Beer - #474 - Bear Republic - Apex

I get to the top, bop till I drop, number up and think of parties.

My choice of beer for this is the  Bear Republic Apex. How did I not know about this beer?

Brewed by Bear Republic Brewing Company in the style that is Imperial/Double IPA and they are based in Healdsburg, California  USA

I have then in front of me a 100 IBU, 8.9% ABV,  the big Ipt 6fl oz, or 22fl oz, or 650ml bottle, with 268 calories a serve, and 4.56 standard drinks bottle of beer. 100 IBU is pretty bitter, way at the top end of DIPA and BarleyWine.

Apex: The highest point, the culmination or climax. In racing, the apex of the turn is approached differently as conditions dictate but always with a forward looking mindset.

This beer is the culmination of years of brewing and drinking hop forward IPAs.

We reserve the right to move forward, to advance the style to the next Apex.

2009 California State Fair - Silver 2009 The Bistro Double IPA Fest – Bronze & People’s Choice 2009 Night of the Living Ales Cask Festival – 3rd Place & People’s Choice.

I am looking forward to this, what could possibly go wrong. Expecting big grassy, dry finish mouth explosion.

I was expecting more grass/hop aroma on opening but this is just the right amount, and a lovely sweetness too. Perhaps I need to dial back the expectation.

Lovely light golden pour, and a great white head of fluffiness that seems to be firm and persistent. Talent or luck?

Grassy aroma blooms in the glass. There is an awful lot more sweetness and malt in this than there is bitterness, that's clever.

I wanted this to be more punchy and with more bite, what you get is a beer that is pretty easy to drink, isn't bitter, doesn't linger in the mouth or have a long finish but is easy drinking and moorish.

Perhaps it's my sweet tooth?

I wanted more, and I hope that this isn't the Apex of things because if that was the case then I've been doing it wrong!

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 8 a of its things from the thing. I think because I talked myself into it more than anything is the reason that I'm disappointed in this, and I wanted to to reach to a higher point than it has.

Hard to please much?

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? No, It's kind of failed to deliver on the pleasure of enjoyment, it's not bad and I'm enjoying it as a beer, I'm just disappointed by it.


2. Would I have another? Not really.


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? No, there are far more worthy beers, unless you wanted a no distraction beer, then might.

Musically, I just put on "Unknown County"  an album by New Zealand group "The Clean" - this is "Happy Lil Fella" from 1996 on the Flying Nun Record Label

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9JRTWtsbIk

Not to everyone's taste but a bit of Kiwiana.

IMPERIAL/DOUBLE IPA

Imperial IPA, Double IPA or DIPA is a strong, often sweet, intensely hoppy version of the traditional India Pale Ale. Bitterness units range upward of 100 IBUs and alcohol begins at 7.5% but is more commonly in the 8.5-10% range. The flavour profile is intense all-round. Unlike barley wines, the balance is heavily towards the hops, with crystal and other malts providing support.

Related articles

• Know your beer: Imperial IPAs


• Our 10 Favorite Beers to Celebrate IPA Day


• Ask a Cicerone: What's the Best Hoppy Beer?


• The beginner's guide to hoppy beer


• How to Shop for an IPA


• The Sip: Celebrate IPA Day with a flavorful Tampa brew

Beer - #473 - ParrotDog - BitterBitch

A play on words, play a song, play with numbers and play devils advocate.

ParrotDog BitterBitch, a beer that I've know about but not drunk, until now. Thought I would put that right so as part of the new thinking drinker I brought me some.

Brewed by ParrotDog in the style that is  India Pale Ale (IPA) and they are based in Wellington, New Zealand

Dinky 330 ml bottle, with a plain yet distinctive label that is standard for this brewer, of a 5.8% ABV beer, making it 174 calories in the 330ml bottle, and 1.5 standard drink units.

[caption id="attachment_9603" align="alignleft" width="300"] IPA night![/caption]

An aggressive, tropical NZ hopped aroma gives way to the rich, copper coloured malt base and a huge lingering bitterness to finish.

