Beer - #647 - North End - Fieldway APA

It's the BeerJerkNZ Beer Club beer of the week, this week the  North End - Fieldway APA

A home grown classic.

330ml can of a beer that is 5.8% ABV 50 IBU things, and 174 calories in the can, an 1.5 standard drink units.

Brewed by North End Brewing Co in the style this is  American Pale Ale
and they do all that at Waikanae Beach, New Zealand

Aotearoa Pale Ale. Our hop forward pale ale is bursting with hops grown across the Strait in Nelson.

[caption id="attachment_11637" align="alignleft" width="300"] New beer new hair cut, it works.[/caption]

A fruity New Zealand pale ale combining NZ Cascade, Pacifica and Waimea hops with NZ malt and our fruity ale yeast strain.

Sweet lemon, lime and mandarin marmalade is joined by a hint of the herb garden and tempered by a malt from the Rangitikei.

A home grown classic.

Field Way APA is named for the surf break of the same name.

So what could possibly go wrong?

Well, for a beer that's been sitting in the fridge for a couple of weeks it's incredibly lively, or excitable, a foam runneth over when I ka-chinked the tab.

Fruity aroma of fruity things though was distracting enough to forgive, things like Mango, even i they say Lemon, Lime, marmalade, papaya and bubble gum. I'm saying mango.

Pour is a pale yellow golden with a nice head that is fluffy and yet appears thin, but isn't.

Aroma settles to the more pale ale hop aroma that you'd expect and is no surprise, still with that lovely tropical fruit note.

It's a lot more bitter than the IBU rate of 40 might have you on to believe, and it had a firm dry finish, it's a rather 'large' presence beer.

Quite tart, dry finish, lovely aromatics, it's quite entertaining, and not at all what I was expecting, but that might surprise no-one as I'd not really thought through the APA style  which are usually big bitter affairs, in which case this is a swing and a ding.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 8 of its things from the thing. It is lovely to drink, but that almost creamy tropical fruit sweetness is quite imposing and very near the front of the palate. Did enjoy and dryness of the finish and the overall bitterness that was persistent through the whole drink.

The double dip review

• Am I enjoying it? Yes, it's a stop and drink beer, I don't know that it's a sit and talk beer, it demands your attention.


• Would I have another? I would love another, if only to figure out where my limit was in the balance of the sweet and bitter.


• Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? No problems with cracking a few of these for a chat and tales session.

Music for this,  " Lee Fields and the Expressions "  Elmer "Lee" Fields is an American soul artist born in 1951 in North Carolina, An Album " Faithful Man "  on the Spotify.

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

 

AMRICAN PALE ALE

American Pale Ales are light in color, ranging from golden to a light copper color. The style of this beer is defined by the American hops used. American hops typically have high bitterness and aroma.This is a perfect beer for big fare like grilled burgers or combination pizzas, as well as lighter fare like sushi and green salads.

Related articles

• Next Round: In praise of the pale ale


• Beer - #630 - Rocky Knob - Home Again

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.

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

• Tooheys celebrates heritage with new branding and campaign


• 8 New Beers You Should Drink


• Coopers Brewery releases 'limited edition Vintage Ale'

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

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

• Ten beers to drink before you die(t)

Beer - #630 - Rocky Knob - Home Again

I like the beer I've had so far from the lovely people at Rocky Knob, and had a few words with Bron in passing recently at a beer festival. Then I discovered their beer on the FYO again at my local Liquorland in Forrest Hill. So here we go;  Good beer, good music, good times and a good score.

100% Kiwi. All NZ malt and hops.

From the FYO then a 1 litre of beer, that is 5.6 % ABV and 40 IBU, making this 4.42 standard drink units, and around 168 calories a serve size.

Brewed by Rocky Knob Brewing this one in the style that is  American Pale Ale and that's in the small seaside town that is Mt Maunganui, New Zealand

[caption id="attachment_11443" align="alignleft" width="300"] It's a cold night, and I'm putting on a brave face.[/caption]

This is a fresh zesty, clean and incredibly sessionable hopped up NZ Pale Ale.

