Beer - #268 - AleSmith - IPA

What better way to have an evening at the beach then with a highly regarded beer, the AleSmith IPA. Brewed by AleSmith Brewing Company and styled as an India Pale Ale (IPA) and they do that in San Diego, California USA, home of SeaWorld.

[caption id="attachment_5845" align="alignleft" width="168"] AleSmith - IPA an unspoilt view[/caption]

AleSmith IPA used to be known as "Irie Pirate Ale." However, some nasty patent attorneys think the name is too similar to another brand, so we had to "cease and desist." It's a darn shame, but it beats an obnoxious legal battle, in both expenses and Excedrin. Don't worry though, we won't change the beer (which is a MUCH better IPA than that "other" brand). It was conceived as an American-style IPA to satisfy the yearnings of the most die-hard hopheads. Its high alcohol content may catch you unawares if you're not careful, but it's hard to resist once you've tasted it. Appearance: Deep golden to light amber color, and a nice beige head, with good retention when properly served. Flavor: Starts off with strong citrusy, resiny flavors, balanced by a nice malty sweetness, then fades to a dry finish with a lingering hoppiness and a faint hint of plums and black cherries. Aroma: Strong piney-citrusy character, with vanilla in the background. Mouthfeel (body/texture): Smooth, medium-bodied. Feels warm in the mouth from the alcohol.

A big 650ml bottle of a 7.3% ABV beer, making it around 3.75 standard drink units in NZ. 218 calories it's listed at, don't know if that's a serve, what the serve size is or if that's  the whole bottle, it's a new thing that the sensitives are making a big thing of.

I believe the hops include: Columbus, Warrior, Amarillo, Simcoe, Cascade, Chinook, Palisades.

I like the idea that "a good head when served properly".. I'm at the beach I have a tumbler for a glass, I'm hopeful if sceptical.

Has a really subtle hop aroma on opening, which it did with a gentle hiss. Pours with a really really big head! I've still got it! Rich orange colour, head is off white. Carries that nice aroma to the glass.

Big big hops up front, spice, low notes of grass, bitterness under the limit where it's just a pucker up and try to enjoy, but there to be enjoyed and mmmmmdd at. Altogether a fairly decent beer.

This has a really really nice level of caramel sweet too, balances up the bitterness to give you a full mouthfeel of a medium body beer that is very entertaining on the palate.

I can tell why people think this is worthy. Far to easy to drink I find myself finishing the first half of the bottle without any effort at all. No real indication of the ABV content, which isn't going to ruin your day per se, but will make it a hard act to follow.

The arbitrary pdubyah-o-meter says that this rates as phwoar! If you had to pick a couple of beers to spend a long time alone with I'm pretty sure this might be one of them, which might be getting a little ahead of myself.

I try to remind myself to be me, and that just because 'the everyone' thinks this is good that I don't necessarily have to have that opinion. I've had a lot of good IPA beers. I still think they are a standard go-to beer for many brewers and that the field is dense with great versions and spins on a theme.

However to produce a beer as hoppy and at the same time as subtle as this is a thing of joy.  The Second half of the bottle poured the same as the first. Two heads one glass. That could be a thing. Couldn't it?

So to rate this. I'm impressed. The pdubyah-o-meter makes this a 10.

There I did it I added another beer to the 10 club. This isn't more spectacular, more hoppy, more full, it just just is a bloody good beer. Lots of nice hops, but subtle about it, a nice warm caramel thing going on, a bit of spice, pepper, citrus and a tang of grassiness, decent head, lacing in the glass.

The major problem I see with this is empty bottle, empty glass, long night ahead full of regrets and emptiness. Way to easy to drink, way to likeable, you really might enjoy this.

INDIA PALE ALE & IPA

India Pale Ale gets its name and unique style from British brewers who were making beer for export to India. This style has an intense hop flavor which was used to preserve the beer for the long voyage. India Pale Ale has a golden to copper color with a medium maltiness and body. The aroma is moderate to very strong. IPAs work especially well at cutting the heat of chili, vindaloo or Sichuan cuisine.

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Beach Life – Summer 2013 – #6

Well here we are then. At the beach house. this is the view, well this is the view when you hold the camera up a bit higher than eye-line, but you get it.

The local Fauna are really really noisy. We have Tui, Fantails, and Califonian Quail, Pheasants, the local Kingfisher and sundry other things all chipping in.



This was yesterday afternoon when we arrived. You really can see the beach (in the red rectangle) the trees and bushes are all growing up and the glimpse is getting glimpser.



Annoyingly the automatic lighting thing on the barbecue still works, couple of clicks and it's away. We've had this thing for many years now, and it still keeps going. It doesn't get a lot of use when I'm not here though, the in-laws aren't that fussed on cooking on it, apart from the occasion smoked fish.

Because it's still a bit murky the Gentleman Fishing Club has been put on hold. I'm sure I'll get on this later.

Already had a beer, well last night had a beer. We've also, MrsPdubyah and me, been on a mooch down the end of the beach and back. It was a bit bracing. Saw some of the younger neighbours who'd been partying for at least an hour being clowns, I should go see how they are today.

Had a couple of exercise walks, yesterday afternoon after the drive here, and this morning. Lordy this morning everyone was out jogging/running/cycling/mooching. All adults mind, no teenagers, funny that. It was was however 8am and what do you expect?

Today then, well I've done some exercise, MrsPdubyah was leaving as I got back, and FIL has gone for a meander. MIL is in bed, having been up at 7am putting a load of washing on, probably onto her second, it's her thing.

Suddenly it'll be 10am, I'll have to make some bread, there will be coffee and then the house will settle for an hour before lunch.

It's all go!

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Beer - #267 - Liberty - C!tra Jnr

For the first evening at the beach then a Liberty C!tra Jnr - Brewed by Liberty Brewing Co and styled as an American Pale Ale and they brew that in Auckland, New Zealand.

This is only a 4.5% ABV beer, and I have a 1 litre growler bottle c/-Liquorland in Newmarket.  This then would be 3.55 standard drink units, and at only 135 calories - although that is unspecific as to the amount that is equal to. I need to sharpen up on that.

It's a limited brew, apparently, and similar in many ways to it's big brother. Lower ABV means of course less sizzled when it comes time to cook the meats on the barbecue tonight.

This is as full an intense with aroma as you'd expect, and pours a fantastic golden orange with a great head. Did I mention a great head, it gets better the second pour, I'd buy this again to improve my self-esteem in beer pouring.

