Thoughts on a beer

I was kindly sent a 12 box of beers from Harrington's Brewery. Out of the blue, unsolicited but very welcome. I've listed them below and in brackets the arbitrary score out of 10 that I chose to reflect how I felt about them. The links click to the specific reviews.

• 5-6 = Average,


• 6-7 = Above Average,


• 7 = Good,


• 7-8 = Better than Good,


• 8 = Very Good,


• 9 = Great.


• 1-4 you need to avoid and 10 = Awesome

The 12 beers then:

• Big John Special Reserve (9)


• Prince Harry Ginger Beer (7)


• Wobbly Boot (can) (6)


• Classy Red (8)


• Ngahere Gold (5)


• Brewers’ Selection Strong Pilsner (7)


• The Rogue Hop Organic Pilsner (Can) (7)


• The Rogue Hop Organic Pilsner (8)


• Belgium Trapist – thRreedux (7.5)


• The East Indies Lager (6)


• Brewers’ Selection India Pale Ale (7)


• The Yankdak APA (7)

I invested some time and learnt a few of things drinking beer from Harrington's.

They talk to the  winning the Brewer's Guild Grand Champion NZ Brewery Award in 2012, A sterling effort in itself, so congratulations on that success.

Harrington's started up in 1991 as a response to "Overpriced brown ales" and straight from some romantic novel began to brew  "real beer at a price that was agreeable to the hard working folk of New Zealand". The founder also prefers to be knows as "the Godfather of NZ Craft Beer". 

I notice that I don't see  'craft beer' but I do see "real beer" and an alternative to what was available, so pretty much something not 'Brown Ale' by which of course they mean "California Common, or Ambers", but I digress.

"The beer was different because it was brewed according to the German purity law",  Which is either some laudable crusade or brewing sensibly with the kit available at he time. Or, and I'm going to get really offside, a bit  like Homebrew.

Currently they boast a range of over 30 beer, yes over 30 beers. Range suggesting common regular output, not specials or collaborations. a roster of 30 beers through their brewing facility.

I want to pick on a phrase "Not bad for a stubborn little idea" which I think is the crux of the matter. I think, and this is just me, that John Harrington might have at one time been the leading edge, but not so much now.

An Earthquake in 2011 might be the catalyst for a lot of the changes they've been through, the brewery might have realised this and are hurrying to re-brand, re-package and re-invent their beers, but not re-invent their recipes. This would explain the confusion of names, and style descriptions with some of the beers I drank so far.

So where others have gone to batch brewed beers,  for instance to 'hop overload' styles Harrington's have stuck to the way they did it in 1992. Things have changed. They haven't. Or don't appear to have. Perhaps they're on that journey now. Perhaps they're at the end and are satisfied. 30 beers on a roster is a big roster.

Sure of course they've won awards, some of the beer isn't bad, but if it ever was it's just not the edge anymore.

I don't know if they know how to, or want to,  get there, the edge, stubborn is good, but stubborn and blinkered isn't. Commercial quantity brewing, as distinct from craft quantity brewing might be where I went wrong. These are commercial quantity mainstream everyman beers, that's what they do, that is what they are.

I don't think these beers are craft, and the cynical in me says they're making a play for the craft beer drinker based on the huge rise in the number of craft mic brewers that have appeared.

For me the beers sit well in the pack of similar beers, nothing outstanding, nothing too dreadful, nothing different, just safe, mainstream, middle-of-the-road.

You are expected to pay a premium price for that though, which  is the bit I really don't get.

Beer - #580 - Altitude - Posturing Professional Pale Ale

It's time for the Altitude Brewing Posturing Professional Pale Ale.

Posturing, Posing, Pondering and Sports!

Named in honor of the ego driven montain professionals that we so often meet. Quality session ale that goes down a treat. Hey that rhymes!!

This is the 500ml bottle of a 5% ABV beer, making it 150 calories a serve,  rounded out with it being 37 IBU things and 1.97 standard drink units.

Brewed by Altitude Brewing Studio in the style that is  English Pale Ale and they are the magnificent Queenstown, New Zealand

Dedicated, and named, for the posturing mountain professionals the world over, that feel they are the pinnacle of human evolution. The Posturing Professional is a New Zealand pale ale that is intended as a flavourful session beer.

[caption id="attachment_10830" align="alignleft" width="300"] Game (Watching) Face[/caption]

Best enjoyed after a hard day on one of our alpine playgrounds, it is designed with New Zealand’s brewing heritage in mind. The flavours are a salute to our brewing forefathers and their innovations that lead to the Kiwi artisan beer culture.

Using New Zealand malts and old school New Zealand hops, the finished beer delivers a dry palate with clean spiciness and a bit of sweet lemon and honey. The nose has notes of citrus and cut grass.

What then could be wrong with that?

Soft hop aroma on opening. Cloudy looking dull orange pour with not much by way of head, which sits on top like a forlorn thing. Aroma in glass might be more orange.

Lightly bitter but quite a dense beer, slightly fruity but not overly.

Quite a strong hop roughness in this, and it has a much dryer finish than you might expect from the way profile is pretty much front forward.

I have to say also that this still looks cloudy as a beer, slightly unusual, and I'm not sure that I'm not confused by it, it's not a look that immediately reassures you that all is well.

But is sees to be, there is no obvious problems.

One of those beers that you have an in your head expectation, and this is slightly different to what I thought, much more hoppy, less malts, and dryer to be precise.

Should it put you off though? I can imagine having this with the recently BBQ meat things, or even with an indian Curry, or just with bar snacks. It is a reasonably neutral beer in that sense.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 7 a of its things from the thing. It's not bad really, it fits many bills, and delivers like it says it should. All commendable. It is however slightly odd looking, not unusual lot have cloudy beers, it's just I wasn't expecting it.

