Beer - #510 - Brew Moon - Hophead IPA

#NZSecretSanta, yes Secret Santa for NZ Twitter Users!,   brought me a couple of beers, this is one of them - Brew Moon Hophead IPA.

So Gifted Beer, Gifted Musicians, Gift of Numeracy and Gift of Friendships.

A hoppy, complex and drinkable IPA. We use Vienna and a combination of various other malts for a rich base and then dry hop with lots of aromatic Nelson hops.

In a 500ml bottle,  a beer that is 5% ABV so about 250 calories a serve size, This bottle is about 1.97 standard drink units in NZ

HopHead IPA is Brewed by Brew Moon Brewing Company, in the style that is of India Pale Ale (IPA), and they are in Amberley, North Canterbury, South Island, Middle Earth, New Zealand

A mile from mainstream beers and made with organic ingredients, this beer is full of hops.

[caption id="attachment_10035" align="alignleft" width="300"] A gift of beer, it's just like christmas.[/caption]

The initial fresh floral character complements the crisp, bitter finish and rich malt flavour.

Here at the Brew Moon we take "hand-crafted" to new heights. Everything in our 600l microbrewery is done by hand with great care.

Our beers are made naturally using age-old brewing techniques, malted grain, hops, yeast and good Canterbury water.

This beer is not filtered or pasteurized - as a result there may be some sediment in the bottle - fear not! Yeast is good for you.

I love gift beer, Especially when they went to the trouble of finding beer that I hadn't already drunk, I'm sure more of a mission than not, so kudos to them.

Really nice hop aroma on opening, lightly hissing, Light grassy.

Golden orange pour which is really pretty, and a decent head. Aroma carries some florals now, it looks and smells a treat. From this I shouldn't be surprised of a burst of hops and a dry finish.

It is bitter, but not overly, and the finish is dryish, it is quite the refreshing drink for a sunny afternoon.

A decent IPA then, and in a category where there has been larger and larger flavours it is nice to have something that is quaffable and enjoyable for what it is, and not because you're expecting your head to explode or some such.

Nice amount of citrus, perhaps grapefruits, and the aroma is still very pleasant.

Second pour lets the yeast sediment into the glass, I wonder how this will change or alter the taste? I also have to say that I've alarmingly managed to drink a significant amount of this in just a couple of trips to the lips.

Of late there have been a lot more 'session' beers appearing, and this is for one of two reasons.

(1) Because the brewers have a collective desire to participate in the lower ABV range of 4-5% and compete with the mass-produced standards that you get in 6-12-24 and 30 packs

(2) There is some over-riding hop shortage or something going on that is making lower ABV beer a necessity rather than a luxury. I mean 'luxury' beer at 'premium' prices compared to big-brewery, that can't really be an economic model to success. Despite the fact that there are some really really good 'session' beers appearing, they still only appeal to the discretionary spend part of the market. Case in point is that I just brought Father-In-Law a 12 pack of beer for the christmas holiday break - he likes bulk over substance and won't be had with 'fancy' beers.

Anyway, ill formed argument aside this particular beer appears to have always been at 5% ABV, and is a brewers standard, and it is actually a decent beer, and I'm enjoying it a lot. Remember a few sentences ago I added the yeast sediment, made no difference, it's still a lovely beer. The worse thing is that it is that nice I'd easily go another.

Nothing wrong at all with this beer then, lovely colour, decent head, nice lacing, lovely level of bitterness and that quaff-ability and things that make a good session beer, and that point where you finish the bottle and wish you had another because I'd happy and easily go again. Not a hop explosion, not a beer to turn your palate to dust, this is just a cracking good IPA.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as an 8.5 a of its things from the thing. This is a very good drink and easy drinking beer of some style, it's balanced, no rough edges and nothing to scare you.  This bottle also appears to be quite fresh and the beer is very bright and zingy.  You can tell I'm enjoying it.

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? It is, as they say, a bit good.


2. Would I have another? I wish I could have another, it wouldn't be hard to have a few more to be honest.


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? Yes, this would be a good conversation beer, it is flavoursome and engaging without being the conversation, it is easy drinking and at the lower ABV it would be good for a few.

Musically, on the music machineI was listening to 2:54 who are an alternative rock band from London comprising sisters Colette and Hannah Thurlow,  "a little bit grunge, a little bit shoegaze, with bursts of heavy riffing and the odd psychedelic meander"

This is the track "BlindFold" from the album "The Other I"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7Sa9_TxtB8

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 - #409 - Laughing Bones - Lazy Bones Cream Ale

I start Dry July with a beer that I've had on tap out on my travels. Laughing Bones Lazy Bones Cream Ale

For Laughing Bones Brewing Company brewed at Brothers Beer in the style that is Cream Ale and they are in Auckland, New Zealand.

