Ymm, Beer!

[devildeac]

Lemme knock out some quickie tailgate brews, in order of tasting from memory without research:

Rubaeus-Founders Brewing

Michigan=not local

Credit-many thanks @AugustWest
Style-fruit ale
Format-12 ounce bottle, shared 3 or 4 ways
Freshness stuff-Brewed in 6/2023 (not sure)
Glassware-Duke pint glass
Appearance-raspberry soda; not much pink head
Nose-raspberry sorbet
Mouthfeel-tingled
Tastes-raspberry soda, hint of sour
Adjunct-only raspberries, I think
IBU-maybe 20
ABV-5.6%
Overall impressions-one of the best fruited ales on the market until Raspberry Tart was discovered
Ymm, Beer rating-low cat 3; a most pleasant lead off sipper

[devildeac]

Second hitter:

Coffee is for Closers-Fullsteam Brewery

Can’t get more local than Derm

Credit-another shout out @AugustWest; thanks!
Style-coffee porter
Format-12 ounce can, shared about 4 ways
Glassware-same
Appearance-dark brown; light tan head
Nose-medium roast coffee and milk chocolate
Mouthfeel-soft
Tastes-followed the nose along with some dark caramel
Adjunct-local roasted coffee but not from @fuse or @jwillfan
IBU-30ish ?
ABV-6%
Overall impression-a Fullsteam core beer and a great pairing with pulled pork and ribs
Ymm, Beer rating-low cat 3

[devildeac]

Third pour;

Scottish Ale-Ponysaurus Brewing

Another Derm delight

Credit-big time share beer from @jwillfan; thanks!
Style-d’oh!
Format-pint can shared 4 ways
Glassware-rinsed and refilled
Appearance-really dark amber; thin tan hard
Nose-toasted cereal, caramel, faint whiff of smoke
Mouthfeel-smooth
Tastes-dark caramel, toasted cereal blend, very subtle smoke
IBU-prolly low 30s
ABV-7.2% (moving on up!)
Overall impression-quality local stuff and great food/beer pairings
Ymm, Beer rating-another low cat 3; not sure I’ve ever had this one before

[devildeac]

Clean-up hitter;

KBS Chocolate Cherry-Founders Brewing

From Beer City, USA; not local

Credit-last bottle from a shop in Derm, procured by @AugustWest; thanks!
Style-fruited KBS
Format-12 ounce botte, shared 3 or 4 ways
Glassware-rinsed and repeated
Appearance-dark ruby brown; smallish tan head
Scents-a bourbon filled dark chocolate cherry candy
Palate-sensual
Tastes-dark chocolate cherry fudge drenched with bourbon and swirled with espresso and dark caramel
Adjuncts-the usual KBS players of coffee and chocolate but with a prominent role for cherry juice
IBU-45
ABV-11.6%
Overall impression-a Founders barrel aged series has never failed for many years except Mango Magnifico, a fiery habanero infused ale of some type I can’t recall, don’t want to and won’t research
Ymm, Beer rating-mid cat 3; sorry I missed this at Total Wine but haven’t bought a beer there in 12 to 18 months, maybe more

[devildeac]

The heavyweight division from tailgate (not that the KBS wasn’t; the last 2 were 750 ml BIG boys):

Mexican Cake-Westbrook Brewing Company

Not local

Credit-thanks @fuse (who thinks @OPK “left” these after the UVA MBB game) for sharing!!
Style-hot and flavored imperial stout
Format-750 ml bottle, shared 4 ways, maybe more
Glassware-rinsed and recycled 2010 MBB national championship pint
Appearance-really, really dark brown; thin latte head
Nose-heat, chocolate and spices
Mouthfeel-warm and spicy
Tastes-dark chocolate, cinnamon, moderate Scoville heat units and vanilla
Adjuncts-cocoa nibs, vanilla beans, cinnamon and habanero
IBU-25
ABV-10.5%
Scoville Heat Units-range of 100K to 300K
Overall impression-plenty of spices and plenty of heat, perhaps a bit too much as the beer warmed a bit on an almost 90 degree afternoon evening
Ymm, Beer rating- I’d “tied” this with the next one but, upon further review, it was not Dead Man Suit and Thai hot but still a bit too to really enjoy so I’m downgrading to a low cat 3

[devildeac]

