Beer – #85 – Yeastie Boys – Pot Kettle Black

Yeastie Boys – Pot Kettle Black - a recommendation! This one is in the style of a Porter / American Porter

The Yeastie Boys brew at the Invercargill Brewery, and for this they did it in the style of a Porter. In a 330ml bottle containing a 6% ABV beer. And having been recommended I have a big expectation.

Pot Kettle Black’ is an unusually hoppy rich and robust porter balancing the delectable dark malt flavours of traditional porter with fruity hop characteristics usually associated with modern craft pale ales. The result is a rare beer indeed: moreish, nutritious and delicious.

Pours dark, I wouldn't say black, but it's dark alright, There's not a big aroma, and less of a head. What aroma there is, is a toasted note. 'k I get chocolates, and a fruit flavour, and a burst of carbonation. Bit of a dance.

I find this though a bit "thin" on taste and body. There are lot of crowd scene flavours in the background but nothing that takes a centre stage on the palate. Nothing that appeals to me. Nothing that makes me frown though.

In pdubyah world there is beer you drink and beer you enjoy. I enjoy a lot of different beers, some of which are very drinkable.  This sits somewhere in-between, that confusing place between this is a beer I'm drinking but I'm not enjoying, but that it's not unpleasant. It's not just for me. Not a second time anyway

For that thought this is competent and the pdubyah-o-meter, in it's arbitrary way gets to a solid 7 things from a thing. Does not set a benchmark, the house on fire, the tone. I Think that there is a  mélange of things going on all of which add up to a sum of less than the parts.

I'd like to add that this is a "porter" and I've been struggling with that genre for a bit, and so my confusion might be just my confusion and not a reflection of this as a porter.

Beer – #84 – Yeastie Boys - Red Rackham

Yeastie Boys - Red Rackham -  Brewed at Invercargill Brewery, this one in the style of a Belgian Ale. 330ml bottle thereof, 6.8% ABV therein.

Red Rackham is a redoubtable red ale whose unique character brings back swashbuckling memories of our past seasonal releases ’Plan K’ and ’Return to Magenta’. Another style bending ale, it is rich and strong with a good deal more hop than the average Belgian ale and far more funk than the hoppy new world ambers. Pop a cap now on this limited release rogue ale and discover the secret treasure hidden within... or bury a few bottles, draw yourself a map for future reference, and rediscover the bounty in coming years.

I'm looking stunned as a mullet. It pours a fantastic orange golden with a decent head, I knew I'd get than hang of it. It's a bit hoppy on the nose (he said with a nod), and I head dissipated in a moment.... Crash!! there's a bucket of flavours and sensations in this, that's a bit good!

There is some sweet notes, and the sours of the hops. This owes a lot to it belgium style, and it carries it off with aplomb.  The longer it sits in the glass the warmer of taste this gets, you could easily get involved with this in a longer term relationship.

The pdubyah-o-meter finds a lazy 8.5 on this, which by the new improved arbitrariness of things makes this a pretty fine beer.  I'm smiling a goodly bit at finding this, being surprised that it was a Belgium beer, (I didn't have by reading glasses with me and didn't read the label), being surprised that it was a chuffing good Belgium beer by that measure and only disappointed by the mini-me sized bottle :-).

This would stand a good comparison to many Belgium beers and if you're into that get this, I make a rare recommendation to try on the basis that I'd probably give you your money back if you didn't like it.

 

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Beer - #83 - Hallertau - Barley Wine

Bit of a change of pace with a Hallertau Barley Wine*, which is Brewed by the Hallertau Brewbar & Restaurant, not surprisingly in the style of a Barley Wine. This is a local beer from just up the road aways - in Coatsville / Riverhead in Auckland, New Zealand.

A whopper of a 750ml bottle of 9.4% ABV beer, in an understated way.

"Experiments, inventions, adventures. This is a limited edition brew from the frontier of beer. You may like it, some won’t. But you will never know until you give it a go."

Told you I was going out on a limb with this.  But if you don't try it you can't ever know.

And after the day of chores I'm going to allow myself the leeway of giving this an anticipated go.

The Aroma is fairly sweet of something, it looks like a beer, pours like a beer. Has the colour of a nicely stained Rimu, and a golden head to match. I remember from my early drinking days that a barley wine was a "finisher" something that put in with the last half of your Guinness to kick you into the afternoon nap.

This has a more gentile approach I feel, but I think that this should still be regarded as the end of a good night, as I do on the fly research :-)

There's not a lot to remind you that you've a glass of a 9.4% beer in your hand, no harsh alcohol on the palette, but there is a subtle sweetness. I'm going to be a wag and suggest that it might be the barley.

I'm liking drinking this, there's no little gasp or frown or regret at the underlying taste, but then I'm not liking it for not really giving me a challenge to work out. As it warms in the glass there are some more intense flavours developing, but they're all pretty solidly on top of the sweetness that was always there. The alcohol is slightly more obvious though.

Not sure that I'd recognise this as a Barley wine if you plonked it in front of me at random, and for that reason the pdubyah-o-meter mooches to a 7 arbitrary things from it's equally arbitrary scale of things. As a "beer" beer it's ok, perhaps you need to have a better nose or palate or something that would make your eyebrow twitch. I don't get it yet, but that sets me a new challenge of Barley Wine as a thing.

And a reminder that if I'm twitter later, or spotify, and in my own happy place this was the reason.

*A Barley Wine is a strong, top-fermenting ale, with an alcohol contents of at least 9% and up to 13% (or more) by volume. Hops may be hardly noticeable at all or very noticeable. Sip them out of the special glass, that will concentrate the aroma. They are excellent with cigars or with dessert.

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Chores for Peace…. Again

Today was slightly easier but more outdoorsy

1. Refurb the BBQ. Although we've had out bbq a few years it's still good to go, it has a ignition thing that's a bit heath-robinson, they didn't have the right one and so I brought the next best thing, and with a bit of gaffer tape - good as new. good as new with gaffer tape addition.

• Change the "Rails" the bits that the flames come out of.


• Change the knob things on the front


• Change the sand or whatever that stuff is


• Cook breakfast


• Realise most of the problem of poor function was the fact that gas bottle was all but empty.

1. Mow the lawn. I get ver few opportunities to mow the lawn, seems "scalp" is not a setting acceptable in a suburban environment. I took guidance and advice and it's not quite jar-head short. I even hosed down the lawn mower and cleaned the old grass off it, MrsPdubyah is going to get a stern word about looking after the equipment.




