More heart than bubbles: All Good's fair trade drinks

I love a good soft drink and these might be the go. All Good Organics is a 100% New Zealand owned and operated company...

Beer - #653 - Sawmill - IIPA

Mystery beer, mystery mix, mystery number, and mystery guest

a bit of nonsense here from the brewers notes

A keg only beer from the FYO station this works out to  285 calories a serve size, being 9.5% ABV and  70 IBU things, this would make it 7.5 standard drink units

Brewed by Sawmill Brewing Company in the style Imperial IPA and they are in Leigh, New Zealand

Usually I'd have a bit of nonsense here from the brewers notes or cribbed from other sources, but guess what?, nothing on the webs, nothing on the websites, nothing on the twitter, the instagram and all the other places I thought of looking and some I didn't. 

So I'm flying blind as it were, and then what follows is usually a load of nonsense plucked from the pretty word ensemble to make a pretty sentence. Seriously.... 

... what could possibly go wrong?

Beer - #652 - Liberty - Pacific Rim

Winner beer, winner music, winning numbers and winners party

As the Japanese say, “Hayaku”(hurry up)…

From the fill station, a keg only beer, giving me 1 litre of a beer that is 6.4% ABV, making this  5.0 Standard drinks per litre - this is around the 190 calories a serve size.

Brewed by Liberty Brewing Co in the style that is India Pale Ale (IPA) and they're based in Auckland, New Zealand

So juicy is the hop flavour and aroma, you'd be forgiven for mistaking it for a fresh hop brew.


This Limited Edition American style IPA continues Liberty’s tradition of taking on exciting craft beer projects, blending hops from New Zealand and America with the rare, but distinctive Sorachi Ace hop from Japan.

Packed with fresh tones of lemon grass, dill and tea, this bone dry beer has incredible length of bitter flavours and a slightly salty finish making you want to reach for the salt and pepper squid.

As the Japanese say, “Hayaku”    (hurry up).

So what could possibly go wrong?  The beer was an overnight success, taking out the People’s Choice at the highly regarded 2015 West Coast IPA Challenge.

Beer - #651 - Brewaucracy - Bean Counter

Alternative beers, Alternative Music, Alternating numbers and Alternate venues.

"..completely ruined ..... We’re sure you’ll get it once you try it!"

Understated packing on this 500ml bottle of a beer that is  5% ABV, and 135 calories a serve size, and also 30 IBU things, the bottle contains 2 standard drinks.

Brewed at Shunters Yard Brewery in the style Porter and that is in Matangi, New Zealand

Bean counter is a perfectly balanced and traditional English Porter, "completely ruined" by the addition of Tahitian vanilla!


While our traditionalist friends cringe, we celebrate the way the vanilla gently binds the chocolate and espresso notes present in the base beer and adds a warm creamy note.

Think a coffee laced creme brulee, and you won’t be far off.

The vanilla is subtle though, we didn’t want to offend those traditionalist mates of ours too much after all! It’s there to bring out the underlying flavours of the beer, and complement them with subtlety.

It’s not supposed to be a vanilla bomb. We’re sure you’ll get it once you try it! 

So what could possibly go wrong? Well I've had this on my travels from the keg, and it was from memory really nice and subtle.

Beer - #650 - 4 Horsemen - Hopocalypse (2015)

A beer by any other name, a year ago " Hallertau – Hopocalypse IIIPA 2014" since then they've agreed on and sorted out the name, I wouldn't have been that remiss would I to have got it wrong last time. Anyway same again, same again, same again and same again please.

Could you add anymore hops to one beer

This is a 500ml bottle of a beer that is 14% ABV, 250 IBU things, but that might not be reliable, and that is over 400 calories a serve size, and  a whopping 5.52 standard drink units in the bottle.

Four Horsemen Of The Hopocalypse is brewed by Steam Brewing Company this is in the style that is  Imperial IPA and that's around the corner from in in Riverhead Auckland, New Zealand

4 Horsemen of the Hopocalype.

Intergalactic Imperial India Pale Ale. 2015 Edition

Four Horsemen of the Hopocalyse – a collaboration with four of the most hop driven brewers in New Zealand.

Joseph Wood from Liberty Brewing, Steve Plowman from Hallertau, Kelly Ryan and Luke from Epic. 

Could you add anymore hops to one beer?

So what could possibly go wrong?

Beer - #649 - Epic - No Agenda

Unusually, or usually I can't remember, this is a beer that I'm having keg version first over the bottle version. Epic - No Agenda, which leaves me with; No Agenda, No rhythm, no numbers, not at this party.

Bingo, Boom, Shakalaka. No Agenda. Good beer.

It's also in bottles but I got this from the FYO station, so a 1 Litre bottle, and the beer is 7.5% ABV,  so thats 225 calories a serve size, making this  5.92 standard drinks worth.

For Epic Brewing Company (NZ)  this is brewed at Steam Brewing Company in the style that is of Brown Ale and they do that not so far from where I live, but generally in Auckland, New Zealand

Our formula is this, we go out and hit people in the mouth, with HOPS.

[caption id="attachment_11654" align="alignright" width="300"] My agenda might be to put new lenses in as these make me squint[/caption]

97% of scientists agree.

Shut up already! It's science!!

Drink beer because it is good, and because YOU enjoy the taste.

Don't be a slave to the brand and don't follow the crowd, don't cower to peer pressure. It tastes good. Drink it.

No agenda. Good Beer.

So what could possibly go wrong? Well I already feel a bit like Andy Capp thinking of Brown Ale. But then I'm old, and that might be a joke for one.

It has the aroma of sugar/malt and a mild citrus thing. Not really sure what you can tell by having a whiff. It did sound quite vigorous though.

It's very brown, then again it is a brown ale. although held up to the light (carefully as that often ends badly) it is blackcurrant juice ruby red. In the glass there is a lot more hop base aroma.

Um, it's quite bitter drinking, and it really is a full body tasting beer, lots of oomph in the middle, no mistaking, and lovely dryish finish.

