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

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

Could you add anymore hops to one beer

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

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

4 Horsemen of the Hopocalype.

Intergalactic Imperial India Pale Ale. 2015 Edition

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

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

Could you add anymore hops to one beer?

So what could possibly go wrong?

Beer - #646 - Hop Federation - West Coast IPA

West Coast Style, West Coast Music, West of the even line and Go West!

An all American Hopped West Coast IPA.

1 litre, as I was at the FYO station, of beer that is 6.7% ABV, and 70 IBU things, thats about 200 calories a serve size, and thats 5.29 standard drink units.

Brewed by Hop Federation Brewery in the style that is India Pale Ale (IPA) and they are in Riwaka, New Zealand

[caption id="attachment_11628" align="alignleft" width="300"] Saturday on my mind...[/caption]

A marmalade nose, with a big tart grapefruit palette that sticks around until the very last mouthful.

Clean dry finish

You think being in Riwaka (they named a hop variety after it) that it would be local but no it has Chinook, Centennial, US Cascade hops.

So what could possibly go wrong?

Grassy hop and a slick of sweetness when I flip the lid, it smells sticky,

It really is a terribly pretty colour of orange brightness, and pours with a lovely light white head, the hop aroma in the glass is the same, the stickiness no so much.

The taste.

Well.

I don't know.

It's not such a big banger, I mean this isn't face scrunching nor is it arid dry at the finish.

The bitterness is 'bright' by what I mean that it's urgent and sharp but at one point, the front, although the linger, the aftertaste is grass tangy slightly.

It is high on citrus, and not eating grapefruit I'm going to bow to that descriptor, and having left it for a few minutes it is notable that the dryness is increasing, this might though be palate fatigue, which would be hard since I've had only a half glass.

It's difficult when you don't connect to a beer to be enthusiastic or pick the high points, this isn't a bad beer, not by any measure is is a bad beer. Obviously though it doesn't click with me.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 7 of its things from the thing. I don't think it's bad, it isn't I don't however think it's good in the sense that I'm enjoying 'chewing' the mouthfeel and enjoying the malts and hops. This seems to be too peaky in the bitterness and not so much carry in the body.  This might be how the West Coast likes it though, give me this in the summer and I bet I'd be a bigger fan. Possibly a more summer quencher enjoyment beer than a late winter soother.

The double dip review

Am I enjoying it? I am enjoying it, it's peaky and bitter and not at all unrewarding, it's easy drinking and made me smile.
Would I have another? I would, this is a decent beer.
Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? I would so that I could get to the bottom of the taste profile and understand what I think I'm missing or not.

Music for this. Music for this was “The Brian Jonestown Massacre” an American neo-psychedelia band formed in San Francisco in 1990. The band’s output spans psychedelic rock, folk rock and shoe gaze. The Album " Revelation " which I have on the Spotify

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lo2Kkq4xcJ8

INDIA PALE ALE & IPA

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

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Beer - #644 - Summer Wine - Teleporter

BeerJerkNZ Beerclub beer! This week another interesting and delightful looking beer, the Summer Wine Teleporter. Two beers one glass, two genres on album, a choice of numbers and choosing your mates.

"Evolutionary beer from Yorkshire"

This is a 330ml bottle that contains 150 calories of a beer that is 5.5% ABV, and 1.3 standard drink units.

Brewed by Summer Wine in the style that is  Porter and that happens in Holmfirth, England

[caption id="attachment_11605" align="alignleft" width="300"] Anticipation abounds[/caption]

A Rich Dark Porter brewed with 10 different malts giving a sweet roast richness that is balanced with just enough hop character. This ale has a surprising drinkability for it’s colour and abv.

Don’t let the sumptuous roast malt fool you, this porter is seriously potent & has the potential to take you to another place!

Imagine standing in an espresso bar sniffing a chocolate selection box then somehow converting the aroma to liquid form and sticking it in a bottle. It would be sort of gross and we'd have no idea where to start anyway with all that state of matter business.

So what could possibly go wrong? These days "porter" and "stout" are used pretty much interchangeably and there is some interesting history in the styles, and it's explained here.

Aroma on opening is hard to pick, I though that it was more hoppy, then I thought it had a note of roasted malt or chocolate.

Pour is a lovely dark chestnut brown and a fair decent firm and light brown head. Its  noisy beer should you take a listen, just like snap crackle and pop.

Initially I though this has a more sour edge, it's a familiar note, you'd know it. But the na few minutes of warming and some lovely aromas break through, and some soft flavours also begin to shine. I'd say a slow burner but it just needed a moment.

Also it looks great in the glass.

A decent Porter then, but given that they talk it up a bit you could be miffed for it not having a lot more body and oomph in the middle bit, perhaps. I would have though there might have been a bit more depth or a punch. There wasn't.  Not a disaster though since it carries well and drinks well enough without making you gasp in wonderment.

Not sweet, not sour, not dry to finish, no sharp or rough edges to catch you, this is a well crafted drink.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 8 of its things from the thing. Eight being the arbitrary 'very good' on the random scale. I like porters and stouts, and so this isn't a real surprise and it'd have to be really something to get a better or worse. This sits very nicely in the competent and enjoyable field without fuss.

The double dip review

Am I enjoying it? Yes, it's a pretty beer to look at and an lovely beer to drink.
Would I have another? I would if I had the chance.
Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? I would, this really does pour well and drinks well, I'd have no problems sharing this with the right crowd.

Music for this, odd choice perhaps, in the style of Goth-Pop from " Cemeteries " their album  "  Barrow"  of course on the Spotify player

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSkCe0c1q88

PORTER

Black or chocolate malt gives the porter its dark brown color. Porters are well hopped and heavily malted. This is a medium-bodied beer. Porters can be sweet. Hoppiness can range from bitter to mild. Porters are often confused with stouts.