Being a beach house the available glassware is a tumbler, but it'll do.

Oh that's nice, a cracking amount of the Hoppiness and a lovely caramel.

But, and for me, this needs a little more in the body as it's a little skinny, or thin. There isn't a lot of carry or length in this, but that doesn't make it a bad thing.

The pdubyah-o-meter says though that this is a good beer, and 7 is where it sits.

Compare this, at this ABV though to many, or any, other beer and this would win the gold medal every time. I don't think it's worth more than a 7, because it isn't a big hitter, and needs some more body, and if it had that it would be a total win.

Beach Life – Summer 2013 – #5

Sunday then.  Today would be the day that we are finally getting our act together to get to the beach. It's taken a while.

MrsPdubyah just went out to get staples, and discovered that it was only Sunday and all the special coupon things start tomorrow.

Wet weather has arrived and there is a fair amount of surface flooding in the roads to where we are going.

But we will be there, and we will not be in the city.

And there will be fishing.

I'm sure I can survive the running commentary that is the in-laws. I shall give it my best shot.

Or I'll retire to the sanctuary of books.

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Beer - #266 - De Molen - Hel & Verdoemenis (Hell & Damnation)

Paired with the Kopi Loewak is this - De Molen Hel & Verdoemenis (Hell & Damnation),  Brewed by Brouwerij de Molen and styled: Imperial Stout in Bodegraven, Netherlands.

Brewed with brown malts, an English traditional specialty malt, we created an Imperial Russian Stout that has won prizes at festivals across Europe from Sweden to Italy. It’s big (10% ABV), black, roasted and complex. We are convinced that not trying this ale will be a mortal sin to your taste buds and beer experience.

The third RIS, Rasputin a Belgian IS. Tsarina Esra a Scandinavian/US RIS Now Hel & Verdoemenis, used old malts for this one like brown malts. (!)

The usual 330ml bottle, of this a 10%ABV beer - which is 2.6 standard drink units in NZ. Coming in at around 300 calories. This particular bottle was bottled on  9th November 2012 and good for seemingly 25 years.

This is the beer after a hard act to follow. the Kopi Loewak. I'm game though.

This has a much deeper coffee/chocolate aroma on opening. Pouts a deep dark black, with no head at all, There is a really soft carbonation in this because you can see it dancing in the glass. It must be me.

Settles to much more muted aroma in the glass, again with a background of fruits and raisins, might be the malts I might be daydreaming.

That is much bitterer and sour like than I was expecting, which makes no sense.

The sourness is almost almost "the beer" but it shouldn't be so.  There is some coffee, and there are some steeped fruits, like raisins, in this. Not sure where the sourness comes in, because it's not bitterness, but it is really pronounced.

There's no hint at the alcohol content with this either. I am however resigned to the fact that, and I may have mentioned this, that this is sour.

The pdubyah-o-meter frowns the frown of the confused. Of the two beers this is the one I thought would be the better.  I'm confident that I wouldn't be thinking differently if I'd had these beers in different order.

So, not for me,  sadly, but I'm going to be arbitrarily objective. But it is arbitrary and I'm not sure I'm to far from the centre in my opinions.  The pdubyah-o-meter then creaks it's weary way to 7, good, because it is actually not all bad. The underlying sweetness is there, the fruits and sweetness in the carry is nice, it's just the journey is carried on a sourness that again I wasn't expecting.

I'm thinking though that the sourness might be coffee bitterness, which is like trying to find a justification, but I really didn't enjoy this and I have been a lot harsher on better beers. This didn't live up to billing, as it warms up I don't expect it to get better. I'm going to have some cheese and crackers.

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Beer - #265 - De Molen - Kopi Loewak

Yet another beer to make it to the front of the fridge is this, the De Molen - Kopi Loewak.  Brewed by Brouwerij de Molen which is styled as an Imperial Stout in the lovely Bodegraven, Netherlands

As an aside : On september 17th 2013, De Molen has announced it will stop producing beers with Kopi Loewak coffee.

Back to the action though , the now familiar  330ml bottle of this, an 11.25% ABV beer, or 2.8 standard drink units in NZ, 336 calories it seems, and an IBU of 85 - which compares this to a Barley Wine.

Bottled on the 24th January, and best before 5 years later says the label. If only I had the patience.

Kopi Luwak or Civet coffee is the most expensive coffee in the world. The high price is not because of the rareness of the coffee berries themselves but because of the special production process. The coffee berries are eaten by the Luwak - a civet cat. The beans however can not be digested by the Luwak and therefor can be found in their pooh. The beans are washed and slightly roasted. This whole process of eating, pooh, find the pooh and treat the berries is very time consuming. This is of course reflected in the price of the coffee. Real coffee connaisseurs highly appreciate this coffee. And what does Brouwerij de Molen do with it? We use it in our own production process of brewing beer. Our KopiLoewak is an Imperial Stout with incredible coffee flavours. Roasted and bitter like an expresso.

So beer made from ferret poo? said MrsPdubyah.

Hoping for a dark, coffee and chocolate drink, bit acidic and a great finish.

Really really rich coffee aroma on opening, alone a treat!

It's like cold drip coffee, it's really intense, and the soft carbonation gives it a really decent carry. The underlying bitterness isn't intruding and all in all this is a thoroughly entertaining beer.

What's not easily known is that this is a fairly strong beer, and that I should slow down and enjoy the experience rather than sip and smile, should introduce the pause..... Like the rugby strum mantra "touch, pause, engage"

As well as the coffee in this I get a sense of fruits in the palate. I Might be the only one to get that though.

Putting aside the irresponsible nature of harvesting the coffee, and the inherent cruelty of farming specifically for it, and only for the entertainment not as a byproduct this is something very clever indeed. I like the way the coffee aroma assaults your nose, and then it translates into the taste, and then carries on to a really decent finish. Just the right amount of carbonation and the thing that really let it down was for me the lack of head, which as you know with my drinking is a common theme, I need to investigate lessons.

The pdubyah-o-meter then says that this is a great 9's worth of beer in and of itself. Lacking a head, and because perhaps I'd have enjoyed more chocolate notes in this holds it back from me doing the high-five.

It is really easy drinking, really easy, and each mouthful is a coffee-bittersweet entertainment that just makes you want to go again. The bit about 'pause'... didn't happen. Definitely not for Lager drinker.Definitely not for Lager drinker. This isn't a spectacular stout as stouts are measured, but what it is is a spectacular use of coffee in beer.

