A life just as ordinary. Wherein I drink beer, and write badly
Showing posts with label Justsaying. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Justsaying. Show all posts
Monday, August 17, 2015
More heart than bubbles: All Good's fair trade drinks
I love a good soft drink and these might be the go. All Good Organics is a 100% New Zealand owned and operated company...
Friday, July 31, 2015
Beer - #645 - Tuatara - Tu-Rye-Aye
To be accurate - Tu-Rye-Aye Midnight Rye IPA - Emerging beer, Forgotten songs, count your own beat and beat a path to the gathering.
From the FYO station at the local outlet, this is 1 litre of beer that is 60 IBU things, 7.5% ABV, which would be 225 calories a serve size, and the bottle is 5.92 standard drink units.
Brewed by Tuatara Brewing Company in the emerging Style of Black IPA and they are still in Paraparaumu, New Zealand
Like the lyrics to Dexy’s famous song, rye refuses to be forgotten.
[caption id="attachment_11612" align="alignright" width="300"]
Come on Eileen ![/caption]
In this limited edition brew the rye grain’s spicy shrills duel exhilaratingly with the blended harmonies of fruity west coast hops, while deep dark malts plug away in the background.
The result is a complex, full, unfiltered cacophony in the concert hall of your mouth. So pour one, make a midnight run and sing just like our fathers.
Dungerees optional.
Taste: Tu-Rye-Aye black rye IPA starts with a rich dark malt, spicy rye malt, and US citric hop aroma. Complex flavour profile of dark malts and rye malt, balanced with 60 ibu of bitterness and full fruity flavor of American hops.
So what could possibly go wrong? Apart from bursting into song?
Certainly looks dark enough in the bottle.
There is no escaping the hop fresh aroma as I flip that top open, quite pronounced.
Pour is fantastic, lovely white head that is persistent-ih and then stops to a fine film that I'm overly happy with.
Taste. Stand on me. This is really really nice. Dominated by the firm middle of sweet roasted malts, the slightly dry finish is long and lingering.
The aroma now seems quite lost and odd on the nose as you raise to drink, but then you get that lovely wash of light bitterness and the sweetness and the light smack of dryness. It is a bit good.
I went back to check the ABV, and then I wondered how they hid that, this is a beer that seems on the face of it to be very easy drinking and inviting to have a few (which is lucky I have another glass( but at the level it might be best tempered by a food thing.
Is this the perfect beer then? Hardly. It is however quite the lovely thing. It is lovely and dark, it has the toasted malt thing, it has the hop bite that should be there, it has a nice dry but not arid finish, but if anything it is over sweet which leads to a lot of lip smacking as you try to shake it off, despite the other flavours calling you back in, frequently, and which is why I think that in a bar you could get a bit over-indulged.
Play was interrupted by dinner, and so this sat for a bit doing what it did. Which is get a whole lot dryer and darker on the palate, which isn't at all a bad thing. So to the second glass, which I managed to pour as a half/half beer/head, because you know things happen.
So the second half of this is like a different beer, much hoppier, less sweet, harsher on the finish, and yet enough of that sweetness to make it still enjoyable.
The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 8 of its things from the thing. Eight again. It's a time for the eights. which is still on the better side of average. At the end of day the hop load catches up and frankly wears you out with its presence, which is quite loud, does a great job of deflecting attention early but is just too strong a hop based beer to get away with it for long. But all hail the beer.
Off to sing a song.....
The double dip review
Am I enjoying it? I am, it's a journey.
Would I have another? I had a couple, I'd enjoy another, but then I really might start singing.
Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? Actually I would turn up at yours with this, because it is one of those cross-over things and this one is fair decent and entertaining.
Music for this. Well of course it's ' Dexy's Midnight Runners ', but this isn't what you might expect. They have a spectacularly good very hard to find album called 'Don't Stand Me Down ' There is a play list on Youtube here. For me though the brilliant standout is the track" This is what she's like " invest you're 15 minutes in this, or skip the first minute and get to the song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXh19wfJT3Q&index=2&list=PL5BA914A30BD81D08
Don't Stand Me Down is the third studio album by Dexys Midnight Runners, released in September 1985.
An emerging beer style roughly defined as a beer with IPA-level hopping, relatively high alcohol and a distinct toasty dark malt character. Typically lacks the roastiness and body of a strong stout and is hoppier than a strong porter. Expressive dry-hopping is common. Also called India Dark Ale, India Black Ale, Cascadian Dark Ale, Dark IPA, and sometimes India Brown Ale.
Like the lyrics to Dexy’s famous song, rye refuses to be forgotten
From the FYO station at the local outlet, this is 1 litre of beer that is 60 IBU things, 7.5% ABV, which would be 225 calories a serve size, and the bottle is 5.92 standard drink units.
Brewed by Tuatara Brewing Company in the emerging Style of Black IPA and they are still in Paraparaumu, New Zealand
Like the lyrics to Dexy’s famous song, rye refuses to be forgotten.
[caption id="attachment_11612" align="alignright" width="300"]
Come on Eileen ![/caption]In this limited edition brew the rye grain’s spicy shrills duel exhilaratingly with the blended harmonies of fruity west coast hops, while deep dark malts plug away in the background.
The result is a complex, full, unfiltered cacophony in the concert hall of your mouth. So pour one, make a midnight run and sing just like our fathers.
Dungerees optional.
Taste: Tu-Rye-Aye black rye IPA starts with a rich dark malt, spicy rye malt, and US citric hop aroma. Complex flavour profile of dark malts and rye malt, balanced with 60 ibu of bitterness and full fruity flavor of American hops.
This brew is unfiltered to retain all of its character and fullness.
Look: Black with a deep red hue and a light tan collar of foam
Aroma:Rich dark malt, spicy rye malt, and US citric hop aroma.
So what could possibly go wrong? Apart from bursting into song?
Certainly looks dark enough in the bottle.
There is no escaping the hop fresh aroma as I flip that top open, quite pronounced.Pour is fantastic, lovely white head that is persistent-ih and then stops to a fine film that I'm overly happy with.
Taste. Stand on me. This is really really nice. Dominated by the firm middle of sweet roasted malts, the slightly dry finish is long and lingering.
The aroma now seems quite lost and odd on the nose as you raise to drink, but then you get that lovely wash of light bitterness and the sweetness and the light smack of dryness. It is a bit good.
I went back to check the ABV, and then I wondered how they hid that, this is a beer that seems on the face of it to be very easy drinking and inviting to have a few (which is lucky I have another glass( but at the level it might be best tempered by a food thing.
Is this the perfect beer then? Hardly. It is however quite the lovely thing. It is lovely and dark, it has the toasted malt thing, it has the hop bite that should be there, it has a nice dry but not arid finish, but if anything it is over sweet which leads to a lot of lip smacking as you try to shake it off, despite the other flavours calling you back in, frequently, and which is why I think that in a bar you could get a bit over-indulged.
Play was interrupted by dinner, and so this sat for a bit doing what it did. Which is get a whole lot dryer and darker on the palate, which isn't at all a bad thing. So to the second glass, which I managed to pour as a half/half beer/head, because you know things happen.
So the second half of this is like a different beer, much hoppier, less sweet, harsher on the finish, and yet enough of that sweetness to make it still enjoyable.
The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 8 of its things from the thing. Eight again. It's a time for the eights. which is still on the better side of average. At the end of day the hop load catches up and frankly wears you out with its presence, which is quite loud, does a great job of deflecting attention early but is just too strong a hop based beer to get away with it for long. But all hail the beer.
Off to sing a song.....
The double dip review
Am I enjoying it? I am, it's a journey.
Would I have another? I had a couple, I'd enjoy another, but then I really might start singing.
Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? Actually I would turn up at yours with this, because it is one of those cross-over things and this one is fair decent and entertaining.
Music for this. Well of course it's ' Dexy's Midnight Runners ', but this isn't what you might expect. They have a spectacularly good very hard to find album called 'Don't Stand Me Down ' There is a play list on Youtube here. For me though the brilliant standout is the track" This is what she's like " invest you're 15 minutes in this, or skip the first minute and get to the song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXh19wfJT3Q&index=2&list=PL5BA914A30BD81D08
Don't Stand Me Down is the third studio album by Dexys Midnight Runners, released in September 1985.
BLACK IPA
An emerging beer style roughly defined as a beer with IPA-level hopping, relatively high alcohol and a distinct toasty dark malt character. Typically lacks the roastiness and body of a strong stout and is hoppier than a strong porter. Expressive dry-hopping is common. Also called India Dark Ale, India Black Ale, Cascadian Dark Ale, Dark IPA, and sometimes India Brown Ale.
Saturday, July 25, 2015
Beer - #642 - ParrotDog - BloodHound Red Ale
BloodHound Red Ale. Mighty Ale, Mighty Music, Might count to ten, Might go home early.
This is a magnificent looking beer of 6.3% ABV, carrying 189 calories a serve size. the FYO station of 1 litre makes this 4.97 standard drink units.
