Ymm, Beer!

[devildeac]

From Thursday:

4021 Chocolate Stout-Deerp River Brewing Company

Johnston County’s first legal brewery so it’s local

Credit-single gifted end of September from our beach coowners/friends; thanks!
Style-technically a milk stout (lactose added)
Format-pint can
Stampage on bottom of can-22722 #STOUTTTTT
Glass vessel-standard pint
Appearance-rather dark brown; creamy tan head
Nose-vanilla, chocolate and roasted grains
Mouthfeel-quite soft
Tastes-cocoa, vanilla and a very small hint of chocolate
Adjuncts-lactose, vanilla beans and cocoa nibs
IBU-maybe 40 something
ABV-6.5%
Overall impression-adjuncts turn this from an ordinary mild stout into an above average sipper
Ymm, Beer rating-upper cat 2; pair it with a chocolate chip cookie or brownie

[devildeac]

Post game beer last pm:

Whipped Up Blender-Hopfly Brewing Company

The Mount and the Queen City are local

Credit-pilfered; thanks!
Style-smoothie sour
Format-pint can
Stemware-large wine glass sound familiar?
Appearance-pineapple/lemon smoothie; quickly disappearing head
Nose-pineapple
Mouthfeel-smoothie?
Tastes-pineapple sherbet, hint of lemon/lime
Adjuncts-mango, pineapple, pineapple soft serve
IBU-maybe low teens?
ABV-6.5%
Overall impression-what a pleasant late dessert!
Ymm, Beer rating-low cat 3; not quite Veil but darn close; a definite “buy”

[devildeac]

Let’s see how the “lightning round” of beer reviews progresses tonight, kinda/sorta in order:

Pie!! (no bets were involved in the drinking of this beer

The Most Humble Pie-Pontoon Brewing.

Local for the muleing/purchasing party; thanks to OPK!!

Cloudy cherry soda color with little head and forkfuls of sour cherry pie with a little crust. Minimally bitter with 6% ABV. A delicious, low cat 3 breakfast fruit “equivalent” that I’d happily sip again.

[devildeac]

Athena-Creature Comforts Brewing

Another Peach State local; thanks OPK!

German style tart wheat ale, aka a Berliner weisse. Pale straw/yellow color, fizzy with the expected slight lemon/lime sourness and a splash of orange. IBU likely <10 and ABV about 5%. A good palate cleanser pretty true to the style.

[devildeac]

Merry Cranberry-Shortway Brewing

More local for the purchasing/muleing guy for this brew; thanks to dpslaw!

A cranberried wheat ale with some tartness from the beeries, err, berries and nice orange flavors from the wheat. Pink and cloudy with a small head. I’ll guess 20 IBU with ABV of about 5%. Wonderful breakfast beer because, ya know, "you can’t drink all day…’

[devildeac]

Automatic-Creature Comforts Brewing

More Peach State muleing, Automatic (for the people on the label); thanks OPK

Pale amber with minimal foam and hint of grapefruit and a bit of caramel. Climbing the IBU scale to about mid 30s here with the ABV 5%, IIRC. Upper cat 2 brew sipped with a very tasty veggie quiche which was “fixed” with a couple large strips of bacon.

[devildeac]

Moving on to “conscious sedation” beers now:

Drunken Mornings-Brothers Craft Brewing

“The best brewery in Harrisonburg, VA”
-nrrrrvous, 11/12/22

Guess who muled this alcoholic version of pancake/waffle syrup?

Thanks!!

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Disclaimer: that is not nrrrrvous in the photo in case folks were wondering.

BBA candied pecan coffee-d imperial stout, a new variant of their Daylight Cravings (had to research this one) that paired very well with some blueberry and strawberry pancakes. Dark brown, no head with about 40 IBUs and a dangerous 12.5% ABV :face_with_spiral_eyes:.

[devildeac]

Moving on to “conscious sedation” beers now:

Drunken Mornings-Brothers Craft Brewing

“The best brewery in Harrisonburg, VA”
-nrrrrvous, 11/12/22

Guess who muled this alcoholic version of pancake/waffle syrup?

Thanks!!


Disclaimer: that is not nrrrrvous in the photo in case folks were wondering.

BBA candied pecan coffee-d imperial stout, a new variant of their Daylight Cravings (had to research this one) that paired very well with some blueberry and strawberry pancakes. Dark brown, no head with about 40 IBUs and a dangerous 12.5% ABV :face_with_spiral_eyes:.