In an ode to its ancestors, we’ve used all English malts in the grist and a bold English bittering hop in the boil.

Sweet hoppy aroma on opening.

Pour is darker more chestnut and familiar but of head there is none.

Grassy aroma bloom in the glass, but it seems a bit earthy, wormy, wet mud in some way. Might just be me making stuff up.

Not nearly  as bitter as I was expecting and a nuttiness in the palate too that was a bit different.

Bitter, but without carry though, the sweetness is a bit elevated from the happiness making them distinct and not the same thing.

IPA is a big contest and this isn't a contender being brutal about it. Disappointed is another way to describe it.  I like to be wide in my taste and like the idea that a wide range if opinion counts towards a generalised opinion, I think in this case the opinion might be too narrow as I appear an outlier.

It's not undrinkable, it's just a bit thin, not balanced, or there is a gap between bitter and sweet, and it lacks a real finish. Perhaps that is harsh.

But I'm not enjoying it, not as an IPA, or as a discovery beer, or a companion beer to food, not that it's not undrinkable, it's just lost. I'd drink this on tap out and about if it was available, it would make an interesting comparison.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 7 a of its things from the thing, making it a bit average. Which I think it is. Against the grain somewhat. But this isn't a great or accomplished IPA, sorry.

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? No I wish I was but I'm not.


2. Would I have another? No, I might not if that's all the same.


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? No, this isn't something that can be appreciated for one thing or another, nor is it a companion or conversation beer.

Nina Simone - Sinnerman.  No other words needed, except play twice, drink once.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bn5tiuZU4JI

I picked the music then drank the beer,  there is no pun or confession intended.

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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Beer - #472- Yeastie Boys - Digital IPA

Wherein I ponder Digital beer, digital music from a symbol, how to do a half, and sharing.

I did some research about, unusual for me, and picked up a Yeastie Boys Digital IPA for my Friday.

Brewed initially for export to USA.  A lmited amount of kegs were released in NZ as Motueka Warrior. 

This ale is open source - you may not be able to download the beer itself but feel free to grab the recipe at www.yeastieboys.co.nz.

Yeastie Boys have this brewed at Invercargill Brewery  in the style that is  India Pale Ale (IPA), and YB are based in Wellington, New Zealand

An artful 330ml bottle that has beer of 7% ABV, and 210 calories a serve, This comes in at 77 IBU things, the whole is about 1.82 standard drink units.

[caption id="attachment_9599" align="alignright" width="300"] .. as they say in IT .. 11011000100100111[/caption]

This limited-release India Pale Ale (IPA) is an aggressive wee beast that is dedicated to our friend Joseph Wood of Liberty Brewing and to all those hopheads who love drinking IPA day in, day out. 

Just as the term digital is all about zeroes and ones, the concept of IPA is all about malts and hops. Enjoy the rich golden malt backbone of Digital while you can... then feel it closing in as the fruity Motueka-grown hops dominate your palate and don’t ever fade away.  

IPA as it should be. 

Cracking aroma of hops on opening,  I could sit and sniff that for a while, but that would be odd, right?

Pour looks pale and it doesn't sit in the glass as dark as it could have been, the head, as it was fades and sits as film.  It look well carbonated though.

Carries that lovely hop aroma to the glass.

That's surprisingly hoppy bitter and pretty tasty. I smiled when I drank that, which made it awkward in keeping the beer in, but I managed.

So hoppy up front, and carries a middle but fades to a short almost no finish, and there tries to be a dryness.

They give up this recipe to make at home, that's amazing and I'd love someone to give that a crack and let me have some, perhaps I could contract brew me a couple of litres ?

You could happy to site on this for a few hours and a few bottles as it's easy drinking and there isn't anything going on that deadens or dulls the palate to make enjoying something else, or food, difficult, it's just a quaffingly nice beer that deserves the kudos it gets and has gotten.

