Beer - #550 - Gigantic - Too Much Coffee Man

Beer to coffee by, music to beer by, the numbers of coffee beans and after party coffee

Imperial Black Saison with cold pressed Coava coffee. And what you get with this beer is something a bit more unique in taste

the not so subtle named beer from Gigantic - Too Much Coffee Man,  is on my table.

This is a 650ml bottle , the beer is of 8.2% ABV, and it has a mild 25 IBU rating, 246 calories a serve size, this would be 4.21 standard drink units in NZ.

Too Much Coffee Man is brewed by Gigantic Brewing Co. in the style that is either a Saison or a  Belgian Strong Ale and Gigantic are in Portland, Oregon  USA

Note: It could be a number of styles from "Imperial Black Saison, Belgium Style Black Ale, Saison / Farmhouse Ale, it's a fluid thing (not a pun intended).

I'm going with Saison. This is their Beer #17 and rated a G on their music scale. I might have to work that out.

The Too Much Coffee Man Beer is a rich Belgian Style Black Ale that combines the malt, floral, and fruit notes of a Saison

[caption id="attachment_10487" align="alignleft" width="300"] Never have too much coffee[/caption]

with the caramel, honey, and graham of our cold brew coffee.

At 8.2% alcohol and 134% delicious-awesomeness this beer does not fool around.

It is a reward for your hard working taste buds.

An experiment perfected! This beguiling blend of Imperial black saison and custom roasted cold pressed Coava coffee will have your olfactory zones erongenized and begging for more.

I love cold brew coffee, this sounds like a bit of heaven. And what, I ask myself, could go wrong with that combination?

This does have a lovely flat coffee aroma on opening, a nice hiss too,

Pur is deep dark black, and the head tries hard but just gives up and leaves just a hint, a film, a whisper.

Aroma is musty and coffee and also of some rich fruits. It's interesting to the nose.

The taste, Well I was confused when I tasted tobacco ash, wouldn't you be?

This is also more bitter then you might be expecting and waiting for, all around the edges of the tongue tingling.

Beer has a lot of rich fruits in the body. The coffee is chipping in on the bottom note. There is a lot less sweetness that you might expect too, despite the fruit situation.

Also I though a lot less coffee and I know that cold press should be more mellow. Still they could have worked something out, the aroma somewhat over-plays the taste delivered.

I'm going to say that New Zealand has a strong coffee culture, and that poor coffee isn't tolerated. It is on that basis that I think the coffee-ness of this in the taste might be light. I think it's adequate but I don't think it is "too much" which I might have liked.

Then It is a Saison, or a Belgium Strong Ale, or both , or neither. So you don't get a baseline to go from. So you make your own.

This does have hints of the Saison and musty about it, it doesn't have a hit of sweetness though. It does have a great aroma. Doesn't have a head.

Does make me smile.

As it warms up slightly though, you do get the alcohol burn at the back, which made me smile more in the sense that "oh there it is!" As it warms up it calms down slightly in the bitterness, and this too is welcome.

Once you work your way into this you begin to get a sense that it is indeed a bit clever.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as a 9 of its things from the thing. Either I've been more picky, have lowered my standards, or am in fine form in picking beers. Nine is great, and a beer that I find to have many things going for it, all mostly in the right direction and it stands out as being a memorable beer. Even tomorrow I'd remember this I'm sure.  I love the way this unfolds and lets you enjoy the musty, the fruits, the sweetness, the coffee and then the burn at the back of the alcohol. I'd have liked more coffee, which also comes across as chocolate perhaps. It's a small but important thing that stops this taking the top rung.

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? I started off with a frown but it soon turned upside down into a smile.


2. Would I have another? I would love another, this is very drinkable, dangerously so since it's higher in ABV.


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? I would and I'd be happy to extoll the virtues of all the things, Coffee, Beer, Saison beers, and explain how Cricket works.

Musically, well it seemed a good idea for it to be musics only day, so from the album "Live Sessions" "Bonobo" cracks out "Nothing Owed" Which is quite good live.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkHxZtcT3I4

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.

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.

Beer - #549 - Garage Project - Louisiana Voodoo Queen

Special beer, special music, social numbers and special friends.

Louisiana Voodoo Queen, from Garage Project, perhaps the most bonkers beer I've had.

Best enjoyed from a stemmed glass rubbed on a black cat.

This is a 650ml bottle that is beer of 9.5% ABV, that's 285 calories a serve, and 3.33 standard drink units in the bottle,

Brewed by Garage Project in the random style that is: Special/Other, and GP are in Wellington, New Zealand

This is a powerful dark brew.

[caption id="attachment_10454" align="alignleft" width="300"] Hoodoo Voodoo[/caption]

Inspired by the tradition of New Orleans coffee and the Louisiana Voodoo ‘cure-all’, Voodoo Queen is a rich, dark ale, redolent of plum fruit and spice and infused with chicory root and a specially roasted batch of Brazilian beans conjured up by our friends at Flight Coffee.

So lay down your three nickels and imbibe with caution – powerful forces lie within.

Best enjoyed from a stemmed glass rubbed on a black cat.

What could go wrong? Apart from not having a black cat, we have a sort or mixed up thing that is somewhat a Russian Blue, close enough is good enough. Or I'm hexed.

That is more like chocolate or coffee on opening, already I smile a bit. The rubbing the glass on the cat might have worked out,

The pure is dark , bit not pitch black more a deep brown, the head is lingering and not persistent.

