PDubyah: Behemoth Brewing

Showing posts with label Behemoth Brewing. Show all posts

Friday, July 24, 2015

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

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

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.

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

Sunday, April 12, 2015

Beer - #585 - Behemoth - Hopportunity Double IPA

Behemoth Hopportunity, the Double IPA. Double up, double time, doubling and doubles only.

Never let a hopportunity pass you by unless you are driving, then let this one pass you by, and maybe have one when you get home

From the fill station, this ia 1 litre bottle of beer that is of 8% ABV, around 240 calories a see size and the bottle is 6.31 standard drink units in NZ. I noticed that this is 80 IBU things, which is in range.

For the Behemoth Brewing Company this is brewed at The Twisted Hop in the style that is of Imperial/Double IPA and it's from New Zealand

[caption id="attachment_10893" align="alignleft" width="300"]

took my hopportunity[/caption]

Big Dry hoppy double IPA.

This beer is made to showcase the Centennial Hop (with a little Nelson Sauvin just for good measure).

Big dry and drinkable for such a big balanced bitterness that makes you want to come back for another sip

What could possibly go wrong?

Not overly hoppy or grassy on the nose on opening, more sweetness if anything.

Looks great on the pour, lovely orange brown colour, with a lovely fluffy head that looks so inviting. The aroma doesn't take off in the glass, it still leans to sweet.

First mouth-sip is an explosion that slips by in a thrice. Which is where it gets interesting.

There is a lot more grassiness than the aroma would indicate, and the finish is dry but not arid, the dip in the middle though, that caught me out.

This then is lighter than you might expect, you can pick the carbonation bubbles if you want to, the grassiness is more mown grass, and not at all aggressive, there is a softer edge to it, which is a good thing.

The dryness is interesting, again it seems to be muted down in a clever way leaving you with a beer that satisfies the most of the taste profile and finishes with that immediate thought of "lets sip again".

Of course it might be that it's just an IPA and a style I appreciate. But I'm drinking this take on the style, so focus.....

I do like that toffee sweet aroma. Like that burst around the mouth of the bitterness and I like the pause and then the dryness on the tongue. I like that.

There isn't a lot to suggest that this is a 8% ABV beer, I mention that because it could be easy to forget and quaff like a thirsty man, get all squiffy and that's an early night, thank you.

I could sum this up as, talk a big game, delivers a quite deceptively good beer, it's not overly loud, aggressive or in-your-face, and despite there being, to my mind, a gap between the front and the finish this really is a well rounded beer that deserves a bit of attention.

I've also ended with that interesting sticky lips thing. If you get it you'll get it.

Whilst I wanted this to be more, and I'm convinced in my head there is something skipped in the middle I've found myself smiling and foot-tapping away, and you can tell from wittering that I'm enjoying drinking, as this really is a live blog of sorts, I sip, I ponder, I write. I have a lot to say, except that it's mostly the same thing. How good this is.

You know it all IPA beer could be this accessible, and take you on a bit of a journey then it'd be great, however sometimes you need to have someone doing it "a bit good' to make you appreciate that the IPA and dIPA things are very diverse and a there are many good ones, and sometimes, like this, a great one. Get in!

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 10 a of its things from the thing. Because only because I started thinking that this was somehow short of a trick, or missing a trick, and found that it was me that was being tricked because the more you sip and ponder the more this really does touch a nerve, and light up the room.

The double dip review

Am I enjoying it? It's a slow burner, but it doesn't waver and first to last this is a bit of a cracker.

Would I have another? I know where there is a fresh keg just on tap, but it'll be gone soon enough, I don't think that this is going to be a regular beer.

Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? I so would, I'd bring a few, and come armed with questions about politics, weather and religion. Or weird questions about science and speed of light travel.

It was kind of a Damien Jurado kind of evening, he's an American indie rock singer/songwriter from Seattle. You can listen to some of his stuff here on Spotify.

This is a track "Silver Timothy"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4sQz6Y5g88

IMPERIAL/DOUBLE IPA

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

There's another review here

Next Round: It's all about the IPA

Three Imperial IPAs

Friday, March 6, 2015

Beer - #554 - Behemoth - Tasty Beverage

Tasty Beverage! Indeed. Ideal beer for a film, some film music, film scores, and scores of people

Light in colour, big on flavour. Goes great with a big kahuna burger

This is from the FYO station, but it is available in bottles. So I have a 1 litre bottle of a beer that is 4.5% ABV, 30 IBU things, that would be mid pale-ale or pilsner bitter, the whole bottle 3.55 standard drink units in NZ, the other number it is 135 calories a serve or 415 ish for this bottle.