I met the man from the brewery too when I brought this, as an aside.

Delivered in a 500ml bottle of a beer that is at 4.5% or 1.8 standard drinks,  and 150 calories (about 180 in the whole bottle).  At 31 IBU units this should be nicely drinkable, sort of Pale Ale or Pilsner level bitter.

An easy drinking session beer that won’t make you work to enjoy it. This is crafted to be smooth with a modicum of honey toasted oats and a yeast strain that leaves a fruity, very light, soft balanced palate. Perfectly hopped for a balanced experience this beer is made for you.

Bottle Conditioned this has sediment - makes note to self that I shall forget this forthwith and have cloudy beer.

This has a nice hoppy aroma on opening, sweet and inviting.

Beer - #400 - Garage Project - Mecha-Hop

This writing is of the 400th beer thing since I started making notes.  This small milestone needed to be got to with something a bit different, and unusual.  So I brought me something unusual, not Scruttocks Old Dirigible, and not something  wildly rare or intimidatingly expensive.

But unusual.

How about a 100% Industrial Process Ale -  with no raw, unprocessed ingredients used in its making.*

*might contain free-range water.

Brewed by Garage Project in the style that is  Imperial/Double IPA and they are in a garage in Wellington, New Zealand

This is a 650ml bottle,  and it has 10% ABV,  an unknown number of IBU things but more than 100, and 300 calories a serve. This is 5.1 standard drink units in a bottle.

[caption id="attachment_8614" align="alignleft" width="300"] Mecha-Self-Ie[/caption]

Brewed better than nature to battle it out at the Great Australian BeerSpectapular – this is Mecha Hop, experimental IPA - 100% Industrial Process Ale. 

Using only the finest vacuum evaporated pure dry malt extract and Warrior, Amarillo and Simcoe liquid CO2 hop extracts, this beast of a beer weighs in at 10% abv and over 100 IBU. 

Guaranteed no raw, unprocessed ingredients - the modernist dream at its unheeding and arrogant best. Welcome to the bold new world of Garage Project - welcome to the future. What could possibly go wrong..

"In down to earth speak then Mecha Hop is brewed using liquid malt extract, liquid hop extract, water and yeast. That’s the stuff you see in the home-brew tins at the supermarket, mixed with the hop goo megabrewers use to give their beer some semblance of hop character"

I'm still scratching my head over this, but I'm told it's a bit good. Great label artwork to look at while I ponder what about to happen.

Beer - #394 - 8 Wired - Chardonnay Barrel Aged Saeson

Is the season for Saison it seems, and I've enjoyed the ones I've had recently, and might just try this one 8 Wired Chardonnay Barrel Aged Saeson.

For 8 Wired Brewing Brewed at Renaissance Brewing and no points for guessing that this is in the style that is  Saison and they're based in Blenheim, New Zealand.

In a funky bottle that is of 500 ml (1pt 9fl oz), containing a  7% ABV beer , working out to 210 calories a serve, and that would be 2.76 standard drink units (the label says 2.9). This one pops in at 25 IBU on the scale of things - low Pilsner, Porter or Pale ale kind of bitter.

[caption id="attachment_8488" align="alignleft" width="300"] Selfie from a distance[/caption]

Ale aged in chardonnay barrels with Brettanomyces

A saison brewed to what I would expect old world ales to have tasted like, with a new world hop twist. Aged in chardonnay barrels with added brettanomyces for a year, then dry hopped with NZ hops.

Of course at this point I realise that I'm not a big fan of Chardonnay style wine, but I've never let that get in the way of trying something out.

Beer - #390 - Bellerose - Bière Blonde Extra

I grabbed this based on the simplicity of the label mostly. Tonight them I'm drinking a Bellerose Bière Blonde Extra.

Brewed by Brasserie des Sources (formerly: de St. Amand) in the style that is a Golden Ale/Blond Ale and they are in Saint-Amand-les-Eaux, France.

750ml bottle of beer that is 6.5% ABV and 195 calories a serve, about 400 for the bottle  and it about 3,3 standard dink units is this, which for a bottle of wine sized drink doesn't seem that much. Picked this up from HopScotch in Mt. Eden.

[caption id="attachment_8454" align="alignleft" width="300"] Selfie[/caption]

Bellerose is a Top fermented beer made with 3 hops from 3 different continents by Brasseries Des Sources(Brewery of the Springs). A mix between French "bière de Garde" and IPA with distinctive aromas of citrus & litchi with a hoppy but refreshing aftertaste.

