Beer #188 - Hallertau - Stuntman

So Liquorland in Newmarket have the old school fill your own going on, and they rotate through beers of the week. This week the pick of them seems to be the  Hallertau Stuntman. Brewed by Hallertau Brewbar & Restaurant in the style of  Imperial/Double IPA and they do that in Auckland, New Zealand, well more Riverhead really, but in the wop wops if you want to be precise.*

An 8.5% or a 9% ABV beer (depending on who you believe) which makes a 500ml "pint' about 3.3 to 3.6 standard drinks equivalent, and this is described as "Best not attempted by the fainthearted. Ten top additions make this an utterly rambunctious thrillseeker of an ale. Brace your senses for the ride.."

The Stuntman is all about pushing boundaries and testing limits of human endurance. This is a very hoppy beer! Some might say too hoppy, but you “hop heads” out there are in for a real treat. Ten hop additions create a tsunami of flavours and textures that explode across the poor unsuspecting palette. Taste buds are left reeling, stunned, like they have been eleven rounds with “The Green Machine”. If you find all the hops a bit much, remember, It’s not to hoppy, you’re to soft!! HARDEN UP. The Stuntman is stupid beer for brave people………….so get brave stupid!

It's a nice hoppy aroma, but a murky golden pour, and sans head, but this might be my technique over anything else.

It's a hoppy bitter beer, and the hops are a nice tart note. Which is stating the obvious perhaps.



After even one sip (generous sized sip, almost a gulp). I'd suggest that this is a top notch IPA bitter beer , and I'm instantly enjoying both the bitterness and the slight caramel sweetness that this has.

Shame that I couldn't get a head and then an amusing amount of lacing.  But I have more so I can give it another crack.

The Hops dominate the profile, the pine\spruce\grass thing but there is a nice kick of citrus, perhaps grapefruit in the back end of the palate.

As it warms the profile seems to flatten a bit, a nice hope front and grapefruit finish, it's ok.

The cloudiness is a bit of a worry, but it seems to be its thing. It obviously it's thing to be cloudy.

A nice thing about this is that you don't really get a alcohol hit, and that you'd be sucked into to having more of these than is prudent to have. And so I shall have another.

Of which there was a head, but it was desultory and a bit thin, almost looking oily. But I take any victory.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this an easy 8.50 and only that because the murky didn't really impress me,  and made me wonder if it was going to be ok. But it is a bangingly good IPA that hits many high notes, and you should if you have the chance get one. You'll like it.

• Wops Wops a localism meaning "in the sticks", "the back of beyond", "Off the beaten track"

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Beer #187 - Invercargill - Wasp Honey Pilsner

Ok in for one Honey beer in for two - part he second  - an Invercargill - Wasp Honey Pilsner - Brewed by Invercargill Brewery in the style of a Golden Ale/Blond Ale in Invercargill, New Zealand.

This a 330ml bottle of a 4.9% ABV beer, and that's about 1.2 standard drinks, and at 16 IBU which is low by most measures of IBU more a Scottish Ale.
We’ve blended four malts and two hops with kamahi bush honey to craft an authentic taste of New Zealand... the perfect anytime beer. A New Zealand Pilsner that’s been inspired by Nature’s Raider. A great summer thirst quencher featuring Kamahi Honey, the bee-blended taste of Catlins Forest Park. Best served chilled.

Pouring a rich golden hue beneath a wispy white head, Wasp has a sweetish aroma and palate combining biscuity malt, caramel and floral honey. Medium-bodied, with a spritzy mouthfeel and lingering vanilla note that remind me of creaming soda, the beer finishes crisply with an edge of citrusy tartness from the hops.



So they talk it up a bit.

and I know I bang on a bit about head and lack of but I lost about 35% of this beer to over carbonation and a much livelier beer than should be allowed.

And I coughed and spluttered up truing to neck the foam. What an interactive beer this is!

and yes that's 66% head over beer, which isn't what you'd expect.

So It's settles to a murky golden colour that I'm now dubious of, there is a bitter aroma that reminds me of Belgium or Wheat beer, which I like though. The head thankfully has stopped looking like an ice-cream and settled back to being normal.

So the taste, which I actually sort of  like, and is nothing like I was expecting. There defiantly in honey in this but's it's a musty kind of taste. So to clarify that :  It's a taste that I wasn't expecting but am enjoying, and second the musty taste that I'm getting is part of the thing I like, but it's not what I'm expecting to have as the way this beer is described.