Abraxas Salted Chocolate-Perennial Artisan Ales

A variant of their Abraxas series, I think

Even less local

Credit-another thanks @fuse for sharing and @OldPhiKap for “leaving behind” in the same manner as Mexican Cake!!
Style-peppered and flavored imperial stout
Format-750 ml bottle, shared 4 ways, maybe more
Glassware-rinsed and repeated
Appearance-dark brown and some latte foam
Nose-cocoa, spice with a whiff of pepper heat
Mouthfeel-warm but softer than the Mexican Cake
Flavors-strong cocoa, cinnamon, vanilla, mild hot peppers and more chocolate
Adjuncts-ancho chilis, cacao nibs, cinnamon, vanilla beans, chocolate sauce, and sea salt
IBU-N/A but realistically about 30
ABV-11.5%
Scoville Heat Units-2K to 5K range
Overall impression-I’d “tied” Mexican Cake and this on my first 2 oz tastings but this was the clear winner after another round of 2 oz “shots”
Ymm, Beer rating-mid cat 3; just enough heat for the melange of flavors/style; great pairing with some oatmeal white chocolate cranberry cookies (Hey, Wally, if you’re reading, I had 3 of these cookies!) from Wally and Maria, our newest tailgate members

[Bob Green]

Warsteiner Pilsener courtesy of B.J.

A crisp, light beer I drank straight out of the can (no sense wasting time pouring it in a glass). Enjoyable. I recommend it for hot weather activities such as … let me think … tailgating!

[devildeac]

Warsteiner Pilsener courtesy of B.J.

A crisp, light beer I drank straight out of the can (no sense wasting time pouring it in a glass). Enjoyable. I recommend it for hot weather activities such as … let me think … tailgating!

Funny Bob should post the above...

German Pilsener-Warsteiner Brauerei Haus Cramer KG

Nicht lokal

Credit-trader from @AugustWest; thanks!
Style-c’mon now
Format-11.2 ounce can
Best before-A1424 2023 06 08
Glassware-a pilsner/pilsener glass, silly
Appearance-light straw; modest head
Nose-light corn syrup, flowers
Mouthfeel-gentle
Tastes-light corn syrup, flowers/Euro hops
Ingredients-water, Barley malt, Hops, Hop extract (no, really, it’s on the can )
IBU-maybe 25
ABV-4.8%
Overall impression-a classic German pils
Ymm, Beer rating-upper cat 2

[devildeac]

Brewers Gold-Warsteiner Brauerei

It’s from Germany, c’mon now

Style-golden ale?
Format-11.2 ounce can
Best before-A1359 2023 06 10
Glasware-shaker pint
Appearance-clear light gold/amber; modest head
Nose-light caramel
Mouthfeel-soft
Tastes-light caramel, earthy hops, flowers
Ingredients-Water, Barley malt, Hops, Hop extract, Yeast (don’t shoot me, it’s exactly that way on the can)
IBU-low20s?
ABV-5.2%
Overall impression-nice sipper; didn’t know the Germans brewed this style of beer
Ymm, Beer rating-high cat 2

[devildeac]

End of the German beers from tailgate:

Dunkel-Warsteiner Brauerei

About 4000 miles from local.

Credit-another thanks @AugustWest!
Style-mighta been a dunkel
Format-11.2 oz can; kinda dark
Best before-A0734 2023 06 09
Glassware-dunkel glass
Appearance-clear/clean, dark, but not too dark; light tan head
Nose-dark wheat bread
Mouthfeel-wet, dark wheat bread
Tastes-medium dark caramel/brown sugar, toasted dark wheat bread, earthy hops
Ingredients-Water, Barley malt, Roasted barley malt, Hops, Hop extract (Note: the label does not mention any “dark” ingredients )
IBU-dark; no, data available but likely low 20s
ABV-a dark 4.8%
Overall impression-a solid dark bier; interesting dinner pairing last night with some boiled shrimp and a fancy pants chopped salad topped with chicken nuggets; nothing dark in that dinner, except the bier, of course
Ymm, Beer rating-a dark high cat 2

[devildeac]

Voodoo Ranger Juicy Haze IPA-New Belgium Brewing

Fort Collins on the can, not Asheville so not local

Credit-needed traders and some dinner/beach beers; thanks!
Style-wrong answers only
Format-12 oz can from a mixed 12 pack
See bottom for enjoy by date-10 DEC 2023 1732 230716011V 25347
Glass-yes, I used one
Appearance-tropical fruit runnings
Nose-tropical fruit salad
Mouthfeel-hazy light
Tastes-think Ocean Spray juice cocktail instead of Ocean Spray 100% juice with pineapple, orange, grapefruit and some pine and rind
Adjunct-“spice” (not identified anywhere on the can or the NB site)
Hops-Citra, Cascade, Centennial, Simcoe, Nugget; which sound more westie than hazy
Yeast-American Hefeweizen (unusual)
Grains-Pale, Wheat, C-80, Oats
IBU-42
ABV-7.5%
Overall impression-clearly less body/texture than IPAs from Veil, Burial, Treehouse, Trillium, etc
Ymm, Beer rating-high cat 2 but will be happy to slurp up my share over the next couple weeks