2. 30 Seconds of cleaning the outdoor furniture. I'm going to own up here and admit my contribution to this was purchase of the cleaner, and some free advice.




3. Plant Chilli seeds.

• Visit garden center to get seeding mix


• Buy 5litre bag for 8 seeds. Might have a surplus of potting mix.


• Check out the other seeds on offer


• get confused


• just buy what I went for, give MrsPdubyah the chance to go the plant shop tomorrow, such a good husband

1. Wash 2 cars. This was the pay-back for the advice on cleaning the outdoor furniture. Got a bit wet as I'm so cack-handed with a hose.  Still I now have a bright red car instead of a dusty grey one. Mostly. I think I missed a bit or two.




2. Also got a haircut today.

Now I'm going to have a beer.

I might be allowed even though I forgot to get a new gas bottle for the soda-stream.

Beer - #82 - 8 Wired - The Big Smoke

Tonight then - a 8 Wired The Big Smoke Smoked Porter. Brewed at Renaissance Brewing, in the style of a " Smoked*", and they do this in Blenheim, New Zealand.

"Now what is this? A smoked beer?? It really isn’t as crazy as it sounds. 250 years ago virtually all beers were smoked (it’s true, Google it!), but with the dawning of the industrial revolution most of the smoke lifted. However, in the German town of Bamberg the flame has quite literally been kept alive and to this day the town’s brewers produce world renowned beers brewed with their own special rauchmalz (beechwood smoked malt). We’ve taken our best porter recipe and added a good measure of that same Bamberg Rauchmalz. The smoke mingles beautifully with the rich, dark roasted chocolate flavours of the porter without being overpowering. Although it pairs extremely well with smoked seafood, barbeques, strong cheeses and hearty stews, its food friendliness isn’t limited to savouries; chocolate and caramel based deserts are great companions too! Trust us; it really isn’t as crazy as it sounds."

Previously I've tried the Yeastie Boys Rex Attitude, although that was before I had a pdubyah-o-meter, Suffice to say that it was a beer that really really really challenged me. Really. I like that about the Yeastie boys though they're doing their own thing, and that's ok by me. And the McCashin Stoke Bomber Smoky Ale of course.

Bu this is about 8 Wired though, they've settled on a packaging that's similar over their range, it's the new thing in branding. This is then a 500ml bottle of a 6.2% ABV beer.

Dark Porter colour, mocha head of a decent sized, and the immediate aroma of wood shavings like you get in woodwork shops, and then that settles to a smoked aroma.

To the taste. And I smiled. This.

The Smoked flavour really adds to this on the palate, there's no battle going on for attention it just is what it is, beer in the smokey style.  I think this is a nicely balanced beer, it's drinking ok and leaving a decent lacing in the glass. Still smiling.  That the smoke dominates this isn't a bad thing, there's no added sweetness from malts and no background bitterness from hops.

8 Wired have done a good thing well. The pdubyah-o-meter swings  to a 8.5 arbitrary things making this a decent beer decently enjoyed. I'm getting harsher and more demanding of beers that light my fire so 8.5 is a bit good. I'd go another of these, but that would be because I'm enjoying it as a beer and a drink, you don't have to contemplate at every mouthful  what it is you're enjoying.  A beer for drinking and not for challenging you. It works.

*Smoked : the classic smoked beers hail from Bamberg in Franconia, Germany. These are made using malt that has been smoked over beechwood. The insistent smokiness may be applied to any lager style. In North America, the same technique has been used to make smoked porter. Whiskey malt beers are made using peat-smoked malt.

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Beer - #81 - Yeastie Boys - Gunnamatta IPA

There they go again, the Yeastie Boys -This time with the Yeastie Boys Gunnamatta IPA, Brewed at the Invercargill Brewery, and this one is a Spice/Herb/Vegetable beer.

"A new world India Pale Ale with subtle grapefruit and lemon hop flavours intermingling amongst the explosive bergamot orange and leafy aromatics of the ‘Earl Grey Blue Flower’ English tea.

Inspired by the instrumental surf rock opening track of Paul Kelly’s 2004 album ‘Ways and Means’. as Paul Kelly says himself: "Deeper water, leading me on..."

cripes... 330ml of a 6/5% People’s Choice Winner at Great Australasian Beer SpecTAPular 2012 beer, that's talking it up a bit don't you think?

After the day I had this could be a panacea and good for what ails me. And opening was a surprise and the contents so keen to see the light of day came forth.... all over the table. Pale and golden, nice frothy head (given the excitable nature I'd expect nothing less), but leaves no lacing in the glass.

This is a very aromatic on the palate beer, floral, almost violet, and there is some lemon, and on top of a nice mellow malt, and a background of  the astringent.  A mixed bag really. It does a good job at providing a distraction for my day just past. This is unusual as a beer, it has a nice mouthfeel, and the right carbonation, and presents itself as a respectable thing. I like it.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as an easy 8.5 arbitrary things, and I'm smiling because you actually never know what it is you're getting until you get it. I don't get why it's an IPA though, there is some more research that I need to make before making bold claims like that, but I guess it has to sit somewhere on the scale of things.

A nice little beer, in a nicely presented bottle, from those nice people at Yeastie boys, and thank you to the nice man at Liquorland who never ceases to amaze me with his ability to stock such a great range of beer.  Surf's up!

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The one with the updated Resume / CV thing

I've been reviewing my resume / CV thing.

I've been with the same company since 1999, so that'd be 13 years and a half.

In that time I've had at least 4 different definable positions, and a few other side projects.

It's been a goodly amount of learning, adventure, experience and enjoyment.

But it behoves me to update the information and make sure that my CV is as presentable s possible, because you never know.

Depending on who you talk to there are a number of "best practice" things that you "have" to have.

So I had to sit, think and then make the words make sense. I don't think I'm a fantastic wordsmith, or even an average one, but these are things that might daunt the average person

The best practice things that should be included are;

• A Career "Objective"


• My key "Attributes"


• A "Personal Statement"

Then list the things that I'd done with the highlights of the wins that were important

Then I had to think of some referee's
Then if I was involved in some things, like coaching or community - apparently to make me human

It's all very difficult

Beer - #80 - Yeastie Boys + Liberty Brewing - Yakima Raven

A few beers ago I tried the Yeastie Boys – Motueka Raven. This time I'm up for the Yakima Raven.

This one similarly brewed by the Yeastie Boys in their Invercargill Brewery in the style of a Black IPA.  Yeastie Boys are from Wellington, New Zealand, and Liberty Brewing, they're all over the internet.