Riwaka, NZ Cascade, and Nelson Sauvin give this a punchy citrus and classic Nelson Savin zestiness.

So what could possibly go wrong?

Not much if the opening aroma of sweet sweet caramel and hint of grass is much to go by.

It's quite lively in the bottle with a spontaneous head forming and popping out of the neck, not something you see often.

Pour is as you see it, although there was less head then the sitting spontaneous head would have made me think, and what head there is is settled to a film.

There is a lot of the Sauvin hops in this, and the aroma, and I like that. It is surprising light and easy to drink with a nice mouthfeel and a decent finish that is slightly dry but not parching.

There are a number of beers using the Sauvin hops, and so the taste is quite distinct, hard to differentiate between them, from memory, but this is as good as I've had.

I'd go so far as to say that this is a really good candidate to be called a great session beer, I'd be happy to sit and mull over all sorts of nonsense drinking some of this.

Lovely aroma, then a lightly but firmly hopped bitterness with a nice sharp clean finish, makes you just want to have some more, it's very rewarding and inviting.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 8 of its things from the thing. Thoroughly enjoyed this, it's well balanced, sweet where it has to be crisp where is must be, and it is consistent through the whole drink, even as it warms.

The double dip review

Am I enjoying it? I am, and I would love to enjoy more of it.
Would I have another? It would be a great go-to beer, and a reason to enjoy a holiday at the Mount.
Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? There is nothing at all wrong with this beer for sharing, it's got flavour, it's got bitterness, it's got dryness, it's got sweet, it's got great aroma. I'd day that was a yes from me.

Music for this, an odd piece of music ' Tom McRae & The Standing Band '  ' Did I sleep and miss the border? ' which is my listening on Spotify and everywhere else I imagine. The Standard says it's quite good.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0OUkoWZa8s

AMERICAN PALE ALE

American Pale Ales are light in color, ranging from golden to a light copper color. The style of this beer is defined by the American hops used. American hops typically have high bitterness and aroma.This is a perfect beer for big fare like grilled burgers or combination pizzas, as well as lighter fare like sushi and green salads.

Related articles

• Peak hop: Obssession with flavour may be dulling our beer palates


• What is IPA?

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

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

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

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

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

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

This is the traditional predominant flavour in gin.

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

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

Different but drinkable, we are fans.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The double dip review 

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


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


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

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

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

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

AMERICAN PALE ALE

American Pale Ales are light in color, ranging from golden to a light copper color. The style of this beer is defined by the American hops used. American hops typically have high bitterness and aroma.This is a perfect beer for big fare like grilled burgers or combination pizzas, as well as lighter fare like sushi and green salads.

Related articles

• Beer | Rogue Juniper Pale Ale


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

Beer - #599 - Tuatara - Conehead Air Hopped IPA (2015) (Keg version)

The Tuatara Conehead Air Hopped IPA (2015) from the keg . I know there is a keg version, stand by.  Older new beer, old new music, old number math and oldies only parties.

Enjoy vibrant notes of passionfruit, gooseberry and grapefruit that only the freshest Sauvin hops can provide

A Bottle that is 1000ml, with a 6% ABV beer, about 4.74 standard drinks in NZ, and @ 45IBU things, with 180 ish calories a serving. I think that covers it.

Brewed by Tuatara Brewing Company in the well known style of an American Pale Ale and the are in Paraparaumu, New Zealand

The hops are always greener on the other side, in this case the other side of Cook Strait.

[caption id="attachment_11066" align="alignright" width="300"] Man with a frown who needs haircut waves a beer[/caption]

There's only one way to get those cones to the North Island in prime condition and that's to scramble the jets.

OK, it's to scramble a single engine prop plane with the seats taken out, but be assured that the 800kg of green hops that went into Conehead 2015 were flown direct from Nelson to Paraparaumu in an actual plane, touching down right next door to the Tuatara Brewery.

One short hop for a brewer, one giant green-hopping for mankind.

