Beer - #617 - Tuatara - Black Wellington Chocolate Factory Chocolate Stout

A beer with a long name,  Black Wellington Chocolate Factory Chocolate Stout, a long song, a long division and long time at a gathering.

"If you're going to do a collaboration with a chocolate company, it needs to taste like real chocolate and have chocolate in it."

I got this at the FYO station so I have 1 litre of a beer that is 6.5% ABV and 60 IBU, so this is 5.3 standard drink units. Despite the chocolate this is 195 calories a serve size.

Brewed by Tuatara Brewing Company  in the style: Stout and they are in Paraparaumu, New Zealand

[caption id="attachment_11277" align="alignleft" width="300"] Chocolate and beer. Does it get any better[/caption]

"If you're going to do a collaboration with a chocolate company, it needs to taste like real chocolate and have chocolate in it."  That was the fighting talk from Rochelle and Gabe at the Wellington Chocolate Factory when we asked them to collaborate with us on a stout that would deliver the kind of sensory cocoa walloping you get from one of their own fabulous hot chocolates.

After a lot of tasting we've settled on 100% organic Fair Trade cacao nibs and chocolate from the Dominican Republic, resulting in an beguilingly smooth stout lovingly wrapped in rich, dark chocolate. The Hops for this : Pacific Jade, Chinook, Amarillo

So what could possibly go wrong?

The aroma for this can only be described as like Milk Chocolate. It's that simple. It smells like good rich milk chocolate. It's really nice, if you like milk chlorate. There is some other hop grass sharpness there too, it's not all one thing.

Dark black pour with a fantastic but well oversized dark mocha head, the aroma remains as chocolate.

The taste, starts as a gasp of bitterness, then you get  a fullness, then you get a pillow of sugary sweet chocolates, than you get a little sharpness at the end.

The aroma settles into a more grassy bitter note, the head settles into a film,  The initial surge and hit of chocolate subsides. Leaving you with a really nicely rounded and enjoyable beer.

Now here's a thing though. I had this a few days ago when a friend came over, and it may have been fresher, which is doubtful, or warmer, again doubtful, but this had a lot more chocolate aroma and taste for a longer period of time. I was really enamoured of it then, I'm a bit less so tonight. Funny thing the beer buds.

Tonight, at this time, I think this might just be a shade, a tick, a smidgeon, over bitter in the body. A whisker, a tad, a shade. Just a little. But the other things in the profile, the roasted malts the cocoa do enough to give this a really interesting background carry.

Somewhat the problem with one-off and collaborations is that generally you don't get to practice and what you get is what you get. So there is no way to improve this, or change it, should yo want to, if that was your idea. I know that Tuatara will have no plans, as these are seasonal one offs, following on from last years, this being one of 3 variants of the stout, being Winter and all in the far south.

2nd round then, the pour still very keen and the head very lively, the empty bottle slick with alcohol wash and lacing.

You could get used to drinking stouts, this time I'm enjoying the lingering burnt malts at the back, and the bitterness on the finish, licking my lips.  Possibly time I stopped and just enjoyed the beer rather than trying to pick it apart,

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 8 of its things from the thing. It is, on the random scale, 'very good', very enjoyable very entertaining, and has a lot of aroma, layers, tastes and challenges in a good way that make you sip and sup a way without a care.  I don't think it has the lags to be Great or jaw dropping. Not tonight. But I would encourage you to drink it, if that was an option.

The double dip review

Am I enjoying it? 'tis a wondrous aromatic experience to star with, and grows into a nice drinking dark beer.
Would I have another? I did, this is my second outing.
Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? I would because it has surprises and layers that makes it worthy to share.

Music for this, a change of pace really, almost showtime songs Will Currie & The Country French  a Canadian indie rock music group. This is track "No Nothing" of course on the Spotify and probably where you listen to music too as well

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIUSRSf1FTM

Lets be honest I'm not into show-tunes or that style of music fan and this was a bit meh, and hard work, and I may not have finished the album, which is unusual as I challenge myself to listen to everything without prejudice.

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.

Beer - #602 - Tuatara - London Porter

It begins. Winter. Porters. This one the London Porter from the nice people at Tuatara, and by local FYO station.