Strangely the aroma in the glass is really muted and not at all easy to discern.

Mouthfeel is 'thick' and mostly the taste is of a deep Coffee, but there are other things, or something else, sweet and full underneath this, it's a bit of an enigma.

It looks flat in the glass, but it is well carbonated. The coffee is rich and mellow, not burn or sour, leaving you with a pleasant after taste and linger.

In amongst it all is that nice steeped raisins taste, fruity. The more you search for them the more you notice. I also notice the numbness on the tip of my tongue. I'm going to rub the glass on the cat a bit more, it might be a curse. Probably isn't since no such thing exists.

I have to say that this is quite pleasant but not special or outstanding drinking. That isn't to say that it isn't a clever or pleasant beer, it so is. But it is mostly the coffee thing, and that isn't such a thing is it?  Not without a bunch of depth perhaps, it's the predominant note but it is a note not the body.

I just wanted more.

I went and had dinner, which was Lamb in a Lemon/Balsamic marinade, with fresh Rosemary, and some roast assorted vegetables like Potato, red and Green Capsicum, Orange Kumera, Onion and Corgettes, in case you were asking.  Oh and some fresh herb bread toasted just to make it less like a Sunday roast, and we sat in the late evening sun. Just Saying.

Anyway, second go at this. Pour does elicit a head that seems firmer and more persistent. Aroma is still mostly coffee.

It obviously has warmed up somewhat, the carbonation seems to either be more pronounced or the other flavours have become more muted. The finish becomes more dry and leaves the tongue a bit sour around the edges. It is still a nice beer.

I don't know that  I'd recommend or rave about this to anyone though, the name and the contents seems to be a world apart. Then again how would you distil the essence of Louisiana into a beer, I've been to New Orleans a few times and this didn't remind me of that. Perhaps I didn't stray far enough from Bourbon Street

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as an 8  of its things from the thing. Who doesn't like a coffee beer? Well I imagine a few people. But I like a coffee beer, there is the C4 for instance that I find divine. Anyway, this is a beer that is predominant in coffee-ness and it somehow lacks a body or middle that would make it more full or rounded. I didn't enjoy the dry finish so much in this instance, and the look of the beer is unappealing, flat and a bit dour.

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? I am because I like coffee and I like beer. it goes well, but adding coffee to beer for the sake of it never ends well.


2. Would I have another? There are better Coffee based beers that I'd go to first.


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? As a conversation piece the name alone would be interesting, the delivery of the beer based on the build up not so much, it's a bit of a damper on things that this has such a high and well obscured and going early in the evening on this makes for a short evening really.

Musically, It's Visage, Visage were a British synthpop band, formed in London in 1978. New Romantics.  Steve Strange died this last few days. They played songs on the radio and I still know the words.  You should all know "Fade to Grey"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMPR6Ujop4k

It made me get up and have a quick shuffle about the lounge in a old school way. Just glorious.

Related articles

• R.I.P. Steve Strange of Visage 1959-2015

Beer - #548 - Sparks - Prospector

Prospects, prospective musics, prospects and prospects

 "Golden sunshine in a glass with a lively effervescence that holds up a centimeter of foam before dropping back to a thin lace"

This is a 330ml bottle, with a 4.9% ABV beer, which makes it 1.2 standard drink units, this bottle would be about 150 calories.

This is breweed for Sparks Brewing and brewed at Sparks Brewing in the style: Saison and they do that in Auckland, New Zealand

A New Zealand style farmhouse ale. To build on the unique, fruity character of the Belgian yeast we've selected Canterbury malts for their honey like sweetness and Nelson hops for their tropical gusto.

[caption id="attachment_10450" align="alignleft" width="300"] Prospects high for enjoying this[/caption]

The result is a super floral and slightly spicy ale with huge aromas of pineapple and lemon zest.

The hops give way to the yeast's rustic funk and a tart finish leaves the palate dry.

Golden sunshine in a glass with a lively effervescence that holds up a centimeter of foam before dropping back to a thin lace. Aroma - The yeasts involved kick off all sorts of fruity compounds, and mixed with New Zealand hops the senses are bombarded with tropical aromas of pineapple, lemon zest and peaches. There is no fruit in this beer, although you’d be forgiven for thinking that there was. Taste - A big tropical fruit bowl thanks to the Motueka and Kohatu hops. The yeast has a nice tartness that further evokes pineapple and citrus. The bitterness is low and the vienna and wheat malt soon shine through with a subtle rustic doughiness followed by a honey like sweetness from the pilsner malt. Mouthfeel - Lively carbonation. The beer still has a balance of sweetness, tartness and bitterness that cleans the palate nicely without being overly dry.

So what could go wrong ?

Aroma is of pineapple! and sweetness.

Pour is a lovely golden yellow, and it does indeed have an effervescent head that is reasonable and persistent.

Aroma in the glass is a fruit burst of things.

You notice a mustiness in the palate, which is to be expected, and I also get lemons now, and a soapyness in there too, which isn't expected.

Lovely level of bitterness and reasonable restraint on the favours in this. Nicely balanced I think is where I'm going with this.

Two thumbs up so far, and I notice that I've taken more than a couple of sips and have to control myself, this is nice drinking, and invites you to have more of it, sadly it's a finite amount of beer and I have to have some control.

