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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Dungerees optional.

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

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

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

Certainly looks dark enough in the bottle.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Off to sing a song.....

The double dip review

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

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

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

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

BLACK IPA

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

Beer - #644 - Summer Wine - Teleporter

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

"Evolutionary beer from Yorkshire"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Also it looks great in the glass.

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

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

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

The double dip review

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

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

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

PORTER

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

Beer - #643 - ParrotDog - Rarebird Puffinus Huttoni

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

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

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

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

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

A Boysenberry Sour.

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

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

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

So what could possibly go wrong?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The double dip review

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

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

This is ' Winterfell '

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

SOUR/WILD ALE

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

Beer - #642 - ParrotDog - BloodHound Red Ale

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

So, What could possibly go wrong?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The double dip review

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


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


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

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

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

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

AMBER ALE

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

Related articles

• 6 Beers to Celebrate the 4th of July


• 8 New Beers You Should Drink


• Shizuoka Craft Beer: Aoi Brewing-IBUKI

Beer - #641 - Breda - Royal Beer / Lager

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

So what could possibly go wrong?

Smells like a lager. That is all.

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

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

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

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

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

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

The double dip review

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

Music for this

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

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

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

PALE LAGER

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

Beer - #640 - Coronado - Blue Bridge Coffee Stout

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

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

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

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

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

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

So what could possibly go wrong?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The double dip review

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

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

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

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

Dry Stout

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Crisp, sessionable.

Dry hopped like an IPA.

What could go wrong with what?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The double dip review

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


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


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

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

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

PILSENER

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

• Beer Smackdown! Samuel Adams Boston Lager Vs. Brooklyn Lager


• Our Top Beers for Summer

Related articles

Beer - #638 - Breda - 3 Horses

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

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

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

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

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

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

So what could possibly go wrong?

Aroma is a bit MIA.

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

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

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

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

The double dip review

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

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

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

PALE LAGER

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

Beer - #637 - Obolon - Oksamitove (Velvet)

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

Какое было пиво раньше !!! 

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

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

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

It is dark beer.

It has a nice sweetish flavour of caramel malt.

It passes wonderfully to sweet and spicy dishes. 

So what could possibly go wrong?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The double dip review

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

I found a really long review of this beer here 

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

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

DUNKEL

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

DOPPELBOCK

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

Related articles

• Beer - #620 - Obolon - Strong


• Beer - #619 - Obolon - Premium

Beer - #636 - Mata - Sahti

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

traditionally brewed in an open wooden trough

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

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

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

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

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

However Mata have added a kiwi spin.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The double dip review

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

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

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

SAHTI/GOTLANDSDRICKE/KODUÕLU

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

Beer - #635 - Coopers - Best Extra Stout

A second Australian beer, to recap it was my big brothers birthday, he resides in Australia now, and so as a birthday tribute I brought some Aussie beer.  Cheap beer I'd add, I could have picked VB, Tooheys, Carlton or indeed I could have splashed out on one of the craft brewers, but instead I went for something full bodied, aged and rich, oh and stout. 4 out of 5 on the tributes there.

Now here’s a beer with punch.

This is a 750ml bottle of beer that is 6.5% ABV, 189 calories a serve size, and 3.7 standard drinks in the bottle.

It comes with best AFTER date!

Brewed by Coopers Brewery in the style that is  Foreign Stout and they do that in Regency Park, South Australia, Australia

Now here’s a beer with punch. Coopers Stout is a beacon for lovers of a hearty brew.

[caption id="attachment_11492" align="alignleft" width="300"] 'strayan beer time[/caption]

With its robust flavour comprising a blend of fruit, chocolate and hop bitter notes it’s everything a stout should be. Brewed naturally using a top fermentation method, Coopers Stout’s unique rich, dark texture comes from specially roasted black malt.

So what could possibly go wrong? I did some homework and this could be a bit of a winner.

An intriguing aroma, there is a whiff of chocolate malt goodness, like a stout should be, bit it's not overly strong. Early days. though.

The pour is magnificent with a deep dark richness, it pours 'thick' and has a brilliant firm persistent large head that is lighter brown. If it were a beauty pageant... the aroma though is peculiar, the chocolate/coffee aroma replaced with something that I might describe as the smell of wet wool, or ash.

The taste though, that is pretty nice, noticeably it's very dry at the finish, but I'm working backwards, so the initial sip is a lovely fanfare of richness, but it's very carbonated so a lot of that bubbles action that prickles.

There seems to be a nice amount of rich fruit type body in this that might be more prominent if it weren't from the carbonation.