"It’s a knee-trembling honour to face him in our annual Yakima/Motueka hop challenge. Try this US hopped Black IPA alongside our NZ version and experience the difference 11,500km makes."

And the thing is that it was a few beers since I had the Motueka Raven. So the challenge is with me.

There's a goodly fantastic beer bitterness smell as you open the tiny 330ml bottle of  6.5% ABV beer, Pours dark, with an off white head. The initial Hop aroma though fades quite quickly, as does the head, it's as if it all wanted to burst out at the one time. So we settle in for a low aroma beer.

The initial  taste isn't a disappointment either, lots of the bittery hop taste and a decent linger.  Underneath the hops you can taste the malts trying to do their thing, and they carry it off with some credit. This is a high burp beer.

All the time I'm thinking that I'm  not a fan, that I'm trying to like this in a really hard way, but there is the crash of the bitterness that is the thing. That's all the thing there is though. As it sits I do get a caramel on the aroma, that's somewhat pleasing. I liked this more as it warmed in the glass, but then it just finished and I had no more.

To the chase though, I'm not sure If I'm over thinking it, or that the bitterness is that's all Im going to get. I might not just get  the "Black IPA" thing, I might not get the IPA thing. Of the two beers though I think the first just shades it on it's overall balance. If it was a choice. I wish I'd had the foresight to try these side to side, back to back and then I'd be more sure of a winner.

I do think it's a terribly good idea to have a "similar but different" beer competition, even if it is amongst yourself.

The pudubyah-o-meter thinks that because this is just a shade bitter- all the time - that this is 6 from 10 arbitrary things from an equally arbitrary number. I'm worried that in my effort to like everything I'm being too kind.

The nice people at Liquorland stock these, and a goodly lot more beers besides, and as a bonus I found a gift card so this is a freebie!

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Chores for Peace....

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="75"] Incandescent Bipin light bulb (Photo credit: Wikipedia)[/caption]

I'm on a roll with the chores today, and you know how chores can be the mundane. So in no particular order (but actually the order I did them in);

1. Change one of the tiny halogen light bulbin the kitchen
   
   
   
   • Find replacement bulb.
   
   
   • Take everything out of cupboard
   
   
   • Locate bulb
   
   
   • Put everything back in cupboard
   
   
   • Change bulb
   
   
   
   


2. Change a different bulb in the kitchen
   
   
   
   • See step one and repeat
   
   
   
   


3. 
   
   [caption id="" align="alignright" width="75"] English: Advertising postcard,  (Photo credit: Wikipedia)[/caption]
   
   "Fix" washing machine
   
   
   
   • Washing machine "overflowed" in the week, it's my job to know why. Apparently.
   
   
   • Discuss possible causes, get ridiculed.
   
   
   • Decide that it's nothing more than generally blocked and needs a cleaner.
   
   
   • Mix cleaner, administer, wait a bit.
   
   
   • Discuss why it did not work a bit.
   
   
   • Ignore discussion and go for something a bit manual.
   
   
   • Get under sink, disassemble pipe "A".
   
   
   • Find pipe "A" has water in it, pour into sink.
   
   
   • Find towel to mop up under sink where you just poured all the water over yourself and floor
   
   
   • disassemble pipe "B"  that us attached to "A". being the "U shaped one.
   
   
   • Remove two clothes peg and about half a sock's worth of lint"
   
   
   • Do a little happy dance.
   
   
   • Ask wifey how a clothes peg in let alone two made it into the sink?
   
   
   • get reproachful look.
   
   
   • get back under sink.
   
   
   • reassemble pipes.
   
   
   
   


4. 
   
   [caption id="" align="alignright" width="75"] Français : Taille-haie Husqvarna 323 HD 60. Taille-haie thermique standard. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)[/caption]
   
   Trim the garden hedge
   
   
   
   • Try to avoid this one, but whilst I was on chore 3 MrsPdubyah has been on the intertubes and the local hire pool is open
   
   
   • Wait for MrsPdubyah to change, since she wants to visit the burley man at the hire place
   
   
   • Hire hedge trimmer, industrial sized
   
   
   • Trim hedge to required standard and height, width and density.
   
   
   • Only nearly cut myself.
   
   
   • get sympathy.
   
   
   • get told to get on with the hedge.
   
   
   • get told to do the hedge at the back.
   
   
   • get supervised.
   
   
   • get told to do it some more
   
   
   • get a drink
   
   
   • get back onto the job
   
   
   • get told to do it some more
   
   
   • apparently "it's not even" is full and complete instruction on how to trim a hedge to a satisfactory standard
   
   
   • massacre hedge out of spite
   
   
   • get congratulated, how's that happen?
   
   
   • take trimmer back, pay the man, have blokey laugh about the peace I've just earned.
   
   
   
   


5. 
   
   [caption id="" align="alignright" width="75"] Coffee cup (Photo credit: @Doug88888)[/caption]
   
   Get Coffee
   
   
   
   • put petrol in car.
   
   
   • order coffee.
   
   
   • wait for coffee beans to grow.
   
   
   • wait for cow to be born.
   
   
   • wait until cow can produce milk.
   
   
   • I'm sure Oil is made quicker than this.
   
   
   • get home with luke warm coffee.
   
   
   • MrsPdubyah abandons gardening in favour of a magazine.
   
   
   • instead of music the gently whirl and beep of washing machine in the background
   
   
   
   

All is at peace in house, and all I have to do is buy some new bulbs and hide them for the next installment of change the bulb....

When Sci-Fi loses the plot – Revolution

Revolution - our entire way of life depends on electricity. So what would happen if it just stopped working.....  15 years later, life is back to what it once was long before the industrial revolution

I've only watched a couple of episodes and I have a couple of questions, and an observation.

1. No electricity means no "lots of things", including combustion engines, and jet engines. So... back to horse and buggy then.

There have been a couple of scenes set around train tracks, so I get no diesel trains, but clearly "electricity also means that you can't have "steam trains", nor those amusing manual bogey cart things with the handle that goes up and down.

In town you can't have steam driving anything, and forgive me for a being a  naive but aren't bicycles pedal power? Yet to see one of those?

And there are scenes that have a clock in them, I probably need to include "clockwork" into "depends on electricity"

No windmills either. the ubiquitous electricity thing again.

