Beer - #258 - Tuatara - Dubbel

a Dubbel, from Tuatara, Brewed by Tuatara Brewing Company in the style of an  Abbey Dubbel in the mystical Paraparaumu, New Zealand

A seasonal beer, so something a little special perhaps.  650ml of a 7.5% ABV beer, of 3.6 standard  drinks, and maybe around 25 IBU's which appears normal for this type and style. Also, and it's important, 225 calories.

Perhaps it’s time to discuss putting beer down. No we’re not insulting the object of our love and livelihood, we’re talking cellaring. With the different malts and house-made Belgian candy sugar, this classic Dubbel could benefit from 6 to 30 months of repose in a quiet, cool place. If you can bear the wait you’ll find the plum and raisin characters, the characteristic phenolics and the hints of dark chocolate reconciled to perfection. ABV from 8.5% to 7.5%.

The aroma is disappointing , but it settles to something like chocolate. I'd best pour it as sniffing a bottle seems weird.  Poured thinner, perhaps paler would be a better, or less thick than I thought it might, with a smallish head, that like my hopes and dreams faded away. All of which is nonsense as it's quite a nice rich deep red-brown colour.

A nice fruit aroma. And it drinks really nice, a really familiar palate of mustiness, and a little sweetness and a bang of astringent alcohol.  Which doesn't sound as good as it tastes, and it tastes great.

I'm easily impressed, this is really easy drinking, and, does it for me.

A reality check though says that this perhaps doesn't have as much upfront sweeteners, doesn't have a lot of middle carry and might be a bit thin, but the alcohol tang isn't a thing as it warms up a bit. However you can put this into it's category as a Belgium beer, it's jolly good stuff

The pdubyah-o-meter says, get in!, and makes this a very very good 8.5 arbitrary stars.

Hopped With Pacific Jade, Styrian Goldings neither of which appear a mention on the hops list  I forlornly copied 

How to sum this up then, Nice. I'd drink it again. It's of it's style, and if you like the style you'd probably be ok with this. It's not strong on any points, there's no over-riding element, and if I had the patience I'd put one on the cupboard for ageing.

Like that's ever going to happen. Cheers!

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Beer - #215 - Funk Estate - Funk’nStein

So to the second of the beers from the Funk Estate people, this one the Funk Estate Funk’nStein. this on though Brewed at Massey University Microbrewery and in the Style of a : Black IPA, and the brewer is in Wellington, New Zealand.

Funk’nstein’s lineage began at our first experiment, an adored black IPA that packed pubs and pipped popularity contests. Being scrumptious and gorgeous was never enough, so we continued to chop, tweak, shock and reassemble her. When you two merge, you’ll experience her vivd, velvety and voluptuous body and soul of a tropical grapefruit punch. Embrace her, she’s tasty.

330ml of a 7% ABV beer, making it 1.8 standard drinks, a lot for a small package...

Bittery hoppy nose on opening. Well carbonated, dark black pour with a tan head, that like all my beer before fades away yo a film. I might be over-obsessed with heads on beers. Lovely Hop nose in the glass too.

Delightfully bitter, but might be just a tad sharp, and with a reasonable softer carry too, which in fact delivers a really nice balance to this..

As always it comes down to my arbitrary take on things, with the pdubyah-o-meter. The Funk'nStein would have you enjoying this at 8, making it a very good.  I'm keen to think that this was the second of the brewers beers, and it is brewed at a different facility to the Oh Lordy! which might account for differences in the profile.

I know , yes, one was an AIPA and this is a Black IPA but this has much more pronounced hoppiness and happiness. It also retains some of a head, and doesn't look flat and uninviting.

I like this a lot and am glad I had another, I enjoyed this with some, to boast, magnificently barbecued lamb chops, and a salad, and I'd do it again. Redemption delivered in some way then for the Funk people, this is the Jive Talking, and based on my two beer, linear progression of like the next one should be a doozie.

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• Beer- #213 - Funk Estate - Oh Lordy! - The Redux (pdubyah.com)


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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 - #200 - Harviestoun - Ola Dubh Special Reserve 18

200 beers that I've written about, and this one is #200 - A Harviestoun - Ola Dubh Special Reserve 18.  Seems appropriate that I get there with something a little left field.

Numbered bottles and everything.

So, a 330 ml  bottle of a 8.0% ABV beer, which on it's own is 2.8 standard drinks.  Perhaps an imprudent way to get to 200 :-) and so early in the evening.