Almost as confusing at 66% head of beer.

So the pdubyah-o-meter is having a confusion.  Label says Pilsner, Web Site says Golden or Blonde Ale, tastes like a Wheat or Belgium beer. The heck. This is a beer that could put you seriously wrong in your thinking. I notice too that in various reviews that the ABV content wanders around like a lost person in a mall

So this is a confusion in a bottle, is it a Pilsner, Golden or Wheat beer? And for that reason it scrapes a 5 despite it having a taste that I'm not unhappy with. Or I am unhappy with as described. That and that wandering ABV.

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Beer #186 - Wigram - Harvard Honey Ale

Early evening, time for a beer that was a gift from my son after a visit to a Honey Farm, a Wigram Harvard Honey Ale. Brewed by Wigram Brewing Company in the style of a  Amber Ale Christchurch, New Zealand.

A 500ml bottle of a 6% ABV beer, making it about 1.9 standard drinks.

This copper coloured ale has a faint honey aroma. This mild, medium body beer has a distinct honey flavour balanced well with a clean crisp hoppy finish. At the end, a slight sweetness stays on the palate.

English ale malt, a top fermenting ale yeast. Don't be fooled, this is no ordinary ale, infused into this beer is certified organic Bush honey, giving a distinctive flavour and aroma,enjoy.

Nothing distinctive on opening. Much much darker than I expected, dark chestnut, with an off white head. The aroma settles to a sweet note.

There's s hoppy rush and a big front note to this, and that ends up to be pretty persistent through the mouthfeel.  Whist this isn't overly bitter in any way it isn't honey sweet either.  It is a nice beer to drink as a drink. The pdubyah-o-meter rates this at the 7.5 lever making it good.

I was expecting more amber than chestnut in the colour, and more sweet than bitter in the taste. But is is a good drinking beer, if you like a bitter, if you were after a honey Amber Ale then you should be looking elsewhere.

Beer #185 - Yeastie Boys - Golden Perch

So onto the Yeastie Boys Golden Perch.  The same Yeastie Boys that brew at Invercargill Brewery this in the style of a  Golden Ale/Blond Ale and they are in Wellington, New Zealand.

Golden Perch a bottle of 330ml and at 4.4% ABV making it about 1.0 standard drinks, and this is at 25IBU on the scale of things - Pale Ale being in the range of 20-50 IBU.

Originally brewed for last year's Hobbit premiere (Golden Perch reputedly serves the best beer in the Eastfarthing), Golden Perch is an aromatic golden ale featuring ingredients from all across the world. German and British malts form the backbone of the beer, a little bit like the history of our brewing industry, but there is a strong new world influence from the clean American ale yeast and the pungent Nelson Sauvin hops. Golden Perch is a beer with enough flavour to satisfy the most ardent beer geek and remain subtle enough to not scare the everyday drinker.

Have to say the packaging is great with the golden highlights.

There is a nice hoppy spicy burst on opening, it pours a light golden brown with a small but persistent head, and the hops still are at large. It doesn't seem over carbonated either.

Wow that's bitter for a low IBU beer, and that's a nice surprise, quite grassy.  I though at first that this was an all up-front beer, but you'll find that there is some length to it, and it rewards you eventually.

You might also think this is "thin" as I did, but then in contemplation you realise that this makes it a great session beer. It's nicely tasty and does have reward for you.

The pdubyah-o-meter says 7.5 things of a thing making it a Good+ beer. Much enjoyment after my day's exercise and as an entrée in the next relaxing bit of the evening.

This is the sort of beer that you should find on tap in bars, because then I'd go more often. It's a fine  taste profile and it's lower ABV value makes it a great beer to enjoy a few times without getting yourself all in trouble.

As a postscript I feel that Yeastie Boys  don't like criticism or they don't take it well, or they have an over zealous idea of the quality of their beer, or they are very passionate  about their work as I found out when they took me to task about my not loving unreservedly the "Golden Age of Bloodshed", which I still think was ok, but just ok not special. Might also have made me , er, windy, the next day.  But I do like them, they're just very "interactive", and long may they be so. And I prefer that they are passionate about what they do, because they actually do some things very goodly indeed. And if they sent me a sample pack I'd love them more :-)

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• Beer- #184 - Yeastie Boys - Golden Age of Bloodshed (pdubyah.com)

Beer- #184 - Yeastie Boys - Golden Age of Bloodshed

Yeastie Boys - Golden Age of Bloodshed,  Which comes from Yeastie Boys and is brewed at Invercargill Brewery in the style of a  Spice/Herb/Vegetable beer. I've also seen this described as a Belgium Pale Ale.

