Beer - #643 - ParrotDog - Rarebird Puffinus Huttoni

The second in a series of rare bird beers. Rare Beer, Common music, endangered numbers, and a rare quiet day in.

Haere ra e nga Titi — farewell o Hutton’s shearwater!

[caption id="attachment_11587" align="alignleft" width="150"] 312 of 900[/caption]

This is a limited edition of 900 bottles, I have number 312, of a  650ml bottle of a beer that is 5.1% ABV, 153 calories a serve size, 50 IBU things, and 2.6 standard drink units. 

Brewed by ParrotDog  in the style that is of a  Sour/Wild Ale in Wellington, New Zealand

A Boysenberry Sour.

[caption id="attachment_11586" align="alignright" width="300"] RareBird beer, Rare Sunday beer.[/caption]

Soured from Lactobacillus and aged on Nelson boysenberries, we launched this one at the Great Australasian Beer Spec-TAP-ular, in dedication to our little Trans-Tasman seabird.

The bird version of Puffinus Huttoni is more commonly known as the endangered Hutton's Shearwater. Currently only two breeding colonies are known of (in Kaikoura), and are under threat from stoats and habitat loss

So what could possibly go wrong?

So it does have a sour aroma on opening, but has a note of boysenberry.

Pour is a very deep pink beer, with what starts as a really pink and fluffy head of foam that dissipates. It looks a bit like fizzy ribbena drink.

Aroma in the glass is distinctly boysenberry, and that note that it's sour.

Taste, well it's a sour, and almost disappointingly the boysenberry doesn't seem to carry to the flavour so much. It's also not that sour.

When then you get to a middle place, you might like more boysenberry flavour, but this would add a sweetness that you don't want in a sour beer.

It's quite easy drinking though, does not have that pucker up sourness that some beers in the style have. So it falls into a strange half-place of being then just a lightly soured beer with no defining taste, and other than a really colourful hue not a lot to recommend it.

Without a high alcohol content as this warms it just becomes like an almost still/flat lightly nondescript drink, the lightly soured note just there, not really a thing, not the character of this. For me a bit of  muddle.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 7 of its things from the thing. I can't get past average, and I'm loath to think that this is less than that. In and of itself it is though quite unremarkable and could possibly or should be something a bit better, I don't know that the brewer would be happy with the overall, even if in points this might have been where they wanted it to be.  I might not be if I was that person.

The double dip review

Am I enjoying it? Not really, it's a bit underwhelming.
Would I have another? Not really, there are better sour beers if you wanted sour as a thing.
Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? I might as it has a great story and reason, but then I'd be thinking perhaps just take the story about it and not the actual beer, that'd be a good talking point after all.

Music for this. ' Walking Shapes ' and album called ' Taka Come On ', of course on the Spotify. Walking Shapes are a five-piece rock band from New York City.

This is ' Winterfell '

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uk-t0nkimnE

SOUR/WILD ALE

Sour ale is a broad spectrum of wild ales, from the fruity and acetic Flanders Red Ales and Oud Bruins, to the experimental ales gaining popularity in the United States which use lactobacillus, brettanomyces and pediococcus in new and wild ways.

Beer - #642 - ParrotDog - BloodHound Red Ale

BloodHound Red Ale. Mighty Ale, Mighty Music, Might count to ten, Might go home early.

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.

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Beer - #611 - ParrotDog - Rarebird Kakapo Wet-Hopped IPL - Bottle

ParrotDog Rarebird Kakapo. A Fresh Hopped IP, a Wet-Hopped beer.

Also in a limited run of 126* bottles - the same as the total number of Kakapo in the wild!

[caption id="attachment_11222" align="alignleft" width="150"] Limited Numbers[/caption]

*A bottle, not one of 126, but one of 900 which is a bit different to all the previous excitement at 6.9% ABV it's not session beer, this bottle being 3.6 standard drink units, and it comes  with 207 calories a serve size, 

Brewed by ParrotDog in the style that is best described as  Strong Pale Lager/Imperial Pils and they are in Wellington, New Zealand

RareBird: Kakapo (Wet-Hopped IPL) has left the building for its new habitat - this is to be the first of a new ParrotDog range; a series releasing one-off beers inspired by the quirky birds of Aotearoa.