A SHOT IN THE DARK

Our Porter has plenty of chocolate and roast malts to provide lots of body and a healthy shade of dark. Best served how the Poms like it; flat and a few degrees warmer

Which is a bit offensive, Poms (English people) do not drink 'warm' beer, they typically drink 'Bitters' that are brewed and served at cellar temperatures, which is colder than normal room temperature and not fridge chilled. Also Top fermented, unlike bottom fermented lagers. Trust me on this.

This is a handy 5%, ABV  and so only 150 calories a serve size, and 33 IBU things, right in the middle of the 20-40 bracket,

Brewed by Tuatara Brewing Company in that style that is a  Porter and they are in Paraparaumu, New Zealand

Making a good dark Porter isn’t just about malt.

[caption id="attachment_11095" align="alignleft" width="300"] Two Jumpers! I got cold out running today.[/caption]

Sure you’ve got your crystal, chocolate and roast malts to provide lots of body and a healthy shade of who-turned-the-lights-out, but balance demands something more than that; specifically, generous additions of hops.

What hops, when and how much? That’s a long conversation, but even when we manage to bail Carl up on the subject we can never pump it out of him.

Best to just enjoy it and stop worrying.

So, what could possibly go wrong? I've had this out and about on my travels and remember enjoying it. Lets see if it was venue excitement.

Big milk chocolate aroma on popping the flip lid, big aroma.

Lovely pour of a seemingly thick beer with a fantastic head of thick mocha white fluff that does fade and leave just a small head, but even that looks nice.

Despite the warning to have this 'warm' i'm drinking this a it from the fridge, room temperature might not be much warmer at the moment.

Aroma in the glass is smokey bitterness and pepper. The chocolate bloom seems to have faded for the moment.

The mouthfeel is a lot thinner, it's not a full bodied beer, lovely amount of bitterness, some tart fruit perhaps and a smatter of chocolateness. It's quite the drinkable drink.

It isn't though big drinking, it's not that complicated, nothing peaky or edgy to distract you or pause over, just a reasonably well put together Porter beer.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 7 a of its things from the thing. I really do think that this is a 'thin' drink, there isn;t a lot of body in this to carry the flavours that this clearly has, so no backbone to play off as it were, the carry. Which is disappointing. Or I don't understand Porters.

I really wanted more of a punch somewhere in this, or a bigger mouthfeel, and this just doesn't have it. So, enjoyment level quite high, disappointment level quite high too. But E beats D somehow.

The double dip review

Am I enjoying it? I am it's a very drinkable drink.
Would I have another? I have a couple more int he bottle, that'll do me, I don't think it gets refilled though.
Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? I don't know that I could, it's just not party enough, there isn't a thing in to remark on, and it leaves you waning a bit more punch or oomph or something.

Music for this, the 'Palma Violets', listen here on Spotify for instance. A london band Palma Violets, This is  'Danger in the Club'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6il1Wdqwhs

Garage/Indie Rock. Seems a bit unpolished to me though, and I couldn't go the whole album, not in this mood not on this day. I though it was very raw punk rock in its delivery. reminded me of the day.

PORTER

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

Related articles

• Winter Beers: Our Top 5 Picks


• The Ingredients You Need to Brew Beer (and Where to Get Them) - The Kitchn's Beer School 2015


• 5 beers to enjoy during American Craft Beer Week

Beer - #546 - Tuatara - Sauvinova

Single hop, single records, single digits and singing at a party

 Full malt body copiously hopped with Nelson Sauvin displaying mouthwatering gooseberry, pineapple and grapefruit flavours. Balanced bitterness.

[caption id="attachment_10416" align="alignright" width="150"] It's a Tuatara, they made a bottle like it.[/caption]

A 330ml bottle, that is the familiar lumps and bumps to imitate a real Tuatara, a beer that is  5.2% ABV, has a rating of 34 IBU,  comes in at around 156 calories, and the equivalent of 1.35 standard drink units. 

Brewed by Tuatara Brewing Company in the style that is a American Pale Ale or in some places might be an India Pale Ale (IPA) or the brewer says "Single Hop Pale Ale" and they do that in Paraparaumu, New Zealand

Kiwis are notorious for developing an enthusiasm for local commodities only after a thumbs up from the more discerning parts of the world.