Like that ever happened.

I'm actually a bit in love with this strange beer wherein I now get bananas.

A thing of beauty and to behold. I don't know how else to describe this.

[caption id="attachment_10452" align="alignright" width="150"] Dry hopped. Farmhouse Ale. Floral Tropical Aromas.[/caption]

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as  a well deserved 10  of its things from the thing. I know right, Such a small bottle such a big flavour, it's all in there, all playing nice and being behaved, it has aroma to die for, it has initial tastes that develop and unfold like a flower, it delivers all the things in a nice way and well ordered politeness, I would cuddle it if I could it is a thing of beauty and all that.

Get in! well if you are local that is, sadly I'm not sure this'll be available in other places, which is a shame as it really is that good that I'd be proud to be a Kiwi and carry this with me.

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? This is Banging!


2. Would I have another? I wold love to find this on tap, set up table and stay forever, or an afternoon. It really is a cracking beer.


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? Heck yes, this is brilliant! Let me waffle on for a while whilst you drink it.... oh wait.. you talk I'll drink...

For music I was taken by "Imagine Dragons" for no reason at all, and I'm still pondering.  So this is "Imagine Dragons" and a clip called "I Bet My Life"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ht80uzIhNs

Imagine Dragons is an American rock band from Las Vegas. They are a full participation band.

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.

Related articles

• Beer - a global language (stuff.co.nz)


• Beer 101 (williams-sonoma.com)

Beer- #500(a) - Epic - Epicurean Coffee and Fig Oatmeal Stout

#500, and it's a Epicurean Coffee & Fig Oatmeal Stout, the 2014 version. In a massive re-think because I can't arrange a night in when I can do a head to head it's postponed until a few beers time.  I must stay in more. So, then, 500 (a)...

Big number, Big Volumes, Big number and Big party mood.

Each year a different coffee variety from a different country is used and the figs are handled in a slightly different way.

This is  of 8% ABV,  the beer is 50 IBU things, and that makes 240 calories a serving size, the 750ml bottle contains 4.73 standard drink units.

This is then beer from Epic Brewing Company (NZ) brewed at Steam Brewing Company in the style that is  Imperial Stout and they are in Auckland, New Zealand

[caption id="attachment_10505" align="alignleft" width="300"] It's been a while coming.[/caption]

The Epicurean series is a celebration of the flavours and aromas that can be found within the diverse range of ingredients that brewers and chefs alike use in their creations.

This beer is a culmination of hours of cerebration, experimentation, cogitation and libation.

And a sprinkling of dehydrated finesse.

• 2014 - COFFEE: Columbian Excelso (roasted by L’affare),  whole Turkish Lerida Figs, and Toasted Philippine Coconut

Apart from an early night what cold possibly go wrong?

This has a really dry note, by which I mean powdery, on the aroma, which is not surprisingly coffee but also chocolate.

Pour is fantastic, black as coffee and with a generous head that settles slightly to something more manageable.

Aroma settles into something more 'ash' like in some ay that I'm poorly communicating, and the coffee note is present and subtle.

And it drinks like a bit of liquid velvet, so smooth and clean, it's almost cream like in it's mouthfeel. The bitterness is low and noticeable at the finish, which isn't dry, and there is a lovely linger.

The coffee is more pronounced at he back too, the front dominated by a lovely wall of soft sweetness. It's almost like I'm writing a love letter.

No hints of any 'fruits' nor is there a hint of the alcohol in this.

For all that though I don't get any popping of favours, no bright notes. The coffee is nice but it might not be coffee enough, it doesn't add a bitterness nor a burnt note in there.

I also though that the flavour profile was a bit flat in the middle, starts nice with the fullness of taste, and ends well with the coffee and the final bitter but there seems to be a gap in the middle somewhere. AS if it's not 'thick' enough.

I'm not overly upset or disappointed though, I had this on tap on release date a moon or two ago and have been dying to try it in the bottle, which has been sitting in the cool dark place for a moon or two.

Then of course I re-read what I've noted so far, which starts really well, gets a bit iffy and ends a bit meh. I'm not sure that's correct though. It really is a pleasing mouthfeel, the fullness, bit this has tailed off a bit as it warmed. I wanted more body and another note in there somewhere. All based on the fact that I've talked myself into thinking this was made with tears of a angel. Which it might be, but isn't.

It isn't though a coffee heavy beer, even though it has the aroma of it doesn't necessarily translate into coffee taste, particularly if you think cold drip/press  coffee and the way that that has mellow and full flavour.  Which you get when you let the glass sit for a few minutes, a feat of patience/

It is a pretty smelling beer. Does that count?

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this 8  arbitrary things  of its things from the thing. It is a smooth, easy drinking beer, with aroma of coffee and chocolate that delivers a lovely mouthfeel a bitter but not dry finish and a satisfying linger in the mouth that brings a smile. From the amount I've managed to drink I'd suggest it is easy drinking, but I'm cautioned by the higher ABV so I'm trying to be good.

In the end though I became a bit bored. And that is never a good thing. 

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? I started off all enthusiastic and peaked early from whence it was downhill.


2. Would I have another? I Am going to head to head these for the years 13 and 14 , or the rate i'm going 13-14-15


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? I'd be happy if this was a gateway to other beers I'd hat to finish with this though, bring one over I'd still give you a hug.