For the Behemoth Brewing Company I'm guessing this is brewed at The Twisted Hop and it's in the Style that is an American Pale Ale

Tasty beverage Extra Pala Ale, a tasty beverage that is made to session on.

[caption id="attachment_10553" align="alignleft" width="300"]

Travolta-esque pose[/caption]

Made with very pale malts and lots of late hopping with US Cascade and Citra hops, lots of hops but a nice tasty level of bitterness, nice and mellow and easy to session on.

Say what, say what again I dare you!

That really is bursting with aroma on opening, all that Citra trying to get out.

It's a very pale yellow golden pour and with a small but nice looking persistent head, doesn't seem too carbonated not that you can see bubbles in the glass.

Initial impression is "that is a tasty beverage" the bitterness and hopiness really are on point as they say.

Even has a finish that is towards the dry, which isn't a bad thing, and probably expected. A full mouth lingering bitterness too.

Sip some more.

There is a lot of lemon type bitterness in this, but it really is sharp or short on the palate. It's interesting trying to pick this.

IS a 'full body beer' not by any stretch could you call this a full beer, it seems to have a couple of peaks in there with a missing bit in the trough. 'Thin' isn't the right way to describe this.

Yes there is. "Sessionable" is a word for a beer that you can drink, entertains you without being noisy and cumbersome and delivers a consistent profile and enjoyment.

This has cracking aroma, is carbonated at just the best point, giving it a soft fluffy-ness and has that ideal level of bitterness that keeps you interested without being intrusive or the be-all and end-all of the beer.

All-in-all then a solid drinkable beer that goes down well and leaves you satisfied, looking forward to another and sensible enough that you'd enjoy it.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 8 random things a of its things from the thing. Despite it's lager type bitterness I don't think that this would appeal to the everyman drinker, it still tip more towards the bitter and therefore IPA/Pale Hopped beers rather than the malt and grain ones. That's just the way it is.

The double dip review

Am I enjoying it? It is rather tasty.

Would I have another? Slakes the thirst without making you a bit squiffy and so sure I'd venture a couple of glasses more.

Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? Of course, ideal sharing beer this, the royale-with-cheese of beers.

So how could you go past some weird music. With that I'm listening to Immigrant Union who are an Australian psychedelic folk/country band from Melbourne.

This is a track called "Alison" from their new album of music,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBD8ijJcEW0

I'm pretty much yeah, na..... tried it didn't really like it. But I did listen.

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

8 New Beers You Should Know

Mapped: London's Breweries And Brewpubs By Borough

Sunday, February 8, 2015

Beer - # 540 - Weezledog/Behemoth - Whinging Pom

Mixed beer, Mix-tape music, mix up the numbers and a mixed soiree.

A solid malt backbone and English yeast provide the base for this IPA with a Kiwi twist.

A Fill-your-own bottle (1 litre) that contains beer of 6% ABV, this bottle contains about 540 calories in total, and about 4.73 standard drink units.

A collaboration between Behemoth Brewing Company and Weezledog Brewing Company this is a beer in the style of an English India Pale Ale (IPA), and they're based in Auckland.

[caption id="attachment_10331" align="alignleft" width="300"]

A New T-Shirt ![/caption]

Solid English style malt base with a hefty dose of Kiwi hops, fermented with an English yeast strain

This beer uses NZ Malt and Hops and a English Yeast strain It has a big malt and big hops, solid bitterness and finishes nice and dry.

Not your average English IPA but hey we had to give the Poms something to whinge about.

So being an Englishman I'm happy to cast my eye over this, and what could go wrong with that ?

Looks great in the bottle, orange brown goodness.

Aroma is of a nice hop, and a strongish hint of the English yeast.

Pour is without a head which I didn't expect.

My initial and first thoughts are, lemons, thin and the bitterness is nice. But that was all I thought, I wasn't rushing back to grab a second quaff.

Short sentences give away that there is a conflict going on in my head. I'm all fine and dandy with extending a style, or pushing a limit, but when you try to maths styles together then there is going to be a break point. I don't think I'm the only one that thinks that this is a bit muddled and under delivers for what it is supposed to be. I don't recall English beer being thin in the middle they always seems to talk load them somehow, sure they could be short on bitterness but never thickness, in general.