The middle, lets talk about the middle, it's chewy spicy sticky and hoppy, it's all the thing's I've missed in the last couple of beers I had. It is ideal for a colder evening.

I've managed to drink two glasses, and I've not had palate fatigue, you know where the hops and malt just beat you up, this is still a beer that I'm looking forward to supping.

It isn't though a quaffing beer, I think you have to be much more measured and deferential. Plus it's a notch up on the ABV. I've really enjoyed drinking this though, it's kept me entertained and I've not become bored of the taste profile, despite it's fullness.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 9 of its things from the thing. It is a great thing, just, it sneaks over the bar of 'very good' because it's solid and consistent drinking, no changes in profile colder or warmer, and I've been sipping for a while now, and I enjoyed it first to nearly the last (obviously I finish drinking after writing about it)

The double dip review

• Am I enjoying it? I am, I have been for the whole bottle.


• Would I have another? I would, it's ideal for a cold night.


• Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? It's a full drinking beer, and then slower drinking, if you want conversation and a mooch to a happy place this is great.

Music for this. " Postcards From Jeff " an alternative group from Manchester England, The album " Postcards from Jeff" which I had on the Spotify

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzM3Lsjsd-I

BROWN ALE

Color ranges from reddish-brown to dark brown. Lower in alcohol than porter, medium to full body flavor. Appropriate foods are apple pie, pork with brown sauce, beef vegetable soup and cheddar.

 

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Beer - #648 - Sawmill - Coffee Porter

A long time between drinks for me and this brewer, but they appear to be quite strong at the moment, and I haven't been wilfully avoiding them. So Long Gaps, Long Songs, Long Division and Long nights out.

 ...beer that is clean and flavoursome and straight up.

Brewed by Sawmill Brewing Company this on is styled as a Porter and that's North of Auckland in Leigh, New Zealand

This from the FYO station is a 5.2% ABV beer,  156 calories a serving size, and this bottle would be 4.1 standard drink units.

[caption id="attachment_11646" align="alignright" width="300"] Friday Evening is looking up[/caption]

A moderately strong brown beer that explores roasted malt flavors of chocolate and caramel.

So what could possibly go wrong?

The coffee aroma that I built myself up for, it's not there. It's there but it's not THERE! it's soft and quiet. It is however the only aroma from the bottle after I slip the flip top.

Pour is dark brown and the head looks like chocolate milkshake, I thought it would be a noise beer, it isn't. That head subsides a little to a more manageable size, still looks great though.

Aroma in the glass? That raw cold coffee aroma.

Taste? Well the coffee is there and present in the drinking of this. Very coffee.

Nicely lightly bitter and a flat neutral finish, a small persistence of coffee linger.

This might be better warmer, which is a hope more than a fact. At the moment it is 'thin' drinking, there doesn't appear anything to support or to carry the coffee in this, might be nice if there was some hop roughness, and a sharper finish, perhaps. I have patience, I can wait. Not f or long but I can wait.

I left it as long as I could, not long really, and the aroma that filled the glass was gorgeous. That is all, I'm leaving it some more.

[ a short while passed ]

The pour is much the same, but without the lovely head, the aroma still coffee, but slightly more bitter. Not a lot changed in the glass either, no pickup in the body, no addition to the finish. Much the same.

It is though a nice drinking beer, easy drinking, nothing that you might get upset with, but it's not a big hitter, more a go-to comfort beer, for me missing a big of body, some chewiness, and I'd have liked a finish that was something other than neutral.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 7 of its things from the thing. Nothing to write home about here, nothing to set the word afire. If though I was visiting Leigh, I'd be happy to order this and sit in their bar with a pizza and enjoy myself, it is interesting enough, neutral enough to have a wider appeal, I don't think it ever set out to be a flag-bearer or bench-mark setter.

The double dip review

• Am I enjoying it? I sort of am, it's a nice time waster of a beer, supping away without thinking about it really.


• Would I have another? I probably would if I was visiting, I don't think I'd go out of my way though.


• Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? This would pass muster as a share beer because of the loud coffee note, but that might be the whole conversation because there isn't much else to talk about.

Music for this:  " Have Gun will Travel " is an alternative folk-rock band, They have an album " Science from an easy chair "  of course you can listen on Spotify.  Get a bit of the ' Spirit of Discovery ' in you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdtEYv_xSmI

PORTER

Black or chocolate malt gives the porter its dark brown color. Porters are well hopped and heavily malted. This is a medium-bodied beer. Porters can be sweet. Hoppiness can range from bitter to mild. Porters are often confused with stouts.

Beer - #647 - North End - Fieldway APA

It's the BeerJerkNZ Beer Club beer of the week, this week the  North End - Fieldway APA

A home grown classic.

330ml can of a beer that is 5.8% ABV 50 IBU things, and 174 calories in the can, an 1.5 standard drink units.

Brewed by North End Brewing Co in the style this is  American Pale Ale
and they do all that at Waikanae Beach, New Zealand

Aotearoa Pale Ale. Our hop forward pale ale is bursting with hops grown across the Strait in Nelson.

[caption id="attachment_11637" align="alignleft" width="300"] New beer new hair cut, it works.[/caption]

A fruity New Zealand pale ale combining NZ Cascade, Pacifica and Waimea hops with NZ malt and our fruity ale yeast strain.

Sweet lemon, lime and mandarin marmalade is joined by a hint of the herb garden and tempered by a malt from the Rangitikei.

A home grown classic.

Field Way APA is named for the surf break of the same name.

So what could possibly go wrong?

Well, for a beer that's been sitting in the fridge for a couple of weeks it's incredibly lively, or excitable, a foam runneth over when I ka-chinked the tab.

Fruity aroma of fruity things though was distracting enough to forgive, things like Mango, even i they say Lemon, Lime, marmalade, papaya and bubble gum. I'm saying mango.