No hang-gliders, dirigibles, kites either. It's really harsh having no electricity

1. Unfeasibly pretty people , and the chubby guy from Google.  All the female parts appear to be tick the box stereo-type not unattractive people. The men, well in a rehash of so many  plot devices we have to have the pretty-yet-needy-in-some-way boy, the (still) overweight chap, the dark recluse and the bad-man.




2. Shaving, did I mention that, seems that you can still forge knives and swords, and have a shave. No electricity needed there, if only they could remember how to harness the power of the flames to make steam......




3. Everything is in ruins, cities have crumbled. Concrete will do that without regular electricity.




4. The "Government" and the "Rebels" - somehow you have to stretch that there is a ruling government Thiefdom in some way, and they're all about crushing the "rebels"  by marching small groups of "militia" around taking taxes.




5. Guns. In 15 years guns are outlawed and illegal to own, says the militia, and everyone but everyone has a crossbow. Mostly. It's like either all the gunpowder ran out, or that all the manual bullet press machines broke, or something. Makes no sense. Crossbows make no sense.  At one point the Militia turn up with Muiskets!

Finally though. Electricity. Switched off, somehow, over the everywhere. But not so that it has any effect on the electrical impulses of the brain and body.  Perhaps they mean "mechanical electricity", the sort that keeps bridges from collapsing and buildings from crumbling and batteries. But not brain or body electricity, that'd be no story though, not even zombies

Finally finally... Which reminds me that they do have a fishing community but haven't yet figured out paddle steamers. Clean clothes appear to be in endless supply, they've invented the "everpress" technology to make them look crisp and new in the 15 years since they've not been able to manufacture "the everything"

Beer - #80 - Rogue - Dry Hopped St. Rogue Red Ale

It's about that time of the day when all there is left is a roll of the dice, and this is the last chance saloon (this week) and I usher in the the  Rogue Dry Hopped St. Rogue Red Ale.
Well it's brewed by Rogue Ales Newport, Oregon USA, and they do this one in the style of an Amber Ale.

You might pick from the visage there is hope rather than certainty in this.

I know that Rogue have a fair decent thing going on, having had the pleasure of  some of their output,  please please please....

This then in a brilliantly presented 650Ml of a 6.2% ABV beer, in a way that it's a  thing going on and demanding an attention. Lets get it on.

I know this is the last beer of the night, and so I look forward to A Reddish copper in color, a roasty malt flavor with a hoppy sprucy finish. Saint Rogue Red is made with two-row Harrington, Klages and Munich malts, along with Hugh Baird 30-37, 13-17 Carastan, and Crystal 70-80 malts (44.4% speciality grains .39 lbs grain per bottle); Chinook and Centennial hops.

All of that and the blue cheese, crackers and a bit of A-League averageness.

There's a big hops in this, it's ok, and pours like a real beer, head and all. See I can do it. It's dark like you think a beer should look too.

There's a zinginess on the tounge, and not for the first time this week in a weird way I found turkish delight, which isn't normal, but might be forgiven for the sweetness.

As a learning thought I 'm getting that this is  all about the dry  hops, which  add the sweetness  and the  "green" taste. If you get it you get it. You really have to have this as a lesson, a teaching though, it's not something you could stumble across without a teacher. You have you have to have this explained A v B, And I learnt this from Ian at  the WilliamsWarne shop.

The most of me wants to fly to Oregon, not for the "trail" but just for the this. I realise that in drinking and then thinking about he beer makes you a bit of a twat. That you'd sit here and do the big aroma, length, palate thing in some way that makes you have a real opinion, you drink beer because you like the beer. There's no science in it, except there seem to be.

This is terribly good beer. although the sweetness might have you thinking twice if you had to sit and drink more than a prudent amount.

Not a "red" by any way that I know a "red" beer, and that makes the pdybyah-o-meter get to just a 7 things from 10 things in it's own arbitrary way. It's just too sweet and cloying, it's not bad I'm glad it wasn't my first beer, and I' not upset it was my last

Get some of this, there is a good story in the drinking, and as part of a journey through an evening this would be something you should include, it's nice, it's a bit good, and if you arrived with a  bottle I'd cuddle you like a brother.

Oh I forgot the blue cheese and became enamoured of this beer, which is a good thing said MrsPdubyh. Me not being daft decided she was right and that was all she wrote.  he said.

Beer - #79 - Mussel Inn - Dark Horse

Right then, last chance saloon the Mussel Inn Dark Horse Black Beer - Which is brewed by The Mussel Inn, and they do this in the style of a Porter in the deepest Onekaka, New Zealand.

To be fair this is the last of the shopping basket for this round of beers, that was mostluy a Porter. Question is then best for last, or last for a reason?

It's an all or nothing deal then, no pressure.

5% ABV in a 330ml bottle, this has a hard road ahead of it to be more than just a bottle of beer. at the 5% level they pretend that this is where Heineken, or Stella, et al sit , in the continental class.

So then, given the label that has a lack of commitment "Very dark and roasty – not too dry. A solid and dependable performer - pulls away strong at the finish." I'm really really really contemplating a wee dram.

I'm not comfortable with the presentation of this beer, I'm not actually sure what the label is reaching for, the kitsch, the edgy, the boutique, or what, I chose this despite not being drawn in by it.

So it has an aroma that's a porter, it's dark like a porter, and has the roasted that fits. And I got a head on the pour. Of course the chocolate, and the malts, that's the thing right?

And then we get to the taste, it's like an eager puppy scrabbling around, but this is thinner than a catwalk model, there is bulk over substance going on, and an unpleasant aftertaste of the malts running away.

The Mussel Inn are producing a bunch of competent beers, but they are not leaders, or trend setters, or making their own path, they're just making a beer.

The pdubyah-o-meter swings in a panic to a 5 arbitrary things from 10 equally arbitrary things. This is a beer that wouldn't ever be voted "beer most likely to" anything...  I'm going to cry.

I might have missed the whole Porter thing, I'm sure I have, they seem to be a half-way house between nev and er . This does not get better the longer it sits, In fact I began to find it a bit unpleasing towards the end, and again felt that 330ml was going to be a challenge or me.

I can do better than this, and so should they. If they've caught an eclectic audience based on local or label or image or reputation then big ups of the Mussel Inn, I would though be counselling them against entering a beer competition, he says as an expert. bwahahahah.

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Beer - #78 - Three Boys - Oyster Stout

So a change to a Stout from a Porter with this a Three Boys Oyster Stout, Brewed by Three Boys Brewery Christchurch, New Zealand, in the style of a Stout. Presented in the the brilliant same livery that the three boys beer do it, in a 500ml (pint) of a 6.2% ABV sized beer.  that leads with...