I can say without doubt thought definitely not for Lager drinker.

MrsPdubyah chose the music tonight, Beyoncé, at least this offsets that a bit.

I left this to go cook on the barbecue, some Portuguese spiced chicken,  and came back to a few more sups. I'd found that as it had warmed it had altogether got softer and more rounded and complete.  You should if you can can get one.

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Beer - #264 - Stone - Ruination IPA

Plain old standard Stone Ruination IPA Brewed by Stone Brewing Co., styled as a Imperial/Double IPA  and that would be all a happening  in Escondido, California USA

354 ml bottle  (12 fl oz) of a 8.2% ABV beer, making this only 2.14 standard drink units in NZ and about 230 calories.  100+ IBUS too.  This bottle is best before 02 January 14, so just in time.

So called because of its truly "ruinous" effect on your palate, this massive hop monster will change forever your preconceptions of what defines good beer. This is Stone IPA's big brother, and we mean BIG. We essentially began with our already-awesome Stone IPA, threw in an extra-large helping of malt, and added a lotmore hops. And then some more. And then even more, resulting in a vibrant blast of citrusy bitterness that hits you on the first sip. Just one taste and you'll know why we call this indelicate jewel "A liquid poem to the glory of the hop!" We would say that no hops were injured in the brewing of this beer, but that would be a massive lie. In fact, the words "Stone Ruination IPA" are what older hop vines use to cause little hop vines to quiver with fright and lose sleep at night.  Paganism at its best!

This beer was highly recommended to me but my dealer :-)

Music for this trip is still Birdy, and the dinner is still ham, although I dialled it up and added eggs :-)

There is a hoppy bread yeasty aroma on opening. Treacle golden pour with a thin head, low key hop aroma, and there seems to be a warm malt aroma getting in on the act.

There is of course a kicker of hop grassiness, but there is also a back of some softer notes, fruity almost.  This has a bite to the palate and errs towards puckering and dryness of finish.

I don't know that this any better than other D/IPA beers. It's packaged up in a smaller package, and has a bunch of words around it, but it doesn't really set a benchmark, in my opinion.

Doesn't make it bad, just doesn't make it stand-out in a really crowded field.

It does have redemption though (and redemption is a word that I'm loathe to use). It had great colour, it's challenging without being a challenge. The assault doesn't really happen as a berserk thing, it's an measured and planned assault on the palate. It threatens to but doesn't finish dry, and there is a bunch of caramel and malts to carry this.

The pdubyah-o-meter and the arbitrary nature of things thinks this is, for me, and 8, making it a very good beer. It's not a 355ml bottle of extravagance or wonder. Don't know about the 100+ IBU count either. Perhaps I've become immune, or they only count if you're un-prepared. Or I don't understand that particular measurement.

It happens.

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Beer - #263 - 8 Wired - Bumaye

Another beer making it to the front of the fridge after hiding in the back for a while is  a 8 Wired Bumaye - Brewed by 8 Wired Brewing styled as a Imperial Stout and they do this magic in Blenheim, New Zealand

16% ABV beer in a 330ml bottle,  480!!! calories, and it comes in at 50IBU's. Pacific Jade and Chinook hops. This would be an incredible 4.2 standard drink units in NZ.



Sometimes - OK, rather often, actually - I find myself asking, "How far can we take it?" Now, obviously a number of overseas breweries have shown us that 16% abv is by no means the limit, but Keeping in mind that flavour should be the main objective at all time, the conception of 

Bumaye was one of those moments. To make it we started out with the baddest imperial stout we have ever brewed, and then added loads of tasty sugars to the fermenter foe extra flavour. To smooth out the roughness, we allowed the beer to mellow in Pinot Noir barrels for more than a year, actually  16 months in Pinot Noir barrels from Marlborough's Mud House Winery

The name? I have been surprised how few people understand the meaning straight away. It's not "Bum Eye" as many people seem to think, It's BumaYE! As in "Ali, Bumaye!" Lifted from what was perhaps the most famous boxing match of all times, The Rumble in the Jungle, between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman. The match was fought in Zaire and quite famously (I thought) the locals were all cheering for Ali, chanting "Ali, Bumaye!" which in English means "Ali, Kill Him". A fitting name for the most agressive beer we have made to date.

I have been looking forward to this, and Friday I'm in love. Hoping for a continuance of the rather good run of beers. I have this and a Stone Ruination to help me cope. That and loads of ham left over from the 25th. Loads.

Music playing in the background is from the artist "Birdy" - Fire Within. MrsPdubyah said so.

Totally intense rich fruit and chocolate on opening as an aroma.  Pours like it's syrup but without a head so it appears flat, although I can see bubbles dancing so all is not lost.

Rich almost throat catchingly intense aroma, chocolate, raisins, and something else, citrus like, or maybe pepper, I'm not that reliable.

Wow that's a lot like dark wines when you taste it, the tannin really gives this a fruity kick in the pants, the pinot clearly standing it's own ground.

What over things are there, I get a bunch of slightly bitter things, and notes of citrus fruits. There is more than a skerrick of sourness and it does have a dry finish, a long long dry finish, this has length like you'd not believe.

I'm having are al internal dialogue about if I'm getting the taste I'm getting because I'm trying to be a wine snob, or if I over-reached myself, or the things I'm tasting are for real and not a remnant imagination of a beer-snob.

Is this a beer, yes. Is this a beer left to do its thang in barrels that had Pinot grapes making wine in them. yes. It is a wine infused beer. In the same way that there are whiskey infused beers, and some darned good ones, like the Ola Dubh, this then is an exercise in fiscal prudence, What else can you do with old wine barrels? You can recycle them to the craft brewer :-)

The beer is warming in the glass, I know it's not been long,  a couple of runs and a wicket at the cricket and a song or two. There is still a great fruit aroma, that's the Pinot. But in my experience this is a sweeter smell than sniffing a wine, and I'm not about to open a wine to check, although I should, and would if this was a paid gig.

It still sits in the glass looking sullen dull and flat, a brown brown colour of little excitement and invite. The carbonation is about right though and this is actually pretty nice. It's also a bit dangerous as because as you poke around on your tongue for the flavours you managed to imbibe slightly more than you thought.

The pdubyah-o-meter says that this is a clever beer, and it's very good and a bit so that would be 8.25, I'm not going to rush out and high 5 anyone because I had one, and I'm actually not sure I'm going to get one as a present for anyone anytime soon. I think this this a beer of a type, where the type is "infuse with".