This series is about creativity in brewing and celebrating the strange characters in our endemic birdlife - we'll be working with local artists and conservationists to share their interesting tales of existence.

What could possibly go wrong with that? Well the last time had this, the keg version, I scored it arbitrarily a 9.

The aroma on opening isn't a lot to note, sour hops faint.

Much hoppier and sweeter aroma in the glass, which is a yellow range pale but with a decentsworth of fluffy head.

Well. Let me tell you that I don't seem to be having the same full immersion experience I had as I did with the tap/keg version.

The level of hop grassiness and bitterness is quite impressive and there is a cushion of sweetness in this, but it seems to be at much more a normal lager type level, and not as peaky or highlighted as the keg version, which of course I have to compare it to.

But it isn't like any lager beer I've ever had, this has so much more sweetness in the middle, the harsh hop edge is there, but it isn't and the finish is just a soft kiss of dry sweetness.

It is a beer that seems to enjoy being slightly warmer than my fridge is set at.

I don't know if I can describe the way this beer tastes in any other way, but I'll give it a go.  It's a sweet lager, as in sugary sweet, not as in 'sweet rims on your car' sweet. but it's not sugar sweet it's a full body sweet, peculiar, interesting, engaging and welcome. It has bitterness but it isn't bitter, and it has a really nice full drinking mouthfeel and finish without any particular bit of it being outstanding on its own.

Just a fine beer done good.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 10 a of its things from the thing. It's a rare beer that is as though provoking as this, and when you've drunk the most of it you then begin to appreciate what a fine beer it is. A performance beer, definitely not a session beer, unless you start at 6 and finish at 7 and have a happy hour for one.  I don't know that there is a bad thing to say about this.

The double dip review

Am I enjoying it? I surprise myself in that I am enjoying what might be an unremarkable beer until you start to think and explore it. It is a well hopped, fine balanced good beer.
Would I have another? I don't think I could if I wanted, it was a oncer and stock levels diminish quickly
Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? I really would, if all IPL's we're like this there would be happiness unbounded, if I brought this to you we'd be giving the fist-pump and high-fives, or not, and we'd be listening to some good music and talking some right nonsense, distracted only by the sorrow of a dwindling beer and a rare bird. Indeed.

Music for this, Well I'm listening to Muse, who are an English rock band from Teignmouth, Devon. From their new album 'Drones' this is 'Dead Inside'

Have a craack at the Spotify and possibly all the other places

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5sJhSNUkwQ

Strong Pale Lager/Imperial Pils

Most commonly found in Poland, but also in other European countries as well, especially the East. These are essentially stronger versions of pilsners, though the increased malt and alcohol will noticeably reduce the hop accent. Because these are usually all-malt, and comfortably hopped, they are easily distinguishable from malt liquors. Without the malt character of bocks, these are worthy of a style all their own. In the US, a similar idea has been derived and is usually called Imperial Pilsner.

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• Beer - #603 - ParrotDog - Rarebird Kakapo Wet-Hopped IPL

Beer - #603 - ParrotDog - Rarebird Kakapo Wet-Hopped IPL

ParrotDog Rarebird Kakapo. A Fresh Hopped IP, a Wet-Hopped beer.

Also in a limited run of 126 bottles - the same as the total number of Kakapo in the wild!

From the FYO station, of course, 1 litre, and at 6.8% ABV it's not session beer, with 207 calories a serve size there goes the morning run calorie credit I built up, and this is 5.42 standard drink units in NZ.

Brewed by ParrotDog in the style that is best described as  Strong Pale Lager/Imperial Pils and they are in Wellington, New Zealand

RareBird: Kakapo (Wet-Hopped IPL) has left the building for its new habitat - this is to be the first of a new ParrotDog range; a

[caption id="attachment_11106" align="alignleft" width="300"] Rare Bird Beer. Get in![/caption]

series releasing one-off beers inspired by the quirky birds of Aotearoa.

