Beer - #624 - 8 Wired - Flat White Coffee Milk Stout

Stouts clearly a thing at the moment. Sweet Stout, Sweet music, Sweetspot and  a sweet spot.

If you are not a Kiwi, chances are you might not know what a Flat White is. It is pretty much the NZ version of a latte.

This is a 500ml bottle of a beer that is 5.5% ABV, making it 2.2 standard drinks in the bottle, and it's 165 calories a serve size.

Brewed by 8 Wired Brewing in that style that is a  Sweet Stout and that's not a million miles away from where I live in Warkworth, New Zealand

[caption id="attachment_11372" align="alignleft" width="300"] Evening Spcial Coffee[/caption]

Flat White Coffee Milk Stout. The brain child of our new guy, Brian Watts.

Based on a traditional milk stout, we take it up a notch by adding a good amount of freshly roasted Brazilian and Cuban coffee from our friends at C4 Coffee in Christchurch.

If you are not a Kiwi, chances are you might not know what a Flat White is. It is pretty much the NZ version of a latte. I’d say it is the national coffee style of NZ, a title that has finally been wrestled away from freeze dried instant coffee!

What could possibly go wrong with that then?

I've had this on tap on my travels and rated it very well, lots of coffee as I recall.

Memory serves me well as this almost exactly like a cup of milky coffee aroma, and in the glass it's even bigger, pouring a deep dark brown with a small but light brown head of fluffiness.

Twang of coffee grounds too.  I have to say that this is swooningly delicious, it's a wash of  cold coffee sweetness a lovely mouthfeel and a soft gentle finish.

Not as soft as cold brew coffee is, this has some greenness of coffee ground in it, but it carries it well and adds to the light bitterness that this has.

As it warms a bit it becomes deeper and richer too, brining you in again for more, each sip preceded by the coffee aroma.

You might say that I'm really enjoying it.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 9 of its things from the thing. It's not perfect but it really ticks most of all the boxes in aroma, taste, body and finish. A rare thing to find a beer that from memory on tap and in the bottle are very similar and both totally enjoyable.

The double dip review

Am I enjoying it? Yes it really is a taste explosion, no hold barred but also quite restrained in the alcohol levels, making a beer you could have a couple of and it will keep giving you enjoyment.
Would I have another? I would, I couldn't wait to try the bottle version and I would easily go again.
Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? Of course, this is a remarkable take on the coffee stout that delivers both at the coffee and a decent beer. Superb.

Music for this, and odd choice but you need to listen to everything. ' Marcus "Boo" Hewerdine' is an English singer-songwriter and record producer, the album ' Open' which you listen to here on the Spotify This will give you an idea

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSGAaPO4eTo

SWEET STOUT

Dark brown to black in colour. Sweet stouts come in three main varieties – milk stout, oatmeal stout, and foreign stout. Milk stouts are made with the addition of lactose, and are sweet, low-alcohol brews. Oatmeal lends a smooth fullness of body to stouts, while foreign stouts are stronger (6.5-8% abv) and have a sweet malt profile and high esters. All of the sweet stouts are noted for their restrained roastiness in comparison with other stouts, and low hop levels.

Related articles

• Beer #615 - Townshend - Key Stone Milk Stout

Beer - #623 - Sparks Brewing - Frontier Extra Stout *keg*

Still to come: A confused beer ' Outlander' or 'Frontier', music to confuse, confusion in numbers, and a confusion of numbers.

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

For  Sparks Brewing this is brrewed at Scotts Brewing Co in the style that is of: Foreign Stout and that's all done in Auckland, New Zealand

as it's FYO this is 1 litre bottle that contains beer that is 6.2% ABV, so 4.89 standard drink units, coming in at around 186 calories a serve size

[caption id="attachment_11362" align="alignright" width="300"] Winter beer, summer haircut, what's going on[/caption]

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

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

So what could possibly go wrong? I've had this in the bottle form, and I quite liked it.  As with many beers the bottle and the keg sometimes are different in small ways, it'd be interesting to see how this one goes.

Roasted malt chocolate aroma on opening, as it did with a gentle hiss, not overly carbonated it seems, even though it was lively going into the bottle..

Pour is that strange silky luxurious flow, and it ends with a head of substance, mocha chocolate adjacent the pitch black beer. The chocolate aroma that was is now there but slightly more a sour note, briefly and then it settle into a sugar sweetness.

I also seem to get some berry=thing going on.

I can only describe my first sip as smoooooooth and light, fluffy and luxurious. Delightful.

It does not have any of that big hop harshness but does have a finish that veers towards dry rather than neutral or sweet .

I recall this having a more raw greenness but this keg version doesn't seem to have that.  I also recall it having more coffee about it than I sense or taste now. I get a milk chocolate smoothness though, some things are always good.

Like the last time I do still feel that this needed something more in the body to lift it, how or what I have no idea, it's just something that it might have had.

That said that it does fit totally the description of being less robust but still as flavoursome, and slightly sweeter than a full Stout.

With that in mind you change your stance a little, as you must, to adjust to the beer that you're drinking, opposed to the beer you want to be drinking and are confused about.

So a lesser bodied Stout sums this up exactly and almost perfectly, all that previous wittering superfluous.

When you've reset your expectations and appreciate what you're drinking this becomes all the much better and brighter beer, delivering some lovely subtle tastes with fine balance and a lovely finish and linger that isn't intrusive, difficult or challenging.