I think I avoided it as it didn't appear to my sense of I.T. and in some was I was offended, I was a fool.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 8.5 a of its non digital, non-binary scare. For the IT literate that would be 0b1000 or 1000 because they don't do a .5 because Mind-Blown and this isn't a 9. Call me harsh.

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? Yes, what a beer


2. Would I have another? Wish I had another this is nice drinking and I'm about to cook BBQ


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? Yes, gather around kids I have a story .....

Go on, I was listening to Prince, the one who used to a symbol, and his new Album of musics called Art Offiicial Age, this track "FunkRoll"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9R1E4y7_Js

It's like an idea explosion without thought.  But it is thought out and not too difficult or at one end or the other,  not vintage or classic but it has it's moments, apart from that stupid track about uploads and downloads and hard drives.

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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Beer - #469 - Yeastie Boys - The Sun Before the Darkness

Next; Spoonbenders, 23 minutes of Kraftwerk, my own private number, and going again.

"Strong golden ale with botrytised viognier candi-sugar."

Yeastie Boys - The Sun Before the Darkness - one of 3 special beers, this seems to be the rarest of them for no reason I can fathom but when I saw it on the shelf I reached for it. I haven't got the other two, yet, lets see how this pans out.

For  Yeastie Boys brewed at Invercargill Brewery in the style closest to  Belgian Strong Ale , but perhaps Abbey Tripel and YB are in Wellington, New Zealand.

Packaged as a 330ml bottle of 10% ABV which makes is 2.6 standard drink units,  of 300 calories in this serve, and 50 IBU things.

[caption id="attachment_9595" align="alignleft" width="300"] Friday... for starters....[/caption]

A new world Tripel with a bouquet of citrus blossom, ripe peach and mango flavours, a silky mouthfeel and a warming, herbaceous spicy finish.

Drink now or cellar for up to five years. 

Like that could happen, although the idea of cellaring beer has ab appeal greater than the depth of my current finances.

Aroma is sour and of a lot of fruits, then is just the fruits.

Lovely orange golden chestnut pour that I couldn't get to a head, but that happens, Aroma is strong in this one, rich and with a strong od something I want to say is banana but isn't, quite.

Wow that is sweet, and definitely  of it's style, an almost over-full mouthfeel. Alcohol is obvious, to me and just larger than that really rich middle, but no present at the end which is where you might expect it more. It also feels more than 50IBU things.

A 'big' beer then sums this up, there are a lot of loud and all in synch things going on which makes this a really interesting and interactive beer to drink, not one that you can quaff and move on from in a hurry. At this point I question my wisdom in starting with this, but it is Friday and what the heck.

As it warms you get more of the harshness of the alcohol showing through, this isn't a down tick, it's the way it behaves and I've experienced it before, it's just a thing. Retains it lovely aroma, and that lovely sensation of soft malt sweetness though.

This is only one of the 3 in the Spoonbender series, and from my observation this was the one that was least available, at least when I had beer tokens for shopping with, and honestly I would have gone for the Belgium style beer first time, and almost every time, since at least in my mind they're my favourite style. Looking at the drinking list you'd pick IPA though, since that is a much more predominant brewing style and standard.

I'm not sure how I'm going to follow this. I know have an IPA ;-)

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 10 a of its things from the thing. I can't not award this a rare 10 from 10, it has so many good things that make it likeable and not a lot of the rough edges that make you question yourself and your experience. A 10, what trickery in that. 

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? Yes, it makes me smile.


2. Would I have another? Yes, I might get me another if I see one, for that mythical cellar that I keep or think of keeping, or to drink, whatever my mood.


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? Yes, I would stand this up against any of this style with no issue at all.

I was listening to a local radio station bFM, and they have a segment called "that song is longer then 6 minutes" and they cracked out this particular number -  the band Kraftwerk, the track -Autobahn. The original first track of the album Autobahn (1974)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-G28iyPtz0

23 minutes of all things, should be able to knock off a beer to that.

The title track features both untreated and vocoded vocals. Kraftwerk used a Minimoog, an ARP Odyssey, an EMS Synthi AKS and various devices of their own design and implementation, such as their famous electronic drums.