I wouldn't suggest that this was a 'session' beer either that really would be a bit of a stretch, if they could figure out how to lower the ABV a notch and maintain the flavour it'd be a right winner.

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? It's nice for a Sunday Starter.


2. Would I have another? I think it's a good platform to move on from.


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? Possibly if they were on BBQ duty I'd turn up with a couple, it's a good enough beer to share and unusual enough to be a talking point.

The music today was the sounds of ball on willow, V6 turbo charged engines and Football songs, as it was a big afternoon of sportings on the Televisual device. I could have ours just said, The Cricket World Cup One Day International Final - New Zealand playing Australia, in the Football the table topping  Wellington Phoenix  (NZ) are playing Sydney FC (Aus), and in the Formula One there isn't a New Zealander but there is an Aussie Daniel Ricciardo racing for Red Bull, and of course you all know that the McLaren cars were originally a New Zealand thing, Founded in 1963 by New Zealander Bruce McLaren.

ENGLISH PALE ALE

Classic English Pale Ales are not pale but rather are golden to copper colored and display English variety hop character. Distinguishing characteristics are dryness and defined hop taste, but more malt balance than what youll typically find in an American Pale Ale. Great to drink with all sorts of meats including roast beef, lamb, burgers, duck, goose, etc. Note that the term pale ale is used in England to signify a bottled bitter, and in that way there is no such thing as English Pale Ale to the English. The style is a North American construct, borne of the multitude of pale ales that pay homage to these bottled bitters – Bass in particular – and therefore the majority of true examples of the style are found outside Britain.

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• Three Imperial IPAs

Beer- #579 - Harrington's - Big John Special Reserve

Next then, Harringtons Big John Special Reserve.

Brewed especially for connoisseurs. Conditioned in oak bourbon barrels for one year.

Saved for last, the last dance, the last count, and the last dance.

This is a 500ml bottle, 6.5% ABV, 195 calories a serve size and 2.56 standard drink units. 

Brewed by Harringtons Breweries (Christchurch) in the style that is of  Scotch Ale and they are in Christchurch, New Zealand , the label has is as a "Strong Dark"

It has its own unique flavour and has won enough medals to sink a ship! Big John Special Reserve is a must try for dark beer lovers.

[caption id="attachment_10823" align="alignleft" width="300"] Big Phil about to give the Big John a nudge[/caption]

Big John Special Reserve has Kentucky Bourbon infused into this strong dark with the flavours of roasted malts along with the oak and bourbon to give it’s unique roasted flavour a difference.

Totally Enjoyable!

Pours golden brown and orange with a lacing white head. Mild spiced and breadish aroma. Roasted malt and mild breadish flavour. Light butterish note too. Mild spice note to a dry malt base into a light bodied finish.

What could possibly go wrong? Despite not being able to find it on the brewers website?

I saved this for last, hoping it would be the best, the Classy Red was great, I was hoping this would be as good. It carries the bosses name it should be.

Wow that's a roasted malt aroma that portends well. Deep chocolate too, Rich. I might have done good leaving this to last.

Pour is deep brown like mahogany but I didn't pay attention and then I didn't get a head,  I blame me for that.  Aroma in the glass is still that lovely chocolate roasted burnt thing, and also fruity.

Colour me surprised this is a really genuinely good beer, with lots of all the good things.  Pleasant aroma, lovely top of tongue bitterness, fantastic melange of flavours over the tongue and then a soft and gentle finish.

Like the classy red then this is a bit good. I know already that I want another and would be happy to sit in the pub and get to a happy place on this.

Discernible amount of hops, and then a crashing amount of toasted malts, I don't drink the Bourbon so I have no idea, but I can tell you the fruity over-layer fits really well, and is a welcome taste. The bitterness is really comfortable to, enough to remind and not so much that it is the thing. Clever stuff.

What this really has going for it though is that yo get all that good stuff without the big big ABV that could knock you out of your chair, and you might be challenged to find an equal. Well not really, but this is an exceptional find after a few disappointments. Also plus if you were going to make a dash at Porters or Darker beers this would be a great leap off.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 9 a of its things from the thing. I'm quite enthusiastic about this.  A beer with a big aroma of fruits that presages the wash of the enjoyably bitter beer and the three or four things going on and then leaves gently and without fuss. Come again. It's just good.

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? This is cracking, banging, beast or whatever the newest word is to describe 'good' 


2. Would I have another? I might send MrsDubyah out in the night to get me one. Won't happen, but it might.


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? I would bring two because this is something unusual a full flavoured, fully interactive beer that isn't going to make you do the strange leg walking thing at the end of the night, you know the wavy straight line, both shoulders hitting the hallway walls in a straight line walk, you know the one....

Note: I was provided this beer by the brewer to try and review, without catches,  this is 1 of 12 should you wonder about the sudden love of a brewer out of the blue. 

You are not going believe this : I'm listening to an artist who calls themselves "Guitar" and the album is called " The Abandoned House of Micha Lueckner & Susi Tunn in 14 Songs"

Wonder why I can't find a link or clip?  you could try here if you wanted to play the clips.

You know you're going to.

SCOTCH ALE

Scotch Ale was the name given to a strong pale ale from Edinburgh in the 19th century. This was typical of the strong pale ales brewed in Britain at that time - mainly pale barley malt and moderate hopping, and were not that stylistically different to English Strong Ales or Barley Wines. The name however became regionalised so that a strong pale ale from Scotland became known as a Scotch Ale or Wee Heavy. Beers using the designation Scotch Ale are popular in the USA where most examples are brewed locally. Examples of beers brewed in the USA under the name Wee Heavy tend to be 7% abv and higher, while Scottish brewed examples, such as Belhavens Wee Heavy, are typically between 5.5% and 6.5% abv.

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Beer - #578 - Harrington's - Prince Harry Ginger Beer

Harringtons Prince Harry Ginger Beer.

