Beer - #555 - Altitude - Mischievous Kea

Altitude, Attitude, Aptitude and a good old party.

Hoppy yet balanced all NZ IPA.We give away a portion of profits from this beer to the kea conservation trust.

This is a 500ml bottle, and it has beer of  5.5% ABV and 58 IBU things, so 2.17 standard drinks, and around 220 calories in the bottle.

Brewed by Altitude Brewing Studio this on is in the style that is India Pale Ale (IPA) and they are in the very picturesque Queenstown, New Zealand

[caption id="attachment_10559" align="alignleft" width="300"] Mischievous you say?[/caption]

Much like the parrot that this brew is named after, the mischievous kea is a uniquely Kiwi brew with a cheeky attitude that separates it from all others.

Brewed using all Kiwi ingredients, it is packed with a carefully chosen blend of Malborough hops, that gives us the vibrant and fragrant IPA style with a tropical sweet citrus twist.

The malts are all sourced from the Canterbury plains and are purposely selected and mashed to balance the vibrant hop profile, with a toasty malty sweetness that gives the brew a rich full body.

So what could go wrong?

Not as strong an aroma as I'd expected, but a nice 'hiss'. Aroma is vaguely floral.

This is al of the 56 IBU things and tarty and sharply bitter. Despite that though there is a resounding and strong maltiness about this that fills it's boots nicely.

That though just adds a twist and makes this sharply bitter beer with a strong over-malted back, and leaves it with an oily bothersome coated tongue linger. No pleasing some people.

So I find myself not overly keen on this, which for an IPA surprises me, Not enjoying the aggressive front bitter hops, and the malt is perhaps a tad much.

It does look fantastic in the glass though, rich brown orange with a brilliant white head that is persistent and enjoyable. Looks a picture in the glass.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 7.5  random things of its things from the thing.  If I had enjoyed it more I'd mark it higher, but it's as I drink it. I'm not sure I'm too far off the mark with the descriptions and experience, although this profile does appeal to some. Plus and let's not forget that this is a solid effort of the style, and would find a wider audience, and appreciation. I'm talking myself into liking it more as I drink it and would love to find it on tap in a pub somewhere, I should travel more perhaps I would.

The double dip review

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


2. Would I have another? I would because it has most of the right things in the right place.


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? I might, because it has a cracking back-story and it is different as IPA's go in a field where there are a bazillion IPA beers.  Plus it looks great.

So I'm listening to a group called " Mountain Goats" and a rather splendid song "Best Ever Death Metal Band In Denton"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fKcROeuvCI

It is not death metal, all produced or any of those things, but it's just a really good set of lyrics that paint a picture and engage your thinking in a really good way. Go on treat yourself for 3 minutes.

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.

Beer - #554 - Behemoth - Tasty Beverage

Tasty Beverage! Indeed. Ideal beer for a film, some film music, film scores, and scores of people

Light in colour, big on flavour. Goes great with a big kahuna burger

This is from the FYO station, but it is available in bottles. So I have a 1 litre bottle of a beer that is 4.5% ABV, 30 IBU things, that would be mid pale-ale or pilsner bitter,  the whole bottle 3.55 standard drink units in NZ, the other number it is 135 calories a serve or 415 ish for this bottle. 

For the Behemoth Brewing Company I'm guessing this is brewed at The Twisted Hop and it's in the Style that is an American Pale Ale

Tasty beverage Extra Pala Ale, a tasty beverage that is made to session on.

[caption id="attachment_10553" align="alignleft" width="300"] Travolta-esque pose[/caption]

Made with very pale malts and lots of late hopping with US Cascade and Citra hops, lots of hops but a nice tasty level of bitterness, nice and mellow and easy to session on.

Say what, say what again I dare you!

That really is bursting with aroma on opening, all that Citra trying to get out.

It's a very pale yellow golden pour and with a small but nice looking persistent head, doesn't seem too carbonated not that you can see bubbles in the glass.

Initial impression is "that is a tasty beverage" the bitterness and hopiness really are on point as they say.

Even has a finish that is towards the dry, which isn't a bad thing, and probably expected. A full mouth lingering bitterness too.

Sip some more.

There is a lot of lemon type bitterness in this, but it really is sharp or short on the palate. It's interesting trying to pick this.

IS a 'full body beer' not by any stretch could you call this a full beer, it seems to have a couple of peaks in there with a missing bit in the trough. 'Thin' isn't the right way to describe this.

Yes there is. "Sessionable" is a word for a beer that you can drink, entertains you without being noisy and cumbersome and delivers a consistent profile and enjoyment.