"Doctors once prescribed stout as a revitalising tonic, while brewers enhanced their potency with additional ingredients, like oysters, which had desirable properties of their own. The Three Boys Oyster Stout contains select malt and hops to produce a beer that is rich and complex. And, who knows, our addition of genuine Bluff oysters to this very special brew might be just what the doctor ordered."

I read that and I was reminded of Mackesons beer "looks good, tastes good, and by golly it does you good".... well it was the 80's, and which anyway was a milk stout. An Oyster Stout however....  well they chuck a handful of oysters in, apparently...  <insert cynical laugh here>.

and the Aroma is something I might not have a word for..  Pours rich dark thick and has a head like an ice cream, I WIN on my battle for a beer with a head. I'd stop now as a winner but I have to push on and drink this.  There's a burnt toasted roastiness in the aroma to tempt me.....

A whole taste change of pace from a Porter, I have no idea what I was thinking,  that this was a logical step. Advice gratefully accepted...

The palate is one of a bitter rush and there is longness that is somewhat a welcome old friend after the last few front of palate visitors. There's not much of one thing, there is a  chocolate, a roasted malt perhaps but what does "oyster" taste like or add, I have no idea, it could be there waving like a mad thing and I'd never know.

Three boys know how to put a beer together, so I've found, and I'm for no reason that I can remember, not a fan boy. There might be a reason, I'm picking it might be the Wheat beer that's upset me, I'll have to give it another crack.

This though, the Stout, is not offensive, not a world beater, or not a benchmark setter. It's competent and inoffensive, and might even be good for me.

You'd be confused then if you were reading the last 400 words and wanted to know what the heck!. I've had a couple of  porters recently , and this is nothing like what that is, but then this isn't like anything like I expected this to be. Are you still with me?

As not a porter - wow!, as a stout - meh.

The pdubyah-o-meter mooches to a 6. Honestly I feel bereft of an experience. Buy this, please, but not because you're edgy or cutting edge, but you're either a total fanboy or lacking in adventure. I might go and have a weep.

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Beer - #77 - KJD Brewing - Chocolate Cherry Porter

In for a penny....  KJD Brewing Chocolate Cherry Porter Brewed at the Wigram Brewing Company in the style of a Porter (we're on a theme here) and this one is from Christchurch, New Zealand.

So then the story advances a frame to this. And as always they love to talk it up "Alluringly rich, our deep mahogany coloured porter has a delightful malty sweetness with notes of chocolate and toffee. Entwined within a delicate balance of dried fruit esters reminiscent of plums, prunes and raisins, Marlborough sun-ripened cherries added in the final stage of fermentation make this delectable beer dance on your tastebuds."

Have to say that the label gets a 10 but they could gussy up the lid an this would get 11/10 just for looking great in the bottle. 500ml of a 6% beer, this one a 2010 "vintage" which isn't something you often say after the word "beer".  It's also a serve a room temperature beer, which is a disaster, unless I move my office to the fridge where this has been for a bit of R & R.

I don't mind going against advice though, or against my better judgement so I'm just going to get in. There's a lovely aroma, deep chocolate. And a disappearing head. It's a nice dark colour, you could talk yourself into seeing a redness, and the malt sweetness adds to the intrigue.  It's fairly tangy on the tongue, but not so much that it's a distraction, and then a lovely smooth taste, sort of fruity comforting, there's nothing deep or mysterious in this, except that there is.  And as it warms and sits I begin to get more of the flavour and body, and it makes me wonder if this is a fruit based beer or a flavoured porter, it's a line call.

Lets say that I'd be comfortable to buy this for friends to drink, I'd be happy that there is enough challenge in this to make them enjoy it without it being intrusive or a wrestle for them, and that makes this ok in my book.  But it relegates this to a beer that you'd serve your father, and if you're looking to have a beer that you have an experience with, and I've had a few of those, then whist the intrigue of the taste and implied cherry-ness might catch you eye it really isn't more then a glance.

Annoying that though. I might have completely not got the Porter thing, and that's my fault and not that of the beer.  The pdubyah-o-meter settles in it's arbitrary way at about a low 7, which is the average, or the level where I think I'm prepared to enjoy a beer without having a hissy fit about it. I wish I'd enjoyed a better journey with each mouthful, and discovered a new thing each time, or the same thing but better.

The end thing is that  I'd like to feel that I'm drinking a beer to discover and enjoy it, and I find myself thinking with this, and  that  in this case , that I might be drinking this because it's a beer that ok to drink, which although in and of itself not a bad thing, but that if I wanted a beer just to drink that I might be drinking something else, this just isn't a memorable beer.  And that is the worst grammatical sentence I tried to put together, so to summarise: "B+ must try harder"

Beer - #76 - Mussel Inn - Captain Cooker Manuka Beer

Mussel Inn Captain Cooker Manuka Beer, then. MrsPdubyah is watching the teevee and this seems like a distraction. Its a pretty pink label and it holds within a 330ml  portion of a 5% ABV beer, but wait...

This is brewed by the world Famous Mussel Inn in the syle of a Spice/ Herb/ Vegetable beer and they're world famous in Onekaka, New Zealand

I'm going to expect all this "A red brown beer flavoured with the freshly picked tips of the Manuka tree. A very distinctive beer with proven medicinal qualities. The only one out of 240 New Zealand beers to rate 10 out of 10 in Keith Stewarts book 'The complete guide to New Zealand Beer'. Also featured in 'Best - a New Zealand compendium'. Compiled by Ella Griffiths, published by Awa Press. Also available on tap at Hopgood's in Trafalgar St. Nelson, The Abbey at Appleby and Jester House in Tasman"

Medicinal beer. Proven. (puts Skeptical hat to one side), perhaps this is the beer that is a cure for a hangover....

On the aroma I get a bit of honey....  I'd struggle to say this was a "red" on the pour. There is a bunch of other things going on in the aroma, none of which I get but I'm reaching for.

There is honey and I get Turkish Delight on the palate. Turkish Delight! I'm making things up, but no that's what I have - you might think roses or rose water, I have a sweet tooth.  It's not over hopped, and the sweetness undernotes are not that bad.

The carbonation is good, there's an sense that this is a solid predictable beer , and that the next one would be the same, a confidence, for something a bit edgy that's a big thing.

I still  get a candy floss, turkish delight or rose water thing, and I think that's by design. The carbonation is a bit annoying too, that's something I could do without to be honest. I might be looking for more a honey sweetness if I was going to have a bash at this for an evening, As a once-er or a round-table for a consensus this isn't such bad thing.

