New Beer Weekend #283

Definitely showing its age at this point - I think I bought it as a set with that big fish-bowl goblet they made for double-IPAs (which I broke many years ago)?

 

Totally agree. I could use more coconut than your typical human (knowing it is, for some reason, a polarizing flavor). But it is really nice when it at least shows up a little bit.

Unlike the beer @Beersnake reviewed that mentioned coconut in the title, I had a Hardywood Chocolate Babka GBS that was pretty decent. After compiling my thoughts, I reviewed the label and was surprised to see coconut was involved. Based on the outcome to my palate, Hardywood could've spared that expense.

Side note: I've never found pFriem's higher ABV, darker beers to hit the mark for me. Their pale ales and lagers are a totally different story.

Lastly, I agree with your general assessment on PaRyebola, @Ozzylizard - I definitely wanted to like the beer more as an enjoyer of rye whiskey.

 

Continuing my new beers today with this one:

Small Batch Society - Mango Lime | Urban Artifact | BeerAdvocate



Nice and tasty IPA, but would have been better to me if the mango and lime were stronger.

 

O's o Brewing - Narcissist
10.5% stout aged in rye barrels. Thanks to @basaywhat for the stout. Cheers Chris.



Poured from a twelve ounce can, the body is jet black with a small mocha colored head. No lacing.

Aroma is a delicious combination of chocolate and barrel.

Taste follows nose with the chocolate malts holding up their end. The barrel is not overly hot, but it imparts a good rye flavor that's almost vanilla. Upon finish the barrel dries up quickly while a light chocolate slowly fades.

Mouthfeel is good, heavy and lush. Low carbonation but enough to keep things feeling normal.

Lovely sipping stout for rye fans.

 

Good Sunday afternoon, New Beer Sippers and commentators. Every year I say I won't purchase any of BCBS variants. The really good ones are hard to find and in my opinion the others don't justify the high price point. This afternoon I'm reviewing the one bottle of Cherries Jubilee Cask Finish Stout that I bought. I'm glad I opened it now because I question the shelf life of the adjuncts.

Poured at 59°. It is dark walnut in color with cola hues. The medium mocha head dissipated instantly. It has a pleasant aroma of rich chocolate and sweet cherry. The cognac smell is subdued in a good way. Initially, the primary taste is chocolate, along with earthy malt, leather, and cigar. But at mid-sip the cherry appears and thankfully it is more tart than sweet. It, along with the barrel influence, become more evident as the Stout breathes in the glass. There is also an intriguing hint of orange. The various flavors are complimentary. The mouth feel is not especially viscous. The carbonation level is low and you can feel the 14.5% ABV.

4.24/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

While I enjoyed drinking this Stout I wouldn't purchase any more - and it remains available. Cheers!

 

Schlafly - Christmas Ale



3.94/5 rDev +6.5% | Average: 3.7
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Here we have a nice winter warmer that blends all of its flavors very well. Nothing overpowers or overwhelms the other. A vigorous pour gives way to a pleasant head that recedes leaving plenty of lacing. Taking a whiff provides lots of plum, fig, caramel, and brown sugar. Drinking follows right along with extra notes of orange and faint ginger. Sweetness is prevalent but stays out of cloying territory. There is a nice period in the finish that is just plum juice. Spices could be more in the forefront, but as is I'm ok with things. This beer has nice drinkability and feels lighter than it's 8% ABV. Overall there isn't much to dislike about this beer, I feel it is well constructed and brewed.

 

Great review, Mac. Love the non-fanboy approach here. Also, I'd now be willing to try this as the cherry is seemingly unsweetened.

 

Next up is Urban Artifact's Strawberry Scotch Ale:

Small Batch Society - Strawberry Scotch Ale | Urban Artifact | BeerAdvocate



Definitely a lot of strawberry so no complaints there. Should have one more new beer in a little while!

 

NBS #2. I'm excited when @Todd adds new styles to BA because it gets me out of my beer comfort zone. And it's like an adult scavenger hunt to find obscure types of beer. Today, I am drinking my first Rotbier. Tucher Naturtrüb Rotbier is clearly a leader of the style and one of the easiest to find although this pack is about a week past the "Best Buy" date. I would really like to try it fresher and on draught. Moreover, I would appreciate the opportunity to sample an American craft version. It appears that Schilling brews one, called Fritzy, that is highly regarded.

Tucher is hazy, amber-orange, resembling iced tea, with a creamy ecru-colored cap and lacing. The smell is quite nice with slightly herbal caramel malt. Its taste follows: toasted brown bread, caramel/toffee, earthy, herbal, with a slightly peppery finish. It is similar in many ways to a Märzen. What I like best is the mouth feel: well-bodied and creamy with a pleasant level of carbonation. And it is crushable at 5.2% ABV. Overall, my first experience with Rotbier is very positive!