[devildeac]

Last one tonight; promise:

Backwoods Bastard-Founders Brewing Company

Amazing that August West cellared this beer for 7 years as he asked me to identify the pour of this murky, medium amber elixir with no head and scents and tastes of caramel, Scotch and dark, dried fruits. IBU probably mid 30s with the ABV at 11.5% or at least in that zipcode. Thanks!!

[Bob Green]

Watching the NFL and engaging in one of my favorite pastimes, drinking other peoples beer, courtesy of Devildeac:

Victory Brewing Company
Brotherly Love IPA

This beer is crisp and refreshing. IPAs are growing on me.

[devildeac]

Watching the NFL and engaging in one of my favorite pastimes, drinking other peoples beer, courtesy of Devildeac:

Victory Brewing Company
Brotherly Love IPA

This beer is crisp and refreshing. IPAs are growing on me.

August West got one and I kept the third one from my 15 item sampler pack and will look forward to sipping it when we return home in 9 days.

[devildeac]

Lightning round 2, aka tailgate beers:

CBS 2019-Founders Brewing Company

Grand Rapids ain’t local!

Credit and thanks to August West for sharing a 12 ounce bottle of this world class chocolated, mapled, coffeed and BBA imperial stout which was really dark brown with a small, tan head. A two oz pour was plenty to remind my palate of the fabulousness of this beer and allow several others to partake, too.

[devildeac]

Best of show for me yesterday (well, maybe a tie with CBS):

Tom Cat Wheatwine-Hardywood Park Craft Brewery

Local for the buying/trading/muleing guy.

Credit-@wbmcards88 via @fuse; thanks to both!!
Style-Tom Cat gin barrel aged wheatwine
Format-corked and caged 750 ml bottle share who know how many ways
Stemware-2010 Duke NCAA MBB Championship pint glass
Appearance-looked like a stout :face_with_spiral_eyes:
Nose-orange and gin
Mouthfeel-seductive
Tastes-gin/juniper, orange liqueur, orange peel, caramel, hints of tobacco and wet leather
IBU-maybe 50
ABV-11.5%
Overall impression-another fantastic oddity from Brian, the brewer, at Hardywood
Ymm, Beer rating-mid cat 3 but after my second 3 oz pour, I moved it up into the top tier of cat 3

[devildeac]

From a $4 off mini growler bought Friday which became a DNP-CD for Saturday’s tailgate as there were soooo many other really good beers that this one entered the transfer portal on Saturday and Sunday nights, being transferred from the growler to my large wine glasses:

Twill (draft)-Hopfly Brewing Company

“Born in the Mount. Brewed and canned in Charlotte.” Yea, local.

Credit-see above
Style-TIPA
Format-spigotted
Stemware-see above
Appearance-extremely hazy, juicy and foamy
Nose-pineapple and mango
Mouthfeel-extra juicy
Tastes-pineapple and mango with generous aliquots of papaya and guava
Hops-no data available
IBU-“no IBU” but c’mon, it’s a TIPA FSS
ABV-9%
Overall impression-really pleasant both nights; fresh and juicy
Ymm, Beer rating-low cat 3; I’ve had very few TIPAs but the couple/three I recall (something from Equilibrium) were a bit better; worth a pint can or a draft, especially for RJ who didn’t have good reviews frodm this summer as his second favorite gal, Stella, may have had a stale one or three.

[devildeac]

Heavy Jams: Cheesecake in the Breakroom-Barrel Culture Brewing and Blending

The Mount is local (as are their other locations in south Durham, near the Glass Jug, and in north Raleigh near our house)

Credit-retirement gift as part of a mixed case from long time friends; thanks!!
Style-“heavily fruited sour ale”
Format-pint can shared 3 ways
Bottom of can-HEAVY JAMS FOR HOPE 8/26/22
Appearance-why the hell was this stuff blue/green?
Nose-cheesecake up your nostrils
Mouthfeel-liquid cheesecake
Tastes-berries upon berries (lots of them blue) along with graham crackers and cream cheese/cheesecake
Adjuncts-white chocolate, raspberry, strawberry and cheesecake; amazingly, no blueberry
IBU-“no IBU” of course but likely 10
ABV-7%
Overall impression-if you’re able to overcome the presentation, this is a terrific beer
Ymm, Beer rating-mid cat 3; Veil quality liquid dessert in a can; in fact, unbeknownst to me (many things are), they have a fairly extensive series of Heavy Jams with flavors like Booberry Crunch, Bramble Crisp, Working in my Jammies and Night Crawlers to name a few

