New Beer Weekend #299

Cheers to Ian for getting us started.

Kyoto White Yuzu (Wit Beer), 5.0% ABV; 3.7 overall

Pour a chill-hazed gold with a thumb of pearl colored head. Drops bright, above average head retention & lacing, a few little floaties, Yuzu debris?

S: Grainy, grassy, pears, faint yeasty/peppery notes

T: Follows the nose, some dryness & citrus notes up front. More pear, a little rubber band & delicate citrus & white grape notes as this beer warms up, a touch of woody hops as well. Finishes a little dry with some woody bitterness, faint rubber bands & ever so faint citrus

MF: Light/medium body, fairly delicate carbonation

This is a solid offering, wish there was more Yuzu & more Wit flavors & nose. Drinks fairly easy

 

Yum. Looking forward to trying this up on VT next week

 

An awesome beer sent to me from @timmy2b via the Superbowl Squares 2026 BIF.

Mortalis Hydra Spill Smoothie Sour w/Passionfruit, Mango, Marshmallows, & Ice Cream ( ??? ), 7.0% ABV; 4.62 overall

 

Nice start Ian. I like the link to the "how to review" info. Great resource for all who lurk but are tempted to join in our repartee.

 

Your pic makes the one I took last weekend of this beer look like crap

 

Happy Friday All,

Starting off with a gem from California's Central Coast.

Light Shining Brightly by There Does Not Exist
Beautiful pour. Golden nectar topped by a fluffy white head. Solid retention with scattered lacing.
Nose starts off with an initial pop of dank pine resin with a cap of onions.
Flavor starts off dryly bitter with the pine notes, a hint of green grass and (maybe) a smidgeon of bud followed by hints of onion, then some zesty grapefruit zest takes this in a refreshing direction. But all in all, still a bitter range overall.
Mouthfeel is active, medium heft, and again...finishes bitter and dry.
3.83/5 rDev -6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

 

Glow Ride Double IPA from Fixed Gear Brewing Co

From a 473ml can packaged on Feb 10 2026. Poured into a pint glass. A scant one finger fine white head on a cloudy dirty dark amber. The head soon diminished to a thin layer that stuck around. Sheets of fine lacing.

Fruity citrus smells. The taste follows the nose. A solid malt backbone. The ABV is very apparent. A slight citrus pith bitterness to finish.

A very smooth medium body and carbonation. Overall a solid Imperial IPA. True to the style and well worth a try.

4.02/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

 

Great Divide Hazelnut Latte Yeti Imp Stout, 9.5% ABV; 3.83 overall

Pours an effervescent cola/chestnut color with 2 fingers of mocha colored head. Stays effervescent throughout, above average head retention & very nice lacing

S: Hazelnut, peanuts, nose seems a little artificial, coffee isn't on the nose, a little vanilla

T: Follows the nose some creamy caramel notes & coffee up front. Vanilla, caramel, hazelnuts & peanuts, coffee & a little chocolate once warmer. Finishes with sweet nutty coffee, a bit of dryness, vanilla & cocoa

MF: Medium body, assertive carbonation, smooths out once warmer. Body thins a bit, skews a bit sweet for me

Not bad, but not great, the hazelnut seems forced/fake. The runt of the litter, so far. When you are starting with this great of a base beer, they key is not to walk all over quality

 

Time for a beer this rainy, dreary Spring morning.

Pryes Bock - Pryes Brewing - Minneapolis, MN - Maibock - 6.3%

I am really enjoying this beer this morning. I have been sitting on it for a couple of weeks now, and it is just hitting right in the zone for me.

Review:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/36629/796757/

4.04/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
From a 16oz can. Canned on 03/27/2026

This beer is nice and clear looking. The color is a dark golden hue. There's a nice steady stream of carbonation bubbles rising in the glass. The head is very fluffy looking, white in color, and 2 finger in size. The head retention is great and there's some nice looking lacing on the glass.
The nose is as I would expect from this style - malty. I get a huge cereal grain note hitting my nose. There's notes of sweetness in the aroma.
The beer's flavor is a wave of malts. I get the cereal grain flavor right away. This flavor then turns to a nice buttery biscuit flavor topped with a touch of honey for sweetness. The finish balances it all out with a nice balance of bitterness from the hops used.
The grain used in this beer does coat my throat for a bit. Slightly sticky feeling. The feeling from the bitterness of the hops does linger in my throat for a decent amount of time. There's a crisp feeling to this beer and it feels clean.
This is a damn tasty beer and a good way to usher in Spring.

Why, yes there will be more new beers today. Cheers all.

 

Next up on the new beer parade, and it came into work yesterday.

Nordland - Hammerheart Brewing - Ely, MN - Smoked Beer - 6%

Every time they deliver I know I am going to have to torture myself with delicious smoked beers. This is pure torture, yet, I'll come back for more.

Review:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/31326/705660/
4.46/5 rDev +5.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
From a 16oz can. No date on the can.

This beer is murky looking and has a dirty golden color to it. The head is 2 finger in size and just slightly off white colored. The frothy, fluffy head has great head retention and super sticky looking lacing on the glass.
Oh, the smoke is so delightful. It is a nice campfire smell, it also has a slight scotch smell to it. There's notes of an earthy spruce that come through the smoke, and add to the smoke aroma.
The smoke kisses mt taste buds right away, and has a slight sweetness to it. This is a light smoke flavor, but it mellows out fast and then it goes full on spruce. This spruce is added on to with a 2nd wave of nice smoked flavor. The finish is a nice bitterness that just lingers in my throat.
This beer does cling in my throat. The clingy feeling comes from the smoke, spruce and bitterness. Sticky feeling. Full bodied.
Wow! I just can't get enough of Hammerheart, and this beer is a good example of why I can't. Delicious.

