Beer - #653 - Sawmill - IIPA

Mystery beer, mystery mix, mystery number, and mystery guest

a bit of nonsense here from the brewers notes

A keg only beer from the FYO station this works out to  285 calories a serve size, being 9.5% ABV and  70 IBU things, this would make it 7.5 standard drink units

Brewed by Sawmill Brewing Company in the style Imperial IPA and they are in Leigh, New Zealand

Usually I'd have a bit of nonsense here from the brewers notes or cribbed from other sources, but guess what?, nothing on the webs, nothing on the websites, nothing on the twitter, the instagram and all the other places I thought of looking and some I didn't. 

So I'm flying blind as it were, and then what follows is usually a load of nonsense plucked from the pretty word ensemble to make a pretty sentence. Seriously.... 

... what could possibly go wrong?

Beer - #652 - Liberty - Pacific Rim

Winner beer, winner music, winning numbers and winners party

As the Japanese say, “Hayaku”(hurry up)…

From the fill station, a keg only beer, giving me 1 litre of a beer that is 6.4% ABV, making this  5.0 Standard drinks per litre - this is around the 190 calories a serve size.

Brewed by Liberty Brewing Co in the style that is India Pale Ale (IPA) and they're based in Auckland, New Zealand

So juicy is the hop flavour and aroma, you'd be forgiven for mistaking it for a fresh hop brew.


This Limited Edition American style IPA continues Liberty’s tradition of taking on exciting craft beer projects, blending hops from New Zealand and America with the rare, but distinctive Sorachi Ace hop from Japan.

Packed with fresh tones of lemon grass, dill and tea, this bone dry beer has incredible length of bitter flavours and a slightly salty finish making you want to reach for the salt and pepper squid.

As the Japanese say, “Hayaku”    (hurry up).

So what could possibly go wrong?  The beer was an overnight success, taking out the People’s Choice at the highly regarded 2015 West Coast IPA Challenge.

Beer - #650 - 4 Horsemen - Hopocalypse (2015)

A beer by any other name, a year ago " Hallertau – Hopocalypse IIIPA 2014" since then they've agreed on and sorted out the name, I wouldn't have been that remiss would I to have got it wrong last time. Anyway same again, same again, same again and same again please.

Could you add anymore hops to one beer

This is a 500ml bottle of a beer that is 14% ABV, 250 IBU things, but that might not be reliable, and that is over 400 calories a serve size, and  a whopping 5.52 standard drink units in the bottle.

Four Horsemen Of The Hopocalypse is brewed by Steam Brewing Company this is in the style that is  Imperial IPA and that's around the corner from in in Riverhead Auckland, New Zealand

4 Horsemen of the Hopocalype.

Intergalactic Imperial India Pale Ale. 2015 Edition

Four Horsemen of the Hopocalyse – a collaboration with four of the most hop driven brewers in New Zealand.

Joseph Wood from Liberty Brewing, Steve Plowman from Hallertau, Kelly Ryan and Luke from Epic. 

Could you add anymore hops to one beer?

So what could possibly go wrong?

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.

Beer - #628 - Beavertown - Bloody ’Ell - the threepeat

Bottle, keg and now the can, The first beer I can recall where I've had all three versions. The still amusingly named beer from Beavertown -  Bloody ’Ell which I've had before in a bottle, and also from the keg.

"With every sip I get a little sad because I know it's coming to an end."

This version comes in a  330ml can, which contains a 7.2%ABV beer, which is of  70 IBU things, This can would be around 1.87 drinks in NZ, this is 216 calories in this serve size.

Brewed by Beavertown in the style that is an India Pale Ale (IPA) and they are in Hackney Wick, England.

We have never brewed a straight IPA at Beavertown, why change the habit of a lifetime!

[caption id="attachment_11424" align="alignright" width="300"] Man and a Can[/caption]

Here we take a stripped back IPA malt bill and highly hop it with the tropics of Amarillo and Citra and pile head on with kilos of Blood Orange zest and juice late in the boil, bringing you a smack of citrus and hints of warm orange aromas.

Softly carbonated with an oily mouthfeel, Bloody 'Ell is dry but sweet and fruity but bitter. Above all- it is awfully more-ish.

So what could possibly go wrong?

