New Beer Weekend #293

rarely see it to my liking, especially in lower ABV offerings

 

We don't even get Hop Slam anymore, zero chance on this

 

Friday was the anniversary for Arvon Brewing. I didn’t make it to the party but I did make it the next day and bought a few of their birthday beers. One was an effort along with Jeremy Kosmicki, but this isn’t that one.
This is Owl Reaper, a cuvée of sorts of The Owl, a bourbon barrel aged stout and Reaper, a rye whiskey barrel aged stout.
It sounded promising, especially since they didn’t have any Reaper available.

The pour is black, like Sumi ink black and there are no highlights when backlit. The very dark brown carbonation (I can’t call it a head because there wasn’t one) swirls promisingly but ends up dissipating before I finish pouring. Hmmm.
The taste leads with bourbon, charred chocolate comes into play, very dark bread, almost burnt. Coffee is mild. There are some dark fruit but it’s stewed and jam like. Then the bourbon kicks back in and beats up the other flavors.
That said, normally BBA stouts are pretty sweet and this one is still sweet but the rye from the Reaper provides an edge wrapped in molasses.
The feel matches the appearance; this is thicccc.. Beyond viscous, darned near syrupy.
OA, it’s very good, and though it pains me to say it, probably best in less than 500ml servings. It’s intense.
Definitely the last one for me tonight,
Cheers!

 

I thought for sure I was done, then I looked in my fridge and saw this.

Presidente Light - Dominican Republic - Light Lager - 4.2%

I had a scare with it because I was getting a horrible smell when I opened it, but, it must be from people doing Bob Marley stuff 11 floors below at the Reggae party.

Neutral smelling beer up close. Not a lot of flavor. At least I got one more new beer today.

Review
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/912/25694/
3.09/5 rDev +18.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3
From a can. Best by April 22, 2026.

Clear golden pour with a white head. Head retention is decent, but no lacing on the glass.
A bit of a false alarm with this beer. I was getting a huge disgusting skunk, but people were 420ing here. Up close, this beer is neutral smelling.
The flavor is grainy, and a slightly not fresh biscuit flavor.
Light bodied beer. Crisp feeling.
Well, not impressed with it, but another new beer for me here in Jamaica while listening to reggae.

Well back to Red Stripe here. Totally beautiful outside here. Cheers, and now I am done with NBW here.

 

Julia went up for a nap, she's a bit of a lightweight lol. We took home the rest of the apps and got a Meat feast and Cheeseburger pizza to go. (They were in the fridge, so the appearance isn't great). Pickle pizzas need to be more of a thing! Love the thin crust from Brixx before, now known as Crust & Craft in GSO I guess.


Another @Ozzylizard BIF Beer. Rusty Rail Waffle Sauce. Canned 8/20/2022. Clear ruby red/brown color, poor head retention, minimal lacing. Aromas of big maple syrup, brown sugar, pecans, caramel, toffee, toast, light chocolate/herbal/dark fruit, and yeast earthiness. Taste follows with big maple syrup, brown sugar, pecans, caramel, toffee, toast, brown bread, light chocolate/herbal/dark fruit, and yeast earthiness. Light herbal/roasted bitterness on the finish. Medium carbonation and medium-plus body; creamy/bready malts, light sticky hops and chalky roast in the mouthfeel. Mild increasing warmth of 8% after the finish. Very impressive imperial brown, leaning a bit more towards the English style, but not too fruity on yeast. Good malt complexity and not too sweet on flavorings. 3.97/5


Cheers

 

I Dragon Stout available there. Was made there at one time I believe. Says it's still made there

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/221/747/

 

Those pies look pretty nice

 

Yeah, I noticed that too. I kinda burned out on The Bruery but wanna look into that one.

 

Breakside/Ghost town Brewing Collab from @muchloveforhops3

Albatross West Coast IPA, 7.0% ABV; 4.08 overall

Pours a bright & effervescent gold with one finger of eggshell colored head. Some head retention & lacing
S: Some catty notes, a little breadyness/doughyness. Cattyness picks up once warm

T: Plenty piney, some lemon, light cracker notes, a bit of grapefruit, white grapes & dryness up front. A bit of grapefruit, dryness, green melon & pine as this beer warms up. Finishes a little dry, bready with grapefruit & pine, a kiss of green melon

MF: Medium body, dialed back carbonation, nice balance

Easy to drink & spot-on for the style, nose & appearance lag the awesome flavor on display here

 

Another great beer from @MutuelsMark from the Superbowl 2026 Squares BIF. Two world-class beers today from different generous BAs & dumb/random luck!

Treehouse All That Is and All That Will Ever Be Milk Stout with Coffee & Chocolate, 6.5% ABV; 4.69 overall


Cheers to MutuelsMark for this one!

Pours a fairly carbonated chestnut/mahogany with one thumb of tan head. Above average head retention & nice lacing

S: Coffee, some chocolate, some iron notes, a whisper of smokiness once warmed up, but also fades a little

T: Follows the nose, a kiss of caramel & dryness up front. Rich chocolate, a little caramel & less coffee as this beer warms up, skewing more towards mocha. Finishes with some Baker's Chocolate, dryness & plenty of mocha

MF: Medium body, creamy/silky carbonation; perfectly balanced

Great take on the style, very dialed, been a long time since I've one in this ABV range that just hits all the right notes. Superb drinkability. So much to love here

 

One last one. She was ok.
Quantum Kush
16 0z can.
Pretty enough for style. Amber tinged golden liquid capped by a fluffy white head that doesn't stick around too long. Low retention.
Nose and flavor both start off with a mild pop of pineapple before a hint of citrus zest and before an even more nuanced hint of weed.
Mouthfeel is on the lighter side, carbonation is light, and the finish is between smooth and dry bitterness.
3.56/5 rDev +2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5