This has cracking aroma, is carbonated at just the best point, giving it a soft fluffy-ness and has that ideal level of bitterness that keeps you interested without being intrusive or the be-all and end-all of the beer.

All-in-all then a solid drinkable beer that goes down well and leaves you satisfied, looking forward to another and sensible enough that you'd enjoy it.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as  8  random things a of its things from the thing. Despite it's lager type bitterness I don't think that this would appeal to the everyman drinker, it still tip more towards the bitter and therefore IPA/Pale Hopped beers rather than the malt and grain ones. That's just the way it is.

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? It is rather tasty.


2. Would I have another? Slakes the thirst without making you a bit squiffy and so sure I'd venture a couple of glasses more.


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? Of course, ideal sharing beer this, the royale-with-cheese of beers.

So how could you go past some weird music. With that I'm listening to  Immigrant Union who are an Australian psychedelic folk/country band from Melbourne.

This is a track called "Alison" from their new album of music,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBD8ijJcEW0

I'm pretty much yeah, na..... tried it didn't really like it. But I did listen.

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 - #553 - Lakeman - Taupo Pale Ale - a redux

The brewers, concerned, send me a replacement for the beer that I had, and some others, which was beyond what I'd expect.  so, in short order, I revisit the scene of the crime....

Beyond the Pale, Beyond Music, Beyond numbers and one step too far with friends.

"... won a bronze medal once..."

So a 330ml bottle of beer, that is 5.7% ABV and 1.7 standard drink units in the bottle, around 165 calories in the bottle give or take

Brewed by Lakeman Brewing Company this one is that  APA style  and they are in holiday destination of Taupo, New Zealand

[caption id="attachment_10537" align="alignright" width="300"] 2nd Time a Dream[/caption]

This the is a unique style, the TPA, the Taupo Pale Ale.

Refreshing and hoppy, yet with sufficient supporting malt.

Heady aroma of Citrus and Passionfruit on the nose Those fruit flavour blend with a soft silky malt and end wit ha bitterness that lingers on.

What could possibly go wrong with that? Especially the 2nd time around.

Lovely hope fresh aroma.

Smallest of heads on the pour, and it fades to a film.

Carbonation is decent, this has that full bubble mouthfeel.

Nice caramel warm middle and a zing of bitter over the top.

There is an over-arching green-hop note in this, it's interesting, and seems separate fro the other things going on.

I was pretty scathing of this last time I drank it, not a few beers ago. This time there is no mistake in the beer, it is clean and refreshing and has interaction in it with the taste buds. Enjoyable without being too dry, and without an overly long linger, it's a decent drinking beer.

I can now see how it won a medal, it's very good for the style with a subtle and welcome tweak in it.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as a 7  of its things from the thing. Second time around this is a lovely drinking beer, it isn't polished and is a slightly jangly around a couple of the notes but this makes it interactive and pleasant to drink in my mind. I think this also would make a decent beer to go with some foods.

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? Yes I am now that it's carbonated properly.


2. Would I have another? Yes I'd love one, it's a nice sipping beer.


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? For BBQ night or similar this would be a cracking beer, I'm not sure there would be a lot to talk about though this is a beer for food not for talking about.

Got to go with something new, so for musics. "Early Winters" who began as an informal afternoon of writing between friends and blossomed into an expansive musical partnership.  Based betweenLos Angeles and Toronto.

This is "Vanishing Act"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJIU61BxTOY

Just the thing to calm the nerves.

 

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 - #552 - Panhead - Quickchange XPA

Panhead Quickchange Xtra Pale Ale. Quick beer, quick temp, quick count and quick party tricks.

 "...an automotive connection in the beer's name - quickchange being a type of transmission fitted to drag racing cars"

This is beer that is 4.6% ABV, it has a rating of 40-45 IBU and is around 138 calories a serve size. This bottle (1000 ml) on the FYO makes it 3.63 standard drink units.

Brewed by Panhead Custom Ales this one in the style they call American Pale Ale and they hail from Upper Hutt, New Zealand

[caption id="attachment_10520" align="alignleft" width="300"] Beer and Cricket. Of course it's summer.[/caption]

Quickchange XPA is all about putting a big hop engine on a stripped down malt chassis.

The delicate colour in the glass barely seems enough to support all those Mosaic, Galaxy and Citra alpha oils with their mango, guava, pineapple and lychee characters, but one sip should clear that misapprehension up

So what could go wrong with that?

I've noticed a lot of Lower ABV beers lately, they appear to be here to stay, and the brewing people are figuring out how to flavour them up somewhat. Of course this might be due to the move more judicious use of hop balancing, the price of hops, or because it's just the thing to do.