The great run comes to an end, it's not a disaster I just didn't get fireworks. All that's left is ham......

oh and the Stone Ruination....

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Getting from A to B

Now there's a thing. In a calendar year I managed by one way or another to achieve over 700km of exercise.

Couple of off months when injury and inclement weather took over, but I did go 12 straight months and of each time I did at least 5km.

I have no ambition to 10.  I have no ambition to do a 1/2 marathon, or a whole marathon. None. Don't ask me. Actually I will get to 10km at least once, just because.

What progress in 12 months?



4th of January 2013. 5 Km. Wearing Nike Free shoes, because they are my shoe of choice at this point.



Wearing New Balance shoes , I make that 13 minutes faster over the same distance.

I've just about worn out the 2nd pair of Nike Free shoes, the blue ones they've got 284km on them and look a bit sad.  I retired the black ones at 268km.

I've got a just worn in 148k on some NB Minimus and only 62km on the Yellow NB shoes. Spread it around a little. It'll be a shame to see the Nike shoes move to the shelf and retire. Might invest in some new ones in the new year, I think the 2 pairs of NB shoes will carry me

I'd set a goal too of losing weight, I did start the year at nearer 105kg. I got down to 88.8 just before christmas and have been reminded why was 105kg,  overcoming my will power I've had far to much of the everything, and even a couple of kilo's makes me fret a little. Still 91 is better than 101, and better then 105.

I haven't given up as much of things as you'd think, aside from packets of snack crisps, a chips, pies. I still have cheese and crackers, I just got portion control in control. I still drink beer, more than is prudent, but I'd rather drink and be happy than gaunt and miserable.  I ear breakfast more times than I skip it, and I enjoy better lunches than I used to.

I still eat muffins with the coffee with MrsPdubyah when we're out, it's a thing.

To 2014. Well I can get to 88 briefly,  I can get to 85, which seems my next sensible goal I think. No point in being stupid about it.  I want to be happy and engaged with losing weight not a slave to the stupidity of points, shakes, fasting, caveman, et al. I'll do it my way. I may or may not seek advice from a nutritionist, probably will, and I might get some running coach input into my running action. Probably won't.

Without the Nike+ Sportswatch none of this would have happened by the way, no better motivator than passive aggressive watch nagging :-)

Probably will buy more Nike shoes, probably in Orange :)

Beer - #262 - Southern Tier - Creme Brulee Stout

This has been ages coming, and has worked it's way to the front of the fridge,and as a Boxing Day beer I'm hoping for a taste bud revival.

Southern Tier Creme Brûlée Stout - Brewed by Southern Tier Brewing Company as an Imperial Stout   in , of all places, Lakewood, New York USA

650ml, or 22oz, or 1 Pint 6 oz, of a 9.5% ABV beer, making it 4.9 standard drink units (give or take)  in NZ.  It's also about 290 calories,  or about 2 christmas mince pies worth. Keeping it seasonal.

Columbus and Horizon Hops, for Bitterness and then Aroma.

“a stout of great contention” We are not the harbingers of truth as some may suggest but it may indeed be argued that our brewing philosophy is tantamount to a dessert with a bellicose past. How, you may ask, would a brewery determine a likeness to hard-coated custard? Our response is simple; it’s all in the power of history, and of course, the extra finesse needed to top off a contentious treat with definition. 

By comprehending the labyrinthine movement of time, one would not think it strange to trace the errant path of an ordinary object such as a cream dessert only to discover that it has been the cause of cultural disputes since the middle ages. The British founders of burnt cream and from Spain, crema catalana, both stand by their creative originality and we respect that, but it was the French Crème Brûlée, amid the strife of contention, that survived to represent our deliciously creamy brew. 9.6% abv • 25º plato • 195º L • 22 oz / 1/6 keg 2-row pale malt / dark caramel malt / vanilla bean / lactose sugar / kettle hops: columbus / aroma hops: horizon

That should intrigue you enough to want to try it.

There is a really rich deep vanilla aroma on opening, just like the real thing (the dessert that is).

Pours really dark black, with a nothing type of head that dissipates, but the aroma! oh the aroma is is to behold.

Is a really "thick" drink of burn sugars, caramel, sugar, goodness!

There is an on the tongue bitterness at the front, but there is a crashing overall sweetness and flavour Tsunami over the top, and you're left with sweet sticky lips.

As it warms slightly it just gets "thicker" if that's a way to describe it, "Fuller" might be another way. The tang of bitterness is always there but this is a really good a complete delivery of what it says it is.

The pdubyah-o-meter is going to, somewhat harshly, grant this 9.5 on the arbitrary scale of things. Although well carbonated this lacks both a head and lacing in the glass, which I would have enjoyed seeing.

9.5 thought is lofty company indeed, this is a very intense drink that is far far from the madding crowd and stands alone in this field, even if the field was vanilla porter there is this and daylight. In spades.

For the very lazy diner this would easily replace the tedious spoon lifting action and be dessert in a glass.  I shall say again, the burnt caramel, the toffee, the vanilla, and the tang of bitter, it's almost but not quite love. Then there is hazelnut which I didn't mention, and coffee. It  is a beer that just keeps giving.

It is however a beer you should consider as a finisher, and not a session beer, it is a beer that you should share with friends because it's just that good, and you should have this or the pudding, not both. Both would be an indulgence, and you only need one a day.

Bit of  a mistake to have this pre-dinner but at least I go to the barbecue with a big big smile on my face, with the sounds of Neil Young on the music machine.

All is a bit good in my hood.

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4:02 am and the clock goes tick-tick-tick Musings

Ok, so I don't have a handle on the speed of light thing, and how an observer would see two objects traveling at the speed of light that are heading towards each other.

So I revisited the super-power thing again. Two more came to mind. They are similar

• Making yourself super-hot - The Human Torch - or turning into flames


• Making yourself super-cold - Mr.Freeze.

Both rubbish.

The calorific output or calories required would preclude either of these two ever bring a thing. Can you image the amount of food you'd have to eat to sustain a body of flames, or how weak and frail you'd become after a quick jaunt.

OF course you could pair both of these up with flying ability for a double-rubbish.

And then one that I'd forgotten about Telekinesis, or the ability to move things with the power of your mind.

Rubbish. Particularly if I understand physics a bit, and force and reaction.

Oh and Remote Viewing, being able to visualise remote places and scenes. Or as most people call it, having a good imagination.

I have to come up with some new things to think about.

