Beer - #326 - Rogue Farms - 7 Hop IPA

So a bottle of this on an overcast sunday. Rogue Farms 7 Hop IPA. Rogue Ales, styled as an Imperial/Double IPA and they are in  Newport, Oregon USA

650ml bottle of a 90 IBU beer, of 8.2%ABV and 242 calories a serving. I just burnt 480 caories or so on a 5km jog around the block. So same/same. I have a feeling that I'm going to enjoy the input rather than the use of calories in this instance. This would be about 4 standard drinks units in NZ.

[caption id="attachment_7158" align="alignright" width="300"] Post Run, Unshaven, thirsty[/caption]

This is John Maier’s secret recipe that blends all seven hops grown in the hopyard of Rogue Farms. It is a true taste of the terroir of the Wigrich Appellation, the oldest hops growing region in Oregon.

• Malts: Rogue Farms Dare,™ Risk,™ Maier & Dare™ R-3


• Hops: Rogue Farms Liberty, Newport, Revolution, Rebel, Independent, Freedom & Alluvial


• Yeast & Water: Pacman Yeast & Free Range Coastal Water.

Really nice hop aroma on opening, just balanced and sweet.

Fantastic bright golden orange pour with a really nice head,  and a fantastic first mouthfeel makes you smile.

Florals and sweet, not ranging bitter that makes you gasp or hesitate, just a banging drink with a really refreshing and decent palate.  I had another mouthful to check.

Still the same, dangerously drinkable.

I like the idea that this has free range water :-)

Anyway there is not a lot of give-away that you're drinking a high abc beer and that you're drinking it on the double.

I mentioned that this is way too easily drinkable and I seem to have made a decent dent in it. Not like I didn't re-hydrate after exercise either.

The pdubuyh-o-meter would have you belive that this is a  10 on the scale of all things. It's hard to find a fault  that would make me mark it down. The bitterness is low on the palate, despite the claim of 90 IBU (normal for a DIPA), there is a lot of malt sweetness that carries this delightfully. It's refreshing on the tongue and has a decent length, and does not finish dry or make you wonder what you need to eat to calm your palate down again

So I'm asking my own three questions to me,  because sometimes although the beer is good you might not get a 3 yes votes, my own personal Beer-Idol....

1. Am I enjoying it? Yes, a Lot.


2. Go again? Yes, I wish I could, I only have the one.


3. Share with a friend and tell stories on the deck in the sun?  This is a beer that I think fits the brief of being a beer to tell lies, and make stuff up over.

[caption id="attachment_7162" align="alignleft" width="300"] This is what the party in my mouth is like[/caption]

So the Rogue Farm 7 hops joins a few beers that I would rate as 10.  I'm surprised that this is the only Rogue beer to be in the gallery. A beer that might just have knocked off one of my go-to beers the Rogue OREgasmic ale off it's perch in the beer fridge pecking order.

I'm actually going to have to sulk for the rest of the evening as there is no topping that.

Buy this, if you don't like it I will give you your money back if you don't enjoy it.

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.

Related articles

• How to Shop for an IPA


• Green Bullet Triple IPA

 

Beer - #325 - 8 Wired - C4 Double Coffee Brown Ale

Okie Dokie. 8 Wired C4 Double Coffee Brown Ale for perhaps the finale of the #PhilsBeerFest14 night in for Saturday

8 Wired Brewing do this of course  and they do it a  Renaissance Brewing, this one is in the style of a Brown Ale and they are located in Blenheim, New Zealand

In my opinion, coffee rivals beer for the title of "greatest beverage in the world". I often say that I would rather give up beer than coffee. So it is only natural that we would attempt to make a beverage that incorporates both. If we were to succeed, surely this would then become the greatest beverage in the world? After years of research and trials in the garage, I have come up with what I think is the perfect marriage of coffee and beer: A hoppy double brown ale, that compliments both the roasty and fruity aspects of the coffee without putting up too much of a fight. The coffee was selected in collaboration with the Christchurch institution C4 Coffee and consists mainly of lightly roasted, delicate and floral, Ethiopian beans. Worlds are colliding and, in my humble opinion, greatness is achieved on the other side. 

