New Beer Weekend #281

Sounds like a solid one. Great read. You described what I like, a Rauch note that is meaty in its smokiness.

 

Central Water El Ganador Tequila Barrel Aged Stout w coffee & cocoa nibs.
It's fairly mellow.

4.19/5 rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
12 oz can canned 4/17/25 into a snifter.
L: Pours very dark brown with a 1/4" khaki head that recedes quickly to edge foam, low carbo, no lacing.
S: Tequila, caramelized malts, molasses, an oak barrel note, dark fruits.
T: Woody, a light note of tequila, it is pale, brown bread, overripe dark fruits, fig, prune, sea salt, light char, it is gently sweet overall. A distant coffee note blends with dark cocoa esp towards the finish. It is lightly rich.
F: Smooth medium bodied mouthfeel with a medium length lightly drying finish.
O: A beautifully balanced Stout. Barrel, coffee, cocoa, and caramelized malts here are of a superior blend. No extreme dynamics and quite easy to drink. Gently rich but not overly complex. It is smooth and is excellent in its style.

 

Good day BAs! Thanks @Beersnake for opening this bar

Today's New Breakfast Beer:



BCBS Double Barrel Stout from Goose Island Beer. One order of Bourbon Country Superior Collection 2025, ordered 16/11/25 from Half Time, received 29/11/25, $ 233.19 (including tax)/$ 1.62/fl oz. Reviewed 06/12/25, review 3650. Note that I use DD/MM/YY protocol.
“BOTTLED ON 21AUG25” on front label. Stored at home at 37 degrees F. Served at 56.1 degrees F in a hand washed and dried Jester King snifter. The final temperature is 61.1 degrees F.
Appearance – 4.25
First pour – Deep Amber (SRM 15), nearly opaque.
Body – Black (SRM 40), opaque. Under direct light, the same. When rear-lite, amber at the bottom edge.
Head – Average (Maximum 1.4 cm, aggressive center pour). Biscuit and fizzy with average retention, leaving 0.4 – 0.5 cm bubble ring, with a pulsing center atoll caused by an upwelling of short-lived bubbles.
Lacing – None.
Aroma – 4.25 – Sweet bourbon, no hops, no malt, no alcohol (17.4 % ABV according to the label). As it warms, alcohol fumes do begin to burn my nasal cavities.
Flavor – 4.5 – Begins slightly sweet with bourbon. Seems to have a bit of tannin from the barrels. No dimethylsulfide or diacetyl. Slowly building gastric warming from the alcohol is noted.
Palate – 4.25 – Full: More syrupy than creamy: Soft but caressingly lively carbonation.
Style: Follows the scanty BA style description.
Final impression and summation: 4.5 In general, without going back through my records, this is probably the BEST BCBS I’ve ever had (I might have rated something higher, but I didn’t have this to compare to). No add junks, no “natural flavors”, just a good Impy stout properly aged. I’m not a fan of bourbon – in general I think it should only be used to fuel kerosene heaters or to produce barrels in which to age beer. However, it looks like I’ll be looking for Heaven Hill bourbon now. And @www.gooseisland.com – it looks like you’ve produced an excellent BBA beer again (despite INBEV!).
Rating 4.4, rDev -1.1%

And now I'm off to vacuum up the cobwebs behind the wall of my shower valves.

 

Damn, this sounds good! Both chilis and cinnamon are two of my favorite add junks in beer - smoke my taste buds!

 

Polarizing indeed! A few years ago, I got into a "discussion" with a former MP stationed in Bamberg - he posited that the locals dumped rauchbier on GIs because rauchbier sucked. I took exception. His wife mediated the debate short of fisticuffs.

 

There are a number of beer styles which can be polarizing. I regularly homebrew a clone of Orval and the Brett used as part of the fermentation process does create some 'interesting' flavors which I personally enjoy. My wife won't even take a sip of that beer. She will on occasion take a sniff and remark "Why do you drink that shit!?!". I just smile and make yummy sounds.

Cheers!