This series is about creativity in brewing and celebrating the strange characters in our endemic birdlife - we'll be working with local artists and conservationists to share their interesting tales of existence.

What could possibly go wrong with that?

Looks great in the bottle,  green hop aroma on flipping the lid, but it is quite low.  Seemed a lot lighter when I was pouring it, but it isn't.

The aroma is a lot stronger out of the bottle, it's now quite an oily grassy thing, which is hard to pinpoint a particular comparison to.

Than I had a sipped and then the world changed. The full explosion of favour and drama, a full on riot of taste. I kid you not.

There is bitterness, but it seems shrouded in a cloak of sweetness that gives this a really full mouthfeel. There's also that oily-ness to it, which is odd but not weird and odd, just odd.

It's very hoppy, the aroma bold on the nose before the taste on the tongue mimics it.

As an aside this has lovely lacing in the glass.

It has warmed slightly as I've been contemplating and somewhat more floral notes on the palate profile are more obvious.

Unlike any other lager type beer I've ever had, which is a bit of a bold statement, considering the number of lager beers I've apparently drunk.  This has that hop edginess, but it has a lovely overcoat of sweetness that gives it a real fullness in the mouth.

The hop harshness, familiar to lager styles, is either there and masked by all the other things,  or missing. It's there, and I'm really enjoying drinking this, it's a bit very good.

As a beer to drink this really is quite 'big' it's a full attention and immersion thing, every sip an experience and reminder, it isn't a shrinking violet, and whilst I probably would like to ti sit in the local and have a few I think it would beat me into a submission and I'd surrender to something less loud and shouty. Locally this might make me a 'wuss'.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 9 a of its things from the thing. It's all action from the first sip, and does not let up. It doesn't change much as it warms either, it's just all full on.  I both love it for what it is and I'm also foreign at it because I'd like to enjoy it without the full-impact taste explosion.

On balance I think I'd go buy more, a glutton for punishment, and an appreciator of a thing of beauty. It isn't for everyone, but I like the hop thing, and the bitterness, and I like the sweetness, I'd prefer them to be a bit more in synch but this as is, is just a bit special.

The double dip review

Am I enjoying it? Where has this been all my life....
Would I have another? I would  it is very very good.
Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? I really would, this is a revelation, one of those pivotal beers.

Music for this, 'Little Hurricane' is a Rock/Dirty blues band based out of San Diego. They have an album called 'Stay Classy' it's a covers album. This is z bit of a Bill Withers number. Go have a listen at Bandcamp or download it, it's free!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOEgx8vFYdQ

Strong Pale Lager/Imperial Pils

Most commonly found in Poland, but also in other European countries as well, especially the East. These are essentially stronger versions of pilsners, though the increased malt and alcohol will noticeably reduce the hop accent. Because these are usually all-malt, and comfortably hopped, they are easily distinguishable from malt liquors. Without the malt character of bocks, these are worthy of a style all their own. In the US, a similar idea has been derived and is usually called Imperial Pilsner.

Beer - #473 - ParrotDog - BitterBitch

A play on words, play a song, play with numbers and play devils advocate.

ParrotDog BitterBitch, a beer that I've know about but not drunk, until now. Thought I would put that right so as part of the new thinking drinker I brought me some.

Brewed by ParrotDog in the style that is  India Pale Ale (IPA) and they are based in Wellington, New Zealand

Dinky 330 ml bottle, with a plain yet distinctive label that is standard for this brewer, of a 5.8% ABV beer, making it 174 calories in the 330ml bottle, and 1.5 standard drink units.

[caption id="attachment_9603" align="alignleft" width="300"] IPA night![/caption]

An aggressive, tropical NZ hopped aroma gives way to the rich, copper coloured malt base and a huge lingering bitterness to finish.

In an ode to its ancestors, we’ve used all English malts in the grist and a bold English bittering hop in the boil.

Sweet hoppy aroma on opening.

Pour is darker more chestnut and familiar but of head there is none.

Grassy aroma bloom in the glass, but it seems a bit earthy, wormy, wet mud in some way. Might just be me making stuff up.

