Beer - #609 - Harrington's - The Forgotten

Got a really pleasant surprise package from the nice people at Harrington's Breweries, a bottle of a limited (I'd say one off) "The Forgotten"

Unique beer, unique music, unique numbers and that unique moment at a party.

As you can see from their youtube video it mentions in words that it's a Belgiam Tripel, but the brewer calls is Belgium Ale in the video. Who knows, I'm easily confused.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCakefPpS5c

So a 500ml bottle of an 8.7% ABV beer, so that's 5.6 standard drink units of a beer that 261 calories a serve size.

Brewed by Harringtons Breweries (Christchurch) in the style of a  Abbey Tripel from the deep south as far away as Christchurch, New Zealand. Except that perhaps it's a  Belgian Ale.

What I do think is that this might be based on, or even some of, is their Belgium Tempest, which starts at a 7.2% ABV. I'm joining dots here that might not be able to be joined. I don't doubt they 'forgot' it, after all it's only a commercial amount of beer.

[caption id="attachment_11204" align="alignright" width="300"] Beard and Belgium Beer[/caption]

A Belgium Tripel brewed in 2012 and set aside with the intention of ageing for one year...

Shakes & aftermath... Another year, rebuilding & relocating... Put aside and forgotten...

Until now.  Age has done us proud - this Monk's brew has softly matured spicy, slightly peppery, tones on a gentle sweet citrus orange malt layer.

So then what else could possibly go wrong?

Well the beer is presented in a wonderfully shaped bottle, very continental long body, short neck.

On opening then I was slightly disappointed with the lack of any real stand out aroma. I press on.

Pour is a watery muddy affair, and although it looks well carbonated a head mysteriously and not unusually fails to appear. Aroma in the glass is somewhat more, and some familiar sweet and spicy notes.

First taste is promising, a wash of alcohol isn't well hidden, but there is that familiar warm sugar in this, and a finish that is surprisingly dry. It does though, at the moment, not offer a lot of body, not a full mouthfeel of billowing softness. It is surprisingly easy on the palate though and very sippable.

But you feel there is something missing, after all it's a great back story, a really good story for me this really does lack body and fullness that you'd probably expect from something as mature and aged as this beer is.

I'd have thought more fruits, more sweet malts, and perhaps some heightened spice notes.  But then I show;don't think too often.

For that though it isn't undrinkable or bad as a beer, it's one of those  expectations and delivery gap things.  The aroma in glass before you sip promises something deep and rich, the mouthfeel however is a bit thin and lacking.

I hate being harsh about beer that I feel should be nicer or better, but I'm writing as I drinking these are my thoughts uncoloured,  Annoying though because this does have small flashes of the things that you look for in a good Tripel, or Belgium beer, the astringent, perhaps the bubblegum, the malts.

The second half of the the bottle, the second glass, much darker and a head! I didn't see a thing about having a sediment or being 'en lees' but whatever happened it got a much more pronounced aroma and a slight bigger mouthfeel, became a much nicer experience.

[caption id="attachment_11206" align="alignright" width="224"] Now darker and with head[/caption]

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 7 of its things from the thing. That makes it 'Good' on the random scale. In places this is like a familiar friend, but the overall experience leaves you a bit empty and wanting a bit more, it's just not rewarding enough a beer until the second half, when it came to the party as it were, perhaps just a little late.

The double dip review

Am I enjoying it? I love a Belgium beer, and this is nice in places, I'm not not enjoying it, I'm just not loving it.
Would I have another? Probably not, but it reminds me that I like Belgium beers.
Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? Based on the story and the lovely bottle I would share this, but I think it'd be an interesting conversation about the style.

Music for this is 'Sweet Billy Pilgrim',  'Coloma Blues' from the new upcoming album 'Motorcade Amnesiacs'. Sweet Billy Pilgrim are an English experimental rock/art rock band.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVIHC0E1Vpw

BELGIAN ALE

Belgian-style ales seldom fit neatly into classic beer styles, but this category represents those "session" ales (in Belgium this means under 7% abv!) that do not fit other categories. Colour ranges from golden to deep amber, with the occasional example coming in darker. Body tends to be light to medium, with a wide range of hop and malt levels. Yeastiness and acidity may also be present.