Brewed by ParrotDog in the style: Amber Ale and they are based in Wellington, New Zealand.
[caption id="attachment_11575" align="alignleft" width="300"]
Red like Fire Engine![/caption]
A citrusy NZ hopped aroma featuring a hint of roasted malt is supported by full-bodied, red coloured malt base and a pleasant NZ hopped bitterness to round off.
A big, malty red ale uplifted with a generous amount of hops.
So, What could possibly go wrong?
I confess to having this over two years ago, wherein I was a bit of a fan, rating it the 8. I saw it on tap and couldn't resist, it's been a while, and it's clearly a brewers standard.
That syrupy rich aroma, with a nice under of hops greets me as I pop the top.
Pour is a deep red brown with a lovely full head, more to my pouring technique I feel as it settles into something a lot more manageable and persistent. You get a lot more of a raw grassy aroma in the glass.
That is really nice a toffee sweet bitterness with a lovely mouthfeel and a lovely finish that isn't either sweet or dry.
The bitterness, well that is about right, it's there, reminds you it's there and then lets the rest of the beer do it's thing.
As it warms, and I had to leave it for a few minutes it's picked up a lovely floral thing, which wasn't expected and brought a smile, still maintaining the welcoming bitterness and lovely not ver-sweet backbone.
This is so much better than I remember. Back to their description though ' Big Malt' 'Full Bodies' this is both of those and very good at them too. Top notch.
I still can't pour and the second glass is a half/half of beer and head. Lucky it's a big glass. I've become a bit enamoured of this as a beer and this hits all the taste points where you want it to, it is a beer for the moment perhaps, on another day you'd be wanting something more or else.
The aroma that you catch just before sup, the wash of bitterness, the slight dip of earthiness, the rise of the sweetness and the finish of hoppy grassness. I think I've said too much already.
The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 9 of its things from the thing.This is a great beer, a beer to sing songs too, but not about. I enjoyed the first half with some food, and it made it really special, I'm enjoying the second half post-food and I can see that I might run out of palate or steam for it, although It might take a third to get there.
It's here you get the idea that I've been enjoying it and it's all gone and I already miss it. What a time to be alive :-)
The double dip review
Music for this. ' Girlpool ' and album called ' Before The World Was Big ' of course on Spotify. Girlpool is a punk rock band from Los Angeles, California. Its members are Cleo Tucker and Harmony Tividad. The band does not have a drummer. This is a track ' Chinatown'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9h4CTdIhDF0
Got to say this isn't punk, it's pop.
A style without definition, amber ales range from bland, vaguely caramel beers to products with a fairly healthy malt and hop balance. Often the differentiation between a quality amber and an American Pale is that the amber might have more dark malt character, or a less assertive hop rate.
A big, malty red ale uplifted with generous amounts of hops.
This is a magnificent looking beer of 6.3% ABV, carrying 189 calories a serve size. the FYO station of 1 litre makes this 4.97 standard drink units.
Brewed by ParrotDog in the style: Amber Ale and they are based in Wellington, New Zealand.
[caption id="attachment_11575" align="alignleft" width="300"]
Red like Fire Engine![/caption]A citrusy NZ hopped aroma featuring a hint of roasted malt is supported by full-bodied, red coloured malt base and a pleasant NZ hopped bitterness to round off.
A big, malty red ale uplifted with a generous amount of hops.
So, What could possibly go wrong?
I confess to having this over two years ago, wherein I was a bit of a fan, rating it the 8. I saw it on tap and couldn't resist, it's been a while, and it's clearly a brewers standard.
That syrupy rich aroma, with a nice under of hops greets me as I pop the top.
Pour is a deep red brown with a lovely full head, more to my pouring technique I feel as it settles into something a lot more manageable and persistent. You get a lot more of a raw grassy aroma in the glass.
That is really nice a toffee sweet bitterness with a lovely mouthfeel and a lovely finish that isn't either sweet or dry.
The bitterness, well that is about right, it's there, reminds you it's there and then lets the rest of the beer do it's thing.As it warms, and I had to leave it for a few minutes it's picked up a lovely floral thing, which wasn't expected and brought a smile, still maintaining the welcoming bitterness and lovely not ver-sweet backbone.
This is so much better than I remember. Back to their description though ' Big Malt' 'Full Bodies' this is both of those and very good at them too. Top notch.
I still can't pour and the second glass is a half/half of beer and head. Lucky it's a big glass. I've become a bit enamoured of this as a beer and this hits all the taste points where you want it to, it is a beer for the moment perhaps, on another day you'd be wanting something more or else.
The aroma that you catch just before sup, the wash of bitterness, the slight dip of earthiness, the rise of the sweetness and the finish of hoppy grassness. I think I've said too much already.
The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 9 of its things from the thing.This is a great beer, a beer to sing songs too, but not about. I enjoyed the first half with some food, and it made it really special, I'm enjoying the second half post-food and I can see that I might run out of palate or steam for it, although It might take a third to get there.
It's here you get the idea that I've been enjoying it and it's all gone and I already miss it. What a time to be alive :-)
The double dip review
- Am I enjoying it? I am, it rally hit the sweet spot of nicely bitter, nicely sweet, and nicely dry, I feel like one of the there bears.
- Would I have another? I wouldn't hesitate if you could arrange a quick delivery.
- Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? I would, and possibly it'd be a long and eventful night of shooting the breeze and of times when it was all good as wood. A man could get emotional at times like this.
Music for this. ' Girlpool ' and album called ' Before The World Was Big ' of course on Spotify. Girlpool is a punk rock band from Los Angeles, California. Its members are Cleo Tucker and Harmony Tividad. The band does not have a drummer. This is a track ' Chinatown'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9h4CTdIhDF0
Got to say this isn't punk, it's pop.
AMBER ALE
A style without definition, amber ales range from bland, vaguely caramel beers to products with a fairly healthy malt and hop balance. Often the differentiation between a quality amber and an American Pale is that the amber might have more dark malt character, or a less assertive hop rate.
Related articles
Beer - #641 - Breda - Royal Beer / Lager
A beer I drink with trepidation. Odd beer, Odd music, odd numbers and odd one out.
500ml can of beer 5% ABV, so 150 calories a serve size,
For United Dutch Breweries this is brewed at Randalls in the style that is Pale Lager and they're in Breda, Netherlands
Brewed by Oranjeboom, Rotterdam (Netherlands) until the early 90’s.
After the closing of Oranjeboom production was moved to Breda (Netherlands).
[caption id="attachment_11567" align="alignright" width="300"]
Trepidation....[/caption]
This brewery was called Verenigde Bierbrouwerijen Breda-Rotterdam at that time and soon to be renamed to Oranjeboom Brouwerij.
The Breda Royal brand however always still mentioned United Dutch Breweries (which translates to Verenigde Brouwerijen). On closing of Oranjeboom Brouwerij, Breda in 2004 by InBev production was moved to both Bremen and Leuven. Until 2008 when Randalls acquired the licence. Some production is also done at Hofbrauhaus Wolters (under the name Getränkeindustrie Altewiek).
So what could possibly go wrong?
Smells like a lager. That is all.
Pale is an orange golden, it looks quite nice, and has a decent head, all the things you look for in a beer.
Unmistakable malt euro lager with a rather interesting if not odd sweetness that is a bit plastic and uncomfortably perfume like.
But it is just a euro lager \ malt lager like so many others, differentiated only in small degrees from another, and often not by that much.
It is cold, but it isn't crisp, there is no 'bite' to it, and it is mostly inoffensive quaffing beer for the person with a thirst and not much by way of discernment in the moment.
Nicer though than the 3 horses, by quite a way.
The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 4 of its things from the thing. It isn't an average drink, it's below that but it's not awful. I don't think I'd be reaching for this even at the price it is, it isn't worth it.
The double dip review
Am I enjoying it? Not really, it's flavoured water.
Would I have another? Not if I could help it.
Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? No.
Music for this
I'm listening to ' The Hunts ' and Indie Folk band, which I though for a moment might have been a Mumford and Sons tribute band, They have an album ' Those Younger Days ' listen here on the Spotify
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MywXY6Q21LM
I can't honestly say that I enjoyed it, it was a bit twee and after the M&S over-exposure the last few years it might not be a wise sound to pursue. Each to their own though, it made a change and a challenge.
The colour of pale lager ranges from light bronze to nearly transparent and the alcohol anywhere from 4-6%. Adjunct usage may be quite high, though in some cases the beer is all-malt. Carbonation is typically forced, though not always. One thing that doesnt vary is that neither the malt nor the hops make much of an impression on the palate. These beers are brewed for minimum character, though faint traces of hop or malt may show through. More likely though is that adjuncts like corn will show through, or you’ll find notes of higher alcohols (fuel notes) due to the use of high-gravity brewing. The body will be thin and watery, and the finish is typically non-existent.
..a beer brewed by everyone and no one wants to own it....