Well, in the scheme of things I was listening to Andrew Hozier-Byrne , known as Hozier, who is an Irish musician and singer-songwriter

Have a crack at "Take me to Church"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYSVMgRr6pw

It's a full experience music style all at a similar volume, listen you'll get it.

STOUT

Many stouts do not fit the classic "Irish" definition as exemplified by Guinness, either due to their hop or roast rates, or higher gravity (in the case of many American stouts). They are still basic stouts, however, not falling into any of the subclasses.

Related articles

• The 20 Best Stouts in the World


• The Brew: 7 stouts to warm up winter


• 5 High ABV Beers to Warm You Up

Previously I've drunk the 2011 - a 9 on the pdubyah-o-meter,  and the 2013 - a 9  on the pdubyah-o-meter, and obviously I  missed a trick in 2012.

• Luke himself on the 2014 beer 


• DubDotDash on the launch night


• Beer for a year on the 2011

• Get crafty with beer this Christmas


• Port Brewing's Santa's Little Helper Is What's On Tap


• 31 Beers of December - Day 25: Golden Road Back Home Gingerbread Stout

Beer- #xxx - Epic - Epicurean Coffee and Fig Oatmeal Stout - this year last year

#500, and it's a taste-off of two beers, one beer twice, and old beer and a new beer. I'm going to taste again the  2013 version of the Epic - Epicurean Coffee & Fig Oatmeal Stout, and at the same time the 2014 version in a head to head.

Each year a different coffee variety from a different country is used and the figs are handled in a slightly different way.

These are both of 8% ABV,  the beer is 50 IBU things, and that makes 240 calories a serving size, each 750ml bottle contains 4.73 standard drink units.

This is then beer from Epic Brewing Company (NZ) brewed at Steam Brewing Company in the style that is  Imperial Stout and they are in Auckland, New Zealand

The Epicurean series is a celebration of the flavours and aromas that can be found within the diverse range of ingredients that brewers and chefs alike use in their creations.

This beer is a culmination of hours of cerebration, experimentation, ocgitation and libation.

And a sprinkling of dehydrated finesse.

• 2014 - COFFEE: Columbian Excelso (roasted by L’affare),  whole Turkish Lerida Figs, and Toasted Philippine Coconut


• 2013 - COFFEE: Wet Process Ethiopian Sidamo Coffee Bean (roasted by L’affare),  Caramelised Dried Turkish Lerida Figs, and Toasted Philippine Coconut

Apart from an early night what cold possibly go wrong?

Aroma

Pour

Initial taste

Similarities

Differences

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as ? a of its things from the thing.

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it?


2. Would I have another?


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights?

STOUT

Many stouts do not fit the classic "Irish" definition as exemplified by Guinness, either due to their hop or roast rates, or higher gravity (in the case of many American stouts). They are still basic stouts, however, not falling into any of the subclasses.

Related articles

Previously I've drunk the 2011 - a 9 on the pdubyah-o-meter,  and the 2013 - a 9  on the pdubyah-o-meter, and obviously I  missed a trick in 2012.

• Luke himself on the 2014 beer 


• DubDotDash on the launch night


• Beer for a year on the 2011

• Get crafty with beer this Christmas


• Port Brewing's Santa's Little Helper Is What's On Tap


• 31 Beers of December - Day 25: Golden Road Back Home Gingerbread Stout

Beer - #547 - Menabrea - 1846

Brief beer, brief songs, brief maths, an a brief gathering.

A well-balanced beer with a marked floral fruitiness coming through from the aromatic yeasts used in its production

Menabrea - 1846 is brewed by Menabrea (Forst) in the style that is a Pale Lager and they are in Biella, Italy

This is a 330ml bottle that has beer of 4.8% ABV making it 144 calories a serve, so 1.25 standard drink units.

[caption id="attachment_10442" align="alignright" width="300"] Man needs a shave[/caption]

Menabrea is a light, delicately balanced lager with fruity flavor and aroma of dry grass and citrus. Birra Menabrea is Italy's oldest brewery.

The award-winning brewery is located in the small town of Biella in northern Italy where it is run by fourth generation.

A well-balanced beer with a marked floral fruitiness coming through from the aromatic yeasts used in its production.

Pale yellow appearance; moderately light bodied; mild bitterness.

Italian beer, what could go wrong? Plus a new cap for the collection jar.

That just smell like malt lager type beer. Pour is golden, head is fleeting. Look nice in the glass though decent carbonation.

I don't think there would be any surprises if I now say that on tasting that this tastes like your standard average European Lager type drink. High malt and low hops as a characteristic.

Oh and some of that biscuit thing going on. Nothing unpleasant and at the same time nothing unusual or different.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as a 5  of its things from the thing. It is nothing to write home about, has nothing that sets it apart or aside from similar beers of the style, it's just easy drinking no frills beer.

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? It isn't spectacular, and it's nice for what it is, if what you wanted was cold liquid. If I was setting up for a special night in this would be a bit tragic.


2. Would I have another? I might if I was thirsty and this was in the fridge as thing, I wouldn't ask for another.


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? Not really. There are other better beers of the style around that would bear up better under robust conversation than this.

Musically, I started to listen to Steely Dan, and the album 'AJA' Aja is the sixth album by the jazz rock band Steely Dan. Originally released in 1977. I Was younger this was quite edgy then.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ck1N1I-LzWc

Donald Fagen, and the Album "the NightFly" remains a favourite.