Pour is a pale yellow golden with a nice head that is fluffy and yet appears thin, but isn't.

Aroma settles to the more pale ale hop aroma that you'd expect and is no surprise, still with that lovely tropical fruit note.

It's a lot more bitter than the IBU rate of 40 might have you on to believe, and it had a firm dry finish, it's a rather 'large' presence beer.

Quite tart, dry finish, lovely aromatics, it's quite entertaining, and not at all what I was expecting, but that might surprise no-one as I'd not really thought through the APA style  which are usually big bitter affairs, in which case this is a swing and a ding.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 8 of its things from the thing. It is lovely to drink, but that almost creamy tropical fruit sweetness is quite imposing and very near the front of the palate. Did enjoy and dryness of the finish and the overall bitterness that was persistent through the whole drink.

The double dip review

• Am I enjoying it? Yes, it's a stop and drink beer, I don't know that it's a sit and talk beer, it demands your attention.


• Would I have another? I would love another, if only to figure out where my limit was in the balance of the sweet and bitter.


• Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? No problems with cracking a few of these for a chat and tales session.

Music for this,  " Lee Fields and the Expressions "  Elmer "Lee" Fields is an American soul artist born in 1951 in North Carolina, An Album " Faithful Man "  on the Spotify.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhMJKkeVVVA

 

AMRICAN PALE ALE

American Pale Ales are light in color, ranging from golden to a light copper color. The style of this beer is defined by the American hops used. American hops typically have high bitterness and aroma.This is a perfect beer for big fare like grilled burgers or combination pizzas, as well as lighter fare like sushi and green salads.

Related articles

• Next Round: In praise of the pale ale


• Beer - #630 - Rocky Knob - Home Again

Beer - #646 - Hop Federation - West Coast IPA

West Coast Style, West Coast Music, West of the even line and Go West!

An all American Hopped West Coast IPA.

1 litre, as I was at the FYO station, of beer that is 6.7% ABV, and 70 IBU things, thats about 200 calories a serve size, and thats 5.29 standard drink units.

Brewed by Hop Federation Brewery in the style that is India Pale Ale (IPA) and they are in Riwaka, New Zealand

[caption id="attachment_11628" align="alignleft" width="300"] Saturday on my mind...[/caption]

A marmalade nose, with a big tart grapefruit palette that sticks around until the very last mouthful.

Clean dry finish

You think being in Riwaka (they named a hop variety after it) that it would be local but no it has Chinook, Centennial, US Cascade hops.

So what could possibly go wrong?

Grassy hop and a slick of sweetness when I flip the lid, it smells sticky,

It really is a terribly pretty colour of orange brightness, and pours with a lovely light white head, the hop aroma in the glass is the same, the stickiness no so much.

The taste.

Well.

I don't know.

It's not such a big banger, I mean this isn't face scrunching nor is it arid dry at the finish.

The bitterness is 'bright' by what I mean that it's urgent and sharp but at one point, the front, although the linger, the aftertaste is grass tangy slightly.

It is high on citrus, and not eating grapefruit I'm going to bow to that descriptor, and having left it for a few minutes it is notable that the dryness is increasing, this might though be palate fatigue, which would be hard since I've had only a half glass.

It's difficult when you don't connect to a beer to be enthusiastic or pick the high points, this isn't a bad beer, not by any measure is is a bad beer. Obviously though it doesn't click with me.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 7 of its things from the thing. I don't think it's bad, it isn't I don't however think it's good in the sense that I'm enjoying 'chewing' the mouthfeel and enjoying the malts and hops. This seems to be too peaky in the bitterness and not so much carry in the body.  This might be how the West Coast likes it though, give me this in the summer and I bet I'd be a bigger fan. Possibly a more summer quencher enjoyment beer than a late winter soother.

The double dip review

Am I enjoying it? I am enjoying it, it's peaky and bitter and not at all unrewarding, it's easy drinking and made me smile.
Would I have another? I would, this is a decent beer.
Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? I would so that I could get to the bottom of the taste profile and understand what I think I'm missing or not.

Music for this. Music for this was “The Brian Jonestown Massacre” an American neo-psychedelia band formed in San Francisco in 1990. The band’s output spans psychedelic rock, folk rock and shoe gaze. The Album " Revelation " which I have on the Spotify

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lo2Kkq4xcJ8

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.

Related articles

• Brian Jonestown Massacre frontman rants at Apple Music free trial, says pressured by Apple

Beer - #645 - Tuatara - Tu-Rye-Aye

To be accurate -  Tu-Rye-Aye Midnight Rye IPA - Emerging beer, Forgotten songs, count your own beat and beat a path to the gathering.

Like the lyrics to Dexy’s famous song, rye refuses to be forgotten

From the FYO station at the local outlet, this is 1 litre of beer that is 60 IBU things, 7.5% ABV, which would be 225 calories a serve size, and the bottle is 5.92 standard drink units.

Brewed by Tuatara Brewing Company in the emerging Style of  Black IPA and they are still in Paraparaumu, New Zealand

Like the lyrics to Dexy’s famous song, rye refuses to be forgotten.

[caption id="attachment_11612" align="alignright" width="300"] Come on Eileen ![/caption]

In this limited edition brew the rye grain’s spicy shrills duel exhilaratingly with the blended harmonies of fruity west coast hops, while deep dark malts plug away in the background.

The result is a complex, full, unfiltered cacophony in the concert hall of your mouth. So pour one, make a midnight run and sing just like our fathers.

Dungerees optional.

Taste: Tu-Rye-Aye black rye IPA starts with a rich dark malt, spicy rye malt, and US citric hop aroma. Complex flavour profile of dark malts and rye malt, balanced with 60 ibu of bitterness and full fruity flavor of American hops.

This brew is unfiltered to retain all of its character and fullness. 
Look: Black with a deep red hue and a light tan collar of foam
Aroma:Rich dark malt, spicy rye malt, and US citric hop aroma.

So what could possibly go wrong? Apart from bursting into song?

