Ymm, Beer!

[devildeac]

Prophetmaker-Burial Beer Company

Local

Credit-device rep’s card and my keen eyes
Style-pale ale
Format-draft
Cupware-romantic plastic half pint
Appearance-clea/clear, light amber/bronze; smallish head
Nose-citrus zest
Mouthfeel-mildly bitter
Tastes-grapefruit, orange, rind
Hops-DDH Mosaic and Strata
IBU-35
ABV-5.3%
Overall impression-solid starter/pairing with a New Yorker slice
Ymm, Beer rating-near the top of cat 2; unexciting but a very solid product

[Bob Green]

Alewerks Tavern Brown Ale is my of choice this afternoon. I’m going all out by pouring it into a frosted glass.

[August West]

Went beer hunting today. Found some great brews. Should be a great tailgate. AW

[devildeac]

Kalamazoo Stout-Bell’s Brewery

Was local for the 2016 devildeacs’ midwest beer/Duke FB tour but no now

Credit-trader from Bob Green; thanks!
Style-lemme see
Format-12 ounce bottle
Stemware-nonic pint
Appearance-pretty dark brown; tannish, foamy topping
Nose-heavily roasted grains
Mouthfeel-^^^^
Tastes-moderately strong licorice; moderate coffee, char and unsweetened dark chocolate
Adjunct-brewer’s licorice
IBU-not revealed but gotta be approaching 60
ABV-6%
Overall impression-if licorice is not your bag, avoid this beer; I liked and admired this brew as the bottle claims it’s the original recipe from 1988
Ymm, Beer rating-upper cat 2 for me; might be undrinkable if your palate is licorice adverse

[devildeac]

From 3/28/15:

"Dragon’s Milk Bourbon Barrel Stout-New Holland Brewing

I usually divide a bomber of a high gravity ale over two nights but this one was consumed over two halves last PM. Poured a dark brown with a modest light tan head. The body/texture was a bit thin for a stout but the tastes were not. Aromas were cocoa, vanilla, wood, bourbon and a whiff of coffee, though it is not an ingredient. Tastes were heavily roasted grains up front and matched the aromas pretty closely with a mildly boozy finish. Glacier and Nugget hops provided little bitterness and an IBU rating of 31. Grains included 2 row, Munich, Caramel, Crystal, Black, Chocolate malt and flaked barley and drove the ABV to 11%. Vintage date on this was 2014 with no month specified. I don’t drink many New Holland products but this will make me look again when I see them on the shelves and try some of their other products."

QFE as I had a 12 ounce bottle of the 2021 version last PM after mule-ing it back from Chicago as our younger daughter insisted on a Dragon’s Milk after she delivered last month and I was all to happy to oblige (as her husband is stuck with her the rest of the time ). One for her/them, one for wbmcards88 and two for me.

This is a really good low cat 3 beer; chocolate-y, boozy with a hint of coffee but no adjuncts. I think it was about $13 for the 4 pack.

[devildeac]

Hella Good Hair (draft)-New Anthem Beer Project

Local

Credit-$4 off a mini growler of any IPA on FrIPAday at Bottle Rev
Style-American IPA (hops say westie, rest of the attributes say NEIPA)
Format-^^^^ (pint tonight and pint tomorrow night)
Stemware-Dogfish Head nonic pint
Appearance-really hazy juice, one finger offwhite head
Nose-all the citrus and tropicals
Mouthfeel-juicey and pithy
Tastes-mango, pineapple, orange and peach
Hops-Citra, Centennial, Simcoe and Columbus
IBU-“no IBU” but I’ll guess low 40s
ABV-7.6%
Overall impression-better than expected after reading the featured hops and expecting a westie
Ymm, Beer rating-low cat 3; NA brews better but this was very good and paired well with a spicy chicken sammich; buy a pint on draft or a can if you see it

[devildeac]

From 10/13/19:

"Celebrator-Privatbrauerei Franz Inselkammer KG / Brauerei Aying

Credit-uh_no; many thanks!! (see below)
Style-authentic, maybe the original doppelbock
Format-12 ounce bottle (IIRC-might have been a 11.2 ounce Euro bottle)
Appearance-dark brown with a light tan, creamy head
Aromas-toasted pumpernickel bread with dark grade A honey
Mouthfeel-silky/smooth
Tastes-dark dried fruits, especially cherries, very mild herbal hop bitterness dark brown sugar
IBUs-20ish
ABV-6.7%
Overall impression-outstanding; my only nit to pick would be that at 6.7%, it’s really a bock and not a doppelbock
Ymm Beer rating-solid cat 3; it’s almost as if uh_no read this: Top Rated Beers: Bock - Doppelbock | BeerAdvocate

He didn’t earn himself a lifetime tailgate invitation by choosing the #4 and #1 beers in the world in 2 different categories in the same morning, but he’s pretty damn close to a #1 recruiting class .

Thanks again!!"