Lets get to the gritty, Keith Stewart is a plank to suggest this is a 10/10, Ella Griffiths also needs to get out more. This isn't a 10/10 or a best of anything ever, not even ow!. I'd hate to have to make a top 10 though, but I do know this isn't close by a mile.

It's not bad but at the arbitrary pdubyah-o-meter this isn't more than 6 arbitrary things from 10 other arbitrary things. Look hey if you brought me a 6 pack over I'd admire you and we'd chew the fat, but there are thicker and longer beers than this, not that this is thin, it's just not a stayer, and barely a starter. I think you'd tire of the roses pretty smartish, I've got the end of this and I'm glad it was 330ml and not 500ml.

If you're going to show off something that it somehow a unique New Zealand thing, the Manuka, the honey then fill your boots. If it's something a little more than a beer for a diplomat or your mother in law that you're looking for then this might not be the beer for you.

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Beer- #75 - Three Boys Porter

Ok, time to claim back the night.... Three Boys Porter  which is brewed by the Three Boys Brewery, after the style of a Porter, and they're in  Christchurch, New Zealand holla!

"Such was the popularity of porter in old England that legend has it townsfolk drowned when vats at a local brewery burst, flooding the streets. The Three Boys recreate this legendary beer, balancing toasted malts to give a rich, complex flavour. Fuggles hops maintain tradition while select New Zealand hops add spiciness that carries this beer into the new world" it says......

So... a 500ml of 5.3% ABV Porter, delivered in the magnificent way that 3 boys is, all the same, all different. Love it.

Straight up then  the aroma is roasty toasty...  Pours like a champion, head and all, dark and inviting, get in! It really is generous with a deep maltiness on the nose, I'm scared to drink it lest I be let down again.

Oh no, wait,  that's quite nice. Ir's chocolate, nutty, a bit deep, a bit shallow, like a white knight to the rescue on an otherwise average night in. There's a lot of things all doing their thing with this. The problem now is that I'm drinking this as a beer to drink not actually thinking about what I'm tasting. I'd like to linger over why it's making a tap dance on the tongue. This is, at the end of a long day, a bit of the good thing. Not love, but a deep affection.

You know the worse thing? I only brought the one.  The pdubyah-o-meter loves this at 9 from 10. That's a big number based on the last few beers that I had, and I think today, now, this beer, it's deserving.

I following a friend around the beer tastes, I feel like it's a competition and I have a deep respect for Dan,  he knows who he is, and I think he likes a Porter. Well I can’t recall a better porter,  but then I’m a beginner, and if this is the bar then there is a big treat somewhere ahead. Start here and follow the yellow brick road.... or the three boys...  charge.........

and yes I remembered that there was a Mocha Porter, this is all that and the glitter.

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Beer - #74 - Harringtons Brewer’s Selection Hop Tremor IPA

"A Brewers Selection" - Harringtons Brewer’s Selection Hop Tremor IPA. as brewed by Harringtons Breweries (Christchurch) in the styleof an India Pale Ale (IPA) from the South Island, to be accurate Christchurch, New Zealand South Island.

"the high hopping of harringtons brewers selection IPA is not only noticeable in the nose but especiailly in the finish. the lingering bitter finish of this beer is not harsh or stringent, but crisp and pronounced. Hop tremor IPA is crafted by harringtons brewers with no less than 7 hop additions." It says, so talking it up a bit there then, expect fireworks.

So the label is a bit meh, but it is a 500ml of 7.4% ABV IPA, and I've grown to like the IPA and the Hops. and this is a "Brewers Selection" after all.

and blow me sideways, it pours without a head, and aroma is not really a big thing, but there is a sweet smell of something, something that's not hops, and it's a cloudy amber. I'm actually doubting this.

but then there is a sweet taste or caramel, and a handy amount of bittery hops to keep it company, making this a pleasant surprise on the palate. It's on the sweet side though, not sure where that  comes from, over malted? I don't get the alcohol which makes this a bit of a dark horse though, something that you might get in trouble with after a few, the balance of the sweet and sour isn't a total bad hair day.

You think that given a choice of 7 hops though that this would be at a bitter end of the scale, 7 hops seems like an awful lot to achieve something that's laden with sweet malts. How did that go so wrong?

I'm sorry but for me that adds up to a a swing with no ding for this as a beer that sort of announces  loudly that you going to get a "hop tremor" perhaps my understanding of that might have been made askew by too many B grade movies, I expected snakes on a plane, swamp monster, gargantuan things, a Bruce Willis action flick,  this is all a  bit Hugh Grant.

The pduybyah-o-meter would swing to a 6 arbitrary things from 10 given a nudge. It's not all that and a bag of chips.  I'd be happy to sit in a nice place and nicely entertain myself with a few of these, but as a spectacle and knee trembler this isn't it.

Darn! It's hard work finding he perfect beer.

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Beer - #73 - De Molen - Bed and Breakfast

For the second act I present De Molen Bed & Breakfast,  This is a beer you have to enjoy within 2 years, says the label.  In a panic I realise that this is brewed in the style of a  Spice / Herb / Vegetable beer,  by Brouwerij de Molen in Bodegraven, Netherlands. The one I have was bottled on the 23rd August this year, it's still in the cot! I'm not waiting 2 years to enjoy this, sorry.

And for real - a vegetable beer!. I feel like I'm plumbing new depths. The label indicates a coffee expectation. A 330ml bottle of a 4.4% ABV beer, which is about standard. I'm a bit scared about opening this based on the last beer I had, the Heen and Weer.

This one is so excitable in the bottle even before I pour it it's trying to escape, all over the place, and then there is coffee in abundance.

Pale yellow with a frivolous head, I'm still smarting from being caught out by the aroma, which really is all of coffee. This must be by design, the aroma not the catching me out.

Surprise! the taste is of coffee. Fizzy cold coffee, and a bit of chocolate. I'm intrigued by this because it's strangely odd and alluring.  There is an hoppiness underlying the taste, you can tell it's there.

A confusing state of affairs to arbitrarily make this an arbitrary score on the pdubyah-o-meter and I get a 6. But only because coffee aside this is a bit thin, and if you're going to be a leader you need to deliver on more than one thing, I think. If they could get a little more out of this it'd be a something, that might be cranking up the alcohol to make this a finisher beer, but at it's current strength it sits as a curiosity.