I've had previous versions of this beer, that I wasn't a fan of, but hey, what could possibly go wrong?This is  the keg version at the FYO. 

"Air Hopped" of course reference to the tiny tiny aircraft they jammed all the hops into, as opposed to the more usual 'Dry hopped' There are pictures on twitter if you can find them.

As you can already see it's chestnut brown in the bottle, from where a burst of hop grassiness bursts on flipping the lid.

Pour is lovely with a nice little white fluffy head . The taste is quite big, a real burst of sticky resinous grassiness bitters with a lovely mouthfeel and still persistent with a grass bite at the back.

This drinks differently to the bottle version, in my opinion, which could be for any number of reasons. The taste not my opinions.

But this seem 'bigger' up front and less bitter in the middle than the bottle, to my recollection.

Lot bigger in the overall sticky resinous hoppiness overall, but less dryness in the finish, it's a funny thing. Now I know this is how it is because I was out in town the other night and had some in an actual pub, for real, it's not all sit at home Noddy-no-mates here I can tell you.

It is a big beer, and with this level of hops not a session beer, without food intervention, it's a really good beer to work towards or away from, lucky I'm at home and can have a couple. Even though this is moderate in the ABV level I don't know that I really could drink a lot of it in one go. be happy to give it a crack if anyone wants to give it a go with me, perhaps.

I really like this beer in the keg, and the glass, it starts all brash and shouty and then it calms down and just becomes a really interesting beer that takes time and patience to enjoy. It is a seasonal and I wait until next time to try again a new spin on an old favourite.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 9 a of its things from the thing.  As it warms it gets more rounded and less edgy and then more drinkable, despite what I said earlier at the right temperature then this is like nectar (although it still needs a food to keep your palate in check)

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? I really worked my way into this, it was great.


2. Would I have another? Yes, please.


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? I would so bring this to a congregation and I'd insist on the music which is quite the thing.  I'd have my groove on and be dancing, it'd be embarrassing. It's a thing, right?

Musication was from Milky Chance,  a German folk duo with reggae and electronic music influences made up of Clemens Rehbein (vocals and instrumentals) and Philipp Dausch, the album Sadnecessary, this is Stunner

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHPLi3hW0jU

One of the very few musics to make it to my iPhone as opposed the iPod.  Listen here on the Spotify and all the other places probably

AMERICAN PALE ALE

American Pale Ales are light in color, ranging from golden to a light copper color. The style of this beer is defined by the American hops used. American hops typically have high bitterness and aroma.This is a perfect beer for big fare like grilled burgers or combination pizzas, as well as lighter fare like sushi and green salads.

Related articles

• Next Round: It's all about the IPA


• Brewworks' Hoppy Grounds Pale Ale Is What's On Tap

Beer - #595 - Tuatara - Conehead Air Hopped IPA (2015)

The Tuatara Conehead Air Hopped IPA (2015) in a bottle. I know there is a keg version, stand by.  Older new beer, old new music, old number math and oldies only parties.

Enjoy vibrant notes of passionfruit, gooseberry and grapefruit that only the freshest Sauvin hops can provide

A Bottle that is 500ml, with a 6% ABV beer, about 2.37 standard drinks in NZ, and @ 45IBU things, with 180 ish calories a serving. I think that covers it.

Brewed by Tuatara Brewing Company in the well known style of an American Pale Ale and the are in Paraparaumu, New Zealand

The hops are always greener on the other side, in this case the other side of Cook Strait.

[caption id="attachment_11013" align="alignleft" width="300"] He looks keen![/caption]

There's only one way to get those cones to the North Island in prime condition and that's to scramble the jets.

OK, it's to scramble a single engine prop plane with the seats taken out, but be assured that the 800kg of green hops that went into Conehead 2015 were flown direct from Nelson to Paraparaumu in an actual plane, touching down right next door to the Tuatara Brewery.

One short hop for a brewer, one giant green-hopping for mankind.

I've had previous versions of this beer, that I wasn't a fan of, but hey, what could possibly go wrong? If this is ok perhaps I'll get the keg version at the FYO. 

