Showing posts with label Coffee. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Coffee. Show all posts

Sunday, March 16, 2014

Beer - #325 - 8 Wired - C4 Double Coffee Brown Ale

Okie Dokie. 8 Wired C4 Double Coffee Brown Ale for perhaps the finale of the #PhilsBeerFest14 night in for Saturday

8 Wired Brewing do this of course  and they do it a  Renaissance Brewing, this one is in the style of a Brown Ale and they are located in Blenheim, New Zealand

8 Wired - C4In my opinion, coffee rivals beer for the title of "greatest beverage in the world". I often say that I would rather give up beer than coffee. So it is only natural that we would attempt to make a beverage that incorporates both. If we were to succeed, surely this would then become the greatest beverage in the world? After years of research and trials in the garage, I have come up with what I think is the perfect marriage of coffee and beer: A hoppy double brown ale, that compliments both the roasty and fruity aspects of the coffee without putting up too much of a fight. The coffee was selected in collaboration with the Christchurch institution C4 Coffee and consists mainly of lightly roasted, delicate and floral, Ethiopian beans. Worlds are colliding and, in my humble opinion, greatness is achieved on the other side. 


  • HOPS: Pacific Jade, NZ Cascade and Pacifica (click here, or  here )

  • MALT: Gladfield Pale, Crystal, Munich, Caramalt, Chocolate, Oats

  • YEAST: Wyeast 1272 - American Ale II



Which is a big lead in.

500 ml bottle of an 8% ABV, beer  being 3.15 standard dink units in NZ , This is 50 on the IBU thingy and  is 240 calories.  50 is around top end for Stouts.

8 Wired - C4Of course there is coffee on the opening.  But because you read the label.

I was expecting black as a pour, this is a really deep deep brown.

There is a lot more coffee aroma in the glass. The aroma of cold brewed coffee. Very earthy and raw.

But also a sweetness about it.

Nice pour and a decent head too. Onto a winner.

Stand by- this is like coffee infused beer. What!

Despite the knowing of the all of the things about this it comes as a surprise the delivery and the punch that this brings. Coffee coffee and a lovely long finish that isn't bitter or soft.

This is really clever, you get such a burst of coffee that you are completely tied up in that sensation. The bitterness is what you'd expect from coffee, and the finish is what you'd expect.

What gets you is that you are drinking this cold, and that really isn't a way you generally drink your coffee. But this so works.

No idea that this would be 8% ABV or even any ABV on beer. In pdubyah-world this would pass the lips of a coffee drinker without them realising it's alcohol. But probably not in the real world.

Some beers  give you big thing about other things aside from the coffee, like say for instance only, Chocolate. This tells you there is Double Coffee.

Double.

It's possibly got the most Coffee per beer by volume in the world. It's insane,

Such a lovely sweet tasting, full profile tasting beer, a work of art.

The pdubyah-o-meter seems intent on making this a 10.  I can't find a reason not to. Looks great, pours well, delivers grate aroma, taste like the label says it will.

A bit in love with this then, and will probably go get some more tomorrow if I'm not grounded after #PhilsBeerFest14 - one Saturday only.

If you like beer, and you like coffee, then get this, it really is a bit good.

I'm toying with the final bit on this, but they are good questions;

Am I enjoying this? Yes, double yes, I'm enjoying this very quickly.

Would I have another? If it was legal or something I'd go get one.

Would I sit out on an evening telling fibs and making up stories with a friend whilst drinking this? If we each had out own bottle(s) and a supply of  foodage. Because after this is Whiskey or somesuch.

BROWN ALE



Color ranges from reddish-brown to dark brown. Lower in alcohol than porter, medium to full body flavor. Appropriate foods are apple pie, pork with brown sauce, beef vegetable soup and cheddar.





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Sunday, December 29, 2013

Beer - #265 - De Molen - Kopi Loewak

Yet another beer to make it to the front of the fridge is this, the De Molen - Kopi Loewak.  Brewed by Brouwerij de Molen which is styled as an Imperial Stout in the lovely Bodegraven, Netherlands

As an aside : On september 17th 2013, De Molen has announced it will stop producing beers with Kopi Loewak coffee.

Back to the action though , the now familiar  330ml bottle of this, an 11.25% ABV beer, or 2.8 standard drink units in NZ, 336 calories it seems, and an IBU of 85 - which compares this to a Barley Wine.