".. a hint of cheeky stiff upper lip"

This is in the 500ml bottle,  4.8% ABV, about 144 calories a serve, and 1.8 standard drink units.

Brewed by Harringtons Breweries (Christchurch) In the Style that is a catch-all Spice/Herb/Vegetable and they are in Christchurch, New Zealand

[caption id="attachment_10819" align="alignright" width="300"] More gray then ginger[/caption]

A naturally fermented, truly full flavoured wholesome alcoholic real ginger beer.

Our brewery recipe uses genuine ingredients to create a well-mannered ginger beer with a hint of cheeky stiff upper lip attitude.

What could possibly go wrong?, except again not on the brewers website, and a change of ABV depending on where you look online, perhaps I should stick to reading labels?

I was reminded that they have been undergoing some rebuild and re-sizing after the 2011 Earthquake. But onwards we must.

I like the idea of alcoholic Ginger beer, that lovely bite, thirst quenching and sweet, ideal for a sunny afternoon.

Ginger burst, which isn't as intense or sharp, but is as peppery spicy as is good.

Clear like water. Well fizzy lemonade, perhaps a slight tint of gingery orange, it looks great in the glass, no head though, not sure if I should have got one or not.

Aroma is nice in the glass. My initial though on the taste was that this was a little 'soapy' in some way, not sure how to decide that, or describe it.  Perhaps I might go with 'over perfumed'.

Bitterness is nice and the spicy notes are warming and tap away at the taste buds.

Violets is what I think that taste is. Whilst it has the ginger twang I think that it could possibly do with a tad more to bring a controlled roughness and bite into the body.

Not perfect then, but very rewarding as a summer drink in the sun,

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 7 a of its things from the thing. As an alternate to a hop based beer this has it's place, and I could imagine having this, at a lunch time, for instance, mostly because it has a high sweetness level that, for me, deadens the palate, and so a single drink option. Wow that made me sound like I'm a two drink minimum guy.  Or I could have said, nice as a single drink option, and lunchtime would be its stomping ground.

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? It is quite nice, sweet, slightly tangy and spicy.


2. Would I have another? It is though a very sweet drink and I'm done at one.


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? I don't know that this is a

Note: I was provided this beer by the brewer to try and review, without catches,  this is 1 of 12 should you wonder about the sudden love of a brewer out of the blue.

Musics? The Darkness are an English rock band from Lowestoft, Suffolk, and album called "One Way Ticket to Hell... and Back," you can listen here. If you must.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaaCOHmAbR0

SPICE/HERB/VEGETABLE

Any ale or lager made with herbs, spices or vegetables. The additive should be distinctive in the aroma. See beer description for flavor. Body, color, hop character and strength vary depending on the type of spice, herb or vegetable used

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Beer - #577 - Harrington's - Wobbly Boot (can)

Harringtons Wobbly Boot Porter Ale, craft beer in a can!

Dark beer, dark music, dark art of numbers and it's dark, lets party.

Porter style ale, brewed in the traditional way

330ml can  of beer, 5% ABV, 1.3 standard drink units, about 150 calories a serve size in this case that is the can,and it is 25 IBU things,

Brewed by Harringtons Breweries (Christchurch) in the style that is of Porter and they are in Christchurch, New Zealand

Wobblyboot is brewed with a combination of 4 quality malts and hops from America and England the end result producing lots of chocolate flavour and body

or....

[caption id="attachment_10800" align="alignleft" width="300"] Canned Porter, made me smile[/caption]

Porter style ale, brewed in the traditional way with a blend of four specialty coloured malts imported from England; the original home of porter ales.

Pours a clear, dark, orangey brown with a creamy, beige head leaving some lacework. Sweetish aroma of hard roasted malts with a whiff of vanilla. Medium in body with sweetsih, hard roasted malt accents and some sweet licorice. A light ashy touch while the bitterness is very discreet. A very quaffable Porter.

What, I ask myself again, could possibly go wrong?

I should be less dubious of a Porter style beer from a can than I am, there are plenty of good dark beers in cans.

It's very lively in the can, and it fair over-floweth, so you have to sip sour foam. Pour is very lively with the result being a load go fluffy off white head to contract the dark black beer, its a noisy beer, you should listen to you beer more. Really noisy.

Not sure about the aroma I fell that the initial sip might have got in the way, but it seem 'sour', the head does settle though so that's good.

This is really really sour and tart. scrunchy eye tart. Did I mention over carbonated making the mouth sensation all fizzy bubbles which just accentuated the sourness.

I though I might have got a tad of coffee or roasted burnt malts. I didn't it is more like a Sour ale then anything else.

There are some flavorous fruit notes in the linger, it could be quite a nice beer if it calmed down on the bubbles, but I did not get the sought after coffee or chocolate notes that would have been a winner.

Cans are clearly a new thing for the brewer and for the craft beer people in general, I'm still dubious as to the merits of them for premium priced product, particularly for the deeper flavoured beers perhaps, ok for the Ambers, the Lagers, but you'd have to see a price point as a consumer, otherwise they get to be party pick up beers and then perhaps not so popular. I might be too old for this beer v can argument.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 6 a of its things from the thing. I'm not sure this one has worked out well being in a can, it is over bubbled and under-delivered on the taste, which I know is not the case in the bottle version (from reading not from experience). I would not be rusing out to but this again.

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? Not really, it's not translated to the can very well.


2. Would I have another? I'd like to try the bottle version perhaps, as a marker.


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? No.

 

Note: I was provided this beer by the brewer to try and review, without catches,  this is 1 of 12 should you wonder about the sudden love of a brewer out of the blue.

Musically, I was again listening to Black Swan Lane. and I have no idea why, apart fro the haunting tone of the singing. Black Swan Lane are a US/UK indie-rock band/project founded in 2007 by Jack Sobel and John Kolbeck.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOsS3VJ0E8c

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 - #576 - Harrington's - Classy Red

Harringtons Classy Red. A beer of parts, a band of parts, part of the equation and part-y.