Not nearly  as bitter as I was expecting and a nuttiness in the palate too that was a bit different.

Bitter, but without carry though, the sweetness is a bit elevated from the happiness making them distinct and not the same thing.

IPA is a big contest and this isn't a contender being brutal about it. Disappointed is another way to describe it.  I like to be wide in my taste and like the idea that a wide range if opinion counts towards a generalised opinion, I think in this case the opinion might be too narrow as I appear an outlier.

It's not undrinkable, it's just a bit thin, not balanced, or there is a gap between bitter and sweet, and it lacks a real finish. Perhaps that is harsh.

But I'm not enjoying it, not as an IPA, or as a discovery beer, or a companion beer to food, not that it's not undrinkable, it's just lost. I'd drink this on tap out and about if it was available, it would make an interesting comparison.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 7 a of its things from the thing, making it a bit average. Which I think it is. Against the grain somewhat. But this isn't a great or accomplished IPA, sorry.

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? No I wish I was but I'm not.


2. Would I have another? No, I might not if that's all the same.


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? No, this isn't something that can be appreciated for one thing or another, nor is it a companion or conversation beer.

Nina Simone - Sinnerman.  No other words needed, except play twice, drink once.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bn5tiuZU4JI

I picked the music then drank the beer,  there is no pun or confession intended.

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 - #393 - ParrotDog - DevilBird

I couldn't help myself  and stopped to pick up a 1 litre bottle from the taps of the ParrotDog DevilBird. For an unemployed man I live it a bit.

Brewed by ParrotDog Brewing and of course no guesses it is in the style of a Belgian Strong Ale and that is out of Wellington, New Zealand.

Its an 8.4% ABV beer and is about 252 calories a serve of 355ml, so about 750 isn for the litre. This would be a 6.63 standard drink units-worth.

 

[caption id="attachment_8476" align="alignleft" width="300"] Borrowed a bottle[/caption]

Golden and complex, featuring hints of fruit, spice and all things nice. ParrotDog’s very first crack at a Belgian-styled beer.

DevilBird’s recipe was inspired by the classic Duvel

Soooo, did not know that it is a homage to Duvel, which I think is slightly emperors clothes if you ask me.

But that's ok because this is not that.

Light bitter aroma on opening, it's brim full and I know I'm going to spill this.

Beer - #368 - ParrotDog - Otis

Indeed, I've sort of been avoiding this out of deference, but I'm going to try it, I've wanted to for a while. ParrotDog - Otis

Brewed by ParrotDog Brewing in the style of a Stout and they are based in Windy Wellington, New Zealand

Oats bring out a lovely silky smooth finish to a stout, and this is no different.

330nl bottle of a beer with 6.3% ABV, 189 calories, and 1.6 standard drinks

Brewed with a generous lashing of rolled oats in the mash to achieve a silky smooth body, this deep black winter-warmer is perfect to sip on during these chilly evenings.

This is a limited release beer, I have no idea what to expect except something nice.

Aroma is different, oaty porridge like.

In the glass I thought immediately of 'plastic' but then perhaps damp oats might do as well .I don't know so much that I like it like that.

Taste is something though. It seems to be rich and deep, but that could be also read as weirdly different and unusual.

There certainly is a taste profile in this that I don't recall having. It is rich and deep and offers something to taste and ponder with each sup.

Not a quaffable beer though, this has a lot of challenges of taste, and easing up to enjoy them.

I started off not liking this, and nek mint.... I find myself really liking it.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 7.5 a of its things from the thing. I think this is a beer that gets better as it warms up in the glass and lets go more flavour. I can't move past the aroma that was off-putting but can be excused, but I don't think this is, overall, a winner. 

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? Both yes and no, to was that no then yes


2. Would I have another? I might on a different evening


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? I don't think that this is a share and care beer.

STOUT

Many stouts do not fit the classic “Irish” definition as exemplified by Guinness, either due to their hop or roast rates, or higher gravity (in the case of many American stouts). They are still basic stouts, however, not falling into any of the subclasses.

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