Beer - #630 - Rocky Knob - Home Again

I like the beer I've had so far from the lovely people at Rocky Knob, and had a few words with Bron in passing recently at a beer festival. Then I discovered their beer on the FYO again at my local Liquorland in Forrest Hill. So here we go;  Good beer, good music, good times and a good score.

100% Kiwi. All NZ malt and hops.

From the FYO then a 1 litre of beer, that is 5.6 % ABV and 40 IBU, making this 4.42 standard drink units, and around 168 calories a serve size.

Brewed by Rocky Knob Brewing this one in the style that is  American Pale Ale and that's in the small seaside town that is Mt Maunganui, New Zealand

[caption id="attachment_11443" align="alignleft" width="300"] It's a cold night, and I'm putting on a brave face.[/caption]

This is a fresh zesty, clean and incredibly sessionable hopped up NZ Pale Ale.

Riwaka, NZ Cascade, and Nelson Sauvin give this a punchy citrus and classic Nelson Savin zestiness.

So what could possibly go wrong?

Not much if the opening aroma of sweet sweet caramel and hint of grass is much to go by.

It's quite lively in the bottle with a spontaneous head forming and popping out of the neck, not something you see often.

Pour is as you see it, although there was less head then the sitting spontaneous head would have made me think, and what head there is is settled to a film.

There is a lot of the Sauvin hops in this, and the aroma, and I like that. It is surprising light and easy to drink with a nice mouthfeel and a decent finish that is slightly dry but not parching.

There are a number of beers using the Sauvin hops, and so the taste is quite distinct, hard to differentiate between them, from memory, but this is as good as I've had.

I'd go so far as to say that this is a really good candidate to be called a great session beer, I'd be happy to sit and mull over all sorts of nonsense drinking some of this.

Lovely aroma, then a lightly but firmly hopped bitterness with a nice sharp clean finish, makes you just want to have some more, it's very rewarding and inviting.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 8 of its things from the thing. Thoroughly enjoyed this, it's well balanced, sweet where it has to be crisp where is must be, and it is consistent through the whole drink, even as it warms.

The double dip review

Am I enjoying it? I am, and I would love to enjoy more of it.
Would I have another? It would be a great go-to beer, and a reason to enjoy a holiday at the Mount.
Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? There is nothing at all wrong with this beer for sharing, it's got flavour, it's got bitterness, it's got dryness, it's got sweet, it's got great aroma. I'd day that was a yes from me.

Music for this, an odd piece of music ' Tom McRae & The Standing Band '  ' Did I sleep and miss the border? ' which is my listening on Spotify and everywhere else I imagine. The Standard says it's quite good.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0OUkoWZa8s

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.

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Beer - #599 - Tuatara - Conehead Air Hopped IPA (2015) (Keg version)

The Tuatara Conehead Air Hopped IPA (2015) from the keg . I know there is a keg version, stand by.  Older new beer, old new music, old number math and oldies only parties.

Enjoy vibrant notes of passionfruit, gooseberry and grapefruit that only the freshest Sauvin hops can provide

A Bottle that is 1000ml, with a 6% ABV beer, about 4.74 standard drinks in NZ, and @ 45IBU things, with 180 ish calories a serving. I think that covers it.

Brewed by Tuatara Brewing Company in the well known style of an American Pale Ale and the are in Paraparaumu, New Zealand

The hops are always greener on the other side, in this case the other side of Cook Strait.

[caption id="attachment_11066" align="alignright" width="300"] Man with a frown who needs haircut waves a beer[/caption]

There's only one way to get those cones to the North Island in prime condition and that's to scramble the jets.

OK, it's to scramble a single engine prop plane with the seats taken out, but be assured that the 800kg of green hops that went into Conehead 2015 were flown direct from Nelson to Paraparaumu in an actual plane, touching down right next door to the Tuatara Brewery.

One short hop for a brewer, one giant green-hopping for mankind.

I've had previous versions of this beer, that I wasn't a fan of, but hey, what could possibly go wrong?This is  the keg version at the FYO. 

"Air Hopped" of course reference to the tiny tiny aircraft they jammed all the hops into, as opposed to the more usual 'Dry hopped' There are pictures on twitter if you can find them.