Nice packaging, fancy label, little neck note think, foil wrapped cap

Bottle # 02852 December 2012. Should be good until November 2015 if you had to keep it in a dark place. Which I'm not about to do.

Ola Dubh (or "Black Oil") is so named because it is gloopy and viscous. This limited release has been matured in casks from Orkney’s award-winning Highland Park distillery to add complimentary whisky notes to what is already an amazing brew. It is chocolatey with a roasty, bittersweet aftertaste. Special Reserve 18, whisky notes: Highland Park 18 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky was named Best Spirit in the World by F. Paul Pacult; it offers toffee sweetness, almond nuttiness and a prolonged, smoky aftertaste.

Or

The initial whisky hit on the nose gives way to more delicate aromas of chocolate, fruity coffee grounds and hints of woodland berries. The flavour is a very appetising blend of sweet malts, vanilla, oak and tobacco. It has undertones of raisins and other dark, dried fruits; a delicious testament to Highland Park’s bias toward sherry casks.

Initial aroma is of deep fruit raisin fruits. Deep dark black pour, but true to form no head :-). Aroma remains as raisin based.

Smokey taste, but not raw and rough, soft edged if you will. And a bag of carry with it too., not all up front.  Some chocolate notes, and you begin to pick the whiskey theme, it's a pretty multi-layer affair.

These are difficult beers to be enthusiastic about in the sense of beer drinking as a thing. As a beer that's a thing this is fantastic and something special. But it's not a beer that you bowl up to your local and start in on, it's an occasion beer.  I can't imagine anyone getting a 6 pack of this in. It's a connoisseur beer fair and square, face it if you wanted a whiskey you'd have one, But as a whiskey based beer, the deuce!

Also, and adding to that, this isn't a beer you take to an event, unless the event it a beer tasting. You wouldn't get this out in a drinking 'session', it's something you have to stop and think about, and talk about, in my opinion.  This does not make it a bad beer, just a beer that doesn't really have a place. I'd take it around to someone that I wanted to impress, I couldn't take this to a group to a group of mates, because well it'd be expensive for them to all have a crack at enjoying it. And for that it wouldn't make a good gift beer in many instances.

Do I like it? Heck yes. It's smooth, enjoyable, tasty, complex, challenging and just nice.  The lovely smokey taste, the thick raisin sweetness, the subtle whiskey , and that alarming way the glass is now empty.

The pdubyah-o-meter says 10.  Swing and a Ding!

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Beer - #198 - 8 Wired - HopWired IPA

8 Wired HopWired IPA. Brewed by  8 Wired Brewing , although brewed at Renaissance Brewing in the sttyle: India Pale Ale (IPA) and that's all the thing in Blenheim, New Zealand.

7.3% ABV making 500ml about 2.9 standard drinks. And at 70 IBU is at the higher end of IPA.

We believe HopWired is the first bottled version of a true new world India Pale Ale made with NZ grown base malt and 100% truly unique NZ hops. We bet you’ll find nothing else like it on the shelves. Although the malty sweetness is there, this beer is all about the hops. Unlike an American I.P.A. which will mainly hit you with a grapefruity-citrus flavour and aroma, the unique NZ hops used in HopWired are more like a tropical punchbowl: Passion fruit, lime, oranges and Sauvignon Blanc to name but a few. A local Marlborough winemaker said it smelled like gooseberries... Gooseberries? Who has ever smelled a gooseberry?? Decide for yourself or just enjoy it without further complications. Cheers!

This has a muted hoppy/grass aroma, which is really nice on the nose. Pours a lovely rimu brown with an understated head.  Aroma is stronger of the grass/hops that you'd be expecting.

This is interesting. I was expecting sharper more acidic taste, and I get a much softer bite than I would have expected or be expecting. It's not nearly as bitter as it could be.

There are some intriguing under-notes to this,  not grapefruit but something similar. It's an all-on mouthful.  Leaves a lovely lacing on the glass too.

So where is this at? It's not abundantly bitter, it's not overly layered with flavours. It's not tart and it's not sweet. It carries ok, but is short of a good length, but that does not make it thin.

Like many others I like this a good deal. The pdubyah-o-meter says easily a 9, which may be over-generous, but this for sure a very quaffable and amiable beer to be drinking. I'm going to enjoy the rest of my evening with this, and I'm listening to Buddy Guy - the  "Skin Deep" Album,  it's a Chicago Blues thing, and just now, just today it's right on the money :-)

Thanks to the nice people at Liquorland In Newmarket for having this "on tap" and available for take-home in a handy 2l container. Hey this one... it's only about 12 standard drink units.... stand by

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Beer - #196 - Rogue Farms - Dirtoir Black Lager

Rogue Farms - Dirtoir Black Lager - formely known as Chatoe Rogue - First Growth - Dirtoir Black Lager.