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Restaurant Critic #4 – Flavours of India - Browns Bay

Well what an eye opener this was when we first came here. We'd been used to having Indian food take-away and Dine-in from Chand in Mairangi Bay , where the service was always prompt, the price was always cheap and the food was passable.

Then we, on whim, went to Flavours of India in Browns Bay .

It's not swanky, flash, or opulent and in no way is it a fine dining experience. It's small, stark and functional modern. It's more cafe than restaurant. They claim to be able to seat 50. That'd be a busy night.

Then there is the food.

The kitchen is in eye and ear shot of everyone, with the obligatory glass window over the Tandoor oven so that you can see chef in action.

And what he produces is top quality.  It's not an extensive menu by comparison with other establishments, the standard items are there, and a couple of specials and unique dishes.

To be fair they don't need to have an extensive menu as the quality and taste you get from your choice should make it your favourite.

5 of us. We had a vegetarian and a meat version of the entrée platter.

There was the obligatory butter chicken. and the Saag Goshst (Lamb in Spinach), and a Shajahani chicken (Chicken in Cashew, saffron and coriander) and two of the special items,  a Lamb Stir fry, and a real Goat Curry, which was an off-menu item.

The Lamb and the Goat were amazing, succulent, juicy, tender, but somewhat spicy.

Oh and Garlic and Plain Naan.

It was too much, way too much food, and a doggy bag accompanies us home.

This isn't a chain or franchise menu, it's a small operation, and they're happy if you're a first time or return customer, and they remind you that word of mouth is their best advertising. 

I'd suggest - Get in!

 

Beach Life – Summer 2013 – #4

Still not quite at the beach, but 'tis the day before christmas.

8:45 MrsPdubyah sends me a text, she has to work today, at the local mall. Text reads "Car park full, Supermarket full" It'll be a long day.

Daughter has spend the last 1/2 hour squeezing and rattling the presents under the tree playing a guessing game. I wouldn't mind but she is 18.

Anyhoo FIL was out of the house at 7:58am to go to the local hardware store, to buy some urgent things.

and MIL is now setting about making a trifle. Something which I personally can't abide.

I was up at 7 doing my 5km exercise, it's called getting into calorie deficit early, there were quite a few others doing the same thing, but I doubt it'll catch on.

MIL also has a fanciful idea that she's going to 'pop' to the shops and get some cream.  Good luck with that.

For this evening though we're planning to take them out to Browns Bay, and have a dinner, which is easier than thinking about what to cook, and since tomorrow is going to be all-you-can-eat day it's possibly wiser.

Still to come:

• The Glazing of the ham


• The baking of the bread

 

Beer- #261 - Stone - Arrogant Bastard Ale

Arrogant Bastard Ale  - Brewed by Stone Brewing Co. as an: American Strong Ale   and that'd be on the road to Escondido, California USA



This is an aggressive ale. You probably won’t like it. It is quite doubtful that you have the taste or sophistication to be able to appreciate an ale of this quality and depth. We would suggest that you stick to safer and more familiar territory–maybe something with a multi-million dollar ad campaign aimed at convincing you it’s made in a little brewery, or one that implies that their tasteless fizzy yellow beverage will give you more sex appeal. Perhaps you think multi-million dollar ad campaigns make things taste better. Perhaps you’re mouthing your words as you read this.

This is a 7.2% ABV beer in a 20fl oz bottle (600 ml give or take), 216 calories, in NZ 3.69 standard drink units.

The in-laws have arrived and I've been driven to Monday beer.  This by most accounts is a good one.

Not overly aggressive aroma, possibly some herbs possibly a tint of orange.

Its much much darker than I expected, it doesn't pour this thick, and the head what there is is persistent. Still nothing on the aroma to give you a clue.  It's very omen brown burnt orange, dense.

Now there's a complex mouthful of beer. blindingly complex. Despite the aroma being like bread yeast there is so much flavour punch it's all a bit of a surprise. Overwhelming perhaps.

Bitterness abounds, but it's of  the subtle variety and not the puckering type, and it's carried on a sweeter base that you'd expect.

So trying to pick what's what in this is a challenge.  Pine, and citrusness of something, not grapefruit more tart orange. Whilst you're dallying around the taste maze you notice that you've managed to quaff a fair amount, and that's not surprising. This brings you in to drinking it,  draws you close, but doesn't give much away until it's in your mouth doing it thang.

The pdubyah-o-meter enjoys this a 9 as a great beer. Ok so I talked it up and then it's a 9?  It finishes dry and as it warms you start to get a kick from the alcohol in the back. With this amount of dry you're going to run out of steam drinking it if you have your mind set on a session. Arrogantly you could try. I think you'd fail.

This beer has heaps of fans, I imagine it has detractors too. This is a stand up beer, and if you like Bitter beer, Strong Ales, and want a beer that has something to talk about when you're drinking it this would be a good place to start.

The bottle label says "You're not worthy", I'm probably not, but what I am is "wanting Another" ....

Music you can hear in the background was the Black Keys.

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4:01 am and the clock goes tick-tick-tick Musings

To help me back to sleep I try to challenge myself to thinking something.

I've worked through the perpetual motion machines, came up with a great idea, and almost convinced myself that I understood the theory of general relativity.

http://pdubyah.com/2013/11/26/4am-and-the-clock-goes-tick-tick-tick-musings/

This morning I was trying to work out what you'd see for two objects that are colliding, both of which are travelling at, for instance, 75% of the sped of light.  The closing speed would therefore be 1.5X the speed of light.

For each of the objects they would observe something approaching them at .75% of the speed of light, but if they could measure that they should know that they are closing at 150% of the speed of light?

And what would an observer view.

Anyway, putting that aside, the other thought train has been on super-powers and why I think that most of them are rubbish, the flight, the invisibility, the teleportation, the mind reading and thought control.

The latest one though, re-sizing. The ability to grow or shrink. Clearly nonsense.

Your mass couldn't change, you can't shed or gain mass. So if you shrank to say the size of a mouse, you'd still have to weigh 140lbs. There would also be a limit on the size you could shrink to, and this would be based on the 'space' that atoms meed. You can't cram more atoms into a space than will fit.

Would you turn into a black-hole?

Did I just show up my ignorance of science again?

 

Beach Life – Summer 2013 – #3

The weather forecast says that it'll be rain on 25th, this isn't in the plan.

This will mean that we're inside, instead of outside in the sun.

This could mean that 'm cooking the barbecue in the rain, under an umbrella held by a brave assistant.