ABBEY TRIPEL

Like other abbey ales, Tripels are strong, yeasty-malty beers. But they are also pale, and have a notable hop profile. Hop bitterness may be higher than a typical abbey ale, up to 35IBUs. But the finish is where the hops really shine, as tripels should finish fairly dry. Otherwise, maltiness is still essential to the style, and the assertive yeast note typical of all abbey ales will be more apparent in tripels, since they do not have the rich dark malts to distract the palate. Alcohol flavours feature more prominently in Tripels that in just about any other style.

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Beer - #424 - Townshend - Divine Intervention

Townshend Divine Intervention - a collaboration beer (with Southstar Brewing). Calm down. Also A Belgium IPA\Belgium ale

Brewed by Townshend Brewery as their take on the  Belgian Ale style and they are in Upper Moutere, New Zealand.

Brewers note on their website has this though as a Pale Ale, despite the label saying otherwise. One of those things. 

All that but a 500ml bottle, (16 fl oz>, of beer that is 7.8% ABV, making it 3.1 standard drinks in NZ,  and 234 calories a serve.

A strong and heavily New Zealand hopped Belgian Pale Ale. This is a collaboration series beer with Kieran Haslett Moores' brewing arm Southstar Brewing Co. The beer is named in loving memory of Jeff Hennaman from Slayer who died last year. (We are both huge Slayer fans.)

Don't expect a Slayer video clip either.

Beer - #356 - Rogue - Beard Beer

From the Sublime to the ridiculous - Rogue Beard Beer - I wasn't thinking straight. 

Brewed by Rogue Ales in what might might be for me the early evening style of a: Belgian Ale, and Rogue are in Newport, Oregon USA

25 IBU's  (lower than an English Bitter, or Stout and just over the lower Porter number, a Pilsner should be around 25) and 5.6 ABV, 650ml bottle, 168 calories serve, 2.9 standard drink units, all sounds normal until you read about the origin of the yeast....

"Beer brewed with yeast taken from the brewmaster John Maier’s beard."

[caption id="attachment_7916" align="alignleft" width="300"] Selfie[/caption]

t's here! Our latest brew Dedicated to Beards, Beard Beer is brewed with a yeast created from Brewmaster John Maier's Beard. No Need to freak out, Brewers have used wild yeasts in beer making for centuries. John has had the same Old Growth Beard since 1983 and for over 15,000 brews, so it is no great suprise that a natural yeast ideal for brewing was discovered in his beard.

Sounds like an art project! And not one that everyone liked.

Sour aroma on opening, soft carbonation.

Light orange poor with a small head that appears persistent. On a bit of a run with heads.

Familiar sour note that you'd expect from Belgium Ales. Light bitterness and nice sweetness on tasting this, I was mildly surprised and pleased.

This is a bit pleasing to the taste, even if it doesn't have a strong backbone of malt to carry it. Bitter upfront, nice wash over the tongue, and a reasonable finish.

But it is a bit thin of body and short in the ultimate carry.

Don't let that put you off though. I like this. I like Rogue beers mostly though. I like Belgium style beers too. Confirmation bias.

You could easy session on this easy quaffing beer without any drama, it's let down is the lack of head and lacing. It's low-ish ABV means that you'd be able to tell all sorts of lies without forgetting where you are.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 8 a of its things from the thing. I would get this again for the fridge, it's priced well, drinks well and well it made me smile. Easy drinking I'd have no problems sharing this or recommending it as a well decent beer that has bitterness and flavours without challenge and frowning. A beer for everyman?, perhaps not, but you could do so much worse.

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? Yup 


2. Would I have another? Yup 


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? Yup 

Of course this reminded me of ZZ Top

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_EFdod4YDo&w=420&h=315]

BELGIAN ALE

Belgian-style ales seldom fit neatly into classic beer styles, but this category represents those "session" ales (in Belgium this means under 7% abv!) that do not fit other categories. Colour ranges from golden to deep amber, with the occasional example coming in darker. Body tends to be light to medium, with a wide range of hop and malt levels. Yeastiness and acidity may also be present.