Bellerose draws its inspiration from the 1950s era, a period during which beer was still intensely hoppy and stoutly refreshing. The use of an innovative cocktail of 3 hops brings to Bellerose a distinctive aroma of citrus & litchi with a refreshing aftertaste.

Cork and Cage delivery, cork was a difficult ask but a satisfying pop a it gave up the struggle.

Beer - #361 - Moon Dog - Artisan Pouseuré

More by name than reputation I picked up this, a Moon Dog Artisan Pouseuré.

An annual celebration of northern hemisphere Halloween stuff. So, like, we added pumpkin to the mash. And some pumpkin pie spices. Pretty damn tasty too!

Brewed by Moon Dog Craft Brewery in the style that is a Spice/Herb/Vegetable and they are in Abbotsford, Australia, or as we say 'strayer.

This is listed as having 32 IBU things, so like an English bitter perhaps, or low end stout bitterness, has only 225 calories and has an ABV of 7.5%, and is all in a 330ml bottle

The words “Moon Dog” and “pumpkin”, when used in tandem, send a shudder down the Crafty spine. Before the brewery launched, we were given a sample bottle of a trial Pumpkin Ale as a taster of what was to come. It miraculously disappeared one AFL

[caption id="attachment_8005" align="alignleft" width="300"] Selfie[/caption]

Grand Final Day with nobody in attendance able to recall what could have happened to it. The mystery remains unsolved; our guilt unassuaged. Still, there have been subsequent chances to sample other Moon Dog pumpkin beers, including a previous Artisan Poseur that was a Pumpkin Porter. This new version (complete with different spelling – in fact, three different spellings that we’ve seen so far) ditches the porter and ramps up the spices. But not to an overt degree. Indeed for a 7.5 per cent spiced fruit beer from this mob, it’s all rather tastefully done, with plenty of roast pumpkin and crystal malts on the nose that are decorated rather than overwhelmed by the cinnamon and cloves. The taste is similarly fulsome without losing control. It pours a hazy burnt orange (like pumpkin pie) and, like the brewers’ near neighbours at the Duchess, might not be the best of lookers, but goes down a treat and leaves you with a smile on your face.

They do go on a bit.

And  the bottle runneth over, well carbonated, I can confirm the head is a really nicely spiced affair.  Aroma was nice too, sour sort of.

Had a comedy moment where you are trying to suck in the foam gushing from the bottle only to realise that your mouth is full, you can't swallow, it's mostly air,  and there is more foam appearing....

Pour is dark orange with, of course a head for africa.

On the tongue than fizzy, really!,  Then there is a front of spices, which could be cloves, and a lot of really nice caramel sweetness.

There's a touch of heat in this too, from the spices, I have to admit that I am pleasantly surprised.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 7.5 a of its things from the thing. So despite the over excited opening, and the over carbonated beer, this has a lot going for it, nicely spiced, bit of heat, and lovely sweets to carry it. Could do with more depth but well chuffed.

The double dip review

Am I enjoying it? Yes
Would I have another? Yes
Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? This would be a great beer for a chilly evening and a fire, ideal.
I was listening to Neil Young - A letter Home.  - This "Needle of Death"

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6H47jI6xanA&w=420&h=315]

 

SPICE/HERB/VEGETABLE

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

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Beer - #352 - Hitachino Nest - Red Rice Ale

Something very different for me, Hitachino Nest Red Rice Ale, this is brewed by Kiuchi Brewery in the style that is new to me of a Traditional Ale, and they are in Ibaraki, Japan

[caption id="attachment_7865" align="alignright" width="300"] Selfie[/caption]

A 330ml bottle of a 7% ABV beer, which in NZ is 1.82 standard drinks, and it's about 210 calories,

This Red Rice Ale was brewed with special red rice which had been cultured in ancient times in Japan. Please enjoy the complex taste and beautiful natural color.

And another cap for the cap-jar.

Aroma is strangely chocolate on opening. Rich orange pour with a small and almost persistent head.

Aroma moves to musty, like a Belgium styled yeast.

This is well carbonated and has a sour bitter note, which isn't unpleasant. There's also a pleasing sweetness with this.

Some people have suggested fruit type notes in this, including strawberry, I didn't get that particular thing. But there is something there and that's the thing that I'm reaching for and not getting, which is at both clever and annoying.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 6 a of its things from the thing. This is one of those beers where the carbonation is most of the mouthfeel, and that distracts from the overall taste. I enjoyed the low bitterness and the nice sweet warmth in this.

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? For research purposes yes.