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 doesn't 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 - #546 - Tuatara - Sauvinova

Single hop, single records, single digits and singing at a party

 Full malt body copiously hopped with Nelson Sauvin displaying mouthwatering gooseberry, pineapple and grapefruit flavours. Balanced bitterness.

[caption id="attachment_10416" align="alignright" width="150"] It's a Tuatara, they made a bottle like it.[/caption]

A 330ml bottle, that is the familiar lumps and bumps to imitate a real Tuatara, a beer that is  5.2% ABV, has a rating of 34 IBU,  comes in at around 156 calories, and the equivalent of 1.35 standard drink units. 

Brewed by Tuatara Brewing Company in the style that is a American Pale Ale or in some places might be an India Pale Ale (IPA) or the brewer says "Single Hop Pale Ale" and they do that in Paraparaumu, New Zealand

Kiwis are notorious for developing an enthusiasm for local commodities only after a thumbs up from the more discerning parts of the world.

[caption id="attachment_10436" align="alignleft" width="300"] haircut and a new beer![/caption]

In the case of Nelson Sauvin hops we think that’s a little unfair.

Tuatara and Sauvin were released into the world at about the same time so we knew them back in the day.

Brought to you with Liquorland, Sauvinova is a single hop pale ale celebrating the tropical gooseberry hit of Sauvin’s Sauvignon Blanc namesake. Bottoms up.

Full malt body copiously hopped with Nelson Sauvin displaying mouthwatering gooseberry, pineapple and grapefruit flavours. Balanced bitterness.

What could go wrong?

Well nothing as it turns out, or not much anyway.

This has a dazzling aroma on opening, all fresh green hops.

Pour is orange yellow, darker than you might expect, I'm always led by 'pale' perhaps I should pay attention. The head is variable and transient, and the aroma is really big.

I get a lot of oranges in the aroma, might also be passionfruit. Whatever it is it is nice. Might of course be grapefruit. It's not however a fruit salad.

Cracking amount of bitterness on the tongue, so moorish. Feels really carbonated although the appearance would have you otherwise..

There is no hiding in a single hop beer, this appears to have been expertly put together, delivering a bitterness, light dryness and a decent linger. It drinks well, has a decent length of taste and does invite you to have another sip or two. This might be due the lovely malt sweetness or middle, for some I could imagine this being a bit sweet or cloying. For me, now, this is right on the money.

Easy drinking and at a modest ABV this is a beer that you could drink and after a few still hold a reasonable conversation about or despite of.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 10 a of its things from the thing. For a single hop beer, for a single source distribution (mostly), this is a really good beer. You could have expected a half-hearted effort, after all captive audience, but this is far from that. I even went for another 6 pack, and I know there is a keg about to go on tap at the local bottle shop for a FYO.

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? I am, it is both a simple and yet layered and rewarding beer.


2. Would I have another? I am having another and will have another after that.


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? I'd for sure be happy if you turned up with a 6-pack of this, and I'd bring one to yours, it's just a bit good.

So, I was rummaging around this and that and ended up listening to, amongst other one hit wonders "The Turtles" and their sone "Elenore"

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeAtre3Bxg8&w=560&h=315]

You got a thing about you
I just can't live without you
I really want you, Elenore, near me
Your looks intoxicate me

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

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

• Trends in India Pale Ale (IPA) with Mitch Steele - BeerSmith Podcast #96


• Sorachi Ace Showers Double IPA at Noble Ale Works, Our Drink of the Week!


• Three Floyds named fourth best beer in the world


• Lagunitas "IPA" Lawsuit and Lessons in Social Media


• A New 'Hop-Forward' Craft Brewery is Opening in Woburn

Beer - #545 - Moa - Tripel Sauvignon 2014 Vintage

Experimental beer, experimental music, experiments with numbers and an experiment at a party

A Belgian style Tripel experimental fusion beer

A Moa Tripel Sauvignon 2014 Vintage beer, in a cork and cage special presentation 375 ml bottle, and at 9.3% ABV, makes it 2.8 standard drinks, the bottle would be around 300 calories.

Brewed by Moa Brewing Company in the style that is Abbey Tripel and they are in Blenheim, New Zealand

[caption id="attachment_10409" align="alignleft" width="300"] Classical beer, ideal for classical music[/caption]

A Belgian style Tripel experimental fusion beer where the candi sugar adjunct was replaced with unfermented Sauvignon Blanc grape juice from the 2014 Marlborough harvest.

The end result is a beer where the typical Tripel banana and spice fermentation derived characters are complemented by vineous yet fruity and tropical notes.

What could possibly go wrong?

Love the cork and cage, even if it bumps up the pricing, makes it a celebration beer somewhat.

That popped with a bit of urgency, so well carbonated.

Sweet sugary aroma.

Pour is quite pale, and then clouds as you forget the bit in the bottom. The head, as is, is thin but persistent. Aroma blooms a little to be more banana like,

it is very familiar. Alcohol is noticeable too.

The initial taste is quite bitter and tart, but with familiar sugars and softness. The finish is towards a dry and arid.

I'm really enjoying this, but then I secretly really like the Belgium style beers and would generally be very enthusiastic about them, I like the mouldy mildew kind of thing, I like the over-the-top sweet candy sugars, I like the sour bitterness and I enjoy the colours. There I said it.

