Ymm, Beer!

[devildeac]

Petal-(cultivated by) Brewery Bhavana

In the city limits

Credit-gift from the light my @fuse family; thanks!!
Style-fruited sour ale
Format-12 ounce can
Bottom rim stampage-BEST BY 3-28-25
Stemware-small wine glass
Appearance-one of the prettiest beers I’ve ever poured as you can see
Nose-Sour Patch Kids soda and flowers
Mouthfeel-puckery
Tastes-an unsweetened lemon/lime, raspberry grapefruit vinegar
Adjuncts-hibiscus, rosehips, raspberries and grapefruit
IBU-objection, your honor
ABV-4.2%
Overall impression-delightful pairing with sautéed shrimp, smashed redskin potatoes and and oriental slaw
Ymm, Beer rating-mid cat 3; yea, a 4.2% sour was that good and reminded me of prepandemic Bhavana beers

[devildeac]

Fusion-Funguys Brewing

Still inside the city limits

Credit-trader from @Meld; thanks!! (But why/how I’m receiving Wake County beer in an adjacent county is waaaay beyond me )
Style-fruited sour IPA, aka dessert from a can
Format-pint can
Chronology-why do breweries often stamp “drink fresh” on their containment vessels yet fail to provide a brewed on or best by date anywhere on said container?
Appearance-cherry smoothie; little head
Nose-tart cherry cobbler
Mouthfeel-sweet and sour
Tasters-blenderized cherry cobbler
Adjunct-cherries in some form
IBU-20s?
ABV-5%
Overall impression-delightful and refreshing
Ymm, Beer rating-low/mid cat 3

[devildeac]

Fusion-Funguys Brewing

Close to home

Credit-trader in Durham from a Raleigh brewery ; thanks @Meld !!
Style-fruited sour IPA
Format-pint can
Stemware-large wine glass
Appearance-dark berry smoothie; lavender head
Nose-buckets of berries
Mouthfeel-juicy with a slight pucker
Tastes-berries and more berries and a splash of lemon
Adjuncts-blacks and blues
IBU-20s ??
ABV-5%
Overall impression-more fruity and delicious not beer
Ymm, Beer rating-ho, hum, another low/mid cat 3 smoothie

[devildeac]

Fusion-Funguys Brewing

Credit-another delightful exchange student fro @Meld; thanks!!
Style-fruited sour IPA
Format-pint can o’ goodness
Stemware-large wine glass
Appearance-peachy and not too foamy
Nose-a tropical fruit salad
Mouthfeel-sweet n sour
Tastes-peach jam, tangerine and some underripe guava
Adjuncts-tangerine, peach and pink guava
IBU-20s ?
ABV-5%
Overall impression-not that big a guava fan but that balanced nicely with the sweet peachy and tangeriney tastes
Ymm, Beer rating-low cat 3 cuz I like the berry/cherry flavors slightly better

[devildeac]

Fusion-Funguys Brewing

Credit-another delightful exchange student fro @Meld; thanks!!
Style-fruited sour IPA
Format-pint can o’ goodness
Stemware-large wine glass
Appearance-peachy and not too foamy
Nose-a tropical fruit salad
Mouthfeel-sweet n sour
Tastes-peach jam, tangerine and some underripe guava
Adjuncts-tangerine, peach and pink guava
IBU-20s ?
ABV-5%
Overall impression-not that big a guava fan but that balanced nicely with the sweet peachy and tangeriney tastes
Ymm, Beer rating-low cat 3 cuz I like the berry/cherry flavors slightly better

[devildeac]

King of Clouds-Three Notch’d Brewing

Not sure I could discern much difference between the Queen and the King; maybe the King was a bit more fruity with the Citra and Nectaron hops. IBU at 10 and ABV at 7.5%. High cat 2.

[devildeac]

Higher royalty next:

Emperor of Clouds-Three Notch’d Brewing

Moved into the NEDIPA zip code here with 20 IBU and 9% ABV. The Strata and Citra combo gave some sweeter pineapple notes to the Queen and the King. Same appearance but a juicer nose and palate.

[devildeac]

Cucumber Lemon Gose-Ardent Brewing

Lunch beer.

Full pour of a brilliant, cloudy, yellow concoction with a ton of Meyer lemons and lemon pie filling and a splash of cucumber and pinch of salt. Guessing IBU of 10 with ABV of 4.2%. Surprisingly pleasant pairing with our shared platter of brisket, non-Kraft jalapeño mac n cheese, Texas caviar and a cucumber, tomato and onion salad with the perfect amount of oil and vinegar. Low cat 3.

