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 - #591 - Beer Baroness and Epic Brewing Co - Lady Danger Extra Hoppy Red Ale

Beer Baroness & Epic Brewing Co. Lady Danger Extra Hoppy Red Ale.

Long names for beer, long time dead bands, long division and long service parties.

 Extra Hoppy Red Ale which is a collaboration with Epic Beer

I have a one litre growler from the FYO station of course, it's 6.5% ABV, 195 calories a serve, and that makes is 5.13 standard drink units in the bottle.

For the Beer Baroness this is brewed at the Steam Brewing Company  in the style this is Amber Ale or American Amber / Red Ale and it's from New Zealand.

For her second brew, Ava Wilson has partnered up with Epic Beer’s Luke Nicholas to create an extra hoppy Red Ale.

[caption width="300" id="attachment_10963" align="alignleft"] Brewed by a Lady, for the betterment of men[/caption]Nicholas being globally known for his fondness of hops has certainly flexed his muscles delivering a bold shot to the taste buds as well as the olfactory nerves.

For the 6.5 per cent ABV Extra Hoppy Red Ale, Wilson says that she has brought the “sweetness” – working with Nicholas to ensure a balance between the floral notes and alpha levels of the hop mix and the rich red malt used in the brew.

So, what could possibly go wrong?

Aroma is lovely bitterness and sweetness, 'tis  thing of beauty. I thought, but then that's when the problem started, I thought of limes.

Brown as a chestnut pour with a lovely head that is persistent and firm. 'tis a thing of beauty.Aroma is lovely, again I get limes or strong citrus.

Taste is intense florals, like Parma violet, which of course is Violets  not limes. but then you knew that.

This is really very good, lots of really loud florals up front, and a massive sweetness that carries it to a lovely nearly dry finish and a brilliant linger. Phwoar.

A beer to write poetry by.  Lovely up front, lovely middle, finish to make you want to start again and a little early hint in the linger.

Poetry then.... I could probably manage a limerick if pushed, I'm rubbish at Haiku.

Made a mistake and slopped the second serve, so ended up a half-half beer and foam. Showing off because that's all the head I ever get. (I'll get my coat).

This has such an intense in the glass aroma, it doesn't translate so well to the nose when drinking, but if you were to take a sniff of the glass it's quite pleasant.

At this point there isn't a lot of pretence that I'm really enjoying this then, it is however slanted more towards the florals and sweets than the bitters and dryness. Which when you consider it is exactly how they've pitched it.

So like all poetry there comes the angst and the clouds and weights on shoulders. What I've got is a wonderfully lovely drinking beer that suddenly and abruptly hits the stops and tips over into the 'that's a bit of  a mouthful' beer.

Too sweet, too floral, not dry enough at the back, all those things. Didn't stop me really enjoying the way that this changed as it warmed, and I'm now thinking I could well easily go again with this tomorrow.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 9 a of its things from the thing. This really is a thing of beauty and hidden talent, and you could easily lose yourself in it and become one with everything, like a hotdog. 

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? It really is a bit good, and I'm smiling like I found my happy place.


2. Would I have another? I would and I might tomorrow.


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? Yes. this is spectacular as a beer that unfolds and changes takes you from a high to a slightly less high and then smacks you and then makes you want to go again. I'm taking up writing Haiku.

Musical notes were provided by "The Zombies" , Here on Spotify, the Album called  Odessey and Oracle from 1967!  This is "Time of the Season"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Gf7ettG5Y8

You'd be surprised at the number of original songs they came up with, I was, and then I wondered how they're not more well known. This was music of a generation that has become a bit more than that.

AMBER ALE

A style without definition, amber ales range from bland, vaguelly caramelly 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

Beer - #571 - Fat Monk - American IRA

American IRA, or Red Ale. Now colour me stupid but I thought I'd drunk beer from the Fat Monk before now. Seems I haven't. For no reason really.