As you can already see it's chestnut brown in the bottle, from where a burst of hop grassiness bursts on flipping the lid.

Pour is lovely with a nice little white fluffy head . The taste is quite big, a real burst of sticky resinous grassiness bitters with a lovely mouthfeel and still persistent with a grass bite at the back.

This drinks differently to the bottle version, in my opinion, which could be for any number of reasons. The taste not my opinions.

But this seem 'bigger' up front and less bitter in the middle than the bottle, to my recollection.

Lot bigger in the overall sticky resinous hoppiness overall, but less dryness in the finish, it's a funny thing. Now I know this is how it is because I was out in town the other night and had some in an actual pub, for real, it's not all sit at home Noddy-no-mates here I can tell you.

It is a big beer, and with this level of hops not a session beer, without food intervention, it's a really good beer to work towards or away from, lucky I'm at home and can have a couple. Even though this is moderate in the ABV level I don't know that I really could drink a lot of it in one go. be happy to give it a crack if anyone wants to give it a go with me, perhaps.

I really like this beer in the keg, and the glass, it starts all brash and shouty and then it calms down and just becomes a really interesting beer that takes time and patience to enjoy. It is a seasonal and I wait until next time to try again a new spin on an old favourite.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 9 a of its things from the thing.  As it warms it gets more rounded and less edgy and then more drinkable, despite what I said earlier at the right temperature then this is like nectar (although it still needs a food to keep your palate in check)

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? I really worked my way into this, it was great.


2. Would I have another? Yes, please.


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? I would so bring this to a congregation and I'd insist on the music which is quite the thing.  I'd have my groove on and be dancing, it'd be embarrassing. It's a thing, right?

Musication was from Milky Chance,  a German folk duo with reggae and electronic music influences made up of Clemens Rehbein (vocals and instrumentals) and Philipp Dausch, the album Sadnecessary, this is Stunner

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHPLi3hW0jU

One of the very few musics to make it to my iPhone as opposed the iPod.  Listen here on the Spotify and all the other places probably

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.

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Beer - #595 - Tuatara - Conehead Air Hopped IPA (2015)

The Tuatara Conehead Air Hopped IPA (2015) in a bottle. I know there is a keg version, stand by.  Older new beer, old new music, old number math and oldies only parties.

Enjoy vibrant notes of passionfruit, gooseberry and grapefruit that only the freshest Sauvin hops can provide

A Bottle that is 500ml, with a 6% ABV beer, about 2.37 standard drinks in NZ, and @ 45IBU things, with 180 ish calories a serving. I think that covers it.

Brewed by Tuatara Brewing Company in the well known style of an American Pale Ale and the are in Paraparaumu, New Zealand

The hops are always greener on the other side, in this case the other side of Cook Strait.

[caption id="attachment_11013" align="alignleft" width="300"] He looks keen![/caption]

There's only one way to get those cones to the North Island in prime condition and that's to scramble the jets.

OK, it's to scramble a single engine prop plane with the seats taken out, but be assured that the 800kg of green hops that went into Conehead 2015 were flown direct from Nelson to Paraparaumu in an actual plane, touching down right next door to the Tuatara Brewery.

One short hop for a brewer, one giant green-hopping for mankind.

I've had previous versions of this beer, that I wasn't a fan of, but hey, what could possibly go wrong? If this is ok perhaps I'll get the keg version at the FYO. 

"Air Hopped" of course reference to the tiny tiny aircraft they jammed all the hops into, as opposed to the more usual 'Dry hopped' There are pictures on twitter if you can find them.

Brilliant tactile bottle, as always,  fresh muted hop aroma and a gentle hiss on opening.

Pour is lovely orange brown with a small but firm persistent head, I have my pouring mojo back. Aroma in the glass is still more muted hops with a hint of spices.

Lots of resinous dryness, and the middle of my tongue seems to have become numb, that's never happened before, I think I like it. Plenty of malt sweetness in this that lifts and carries. The bitterness is quite mild, present but not stingy bitter, just smooth and pleasing. It's clever.