Brewed by Rogue Ales in the Style of a  Schwarzbier in, of course,  Newport, Oregon USA

650ml of a 5% ABV bottle - making it about 2.6 standard drinks. and 35 IBU is mid range Pilsner, or perhaps an English Bitter.

Jet black in color with a tan head, medium to full bodied, deftly balanced, seamless dark roasted malt flavors with a smooth bitterness, lingering long finish.

I'm really looking forward to this, for no reason other than it's a Rogue beer, and they've been good to me so far.  That and they didn't have a Good Chit Pilsner that I was looking forward to trying.  It'll be in the other place I shop. Or not. I'm not sure I've ended up with a bad choice in this .

So it'll be dark, mildly and pleasantly bitter, and nice.  Here goes.....

Smells musty on opening. Pours thick like syrup with a brown foamy head, smells of coffee or cocoa, and vaguely bitter.

And it tastes like nothing  like a lager tastes like, it's more a coffee stout/porter taste but it's also lighter in the mouthfeel.

Lighter is good., although it's also a full flavour. There is a goodly amount of carbonation in this, not sure if that adds or detracts, it's there though. There is also an underlying sourness to this, but it isn't a big thing. It's not overly sweet or sugary either, and I could see myself buying this again.

The intense coffee/cocoa makes this interesting every mouthful. And the finish ends more towards a dry note, it's a bit of all things.

The pdubyah-o-meter things this is a bit good, and is 9 on it's arbitrary scale of things. 9 makes this a great beer, and falls into that category of "give this a crack, you'll be surprised", category of things.

The Rogue people really do beer well, and although I'm dead against "bucket lists" if I had one Newport would be on it, and a week's worth of barfly action would be called for, I should talk to MrsPdubyah. In the meantime I'll be getting me another from the nice people at Liquorland in Forest Hill., not quite as romantic.

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Beer #192 - Green Flash - Palate Wrecker

Green Flash Palate Wrecker - Brewed by Green Flash Brewing Co. in the style of a  Imperial/Double IPA in sunny  California USA

This is a 9.5%ABV - 4.9 Standard drinks - beer - in a 1 Pint bottle rather unassuming  in it's packaging., and they claim 149IBU which is very American and over and above any other level of bitterness that you'd reasonably be expected to find.

From the picture you can tell it's Friday night, working week has finished and I'm happy as Larry, listening to 'Foals - Holy Fire'

Palate Wrecker was originally brewed for the Hamilton’s Tavern 2nd Anniversary celebration. It’s the most complicated West Coast–inspired IPA we have ever brewed—mashing and sparging with hopped wort, in addition to our hop layering regimen for IPA. We use almost 6 lbs/bbl of Columbus and Centennial hops to create this very bitter hop monster (tested at 149 IBU and no extracts in case you were wondering). By popular demand, it is now released for the world to enjoy (even though this beer isn’t for everyone, only the real hop heads!!!). Cheers! - Chuck Silva - Brewmaster - Green Flash Brewing

This rates very highly in reviews, I have a smile for that too :-)

intensely hoppy aroma on opening, bursting it is. Appears to be murky but pours a lovely golden orange, with a reasonable head still a lovely rich sweet malt and hop aroma.

Being a US Pint of course it doesn't all fit in a sleeve.

Gosh. This is as crackingly good an IPA as ever there was. Fantastic mouthfeel length, body and all over loveliness. The high IBU does not mean that this is a pucker up and suck through your teeth bitter level, it's strong for sure, but not unwieldly.

Nice florals in this aren't lost against the pine grass hop notes,  and the caramel makes it all a nice balance. This is a beer to enjoy. A goodly beer that delivers exactly as stated on the label.

The pdubyah-o-meter says 9, easily, making this great. It sits right in my bullseye of beers of this type.

What I like about this is the nice sweet caramel bottom note, the warmth that is has, and the bitterness in the mouthfeel, and the grass tang at the end, plus you get to a nosefull of aroma every mouthful, which again made me smile.

I'm not kidding you this Fan-tas-tic! and I should wax lyrical more !

You should know that I really like  the Wellington New Zealand brewed   Garage Project – Pernicious Weed and I'm a big fan of the Chatoe Rogue OREgasmic Ale, this is the equal and comparable in every way, in my opinion to both those  and  I'd be torn to choose between the three of them.