This does have a fairly noticeable alcohol astringent in it that could be considered a bit of a handicap to some, but it appears to be all up front and not at the back.

As it warms slightly you get more of the sauvignon notes and overall it become a bit deeper and some of the more tart notes begin to come through.

If I was the brewer I'd be a bit chuffed with this one.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as a solid 9  of its things from the thing. I might be slightly generous with that number it seems to have been a while between good Belgium beers for me, good ones that is, and when you get one you realise that you should get another. Not quite a desert beer but this is a nice end of drinking finisher.

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? I am a bit blown away by how good this one is. Yes I am.


2. Would I have another? I would be in heaven if I had another, it might be worth getting another for later in the year.


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? This is a decent beer that would go well at the end of the evening, with or after the desert, sitting under the stars or in the warmth of the music room. It really is a beer to mull over and  enjoy.

Music is a challenge, and so with this I'm listening to something completely left field. Joseph Haydn: Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra in E-flat major.  This is performed by Wynton Marsalis

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9z2q2YSu4I

I know right, be unpredictable and enjoy it all.

ABBEY TRIPEL

Like other abbey ales, Tripels are strong, yeasty-malty beers. But they are also pale, and have a notable hop profile. Hop bitterness may be higher than a typical abbey ale, up to 35IBUs. But the finish is where the hops really shine, as tripels should finish fairly dry. Otherwise, maltiness is still essential to the style, and the assertive yeast note typical of all abbey ales will be more apparent in tripels, since they do not have the rich dark malts to distract the palate. Alcohol flavours feature more prominently in Tripels that in just about any other style.

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Beer - #544 - Garage Project - Burning Globe

Burning Beer, Burning down the house, fire numbers and a fire party

A smoky English ale was destined to be created.

Actually.

A 650ml bottle of beer, that is of 4.6%ABV, the bottle is about 250 calories, this would be about 2.41 standard drink units. 

Golden Globe is brewed by Garage Project in the style that is a Brown Ale and the are in Wellington, New Zealand

[caption id="attachment_10403" align="alignleft" width="300"] Let me wax lyrical....[/caption]

Burning Globe, a Shakespearean inspired ale brewed with English yeast and a rich mixture of caramel and smoked malts. Originally served from a single oak barrel to mark 400 years since the firey demise of the most famous Shakespearean theatre - now brewed again to coincide with the 450th anniversary of Will's birth.

So raise a glass to the Bard - Lack nothing: be merry. Ale and art, doth such fine bedfellows make.

We used oak smoked wheat malt, barley, and caramel malts for colour.

What could go wrong?

That's a fairly strong what I would call 'traditional' beer aroma, but it is towards smoky.

Pour is a lovely bright chestnut colour and the head looked nice but fizzled away. Aroma didn't change, still a rich beer and smokey.

It has  high carbonation on the tongue, and delivery a nice smokey hit on top of a decent bitterness, and a nice lingering mouthfeel.

There is a lovely amount of malt middle in it too. It's very pleasant.

So key word so far : Smokey. No bandit, just Smokey.

Which is odd since this is a Brown Ale and not a "Smoked" beer. I've had smoked beers, this would be a good one of those.

So, being a bit geeky I quote "Taming of the Shrew"

And quaff carouses to our mistress' health,

So I quaff, and quaff again, it's really nice and so much fun. Those people at Garage Project churn out a few beers on an alarming regularity, this one, a bit on the edge, is again one of the good ones.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as a 9 of its things from the thing. This is a good beer. Lovely smokey base, lovely sweet warm middle, and a decent tang of bitterness that makes it just a nice thing. The sad thing is that this didn't get a bigger audience, it is a fine beer. Really rang my bell as it were. 

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? I am! It is delightful.


2. Would I have another? I would if I could.


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? Without a doubt one of the nicest beers that I could think to share, offering tastes and layers without being all uppity and over your palate.

For music I couldn't help myself but play a bit of "Talking Heads", and particularly for this of course, "Burning Down the House".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8D4AsLzlM0

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 - #543 - Emerson's - Bird Dog IPA

Commercial beer, commercial music, numbers commercial, and the commerce of parties.

After two years of development on tap in our Dunedin Sound Series, Bird Dog India Pale Ale is to be released in our 500ml bottle

Their standard 500ml bottle, 7% ABV, so around 210 calories a serve size (290 the bottle) , and 2.8 standard drink units to enjoy.

Brewed by Emerson’s Brewing Company (Lion Breweries - NZ (Lion Nathan Co.) in the style this is  India Pale Ale (IPA), and they do this is Dunedin.

Bird Dog uses only one hop variety, NZ Cascade, from the boil right through to its massive dry hopping. Single hopped beers really give an appreciation for the characters of that particular hop and The Brew Crew here at Emerson’s reckon Bird Dog showcases NZ Cascade beautifully. A copper coloured pale ale with huge amounts of NZ Cascade that has created a floral, spicy aromatic pale ale that smells as delicious as it tastes. The hop flavour is high with a firm bitterness that leaves a crisp finish. If you aren’t a ‘Hophead’ already this is the Emerson beer that might convert you!.

The combination of NZ and US hops in the boil, the hopback, and dry hopping, along with traditional bottle conditioning makes this true India Pale Ale a significant addition to our range.

Bird Dog has always been a tribute to The Verlaines album by the same name, and John Collie’s painting which appeared on the Bird Dog album features on the Bird Dog label.