In other words 'it's a bit good' and 'lovely drinking' One which I'm really enjoying thanks.  At this point you might be able to tell this is a couple of paragraphs longer than usual and this happens when I'm really enjoying something and expressing it in different ways.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 10 a of its things from the thing. Honest to goodness this is true to the style and you get totally what you should be getting. The flavours and aromas might be subtle and muted but the whole is fairly tight and compact. Add that there is no harsh hoppy thing or dry finish then you get a beer that is just early drinking.  It is a beer that you need to understand to drink, I thought I was getting a ruler more robust beer, which is a different style, I was wrong.  This will appeal to a to of drinkers of beer and should be a great gateway to the darker beer styles and the imperial Stout types, or you could stop here and be totally satisfied.

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? I was confused and confounded, then I understood and now I've see the light and yes I really am enjoying it.


2. Would I have another? I would indeed, it's really good.


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? I would encourage everyone to have some, it's just good beer done well and that's all you need.

I have on the music machine  ' Jamie XX ' and his new album ' In Colour' which you can get on the spotify  Jamie Smith is an English music producer and remix artist who is known both as a solo act and as a member of the London-based band The xx. And they're really good.  This is ' loud places '

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TP9luRtEqjc

FOREIGN STOUT

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

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Beer - #622 - Moon Dog - Mummy Have A Bite

Odd beers, odd music, odd numbers and the odd party or two. BeerJerkNZ  beer club - week 3. Get in!

' ... Biting into a toffee apple..... Barrel aged, toffee apple, imperial amber ale. '

Brewed by Moon Dog Craft Brewery this is in the style that is either an Amber Ale or American Strong Ale and they're in Abbotsford, Australia

The 330ml bottle of beer is of 8.2% ABV and 248 calories a serve, 32 IBU thingies, and overall this is 2.14 standard drink units in the bottle.

[caption id="attachment_11354" align="alignleft" width="300"] New haircut same old squint[/caption]

Belgian brewers have been using candi sugar forever to produce stronger beers with rich caramel notes. Calvados is a type of French brandy made with apples. Perhaps the most surprising thing about Mummy Have A Bite is that no other brewers had thought to combine these classic fairground flavours before.

The solid malt base makes this a well rounded beer which is one to savour rather than swig. It is heavy and sweet but not overly so. It is fun to sip and list flavours, as well as the obvious we noted oak, grapefruit citrus, vanilla & whisky.

So what could possibly go wrong with that? Well I don't know, but I do know that the label is incredibly hard to decipher, particularly with old man eyes, grumble grumble like an old man, none of which has any effect in the beer though, so harden up.

Aroma is like a cider apple, then a wash of toffee

Pour is lot darker than I thought I was going to get, it's the same orange toffee colour that you get on toffee-apples at the fair, and it pours with a small white head, In the glass it's a lot darker, physics of light probably or something.

I still get a predominant cider apple aroma.

What an interesting taste that is, it most certainly is like a Belgium beer with the candi-sugar, then it gives way to a alcohol heavy tartness that is really noticeable and somewhat overtakes everything else.

It's always going to be and to quieten down such a high alcohol, leaving it to warm more brings out the middle flavour and a softness, but it isn't quaffing beer, an easy sipper.

A confusing beer, but an audacious effort that for me is a bit imperfect.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 7 of its things from the thing. A 7 makes it 'good' in arbitrary terms, solid. I really liked the Belgium style candy-sugar hit that was the initial taste, I didn't really like the raw alcohol note, and when it warmed I really like the softer middle, but it still finishes with a alcohol twang that reminds you sip now swill.

The double dip review

Am I enjoying it? I started really enthusiastic but it wore me out.
Would I have another? I don't think so, but it did remind me I like Belgium beers.
Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? I might though, this is a good test of palate and preferences that explore your perceptions and remind you that it's never 'just' a beer.

Music for this, surprised myself with ' Black Rebel Motorcycle Club'  (often abbreviated as BRMC) is an American rock band from San Francisco, CA. and their album ' live in paris' Listen here on Spotify, or all the other places. This is a track  ' Sometimes the Light '

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3S9N7iF2Wy4

AMBER ALE

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

AMERICAN STRONG ALE

Not a style, per se, but the only logical category to incorporate the plethora of strong, stylistically vague beers coming from American micros these days. Some are related to English Strong Ales, but with more hop, while others are ultra-strong variants on the IPA theme. But no matter how varied their origins or characters might be, all are intense, potent, with generous quantities of hops and malt.

Science Fiction Friction

I've had occasion to watch some tv and the odd film and have some thoughts about what I've been watching. and no particular order I'm just going to put it out there.

Dark Matter, Ex_Machina, Humans/Äkta människor, Stitchers, SuperGirl, Mr.Robot and Utopia.

Dark Matter.

The spaceship makes this manoeuvre to 'fall' rapidly 'downwards' to avoid a missile. In doing so the ships 'gravitational processor' would not be able to compensate adequately. So in this scene all the characters from the 100lb to the 300lb 'floated' 'weightless' as the ship 'fell'

Moments later the spaceship makes an FTL leap, that's Faster Than Light wherein none of the characters suffered compression injuries due to rapid acceleration from going zero to extremely quickly instantly.

Secondly. Why is it that in every space ship show and film ever all the spaceships fly along the same place in the same orientation. All of them. With few exceptions like in this episode of Dark Matter and one episode of classic Star Trek do you ever see spaceships on different planes of travel.

They never approach from 90 degrees, of directly from above, or below or some oblique angle. Always head to head, face to face. Always the same orientation.

Thirdly. Guns, why so many guns?

Ex_Machina.

A female robot is programmed with self will and though.

There were some interesting themes in this, like the accumulation and endowment of knowledge based on the capture of internet searches and phone communications.

But it's not a startlingly good movie, given that the robot has figured out how to overload the power system by feedback I wondered why it was content to wait to escape by conning a guilliable male into helping it.

Anyway the robot escapes, without a worry about how it'll recharge itself, money, identification, destination or means.

