Beer - #611 - ParrotDog - Rarebird Kakapo Wet-Hopped IPL - Bottle

ParrotDog Rarebird Kakapo. A Fresh Hopped IP, a Wet-Hopped beer.

Also in a limited run of 126* bottles - the same as the total number of Kakapo in the wild!

[caption id="attachment_11222" align="alignleft" width="150"] Limited Numbers[/caption]

*A bottle, not one of 126, but one of 900 which is a bit different to all the previous excitement at 6.9% ABV it's not session beer, this bottle being 3.6 standard drink units, and it comes  with 207 calories a serve size, 

Brewed by ParrotDog in the style that is best described as  Strong Pale Lager/Imperial Pils and they are in Wellington, New Zealand

RareBird: Kakapo (Wet-Hopped IPL) has left the building for its new habitat - this is to be the first of a new ParrotDog range; a series releasing one-off beers inspired by the quirky birds of Aotearoa.

This series is about creativity in brewing and celebrating the strange characters in our endemic birdlife - we'll be working with local artists and conservationists to share their interesting tales of existence.

What could possibly go wrong with that? Well the last time had this, the keg version, I scored it arbitrarily a 9.

The aroma on opening isn't a lot to note, sour hops faint.

Much hoppier and sweeter aroma in the glass, which is a yellow range pale but with a decentsworth of fluffy head.

Well. Let me tell you that I don't seem to be having the same full immersion experience I had as I did with the tap/keg version.

The level of hop grassiness and bitterness is quite impressive and there is a cushion of sweetness in this, but it seems to be at much more a normal lager type level, and not as peaky or highlighted as the keg version, which of course I have to compare it to.

But it isn't like any lager beer I've ever had, this has so much more sweetness in the middle, the harsh hop edge is there, but it isn't and the finish is just a soft kiss of dry sweetness.

It is a beer that seems to enjoy being slightly warmer than my fridge is set at.

I don't know if I can describe the way this beer tastes in any other way, but I'll give it a go.  It's a sweet lager, as in sugary sweet, not as in 'sweet rims on your car' sweet. but it's not sugar sweet it's a full body sweet, peculiar, interesting, engaging and welcome. It has bitterness but it isn't bitter, and it has a really nice full drinking mouthfeel and finish without any particular bit of it being outstanding on its own.

Just a fine beer done good.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 10 a of its things from the thing. It's a rare beer that is as though provoking as this, and when you've drunk the most of it you then begin to appreciate what a fine beer it is. A performance beer, definitely not a session beer, unless you start at 6 and finish at 7 and have a happy hour for one.  I don't know that there is a bad thing to say about this.

The double dip review

Am I enjoying it? I surprise myself in that I am enjoying what might be an unremarkable beer until you start to think and explore it. It is a well hopped, fine balanced good beer.
Would I have another? I don't think I could if I wanted, it was a oncer and stock levels diminish quickly
Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? I really would, if all IPL's we're like this there would be happiness unbounded, if I brought this to you we'd be giving the fist-pump and high-fives, or not, and we'd be listening to some good music and talking some right nonsense, distracted only by the sorrow of a dwindling beer and a rare bird. Indeed.

Music for this, Well I'm listening to Muse, who are an English rock band from Teignmouth, Devon. From their new album 'Drones' this is 'Dead Inside'

Have a craack at the Spotify and possibly all the other places

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5sJhSNUkwQ

Strong Pale Lager/Imperial Pils

Most commonly found in Poland, but also in other European countries as well, especially the East. These are essentially stronger versions of pilsners, though the increased malt and alcohol will noticeably reduce the hop accent. Because these are usually all-malt, and comfortably hopped, they are easily distinguishable from malt liquors. Without the malt character of bocks, these are worthy of a style all their own. In the US, a similar idea has been derived and is usually called Imperial Pilsner.

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• Beer - #603 - ParrotDog - Rarebird Kakapo Wet-Hopped IPL

Beer - #566 - Harrington's - The Yankdak APA

Fresh beer, Fresh music, a fresh number and party fresh.

".. a fist pumping hop mix of Simcoe & Amarillo"

This is a 500ml bottle, that is beer with a 4.7% ABV, which is about 141 calories a serve, in drink units that would be 1.9 standard drink units. 

Yankdak is brewed by Harringtons Breweries (Christchurch) in the style that is American Pale Ale and thy are in Christchurch, New Zealand

[caption id="attachment_10695" align="alignleft" width="300"] A confused look as I try to figure it out[/caption]

A light golden American ale, with a fist pumping hop mix of Simcoe and Amarillo.

Our brewers hammered hop combos and remeasured malt mixes to work the APA recipe down to the essence of this great New World beer style.

A flavourful reward for the end of the day session.

So what could go wrong with that?

First a sigh, another lower ABV beer, another beer claiming "session", another 'Pale Ale', it's all getting a bit much.

I also have no idea what "Yankdak" is either. Often they are some ind of slang or clever abbreviations, this though? no idea

Citrus type aroma on opening, that's be the Amarillo of course, I don't get much pine though, which would be from Simcoe. (technical there !)