Popping the tab releases an immediate bust of grass citrus hop aroma, that is always welcome of course.

Pour is light marmalade orange and there is a local y white head of fluffiness. The aroma is light of hops, and a hint of a citrus.

Coarse dryness finish to a bitter front that leaves a tang in your mouth, It is very dry, particularly at the front middle of the tongue.

There is an orange zest or orange peel undertone to this that makes it quite exciting to drink without it being overly sweetening or intruding, it's a feature.

Lovely soft bitterness, lovely soft orange citrus notes and it just looks great in the glass, the head persistent and a lovely lacing in the glass as you sip.

The real pity is that there is just the one can, but that doesn't mean that I can't go get more cans, just not tonight.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 9 a of its things from the thing. This is nice, nicer than I recall from the bottle or the keg, the bottle I can understand but this, from a can seems to be rather spectacular. lips smacking good.

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? This has really exceeded my expectations, it's like a taste explosion, a controlled demolition, it's all on point.


2. Would I have another? I've had three deliveries of this and the Can appears to win, couldn't drink it from the tin though, has to be in a glass.


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? I most certainly would be bringing this the the next shindig.

Music for this was ' Against Me! ' and ' Transgender Dysphoria Blues '  the sixth studio album by the punk band. Now forgive me if I smirk at it being 'Punk', particularly as I grow up right in that Punk Rock explosion around 1974.  Anyhow listen here on Spotify.  It is reasonably listenable and enjoyable

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEE7iw5WYJI

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.

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• 21 Session IPAs, Ranked


• BEHEMOTH To Unleash Black IPA Beer - "Magick Is Happening!"

Beer - #627 - Bach Brewing - Duskrider *keg*

Duskrider - a Red IPA.  New old beers, new music, old numbers and a party is a party.

a ruby-red hue and a hop-forward fix

I have from the FYO station a 1 litre bottle of beer that is 6% ABV,  making it 4.73  standard drink units in NZ, and this 180 calories a serve size

For Bach Brewing Ltd this is brewed at Steam Brewing Company in the style that is of  India Pale Ale (IPA) and that happens in Auckland, New Zealand

[caption id="attachment_11410" align="alignleft" width="300"] It is very very red[/caption]

DuskRider is brewed with specialty malts for a ruby-red hue, and a hop forward fix of tropical fruits and citrus from US Cascade, Amarillo, Citra and Nelson Sauvin.

What could possibly go wrong? Well I've had this before and thought it was very impressive, it was from a bottle, and it was a while ago, I wonder if fresh from the keg is different.

It is a pomegranate red red beer, it's quite the thing.

Pop the flip top and a burst of hop aroma, grassy pine sweetness, it's a pretty smelling beer.

The picture does not to the red-ness of the pout justice, it is a lovely ruby/brown thing with a lovely white head of some substance.

Taste, well does not quite reach those giddy heights, but it is lightly bitter, and has a pervasive mouthfeel, but nothing by way of intrusive finish. It seems to be a pretty much front of mouth beer. If that makes sense, or another way might be all taste up front and enjoyable and no after-taste.

The tastes are of many things like fruits, and more tropical fruits, apricots, peaches and the like. This is an all action up front in-your-face (mouth) beer. There is no run-up it's all on all-in.

This is a fine drinking beer that delivers immediately and has no other surprises or layers to unravel before you, which is why I think it has such a strong following and fan base.

Where I now admit that I am really enjoying this, but also at the same time a bit annoyed by it as well, because it isn't all goodness and light, nectar and honey, no it isn't, and I'm not just being controversial.

Might as well go with the things I don't like about it, or the bits that annoy me bits, which are, in no order;

That it is what it is, you get it all first up, it does not develop. That might be all.

The aroma in the glass is almost stop the traffic wonderful. Sugar sweetness like toffee and a grassy carry,

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 9 a of its things from the thing. It is a thing of beauty and wonderment, it is balanced even steady predictable and enjoyable, it isn't edgy peaky bitter dry or challenging. It is a very very nice beer nicely done.

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? I am in wonderment but not rapture.


2. Would I have another? You know I would, stop teasing!


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? You could take this out to your grandmothers and nothing would be said, and the beer drinkers would enjoy it and not have to say they did or comment they didn't, it's just good, very good.