"Air Hopped" of course reference to the tiny tiny aircraft they jammed all the hops into, as opposed to the more usual 'Dry hopped' There are pictures on twitter if you can find them.

Brilliant tactile bottle, as always,  fresh muted hop aroma and a gentle hiss on opening.

Pour is lovely orange brown with a small but firm persistent head, I have my pouring mojo back. Aroma in the glass is still more muted hops with a hint of spices.

Lots of resinous dryness, and the middle of my tongue seems to have become numb, that's never happened before, I think I like it. Plenty of malt sweetness in this that lifts and carries. The bitterness is quite mild, present but not stingy bitter, just smooth and pleasing. It's clever.

The bitterness picks up a little as it comes off the coldness from the fridge, and that's nice too, just a little pinch to remind you. The dryness at the end of the palate isn't so bad, although it's quite broad.

Is it fantastic? It isn't but it is nice and very enjoyable. I know it's fresh, I've seen the pictures and everything, and it does make me smile when I drink it, offering a couple of challenges, by which I mean little peaks of flavours and layers, when you quaff.

It isn't though quaffing beer, more a meandering enjoyment, far to nice to quaff and be done, unless, unlike me you have another waiting. For the single sitting beer this should be enjoyed for as long as your will power holds out.

As I near the end the lovely subtle grassiness of the hops is really enjoyable, the dryness is still there, the malt less, the whole a lot more than was expected.

An Annual beer, much anticipated and much enjoyed and appreciated, not though, for me, a flagship beer, regardless I'd be happy to sit for a while and drown all my sorrows to this, a few times.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 8 a of its things from the thing.  8 is 'very good' on the scale of my own making. Even I'm confused by it, this is 'a bit good' and would be enjoyed by a range of people with a range of expectations. It really is just a nice beer to drink on an autumn afternoon.

Cheers. 

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? Yes I am enjoying it, it's quite smooth, delivered in a flatter profile of tastes making it a lovely drink to savour.


2. Would I have another? I would like to try the keg version.


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? I would, this is a beer to enjoy with friends and you should if you could get some. I think you'd enjoy it.

Musication was from  Mono Town is an Icelandic musical band from Reykjavík, this is "In the eye of the storm" which for no reason made me bop about a bit. You can listen here on the Spotify or the everywhere else possibly

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqZSF1ONqc0

I like this Album, a lot.

AMERICAN PALE ALE

American Pale Ales are light in color, ranging from golden to a light copper color. The style of this beer is defined by the American hops used. American hops typically have high bitterness and aroma.This is a perfect beer for big fare like grilled burgers or combination pizzas, as well as lighter fare like sushi and green salads.

Related articles

• Next Round: It's all about the IPA


• Brewworks' Hoppy Grounds Pale Ale Is What's On Tap

Beer - #582 - Hallertau - Resurgence

Hallertau Resurgence. A born again beer.

Beastwars IPA reborn, apparently, as a Stong Pale.

Same but different beer, same but different music, same number and same party thoughts

this is a 500 ml bottle, 6% ABV, 38 IBU thingies, 2.57 standard drink units, the bottle is about 180 calories a serve or 240 calories in the bottle. 

Brewed by Hallertau Brewbar & Restaurant in the style that is  American Pale Ale and they are Auckland, New Zealand

[caption id="attachment_10852" align="alignleft" width="300"] Wistfully looking at a beer[/caption]

Nose of Pineapple Fruju with a squeeze of lime.

A tangy pile of hops on the palate, rich and resinous.

Lean malt flavour with hop oil sweetness helping balance out the fresh bitter finish.

So what could possibly go wrong? I never had this the first time around, this shows though a brewers faith in their recipe. Get in!

Big fruity burst of aroma, lots of hops, and that passionfruit note. I've settled on passionfruit as a go to. I'm probably wrong.

Pour is really light golden, which si a surprise and the head is fluffy white and persistent, aroma has moved to more grassy hop.