Golden orange colour on the pour with a small but firm head. Good size nearly fits into a standard English Pint glass. Good stuff. I don't get an aroma in the glass though.

Slighty bitter which washes over the palate and leaves a dryish and lingering finish.

For me, and it might just be me, the lower ABV beers struggle with body, and I think that's the case with this. On the other side though this is pleasantly bitter enough, and delivers enough taste profile to satisfy a thirst.

As it warms the other citrus, florals and malt notes begin to show, and you get a nice detectable but faint aroma as you drink. It's not bad for contemplative drinking

Which is what I was doing.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 7 a of its things from the thing. It is after all said just another 'session beer' that has to rely on flavour, and there are some hits and some misses. This is close,and I enjoyed it, I would though prefer something with more body, truth be told.

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? I enjoyed it more the less there was in the glass.


2. Would I have another? Easily.


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? It isn't a beer you'd seek out or brag about having, if you had some I'd be ok with that. I might not be bringing it as a usual beer though.

Note: I was provided this beer by the brewer to try and review, without catches,  this is 1 of 12 should anyone wonder about the sudden love of a brewer out of the blue. 

Fresh listening is a Mark Knopfler thing. An Album called "Tracker" this is a track. It is a soundtrack to a Movie. Seems. Check in on Spotify here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7-cpV_H_z4

I've was an early Dire Straits fan, then they got that awful piano  organ thing going on and went all commercial nonsense. But I've seen Mark Knopfler before we was famous, he was good then, he can only have got better.

Unlike some of the beers I've been drinking.

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 #185 - Yeastie Boys - Golden Perch

So onto the Yeastie Boys Golden Perch.  The same Yeastie Boys that brew at Invercargill Brewery this in the style of a  Golden Ale/Blond Ale and they are in Wellington, New Zealand.

Golden Perch a bottle of 330ml and at 4.4% ABV making it about 1.0 standard drinks, and this is at 25IBU on the scale of things - Pale Ale being in the range of 20-50 IBU.

Originally brewed for last year's Hobbit premiere (Golden Perch reputedly serves the best beer in the Eastfarthing), Golden Perch is an aromatic golden ale featuring ingredients from all across the world. German and British malts form the backbone of the beer, a little bit like the history of our brewing industry, but there is a strong new world influence from the clean American ale yeast and the pungent Nelson Sauvin hops. Golden Perch is a beer with enough flavour to satisfy the most ardent beer geek and remain subtle enough to not scare the everyday drinker.

Have to say the packaging is great with the golden highlights.

There is a nice hoppy spicy burst on opening, it pours a light golden brown with a small but persistent head, and the hops still are at large. It doesn't seem over carbonated either.

Wow that's bitter for a low IBU beer, and that's a nice surprise, quite grassy.  I though at first that this was an all up-front beer, but you'll find that there is some length to it, and it rewards you eventually.

You might also think this is "thin" as I did, but then in contemplation you realise that this makes it a great session beer. It's nicely tasty and does have reward for you.

The pdubyah-o-meter says 7.5 things of a thing making it a Good+ beer. Much enjoyment after my day's exercise and as an entrée in the next relaxing bit of the evening.

This is the sort of beer that you should find on tap in bars, because then I'd go more often. It's a fine  taste profile and it's lower ABV value makes it a great beer to enjoy a few times without getting yourself all in trouble.

As a postscript I feel that Yeastie Boys  don't like criticism or they don't take it well, or they have an over zealous idea of the quality of their beer, or they are very passionate  about their work as I found out when they took me to task about my not loving unreservedly the "Golden Age of Bloodshed", which I still think was ok, but just ok not special. Might also have made me , er, windy, the next day.  But I do like them, they're just very "interactive", and long may they be so. And I prefer that they are passionate about what they do, because they actually do some things very goodly indeed. And if they sent me a sample pack I'd love them more :-)

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• Beer- #184 - Yeastie Boys - Golden Age of Bloodshed (pdubyah.com)

Beer - #147 - Dogfish Head - 60 Minute IPA

The Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA. Brewed by Dogfish Head Breweryin the style of a India Pale Ale (IPA) in Milton, Delaware USA

Our flagship beer. A session India Pale Ale brewed with Warrior, Amarillo & ’Mystery Hop X.’ A powerful East Coast I.P.A. with a lot of citrusy hop character. THE session beer for beer geeks like us! 6% abv 60 ibu Tasting Notes: Citrus, cedar, pine & candied-orange flavors, floral.

330ml bottle of a 6% ABV 60IBU beer (1.68 standard drink units)

But first I get a bread aroma, yeasty,  Orange golden pour with a decent head. Lucky the aroma dissipates, but nothing takes it place to mention.

There's a fair tang of bitterness from the hops, but it's against a fairly soft back, so nothing alarming. I don't pick up 'floral' or 'fruits'. It's fairly polished and sits where they say it sits, even if I find it soft in the middle.

I don't actually get much by way of taste though, it's just an unassuming beer, done well.

The pdubyah-o-meter says 7 arbitrary things, they might lead with this, it's their bread-and-butter and that's never going to be pointing towards a brew that is likely to make eyebrows raise. But do try it as a fine example of an IPA that would get you a marker on more bitter/less bitter beers.