New Beer Weekend #283

Bet it sounded AMAZING.

 

Another amazing pic.

 

I just learned something...Thanks!

 

Green Flash Brewing Co. - West Coast IPA

7% ABV WCIPA brewed with six different hop varieties. It's really tasty and impressively balanced. Super drinkable and refreshing. Nice orange zest, marmalade, grapefruit pith, and caramel malt flavors. It's been years since I've had anything from Green Flash Brewing Co. Their beers are iconic West Coast styles. I fondly remember their Belgian IPA Le Freak (now retired?!?). Good to see this at my local supermarket, hopefully I can find more Green Flash beers soon!

Cross-posted in WBAYDN #4811

 

My last New Beer of the weekend is an odd one that I picked up yesterday and added to the BA database today.



pFriem Vermouth Barrel Aged Rye Imperial Brown Ale

Look:
Deep reddish-brown with red-amber highlights. A modest disk of creamy tan foam fades gracefully to a heavy collar and thin skin. The beer coats the glass but leaves no lacing.

Smell:
Hmm. Buttery toffee, red wine, grape jelly, hints of citrus peel and bitter herbs.

Taste:
In a word: odd. There's a dry layer that's licorice and wine and rye spice. Underneath that is a sweet layer that's toffee and brown sugar and some sweet grape character. The layers don't mingle much. The nose keeps insisting there are buttery notes, but I can't find them in the flavor (and I'm okay with that). The finish is red wine and chocolate with bitter undertones. Doesn't really seem like a brown ale until it warms. Then it drinks like a strong, malty brown ale that's somewhat vinous and rather pungently herbal.

Feel:
Medium-bodied with a texture that's mostly smooth but turns rather astringent. Finishes with a mildly numbing alcohol warmth.

Overall:
I'm not quite sure what to make of this one. The base beer seems overwhelmed by the barrel. It has a set of sweet and round flavors and a parallel set of herbal and wine-like flavors. The beer is unique and interesting, but I don't think I understand what it's trying to do. Maybe someone more experienced with wine or cocktails would have an easier time with this beer.

 

I agree. Your reference to "scavenger hunt" definitely applies to me. Thanks for writing this one up. I'm going to be on the look out for it.