• HOPS: Pacific Jade, NZ Cascade and Pacifica (click here, or  here )


• MALT: Gladfield Pale, Crystal, Munich, Caramalt, Chocolate, Oats


• YEAST: Wyeast 1272 - American Ale II

Which is a big lead in.

500 ml bottle of an 8% ABV, beer  being 3.15 standard dink units in NZ , This is 50 on the IBU thingy and  is 240 calories.  50 is around top end for Stouts.

Of course there is coffee on the opening.  But because you read the label.

I was expecting black as a pour, this is a really deep deep brown.

There is a lot more coffee aroma in the glass. The aroma of cold brewed coffee. Very earthy and raw.

But also a sweetness about it.

Nice pour and a decent head too. Onto a winner.

Stand by- this is like coffee infused beer. What!

Despite the knowing of the all of the things about this it comes as a surprise the delivery and the punch that this brings. Coffee coffee and a lovely long finish that isn't bitter or soft.

This is really clever, you get such a burst of coffee that you are completely tied up in that sensation. The bitterness is what you'd expect from coffee, and the finish is what you'd expect.

What gets you is that you are drinking this cold, and that really isn't a way you generally drink your coffee. But this so works.

No idea that this would be 8% ABV or even any ABV on beer. In pdubyah-world this would pass the lips of a coffee drinker without them realising it's alcohol. But probably not in the real world.

Some beers  give you big thing about other things aside from the coffee, like say for instance only, Chocolate. This tells you there is Double Coffee.

Double.

It's possibly got the most Coffee per beer by volume in the world. It's insane,

Such a lovely sweet tasting, full profile tasting beer, a work of art.

The pdubyah-o-meter seems intent on making this a 10.  I can't find a reason not to. Looks great, pours well, delivers grate aroma, taste like the label says it will.

A bit in love with this then, and will probably go get some more tomorrow if I'm not grounded after #PhilsBeerFest14 - one Saturday only.

If you like beer, and you like coffee, then get this, it really is a bit good.

I'm toying with the final bit on this, but they are good questions;

Am I enjoying this? Yes, double yes, I'm enjoying this very quickly.

Would I have another? If it was legal or something I'd go get one.

Would I sit out on an evening telling fibs and making up stories with a friend whilst drinking this? If we each had out own bottle(s) and a supply of  foodage. Because after this is Whiskey or somesuch.

BROWN ALE

Color ranges from reddish-brown to dark brown. Lower in alcohol than porter, medium to full body flavor. Appropriate foods are apple pie, pork with brown sauce, beef vegetable soup and cheddar.

Related articles

• Rewired Brown Ale - 8 Wired Brewing

Beer - #324 - Liberty - Halo Pilsner

Moving the dial again, this next beer the Liberty Halo Pilsner offering.

Brewed by Liberty Brewing Co and this then is styled as a Pilsener and you know they are located in Auckland, New Zealand.

[caption id="attachment_7142" align="alignright" width="300"] Selfie[/caption]

"Nelson hopped Pilsner"

Halo Pilsner is quite positively a monument of New Zealand Pilsner. Proudly brewed with glorious Gladfield malts and a free rein of Nelson Hops. You can expect a good lashing of zesty lime citrus peel accented with tropical passion fruit, all shining proudly

A 330ml bottle 5.4% ABV, 1.62 calories a serving, this would be about 1.41 standard drink units in NZ.

Watching the F1 and Seb Vettel dipping out in the qualifying. That must taste a bit bitter in the mouth. Rain separates the talent and the ability.

Amyway....

Lightly hopped aroma, nice hiss of carbonation on opening,

Incredibly pale pour, but with a decent and persistent head, more happiness in the aroma.

There is a palate smashing amount of grassy happiness in the palate for this, much more than I thought would be there.

The pdubyah-0-meter springs to an 8 on the scale of all things arbitrary, making this a very good beer.

Of its kind.

The over-hoppiness is appealing in its way, but it's also the thing that this is. Ideally you'd have this with something that would counterbalance the profile and compliment the food.  But that would give you a bunch of peaks and not a whole curve in a profile of taste.

The #PhilsBeerFest14, one Saturday only, is going ok, but I don't know I can keep it ip .

Final thing. Enjoying it? Yes, Have another? This is slower drinking not quite ready

PILSENER

While the definition of "pilsner" is open to much debate in the beer community, it generally refers to pale, hoppy lagers, ranging from 28IBUs and up.