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Beer - #344 - Orval - Orval

Getting back to Belgium briefly then with an Orval

Brewed by Brasserie dOrval in the style of a Belgian Ale and they’re based in Florenville - Villers-d.-Orval, Belgium

A simple but unique shaped 330 ml bottle, like a mini wine bottle perhaps, containing a 6.2% ABV beer, translating to 1.61 Standard Drinks in NZ, and this has 186 calories, also this might be 32 IBU things.

[caption id="attachment_7785" align="alignleft" width="300"] Selfie![/caption]

In contrast to all the others, the Orval Trappist brewery makes only one beer for the general public. It has an intensely aromatic and dry character. Between the first and second fermentations there is also an additional dry-hopping process. Through this the beer acquires its pronounced hoppy aroma and extra dry taste.

What’s special about Orval’s beer is that hops are added at two different stages of the production process. First, in the brewing room, a large quantity of very fine hops are added – this produces the famous bitter taste and is the reason why the beer keeps for a longer period of time. Later, in the storage cellars, hops are once again added. This is the so-called British “dry hopping,” which produces the delightful aroma that completely enraptures even the most carefully forewarned taster.

Generally considered a prince amongst beers I got two bottles, which is unusual for me, but there were not many left on the shelf and rather than miss out if it was 'that' good I took a punt.

Strictly speaking I've had this when I've been out and about, in a pub, where I didn't think it was that spectacular, said the man who then did some further research... lets see if the at home version beats the out at the pub version. Besides it was 18 months ago.

It's well carbonated by the hiss, and there is a sour aroma on opening.

Pours more orange than I remember, I can't remember, and has a health head, and you can pick the aroma as you pour it, haven't got close to drinking it yet, waiting in vain for the head to cease and desist. Might have to get my nose fluffy.

Of course there is sediment.

Of course I poured it in, not wanting to think that I hadn't poured the whole bottle.

I really was expecting some with more sweetness and warmth in it than a more sour beer.

So a bit cider like, but with those familiar musty yeasty aromas, which are nice.

I think that the pdubyah-o-meter rating this at a 7 on the scale of things is, in my opinion, fair. 7 being better than good.

1. Am I enjoying it?  I'm not not enjoying it


2. Would I have another?  hahah I do have another in the fridge, perhaps later


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights?  I would as a discussion starter on why people would think this is amongst the best of beers, but not to talk about the sportsball results.

Bit of Paloma Faith for accompaniment, a real mixed bag of an album - this track "Only love can hurt like this"

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oqRXI1Ck7k&w=560&h=315]

BELGIAN ALE

Belgian-style ales seldom fit neatly into classic beer styles, but this category represents those "session" ales (in Belgium this means under 7% abv!) that do not fit other categories. Colour ranges from golden to deep amber, with the occasional example coming in darker. Body tends to be light to medium, with a wide range of hop and malt levels. Yeastiness and acidity may also be present.

 

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Beer - #318 - Tuatara - Ardennes

I'm a simple man, but Tuatara Ardennes, strikes me as being something Belgium related, of course.

Brewed by Tuatara Brewing Company this is in the style of a  Belgian Ale and they do that in the metropolis that to me an you is known as Paraparaumu, New Zealand.

500ml bottle (Pint-ish) of a 6.5% ABV beer, or 2.5 standard drinks to me and you, 195 calories a servings.

Tuatara Ardennes is a strong, Belgian-identified ale. There’s no missing the strong bit – 6.5% alc/vol should be fairly self-explanatory – but the Belgian half of the equation is the result of our obsession with the style. In creating his own version we've named it after the Ardennes yeast that gives it all those spicy orange notes. We were also fairly obsessed with making it drinkable, so drinkable in fact that we may have to redirect your attention to the 6.5% alc/vol bit. Avoid heavy machinery.

They say.

