New year is a good time for a new beer. Our latest keg-only release is “Farmhouse Pale Ale”, a beer shamelessly inspired by the flagship beer of Oxbow, a small farmhouse brewery in Maine, USA... [more]
By 8 Wired Brewing brewed at Renaissance Brewing in the style that could be Saison and American Pale Ale mix and they are from Blenheim, New Zealand.
So, my 1 litre (isn't that 34 Fl Oz US) of a beer that is 5% ABV, 150 calories a serve size, so making it then about 3.94 standard drink units in NZ.
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It looks larger than it is, but it is pretty big.[/caption]An American Pale Ale / Saison hybrid.It’s brewed with a big portion of Spelt malt as well as raw wheat and oats.
For the hops, we have tried to keep the bitterness right down while maintaining a big US hop presence. So hops (Chinook and Cascade) have only been added to the whirlpool and as dry hops.
The yeast is a new dry Belgian yeast on the market made by the homebrew suppliers from Mangrove Jack’s.
A dry, almost powdery, hoppy farmhouse ale. What could go wrong.
Sweet aroma on opening the flip top, and nice carbonation. Nice hop aroma too making it's way up. It's a fantastic golden straw yellow colour, and pours with a small and light head. Aroma is still really nice, sweet and lightly hoppy.
So, ok, it is lightly bitter, lemony and it has soft notes, but it is wrapped in that bitterness that is quite pleasing and not annoying. Nice finish and lingering mouthfeel.
It is very easy drinking beer. Quaffed a couple of good sups so far without reason to stop, it's very quenching. Surprisingly so. The brewer appears either to have met their brief or written the descriptor afterwards. The former seems more plausible.The rise in lower ABV beers does not appear to be slowing, this at 5% is the same as say Heineken, Stella Artois, Becks, et al, that sit at this level. You don't get with them though the cleanness of taste that you get with something a bit crafty and hand made.
What's the worse thing I can say about this? Nothing really, the taste is really intriguing and there is something else in there, something pleasant, floral like violets or something. I like it whatever it is.
Then I got a hop burp :-)
The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 10 a of its things from the thing. It is an abundance of things, all of which are promised and delivered. It comes with a story and journey, and takes you along with it, it's got some of that hop roughness, some sweetness, a little kick and some softness, and overall it's just good beer.However, or the' but' this isn't outstanding or must have, and although tonight and on this occasion this has rocked my boat I don't know that it is a beer for the everyman. I'm going to stick with my 10, based on the enjoyment right now, and because again this is just a good beer. Not that I rate beer on what you might like, I like to think I'm a bit independent and contrary sometimes, it might be same with this, I'd like to see them have this packaged in 4/6 packs as it should stand up on it's merits against shelf beers - this is only available in tap, in kegs at the moment.
The double dip review
- Am I enjoying it? I am, but not in way that I expected, this is just a good beer, It doesn't set to have any particular quirk or character, it's as it says it is.
- Would I have another? I am going to get some more tomorrow. Mad not to.
- Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? Yes, no way this ends in a fight and more likely to end in some impromptu dancing under the stars.
Music for a hot afternoon... Jungle are a modern soul musical collective based in London, this is " Busy Earnin' "
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcsfftwLUf0
Which is fantastic accompaniment to this. Voted as one of the best albums of the 2014 year I thought I needed to keep up with it, I quite like the midtempo 1970s-style funk.
SAISON
Fruity esters dominate the aroma. Clarity is good with a large foamy head on top. The addition of several spices and herbs create a complex fruity or citrusy flavor. Light to medium bodied with very high carbonation. Alcohol level is medium to high.
AMERICAN 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
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