I've got to say that for the price this is a cracker of a beer.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 7 of its things from the thing. This is the best of the brewers beers, by a long way, hands down. It's a fairly decent stout too, not perfect and could do with more body, and less carbonation, perhaps the latter would dix the former. A revelation and I'd thing about buying more if only MrsPdubyah would let me.

The double dip review

Am I enjoying it? Yes, this is rather nice and the best from this brewer.
Would I have another? I would at this price mad not to.
Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? I would, there is nothing embarrassing about this that would put you in a spot. Party on!

Music for this,  ' Seeker Lover Keeper '  an Australian indie rock music supergroup formed by Sarah Blasko, Sally Seltmann and Holly Throsby. The album ' Seeker lover keeper ' and I'm of course listening on Spotify. This will give you an idea.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qeLI_6t6ds

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%

Beer - #634 - Coopers - Original Pale Ale

It was my big brothers birthday recently, he resides in Australia now, and so as a birthday tribute I brought some 'strayan liquid-gold, the amber nectar. I could have picked his favourite VB,  or a Tooheys, a Carlton or indeed one of the craft brewers, but instead I went to the bottle-o  for something original, pale, with a common touch and authentic, just to drink whilst I toss another prawn on the barbie.

fruity character, and robust flavour

A fair dinkum  750ml bottle of a 4.5% ABV and 135 calories a serve size beer, making it 2.66 drink units in the bottle.

Brewed by Coopers Brewery in the style that is  Golden Ale/Blond Ale  and they do that at Regency Park, South Australia, Australia

[caption id="attachment_11486" align="alignright" width="300"] G;'day mate[/caption]

"With its fruity character, and robust flavour, Coopers Pale Ale is perfect for every occasion. Naturally fermented in the 'Burton-on-Trent' style, a secondary fermentation creates the trademark sediment that gives 'Pale' its fine cloudy appearance. This cloudy residue can be stirred through the beer by tipping or rolling the bottle before drinking."

So what could possibly go wrong? As far as I can tell this is just everyman beer, so it'll go ok, and pass without incident.

Bugger me, that smells exactly like a malt based beer. Strewth.

Pour really does explore and play on the pale aspect, this is so pale as to me almost see-thru and the nice looking head couldn't hack the pace and disappeared quite quickly.

The taste is almost that of a beer undrinkable. It's harsh, over carbonated, and really peaky in the flavour point it has, it's a really eye-opener and brought an instant frown to my otherwise calm visage.

A shocker, It really is exactly like home-brew of old, I just don't know where to begin with it.

I think what's worse is that I thought that this might at least be palatable, to my taste, as a beer, as other everyman beers, but this plumbed a new depth and really took me by surprise, one that really wasn't prepared for.

I don't think that I'll be doing this again, and it's not like I didn't anticipate what was going to happen, but it was a birthday and I'm a good brother.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 3 of its things from the thing. It's an avoid from me, but I know that his is a beer that is enjoyed by many drinkers of beer in Australia, mostly because they might not know better of course. I thought it was really worth missing, but it's not as bad that I'd pour it in the drain, and I don't really like the unfitted 'dross' that now floats and sits in the bottom of the glass it really is exactly like home-brew of old.

The double dip review

Am I enjoying it? No, I nearly spat it out in shock and horror.
Would I have another? I have sadly to finish the bottle, I'm loath to pour it out, it's not off, it's just awful.
Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? For comedy perhaps, to keep a friend not a chance.

Music for this, ' Veruca Salt'   an American alternative rock band founded in Chicago, Illinois, their album ' Ghost Notes' that I'm listening to on Spotify of course. This is 'the Gospel according to Saint me'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rmtxKjnZ7A

GOLDEN ALE/BLOND ALE

There are a few different types of blond ale. The first is the traditional “Canadian Ale”, an adjunct-laden, macrobrewed, top-fermented equivalent of the American Standard. The second is common in US brewpubs – a light starter ale, with marginally more hop and body than a macrobrew, fewer adjuncts, but still not a flavourful beer by any means. The British interpretation is easily the boldest, hoppiest blond ale rendition. Some of these can almost be considered American Pales they are so hopped up – very crisp, refreshing, with relatively low alcohol compared with their North American counterparts.