BELGIAN STRONG ALE

Belgian Strong Ales can vary from pale to dark brown in color, darker ales may be colored with dark candy sugar. Hop flavor can range from low to high, while hop aroma is low. The beers are medium to full-bodied and have a high alcoholic character. Types of beers included here include tripels, dubbels and ultra-strong abbey ales.

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Beer - #471 - Emerson’s - JP (2013 - Belgian Stout)

The one where I'm late to a beer, contemplate an old fashioned working week, fluff the maths and ponder sharing.

I looked this one up especially - Emerson’s JP (2013 - Belgian Stout). I'm getting more picky, this week at least.

A big roasty stout fermented with three Belgian yeasts. Luscious and complex with a satin smooth finish.

Brewed by Emerson’s Brewing Company (Lion Breweries - NZ (Lion Nathan Co.) in the style that is best described as: Foreign Stout and they are in Dunedin, New Zealand.

As a 500ml bottle, 8% ABV, making it 3.15 standard drinks, so about 240 calories a serving size or 320 isn in the bottle.

Belgian Stout. A big roasty stout fermented with three Belgian yeasts. Luscious and

[caption id="attachment_9575" align="alignright" width="300"] It was the last one in the shop[/caption]

complex with a satin smooth finish.

The annual JP release is in honour of the late Professor Jean-Pierre Dufour, formerly Dean of Food Sciences at the University of Otago. Belgium born JP, as he was affectionately known, was an icon in the international brewing industry and a valued friend of The Emerson Brewing Company.

Each vintage varies in beer style, flavour and aroma – each brew reflecting one of the many beer styles for which Belgium is renowned.

This is no longer produced by the brewery and I got the last one off a shelf. This may not eld well. This may end fantastically.

The brewer recommends that this is "serve un-chilled", which is no use since it's been in the fridge for a few hours. I'll do this in two pours perhaps. It hasn't therefore started well.

The coldness may have kept the aroma quiet as there isn't a lot op opening, sugary floral perhaps, but very light.

Pour is really dark, for a moment I expected it to be light colour, because I'm not that attentive? or anticipation.

Head, as you can see it somewhat extravagant in the glass. I deliberately left a pour to see if it changes later with warming. It's not a science experiment though, I don't have high hopes.

That head is really really thick and persistent.

Familiar Belgium esters, and this really does finish dry, with the edges of the tongue taking the brunt of that. Lovely malty caramel note at the front too, this is a well conceived and structured drink of some class I think. Or I'm being lyrical about things since it's not in brew, last one etc.

Picking a note of orange? Lovely sweetness. This really does have the complex and familiar notes and tastes of a Belgium ale, and then it also has dark roasted chocolates too, intriguing beer.

That head is really persistent.  As it warms you begin to get a sense of the alcohol astringent in this, which is a surprise and also not so.

This really becomes a better beer as it warms, and I've been taking my time, as you can see from the wordage. It gets fuller, the bitterness fades, the head persists!, the dry finish doesn't it all becomes a bit marvellous.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 9 a of its things from the thing, wherein I get all morose and contemplative about it deserving a 10. I think that I'm enraptured of its rarity, at least now, I love the way it changed from bitter and noisy to full, fruity and layered. I don't want to set a bar too high, or talk myself into something that handicaps me. What I am going to do is regret not finding this earlier and being able to follow up with redux review. For now though I'm happy that this was so close to joining the 10-club

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? This is a remarkable beer that starts well and strides away to greatness


2. Would I have another? Would that I could, if I see one I'm bagging it.


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? Yes because it would show you what a true friend I am.

More old things then with the music, this is a band called Working Week who were at their peak in 1985, this is a track "Inner City Blues" from the Album "Working Nights"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5mtH3_439s

I've listened to worse, and I'm note that this'll be making a regular appearance on the music machine. Didn't age well.