4.03/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

With respect to the recently-added styles I've grabbed the low-hanging fruit. I'm surprised that there aren't more East Coast examples of Cold IPA. Lichtenhainer and Sour Ale will take some hunting. Cheers and Merry Christmas to all who celebrate!

.

 

More goodness from my Kansas haul

Pipeworks Barrel Aged Jones Dog Rye Barrel Edition with Cacao Nibs & Vanilla Beans, 12.9% ABV; 4.38 overall

Pours an effervescent Ebony with a pinky of mocha colored head. Some head retention & lacing, plenty viscous

S: Dark chocolate, vanilla, dark fruit & plenty of barrel

T: Follows the nose, molasses notes, spicy boozy Rye Barrel attack, black cherry tobacco & figs up front. Dark chocolate, some vanilla, black cherry, cola & peppery Rye, plus warming booze as this beer warms up, oaky notes as well. Finishes with peppery/warming/dry rye barrel notes, vanilla & dark chocolate

MF: Medium body/thick with moderate carbonation, warming

I wish Pipework would bring these behemoths to my home market. We get their run of the mill stuff, which is good, but this is very good. A sipper to be sure

 

Hello denizens of NBS!
I will have two today, and the first one is one I picked up in Indiana when coming home from our Thanksgiving trip (Grandkids. Okay, their parents too)
I picked up several from Taxman brewing, largely because I appreciate Belgian style beer occasionally and they seem to specialize in that.
They are up against some stiff competition in Brewery Vivant though. Let’s see how they did-

The pour is coffee brown and looks darned near stout black in the glass. Backlit it has a deep ruby color. The head was aggressive, forcing me to drink the first few sips from the can. Good lacing.
The taste is borderline sweet; toffee and dark chocolate and vanilla all on toasted white bread. There seems to be some cinnamon at the back of the tongue, but it might be the Mexican vanilla beans.
The feel is lightly viscous, which fits the flavor profile well. There’s a light coating on my lips after I finish, that’s a little different but in no way off putting.
OA, glad I found the 4 pack and decided to try it. Very nice treat.

A little later I will have a Barleywine (On Sundays we drink barleywines - @Dimidiata)

One I meant to drink last Sunday but saw a shiny object and got distracted.

Cheers!

 

That sounds excellent!
I assume that label is meant to be a mirror implying anyone who drinks this is a narcissist.
I’m not, but I’ll happily play one for a good stout!

 

Worth a try by rye fans. really, bourbon barrel fans too. Up yonderways due west of @GreenBayBA.

 

Well, this is the last new beer of the weekend and it was today's best one:

Pink Berry | Urban Artifact | BeerAdvocate





I liked it a lot, tasted and smelled more like golden raspberries than it did pricky pear but it worked for me. Cheers and have a great week everyone!

 

Black mettle by trillium



4.02/5 rDev -4.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Brewers notes Black Mettle is the dark, roasty cousin of our signature Mettle Double IPA. The fermentation profile in this Black Double IPA was adapted from our standard schedule to develop and highlight its unique flavors and aromas to ensure that it is tremendously satisfying yet beckons for another sip.

True to its name, Black Mettle presents a decidedly black color topped with a creamy, soft tan resilient head and casts a varied nose: light roast coffee, charred pretzel, and bright chocolate are balanced by earthy pine, floral, and fruit notes. Palate follows suit with sappy pine, grapefruit zest, yet there's just a soft roast and a fleeting cacao note, all complemented by a medium body and dry finish with a present but gentle bitterness.

MALT: 2row, Midnight Wheat, White Wheat, Dextrine, Dextrose

HOPS: Columbus, Simcoe, Centennial

Super dark brown liquid with a a two finger brown foam cap, good lacings

Aroma is a lightly charred coffee

Taste is pine hops hooking up with roasted malts, light char…..the illegitimate love child between a stout and ipa

Slight bitterness

Good beer

 

Christmas
4.2% dark lager by Lvivska Pivovarnya



Poured from bottle, the body is an opaque brown with white head. Good lacing.

Aroma has a lightly sweet malty note.

Taste follows nose as the malt bill carries the load. In the background are wafts of spices: clove and perhaps a wee trace of cinnamon. Just enough flavor to expand on the malt. At finish, a small bit of earthy hop.

Mouthfeel is light and carbonation good.

Easy drinking dark lager.

 

Fade to Black. Treehouse.
Not sure what I can say beyond that. Not to denigrate the spirit of NBW, but IYKYK.
Okay, piney aromas hit you soon as you pop the top and pour.
Very thick and viscous on the tongue. Rich, even.
Taste is bitter yet fruity; the citrus gang is there, grapefruit and orange. And damn if I don't taste mango and papaya.
Going up to TH is like the gift that keeps on giving. You have a great time in the brewpub, then walk out with hundreds of dollars of beer for home and friends.
Everyone should go at least once.