New Beer Weekend #297

So, end of the night, we had a little left of the two Fox Farm beers I tried anew and posted about in this thread. And I combined them, because why wouldn't I, given I am me.

And, like most combinations... it was a less than the sum of the parts situation. Somehow the enjoyable bitterness I found in each washed out. I can't imagine oxidation in mostly unfilled howlers created such flatness, but it is possible.

Oh, well. It was four to five ounce of each, and isn't undrinkable. So previous results held. But blending isn't a science but an art... or a continuous experiment that doesn't have a final result.

 

4.38/5 rDev +5.8%

look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Poured from a 16 ounce can dated 2-5-26 into a tulip glass at 47.5 degrees F.

Appearance- Straw, very hazy, white creamy head, above average head retention and lacing.

Aroma- Clementine, pineapple, passionfruit, lemon, between medium and high strength of scent.

Flavor- Clementine, grapefruit, pineapple, pine, lemon, high strength of flavor.

Mouthfeel- Between medium and full body, average carbonation, moderately bitter, mildly prickly, moderately creamy, mildly dry finish.

Overall- Straw and very hazy with above average head retention and lacing. The bouquet was a citrusy mix of clementine, pineapple, passionfruit and lemon at a medium-high strength. The flavor followed the nose with a higher intensity and some added notes of grapefruit and pine without the passionfruit. The mouthfeel consisted of a medium-full body, moderate bitterness and creaminess with a mild prickliness on the inside of the mouth. Overall, this was a citrusy/tropical NEIPA that was above average in every category and a pleasure to drink.

 

I have been lucky to a few of their fresh IPAs, usually great

 

This brew was gifted to me and it's pretty good and mellow.
Venn Choconut Peanut Butter Cup Stout 6.5%

4.12/5 rDev -5.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
16 oz can canned 12/31/25 into a nonic pint glass.
L: Pours black with a 1/4" beige head that recedes quickly to skin & edge foam, light carbo, no lacing.
S: Peanuts, chocolate, that's it.
T: Lightly sweet malts, salted peanuts, dark milk chocolate, very light char, low bitterness, peanut aftertaste then it's all gone.
F: Gently brisk, wet, smooth medium-light bodied mouthfeel with a medium-fast lightly dry finish.
O: Very easy drinking. Quaffable. No extreme dynamics, not big or heavy. In fact it is quite light bodied for a Stout. The taste is a mirror reflection of its name. 60/40 peanuts to choco. It is simple, precise and is excellent.

 

I know Paulaner is probly El Numero Uno Festbier, at least from a numbers perspective, but this doll is lovely as well and has a beautiful flavor.
Andechs Festbier 5.9%

4.27/5 rDev +9.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
500 ml bottle L1545 into a dimple mug.
L: Pours 95% clear radiant light lemon yellow with a 1/2" domed soft white creamy head that slowly recedes to froth, steady lush carbo, excellent carbo retention, scattered medium-light loose lacing.
S: Honey, grains, gently earthy, pastry dough.
T: Light honey, gentle sweet grains/malts, a suggestion of bright orchard fruits like apple, pear, a light mineral taste, very light bitterness in the finish & aftertaste, distant yeast.
F: Slightly crisp with distant grit, medium bodied mouthfeel with a medium length fairly dry finish.
O: An easy drinking beer overall. Its pleasantly gentle combo of tastes blend perfectly and finish a little bit dry and fruity. It is outstanding.

 

Never a beer below B+ from that brewery

 

I'd 2nd that motion. Even with a few months on this one it has delicate tastes and superb feel. I'll be looking for freshies of it come this fall.