Related articles

• Tooheys celebrates heritage with new branding and campaign


• 8 New Beers You Should Drink


• Coopers Brewery releases 'limited edition Vintage Ale'

Beer - #633 - Theakston - Old Peculier *bottle*

I had this beer as #12, when the idea of keeping a diary of beers was new. #12! so many beers ago. So here we go with; The Legend, Legends, Legendary and Leg-ends

Its initial sweetness is, apparently, "of roasted and vinous notes with a subtle bitter aftertaste". Strong fruitiness, often with "banana notes" standing out, is derived from Old Peculier’s fermentation process.

500ml bottle of beer that is 5.6% ABV, 168 calories a serve size,

Brewed by Theakston in the style that is  Old Ale and that happens in Masham, England

Old Peculier is possibly one of the country’s most well-known and loved ales.

This unique, beautiful brew is often imitated but never matched and is sold literally all over the world. With countless awards to its credit, it is something of which every Briton can be very proud and is the epitome of the greatest of British brewing tradition.

[caption id="attachment_11471" align="alignleft" width="300"] Old Peculiar with his old Peculier[/caption]

In the early years of the modern brewing era, about two hundred years ago, many brewers produced a dark, strong ‘stock’ beer in the winter months, to provide a base amount of fermented beer to add to beers brewed in the rather more volatile months of the summer. Old Peculier probably owes its origins to this. The name pays tribute to the unique ecclesiastical status of Masham as a ‘Court of the Peculier’ and is also reference to the strong characteristic of the beer! For many years it was affectionately referred to as Yorkshire’s ‘Lunatic’s Broth’.
Old Peculier is a beautiful, yet very simple beer, brewed using a very generous blend of finest pale, crystal and roasted barley with two bitter hops combined with the majestic and noble ‘Fuggle’ hop to produce a beer of awesome full-bodied flavour with subtle cherry and rich fruit overtones. It tastes superb when accompanied by rich stews, strong cheeses and sweet puddings.

So what could possibly go wrong? Have I lost my sense of British beers, let find out.

Ok, that's a familiar and friendly aroma of malts and hop, it is very like tobacco leaf as an aroma.

Pour is a lot darker than you'd expect, really dark burnt chestnut brown, and a lovely head. That musty english beer aroma full of itself.

The taste is like a time-machine back to my youth. Lots of sweetness from the malt and caramel, and the twitch and tang from the hops. This is a beer for the ages.

Looks brilliant too.

What can you say really about a beer that reminds you so much of home and long nights in pubs?

Lots of malt, heaps of burnt caramel, lots of the juggles hop thing that is very specific, it really is a time machine beer.

I might have been away from home a long time but this does have that unmistakable English beer aroma, Simmering hop but not grass it's more straw perhaps. The Sweetness of the beer is lovely, that backbone is being enough to carry a really forward an bold palate set.

It really is a strong, full action, all on, quintessential English beer. I loved it 600 odd beers ago, I still love it now. You could be cruel and nasty about British beer styles all you like except that this, and others, is really how it is, and sometimes it's really just a bit good.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 10 of its things from the thing. I loved it. really loved it. I loved the memories that he aroma and the taste delivered, I loved the sweetness and the lovely bitterness that was layered over that backbone. I just loved it.

The double dip review

Am I enjoying it? It is a beer you should try to give you an in to he British beer culture that you may or may not get, trust me a few hours in the local with this and you'll be an expert.
Would I have another? I would love to have local that served this.
Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? You'll hate it but this is really what English beer is corner-stoned on, this sets the bar and mark and you may hate it but this is a marker for beer.

Music for this,  ' The Clash ' and ' London Calling ' on the Spotify, seemed appropriate. The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. The best wave, the real wave.  Gt your ears around  London Calling ....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfK-WX2pa8c

OLD ALE

Old Ale is a simple enough style to figure out. At least, once you understand that there are three or four beer styles called Old Ale. The first is the best known - the strong dark Old Peculier style. The second type of Old Ale is a blended dark ale. At least one of the beers comprising the blend will be aged for a couple of years in wood casks. The third version of Old Ale is a form of mild – a low-gravity dark ale. Another version of Old Ale is closely related to the first. For me, these are robustly malty beers, akin to a top-fermented version of a doppelbock.

Related articles

• Ten beers to drink before you die(t)

Beer - #632 - Shakespeare - The Bastard

Well now, The Shakespeare - The Bastard Red IPA. This is a bit exciting. The Shakespeare Tavern is constantly listed as a go-to venue for beer in Auckland. So I have Exciting beer, Excitable music, exciting maths and party excitement

Unpasteurised, unfiltered, small batch brew 

500ml bottle of a beer that is beer of 5.9% ABV making it 2.4 standard drink units, that around 176 calories a serve size.