2. Would I have another? Not this one no.


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

In what could be my biggest faux pas culturally, I could not help but think of this by the The Vapors - Turning Japanese, which I've been singing in the car.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEmJ-VWPDM4&w=420&h=315]

TRADITIONAL ALE

A catch-all category that we use to classify all of those ancient or resurrected styles of antiquity that are appearing more and more in brewing today. From sahti to heather ale to sorghum beer to gruit, and beers like Adam and Midas Touch, these ales will vary tremendously in character from one another. Many are unhopped, strength can vary, but all are a glimpse into brewings past

Related articles

• Thirsty Thursday: Hitachino Nest Japanese Classic Ale & Red Rice Ale

Beer - #304 - Pink Elephant - Mother's Bruin

Mother's Bruin. Pun intended. Probably. 2013 vintage. I have no idea if they've made this before, but they may be planning to make this again.

Brewed by Pink Elephant in the enigmatic style of: Old Ale and that's in a fantastic part of the country - Blenheim, Malborough, New Zealand.

[caption id="attachment_6666" align="alignleft" width="300"] Yes! it's a selfie[/caption]

Mothers Bruin is a Strong Ale. This secret ingredient is honey. It features a butter/toffee aroma, creamy mouth feel, with toffee and caramel (and some fruity notes

Bear a thought for the effort that went into bruin this silky sweet honey bear. Four million B's can't bee wrong.

This Ale’s secret ingredient is the honey which is produced from the honey dew collected from the bush clad Canterbury hills.

500ml bottle of beer, with an ABV of 8%, which makes this 3.16 standard drink units. and around 250 calories a serve.

Lots of yeast aroma on opening, Pours a chestnut brown traditional beer colour, with a smallish but firm and persistent head.

Aroma settles to something akin to a honey thing.

Goodness  gosh! That's a complex beer.

Firstly its very rich, and that'd be the honey, although it's not a honey taste, or is it. Nice and rounded smooth sweetness.

The bitterness isn't intense, and the carbonation is soft.

The lead in aroma is inviting.

I'm a bit impressed with this from Pink Elephant. I'm not sure I've been their biggest fan in the past. Which is a poor assumption based on one poor experience in the past. So I'll get to that and make some more effort. Consider myself told.

So I had a low expectation and now I have a high regard. But let's not get carried away. This is a sweet drinking beer. It has a foolish mouthfeel and a lovely carry but it is a sweet beer.

I'm tempted to leave it to warm to see what happens.

Which turns it into an experience akin to toffee or treacle, but still way up in the sweet zone of taste.

The pdubyah-o-meter is easily swayed by the easily drinkability and seductive sweetness that appeals. There is no indication at all that you're getting a bit squiffy by quaffing this, there is no alcohol apparent. A lovely long drink with some bitterness at the edge, the soft middle and a lovely finish. By far the best honey beer I've had, and I've had so few to make that a bit of a nonsense statement. I would though go as far as to say 9 for this, complete with a money back caveat that if you have a sweet tooth then this should appeal to you as it's nearly but not quite toffee beer, and that really would be a thing.

It's really very clever, I'm smiling and in my happy place.

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.

 

Beer - #292 - Renaissance - Discovery American Pale Ale

This is one of the christmas beers I received - Renaissance Discovery American Pale Ale.

Brewed by Renaissance Brewing in the style of an  American Pale Ale and it's made in sunny Blenheim, New Zealand

This is a 4.5% ABVbeer in a 500ml bottle (1 pt 9 fl oz), 1.8 standard drink units in NZ  and around 135 calories a serving.

We’ll bet you can remember your first glass of Sauvignon Blanc, all those racy, up-

[caption id="attachment_6344" align="alignright" width="300"] Of course a Selfie ![/caption]

front fruit flavours and that bracing punch of acidity. Allow us to introduce the beer world’s equivalent from the home of the world’s best Sauvignon Blanc.

Pioneered in the American state of California, American Pale Ale, or APA for short, was designed to showcase the unique resiny fruitiness of American hops. Here at Renaissance we have given this style a truly New Zealand flavour by using Cascade and Willamette hops that are grown over the hill in Nelson.

Great hops aroma on opening. I pour into a glass and it goes bonkers! all hiss and road and mostly foamy head really really foamy, really all over the table, and it shows no sign of slowing down, it looks like a maelstrom in the grass!

So I wait for it to subside before I can try.

Patience be damned, I tried though the foam and got what I felt was an unpleasant bitterness, sour bitterness, and not a hop bitterness that I was expecting. But it s a great orang golden pour and the head is a magnificent fluffy white to be enjoyed. With a spoon perhaps.

This is a pity because I had, I think, 16 new beers when I was travelling, mostly Australian,  mostly good, but I digress, because this is disappointing when I think back and compare my memory with what I have in front of me now. Not really comparable.