From this AM:

Celebrator-(same brewery as above)
Credit-August West’s mystery beer today; many thanks!!
Style-^^^^
Format-330 ml (shared 3-4 ways)
Glassware-2010 Duke championship pint glass
Appearance-dark brown; moderately foamy
Nose-Dark caramel
Mouthfeel-smooooth
Tastes-dark caramel, dried figs and raisins, dark brown sugar
Adjuncts-heretical
IBU-mid 20s?
ABV-6.7%
Overall impression-world class
Ymm, Beer rating-mid shelf cat 3; AW said beeradvocate 100 and rate beer 98

After several hints and a couple miscues, I actually guessed the mystery beer.

[devildeac]

Oktoberfest Märzen (draft)-Hacker-Pschorr Bräu GmbH
Nicht local!!

Credit-uh_no; thanks!
Style-go figure
Format-guessing about a 1L growler from uh_no’s home tap
Stemware-Duke pint glass
Appearance-light amber; smallish offwhite head
Nose-light brown sugar and herbs
Mouthfeel-soft
Tastes-light caramel, flowers, light wheat toast
Adjuncts-nein!!
IBU-maybe 20
ABV-probably 5.5%ish
Overall impression-a notch above the one I sipped for Oktoberfest VP last month
Ymm, Beer rating-high cat 2; not exciting but solid and very sippable; beeradvocate 89 but #6 Marzen

[devildeac]

Honey Ginger-Ardent Craft Ales

Local for the RVA delivery mule

Credit-wbmcards88; thanks!!
Style-honeyed ginger beer
Format-12 ounce can, shared 5 ways
Glassware-same 2010 Duke pint glass
Appearance-light amber smallish head
Nose-ginger (no Mary Anne) and honey
Mouthfeel-mild zing
Tastes-ginger beer with a generous drizzling of grade A honey
Adjuncts-ummm…
IBU-maybe 30
ABV-7.8%
Overall impression-still a wonderful beer
Ymm, Beer rating-low cat 3; fine pairing with brunchgate fare

[devildeac]

BBA Honey Ginger-Ardent Craft Ales

Same local, same RVA beer mule

Credit-^^^^; huge thanks!!
Style-^^^^
Format-12 ounce can shared about 5 ways
Stemware-same
Nose-bourbon and ginger ale cocktail
Mouthfeel-tingly
Tastes-good booze and good ginger ale
Adjuncts-go figure
IBU-I forget
ABV-11.8%; yea, it’s really another type of beer cocktail
Overall impression-4% ABV better than the regular octane stuff
Ymm, Beer rating-easy mid cat 3; excellent to compare to the regular stuff; fantastic beer

[Bob Green]

Foothills Oktoberfest (courtesy DevilDeac) poured in a frosted beer glass. Nice amber color with practically no head. A very good tasting beer. Comparable to a Dos Equis Amber one of my favorite beers. This beer would go great with a corned beef or pastrami sandwich.

Thanks, Daryl.

[Bob Green]

New Belgium Trippel Ale (courtesy August West) poured in a frosted beer glass. A light color with a full head. Enjoyable beer but a bit light. It would go good with a turkey sandwich and avocado.

Thanks AW.

[Bob Green]

New Belgium 1554. Again courtesy August West. This is a full bodied beer that pours dark and taste great. Screams ribeye steak or hearty beef stew.

[devildeac]

Cinnamon Toast Trickery-Hardywood Park Craft Ales

Local if you have a Family Tree.

Credit-wbmcards88, a Family Tree member; muchas gracias!!
Style-many flavored apple brady barrel aged imperial milk stout
Format-corked and caged 750 ml bottle, shared about 6 ways
Stemware-2010 Duke championship pint glass
Appearance-very dark brown; small, tan head
Nose-apple brandy and cinnamon
Mouthfeel-smooooth
Tastes-cinnamon, apple brandy, hint of bourbon (see below), vanilla, dark chocolate, toasted coconut, burnt caramel and a drop of coffee
Adjuncts-lactose, bourbon conditioned Madagascar vanilla beans, Vietnamese cinnamon
IBU-maybe 50
ABV-13.5% (dangerous, dangerous stuff)
Overall impression-Hardywood concocts another stunning beer, almost drizzled on my waffle
Ymm, Beer rating-near the top of the class in cat 3; you’ll not find trickery like this on, umm, never mind

[devildeac]

Final taster:

Bottle Shop Series #2: Highball Drifter-Founders Brewing Company

From the other Beer City, USA.