500ml can of beer 5% ABV, so 150 calories a serve size,
For United Dutch Breweries this is brewed at Randalls in the style that is Pale Lager and they're in Breda, Netherlands
Brewed by Oranjeboom, Rotterdam (Netherlands) until the early 90’s.
After the closing of Oranjeboom production was moved to Breda (Netherlands).
[caption id="attachment_11567" align="alignright" width="300"]
Trepidation....[/caption]This brewery was called Verenigde Bierbrouwerijen Breda-Rotterdam at that time and soon to be renamed to Oranjeboom Brouwerij.
The Breda Royal brand however always still mentioned United Dutch Breweries (which translates to Verenigde Brouwerijen). On closing of Oranjeboom Brouwerij, Breda in 2004 by InBev production was moved to both Bremen and Leuven. Until 2008 when Randalls acquired the licence. Some production is also done at Hofbrauhaus Wolters (under the name Getränkeindustrie Altewiek).
So what could possibly go wrong?
Smells like a lager. That is all.
Pale is an orange golden, it looks quite nice, and has a decent head, all the things you look for in a beer.
Unmistakable malt euro lager with a rather interesting if not odd sweetness that is a bit plastic and uncomfortably perfume like.But it is just a euro lager \ malt lager like so many others, differentiated only in small degrees from another, and often not by that much.
It is cold, but it isn't crisp, there is no 'bite' to it, and it is mostly inoffensive quaffing beer for the person with a thirst and not much by way of discernment in the moment.
Nicer though than the 3 horses, by quite a way.
The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 4 of its things from the thing. It isn't an average drink, it's below that but it's not awful. I don't think I'd be reaching for this even at the price it is, it isn't worth it.
The double dip review
Am I enjoying it? Not really, it's flavoured water.
Would I have another? Not if I could help it.
Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? No.
Music for this
I'm listening to ' The Hunts ' and Indie Folk band, which I though for a moment might have been a Mumford and Sons tribute band, They have an album ' Those Younger Days ' listen here on the Spotify
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MywXY6Q21LM
I can't honestly say that I enjoyed it, it was a bit twee and after the M&S over-exposure the last few years it might not be a wise sound to pursue. Each to their own though, it made a change and a challenge.
PALE LAGER
The colour of pale lager ranges from light bronze to nearly transparent and the alcohol anywhere from 4-6%. Adjunct usage may be quite high, though in some cases the beer is all-malt. Carbonation is typically forced, though not always. One thing that doesnt vary is that neither the malt nor the hops make much of an impression on the palate. These beers are brewed for minimum character, though faint traces of hop or malt may show through. More likely though is that adjuncts like corn will show through, or you’ll find notes of higher alcohols (fuel notes) due to the use of high-gravity brewing. The body will be thin and watery, and the finish is typically non-existent.
Friday, July 24, 2015
Beer - #640 - Coronado - Blue Bridge Coffee Stout
Indeed, Coronado - Blue Bridge Coffee Stout. Coffee Beer, StarSailor (which is close to Starbucks right), 5 stars and sitting under the stars.
This is a really well presented bottle of 650ml size, and 5.4% ABV, it is listed as a quite mild 27-30 IBU things, and at 162 calories a serve size, I make this to be 2.77 standard drink units.
Coronado Brewing Company in the style that is Dry Stout and they are in Coronado, California USA
[caption id="attachment_11555" align="alignleft" width="300"]
A beer to make anyone smile[/caption]
Just as the iconic Coronado Bay Bridge connects our island home to the mainland, this java-tinged dry stout, brewed using dark roasted coffee beans from a local San Diego artisanal roaster, provides a bridge uniting craft beer drinkers with CBC’s rich, flavorful SoCal brewing traditions.
So what could possibly go wrong?
A lot of coffee in the aroma on opening, as it did with a vigorous hiss. Brilliant!
Pour seems to be a beer that isn't pitch black, a lot lighter and perhaps this is why it didn't seem 'thick' but what a head. I'm on a roll.
Aroma is still a lot of coffee, very intense. Coffee grounds.
It's very carbonated, and I feel that this reduces your ability to taste directly on the tongue. Green earthy coffee is the first thing, and a nice middling dry finish.
What's missing though is some of that deep fruit thing that you might get. But are you confusing Porter and Stout again? I think I am.
I had to get up and leave this sitting for a few minutes, I came back and it really is a lovely coffee ale. Soft, yet rich and in an odd way refreshing. Forget the fruit thing, I have no idea what I was thinking of.
Does it matter that it's not 'thick' or coats the palate, not at all, it might be the better because it makes it a beer that you could have a few of without being exhausted or overloaded and jaded, particularly if you like coffee.
It is quite rewarding, deserves a bit of praise and wider enjoyment, which I might add it has already.
The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 8.5 a of its things from the thing. This might be the perfect stout to session on, it's not sweet, it's not dry, it's not heavy on aroma, but it has all those things, and it looks pretty, and you know that pretty beers are nice to drink.
The double dip review
Am I enjoying it? I am !
Would I have another? I would !
Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? Indeed, this is nice on a colder evening, and I think would make a long lat drink session. A favourite.
Music for this is the quite delightful Starsailor. Their album 'all the plans' you can listen here on the Spotify, or all the other places mostly
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwB4YlsJbDA
as an aside other reviews for this beer are at : 365Blog
Dry Stout
The “Irish-style” stout is typically a low-gravity stout with bitterness ranging between 30-45 IBUs. Roastiness is present, but restrained, and there should not be hops in either the flavour or aroma. A little bit of acidity can be present. Often, this type of stout is serving via nitrogen, with all the effects that has on a beer – low carbonation, extra-thick head, lifeless palate and muted flavour and aroma
A dry stout with the addition of local Cafe Moto dark roast coffee from San Diego
This is a really well presented bottle of 650ml size, and 5.4% ABV, it is listed as a quite mild 27-30 IBU things, and at 162 calories a serve size, I make this to be 2.77 standard drink units.
Coronado Brewing Company in the style that is Dry Stout and they are in Coronado, California USA
[caption id="attachment_11555" align="alignleft" width="300"]
A beer to make anyone smile[/caption]Just as the iconic Coronado Bay Bridge connects our island home to the mainland, this java-tinged dry stout, brewed using dark roasted coffee beans from a local San Diego artisanal roaster, provides a bridge uniting craft beer drinkers with CBC’s rich, flavorful SoCal brewing traditions.
So what could possibly go wrong?
A lot of coffee in the aroma on opening, as it did with a vigorous hiss. Brilliant!
Pour seems to be a beer that isn't pitch black, a lot lighter and perhaps this is why it didn't seem 'thick' but what a head. I'm on a roll.
Aroma is still a lot of coffee, very intense. Coffee grounds.
It's very carbonated, and I feel that this reduces your ability to taste directly on the tongue. Green earthy coffee is the first thing, and a nice middling dry finish.What's missing though is some of that deep fruit thing that you might get. But are you confusing Porter and Stout again? I think I am.
I had to get up and leave this sitting for a few minutes, I came back and it really is a lovely coffee ale. Soft, yet rich and in an odd way refreshing. Forget the fruit thing, I have no idea what I was thinking of.
Does it matter that it's not 'thick' or coats the palate, not at all, it might be the better because it makes it a beer that you could have a few of without being exhausted or overloaded and jaded, particularly if you like coffee.
It is quite rewarding, deserves a bit of praise and wider enjoyment, which I might add it has already.
The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 8.5 a of its things from the thing. This might be the perfect stout to session on, it's not sweet, it's not dry, it's not heavy on aroma, but it has all those things, and it looks pretty, and you know that pretty beers are nice to drink.
The double dip review
Am I enjoying it? I am !
Would I have another? I would !
Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? Indeed, this is nice on a colder evening, and I think would make a long lat drink session. A favourite.
Music for this is the quite delightful Starsailor. Their album 'all the plans' you can listen here on the Spotify, or all the other places mostly
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwB4YlsJbDA
as an aside other reviews for this beer are at : 365Blog
Dry Stout
The “Irish-style” stout is typically a low-gravity stout with bitterness ranging between 30-45 IBUs. Roastiness is present, but restrained, and there should not be hops in either the flavour or aroma. A little bit of acidity can be present. Often, this type of stout is serving via nitrogen, with all the effects that has on a beer – low carbonation, extra-thick head, lifeless palate and muted flavour and aroma
Monday, July 20, 2015
Beer - #638 - Breda - 3 Horses
This really does appear to be an orphan child of a beer. Which never ends well. Free beer, Free Music, free numbers thinking and freedom from the crowd.
500ml can of beer 5% ABV, so 150 calories a serve size, so 2 standard drink units.
For United Dutch Breweries this is brewed at InBev Belgium in the style that is Pale Lager and they're in Breda, Netherlands
[caption id="attachment_11539" align="alignleft" width="300"]
I'm trying not to laugh but frown[/caption]
Brewed by Oranjeboom, the Netherlands until 2004.......
The can has "Imported" at least 9 times on the can, so I'm guessing it's an export beer.