The pdubyah-o-meter says that this nudges just  7, there are a number of things floating in this bottle that makes me think that I didn't get a good one, I don't recall a pale ale having a sediment to be careful of. I don't get crisp, I get sour, and for all the excitement in the glass I get a flatish beer.

I'm sure that my recollection of Renaissance beers is better, and I'm going to forgive this as an aberration. The aroma indicated promise, but the delivery of taste didn't come anywhere near that

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• Beer - #260 - Panhead - Supercharger American Styled Pale Ale


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• American Pale Ale

 

Beer - #277 - Behemoth - CHUR! NZ Pale Ale

Indeed - a quick dash to the shops and I picked me up a  Behemoth CHUR! NZ Pale Ale.  From the  Behemoth Brewing Company who Brew this at The Twisted Hop in the style of an  American Pale Ale.  And they are in Wigram of all places.

[caption id="attachment_6030" align="alignleft" width="300"] Chur![/caption]

chur : -  kiwi for thanks, cool, sweet etc

'that was choice eh bro!'
"chur"

A standard 330ml bottle of a beer of 5.2% ABV,  being 165 calories,  which all adds up to 1.4 standard drinks in NZ - 35 IBU Things.

Huge tropical aroma and light and refreshing New Zealand Pale ale is New Zealand hops in a bottle, not too bitter, not too sweet just delicious easy drinking fruity NZ Pale Ale. Chur!

A lovely floral hop note on opening. Nice carbonation , no head, my run has ended.

Really pointedly grassy, but it's a very short note.

There isn't a lot else in this though, the up-front hops are great, and they're fairly soft and I like the way they taste.

There is also some fruitiness in this, again fairly pleasant and enjoyable.

However there isn't a lot of malt/caramel sweetness or body to asset this. What you get then is a thinness in the drink, which for me means that although I'm enjoying this I may not be so keen on another.

Disappointing as this is, in and of itself is not really to bad an effort. I'd rather it had more body, but I'm really enjoying the hop notes that this has, it is fairly easy drinking.

Despite all that the pdubyah-o-meter says that this would be a 7, making it good on the scale of things.  I don't think it's going to set the beer world on fire, or gather around it a coterie of fans, but it isn't off-putting, tasteless, or without any redeeming features. As a warm up beer for a couple of other fuller stronger beers this wouldn't be a bad choice.

The sun has made a late appearance, making the day a bit brighter, however counterpoint to the poor form England are shown in the cricket it's not helping.

September 14 Update to this: I've had this out and about, on tap, at the 16TUN bar on the Auckland Viaduct, and again now in a bottle.

I think that I might have been a bit harsh as this is a fine drinking beer that is actually better than I might have let on.

If I was redux writing I would rate this possibly 8 or 8.5.

 

As if to  compliment my drinking tonight in the background I have the really long version of Autobhan playing, the first track from the Kraftwerk album from 1974

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-G28iyPtz0

AMERICAN PALE ALE

American Pale Ales are light in color, ranging from golden to a light copper color. The style of this beer is defined by the American hops used. American hops typically have high bitterness and aroma.This is a perfect beer for big fare like grilled burgers or combination pizzas, as well as lighter fare like sushi and green salads.

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Beer - #273 - Hot Water - Golden Steamer Ale

Brewed by Hot Water Brewing Styled as a  California Common and that really is quite local to us here at Rings Beach, in the big scheme of things, at Whenuakite, Whitianga, New Zealand

The base of Premium Pilsner Malt and a restrained use of Pacifica and Wakatu hops gives a subtle citrus and floral aroma that leads you into a slightly sweet biscuity flavour which is backed up by a thirst quenching bitterness.
Best enjoyed straight from the can accompanied by good friends and lots of sunshine.

A 330ml can of an 4.5% ABV beer, making it 1.26 standard drink units  Confusion reigns though as this could also be in the style of  a Golden Ale/Blond Ale

I might go with that.

Might I just.

This is the after dinner beer, the first of them, dinner being some prawns in lemon and not much else, and chicken in a sweet chilli and honey dressing, that came up all caramelised and succulent. That with the garden fresh salads. It was ok.

Pours straw golden with not much of a head.

I'm going to say immediately that this isn't a beer that is doing it for me. I can't pick and aroma, I can't pick a flavour in the palate, and it seems to be whispy thin and pointless. No doubt someone would love it.

There is a lingering after of the hops, but this is an after the event and not a prequel or a sequel.

For me then the pdubyah-o-meter says that this would be a 5. Making it Average. Look I can't like every beer I drink and I know what I like, this just ticks none of those boxes.

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.