Dry hopped Red Ale 

Unusual beer, usual music, odd numbers and the odd party.

This is a 500ml bottle of a beer that is 6% ABV,  2.4 standard drink units, 180 calories a serve give or take or 240 ish for the bottle.

Brewed by Fat Monk Brewing this is the in sttyle: Amber Ale or perhaps India Pale Ale (IPA) and they are based in Hastings, Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand

[caption id="attachment_10729" align="alignleft" width="300"] Fat chap has Fat Monk beer[/caption]

Using a American Ale yeast, this is an off-dry style beer with pale and lots of darker malts.

A big fight between malts and hops, creates a big balanced beer.

Centennial (citrus and/or floral character) and Amarillo (spicy orange and other citrus characters.) hops.

What could possibly go wrong? Well apart from a best by date of January 2015 not a lot. I brought this within the last two weeks too, I should check more.

Seems carbonated ok, musty bready yeast notes, not hoppy and something else in there quite nice but I can't put my nose on it.

A rather lovely pour of a bright chestnut coloured beer with a lovely off white almost orange tinged head.

Aroma still a bit complicated, perhaps it is spicy, I can't tell, I'm not so good at this.

Taste is malted sweetness that seems 'fat' to the taste and a bitterness that is second and a muted finish. Left though with a tang on the tip of the tongue. Interesting.

Don't think then with all my best will that I'd say IPA for this, despite being suckered in an using the IPA glass. I'm also going to suggest that this because of the unusual way the flavours are delivered that this is past the best it could be for flavours.

Not that it is awful or undrinkable. Not that it's particularly good drinking either.

I think that this needs polishing, the brewery isn't large or particular significant in size terms, they do brew in small batches, and they brew a fair few beers, so they have a market that evades me, it's not a beer you see around that much.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 6 a of its things from the thing- that's above average though.  Sometimes things just don't work for you and this might be one of those times for me. If I was going past their way I'd pop in and try something fresh up just to prove myself wrong, and I'm always up for that.

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? A beer of two parts, I think I could drink a few of these if it was slightly better, but I'm not enjoying it as I have it now.


2. Would I have another?  not like this no.


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? It is when all is said a bit of an everyman beer, so no. 

Musicness - well Alamo Race Track took my fancy, their album 'Hawkes' is which you can find here,

Alamo Race Track is a rock band from Amsterdam, Netherlands. This is a track "Young Spruce and Wires"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4rSub22z28

AMBER ALE

A style without definition, amber ales range from bland, vaguelly caramelly 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

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- #505 - Rogue - Captain Sigs Deadliest Ale (Northwestern Ale)

Beer with a lot of letters in the name, music with a big band, big numbers and a big night on the porch.

Deep red in color, this ale starts off with a floral, slightly citrus hop nose, hop flavor soon fades into the malty backbone of this red ale.

Rogue Captain Sigs Deadliest Ale (Northwestern Ale) - Brewed by Rogue Ales
in the classic style that is  India Pale Ale (IPA) and they are in Newport, Oregon  USA.

This is a 650ml bottle (22 fl oz), and the beer is 80 IBU, and 6.2% ABV, and 186 calories a serve size. The bottle contains 3.18 standard drink units.

However Rogue call this "India Red Ale",  but it might also be "American Amber" or "Red Ale".

Now the last time I had an "India Red Ale" it was defined as "Amber Ale" - that would be the 8 Wired Tall Poppy  but all you get from that is the style is not well defined and even possibly includes 'American Strong Ale".

So, I'm going to go with -  Red IPA  "American red ale brewed at a higher strength and hopped like an IPA. Typically, redder in color than an IPA, with deep ruby hues" Sorted.

Originally a tweak of Eugene City Tracktown 100 Meter Ale, reformulated for release as Captain Sig’s Deadliest Ale

Rogue's Northwestern Ale, brewed for Captain Sig Hansen joins the Rogue family of World Class Ales, Stouts, Porters, and Lagers. 