The bitterness picks up a little as it comes off the coldness from the fridge, and that's nice too, just a little pinch to remind you. The dryness at the end of the palate isn't so bad, although it's quite broad.

Is it fantastic? It isn't but it is nice and very enjoyable. I know it's fresh, I've seen the pictures and everything, and it does make me smile when I drink it, offering a couple of challenges, by which I mean little peaks of flavours and layers, when you quaff.

It isn't though quaffing beer, more a meandering enjoyment, far to nice to quaff and be done, unless, unlike me you have another waiting. For the single sitting beer this should be enjoyed for as long as your will power holds out.

As I near the end the lovely subtle grassiness of the hops is really enjoyable, the dryness is still there, the malt less, the whole a lot more than was expected.

An Annual beer, much anticipated and much enjoyed and appreciated, not though, for me, a flagship beer, regardless I'd be happy to sit for a while and drown all my sorrows to this, a few times.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 8 a of its things from the thing.  8 is 'very good' on the scale of my own making. Even I'm confused by it, this is 'a bit good' and would be enjoyed by a range of people with a range of expectations. It really is just a nice beer to drink on an autumn afternoon.

Cheers. 

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? Yes I am enjoying it, it's quite smooth, delivered in a flatter profile of tastes making it a lovely drink to savour.


2. Would I have another? I would like to try the keg version.


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? I would, this is a beer to enjoy with friends and you should if you could get some. I think you'd enjoy it.

Musication was from  Mono Town is an Icelandic musical band from Reykjavík, this is "In the eye of the storm" which for no reason made me bop about a bit. You can listen here on the Spotify or the everywhere else possibly

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqZSF1ONqc0

I like this Album, a lot.

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.

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Beer - #489 - Karl Strauss - Big Barrel Double IPA

Big names, Big Music, Big Numbers, and a Big call.

Imported New Zealand Nelson Sauvin hops provide a vibrant tropical aroma that raises eyebrows and expectations

I am pushing the boat out, with a new to me brewer, and at random this, the - Karl Strauss Big Barrel Double IPA

This is brewed by the Karl Strauss Brewing Company in the style that is  Imperial/Double IPA and the are based in San Diego, California  USA

650ml bottle that is 9%ABV, and a matching 90 IBU things, 270 calories a serve, and that would be 4.6 standard drink units in the one bottle

When we kicked-off this series of intense hoppy beers, we wanted to go big.

[caption id="attachment_9780" align="alignleft" width="300"] Big Grin[/caption]

Imported New Zealand Nelson Sauvin hops provide a vibrant tropical aroma that raises eyebrows and expectations.

Aggressive amounts of Warrior and Ahtanum hops produce an assertive bitterness that stands out against a firm malt backbone.

Balanced even at 90 IBUs, Big Barrel leaves a considerable first impression that serves as a prelude of things to come.

Note to self: Point beer away from keyboard and in general the laptop when opening, you know that the last beer cost me around NZ$300 to fix, the good thing though, if anything is that it's a Mac and therefore same day repair

Anyway, what could possibly go wrong this time?

Loud sweet hop grassy aroma on opening, like it already just for that.

Much more golden orange that I was somehow in philipland expecting, and it pours with a a lovely finger of white fluffy and persistent head, it looks the part!

You get this massive burst of bitter followed at a rush but the biggest burst of warm sweet malt and it's really really something!

Grassy hoppy dominates and it has a great finish that is somewhat towards to dry but not rasping and overwhelming.

It has lovely pine and citrus (lemon) and that great softness in the middle, I really wanted a good IPA, took a punt and won! Go me!

Despite it's 9% ABV which will see you in bed early if you're not paying attention, and despite that there is no real indication that it is a reasonably high ABV beer, this is one of the easiest drinking dIPA's that I've had for ages, and it brought a smile to my dial, made the world a better place, and restored my sense of balance. It's that good

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 10 a of its things from the thing. I'm usually a bit shy on elevation to the 10's as that really does leave you open to question and ridicule, but this really hit my sweet spot, and today in this light and at this moment, this is as perfect as it gets. And I drank it before the curry arrived.

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? Yes, this is outstanding! 