So what could possibly go wrong?
Aroma is a bit MIA.
Pour is pale and there is a head that starts well and just fades away to less, more than a film though. Aroma is trying to be that more hoppy grassy thing that is familiar of lager.
Taste is of a sweet malt base lager, almost over sweet and cloyingly so. Not much by way of body, and it leaves a rather metallic mouth feel as a linger.
I've had some average beers, even recently, and this sets a new bar, so low. It is tasteless sugary water with some token flavour tossed in.
The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 1 of its things from the thing. I have nothing good to say about this, and unlike some other everyman this is so nondescript that exporting it to another country is a way of offloading it onto unsuspecting punters who will pay next to nothing and complain. but never see it again as it does the rounds of the markets. A shocker.
The double dip review
Am I enjoying it? No
Would I have another? No
Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? No
Music for this " Wilco " an American alternative rock band based in Chicago, Illinois. The album " Star Wars " of course on the Spotify or it's a free download for a limited time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JYeg3XKpUY
The colour of pale lager ranges from light bronze to nearly transparent and the alcohol anywhere from 4-6%. Adjunct usage may be quite high, though in some cases the beer is all-malt. Carbonation is typically forced, though not always. One thing that doesnt vary is that neither the malt nor the hops make much of an impression on the palate. These beers are brewed for minimum character, though faint traces of hop or malt may show through. More likely though is that adjuncts like corn will show through, or you’ll find notes of higher alcohols (fuel notes) due to the use of high-gravity brewing. The body will be thin and watery, and the finish is typically non-existent.
500ml can of beer 5% ABV, so 150 calories a serve size, so 2 standard drink units.
For United Dutch Breweries this is brewed at InBev Belgium in the style that is Pale Lager and they're in Breda, Netherlands
[caption id="attachment_11539" align="alignleft" width="300"]
I'm trying not to laugh but frown[/caption]Brewed by Oranjeboom, the Netherlands until 2004.......
The can has "Imported" at least 9 times on the can, so I'm guessing it's an export beer.
So what could possibly go wrong?
Aroma is a bit MIA.
Pour is pale and there is a head that starts well and just fades away to less, more than a film though. Aroma is trying to be that more hoppy grassy thing that is familiar of lager.
Taste is of a sweet malt base lager, almost over sweet and cloyingly so. Not much by way of body, and it leaves a rather metallic mouth feel as a linger.I've had some average beers, even recently, and this sets a new bar, so low. It is tasteless sugary water with some token flavour tossed in.
The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 1 of its things from the thing. I have nothing good to say about this, and unlike some other everyman this is so nondescript that exporting it to another country is a way of offloading it onto unsuspecting punters who will pay next to nothing and complain. but never see it again as it does the rounds of the markets. A shocker.
The double dip review
Am I enjoying it? No
Would I have another? No
Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? No
Music for this " Wilco " an American alternative rock band based in Chicago, Illinois. The album " Star Wars " of course on the Spotify or it's a free download for a limited time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JYeg3XKpUY
PALE LAGER
The colour of pale lager ranges from light bronze to nearly transparent and the alcohol anywhere from 4-6%. Adjunct usage may be quite high, though in some cases the beer is all-malt. Carbonation is typically forced, though not always. One thing that doesnt vary is that neither the malt nor the hops make much of an impression on the palate. These beers are brewed for minimum character, though faint traces of hop or malt may show through. More likely though is that adjuncts like corn will show through, or you’ll find notes of higher alcohols (fuel notes) due to the use of high-gravity brewing. The body will be thin and watery, and the finish is typically non-existent.
Sunday, July 19, 2015
Beer - #636 - Mata - Sahti
Improbably beer, impossibly nice music, improbable numbers and imposing on a party.
This is a 500ml bottle of a beer that is 9 % ABV, making it 270 calories a serve size, the bottle contains 3.5 standard drink units.
Brewed by Aotearoa Breweries in the style that is Style: Sahti/Gotlandsdricke/Koduõlu and that happened in Kawerau, New Zealand
Sahti is a traditional Finnish beer made with juniper berries and rye malt. No hops. Juniper berries add acidity and the beer was traditionally filtered through juniper twigs for an added tannic bitterness.
[caption id="attachment_11504" align="alignright" width="300"]
Do I look excited?[/caption]
Sahti is traditionally brewed in an open wooden trough called a kuurna, where juniper branches & berries are mixed with hot water and malt to create the sugary wort.
However Mata have added a kiwi spin.
This Sahti uses manuka tips rye malt and juniper berries resulting in a strong ale with a sweetish spicy character and banana aromas.
So what could possibly go wrong? Well this is the winner of the recent SOBA beer awards, so not much I hope.
Aroma is one of a fruity drink. Sweet syrupy fruity. The aroma in the glass is even more massive bloom. Which settles to a beer that if you really sit and just smell lets you a hint of the acahol astringent, possibly just an aroma. It's very red in the glass, it's not a good photo, you'll have to trust.
The taste is like nothing else. Well that's a lie it's like it's supposed to be I guess. Thick rich, and then a really woody note, like wood, not pine, wood, like tree. It is a full mouthfeel experience.
Exceedingly interesting as a beer, and enjoyable too, it's lovely and sweet not cloying, also it's bitter without excess, just nicely balanced, and is rather moorish.
As it warms, because invariable I have it too cold, there are more subtle notes of banana and faint rosewater too. Aromatic perfume, and yet it all adds up, make sense.
But. It is a heavy drinking beer, the tastes and sensations are dialled right up, right up high, and each sip is again an explosion, slightly different but still the same, and for me, perhaps only me, this is rather wearing. I want to have the rush, the impact, then I want to settle in an enjoy, with this each sip is the same rush. Which is great, and different and really interesting, but sometimes you need to calm the farm.
The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 9 of its things from the thing. An easy pick for the 'greats' of beer, this really does introduce a new style, and using available thing in NZ brings to life a hop free beer that is both extraordinary and at the same time familiar. Brilliant!
The double dip review
Am I enjoying it? It is extraordinary and memorable, it's a winner.
Would I have another? I would, later, I couldn't have two, that would be madness. (I could have two and that would be madness)
Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? Yes, the more the merrier, this is really really something.
Music for this ' Tess Parks and Anton Newcombe ' and album ' I Declare Nothing ' of course on the Spotify This is with the The Brian Jonestown Massacre's Anton Newcombe, and I like them a lot
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSCWrbbUPQc
A traditional ale style unique to three areas; A Finland the Swedish island of Gotland and the Estonian island of Saaremaa. There are subtle differences between them and also between sahti from different regions in Finland. In general however these are strong ales made with a combination of rye and barley malt. They have minimal hop character and instead receive most of their flavor by virtue of being filtered through juniper twigs. Most examples will exhibit a strong yeast character and many homebrewed traditional examples are made with baking yeast. Such yeast often generates a highly phenolic character as well. Some examples will also have a smoky character and this is particularly evident in gotlandsdricke.
traditionally brewed in an open wooden trough
This is a 500ml bottle of a beer that is 9 % ABV, making it 270 calories a serve size, the bottle contains 3.5 standard drink units.
Brewed by Aotearoa Breweries in the style that is Style: Sahti/Gotlandsdricke/Koduõlu and that happened in Kawerau, New Zealand
Sahti is a traditional Finnish beer made with juniper berries and rye malt. No hops. Juniper berries add acidity and the beer was traditionally filtered through juniper twigs for an added tannic bitterness.
[caption id="attachment_11504" align="alignright" width="300"]
Do I look excited?[/caption]Sahti is traditionally brewed in an open wooden trough called a kuurna, where juniper branches & berries are mixed with hot water and malt to create the sugary wort.
However Mata have added a kiwi spin.
This Sahti uses manuka tips rye malt and juniper berries resulting in a strong ale with a sweetish spicy character and banana aromas.
So what could possibly go wrong? Well this is the winner of the recent SOBA beer awards, so not much I hope.
Aroma is one of a fruity drink. Sweet syrupy fruity. The aroma in the glass is even more massive bloom. Which settles to a beer that if you really sit and just smell lets you a hint of the acahol astringent, possibly just an aroma. It's very red in the glass, it's not a good photo, you'll have to trust.
The taste is like nothing else. Well that's a lie it's like it's supposed to be I guess. Thick rich, and then a really woody note, like wood, not pine, wood, like tree. It is a full mouthfeel experience.Exceedingly interesting as a beer, and enjoyable too, it's lovely and sweet not cloying, also it's bitter without excess, just nicely balanced, and is rather moorish.
As it warms, because invariable I have it too cold, there are more subtle notes of banana and faint rosewater too. Aromatic perfume, and yet it all adds up, make sense.
But. It is a heavy drinking beer, the tastes and sensations are dialled right up, right up high, and each sip is again an explosion, slightly different but still the same, and for me, perhaps only me, this is rather wearing. I want to have the rush, the impact, then I want to settle in an enjoy, with this each sip is the same rush. Which is great, and different and really interesting, but sometimes you need to calm the farm.