Seems a bit more like an Irish Red Ale with American hops - which is good..

This is the brewers standard 500ml Bottle, the contents are beer of 5% ABV, around the 156 calories a serve, and 60 IBU things , 2 standard drink units in the bottle.

Brewed by Harringtons Breweries (Christchurch) In the style we know as  American Pale Ale or Premium Bitter/ESB and they do that in Christchurch, New Zealand. The brewer currently lists this as an ESB (Extra Special Bitter).

Styled on the American Pale Ale, and brewed with the complexity of using high acidic hops, and dry hopped to balance the bitterness with wholesome

[caption id="attachment_10795" align="alignleft" width="300"] Classy beer, not so classy drinker[/caption]

flavour.

Pours a clear amber with an off-white head. Smells a bit of metals. Bitter with some caramel aromas. Hops aromas of resin. Tiny hint of diacetyl. Light alcohol notes. Medium bodied. Lively carbonated. Long bitter finish.

Seems a bit more like an Irish Red Ale with American hops - which is good..

What could go wrong then?  Well another beer from the brewery that has changed 'style' and retained it's name, changed the ABV as well.

Quite a rich aroma, backbone of hops.

Lovely rich orange brown pour wit ha nice finger width head, the aroma moved more to malt sweetness.

That's quite nice, some hop grassy bitterness, a nice cushion of soft sweetness and a tart finish. 2 out of three things that work for me there.

As a bitter then this isn't too bad, the peaky hop at the front though could eventually wear you out, it's a bit shouty, the middle is nice, and I'm not overly sold on the tart bitter finish.  I'm sure that I could however go a couple of three before it really wore me out,and before I finished even a small amount I was thinking that I'd like another, so something is working for me in the profile.

I'm enjoying this from the sleeve style glass, as you should a bitter, it makes me think fondly of my youth in English pubs.  Glasses do make a difference, like beer in glass or cans does.

I quite like this beer then, in this style, from this brewer, which is refreshing because it's had a couple of iterations. I think this 'works' and they shouldn't fuss with it any more, is what I think.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 8 a of its things from the thing. Earthy and hoppy aromas deliver a hoppy bitter beer with a lovely soft middle and a tang of a finish, you've drubk more than you though and you then think that you;d easily go another, a beer to reconnect me with a style that I didn't realise I missed so much, and that made me smile.

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? It's a cracker of a way to remind you about bitters.


2. Would I have another? I so would, I'm going to be miffed I don't have one.


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? I would. in the forest of Pales, and IPA's, Lagers and Saisons it's actually a bit good to get back to the basics of a really enjoyable English style bitter beer. Cheers!

Note: I was provided this beer by the brewer to try and review, without catches, this is 1 of 12 should you wonder about the sudden love of a brewer out of the blue.

Musically, Blancmange  who are an English synthpop band who came to prominence with a string of hits in the early to mid-1980. Still going though. You can Listen here.

Not on the album I'm listening to, which is "Semi-Detached" is one of their early tunes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L03PJeB38dI

An album though where the appear to be singing songs about what they've seen on he way to work in places, a bit odd. In it's favour it is well produced, and they've rolled out the bing machine in a couple of places.

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

PREMIUM BITTER/ESB

In England, many breweries have a number of bitters in their range. The style that has come to be known as Premium or Special Bitter generally includes the stronger ( 4.6%-6.0%) examples. These are mostly served in the traditional way from the cask, but some are also found in bottle form where the extra malt allows them to stand up better than the more delicate ordinary Bitter. In the US, the designation ESB is common for this style, owing to the influence of Fuller’s ESB, the London brew that was among the first to be exported to the States. In the US, some ESBs are made with American hops and a clean yeast, but the alcohol range is the same, as is the range of bitterness, usually between 25 and 35 but occasionally creeping higher.

Beer - #575 - Harrington's - Ngahere Gold

Ngahere Gold - Heller Bock? Strong Lager?  Golden Lager? Euro Strong Lager? Going with the brewer here and their label of "Strong Lager' then, but if you look around you'll see confusion.

In the rest of this post then possibly a German beer,  some German precision music, precision numbers and just a party.

To be drunk with moderation!!

This is a 500 ml bottle of a beer that is 7.2% ABV, and that would be 216 calories a serve, 30 IBU and 2.8 standard drink units.

Brewed by Harringtons Breweries (Christchurch) in the style that is perhaps  Strong Pale Lager/Imperial Pils or  Heller Bock  and that's done in Christchurch, New Zealand

[caption id="attachment_10783" align="alignleft" width="300"] A thumb not some weird ear growth[/caption]

A strong lager brewed with locally sourced pilsner malts using Canterbury’s purest artesian water and Nelson’s finest hops.

A Holy trinity of ingredients creating a lager of international quality for Godzone enjoyment

What could go wrong? So the same Lager 3 ways, 4 ways?  Anyway a beer in the 'strong' ABV range of strong.  But I can't shake the idea I've had this beer in different forms from this brewer already.

Bready yeasty aroma on opening. Nothing particular.

A really pale pour, with a small but fluffy persistent head. The aroma reminds me of "everyman" beer, lots of malt.

Taste is interesting, somewhat more fruity than I would have expected, but otherwise this really seems to be leaning on the malt content for flavour, and perhaps the higher ABV.

At this point I realise that I might have over-reached the drink all the beers from a brewer thing. I don't know that drinking the all the lager styles in one go does anyone any favours, I'm confused between the difference in the various 'lager' styles. It might be my problem.

This might have been a Heller Bock except it's way to pale, and it for sure is a well malted beer. It has had confusion in it's lifetime with a couple of different styles tagged to it.

