Beer - # 540 - Weezledog/Behemoth - Whinging Pom

Mixed beer, Mix-tape music, mix up the numbers and a mixed soiree.

A solid malt backbone and English yeast provide the base for this IPA with a Kiwi twist.

A Fill-your-own bottle (1 litre) that contains beer of 6% ABV, this bottle contains about 540 calories in total, and about 4.73 standard drink units.

A collaboration between Behemoth Brewing Company and Weezledog Brewing Company  this is a beer in the style of an English India Pale Ale (IPA), and they're based in Auckland.

[caption id="attachment_10331" align="alignleft" width="300"] A New T-Shirt ![/caption]

Solid English style malt base with a hefty dose of Kiwi hops, fermented with an English yeast strain

This beer uses NZ Malt and Hops and a English Yeast strain It has a big malt and  big hops, solid bitterness and finishes nice and dry.

Not your average English IPA but hey we had to give the Poms something to whinge about.

So being an Englishman I'm happy to cast my eye over this, and what could go wrong with that ?

Looks great in the bottle, orange brown goodness.

Aroma is of a nice hop, and a strongish hint of the English yeast.

Pour is without a head which I didn't expect.

My initial and first thoughts are, lemons, thin and the bitterness is nice. But that was all I thought, I wasn't rushing back to grab a second quaff.

Short sentences give away that there is a conflict going on in my head. I'm all fine and dandy with extending a style, or pushing a limit, but when you try to maths styles together then there is going to be a break point. I don't think I'm the only one that thinks that this is a bit muddled and under delivers for what it is supposed to be. I don't recall English beer being thin in the middle they always seems to talk load them somehow, sure they could be short on bitterness but never thickness, in general.

This collaboration, did brewer [A] have ingredients for something missing and brewer [B] have an idea and some things but no plan? As a way to monetise things fair play, this is a keg only beer, not quite upto bottle and shelf standard whereas I'd try a new beer on tap because, well, that's the done thing and you sometimes buy on a whim and prayer and promise of delivery.

I know this to be true because I've experienced the highs and lows of trying new tap keg beers. Not that I'm an expert.

Another review then when I waffle on about the reasons for the beer rather than the beer.

Back to the beer then.

It has a malty sweetness that carries the light bitterness, it doesn't have a middle but the finish is short and somewhat dry but not arid on the tongue. It is a pleasant and enjoyable beer, but it isn't a thing, it's not wowing me or making me have a revelation. It is a nice summer evening in the sun beer though, very easy drinking, mostly probably because the sweetness appeals to me rather than the hops or bitterness lighting up the palate.

As an Pom I don't feel I'm whinging when I say that this isn't the best beer I've ever had.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as a 7 of its things from the thing that is uses. I don't really know about this, it's not tragic but it is a bit boring and dull, against my own measure of fun and exciting that is, I don't want to disparage the brewers, they make some well good beer in general.

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it?


2. Would I have another?


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights?

It came to pass that Concrete Blonde had an outing on the music machine, and their album "Bloodletting" the third studio album by American alternative rock band.

Try this version

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFc2Qs49VkA

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 - #539 - Nøgne Ø - Red Horizon 2. Edition - a redux

Back to the past, back to past, back to basics and back to the familiar. (warning poetry and waffling might follow).

Brewed with Masumi sake yeast no. 7

I remember this as being expensive at the time for a 250ml bottle of beer, and that is was over-packaged  but in a delightful way in a tin, or in a can! and wrapping paper, and all a bit sumptuous.

Last time up it got a pdubyah-10 I wonder if I've got more picky, or this had got less?

So I kept one aside, but it's not a treasure and needs to be drunk and so 12 months after the main event we go back.

I can't do this often as frankly keeping beer seems a bit weird, and I'm not that rich.

Nøgne Ø - Red Horizon 2 - Formerly brewed at Nøgne Ø (Hansa Borg) and this is in the style that is  American Strong Ale  and they were are in Grimstad, Norway

This then the unusual  250ml bottle,  an it was/is a 13.5% ABV beer,  and of 100 IBU things, making it 405 calories a serve size,  and this tiny bottle would be 2.66 standard drink units.

[caption id="attachment_10320" align="alignleft" width="300"] Small as a small thing[/caption]

We brewed this ale with the famous sake yeast No 7 from Masumi Sake in Nagano, Japan.

On advise from Masumi’s master brewers, we fermented this ale very slowly at low temperatures to bring out No 7’s fabulously fruity character.

This product is unfiltered and unpasteurized.

Please enjoy chilled! Special thanks to Masumi!

I have no idea what a year or so in the fridge has done or not done or could do but I'm about to find out .

[gallery type="rectangular" ids="10321,10322,10323"]

This is thick like chocolate aroma, and then perhaps that sake, I'll go with the chocolate.

A year in the fridge has done nothing to help it pour with a head, but its a golden orange, slightly cloudy. Aroma is orange fruity and deep.

