New Beer Weekend #305

Uprise Retrospect

The body is a bright and clear citrine yellow. The somewhat loose and sudsy head vanishes completely and leaves no lacing. The nose is a pleasant mix of peach and bitter citrus (grapefruit, lime), with a little pine underneath. The flavor leads with red grapefruit and a quick burst of bitterness that settles to a dull roar. There's some underripe nectarine and vague berries in the middle, along with a rising note of pine. Finishes dry with pine, grapefruit soda, bitter orange peel, and an odd but appealing trace of horseradish. Never gets more than semi-sweet, and I'm good with that. Light-bodied with biting carbonation and a finish as decisive as a horn stab from James Brown's backing band.

Overall, Retrospect is a tasty WCIPA with good bitterness, but maybe it could use a little polish. It's like a loud voice with too many elbows. I haven't decided if this is a bug or a feature. Further testing is required.

 

Thanks @Beersnake for the start. As for introducing beers to family members, I've tried to expand my dad's palate, but haven't got him any farther along than wheat beers. He doesn't like dark beers or hoppy beers. So I get a little bummed when I visit and all he has is Mich Ultra.

New Belgium G Force


Appearance: Slightly hazy yellow, huge head.

Smell: White grape, mild lemon/citrus.

Taste: Mildly sweet, then an interesting vanilla note (almost like lactose but without the same mouthfeel) mixed with indistinct citrus and some white grapes. Medium feel, but light for 11%. Finishes with the same vanilla/citrus note.

Overall: I have a strange fascination with these modern-day “40’s” so I like to try new stovepipes when I see them. This is a lot different than I expected, nowhere near the fruit punch bomb of Juice Force and Fruit Force but weirdly interesting.

 

I love these little nuggets in your reviews @vurt.

 

Congrats on the new driver, keep her safe!

 

On any given weekend you know me, I would drive that thing down like a lead weight. This weekend will be different...stay tuned, later today.

 

Sierra Nevada Rye Torpedo IPA
3.98/5 rDev -4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
12 oz cans from a variety pack dated 3/19/26 into a Becher glass.
L: Pours a straw dark amber honey-like color with a 3/4" slightly creamy & pillowy head, steady large carbo bubbles, head recedes to froth, medium soapy full circumference lacing.
S: A hint of pastry dough, a light orchard note, distant caramelization.
T: Caramel malts, rye, a light fruit blend of over ripe grapefruit zest & apricot, a hint of honey, distant plum, a suggestion of brown bread dough. Not much aftertaste and tastes are clean.
F: Gently brisk then soft, medium bodied mouthfeel with a short, fast medium-dry finish.
O: This tasty beer has a "disappearing act" kind of finish. Very easy drinking, simple, and lightly dry. Not much aroma. Its soft water mouthfeel allows this beer to be quaffed. It is a mellow blend and is excellent.

***My overall rating of this beer is on the low end of the current ratings but I do like the beer. It doesn't really wow me but it's easy drinking for sure and if it were sold outside of the variety pack format I'd probably get more.

 

If one of my music projects rehearses on Mondays then I usually have new beers. NBW must wait! No, wait. I must wait! This beer was hauled back from the UK by a band mate, was damn good and is as American tasting as could be in all honesty. (If I were in the UK I would seek out "older" trad styles of beer) NTL, It's great to add a brewery, beer, rating & review to the database. From Chester, near the Welsh border:
Spookton Human Error Hazy IPA 6%

4.03/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
16 oz can split into 2 pint glasses.
L: Pours a heavily hazed light apricot color with a puffy loose and fluffy white head, low steady carbo, head recedes to froth, clingy full circumference lacing.
S: Citrus, caramelization, wheat, gently fruity.
T: Tropical fruits, wheat, a hint of yeast, distant bread dough, gentle sweetness, light citrus pith, a hint of white grape. It has a medium-full flavor.
F: Brisk then smooth medium bodied mouthfeel with a medium-long slightly dry finish.
O: A rather balanced, savory, and easy drinking Hazy. Nothing harsh or clashing and it isn't chalky. very straight-forward tropical and hoppy American style beer from a young UK brewer that is excellent.

 

I do love sharing beers with my two brothers, who both introduced me to craft before I made it here. A do try to share beers with my friends as well, but they are mostly satisfied with Miller Lite. Beer Advocate lets me discuss beer, and at times meet up, to share beers and beer discussions. Would be cool to go back in time and share a few beers, perhaps introduce new styles, to my Father and Grandfather. They mostly stuck with the hard stuff or AALs.

I have three Chicago beers this weekend from two of my favorite breweries in Chicago. Will be bringing down the ABV average with this selection, as @jonphisher is abandoning the Session Beer folks for the Heavy Fuel Crew this weekend.

Spiteful Brewing Spite Light (Canned 2/26/26 @ 8:19:26 AM)

4.4/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5



This selection bursts with flavor, despite the low ABV tag. Spiteful comes packed with flavor, and this one is no exception. Citrus and Simcoe Hops, Brewers Malt, American Ale Yeast. I love that they list all ingredients. This reminds me a lot of the Simcoe brewed Alley Time Pale Ale which I also love. Great taste, less filling, not just a marketing Ad with this selection.

 

A late one from last night. I spent most of the evening getting the house ready for my daughter’s sleep-over tonight. She is having her two best friends over, both of whom moved to new schools this year. She doesn’t see either as often as she would like so is very excited. Later today, my wife is taking them all to puppy yoga. Apparently, it’s a yoga class that ends with the release of 12-15 puppies that interact with the participants in play and cuddles. My daughter cannot contain her excitement!

Last night was a light one (sorry @Beersnake )
Actually, a ‘Super Light’ one!