Certainly looks dark enough in the bottle.

There is no escaping the hop fresh aroma as I flip that top open, quite pronounced.

Pour is fantastic, lovely white head that is persistent-ih and then stops to a fine film that I'm overly happy with.

Taste. Stand on me. This is really really nice. Dominated by the firm middle of sweet roasted malts, the slightly dry finish is long and lingering.

The aroma now seems quite lost and odd on the nose as you raise to drink, but then you get that lovely wash of light bitterness and the sweetness and the light smack of dryness.  It is a bit good.

I went back to check the ABV, and then I wondered how they hid that, this is a beer that seems on the face of it to be very easy drinking and inviting to have a few (which is lucky I have another glass( but at the level it might be best tempered by a food thing.

Is this the perfect beer then? Hardly. It is however quite the lovely thing. It is lovely and dark, it has the toasted malt thing, it has the hop bite that should be there, it has a nice dry but not arid finish, but if anything it is over sweet which leads to a lot of lip smacking as you try to shake it off, despite the other flavours calling you back in, frequently, and which is why I think that in a bar you could get a bit over-indulged.

Play was interrupted by dinner, and so this sat for a bit doing what it did. Which is get a whole lot dryer and darker on the palate, which isn't at all a bad thing. So to the second glass, which I managed to pour as a half/half beer/head, because you know things happen.

So the second half of this is like a different beer, much hoppier, less sweet, harsher on the finish, and yet enough of that sweetness to make it still enjoyable.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 8 of its things from the thing. Eight again. It's a time for the eights. which is still on the better side of average. At the end of day the hop load catches up and frankly wears you out with its presence, which is quite loud, does a great job of deflecting attention early but is just too strong a hop based beer to get away with it for long. But all hail the beer.

Off to sing a song.....

The double dip review

Am I enjoying it? I am, it's a journey.
Would I have another? I had a couple, I'd enjoy another, but then I really might start singing.
Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? Actually I would turn up at yours with this, because it is one of those cross-over things and this one is fair decent and entertaining.

Music for this. Well of course it's ' Dexy's Midnight Runners ', but this isn't what you might expect. They have a spectacularly good very hard to find album called 'Don't Stand Me Down '  There is a play list on Youtube here.  For me  though the brilliant  standout is the track" This is what she's like " invest you're 15 minutes in this, or skip the first minute and get to the song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXh19wfJT3Q&index=2&list=PL5BA914A30BD81D08

Don't Stand Me Down is the third studio album by Dexys Midnight Runners, released in September 1985.

BLACK IPA

An emerging beer style roughly defined as a beer with IPA-level hopping, relatively high alcohol and a distinct toasty dark malt character. Typically lacks the roastiness and body of a strong stout and is hoppier than a strong porter. Expressive dry-hopping is common. Also called India Dark Ale, India Black Ale, Cascadian Dark Ale, Dark IPA, and sometimes India Brown Ale.

Beer - #644 - Summer Wine - Teleporter

BeerJerkNZ Beerclub beer! This week another interesting and delightful looking beer, the Summer Wine Teleporter. Two beers one glass, two genres on album, a choice of numbers and choosing your mates.

"Evolutionary beer from Yorkshire"

This is a 330ml bottle that contains 150 calories of a beer that is 5.5% ABV, and 1.3 standard drink units.

Brewed by Summer Wine in the style that is  Porter and that happens in Holmfirth, England

[caption id="attachment_11605" align="alignleft" width="300"] Anticipation abounds[/caption]

A Rich Dark Porter brewed with 10 different malts giving a sweet roast richness that is balanced with just enough hop character. This ale has a surprising drinkability for it’s colour and abv.

Don’t let the sumptuous roast malt fool you, this porter is seriously potent & has the potential to take you to another place!

Imagine standing in an espresso bar sniffing a chocolate selection box then somehow converting the aroma to liquid form and sticking it in a bottle. It would be sort of gross and we'd have no idea where to start anyway with all that state of matter business.

So what could possibly go wrong? These days "porter" and "stout" are used pretty much interchangeably and there is some interesting history in the styles, and it's explained here.

Aroma on opening is hard to pick, I though that it was more hoppy, then I thought it had a note of roasted malt or chocolate.

Pour is a lovely dark chestnut brown and a fair decent firm and light brown head. Its  noisy beer should you take a listen, just like snap crackle and pop.

Initially I though this has a more sour edge, it's a familiar note, you'd know it. But the na few minutes of warming and some lovely aromas break through, and some soft flavours also begin to shine. I'd say a slow burner but it just needed a moment.

Also it looks great in the glass.

A decent Porter then, but given that they talk it up a bit you could be miffed for it not having a lot more body and oomph in the middle bit, perhaps. I would have though there might have been a bit more depth or a punch. There wasn't.  Not a disaster though since it carries well and drinks well enough without making you gasp in wonderment.

Not sweet, not sour, not dry to finish, no sharp or rough edges to catch you, this is a well crafted drink.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 8 of its things from the thing. Eight being the arbitrary 'very good' on the random scale. I like porters and stouts, and so this isn't a real surprise and it'd have to be really something to get a better or worse. This sits very nicely in the competent and enjoyable field without fuss.

The double dip review

Am I enjoying it? Yes, it's a pretty beer to look at and an lovely beer to drink.
Would I have another? I would if I had the chance.
Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? I would, this really does pour well and drinks well, I'd have no problems sharing this with the right crowd.

Music for this, odd choice perhaps, in the style of Goth-Pop from " Cemeteries " their album  "  Barrow"  of course on the Spotify player

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSkCe0c1q88

PORTER

Black or chocolate malt gives the porter its dark brown color. Porters are well hopped and heavily malted. This is a medium-bodied beer. Porters can be sweet. Hoppiness can range from bitter to mild. Porters are often confused with stouts.

Beer - #643 - ParrotDog - Rarebird Puffinus Huttoni

The second in a series of rare bird beers. Rare Beer, Common music, endangered numbers, and a rare quiet day in.