2. Would I have another? Yes, I'm thinking of sending a messenger to get me one.


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? If I won lotto, at a significant level, I would buy you a pint, at the brewery, perhaps two. Otherwise I'll be round to tell tall stories about how good I was when I was younger, and why Association Football beats another type of football ever. 

Musics? Well I was whipping up a couple curry meals, a Butter chicken for the others and a Jalfrezi style for me, and  I stumbled over  a band called "The Coral" and a track  "The Curse of Love" from the Album of the same name. The Coral are an English band formed in 1996 in Hoylake on the Wirral Peninsula in England.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXULT0-gN8A

Light Indie Pop type but with some good lyrics and nicely produced, It's very good listening to and music to cook by :-) oh and have a beer to!

IMPERIAL/DOUBLE IPA

Imperial IPA, Double IPA or DIPA is a strong, often sweet, intensely hoppy version of the traditional India Pale Ale. Bitterness units range upward of 100 IBUs and alcohol begins at 7.5% but is more commonly in the 8.5-10% range. The flavour profile is intense all-round. Unlike barley wines, the balance is heavily towards the hops, with crystal and other malts providing support.

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Beer - #459 - Stewart Brewing - Top of the Hops

The name appealed to me, as did the ingredients list, so I got me a beer from Stewart Brewing  called Top of the Hops.

New to me then, Stewart Brewing Company, who do their brew at Tuatara Brewing Company this one is in the Style of  Pilsener,  and they are in Hiwinui, Manawatu, New Zealand.

6.2% ABV, 34 IBU things, 186 calories a serve, and 2.3 standard drink units in this bottle that is 500ml (16fl Oz give or take)

[caption id="attachment_9455" align="alignleft" width="300"] Man has a beer ![/caption]

This lively pilsner is brewed using New Zealand’s finest hop stars – Nelson Sauvin, Cascade and Wakatu.

Labelled by the crowds as ‘Bittersweet’, the German style bitterness is evenly balanced by the sweetness of the pilsner malt.

It’s fast being recognised as a chart topping brew and why we call it our Top of the Hops.

The Nelson Sauvin appeals to me too,

Beer- #388 - Behemoth - Wet Dream Wet Hopped Double IPA

I'm not sure how these get named but this is from a tap into a growler to takeaway with me - the Behemoth- Wet Dream- Wet Hopped Double IPA

It has an 8.3 % ABV, so this bottle is 6.55 standard drink units.  about 200 calories  a serve of 350ml and there are 3 serves in this, and a smidge. Means a second lap of the block on my exercise. He said thoughtfully....

[caption id="attachment_8411" align="alignleft" width="300"] Selfie![/caption]

This is brewed for the  Behemoth Brewing Company but its Brewed at The Twisted Hop and it's a Double IPA in style

The Beer Giraffe has produced a wad of angry wet hopped wetness. Nelson Sauvin and some other sticky green flowers provide punchy fruitiness and mouth peeling bitterness.

All Nelson Sauvin hopped double ipa with fresh hops and other forms all through the brewing process

I had this out and about on my travels at a bar, but decided that I should have a crack at this in a different environment. So I stopped at the local place and filled up a litre. Thanks Hopscotch.

Beer - #372 - Tuatara - Conehead Green Hopped IPA

The Tuatara Conehead it's been beckoning to me. 2014 Vintage.

Brewed by Tuatara Brewing Company in the well known style of an American Pale Ale and the are in Paraparaumu, New Zealand

A Bottle that is 500ml, with a 5.5% ABV beer, about 2,28-2.4 standard drinks in NZ, and @ 40IBU things, with 174 calories a serving. I think that covers it.

Limited Release. Tuatara's first go at a green-hopped beer (made with fresh or wet hops, meaning they have not been kilned or dried). On 19 March, the brew team headed down to Motueka to pick up 200kg of freshly cut Nelson Sauvin hops from the Mac Hops farm. Those aromatic hops were chucked in the back of the brewery’s refrigerated truck and, with some help from the ferry, driven back to the brewery where they went straight into a brew which was already running. Brewer Carl Vasta says the beer, which has been nicknamed Cone Head, is hoppy but not quite as hoppy as the Tuatara APA. It has a huge amount of late fragrant hop and is about 5.5%. The style is broadly an APA though some may consider it more of a Cream Ale.