I have to cook on the BBQ I hope that at least on of the things works out ok for me

Thats fairly yeasty and a bit sour on opening, vinegary. Very pale, and I was surprised by that, I was expecting darker, or different. No head, at all. But it looks fairly well carbonated.

Aroma settles to more yeast, which would be what you might expect.



Pours a great golden colour, and has a decent head, but this is very carbonated on the tongue. To the nose this is a Belgium style yeasted beer, and the sourness of the up front note is of Belgium. But that's all there is.

Does look nice in the glass though.

So where are we at? This is a beer that is made to, at least, smell and initially taste like a Belgium style beer. Which for me it does.

What else does it do?

Frankly not a lot. And honestly as it warms it gets more 'iffy' the warmth that you'd expect from the malts appear to be a bit off centre, and they clash with the sourness. It's a challenge.

This might make for a fairly decent domestic beer, but it's hard to look past the way that it appears to have rapid changes of personality. The over-riding sourness makes this less than a winner, but not by much

The pdubyah-o-meter - the arbiter of arbitrary- says 7 - which is ok, makes this beer that you shouldn't avoid or skip on, it's ok at what it is an what id odes it's just, again, not setting a benchmark or bar that other beers would beed to meet or beat.

Smells like Belgium beer should, tastes like a Belgium beer should, but that shouldn't be all of it, or perhaps they're showing off and it is, As an extension of their Dubbel and Tripel this is nice rounder.

Musically , the Vinyl gave away to the iPod and some Elbow, and this on the loudness.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dELKUivJo4w&w=640&h=360]

Belgian Ardennes

is one of the great and versatile strains for the production of classic Belgian style ales. This strain produces a beautiful balance of delicate fruit esters and subtle spicy notes; with neither one dominating. Unlike many other Belgian style strains, this strain is highly flocculent and results in bright beers.

BELGIAN ALE

Belgian-style ales seldom fit neatly into classic beer styles, but this category represents those "session" ales (in Belgium this means under 7% abv!) that do not fit other categories. Colour ranges from golden to deep amber, with the occasional example coming in darker. Body tends to be light to medium, with a wide range of hop and malt levels. Yeastiness and acidity may also be present.

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Beer - #289 - Green Flash - Rayon Vert

Green Flash - Rayon Vert Brewed by Green Flash Brewing Co.
in the style of a  Belgian Ale and they are in, of course, San Diego, California USA.

Green Flash even label this Belgium-Style-Pale Ale.

This is a 12 fl Oz bottle , that's 355ml, of a 7% ABV beer,  making it 2 standard drink units in NZ, and at 32 IBU which is middle ground for a lot of styles of beer such as Pale Ale, ESB, Porter and Pilsner. 210 calories a serve.

If Green Flash were founded in historical Belgium, Rayon Vert would have been our flagship brew. A bold layering of hops finds balance from traditional malts. Bottle conditioning with fresh ale yeast and Brettanomyces finishes the beer, adding a delightful effervescence, dryness and continuously evolving character. Rayon Vert is Green Flash.

MrsPdubyah has been at work all day, A Sunday, which is unusual, and I've done what little chores there were, mostly getting some grass maintenance in.

The bottles from Green Flash are custom made, logo imprinted, which is a nice touch. I'm easily impressed. Really nice fruity aroma on opening, loads of carbonation too!

And it's all head and no beer. like 70/30 fluff over liquid. It's a nice orange yellow what little there is of it, and its persistent it could take a while before I can drink any. Familiar 'musty' yeast aroma greets the nose.

So Belgium style Pale Ale. I get the earthiness that I associate with Pale Ale, and there is a mustiness that you can associate with some Belgium style ales.

This is somewhat like 3 monts which is what came to mind when I tasted this, the musty and very dryness of it.

So, continuing the mixed message, this also delivers a little sour too.

I can honestly say that this beer makes me feel uncomfortable, in that I'm not enjoying it as much as I want to. The pdubyah-o-meter, my own opinion and  random number makes this a whole 7.  Which is a good beer. But it is in the pack of beers. But this isn't a beer for me.