Humans the English Version and Real Humans (Äkta människor) the swedish version.

Robots have been given AI. “Science has created a robot that looks like a human being and is considered a perfect substitute.”

Perfectly articulated robots are programmed for specialist roles in the domestic and workplace, from domestic help, aged care workers, to warehouse stores pick and pack and labourers.

Except some of them have been given freedom of thought, just a few.

Set 'now' this is an interesting study in human and machine interaction. One of the good things is that the robots don't have cellular communication or are internet connected, and they require charging regularly.

One of the strange things is just how well articulated and mobile they are, and just how good they are at things like cooking, which is sometimes a judgement call, they don't posses super sight, super strength, or any other extra powers. Some of them can drive cars, but not many.

'Real Humans' is a movement to avoid or discriminate against 'hubots' in society, and there are plenty of stickers and warnings about where they are welcome or not.

It's a very good theme and it's well acted and scripted, the tribulations of teenage angst and infatuation with the overly pretty house bots, the 'hubots' becoming sexual partners for some, and the anger that some humans have towards being inferior to 'hubots' in some situations.

Then there are the different group, who are free-thinkers and have different personalities, from a psychopath, a religious one, one who wants to be loved and have children, and one that got away with being a police officer, only I have no idea how they passed the medical for that since there are special 'hubot' readers that can pick up identification and ownership ID quite easily. Still it makes for a great plot angle.

Then….. one of the different 'Hubots' uses it's standard USB port to hack into a security network. You knew it was coming, along with the leaping of the car.

Stitchers.

Jump into the memories of a recently dead person and discover why or how they died. Female lead has emotional detachment and the nerds are pretty second rate.

Throw in that the lead has to wear a skin tight suit that covers some of her body and protects her when shes in the swim pool, it's particularly odd. I might not be getting it but when you assume someone memory I'd have thought that you also gain their perspective and not be an observer in their dream, you'd see things in the first person as you are now, not be standing behind you looking at you.

It's not overly different to any number of soft detective shows that are or have been on from Sherlock, Person of Interest, and others. It's not particularly good on story, script or procedural accuracy.

SuperGirl.

This is particulay vexing.

In this new paradigm Super Girl is facing other aliens who happen to be in the same town, and want to cause distruction and mayhem.

Not acts of bravery. So essentially it's a monsters of the week show. Hugely disappointing and rather average thinking.

Mr. Robot.

Introvert hacker with extraordinary skills 'hacks' people to being them to a justice.

Was doing ok, and is quite interesting, realistic perhaps and at one point he used the acronym AFK (away from keyboard) to explain why he was meeting someone in real life and not just via email. Of course gets caught up with some major league conspiracist and mysterious hacking group that disappear, the hunt is on.

Of course gets in a corporate jet to fly to a data centre where he is the only one ....

Has a lot of potential if it stays true to itself and not one of those stupid tap the keyboard hack pastiches, which it will be eventually.

Utopia.

One of the best and quirkiest programs in the last while is the TV series Utopia. Just 12 episodes.

Jessica Hyde on the run and hiding a secret contained in a manuscript that foreshadows or is as a result of and experiment to end or change mankind for good and forever.

It is strange and it is compelling if you can get into it.

Too odd for the network TV people they stopped it sort of stopped it mid story with might of course be a blessing since look what's happened in "Orphan Black' that's turned into a bit of a shambles.

Beer - #621 - Hop Federation - Barrel Aged Stout

Winter beer for the shortest day or Matariki or Winter solstice a time for long beers, short songs, short a number, and a short party.

A deep dark black colour with a coffee like head

I have a 1 litre bottle from the FYO taps, of a beer that is 7% ABV, 210 calories a serve size,  and this would be 5.52 standard drink units.

This is of course Brewed by Hop Federation Brewery in the style that is Stout and they are in Riwaka, New Zealand.

[caption id="attachment_11306" align="alignright" width="300"] Dark beer, unlike my hair with looks like it needs some dark added.[/caption]

The nose is full of chocolate mousse and Tiramisu.

On the palette are rich dark chocolate, roasted coffee notes with a tart Pinot Oak finish.

At 7% this is a beer to sit back relax and enjoy.

So what could possibly go wrong?

Pop the top and .... that's quite a deep aroma, lots of roasted malts of chocolate hints and possibly steeped raisins.

Black as ink, it pours with a lovely fluffy and full head of brown stuff that sits there like foam on a milkshake, proper impressive. The chocolate is like a a fine milk chocolate, and there is an addition of something that might be described as spicy.

The first first thing you notice is the sweetness. The second first thing is the sharp bitterness, which translate to the finish and the linger. So I sip again.

It's much the same that strange but enjoyable sweet\sharp front and a lovely harsh but not strange or dry finish.

Man could get used to that.

The lovely fulsome head is nothing but a memory after a couple of sips, it's become the lacing on the glass.

The persistence of the bitterness levels in this might be a problem to some, but that might be the worst that this throws at you. The sweetness seems to have gathered some vanilla about it and this begins to balance out some of that bitter. Just makes you want to have another sip really.

So a beer that is finely balanced between the sweet and bitter.

To the barrel aged bit though, I'm sure this is where my non-expert knowledge kicks in, but I might have though a woodier roughness to be present, perhaps it was a decent pinot nor and all you get is the hint of the alcohol astringent and none of the tannin. I'm no expert.

I'm pretty sure that I'm enjoying it though. This, though, is where I slip into being confused between Stout and Porters.  Well it's easily done.