Whilst I don't get pineapple, I do get resinous hops, and it has a lovely smack of bitter at the finish. It is big on hops.

Which is pretty much as advertised.

A really crisp beer to drink as well, nothing out of sorts of disconcerting in this that I've found, even if I really thing that some of the taste points are a bit peaky, sticking out over the overall profile in places.

I've had what seems like more than a fair share of Pale Ale styles of late, and this one seems more memorable than most, and remind you not to get bored or just over them.

Easy drinking, I discovered as I ran out, and now I mope as I don't have something that I think will be the equal of. Well played Hallertau.

[caption id="attachment_10854" align="alignright" width="150"] Comes with a warning[/caption]

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 9 a of its things from the thing. It is hard to be over enthusiastic about a beer style that in your heart you don't actually want to enjoy, personally I prefer a cracking IPA or at the other end a Belgium Tripel for instance.  This though is good and is mellow enough and at the same time aggressive enough to make it both drinkable, enjoyable and a bit special at the same time.

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? I am, it is particularly and peculiarly enjoyable, and as advertised.


2. Would I have another? I so would.


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? I would indeed this is quite nice an appealing.

The latest discovery is an artist called "Clem Snide" the album "Girls Come First" is on the music machine, you can listen here . Clem Snide is an alt-country band. Not on that album but worth a listen is this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hh55NuFEAwc

AMERICAN PALE ALE

American Pale Ales are light in color, ranging from golden to a light copper color. The style of this beer is defined by the American hops used. American hops typically have high bitterness and aroma.This is a perfect beer for big fare like grilled burgers or combination pizzas, as well as lighter fare like sushi and green salads.

Related articles

• Three Imperial IPAs


• Big Shed Brewery Co. Launches To Appreciative Crowd

Beer - #580 - Altitude - Posturing Professional Pale Ale

It's time for the Altitude Brewing Posturing Professional Pale Ale.

Posturing, Posing, Pondering and Sports!

Named in honor of the ego driven montain professionals that we so often meet. Quality session ale that goes down a treat. Hey that rhymes!!

This is the 500ml bottle of a 5% ABV beer, making it 150 calories a serve,  rounded out with it being 37 IBU things and 1.97 standard drink units.

Brewed by Altitude Brewing Studio in the style that is  English Pale Ale and they are the magnificent Queenstown, New Zealand

Dedicated, and named, for the posturing mountain professionals the world over, that feel they are the pinnacle of human evolution. The Posturing Professional is a New Zealand pale ale that is intended as a flavourful session beer.

[caption id="attachment_10830" align="alignleft" width="300"] Game (Watching) Face[/caption]

Best enjoyed after a hard day on one of our alpine playgrounds, it is designed with New Zealand’s brewing heritage in mind. The flavours are a salute to our brewing forefathers and their innovations that lead to the Kiwi artisan beer culture.

Using New Zealand malts and old school New Zealand hops, the finished beer delivers a dry palate with clean spiciness and a bit of sweet lemon and honey. The nose has notes of citrus and cut grass.

What then could be wrong with that?

Soft hop aroma on opening. Cloudy looking dull orange pour with not much by way of head, which sits on top like a forlorn thing. Aroma in glass might be more orange.

Lightly bitter but quite a dense beer, slightly fruity but not overly.

Quite a strong hop roughness in this, and it has a much dryer finish than you might expect from the way profile is pretty much front forward.

I have to say also that this still looks cloudy as a beer, slightly unusual, and I'm not sure that I'm not confused by it, it's not a look that immediately reassures you that all is well.

But is sees to be, there is no obvious problems.

One of those beers that you have an in your head expectation, and this is slightly different to what I thought, much more hoppy, less malts, and dryer to be precise.

Should it put you off though? I can imagine having this with the recently BBQ meat things, or even with an indian Curry, or just with bar snacks. It is a reasonably neutral beer in that sense.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 7 a of its things from the thing. It's not bad really, it fits many bills, and delivers like it says it should. All commendable. It is however slightly odd looking, not unusual lot have cloudy beers, it's just I wasn't expecting it.