 

Good day BA! Off to a sunny start this Saturday - if the weather holds, I'll probably burn more of my neighbor's red oak leaves as I try to find my yard.
Today's New Breakfast Beer:



Dragon's Milk x Dungeons & Dragons: D20 Brew (Silver Dragon Edition) from New Holland Brewing. 22 fl oz bottle, purchased 20/03/26 from Franklin Beer, Franklin, PA. $ 52.00 (Including tax)/$ 2.36/fl oz). Stored at 40 degrees F at home. Reviewed 28/03/26, review 3715. Note that I use DD/MM/YY protocol.
Stamped on shoulder “202509251539.” Served at 54.1 degrees F in a hand washed and dried Jester King snifter. The final temperature is 57.0 degrees F.
Appearance – 4.25
First pour – Deep Amber (SRM 15), clear.
Body – Ruby Brown (SRM 24), opaque. Under direct light, same. When rear-lit, ruby.
Head – Average (Maximum 1.5 cm, aggressive center pour) Sandy Tan, medium density and fizzy, short retention, rapidly dropping to a 0.2 – 0.3 cm bubble ring and a thin partial cap.
Lacing – None – not really expected at the ABV.
Aroma – 4.25 – Bourbon, chocolate, weak vanilla. No hops, no alcohol.
Flavor – 4.5 – Begins with bourbon, chocolate, and much less vanilla than the nose suggests. Slight roasted malt bitterness. No hops, no alcohol (20% as stamped on the label). No dimethylsulfide, no diacetyl. As we approach the final review temperature, some slightly bitter woodiness appears (tannin?). Distinct initial gastric burning which does mellow.
Palate – 4 – Medium to full: Slightly creamy: Soft but lively carbonation.
Style: Fits the BA description, other than the ABV.
Final impression and summation: 4.25 Uncredited label art. The 20% ABV is well hidden – you can tell the ABV is high, but I’d never guess 20% - more like 12%. Fortunately, I’m functionally literate and will save the rest of the bottle for later. Overall, good flavor and aroma – maybe the price point is worth it for D&D fetishists but it’s a bit steep for the average drinker.
Rating 4.33, rDev +4.6%

 

3 Sheeps Brewing Cuvee Blend. 2026. 46% imperial stout aged in Heaven Hill bourbon barrels for 15 months. 31% Russian imperial stout aged in Heaven Hill bourbon barrels for 14 months. 23% English-style barleywine aged in Heaven Hill bourbon barrels for 24 months. This is a creation that is meant to be featured in this thread. The look is black with a ring of brown foam. The smell is what stands out. Brown sugar, milk chocolate, spices, graham cracker, marshmallow, vanilla, and maple syrup scents lead the the way towards destiny. These scents are common in bourbon barrel-aged beers, but not with this intensity. The taste is extremely complex. Flavors explode from every direction. Fudge, maple syrup, coffee, vanilla, burnt toast, graham cracker, marshmallow, bacon, leather, and mushroom flavors combine to create a enjoyable experience. The mouthfeel is oily, thick, silky, smooth, and full, with light-medium carbonation. Overall this is an exciting beer to experience, but I have enjoyed previous editions more than this one. Last year's was probably my favorite. I still recommend this beer very highly. It provides a unique experience.

 

Cannot read the date, but it tastes vintage.

Last night's kill shot. I got after it. Cheers!

 

Any thoughts on this beer?? We like to nerd out in here.

 

Is a cuvée the ultimate ‘side-by-side’ tasting!?!

Cheers!

 

Maybe, but it is much harder to tell which of the beers I like better using that technique.

 

Trillium - Habitat: 2025 Blend


Pours foggy hazy amber orange with a lasting dense creamy frothy white foam head. Smells super complex like wild barnyard funk, dusty horseblanket, bales of hay, straw, old woody oak barrel, subtle hint of smoky char, slightly acetic white wine notes, tart lemony orange citrus, mild grapefruit, apricot, bready grainy crackery wheat malt, peppercorns, baking spice, with herbal earthy grassy floral aged hops.

Tastes fairly dry, tart and complex with notes of old woody oak barrel, subtle hints of smoky char, bales of hay, straw, dusty horseblanket, wild barnyard funk, slightly acetic white wine, lemony orange citrus, grapefruit, apricot, bready grainy crackery wheat malts, peppercorn, baking spice, and herbal earthy grassy floral aged hops. Feels fuller medium bodied, creamy slick with smooth moderate high carbonation, finishing dry and crisp.

Overall another really great spontaneously fermented wild ale from Trillium that toes the line of a true Belgian gueuze lambic blend grounded with roots here in New England. Cheers everybody!

 

Stopped up at the store and they had 3 new IPAs from Equilibrium I've never tried

 

I often end my side-by-sides with a cuvée money shot.