' X Ambassadors ' and ' VHS  '  which I have on the spotify. They're an American alternative rock band from Ithaca, New York. It's that thumpy thumpy music that makes good well lit moody videos perhaps. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzP5KsYSGD0

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 - #626 - Ballast Point - Sculpin IPA *Redux*

I can't help it that I'm easily led. This time astray by the Ballast Point - Sculpin IPA. Again.

Something that has a sting but tastes great

At 7% ABV a one litre bottle is about 6.8 standard drink units in NZ, and some 210 calories a serve size. Comes in at 70 IBU things. 

Brewed by Ballast Point Brewing Company in the style of an India Pale Ale (IPA) and of course near Sea World in San Diego, California USA.

The Sculpin IPA is a testament to our humble beginnings as Home Brew Mart. Founded in 1992, the Mart continues to be a catalyst for the San Diego brewing scene, setting the trend for handcrafted ales.

[caption id="attachment_11402" align="alignleft" width="300"] I know what's coming![/caption]

Inspired by our customers, employees and brewers, the Sculpin IPA is bright with aromas of apricot, peach, mango and lemon. Its lighter body also brings out the crispness of the hops.

This delicious Ballast Point Ale took a Bronze Medal at the 2007 Great American Beer Festival in the Pro Am category.

The Sculpin fish has poisonous spikes on its fins that can give a strong sting. Ironically, the meat from a Sculpin is considered some of the most tasty. Something that has a sting but tastes great, sounds like a Ballast Point India Pale Ale.

So what could possibly go wrong with that?  I remember being a bit middling. I also know that this is regarded as being a bit of a winner. 

Aroma is sticky sweet pine, very rich sweet., the aroma is quite subtle and muted really, it's not a bit boast of a thing.

Pour is lovely golden orange with an excitable large fully white head os some substance. The aroma remains quite and reserved, a hint of grass and pine, but an over-riding sweetness. It's very inviting.

It's a burst of bitterness carried on a lovely sweet malt, delivering a lovely citrus fruity mouthfeel and a slightly to the dry finish, but not arid.

You can tell why this remains a firm favourite of IPA drinkers, it has pretty much all the boxes ticked, without any of the IPA madness that you can also get.

It's not shy on the alcohol content either, with it being slightly stronger than some beers, it's not a session beer, despite it's session drinking taste and profile.

Then though, what is is you want from a top shelf IPA? Well I'd have expected, bitterness, warm sweetness in the middle, some pine or citrus thing like grapefruit perhaps and a dry finish. Somehow this manages to dial down the bitterness and the sweet backbone somewhat, making this a very good standard IPA, but not memorable.

Thing is there are lot of really good middle-of-the-road IPA beers available, and I know that sometimes you keep reaching for the next level, this one though seem content to be in the pack and the the middle. Which is fine, because this is a fine beer. A very fine beer. Where I remember to remember that it's about this beer, not the beer I think I'm having or want, but the one I have.

I left it for a bit, and when I came back it had become 'sticker' in the tastes, a lot more resinous and piney, and sticky and lingering, all those things.  Does it make it better?

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 8 of its random things from the thing. It's very good, but it's then somehow it's become a middle of the pack beer. At one point this was the bar though, and it needs to be enjoyed and appreciated because it's very good. 

The double dip review

• Am I enjoying it? Yes, it really is accessible, enjoyable and moorish, it's just good.


• Would I have another? I've had a few, they're always the same, enjoyable etc etc


• Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? There is no reason that this wouldn't be welcome to any beer drinker, I'm sure the bitterness wouldn't or shouldn't put off any beer drinker, but I've been known to be wrong.

Music for this.  ' Tito & Tarantula '  who are an American chicano rock/stoner rock band formed in Hollywood California in 1992. This is a track  ' After Dark Snake Dance '

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvnL4dtqIY8

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 - #625 - Rogue - Juniper Pale Ale *redux*

The BeerJerkNZ beerclub beer of the week is the   Rogue Juniper Pale Ale which is a beer I've previously had, but you know things change and so here we go again...

A pale ale, saffron in color with a smooth malt balance, floral aroma with a dry spicy finish from whole juniper berries

This is the smaller 12fl oz, 355ml in old money bottle, which has beer of  5.2% ABV, being about 1.5 standard drinks in NZ. Also this is 34 IBU - which is low end English Bitter, mid range porter bitter, and it comes in at 156 calories a serve size.