Things are are good: Pour is nice, looks ok, come lacing in the glass. Things not so good: a bit too sweet, and a general lack of hop flavours.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 5 a of its things from the thing. I really wanted something more, something that didn't taste like Euro-Lager.  But if I had wanted something strong and likely to get me to dance to random '70's music wearing a tank top then this might have been the thing, if that was the measure of the beer I was drinking then a lot more random arbitrary pdubyah points. 

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? No, I thought (and that's where the problem started) that this was something else/better.


2. Would I have another? No.


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? No.

Note: I was provided this beer by the brewer to try and review, without catches,  this is 1 of 12 should you wonder about the sudden love of a brewer out of the blue.

Ngahere Gold - I looked it up, bemused, it's a local version of something like Elephant Beer, Stella Artois, or similar "wife beater" beer. Else, Ngahere is a locality in the Grey District of the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island, so a Forestry area, and the gold might be a reference to wet milled wood. I'm sure the brewer knows which is right.

Musically it called for something from The Gibson Brothers,  who are a France-based musical group, who had their greatest success during the disco boom of the late 1970s. This a live version of "Cuba"

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_UZXfX7EuE&w=420&h=315]

or not live

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0y33HDxn4zM&w=420&h=315]

Well I remember it the first time around.

Strong Pale Lager/Imperial Pils

Most commonly found in Poland, but also in other European countries as well, especially the East. These are essentially stronger versions of pilsners, though the increased malt and alcohol will noticeably reduce the hop accent. Because these are usually all-malt, and comfortably hopped, they are easily distinguishable from malt liquors. Without the malt character of bocks, these are worthy of a style all their own. In the US, a similar idea has been derived and is usually called Imperial Pilsner.

HELLER BOCK

The Heller Bock is primarily a malty beer from the German brewing tradition with little hop character - neither bitter nor aromatic - though the style typically has a little more hops than the standard Bock. The color is golden to light brown or amber. They should normally pour with a substantial white head. All examples are pale and clear.

Beer - #574 - Harrington's - Brewers’ Selection Strong Pilsner

Harrington's - Brewers’ Selection Strong Pilsner.

An elegantly smooth Pilsner style with a refreshing, tangy finish

So then we get to uncomplicated beer, uncomplicated music, uncomplicated maths and complications at a gathering

Back to the standard 500ml of beer, with 6.5% ABV, 195 calories a serve size, the bottle is 2.6 standard drink units 

Brewed by Harringtons Breweries (Christchurch) in the style that is  Pilsener and they do that in Christchurch, New Zealand

[caption id="attachment_10778" align="alignright" width="300"] Man who need a haircut smiles[/caption]

We’ve led out with a strong golden pilsner a modern take on a traditional Bohemian Pils style.

You might call it almost an Imperial Golden Pils - loaded with gorgeous German malts, New Zealand hops, our special Harrington’s yeast and some of the best water in the country.

What could go wrong? Well nothing except more confusion over another Harrington's beer called Anvil. But that's another story right. OR perhaps a beer called "Strongman" Someone needs to sort this out. Someone not me, right?

Not much given away on opening this, faint very faint aroma of grass and yeast.

Cloudy yellow pour with a head like an ice-cream float, it's enormous. The beer really is well carbonated and it really is strangely cloudy for a beer of this style.

The head is dense, that's almost a meal in itself.

Then there is the taste.

Of which there appears none. I might have sold that short I'm getting orange and lemon notes.

I'm not sure where to go with this. I don't think it's that good.

There isn't much by way of 'taste' and it finishes on an unusually sweet finish.  Where are the hops?

I can see why a brewer might think this was a pinnacle beer, it has no hard edges and drinks well as a quaffer. It doesn't though showcase the style in a way that you'd get from a German sourced of the same style for instance.

I don't want to sound angry but this really is tedious. I think it's ok to have an expectation and be disappointed with the delivery.

Good thing though is that this isn't challenging to drink in any way, it's a great drinking beer for a thirst, and the slightly higher ABV might get you to your happy place slightly quicker.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 7 a of its things from the thing. Fantastic looking beer, lots of interesting in the glass, great head, great lacing, and a soft and palatable drinking profile.  Had no problems finishing the bottle, thought I might have liked another, and if out and this was on tap, and on the right occasion I would.  

It did go well with the dinner which was a Miso Chicken Vegetable thing, and that can't be bad.  

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? Not for the style, but for the alcohol.


2. Would I have another? Not something to consider really.


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? There are other ways to get to a happy place cheaper is all I want to say.

Note: I was provided this beer by the brewer to try and review, without catches,  this is 1 of 12 should you wonder about the sudden love of a brewer out of the blue.

Musically the dial spun and this popped up "Erasure" the album "The Violet Flame" Listen here  This a track called "Elevation"

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

Erasure are an English synthpop duo, consisting of singer and songwriter Andy Bell and songwriter and keyboardist Vince Clarke, between them in the past Yazoo and Depeche Mode.

PILSENER

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

Beer - #573 - Harrington's - The Rogue Hop Organic Pilsner (Can)

So straight  to a Can of  Harrington's "The Rogue Hop Organic Pilsner". In a can!

".. brewed using organic malt and hops.. and put in a can "

This is a can of a beer that is 5% ABV,  50 IBU, so that would be 1.2  standard drink units, and 150 calories a serve size,

Brewed by Harringtons Breweries (Christchurch) in the style that is of Pilsener and they are in Christchurch, New Zealand

[caption id="attachment_10769" align="alignleft" width="300"] A Can, so dinky[/caption]

Brewed with Organic Malt and Hops to the style of a Bohemian Pilsner with our own Rogue Hop to give it an exciting strong yet lingering hop finish.

A great one for a mouth feel challenge!

What could possibly go wrong?

A can, I'm a bit excited. I should get out more. I'm sort of expecting this to be different to the bottle I just had not a short time ago.