Related articles

• Beer


• Mendocino Brewing Company Peregrine Pilsner


• Beer Review - Firestone Walker Pivo Hoppy Pilsner

Beer- #323 - Liberty / Brothers - Oh Brother Pale Ale

This then brewed by Liberty Brewing Co and styled as  American Pale Ale and they do this up the road a ways, but in general - Auckland, New Zealand

A 330ml bottle, 5.1%ABV - 1.3 standard drinks, 153 calories - it's all numbers right.

I've been here before, more than once, I had this out on my travels at a pub, I wrote about this earlier in the list when I had it in a bomber, and thought it was so-so, and now I'm trying the bottle version.  Loves a tryer.

#PhilsBeerFest14 - one Saturday only.

Hoppy on opening, reasonable carbonation.

Nice golden pour that looks really really great, decent head that looks like it could hang around. I might be onto something.

This is a session beer, lets not beat around the bush. it has a great appearance and there is a really nice crack of hop bitterness that lingers over the palate, making this really accessible and enjoyable as a drink.

The pdubyah-o-meter re-rates this as a decent 7.5 on the scale that is known only to itself.

Is the at the pub, the bomber, and the bottle experience different with this?  I still don't recall the pub experience, but the pub does have some well decent beers, the bomber re-inforced that this was a beer that was happy in its thing. The bottle is a bit better, but not significantly.

I am enjoying it, it is a good beer. It is pleasingly and pleasantly hoppy, and the aroma is great. Have another? easily yes. I should have gone the 6-pack

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

Beer - #322 - Yeastie Boys - Pot Kettle Black remix

Kicking off the New Zealand leg of the  ‪#‎PhilsBeeerFest14‬ for Saturday we have the Yeastie Boys PKB Remix 2013.

Yeastie BoysBrew this at  Invercargill Brewery and this is a Black IPA styled beer, Yeastie is in Wellington, New Zealand, Invercargill is not there.

Remix 2013... Black IPA with dehusked chocolate malt and Sauvin, Motueka and Wakatu hops.

330ml , 6.5% ABV, 1.7 standard drinks, 55 IBU things and 195 calories in a serving.

55 is high for a stout and low for an IPA on average.

I was just reading that this could also be a "Cascadian Dark Ale" which essentially is Black IPA.  Click the link, people who drink less and write more wrote about it.

There is a banging amount of hop aroma on this and a citrus tinge., and then something like orange peel. This is a complete change of beers from the last couple.

Pours really pot kettle black, and doesn't have a head, but then you knew that was coming. I might have a pdubyah-head-o-meter thing in the wings.

The lovely hop aroma is very present, the head has long departed.

And then there is an explosion of tastes, showcasing the hop mixtures they've used.

All at once.

There is a confusion of colour and hop laden delivery which isn't at all what you'd expect.

This has a a mix of hops, and that's the grassiness. I get the colour from the malts but I don't know that I pick particularly any chocolate. Not that this isn't sweet. It isn't, for me at least, a sour tasting (hope related) beer, but what softness there is is a carry and not a serve.

The pdubyah-o-meter, often a source of contention and dissuasion over such things, rates this as a 7.5   on the scale of things.

Not, no way, a session beer.  Did I enjoy it (am I enjoying it) I think I am but. Would I go again? yeah, na...

I like the hop aroma that this has, I like the colour and the way it makes you feel like a maverick in some weird way, but looks are not everything and this is good but it isn't ringing the bell.

Music for this changed to "The Fray" which is a bit pop music, but it's a small bottle of beer....

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

BLACK IPA

An emerging beer style roughly defined as a beer with IPA-level hopping, relatively high alcohol and a distinct toasty dark malt character. Typically lacks the roastiness and body of a strong stout and is hoppier than a strong porter. Expressive dry-hopping is common. Also called India Dark Ale, India Black Ale, Cascadian Dark Ale, Dark IPA, and sometimes India Brown Ale.

Related articles

• Beer - #284 - Yeastie Boys - Her Majesty 2013


• Beer - #286 - Yeastie Boys - His Majesty 2013


• Beer Review: Pretty Things/Yeastie Boys' Our Turn Your Turn