The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 9 of its things from the thing. An easy pick for the 'greats' of beer, this really does introduce a new style, and using available thing in NZ brings to life a hop free beer that is both extraordinary and at the same time familiar. Brilliant!
The double dip review
Am I enjoying it? It is extraordinary and memorable, it's a winner.
Would I have another? I would, later, I couldn't have two, that would be madness. (I could have two and that would be madness)
Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? Yes, the more the merrier, this is really really something.
Music for this ' Tess Parks and Anton Newcombe ' and album ' I Declare Nothing ' of course on the Spotify This is with the The Brian Jonestown Massacre's Anton Newcombe, and I like them a lot
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSCWrbbUPQc
SAHTI/GOTLANDSDRICKE/KODUÕLU
A traditional ale style unique to three areas; A Finland the Swedish island of Gotland and the Estonian island of Saaremaa. There are subtle differences between them and also between sahti from different regions in Finland. In general however these are strong ales made with a combination of rye and barley malt. They have minimal hop character and instead receive most of their flavor by virtue of being filtered through juniper twigs. Most examples will exhibit a strong yeast character and many homebrewed traditional examples are made with baking yeast. Such yeast often generates a highly phenolic character as well. Some examples will also have a smoky character and this is particularly evident in gotlandsdricke.
Saturday, July 18, 2015
Beer - #635 - Coopers - Best Extra Stout
A second Australian beer, to recap it was my big brothers birthday, he resides in Australia now, and so as a birthday tribute I brought some Aussie beer. Cheap beer I'd add, I could have picked VB, Tooheys, Carlton or indeed I could have splashed out on one of the craft brewers, but instead I went for something full bodied, aged and rich, oh and stout. 4 out of 5 on the tributes there.
This is a 750ml bottle of beer that is 6.5% ABV, 189 calories a serve size, and 3.7 standard drinks in the bottle.
It comes with best AFTER date!
Brewed by Coopers Brewery in the style that is Foreign Stout and they do that in Regency Park, South Australia, Australia
Now here’s a beer with punch. Coopers Stout is a beacon for lovers of a hearty brew.
[caption id="attachment_11492" align="alignleft" width="300"]
'strayan beer time[/caption]
With its robust flavour comprising a blend of fruit, chocolate and hop bitter notes it’s everything a stout should be. Brewed naturally using a top fermentation method, Coopers Stout’s unique rich, dark texture comes from specially roasted black malt.
So what could possibly go wrong? I did some homework and this could be a bit of a winner.
An intriguing aroma, there is a whiff of chocolate malt goodness, like a stout should be, bit it's not overly strong. Early days. though.
The pour is magnificent with a deep dark richness, it pours 'thick' and has a brilliant firm persistent large head that is lighter brown. If it were a beauty pageant... the aroma though is peculiar, the chocolate/coffee aroma replaced with something that I might describe as the smell of wet wool, or ash.
The taste though, that is pretty nice, noticeably it's very dry at the finish, but I'm working backwards, so the initial sip is a lovely fanfare of richness, but it's very carbonated so a lot of that bubbles action that prickles.
There seems to be a nice amount of rich fruit type body in this that might be more prominent if it weren't from the carbonation.
I've got to say that for the price this is a cracker of a beer.
The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 7 of its things from the thing. This is the best of the brewers beers, by a long way, hands down. It's a fairly decent stout too, not perfect and could do with more body, and less carbonation, perhaps the latter would dix the former. A revelation and I'd thing about buying more if only MrsPdubyah would let me.
The double dip review
Am I enjoying it? Yes, this is rather nice and the best from this brewer.
Would I have another? I would at this price mad not to.
Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? I would, there is nothing embarrassing about this that would put you in a spot. Party on!
Music for this, ' Seeker Lover Keeper ' an Australian indie rock music supergroup formed by Sarah Blasko, Sally Seltmann and Holly Throsby. The album ' Seeker lover keeper ' and I'm of course listening on Spotify. This will give you an idea.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qeLI_6t6ds
Foreign Stout began with the beer that would become Guinness Foreign Extra Stout. This was a stronger, extra-hopped version of the basic Guinness Extra Stout, brewed to survive long journeys overseas. The classic FES still exists in a few different forms, but many of the original destination countries (Jamaica, Sri Lanka, etc.) now have their own, locally-produced versions. Foreign stout occupies a position between basic stout and imperial stout. It is sweeter than a basic stout, but not as robust as an imperial. It is less fruity and less hoppy as well. Foreign stouts are sometimes made with local grains and adjuncts sugar is not uncommon. Alcohol ranges from 6-8%
Now here’s a beer with punch.
This is a 750ml bottle of beer that is 6.5% ABV, 189 calories a serve size, and 3.7 standard drinks in the bottle.It comes with best AFTER date!
Brewed by Coopers Brewery in the style that is Foreign Stout and they do that in Regency Park, South Australia, Australia
Now here’s a beer with punch. Coopers Stout is a beacon for lovers of a hearty brew.
[caption id="attachment_11492" align="alignleft" width="300"]
'strayan beer time[/caption]With its robust flavour comprising a blend of fruit, chocolate and hop bitter notes it’s everything a stout should be. Brewed naturally using a top fermentation method, Coopers Stout’s unique rich, dark texture comes from specially roasted black malt.
So what could possibly go wrong? I did some homework and this could be a bit of a winner.
An intriguing aroma, there is a whiff of chocolate malt goodness, like a stout should be, bit it's not overly strong. Early days. though.
The pour is magnificent with a deep dark richness, it pours 'thick' and has a brilliant firm persistent large head that is lighter brown. If it were a beauty pageant... the aroma though is peculiar, the chocolate/coffee aroma replaced with something that I might describe as the smell of wet wool, or ash.
The taste though, that is pretty nice, noticeably it's very dry at the finish, but I'm working backwards, so the initial sip is a lovely fanfare of richness, but it's very carbonated so a lot of that bubbles action that prickles.There seems to be a nice amount of rich fruit type body in this that might be more prominent if it weren't from the carbonation.
I've got to say that for the price this is a cracker of a beer.
The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 7 of its things from the thing. This is the best of the brewers beers, by a long way, hands down. It's a fairly decent stout too, not perfect and could do with more body, and less carbonation, perhaps the latter would dix the former. A revelation and I'd thing about buying more if only MrsPdubyah would let me.
The double dip review
Am I enjoying it? Yes, this is rather nice and the best from this brewer.
Would I have another? I would at this price mad not to.
Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? I would, there is nothing embarrassing about this that would put you in a spot. Party on!
Music for this, ' Seeker Lover Keeper ' an Australian indie rock music supergroup formed by Sarah Blasko, Sally Seltmann and Holly Throsby. The album ' Seeker lover keeper ' and I'm of course listening on Spotify. This will give you an idea.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qeLI_6t6ds
FOREIGN STOUT
Foreign Stout began with the beer that would become Guinness Foreign Extra Stout. This was a stronger, extra-hopped version of the basic Guinness Extra Stout, brewed to survive long journeys overseas. The classic FES still exists in a few different forms, but many of the original destination countries (Jamaica, Sri Lanka, etc.) now have their own, locally-produced versions. Foreign stout occupies a position between basic stout and imperial stout. It is sweeter than a basic stout, but not as robust as an imperial. It is less fruity and less hoppy as well. Foreign stouts are sometimes made with local grains and adjuncts sugar is not uncommon. Alcohol ranges from 6-8%
Beer - #634 - Coopers - Original Pale Ale
It was my big brothers birthday recently, he resides in Australia now, and so as a birthday tribute I brought some 'strayan liquid-gold, the amber nectar. I could have picked his favourite VB, or a Tooheys, a Carlton or indeed one of the craft brewers, but instead I went to the bottle-o for something original, pale, with a common touch and authentic, just to drink whilst I toss another prawn on the barbie.
A fair dinkum 750ml bottle of a 4.5% ABV and 135 calories a serve size beer, making it 2.66 drink units in the bottle.
Brewed by Coopers Brewery in the style that is Golden Ale/Blond Ale and they do that at Regency Park, South Australia, Australia
[caption id="attachment_11486" align="alignright" width="300"]
G;'day mate[/caption]
"With its fruity character, and robust flavour, Coopers Pale Ale is perfect for every occasion. Naturally fermented in the 'Burton-on-Trent' style, a secondary fermentation creates the trademark sediment that gives 'Pale' its fine cloudy appearance. This cloudy residue can be stirred through the beer by tipping or rolling the bottle before drinking."
So what could possibly go wrong? As far as I can tell this is just everyman beer, so it'll go ok, and pass without incident.
Bugger me, that smells exactly like a malt based beer. Strewth.
Pour really does explore and play on the pale aspect, this is so pale as to me almost see-thru and the nice looking head couldn't hack the pace and disappeared quite quickly.
The taste is almost that of a beer undrinkable. It's harsh, over carbonated, and really peaky in the flavour point it has, it's a really eye-opener and brought an instant frown to my otherwise calm visage.