And that a New Zealand beer makes a beer in my top three shows you that the guys at Garage Project know their thing. Aroha.!

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Beer #188 - Hallertau - Stuntman

So Liquorland in Newmarket have the old school fill your own going on, and they rotate through beers of the week. This week the pick of them seems to be the  Hallertau Stuntman. Brewed by Hallertau Brewbar & Restaurant in the style of  Imperial/Double IPA and they do that in Auckland, New Zealand, well more Riverhead really, but in the wop wops if you want to be precise.*

An 8.5% or a 9% ABV beer (depending on who you believe) which makes a 500ml "pint' about 3.3 to 3.6 standard drinks equivalent, and this is described as "Best not attempted by the fainthearted. Ten top additions make this an utterly rambunctious thrillseeker of an ale. Brace your senses for the ride.."

The Stuntman is all about pushing boundaries and testing limits of human endurance. This is a very hoppy beer! Some might say too hoppy, but you “hop heads” out there are in for a real treat. Ten hop additions create a tsunami of flavours and textures that explode across the poor unsuspecting palette. Taste buds are left reeling, stunned, like they have been eleven rounds with “The Green Machine”. If you find all the hops a bit much, remember, It’s not to hoppy, you’re to soft!! HARDEN UP. The Stuntman is stupid beer for brave people………….so get brave stupid!

It's a nice hoppy aroma, but a murky golden pour, and sans head, but this might be my technique over anything else.

It's a hoppy bitter beer, and the hops are a nice tart note. Which is stating the obvious perhaps.



After even one sip (generous sized sip, almost a gulp). I'd suggest that this is a top notch IPA bitter beer , and I'm instantly enjoying both the bitterness and the slight caramel sweetness that this has.

Shame that I couldn't get a head and then an amusing amount of lacing.  But I have more so I can give it another crack.

The Hops dominate the profile, the pine\spruce\grass thing but there is a nice kick of citrus, perhaps grapefruit in the back end of the palate.

As it warms the profile seems to flatten a bit, a nice hope front and grapefruit finish, it's ok.

The cloudiness is a bit of a worry, but it seems to be its thing. It obviously it's thing to be cloudy.

A nice thing about this is that you don't really get a alcohol hit, and that you'd be sucked into to having more of these than is prudent to have. And so I shall have another.

Of which there was a head, but it was desultory and a bit thin, almost looking oily. But I take any victory.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this an easy 8.50 and only that because the murky didn't really impress me,  and made me wonder if it was going to be ok. But it is a bangingly good IPA that hits many high notes, and you should if you have the chance get one. You'll like it.

• Wops Wops a localism meaning "in the sticks", "the back of beyond", "Off the beaten track"

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Beer #187 - Invercargill - Wasp Honey Pilsner

Ok in for one Honey beer in for two - part he second  - an Invercargill - Wasp Honey Pilsner - Brewed by Invercargill Brewery in the style of a Golden Ale/Blond Ale in Invercargill, New Zealand.

This a 330ml bottle of a 4.9% ABV beer, and that's about 1.2 standard drinks, and at 16 IBU which is low by most measures of IBU more a Scottish Ale.
We’ve blended four malts and two hops with kamahi bush honey to craft an authentic taste of New Zealand... the perfect anytime beer. A New Zealand Pilsner that’s been inspired by Nature’s Raider. A great summer thirst quencher featuring Kamahi Honey, the bee-blended taste of Catlins Forest Park. Best served chilled.

Pouring a rich golden hue beneath a wispy white head, Wasp has a sweetish aroma and palate combining biscuity malt, caramel and floral honey. Medium-bodied, with a spritzy mouthfeel and lingering vanilla note that remind me of creaming soda, the beer finishes crisply with an edge of citrusy tartness from the hops.



So they talk it up a bit.

and I know I bang on a bit about head and lack of but I lost about 35% of this beer to over carbonation and a much livelier beer than should be allowed.

And I coughed and spluttered up truing to neck the foam. What an interactive beer this is!

and yes that's 66% head over beer, which isn't what you'd expect.

So It's settles to a murky golden colour that I'm now dubious of, there is a bitter aroma that reminds me of Belgium or Wheat beer, which I like though. The head thankfully has stopped looking like an ice-cream and settled back to being normal.

So the taste, which I actually sort of  like, and is nothing like I was expecting. There defiantly in honey in this but's it's a musty kind of taste. So to clarify that :  It's a taste that I wasn't expecting but am enjoying, and second the musty taste that I'm getting is part of the thing I like, but it's not what I'm expecting to have as the way this beer is described.