Dedicated to the Hansen Brothers--Sig, Edgar, and Norman--the Rogues of the Bering Sea.

What an adventure so far, and so I press on, what could got wrong?

A more muted aroma on opening than I would have expected from an IPA type beer, I might venture that this isn't the freshest version of the beer that you can get, transport distance and all that.

Having said that it does pour magnificently and looks very 'red' in the glass, dark deep burn chestnut, and brownish foamy head as well, it's turned itself around.

Nice grass happens at the front that is stern but also mellow, washes over the tongue and finishes slightly bitter, with a bit of linger in there too. I'm not sure that there is a lot of balance in this.

The bitterness is 'strong' and persistent in this and it leaves you feeling a little unbalanced, and thinking you are drinking an overly unnecessarily bitter beer. I don't get the warming malts in this at all.

So it's not bad, it's just not great.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 7 a of its things from the thing. I think that this is interesting but not accurate or on point with any particular thing it is trying to make. The style is confused and I ended up not liking the overly bitter lingering mouthfeel in this.  OR not a style that I'm comfortable with, it's too bitter at one and with no middle and a finish that is too long.

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? I am odds with a yes and no on this. I like the beer, I'n not sure I'm enjoying the mouthfeel and lingering bitterness though.


2. Would I have another? I'm not sure that i'm that much of a fan.


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? Sure to start a debate over what it is and where it fits, it's not an IPA, and I've had other 'Red' ales that are different.

Musically, Well stop me in the street but I was listening to Bjork, and the Biophilia Live thing. The album, composed during the 2008–11 Icelandic financial crisis, is considered a concept album, with references to the linking points between nature, musicand technology.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDSzBs-lOYI

It's a bunch of jangles and performance art with lyrics not understood. The Audience is enthusiastic though, so I go with the crowd, or against it.

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 - #427 - Speakeasy - Scarlett Red Rye

About to be drinking a Speakeasy beer - this one is the  Scarlett Red Rye

The is Brewed by Speakeasy Ales and Lagers and take you pick of a style that is : Specialty Grain or  Amber Ale and they are in San Francisco, California USA

Scarlett Red Rye Ale captivates with an act that ranges from sweet hop highs to spicy rye tones. Sacrlett hits the notes that will set your heart on fire.

330ml bottle that is 5.5% ABV and 38 IBU on the scale,  165 calories a serve, and this is 1.43 standard drink units in NZ.

With a creamy body and rich roasty flavors, Scarlett is the perfect complement to the cooler months of Fall & Winter. This rye ale pours a deep red with a sticky off-white layer of foam and medium levels of carbonation. Note the aromas of fresh rye bread, caramel malt and earthy hops. Sweet malts are accented by subtle flavors of caramel, toffee, and chocolate. Notes of toasted grain, leather, and a mild peppery spice lead to a medium-dry finish.

The Hops in this are  – Columbus, Cascade, Chinook

I'm not sure that "Amber Ale" is the best of beers though.

I'm always open though. To be honest it was the "Limited Release" that got my attention.

Stand by....

Beer - out and about - Deep Creek Brewery

I decided that rather than mope at home, now that I may be jobless, that I would make a trip to the local pub, in this case the Micro Brewery - "Deep Creek Brewery" who are in Browns Bay (and they have other brewing facilities of course - they make bottles of the stuff now)



I came specifically for the Tsar Bomba beer, which is an American Amber / Red Ale, at 6.5% ABV. So a pint of this is about 2.75 standard dink units

Brewed by Deep Creek Brewing Co

It was served a lot warmer than I would have served it,  but then I'm not an expert, and of course it's a pint, the head looked ok but disappeared by the time I got the the table I was sitting at.

It is a lovely chestnut colour and has a lovely lacing in the glass, I can attest this as I've been supping and enjoying this.

Its  taste is high in caramel and therefore sweetness, and not at all bitter, or its pleasingly bitter and has a decent finish which isn't dry or uncomfortable.