Brewed by Shakespeare Tavern & Brewery in the style that is India Pale Ale (IPA) and they are in central Auckland, New Zealand.

[caption id="attachment_11458" align="alignleft" width="300"] Wax Lyrical....[/caption]

Hop lovers want an ale that's unapologetic. 

The Bastard combines imported malts, with five different hops for a shambles full flavoured ale.

So what could possibly go wrong? A brewer that waxed and waned and appears, might have,  got back on track, possibly. This is the first beer I've had from here for since  ages. Lets go!

More a malt aroma than anything when I open this.

Pour is a lot paler than I expected, it's a lighter orange brown, and a lovely head!.

I was initially a bit disappointed,  having had one good IPA tonight, and reminded that the IPA style is fraught with difficulty and interpretation. This one for me has a lot of malt aroma in it, and that might not be a good thing, and the bitterness is more a sourness.

It's supposed to be a red IPA, which confused me, I've had some recently and this didn't remind me of that either.

I'm kind of ok with that high sourness note, that might be the reach for the 'red', but it's a bit of a reach, there isn't a lot of body or carry or a lot of thing going on in this that would assist you to that conclusion.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 7 of its things from the thing. I'm far from convinced that this is a red IPA. I'm not a fan of the high malt aroma that this has, and it is a bit muddled in the drinking. Not a complete disaster, but not a brilliant IPA either, red or otherwise.

The double dip review

Am I enjoying it? Honesty box time, and it's a no from me.
Would I have another? They have a range in bottles, I might go again, what's what worst that could happen?
Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? Not this one no I don't think it has enough or carries enough for me to be brave enough. As the bard might have said 'Swing and no ding' on this one.

Music for this ' Sun Kil Moon ' an American folk rock act from San Francisco, California, I'm listening to the album ' Among The Leaves ' on the Spotify this video will give you an idea.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBNdOTu2Wn0

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 - #631 - House of Nicholas – Sarah

Sarah is an IPA. It's fairly secretive about what it is, so I have Secret beer, a musics secret,  secret numbers and a secret from a party.

A moderately strong British-style ale with a focus on the hoppy aroma and dry finish

500ml bottle, brewed by The House of Nicholas, in the style that is of  English IPA, which I presume just to mean IPA, since they started in England and everywhere else has just taken a spin on it? I'm in a surly mood though.  This is a collaboration beer between Luke Nicholas of Epic and Simon Nicholas of Hop Federation.

An uncommonly media shy and reluctant beer in a 500ml bottle that is beer of  30 IBU and 5.7% ABV, and it comes in at 2.2 standard drink units, and about 168 calories a serve.

[caption id="attachment_11450" align="alignright" width="300"] Royal regal and ready to be drunk, the beer not me[/caption]

First brewed for Craft Beer Capital's Hopstock fresh hop beer festival, this beer celebrates a common ancestor between the two "Sarah" from around the time of the first IPA's (1700's). 

The latest version is a 5.7% IPA brewed using traditional dry processed hop pellets as wet hops or "fresh hops" are only available during harvest in March

So what could possibly go wrong?

The aroma is of a beer that is very brightly hopped, no mistaking what leads here.

IF it was a beauty completion this would be a winner, it is as pretty as a picture and pours lovely more to pale orange with a lovely head that loses its persistence and settled to a thickish film.

Taste is interesting, it's not overly bitter and then there seems to be a gap between the initial taste and the lovely finish. I'm trying that again.

This isn't then a crashing explosion of over hopped beer, it is very measured and paced, delivering a lovely drink of some quality. Respect.

Aroma is a highlight, so is the easy mouthfeel, this is very drinkable, and moorish, has a lovely finish that is just a tough of bitter dry and a lovely lingering taste, but all very subtle.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 8 of its things from the thing, it is very good. Lovely drinking, almost a session drinking beer, or perhaps it is a session beer and I don't get out often enough, I think that if you like IPA in an original and genuine way then this is a brilliant start, it's a marvellous take on a very common beer with uncommonly good results.

The double dip review

Am I enjoying it? Very much so.
Would I have another? I would indeed, this is quality.
Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? I would because it has a back story, and is a genuine beer, nothing outrageous, extravagant, special or seasonal, it's a good stock beer, a very good stock beer, from good stock. Huzzah!

Music for this, well local is as local does so Virginia Claire "Gin" Wigmore (born 6 June 1986) is a New Zealand singer, and she has new album ' Blood to the Bone '  I'm listening on Spotify

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDNSQ7ccTGA

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.