[caption id="attachment_10436" align="alignleft" width="300"] haircut and a new beer![/caption]

In the case of Nelson Sauvin hops we think that’s a little unfair.

Tuatara and Sauvin were released into the world at about the same time so we knew them back in the day.

Brought to you with Liquorland, Sauvinova is a single hop pale ale celebrating the tropical gooseberry hit of Sauvin’s Sauvignon Blanc namesake. Bottoms up.

Full malt body copiously hopped with Nelson Sauvin displaying mouthwatering gooseberry, pineapple and grapefruit flavours. Balanced bitterness.

What could go wrong?

Well nothing as it turns out, or not much anyway.

This has a dazzling aroma on opening, all fresh green hops.

Pour is orange yellow, darker than you might expect, I'm always led by 'pale' perhaps I should pay attention. The head is variable and transient, and the aroma is really big.

I get a lot of oranges in the aroma, might also be passionfruit. Whatever it is it is nice. Might of course be grapefruit. It's not however a fruit salad.

Cracking amount of bitterness on the tongue, so moorish. Feels really carbonated although the appearance would have you otherwise..

There is no hiding in a single hop beer, this appears to have been expertly put together, delivering a bitterness, light dryness and a decent linger. It drinks well, has a decent length of taste and does invite you to have another sip or two. This might be due the lovely malt sweetness or middle, for some I could imagine this being a bit sweet or cloying. For me, now, this is right on the money.

Easy drinking and at a modest ABV this is a beer that you could drink and after a few still hold a reasonable conversation about or despite of.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 10 a of its things from the thing. For a single hop beer, for a single source distribution (mostly), this is a really good beer. You could have expected a half-hearted effort, after all captive audience, but this is far from that. I even went for another 6 pack, and I know there is a keg about to go on tap at the local bottle shop for a FYO.

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? I am, it is both a simple and yet layered and rewarding beer.


2. Would I have another? I am having another and will have another after that.


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? I'd for sure be happy if you turned up with a 6-pack of this, and I'd bring one to yours, it's just a bit good.

So, I was rummaging around this and that and ended up listening to, amongst other one hit wonders "The Turtles" and their sone "Elenore"

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeAtre3Bxg8&w=560&h=315]

You got a thing about you
I just can't live without you
I really want you, Elenore, near me
Your looks intoxicate me

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

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.

Related articles

• Trends in India Pale Ale (IPA) with Mitch Steele - BeerSmith Podcast #96


• Sorachi Ace Showers Double IPA at Noble Ale Works, Our Drink of the Week!


• Three Floyds named fourth best beer in the world


• Lagunitas "IPA" Lawsuit and Lessons in Social Media


• A New 'Hop-Forward' Craft Brewery is Opening in Woburn

Beer - #493 - Tuatara - Act of God

Closing in on 500!  Here we have Act of God, Class acts, Actual numbers and Acting the fool

What’s particularly notable is that this microbial intercession was totally unplanned. An Act of God if you will. 

Act of God is a Sour Abby Ale - Brewed by Tuatara Brewing Company in the style that is: Spice/Herb/Vegetable, and they do that  in Paraparaumu, New Zealand.

This is a 650 ml bottle, notable since it isn't the normal Tuatara bottle with all the lumps and bumps but it has the familiar cap top holding back  a beer of 7.6% Alcohol by volume and 3.84 standard drink units. The bottle would be 420 calories give or take.

Tuatara Act of God - Brewing is an organic and uncertain process in which brewers are not the only primitive life forms involved.

[caption id="attachment_9842" align="alignleft" width="300"] Hand of Phil...[/caption]

As well as the usual yeast in this rich, apricot-tinged biere de garde, a delicious creamy sour note has been struck by a bit of wild fermentation in the bottle.

What’s particularly notable is that this microbial intercession was totally unplanned. An Act of God if you will.

Like most things organised by the Almighty, this one is for keeps, so feel free to cellar it for as long as you can stand the suspense.

So, not being able to hold back I'm all in.

Sour aroma of course, cider-like, of course. Darker than I expected, decent head that is brownish white. It fades. It is terribly sour. Who is surprised?