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Beer - #204 - Ringwood - Boondoggle

Ringwood Boondoggle - in a bottle - Brewed by Ringwood (Marstons plc) in the style of a Golden Ale/Blond Ale and they do that in Ringwood, England, where ever that is.

I think I was seduced by the "Deliciously Fruity Blonde Beer" thing on the label. I'm such a sucker for cheap advertising.  Or the strange Hairy Rat motif.

500ml of a 5% ABV beer 2.5 Standard drinks in the UK,

Boondoggle is an American term first coined in the 1920’s. Boondoggle is a word meaning 'work of little value' which we have interpreted to mean 'Jolly' or ‘any excuse for a pint’.

A hoppy aroma with a citrus punch. \ A well balanced moreish fruity taste \ A blonde and luscious ale – the perfect excuse. Brewed with the finest English Pale Malt, First Gold and Fuggles Hops.

The English Importer Shop, whatever it's called, there are so many now, in Wairau Park in G'Field is to blame for this, and the various English Beers that are in my fridge and for review.

In the bottle this looks cloudy, and on reflection a bit unappetising.  Remembering now that thing about best before? This one was 31 August. So best I get to it now.

The aroma on opening is one that reminds me of English Pubs from the 80's, its a dull english bitter aroma. and I went again to make sure, and it's not that, it's settled to a bland acidic note. I hold my breath for this. the outlook is cloudy.

Yeasty bready flat is what I should have said. It pours like it looks. with a finger of head that persists at 1/2. It doesn't seem over carbonated or excitable.

Moment of truth: I'm dreading this for no real apparent reason. The bready yeasty aroama reminds me of that banana beer thing I had once, it's not a thing that you'd be able to sell as an girly attractor.

Might be that I built myself up into not enjoying this, given that  it's at it best before date, give or take, I'm dismissing that. This is just a sour tasteless bland disaster. There is no citrus, there is no aroma of citrus, this is a snake-oils salesman pitch of what he thinks.

When you've spent your own money on things it's hard to be harsh, but this is atrocious and down there on the pdubyah-o-meter at 3 - Avoid this and buy a can of Tizer or Iron Bru. You'll thank me.

Beer #186 - Wigram - Harvard Honey Ale

Early evening, time for a beer that was a gift from my son after a visit to a Honey Farm, a Wigram Harvard Honey Ale. Brewed by Wigram Brewing Company in the style of a  Amber Ale Christchurch, New Zealand.

A 500ml bottle of a 6% ABV beer, making it about 1.9 standard drinks.

This copper coloured ale has a faint honey aroma. This mild, medium body beer has a distinct honey flavour balanced well with a clean crisp hoppy finish. At the end, a slight sweetness stays on the palate.

English ale malt, a top fermenting ale yeast. Don't be fooled, this is no ordinary ale, infused into this beer is certified organic Bush honey, giving a distinctive flavour and aroma,enjoy.

Nothing distinctive on opening. Much much darker than I expected, dark chestnut, with an off white head. The aroma settles to a sweet note.

There's s hoppy rush and a big front note to this, and that ends up to be pretty persistent through the mouthfeel.  Whist this isn't overly bitter in any way it isn't honey sweet either.  It is a nice beer to drink as a drink. The pdubyah-o-meter rates this at the 7.5 lever making it good.

I was expecting more amber than chestnut in the colour, and more sweet than bitter in the taste. But is is a good drinking beer, if you like a bitter, if you were after a honey Amber Ale then you should be looking elsewhere.

Beer - #156 - AleSmith - X Extra Pale Ale

Still in the US of A then with an AleSmith X Extra Pale Ale. Brewed by AleSmith Brewing Company In the style of a American Pale Ale and that's all happening in San Diego, California USA

500ml (pint) bottle of a 5% ABV beer, making that 2.56 standard drink units.

AleSmith X Extra Pale Ale is a clean, light-colored, light-bodied ale. The People's Choice award winner at the 2000 San Diego Real Ale Festival and the second runner-up in 2001, it has a good dose of dry hops balanced by a gentle sweetness, giving an almost sweet-and-sour effect. Appearance: Light golden color, and a nice white head, with good retention when properly served. Flavor: Starts off with almost tingling flavors of citrus and pine, balanced by a nice malty sweetness, then fades to a dry finish with a lingering hoppiness. Aroma: Strong lemony-citrusy character, with sweet malt and pine in the background. Mouthfeel (body/texture): Smooth, light-bodied.

That sounds like a bit of fun in a bottle. Something yellow, something not bitter, and something refreshing. Nothing too dramatic.

There is a goodly nose of hops, that made me smile, it is a lovely golden yellow, more rimu golden than yellow, pour, fairly hazy/cloudy and I got a fair decent head of fluffy white. Do like that hop aroma.

