged for 6 months in an Ardbeg Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky Barrel.
I don’t drink much scotch, but when I do it is normally Arbeg. So I had to grab a couple of bottles.
This first one I shared with a friend-

The pour is a late season honey color with a manilla color head that left thin rings of lacing. Pretty good for a barrel aged beer.
I can’t smell many beers, but I did get a whiff of bread and flowers. Struck me as curious so on I went. Matt thought it smelled “amazing”.
The first thing I noticed was the clove taste, (Matt tasted it too, it wasn’t my imagination) that flavor was not expected at all. But the biscuit flavored malt base shoved to the fore. The barrel presence is very subtle but a little of that peaty goodness from Islay comes through and seals the deal.
The feel is the only thing not excellent about this and that is purely subjective.
It’s just a little too thin for my expectations of the style.
OA, I very much enjoyed this and hope they keep brewing it!
The next one we will be sharing is one he bought, which is good because I likely never will. But who knows.
Cheers all!

 

Today I am reviewing Treehouse SSSappp, with a higher hop content than the original Sap. I couldn't help myself and had one of these Firday evening before NBW started. Doesn't matter, I'll have another today and review it too.
I reviewed Sap "original" in 2018 and gave it a 4.5. I ended with the same rating for this one. I'd love to try a side by side but that's not an option for me today.


4.48/5 rDev +3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Purchase cold 2-weeks ago at Charlton and kept cold until severed. Poured to a pretentious tulip-like glass from the 16oz stamped “LITTLE FULL, LOTTA SSSAPPP 11.03.25”.
The body is glowing orange (SRM 5) and opaque but light change behind is noticeable. A pure white head is large and thick in appearance.
The aroma is definitely pine needles but also some apricot.
The taste is also piney and bitter (in a good way). There is fruit in there, but it is a bridge between the conifer effects. The finish is resin heavy but not off-putting.
Mouthfeel is medium and carbonation is over medium.
This is really good for my taste. If it was clear and marketed as a WCIPA you would think it was spot on under that style.

 

Its big hop day here at the Woodchipper home. Up next is Treehouse Find The Limit No. 10. Bold letters at the bottom of the label reads Dry Hop Equiv:22#/BBL. Above that it states 9.0% ABV. Brewery's notes follow-
(Double IPA, 9%, 16oz, 22#/BBL Dry Hop) Now a distillery, coffee roastery, farm, cidery, brewery, and experience, we have the same child-like wonder for the brewing sciences that we did beginning in a kitchen many years ago. Project Find the Limit No. 10 not only represents the most recent and most intense of our hoppy beer offerings, but at its core represents the very spirit of Tree House Brewing Company. There is an insane amount of lupulin oil in this can.

4.12/5 rDev -6.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Purchase cold 2-weeks ago at Charlton and kept cold until severed. Poured to a Nonic from the 16oz stamped “DID WE DO IT? 10.15.25”.
The body looks like apricot juice (SRM 5) and opaque but light change behind is noticeable. A pure white head is only ⅜”/10mm.
The aroma is prominently onion at first, but regresses to fruit and hops with an onion background.
The taste is also prominently onion at first, but regresses to fruit and hops with an onion background. The finish is super dry.
Mouthfeel is medium and carbonation is appropriate.
Did they do it? Overall it is pretty hoppy and enjoyable. Most hoppy ever—- I can’t decide.

 

Good Sunday afternoon, New Beer Sippers and commentators. Yesterday was the 2025 release day for Kane Brewing's A Night to End All Dawns (ANTEAD). Like many breweries, Kane releases its standard BA Imperial Stout, along with several variants. Today, I'm reviewing Mexican Hot Chocolate, aged in bourbon barrels and brewed with cocoa nibs, vanilla bean, cinnamon, and Ancho and Guajiollo chillies. I only bought one bottle of this variant and debated whether to drink it fresh or allow it to age. I'm glad I chose to pop it today because it is outstanding.