The stand out feature of Bird Dog IPA is that it will be cellared for some weeks prior to each batch’s release and sold only when the flavours have developed to our satisfaction. Why? Because after many trials we discovered the beer hit its peak well after bottling date, and keeps improving.

Why would any brewer not want to share that?

and what cold possibly go wrong? Emerson's are of course a known craft brewer who were brought but a big beer commercial, who've somehow managed not to mess it up.

This is a beer that's a distinct citrus note on the aroma on opening. It looks like it pours a light golden but it is an orange golden when it's finished, and with a large head of light white fluff and foam.

Aroma remains that of a citrus predominant thing, oranges?

It drinks like it is very fresh and 'green', the bitterness is present throughout the length and the finish is sweeter than dry. There is a nice lingering mouthfeel too.

A lovely layer of citrus in this, more so than I think I've had in a while, from an IPA, it's nice that there are forward flavours over the harder grassiness from hops,

I got to the second pour in quick time, either thirsty, possibly, or this is a welcoming and refreshing beer, or I've a drinking problem.

I wish I'd got a couple of these it really is a pleasant and thoroughly enjoyable IPA, where the range of things comes to play and you're not battling a hop-heavy arid dry crusher.

An everyday IPA perhaps, not a session IPA at 7% but I'd be happy if I could afford this is a go-to beer in the fridge.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as  a 9  of its things from the thing. I like this a lot as a drinking beer, but peaks at good drinking and isn't spectacular, the favours and profile are great and the whole is a bit nice and polite. It's close to a top mark beer but might, or me, have to have more bitterness, a sharper finish and for the flavours to be dialled up a bit. Other than that it's a blinding good beer to drink. Get in!

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? Yes I am.


2. Would I have another? Yes I would if I could.


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? This would be both a good introduction to IPA beers and a go-to beer, it really is good.

Musics, of course, the less than world-wide popular and famous - "The Verlaines" and the Album "The Verlaines" which you can find on the Spotify, the iTunes and probably other places. The Verlaines are a rock band from Dunedin, New Zealand. Formed in 1981.

This of course is "Bird Dog"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGPT80gkftE

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 - #542 - Lakeman - Taupo Pale Ale

Pale beer, Pale Music, Unclear numbers and feeling pale at a party

"... won a bronze medal once..."

The last of the three in bottles (that I could find), from this brewer,  this one the Pale Ale.

So a 330ml bottle of beer, that is 5.7% ABV and 1.7 standard drink units in the bottle, around 165 calories in the bottle give or take

Brewed by Lakeman Brewing Company this one is that  APA style  and they are in holiday destination of Taupo, New Zealand

[caption id="attachment_10351" align="alignright" width="300"] Its a small beer and big smile[/caption]

This the is a unique style, the TPA, the Taupo Pale Ale.

Refreshing and hoppy, yet with sufficient supporting malt.

Heady aroma of Citrus and Passionfruit on the nose Those fruit flavour blend with a soft silky malt and end wit ha bitterness that lingers on.

What could possibly go wrong with that?

Not really sure what aroma that is of, sort of a citrus hint.

Another beer that is headless, and looks woefully under carbonated and flat in the glass, almost whiskey coloured it's a lot more orange chestnut than I would have said pale.

In the glass the aroma does nothing to improve.

It is flat and under carbonated. You can't win them all.

From the faint hop aroma you get a sense of what was expected fro this, but it's awful beyond reproach. I'm a bit miffed too as this is premium priced beer, and I'm loath to be harsh and unfair since I'm non-confrontational. This however is worthy of the worst beer this year award.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as a  2 of its things from the thing..

~Update: Of course I use the social media things, and the poor rating was picked up by the brewer and the distributor partner, and they want to give me a new fresh bottle to try. As always I'm  a bit in the middle about this as I don't want to compromise my own sense of integrity. I've accepted replacement beer before though, it's not really setting a precedent. 

An in the absence of a newer bottle or one that isn't flat I'm going to let this one publish. It's a reflection on the beer  I had, which I am dead certain is much better than the beer I had , if you know what I mean. 

 

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? No it went in the sink


2. Would I have another? Unless they send me some I'd avoid this, once bitten and all that.


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? Not even if you was an enemy.

I ended up listening to a New Zealand ensemble "Tiny Ruins" which revolves around Hollie Fullbrook, this is a track called "Me at the Museum, you at the wintergreens" the album is called 'Brightly Painted One"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5LIpK3lOIY

The Auckland Museum and the Wintergardens are within eyesight and a stones throw of each other, this is a very specific NZ referenced song in my opinion,

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

Beer - #xxx - Mikkeller - Nelson Sauvignon

Undoubtedly the most expensive beer I've brought.

the man says It’s hard to name a favourite among your children. But if I have to choose one it has to be Nelson Sauvignon. It’s a light Belgian ale brewed with brettanomyces and enzymes for the driest possible beer. We used Nelson Sauvin hops, which have grape characteristics and it is aged on white wine barrels. This is done to imitate Champagne – and I actually think we succeeded.
… But my favorites much depend on the mood. Maybe I prefer wine?

Champagne sized 750 ml bottle of beer, 9%ABV, so 270 calories a serve size, and this would be

Of course by Mikkeller this one brewed at De Proefbrouwerij in the style most likely to be Bière de Champagne / Bière Brut, or at a pinch  Belgian Strong Ale and they're in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Nelson Sauvignon is a New Year beer it is fermented with ale yeast, brettanomyces and enzymes. Then it has been aged three months in Austrian white wine casks. Very dry, very vinous and very delicious.