The taste is a lovely soft bitter and a goodly backing of malt and fruity citrus notes, making this quite a nice taste combination.  The length of the bitterness is amazing, not uncomfortable, but you're left with a big taste sensation, and a smacking of the lips moment.

There is also lacing on the glass that you don't see often enough, not as an indicator of quality, it's just nice to see is all.

This is very quaffable and you'd be comfortable with this for a few or more beers with friends or alone. It wouldn't intrude on your food and would offer a nice balance to a meal. And as a 5% ABV beer you're not going to go all fall-off-the-barstool any time in a hurry.

The pdubyah-o-meter makes this 8.25 on the scale of things. It's a thoroughly nice, well carbonated, nicely balanced, well behaved beer that will neither challenge you or upset you. More than middle of the road because of the nice floral citrus things and the length of the bitterness. A bit good. Not great, but good enough, and a great way to start an evening.

You're welcome.

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Beer - #140 - Harrington's - Big John Special Reserve

Harrington's Big John Special Reserve, which after the disastrous Belgium Tempest I'm slightly wary of.  This however a Limited Edition, and at the same time a Special Reserve !  Cover both bases.

Brewed by Harringtons Breweries (Christchurch) Styled as a Dunkler Bock and as always that's al majicked in Christchurch, New Zealand.

500ml of a 6.5% ABV beer, (2.6 standard drinks), in a standard brown bottle.

Dunkler Bock - The dark Bock has a deep copper to dark brown color. Medium to full-bodied, malt sweetness and nutty or light toasted flavors dominate. Hop flavor and aroma can be light to non-existent.

but they say in the notes - Strong dark ale, full flavoured brew with a hint of spiciness. Smooth roast malt flavour balanced well with hops.

Sets some expectations.

Aroma is sort of chocolate, and I thought faintly of orange  but it's not insistent, or overpowering, dark beer, reasonable head, not overly excitable carbonation.

They're right that the flavour in this is mellow and low key, you can get the roasted/chocolate -notes, you get a mouth of fizz, and a linger on the palate. There's a fairly decent lacing on the glass as well, not something I mention enough.

The top of this though carries an alcohol note, and that's not something you generally look for in a beer of any kind, sure some have it and you know that you're likely to find it, but I wasn't expecting it with this.

The pdubyah-o-meter finds it a struggle to get to a 6 from 10 on this in it arbitrary way or all thing. My bottom line with this is that I have a friend, oh yes I do, called John, and would I give it to him as a novelty gift? And I think not.  I rate it better than 'meh' as it really isn't very offensive, it'd be ok to share with a friend and might spur you forward to try other dark beers, the porters, stouts etc.

But I'm glad I don't have another if I was being honest.

Beer - #115 - Brew Moon - Olé Molé

Brew Moon (NZ) Olé Molé beer - Brewed by Brew Moon Brewing Company
in the styleof a Spice/Herb/Vegetable and that trickery happens in Amberley, North Canterbury, New Zealand.

500mls (pint) of a 5% ABV concoction, and when I say concoction : Olé Molé - A culinary beer inspired by the famous Mexican dish Mole. This beer has lots of different spices including 3 different chillis and cocoa on a bock base to produce one balanced but very sexy Mexican!

The label  says "Live Ale - keep cool and dark" They probably mean the Ale, as I'm neither cool or dark.

A new brewery to me, Brew Moon, I may have been put off by their labels before, but here goes. What do you expect from a Chilli beer? They promise a beer to be Chemical and preservative free, and this one has a bottle date in August 2013.

Right away it's very carbonated, but headless, it's a muddy cloudy beer, and there are things floating in it. Um should they have made a point about letting this settle and pouring gently, are the things a thing?

The Aroma is vegetable and cocoa. The taste is like nothing I've ever had before, There are two distinct things, the first I've forgotten but the the second is a chilli explosion on the back of the tongue, wow! wow!

The first is a wonderful temptation of flavours, I'm not quick enough to grab them. I'll keep trying.

The Chilli burst is still there, reminding your throat that it just enjoyed something. The under flavour, the first explosion flavour appears to be citrus like, but the heat, yes the heat, make it very difficult. It's like a sucker punch.

MrsPdubyah had a sip, a tiny sip, she's not talking to me for a few hours I can tell, Hot Chilli beer isn't her thing.

The pdubyah-o-meter has no idea how to rate this, but it's a 8 of it's things, making this a beer that shouldn't be discarded, but treated with a wary eye. I defy anyone to have more than one of these it's just too unusual and challenging in it's difference. As to the sediments they might warn you, then again they're integral to the thing. Delightfully  quirky and actually tasty enough to pull of a madness that shouldn't work.