Beer - #364 - Moa - Pale Ale

This was on 'special' and so I dived right on in.  Drinking now a Moa Pale Ale.

In the giant 750ml bottle, this a 5% ABV beer, being around 150 calories a serve, and this bottle would be slightly less than 3 standard drink units in NZ.

Brewed by Moa Brewing Company this is in the Style of an  American Pale Ale, and they are in Blenheim, New Zealand

Moa Pale Ale is a New Zealand take on a popular North American beer style. Using

[caption id="attachment_8033" align="alignright" width="300"] Selfie[/caption]

famous Cascade and Nelson Sauvin hops, the dominant features in this beer are unique to New Zealand and the Moa bottle conditioned brewing method. Its hoppy strength displays powerful floral, citrus and tropical notes, and like its northern cousins is a beer best enjoyed just below room temperature. 

While the intensity of the typical Nelson hop bitterness is well presented in Moa Pale Ale, there are also luscious sweet malts and bright passion fruit flavours. Offering a heightened complexity, this exceptional beer displays flinty and mineralistic characters. Moa Pale Ale is best served at approximately 6˚C in a tulip glass.

A performance bottle, foil, cork, cage. Cork was difficult to get out! I need a drink after that effort.

Muted but lovely floral hop aroma.

Cloudy orange golden pour with a nice fluffy and lively head, less of the hops aroma in the glass.

 

Full carbonation, and a real burst of hops in this, not sour or overly bitter, just a pit intense and earthy like you'd be expecting.  I hope this mellows and flattens out more as it warms up, it's started well enough.

This is nice to drink, it really doesn't have any real peaks of dips, it's just pleasing and seems to be well balanced.

This is a great way for me to start a Saturday evening, this is easy drinking and palatable, but (and there is always a but) I don't know that you could session on this, or make an evening of it.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 8 a of its things from the thing.  I have a kind of love hate with Moa, to in my head I do, and this is more towards the love, and that is a good thing. For all it loveliness though this really does lack a bit of body and strength in the palate.  Still think though this is a good beer.

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? Yes.


2. Would I have another? I probably would, it's a nice performance bottle


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? Yes I probably would, I wouldn't however swig it from the bottle.

It was also a Bob Marley kind of afternoon

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

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.

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Beer - #346 - 8 Wired - Fresh Hopwired IPA

Not giving up the 8 Wired - so next is this on - the Fresh Hopwired- a limited edition of things  - brewed for 8 Wired Brewing. Brewed at Renaissance Brewing this is in the style of anIndia Pale Ale (IPA) and that trick all happens in Blenheim, New Zealand

A wet hopped version of our flagship IPA, HopWired

A 500ml bottle 7.3% ABV beer, 219 calories, and at 60 IBU, and that would be 2.87 standard drink units in NZ. 60 IBU is the low end for an IPA.

Over the past 2 years, HopWired has more or less turned into the benchmark for all New Zealand hopped IPA. It is a pure expression of NZ “terroir” for better and worse. This year we decided to mix it up a little and make a wet hopped version of this modern classic. So one beautiful morning in March we drove to

[caption id="attachment_7801" align="alignleft" width="300"] Selfie[/caption]

Nelson and picked a truckload (literally) of freshly harvested, “wet” Motueka hops. We went straight back to the brewery and brewed some beer. Two weeks later we did the same thing, but this time the hops was Nelson Sauvin (the two hops mature at different times). The two beers were blended and here it is, a refreshing take on New Zealand IPA.

Today is a very special day. We have just mashed in a batch of Hopwired, but the hops for the beer are still on the bine! As we continue the brew, the good farmers in Motueka will harvest, you guessed it, Motueka hops. We will collect these wet hops in about an hour, drive them over the hill and stick them straight in the beer. In two weeks we will do exactly the same thing, but the hops will be Nelson Sauvin. By blending the two batches, we will have made the first ever "Fresh Hopwired". Good times!