Haere ra e nga Titi — farewell o Hutton’s shearwater!

[caption id="attachment_11587" align="alignleft" width="150"] 312 of 900[/caption]

This is a limited edition of 900 bottles, I have number 312, of a  650ml bottle of a beer that is 5.1% ABV, 153 calories a serve size, 50 IBU things, and 2.6 standard drink units. 

Brewed by ParrotDog  in the style that is of a  Sour/Wild Ale in Wellington, New Zealand

A Boysenberry Sour.

[caption id="attachment_11586" align="alignright" width="300"] RareBird beer, Rare Sunday beer.[/caption]

Soured from Lactobacillus and aged on Nelson boysenberries, we launched this one at the Great Australasian Beer Spec-TAP-ular, in dedication to our little Trans-Tasman seabird.

The bird version of Puffinus Huttoni is more commonly known as the endangered Hutton's Shearwater. Currently only two breeding colonies are known of (in Kaikoura), and are under threat from stoats and habitat loss

So what could possibly go wrong?

So it does have a sour aroma on opening, but has a note of boysenberry.

Pour is a very deep pink beer, with what starts as a really pink and fluffy head of foam that dissipates. It looks a bit like fizzy ribbena drink.

Aroma in the glass is distinctly boysenberry, and that note that it's sour.

Taste, well it's a sour, and almost disappointingly the boysenberry doesn't seem to carry to the flavour so much. It's also not that sour.

When then you get to a middle place, you might like more boysenberry flavour, but this would add a sweetness that you don't want in a sour beer.

It's quite easy drinking though, does not have that pucker up sourness that some beers in the style have. So it falls into a strange half-place of being then just a lightly soured beer with no defining taste, and other than a really colourful hue not a lot to recommend it.

Without a high alcohol content as this warms it just becomes like an almost still/flat lightly nondescript drink, the lightly soured note just there, not really a thing, not the character of this. For me a bit of  muddle.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 7 of its things from the thing. I can't get past average, and I'm loath to think that this is less than that. In and of itself it is though quite unremarkable and could possibly or should be something a bit better, I don't know that the brewer would be happy with the overall, even if in points this might have been where they wanted it to be.  I might not be if I was that person.

The double dip review

Am I enjoying it? Not really, it's a bit underwhelming.
Would I have another? Not really, there are better sour beers if you wanted sour as a thing.
Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? I might as it has a great story and reason, but then I'd be thinking perhaps just take the story about it and not the actual beer, that'd be a good talking point after all.

Music for this. ' Walking Shapes ' and album called ' Taka Come On ', of course on the Spotify. Walking Shapes are a five-piece rock band from New York City.

This is ' Winterfell '

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uk-t0nkimnE

SOUR/WILD ALE

Sour ale is a broad spectrum of wild ales, from the fruity and acetic Flanders Red Ales and Oud Bruins, to the experimental ales gaining popularity in the United States which use lactobacillus, brettanomyces and pediococcus in new and wild ways.

Beer - #642 - ParrotDog - BloodHound Red Ale

BloodHound Red Ale. Mighty Ale, Mighty Music, Might count to ten, Might go home early.

A big, malty red ale uplifted with generous amounts of hops.

This is a magnificent looking beer of 6.3% ABV, carrying 189 calories a serve size. the FYO station of 1 litre makes this 4.97 standard drink units.

Brewed by ParrotDog in the style: Amber Ale and they are based in Wellington, New Zealand.

[caption id="attachment_11575" align="alignleft" width="300"] Red like Fire Engine![/caption]

A citrusy NZ hopped aroma featuring a hint of roasted malt is supported by full-bodied, red coloured malt base and a pleasant NZ hopped bitterness to round off.

A big, malty red ale uplifted with a generous amount of hops.

So, What could possibly go wrong?

I confess to having this over two years ago, wherein I was a bit of a  fan, rating it the 8. I saw it on tap and couldn't resist, it's been a while, and it's clearly a brewers standard.

That syrupy rich aroma, with a nice under of hops greets me as I pop the top.

Pour is a deep red brown with a lovely full head, more to my pouring technique I feel as it settles into something a lot more manageable and persistent. You get a lot more of a raw grassy aroma in the glass.

That is really nice a toffee sweet bitterness with a lovely mouthfeel and a lovely finish that isn't either sweet or dry.

The bitterness, well that is about right, it's there, reminds you it's there and then lets the rest of the beer do it's thing.

As it warms, and I had to leave it for a few minutes it's picked up a lovely floral thing, which wasn't expected and brought a smile, still maintaining the welcoming bitterness and lovely not ver-sweet backbone.

This is so much better than I remember. Back to their description though ' Big Malt' 'Full Bodies' this is both of those and very good at them too. Top notch.

I still can't pour and the second glass is a half/half of beer and head. Lucky it's a big glass. I've become a bit enamoured of this as a beer and this hits all the taste points where you want it to, it is a beer for the moment perhaps, on another day you'd be wanting something more or else.

The aroma that you catch just before sup, the wash of bitterness, the slight dip of earthiness, the rise of the sweetness and the finish of hoppy grassness. I think I've said too much already.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 9 of its things from the thing.This is a great beer, a beer to sing songs too, but not about. I enjoyed the first half with some food, and it made it really special, I'm enjoying the second half post-food and I can see that I might run out of palate or steam for it, although It might take a third to get there.

It's here you get the idea that I've been enjoying it and it's all gone and I already miss it. What a time to be alive :-)

The double dip review

• Am I enjoying it? I am, it rally hit the sweet spot of nicely bitter, nicely sweet, and nicely dry, I feel like one of the there bears.


• Would I have another? I wouldn't hesitate if you could arrange a quick delivery.


• Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? I would, and possibly it'd be a long and eventful night of shooting the breeze and of times when it was all good as wood. A man could get emotional at times like this. 