But the menu hasn't changed as far as I'm aware, but it does mean we'll have to be more organised and aware of where glasses, plates, and other things are placed around.

Having said nothing has changed of course it has. The nibbles are now going to be Bilini  with cream cheese and Salmon, and MrsPdubyah is going to make some miniature quiche things, she says.

Which leaves me only to make fresh bread in the morning.

Hop Essence Series: Motueka (Brewmaster Jack)

Who knew it was a town and a kiwi inveted hop variety.

Beach Life – Summer 2013 – #2

The one where we're not actually at he beach yet......

This is the one about the bit before the bit about christmas day, and the preparation and planning.

Today, Saturday 21st.

• Brought a dozen bottles of wine, some of this some of that.


• Brought two dozen beers for the quaffing of not the writing about


• Brought a bottle of Pear Vodka, it's the latest thing


• Brought 2 Litres of Orange Juice - don't judge me


• Brought some Salmon for the pre-lunch snackage

Also

• Brought a bottle of single-mart whisky for the Father-in-law


• Paid for a paid of sunglasses for MrsPdubyah

Discussion about the christmas day lunch, which this year is at home and not at the beach.  Ok so the heading for this post is confusing.

We're having, if everything goes to a plan and it doesn't rain so much

• Salmon on bread of something or other


• Some miniature Quiche affairs


• for the main event


• a glazed ham.


• a whole eye fillet  steak thing for the barbecue

There will also be

• Potato Salad


• New potatoes just dug from the ground


• Some salad concoction

Finishing with

• Trifle


• cheesecake


• Fruit and Cream

MrsPdubyah is a bit tense about the whole thing. I know we did this a couple of years ago but normally we are the beach house and lunch tends to be a communal gathering where we enjoy things like Scallops in bacon, Salmon , smoked fish, Mussels, with an abundance of bubbles, beer,  and most of the beach residents in attendance.

I know I'm lucky to have a beach house, but being at home, in my own home, isn't the same, I've become accustomed to not being here for that particular day.

I'm sure I'll enjoy it. Three will be pictures, at least from the early part of the day.  My tasks only include making a cocktail or two, cooking the barbecue and organising the music to play.

Easy.

Beer - #260 - Panhead - Supercharger American Styled Pale Ale

From the new boys, as it were, this a Panhead -  Supercharger American Styled Pale Ale. Brewed by Panhead Custom Ales in the style of an American Pale Ale and they do that in the Upper Hutt, New Zealand.

500ml bottle of a 5.7% ABV bottle of beer, 53 on the IBU scale and 171 calories. 2.4 Standard drink units this one.

American Style muscle gets backed up her with real kiwi horsepower. A long, aromatic list of hops like Centennial, Citra and  Simcoe should lead you to expect massive bitterness and sensory hop presence , and you wouldn't be too far off in that expectation at all. One for the Hop Heads. 

Cracking hop aroma on opening, pours a really nice pale golden orange with a demonstrable head, which subdues to a thinness. Retains it grassy hop aroma.

This is Simcoe dominated - that the hop that is all pine , grass and cat's pee, which means it's short of length and a bit thin. Although it does have a nice inviting malt warmth in it. Check out the Hop list here, where I keep a poorly populated list.

This is the second time I had this , the last time was on tap in the Sky Sports Grill on the Auckland Viaduct and I didn't think that much of it then on tap.

Seems that by luck and happenstance I think that this is still the same, nothing more embarrassing than being a fanboi and then a critic in the next breath.

The pdubyah-o-meter says that this is average and more 5 than 6 average. I'm harsh. But I'm also a bit surprised that I've rated it the same twice by accident as I don't remember drinking this on tap, that's how memorable this was.

In context I think that the Panhead people are on the right track and I'm going to try to support them with their endeavours.

To ensure that you have an immersive experience I'm going to tell you that the music in the background  is c/- Chvrches, and dinner eventually will be steak, but I'll be on another beer by then :-).

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Beer- #259 - Shepherd Neame - Brilliant Ale

So what better way to celebrate a #NZSecretSanta gift of a beer glass than have a beer ?

Brilliant Ale - Brewed by Shepherd Neame in the Style of a  Golden Ale/Blond Ale and they do that in good old Faversham, England.

a 5.6% ABV beer in a 500ml bottle, which in NZ is 2.1 standard drink units, also importantly 168 calories. No idea why the calorie count would be important but it is. It's a new thing.

There is a legend at Shepherd Neame that Brilliant Ale was inspired by the vision of the bright early morning sun sending its golden shafts of light through the brewhouse window and onto the oak mash tun, inspiring the brewing team to brew a beer that echoed these hues. Historically this recipe was formulated with 100% pale malt and was bittered by the brewery’s signature East Kent Goldings hops, resulting in a golden, brilliantly bright, hoppy ale which has risen Phoenix-like from the ashes of time for the modern drinker to enjoy. Says head brewer Richard Frost, “According to brewery records, Brilliant Ale was first brewed sometime between 1825 and 1855, making it our oldest Classic Collection beer to date. Although we’ve rejuvenated it by using the modern hop variety Cascade, we’re staying true to the spirit of this great pale ale, which was hugely popular in its day.

Aroma on opening is just plain old English beer aroma. Pours golden pale yellow, with a smallish head.

It's surprisingly bitter though, and that was a surprise. Of the aroma there is only the musty pub smell that is familiar to most English beers.  I wonder if it's the cascade hops they're using.

Sits well in my new drinking glass too :-)

Is it brilliant though? I'm not sure that I can longer tell the difference between British beers of a type, it's amazing how you can get involved with more flavours and varieties and lose touch somewhat. It's not a bad thing however as this as a staple wouldn't be ultimately as rewarding as you'd think.

The pdubyah-0-meter likes the glass a lot more than the beer :-), with the beer being just about a 6 which is just above average on the arbitrary scale of things .

Comparison though , and this is where you could get offside, is a question. This or 2 Heineke\Grolsch\Stella  beers. I think I'd have this to be honest. Mostly because honest is what this is. It looks great, sits well, doesn't have a chemical sting in it, is refreshing and is readily and easily drinkable. If I was sitting in ye olde englishe pub I'd probably have one or two of these as a lead in to something more hearty, like a decent porter.

Alas not a beer for the ages and the sun in the eyes in the morning can play tricks on you.

CASCADE

Origin: Oregon, USA | Alpha Acid: 4.5 – 7.0%

Flavor Profile: Who doesn’t love a good grapefruit aroma and taste in their IPA? As one of the “three C hops,” the cascade hop is notorious for providing this character to both the flavor and aroma of a beer. Floral and spice accents are also seen with this variety which sees most of its usage in Pale Ales, India Pale Ales, and an occasional Lager.