Brewed by Rogue Ales this is in the Style of an American Pale Ale - and they are in Newport, Oregon USA 'merica!

Juniper berries don't taste like other berries because they are not berries. They are actually a sort of fleshy pine cone. Which explains the fresh, clean, citrus, pine flavour of juniper.

This is the traditional predominant flavour in gin.

[caption id="attachment_11398" align="alignright" width="300"] Unshaved man and a beer[/caption]

This floral, hoppy beer is infused with whole Juniper berries to give it a unique flavour. The sweet malt base and light carbonation work perfectly to support the dry resin-y flavour or the hop and juniper combo.

Different but drinkable, we are fans.

Juniper Pale Ale, like all Rogue products preserves water by using more ingredients, contains no chemicals, additives or preservatives and uses Free Range Coastal Water.

“When I read about the evils of drinking, I gave up reading"
- Paul Hornung

What could possibly go wrong ? HA! he said, I've heard all that before, but what does a Juniper berry really taste like anyway?

It's a yeasty bready aroma on opening, pour is a hazy range golden with a small (well no) head, in either glass.

Taste is a mix of tangy bitterness, and the aroma moved to something akin to mushrooms, which is not at all what you might expect. 

It is well carbonated, and that somewhat has an effect on the way you taste this, having to push through that fuzziness. It does have quite a long taste with a more middle tongue linger and finish, and then a dryness. 

It's not an easy beer to drink, and it does begin to develop a gin-like flavour (from memory it's been a while since I had the Gin out) but I recognise that tartness. 

Thankfully the aroma settles into something sweeter and bit more enjoyable. Don't think I'll be adding a slice and ice though, or tonic, or anything else. 

So unlike any hoppy pale ale that I've ever had, even ig you persuade yourself that the front notes are hop based this is tart and not bitter where it should be, and that tartness is the predominant taste, which battles for the finish over the dryness that this has.

Possibly a clever beer, but it might just too clever for it's own good, but I say that knowing that it's a staple and regular brew from Rogue, and one of the few beers they make that I've had that I can connect with, or enjoy. 

As I drink more it began to fell like an epic non-ending journey, I took a photo of how that felt too, for comedy value mostly, but you get the idea that this wasn't a beer that going down in a hurry. 

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 6 a of its things from the thing. I really didn't like it. But it has one feature and that is played in spades, it's not like a mystery beer, it's all on the label and in the literature . I did note that from other sources that this rates around the 7/10 based on a lot of feedback, so I'm not so far off. 

The double dip review 

• Am I enjoying it? Sadly I'm not, but I wanted to, it's not the first time I had it, I thought I might have been wrong first time around. Sadly I wasn't.


• Would I have another? I don't think I could 


• Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? Not a chance.

Music for this one, well ' The Orange Humble Band '  an alternative rock band, also a bit of rock, power pop, folk, country, bluegrass.  I would have said soft pop. They're from Australia.  The album is ' Depressing Beauty ' you can listen on the Spotify here or most the other places I imagine.

Couldn't find a new video clip, but try this from an earlier work

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obQ77g5DPtQ

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.

Related articles

• Beer | Rogue Juniper Pale Ale


• Low-alcohol session IPA is the hot beer trend for summer

Beer- #618 - Coronado - Islander IPA

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

What would a mermaid drink?‏

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

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

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

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

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

So what could possibly go wrong?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The double dip review

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

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

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

INDIA PALE ALE & IPA

India Pale Ale gets its name and unique style from British brewers who were making beer for export to India. This style has an intense hop flavor which was used to preserve the beer for the long voyage. India Pale Ale has a golden to copper color with a medium maltiness and body. The aroma is moderate to very strong. IPAs work especially well at cutting the heat of chili, vindaloo or Sichuan cuisine.

Beer - #610 - McLeods - Great Migration IPA

"The Great Migration", from McLeod's, a brewer in  Waipu that has morphed from or grown from being a pizza joint into something much bigger.

A Beautiful Monster

A 500ml bottle of a beer that is 6.8% ABV, so thats about 2.7 standard drinks, and 208 calories a serve size.