The alcohol astringent is a lot more forward, and the deep fruitiness appears to be a lot less deep and fleeting. It might not be as complex as I remember it being the first time.

However I might have changed, which is also probable.

This seems a lot more mellow in places and less peaky in others, sort of rounded out. It's such a small amount of beer to drink and explore that you kind of have to go with your first impression.

And that would be wrong as this does develop with warmth and sitting. If you are frugal in the coins then sitting and watching might work out well in the value for time taken.

On that scale this has been in the fridge for 12 months which must be some kind of record for me. I'm not sure that "in the fridge " for 12 months counts as either "cellared" or "aged" but hey I tried. I overcame my will power and went again. I've never seen this since though so this is it, must be near the end of the word supply somehow I tell my self.

It's a lovely beer, lets stop pretending, the warmth from the alcohol and the malts, but I'm not getting a strong toffee or richness in this that I thought I had the first time. A year is a fun thing in beers, come to think of it a day can make a difference in taste and the way you enjoy a beer, as can venues. It's not science, the drinking of beer, the making of beer might be though.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as a 10  of its things from the thing. Things might have changed, it might be the way I drink beer, it might be that a year in the fridge waiting has mellowed and changed the beer in some way, it's possible. It is still a great drinking beer. I sit her convincing myself that there are people that would have paid me serious coin to have the beer I'm drinking. As I run my finger in a forlorn way around an empty glass gathering up the sweetness and stickiness I glance over at MrsPdubyah who stands there looking askance.

I got MrsPdubyah to smell the beer. I got a really strong reaction of not liking it, I think the sake part of the thing didn't appeal. It's one less beer to share :-)

I'm disappointed that it is the smaller of the smallest bottles as this is sipping beer that needs to be enjoyed over a simple conversation and in contemplation. The lovely aroma delivers first the crash on the tongue that is at both a bit tart on the tip and then warm and comfortable in the middle and finishes to something a bit or both things sweet and sharp.

I write a lot as i'm scared to drink the last bit, because then it's gone and I'm done. I poured the last of the beer, a small amount, the 'dregs' into the glass and it was like another beer altogether, such a thing.

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? It was like drinking angels tears from a unicorn horn.


2. Would I have another? I'm having drinkers remorse now, it's gone done and I already miss it.


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? Kidding me, we could have a shot glass each, well two shots each but what a time that would be, I still think this is possibly the most expensive beer I've ever had. It's also one of the best beers I've ever had.

Musically -  I was listening to the album Wings at the Speed of Sound, and when you've stopped laughing at that, you'll notice that It is the band's only album where every member sings lead on at least one song. Like you cared.

I quite like the song "The note you never wrote"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6Uw4qKwklc

AMERICAN STRONG ALE

Not a style, per se, but the only logical category to incorporate the plethora of strong, stylistically vague beers coming from American micros these days. Some are related to English Strong Ales, but with more hop, while others are ultra-strong variants on theIPA theme. But no matter how varied their origins or characters might be, all are intense, potent, with generous quantities of hops and malt.

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Beer - #538 - Lakeman - Hairy Hop IPA

Odd Beer, Odd Music, Odd numbers and Odd one out.

" Pretty gentle not too aggressive  and a soft bitterness to finish. " 

Lakeman Hairy Hop IPA

This is a 330ml bottle, with a 6.4% ABV, so 1.7 standard drinks units, around 160 calories a serve size

Brewed by Lakeman Brewing Company this on in  the style that is  India Pale Ale (IPA) and the are in holiday destination  Taupo, New Zealand

[caption id="attachment_10317" align="alignleft" width="300"] Summer turning me well tanned![/caption]

Aromas of summer fruit citrus with a  hint of pine.

A smooth rounded malt ends with a bitter finish.

I've never had this, therefore you can deduce that since I was in Taupo last and now the brewer has introduced a couple of new beers,  Not that you could tell with the dearth of information on the intertubes abut them.

So apart from a lack of internets presents what could go wrong with this?

Citrus hop aroma on opening, which is fairly muted and seems under carbonated, or may be right carbonated.

Pour is a dark chestnut colour and with a a small but persistent off white almost orange tinged head.

It looks ok in the glass does this. The aroma really picks up and blooms in the glass a lot of orange citrus, I had to put the glass down because that was a bit of a pleasant surprise and I wanted to go again.

It delivers too in the taste, that's a cracking balance of bitterness and malts with a decent length and a muted and understated finish.

I'm really happy and surprised because I wasn't really expecting a lot, based only on what you can read and discover by not moving from the keyboard.

It fills out in the middle as it gets warmer. I've thoroughly enjoyed it. The warming adds some depth and drys out the finish even more, so the lovely citrus is still available up front and then you get a kitty journey that is a nice interlude to the next sup.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as an 8  of its things from the thing. It is a surprising beer, with a lot of nice things going for it. The scant information appears to be close to the mark, citrus, bit of malt and a pleasant finish.