This collaboration, did brewer [A] have ingredients for something missing and brewer [B] have an idea and some things but no plan? As a way to monetise things fair play, this is a keg only beer, not quite upto bottle and shelf standard whereas I'd try a new beer on tap because, well, that's the done thing and you sometimes buy on a whim and prayer and promise of delivery.

I know this to be true because I've experienced the highs and lows of trying new tap keg beers. Not that I'm an expert.

Another review then when I waffle on about the reasons for the beer rather than the beer.

Back to the beer then.

It has a malty sweetness that carries the light bitterness, it doesn't have a middle but the finish is short and somewhat dry but not arid on the tongue. It is a pleasant and enjoyable beer, but it isn't a thing, it's not wowing me or making me have a revelation. It is a nice summer evening in the sun beer though, very easy drinking, mostly probably because the sweetness appeals to me rather than the hops or bitterness lighting up the palate.

As an Pom I don't feel I'm whinging when I say that this isn't the best beer I've ever had.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as a 7 of its things from the thing that is uses. I don't really know about this, it's not tragic but it is a bit boring and dull, against my own measure of fun and exciting that is, I don't want to disparage the brewers, they make some well good beer in general.

The double dip review

Am I enjoying it?

Would I have another?

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

It came to pass that Concrete Blonde had an outing on the music machine, and their album "Bloodletting" the third studio album by American alternative rock band.

Try this version

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFc2Qs49VkA

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.

US based brewing company sells beer named after Mahatma Gandhi, Indo-Americans upset

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

Brewery Sorry for Gandhi Beer

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Beer - #519 - Behemoth - Hopped Up On Pils

Another of the summer of FYO (tap) beers, this one the Behemoth "Hopped Up On Pils"

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

A bottle of one litre of a 5% ABV beer, being 30 IBU things, and in total about 450 calories in the bottle, and that all makes about 3.94 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_10137" align="alignleft" width="300"]

Sun Tan coming along nice[/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?

Heavy fruit aroma, like peaches, passionfruit, when I flipped the lid on the bottle, and a gentle hiss.

It really is nicely carbonated and effervescent, the colour is really pale gold, ad the head didn't disappoint, and stays around a bit.

In the glass you get a much more predominant grass aroma nd much sharper sour citrus.

Then you get a confusion of tastes that somehow seem to work or make sense. Although hopped up the bitterness is fairly restrained and den's dominate this in the middle or the finish. You get a tip of tongue hop bitter followed by a clean and refreshing beer.

I find myself wanting to be kinder in my thinking in this, and I'm enjoying it as a refreshing beer that meets my immediate need there doesn't seem to be enough to entertain and engage me.

The aroma portends something that isn't delivered in the same way, as if somehow they've dialled down the bitter in the bitterness that is suggested by the hop aroma.

It has an understated 'bite' that you know is familiar to Pilsener beers but it again is more to the front and soft and doesn't carry or give this a lift.

Disappointed? I'm not sure what I was expecting, it's almost like the brewer had hop for beer A and yeasts for beer B and based on science decided in that order it might work. It is drinkable and isn't quirky or confused in the palate. Mostly because there isn't a lot in it. Being really cruel I'd suggest 'thin' of body, length and finish.

I don't like not liking a beer. Beer is wonderful and a thing of great beauty sometimes. Then there is just beer that archives a function, this might be that beer, it's just a beer, no more no less. It might have odd beginnings and ingredients but unless you drink aroma first, because this is full of aroma, then you are going to get a shock because I wanted more 'bite' somewhere, and I didn't get it.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 7 a of its things from the thing. It really pains me to consign this to the 'average' level, but if it doesn't do it then it doesn't do it. Session beer? yes totally. Would I do a session with this? In my heart of hearts I know I'd be bored, and although as it warms the hop aroma get stronger for me this didn't translate into the taste or mouthfeel.

The double dip review

Am I enjoying it? It is sunny, I've been out and about, this has been an enjoyable beer to start my evening and before I get to the cooking the BBQ.

Would I have another? I don't know that, say compared to the Moa Cologne, that this would win, so no.

Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? You could sneak this one in, but It isn't a gateway beer for a dyed in the wool commercial beer drinker.

So I'm listening to "The Twilight Sad" who are a Scottish post-punk indie rock band. They have an album "Nobody Wants to Be Here and Nobody Wants to Leave"

This is the lovely "There's a girl in the corner"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8H38U4nZag

The music is all moody and broody a bit like I'm feeling now.