Almost as confusing at 66% head of beer.

So the pdubyah-o-meter is having a confusion.  Label says Pilsner, Web Site says Golden or Blonde Ale, tastes like a Wheat or Belgium beer. The heck. This is a beer that could put you seriously wrong in your thinking. I notice too that in various reviews that the ABV content wanders around like a lost person in a mall

So this is a confusion in a bottle, is it a Pilsner, Golden or Wheat beer? And for that reason it scrapes a 5 despite it having a taste that I'm not unhappy with. Or I am unhappy with as described. That and that wandering ABV.

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Beer #186 - Wigram - Harvard Honey Ale

Early evening, time for a beer that was a gift from my son after a visit to a Honey Farm, a Wigram Harvard Honey Ale. Brewed by Wigram Brewing Company in the style of a  Amber Ale Christchurch, New Zealand.

A 500ml bottle of a 6% ABV beer, making it about 1.9 standard drinks.

This copper coloured ale has a faint honey aroma. This mild, medium body beer has a distinct honey flavour balanced well with a clean crisp hoppy finish. At the end, a slight sweetness stays on the palate.

English ale malt, a top fermenting ale yeast. Don't be fooled, this is no ordinary ale, infused into this beer is certified organic Bush honey, giving a distinctive flavour and aroma,enjoy.

Nothing distinctive on opening. Much much darker than I expected, dark chestnut, with an off white head. The aroma settles to a sweet note.

There's s hoppy rush and a big front note to this, and that ends up to be pretty persistent through the mouthfeel.  Whist this isn't overly bitter in any way it isn't honey sweet either.  It is a nice beer to drink as a drink. The pdubyah-o-meter rates this at the 7.5 lever making it good.

I was expecting more amber than chestnut in the colour, and more sweet than bitter in the taste. But is is a good drinking beer, if you like a bitter, if you were after a honey Amber Ale then you should be looking elsewhere.

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

Yeastie Boys - Golden Age of Bloodshed,  Which comes from Yeastie Boys and is brewed at Invercargill Brewery in the style of a  Spice/Herb/Vegetable beer. I've also seen this described as a Belgium Pale Ale.

It's a 6.5% ABV beer, and this time I got this in a "Growler" of 2 litres from the nice people at Liquorland in Newmarket, Auckland. 500mls of a 6.5% ABV beer should be about 2.8 Standard drinks, so a growler would be about 12-ish standard drink equivalents

This is a "heavily beeted Belgian blond"  beer, So what's in store is a beer that's likely to be very pink in colour and confused in taste.

There's nothing special on the aroma, a little spicy maybe.

It's a crazy pink colour, with a lively pink fluffy head that dies away to a film.

I wasn't expecting that colour to be honest. The Aroma doesn't change much either, remains vaguely spicy in a vague way.

So to the taste.

Which ends up being of not a lot of much. You'd expect something tart from the beetroot. And the Spicy aroma you'd think would be the base of a wheat type beer.

But there isn't anything definable.

This is a beer that isn't bitter, isn't sweet, does not have a sharp finish, or a tart beginning. It's a bit, well, boring.

As it warms a bit you get a bit of 'rough' in the middle but it's not heavy, harsh, or a note on it's own. And you might begin to pick up some background banana flavour (of all things)

It's also, being fair, thin. But it's not dull or insipid. It's sweet enough to be unobtrusive, but there isn't a personality.

Overall the pdubyah-o-meter says ----- 6 making it a bit average, but at the better end of average than the "meh" end. Yeastie Boys are a bit edgy at times and have a couple of spectacular hits, the His Majesty 2012 for instance, which is awesomsauce. This however is it's shadow, an absolute swing and a miss in terms of flavour profile, but again, it isn't unpleasant or undrinkable, and I'm easily going to finish this without wondering how I'll drink the last mouthful, and that's why it's a 6 not a 5 or less.

I've drunk much much worse beer than this in terms of a profile, or point taste. This doesn't have anything standout, and if you take out "where's the single taste point", or even "what's the point"  this isn't all that bad.

Beer - #183 - Galbraith - NZ Pale Ale

Brewed by Galbraith Brewing Company in the style of a  India Pale Ale (IPA) and they do that right here in Auckland, New Zealand. Galbraith's pub, also known as meeting Room G, we went there that often :-)

A 330ml bottle of a 5% ABV beer, thats about 1.3 standard drinks.

Pale in name, but not in nature. This is a full bodied beer, with a unique malty flavour balanced by New Zealand Southern Cross hops.