This is supposed to be a 'Fresh Hop Brewed Beer". I'm not convinced that it's a success as it might be overly sweet and less harsh that you might be expecting. From memory it's also similar to another of the beers they brew, "The leprechaun's Belle", or their "Little Armoured one'

Essentially then, a 'special' beer, but on a well worn theme. Which is all fine and dandy and there is nothing wrong with that at all .

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 7 a of its mystery bag of numbers akin to a 10 sided dice.  It's a lot less harsh and a lot sweeter than you might be expecting, but it is pleasing and pleasant and a nice beer for a showery afternoon watching the world mooch past.

And then.... I had the "Undercurrent Pilsner" a 5% ABV beer, that of course is a pilsner. A Pint, no flash glassware here it's how they roll.  So this is about 2.1 standerd drink units

Brewed by Deep Creek Brewing Co of course as a  Pilsener and they are in walking distance from me in Browns Bay Auckland, New Zealand

Point breaks, sunshine, crisp beers on hot days. This easy drinking pilsner has a calm malt profile, with a swirl of floral aroma, and an undercurrent of citrus zest. We take its bohemian beginnings and introduce a taste of New Zealand with Nelson hops, to produce this latest wave in the Deep Creek set.

Origin: A New Zealand spin on a Czech innovation creates a stunning lager base, bombed with the fruity Nelson ‘Sauvin’ Hop. The passionfruit undercurrent and special lager yeast achieves a crisp, dry flavour. This session beer is a winner for those long summer days or a Pilsner/ch’i hybrid for those after a handcrafted health kick!

Smells that great Pilsner hoppy in the glass, I'm sure I looked weird smelling my beer like that.

This has a banging amount of hop delivery, but I thought two things, It's not as cold as I'd serve it, and again I'm not an expert, and I also though that this was a bit thin in the delivery and body.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this one as 6 on the wheel of fortune scale of things, It promises more than it delivers. Also harping on, this was served a lot warmer than I would have liked it. Did like the grass hop note that persisted to remind you that this really could be a good beer if they tweaked a couple of things. Wonder what it's like really cold? 

I'll add more, that as this warmed it really did take on a much deeper and over-riding hop laden beer, which surprised me.  Better.

I could get used to this more relaxed life-style I'm not sure I have enough money or patient enough wife for that to happen. 

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? Yes, the Tsar Bomba but I wish I was enjoying it more,


2. Would I have another? I mightn't depends on what's on the taps, and I changed to the Pilsner.


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? If you were here I wouldn't have a problem with ordering a Tsar for you. The Pilsner, if you wanted a similar softer palate beer but in the lager style.

AMBER ALE

A style without definition, amber ales range from bland, vaguelly caramelly 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.

PILSENER

While the definition of "pilsner" is open to much debate in the beer community, it generally refers to pale, hoppy lagers, ranging from 28IBUs and up.

 

Beer - #128 - ParrotDog - Bloodhound

ParrotDog - Bloodhound : Brewed by ParrotDog Brewing Ltd.  on twitter as @ParrotDog  - in the style of an  Amber Ale  (!) and they do that in Windy Wellington, New Zealand And this is odd since the label clearly says "Red Ale"

"A grassy 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 hop"

It says.

6.3% ABV in a 330ml bottle (1.6 standard drinks).

A big sell then, but they might have the chops to pull it off.

So despite what I read, saying it was nice amber pour, this is in fact a red ale, and has exactly the right colour for it. Despite it having no head :-(  it delivers a fairly notable hop nose and a sweet aroma that not instantly obvious as to what causes it. But then you get it, it's oranges!

So the aroma settles to an orange syrupy affair, which reminds me of the sneaky cake you get with the coffee on occasion (Don't tell MrsPdubyah).

There is a lively hop taste, restrained and not all up in your face, nicely carbonated, it's goodly good is what it is. The sugary aroma though is obvious and I flinched again before I took more, it's that obvious  and loses it appeal.