Soapy grassy aroma on opening, Pineapple sugary. It's a lovely pour,  despite the picture above this really is golden orange yellow and very light, the orange colour really pops, and there is a persistent head in the glass. Aroma still that soapy hop grass thing.

Taste. Well, now there is a thing. This is bitter on the palate and slightly dry at the finish at the back. The grassiness carries the whole way in this.

But it is a bit monotone. Not a lot in the middle to push and fill this out is what I'm thinking. So a session beer, a beer you could sit with and drink for a few, beers, hours, or what-have-you. Except that again I don't think for me that I could. The bitterness level is a tad too high, for the rest of the beer to carry. I think you need more than a bitter punch and then not a lot to follow it up, that's like a bully thing to do.

I like my beer a bit more engaging and entertaining and sadly with this I didn't get it so much.

I'm not saying that this is a bad beer, it's a perfectly acceptable beer for telling a few yarns over, except that it is a bit brash and noisy in the mouth with not a lot else for it.

I've started the second half of the bottle, because this is like live blogging, so it might have warmed up a bit, just enough, sometimes this works wonders, other times not so much. The bitterness might have subsided (or I've got used to it) and there is more 'softness' in the middle. Really technical descriptions those, bookmark this so you can refer back. Still not a beer that I'v going to recommend or perhaps even remember.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as a 7  of its things from the thing. I wanted moar things!! I've had recently other single hop beers that have been really good, I've had lower ABV beers that have been good too, This is at the lower end of that experience though, I wanted it to be better, I really did. Not quite enough bitter, not enough floral, not enough body to match the aroma, and a finish that wasn't upto it.

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? I am, because it's not all bad.


2. Would I have another? I've to drink the other half, then I have some other things to entertain me.


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? I don't know that this would engage to speaking brain as much as the wondering why brain and so no, I don't think I'll be popping by with this anytime soon. If you bring some though we'll dig some weeds or do some labour to work up a thirst it'll be a treat!

I ended up listening to a band, The Coral, who are English, formed in 1996 in Hoylake on the Wirral Peninsula in England. This is "The Curse of Love"

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

I Might have highlighted them before, if I haven't it's not because I didn't enjoy the music, which you can find probably everywhere you listen.

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 - #551 - Brave Brewing - Farmhouse Ale

Brave Brewing - Farmhouse Ale, I am looking forward to this.

Rustic beer, Rustic music, Rough numbers and rousing parties.

LIGHT • DRY • RUSTIC

As a 500ml bottle that contains beers that is 5.3% ABV, so 2.09 standard drink units, this has around 230ish calories in the bottle.

Brave Brewing are based Nelson, and brew this in the style that is a Saison/Farmouse style beer. This is small brewing, I know because the hand written best before date on the label.

[caption id="attachment_10493" align="alignright" width="300"] Look of Anticipation[/caption]

A Saison style beer, historically brewed by farmworkers in Belgium for nutrition and refreshment.

There are many interpretations of Saison, ours can be considered a classic version, light and bone dry with a rustic edge and a peppery spice derived from the farmhouse yeast strain.

What could go wrong?

Lovely light citrus aroma on opening, that sweetness too, quite familiar.

Pour is very pale, as might be expected and the head started well and then faded a bit.

Aroma has the bubblegum thing going on, all good so far.

Taste is nice, muted bitterness, comfortable sweetness, and the musty aroma is just a hint.

Refreshing tangy beer drinking.

I like this style and this is a good interpretation, it is possibly not as strong in some things as other similar, but this is clean and crisp on the palate. It has great mouthfeel, a nice overall softness, and the bitterness is present but not annoying or too sharp. Nice sweetness and sugars too.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 8 of it's things  from the thing. Which is very good. Despite the amount of hop heavy beers that I seem to enjoy I'm very partial to a Saison and Belgium beers. This ticks quite a few of the boxes for me. I'm glad I tried it, it's a bit good.

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? I am, but I'm a sucker for the style.


2. Would I have another? I would indeed.


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? I think this is a time an place beer, and it's more a relaxing beer other then a session or evening out beer, As a starter though what a way to embark on a big night out, or in.

Musically, well so it became that I was listening to Madness, a music from my youth, this is "one step beyond"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-uyWAe0NhQ

Madness are an English ska band from Camden Town, London, that formed in 1976.

SAISON

Fruity esters dominate the aroma. Clarity is good with a large foamy head on top. The addition of several spices and herbs create a complex fruity or citrusy flavor. Light to medium bodied with very high carbonation. Alcohol level is medium to high.

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