Hop bitter aroma, lovely deep amber golden pour, and a reasonable head from a well carbonated brew.

The aroma settles but remains hoppy but on a sweet malt base.

It's softly bitter, and there is a lovely dash of maltiness in this. Although a reasonable range of tastes this isn;t overly long.

It's ok, but then it should be, and based on my previous experience of the brewery this is on point for them. This is neither too bitter or to sweet,  there is a lot of carbonation, and it's very well rounded. I do like the hop spiciness in this, it's a pleasant note.

The pubyah-o-meter rattles to an 8 making it a very good on the scale of randomness.  It's a shame I have only the one as this would settle me for the evening and go well with some honest food, like chips.

Beer - #182 - Moon Dog - Dasher’s Envy

Moon Dog Dasher’s Envy, a Fancy Christmas Ale, I was always a bit slow on things. This is Brewed by Moon Dog Craft Brewery in the style of a  Belgian Strong Ale and it's from the West Island, specifically Abbotsford, Australia

330ml bottle of a 25IBU, 8.1% ABV beer, making it 2.1 standard drinks.

Here's a beer to celebrate the silly season. And haven't we've done it in style with a "fancy christmas ale". Mmmmmmmmm.... Just the big, sweet, hefty, ruby-brown Belgian ale to tuck into in a sweltering 40C southern hemisphere Christmas.

An it's now June, so a bit wintery down in the bottom part of the globe. So it works.

Theres not really anything by way of aroma on opening, Pours a dark rich red, and settles to a musty fruit aroma.

There's a frowning a-going on when I taste this. It's not, um, overly pleasant. There is a bunch of random spice, all based on a sweet layer, but it's a bit all over the show.

On top of it all this is a bit thin on taste, short on length and missing any warmth.

It might be styled like a Belgium Strong Ale, and the alcohol is very muted and well hidden, but  sadly this is a bit of  pig's ear with no defining moment.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this a 5 making it average on the scale of things. It made me frown in a bad way, and left me expecting something more. There should have been a burst of something and the uncharitable me looks at the list of things they put in this and wonders if they had a bunch of stuff coming up to use-by dates. Sorry chaps this isn't for me.

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Beer - #180 - Funk Estate - "Oh Lordy!

Funk Estate "Oh Lordy!, for the label - So then the Funk Estate Brewed at Aotearoa Breweries in the style: American Pale Ale and of all the places I'm not Wellington, New Zealand.



Oh Lordy" is Funk estate’s NZ Pale Ale, or a kiwi twist on an American pale ale. It packs a light colour and body with nice floral and citrus aromas. This is smooth and mellow but nevertheless pleasurable which gives rise to the "Oh Lordy" title.

Its tiny a 330ml bottle of 5.9% ABV which is "only"1.5 standard drinks.

He said.

Couple of things to ponder. Why the small bottle? And just Why?

There is nothing is particular on opening and I made such a comedic sniffing effort!, Clear brow pour and....... no head. At all. nothing. You could skate on that. It looks flatter than a pancake. (or other simile )

There might be a faintest of faint aroma of something malt. But  Oh this is dead in the water beer.

The pdubyah-o-meter does the opposite of crank up from the get-go.

Gak. It's flat.  What the heck is wrong with this. Well, Sherlock, it is flat, and it's atrocious.

It's horrible and and end should be put here. The pdubyah-o-meter gets to 1.  I have my head in my hands, this is worse than than a worse thing.

I'm going to put his behind me, and pretend that I haven't been had.  Avoid. I'll pay you to avoid this, there was a problem in the bottle processor something. shameful quality control.

The Brewer can call me, or twitter, email, facepage whatever, until he does I'll despise this and be dubious about anything else they crank out and chip away at the man in the shop .... said "Angry of Mayfair" .

I'm off to try and kick the cat and swear.

Beer - #177 - Invercargill - B.Man Pilsner

Somewhat oddly named b.man is a really smartly presented 330ml bottle of a 5.2% ABV beer (thats about 1.3 standard drinks) with an IBU of 42 making it near the high end for a Pilsner.

Brewed by Invercargill Brewery in the style of a  Pilsener and that's of course in Invercargill, New Zealand

One of this country’s finest aromatic Pilsners and a showcase for New Zealand’s uniquely herbaceous hop varieties, B.Man pours an attractive bright gold beneath a lingering fluffy white head. In both the aroma and palate biscuity sweet malt provides the luscious canvas on which the hops play and their citrusy and tropical (passion) fruit flavours lead into an emphatic, resiny, dry finish. Lip-smackingly good and the perfect match for a hot Thai curry!