I wouldn't suggest that this was a 'session' beer either that really would be a bit of a stretch, if they could figure out how to lower the ABV a notch and maintain the flavour it'd be a right winner.

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? It's nice for a Sunday Starter.


2. Would I have another? I think it's a good platform to move on from.


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? Possibly if they were on BBQ duty I'd turn up with a couple, it's a good enough beer to share and unusual enough to be a talking point.

The music today was the sounds of ball on willow, V6 turbo charged engines and Football songs, as it was a big afternoon of sportings on the Televisual device. I could have ours just said, The Cricket World Cup One Day International Final - New Zealand playing Australia, in the Football the table topping  Wellington Phoenix  (NZ) are playing Sydney FC (Aus), and in the Formula One there isn't a New Zealander but there is an Aussie Daniel Ricciardo racing for Red Bull, and of course you all know that the McLaren cars were originally a New Zealand thing, Founded in 1963 by New Zealander Bruce McLaren.

ENGLISH PALE ALE

Classic English Pale Ales are not pale but rather are golden to copper colored and display English variety hop character. Distinguishing characteristics are dryness and defined hop taste, but more malt balance than what youll typically find in an American Pale Ale. Great to drink with all sorts of meats including roast beef, lamb, burgers, duck, goose, etc. Note that the term pale ale is used in England to signify a bottled bitter, and in that way there is no such thing as English Pale Ale to the English. The style is a North American construct, borne of the multitude of pale ales that pay homage to these bottled bitters – Bass in particular – and therefore the majority of true examples of the style are found outside Britain.

Related articles

• How many calories are in your beer? Take our quiz and find out!


• Three Imperial IPAs

Beer - #561 - Lakeman - Pale Ale

Not to be confused with Taupo Pale Ale of course.

Different beer, different music, differential numbers and making up the numbers at a gig

  smooth robust maltiness

Brewers standard 330ml bottle of a beer that is 5.5% ABV, so that would be 1.43 standard drink units, and about 160 calories in this.

Brewed by Lakeman Brewing Company this on in the style that is American Pale Ale, and they are in Taupo, New Zealand

[caption id="attachment_10636" align="alignright" width="300"] Beer, Sun, Music[/caption]

Lakeman Pale Ale is an Amber ale with a smooth robust maltiness,

Spicy and Citrus notes are provided by good lashing of pacifica and  New Zealand cascade hops.

So this sounds intriguing what could possibly go wrong?

This has a damp oats aroma with a tinge of hop grassiness.

Pour is cloudy orange with a thin whispy head of not much significance.

I'm not sure if I damaged my nose but again I got a hint of ash on the aroma.

Pacifica Hops:  Pacifica displays classic Hallertau citrus and floral aroma character which selectors mark as a real standout. The Pacifica brings something of a blend of new and old-world taste descriptors to the brewers' forum. Orange marmalade aptly describes the citrus aroma notes achieved through late addition.  Bittering quality is such that early kettle additions net a soft yet solid finish even in highly bittered beers.

I'm trying hard to find a citrus thing on the aroma.

This however is a full taste beer, with a nice mouthfeel that is delivered with a bitterness that is high-isn without being too harsh, and they've managed to balance this in the middle with a lovely softness.

The aftertaste or linger does appear to have an orange-ness to it, this is so much better than the rather peaky and ill judged Lahar, in my opinion.

I've had this on tap, many months ago, in Taupo, near the brewery, and I enjoyed it then for the lovely hop profile, it is nice to find that in the bottle it has the same sort of reaction, this is beer that I'd be happy to go the bar and order another one of.

A bitterness that is rewarding and not challenging, a refreshing crisp drink with a nice finish that isn't intrusive. It's good.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 8 a of its things from the thing. What a roller-coaster of beers from this brewery, some clear hits, like this one, and a couple that might need some work, in my opinion, but on averages they might have hit all the points, but over a spectrum of drinkers, which might have been the plan. I like this particular beer, it's a very good take on the style.

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? Yes, this has a lot of things that make it very rewarding to drink.