Credit-I think this was a wbmcards88 share beer but coulda been RJ so both get hurrahs!!
Style-BBA and flavored imperial brown ale
Format-12 ounce bottle, shared 4 ways
Glassware-Duke pint glass
Appearance-clean, medium brown; thin, light beige head
Nose-bourbon, cherries and orange peel
Mouthfeel-sexy
Tastes-all the feels of an Old Fashioned, including bourbon, dried cherries, orange peel and a drizzle of caramel
Adjuncts-cherry juice and orange peel (SWAGs)
IBU-maybe 30
ABV-11% and tasted/felt it but not overly boozy
Overall impression-a wonderful beer replica of an Old Fashioned
Ymm, Beer rating-mid cat 3; never hesitant putting any Founders barrel aged brew in the cart

[devildeac]

Richmond Lager-Hardywood Park Craft Brewery

Regional for this particular trading partner and it’s NOT who you think

Credit-Bob Green; thanks!
Style-^^^^ (unfiltered)
Format-12 ounce stubbie
Stemware-standard pint glass
Appearance-very slight haze; light straw; modest fizz
Nose-flowers and corn
Mouthfeel-soft
Tastes-light Karo, flowers, very mild sourdough bread
Hops-20% Virginia grown Cascade
Grain-Virginia grown and malted 2 Row barley
Ecology stuff-100% renewably powered with wind, solar and biogas (I’d have never guessed they got some hot air filled windbag/s from OY to help brew this; oooops)
IBU-25ish
ABV-5%
Overall impression-wonderful pairing with dinner tonight as mentioned above
Ymm, Beer rating-top tier cat 2; not quite in the German/Czech lager league but very good

[devildeac]

Endless Measure-Wise Man Brewing

A 336 beer is local.

Credit-a trader from RJ199; thanks!!
Style-Oktoberfest lager; aka a Märzen; aka a festbier
Format-pint can
Stemware-nonic pint
Appearance-^^^^; creamy, tannish head
Nose-toasted wheat bread and caramel
Mouthfeel-soft
Tastes-followed the nose along with some light, earthy hops
Hops-guessing some combo of Mittlefruh, Tettnang , Saaz and/or Hallertau
IBU-21
ABV-5.6%
Overall impression-high quality festbier here; paired well with some leftover hot dog sandwiches brought home from the office (stop laughing, they were pretty tasty)
Ymm, Beer rating-I’m sneaking this into cat 3; perhaps not quite as Staghorn but close

[devildeac]

From last PM:

Panther Cub-Founders Brewing Company

Not even close.

Credit-a bonus trader from August West from tailgate; thanks!!
Style-BBA flavored imperial porter
Format-12 ounce bottle, all to myself
Stemware-why, a Founders snifter, of course
Bottled on-02.01.21 1124 6
Appearance-deep, dark brown; modest tan head
Nose-bourbon, maple syrup and vanilla
Mouthfeel-a bit thin but luscious
Tastes-vanilla and maple early, some dark chocolate and coffee (neither added) and a warming bourbon finish
Adjuncts-“kiss of maple syrup and vanilla extract”
IBU-none claimed but I’ll guess 40ish
ABV-9.2%
Overall impression-another fine barrel aged brew from their ongoing series
Ymm, Beer rating-low cat 3; honored that AW saved/traded one as I passed on this when it was released

[devildeac]

Trippel-New Belgium Brewing Company

Asheville is now local.

Credit-trader from August West at tailgate; thanks!!
Style-spiced/flavored Belgian style tripel
Format-12 ounce bottle, as always
Enjoy by-84488 13FEB22 210809081I1544
Stemware-gotta be an Ommegang tulip
Appearance-slightly hazy, straw yellow; fizzy, lacy head
Nose-orange peel and coriander
Mouthfeel-titillating
Tastes-orange peel, coriander, simple syrup, hint of white pepper
Adjuncts-none listed but there’s gotta be a twist of orange peel and a pinch of coriander here
Yeast-Trappist ale
Hops-Nugget, Hallertau Mittelfruh, Saaz, Liberty
Malt-Pale, Munich, Pilsner
IBU-43 (higher than I’d have guessed)
ABV-8.5%
Overall impression-delighted to sip this tonight and guessing it’s been a decade since I’ve bought one
Ymm, Beer rating-low cat 3; very pleasant memories of this from 10+ years ago tasting many of the NB products; this and the dubbel remain favorites

[devildeac]

Voodoo Ranger-New Belgium Brewing

Asheville is close/good enough.

Credit-single trader from a mixed 12 pack (so likely about $1.50/bottle) from August West at the GT tailgate; thanks!
Style-IPA, American style
Format-12 ounce bottle
Enjoy by-117696 01JAN22 210807081T1334 {shrugs}
Format-standard pint
Appearance-slight chill haze, light yellow/bronze; modest head
Nose-pineapple guava juice lite
Mouthfeel-gentle bite
Tastes-light pineapple, mango, OJ and guava; slight sweetness; very mild bitterness
Hops-Amarillo, Cascade, Mosaic, Chinook, HBC 522, Mosaic, Strata, Citra
Grains-Pale, Honey, Pilsner
Yeast-ale
IBU-50 (seems right)
ABV-7%
Overall impression-very pleasant; good pairing with a chicken sandwich and a side salad
Ymm, Beer rating-upper cat 2; not exciting in a packed field but certainly above average; a side by side with a DFH 60 Minute, one of my old favs, would be fun