I rated the standard Hopwired a 9 on the scale of things, so I'm quietly hoping that I got that right and that this'll hit the spot.

Sweet mild hop aroma on opening, nicely sweet.

Nice hazelnut brown pour with a minimal but persistent head, Hop aroma more intense, much more grass, but also much more caramel too. Head fades away.

Something sweet citrus in this too.

Lots and lots of pine/grass but at a level that gets you interested and it's layered on a nice sweet note.

Finish is dry but not desert dry just nicely so on the back of the palate, nice decent carry and finish.

Rather classy then, this is very very well behaved and enjoyable,. The freshness of the hops translates into that really resin/grass tang that this has, but it's really well balanced.

If anything this is under-carbonated, but that's picking a fault.  The measure though is the pdubyah-o-meter which rates this easily as a 8 on the scale of things. Despite a few things that this lacks, and it might do to have some more body for instance, and this does have a lot of sweetness in it, which is masking some of the bitterness that you could might enjoy.

I drank this in a hurry, despite my best intentions not to, despite me thinking that this might be a bit tart up front and too sweet at the back, it turns out that this is a beer that I'd have a few of without a problem, which might end up a problem. Conflicted much?

I have no idea how to follow this up and be as happy as I am right now, and whilst I am not ecstatic I'm not disappointed.

The double dip review:

1. Am I enjoying it?  Gosh yes


2. Would I have another? I wish I could


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? This has a lot of really nice things going for it, quaffable and enjoyable without being the centre of attention. Get in!

There wasn't music there was Formula One on the teevee. I should have played some music.  I was listening to the band "Slowly Rolling Camera" before I made that particular mistake, do yourself a favour and give this 3 minutes of your time.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KK9VnYb7pIg&w=560&h=315]

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 - #278 - Panhead - The Vandal

The Vandal is Brewed by Panhead Custom Ales in the style of an  India Pale Ale (IPA) and they're in Upper Hutt, New Zealand

This is a 500ml bottle of an 8.0% ABV beer, which is  3.15 drink units in NZ, the whole bottle would be 240 calories. Weirdly the label says 2.8.

Not only did the Americans invent hot-rodding, they invented hop-rodding too.
In the late 1960's a Tauranga teenager called John Reid threw a kiwi hat in to that ring with the the famed "Vandal", a dazzling green flake 1919 Dodge Bucket.
In his spirit we are rising to the other challenge with a beer named in his honour - a big, bitter APA stuffed with the tropical hit of Nelson Sauvin, Kohatu and Riwaka Hops.

Like any good hotrod, it's built to attract as much attention as possible.

On of the best labels I've seen on a beer for a while, silver and green foil highlights. Nice work I hope that the label isn't the best of the beer.

Goodly aroma of hops on opening with a whisper of carbonation. Pours a fantastic orange golden with a reasonable head.

Banging amount of hop taste with a decent length and lingering finish, I had to take another mouthful as I was enjoying it so much.  Instant regret that I didn't get two.

Nice floral aromas coming through, fantastic balance in this, it's a bit good.  Compared to the previous couple of beers I've had this is a different league. The bitterness is carried by a lovely caramel warmth, the finish is towards dry but not so much that you're palate is overwhelmed by it.

I'm beginning to wax lyrical about this, and trust me it only gets better the more you drink. The pdubyah-o-meter really does think this is an instant 10. I don't give them away daily.

Without doubt the most outstanding pint of beer I've had in a few days :-) I haven't mentioned this for a while but if you like IPA or DIPA, and you buy this and don't like it I would give you your money back. You might not think that it's a 10, but I bet it would be in the top bunch of beers that you would recommend to people, and you'd probably sneak one into the fridge for those days when you wanted class over something new and unknown. I wish I'd brought two, I'll probably buy another one tomorrow.

This is then very very easy drinking, very very easy to enjoy and no effort on the palate, no effort to pick a flavour or note, and altogether something a bit good. Great colour, pours with a head, leaves some lacing, and leaves me wanting more .

