Beer - #301 - The Twisted Hop - Nokabollokov

bwahaha and so it's back to reality with this  The Twisted Hop Nokabollokov.

Brewed by The Twisted Hop in the style of an Imperial Stout in the lovely Christchurch, New Zealand. I know it's lovely I've been there.

Which means I'm still in the stout vein that I got into recently. But that's ok.

This is a 330ml bottle of an 8% ABV beer, with  75 IBU's which makes it  2 standard drinks and 240 calories.

An Imperial Russian Stout strong enough to warm your cockles during long Baltic winters. Mind how you go. (Not recommended for those undergoing fertility treatment)

I like the idea that this is beer that makes me sit back and not take myself seriously either.

Nokabollokov 8.0% Russian Imperial Stout.  This is a very strong dark beer, first brewed in the 18th century in London for export to the court of Catherine II of Russia.  The extra alcoholic strenght was required to prevent the beer from freezing on its journey over the Russian plains.  Well, that was their story anyway!  Limited stocks available in 330ml bottles.

[caption id="attachment_6446" align="alignleft" width="224"] in special fuzzy-o-vision[/caption]

More fruit than anything on opening this, Dark dark poor with a great chocolate coloured head that is persistent and fluffy.  Aroma still more fruits than anything else I can pick.

Musty mixed bitter and chocolate note.

But this needs to be dialled up to 11 to make improvement, the malingering bitterness detracts from the other things, and this is really a bit dry on the finish.

Not a raving success that makes it only to 6 on the pduybyah-o-meter.  Average is as average is.  I feel mean to mark it down but it's not making me smile, it;s not easy to drink and it's sitting there looking all mardy and sulky.

Far to fruity, a bit dry, lacking clarity, and needs more work is what I think, and remember this is only what I think.  I've had a few stouts recently and there are a few good ones in there, and this can't shine a light on those.

To quote a lyric from the music that I'm listening to "I wish I didn't know now what I didn't know then"  which is Bon Seger from - Against the Wind and not that other jonny come lately.

Don't ask how this happened but I'm listening to Bob Seger, and I'm enjoying it.

But then I would :)

IMPERIAL STOUT

Imperial stouts are usually extremely dark brown to black in color with flavors that are intensely malty, deeply roasted and sometimes with accents of dark fruit (raisin, fig) or milk sourness. The bitterness is typically medium and often the low sie of that. Imperial stouts are strong and often exceed 8% by volume.

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Beer - #201 - The Twisted Hop - Enigma

The Twisted Hop Enigma, a Barley Wine, Brewed by The Twisted Hop in the style of a  Barley Wine in good old Christchurch, New Zealand. Where I shall be next week, and not having thought this through with not enough time to take a side visit.

[caption id="attachment_5073" align="alignright" width="300"] Looking old, worn out and a bit fuzzy here I am brandishing the beer, like a shield.[/caption]

Deep copper in colour and a soft floral aroma with hints of cherries. Its sweet maltiness is balanced by the flavours of stone fruits and a robust hop bitterness. A period of maturation in American Oak contributes hints of vanilla and a tannic dryness. Flavours of dried fruits develop and Epiphany finishes long, dry and bitter. A great accompanyment to strong blue cheese.

330ml bottle of a 9%ABV beer, 2.25 standard drinks give or take and 85 IBU things, Barley Wine being 70-100 making it fair to middling.

I'm trying to listen to the Vinyl version of "The National" . "High Violet" and I'm confused by the "fuzzy" sounds reproduction. I may have to try the iTunes Version. I mention this as I paid some cash today to go see them live in NZ in, wait, 5 months time, be prepared said the boy scout!

Anyway, I best open this...  Lovely fruity raisin aroma,  rich ruby red colour, decent head, such a nice muted sweet aroma in the glass too.

Cor!, thats a bit noice, This is really in your face, there is a real upfront BOSH of sweet caramel fruit really heavy and sweet, but it's all bluster as it gives to a decent length of taste.

It's not subtle at all . It's crammed full of things without a direction, and nothing that suggest that there is a way forward.

The pdubyah-o-meter is a bit very confused, with a love of the sweet way that the fruits carry a big front note, and that the alcohol is is not a feature. But it runs out of legs in a hurry. Which leave you with a big glass of of a lot of beer to drink without a clear sense of enjoyment or more importantly anticipation.  So and for that this is muchly a let down. Lets agree a 7 - as good - and be done.

Or not because I'm righty royally miffed that this wasn't more defined, better, richer, longer in taste, or just more in line with anticipation over delivery. Raisin Richness is nice, heavy sweetness is great, but that can't be all.  Truth is this might be waving towards bitterness as a note. very muddled.

Look, ok, you had an earthquake, I have no idea how traumatic that is day to day, but it's not a baseline for anything other than progress. This seems like a thing that you are leaning on as as a call-to that event, Don't.  I wish I could like this more, I can't. :(

Beer - #197 - The Twisted Hop - Sauvin Pilsner

The Twisted Hop - Sauvin Pilsner, Brewed by The Twisted Hop in the Style of a Pilsener and they do that in Christchurch, New Zealand.

This is in a rather plain 500ml, bottle and at 5% ABV it's about 2 standard drinks.

A pilsner for hop heads! A New Zealand variation on the German style of pilsner using bucket loads of Nelson Sauvin hops

So, not a lot to go on there then.

I have a feeling that this is, according to the bottle neck, past it's best by date. But that you have to look, and have to work hard to find it is a shame, and what can you do if you've ended up something that's 'dated'?

Nothing in he aroma on opening to give you any clues about the contents. Poured pretty flat, although there was a spirited fizz, the thin head dissipates rather than hang around. Pale Golden colour it looks quite nice, and there is a nice nose of hop grassiness.

You can tell this should be better in some way, there isn't anything in the way of citrus backing to the hop taste. For something that is so hop-centric there is surprisingly litter bitterness in the taste range.

It's ok but it's not a big hitter, and it's an early finisher, even a bit thin.

However as it sits the hops just take over and dominate the palate, making this almost uncomfortable to drink and enjoy. It's better colder.

The 6 on the pdubyah-o-meter makes this a bit average, but just short of good. I think on a hotter day, this would be a cracking beer to have with lunch. As it is though it's winter and I'm inside, and this is all the entertainment I have to hand.

I might check out the best by date and give this another go as I'm desperate to think that this is better than it is at the moment.

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