 

Back about a million years ago I used to keep chopped meat broth with some Bacteroides species growing in the lab. Whenever I wanted someone to leave, I'd open a tube and take a big whiff, saying "I love the smell of anaerobes in the morning". The organic acids usually made my point. I also don't mind m-butyl mercaptan.

 

Anything more exotic than a straight Export Lager was too exotic for most of my Air Force Brothers & Sisters

 

@Ozzylizard - My brother in the industry had two tastings of all the BCBS including King Henry and said the Double Barrel you rated this morning was the best offering this season. Think I might hit Woodmans to pick up variants and a four pack 10 oz regular pack.

In terms of Sportsball, back before Jim Delany was hired, when Big Ten universities were able to count to ten and beyond, his conference had a solid play everyone once (football) or twice (basketball) format. This was pretty much replicated across well thought out geographical conference pairings across the nation. Between the past two decades of conference expansion / relocation debacles, and expansion of NCAA MBB and CFB playoffs, the regular seasons have become as watered down as the farcical “championship regular seasons” played by North American professional leagues. IMO, MLB held the last legitimate American professional team sports playoff in 1993.

Anyhow, back to the thread. Going with my two IPAs from the recent Aldi variety box. There were supposed to be three IPAs, but my American IPA was omitted, with my 12 pack containing a duplicate Winter Spiced Beer rated last weekend. Saving the Imperial IPA for primetime New Beer Sunday, going with the haze today.

ALDI USA Hazy IPA

3.89/5 rDev 0%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4



12/6/25 - (Can, Home) (Chicago, IL) Can Notes: Purchased via the Aldi Twelve Days of Beer Fall/Winter 2025 variety twelve pack for $22.14 with tax at the Harwood Heights Aldi on November 7, 2025, and refrigerated until opening this morning. 12 oz canned 9/12/25 (can stamp PKGD 04:091225 1646023433). Hazy IPA, 6.3% ABV. India Pale Ale with Natural Flavors. Brewed by ABW Virginia Beach LLC in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Appearance: A somewhat aggressive pour of 2/3 of the can yielded a near half shaker pint glass creamy bubbly white head over a hazy, more unfiltered than thick fog, base. About as expected besides the nice head. 3.75

Aroma: Poured the rest in after the head receded to gain a nice medium strength citrus and tangerine aroma. Not sure whether hops or “natural flavors” is fueling this observation, but it is enjoyable, though also seems a little artificial, though better than cryo hop attributes. 3.5

Taste: Consistent with the aroma, tangerine, citrus and lemon the order of finish, with pine emerging halfway in. More traditional hop flavors vs. the nose experience. Drinking it somewhat fast, signs of enjoyment. 4.0

Mouthfeel: Nice level of bitterness to balance the sweet fruit flavors. Drinks at the ABV level, with a more prickly sustained carbonation adding both to the light watery body. Some pine resin and flavors emerge, as well as malt as I reach the halfway mark. Nice bitterness to even out the brew. Tangerine, citrus, lemon and pine as I turn for home. 4.25

Overall: I’m not big Hazy IPA fan, but this beer features I personally enjoy; primarily a decent balance, good fruit flavors balanced with bitterness and not too much malt. This is one of the better new NEIPAs I’ve enjoyed. Nice selection by contract brewer New Realm for ALDI USA. 4.0

This is the highest rated among my first four from this box. Hope the Imperial IPA also exceeds expectations and lives up to New Beer Sunday standards. Cheers!

 

Started my new brews today with this peppermint mocha stout from The Brewing Projekt:

Cow Cow - Peppermint Mocha | The Brewing Projekt | BeerAdvocate





I liked this one, but wish the flavors were just a little stronger. Should have one or 2 more new brews posted soon.

 

Juicy Machine by Tree House


4.33/5 rDev +0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Brewers notes : A Single IPA version of Juice Machine! We taste notes of ripe mango, orange sorbet, papaya smoothies, and passion fruit candies.