Beer - #52 - Apache American Amber Ale

Apache American Amber Ale -  Brewed by Golden Eagle Brewery, in the style of an Amber Ale, and is brewed in Rolleston,  Just outside Christchurch, New Zealand.  It delivered in a convenient (pint) 500ml 5.6%ABV bottle.

Pure Canterbury water, barley & American hops are brought together with passion to create an amber ale with Zest!

Been around since 2002 or thereabouts. It's very hoppy and dark for an "amber ale"  which lead me to this discovery since I was really expecting 'amber' and not "dark'....

American Amber / Red Ale - Primarily a catch all for any beer less than a Dark Ale in color, ranging from amber (duh) to deep red hues. This style of beer tends to focus on the malts, but hop character can range from low to high. Expect a balanced beer, with toasted malt characters and a light fruitiness in most examples. The range can run from a basic ale, to American brewers who brew faux-Oktoberfest style beers that are actually ales instead of lagers.

An then I went "ahhh" I get it now. So turning the frown upside down your starter for 10 is "can I pour a beer with a head?" and you'd be right. Not this time.

Crikey that's hoppy. Very hoppy, a loud surprise hoppy- again crickey. That's somewhat pleasant. Wow, I'm totally at peace with the fact that mu ignorance leads to me a red ale, rather than something else. And having just had a "Leprechauns Belle" at the "Deep Creek Brewery" that won a bronze I can tell you the bar must be pretty low for that award. This is hands down a better beer by heaps.

Ok so else I get Hops, of course, and a pleasant malt that adds enough sweet to make this really somewhat a game of two halves. The hops makes you think of a bitterer mouthfeel the underlying malt taste balances that very well.

Lest I talk more nonsense I'll award some arbitrary points on the pdubyah-o-meter, and I can't lie this is 9 from 10. and it's a high 9 not a down-marked 9. If I could pour one with a head, and it had better lacing it's be 9.5 :). This is something of a pleasant and rewarding beer, and I'm really impressed, and for the jaded me that's something I look for.

In the adventure that is craft beer there are never many surprises, often you get too much carbonation, or mis-balance of hops, or malt, a thinness. Today I'm really quite impressed that I had to sit up and pay real attention to a fine beer. Seriously, try this, you'll be impressed.

The lovely people at Liquorland in Forest Hill for their selection deserve a mention.

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Beer – #21 in a series – Wigram Kortegast Red Sparkling Ale

Shut up!

the Wigram Brewing Company wishes to advise that our Red Sparkling Ale Full Strength Beer has been crafted from Historical Hops which were discovered still growing on the banks of the Hokitika River. The original hops were grown by a pioneer Hokitika brewer, Mr William CJ Kortegast. His Crown Brewery was one of the very first West Coast Breweries. Remnants of these Kortegast hops have been incorporated into our Sparkling Red Ale, which is red in colour with low to medium bitterness and the aromatic flavour of the Hokitika hops on the finish. WJC Kortegast died in 1897 and the source of his hop supply was lost, although the memory of his famous brews lingered on. This Sparkling Ale is dedicated to WJC Kortegast and the pioneer brewers of Hokitika.

Ok then, so a traditional "red" beer. As an aside I quite like the "Beamish Red" a bit. So this intrigues me somewhat.

It's darker in the glass that you'd think, sparkling isn't really an indication that it's really effervescent, I guess it means not a flat beer (like a Guinness Stout flat), but a darker "heavy" with a fizz.

Just NZ$7.00 a bottle (Pint) and it's a decent "import" strength of 5%. A proper need a bottle opener lid too, it's all on! The bottle is a stock standard brown, no fancy shape, ridges, or giveaways, it looks like a posh home-brew if you want to be mean-spirited.

It's a bit earthy in taste  for me to be honest, doesn't have that creaminess of finish, or color on the head. But it does drink well in the glass, it leaves that ring of progress for each mouthful. Hows that for a technical overview of a beer! Getting a bit good at this aye.

The Wigram Brewing Company then, highly commendable ! they're beginning to make a bit of splash in the beer world, and rightly so, and they have an array of beer that makes me think that I need to persuade someone that beer reviewer would be a good thing to have in a daily newspaper :-)

Not getting carried away however, this is 7 out of a 10 arbitrary stars on the all important and somewhat opposite of influential pdubyah-o-meter. Would I go again? yes I would, but would I pick this first amongst equals possibly not.

oh and a bonus tip, when you're trying to be really clever and show a caramel color of the beer by slightly tipping a full glass (as in the picture above), don't. It never ends well. Trust me.

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