Beer Styles: Pale Ales; India Pale Ales; Black IPAs; Lagers

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A Button, I created a button

I'm sometimes not the sharpest tool in the shed, but today I added a button to the "places I am" widget.

Uploaded the image file, got the code, made out like I understood HTML coding... result!

Small things make me smile.

Beach Life - Summer 2013 - #1

I'm lucky enough for there to be a beach house in the family trust that I get to visit frequently. The parents are there a lot, almost permanently in the summer months.

so this year, again, it’s to the beach house for a couple of weeks more or less.

Rings Beach - Coromandel - North Facing on the East Side of the peninsular.

The bach is about 50 meters from the sand, on the beach side of the road, down a small cut communal path. At the end of the path there is a picnic\bbq table and at one point there used to be a bathtub, might still be there.  You can spot the house in the picture there is a lone white car parked besides it. On the beach you might see a kayak and a RIB.

It's a real community beach, everyone knows everyone, everyone is willing to help everyone and we tend to party as a community with the hosting being shared from house to house on an informal rotation basis. There is always a beer or Gin to be had somewhere.

Rings Beach named after Mr Frank Ring who in the early days owned a sheep farm and who was the son of Charles Ring of Coromandel fame. Gold was first discovered at Driving Creek in Coromandel Town in 1852 by the Ring brothers.

As well as me this year Rings Beach will also be probably home to a pair of  the New Zealand dotterel/tūturiwhatu  -  This endangered bird can be found on a number of beaches on the Coromandel. There are only about 450 New Zealand dotterel on the Coromandel and 1700 nationwide, these birds need all the help they can get. They nest on the sand, mostly above the high tide mark, but weather vagaries, and predators, as well as careless people are all threats to them. Their nest will be roped off, and hopefully they'll hatch their eggs and then there will be 451 :-)

Rings Beach is also home to the Gentleman's Fishing Club and the Kontiki device.

And there is a web page! https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rings-Beach-Coromandel/172961526108932

I'm kind of hoping to write more about how I'm doing nothing all day, except the bbq for breakfast eggs and bacon, and the evening meal of fresh fish, or exotic meat. How the fishing is going, and how the book reading is coming along.

I'll be trying to exercise, not get sidetracked into too much coffee shop and ice-cream and relax a little.

It is for me summer after all.

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Beer - #258 - Tuatara - Dubbel

a Dubbel, from Tuatara, Brewed by Tuatara Brewing Company in the style of an  Abbey Dubbel in the mystical Paraparaumu, New Zealand

A seasonal beer, so something a little special perhaps.  650ml of a 7.5% ABV beer, of 3.6 standard  drinks, and maybe around 25 IBU's which appears normal for this type and style. Also, and it's important, 225 calories.

Perhaps it’s time to discuss putting beer down. No we’re not insulting the object of our love and livelihood, we’re talking cellaring. With the different malts and house-made Belgian candy sugar, this classic Dubbel could benefit from 6 to 30 months of repose in a quiet, cool place. If you can bear the wait you’ll find the plum and raisin characters, the characteristic phenolics and the hints of dark chocolate reconciled to perfection. ABV from 8.5% to 7.5%.

The aroma is disappointing , but it settles to something like chocolate. I'd best pour it as sniffing a bottle seems weird.  Poured thinner, perhaps paler would be a better, or less thick than I thought it might, with a smallish head, that like my hopes and dreams faded away. All of which is nonsense as it's quite a nice rich deep red-brown colour.

A nice fruit aroma. And it drinks really nice, a really familiar palate of mustiness, and a little sweetness and a bang of astringent alcohol.  Which doesn't sound as good as it tastes, and it tastes great.

I'm easily impressed, this is really easy drinking, and, does it for me.

A reality check though says that this perhaps doesn't have as much upfront sweeteners, doesn't have a lot of middle carry and might be a bit thin, but the alcohol tang isn't a thing as it warms up a bit. However you can put this into it's category as a Belgium beer, it's jolly good stuff

The pdubyah-o-meter says, get in!, and makes this a very very good 8.5 arbitrary stars.

Hopped With Pacific Jade, Styrian Goldings neither of which appear a mention on the hops list  I forlornly copied 

How to sum this up then, Nice. I'd drink it again. It's of it's style, and if you like the style you'd probably be ok with this. It's not strong on any points, there's no over-riding element, and if I had the patience I'd put one on the cupboard for ageing.

Like that's ever going to happen. Cheers!

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Beer - #257 - Southern Tier - Un*Earthly

It's been a warm afternoon, I changed the music to Neil Young - live at the cellar door, and with that a change of pace in beers.

For my entertainment and pleasure then a Southern Tier Un*Earthly  - Brewed by Southern Tier Brewing Company in the style of an Imperial/Double IPA and that's in the posh sounding Lakewood, New York USA

This is a big 9.5% ABV beer in a 20fl Oz bottle - or 650 ml if you're old school, makes this 4.9 standard drinks, in NZ  If my thing is correct this is then a 520-somthing calorie count in a bottle, but I frowned at that and on recount it's about 290, give or take,  possibly it's not an exact thing and I'm trying to show off and be all current with trends and that.

An Uninhibited Infusion of Hops. We continue our commitment to innovation with our most aggressive offering yet Unearthly is a manifestation of the brewers crafts skillfully balancing art and the forces of nature to produce a divine liquid. Delicately pour a taste into a fluted glass. Smell the enchanting aromas of the hops come forward as your first sip divulges this beer’s fervent soul. To underestimate Unearthly is to trifle with the mysteries of the universe so please consume wisely. The ABV went from 9.8% to 11%.

As expected a whiff of deep grass hops, the chinook or cascade,  on opening, he wrote, trying to sound clever and knowledgable,. Pours a golden orange, hazy, with a small and persistent head. It's a fantastic colour if you want to wax lyrical.

Hop aroma gets more earthy, and somewhat towards fruit, which is alright by me.

Gosh thats a mouthful of action in a glass. Spectacular.  I might be a bit in love. With a beer. I know. Get a grip. (reaches for pen and paper... Dearest Santa, I may not have always been good but I have good intention...... )

This is so far and away an example of what a 'good' beer can taste like, there is lots going on in the aroma, and then it delivered on the palate, and there are many things in there to get. Ir's rich and to improperly use another word possibly - sumptuous.