Brewed by the mysterious McLeod’s Brewery, this is in the style that is India Pale Ale (IPA), and they are in Waipu which is a ways north of me here in Auckland.

Big and bold, like the journey and those early settlers that took it on. A complex and flavoursome hop forward beer. Not for the faint of heart!

Slainte

[caption id="attachment_11211" align="alignleft" width="300"] A man with a great expectation let alone a great migration[/caption]

Ballsier than a 600km journey to find home. Big and bold whilst still satisfying.

Mighty citrus power is balanced with plentiful malts to make this a drinkable IPA.

A Beautiful Monster.

So what could possibly go wrong?

Nothing overly obvious in the aroma, other than I think it's sweet, as in sugary not 'sweet' as in 'Dude, sweet ride'.

Lovely dark chestnut pour with a decent air filled head of pure white that seems quite persistent.

I get an aroma that might be grapefruit in the glass, or sweeter like passion fruit, more likely the latter.

And that has a really interesting grassy hoppy bitterness, interesting in a brilliant and unusual way, and a grassy pine dry finish at the other end. One eyebrow raised a little, this is surprisingly a bit good.

I say surprising as in it's not really a widely known beer, and surprising as it should be.

Lots of those little point flavours like the passion fruits, the roughness of fresh grass, the under stated malt the lovely flavour on the dry finish, it's quite an understated performer and a bit of a gem really, and a really good take on the IPA style, a beer to savour enjoy and reflect upon.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 8 of its things from the thing. It is rather unusual to find a take on an IPA that isn't hop heavy or hop fronted that has allowed a bunch of flavours to be fore and centre.  8 is very good of things,  I think it might, for me, needed a bit more punch of malts and backbone, and although the flavour points have come to play I might become jaded and tired of them as it becomes more fruity as it warms, and therefore impression that might be just too sweet.

The double dip review

Am I enjoying it? I am, it's rather engaging and enjoyable, has a lot of things to like and a lot of things to take your attention.
Would I have another? I would indeed I bet it's good fresh on the tap, I might have to plan a trip.
Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? I would because this isn't an in-your-face beer, it's all a bit understated and engaging and you end up sipping and supping and just enjoying things.

Music for this is a NZ artist, Anika Moa, who has a new album called 'Queen at the Table', which you can listen to here on the Spotify, and all the other places probably. It isn't at all what you might expect.

This is a live version of 'Running'

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

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 - #606 - Rocky Knob - Snapperhead

More IPA beer, seems to be the beer of the moment, Rocky Knob, a brewer new to me, and their dIPA - SnapperHead.  So I have New brewers, new bands, new numbers and new guy at a party.

Finishes tropical yet bitter on the palate.

Keg version of this, so 1 litres of a beer that is 7.4% ABV,  that would be 222 calories a serve size, 70 IBU things, and this would be 5.84 standard drink units in NZ.

Brewed by Rocky Knob Brewing in the style that is  Imperial IPA and they are in Mt Maunganui, New Zealand

[caption id="attachment_11140" align="alignleft" width="300"] New brewer, new beer, same old me[/caption]

A blend of Citra and Nelson Sauvin hops mean that this big boy weighs in with a fresh tropical punch on the nose and backs it up with a rich, passion fruit tang.

Finishes tropical yet bitter on the palate.

So what could possibly go wrong?

Well 'big boy' and 70 IBU don't go together, 70 is lowish for a double which normally chyme in at around 80. Anyhoo...

Passion fruit is the big first aroma out of the bottle that hold back what seems to be a well carbonated beer. It's quite sweet at hop beer aromas go.

Lovely pour of the light golden brown beer that forms a lovely persistent head, the passion fruit aroma is there, along with something like grapefruits.

Surprised much! that is a cracking first sip. Lots of up front favours mask the bitterness then a warmth and then the slightly to dry finish.  Definitely a full flavour beer. All of it not just the first or the last this has a lovely profile.

The bitterness is nice, it catches you as the aroma as you are about to drink distracts you with the fruitiness, which transfers to the tongue. Joy abounds.

MrsPdubyah just passed a remark that this beer has a lot of aroma, she's in a different room! I'd call that a result. Of sorts, she won't of course try the beer, it tastes yuk.