IMPERIAL/DOUBLE IPA

Imperial IPA, Double IPA or DIPA is a strong, often sweet, intensely hoppy version of the traditional India Pale Ale. Bitterness units range upward of 100 IBUs and alcohol begins at 7.5% but is more commonly in the 8.5-10% range. The flavour profile is intense all-round. Unlike barley wines, the balance is heavily towards the hops, with crystal and other malts providing support.

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Beer - #217 - Garage Project - Sauvin Nouveau

Another beer from the dwindling back of fridge stocks, the Garage Project Sauvin Nouveau, baing saved for no reason. Brewed by Garage Project in the style of a Pilsener and they're in Wellington, New Zealand, and on the bucket list of things less than a day away :-)

Fresh sauvignon blanc juice fermented with pilsner wort brewed an extravagant late addition of Nelson Sauvin hops. Vin Nouveau meet Sauvin Nouveau in a vintage harvest pilsner of crisp and intense aromatic fruit complexity, where the flavours of beer and wine intertwine so closely it’s almost indecent. Surely it can’t be wrong if it feels this right? This beer was made possible by the generous assistance of the award winning Palliser Estate Wines of Martinborough.

Riiiiight.....

This is a 650ml of a 7.6% beer, or 3.9 standard drinks to me and you.

It could be  a  beer-wine or a wine-beer, but it seems like it could be awesome.

An interesting aroma on opening, like gooseberry ? Really pale pour,  good head too (that's 2 in a row), the intriguing aroma intrigues me.

For a not bitter beer this certainly has a bang of hops in it, no mistaking the grassy notes, but they're a little magical in the delivery, this is altogether a bit clever. It carries a long soft bitter note but has a wonderfully moorish over-riding sweetness.

It's just a bit good.  You might think you've had a good Pilsner type beer, this however is a head, shoulders and a step-ladder better in many many ways.  The Garage Project boys seems to nail their brief with alarming regularity, making it all a bit unfair on the competition.

It is possible to have too many favourite beers, but I'd put this on my list as one of them, very clever, no way you'd think that it was 7.6% ABV, and no way you'd leave the glass half full.  It's soft to drink and yet has a taste profile you can chase and enjoy if you're in the mood. I had the thought that this would be with me, in the sun, at the beach house, pre-BBQ and stress level zero. And it's not often a beer takes you on that journey.

I would so buy this for you as a gift, the pdubyah-o-meter says 10. Outstanding.

Beer - #216 - Liberty - Sauvignon Bomb

The Liberty Sauvignon Bomb has been in the fridge for a few weeks, and tonight is it's big night out. Brewed by Liberty Brewing Co in the style of an  India Pale Ale (IPA) , and they brew a kilometres away in Kumeu Auckland, New Zealand. To be accurate the Hallertau Brewery :-)

This has 7% ABV, and 70 IBU, which is an indicator of bitterness in this,  IPA usually being 60-80. It's delivered in a  500ml Bottle, and that makes it about 2.8 standard drink units.

"There is no doubt that this label contains imagery some people will possibly find objectionable. Those people might allude to the fact that it may be somewhat suggestive. To those people, I make no apologies: and I’ll tell you why. The only scantily clad woman in this bottle is the delicately sweet malt aroma, riding that savage Hop Bomb all the way through the long, stormy night sky until it hits your tongue... where you can expect the flavour to explode onto your palate.

Enjoy the taste of Nelson Sauvin responsibly, at refrigeration temperature with your friends or family."

Or on your own as in my case.

Nelson Sauvin hops should deliver a  softer edge to this, we'll see.

Bitter hoppy nose on opening. Pours a lovely pale golden, with a reasonable and lasting head (yay),  retains the lovely bitter aroma.

Very grassy to taste. There isn't much to note outside that, there is no apparent malt or sweet in this. But the grassy gives away to a really nice layer of fruit softness as a counterpoint. It's very good.

Almost too delicate to be honest, but then it's not supposed to be a kick-ass hop bomb.

I think that this is another of those beers that you get to appreciate and wouldn't be shy to buy again, it's easy drinking and sits in the "Session" beers category quite easily, the 7% alcohol aside, which would make it a short session.

The pdubyah-o-meter for it's worth says that this is an 8 -  making it in the arbitrary manner a very good  beer.  Worst thing about it, I only have the one.

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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