Brygget af basismalt og under mæskníngen og gæringen tilsat enzymer for at opnå en så høj forgærbarhed som overhovedet muligt. Til både bitter-, smags- og aromahumle er brugt den New Zealandske humlesort ‘Nelson Sauvin’ som er opkaldt efter sine druekarakterer, der bringer minder til den New Zealandske hvidvinsdrue Sauvignon Blanc. Af gær er benyttet både champagnegær og brettanomyces og pga. enzymerne er øllen gæret meget langt ned og dermed er slutresultatet en meget tør øl. Efter endt gæring har øllen ligget 5 måneder på hvidvinsfade fra Østrigske Weingut Kollwentz og opnået yderligere karakter

Brewed of base malt and during mashing and fermentation enzymes added to achieve a high fermentability as possible. For both bitterness , flavor and aroma hops are used the New Zealand hop variety ' Nelson Sauvin ' named after its grape characters that recalls to the New Zealand white wine grape Sauvignon Blanc. By yeast is used both champagnegær and brettanomyces and due . Enzymes , the beer is fermented very far down and thus the end result is a very dry beer . After fermentation the beer has been five months in white wine casks from Austrian Weingut Kollwentz and achieved additional character.

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.

Bière de Champagne / Bière Brut

Bière de Champagne (or Bière Brut) is a hybrid beer style, generally made in Belgium and France. The "brewing" process for this style can more resemble the process used in sparkling wine (AKA Champagne). In general, these beers are lighter in body, higher in alcohol and quite carbonated. Color can range from almost clear to medium/dark gold. ABV can range from 9% to 14% or more.

Or...

A rare specialty beer style with few examples available worldwide, Bière de Champagne embodies the fruity, estery, spicy phenolic character of many Belgian Ales, with the body and fine bubbly texture and mouth-feel of Champagnes and other sparkling wines. With the time and care involved in its production, it gives the term “specialty beer” new meaning. DEUS Brut des Flandres, for example, goes through a months-long process of three separate fermentations, including a bottle fermentation (bottle conditioning), after which the bottles travel from Belgium to France where they go through the remuage process (collecting the yeast in the bottle necks by inverting the bottles) and riddling them (slightly turning the bottles over a period of weeks). The yeast is then removed from the bottles by dégorgement, where the yeast is frozen in the bottle neck and the frozen bung of yeast is driven out by pressure. Refreshing, yet subtle and refined, these are ideal as an aperitif and for celebrations.

Beer - #541 - Pelican - Red Lantern IPA

More Red beer, Simply red, seeing red and red light disco

"...Born from our brewer's love of hops "

This is a bottle that is 22fl oz, or 650ml, and it has beer of 6.4% ABV,  60 IBU things, making it 3.28 standard drink units in NZ, and around 350 calories in the bottle.

Brewed by Pelican Pub & Brewery in the style that is an American India Pale Ale (IPA)  and they are in Pacific City, Oregon  USA

[caption id="attachment_10343" align="alignleft" width="300"] Red like my suntan[/caption]

Just as red lanterns were once used to guide fishing boats to home base at the end of the day during foggy winter weather, our Red Lantern IPA is the perfect way to end your winter day.

Born from our brewer's love of hops and craving for a deep caramel backbone, the rich red color and medium body delivers just the right balance.

Copious amounts of El Dorado hops give Red Lantern a clean hoppy finish.

Website says that this is a seasonal beer available in December, so either this is a bit fresh or a year old, what could go wrong!

Big fresh pine hops aroma and a lovely hiss as I popped the cap on this one.

It is much lighter than a 'red' might be, deep chestnut and a lovely yellow tinged fluffy head. It does look the biz.

Aroma the same in the glass, strong pine hops.

~gosh~ that's potent and loud and a full nice beer. Somehow I have a beer that seems to be a the right temperature and in peak form. Go me!

Bitterness is not apparent up-front, it's more in the middle with the malt backbone and a dazzling bitter finish that just sings a bit. Standby for poetic ramblings.

A lovely beer that is aromatic on the nose and delivers a decent but not crashing bitter burst on the palate, and a finish that is not to little or not to much, it's just nice. I'd probably say 'a bit good'

So I'm dazzled by a red beer, which doesn't have the appearance or depth of colour to be 'red' but has a bunch of flavours and burst that does make it a really good IPA.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as a 9 of its things from the thing, which is a really good score, particularly for an IPA in a field where there are a lot of IPA style beers.

I haven't enjoyed a beer this much for a while, just for the enjoyment of drinking it and the reward for the flavour layers that it has, just for the beer it is, not a thirst quencher or something to pass the time by, but a beer that has an engagement.

Reminds you what a good IPA should be like.

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? It really has made me smile and brought real enjoyment to my day.


2. Would I have another? I'd love another, or two, this would be a great beer for an evening.


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? Yes I think that it has enough bitterness, hops and malt softness to keep everyone happy, it is also easy drinking without harsh edges.

Musically not even Red but an album called "Blue Planet Eyes" from a group called "The Preatures" This is a track called "Somebodys Talking".  The Preatures are an Australian 5 piece band from Sydney, New South Wales.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tmMNOxRZCg

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.