Poured at 65°. It is nearly ink black. The dark mocha-colored head fizzled away very quickly leaving a ring and clouds of foam at the top of the glass. The nose is big and fragrant with roasted malt, chocolate, vanilla, cinnamon, and distinct peppers. There is also a faint aroma of bourbon and cigar ash. The taste is complex and delicious! There is rich cocoa throughout but the Ancho and Guajillo chillies play the starring role. They are spicy but do not overpower the other flavors. There are also notes of vanilla bean, cinnamon, tobacco, and nutty char. The barrel effect is delicate; Kane really knows how to barrel-age a Stout. The flavor benefits from letting it breathe in the glass. Love the mouth feel: it is creamy - almost chewy - with low carbonation, and the 12.2% ABV doesn't distract.

4.43/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I also bought bottles of the other 2025 variants, Tiramisu and German Chocolate Cake, which I will review in the coming weeks, and 4 bottles of the base Stout, which I've only ever had in a restaurant. I probably don't give Kane enough love; overall, it is widely regarded (and I concur) as the best brewery in New Jersey. It is just far enough away to be inconvenient to drive to. And I'm always in a rush driving to/from the Shore. Soon, I won't be working full-time and I'll be able to enjoy this excellent brewery a lot more. Have a great Feast Week, everyone. Cheers, NBW!

 

New Trail - Backcountry DWCIPA



4.04/5 rDev -2.4% | Average: 4.14
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This is a perfectly acceptable WCDIPA. It doesn't reinvent the style, but checks the boxes accordingly and delivers an appropriate experience. Not very disparate in flavor to Heady Topper actually.

Amber/copper pour with decent up front foam bringing nice subsequent lacing

Scents are average but present. Orange marmalade, piney herb, light caramel

Flavors are heavy orange, grapefruit, and strong pine with an eager bitterness and palate coating resin

Body promotes drinkability without being overly malty or heavy

This is a worthy WCDIPA and a huge step up for New Trail who has underachieved in this style in the past. No surprises here, but very nice if you're craving some old school hops with a pronounced bitter piney bite.

 

Bruery Black Tuesday Blender's Choice 2025 BBA Imperial Stout, 19.9% ABV. Pours brownish black, with a half-finger beige head that left an oily sheen. Aroma is complex; bourbon, vanilla, moleasses, spice, dark fruit, faint chocolate, football leather, and grape. Taste is alcohol, rye spice, vanilla, leather, and light chocolate, slightly sweet, moderately bitter, oodles of alcohol/bourbon burn. Excellent mouthfeel, overall outstanding. The booziness is second only to Dystopias and Utopias.

4.43/5 rDev -3.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

I've rated this outstanding based on what it's touted as, but still on the fence whether I 'like' it. For sure, I'm glad I'm not having this reflux-bomb within four hours of bed-time. Love the complex and boozy aroma, but less excited about the flavor.

 

500ml can served in a stemless rastal. Bottom is stamped PALE 13.1.2026. Got it in a trade with @not2quick.

Pours crystal clear, dark coppery brass color with a big head that condenses into a dense blanket. Smell is grainy, yeasty, lager funk. Something slightly spicy, grassy, clean.

Taste is similar, more of a dry bitterness than I expected, light floral notes, grassier than the aroma suggested. Earthy bitterness dominates the aftertaste, reminds me a bit of grape stems.

Mouthfeel is very light, soft, dry. Nice beer.

 

Tynt Meadow English Trappist Ale, 7.4% ABV; 4.11 overall

Pours a ruddy hazel color with a thumb+ of cream colored head. Minimal head retention & lacing

S: Brown bread & figs, brown sugar once warmed up

T: Follows the nose, woody & herbal hop bitterness as well up front. Dryness, toastyness, brown sugar & toffee notes, leafy & woody hops once this beer is warmed up. Finishes dry toasty with some salted plum notes, brown sugar & woody hops

MF: Medium body, slight carbonation, good balance

Fairly easy to drink was hoping for a little more body & warmth, but an overall solid offering

 

4.24/5 rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Thick black pour, small tan head fades quickly. Snot machine get chocolate, vanilla, bourbon, roasted malts. Taste buds get similar sensations. Thick, smooth texture. I would go so far as to say this is excellent.

 

I’m a little later than expected with my second beer. It took us a while to finish them. (Matt had 12 ounces, I had 10)
It’s a local that I suspect they are trying to make legendary, or at least highly sought after. If it was half the price I know they would sell out in hours. It’s good.