There is still something base about the ke-chink of opening a beer.

Hop aroma is deeper. In the glass same pale pour, decent head, and a real bloom of hop grassiness.

I have to say that this is bigger in the hop grassiness. Might shoutier.

I also have to say that he head was less, a lot less,

Hop aroma is loud on the nose, and again this doesn't translate at the same level into taste profile, but again this seems dialled up a tad in the can.

Fresher?

Then I got a metallic/plastic twang thing? I'm not sure that was supposed to be there, it's a bit odd. I'm going to put that down to the fear of canned beer though.  It was a bit odd. I was a bit miffed.

Nowhere near the same lacing as the bottle version. The taste profile is different to. Lots more tart grassiness (which might have been that odd taste I thought was something else, perhaps).

Much different to the bottle version then, I should have done a side-to-side but then that would require a bit of planning and thinking, neither seem to have been in supply when I thought I'd have a beer this afternoon.

I'm in my head trying to make sense of this, there can't be much difference in the process of bottle and cans, he said, no expert, but there is, and they get delivered differently. Cans are supposed to be closer and more accurate to the way intended, are they not. In which case I'm a bit of an enigma as the bottle version seemed better to my taste than this.

I warmed, the metallic/plastic thing didn't go away, it wasn't the hops, I think, who knows I'm not an expert.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 7 a of its things from the thing. I don't like the can version as much as the bottle version which seems a lot softer and balanced. This has a sharper hop edge that dominated and for me isn't that welcoming. 

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? From a can, no, it's a bit, er odd.


2. Would I have another? Not from a can, I don't think it rang my bell.


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? I'd be tempted to take the bottle version if I had to. So no.

 

Note: I was provided this beer by the brewer to try and review, without catches,  this is 1 of 12 should youwonder about the sudden love of a brewer out of the blue.

Musically then, I'd changed by this time, and moved on to "Elbow"

This is McGregor from an album called "Dead in the Boot " listen here 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJ94RjN8a3M

Just well written lyrics. Or this "Some Riot"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_kk9WZ2zLw

 

PILSENER

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

Beer - #572 - Harrington's - The Rogue Hop Organic Pilsner

So to a Harrington's "The Rogue Hop" an Organic Pilsner.

".. brewed using organic malt and hops.."

This is a 500ml bottle of a beer that is 5% ABV, and at 50 IBU things,  so that would be 2 standard drink units in the bottle. and 150 calories a serve size,

Brewed by Harringtons Breweries (Christchurch) in the style that is of Pilsener and they are in Christchurch, New Zealand

[caption id="attachment_10764" align="alignright" width="300"] Organic as opposed to inorganic?[/caption]

Brewed with Organic Malt and Hops to the style of a Bohemian Pilsner with our own Rogue Hop to give it an exciting strong yet lingering hop finish.

A great one for a mouth feel challenge!

What could possibly go wrong?

That has a nice hop fresh aroma on opening.

That aroma really blooms in the glass on the pour. Really pale and with a really decent fluffy head to top it out. very inviting.

I was expecting more 'bite' in the palate, that distinctive thing, with this it's less pronounced but that doesn't seem to handicap what was a nice first impression.

The profile of this seems to be very even and the tastes are all there at the same time and without a dominant thing, making it really quite quaffable really.

The hop aroma is a really nice greeting to the nose as you lift to tip, sadly though this doesn't translate to the hopiness in the beer that I would like.

A beer that talks a good talk then, all the things it has and does are good but not quite great. I've had worse though, trust me, this isn't a bad drinking beer.

As it warms some of the hop grassiness begins to show through, it leaves it late.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 8 a of its things from the thing. That makes this on the arbitrary scale as 'very good' it is nicer than some Pilsener beers that I've had, and not as good as some others. There isn't a lot that you would take away as memorable from this though, it is at the end of the glass just another Lager beer, just a bit better than some.  

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? I am, it's not bad.


2. Would I have another? I think you could easily persuade me that it would be a good idea.


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? It is great but it isn't a show off beer, there are other easily accessible beers of this style that are priced more sensitively.

 

Note: I was provided this beer by the brewer to try and review, without catches,  this is 1 of 12 should you wonder about the sudden love of a brewer out of the blue.

Musically then I was listening to "The Black Keys" for no reason at all, the album of course "El Camino" Listen here

The Black Keys is an American rock duo formed in Akron, Ohio in 2001 - this track "Lonely Boy"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_426RiwST8

Brilliant video.

PILSENER

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

Beer - #571 - Fat Monk - American IRA

American IRA, or Red Ale. Now colour me stupid but I thought I'd drunk beer from the Fat Monk before now. Seems I haven't. For no reason really.

Dry hopped Red Ale 

Unusual beer, usual music, odd numbers and the odd party.

This is a 500ml bottle of a beer that is 6% ABV,  2.4 standard drink units, 180 calories a serve give or take or 240 ish for the bottle.

Brewed by Fat Monk Brewing this is the in sttyle: Amber Ale or perhaps India Pale Ale (IPA) and they are based in Hastings, Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand

[caption id="attachment_10729" align="alignleft" width="300"] Fat chap has Fat Monk beer[/caption]

Using a American Ale yeast, this is an off-dry style beer with pale and lots of darker malts.

A big fight between malts and hops, creates a big balanced beer.

Centennial (citrus and/or floral character) and Amarillo (spicy orange and other citrus characters.) hops.

What could possibly go wrong? Well apart from a best by date of January 2015 not a lot. I brought this within the last two weeks too, I should check more.

Seems carbonated ok, musty bready yeast notes, not hoppy and something else in there quite nice but I can't put my nose on it.

A rather lovely pour of a bright chestnut coloured beer with a lovely off white almost orange tinged head.

Aroma still a bit complicated, perhaps it is spicy, I can't tell, I'm not so good at this.