Perhaps this should be better with a strong food to accompany it to give it some counterpoint, I wish I'd thought of that earlier.

No music today, except the sound of leather on willow as there are two cricket matches going on and I'm making a half hearted attempt to watch both, or listen to one watch the other and listen. New Zealand v India is the local match, and England against Australia in the other.  NZ need to get a wriggle on and England need to win something this tour.

Food though, being boring is just peri-peri marinaded chicken that will got a going on the barbecue later.

BELGIAN ALE

Belgian-style ales seldom fit neatly into classic beer styles, but this category represents those "session" ales (in Belgium this means under 7% abv!) that do not fit other categories. Colour ranges from golden to deep amber, with the occasional example coming in darker. Body tends to be light to medium, with a wide range of hop and malt levels. Yeastiness and acidity may also be present.

 

Related articles

Over at all the same beer read their much better review, http://allthesamebeer.com/?s=rayon+vert where they too say

"This is absolutely the most interesting beer I’ve drank in some time. The appearance and aroma are top-notch, and the taste is great, too; while it does seem to be missing that fuzzy “it” thing, it’s still a tasty beer and worth your time and money to give it a try.

I wanted to score this higher, but just couldn’t…"

Or these

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• Beer- #287 - Southern Tier - Imperial Compass

Beer - #228 - Renaissance Enlightenment Series - Fresh Hop Benelux Ale

So to the fridge he dashes, and grabs for the Renaissance Enlightenment Series Fresh Hop Benelux Ale.  Brewed by Renaissance Brewing in the style of a : Belgian Ale, and they do that in Blenheim, New Zealand.

Fresh Hop Benelux Ale. You see, it is not quite a Belgian style, but kind of in that region. We based this on a Blonde and brewed it with a mixture of yeasts and a large portion of freshly harvested Wakatu hops. The result, a bright straw coloured ale with a fruity nose and creamy palate. Notes of spice, earth, tropical fruit, and hop resin.

500ml bottle, of a 7% ABV beer, making it 2.8 standard drinks.

After a long drive home from the beach house I was looking forward to sitting down and relaxing with this. However it didn't happen.

Instead i waited, and Wednesday was big night in, and after a more then acceptable curry from my new favourite restaurant I got to hankering.

Intriguing fruit laden aroma, Rich brown poor, but not much of a head,  and that really interesting almost chocolate (this time) aroma, and then it settles to a familiar Belgium beer aroma. It's a thing.

An interesting mouthful that, sort of thin and lacking in depth, but also with a reasonable back of sweetness.  It's a thing.

This isn't so much muddled as confused. I like it. It doesn't have that sharp alcohol burn that you get with some Belgium beers, but it has the aroma and the colour.

It has a sourness, but it's fairly soft, and I may have mentioned seems a bit thin. The Pdubyah-o-meter thinks this is about an 8 - very good - on the arbitrary scale of things, and I probably would buy this again. Yes I would, despite it not making it higher on the scale of things.

Recapping then, Smells like Belgium, looks like Belgium, has a nice caramel things going on, lacks the alcohol note, is a bit thin, doesn't carry. Other than than, it's a bit good :-)

 

 

Beer - #121 - Yeastie Boys - His Majesty 2012

I stopped in at my local bottle shop on the way home, a particularly weird day at work that was pretty frustrating on a number of fronts, and I picked me up a Yeastie Boys His Majesty 2012.

Yeastie Boys beer is  Brewed at Invercargill Brewery  and His Majesty 2012 is in the style of a : Belgian Ale <strong>

His Majesty, The Fourth, is a Belgian-style strong pale ale. A gentle (yet dangerous) giant of a beer featuring an interplay of sweet bready German malt, a hint of kiwi hops and a delicate spiced fruit from use of a Belgian Abbey yeast.

750ml, 8.5% ABV beer - that's about 5.3 standard drink units.

I'm only disappointed that this doesn't have a cork and cage,

Belgium beer then, Sweet, Dark Amber, Heady, Malty, slightly bitter under note. Oh I'm looking forward to this .