New Beer Weekend #284

Well, started off with this one from Pizza Port and, well...It was ok.

Sunset Stroll
16 oz can.
Pretty enough for style. Straw to gold in hue. Fluffy white head leaps 2 fingers high, slowly settles to a thin film, decent retention, layered lacing.
Smell is kind of all over the place. Hints of orange, pine resin, peach, pineapple, grass, and berry.
Flavo, like the nose, is a real tour of flavors: orange lifesavers, lemongrass, pineapple, peach, berry, a hint of weed... It goes on and on. But it doesn't quite come together.
Mouthfeel is fine for style. Finishes a bit bitter.
3.58/5 rDev -10.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

 

Hello again!
My last post was a couple hours after I had consumed it and this one was after the 2 mile walk with my dog.
We had the local “kids” over today for Christmas and table games. None of which I did well at.
After they had all left, I pulled out this one-

Not the nightcap I was expecting, but I had to try it. (I had never seen a barrel aged stout at Aldi’s before!)
The pour is stout black with a short light brown head that left no visible lacing.
The taste is chocolate and coffee, heavy on the coffee, with a hint of barrel. Lots of warm bread and leather round things up, no hops detected.
The feel is thinner than I believe a barrel aged stout should be, but that’s a quibble, not a knock.
OA, for the price point, this is really good. Not sure I’d try it side by side with most BBA stouts, but it would hold its own against a number of them.
That will do it for me tonight,
Cheers!

 

Who brewed it for Aldi?

 

State of Brewing in Wisconsin. Apparently they brew a number of different beers for Aldi’s.

 

Bourbon County chocolate praline
...a deep solid black motor oil black
...light carbonation with an above average body with a slick,thick oily feel which all added up to an excellent feel.
...aroma is whiskey, boozy, Bourbon soaked cherries, malt, milk chocolate, wood and mocha
...taste has some sweetness, alchohol burn,malt and chocolate. Boozy cherry,milk chocolate and nuts.
... I can complain about the price point but it is definitely worth a try

 

Yet to find any good Aldi beers here, we're a simple/primitive lot down here ( for reals )

 

Rye Bell Witch
12.5% stout aged in rye barrels by Miskatonic Brewing.



500ml bottle pour yielded a jet black body with a wee mocha colored ring of bubbles at glass edge. Good lacing.

Aroma and taste are mountains of chocolate and rye. Despite the ABV there is no burn and just a touch of heat. The rye and chocolate make a super delicious mix without being overly sweet. Just strong, vibrant flavors on top of the rich malt base.

Mouthfeel is luxurious and carbonation is but a waft.

An amazing stout for rye stout fans. Sad to hear the brewery closes soon. Cheers to @GrumpyGas for this tasty stout. In my top 5 beers of the year.

 

I got a gift certificate to the Tap & Bottle for xmas.

My haul was:

• Pixel DDH - Phase 3
• Lambo Door - Grimm
• Mind Gardens - Radiant
• Foliage - Enegren
• Twilight to Starlight - Hop Butcher
• Mai Tai - Alvarado Street
• Island Time - Burgeon
• Nudge It - Slow Body
• Demas - Pueblo Vida
• Microdosing - Blackstack
• Diamond Dust - Pure Project
• Sauvin - Hop Butcher

 

Good day BAs! Today's New Breakfast Beer:



Oktoberfest from Toppling Goliath Brewing. Six-pack of 12 fl oz cans from Franklin Beer, Franklin, PA. Stored on room temperature shelf at distributor. Purchased 26/12/25. $ 12.25 (including tax) ($ 0.170/fl oz). Reviewed 28/12/25, review 3664. Note that I use DD/MM/YY protocol.
Stamped on can bottom “PKG 07/11/25”. Stored at home at 40 degrees F. Served at 44.2 degrees F in a hand washed and dried Jester King snifter. The final temperature is 51.6 degrees F.
Appearance – 4
First pour – Deep Gold (SRM 6), slight haze (unfiltered)
Body – Pale Amber (SRM 9), clear. Under direct light, same. When rear-lite, same.
Head – Average (Maximum 2.0 cm, aggressive center pour) White, high density with average retention, ending with a 0.4 – 0.6 cm crown and a complete cap.
Lacing – Fair. A couple of cavernous mesas of tiny bubbles remain above the crown.
Aroma – 3.75 – Malt, weak hops, no alcohol (5.2 % ABV according to the label).
Flavor – 3.5 – Initially slightly sweet with weak caramel and subdued hops. No dimethylsulfide or diacetyl. No gastric warming. Ends slightly bitter.
Palate – 4 – Medium: Watery: Soft but lively carbonation.
Style: Sort of follows the BA style description.
Final impression and summation: 3.75 Uncredited label art. Seems a bit light on both malt and hops – more of a Festbier than a Märzen to my senses.
Rating 3.69, rDev -3.9%

 

Good morning BA’s. My new beer this morning is “cocoa vanilla Deth“ by Revolution:



Canned 9/16/25. Poured at 56.3°. A 2025 vanilla Deth plus Mexican cocoa nibs added.

Black with Ruby edges; fizzy, light tan, head that quickly fades; no Retention, ring nor lace; medium light legs with tiny spots of lace on swirl. Vanilla, bourbon, chocolate nose; boozy, exhale. Vanilla, oak, chocolate; bourbon on backend; very little sweetness; Baker’s chocolate finish. Medium body; silky, smooth feel; light carbonation; burn on tip of tongue; full mouth warmth; some barrel dryness. Overall, a chocolate forward version of 2025 vanilla Deth; still plenty of vanilla with oaky vanilla notes, but more dark chocolate present; great combination of flavors with bourbon holding down the backend; the best of both worlds!