FOREIGN STOUT

Foreign Stout began with the beer that would become Guinness Foreign Extra Stout. This was a stronger, extra-hopped version of the basic Guinness Extra Stout, brewed to survive long journeys overseas. The classic FES still exists in a few different forms, but many of the original destination countries (Jamaica, Sri Lanka, etc.) now have their own, locally-produced versions. Foreign stout occupies a position between basic stout and imperial stout. It is sweeter than a basic stout, but not as robust as an imperial. It is less fruity and less hoppy as well. Foreign stouts are sometimes made with local grains and adjuncts sugar is not uncommon. Alcohol ranges from 6-8%

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Beer - #470 - Sparks Brewing - Frontier Extra Stout

Still to come: Rare beer, staring at my shoes, unfathomable maths, and second thoughts.

Chocolate on the nose, dry and roasted taste with a bitter finish.

I was in the beer shop, Liquorland in Forrest Hill, buying a well considered list of beers, and they kindly suggested that I try what they said was a beer not generally available in Auckland, from a new brewer - Sparks Brewing - their take on a Stout style - Frontier Extra Stout. Of course I believe anything. I check their website and it's true!

This beer is from Sparks Brewing who are a contract brewer based in Auckland in the style that is of  Foreign Stout

Simply and crisply presented in  a 330ml bottle that contains beer that is 6.2% ABV, so 1.6 standard drink units, coming in at around 180 calories in the bottle.

[caption id="attachment_9569" align="alignleft" width="300"] Rare as beer gets[/caption]

A dark and intensely roasty ale, with strong aromas of chocolate and coffee. The rich body is balanced with all New Zealand hops added late in the boil and a good layering of crystal malt leaves a hint of liquorice and an almost rum like quality to the finish.

2012 National Homebrew Competition Gold medal recipe, considered by the judges as “a world class example of the style”.

Drink fresh or cellar for up to two years. Like I could let beer sit for 2 years.

Lots of rich chocolate on opening this, that's a cracking aroma.

Thick deep dark pour with the most magnificent head of deep thick firm bubbles.  Deep and Thick the theme here so far.

Aroma carries to the glass but more towards a milk chocolate, it's very very nice.

Giddy up! This is quite tart and bitter up front, but there is a magnificence of soft warm chocolate that crowds it out and gives it some balance. Decent length and finish that is to dry and bitter but not distractingly so.

Head has flattened out, and sits as a film in the glass.

Malt balance is nice, chocolate is there, Coffee is easily pickable.

This though might be a bit young and needing a bit of time to mature and settle into itself int he bottle. A task for which I have no patience.

This would push out the body a bit and allow the chocolate and coffee to work better together. Might also temper the bitterness. This one has a label that says it  was brewed on the 27th August - they might mean bottled? of course they might mean brewed, what am I a brewmaster? That would make it awfully young though.

Update “@SparksBrewing: @philwalter thanks for the review Phil. Spot on. And it is the bottling date! Thanks for being our first ever review!”

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 8 a of its things from the thing. I like this bit I'm not a fan of the dry finish so much. I really do wonder what this would mellow into in a few months or a year though. There is enough to suggest the coffee and chocolate might deepen, but would it be enough to edge the bitterness? Who knows?

All-in-All though thoroughly enjoyable and rewarding. Thanks Liquorland in Forrest Hill.

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? Yes it wasn't a beer I was going to buy but it was recommended.


2. Would I have another? Yes I would in a few months, I shouldn't be stingy and get one for the dark cupboard.


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? I think that I would at the end of an evening this would be a nice way to get your palate working again perhaps.

I'm listening to  and album by True Widow titled  Circumambulation. Somehow described as "doomgaze" or "Shoegaze" or "DoomRock"  in style. This is a track called "Four Teeth" It fits all those style and perhaps better in a dark room with candles.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxiJSif55fk

FOREIGN STOUT

Foreign Stout began with the beer that would become Guinness Foreign Extra Stout. This was a stronger, extra-hopped version of the basic Guinness Extra Stout, brewed to survive long journeys overseas. The classic FES still exists in a few different forms, but many of the original destination countries (Jamaica, Sri Lanka, etc.) now have their own, locally-produced versions. Foreign stout occupies a position between basic stout and imperial stout. It is sweeter than a basic stout, but not as robust as an imperial. It is less fruity and less hoppy as well. Foreign stouts are sometimes made with local grains and adjuncts sugar is not uncommon. Alcohol ranges from 6-8%

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Labour and Socialism - lurch left.