It's a 6.5% ABV beer, and this time I got this in a "Growler" of 2 litres from the nice people at Liquorland in Newmarket, Auckland. 500mls of a 6.5% ABV beer should be about 2.8 Standard drinks, so a growler would be about 12-ish standard drink equivalents

This is a "heavily beeted Belgian blond"  beer, So what's in store is a beer that's likely to be very pink in colour and confused in taste.

There's nothing special on the aroma, a little spicy maybe.

It's a crazy pink colour, with a lively pink fluffy head that dies away to a film.

I wasn't expecting that colour to be honest. The Aroma doesn't change much either, remains vaguely spicy in a vague way.

So to the taste.

Which ends up being of not a lot of much. You'd expect something tart from the beetroot. And the Spicy aroma you'd think would be the base of a wheat type beer.

But there isn't anything definable.

This is a beer that isn't bitter, isn't sweet, does not have a sharp finish, or a tart beginning. It's a bit, well, boring.

As it warms a bit you get a bit of 'rough' in the middle but it's not heavy, harsh, or a note on it's own. And you might begin to pick up some background banana flavour (of all things)

It's also, being fair, thin. But it's not dull or insipid. It's sweet enough to be unobtrusive, but there isn't a personality.

Overall the pdubyah-o-meter says ----- 6 making it a bit average, but at the better end of average than the "meh" end. Yeastie Boys are a bit edgy at times and have a couple of spectacular hits, the His Majesty 2012 for instance, which is awesomsauce. This however is it's shadow, an absolute swing and a miss in terms of flavour profile, but again, it isn't unpleasant or undrinkable, and I'm easily going to finish this without wondering how I'll drink the last mouthful, and that's why it's a 6 not a 5 or less.

I've drunk much much worse beer than this in terms of a profile, or point taste. This doesn't have anything standout, and if you take out "where's the single taste point", or even "what's the point"  this isn't all that bad.

Beer - #183 - Galbraith - NZ Pale Ale

Brewed by Galbraith Brewing Company in the style of a  India Pale Ale (IPA) and they do that right here in Auckland, New Zealand. Galbraith's pub, also known as meeting Room G, we went there that often :-)

A 330ml bottle of a 5% ABV beer, thats about 1.3 standard drinks.

Pale in name, but not in nature. This is a full bodied beer, with a unique malty flavour balanced by New Zealand Southern Cross hops.

Hop bitter aroma, lovely deep amber golden pour, and a reasonable head from a well carbonated brew.

The aroma settles but remains hoppy but on a sweet malt base.

It's softly bitter, and there is a lovely dash of maltiness in this. Although a reasonable range of tastes this isn;t overly long.

It's ok, but then it should be, and based on my previous experience of the brewery this is on point for them. This is neither too bitter or to sweet,  there is a lot of carbonation, and it's very well rounded. I do like the hop spiciness in this, it's a pleasant note.

The pubyah-o-meter rattles to an 8 making it a very good on the scale of randomness.  It's a shame I have only the one as this would settle me for the evening and go well with some honest food, like chips.

Beer - #182 - Moon Dog - Dasher’s Envy

Moon Dog Dasher’s Envy, a Fancy Christmas Ale, I was always a bit slow on things. This is Brewed by Moon Dog Craft Brewery in the style of a  Belgian Strong Ale and it's from the West Island, specifically Abbotsford, Australia

330ml bottle of a 25IBU, 8.1% ABV beer, making it 2.1 standard drinks.

Here's a beer to celebrate the silly season. And haven't we've done it in style with a "fancy christmas ale". Mmmmmmmmm.... Just the big, sweet, hefty, ruby-brown Belgian ale to tuck into in a sweltering 40C southern hemisphere Christmas.

An it's now June, so a bit wintery down in the bottom part of the globe. So it works.

Theres not really anything by way of aroma on opening, Pours a dark rich red, and settles to a musty fruit aroma.

