New Beer Weekend #79

That's a lot of parentheses. Even some nested ones. But it looks like they're all correctly closed. Result of cursory code review: I think it'll compile.

 

@FBarber @Roguer

Nice article here...

I noticed that the slight cloudiness I saw in Velvet Rush was gone after the beer warmed up, so that waxs a "chill haze". Proteins, phenolic, certain carbohydrates all come into play. In my business (cranberries), phenolic/tannin and carbohydrate interactions are almost always the culprits. Protein involvemen (for us) would mean a massive overdose of enzyme and that never happens <eyes rolling>...

One missing element in the linked article seems to be processing temperature. Temperature certainly could kick start some undesirable reactions that would lead to unexpected or undesired haze down the road in the finished products. Not only how high a temperature, but for how long and when. The when uis interesting as it can be usefully manipulated. I developed one ingredient using processing tricks that was notorious for unpredictable cloudiness and sediment. By moving the heat treat step in front of final filtration, increasing the temp by five degrees, and fixing hold time at 18 seconds the initial reaction was forced and the filters removed the compounds that created the hazy stuff. Short version, you can play around with stuff to get the desired outcome.

Sorry...Sunday morning food engineering geek-out...

 

Well, that could be the reason the brewery or the importer (Amtec, Int'l) chose that wording but the TTB labeling regulations wouldn't have required it. The beer was imported as under the "Class/Type 955 - Porter" and the TTB definition (like every other beer types) does not specify type of yeast:

When the TTB does require a beer to be labeled a "____-type" is usually for a beer style name is derived from a specific place.

Many US brewed Porters over the years were brewed with lager yeast, of course - Yuengling Porter being one of the survivors.

 

First up for me is this can of BA20 Vol. 2: Amburilla from Oskar Blues. This was sent my way by @adrock314 last year as part of a FPL (Fantasy Premier League) BIF. For some of us, our nerdiness is not restricted to only beer.

Anyway, the last Oskar Blues beer I reviewed (Ten Fidy - Jahvanilla), also sent to me by @adrock314, was freaking amazing. Let's see if I enjoy this one as much.

3.28/5 rDev -14.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
by Roy_Hobbs from Connecticut

Poured at 48 degrees into a tulip. Appearance is a dark, dark brown that is fully opaque. Decent amount of medium density dark tan colored head with solid retention. Once fully settled into the glass, the residual cap an lacing make for an attractive beer.

Aroma is reflective of the underlying ingredients (base stout, vanilla, ginger). The combination is interesting, but not overly inviting. I think it's the ginger that's throwing me off a bit. I can't detect any barrel notes on the nose.

Taste is very ginger forward, creating a bit of an imbalance in the overall flavor profile. I think I'm detecting some heat from the bourbon barrels, but some of that is likely attributed to the ginger. The vanilla is there, but muted. Perhaps most importantly, the underlying base stout is essentially overwhelmed by the adjuncts.

Medium bodied with a little too much in the way of warmth. Whether that's from the booze, the barrels or the ginger I can't say (likely all three)

Overall, an interesting beer I'm glad I got to try, but not my favorite. Vanilla and ginger are two ingredients that (to my tastes) require a very deft touch. This may have been what the brewer intended, but it's too ginger forward for my tastes.

----------

Andrew, I agree with you whole heartedly. With this particular beer, I couldn't even taste the base stout to any meaningful degree.

 

Yes. Kate the Great and the New England and Smuttynose legacy is enough for me. Those were great beers that may still be ahead of the times. Finest Kind was stellar and an exemplar of what has followed. Even had the haze and floaties.......

 

Good afternoon NBS/nbw and again thanks @JackHorzempa for hosting this weekend.
Todays offering is from our very good friends at Cambridge Brewing Company.
Benevolence was assembled for thier 30th Anniversary., Described as a Dark Strong Wild ale with raisins. Well all thats in there for sure. The offering is complex, dark fruit, barrel funk, low carbonation, with a well hidden 13% ABV
Cheers
Benevolence

Wild Ale | 13.5% ABV
Cambridge Brewing Company in Cambridge, Massachusetts

4.19/5 rDev -2.8% | Average: 4.31
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
by SABERG from Massachusetts

Poured from the 375 ml bottle, cage and cork. Opened with a slight hiss, poured at fridge temp.
A - Dark mahagony color, intirguing view of the carbonation as it slowly crawls up the glass interior. A thin ring is a constant presence during the experience.
S - Sherry, Banyuls wine aged, some balsamic vinegar. Bourbon barrel elements, with vanilla are a nice addition.
T - Well, theres all from the aromatics with more dark fruit, raisin, fig, dark cherry skins. A thread of barrel funk in the best way.
M - A sweet start is quickly balanced with beautiful acidity, That fortified wine feeling, with an alcohol exhale acts as the drying agent. Surprisingly delicate in body, avoids being on the syrup side. Texture is outstanding.
O - A truly delightful sipper, Flanders, meets lambic, meets Port. My only regret is not having more in he basement.
I bet this will be in the appertif realm in a year or so.

 

So, I bought a new beer yesterday, and it's something I never thought I would do. I bought a N/A beer to try based on what people were saying in the N/A beer tasting thread. I found one N/A beer I think I will try to have on hand thanks to that tasting, will this Sam Adams offering be another?

If you followed that thread, you know a lot of people mentioned a non-specific "non-alcoholic flavor" that quite a few tried to put a finger on, including me. In my mind, it comes as a significant detriment to low alcohol beers claiming to be IPAs - the flavor with the uncontested bitterness just doesn't work for me.

So of course, I decided to risk further punishment with Just the Haze, an IPA. What is wrong with me?