Porters are well hopped and heavily malted... Stouts were traditionally the generic term for the strongest or stoutest porters,

Perhaps the difference being the alcohol level. I've had thinner porters, I've had thicker stouts.  I don't think it off putting, what I have is a dark roasted beer with some lovely flavours and highlights. I think I did ok.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 9 of its things from the thing. It's quite lovely, and surprises you from the first bit of the bitter and sweetness, catches you with the initial dryness of finish, and draws you in with the developing bitterness.

The double dip review

• Am I enjoying it? It is rather splendid and I am so pleased I chose this over others.


• Would I have another? I most certainly wood cheers!


• Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? Indeed, this is a beer where a great discourse could be had over so many inconsequential things of great import.

Music for this, well after I listened to 'The National' and their album 'High Violet' I was then taken with 'The New Pornographers' a Canadian indie rock band formed in 1999 in Vancouver. They have an album 'Brill Bruisers'  as usual you can, if you want, find it on The Spotify and probably the everywhere you listen to.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhhtSXk1c70

I'm half and half on the music, I really do like 'The National' and the pathos of the lyrics and timbre, I'm not sure I really engage with the popiness of TNP. Buy hey it's not a music clique blog right?

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.

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• Winter Beers: Our Top 5 Picks


• Small Town Brewery's Not Your Father's Root Beer Is What's On Tap!

Beer - #620 - Obolon - Strong

Obolon Mitsne - a Strong beer, strong music, strong with numbers and strong turnouts

 A cup of this beer will be appropriate during cold periods of the year.

500ml bottle of  a beer of 7.21% ABV, 219 calories a serve size, this bottle would be 2.8 standard drink units equivalent.

Brewed by Obolon in the style that is of an Imperial Pils/Strong Pale Lager and the are in  Kiev, Ukraine

Strong beer with a harmony of bitter hops and light taste.

[caption id="attachment_11297" align="alignleft" width="300"] Strong like animal.....[/caption]

The uniqueness of the recipe of this light beer lies in the fact that besides traditional ingredients such as barley malt, hops and water, Obolon Strong contains maltose syrup.

This gives the beer a pleasant light taste, sufficient alcohol content and fewer carbohydrates at the same time.

A cup of this beer will be appropriate during cold periods of the year.

So what could go wrong with that?

Stronger harsher hop malt aroma on opening.  Pour is a darker yellow golden and a decent and lovely head.  The aroma is more of hops though, it's quite inviting, as Lager beers go.

That has a much stronger deep depth of favour and taste than the premium, like they banged a bunch of malts into in. Very rewarding and makes it quite the enjoyable beer, for what it is.

The major problem though, should it be a problem, is that for a slightly higher alcohol beer this is deceptively easy drinking, and a couple of these might see you sleeping in awkward places.

So, a slightly hoppy beer, but without that hop bite or edge, a really sold sweet backbone and nothing by way of awkwardly dry or bitter finishes, and there is a sort of sweet malty mouthfeel linger.

in conclusion,  sometimes you can get bulk and substance in a glass, I'm pretty sure this was at the lower price point for beers, and you get a lot of bang for the buck.

Oh and you get a great bottle. And I've ticked off another country where they make a beer without having to go there.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 6 of its things from the thing. This was quite nice really, it has a bunch of flavour and body that was missing from the 'premium' version, the only problem, should it be, is that this slightly higher in alcohol than is apparent in the drinking, which is very easy, verrry easy.

The double dip review

Am I enjoying it? I am, because it offers up a bit of a flavour.
Would I have another? I would, but I don't want to wake with a sore head and in an awkward place.
Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? unlike the 'premium' version I don't know that this is a polite to take to a party beer, it'll best you after a few and that never ends well.

Music for this, change up to 'Desaparecidos'  a band from Nebraska the have an album 'Payola' that you can of course listen as you please, how you please or even here on the Spotify.

This is 'City on the Hill'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94ydyMWSUf8

hard not to enjoy their enthusiasm on this.

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.

Beer - #619 - Obolon - Premium

Ukraine! so exotic beer, exotic music, usual numbers and members of the party.

"It is highly stable beer with special freshness and saturation,  It has a distinct taste"

500ml bottle of beer of 5.5% ABV so about 156 calories a serve size, an there are the equivalent of 2 standard drinks in this bottle

Brewed by Obolon in the style that is of a  Pale Lager and they are in Kiev, Ukraine

[caption id="attachment_11292" align="alignright" width="300"] Wooly man drinks cold beer[/caption]

Especially refreshing and effervescent, high-stability beer with a pronounced taste and pleasant bitterness. In addition to traditional ingredients, rice is used in the production of Obolon Premium.

This is one the most popular beer brands due to its mild taste and average solids content.

It has a distinct taste and nice bitterness.  Due to its soft flavour and medium content of solids Obolon Premium is one of the most popular beers.

So what could possibly go wrong?

Well it's in a lovely shaped and tactile bottle, which I'm always a fan of.

Gosh that's a strong aroma of hop and malt. Pour is a that lovely pale yellow, and there is a small white head of head, I'm doing well so far.

What can I tell you about a taste that isn't remarkable or different in a way that I can tell.

There is an overarching taste to this that has a lot of linger, that in itself is unusually pleasing, it is veering towards sweet.

Unremarkable, when they say mild taste they hit the nail on the head. I can imagine that this is popular because it's just cold quaffing beer.

And in the spirit of not saying anything if you can't say anything nice I'm done.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 5 of its things from the thing. There is nothing scary or daunting about this, there is nothing remarkable, unusual, different or quirky either, aside from the bottle which is lovely. You could hardly be offended if someone turned up with this, unless you like lager beer with a bit of a hop bite in there somewhere.

The double dip review

Am I enjoying it? It's quaffing beer, quaffing away nicely.
Would I have another? It would be easy not to have another, it's quaffing beer.
Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? Possibly if it was bring something from somewhere I've never been and not likely to go to day.