Bottled on the 24th January, and best before 5 years later says the label. If only I had the patience.

Kopi LoewakKopi Luwak or Civet coffee is the most expensive coffee in the world. The high price is not because of the rareness of the coffee berries themselves but because of the special production process. The coffee berries are eaten by the Luwak - a civet cat. The beans however can not be digested by the Luwak and therefor can be found in their pooh. The beans are washed and slightly roasted. This whole process of eating, pooh, find the pooh and treat the berries is very time consuming. This is of course reflected in the price of the coffee. Real coffee connaisseurs highly appreciate this coffee. And what does Brouwerij de Molen do with it? We use it in our own production process of brewing beer. Our KopiLoewak is an Imperial Stout with incredible coffee flavours. Roasted and bitter like an expresso.

So beer made from ferret poo? said MrsPdubyah.

Hoping for a dark, coffee and chocolate drink, bit acidic and a great finish.

Really really rich coffee aroma on opening, alone a treat!

It's like cold drip coffee, it's really intense, and the soft carbonation gives it a really decent carry. The underlying bitterness isn't intruding and all in all this is a thoroughly entertaining beer.

What's not easily known is that this is a fairly strong beer, and that I should slow down and enjoy the experience rather than sip and smile, should introduce the pause..... Like the rugby strum mantra "touch, pause, engage"

As well as the coffee in this I get a sense of fruits in the palate. I Might be the only one to get that though.

De Molen - Kopi Loewak1Putting aside the irresponsible nature of harvesting the coffee, and the inherent cruelty of farming specifically for it, and only for the entertainment not as a byproduct this is something very clever indeed. I like the way the coffee aroma assaults your nose, and then it translates into the taste, and then carries on to a really decent finish. Just the right amount of carbonation and the thing that really let it down was for me the lack of head, which as you know with my drinking is a common theme, I need to investigate lessons.

The pdubyah-o-meter then says that this is a great 9's worth of beer in and of itself. Lacking a head, and because perhaps I'd have enjoyed more chocolate notes in this holds it back from me doing the high-five.

It is really easy drinking, really easy, and each mouthful is a coffee-bittersweet entertainment that just makes you want to go again. The bit about 'pause'... didn't happen. Definitely not for Lager drinker.Definitely not for Lager drinker. This isn't a spectacular stout as stouts are measured, but what it is is a spectacular use of coffee in beer.

I can say without doubt thought definitely not for Lager drinker.

MrsPdubyah chose the music tonight, Beyoncé, at least this offsets that a bit.

I left this to go cook on the barbecue, some Portuguese spiced chicken,  and came back to a few more sups. I'd found that as it had warmed it had altogether got softer and more rounded and complete.  You should if you can can get one.



Friday, November 8, 2013

Beer - #233 - AleSmith - Speedway Stout

Indeed, a highly regarded beer, the AleSmith Speedway Stout, Brewed by AleSmith Brewing Company in the style of a Imperial Stout and that all happened in the place with a Zoo, San Diego, California USA.

Alesmith - Speedway StoutSpeedway Stout is a HUGE Imperial Stout, with pounds and pounds of coffee added during conditioning for a little extra kick! This is a limited-edition Formula and it'll definitely get you racing! It is available in 750 ml. champagne bottles.


  • Appearance: Jet Black, with a toast-brown head.

  • Flavor: Starts with a strong coffee and dark chocolate sensation, then fades to a multitude of toasty, roasty and caramelly flavors. Finishes with a nice fullness but dry enough not to be cloying.

  • Aroma: COFFEE! And some other stuff. And coffee.

  • Mouthfeel (body/texture): Velvety smooth texture. Clean and crisp, full-bodied. Warmth from the high alcohol content lightens up the feel a bit. Still, you won't fool your taste buds -- this beer is HUGE!



750ml bottle of a 12% ABV beer. In NZ thats 7.1 standard drink units., the US 5.1 and in the UK 9.  As far as I can tell this has an IBU of around 70.

Peeve is that although this is presented with a foil wrap over the cap, it's a plain gold cap, no printing, just a plain old ten-a-penny cap. Just a peeve, doesn't make it taste better.

worryingly the foil has a chocolate aroma, I hope the cap was sealed.  It's ok it hissed, and a lovely deep chocolate/coffee aroma made me smile.

Intensely dark beer, with a nice head of dark brown fluffiness. Aroma is more subtle that the intense burst from the smaller neck of the bottle, more muted coffee than anything.