Pungent hops on opening. Rich orange golden colour, with a very lively head of fluffy white, and it retains the hoppy aroma.

It's quite sharp as a drink, dry on the palate, the abundance of hops adds a nice bitterness, You can tell why it's won awards. You get the citrusy flavour too, all very neatly delivered.

The pdubyah-o-meter says easily 8.25 making it very good but not quite great. I'm glad that I chose to only have the one beer today and that it was this one that came out first. From the colour, to the aroma, the head and the lacing, this was a pretty nice beer to experience. I bet it's cracking with a Thai curry as suggested.

I don't however think I'd enjoy this as a session beer though, the flavours are all pretty crammed together in one package, it's not a drink of many layers, it does what it says it does, very well, but that's all it does. There isn't a journey and an unfolding of taste. Again you can tell why it won awards.

Beer - #176 - Schneider - Aventinus

Schneider Aventinus - Tap 6 - Brewed by Weissbierbrauerei G. Schneider & Sohn in the style of a  Weizen Bock in Kelheim, Germany.

bit like me then ----- Deep and complex – for big and relaxing moments by the fire.

Dark-ruby colored wheat doppelbock with a creamy fine head. Strong notes of ripe bananas, raisins and plums meet liquorice and roasty aromes. Full-bodied and warming, with a well-balanced and smooth finish. The ideal companion for hearty roast meat, venison and also fruity chocolate desserts, “Kaiserschmarrn” (pancakes), “Elisenlebkuchen” (christmas cookies) or blue cheese.

Oldest wheat doppelbock of Bavaria. Since 1907.  500ml bottle of an 8.2% ABV beer - making it 3.2 standard drinks - and I don't have a roast meal either. I have rice crackers, this may end badly :-)

I get the same slightly sour aroma on opening, it's a very dark pour, I got a smidgin of a head, and it settled to a lovely fruit aroma. Rich like raisins.

The think I noted on the mouthfeel was the alcohol astringent. It kind of looms over the taste a bit. Perhaps I have it too cold, there are fruit notes in there but aren't being forthcoming.

And for that though the pdubyah-o-meter thinks this is a bit of a fail, and comes up an arbitrary 6 on the scale of arbitrary- making it at the low end and just above average.  I might be having an off day, I didn't get any of the notes that I was expecting to get - the plums, the liquorice,  and it's not full bodied by my understanding.

I'd be reluctant to have another.

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Beer - #175 - Schneider Weisse - Original

Schneider Weisse Original, Tap 7 - Unser Original - Brewed by Weissbierbrauerei G. Schneider & Sohn in the unsurprising style of a German Hefeweizen in Kelheim, Germany.

Thus is a 500ml of a 5.4% ABV beer (2.1 Standard Drinks), this one came recommended to me.

With its amber-mahogany coloring and streaked with fine top-fermented yeast, this beer has a fine, persistent head that adheres well to the glass. It is pleasantly fruity with a typical top-fermented smell, an aroma of clove and nutmeg apple tantalizes the nose. On the tongue it is fresh, clean, full-bodied, harmonious and well-balanced. It finishes with a light, delicate taste of bitters leaving behind a sour impression.

Sort of both sweet and sour aroma on opening, It's a much darker beer than you'd expect, and it has a whopper of a head. The aroma stays the same, sort of a sweet malt but with a peppery thing going on.

Although you'd think that there's a mouthful of sweet malt this isn't exactly what happens, you get a warm sweet that somehow turns into a sweet bitter. I'm a bit betwixt and between on this. It's ok, the taste is good, but there isn't a lot of length in it. It then occurs to me that this is a "dry" tasting beer. See sometimes I get it!

I don't know however if I get the alleged "banana" or "vanilla" that might be expected, it would have been something to have experienced.

Probably more a summer beer than a first of winter tipple, but this is an easy drink, there is nothing that is offensive or that you'd find distasteful, and I can see why it's successful .

The pdubyah-o-meter says I should rate this at 8 being as how it's all a bit good but not spectacular. If I had a mind to have a party I'd probably get some in because it'd go down well. The nice caramel note invites you in and the little sour back means you're actually enjoying  and experience.  I had no trouble drinking this, and I know lots of people feel the same way.

Beer - #174 - Renaissance - Enlightenment Series - Scotch on Rye 70/- Ale

For a Friday then, the Renaissance Enlightenment Series Scotch on Rye 70/- Ale.