Taste is malted sweetness that seems 'fat' to the taste and a bitterness that is second and a muted finish. Left though with a tang on the tip of the tongue. Interesting.

Don't think then with all my best will that I'd say IPA for this, despite being suckered in an using the IPA glass. I'm also going to suggest that this because of the unusual way the flavours are delivered that this is past the best it could be for flavours.

Not that it is awful or undrinkable. Not that it's particularly good drinking either.

I think that this needs polishing, the brewery isn't large or particular significant in size terms, they do brew in small batches, and they brew a fair few beers, so they have a market that evades me, it's not a beer you see around that much.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 6 a of its things from the thing- that's above average though.  Sometimes things just don't work for you and this might be one of those times for me. If I was going past their way I'd pop in and try something fresh up just to prove myself wrong, and I'm always up for that.

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? A beer of two parts, I think I could drink a few of these if it was slightly better, but I'm not enjoying it as I have it now.


2. Would I have another?  not like this no.


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? It is when all is said a bit of an everyman beer, so no. 

Musicness - well Alamo Race Track took my fancy, their album 'Hawkes' is which you can find here,

Alamo Race Track is a rock band from Amsterdam, Netherlands. This is a track "Young Spruce and Wires"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4rSub22z28

AMBER ALE

A style without definition, amber ales range from bland, vaguelly caramelly 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

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

• Beers of The Times: Beer Review: American Lagers


• Craft brewers may need to be careful what they ask for

Beer- #570 - Harringtons - Belgium Trapist - thRreedux

Same beer new name, Same band same name, same numbers and the similar parties

The 3rd time, a three-peat, that I've drunk this as a beer then. Except this time it's not the same. Or is it? Let's not get ahead of the game.

"...makes this beer big, rich and full of fruitiness. Palate is rich and subtle malty. Full bodied.."

Brewers standard 500ml bottle of beer, this time 60 IBU, and 7.2 % ABV, which is 240 calories a serve size, and it is 2.8 standard drinks. I note that 7.2% ABV is new, that's less. Is it more?

Brewed by Harringtons Breweries (Christchurch) in the style of a  Abbey Tripel from the deep south as far away as Christchurch, New Zealand. EXCEPT not, they now label is as a Saison/Farmhouse. I think they're reaching for a style.

Beer #132  and #32 it was labeled as a "Strong Ale" look at the pictures of the label, blue then, yellow now. It scored a 4 both time I had it before, perhaps I'll be swayed by a new packaging.

Even the brewer can't decide on this, it's listed still on the their website as "Belgium Tempest" and 8% ABV.

[caption id="attachment_10721" align="alignright" width="300"] Multi personality beer, why would you frown?[/caption]

Belgium strong styled golden lager with plenty of malty flavour and rounded awarding characteristics.

Born out of a very old recipe, our Tempest is traditionally brewed with Nelson hops to a high alcohol level that enhances the warmth and vigour of this great beer style.

Brewed using Belgian Ale yeast makes this beer big, rich and full of fruitiness. Palate is rich and subtle malty. Full bodied sweetness dominates most of the palate but dies to a dryer finish with a herbal/phenol crisp hop bitterness.

So, what could go wrong? Based on the conflicting information, notes, the multi-personality labelling and all that, who knows what beer I'm having, Jekyll or Hyde.

So with a clear mind and empty head I venture forth.

Pops like a firework!,  Aroma though, bready, yeasty.

Pour is a lovely rich brown and a lovely head too! Aroma though, not so much, perhaps some orange peel. It looks ok though.

Taste. I can't shake the dull bready yeasty taste that pervades this.  BUT they've improved the aroma and the palate from other iterations of this.

So the you get to a point where either they have some bloody minded old curmudgeon that loves a name and thinks he's a master of style, or I have nothing else, they've clearly been floundering around with this as a beer for at least 3 different versions that I can find.

Based on a name. And this one does appear different in taste from the one's I've had before. Perhaps they should have stuck with Strong Lager?

Nothing at all Belgium. Nothing at all Trappist. Not even close to a Saison. not even. A Lager or Ale, someone in marketing or sucking up to the originator of the beer needs to look in the mirror, man up, and tell the man. today. Honest.

On the other hand, a really really nice drinking beer, that offers up low bitterness, a lovely maltiness, and a hint of a dry finish. If it could drop the bready yeast bit it's be a really good beer, really it would.

Based on my diary notes of the last two times I had this (Beer #132  and way back when #32)  this is hardly the same beer.

As it warms it picks up a sour note, which the maltiness just fails to carry, the aroma still confuses and confounds, and the finish is bitter and not totally pleasing.

This though is a world away from the previous versions, and in the right direction, I wonder if the brewer would be open to leaning further in the same direction because he would have something good going on.

Hey what where did all the beer go, he said, disingenuously, as this is more than sipping beer, nothing that is sharp or discordant to make you put it aside, I might even venture that I'd go again on this version as it clearly is on a journey that I hope they want to continue as the future looks bright if they do. But it isn't perfect and it is a little jaggy and unbalanced, unfinished and a bit rough. For a Brewery staple this should be more polished. Perhaps.

The pdubyah-o-meter - delightful as this is stretches t a 7.5

Lower ABV more enjoyment since when did that happen last? It has because this really is an improve on the other versions.  I'm not going to even pretend to be the voice of the punter or even to know what I'm talking about, should they even care to listen at the brewery but I might be tempted to make this a really strong ale as a 'special' and take it off the standard brew list where I think it's been struggling. I have no idea their consumer test group comes from, if it is friends of the brewer people stop listening to them, really please, this has such potential.

And on that bombshell.....

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? I rather am.


2. Would I have another?  I think I would, I might, I'd think about it. Perhaps. It's complicated.


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? No. It's just not up to scratch, yet.