Big big mouthful of flavours, very full, the underlying bitterness is easily and generously compensated by the bag full of sweetness that this delivers.  Bittery tang on the length but it's in a good way.

This is really one of those beers tastes that you sit after drinking and are still marvelling at the taste profile, it really is a full on experience.

The notes above are somewhat pretty accurate, and I'm getting each and every one of those things. I can see why is is so highly regarded and rated, they say what it is and then it is what it is.

The pdubyah-o-meter cracks up to an easy 9.75, and I'm taking the quarter off because this might, for me, just be a little too sweet. Picky picky. But that's a 10 by any other name.  More Awesome than Great. #HappyFace.  I put the glass down and the pdubyah-o-meter ticked up the 10. Like it wasn't going to.

This is, though, to sum up, a really really good beer, the coffee/chocolate thing is awesome, the low bitterness is more than balanced, and the length of flavour and the whole profile is stunning.  The idea that this is one of the best beers "in the world" isn't so far fetched. From fond memory the Epic Coffee and Fig stout would give this a fair run for the money, and I do have a current year version coming up to try.

If this "is" and therefore sets the bar, then woe betide the pretenders.



Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Chores for Peace....

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="75"]Incandescent Bipin light bulb Incandescent Bipin light bulb (Photo credit: Wikipedia)[/caption]

I'm on a roll with the chores today, and you know how chores can be the mundane. So in no particular order (but actually the order I did them in);


  1. Change one of the tiny halogen light bulbin the kitchen

    • Find replacement bulb.

    • Take everything out of cupboard

    • Locate bulb

    • Put everything back in cupboard

    • Change bulb



  2. Change a different bulb in the kitchen

    • See step one and repeat





  3. [caption id="" align="alignright" width="75"]English: Advertising postcard, picture side, f... English: Advertising postcard,  (Photo credit: Wikipedia)[/caption]

    "Fix" washing machine

    • Washing machine "overflowed" in the week, it's my job to know why. Apparently.

    • Discuss possible causes, get ridiculed.

    • Decide that it's nothing more than generally blocked and needs a cleaner.

    • Mix cleaner, administer, wait a bit.

    • Discuss why it did not work a bit.

    • Ignore discussion and go for something a bit manual.

    • Get under sink, disassemble pipe "A".

    • Find pipe "A" has water in it, pour into sink.

    • Find towel to mop up under sink where you just poured all the water over yourself and floor

    • disassemble pipe "B"  that us attached to "A". being the "U shaped one.

    • Remove two clothes peg and about half a sock's worth of lint"

    • Do a little happy dance.

    • Ask wifey how a clothes peg in let alone two made it into the sink?

    • get reproachful look.

    • get back under sink.

    • reassemble pipes.





  4. [caption id="" align="alignright" width="75"]Français : Taille-haie Husqvarna 323 HD 60. Ta... Français : Taille-haie Husqvarna 323 HD 60. Taille-haie thermique standard. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)[/caption]

    Trim the garden hedge

    • Try to avoid this one, but whilst I was on chore 3 MrsPdubyah has been on the intertubes and the local hire pool is open

    • Wait for MrsPdubyah to change, since she wants to visit the burley man at the hire place

    • Hire hedge trimmer, industrial sized

    • Trim hedge to required standard and height, width and density.

    • Only nearly cut myself.

    • get sympathy.

    • get told to get on with the hedge.

    • get told to do the hedge at the back.

    • get supervised.

    • get told to do it some more

    • get a drink

    • get back onto the job

    • get told to do it some more

    • apparently "it's not even" is full and complete instruction on how to trim a hedge to a satisfactory standard

    • massacre hedge out of spite

    • get congratulated, how's that happen?

    • take trimmer back, pay the man, have blokey laugh about the peace I've just earned.





  5. [caption id="" align="alignright" width="75"]Coffee cup Coffee cup (Photo credit: @Doug88888)[/caption]

    Get Coffee

    • put petrol in car.

    • order coffee.

    • wait for coffee beans to grow.

    • wait for cow to be born.

    • wait until cow can produce milk.

    • I'm sure Oil is made quicker than this.

    • get home with luke warm coffee.

    • MrsPdubyah abandons gardening in favour of a magazine.

    • instead of music the gently whirl and beep of washing machine in the background





All is at peace in house, and all I have to do is buy some new bulbs and hide them for the next installment of change the bulb....