There's a frowning a-going on when I taste this. It's not, um, overly pleasant. There is a bunch of random spice, all based on a sweet layer, but it's a bit all over the show.

On top of it all this is a bit thin on taste, short on length and missing any warmth.

It might be styled like a Belgium Strong Ale, and the alcohol is very muted and well hidden, but  sadly this is a bit of  pig's ear with no defining moment.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this a 5 making it average on the scale of things. It made me frown in a bad way, and left me expecting something more. There should have been a burst of something and the uncharitable me looks at the list of things they put in this and wonders if they had a bunch of stuff coming up to use-by dates. Sorry chaps this isn't for me.

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Beer - #181 - Brew Moon - Luna-Wit

Brew Moon,  the New Zealand one,  Luna-Wit - Brewed by Brew Moon Brewing Company in the style of a  Wheat Ale from the town of Amberley, North Canterbury, New Zealand



This is a 500ml of a 5% ABV beer - which is about 2 standard drinks

Luna-Wit Wheat Beer inspired by Belgian Wit or cloudy wheat beer this beer contains a large proportion of wheat malt spiced up with coriander, orange peel and a mystery spice. Warning: May improve your humour and wit!

The initial aroma seems a bit 'sour',  the pour a nice dark golden colour, but lacks a head, despite the intense fizzy carbonation. The Aroma then tends to sweet.

It's not cloudy, and initially all there is by way of taste is the malt.  I wasn't expecting a taste explosion with this, and I based that on the alcohol content. But this isn't unpleasant.

But what it isn't is also anything like what I thought a Wheat ale might be like and it's not as estery as German or Belgian-style beers.  (These are generally light, fruity, floral scents).

My top up pour produced a head, yay! but it was fleeting, and it got cloudier.

This is a fairly crisp beer, with delicate tastes and an unassuming palate. It's quaffable and enjoyable as a fine beer. Despite not having a whole range of complex layers this is pretty competent as a drink, but there is no length of taste, no bite, no hidden flavour waiting for the warmth to release it.

The pdubyah-o-meter says 7 things from it's thing, making it "good". As an alternate to other very commercial beers this would be a fine and more then acceptable substitute. What you're not going to have though is a conversation about the flavour delivery of this. What you will have is a smile.

As a craft beer though, and in advance I state I might have misunderstood wheat ale , this really doesn't showcase anything. I'm not saying that craft brewers need to be pushing an envelope, although they should be, but this is a style that might not be well known, and if this is a leading example of the style then fair play. But it's not going to be a wildly commercial success and be the next 'black'.

However, unlike other craft brewery places who seem to cobble together all sorts of mistakes and over-brews and then label them up as "brew master specials" or "exciting adventures", Brew Moon seem to be sure of their footing. And for that they get a thumbs up.

Beer - #180 - Funk Estate - "Oh Lordy!

Funk Estate "Oh Lordy!, for the label - So then the Funk Estate Brewed at Aotearoa Breweries in the style: American Pale Ale and of all the places I'm not Wellington, New Zealand.



Oh Lordy" is Funk estate’s NZ Pale Ale, or a kiwi twist on an American pale ale. It packs a light colour and body with nice floral and citrus aromas. This is smooth and mellow but nevertheless pleasurable which gives rise to the "Oh Lordy" title.

Its tiny a 330ml bottle of 5.9% ABV which is "only"1.5 standard drinks.

He said.

Couple of things to ponder. Why the small bottle? And just Why?

There is nothing is particular on opening and I made such a comedic sniffing effort!, Clear brow pour and....... no head. At all. nothing. You could skate on that. It looks flatter than a pancake. (or other simile )

There might be a faintest of faint aroma of something malt. But  Oh this is dead in the water beer.

The pdubyah-o-meter does the opposite of crank up from the get-go.

Gak. It's flat.  What the heck is wrong with this. Well, Sherlock, it is flat, and it's atrocious.

It's horrible and and end should be put here. The pdubyah-o-meter gets to 1.  I have my head in my hands, this is worse than than a worse thing.

I'm going to put his behind me, and pretend that I haven't been had.  Avoid. I'll pay you to avoid this, there was a problem in the bottle processor something. shameful quality control.

The Brewer can call me, or twitter, email, facepage whatever, until he does I'll despise this and be dubious about anything else they crank out and chip away at the man in the shop .... said "Angry of Mayfair" .