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? I am indeed, it's a nice low easy access IPA.


2. Would I have another? I would indeed have another.


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? This is a nice beer that would suit a lot of people across styles as it's kind of soft and muted and not harsh and heavy in any particular point.

I went to "The National" as a change of music, from the "High Violet" album, this is "Terrible Love"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqHdi_94SR4

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 - #537 - Lakeman - Pilsner

low key beer, lo key music, low numbers and laying low at.

"Sweet.... Flowery"

Lakeman Pilsner.  A beer of mystery, not a lot to be found online about this, or the brewer.

This is the 330ml bottle size, and it is 5.2% ABV, making it 156 calories a serve and making it 1.4 standard drinks.

Brewed by Lakeman Brewing Company in the style they call Pilsener and they are in Taupo, New Zealand

[caption id="attachment_10310" align="alignleft" width="300"] Showing the ravages of summer ...[/caption]

Lakeman Pilsner is straw in colour.

Our Pilsner is of a light malty character with a good smack of Pacific Jade hops providing a soft bitter finish. 

I've had this in Taupo, a while ago now (November 2013) when I was away on a weekend with MrsPhil. I'm not sure I thought it was anything special then.  However that was then this is now.

Pilsners seem to have made a bit of a second coming, or perhaps I'm looking wider on the shelves?

Aroma is slightly odd, it doesn't seem well carbonated either. Wet damp hops comes to mind.

Pour is indeed golden straw and it glows bright, mildly carbonated it struggled to get a head that faded quickly.

This is a very hoppy beer for the style. The finish is very dry too. A strange combination for a beer where you don't expect that to happen. Hop bit sure, dry finish sure but not hop high and arid.

Easy enough drinking though, and post-exercise I was looking forward to something tasty, crisp and interactive. I got some of that. This is a very drinkable beer and different, better than I remember.

I quite like the hoppy, and  the dry finish isn't that bad. I wish I'd though this through and brought some snacks to the table as this would really work well with something.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as a 7  of its things from the thing. It is a nice easy drinking but not spectacular or bar-setting beer. It does however come with tow other problems. It is priced in the premium beers, and there is a dearth of information about the brewery, the beer, or the brewers on-line and that isn't necessarily a good thing, unless you like your local market and want to stay niche and mysterious. Can't image that being a good business model though.

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? I am it's a nice beer.


2. Would I have another? I would, it's easy drinking.


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? I don't think it meets the mark of showing off in company though, it's just not that it's a bad or average beer, it just isn't different or special enough to make small talk over.

Music was a challenge  today, nothing seemed to fit well. I ended up with some Jack White on, the album Blunderbuss

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sInSN2_d6hc

PILSENER

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

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Beer – #536 – Brauerei Braunschweig (Oettinger) – 5,0 Original Pils

A second beer, a second play, second best and second best mates.

Black-Red-Gold…

Brauerei Braunschweig (Oettinger) – 5,0 Original Pils

500ml can of beer, 4.7% ABV, making it 1.8 standard drink units, and about 150 calories a serve size.

Brewed by Brauerei Braunschweig (Oettinger) in the style that is  Pilsener  and they are in Braunschweig, Germany

Black-Red-Gold… 

Inspired by the commitment to a shared goal, as you unite to celebrate the life of joint efforts and accomplishments

A golden lager style beer with a rich delicious taste

I saw Black, Red and Gold and I though the  Waikato Rugby football team, of course not the German flag. What could go wrong?

A much more hop aroma in this, but it's not clean and is a bit earthy. Pale pour with a foamy and fluffy head.

Aroma is that familiar hop note that you'd expect.

The hop bite is more forward in this, bit it is still a bit muted and not so much a bite as a stern look.

There isn't a lot to comment on, the coldness of the beer tends to mute the flavour somewhat and I'm not really expecting anything else to happen as this beer warms or improves.

Like the 5.0 Original this is easy drinking, this isn't as easy drinking as that one is for me though.

Ingredients the same, Barley, malt, hops, water, they clearly just add a little bit more of this and a bit less of that. Or change the yeast. I'm no brewer.

This is crisp and clean, and lightly flavoured across the palate, making it a beer you just drink without pause and thinking, it's something you do, not engage with.

Which to be honest isn't a bad thing sometimes when it comes to beer.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 6 a of its things from the thing. This is easy drinking but it's just bulk over substance. Nothing to note or nothing stands out in the profile or taste, it's just cold beer with a mild flavour. I guess  that was what they were aiming for.

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? I'm not overly no. It's just a bit bland and without character.


2. Would I have another? I doubt that I would willing buy one, if you had one and you offered it I would, it isn't offensive.


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? I wouldn't turn up with this, unless you were German and I was being hilarious.

Music for this, well I was listening to the Veils,  This is a version of  "Out from the valley"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5M7gAfzyyE

From the very good album "Time stays we go"

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.

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