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Beer - #72 - De Molen - Heen and Weer (Back and Forth)

De Molen - Heen & Weer  - Brewed by Brouwerij de Molen in the style of an Abbey Tripel and this one comes a long way to be here from Bodegraven, Netherlands.

It says on the label "Best within 5 years" to be honest I expect to be through with this in under an hour. This little treasure of a 9.2% ABV beer in a 330ml bottles was born on the 2nd February 2012. So in man years at a month per year it's 8 years old already!

so  Heen & Weer - pours a brilliant  gorgeous orange colour, and with a fearsome head, slightly cloudy, well carbonated. I failed to take due care and at the last I managed the sediment and turned it all very cloudy.

Bazinga! What a glass full of flavour. That really did being a smile to the dial, based on the aroma I wasn't expecting a huge drama, I love it when I'm surprised. Then of course it's a Tripel, and that's a big clue on what you've got in store.

The head settles into a pleasant depth, the caramel aroma escapes, nicely rich and sweet. it's all a bit good. Taste is lovely fruity and ideal for a quiet Sunday in the afternoon sun. A couple could see you head off for a nap though at 9.2% ABV. As it sits longer the under bitterness becomes apparant, and creeps in, just a peek, not a jazz hands entrance, but it's there, and the alcohol is well hidden in the overall taste of things.

The pdubyah-o-meter loves this, but then I've made no secrets of my enjoyment of all things Wit, Tripel, Trappist et al. Not sure I ever had a Dutch beer though, if this is the bar then they're doing ok. Loves it at 8.5 from 10 arbitrary things from a thing, loves it like a comfort blanket.

There is no fancy packaging in this, it's just a tidy bottle with a tidy beer inside. Just like it should be. Couple of these and a tasting platter of things would make a old man very happy.

and a late save face ....... ok look to make it all better, yes Heineken and Grolsh and Amstel all from Holland. All brewed in Onehunga locally, not dutch beer :-), besides which despite the odd lapse of judgement and ignorance I'm trying to pick the boutique beers from an expanding shelf of things.  I'm going to sit in the naughty corner for a bit and think about my lapse. 

Happy Families - yes you've left home but.....

MrsPdubyah and me, well we're a nuclear family, 2 adults, 2 children, cat, or more correctly now 4 adults and cat.

Even more correctly 3 adults at home and one who's left to be an adult. The only constant is the cat, and there are plans to get a kitten, it's not a good thing.

The transition from at home to away isn't a clear cut as you'd think. Number one son remains top of mind for MrsPdubyah.

And to be honest I'm about as bad, if not worse. #1 son tells us that they have everything they need, and that they're saving to get the better things. Now as an aside this doesn't appear to hold them back in the buying of needful things like DVD's and gadgets, but that would be mean spirited of me to point out.

Anyway, my  weak moment came when I know that boy child, who has to wear safety shoes for work essentially destroyed them, and they've been hanging off his feet. In a moment of madness I brought him new ones. Not cheap ones mind, because they come in cheap, mid and executive . But enough.

I'm compelled however to balance this out and so I spent an equal amount, after negotiation, on upgrading the iPod for girl child.

I'm poorer and yet richer for the experience.

MrsPdubyah, you'd think would be more pragmatic. I don't think she is.

The latest thing is a bed. Now when you're being frugal and on a budget that would make a monk frown, what you get is what you get, and so they have what is best described as "average" by way of a bed. Lucky for boy child there is a tax rebate, and as such he's in a position to upgrade from fleapit to actual bed.

Have you ever noticed however that everything you want is at least 10%, and often 25% or more than you want to pay.  You can get a fairly decent bed for $700, and a really decent one for $1,000 (New Zealand Peso's) (and they are long term investment, I'm not canvassing where to buy a cheap bed) (comes with a 10 year warranty)

So in a 2-1 deal we'll make the difference between want to spend, and what we want them to spend.

This we justify in out heads as the difference between not being able afford more than noodles for lunch, and having to cut back on chocolate to afford bread, and for a thing that makes a difference. A big thing. Sure we could provide food, but you've left home, fend for yourself, however in the reality of things a bed is pretty important, you spend 1/3 of your life in one asleep, and being young a significant amount more staying awake.

So we're sticking to out guns, you've left home, make your own way, but just in case keep us in the loop because we're a soft touch for some things. Not that we have to be, or that in some way what you're doing is different to what we did when we were at the same stage of life, but we know it's hard, and there is a difference, relative to, the amount of money you need to make a difference and don't have, to what the same amount money means to us. In the big scheme of things.

And we're not a soft touch, there isn't a bottomless money pit. And can I have my credit card back please.

 

Beer- #71 - Moa Imperial Stout

Woo Hoo - Moa Imperial Stout, custom bottle, cork, cage, all happening in a 375Ml of 10.2% ABV bottle of beer.

Brewed by Moa Brewing Company - Blenheim, New Zealand And this is the style of an Imperial Stout.

"Moa Imperial Stout Barrel Reserve is a very strong, upfront and rich offering of this famous Moa style. Aged in oak Pinot Noir barrels, this beer not only displays coffee and mocha characters but also some sweet and savory notes unique to Moa Imperial. This award winning Stout is seasonally produced and available for short periods each year. " They said

So at 10.2% ABV this isn't a quaffing beer, unless quaffing means something else that I'm not aware of.

I'd hate for there to be a unsightly accident if the cork flew out of this, and despite my trepidation it came out with barely a whimper.

Pours dark and rich, lots of fizz from the carbonation, and I get an Aniseed aroma. There's a bit of a mish mash of taste in it, nothing overt or leading, and teasing mouthfeel as you reach for the taste description.

There is a richness of taste in this, but as much as I'd like I can't get the coffee or mocha, but I do understand the tannin like thing going on. There's even some spice or fruit, it's not getting worse the longer it's in the glass.

The pdubyah-o-meter needs a little tap on the dial to make it move, and it arbitrarily and reluctantly gets to a 5 arbitrary things from 10.

The Stout market is well served with some very very good offerings, and I'd love to say that this was one of them. The presentation is magnificent, and you could get the impression that they're hoping that appearance counts for a bit. Sadly the contents don't appear to be able to reach the same wonderment that the packaging promises. Shame that.

If you're wanting to show off  to mates then this is for you, if you actually want a good Stout then perhaps give this a bit of a miss.

I'm sipping this (I told you it wasn't quaffing beer) watching some sport, and having a bit of Kaimai Creamy Blue, from Waharoa. It says it's a Buttery velvet mild peppery cheese. It's not. I think this is a tad long in the package and is almost bland and unpleasant.  The crackers are nice though.