[devildeac]

Imperial Lucky Charms-Strangeways Brewing

In. The. Taproom.

Credit-my card still worked!
Style-syruped imperial Berliner Weisse
Format-freshly spigotted
Stemware-snifter
Appearance-yep
Nose-marshmallows and cereal
Mouthfeel-Strange(ways)
Tastes-cereal, marshmallows
Adjuncts-reportedly marshmallow syrup and a generous/double topping of Lucky Charms cereal
IBU-maybe 10
ABV-8.3%; yes, a high gravity Ich bin ein Berliner Weisse
Overall impression-interesting flavors despite its unusual hue
Ymm, Beer rating-high cat 2; the imperial raspberry and cherry ones on the menu were better but this was fun

[devildeac]

Tomb (draft)-The Veil Brewing

Fresh from the tap

Credit-yes
Style-NETIPA
Format-drained from the wall
Stemware-tall cylindrical glass
Appearance-yellow orange breakfast beverage
Nose-tropical fruit salad
Mouthfeel-juicy
Tastes-checked all the boxes with pineapple, orange, grapefruit, guava and passionfruit
Hops-Galaxy, Citra, Columbus, El Dorado, Motueka and Waimea; the last 2 are vaguely familiar
IBU-less than 30
ABV-9.9%; umpossible
Overall impression-about as tropical as a beer gets; no 4 packs available to go
Ymm, Beer rating-mid cat 3; no shame finishing in second place for my beer of the day

[devildeac]

6 Year Beer-Funguys Brewing

Raleigh beer traded in Durham.

Credit-trader from @Meld; thanks!!
Style-sour IPA
Format-pint can
Stemware-large wine glass
Appearance-white grapefruit juice with a generous splash of OJ; little head
Nose-a juicy sour
Mouthfeel-quite a pucker
Tastes-lemon, lime and grapefruit squeezings
IBU-30s
ABV-7%
Overall impression-if this is the “base@ beer for all their fruited sours, it is a very good start
Ymm, Beer rating-high cat 2

[devildeac]

Brian’s Barrel Blends 2023 No. 15-Hardywood Park Craft Brewery

RVA type local

Credit-warehouse sale grab by @wbmcards88; thanks!!
Style-might be a blend
Format-stubbie!
Stemware-small goblet
Appearance-medium brown, thin tan head, small amount fine sediment
Nose-toffee, bourbon, gin
Mouthfeel-soothing
Tastes-bourbon, juniper, orange liqueur, toffee, whiff of smoke
Beers-wheatwine and smoked German rauchbier (somewhat repetitively redundant )
Barrels-Old Fitzgerald bourbon, Caledonia Spirits Tom Cat gin
IBU-maybe mid 20s
ABV-10.6%
Overall impression-previously reviewed in ~2022; still fascinating
Ymm, Beer rating-solid low cat 3; quite enjoyable

[devildeac]

Manila Mango-Salty Turtle Brewing

About 4 miles away

Credit-dual thanks @Loveninja and @fuse (ladies before gentlemen, aka pearls before swine )
Style-fruited IPA but could also be labeled milkshake IPA
Format-1/8 gallon can
Freshie stats-FILL 03-28-24
Appearance-blenderized mangoes; modest head
Nose-mangoes
Mouthfeel-smooth but thin
Tastes-mangoes not as sweet as I imagined, vanilla, light cream (no, I really mean this @fuse )
Adjuncts-mangoes, vanilla and lactose
IBU-maybe mid 30s
ABV-6% (yet it’s still labeled beer )
Overall impression-delightful beach dessert
Ymm, Beer rating-high cat 2

[devildeac]

Bourbon Barrel Aged Caliente GBS-Hardywood Park Craft Brewery

Warehouse sale type local

Credit-the Family Tree guy; thanks @wbmcards88
Style-“colossal GBS aged in bourbon barrels aged on ancho chilies and extra cinnamon”
Format-stubbie!!
Tumblerware-original GBS complete set tumbler
Appearance-dark brown, clean with a thin, tan head
Nose-bourbon and cinnamon
Mouthfeel-warm and sexy
Tastes-lots of cinnamon, bourbon, cocoa, modest Scoville Heat Units, ginger
Adjuncts-the usual original GBS additives with ancho chilies, “locally crafted” AR’s Hot Southern Honey and extra cinnamon
IBU-has to be 55ish if it’s the OG GBS base
ABV-13%
Overall impression-all the spices and BBA mitigate the SHU quite nicely with some heat as the beverage nears room temp
Ymm, Beer rating-mid cat 3; well constructed

[devildeac]

