4 - Good (buy), Amager Bryghus, American IPA, Beer Reviews, Denmark

Amager Winter In Bangalore

Tuesday, 22 December 2015 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Amager Bryghus
Country: Denmark
ABV: 6%
Style: American IPA
Other Notes: Malts – Pilsner, Munich and Carapils. Hops – Herkules, Chinook, Amarillo and Cascade.

Brewer Description: (from bottle) [in Danish] Når vintermørket ubønhørligt sænker sig over det ganske land, og danskerne gemmer sig i tykke klæder og trækker de mentale rullegardiner ned, så er det helt legitimt at flygte lidt ind i drømme om bedre, varmere og lysere tider og steder. Vores Vinter IPA er en hyldest til netop sådan et sted, som året rundt kækt hygger sig med sine behagelige 25 grader – kun afbrudt af et par forrygende snebyger. Tror vi nok. Smag på navnet – Bangalore. Indiens spraglede og krydrede mystik nærmest strømmer op i næseborene – akkurat som den bedste indiske aromahumle vi har brugt i denne øl, dyrket netop i smukke Bangalores opland.
Vi har specialdesignet denne intenst delikate Vinter IPA til at passe til AL vinterens mad – lige fra æbleskiver, og stegte sild over gule ærter til den fedeste gås eller steg med brun sovs. Selv veganere og palæo-folket har vi testet den på – og hver og en brød de ud i lovsang. Det gør du også. Vi garanterer.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.05
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.9

Intro: A 500ml bottle from Batch No. 949 with a best before date of January 2016. Poured into a Spiegelau IPA glass.
Appearance: It poured a cloudy golden straw yellow colour with a huge four finger fluffy white head that sticks around for a while and leaves nice spotty lacing.
Aroma: A mix of citrusy lemon and grapefruit plus a tropical element like passion fruit, pineapple and a hint of mango.
Taste: Starts slightly sweet with some light caramel malts followed quickly with a blast of bitter grapefruit. The finish is quite tropical with a lasting pineapple and mango flavours along with hints of honey.
Mouthfeel: Crisp, medium bodied with medium to high carbonation.
Overall: Overall a nice IPA that is easy to drink. The bitterness is moderate as the tropicalness really comes through here.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Brown Ale, Surly Brewing Company, USA

Surly Coffee Bender

Tuesday, 22 December 2015 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Surly Brewing Company
Country: USA
ABV: 5.1%
Style: American Brown Ale
Other Notes: 45 IBUs.

Brewer Description: (from can) Coffee Bender refreshes like an iced coffee, is aromatic as a bag of whole beans and satisfies like you favorite beer. Utilizing the latest technology, the Surly brew team has developed a cold extraction process that results in intense coffee aromatics and flavor – bringing together two of our favorite beverages. Your only dilemma will be whether to finish your day or start it with a Coffee Bender.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.36
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.2

Intro: A 16 fl oz can canned on 2nd July 2015 and poured into a Duvel tulip glass.
Appearance: It poured a clear dark brown colour much like a French pressed coffee. There was a one finger tanned head that dissipated quickly but leaves some nice stringy lacing.
Aroma: Like a fresh brewed cup of coffee from freshly grounded coffee beans with a hint of vanilla and brown sugar.
Taste: Roasted coffee, coffee grounds followed by some nuttyness with a hint of milk and vanilla.
Mouthfeel: Creamy, medium bodied with medium carbonation.
Overall: A very good brown ale with nice coffee flavours. Very easy to drink especially if you like coffee.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Clown Shoes Beer, Stout - Imperial, USA

Clown Shoes Chocolate Sombrero

Monday, 21 December 2015 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Clown Shoes Beer
Country: USA
ABV: 9%
Style: American Imperial Stout
Other Notes: Brewed and bottled by Mercury Brewing Co., Ipswich, MA.