I don't vote Labour or left wing. Never have. Doesn't mean that I can't have an opinion on what might make me vote for them though, or ideas that might appeal to a broader range of people that may bring them back to power.

Alone. Not in some cockamamie coalition of "we're all left wing therefore a vote for anyone one of us works" way, that ends in tears of disappointment and compromise.

Good socialism, don't get distracted by dolphins, or oil drilling, they fall in to place when you have the minds of the people .

Don't get me wrong they are important but they'll fall into place when people have security, and a future to look forward to.

Idea one:

• Promise to build state houses, say in blocks of 20 - 50. Make the local councils free up the land that they are banking or planning to sell off for profit.


• Approach local or national business and ask them to be on board a community project, this will swing the right-wing business for profit business in behind an altruistic effort - good for them, good for the economy, good for the people.


• Build sensible housing, of course terrace or row housing,  because modern and spacious can be achieved with modern methods.


• Appoint a community guardian or caretaker.


• Make them small communities, perhaps include growing plots for vegetables etc.


• Make sure that the busses stop at the end of the street, and do so regularly. .


• Make sure that community services people visit regularly.


• Make sure you deal with people who want to to buck the system and not join in.


• Make the tenancy reviewable and renewable by review, up or down, you might have to move house. In a mixed occupancy community this shouldn't be a problem.


• Part of the rental payable could be placed in non-fee bearing but interest bearing accounts in trust as statutory saving to get people out of state and into own home ownerships


• Run this policy in conjunction with and parallel to kiwi-build.

Idea two: KiwiSaver from birth. And now I'm winging it on the financials, of course, but it's an idea.

• From birth the government contributes $1 per week into a fee-free kiwi-saver account.


• The $1 increases to $2 in year 2, $3 in year three and so on.


• For year 16 this is a contribution of 832, and in a non-interest bearing account would therefore be $7,072.  Not being a financial wiz I have no ice how this would work under a compound or interest bearing account. I would image than it would be more then $7,072.


• The contribution amount could be adjusted as required to make sense in a changing economic environment. If the kiwisaver contribution amount changes then the contribution amount to kid-kiwisaver should change. Pointless ending up in 16 years with enough money to buy a cup of coffee.


• Funds would be available for either education fees, or home-ownership.


• Start this for all children regardless of age and at the level of contribution appropriate.  People might complain they're disadvantaged, but that's the wrong view, they're being advantaged by the policy, and sure significant numbers might not achieve any benefit in the first decade. It's long term thinking


• Roll KidKiwiSaver into KiwiSaver if you start work and don't take the money for education, it's shouldn't be considers a grant or money available at 17 or 18 to get your party on, the money is only invisible in education, housing, or continued investment in Kiwisaver

I own my own house, I don't have children that would benefit under the KidKiwiSaver idea. My thoughts then are that if you can get people thinking about people, and all people thinking about the growth of the economy then this must be good for the proposing government in the short and long-term. The injection of money into the economy has to be good too. I'll agree that this will not solve any house pricing issues as that of course is a sliding bar, supply and demand, but Kiwi-Build addresses affordable housing, right? They're just ideas, not very good ideas possibly, but ideas that I'd be happy to support and vote for.

Beer - #468 - Yeastie Boys - White Noise

Where in I have a small beer, listen to some noise, generate a random number, and second guess myself.

Yeastie Boys White Noise is my entertainment this afternoon, although it's a small bottle so I might wait to early evening before I  drink it.

"White beer with chamomile and NZ hops"

Yeastie Boys who brewed this at Invercargill Brewery in the style that is of  Wheat Ale and YB are in Wellington, New Zealand.