A shocker, It really is exactly like home-brew of old, I just don't know where to begin with it.
I think what's worse is that I thought that this might at least be palatable, to my taste, as a beer, as other everyman beers, but this plumbed a new depth and really took me by surprise, one that really wasn't prepared for.
I don't think that I'll be doing this again, and it's not like I didn't anticipate what was going to happen, but it was a birthday and I'm a good brother.
The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 3 of its things from the thing. It's an avoid from me, but I know that his is a beer that is enjoyed by many drinkers of beer in Australia, mostly because they might not know better of course. I thought it was really worth missing, but it's not as bad that I'd pour it in the drain, and I don't really like the unfitted 'dross' that now floats and sits in the bottom of the glass it really is exactly like home-brew of old.
The double dip review
Am I enjoying it? No, I nearly spat it out in shock and horror.
Would I have another? I have sadly to finish the bottle, I'm loath to pour it out, it's not off, it's just awful.
Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? For comedy perhaps, to keep a friend not a chance.
Music for this, ' Veruca Salt' an American alternative rock band founded in Chicago, Illinois, their album ' Ghost Notes' that I'm listening to on Spotify of course. This is 'the Gospel according to Saint me'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rmtxKjnZ7A
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.
fruity character, and robust flavour
A fair dinkum 750ml bottle of a 4.5% ABV and 135 calories a serve size beer, making it 2.66 drink units in the bottle.
Brewed by Coopers Brewery in the style that is Golden Ale/Blond Ale and they do that at Regency Park, South Australia, Australia
[caption id="attachment_11486" align="alignright" width="300"]
G;'day mate[/caption]"With its fruity character, and robust flavour, Coopers Pale Ale is perfect for every occasion. Naturally fermented in the 'Burton-on-Trent' style, a secondary fermentation creates the trademark sediment that gives 'Pale' its fine cloudy appearance. This cloudy residue can be stirred through the beer by tipping or rolling the bottle before drinking."
So what could possibly go wrong? As far as I can tell this is just everyman beer, so it'll go ok, and pass without incident.
Bugger me, that smells exactly like a malt based beer. Strewth.
Pour really does explore and play on the pale aspect, this is so pale as to me almost see-thru and the nice looking head couldn't hack the pace and disappeared quite quickly.
The taste is almost that of a beer undrinkable. It's harsh, over carbonated, and really peaky in the flavour point it has, it's a really eye-opener and brought an instant frown to my otherwise calm visage.A shocker, It really is exactly like home-brew of old, I just don't know where to begin with it.
I think what's worse is that I thought that this might at least be palatable, to my taste, as a beer, as other everyman beers, but this plumbed a new depth and really took me by surprise, one that really wasn't prepared for.
I don't think that I'll be doing this again, and it's not like I didn't anticipate what was going to happen, but it was a birthday and I'm a good brother.
The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 3 of its things from the thing. It's an avoid from me, but I know that his is a beer that is enjoyed by many drinkers of beer in Australia, mostly because they might not know better of course. I thought it was really worth missing, but it's not as bad that I'd pour it in the drain, and I don't really like the unfitted 'dross' that now floats and sits in the bottom of the glass it really is exactly like home-brew of old.
The double dip review
Am I enjoying it? No, I nearly spat it out in shock and horror.Would I have another? I have sadly to finish the bottle, I'm loath to pour it out, it's not off, it's just awful.
Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? For comedy perhaps, to keep a friend not a chance.
Music for this, ' Veruca Salt' an American alternative rock band founded in Chicago, Illinois, their album ' Ghost Notes' that I'm listening to on Spotify of course. This is 'the Gospel according to Saint me'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rmtxKjnZ7A
GOLDEN ALE/BLOND ALE
There are a few different types of blond ale. The first is the traditional “Canadian Ale”, an adjunct-laden, macrobrewed, top-fermented equivalent of the American Standard. The second is common in US brewpubs – a light starter ale, with marginally more hop and body than a macrobrew, fewer adjuncts, but still not a flavourful beer by any means. The British interpretation is easily the boldest, hoppiest blond ale rendition. Some of these can almost be considered American Pales they are so hopped up – very crisp, refreshing, with relatively low alcohol compared with their North American counterparts.
Related articles
Friday, July 17, 2015
Beer - #633 - Theakston - Old Peculier *bottle*
I had this beer as #12, when the idea of keeping a diary of beers was new. #12! so many beers ago. So here we go with; The Legend, Legends, Legendary and Leg-ends
500ml bottle of beer that is 5.6% ABV, 168 calories a serve size,
Brewed by Theakston in the style that is Old Ale and that happens in Masham, England
Old Peculier is possibly one of the country’s most well-known and loved ales.
This unique, beautiful brew is often imitated but never matched and is sold literally all over the world. With countless awards to its credit, it is something of which every Briton can be very proud and is the epitome of the greatest of British brewing tradition.
[caption id="attachment_11471" align="alignleft" width="300"]
Old Peculiar with his old Peculier[/caption]
In the early years of the modern brewing era, about two hundred years ago, many brewers produced a dark, strong ‘stock’ beer in the winter months, to provide a base amount of fermented beer to add to beers brewed in the rather more volatile months of the summer. Old Peculier probably owes its origins to this. The name pays tribute to the unique ecclesiastical status of Masham as a ‘Court of the Peculier’ and is also reference to the strong characteristic of the beer! For many years it was affectionately referred to as Yorkshire’s ‘Lunatic’s Broth’.
Old Peculier is a beautiful, yet very simple beer, brewed using a very generous blend of finest pale, crystal and roasted barley with two bitter hops combined with the majestic and noble ‘Fuggle’ hop to produce a beer of awesome full-bodied flavour with subtle cherry and rich fruit overtones. It tastes superb when accompanied by rich stews, strong cheeses and sweet puddings.
So what could possibly go wrong? Have I lost my sense of British beers, let find out.
Ok, that's a familiar and friendly aroma of malts and hop, it is very like tobacco leaf as an aroma.
Pour is a lot darker than you'd expect, really dark burnt chestnut brown, and a lovely head. That musty english beer aroma full of itself.
The taste is like a time-machine back to my youth. Lots of sweetness from the malt and caramel, and the twitch and tang from the hops. This is a beer for the ages.
Looks brilliant too.
What can you say really about a beer that reminds you so much of home and long nights in pubs?
Lots of malt, heaps of burnt caramel, lots of the juggles hop thing that is very specific, it really is a time machine beer.
I might have been away from home a long time but this does have that unmistakable English beer aroma, Simmering hop but not grass it's more straw perhaps. The Sweetness of the beer is lovely, that backbone is being enough to carry a really forward an bold palate set.
It really is a strong, full action, all on, quintessential English beer. I loved it 600 odd beers ago, I still love it now. You could be cruel and nasty about British beer styles all you like except that this, and others, is really how it is, and sometimes it's really just a bit good.
The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 10 of its things from the thing. I loved it. really loved it. I loved the memories that he aroma and the taste delivered, I loved the sweetness and the lovely bitterness that was layered over that backbone. I just loved it.
The double dip review
Am I enjoying it? It is a beer you should try to give you an in to he British beer culture that you may or may not get, trust me a few hours in the local with this and you'll be an expert.
Would I have another? I would love to have local that served this.
Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? You'll hate it but this is really what English beer is corner-stoned on, this sets the bar and mark and you may hate it but this is a marker for beer.
Music for this, ' The Clash ' and ' London Calling ' on the Spotify, seemed appropriate. The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. The best wave, the real wave. Gt your ears around London Calling ....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfK-WX2pa8c
Old Ale 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.
Its initial sweetness is, apparently, "of roasted and vinous notes with a subtle bitter aftertaste". Strong fruitiness, often with "banana notes" standing out, is derived from Old Peculier’s fermentation process.
500ml bottle of beer that is 5.6% ABV, 168 calories a serve size,
Brewed by Theakston in the style that is Old Ale and that happens in Masham, England
Old Peculier is possibly one of the country’s most well-known and loved ales.
This unique, beautiful brew is often imitated but never matched and is sold literally all over the world. With countless awards to its credit, it is something of which every Briton can be very proud and is the epitome of the greatest of British brewing tradition.
[caption id="attachment_11471" align="alignleft" width="300"]
Old Peculiar with his old Peculier[/caption]In the early years of the modern brewing era, about two hundred years ago, many brewers produced a dark, strong ‘stock’ beer in the winter months, to provide a base amount of fermented beer to add to beers brewed in the rather more volatile months of the summer. Old Peculier probably owes its origins to this. The name pays tribute to the unique ecclesiastical status of Masham as a ‘Court of the Peculier’ and is also reference to the strong characteristic of the beer! For many years it was affectionately referred to as Yorkshire’s ‘Lunatic’s Broth’.