[devildeac]

Hillbilly Prophet-New Anthem Beer Project

Local

Credit-needed traders for OPK and this was available in the portal
Style-From Untappd: “Blend of two Imperial stout recipes: Love Gone Bad and Special Reserve 1. Aged in Willet and Old Fritz barrels, respectively”
Format-it’s evolved to pint cans from its previous heritage in expensive 500 ml bottles; shared 3 ways
Gregorian calendar info-22 306, aka November 2 (bought November 11 for the VT tailgate)
Tasting vessels-cocktail glasses
Appearance-extremely dark brown; 12 bubble head
Nose-dark chocolate and bourbon
Mouthfeel-viscous
Tastes-bourbon, dark chocolate, char, molasses and a cornucopia of dark and dried fruits
IBU-“no IBU” but probably around 50
ABV-10.2% (dialed back from 12.9% in the 2021 release)
Overall impression-another NA winner
Ymm, Beer rating-low cat 3 but close to the middle shelf; buy a 4 pack of this one if you see it!

[devildeac]

From last week:

Imperial Smells Like Bean Spirit-Mikerphone Brewing

Somewhere local in Chicago land

Credit-amusing look/name and son in law said they’re a good brewery so why the hell not?
Style-mapleized and coffeetized imperial stout
Format-pint can shared 3 ways
Glassware-cocktail glasses
Appearance-coffee with some little gobs of goo at the end; fingernail thin head
Nose-espresso
Mouthfeel-java
Tastes-lots and lots of dark roast coffee, generous pour of maple syrup, burnt toast and molasses
Adjuncts-Vermont tree sap and Tugboat Coffee Roasters’ Super Sumatra Mandheling
IBU-:no IBU" but really, it’s an imperial breakfast stout so I’ll guess low 50s
ABV-10%
Overall impression-if you like espresso
Ymm, Beer rating-low cat 3; I like coffee beers but this one pushed the envelope but the maple syrup was a nice balance

[devildeac]

Local indeed.

Credit-bought for the name, ingredients, to share and younger son in law said Pipeworks brews good stuff
Style-imperial donut stout
Format-pint can, shared 3 ways
Glasses-yes, cocktail
Appearance-rather dark brown with little head
Nose-dark chocolate
Mouthfeel-sweet
Tastes-more coconut than expected, then dark chocolate morsels and a splash of coffee
Adjuncts- lactose, cacao nibs, vanilla, coffee and coconut
IBU-“no IBU” but I’m not quite ready to give up so I’ll say high 40s
ABV-10%, aka breakfast booze
Overall impression-a shade better than Bean Spirit as the coffee was more muted
Ymm, Beer rating-low cat 3 but close to that middle shelf

[devildeac]

Delaware is not nearby.

Wake Up World Wide Stout-Dogfish Head Craft Beers

Credit-treated to this by our younger son in law; thanks!
Style-coffeed imperial stout
Format-12 ounce bottle, shared 3 ways (see ABV below (
Glasses-cocktail
Appearance-10W40
Nose-espresso
Mouthfeel-oily
Tastes-espresso, molasses, dark caramel, burnt toast, maple and more coffee
Adjuncts-lots and lots of coffee, lactose and maple syrup
IBU-70 (now that’s more like it!)
ABV-16 to 18% (that’s what DFH sez and Untappd claims 17% :face_with_spiral_eyes:)
Overall impression-what a finishing beer!
Ymm, Beer rating-low/mid cat 3; for $11/bottle, this shoulda been md/upper cat 3, perhaps too much coffee

[devildeac]

Cubism Dream-Bhramari Brewing Company

Kinda local

Credit-one of my last gifted beers from the mixed retirement case; thanks!
Style-BBA German style pilsner
Format-pint can, shared 2 ways
Stemware-snifters
Appearance-goldish yellow; moderate foam
Nose-bourbon and corn syrup
Mouthfeel-soft
Tastes-bourbon, flowers, corn syrup, some light oak and toasted coconut
Barrels-Woodford Double Oak, Heaven Hill, 1792, & Buffalo Trace barrels (whaaaaa?!)
IBU-“no IBU” but likely <30
ABV-7.6%
Overall impression-not sure I’ve ever had a BBA pilsner before; this was wonderful
Ymm, Beer rating-low cat 3; bourbon coulda ruined the gentleness of this pilsner but the flavors meshed quite nicely