I'm off to try and kick the cat and swear.

Beer- #179 - Left Coast - Hop Juice

On a theme then Left Coast Hop Juice, Brewed by Left Coast/Oggis Pizza and Brewing Company in the style of a  Imperial/Double IPA  in somewhere called Del Mar, California USA

At Left Coast Brewing Co. we pride ourselves on being one of the pioneers of Double IPA style craft beer. This hop monster uses Premium American 2– Row and a touch of light crystal malt to create a solid malt foundation. Five different Hop Varieties are used in the Hop Juice. It spends two weeks dry hopping in fermenter contributing to its great hop aroma. Starts out sweet and finishes with the crisp bitterness of a Double IPA. This drinkable blend will have you HOPPING till nights end.

9.7% ABV which is about 5 standard drinks, but it is a "pint" so that's, er. ok then :-).

There is hops on opening, not a bit hit, but you know what should be coming...

Rich Amber pour small, but a predominant aroma of bready yeast rather than hops.

The taste is sweet, richly malty, and this is an extreme counterpoint to the hops. It's like there there is a battle for supremacy going on.  Starts sweet, has a backing band of bitter and finishes sweet.

They really should have backed themselves with this, and left off the malts which does nothing but get in the way and make this it a bit cloying and sugary. The yeasty aroma lingers around, and the taste reminds of me of turkish delight. And to be honest I don't need that when I'm having a beer.

the pdubyah-o-meter thinks that, on reflection that this is a 6.5 - average to good  - on the scale of it's own making. I've had better, tonight to be fair, and I will have better tomorrow.

It seems to be over yeasted, over malted and under done on many levels. To be fair it's strong on alcohol which is well hidden, but that shouldn't be the whole trick. Despite I had the Garage Projects Pernicious Weed beer before this I think this is a pale comparison, and possible not even in the same class.

Left Coast should back themselves and go the whole hog on bitter, adding the sweetness might be a local thing. Treat yourself to either the Garage Projects or the Rogue OREGasmic ale if you want a cracking good bitter bitter beer.

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Beer - #178 - Garage Project - Pernicious Weed

ah yes Garage Project Pernicious Weed, Brewed by Garage Project in the style of a India Pale Ale (IPA) and they do that in Windy Wellington, New Zealand.

650ml bottle of an 8% ABV beer, making it  4.1 standard drinks

The arrival of hops to the brewing scene in England in the 1500’s led to a moral panic. Hops were condemned as a “wicked and pernicious weed”, one which would lead to the erosion of social and moral standards. Thank goodness they were right. Here’s hoping that our homage to the original pernicious weed continues this gradual decline. Organic Rakau and whole cone Nelson Sauvin go head to head in this strong, golden, hoppy brew. Bitter, yes. Intensely hoppy, absolutely. Too much, never.

There's a cracking hop aroma on opening. Oh my giddy Aunt. Its very pale golden like a Lager, and has a decent foamy head and a nose full of grassy hoppiness.

Despite being very pale light brown\amber  it's also very cloudy and murky, the head lasts too and does not die away to a pale film.

Oh gosh that's bitter.

There is a gorgeous collision of citrus tones, like grapefruits, that bang against grass, and altogether they have a really long length of  taste.

However , there's not a lot a sweetness in this, it's fairly harsh at the edges. You'll forget you're drinking a fairly strong beer, and you'll be reaching for another.  Despite it's uncouth nature the pdubyah-o-meter says 9 - making a great beer. a great great beer.

It's bitter, edgy and lacks finesse, but it has a certain devil-may-care about it that makes it a bit good. The New Zealand Craft beer makers should be paying attention to this. I think what I like as well is the off hand way they present their beers, sort go "here you go give this a crack" and I'm a bit jealous of that.

There is not a lot not to like about this, and I'm going to nurse what's left in my bottle. This is as good as or the equal of a beer I rate highly, and have brought again - the Chatoe Rogue OREgasmic Ale. And now I'll be in a quandary about which to buy to satisfy my need to a hop hit.

Perhaps I'll have a taste off, if only Dan would get his A into G he'd enjoy this.

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Beer - #177 - Invercargill - B.Man Pilsner

Somewhat oddly named b.man is a really smartly presented 330ml bottle of a 5.2% ABV beer (thats about 1.3 standard drinks) with an IBU of 42 making it near the high end for a Pilsner.