Old Peculier is a beautiful, yet very simple beer, brewed using a very generous blend of finest pale, crystal and roasted barley with two bitter hops combined with the majestic and noble ‘Fuggle’ hop to produce a beer of awesome full-bodied flavour with subtle cherry and rich fruit overtones. It tastes superb when accompanied by rich stews, strong cheeses and sweet puddings.
So what could possibly go wrong? Have I lost my sense of British beers, let find out.
Ok, that's a familiar and friendly aroma of malts and hop, it is very like tobacco leaf as an aroma.
Pour is a lot darker than you'd expect, really dark burnt chestnut brown, and a lovely head. That musty english beer aroma full of itself.
The taste is like a time-machine back to my youth. Lots of sweetness from the malt and caramel, and the twitch and tang from the hops. This is a beer for the ages.Looks brilliant too.
What can you say really about a beer that reminds you so much of home and long nights in pubs?
Lots of malt, heaps of burnt caramel, lots of the juggles hop thing that is very specific, it really is a time machine beer.
I might have been away from home a long time but this does have that unmistakable English beer aroma, Simmering hop but not grass it's more straw perhaps. The Sweetness of the beer is lovely, that backbone is being enough to carry a really forward an bold palate set.
It really is a strong, full action, all on, quintessential English beer. I loved it 600 odd beers ago, I still love it now. You could be cruel and nasty about British beer styles all you like except that this, and others, is really how it is, and sometimes it's really just a bit good.
The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 10 of its things from the thing. I loved it. really loved it. I loved the memories that he aroma and the taste delivered, I loved the sweetness and the lovely bitterness that was layered over that backbone. I just loved it.
The double dip review
Am I enjoying it? It is a beer you should try to give you an in to he British beer culture that you may or may not get, trust me a few hours in the local with this and you'll be an expert.
Would I have another? I would love to have local that served this.
Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? You'll hate it but this is really what English beer is corner-stoned on, this sets the bar and mark and you may hate it but this is a marker for beer.
Music for this, ' The Clash ' and ' London Calling ' on the Spotify, seemed appropriate. The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. The best wave, the real wave. Gt your ears around London Calling ....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfK-WX2pa8c
OLD ALE
Old Ale is a simple enough style to figure out. At least, once you understand that there are three or four beer styles called Old Ale. The first is the best known - the strong dark Old Peculier style. The second type of Old Ale is a blended dark ale. At least one of the beers comprising the blend will be aged for a couple of years in wood casks. The third version of Old Ale is a form of mild – a low-gravity dark ale. Another version of Old Ale is closely related to the first. For me, these are robustly malty beers, akin to a top-fermented version of a doppelbock.
Related articles
Sunday, July 12, 2015
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
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 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.
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.
Friday, July 10, 2015
Beer - #629 - Garage Project - California Über Alles
California Über Alles. A California Common. Which then gives me familiar beers, familiar musics, familiar numbers and familiar faces.
From the FYO station this is beer that is 5.5% ABV , 165 calories a serve size, the bottle contains 4.38 standard drink units.
Brewed by Garage Project in the style that is California Common and that happens in Wellington, New Zealand
Brewed with US Northern Brewer hops, Pale, Vienna, Crystal and Caramel malts and California Lager yeast, California Über Alles is the Garage take on the California Common style made famous by Anchor Steam beer.
[caption id="attachment_11427" align="alignleft" width="300"]
This selfie lark is getting hard[/caption]
We should point out that anyone looking for a replica of Anchor’s classic brew won’t find it here – like all Garage brews Über Alles takes the style as a starting point rather than trying to produce a clone of an existing brew.
If you don’t get the name then you probably didn’t spend the eighties trying to push safety pins through soft parts of your anatomy. If this is the case don’t feel bad, but remember it’s never too late to start.
So, what could go wrong? Well I have my doubts about a 'standard' beer, which in my opinion is something that Garage Project don't do so well, they're much better at the edgy and off-beat stuff that they generally by-and-large do really well.
The aroma on swimming the top open is more of a malt based beer, and little carbonation. The bottle is very very full though, not a lot of wriggle room. Still nothing to write home about on the initial impressions.
Pour is as it looks in the glass ,a chestnut coloured beer, and it pours with a lovely steady head that looks a bit substantial. The aroma though, a bit peculiar and unknown, well no it isn't it's just plain old malt and hop acrid.
As to the taste, I thought that it was muddled, then it straightened out and then it went wonky again, that malt/caramel doing it's darnedest to assert itself as a flavour leader. It kind of washed in and out again.
Though it isn't as bad as it could be, this does have a bit of robustness about it, the underlying carry is fairly thick and there is a sharp bite ate the finish that reminds you of what you're drinking.
Difficulty is that this is an uncommon beer, and a style that is confused with others, and because it is unusual there is no way of knowing if this is good, bad or indifferent in that style, so you have to go with what you taste.
Then you get to the question of is it a taste that I like?, and what of my memory do I compare it to, just because that is what you do. I might have said robust caramels but then this also presents a thinness briefly in drinking all the flavour and linger is exactly that, the linger. Part of me wants to think that this is like what an English beer used to taste like, and I might be on the right lines. It is a beer taste that invokes memories.
The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 7 of its things from the thing. Mostly because I have no idea. It is like quaffing beer, everyman beer, and then there is a twist in the profile that just hints that it isn't quite a normal beer. But it's hard work to enjoy the profile presented is all a bit harsh note and edges. That thing about Garage Project being better at the edgy beer and not the mainstream, this might be another example. But then I'm sure there are complete and total fans of this who can't get enough.
The double dip review
Am I enjoying it? I don't think I am, but that isn't to say that I'm not enjoying it.
Would I have another? No.
Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? Um, I don't know that this is a share and impress beer. It's not party enough.
What else to go with this other than the ' Dead Kennedys ' an American hardcore punk band formed in San Francisco, California in 1978. If it's your thing you can listen to a track list here on spotify This though is California Über Alles
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIqESwzCGg4
Style originating in 18th century California, where brewers without access to refrigeration produced beers using lager yeasts and warm temperatures. These still retain some of the rounded character inherent in all lagers, but with a dose of ale fruitiness.
"If you don’t get the name then you probably didn’t spend the eighties trying to push safety pins through soft parts of your anatomy"
From the FYO station this is beer that is 5.5% ABV , 165 calories a serve size, the bottle contains 4.38 standard drink units.
Brewed by Garage Project in the style that is California Common and that happens in Wellington, New Zealand
Brewed with US Northern Brewer hops, Pale, Vienna, Crystal and Caramel malts and California Lager yeast, California Über Alles is the Garage take on the California Common style made famous by Anchor Steam beer.
[caption id="attachment_11427" align="alignleft" width="300"]
This selfie lark is getting hard[/caption]We should point out that anyone looking for a replica of Anchor’s classic brew won’t find it here – like all Garage brews Über Alles takes the style as a starting point rather than trying to produce a clone of an existing brew.
If you don’t get the name then you probably didn’t spend the eighties trying to push safety pins through soft parts of your anatomy. If this is the case don’t feel bad, but remember it’s never too late to start.
So, what could go wrong? Well I have my doubts about a 'standard' beer, which in my opinion is something that Garage Project don't do so well, they're much better at the edgy and off-beat stuff that they generally by-and-large do really well.
The aroma on swimming the top open is more of a malt based beer, and little carbonation. The bottle is very very full though, not a lot of wriggle room. Still nothing to write home about on the initial impressions.
Pour is as it looks in the glass ,a chestnut coloured beer, and it pours with a lovely steady head that looks a bit substantial. The aroma though, a bit peculiar and unknown, well no it isn't it's just plain old malt and hop acrid.As to the taste, I thought that it was muddled, then it straightened out and then it went wonky again, that malt/caramel doing it's darnedest to assert itself as a flavour leader. It kind of washed in and out again.
Though it isn't as bad as it could be, this does have a bit of robustness about it, the underlying carry is fairly thick and there is a sharp bite ate the finish that reminds you of what you're drinking.
Difficulty is that this is an uncommon beer, and a style that is confused with others, and because it is unusual there is no way of knowing if this is good, bad or indifferent in that style, so you have to go with what you taste.
Then you get to the question of is it a taste that I like?, and what of my memory do I compare it to, just because that is what you do. I might have said robust caramels but then this also presents a thinness briefly in drinking all the flavour and linger is exactly that, the linger. Part of me wants to think that this is like what an English beer used to taste like, and I might be on the right lines. It is a beer taste that invokes memories.
The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 7 of its things from the thing. Mostly because I have no idea. It is like quaffing beer, everyman beer, and then there is a twist in the profile that just hints that it isn't quite a normal beer. But it's hard work to enjoy the profile presented is all a bit harsh note and edges. That thing about Garage Project being better at the edgy beer and not the mainstream, this might be another example. But then I'm sure there are complete and total fans of this who can't get enough.
The double dip review
Am I enjoying it? I don't think I am, but that isn't to say that I'm not enjoying it.
Would I have another? No.
Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? Um, I don't know that this is a share and impress beer. It's not party enough.