This is really nice, there is is tang of bitterness and a glorious amount of warmth from malt sweetness that combine to make your think you're drinking a nectar. It's a dangerous thing. I'm not actually sure I ever had an IPA that's been this good. To bang on a bit, this is spectacular.

This should be on your list of beers to try.

Each mouthful is a whole mouthful of action and entertainment, and if you enjoy a bitter beer, this should hit your sweet spot, it's bitter, it's sweet, it's got more than one level of taste, it has full body and length.

See how I went on about it a bit, the pdubyah-o-meter would be rubbish if then this wasn't a 10.  It is.

It's a dangerous beer at 9.5% ABV and the pain of watching England bowl in the cricket will be tempered by the happy place that this brought me to this afternoon. Which reminds me that this is a time when you should ask me favours and things because this is when I get all Air and Water over Fire and Earth :-)

To finish my letter to Santa that has descended  into  a scrawl, it sort of reads, where I can understand it, bring me moar of this Un*Earthlyb beer, begging you man-to-man and with a tear in my eye that this will make me a better person forever..... unintelligible for a bit, then, or perhaps the people at Southern Tier need an ambassador in NZ, I'd settle for that :-) really I would.

MrsPdubyah just came back from some exercise, she noticed straight away that I'm in a happy place, which means that tonight the BBQ might be set aside for pizza in the normal oven. I think that's ever two wins or a draw,

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Beer - #256 - Garage Project - Trip Hop

Sunday brings with it a Garage Project - Trip Hop - Brewed by Garage Project in the Style of an India Pale Ale (IPA), and of course they're in Wellington, New Zealand

The brewer says - "We love NZ Hops. How much? Here’s how much. Triple hopped with, Pacificica, Motueka and Riwaka hops in increasingly lavish quantities throughout the boil, Trip Hop’s bitter but (we hope) balanced on a malt base of pale, Carahelles, Vienna and Caraaroma. Rich amber red and redolent of the Nelson hop fields. Think easy drinking for resin heads and pucker up."

So stand by for bitterness from this a 650ml (22 Fl Oz) bottle of a 5.6% ABV beer. which is all of 2.9 standard drink units in NZ, and my guesstimate is around 300 calories in this bottle.

Of course a bitter aroma on opening, lots of the grass, but also other things.

Pours with a really lively head of fluffy bubbles, but they recede a bit to something more normal, and has a bitter aroma that I'm not familiar with, but which isn't unpleasant.

Plenty Floral things going on and there is a fair crack of malt sweetness to asset with the drinking.

This, to me, is more an English style bitter, for the reason that although you get an idea that the brewer wanted hops to be the thing they've run off and hidden themselves quietly and unobtrusively in the background.

A soft easy drinking beer, hardly a classic or one for the scarp-book from Garage Project, who's output any sane man would have trouble keeping up with.

The pdubyah-o-meter says that this would be 6 and one half on the random scale of arbitrary , making this an average beer in the scheme of things. Hey if you were out and someone wanted to 'try' a bitter her this might be the thing that you could get them by way of introduction.

To me however, to finish, I think this is a little thin and without a lot of depth and carry. I think that the hop aroma is pleasant, and the bunch of grass and flora notes that are delivered are pleasant and fulfilling. But it might be too sweet, and too soft. Not one for the scrap-book.

For background today,  the cricket plays to itself on the teevee and  Hooverphonic do their grooving on the music machine, accompanied by the drone of late afternoon lawn mowing somewhere in the distance. It could be a lot worse.

Beer - #255 - Pretty Things - Jack D’Or

So the second of a pair of beers from Pretty things - this tbe Pretty Things Jack D’Or.

From the Pretty Things Beer and Ale Project Brewed at Buzzards Bay Brewing this is in the Style of a  Saison and as you know they are in the lovely Cambridge, Massachusetts USA

In a 650ml bottle, 6.4% ABV or around 3.3 standard drink units,  and calorie lite at 195! and 57 IBUS. - High IPA, High Irish Stout,  Low Barley Wine bitterness.

Inspired by some of our favorites like Saison DuPont, but also DeRanke’s XX Bitter, De Dolle’s Arabier, and local IPAs like Smuttynose, the Jack D’Or starts off with North American Pils, Vienna, Wheat and Malted Oats (among others) and is hopped with a combination of four hops, finishing with Palisade and Nugget. The bitterness is the real backbone of the Jack D’Or.  It’s a proper “plant-like” bitterness with all of its jagged edges, beginning deep in the soil, then to the stem of this beer and up into to the very tippity heights.  Fermentation-wise we use a blend of four yeast strains to give Jack D’Or its refreshingly dry character.  Finally, despite all of the spicy flavours in this beer it contains no actual spices – only malt, oats, rye, sugar, hops and yeast.  One more time: there are no spices or citrus in Jack D’Or. Wheat lends acidity at Jack’s edges, then rye and our blended yeast character come into play for a bit of polyphony, displeasing the notion of “balance” and creating the fire in the belly of Jack D’Or!

Ok I brought this based on the label, as I did the last beer, shoot me.

Sugary malt aroma on opening. Pours really pale yellow, almost cloudy, with a skerrick of a head. Looks like it has some bubble action going on but it's not an excitable amount.

Has the aroma of a Belgium type beer, the musty yeast thing. Has a bunch of sweetness like a Belgium beer too, and some astringent alcohol in there.

Of course a Saison would be "Fruity esters dominate the aroma. Clarity is good with a large foamy head on top. The addition of several spices and herbs create a complex fruity or citrusy flavor. Light to medium bodied with very high carbonation. Alcohol level is medium to high."

A very light beer to drink, and one that reminds of other beers of similar style. Not a beer with it's own character then, which would mean you'd overlook this for any of the other beers the same.

As it warms there is a much more pronounced malt warmth, and you're lead to believe this is a very competent beer, which it is.

I'm a bit green on this, but I have no idea why I would choose this instead of a Belgium Beer, for instance, to me they are a bit similar.

What I know is that I like it, a bit goodly, and I would suggest that the pdubyah-0-meter is being a bit light at 8 very good. This has happiness and Belgiumness about it and that is a thing to behold.

Having boldly said that this wasn't special or standout I sit here feeling a bit betwixt and between, I'd actually like another of these and would probably really enjoy it a lot more, which leads me to suspect that the pdubyah-o=meter isn't reliable :-)

I'd be bold enough to suggest that if you see this you should carry two words of advice from me... get in!

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