It's not all fantastic news though, despite the crushingly good first impression this does, on reflection, and more quaffing, has a lack of real body punch. But I have 2/3rds of the bottle left I've been quietly supping, and I'm really looking forward to drinking it, as the dryness grows at the finish and the citrus mellows at the front and the bitterness just bites you.

I gave myself a pat on the back for buying this, it is after all another IPA, and that is a difficult field.

This is a beer that comes in two delivery styles as far as I can tell, keg/tap or pre-filled 1 litre growlers. I squish tested the bottles in the shop and they were soft, where I would have thought they should have been firm/hard to the squeeze, carbonation and all that, but I'm not prepared to spends coins to test that out though, I'm probably wrong, possibly, but from my days of home-brew an plastic bottles I don't think I am.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 9 of its things from the thing. I'm having a lovely time drinking this, it is very engaging and entertaining, lots to chew on and ponder about, and to pick where it could be calmer or more aggressive or better.  It's lovely drinking beer, even if the dryness creeps up on the palate and numbs it somewhat, sometimes that is what the doctor calls for.

The double dip review

Am I enjoying it? Oath! yes I am.
Would I have another? I would so consider a refill tomorrow this has been lovely.
Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? I sure would, you could be lost in this for an evening, of easy going drinking, because it's slightly at the end where too many would make you a bit wobbly.

Music for this 'The Replacements' who are an American rock band formed in Minneapolis, Minnesota , in 1979, and are considered pioneers of alternative rock. From 'Don't tell a soul' this is "I'll be you' you can find them on the Spotify and all the other places if you look

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6cud1gp4RE

Whilst you're listening you might want to pop over to see what Simon Says about beer and the Athlone Beer club he suggested the music that I'm currently listening to. I'd be honest and say they have some highlights and a some not so good stuff, but hey it's a lot of music and songs over a lot of time, and not every album, if any, is a perfect work of goodness. Glad I listened though, if you don't challenge yourself you can't expect to be informed.

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.

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Beer - #597 - Baylands - Woodrows Veto IPA

Friday means it is time for  Baylands Brewery and their Woodrows Veto IPA, from the keg. I've had this previously from a can I thought it was a bit good then.

A big hoppy IPA packed with American hops as recognition of Wilson Woodrow's hard work

1000ml of a bottle of 7% ABV beer, which makes it 5.52 standard drink units,  and it comes in at around 210 calories a serve, plus  it's a handy 65IBU things as well.

Brewed by Baylands Brewery this on in the style that is  American Pale Ale or IPA as it says on the tin. They are in Wellington, New Zealand

[caption id="attachment_11045" align="alignleft" width="300"] The look of anticipation[/caption]

A big fruity IPA that’s loaded with American hops. 

Named in honour of Woodrow Wilson who tried, unsuccessfully, to veto the Prohibition bill.

So what could go wrong?

Aroma on popping the swing top is more syrupy grass than anything.

Pour is lovely dark orange with a small yet persistent head, it's clearly the beer doing that not me.

In the glass it's only mildly citrus fruity, that persistent head, yeah, na. The aroma is sweet malt, I can't go past that.

The taste though. It is softly bitter with a tang of grapefruit. The grapefruit is consistent with the last time I drank it.  I don't get the high hop content that I did last time though. Funny how different days do different things.

So, bitter, a bit drier on the palate and not so much the sweetness or the aroma.

I think that I'm beginning to overthink these things, my aim is to write what I think not second guess myself, focus!

Sadly though, tonight, at this time, I'm not really into this. I did have two really nice beers earlier in the pub, the Deep Creek Yin- a Sauvin based IPA and their Dominatrix a DIPA. But I've been busy with other things in the last 6 hours and I didn't think that it would have played a part? I'm not an expert.

For all that I've managed to drink a fair bit in no time at all.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 8 a of its things from the thing. Either I'm off or this is.  Off as in off form not funked or undrinkable off.  I think it's me. I may have had a few IPA beers recently and that might have given me the jaded outlook, I'm looking for the next big hit.

There was a bit of a feeding gap and I came back, it's warmed but hasn't really improved my mood, it's still lovely bitter, but it lacks the other things I remember and fondly recall.

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? I am, but not like I want to be.


2. Would I have another? I have another.


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? I might though, this is a fairly decent beer with no edges for the unwary, bitter, dry, tangy, even if I didn't get the aroma burst, it's still good enough to show off, even if we don't end up talking about it.