This is in the smaller 330 ml bottle, and it is of 4.4% ABV, making it  a beer of 1.4 standard drink units, it's a low 9 or 10 IBU, and 132 calories in the bottle to round out the numbers.

A quaffable, cloudy white ale that is perfect for those afternoon sessions after a hard day's work or play.  Pours a cloudy pale straw colour with a dense mousse-like white head.

A perfumy coconut and vanilla note on the nose, with a little citrus and spice, and bready grains from the wheat. The mouthfeel is full for such a pale beer, but still very light and elegant.

The beer finishes with a cleansing acidity, a faint spicy note and only the mildest touch of citrus from the virtually non-existent hops.

Speaking of which the Hops are  Kohatu, Wakatu  and this is  Egyptian chamomile, it's important. 

Beer - #465 - Garage Project - Wabi Sabi Sour

Wherein I have a  Sour Beer,  A moment of happiness, a second glance, ponder random numbers and indulge in double dipping.

The people at Garage Project make a lot of beers! I picked this one  - the Wabi Sabi Sour for my edification.

Brewed by Garage Project in the style that is  Sour/Wild Ale and they are in Wellington, New Zealand

Packaged  as a 650ml bottle of a beer that is 7.7% ABV, which is about 3.95 standard drink units,  at about 420 calories equivalent in this bottle.

The concept of Wabi-Sabi is hard to define.

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It is natural simplicity - flawed beauty - the way imperfection can make an object more compelling. Sourness produced by lactic bacteria in beer is normally considered a flaw.

This beer is naturally soured and its sharp, tart character complimented with Honeydew melon and the juice and rind of fresh Yuzu.

Nothing is perfect – but sometimes imperfection can be beautiful.

Wabi Sabi Sour, named for the Japanese aesthetic of natural simplicity and flawed beauty, is a strong golden beer that has been soured in the brew kettle with various strains of usually-wild yeast and bacteria given free reign for a few days before the boil. Conditioned on yuzu (a Japanese citrus fruit) and honeydew melon, the result is complex but refreshing and remains accessible even while being challengingly and interestingly different.

I'm actually looking forward to this, Sour beers are "the" thing aren't they?

Beer - #467 - Weezledog - Hopster

Wherein I find a beer,  pick a finger, Get Interpol onto it, and double dip.

"100% NZ malt base of pale and Munich, showcasing a full 100IBU of NZ hops; Nelson Sauvin, Southern Cross, Motueka, Pacific Jade and Pacifica. Separates the posers from the true hop heads!"

I found a beer in the fridge that I'd forgotten I had, honest, it was hidden behind a big red bottle that I'm saving for an auspicious number. I don't know how long (not that long) that I've had this beer, a  Weezledog Hopster, but I had had it out on my travels on tap and it's pretty good, I must have seen it in the store and wanted to re-live the experience.

Hopster - Brewed for Weezledog Brewing Company at Black Sands Brewing Company  and although tthis is described as a NZ IPA, it is best described as India Pale Ale (IPA)

500ml bottle that contains beer that is 100+ IBU things, 6.7% ABV, so around 300 calories in this bottle, and it contains therefore 2.64 standard drink units

This beer should help to seperate the posers from the true hop heads. Despite the full 100

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IBU of bitterness, theoretically a fair bit more, on top of a base containing absolutely no crystal or specialty malts the fact that just a shade over 2% of the hops are added during the boil ensures that the bitterness is smooth, then the rest of the hops are added through both a whirlpool and dry hop schedule.

This beer shows just what is possible with our local hops.  There is so much going on that you just have to taste it, savour it, and enjoy the flavour evolution as it warms.