We poured everything we love about a Tree House icon into a single IPA format. Say hello to Juicy Machine! Pouring a glowing orange color into your glass, the aroma of sweet malts sets the stage for a wallop of hoppy delight. Underneath layers of sticky foam, a proprietary blend of worldly hops creates notes of ripe mango, orange sorbet, papaya smoothies, and passion fruit candies. These juicy hop notes float over a pillowy, soft body with an exceptionally creamy finish. Never abrasive or harsh, it is just as enjoyable on the last sip as on the first


Chilled pint can poured into a Willie Becker glass


He’s a mango colored liquid topped with three fingers of white shaving foam cream very good. Hang time above the rim.

ARoma is tropical fruits papaya mango

Taste is tropical, fruits, papaya mango

Smooth with a hop kiss that lingers on the back of the tongue

Good beer

 

Figured I'd have another minty stout next:

Cowbell Double Mint Chocolate Imperial Milk Stout | Voodoo Brewing Co. | BeerAdvocate





Kinda tasted like my last beer, except this one had more of a spearmint/peppermint flavor instead of just peppermint. Should have one more new brew today, cheers!

 

Prairie Grand Hazelnut Reserve BBA Imperial Stout, 13.5% ABV. Pours black, with a ring of brown bubbles. Aroma is chocolate, hazelnut, and bourbon. Taste follows, with chocolate up front, slight bourbon burn, moderately sweet, equally bitter. Decent mouthfeel if a bit light on carbonation. Overall excellent.

4.21/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Today was baking day for Christmas goodies. Tons more not shown in the picture.

 

My 30th beer from Fantome, Dark Forest Ghost, unfortunately past its prime (whatever that might have been like) - cheers!

2.83/5 rDev -20.5%
look: 4 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Capped-and-corked 750mL bottle with no best before or bottling date (Shelton Brothers import, so this is at least five years old and likely closer to nine). Opened cautiously, but a moderate gusher none-the-less.

Murky rust body with some brighter amber highlights. Angry rocky head slowly recedes to a dense matted champagne cap. Rich sticky lacing.

Malt liquor, candle wax, pencil shavings, wood varnish, rotten oranges, rhubarb, morning glory, peppercorn, motor oil, and hints of marsala in the nose.

Cedar and orange zest on the palate - tart yet malty, with moderate herbal bitterness throughout. Dry finish, some oxidation, herbal (not quite medicinal) notes, and a whisper of metallic compost container. Objectively terrible, but there is an appealing core that draws you back in.

Brisk, medium body, a bit over-carbonated.

Really curious if this was just very strange when fresh, it has now veered into something that I'm a little afraid to finish, though I'm sure it will replenish my gut biome.

 

Jack's Abby / Framinghammer Imperial Baltic Porter



4.04/5 rDev -2.7% | Average: 4.15
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
First try with the base Framinghammer. I've tried a few with additives and remember them fondly.

A vigorous pour gives way to heavy foam with light mocha shaded suds that dissipate thoroughly. Scents of cocoa and chocolate milk are available. Sips lead to strong flavors of chocolate, hints of roasted malts, with brown sugar sweetness being prevalent. Typical of JA brews, carbonation is spot on and delivers all notes in spades with nice depth. Alcohol is noticeable at 10% but not overly so. This is a nice Baltic Porter when in the mood for a sweeter edge versus a big stout.

Cheers, NBW!

 

Free State Brewing Northen Lights ( Cold ) IPA, 7.2% ABV; 3.57 overall

This 12 oz bottle pours a bright & effervescent gold with 2 fingers of ivory colored head. Very good head retention & decent lacing

S: Tropical fruits, some bready notes & a little bit of metal.. Some white grape once warmed up .25 deduction for the metal weirdness

T: Grassy, pomelo, nectarine, grainy notes almost like millet up front. A touch of green melon, light lemon & lime zest, white grapes as this beer warms up, a trace of peach & dryness. Finishes a little dry, grassy with a little white grape & peach

MF: Medium body, moderate carbonation, okay balance

Cold IPAs are not my jam, drinkable, but not interesting