This is the first (gold wax) so it’s about a year old.
The pour is curiously light, almost as brown as my morning coffee. The first glass was treated to a barely there light brown head but the second glass had no head at all. At 20% ABV, no wonder.
The taste is warm bread, breakfast blend coffee, milk chocolate, leather and bourbon. The oak I think presents as what I’m saying is the leather.
The feel is properly viscous. This was sipped for over an hour. The word “Smooth” comes to mind.
OA, glad to have been able to try this, I enjoyed it so much I’m thinking about actually paying the $50 it is listed at.
I may or may not be back. This has already started kicking in.

 

Fat Head's... Excuse my French... Apres Hefe Bernsteinfarbenes Weizen. Totally not French but good god. They pack so much aroma and flavor into their beer. Easy to see why they have awards strewn about the place.

Came from Saucy, had a kriek which was enjoyable and a dunkel that was a bit thin but flavorful. A productive night.

 

Short version: This beer is outstanding, and I wish I'd bought more than one can to enjoy this afternoon.



Gold Dot Mild & Cool Smoked Lager

16-ounce can purchased at John's Marketplace in Beaverton, OR. Date stamp reads "HAM SANDWICHES: A LOVE STORY 11/20/25". Enjoyed in a small Becher glass.

The crystal clear body is a gorgeous deep mahogany with amber-orange highlights. Up top, the creamy head of vanilla white foam doesn't last long and leaves naught but patchy lacing. The nose is rich with smoke layered on top of moderately sweet malt, toasted bread, a savory caramelized note (more Maillard than sugar), and hints of brown sugar and floral hops. The flavor has more smoke than the nose, and it lasts from one end to the other. Underneath is a solid foundation of toasty, semi-sweet malt adorned with notes of savory caramel, seeded bread crust, smoked ham rind, and a pinch of brown sugar. Earthy and floral hops emerge in the finish to balance the moderate sweetness and make you yearn for the next sip. A nutty character comes through at the very end, and it harmonizes beautifully with the smoke.

The Instagram post announcing this beer said, "Made with 70% smoked malt because, well, you can't please everyone." This is not a gently smoky, training-wheels kind of rauchbier. This is a rauchbier for people who love rauchbiers. And it's wonderful.

 

Good evening NBW
Another from the convent in Ferdinand, Indiana.

Santa's Winter Warmer

22oz undated bottle purchased at the St. Benedict's Brew Works. The menu states 5.7% ABV and 30 IBU for this edition. The beer pours bright dark amber with khaki colored head. The head recedes to a thin ring and single layer of bubbles. The aroma is mild with sweet toasted malt. The taste is more caramel and toasted malt, mild toffee and slight earthy hop flavor. Mild bitterness. The feel is thin to medium bodied with less than average carbonation and a mostly dry finish. Overall, good winter warmer.

Cheers all!

 

I dig the CAMRA pub towel and glassware, but what really caught my eye is that "Heavy Horses" beer mat. NICE.

 

Okay, where did you get that Jethro Tull beer mat?

 

Against my better judgement I did have another - it’s Sunday and a Barleywine is required. (Seriously, pretty sure it’s a law)
This is one I came across by a very strange series of events - and to recount those events might just get us to those 7 pages previously mentioned.

The pour is darker than expected, almost espresso with ruby highlights. The very light brown head is short, but leaves impressive lacing.
The taste is toffee and vanilla and oak and cognac. The soft, bready malt base carries all those additional flavors with ease. A hint of pepper shows up once in a while, curious but there it is.
The feel is lightly viscous, a nice sipping beer which is what I like. It’s very nice.
OA, a delicious barleywine that I would be happy drinking regularly if that was possible.
Ah well, I think I am well and truly done for today.
Cheers!

 

Thomas Hardy's Ale The Historical. An 11.3% barleywine by Hepworth & Company. Cheers.




Poured from bottle, the beer is a amber with white head. No lacing.

Aroma is almost cidery: Apple, raisins.

Taste follows nose and several flavors are presented. Oak, raisins, apple, vanilla and a definite alcohol presence. The flavors merge as the ale warmed. A wee hoppiness is in the background but keeps the beer from being sweet. Perhaps not sweet enough for fans of English Barleywines like those made by Jackie O’s. Once fully warmed, the oak is dominant, but not overly so.


Carbonation is low and mouthfeel medium though soft. Finish has a lingering of the alcohol.

A nice sipping barleywine that should please fans of the style.