Brewed by Invercargill Brewery in the style of a  Pilsener and that's of course in Invercargill, New Zealand

One of this country’s finest aromatic Pilsners and a showcase for New Zealand’s uniquely herbaceous hop varieties, B.Man pours an attractive bright gold beneath a lingering fluffy white head. In both the aroma and palate biscuity sweet malt provides the luscious canvas on which the hops play and their citrusy and tropical (passion) fruit flavours lead into an emphatic, resiny, dry finish. Lip-smackingly good and the perfect match for a hot Thai curry!

Pungent hops on opening. Rich orange golden colour, with a very lively head of fluffy white, and it retains the hoppy aroma.

It's quite sharp as a drink, dry on the palate, the abundance of hops adds a nice bitterness, You can tell why it's won awards. You get the citrusy flavour too, all very neatly delivered.

The pdubyah-o-meter says easily 8.25 making it very good but not quite great. I'm glad that I chose to only have the one beer today and that it was this one that came out first. From the colour, to the aroma, the head and the lacing, this was a pretty nice beer to experience. I bet it's cracking with a Thai curry as suggested.

I don't however think I'd enjoy this as a session beer though, the flavours are all pretty crammed together in one package, it's not a drink of many layers, it does what it says it does, very well, but that's all it does. There isn't a journey and an unfolding of taste. Again you can tell why it won awards.

The less of me for May

The less of me for May- A moth where it ended in abruptly and in tragedy

• 8Runs - that's half of what I expected


• 42.06 kms kms in total


• 5.2kms average per walk-out


• Fastest 5km improves all the time 32:53  - remembering back that it was 44:03 in December when I really started to go for it.


• Weight  dropping slowly - now at 94 kg, but only because I ate to comfort myself in the last two weeks.


• New shoes - I brought some more New Balance shoes M1010, They're still in the box unworn.

So to recap then.

I hurt myself.

I'd got to 498 kms and wanted to get to 500 (in total), and I went out in the morning. I had a "tight" right calf, but stretching seemed to ease it, in my head. I'd got less than 500 meters where I stopped to stretch it again, and nearly gave up, but mistaking the pain as being similar to the pain that shins sometimes give me I pushed ahead.

Then at the furthest point from home I'd stopped to walk a bit, the calf was quite "knotted" and I thought I'd walk it off, but I came to a junction and then the gentle downhill bit that I really enjoy. So I ran accross the road, in the way you do to beat the truck that's coming up. and that's when the tears started :-(





The burning stabbing that indicates some part of your body has given up.  For those of you that know this is both painful, embarrassing and confusing.

So there I was in comparative agony  by the side of the road, unable to walk, and some kind passerby stopped and offered me a lift home, I was sweaty and grimacing but still they stopped. It was incredibly kind and thoughtful and I hope that i'd be as charitable if ever I had the chance.

Cold pads and hot water bottle's for a few hours, compress bandage and rest.

Oddly I had no problems standing on top toes had a full range of foot motion but I couldn't walk in any coherent way, and getting down stairs was pretty impossible for the first day.

In the week since, it's calmed down a lot, only aches if I've been sitting for a while, and doesn't like being cold. I massage it daily and use deep heat (you know that stuff that smells like locker rooms, the opposite of chick-magnet"

I'm really itching to get back and exercise, and will have a gentle walk tomorrow.

And there you have it - May done and dusted, some wins, a few set backs, a few compliments about how less fat I am becoming. It's all good.

Beer - #176 - Schneider - Aventinus

Schneider Aventinus - Tap 6 - Brewed by Weissbierbrauerei G. Schneider & Sohn in the style of a  Weizen Bock in Kelheim, Germany.

bit like me then ----- Deep and complex – for big and relaxing moments by the fire.

Dark-ruby colored wheat doppelbock with a creamy fine head. Strong notes of ripe bananas, raisins and plums meet liquorice and roasty aromes. Full-bodied and warming, with a well-balanced and smooth finish. The ideal companion for hearty roast meat, venison and also fruity chocolate desserts, “Kaiserschmarrn” (pancakes), “Elisenlebkuchen” (christmas cookies) or blue cheese.