But underneath there is and are signs of what this might have supposed to have been. Seems there is a decent maltiness, and that gives it some sweetness that wasn't unwelcome.

It clearly is a mixed bag. I get that candied sugary sense on the after-taste, toffee like.

I can guess that as a biere de garde it would have been quite interesting, and I can see how they suggest might cellaring could help it fill out and blossom.

As it is though It's a fairly sharp and not unpleasant drinking beer. I think that this should be best enjoyed in the mid afternoon, perhaps with some snack or accompanying food because this seems to be a beer for sitting around and chatting by, certainly not a quaffing beer in this format.

So a bit home-brew gone wrong if I was to have made this myself, and fair cop Tuatara called themselves on it and instead of trashing this they've rescued it and given us a chance at a once off.  Nothing hidden.

I've had beers in the past that have clearly been 'wrong' and have been given a new label, or name, not in keeping with the brewer tradition. You know "Brewers fancy" or even worse.

I didn't find anything undrinkable about this, and there might be some merit in setting this aside to develop more, as if I have the patience.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 8 a of its things from the thing.

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? Yes I'm impressed that this was as good as it was.


2. Would I have another? I would on a sunny day, or if someone has patience and wants to crack one out in a year? Any takers? 


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? I would so. This is a pleasant supping beer, pass the chips. 

Musically I was torn but ended up with something half decent. This is a band "Glass Owls" and a song called "Tired of the Internet" and as a bonus it features Wayne Anderson - the Singer of Songs!  So a New Zealand band with a New Zealand thing going on, Glass Owls, an alternative-pop foursome from Auckland.  Find them on Bandcamp

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMg2Pu7uAsQ

As a Bonus here is Wayne Anderson, the 4th best singer in NZ. Knock yourself out and enjoy it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3JALgr3Yas

SPICE/HERB/VEGETABLE

Any ale or lager made with herbs, spices or vegetables. The additive should be distinctive in the aroma. See beer description for flavor. Body, color, hop character and strength vary depending on the type of spice, herb or vegetable used.

Beer - #419 - Tuatara - Black, the Toasted Malt version

Three versions of this beer - This one Tuatara Black Toasted Malt - Limited Edition Unfiltered Stout

Right then -   Tuatara Black Toasted Malt Brewed by Tuatara Brewing Company in the style that is a Stout and they are based in Paraparaumu, New Zealand

Delivered as a 500ml bottle that has all the lumps and bumps of a Tuatara, and this on is 7 ABV, with 210 calories a serve, and is 2.8 standard drink units in this bottle.

[caption id="attachment_9023" align="alignright" width="300"]
Selfie[/caption]

Greetings stout lovers. At Tuatara we know your dedication to toasted malts requires no embellishment, so for you we have our brilliant, elemental BLACK. Using everything from Roasted Barley to Dark Crystal (yeah, that’s a thing) we’ve popped the 5-grain into the toaster to create a malt base of opulent Cimmerian shade. And to ensure you’re not losing out to all those pale ale bores, we’ve hopped things up a bit with buckets of Pacific Jade, Chinook, Citra, Amarillo and Centennial. It’s a big one, so don’t overdo it.

I think "can" you can overdo it.

Beer - #376 - Tuatara - APA

Brewed by Tuatara Brewing Company this in the style of the  American Pale Ale and they are in Paraparaumu, New Zealand

A custom made complete with scales and ridges - 500ml bottle,  5.8% ABV and 2.4 standard drinks worth,  50 IBU and about 170 ish calories a serve

Hopped With Chinook to bitter, and Simcoe and Zythos to flavour and dry-hop.
Barack Obama isn’t the only American to be returned by popular demand. Tuatara’s famous, original APA is back, accompanied by the seductive aromas and flavours of its all-American hopping regime. American Pale Ale is the wild colonial iteration of the famous English IPAs of the nineteenth century. In a country whose idea of an urbane well-bred Englishman is Piers Morgan, American Pales make the most of a hop breeding culture originally founded by Californian hippies, the kind who got their start in more illegal forms of horticulture. Tuatara reflects that freewheeling adventurousness from the giant fruit on the nose to the fabulous bitterness at the end.

Not a lot of aroma on opening to make a pick, but I get a light vinegary thing, I don't know I make a lot of this up.