[devildeac]

In the glass now:

Voodoo Ranger Juice Force IPA-New Belgium Brewing

Not local

Credit-beer #2 from the “I needed traders 12 pack”
Style-hazy imperial IPA
Format-12 oz can
See bottom for enjoy by date-21 JAN 2024 1123 230721021V 269976
(lotta damn numbers )
Stemware-DFH nonic pint
Appearance-light, clear yellow orange; smallish offwhite head
Nose-tangerine and melon
Mouthfeel-sweetly bitter
Tastes-cantaloupe, tangerine, OJ, rind and a drizzle of pine
Yeast-ale
Hops-Mosaic, Chinook, Phato, Galaxy, Strata, Lotus, and Sabro ( )
(Phato? WTH?)
Grains-Pale, Oats, and Wheat
IBU-30
ABV-9.5%
Overall impression-hints of being a hybrid westie/DIPA; more body and flavor than last night’s
Ymm, Beer rating-low cat 3; despite the hop melange, the tangerine and cantaloupe flavors really shine and the supporting cast is solid

[devildeac]

Oktoberfest-Boston Beer Company

Two ounce share from Ozzie; thanks!

As solid as I remember, last one being likely 10 years ago. Caramel, brown sugar, very mild earthy hops with 5.3% ABV and 18 IBU. High cat 2.

[devildeac]

Oktoberfest-Foothills Brewing

Two ounce share from @AugustWest; thanks!

Another solid fest bier with a bit more malt/caramel/brown sugar and certainly more earthy hop bite at 42 IBUs. ABV was 5.8%. Low cat 3 being slightly better than the Sam Adams version.

[devildeac]

Time for some reviews of yesterday’s tastings, in chronological order as best as I’m able to remember

Synthesis-Garden Grove Brewing and Urban Winery

From Untappd as there was none of this on the label:

“Synthesis is a hybrid between a barleywine, a white tawny port, and a mead. Traditional barleywines are made from 100% barley but we included equal parts barley, va grown vidal blanc and chardonnay grapes, and orange blossom and wildflower honey and then aged it for 14 months in syrah and cab sauvignon barrels.”

As @fuse mentioned upthread, this was fabulous and I could/should almost stop here…

Local from one of the RVA mules.


Credit-extremely grateful @wbmcards88 for sharing!!
Style-barrel aged barleywine, mead, white tawny port hybrid; ponder that combination
Format-voluptuous 750 ml bottle, shared about 6 ways
Glassware-Duke 2010 natty pint glass
Appearance-pictured
Nose-sherry, dark caramel, redwine
Mouthfeel-“take me home tonight”
Tastes-amazingly complex including sherry, port, dark caramel, vinous, wood, wet leather and tobacco; and, if that’s not pretentious bullshit, then I can probably post a few more tasting thoughts from all who sipped this
Adjuncts/barrels/liquids-see above
IBU-11
ABV-17%
Overall impression-better than any of Brian’s Blends I’ve had from Hardywood; yea, it was that amazing
Ymm, Beer rating-high cat 3; gonna put this one on my short list in December when @fuse starts his Best Beer of 2023 thread, even though it’s technically a hybrid

I am truly sorry @Phredd3 was not able to sample this.

[devildeac]

Beer #2:

From the Vault 2022 -Fremont Brewing

Seattle ain’t local

Credit-huge thanks @OldPhiKap for the find/purchase and his solo mule train!!
Style-barrel aged cuvee
Format-bomber (?750 ml), shared about 5 ways
Glassware-rinsed and repeated
Appearance-liquid fudge
Nose-fudge, bourbon and maple
Mouthfeel-salacious
Tastes-dark chocolate fudge, cinnamon, vanilla, bourbon, molasses and wood
Adjuncts/barrels/threads-2019 Bourbon Barrel-Aged Dark Star
2019 Cacao, Vanilla, and Maple Syrup Bourbon Barrel-Aged Dark Star
2021 Coconut Cinnamon B-Bomb
2022 Coconut Cacao Bourbon Barrel-Aged Dark Star
Hops/grains-" Down & Dirty : 2-Row Pale, Roast Barley, Crystal-60,Crystal-120, Chocolate Malt, Carafa-2, and Flaked Oats with Columbus, Willamette, US Goldings, and Cascade hops with Cinnamon Chips, Toasted Coconut, Cacao Nibs, Vanilla Beans, and Maple Syrup" :face_with_spiral_eyes:
IBU-50
ABV-13.5% (not on bottle, therefore danger, Will Rogers)
Overall impression-absolutely fantastic concoction/blending
Ymm, Beer rating-high cat 3; this may also make my list of top 2023 beers