Boonerang-Booneshine Brewing Company

Local for the purchasers

Credit-more thanks @Loveninja and @fuse
Style-trail ale
Format-pint can
Recency info-not revealed
Glassware-New Glarus pint cylinder
Appearance-light yellow gold; moderate egg white head
Nose-corn syrup
Mouthfeel-light
Tastes-Karo light corn syrup, floral
Rice-C*rolina gold
Wheat-NC grown
Yeast-healthy
Water-mountain
Vibes-good
IBU-maybe 20
ABV-4.1% (I shoulda had 3 of these
Overall impression-pleasant porch pounder
Ymm, Beer-mid/high cat 2

[devildeac]

Hwy 50 Key Lime Gose-Salty Turtle Beer Company

Pretty nearby

Credit-many thanks @fuse and @Loveninja!
Style-fruited gose
Format-pint can
Freshie info-FILL 03/20/24
Stemware-large pie, err, wine glass
Appearance-liquid pie, like Mr. Blue Devil shows
Nose-buckets of limes and lemons
Mouthfeel-juiced salinity
Tastes-lots and lots of limes, a salted rim, faintest hint of grahams
Adjuncts-go figure
IBU-5ish
ABV-4.8%, a foreign number @wbmcards88
Overall impression-delightful summer cooler, err, dessert
Ymm, Beer rating-not many beers from the Turtle get a (low) cat 3 but this one earned it and would be very comparable to the Westbrook Key Lime Pie gose; high praise

[devildeac]

Melon Pop-Raleigh Brewing Company

Not far off I-440

Credit-gifted by @Loveninja and @fuse; thanks!!
Style-“watermelon sorbet ipa”
Format-12 oz can
Stemware-Funky Buddha tulip
Appearance-yellow/orange; hint of pink; modest foam
Nose-watermelon orange soda
Mouthfeel-soft
Tastes-watermelon and orange soda
Hops- Hüll Melon
IBU-less than 30
ABV-5.2%
Overall impression-solid porch pounder
Ymm, Beer rating-I’m gonna give this bonus points for getting the watermelon flavors, though a bit “thin,” all from the hops and not using any form of melon; mid/high cat 2.

[devildeac]

Enigma 23-New Glarus Brewing Company

In-state when bought.

Credit-no, debit
Style-oak aged, fruited, sour brown ale
Format-12 oz bottle, solo
Stemware-New Glarus pint glass (technically, it shoulda been a tulip/snifter/chalice/wine glass
Appearance-dark ruby/brown and slighlty cloudy: light tan foam
Nose-cherry vinegar
Mouthfeel-Rodenbach sour
Tastes-sour cherries, vinegar, funk, chocolate and wood
Adjuncts-cherries, state of origin not specified
Barrels-unlined oak
Fermentation-open/wild
IBU-20 something;
ABV-secret but I’ll guess 5%
Overall impression-rivaled the fruited Rodenbachs I’ve had in the past
Ymm, Beer rating-high cat 3; yea, it was outstanding

[devildeac]

Scotch Ale-New Glarus Brewing Company

In-state when purchased

Credit-needed to replenish NG supply and new product to me
Style-IYKYK
Format-12 oz bottle, all to myself
Stemware-NG logo pint
Appearance-almost porter brown; moderate tan topping
Nose-dark caramel and hint of smoke
Mouthfeel-full
Tastes-dark caramel, cocoa, distant campfire but nothing like @mattman91’s cologne or @BigWayne’s Scooby
IBU-maybe 30
ABV-9.75%; no liquor needed
Overall impression-quality stuff but distant memory still claims McEwans and Traquair House Ale as the best Scotch Ales I’ve ever had, excluding the 13% BBA Hooligan from Catawba
Ymm, Beer rating-low cat 3

[devildeac]

From last night’s Hardywood specials, this is the only one not previously reviewed, IIRC, but, “often wrong, never in doubt” also applies here :woozy_face::

Brian’s Barrel Blend No. 18 2023-Hardywood Park Craft Brewing

Nearby for the warehouse sale guy

Credit-another “I’m almost first in line” gem from @wbmcards88; thanks!
Style-might be another blend
Format-stubbie, shared
Stemware-Zaftig snifters
Appearance-not quite RIS brown; small, beige topping
Nose-bourbon, dark chocolate and dark, dried fruits
Mouthfeel-killing me softly
Tastes-dark chocolate covered and bourbon soaked raisins, dates, figs and cherries
Base beers-RIS and Belgian style quad
Barrels-bourbon (7 years for the RIS and 3 years for the quad are claimed)
IBU-maybe 30
ABV-12.8%
Overall impression-terrific execution
Ymm, Beer rating-mid cat 3