Music continued with David Gray, who  is an English indie rock singer-songwriter, so a bit of a throwback day. This is a track Please forgive me that I think is lyrically a bit good. This was off a best of that you can listen to here on the Spotify

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

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

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 - #596 - Beavertown - Bloody ’Ell

The still amusingly named beer from Beavertown -  Bloody ’Ell which I've had before in a bottle, this is from the keg.

"Blood Orange IPA" Zest and juice of blood oranges were put in the kettle at the end of the boil. Big rounded modern IPA full of orange flavours.

From the keg at the FYO station, 1 litre bottle of a 7.4% ABV beer,  220 calories give or take for a standard serve, and this in NZ is  5.68 standard drink units equivalent. Also this is 70 IBU things.

Brewed by Beavertown in the style that is an India Pale Ale (IPA) and they are in Hackney Wick, England.

We have never brewed a straight IPA at Beavertown, why change the habit of a lifetime!

[caption id="attachment_11028" align="alignleft" width="300"] Orange like a fake tan[/caption]

Here we take a stripped back IPA malt bill and highly hop it with the tropics of Amarillo and Citra and pile head on with kilos of Blood Orange zest and juice late in the boil, bringing you a smack of citrus and hints of warm orange aromas.

So what could possibly go wrong?

Looks great in the bottle, a cloudy orange, aroma on popping the swing top is mostly grass, and some sweetness of malt. Something vaguely spice too, a hint more than anything.

Pour is a cloudy orange  beer, with a lovely decent white and fluffy persistent head. I get much more pepper in the aroma, caught me a bit made me cough in surprise in the way it does.

Much less bitter than I remember with an interesting back of sweetness. It really is quite pleasant.

I remember from the last time I drank it that I thought it was bitterer and convoluted. From the keg I don't think the same.

This is really smooth drinking, I mean really smooth, there is no catch of bitterness up front. no tap of dryness at the back, the whole just washes over like a comfort. It is very comforting.

Don't know if the blood red oranges are for show though, I might have thought that there would be more tartness. Not disappointed though, this is a steady drink that I think I could be very happy with. Lucky really because I do have another glass and bit to go. No rush though, it'll be there when I get to it.

I'm going to let it warm up a bit, with restraint I can add since I'm keen to sit and enjoy. Who am I kidding.

Is it though an IPA to die for?, an IPA that is hop front and dry at the finish?, something that bangs it's drum in your mouth?. No, no and no. But that shouldn't be a show stopper, because as an IPA this is quite a good example, if a bit on the lower side of the peaks that I enjoy in a beer, it's all fairly restrained and a bit muted.

I like the citrus notes (there are some) and they dance around a bit, the finish becomes slightly drier, the whole becomes more a journey through a landscape. Which is quite poetic of me really, for a beer, I might need an intervention.

This is much nicer at the slighter warmer state, the grassiness is more, the citrus tang more, and the dryness states away, the overall very pleasing.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 8 a of its things from the thing. I go out of my way for a 8 beer on a tap. 8 beers on tap are wonderful things that need to be sought out.  A very mellow and enjoyable beer that I'd be happy to sit and have a few of in a pub and watch the world go by.

I'm off to study how to write haiku, this is worthy of one.

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? I seem to be at one with this beer, on this day and in this light, that is. It is much calmer and less bitter, and more soothing and edifying than I expected and that's a good thing.


2. Would I have another? Thank you kindly I think I will.


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? I would be happy to turn up with this and a section of a cheese and crackers to fill those gaps between the conversation, which today might be on all sorts of things moral and right.

Music for this was "The Brian Jonestown Massacre" an American neo-psychedelia band formed in San Francisco in 1990. The band's output spans psychedelic rock, folk rock and shoe gaze. This is from an album called "Musique de Film Imaginé", you can listen to the tracks on the Spotify here 

This is a track Philadelphie Story (with Soko)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_r3ddNGz1C8

The album is a soundtrack for an imaginary French film, and pays homage to the great European film directors of the late 1950’s and 1960’s such as François Truffaut and Jean-Luc Godard.

I have to say I found the album a bit of a challenge and not as good as the album "Revelation" which is like chalk to cheese and which I really do enjoy (also on the spotify here)

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.