What else to go with this other than the ' Dead Kennedys ' an American hardcore punk band formed in San Francisco, California in 1978. If it's your thing you can listen to a track list here on spotify This though is California Über Alles
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIqESwzCGg4
CALIFORNIA COMMON
Style originating in 18th century California, where brewers without access to refrigeration produced beers using lager yeasts and warm temperatures. These still retain some of the rounded character inherent in all lagers, but with a dose of ale fruitiness.
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.
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
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.
"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
- Am I enjoying it? This has really exceeded my expectations, it's like a taste explosion, a controlled demolition, it's all on point.
- 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.
- 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.
Related articles
Friday, July 3, 2015
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.
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
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 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.
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.
Friday, June 26, 2015
Beer - #623 - Sparks Brewing - Frontier Extra Stout *keg*
Still to come: A confused beer ' Outlander' or 'Frontier', music to confuse, confusion in numbers, and a confusion of numbers.
For Sparks Brewing this is brrewed at Scotts Brewing Co in the style that is of: Foreign Stout and that's all done in Auckland, New Zealand
as it's FYO this is 1 litre bottle that contains beer that is 6.2% ABV, so 4.89 standard drink units, coming in at around 186 calories a serve size
[caption id="attachment_11362" align="alignright" width="300"]
Winter beer, summer haircut, what's going on[/caption]
A dark and intensely roasty ale, with strong aromas of chocolate and coffee. The rich body is balanced with all New Zealand hops added late in the boil and a good layering of crystal malt leaves a hint of liquorice and an almost rum like quality to the finish.
2012 National Homebrew Competition Gold medal recipe, considered by the judges as “a world class example of the style”.
So what could possibly go wrong? I've had this in the bottle form, and I quite liked it. As with many beers the bottle and the keg sometimes are different in small ways, it'd be interesting to see how this one goes.
Roasted malt chocolate aroma on opening, as it did with a gentle hiss, not overly carbonated it seems, even though it was lively going into the bottle..
Pour is that strange silky luxurious flow, and it ends with a head of substance, mocha chocolate adjacent the pitch black beer. The chocolate aroma that was is now there but slightly more a sour note, briefly and then it settle into a sugar sweetness.
I also seem to get some berry=thing going on.
I can only describe my first sip as smoooooooth and light, fluffy and luxurious. Delightful.
It does not have any of that big hop harshness but does have a finish that veers towards dry rather than neutral or sweet .
I recall this having a more raw greenness but this keg version doesn't seem to have that. I also recall it having more coffee about it than I sense or taste now. I get a milk chocolate smoothness though, some things are always good.
Like the last time I do still feel that this needed something more in the body to lift it, how or what I have no idea, it's just something that it might have had.
That said that it does fit totally the description of being less robust but still as flavoursome, and slightly sweeter than a full Stout.
With that in mind you change your stance a little, as you must, to adjust to the beer that you're drinking, opposed to the beer you want to be drinking and are confused about.
So a lesser bodied Stout sums this up exactly and almost perfectly, all that previous wittering superfluous.
When you've reset your expectations and appreciate what you're drinking this becomes all the much better and brighter beer, delivering some lovely subtle tastes with fine balance and a lovely finish and linger that isn't intrusive, difficult or challenging.
In other words 'it's a bit good' and 'lovely drinking' One which I'm really enjoying thanks. At this point you might be able to tell this is a couple of paragraphs longer than usual and this happens when I'm really enjoying something and expressing it in different ways.
The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 10 a of its things from the thing. Honest to goodness this is true to the style and you get totally what you should be getting. The flavours and aromas might be subtle and muted but the whole is fairly tight and compact. Add that there is no harsh hoppy thing or dry finish then you get a beer that is just early drinking. It is a beer that you need to understand to drink, I thought I was getting a ruler more robust beer, which is a different style, I was wrong. This will appeal to a to of drinkers of beer and should be a great gateway to the darker beer styles and the imperial Stout types, or you could stop here and be totally satisfied.
The double dip review
I have on the music machine ' Jamie XX ' and his new album ' In Colour' which you can get on the spotify Jamie Smith is an English music producer and remix artist who is known both as a solo act and as a member of the London-based band The xx. And they're really good. This is ' loud places '
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TP9luRtEqjc
Foreign Stout began with the beer that would become Guinness Foreign Extra Stout. This was a stronger, extra-hopped version of the basic Guinness Extra Stout, brewed to survive long journeys overseas. The classic FES still exists in a few different forms, but many of the original destination countries (Jamaica, Sri Lanka, etc.) now have their own, locally-produced versions. Foreign stout occupies a position between basic stout and imperial stout. It is sweeter than a basic stout, but not as robust as an imperial. It is less fruity and less hoppy as well. Foreign stouts are sometimes made with local grains and adjuncts sugar is not uncommon. Alcohol ranges from 6-8%
Chocolate on the nose, dry and roasted taste with a bitter finish.
For Sparks Brewing this is brrewed at Scotts Brewing Co in the style that is of: Foreign Stout and that's all done in Auckland, New Zealand
as it's FYO this is 1 litre bottle that contains beer that is 6.2% ABV, so 4.89 standard drink units, coming in at around 186 calories a serve size
[caption id="attachment_11362" align="alignright" width="300"]
Winter beer, summer haircut, what's going on[/caption]A dark and intensely roasty ale, with strong aromas of chocolate and coffee. The rich body is balanced with all New Zealand hops added late in the boil and a good layering of crystal malt leaves a hint of liquorice and an almost rum like quality to the finish.
2012 National Homebrew Competition Gold medal recipe, considered by the judges as “a world class example of the style”.
So what could possibly go wrong? I've had this in the bottle form, and I quite liked it. As with many beers the bottle and the keg sometimes are different in small ways, it'd be interesting to see how this one goes.
Roasted malt chocolate aroma on opening, as it did with a gentle hiss, not overly carbonated it seems, even though it was lively going into the bottle..
Pour is that strange silky luxurious flow, and it ends with a head of substance, mocha chocolate adjacent the pitch black beer. The chocolate aroma that was is now there but slightly more a sour note, briefly and then it settle into a sugar sweetness.I also seem to get some berry=thing going on.
I can only describe my first sip as smoooooooth and light, fluffy and luxurious. Delightful.
It does not have any of that big hop harshness but does have a finish that veers towards dry rather than neutral or sweet .
I recall this having a more raw greenness but this keg version doesn't seem to have that. I also recall it having more coffee about it than I sense or taste now. I get a milk chocolate smoothness though, some things are always good.
Like the last time I do still feel that this needed something more in the body to lift it, how or what I have no idea, it's just something that it might have had.
That said that it does fit totally the description of being less robust but still as flavoursome, and slightly sweeter than a full Stout.
With that in mind you change your stance a little, as you must, to adjust to the beer that you're drinking, opposed to the beer you want to be drinking and are confused about.
So a lesser bodied Stout sums this up exactly and almost perfectly, all that previous wittering superfluous.
When you've reset your expectations and appreciate what you're drinking this becomes all the much better and brighter beer, delivering some lovely subtle tastes with fine balance and a lovely finish and linger that isn't intrusive, difficult or challenging.
In other words 'it's a bit good' and 'lovely drinking' One which I'm really enjoying thanks. At this point you might be able to tell this is a couple of paragraphs longer than usual and this happens when I'm really enjoying something and expressing it in different ways.
The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 10 a of its things from the thing. Honest to goodness this is true to the style and you get totally what you should be getting. The flavours and aromas might be subtle and muted but the whole is fairly tight and compact. Add that there is no harsh hoppy thing or dry finish then you get a beer that is just early drinking. It is a beer that you need to understand to drink, I thought I was getting a ruler more robust beer, which is a different style, I was wrong. This will appeal to a to of drinkers of beer and should be a great gateway to the darker beer styles and the imperial Stout types, or you could stop here and be totally satisfied.
The double dip review
- Am I enjoying it? I was confused and confounded, then I understood and now I've see the light and yes I really am enjoying it.
- Would I have another? I would indeed, it's really good.
- Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? I would encourage everyone to have some, it's just good beer done well and that's all you need.
I have on the music machine ' Jamie XX ' and his new album ' In Colour' which you can get on the spotify Jamie Smith is an English music producer and remix artist who is known both as a solo act and as a member of the London-based band The xx. And they're really good. This is ' loud places '
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TP9luRtEqjc
FOREIGN STOUT
Foreign Stout began with the beer that would become Guinness Foreign Extra Stout. This was a stronger, extra-hopped version of the basic Guinness Extra Stout, brewed to survive long journeys overseas. The classic FES still exists in a few different forms, but many of the original destination countries (Jamaica, Sri Lanka, etc.) now have their own, locally-produced versions. Foreign stout occupies a position between basic stout and imperial stout. It is sweeter than a basic stout, but not as robust as an imperial. It is less fruity and less hoppy as well. Foreign stouts are sometimes made with local grains and adjuncts sugar is not uncommon. Alcohol ranges from 6-8%
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