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Beer - #70 - Yeastie Boys - Motueka Raven

Yeastie Boys  Motueka Raven, a small 330ml bottle of a 6.5% ABV beer.

Yeastie Boys, this one brewed at the Invercargill Brewery,  in the style of a Black IPA, and Yeastie Boys are based in Wellington, New Zealand.

"This sumptuous beer should satisfy all of your beer related desires. Dark enough to take to bed and read a book with, yet hoppy enough to show off at your mates party. Try it alongside Liberty Brewing’s counterpart: Yakima Raven and decide for yourself if you prefer this NZ hopped beer, or if Liberty can suade you to the dark side with their US hopped edition"

So a big sell on the label for this one. And being a bit of a blustery day outside this might be something to distract from the storm.

Unsurprised by the hop aroma, It doesn't look "black" when pouring but in the glass it is. Not pitch black mind, but it is at the darker end of the scale. Decent head too. You know from my previous rantings that a head often evades me.

It's kind of bitter, bitter bitter, and that's a storm on the tongue that might be masking other flavours, but for it's bitterness it has an inversely nice mouthfeel, sort of creamy. I don't know.

I'm not having any difficulty in drinking this, which can mean one of a number of things.

• I'm thirsty


• This has a palate that I'm finding compatible and moorish


• There is no taste and it's inoffensive

Well 2 out of three, the aroma of hops, and the palate are mild, inoffensive and don't offer any challenge or real longevity on the taste.

I'd like to be arbitrarily more generous but this scratches a 7 from 10 on the pdubyah-o-meter because it can, not because it is. It'd stand being next to a food of strong character in my opinion, but all I can stretch too are some plain crisps, and they're not compatible.

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Beer - #69 - Shepherd Neame - Spitfire

Shepherd Neame Spitfire, this has been in the beer fridge for an indecent amount of time, mostly because of the amazing amount of  beer that's not available in the  stores. Of course its brewed by Shepherd Neame it's Styled as a a Bitter, and it's a visitor from Faversham, England

Originally produced in 1990 as a bottle conditioned 4.7% premium bitter as part of the 50th anniversary of the Battle Of Britain. Pint of 4.5% ABV beer, with a dinky cap that reminds you of a roundel that you see on Spitfires et al from the war movies.

Your starter for 10 on this that you'd expect it be of a quality and therefore deliver something a bit special.

hes said.

I brought this in my English beer moment, and I've had a few beers since then, it's nice to go back to the old country and your roots, because that's always a good baseline.

Pours like a pint, couple fingers of good white foamy head, yusss! The aroma is instantly a throwback to pubs from my past, the sweet malt smell, ah public bar  '79........

wow, as a change of pace this is a full flavoured beer, it's englishness is apparent. Sweet malts, toffee, caramel, and an understated hop. It's a nice english beer coloured beer, when you go back to one from the previous trip around the world it becomes clear that the English have their own thing going on.

This isn't drop dead shut up! beer, it's just beer. It's English beer, it is beer that you get in he pub, and sit in the snug or in the garden and drink, a few times. There's not moment of 'wow' or do they sell it in bigger than a pint sized serving, it's just a beer. A Fine English beer. Alright!

Because I've got a bit more "picky" at beer, this however does end up as "thin", let's be fair though, this is from a billlion gallon container and a mass market, which it does in aces.

The pudubyah-o-meter has to have a duel purpose. 6-10 arbitrary things as is, the rating of all things arbitrary. but picking a beer for someone, and you want to have a bit of old blighty this would be 8-10, and not much by way of disappointment, middle of the road, unprepossessing and a bit mild mannered, a great supermarket beer where nothing is offensive or challenging.

There  are so many better beers than this, but you know what? Like a blankie this is something that you know at some point you want to have a hand on, you could easily get drunk on this, play some darts and tell some stories, and then go and do it all again the next day.

which reminds me I have another in the fridge... stand by....

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Beer - #68 - Golden Eagle South Island Pale Ale (S.I.P.A)

Rightly so, for a Friday, Golden Eagle South Island Pale Ale (S.I.P.A),  this on Brewed by Golden Eagle Brewery and they make this in the style of an English Pale Ale they're in Rolleston, New Zealand.

500ml of a 5.5% ABV beer then.

Pure Canterbury water,barley and Nelson hops are brought together with passion to create this classic pale ale - they say

I say... smells like hops, which is a good sign. And I have a cold so they must be a bit there, since I got nothing else from the pour, which is deep golden colour with a decent head. So far so good. I did lie a little I can smell the hops :-)

And that it  delivers tartness, but not a bitterness,  I like that, big strong hops. I don't get any maltiness, no caramel no toffee under-tones.  I don't know if it's my cold that makes me miss the it, I'm sure it's there. Or not. Who knows. It makes no difference it's a a good beer.

7 from 10 is how the pdubyah-o-meter reacts on this, and I won't be budged.  It's well carbonated and the burp wasn't something I enjoyed.  Is this something I'd offer a friend? I might, but with this hop-ness you ought to be sure of your friend.  I think this is a strong, i.e. well crafted, beer and I'm glad it's been something I discovered, nice work Golden Eagle. Is it a "go-to" beer? not for me, this one, but that doesn't make it bad, just not quite where I'm at.

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Music (was my first love)...

Not so much that I didn't have to look up the lyrics of that song though
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaMApWem9RM]

So anyway I was thinking about the music that I like and if I could pick just the best albums, albums that I'd sit down to without distraction and enjoy them. This is a list of albums that I've found I've often gone back to, despite having a lot of music on the shelf.

No point listing them in any order,

• Status Quo - Quo Live  - This was the first album I put on my first iPod


• Squeeze - East Side Story


• Thin Lizzy - Live and Dangerous


• Mike Oldfield - Tubular Bells


• Mike Oldfield - Ommadawn


• The Police - Reggatta de Blanc


• Coldplay - A Rush of Blood to the Head


• Elbow - The Seldom Seen Kid


• David Bowie - Station to Station


• David Bowie - Aladdin Sane


• Shirley Bassey ‎– The Remix Album


• David Bowie - Diamond Dogs


• Rush - 2112


• Pink Floyd - Wish you were here

And so it came to pass that I added these since

• Fat Freddy's Drop - Based on a True Story


• Genesis - Abacab


• Donald Fagen  - The Nightfly

It's not exactly a well thought out list by any means, and I'm now fretting that I've possibly forgotten a gem that I'm going to have to add later