..it means ’70 shilling’ (sigh, OK, I will tell the whole story). We were asked to make a big malty beer that is lower in alcohol than a Scotch Ale so we went to the source and brewed another Scottish style, the 70/- Ale. Malty and satisfying without too much kick. Oh and we brewed this one with Rye... because Rye not! We also used oats and wheat in the mash for flavour and mouth-feel and then left the brew to age on Oak until it was smooth and mellow.

Brewed by Renaissance Brewing in the style of a  Scotch Ale in the most unlikely of places - Blenheim, New Zealand. A  500ml, 4.8%ABV bottle of beer. (2 standard drinks worth).  and an IBU of 17 - which is in the range for Scottish Beers. Best drunk at between 8-10 degrees C. Well it's pretty cold out so lets try it.

Light bready yeast on opening, surprisingly dark brown colour, plenty of carbonation fizz, and a meagre head.  the aroma settles to a sweet fruit.

There is a lovely maltiness and balanced bitterness, with a pretty long note. You know you've had a mouthful of beer. Surprisingly multi layered and very entertaining!

I like it but there is a 'tang' in there somewhere, perhaps the Rye? it's sort of in the middle, might be mistaken for "rubber".  I'm not saying it'll put you off, but it's something you might need to be aware of that is a character of the beer.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this 7.5 of things - making it a better then good beer.  It's a quirky beer, and it might be a one shot deal. It is different, it isn't "strong" in terms of alcohol content, and therefore relies on a taste profile. Not sure that it hits any of the marks well, but close enough is good enough.

Beer - #173 - Renaissance - Enlightenment Series - The Age of Raisin

AND it's back home to NZ and ironically a Belgium style beer - Renaissance Enlightenment Series The Age of Raisin. of course Brewed by Renaissance Brewing in the style of a  Belgian Ale and that's in a place I haven't been - Blenheim, New Zealand

A Belgium Ale being lower in alcohol than other Belgium beer styles (Typically under 7% ABV).

This one a 500ml bottle of 6.5% ABV beer - which is 2.8 standard drinks- IBU might be 17.5

Age of Raisin is aromatic, spicy, light brown Belgian style ale brewed with raisins and passion (27% passion by volume). Raisins were added to the boil and fermenter to yield a subtle background flavour to this rich and flavoursome brew. The passion was added using our own secret method....

So for a start "Secret Method" I hope they don't mean succussion or 'added syrup', and bejeebus 27% passion? What happened did someone forget or not know what "passion" was?

And who are Enlightenment Brewing ? And why do they have the same beer in the same packaging ?

In brewing this ale we added jumbo raisins from California [to our mind the best kind] to the brewing process, both before and after fermentation. We also used Aromatic malt from Gladfield in Canterbury and Abbey Malt, Belgian Special B, as well as CaraBelge malt from Europe.

The beer was fermented with a special Belgian yeast to impart spicy notes and then filtered and infused with even more raisins.

Which is less scary than "Secret Method"

and....... back in the room .......  On opening there is a fruit aroma (go on I'll say raisin) This is a dark beer, with not so much of a head as an effort, and the aroma settles to a big raisin base. It doesn't seem overly carbonated, and looks a bit flat and wine like in the glass.

There is a huge amount of raisin note, a lot of fruit and caramel at the front, but a back note of something burnt that settles on a fairly tart and bitter end. The aroma meanders away from raisin and I'm going to be unkind and suggest wavers towards rubber glue.

This is trying to be fruity and clever, it isn't and it isn't. It's an odd mix of something and another that doesn't quite hit a spot that it might be aiming for. It's clever in the way that it's clever, but it's not clever in a way that makes you wonder why no one thought of it first. And then you get why.

It's not actually very pleasant.

The aroma wanders around from raisin and that of rubber glue. There is a tart under note that lingers around being a nuisance, it pours like it's flat with little carbonation.  As to 'passion' that might have been the 'angst' that the brewer had and not a reference to a fruit. But then I might not be enlightened enough.

The pdubyah-o-meter hates this a 27% passion at 5. And that's all I have to say. except :- Average, not a lot of redeeming features. Nothing to write home about.  Too fruity, too tart, bit tacky. Not good.

I'm disappointed Renaissance are a real swing and a hope and the variance in the delivery and quality of beer makes it hard to remain a fan. Their Barley Wine is awesome,the Stout and the Punkin are very good,  their White IPA is a tragedy, as is the Raisin.

As someone that likes a good Belgium style beer I've had the unfortunate experience of having nothing a good Belgium beer. I might have a love-hate thing going on, and it's true you can't please everyone all of the time.