Monthly Archives: April 2015

3 - Indifferent (might buy, probably drink), Beer Reviews, Brown Ale, Grand Teton Brewing Co., USA

Grand Teton Bitch Creek Extra Special Brown Ale

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Brewery: Grand Teton Brewing Co.
Country: USA
ABV: 6%
Style: Brown Ale
Other Notes: 60 IBUs

Brewer Description: (from website) Bitch Creek perfectly balances big malt sweetness and robust hop flavor for a full bodied, satisfying mahogany ale. Like the stream for which it is named, our Bitch Creek ESB is full of character… not for the timid.

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.85
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.8

Intro: A 12oz bottle that was bottled on 22 January 2015 and poured into a pint glass.
Appearance: It poured a dark brownish red colour with a slightly less than one finger creamy brown head that dissipates in less than a minute leaving stringy lacing.
Aroma: Sweet toasted bready malts, caramel and some dark fruits mainly plum and grape.
Taste: Mainly sweet caramel mixed with some citrus hoppy flavours and a small amount of dark fruits. The aftertaste also gives a small blast of alcohol.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with low to medium carbonation.
Overall: It was quite a nice brown ale. Maybe a tad bit sweet, but I would probably consider buying this again if I craved for some brown ale. Having said that, this is quite honestly probably the only bottle that’s made it to Hong Kong.

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3 - Indifferent (might buy, probably drink), Beer Reviews, Belgian Tripel, Belgium, Brouwerij der Trappisten van Westmalle

Westmalle Tripel

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Brewery: Brouwerij der Trappisten van Westmalle
Country: Belgium
ABV: 9.5%
Style: Tripel
Other Notes: As per the website, the larger 75cl bottles mature differently to the 33cl bottles. They say that in the larger bottles, the fruit flavours are softer, riper and there’s also a hint of vanilla.

Brewer Description: (from Westmalle website) Westmalle Tripel is a clear, golden yellow Trappist beer that undergoes a secondary fermentation in the bottle (9,5% alcohol). It is a complex beer with a fruity aroma and a nice nuanced hop scent. It is soft and creamy in the mouth, with a bitter touch carried by the fruity aroma. An exceptional beer, with a great deal of finesse and elegance. And with a splendid long aftertaste.

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.68
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.7

Intro: The 33cl bottle had a best before date of 23rd July 2016 and was poured into a Chimay goblet.
Appearance: It poured a hazy golden straw colour with a white head that dissipates fairly quickly leaving thin soapy like lacing.
Aroma: There were aromas of bready malts, caramelised banana, candied sugar, slight bubblegum ending with lemon sour?
Taste: Tastes of sweet bready malts, orange, pear maybe some lingering banana ending with some slight alcohol.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with nice carbonation. Creamy and also somewhat sticky.
Overall: This was a decent tripel. The best thing about it was its look especially the thin soapy lacing. The taste itself was decent, but nothing too special either.

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2 - Maybe (likely wouldn't buy, might drink), Beer Reviews, Belgian Tripel, Belgium, S.A. Bières de Chimay

Chimay Triple (White)

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Brewery: S.A. Bières de Chimay
Country: Belgium
ABV: 8%
Style: Tripel
Other Notes: Trappist beer. Ale is brewed at Scourmont Abbey

Brewer Description: (from bottle) The <> logo certifies that this ale is brewed in a Trappist Abbey and that the majority of sales income is intended for social aid. Chimay Triple stands out thanks to its flavours of hops and fresh yeast.

My rating: 2
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.2
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.27

Intro: 330ml bottle dated best before end of 2017 and poured into a Chimay goblet.
Appearance: It poured a hazy copper colour with a two finger cream head that has good retention leaving a thick curtain lacing.
Aroma: Initial aromas of apple, pear and bready malts followed by a sweet banana and honey finish.
Taste: Surprisingly strong alcohol taste, but also sweet candied sugar, banana, bread malts and some light apple and pear flavours.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with medium carbonation and a creamy feel.
Overall: I’m a big fan of Chimay, but this was not one of the better tripel beers. Ultimately I thought that it was too boozy and everything just kind of got lost behind that.

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4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Deschutes Brewery, Porter, USA

Deschutes Black Butte Porter

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Brewery: Deschutes Brewery
Country: USA
ABV: 5.2%
Style: Porter
Other Notes:30 IBUs, 192 calories

Brewer Description: (from website) With a dark beer as our first and flagship brand, Black Butte defined Deschutes as a radical player. A slight hop bitterness up front enhances the distinctive chocolate and roasted finish. It’s prized for its creamy mouthfeel and intense complex flavors.

(from bottle) An opening volley, this pioneering dark ale signaled Deschutes’ renegade intentions. Its creamy mouthfeel, complex layers, hop edge and chocolate finish personify passion-forward brewing.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.07
My ratebeer.com rating: 4

Intro: This 12oz bottle was dated best by 3rd July 2015 and was poured into a pint glass.
Appearance: It poured a really dark brown with a half finger tan head that dissipates quickly leaving a generous amount of lacing.
Aroma: Smelled lightly of espresso coffee with some chocolate and maybe a bit of dark fruits like prunes. Would have preferred a stronger smell.
Taste: Immediate taste of dark bitter chocolate with roasty malts and a slight herbal bitter ending.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, medium carbonation and somewhat creamy.
Overall: This was a nice porter that I would buy again… if only it were that easy in Hong Kong.

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4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Belgian Tripel, Bierbrouwerij De Koningshoeven B.V., Netherlands

La Trappe Tripel

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Brewery: Bierbrouwerij De Koningshoeven B.V.
Country: Netherlands
ABV: 8%
Style: Tripel
Other Notes: Trappist beer

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Discover this genuine pale Trappist beer with its bitter-sweet flavour, and fruity taste.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.88
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.9

Intro: This 330ml bottle was dated best before August 2016. There was also a bottled date code 09:45 K04B14 which from what I’ve read on the multiple forums means at the very least, bottled on February 2014.
Appearance: The beer was poured into a Chimay goblet a hazy golden colour with a one finger white head which had good retention.
Aroma: Smells of sweet honey with bready malts followed by fruity pear and a bit of alcohol.
Taste: Alcohol taste at the beginning and aftertaste, but in between, there is honey, pear and some slight bitter lemon citrus.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, medium carbonation and a little creamy.
Overall: It was a pretty good tripel. I liked that it was not too sweet, although the alcohol taste is quite prominent.

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