Music for this, there's only two kinds of music.. Country and Western... but I digress... tonight though James Vernon Taylor is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist.

This is a track called "Today, Today, Today" from a new album 'Before this World.  Of course you can listen most of the places or here on Spotify 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zrqM85B5ik

It has crafted lyrics but is a bit muzak.

PALE LAGER

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

Beer- #618 - Coronado - Islander IPA

Week two of BeerJerkNZ Beer Club. This week an IPA.  Mermaid beer, Siren Songs, Singing the numbers and Sea you at the party.

What would a mermaid drink?‏

The 330ml bottle of a 7% ABV beer, which is 75 IBU, and 210 calories a serving size, This would be around the 1.82  standard drinks worth.

Brewed by Coronado Brewing Company  in the style that is of India Pale Ale (IPA) and they're in, surprisingly, Coronado, California  USA

[caption id="attachment_11289" align="alignleft" width="300"] What would a mermaid drink[/caption]

Named after Coronado Island, our original India Pale Ale is a liquid expression of hometown pride.

Cascade, Chinook, and Columbus hops combine to provide an explosive burst of piney bitterness and lucioius notes of apricot, grapefruit, and mango that are sure to envoke imagery of swinging palms and sun-kissed shores

So what could possibly go wrong?

I thought I'd had this beer, I was wrong. I am often it should not be a surprise.

Wonderfully hoppy aroma on opening, of course I get passion fruit as an aroma, naturally the fruit not mentioned, so I'll pretend it's mango.

It's really a nice orangy orange pour with a fantastic sugary sweet aroma that comes through in spades in the glass, where you get to pick your tropical fruit of choice, Passion Fruit Mango for me. Very pleasant.

It's very crips to drink and the finish starts neutral but moves to dry as it settles and warms sightly.

The tropical hold their own in this not being subdued by the bitterness which remains in check and not over the top, this is possibly a beer you could have quite a few of before you cottoned on that it's higher in ABV, but then dive on in for another.

I like the fruitiness, I like the drier finish, and there sin't a dip from the top to the back on this, it is very well rounded and polished. I can't believe that I'd not had it before, I feel sheepish.

In the IPA category it's hard to be above beyond on at the front, this though should gather all those accolades around it because you'd have to go a bit further to find a better beer that isn't all in your face and one sided.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 9 of its random things from the thing. 9 is 'Very Good' and I had no problem with that, it probably more a 8.5, closer to 9 because it's just a nice drink.

The double dip review

Am I enjoying it? I am, I was surprised by the aroma, the palate and the finish.
Would I have another? I would love to have had a bigger bottle, but I'd easily go again.
Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? Of course, this is a fantastic beer to share and share around, it should appeal to a wide range of beer drinkers as it's not totally overboard on hops and bitters, and has a wonderful aroma.

Music for this. Hard to believe this music is 40 years old! Patricia Lee "Patti" Smith is an American singer-songwriter, poet and visual artist who became a highly influential component of the New York City punk rock movement. This is the track  'Horses' Which you can find here on the Spotify, and most other places I imagine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPwOfwhpiW8

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.

Beer - #617 - Tuatara - Black Wellington Chocolate Factory Chocolate Stout

A beer with a long name,  Black Wellington Chocolate Factory Chocolate Stout, a long song, a long division and long time at a gathering.

"If you're going to do a collaboration with a chocolate company, it needs to taste like real chocolate and have chocolate in it."

I got this at the FYO station so I have 1 litre of a beer that is 6.5% ABV and 60 IBU, so this is 5.3 standard drink units. Despite the chocolate this is 195 calories a serve size.

Brewed by Tuatara Brewing Company  in the style: Stout and they are in Paraparaumu, New Zealand

[caption id="attachment_11277" align="alignleft" width="300"] Chocolate and beer. Does it get any better[/caption]

"If you're going to do a collaboration with a chocolate company, it needs to taste like real chocolate and have chocolate in it."  That was the fighting talk from Rochelle and Gabe at the Wellington Chocolate Factory when we asked them to collaborate with us on a stout that would deliver the kind of sensory cocoa walloping you get from one of their own fabulous hot chocolates.

After a lot of tasting we've settled on 100% organic Fair Trade cacao nibs and chocolate from the Dominican Republic, resulting in an beguilingly smooth stout lovingly wrapped in rich, dark chocolate. The Hops for this : Pacific Jade, Chinook, Amarillo

So what could possibly go wrong?

The aroma for this can only be described as like Milk Chocolate. It's that simple. It smells like good rich milk chocolate. It's really nice, if you like milk chlorate. There is some other hop grass sharpness there too, it's not all one thing.

Dark black pour with a fantastic but well oversized dark mocha head, the aroma remains as chocolate.

The taste, starts as a gasp of bitterness, then you get  a fullness, then you get a pillow of sugary sweet chocolates, than you get a little sharpness at the end.

The aroma settles into a more grassy bitter note, the head settles into a film,  The initial surge and hit of chocolate subsides. Leaving you with a really nicely rounded and enjoyable beer.

Now here's a thing though. I had this a few days ago when a friend came over, and it may have been fresher, which is doubtful, or warmer, again doubtful, but this had a lot more chocolate aroma and taste for a longer period of time. I was really enamoured of it then, I'm a bit less so tonight. Funny thing the beer buds.

Tonight, at this time, I think this might just be a shade, a tick, a smidgeon, over bitter in the body. A whisker, a tad, a shade. Just a little. But the other things in the profile, the roasted malts the cocoa do enough to give this a really interesting background carry.

Somewhat the problem with one-off and collaborations is that generally you don't get to practice and what you get is what you get. So there is no way to improve this, or change it, should yo want to, if that was your idea. I know that Tuatara will have no plans, as these are seasonal one offs, following on from last years, this being one of 3 variants of the stout, being Winter and all in the far south.