Worth perusing from their website: From the Vault — Fremont Brewing

I don’t think @Phredd3 would have enjoyed this one bit

[devildeac]

Noche Silenciosa-Mother Earth Brewing

Local!

Credit-mail ordered @fuse a year or two ago; thanks for sharing with us!!
Style-BBA flavored imperial stout; Mexican hot chocolate inspired
Format-corked and caged 750 ml bottle, shared about 5 ways
Glassware-same asw first 4 tailgate beers
Appearance-darn near black as midnight; small, tan head
Nose-Ole!
Mouthfeel-moderate viscosity
Tastes-cinnamon, vanilla, bourbon, coffee, chocolate and low Scoville Heat Units
Adjuncts-coffee, chocolate and hot stuff with likely supporting cast of cinnamon and vanilla
IBU-maybe 50
ABV-9% as I think every Silent Night and variant I’ve ever had
Overall impression-as good, if not better than I remember from attending the release party in 2018 or 2019 with CB&B, @AugustWest , @fuse and @Loveninja
Ymm, Beer rating-low/mid cat 3; if there was more heat, it’d likely drop to low cat 3 and I think the standard version is a mid cat 3

[devildeac]

Last tailgate beer, I think

Golden Angel-Wicked Weed Brewing

Kinda local but InBev owned

Credit-many thanks @OldPhiKap for muling
Style-barreled fruited sour
Format-shapely 500 ml bottle, shared among 5
Glassware-yea, yea, yea, boring
Appearance-brilliant orange; smallish head
Nose-apricot vinegar
Mouthfeel-a seriously sexy motherpucker
Tastes-Warheads/Sour Patch kids sour apricot candy, apple/peach/apricot vinegar, lemons and limes
Adjuncts-one metric (shit) ton of apricots
Barrels-not specified; coulda been plain oak or chardonnay
IBU-N/A but likely <10
ABV-7%
Overall impression-if you don’t like sours, this was NOT the ale for you; I like sours and thought this was terrific but probably not quite as sour as the Destihl Flanders Red that @fuse menioned, but close
Ymm, Beer rating/low/mid cat 3; thinking a good pairing that @fuse suggested might be sweet and sour shrimp/chicken

-if there are any I missed, I’d hope @AugustWest, @fuse. @wbmcards88, @Loveninja or our guest, @OldPhiKap would remind me or feel free to post on your own

I don’t think I’ve ever done a “reverse” ABV tasting/flight (ABV% were 17, 13.5, 9 and 7.

[devildeac]

More traders from tailgate:

RecreationAle-Terrapin Beer Company

Local for one of the tailgate attendees but he didn’t trade this one

Credit-trader from @AugustWest; thanks!
Style-session IPA
Format-12 ounce can from a mixed 12er
Glassware-Magic Hat #9 pint glass from an old buy beer/keep glass night from Tyler’s Tap Room
Appearance-pale, pale yellow; modest whitish head
Nose-diluted grapefruit juice
Mouthfeel-gentle
Tastes-pretty typical session IPA with grapefruit juice cocktail, light caramel
IPA-34
ABV-4.2%
Overall impression-not as good a Founder’s All Day IPA but a good pairing with a Jersey Mike’s sub last pm
Ymm, Beer rating-mid cat 2

[devildeac]

Depth Perception-Terrapin Beer Company

near @OPK but not near @AugustWest

Credit-trader from @AugustWest; thanks!
Style-westie DIPA
Format-12 ounce can from a mixed 12er
Glassware-rinsed Magic Hat vessel
Appearance-light copper/bronze; moderate foam
Nose-pine and resin
Mouthfeel-bitter beer face
Tastes-pine and resin, orange and grapefruit rinds
Hops-" three distinct bittering hops " and " three varietals of dry hops " (hey, that’s from Untapped )
IBU-75
ABV-9.1%
Overall impression-not well balanced in spite of the high ABV; typical old school westie DIPA
Ymm, Beer rating-mid cat 2