In my defense, a couple people in the N/A thread said this didn't have much to any of "that flavor," so I had to find out. In pouring the beer, I thought I noted it hitting my nose, but it wasn't too strong. Just the Haze had a nice heavy haze without being murky, and a nice frothy head. There was a little more citrus than tropical in the nose, and definitely the cardboard leaning vegetal note of a N/A beer.

*gulp* -- not of beer, but of fear...

First sip on a still very cold beer brought light citrus and some melon, with a prickly combination of chill and carbonation. Cringingly I awaited "the note" I knew would consume me, and...

It just slunk on by. As the beer warmed, I took note that it seemed there was a floor of damp cardboard throughout the second half of the taste, but it was thankfully subtle. The beer isn't too bitter, and I think that helps. There's an earthy to slightly minty note in back where other IPAs bring hops that seem to multiply the N/A effect.

The opening fruitiness is nothing like you get in a nicely made regular hazy IPA, but it is vaguely reminiscent of it, at least. The beer puffs itself up a little bit to not seem too light and watery, but it isn't going to coat your mouth and fill your palate.

So, overall, this is an acceptable N/A beer to me. It is fairly simplistic, but at least has some character, unlike the O'Doul's I tried last weekend (which lacked just about everything, good and bad). Like Athletic's All Out, I could see putting this in the fridge for a dry or near-dry week.

 

Cone & Bine from Wolf's Ridge


Solid wet hopped IPA that features a prominent hoppiness without much bitterness making this beer a super easy drinker. Poured from a pint can, this beer is at 7.6% ABV and features citra, simcoe and cascade hops.

Beer pours a slightly murky orange-yellow. Nose was a nice citrus that carried throughout the tasting. Head was good and nice lacing. Taste follows nose and one gets a nice hit of hoppy goodness. The backend smoothly drops off. No significant bitter bite.

Overall this one was a pleasant beer. In fairness, my can was likely over two months old. Next year I’ll seek it out to catch it in its prime.

 

Dang. I haven't seen Banyuls referred to since maybe an old Wine Spectator or somewhere in Ernest Hemingway's work. I had a bottle around for years and finally really loved it. Liquid and velvety anise oriented rich black not too sweet unctious greatness. Lip smackingly memorable.

 

Poured into a 13 oz Teku glass canned on 12/09/21. Pours a very attractive orange yellow with a finger plus sticky white head, that leaves gobs of thick lace with excellent retention. 4.5

Aroma papaya, tangerine, white grapes, blueberry, apricot, and grapefruit rind. 4.5

Taste follows papaya, tangerine, white grapes, blueberry, apricot, and a little grapefruit bitterness. 4.5

Mouthfeel is above average, maybe a little sticky, soft gentle carbonation, and at 8% ABV really easy going down, but loaded with flavor. 4.5

Overall my first beer from Blaze Brewing Company and really impressed. Will be looking for more from them. 4.5 Cheers all.

 

Pyrography from Jackie O’s



A wonderful beer for barrel aged stout fans who like rye. A sipper as it’s a powerful beer at 14.6% ABV, but this stout significantly obscures the ABV.

12.7 ounce bottle. This gem pours dark as motor oil. Mouthfeel is decadent without being cloying. Almost buttery. Little head and virtually no lacing. Carbonation is mild at best.

The nose is rye and chocolate malts partnered with the bourbon barrel. I’d buy an air freshener made to mimic this beer. The taste follow the nose and the rye takes a half-step back as the barrel moves up. Decadent. 19 months in bourbon casks worked their magic. I’ll be seeking this out again.

 

At Twin Elephant Brewing drinking Old Raritan an 11.4 ABV Imperial Milk Porter with a addd flavors. I’m not big on added flavors but this brew was praised by @MacMalt BA whose opinion I respect. The 1st 3 added flavors common coffee, vanilla and cinnamon. The forth added flavor is from a habanero pumpkin pepper developed at Rutgers University. The beer pours black with a dark brown head. The aroma is about what you would expect chocolate malt. The taste starts with malt, coffee, vanilla and the cinnamon. At the back of the mouth the the pepper takes over with a intense but pleasant burn. The mouthfeel is full the finish is a lasting burn. Overall a pleasant change of pace but not an everyday drinker.

 

Einstock Toasted Porter



Solid Baltic porter from our friends in Iceland. 6% ABV makes it an approachable choice for those seeking a porter fix.

Poured from a 12 ounce can, the body was a pleasant dark brown. Minor head with insignificant lacing.

Toasted malts are up front in aroma and taste as expected. Notes of chocolate make this porter a pleasant drink. Mouthfeel was intentionally made on the light side due to their use of lager yeast and left me wishing that had been boosted. Hard to argue with their intentions, but my personal preference is for a bit more heft in my porters like in GLBC Edmund Fitzgerald or Founders Porter.

Overall a good beer that I’d love to try on tap.

 

@sulldaddy hooked me up with some good beers this last summer. I'm finally getting around to this last one, which I've been eyeing up for some time. This is Saison Delivery from free will brewing co. It's a Foudre-aged dark saison ale with grains of paradise and apples added.


Pours an interesting root beer brown. Once in the glass it maintains a general root beer vibe, with some red hues around the edges. Some fizzy short-lived head. Aroma is wild and sweet, which makes for a funky mix. I can definitely pick up some of the underlying saison, but the richness that goes with it is very different.

Taste is really interesting. The early notes have a distinct farmhouse / saison feel, which evolves significantly over its very long finish. Individual notes of oak, grain & apple become apparent, but almost at a different time with each sip. I'm not getting the sweetness I got on the nose, but there is a mild candy taste.

This is a very unique and interesting beer.