2nd round then, the pour still very keen and the head very lively, the empty bottle slick with alcohol wash and lacing.

You could get used to drinking stouts, this time I'm enjoying the lingering burnt malts at the back, and the bitterness on the finish, licking my lips.  Possibly time I stopped and just enjoyed the beer rather than trying to pick it apart,

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 8 of its things from the thing. It is, on the random scale, 'very good', very enjoyable very entertaining, and has a lot of aroma, layers, tastes and challenges in a good way that make you sip and sup a way without a care.  I don't think it has the lags to be Great or jaw dropping. Not tonight. But I would encourage you to drink it, if that was an option.

The double dip review

Am I enjoying it? 'tis a wondrous aromatic experience to star with, and grows into a nice drinking dark beer.
Would I have another? I did, this is my second outing.
Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? I would because it has surprises and layers that makes it worthy to share.

Music for this, a change of pace really, almost showtime songs Will Currie & The Country French  a Canadian indie rock music group. This is track "No Nothing" of course on the Spotify and probably where you listen to music too as well

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIUSRSf1FTM

Lets be honest I'm not into show-tunes or that style of music fan and this was a bit meh, and hard work, and I may not have finished the album, which is unusual as I challenge myself to listen to everything without prejudice.

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.

Beer - #616 - Asahi - Asahi Super Dry

Japan then, Asahi Super Dry, a beer more common,

Fresh, crisp and clear - with a sharp delivery that slakes thirst before slipping gently on.

Slightly odd sized 633ml bottle of 5%ABV beer, 16 IBU things, that would be 150 calories a serve size and this would then be 2.5 standard drinks in NZ.

Brewed by Asahi Breweries  in the style that is  Pale Lager and they are in Tokyo, Japan

[caption id="attachment_11268" align="alignright" width="300"] Super smooth guy drinks super dry beer[/caption]

With its refreshing barley flavor and crisp aftertaste, Asahi Super Dry is by far the most popular high-quality beer in Japan.

Since its debut in 1987 as Japan’s first dry beer, it has continued to improve the taste and excitement of beer.

Its taste has set a new standard that is acknowledged around the world today.

So they talk it up, and what could possibly go wrong?

Hop bitter malt lager aroma op opening.

Pale golden pour with a nice fluffy white head. The familiar malt lager aroma.

Defiantly probably not a beer to drink super cold this exhibits none of the taste things that you might enjoy in a pale lager, lack or hop roughness or bite, nothing dry on the finish, and I thought that it was unnecessarily sweet.

It's hard to imagine a blander beer. Except it really isn't, this is so familiar as stock-standard domestic no offence coloured alcohol water.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 5  of its things from the thing. It is average and beige. It scores average because it isn't trying to be anything other than what it is.

The double dip review

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

Music for this 'Heartless Bastards'  an American garage rock band. from Cincinnati, Ohio. This is 'Gates of Dawn' from their new album 'Restless Ones'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_T6R00Sqtc

PALE LAGER

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

Beer - #615 - Townshend - Key Stone Milk Stout

Week one of the BeerJerk Beer Club, and I smiled. Dark Beer, Dark Music, Dark numbers and party after dark

Dark and delicious

This is a 500ml bottle of a beer that is 5.5% ABV, which is 165 calories a serve size, and this bottle is 2.17 standard drinks

Brewed by Townshend Brewery in the style that is  Sweet Stout and they do that in Upper Moutere, New Zealand

[caption id="attachment_11265" align="alignleft" width="300"] Milk - it's good
for you[/caption]

This Milk Stout contains awesome velvety goodness, so bung this luscious creamy chocolate bottle of goodness in your chops and chew on it like a pack of jersey caramels

Rich and chocolatey with a touch of sweetness on the finish with plenty of roast barley flavour. Dark and delicious. Brewed for my wife, who has helped me every step of the way and is a big fan of dark beers.

There is no actual milk in this beer but there is lactose- sugar derived from milk. This is an un-fermentable sugar meaning the brewing yeast does not convert it to alcohol an d it retains its pleasing sweetness

So what could go wrong?

Burnt malt / chocolate aroma on opening hints at something smooth and delicious.

Aroma in the glass is somewhat less, and more a grassiness, which quickly settles back to the chocolates first smelt, which is a relief. Pour is somewhat dour with no head.

It's more bitter than expected, with a lot of carbonation in the carry.  The over bubbled nature for me takes away from the taste you seem to be battling the bubbles on the palate, it might be the style of course, doesn't mean I have to enjoy it :-)

I like the burnt malt, chocolate notes, I like that I got some tart cherry in this too, that's always welcome.

Alarming easy to drink, it is easy drinking with not a lot of rough edges that might catch you out or derail and distract you.

Now, not having a thermometer I have no idea how cold or warm this beer is, except 'from the fridge' so the suggestion that I enjoy it a 6-8 deg C is always one that makes me fret. Often I'll leave a beer to warm and settle because clearly my fridge is set to 'cold', it's old and it's a beer fridge.

As it happens this does gather more steam as it warms up and a dryness of finish becomes more apparent, which isn't unwelcome, and there is a nice linger of the chocolate and tartness, again not unwelcome.

My first Beer Club Beer, and I'm not disappointed, it's possibly not a beer I would have brought, and so that makes it a successful start.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 7 of its things from the thing. I don't like the bubbles, I just don't. I like the aroma of chocolate and burnt malts, I enjoyed the start points of tart notes that this develops. But the bubbles takes away from the body, and I'm loathe to say 'thin' because of that but I would have liked more to 'chew' on, which was promised.