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• Brian Jonestown Massacre - Musique De Film Imaginé

Beer - #593 - Renaissance - Grandmaster Fresh Hop IIPA

Renaissance Grandmaster Fresh Hop IIPA. Reminds me of some disco things. Anyway, memories, reminiscing, remainders and reunions.

Somewhere between a Barley Wine and an American Double IPA... So we thought we would tweak it…

a 9%ABV beer, at the fyo station, so I have 1 litre of beer, that's about 260ish calories a serve size,  and this would be 7.1 standard drink units

Brewed by Renaissance Brewing in the style: Imperial/Double IPA and they're in Blenheim, New Zealand

To brew this special Ale we have used large amounts of freshly harvested hops, and for that we have selected one of New Zealand sexiest hop varieties, Wai-Iti.

[caption width="300" id="attachment_10995" align="alignleft"] Doing my GrandMaster Flash and Melly Mel impression.[/caption]We drove over to Motueka early one March morning and got the hops fresh off the vines, then drove back to Blenheim and brewed with them in the afternoon.

Wai-Iti is part of NZ ‘Hops with a difference’ breeding program Wai-Iti bursts with mandarin and lime zest and leaves the ale with a smooth finish.

The huge soft bitterness is balanced by the malt sweetness of the base beer yielding a very drinkable heavy ale.

So then, what could possibly go wrong with that?

This is loudly hoppy aroma on opening, as you might expect, I didn't get a background sweetness, just a hop dash.

Grandmaster pouringpour gets the lovely orange brown beer with a lovely cloudy fluffy head that is all bubbles and just nice.

and.......Wow!

That is just spectacular, a gorgeous stop and gasp amount of malt sweetness a really gently and fantastic wash of bitterness and a finish as soft as a kiss.

[caption width="224" id="attachment_10996" align="alignright"] A picture of a divine creation[/caption]What a tickle up for the tastebuds this is, I've stopped to think, and I don't recall having a beer that has been this good for a while. It is really remarkable that it has such a soft and accessible palate for a beer that is a DIPA and 9%ABV.

As it warms, in the few moments that I've managed to stop sipping, this is developed a bit more and there is a real faint citrus tang, like limes, in the mix. Oh a joy to behold.

Another day when I should have learnt how to write a Haiku.

I love the lip smacking dryness the linger in the mouth of the faintly but persistent dry grassiness, the idea that I have another glass to drink and that I can buy more, in limited supply in the keg and thereof FYO,  but it's in bottles too.

I'd buy you this as a gift.

In the break between the first and second pours I went and had some dinner, as you do. Lamb Shanks. Anyway, the beer warms and the dryer end of the palate gets to the fore, which isn't such a bad thing. Still such a good beer.

What I'm really surprised about, is there is a #HopFresh15 thing going on at the moment, and my local "The Deep Creek Brewing Company" currently have three beers, called Yin, Yang and YinYang. They are made with Sauvin, Motueka and a combination of both. I really like the Yin (Sauvin) as it it's pretty aggressive and hoppy and bitter, the Yang (Motueka) is softer and calmer and I thought less, the combination was very very nice.  Anyway long story long, is that the GrandMaster Fresh is based around Motueka hops which are, by my experience, softer and rounder.  I learnt something today. Well yesterday, and remembered it today. I like the Sauvin hops, appears I like the Motueka ones just as much.

Who knew?

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 10 a of its things from the thing. I'm not even going to mess about trying to score it down and make light of the poetry, this really is a bit spesh (as the yoof might say). Lovely caramel malts, amazing bitter that isn't puckering, but more a wash, and a finish that is a bit of a kiss and an explosion (I might not have mentioned the explosion).

Not often that I get to the end of a beer and realise that it taught me something.

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? I proposed to it, it didn't reply but I'm sure it's thinking about it.


2. Would I have another? I am for sure going to go again, this is far to good not to.


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? This is spectacular, and just the ducks nuts, and if you didn't like it we couldn't be friends is how much this beer is good for the porch and the stories in my opinion. Bring a friend it's that good.

Musically, for a change, Kings of Leon, an American rock band that formed in Nashville, Tennessee. This from 'Mechanical Bull' is  -'Supersoaker;  you can listen to the album here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izzY55ACUQo

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.

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