Oldest wheat doppelbock of Bavaria. Since 1907.  500ml bottle of an 8.2% ABV beer - making it 3.2 standard drinks - and I don't have a roast meal either. I have rice crackers, this may end badly :-)

I get the same slightly sour aroma on opening, it's a very dark pour, I got a smidgin of a head, and it settled to a lovely fruit aroma. Rich like raisins.

The think I noted on the mouthfeel was the alcohol astringent. It kind of looms over the taste a bit. Perhaps I have it too cold, there are fruit notes in there but aren't being forthcoming.

And for that though the pdubyah-o-meter thinks this is a bit of a fail, and comes up an arbitrary 6 on the scale of arbitrary- making it at the low end and just above average.  I might be having an off day, I didn't get any of the notes that I was expecting to get - the plums, the liquorice,  and it's not full bodied by my understanding.

I'd be reluctant to have another.

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Beer - #175 - Schneider Weisse - Original

Schneider Weisse Original, Tap 7 - Unser Original - Brewed by Weissbierbrauerei G. Schneider & Sohn in the unsurprising style of a German Hefeweizen in Kelheim, Germany.

Thus is a 500ml of a 5.4% ABV beer (2.1 Standard Drinks), this one came recommended to me.

With its amber-mahogany coloring and streaked with fine top-fermented yeast, this beer has a fine, persistent head that adheres well to the glass. It is pleasantly fruity with a typical top-fermented smell, an aroma of clove and nutmeg apple tantalizes the nose. On the tongue it is fresh, clean, full-bodied, harmonious and well-balanced. It finishes with a light, delicate taste of bitters leaving behind a sour impression.

Sort of both sweet and sour aroma on opening, It's a much darker beer than you'd expect, and it has a whopper of a head. The aroma stays the same, sort of a sweet malt but with a peppery thing going on.

Although you'd think that there's a mouthful of sweet malt this isn't exactly what happens, you get a warm sweet that somehow turns into a sweet bitter. I'm a bit betwixt and between on this. It's ok, the taste is good, but there isn't a lot of length in it. It then occurs to me that this is a "dry" tasting beer. See sometimes I get it!

I don't know however if I get the alleged "banana" or "vanilla" that might be expected, it would have been something to have experienced.

Probably more a summer beer than a first of winter tipple, but this is an easy drink, there is nothing that is offensive or that you'd find distasteful, and I can see why it's successful .

The pdubyah-o-meter says I should rate this at 8 being as how it's all a bit good but not spectacular. If I had a mind to have a party I'd probably get some in because it'd go down well. The nice caramel note invites you in and the little sour back means you're actually enjoying  and experience.  I had no trouble drinking this, and I know lots of people feel the same way.

Beer - #174 - Renaissance - Enlightenment Series - Scotch on Rye 70/- Ale

For a Friday then, the Renaissance Enlightenment Series Scotch on Rye 70/- Ale.

..it means ’70 shilling’ (sigh, OK, I will tell the whole story). We were asked to make a big malty beer that is lower in alcohol than a Scotch Ale so we went to the source and brewed another Scottish style, the 70/- Ale. Malty and satisfying without too much kick. Oh and we brewed this one with Rye... because Rye not! We also used oats and wheat in the mash for flavour and mouth-feel and then left the brew to age on Oak until it was smooth and mellow.

Brewed by Renaissance Brewing in the style of a  Scotch Ale in the most unlikely of places - Blenheim, New Zealand. A  500ml, 4.8%ABV bottle of beer. (2 standard drinks worth).  and an IBU of 17 - which is in the range for Scottish Beers. Best drunk at between 8-10 degrees C. Well it's pretty cold out so lets try it.

Light bready yeast on opening, surprisingly dark brown colour, plenty of carbonation fizz, and a meagre head.  the aroma settles to a sweet fruit.

There is a lovely maltiness and balanced bitterness, with a pretty long note. You know you've had a mouthful of beer. Surprisingly multi layered and very entertaining!

I like it but there is a 'tang' in there somewhere, perhaps the Rye? it's sort of in the middle, might be mistaken for "rubber".  I'm not saying it'll put you off, but it's something you might need to be aware of that is a character of the beer.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this 7.5 of things - making it a better then good beer.  It's a quirky beer, and it might be a one shot deal. It is different, it isn't "strong" in terms of alcohol content, and therefore relies on a taste profile. Not sure that it hits any of the marks well, but close enough is good enough.