The double dip review

Am I enjoying it? I did enjoy drinking it yes, it was unassuming and easy going.
Would I have another? I mightn't, I don't like the over carbonation mouthfeel. Possibly a personal thing.
Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? i would though, this is quite easy and soft drinking with a couple of really nice highlights that are worth mentioning.

Music for this. I'm listening to 'The American Spirit' a Rock and Roll band, and this track  'Season of Violence' on the weirdly name 'Season of Violence or Mourning, Protest, And The Birth of Bishop Killborne' Life can be complicated.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpAeIaykby4

Find them here on Bandcamp and probably many other places like here on Spotify 

SWEET STOUT

Dark brown to black in colour. Sweet stouts come in three main varieties – milk stout, oatmeal stout, and foreign stout. Milk stouts are made with the addition of lactose, and are sweet, low-alcohol brews. Oatmeal lends a smooth fullness of body to stouts, while foreign stouts are stronger (6.5-8% abv) and have a sweet malt profile and high esters. All of the sweet stouts are noted for their restrained roastiness in comparison with other stouts, and low hop levels.

Related articles

• 8 New Beers You Should Know

BeerJerk - just like a book club but with beers

I signed up and paid for a membership to an outfit calling themselves BeerJerk a NZ only enterprise at the moment, but it might have legs.

[caption id="attachment_11256" align="aligncenter" width="300"] MOAR beer[/caption]

The premise is that they deliver 12 beers to you, in one delivery, and once a week you have one beer from the selection and compare notes with other club members. They deliver every 4 weeks so a new member should only ever be 3 weeks ways from starting, I'm sure the logistics work out fine.

My first case selection arrived today;

• Summer Wine - Teleporter Porter - 330ml Bottle


• Coronado - Islander IPA - 12oz / 355ml bottle


• Rogue - Juniper Pale Ale - 12oz /355ml bottle


• Moon Dog - Mummy have a bite Amber Ale -  330ml bottle


• Behemoth - Hopped up on Pils - 330ml bottle


• Townshend's - Key Stone Milk Stout - 500ml bottle


• Brewaucracy - Bean Counter Vanilla Porter - 500ml bottle


• Brew Mountain - Pale Pat Supreme Golden Ale - 500ml bottle


• North End -Fieldway APA - 330ml can


• Baylands - Enforcer Black IPA - 330ml can


• Beavertown - Bloody 'ell IPA - 330ml can


• Theakstons - Old Peculiar - 500ml bottle

I'm pretty impressed with that to be honest.

Now I wait for the first newsletter that has the details on the beer that we're supposed to drink this week (on a Thursday) and then we go about commenting and comparing on the FB and the Instagram and whatever.

oh and as an aside on the name BeerJerk - I'm picking is homage to SodaJerk.

What's in a rate?

I have my own arbitrary and confusing 'from 10 points score thing. It is arbitrary and random

Beer - #614 - Yeastie Boys - Her Majesty 2014

Yeastie Boys Her Majesty 2014. A beer that took ages to appear on the shelf, and then I've left it in the fridge for a while, and this completes the His/Her annual beers from YB.

Three hops: one trendy, one that used to be trendy and one that should be trendy.

This is a stronger beer at 8% ABV, which is 240 calories a serve size, this is a 750ml bottle so that makes it  4.73  standard drink units.

For Yeastie Boys this brewed at Invercargill Brewery in the style that is: Imperial/Double IPA and they're based inWellington, New Zealand

Her Majesty 2014 is our first foray into the murky realm of Double IPAs. Need we say more?

[caption id="attachment_11245" align="alignright" width="300"] Like the winner of a lottery[/caption]

The world of Double IPA is a place where beer geeks wax lyrical over what hop varieties have been used, so we’ve kept them a secret for the first time ever.

The only clue is that we’ve used something trendy, something that used to be trendy and something that should be trendy.

It’s a beer that is not inspired by, but reminds us of,the Cranberries’ 5x platinum selling “Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can’t We?”

Drink now or cellar for up to 18 months.

So what could possibly go wrong?

Loud hiss followed by a passion fruity hoppy bready aroma on opening.

Cloudier pour of a surprisingly pale yellow beer but one that has a head of lightness and persistence.  In the glass there sees to be much more grapefruit type aroma and an earthiness.

Truth be told my initial thinking is that I'm feeling a little undersold and under whelmed by this. I think that the muted flavour points ends up in a flat profile which doesn't offer much entertainment and gives the impression that this is a beer that is 'thin'

I'm drinking it manfully though and enjoying the sweetness that this offers, but that's all I really can highlight.

Of course it's possible that this particular combination of hops does not play to my palate and preference, I'm in a minority is seems that does not find this beer to be spectacular.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 6 of its things from the thing, which is 'Average' in the arbitrary scheme of things. It pours well, looks cloudy, has aromas that are all muted, isn't overly bitter to drink, has a lot of linger, but I found it hard work.

The double dip review

Am I enjoying it? Sadly no, this might be one of the very few Yeastie Boys beers that I don't get on with.
Would I have another? Not so much, I'll bide my time for the 2015 versions whatever they might be.
Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? No, I'd end up concerned that that didn't want to be my friend anymore.

Music for this is 'Of Monsters and Men'  a five-member, English-language indie folk-pop band from Keflavík, Iceland. This is 'Crystals' from their latest album 'Beneath The Skin' You can listen on the Spotify here 

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

IMPERIAL/DOUBLE IPA

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

Related articles

• Beer - #601 - Yeastie Boys - His Majesty 2014

Beer - #613 - Carlsberg - Elephant

Carlsberg Elephant, a blast from the past, blasting the music, and blasting the numbers, and blast the party.

En god gammaldags elefant. 