Music for this. ' Girlpool ' and album called ' Before The World Was Big ' of course on Spotify. Girlpool is a punk rock band from Los Angeles, California. Its members are Cleo Tucker and Harmony Tividad. The band does not have a drummer. This is a track ' Chinatown'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9h4CTdIhDF0

Got to say this isn't punk, it's pop.

AMBER ALE

A style without definition, amber ales range from bland, vaguely caramel beers to products with a fairly healthy malt and hop balance. Often the differentiation between a quality amber and an American Pale is that the amber might have more dark malt character, or a less assertive hop rate.

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Beer - #641 - Breda - Royal Beer / Lager

A beer I drink with trepidation. Odd beer, Odd music, odd numbers and odd one out.

..a beer brewed by everyone and no one wants to own it....

500ml can of beer 5% ABV, so 150 calories a serve size,

For United Dutch Breweries this is brewed at Randalls in the style that is Pale Lager and they're in Breda, Netherlands

Brewed by Oranjeboom, Rotterdam (Netherlands) until the early 90’s.

After the closing of Oranjeboom production was moved to Breda (Netherlands).

[caption id="attachment_11567" align="alignright" width="300"] Trepidation....[/caption]

This brewery was called Verenigde Bierbrouwerijen Breda-Rotterdam at that time and soon to be renamed to Oranjeboom Brouwerij.

The Breda Royal brand however always still mentioned United Dutch Breweries (which translates to Verenigde Brouwerijen). On closing of Oranjeboom Brouwerij, Breda in 2004 by InBev production was moved to both Bremen and Leuven. Until 2008 when Randalls acquired the licence. Some production is also done at Hofbrauhaus Wolters (under the name Getränkeindustrie Altewiek).

So what could possibly go wrong?

Smells like a lager. That is all.

Pale is an orange golden, it looks quite nice, and has a decent head, all the things you look for in a beer.

Unmistakable malt euro lager with a rather interesting if not odd sweetness that is a bit plastic and uncomfortably perfume like.

But it is just a euro lager \ malt lager like so many others, differentiated only in small degrees from another, and often not by that much.

It is cold, but it isn't crisp, there is no 'bite' to it, and it is mostly inoffensive quaffing beer for the person with a thirst and not much by way of discernment in the moment.

Nicer though than the 3 horses, by quite a way.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 4 of its things from the thing. It isn't an average drink, it's below that but it's not awful. I don't think I'd be reaching for this even at the price it is, it isn't worth it.

The double dip review

Am I enjoying it? Not really, it's flavoured water.
Would I have another? Not if I could help it.
Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? No.

Music for this

I'm listening to ' The Hunts ' and Indie Folk band, which I though for a moment might have been a Mumford and Sons tribute band,  They have an album  '  Those Younger Days '  listen here on the Spotify 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MywXY6Q21LM

I can't honestly say that I enjoyed it, it was a bit twee and after the M&S over-exposure the last few years it might not be a wise sound to pursue. Each to their own though, it made a change and a challenge.

PALE LAGER

The colour of pale lager ranges from light bronze to nearly transparent and the alcohol anywhere from 4-6%. Adjunct usage may be quite high, though in some cases the beer is all-malt. Carbonation is typically forced, though not always. One thing that doesnt vary is that neither the malt nor the hops make much of an impression on the palate. These beers are brewed for minimum character, though faint traces of hop or malt may show through. More likely though is that adjuncts like corn will show through, or you’ll find notes of higher alcohols (fuel notes) due to the use of high-gravity brewing. The body will be thin and watery, and the finish is typically non-existent.

Beer - #640 - Coronado - Blue Bridge Coffee Stout

Indeed, Coronado - Blue Bridge Coffee Stout. Coffee Beer, StarSailor (which is close to Starbucks right), 5 stars and sitting under the stars.

A dry stout with the addition of local Cafe Moto dark roast coffee from San Diego

This is a really well presented bottle of 650ml size, and 5.4% ABV,  it is listed as a quite mild  27-30 IBU things, and at 162 calories a serve size, I make this to be 2.77 standard drink units.

Coronado Brewing Company in the style that is Dry Stout and they are in Coronado, California  USA

[caption id="attachment_11555" align="alignleft" width="300"] A beer to make anyone smile[/caption]

Just as the iconic Coronado Bay Bridge connects our island home to the mainland, this java-tinged dry stout, brewed using dark roasted coffee beans from a local San Diego artisanal roaster, provides a bridge uniting craft beer drinkers with CBC’s rich, flavorful SoCal brewing traditions.

So what could possibly go wrong?

A lot of coffee in the aroma on opening, as it did with a vigorous hiss.  Brilliant!

Pour seems to be a beer that isn't pitch black, a lot lighter and perhaps this is why it didn't seem 'thick' but what a head. I'm on a roll.

Aroma is still a lot of coffee, very intense. Coffee grounds.

It's very carbonated, and I feel that this reduces your ability to taste directly on the tongue. Green earthy coffee is the first thing, and  a nice middling dry finish.

What's missing though is some of that deep fruit thing that you might get. But are you confusing Porter and Stout again?  I think I am.

I had to get up and leave this sitting for a few minutes, I came back and it really is a lovely coffee ale.  Soft, yet rich and in an odd way refreshing.  Forget the fruit thing, I have no idea what I was thinking of.

Does it matter that it's not 'thick' or coats the palate, not at all, it might be the better because it makes it a beer that you could have a few of without being exhausted or overloaded and jaded, particularly if you like coffee.

It is quite rewarding, deserves a bit of praise and wider enjoyment, which I might add it has already.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 8.5 a of its things from the thing. This might be the perfect stout to session on, it's not sweet, it's not dry, it's not heavy on aroma, but it has all those things, and it looks pretty, and you know that pretty beers are nice to drink.

The double dip review

Am I enjoying it? I am !
Would I have another? I would !
Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? Indeed, this is nice on a colder evening, and I think would make a long lat drink session. A favourite.