The aroma is all there is though, I get no orange note on the palate with this, but that does not make it a bad beer. I would imagine that as a summer beer this would hit the mark.

At a 8 on the pdubyah-o-meter I rate this as nicely hoppy and bitter enough, It loses ground because I don't overly care for the aroma that shocks the nose each time it gets close to it, which can't be a good thing. This would stand up to something hearty by way of a food accompaniment adding to something rather than overshadowing it.

A fine effort from the new boys of ParrotDog, I'd give this another go anytime, and  I've got me a DeadCanary to chase this one, and in the unlikely event they ever read this I'd be happy to review and appreciate any or all the beers you produce, for research purposes of course.

Beer - #116 - Liberty - Yakima Scarlet

The Liberty - Yakima Scarlet. Brewed by Liberty Brewing  In the style: American Strong Ale and they do that of course in New Plymouth, New Zealand

Of course. It's been a while since I had a new beer to drink about, and time to get back on the horse.

They say "My original records for this beer date back to a batch of home brew in June 2007. It was a beer called IPA Massacre. It was brewed three times under this moniker with minor tweaks along the way. The most significant tweak I made to the recipe was changing to use hops grown in Washington USA. Accordingly, in January 2011 the name was changed to Yakima Scarlet. There were no less than seven iterations of this beer brewed before releasing what you hold in your hands right now. I still don’t what style of beer it is, but I can tell you that it is hoppy and it is red."

I say... 500ml bottle of 6.9% ABV beer, that's 2.8 Standard Drink units,  here I come... and I'm  expecting a  beer with a history of chop and change but that with American hops should make it a mouthful...

It does have a bitter hops aroma, a fluffy dark head (a head yes!) and decent carbonation, it's all happening. When I say bitter aroma, I mean pungent because the aroma is sweet malty sweet.

The beer is a dark red, not stout dark, but burnt brown dark, it's really a very pretty thing.

And the taste is to amaze at, there is a balance between the hops and the malts that brings a smile to the dial, this at first flush seems to be the goods.  This isn't like any "red ale" that I've ever had, and I don't profess to be any kind of expert or aficionado, but this is nice as is.

As it sits between sips though the hops take a hold and push the malt sweets to the back, but overall this is a bit of alright. The pdubyah-o-meter says 8.25 arbitrary things for this, not because there are things wrong with it but because I'd prefer the malt to hag around for a bit longer.

Very good, I'm off to cook some lamb, and watch some cricket, and smile .

 

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Beer - #86 - Valley Brewing Co - Muster

Valley Brewing Co - Muster - they're in Geraldine this is a 4.4%ABV beer in a 330ml bottle. I bet you never had one of these.

It's a "Red Ale" , and that's pretty much all there is to know.  Except that like the Yeastie boys this is brewed at the Invercargill brewery. Valley Brewery also make what would appear to be an average rated  Pale ale.

So it appears I found a beer that not a lot of people know about, and that worries me. A bit.

And so to the chase.

Hoppy on the nose, so far so good, but then it's a bit thick and almost wet weetabix like as an aroma. Don't ask. It's a bit Prometheus monster, a throw together. There is tangy, there is sweet, there is frowning.. This can't be a good thing. This feels over carbonated too, despite having no head or lacing in the glass.

I like a "Red Ale",  and if I was out and this was on tap I'd give it a nudge. Just the one time though. There is no depth in this, or width, there is no fore or back taste. I'm not being cruel but this isn't something you should be enjoying outside of Geraldine, where no doubt it's a crowd favourite.

A local beer for local people. The pdubyah-o-meter at it's most generous gets to a 4 arbitrary things from its equally arbitrary number. This is neither craft, or a good beer. It doesn't deserve a space  on a shelf a single bottle sale, it's suitable for mainstream 6 pack buy and get what you get. It's ghastly.

I wish I'd saved my premium money for a better beer. Even a home brew.