2. Would I have another? This I would go to the bar with real money and buy another.


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? I would, this is nice, and has a lot of things that would make good talking points, but would also be a good beer to drink whilst doing something meaningful, as in not talking about the beer.

Once again the music was a lucky dip - Public Service Broadcasting is a London-based pseudonymous musical duo. I did enjoy this track "Spitfire"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_u4Md_aXVJE

AMERICAN PALE ALE

American Pale Ales are light in color, ranging from golden to a light copper color. The style of this beer is defined by the American hops used. American hops typically have high bitterness and aroma.This is a perfect beer for big fare like grilled burgers or combination pizzas, as well as lighter fare like sushi and green salads.

Beer - #560 - Lakeman - Lahar

A Lahar of beer, a lyric of music, a counting of numbers and a storm of friends

Floral nose of passionfruit and Strawberry.

This is a 330ml bottle of beer, which is 5.6% ABV, making it 168 calories and 1.6 standard drink units.

Lahar is brewed by Lakeman Brewing Company styled as an  American Pale Ale and they are in Taupo, New Zealand

[caption id="attachment_10631" align="alignleft" width="300"] Sunny Days, Tropical beers[/caption]

Lakeman Lahar has blackcurrant and table grape aromatics.

A clean malt finishes like a force of nature with a rush of grapefruit.

A strange sounding combination I wonder what could go wrong?

There is a fruity aromatic on the opening.

The pour is of much darker and richer looking beer that I thought might have happened. Of head there was none.

There is something a little odd and unusual in the taste of this, for no reason I thought of straw. The bitterness is quite pervasive although it's not puckeringly bitter, and then there is a gap where something else might be, before you get what I might best describe as an earthy mouthfeel.  Which then becomes a front of mouth bitter lingering.

A bit peculiar.

I find this a bit peaky, the crash of bitterness is at odds and a bit too big to be pleasant, and then the odd missing middle, and the heavy pine resinous lingering after note, I don't think that this is a beer for me.

I really don't like having not to like a beer.

But you can't like everything, and you have to kiss  lot of frogs to find the perfect one. I think that this could do with a bit of work in lessening the raw bitterness of the hops and adding more malt balance, the finish and linger would work better. But then I don't brew beer and what do I know. I certainly wouldn't want this to be like every other beer that is available.

Of the style though this does have the hight bitterness and is the darker copper. I don't know that I'd be comfortable having this as an accompany to a BBQ though.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as a  6  of its things from the thing. I just really not into it. A beer of mixed reviews as you'd expect,  not 'train wreck" nor "yum' just somewhere nearer the lower end of the middle, in my opinion. Not a beer that I'd be rushing out of my way to find again.

I see where it was supposed go, and at least there was a vision. It appears to have got lost getting there.

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? Not really, it's just too peaky and jittery.


2. Would I have another? Not really, it didn't work for me.


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? A beer that might start a fight rather than asset nine talking about one, it's just not that good.

The Music-go-round stopped at Nicholas James Murphy, better known by his stage name Chet Faker, who is an Australian electronica musician.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hi4pzKvuEQM

I'm not too sure that it's not music for a Cafe to be honest. But it wasn't tragic.

AMERICAN PALE ALE

American Pale Ales are light in color, ranging from golden to a light copper color. The style of this beer is defined by the American hops used. American hops typically have high bitterness and aroma.This is a perfect beer for big fare like grilled burgers or combination pizzas, as well as lighter fare like sushi and green salads

Related articles

• Beer battle brewing over name rights; Austin brewery facing costly fight


• WWBG: Amber Waves of Grain, Hops, Water and Yeast

Beer - #556 - Garage Project - Hops on Pointe - a redux

Ballet beer, Ballet Music, Pas de Deux, and post opera party.

Beer and ballet – the perfect Pas de Deux. Brewed by Garage Project for the Royal New Zealand Ballet. 

Available at all good barres.

I have 1 litre, FYO from the growler station,  bottle of a 6.7% ABV beer, making it about  5.29 standard drink units, and 201 calories a serve size.