NZIPA is a great style, only emerging commercially in recent years. This is a beer to sort the posers from the passionate, this post ultra-modern new world interpretation of the India Pale Ale style has the most simple of malt bases designed to truely showcase the huge character of Kiwi hops. Hugely popular around the world no NZ brewery should really resist the urge to brew a solid NZIPA. It’s all about the hops

Like I sad I've had this on tap, and so the at home experience will be fun

Beer - #466 - Garage Project - Hāpi Daze

The one where I drink beer from a can, introduce some Maori,  dance,  discover DNA and think of a number between one and ten

A can of  Garage Project  beer,  this one a beer called  Hāpi Daze

Sessionable in strength, bright golden in colour and loaded with generous quantities of aromatic New Zealand hops. Very friendly.

From the prolific output of the people from Garage Project  this one in the style that is  Golden Ale/Blond Ale Wellington, New Zealand

This is a can of 355 ml, and is 4/6% ABV, making it  1.2 standard drink units, and somewhere around 120 calories in the can.

Hapi Daze. It’s a prototype for a possible future session ale, but in this early form at 5.4% ABV it’s a little strong to be considered a session beer.

Hāpi, the Maori word for hop, inspires this truly Pacific pale ale.

Brewed with New Zealand barley and the best of the Kiwi hop harvest, Motueka, Wai-iti, Riwawka and Nelson Sauvin. Assertively hoppy - exceptionally drinkable.

In a can - what could go wrong?

Beer - #464 - St. Austell - Admirals Ale

In this post: Beer from St. Austell  in the form that is Admirals Ale, Music from Snow Patrol, Random Numbers and double dipping. "I see no ships..."

"This beer contains barley malt and is suitable for Vegetarian"

Another, the last, fathers day gift, St. Austell Admirals Ale, again a supermarket beer, so not difficult to get or particularly rare.

500ml bottle that is 5% ABV, making it 150 calories a serve, and 1.97 standard drink units.

Brewed by St. Austell this is in the style that is  Premium Bitter/ESB and they are in, weirdly, St. Austell, England

Originally brewed as a special to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Nelson’s victory at

[caption id="attachment_9498" align="alignright" width="300"] Ships... I see no ships....[/caption]

Trafalgar in 1805. However, production of the bottled version and, occasionally, the cask has continued.

This premium bottle-conditioned ale has been uniquely brewed using our own Cornish Gold malt. Locally grown barley is traditionally malted using a special kilning process which develops a deeper intensity of colour and flavour than ordinary barley malt.

Blended with both Styrian Golding and Cascade hops, the result is a deep bronze ale with a delicious rich biscuit flavour and a wonderful spicy aroma.

This is a Bottle Conditioned beer.

This uses Celeia hops for citrus and Cascade for spice, it is truly the Christmas pudding of beers.. they say, its September - what could go wrong?

Beer - #463 - Badger - Hopping Hare

This episode: I have an expectation: Crispy, Zesty, Grapefruit, Hoppy. I have a beer, Badger Hopping Hare, some music: Dashboard Confessional, the double dip and a random number.

This was a gift for Fathers day, much appreciated, as is any gift, and available in supermarkets so not difficult to get, or particularly rare or crafty

"Bound to satisfy"

500ml bottle of beer, that is 4.4% ABV and that means 135 calories a serve, this is 1.74 standard dink units in NZ.

Brewed by Badger (Hall & Woodhouse) in the style that is a Bitter and they are in Blandford Forum, England

Light and crisp with a wonderful hoppy aroma and bite, it is an ale that is 'bound to satisfy'.

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To give the Hare its distinctive and characteristic hoppy aroma and taste our talented team of brewers use Super Styrian hops (added twice to the Copper) and Styrian Goldings Dry Hop added to cask for extra aroma. 

Triple hopped - Super Styrian hops added twice to the coppers then Styrian Goldings added. Hopping Hare is thrice hopped with three types of hop used during the brewing process. Aromatic Goldings and Cascade combine to provide an uplifting citrus-grapefruit and floral aroma, whilst First Gold carries the bitterness. The effect is a refreshing ale with a unique hoppy aroma and well-balanced bitterness that is bound to satisfy! It is a terrific match with roast lamb and spicy Thai dishes!

I see. Well I've been out exercising and so this will fill up the space left.