Music for this is the quite delightful  Starsailor. Their album 'all the plans' you can listen here on the Spotify, or all the other places mostly

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwB4YlsJbDA

as an aside other reviews for this beer are at  : 365Blog 

Dry Stout

The “Irish-style” stout is typically a low-gravity stout with bitterness ranging between 30-45 IBUs. Roastiness is present, but restrained, and there should not be hops in either the flavour or aroma. A little bit of acidity can be present. Often, this type of stout is serving via nitrogen, with all the effects that has on a beer – low carbonation, extra-thick head, lifeless palate and muted flavour and aroma

Beer - #639 - Behemoth - Hopped Up On Pils *bottle*

Beer club beer of the week, this time it's Behemoth "Hopped Up On Pils" I've had this from the keg previously, and came away underwhelmed, but I might have been uninformed. Anyway lets go again.

"A Pilsner made with ale hops, apparently. Unique"

A 330ml bottle of a 5% ABV beer, being 30 IBU things,  and in total 150 calories in this serve size, and that all makes about 1.3  standard drink units.

Brewed at Behemoth Brewing Company in the style this is of Pilsener and they are in, mysteriously, New Zealand, no town, just "NZ".

[caption id="attachment_11550" align="alignright" width="300"] Small beer big smile[/caption]

NZ Pilsner with big NZ flavour and aroma without massive bitterness.

Crisp, sessionable.

Dry hopped like an IPA.

What could go wrong with what?

It's very hoppy on opening, just the hop aroma, an understated sweetness, does not have that tang of an IPA for instance.

Pour is a very pale yellow beer with the most magnificent white head, it looks amazing.

The taste is less sweet than I remember, this has a flat unmistakable hop presence that finishes sharply dry. Leaves a lovely lacing in the glass as you sip.

I'm also less enthusiastic on the flavours that this has than the last time I tried it, possibly, again, it's too cold, and that's stifling the notes.

So a late dry hopped Pilsner. I guess it is what it is, and again I find myself betwixt and between on this. I like a Pilsner, and the idea of a hopped up version appeals.

For me though this is carrying just a lot of front end dry heaviness not adding flavour, just presence. Which is disappointing.

When you do get the flavour notes they're really clean, and almost fruity in their way. This isn't a sweet or quaffable beer though, and is best enjoyed at sipping or conversational pace. It really would be an ideal beer to have with a food. Which I didn't think to organise, as usual.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 7 a of its things from the thing. It's refreshing, it's nice, but it isn't sparking on the palate with flavours and tastes, so overall it's not for me. I get the late dry hopped thing, I see what it did and how it worked, it's interesting and makes this a unique take on the Pilsner style. Sometimes though different isn't better.  However if I was out and this was on then I'd be in.

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? As a Pilsner not really, as a  twisted pilsner a lot more.


2. Would I have another? I would, there is nothing that says stay away, it's nice drinking, but I'd have to be in the mood.


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? I would because I think you could begin to talk about cross-over beers between styles. It's quite clever.

Musically, I was listening to ' Chvrches ', an album ' The bones of what you believe ' of course on Spotify. they're a Scottish electronic band, formed in 2011. This is a track 'the mother we share'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mTRvJ9fugM

PILSENER

While the definition of "pilsner" is open to much debate in the beer community, it generally refers to pale, hoppy lagers, ranging from 28IBUs and up.

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Beer - #638 - Breda - 3 Horses

This really does appear to be an orphan child of a beer. Which never ends well. Free beer, Free Music, free numbers thinking and freedom from the crowd.

500ml can of beer 5% ABV, so 150 calories a serve size, so 2 standard drink units.

For United Dutch Breweries this is brewed at InBev Belgium in the style that is  Pale Lager and they're in Breda, Netherlands

[caption id="attachment_11539" align="alignleft" width="300"] I'm trying not to laugh but frown[/caption]

Brewed by Oranjeboom, the Netherlands until 2004.......

The can has "Imported" at least 9 times on the can, so I'm guessing it's an export beer.

So what could possibly go wrong?

Aroma is a bit MIA.

Pour is pale and there is a head that starts well and just fades away to less, more than a film though. Aroma is trying to be that more hoppy grassy thing that is familiar of lager.

Taste is of a sweet malt base lager, almost over sweet and cloyingly so. Not much by way of body, and it leaves a rather metallic mouth feel as a linger.

I've had some average beers, even recently, and this sets a new bar, so low.  It is tasteless sugary water with some token flavour tossed in.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 1 of its things from the thing. I have nothing good to say about this, and unlike some other everyman this is so nondescript that exporting it to another country is a way of offloading it onto unsuspecting punters who will pay next to nothing and complain. but never see it again as it does the rounds of the markets. A shocker.

The double dip review

Am I enjoying it? No
Would I have another? No
Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? No

Music for this " Wilco "   an American alternative rock band based in Chicago, Illinois. The album " Star Wars "  of course on the Spotify  or it's a free download for a limited time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JYeg3XKpUY

PALE LAGER

The colour of pale lager ranges from light bronze to nearly transparent and the alcohol anywhere from 4-6%. Adjunct usage may be quite high, though in some cases the beer is all-malt. Carbonation is typically forced, though not always. One thing that doesnt vary is that neither the malt nor the hops make much of an impression on the palate. These beers are brewed for minimum character, though faint traces of hop or malt may show through. More likely though is that adjuncts like corn will show through, or you’ll find notes of higher alcohols (fuel notes) due to the use of high-gravity brewing. The body will be thin and watery, and the finish is typically non-existent.

Beer - #637 - Obolon - Oksamitove (Velvet)

Some wag thought that I should got the three version badge with this the Obolon Oksamitove (Velvet). Who am I to turn down a beer. Repeats, repeats, repeating, and replete.

Какое было пиво раньше !!! 

This is the brewery standard customer bottle 500ml of a beer that is 5.3$% ABV, 159 calories a serve size, and this then is 2.1 standard drink units in NZ.