Why, yes, I do have more new beers to review, and I will do another in a bit. Cheers!

 

Athletic lite lime and salt
....very,very pale slightly clear gold appearance
...maybe a hair above average carbonation with a slightly thin body but not the usual watery like feel most of these types of beer can have
...aroma starts out with a big hit of lime juice qnd zest followed by malt ,grain and some toasted grain. Technically it doesn't have an aroma but to me the salt shows up
...taste is almost identical to the aroma with some very mild sweetness which quickly gets canceled out by the salt which dominates and lingers
...overall its pretty good which is usually the norm from this brewery

 

Raised Grain 8ight Anniversary Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout (2023)


Appearance: Black, big brown head.

Smell: Rich chocolate followed by bourbon barrel wood/vanilla notes.

Taste: Starts with a big chocolate hit, then moves straight into the booze. Let it warm up for a while. Booze blends in a little more after warming up. Still lots of chocolate and now some molasses. Quite thick, lasting chocolate and boozy finish.

Overall: A big and boozy imperial stout from a few years back. Still pretty hot after a few years. Definitely a sipper! Thanks to @cheeseheadinMinneapolis for this one.

 

This was/is a big beer. Very heavy mouthfeel, concentrated chocolate everywhere, and has some twang and a wee bit of sharpness inside of the oceanic level of sea salt, old leather and dark over ripe fruits. 2+ hrs to sip through and enjoy.
Canned 1/16/26 Explorium IX Anniversary BA Imp Stout 12%

 

Thanks for the open @superspak , and glad to see you feeling better and able to join us @Victory_Sabre1973 . @jonphisher asked one of the two questions I had (how do you keep track of trades/sources).

My second is do you (and everyone else here) ever abort a review, or make note, if you think excess time (cellar beer styles over a year old, drink fresh styles over 3-6 months old) has impacted the beer beyond what the brewer intended? I did for a few, and generally noted for acceptable beers when it was dated any perceived or guessed at changes over time. I cleared all my older new to me beers a year or two ago, but still have about 150 left to clear before getting to or near zero and beginning to buy fresh beer again.

Will hit Revolution Brewing shortly for a new to me beer to enjoy and present here.

 

Yes, he did, and I still think he must have some crazy memory because I've only exchange beers with you all for a while now and there's no way I'd remember all of them, maybe who sent certain ones but I'm sure I'd forget who was attached to several.

I'm not Ian but your last question sort of came up before I chose to review Sierra Pils last week. It was pushing 5 months so I know it wasn't in its prime but two things made me review it anyway...one, there was nothing glaringly off with it but also this is "new" to distribution so it is the product that, in the end, Sierra had a part of getting here. If they want to send old beer, I will review it as such. After the fact it seem my notes had similarities with other reviews so it must be a beer that holds up well.

 

I think this is my final new beer of the day.

State of Mind - Take 16 Brewing - Luverne, MN - Wild Ale - 7%

I have the 2023 release of it that I picked up when I drove there last fall.

This beer is hitting everything right with the style. Wild, funky, tart, nice barrel notes. I am going to enjoy this for a while.

Review:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/37664/685657/
4.49/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Purchased at the brewery in a 750ml bottle. 2023 release.

There was a slight hiss and a bit of smoke upon opening. This beer is pretty dark looking in my glass. It is a nice amber color when I hold it to the light. The beer looks clear when I hold it to the light. There's just a 1 finger tan head to the beer, and I was pouring it slightly aggressively. The head has decent retention, but leaves no lacing on the glass.
The funk hits me while pouring. This just smells quite wild. Up close I am just getting a wild funky tart cherry aroma. Funky, earthy, wild smelling.
The tartness hits right away, but, at the same time it is somewhat mild up front. I do get some oak and vanilla notes from the barrels used to age the beer that are a forward flavor profile. Hints of caramel do show up in the mix. There's a huge earthy hit to the flavor. The tartness of the beer does build to a pleasing finish.
Full bodied. Tartness feeling lingers and clings. The beer is easy to drink, but, at the same time, it tells me to slow down. Sticky, clingy, syrupy feeling.
Wow, this is one hell of an impressive beer. I'd gladly buy another bottle of this.

My last new beer of the day, but not my last beer. See you all tomorrow. Cheers!

 

Noble Roots The Goatman's Oath


Appearance: Dark brown, good head.

Smell: Fruity, sweet, bananas?, caramel.

Taste: Balanced start, mild toast and mild fruit flavors. A little more roasted malt along with light toffee. Medium bodied. Finishes with the toffee and roast note.

Overall: An interesting beer, hard to put it in a category. Not sweet, not bitter, not roasty, not earthy. Maybe most reminds me of a brown ale, but not a super flavorful one. Not as strongly flavored as most bocks.

Thanks to @GreenBayBA for this one.

 

Had one beer in mind, a heavy hitter, but they have a firkin on, so starting with this first.

@Todd or Mod Question: Are brewery signs or artwork on a draft board eligible for picture uploads on the beer pages, or is it strictly packaged bottles or cans?

Really nice artwork for my second planned pour: Mineshaft Money Barrel (Vegas! Baby!):



Anyway, I’m jumping the gun. Firkin is back at Revolutions taproom, so they earned a se one sale to me with this unexpected start (didn’t see it on their online or untapped beer list). Had to add it here, so BA ahead of Untappd!

Revolution Brewery Multi-Fawcetted

4.23/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25



Full review linked above. Nice milk chocolate, caramel and toffee throughout. A bit of body with the firkin vs. a nitro pour. Really nice, and you’ll see me here more now that firkins have returned after a long hiatus.

Will return shortly with the aforementioned Money Barrel!

 

Just had that brew on Thursday. I too thought it was mellow on flavor strength as well. Damn good beer.