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Roasted dark malts plus extra chocolate malts plus ancho chilli plus cinnamon plus vanilla extract plus a chocolate loving, beer drinking, Clown Shoes wearing, multi limbed, gorgeous and glorious Mexican wrestler on the label. That’s the recipe for Chocolate Sombrero!

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.15
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.9

Intro: A 12 fl oz bottle bottled on 12th March 2015 and poured into a Spiegelau stout glass.
Appearance: It poured a deep dark brown colour with a one finger tanned head that dissipates quickly and leaves some stringy lacing.
Aroma: Strong chocolate aromas mixed in with a hint of vanilla and cinnamon.
Taste: Much like the aroma, chocolate is the main theme with a definite roasty element to it. There’s a hint of vanilla and the finish is chocolate ice cream. I don’t know what ancho chilli tastes like, but the spice in this one is very light and in the background.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with medium carbonation.
Overall: The first time I tried this, it was at a tasting and I didn’t like it too much, but now with a proper sit down, I enjoyed it. The aromas and taste was pleasant and you don’t get the 9% at all.

2 - Maybe (likely wouldn't buy, might drink), Beer Reviews, England, Hawkshead Brewery, IPA - Black

Hawkshead Hop Black

Friday, 18 December 2015 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Hawkshead Brewery
Country: England
ABV: 5.6%
Style: American Black IPA
Other Notes: Hops – Chinook, Citra and Simcoe.

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Dark in colour but surprisingly light and refreshing on the palate, with aromas of tropical fruit and resinous pine from big flavoured American hops, Chinook, Citra and Simcoe.

My rating: 2
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.28
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.1

Intro: A 330ml bottle with a best before date of March 2016 and poured into an oversized wine glass.
Appearance: It poured a clear dark brown colour with a slightly less than one finger tanned head that dissipated quickly leaving spotty lacing.
Aroma: Pine, citrusy orange juice followed by cocoa and toffee.
Taste: Lightly bitter with citrus orange, cocoa, chocolate and pine.
Mouthfeel: Light bodied with low to medium carbonation but on the watery side.
Overall: Was hoping for more hoppy bitterness and it was definitely on the thin side. Too watery for my liking.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Belgian Strong Pale Ale, The Lost Abbey, USA

Lost Abbey Inferno Ale

Thursday, 17 December 2015 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: The Lost Abbey
Country: USA
ABV: 9%
Style: Belgian Strong Pale Ale
Other Notes: Brewed and bottled by Port Brewing Company, San Marcos, CA.

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Corruption, Greed and Lust. They’re all represented on the hooks today. Tomorrow, they’ll be stringing Gluttony, Desire and Sloth. Go ahead. Tell yourself you’re better than all of them. But you can’t. Hell can be funny like that. Down here it’s all just sin. Everyone here is screwed just like you. They don’t care who you sliced, diced or cheated. No one is escaping this heinous place.

Your roommate is an ax murder. Eerily, he’s not threatening. How can he be? Here, the Fallen Angel owns your body, mind and soul. As such, no one can take your life. It’s already been taken. Or was it given? Neither matters. Did you seriously think you were living a virtuous life? At least, Satan serves beer in Hell. He brews it himself right there in that flame stoked cauldron. Rumor has it the beer is straw yellow, bone dry and simply labeled Inferno.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.01
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.9

Intro: A 12.7 fl oz corked and caged bottle with no visible best before date and poured into a Duvel tulip glass.
Appearance: It poured a cloudy straw yellow colour. Despite pouring extremely carefully, there’s was a crazy huge five finger fluffy white head that has super retention but eventually leaves lots sticky clingy lacing on the glass.
Aroma: Pear, apple with some lemon and a hint of banana and clove.
Taste: Much like the aromas, there is pear, apple, white wine grape and lemon to start which then settles to some banana and clove. Finish had some light boozy alcohol feel to it.
Mouthfeel: Dry, medium bodied with huge carbonation.
Overall: An enjoyable solid Belgian Strong Pale Ale.

words of another dreamy traveller

Monthly Archives: December 2015