Garage Project Hops on Pointe - a beer for the New Zealand Ballet. Brewed by Garage Project In the style of a Premium Lager and they do that in a garage in Wellington, New Zealand, probably.

[caption id="attachment_10568" align="alignleft" width="300"] The face of a man about to...[/caption]

Brewed with premium German malts, Nelson Sauvin hops and finished with champagne yeast, the result is a pale gold lager with a crisp, clean palate, rich tropical fruit aromas and tight champagne bubbles forming a dense white head of foam. 

Hops on Pointe was originally brewed to celebrate the world’s first ‘Beer Ballet’ called Bier Halle that Royal New Zealand Ballet are staging.

Saison hops promise much, and champagne yeast should make it light.  What could possibly go wrong?

This does have the familiar aroma of Sauvin hops, they're sort of passion fruit and soft.

Pour is nice, the light yellow beer pours with a small but persistent white head of foam, doesn't look overly carbonated in the glass though.

Drinking it, well it's been a while. This is hop forward the grassiness and bitter bite up front are not all just up front, they have a bit of carry in them, and finish and linger. Added to this the lovely soft mouthfeel in the middle, it is quite clever.

Like a pilsner like no other. Well probably. Well possibly. Well nice though. This does have that nice pilsner thing going on, you know the hop bite, but it's really dialled up elsewhere so that the overall seems to be everything is dialled down. It isn't.

And, I might add, at 6.7% ABV this is beer that needs some attention, because too many might see you doing the wobbly leg walk later.

I remember that in the bottle I enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would, the idea that you could toss in a champagne yeast and it would somehow make a difference. I was wrong then and I still am.

The most surprising thing is the easy drinking, and despite the lingering this is still just a bit moorish, as my now empty glass attests.  Lucky for me however I have more! Get in!

The only doubt then is that the tall hops overshadow what might be a nice sweetness of aromatic fruits, like passionfruit, or lemons or whathaveyou, making this more a lager than anything. Countering that is the high-isn level of sweetness that this has.

A beer that has it's fans, and detractors, mostly positive though, I enjoyed re-visiting this when it came back around, now in cans too, clearly a winning combination.  A sort of beer for a thinking drinker, because you know that 'premium lager' or 'pilsner' is a dime a dozen. And sometimes that is their cost. this though a beer that pushes that and really works on that style.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 8.5 a of its things from the thing. It is remarkably consistent for beer I had almost two years ago, and has much the same effect on me, in some ways. Reading that last time I was a bit more enthusiastic in places than I am now. This does seem much more hop-forward and less cushioned by sweetness than it did. It is still however a bit good.

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? I really am.


2. Would I have another? I really would, and I am.


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? I'd hate to disappoint you by not brining one around to yours to watch you imbibe and wax lyrical. I'd happily try this to convert a 'domestic' lager drinker into a new wonderful world of beer with more than one taste sensation, a drink for more than just drinking.

Music player settles on Young Statues an American indie-rock band from Philadelphia

This is "Run The River Dry"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPUPLIyIO_4&spfreload=10

Unlike the beer this is a bit all over the place, some of it interesting, some of it a bit over worked and under thought. I did listen though, it was great background to a beer, and a soundtrack to the sportsball

PREMIUM LAGER

A beer that straddles between the mainstream Pale Lager and Pilsner. Not all beers that call themselves Premium Lager are, but those that are will typically have a deep gold to light bronze colour, and distinct influence of malt and hops. They should be free of adjuncts and will have a softer carbonation than Pale Lager or Classic German Pilsner.IBUs will typically range in the 20’s, and lagering times will typically be 4-6 weeks, more in line with what pilsners have. Overall accent will be malty-to-balanced, alcohol in a slightly tighter range than either Pale Lager or Pilsner (4.5-5.5%). Most often the product of a microbrewery or brewpub, but macrobreweries can make this style if they jack up the hops a bit and make it all-malt.

Related articles

• Beer - #159 - Garage Project - Hops on Pointe