Brewed by Obolon in the style that is  Dunkel/Tmavý and that did that in Kiev, Ukraine

[caption id="attachment_11513" align="alignleft" width="300"] The smile of a man condemned[/caption]

It is dark beer.

It has a nice sweetish flavour of caramel malt.

It passes wonderfully to sweet and spicy dishes. 

So what could possibly go wrong?

It's like a deeply malted beer on opening, distinct and malty.

Pour is a million dollars, lovely dark brown with a really decent firm and persistent head, it really does look the business.

Aroma is still mostly malt, and it's noisy, you should listen to beer more.

Taste is a bit of revelation, although it can't shake that malt base it is reaching for a darker roasted note, and nearly getting there, the linger though is somewhat uncomfortable to be fair, but that's a first impression.

I can't help it if I'm not a beer snob and actually enjoy a beer made well, if not spectacularly, not every beer has to be the best thing since the last best thing. This is a beer that I'm enjoying. Perhaps it really is many years in the UK of Euro lagers that just make me comfortable, or perhaps it's lots of average local beers that make me jaded and welcoming to an old standard.

This i quite nice, there is a decent, if not spectacular roasted overtone to the strong malt base, it is a nice drink, but not, I imagine, to everyone's taste. I like it, judge me.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 7 of its things from the thing. Honestly this is better than good, it's mass produced of dubious contents for a local market, and I think it's quite fine and enjoyable, it's a beer you could buy and can buy, it's not elitist, limited, it won't make people envy you. It's just a nice pleasant beer. What more do you need.

The double dip review

Am I enjoying it? I am, it's really nice, and honestly at the price it's very good.
Would I have another? I would, I will ask MrsP to write it on the list of things that I'll never ever get but long for.
Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? I really would take this to a party, there is no shame in this, it's the same but a little different and mostly it's a bit enjoyable.

I found a really long review of this beer here 

Music for this, well Ryan Adams because country and western, but they say pop, I say make up your own mind. so ' Ryan Adams ' and an album called ' Ryan Adams'  of course on the Spotify

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=802vbfZe9io

DUNKEL

Copper to dark brown. Medium body. Nutty, toasted, chocolate like malty sweetness in aroma and flavor. Medium bitterness. Low "noble-type" hop flavor and aroma. No fruitiness or esters.

DOPPELBOCK

Doppel means double and while these are stronger brews than the traditional German bocks, they are typically not twice the strength. Color is light amber to dark brown. Very full body with a high alcoholic flavor. Low hop flavor and aroma.

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Beer - #636 - Mata - Sahti

Improbably beer, impossibly nice music, improbable numbers and imposing on a party.

traditionally brewed in an open wooden trough

This is a 500ml bottle of a beer that is 9 % ABV, making it 270 calories a serve size, the bottle contains 3.5 standard drink units.

Brewed by Aotearoa Breweries in the style that is Style: Sahti/Gotlandsdricke/Koduõlu and that happened in Kawerau, New Zealand

Sahti is a traditional Finnish beer made with juniper berries and rye malt. No hops. Juniper berries add acidity and the beer was traditionally filtered through juniper twigs for an added tannic bitterness.

[caption id="attachment_11504" align="alignright" width="300"] Do I look excited?[/caption]

Sahti is traditionally brewed in an open wooden trough called a kuurna, where juniper branches & berries are mixed with hot water and malt to create the sugary wort.

However Mata have added a kiwi spin.

This Sahti uses manuka tips rye malt and juniper berries resulting in a strong ale with a sweetish spicy character and banana aromas.

So what could possibly go wrong? Well this is the winner of the recent SOBA beer awards, so not much I hope.

Aroma is one of a fruity drink. Sweet syrupy fruity.  The aroma in the glass is even more massive bloom. Which settles to a beer that if you really sit and just smell lets you a hint of the acahol astringent, possibly just an aroma. It's very red in the glass, it's not a good photo, you'll have to trust.

The taste is like nothing else. Well that's a lie it's like it's supposed to be I guess. Thick rich, and then a really woody note, like wood, not pine, wood, like tree. It is a full mouthfeel experience.

Exceedingly interesting as a beer, and enjoyable too, it's lovely and sweet not cloying, also it's bitter without excess, just nicely balanced, and is rather moorish.

As it warms, because invariable I have it too cold, there are more subtle notes of banana and faint rosewater too. Aromatic perfume, and yet it all adds up, make sense.

But. It is a heavy drinking beer, the tastes and sensations are dialled right up, right up high, and each sip is again an explosion, slightly different but still the same, and for me, perhaps only me, this is rather wearing. I want to have the rush, the impact, then I want to settle in an enjoy, with this each sip is the same rush. Which is great, and different and really interesting, but sometimes you need to calm the farm.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 9 of its things from the thing. An easy pick for the 'greats' of beer, this really does introduce a new style, and using available thing in NZ brings to life a hop free beer that is both extraordinary and at the same time familiar. Brilliant!

The double dip review

Am I enjoying it? It is extraordinary and memorable, it's a winner.
Would I have another? I would, later, I couldn't have two, that would be madness. (I could have two and that would be madness)
Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? Yes, the more the merrier, this is really really something.

Music for this  ' Tess Parks and Anton Newcombe ' and album ' I Declare Nothing ' of course on the Spotify  This is with the The Brian Jonestown Massacre's Anton Newcombe, and I like them a lot

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSCWrbbUPQc

SAHTI/GOTLANDSDRICKE/KODUÕLU

A traditional ale style unique to three areas; A Finland the Swedish island of Gotland and the Estonian island of Saaremaa. There are subtle differences between them and also between sahti from different regions in Finland. In general however these are strong ales made with a combination of rye and barley malt. They have minimal hop character and instead receive most of their flavor by virtue of being filtered through juniper twigs. Most examples will exhibit a strong yeast character and many homebrewed traditional examples are made with baking yeast. Such yeast often generates a highly phenolic character as well. Some examples will also have a smoky character and this is particularly evident in gotlandsdricke.