This is a collaboration beer released as part of the Bellwoods anniversary release a couple weeks back. The collaborators? Brasserie Mellon in Montréal.

Pours a pale straw gold with significant effervescence and a nice bubbly head. As the beer is enjoyed, lovely lacing follows the beer down to the bottom of the glass.

Light aromas. Lightly toasted grain, grass, herb. There is a slight corn note that had me checking the ingredients list, but I’m only seeing barley listed.

Again, a very light taste. Light malty character up front with some gentle grassy and herbal notes. A slight corn quality that has me recalling macro AALs, but this is only a hint.

Very well carbed. Light body. Easy drinking. While I had one after cleaning the bathroom, I’d say beside the grill would be a better setting!

As usual, another enjoyable lager from Bellwoods. I’d gladly have this again, and likely will, as a I bought a couple cans.

None for me this afternoon. I’m driving my son to an escape room birthday party before returning home for the post puppy yoga sleepover. If I can handle the trio of 9 year old girls and their antics tonight, I’ll be back with another, later on, perhaps as a reward for getting through the evening and to watch the Habs continue their quest for Cup 25!!

Cheers all

 

I will get links in on Monday. Off on a Kansas City field trip. Cheers for getting us started

 

Sara's Power Sour from Red Tape Brewery

Poured a 355ml can into a tulip. A one finger fine white head on a hazy pale gold. The head soon disappears.

Tangerine and stone fruit in the nose. Some apple. The head follows the nose. More apple in the middle. A dry, slightly bitter finish.

A light body with good carbonation. Overall an interesting sour ale. Fruity and only moderately sour. Worth a try.

3.9/5 rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

 

Time Beyond Time
11% English barleywine
Jackie O’s



Poured from a twelve ounce can, the body is dark brown. Small head and not much lacing.

Aroma is barrel, first and foremost. Wafts of raisin and caramel follow.

Taste follows nose as the delicious barrel is in front. There's a substantial sweetness tasting like liquified raisin and fig mix with a toffee chaser. The sweetness, barrel and malt conspire to form a heavily sweet, boozy sipper. No bitterness.

Mouthfeel is good, substantial but not much carbonation.

A delightful sipper for English style fans. Those who do not enjoy sweet barleywines should steer far clear of this one.

 

A great little brewery. My son has a friend who lives around the corner from it and I always make a point of stopping in when I take him over to play. The female half of the couple that owns it is from Nunavut and has brought back arctic plants for their saison from time to time.

Cheers!

 

Cool! I haven't tried the Saison yet. My daughter just moved to the Beaches so I expect to be visiting Red Tape and other East End breweries more frequently in the future.

 

Midnight Sun Brewing Artic Devil English-style barleywine ale. 13.4% ABV. I was converted into a craft beer connoisseur with the release of this book that is pictured, in 2013. I have tried most of the beers profiled in this book, but the one that I have yet to experience, that I desire the most, is this beer. @Nugganooch made this dream come true. The look is thick caramel, with light brown foam that quickly disappears. There appears to be minimal carbonation. The smell is incredible. Caramel, dark fruits, green apple, cinnamon, milk chocolate, and coconut create a delightful bouquet. The taste is cinnamon, caramel, milk chocolate, dark fruits, leather, almond, and coconut. The mouthfeel is thick, creamy, silky, and smooth, with light carbonation. This is the best English-style barleywine I have ever experienced. It is everything I thought it would be. Thank you, @Nugganooch! You really do make dreams come true!

 

Great start, Tim!
My brother moved to New Mexico so for most of the year I am sans #1 partner in crime in sharing beer.
As to somebody I'd love to share a beer with, celebrity wise...Michael Jackson (I should not have to clarify with this crowd).
Another is my bruder in Bayern, Sigi. While he is pretty traditional in his tastes (Bayersch), he is always willing to try some of the crazy stuff I bring him when I see him (which sadly is very rare).

Another is my compadre, Douglas. He was my teacher in Guatemala and we truck up a grand friendship. (In fact it was through him that I met Sigi while traveling in Guatemala). Douglas now lived in British Columbia, and we have had many beer adventures together.

 

I'd love to get there and try something from this brewery. That area is the first place my nonidigenous ancestors settled when coming to America in the late 1600's. I just think it'd be cool to drink a beer made with the local waters from where that part of my family history began.

 

Thanks Tim @Beersnake for the engaging introduction to the thread this week!

I only share beer with my wife. In fact she pretty much has a taste of any beer I review, except hoppy stuff she doesn't like. Everyone else is sober because of health conditions and I have inherited a lot of that as of today's health overview.

As for people to share a beer with. Living: Garrett Oliver. RIP: Micheal Jackson(not the singer)

Have a good NBW. No beer for me today. Before my dad stopped by for dinner yesterday, I was already in pain. Couldn't eat dinner from nausea. I went to the hospital at 330AM and got a CT scan and blood work. I have a 8 x 6 x 8 mm stone in my left kidney. Also the blood work and some other stuff in the scan were mildly concerning. Going to have to dial it back a bit on the booze, but good news is i can try 100s of the new NA beers now available for my reviews. Also need more fiber in my diet. I just got a percocet 45 minutes ago and Star Wars episode 1 is on FX so things are feeling better. Now this is podracing! I was in pain level 9-10 since 11pm last night. Wife is going home to get the phone chargers and feed the kitters.


Cheers

 

I shared one of those with @FBarber in the lobby of a Holiday Inn once, though I think ours was a 2013 or something

 

I did not have " @jonphisher drinks a high-ABV beer" on my New Beer Weekend bingo card. Looking forward to seeing where this story goes.