Note: I was provided this beer by the brewer to try and review, without catches,  this is 1 of 12 should wonder about the sudden love of a brewer out of the blue. 

Musically I was listen to Leonard Cohen on Spotify here an album called "Popular Problems"  This is "Slow"

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

I really am betwixt and between on the spoken word as 'singing' and yes I include 'rap' in that, and only John Cooper Clarke or Sam Hunt should be allowed to do it.  Send me a message if you want to discuss this :-)

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.

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.

 

Beer - #569 - Garage Project - Touch Wood

Peculiar beer, peculiar music, peculiar use of numbers and a peculiar party.

You need a bit of good luck to pull off a beer like this – so ‘touch wood’.

The Elderflower and Honey Tripel is in  a 650ml bottle, is 9% ABV, and 4.6 Standard Drink units  and about 495 calories in the bottle.

Brewed by Garage Project  this is in the style that is an Abbey Tripel and GP are in Wellington, New Zealand

[caption id="attachment_10711" align="alignleft" width="300"] A bottle of your most intricately wrapped beer please[/caption]

Malted barley and wheat infused with Elderflower sugar syrup, fresh Elderflowers and honey create a beer alive with the verdant joy of Spring.

You need a bit of good luck to pull off a beer like this – so ‘touch wood’.

Each bottle hand wrapped and individually numbered.

[caption id="attachment_10712" align="alignleft" width="224"] Bottle 1454 - my lucky number[/caption]

What were they thinking? and What could go wrong?

Bottle 1454 of only 2500 wrapped and shipped. Which makes it all the more mysterious and desirable, and once it's gone, it is gone.

I've had this in the fridge for a few weeks waiting for a good time, and there is no time like now to be a good time.

Sour Belgium beer yeast aroma on opening, which is a good sign,

Pour is crisp clean golden, a well carbonated beer that clears to leave a really nice white and fluffy head that look a big luxurious.

Aroma to me seemed like candied sugar. The taste, well, the taste isn't like a beer that I've ever had, it's hard to put a finger on that.

A savoury tasting beer in some ways, a sweet beer in others. No hint at all at alcohol content, no astringent burn, nothing.

More bitter than a normal Tripel might be, where you could expect more sugars, perhaps. Certainly not a dry finish that should expect.

I though that this is an understated bit of good despite the lack of the floral or overt sweetness. It isn't boring to drink and has some favour points that prick and peak.

It warmed in the glass, the alcohol became slightly more pronounced, slightly.  Second pour and it's still crisp and the carbonation is perfect, the glass hazy then snap clear, head is lovely. I finally got the hat cloudy as I poured the bottle empty, just because I could, not because I should. It made no difference, didn't add anything to the taste that I could discern.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 8.5 a of its things from the thing. It is certainly an entertaining and performance beer, which could only have been improved with a cork and cage. It is an unusual take on a Belgium beer style that you could probably argue wasn't even a bit close, more a hat tip to rather than an interpretation.

I think that this is a beer that could have done with some more oomph in the profile, and that packaged otherwise I might have been less generous. As it is the arbitrary nature of things means that unless you are a complete grinch you should perhaps enjoy it like I did, live a little!

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? I think you get caught up in the whole thing starting at the presentation and the 'hidden' thin in the wrapping, the way interest is piqued about the flavours.


2. Would I have another? I would certainly entertain another, it is alarmingly easy drinking for a strong beer.


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? It's a pre-wrapped present and flowers and a bottle, it's the real deal of beers to. Of course I'd bring one, except there are no more and that'll never happen, but if there was and I could etc etc.

Do yourself a favour and check out here for a better and more detailed set of pictures for the table art, it's a bit amazing

Musics I was listening to "Kodakid" the album "Kodakid" and this is the opening track "Outta Sight" You'll find it on Sptofy here  Seems they might have called it a day though

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEA8-Rpy77g

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.

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 - #568 - Harrington's - The East Indies Lager

Lager, Larger, Largest, Large!

A clean refreshing lager, moderately hopped.

The 500ml bottle of beer, that is 5% ABV, 150 calories a serve size, making this about 1.97 standard drink units.

Brewed by Harringtons Breweries (Christchurch), this one in the style that is good old Pale Lager and they do that in Christchurch, New Zealand

[caption id="attachment_10706" align="alignleft" width="300"] Lager Lout![/caption]

Brewed using only the finest natural ingredients. The result is a smooth Indian lager that is the perfect beer to enjoy with spicy foods.

East Indies is batched brewed to the authentic style of an East Indian beer. Amber in colour, full in flavour light on the palate with a hop edge to compliment a dry finish. We love it, and know you will too.

What could possibly go wrong?

Nothing exciting on opening, aroma is standard lager type aroma, slightly green slightly sour.

Extremely pale pour, with a lovely head, well carbonated. Aroma moves to something more peppery.

Not as much 'bite' as you get with some lager offerings.

It is then for all intents and purpose a stock standard beer, of which I can't think of anything to say, good or bad.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as  6  of its things from the thing. It's just un-inspiring and a bit bland.

It's missing the soft fully full mouthfeel, it's missing the hop bite, it's missing that grassy under-note.

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? Yes, despite it being a bit run-of-the-mill


2. Would I have another? Possibly, it's a bulk over substance beer.


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? Beer for beer, dollar for dollar, nom you'd embarrass me with something you had in your fridge, similar but a bit different.

Note: I was provided this beer by the brewer to try and review, without catches,  this is 1 of 12 should wonder about the sudden love of a brewer out of the blue. 

It's time for a bit of Seasick Steve's who has a new album “Sonic Soul Surfer” -  listen here

This is "Summer Time Boy" Bit of Blues never hurt anyone. Especially good Blues.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gq0PmDhkb4c

 

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.

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• Root, Root, Root for the Home Team


• How To Drink Beer Like A Local Around The World