A 500ml can of a beer of 7.2% ABV, making this 216 calories a serve, and this would be 2.84 standard drink units in the can.

Brewed by Carlsberg Brewery in the style that is  Imperial Pils/Strong Pale Lager and they do that in Copenhagen, Denmark

Carlsberg Elephant Beer is an amber-coloured beer with big intensity in its aroma, and with a distinct maltyness.

[caption id="attachment_11239" align="alignleft" width="300"] Frowning Man with the Frowning Elephant[/caption]

There is notes of honey in the aroma.

The palate of Carlsberg Elephant shows a good balance between a good body from the alcohol, and a discrete sweetness which is tamed by the sophisticated bitterness of the aftertaste.

So what could possibly go wrong with that ?

Familiar hoppy lager sour aroma. Pour is rather dull with a minimal head despite my best efforts, orange golden colour, somewhat expected.

Has that hoppy harshness and is fairly sweet to drink.

Alarmingly easy to drink truth be told, and I've had far far worse malt and grain heavy lagers that are a bit of a train crash, I really think I could willingly have a few of these and not be worried about being shunned by the beer snobs.

Could do with dialling up the hop harness a bit to make it more of an experience, and how they hide the alcohol is clever and devious, I think that possibly after the 3rd one you might not care so much.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 7 of its things from the thing. I liked it, I'm not embarrassed to say that, it was quaffable and I managed to drink it double quick time. For the price sometimes you have to go a bit bulk over substance, with this though you get a bit of substance.

The double dip review

Am I enjoying it? I am, it's alarmingly good and mellow not harsh or cloying and difficult.
Would I have another? I really would and if I see them I'd buy some more.
Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? I would because it isn't a hard drinking beer, and would slip down easy and make the conversation all that much more interesting

Music for this, Paul Weller,  Started out with the band The Jam, Now a solo career, a new album Saturns Pattern, this is the track of that name. OF course you can listen here on the Spotify or wherever takes your fancy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=px-JKHK3FCk

I have to say that I wasn't enamoured of the Paul Weller effort, it's all a bit vanilla and safe, nothing lyrically or musically that would make you go again, which is a shame because you sit here remembering 'the Jam' and their songs like you do the 'Elephant Beer' and frankly the Elephant beer wins the as I like it and remember it round.

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.

Related articles

• Paul Weller At Fonda Theatre & Fox Pomona


• Paul Weller Feared He Was Drinking Himself To Death

Beer - #612 - 8 Wired - Tall Poppy India Red Ale

I had this ways back when, in a bottle, the 8 Wired Tall Poppy India Red Ale. So tonight it's the same but different, different but the same, same same and same faces.

'designed to have it all, to be the greatest common denominator'

From the fill-your-own this is a 1000 ml bottle of a  7% ABV, beer that makes it 5.52  Standard drink units, and 60 IBU's so at the lower end for, say, an IPA and 210 calories a serve size.

This is brewed for  8 Wired Brewing and is brewed at Renaissance Brewing, this one in the style of a  Amber Ale or American Strong Ale and they're in Blenheim, New Zealand.

[caption id="attachment_11226" align="alignleft" width="300"] The world's smallest Giant hold a Tall beer[/caption]

This is an ale that is not afraid of standing tall among other great beers. The intense, sharp and fruity hoppiness is backed by its complex, caramel-like malty structure.

Big, yet refreshing.

Bold but balanced.

This beer has been designed to have it all, to be the greatest common denominator.

So what could possibly go wrong?

This was a very popular choice amongst the staff at the bottle shop, the aroma on opening rich hoppy, sweet, hoppy, I can see why.

Dark rich read pour that is lively and a head the size of a birthing appears, the head persistent and fluffy.

Aroma in the glass is much of hoppiness/ grassy and a fair crack of sugarness.

The taste is big. dry, big and dry. Full dry big. Lots of bitterness a full mouthfeel and a big dry finish. Wasn't quite expecting that after the lovely and well behaved RareBird beer I had earlier.

ike chalk and cheese.  This is a frontal assault with hops that are I believe Warrior, Columbus, Simcoe, Amarillo, I wonder if they are the 4 horsemen a coming for me.

Lots of linger in the mouth for this, it is a beer that is full noise and fireworks. The bitterness isn't such a big note, for me it's at the level that ticks a box rather than punches you overtime you sip it, the worst is the full dry finish that creeps more forward.

But what an experience though.

'twas my birthday and I took a food stop here, slow cooked ribs, fried and slaw, which I might suggest were wonderful, but only about 8 on the pdubyah-o-meter, the ribs slightly too long on the second warming in the oven, I digress,

Anyway the beer with the food just enhanced the beer. Ideal for the finger feast that I just had. Plus it had the effect to warm the beer more in the glass which brings more of the dryness forward and give you that lip licking moment that we all know we've had and enjoy but don't often get. That might just be me though.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 9 of its things from the thing. It's a matter of what I don't like or miss then. Which is hard.  In the glass a full aroma hop beer. The drinking is a bitterness without roughness, and a finish that is more towards a really dry dry. Which is annoying to be honest, the back half of the drink more prevalent than the front of palate, which isn't perhaps what you look for.

So a beer more about a finish that a beginning. But what a journey.

The double dip review

Am I enjoying it? I am enjoying it. It's bitter, it's not rough it's tasty.
Would I have another? I've had enough, it's wearing and beats you in the end.
Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? I would though, because it's loud and annoying and needs a good talking about.

Music for this. well my younger brother suggested 'Low Roar',  which is the self-titled debut album of Icelandic band 'Low Roar'. So instead listened to their album '0', this is 'Dreamer' Listen to it here on the Spotify and probably the everywhere else

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQzdO0ANNxA

AMBER ALE

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