4.25/ 4.5/ 4.75/ 4.75/ 4.75
Score: 4.66 rDev +6.6%

As I recall, I thought the offering on Tavour was expensive, so I only bought 1; pity, this beer is world class, imo. Cheers and Happy Holidays everyone!

 

Well this one was a true joy the old sniffer.
Stacks of Coconut

Well, this one pours beautifully. Deep brown, almost black, with a gorgeous chocolate colored fluff.
Aroma pumps out maple syrup notes with undercurrents of coconut and an inviting cocoa and coffee roast combination.
Flavor follows the nose. Sweet delivery of maple and cocoa dominate. This is where the flavor falls in the shadow of the nose. While she is still tasty, the coffee roast and coconut get outgunned here and completely retreat and completely retreat.
Mouthfeel is a tad thin once the lush foam settles.
3.86/5 rDev -9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

 

Death of the Sun
14.2% stout by Drake's Brewing



Poured from bottle, the body slowly poured out, jet black and silent. No visible carbonation though a welcome and faint tingle upon drinking.

Aroma is sweet bourbon with light vanilla.

Taste follows nose as the bourbon is the star. However quickly the flavor of the amburana wood appears and works wonderfully with the bourbon adding sweet vanilla and a bit of spice. The rye is tasted but it does not become aggressive: just enough to warm and impart flavor Lurking beneath is a heavy malt bill. The combination is ridiculously easy drinking. The ABV is well masked by the deep flavors.

Mouthfeel is heavy and luxurious. Faint carbonation as noted above.

A delicious sipper. Thanks to @basaywhat for the beer.

 

Express Way by Trillium


4.18/5 rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Beer advocate review #2600

Brewers notes : This IPA features New Zealand-grown Peacharine hops from Freestyle Hops. As Peacharine's name suggest, Express Way present a nose of juicy stone fruit with undertones of citrus and a balanced bitterness. Boston commutes can be brutal, except for those lucky enough to trade gridlock for the ferry, gliding across Boston Harbor on a traffic-free journey. That’s the true “Express Way.”

We channeled that same effortless vibe into Express Way IPA, crafted with New Zealand-grown Peacharine hops from our friends at Freestyle. Drawing inspiration from our trusted Street Series IPA formula of grist and dry-hopping, we’ve created a beer with bold, impactful characteristics.

Bursting with vibrant aromas of ripe peach and nectarine, it’s layered with zesty citrus notes that mirror on the palate. Smooth, balanced, and easy-drinking, with near-zero bitterness, it’s perfect for unwinding after the daily grind. Boston commutes can be brutal, except for those lucky enough to trade gridlock for the ferry, gliding across Boston Harbor on a traffic-free journey. That’s the true “Express Way.”

We channeled that same effortless vibe into Express Way IPA, crafted with New Zealand-grown Peacharine hops from our friends at Freestyle. Drawing inspiration from our trusted Street Series IPA formula of grist and dry-hopping, we’ve created a beer with bold, impactful characteristics.

Bursting with vibrant aromas of ripe peach and nectarine, it’s layered with zesty citrus notes that mirror on the palate. Smooth, balanced, and easy-drinking, with near-zero bitterness, it’s perfect for unwinding after the daily grind.

Chilled pint can poured into a glass hazy orange juice , pencil thin white foam layer

Aroma is citrus, orange, pine

Taste is orange citrus, pine, peach

Smooth with a hop kiss

Good beer

 

Gulden Draak Brewmaster's Edition from Brouwerij Van Steenberge N.V.

Poured a 330ml bottle into a chalice. A small head that soon diminished to a ring. Minimal patchy lacing.

Molasses and caramel in the nose. Some phenols. The taste follows the nose with some dried fruit, coffee, leather, cocoa and tobacco. Lots going on in the taste. The finish is sweet and alcoholic.

Medium body and carbonation. Overall an excellent boozy Belgian Dark Strong. Well worth a try.

4.06/5 rDev 0%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

 

Blackstack Routine Stout, 6.5% ABV. Pours thick and black, with a 3+ finger brown head that left wispy lacing. Aroma is roast malt. Flavor is roast malt and chocolate malt, slightly sweet, faintly bitter. Excellent mouthfeel, overall excellent. Nice non-BA stout with no add-junks.

4.09/5 rDev +3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

 

Started my new beers today with one of this years BCBS variants:

Bourbon County Brand Double Barrel Stout (2025) | Goose Island Beer Co. | BeerAdvocate



I liked it a lot, it's a little boozy so it could use some aging but I think it's drinking good now. Should have at least one more new beer later today, cheers!

 

Well I can no longer accuse myself of having a Treehouse bias. This beer was not for me. I did not specifically choose it, it came in a mixed IPA case that included many great beers.
This is Hazelius, an 8.2% version of Haze! (which I like) with fruit puree added. I have never been one for fruit additives and this just furthers my opinion.

3.35/5 rDev -20.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
Purchased cold at the brewery and kept cold until served. Poured to a Nonic from a 16oz can dated 10.31.25.
The body is very hazy and deep gold gold color (SRM 8 or 9). The large-bubble white head is well about ⅜”/10mm. Spider-web lacing is aggressive.
The aroma is of melon flavored candy.
The taste is much more candy-like and there is an off-flavor of bubble gum. There is a hop-bite finish. Some alcohol warming is noted on pauses between sips. For such a sweet beer, my mouth is also very dry if I pause drinking for more than 30 seconds.
The mouthfeel is quite thick and coating. The carbonation seems strong, but with that thick mouthfeel it could use even more. Probably not, but it gives the impression that a 16oz can would contain 2500 calories or more.
I did not like this beer. The body and lacing are fine and the aroma was inviting, but there is a strong artificial-like taste component that dominates. Maybe the fruit puree was little over-ripe bordering on spoiled.