Monthly Archives: January 2018

4 - Good (buy), American IPA, Beer Reviews, Brasserie Popihn, France

Popihn New England IPA

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Brewery: Brasserie Popihn
Country: France
ABV: 6.7%
Style: American IPA

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Amarillo / Centennial / Rakau / Simcoe / Waimea.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.07
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.9

Intro: A 330ml bottle with a best before date of 6th January 2018 (did not know I left this in the fridge for so long). Poured into a Lost Abbey teku glass.
Appearance: A murky dark straw yellow colour with a big three finger white head that had good retention but left minimal lacing.
Aroma: Fruity grapefruit rind, citrus zest, pineapple, pine and grass with hints of tropical mango and papaya late on.
Taste: Sweet pineapple balanced with citrusy grapefruit zest and rind, pine and grass. Light bitterness on the finish.
Mouthfeel: Crisp, medium bodied with moderate to high carbonation.
Overall: Nice, refreshing and easy to drink.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Bière de Champagne / Bière Brut, Hong Kong, Moonzen Brewery

Moonzen Flaming Mountains

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Brewery: Moonzen Brewery
Country: Hong Kong
ABV: 6%
Style: Bière de Champagne / Bière Brut
Other Notes: Muscat Bière De Champagne

Brewer Description: (from bottle) In Journey to the West, Monkey King encounters an impassable flaming mountain. Too busy fanning out the flames with his magic palm to continue his journey that he missed this tasty creation. Turpan, Xinjiang is a fertile land of delicious fruits, with a unique desert climate and mountain water oasis. In this unique collaboration, Moonzen journeyed 3000km to harvest muscat grapes from Puchang Vineyard for this provincial beer. With an enchanting aroma, it drinks like a beer at warmer temperatures and a sparkling white wine at cooler temperatures.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.11
My ratebeer.com rating: 4

Intro: A 330ml bottle with no bottled on or best before date. Poured into a Lost Abbey teku glass.
Appearance: A cloudy dark straw yellow colour with a one finger white head that dissipates slowly and settles to a thin layer while leaving only sparse lacing. Very lively with lots of bubbles throughout.
Aroma: Nice citrusy lemon, lemon zest, white grape and light malt. Floral and perfume-y on the finish.
Taste: Green grapes, vinous, white wine, grass and a touch of lemon. Like the aroma, finish is floral and perfume-y.
Mouthfeel: Crisp, dry, light to medium bodied with spritzy moderate to high carbonation.
Overall: Nice aromas and taste which made it refreshing to drink.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Evil Twin Brewing, Porter - Imperial, USA

Evil Twin Imperial Biscotti Bourbon Maple Syrup Barrel Aged

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Brewery: Evil Twin Brewing
Country: USA
ABV: 11.5%
Style: American Imperial Porter
Other Notes: Produced and bottled for Evil Twin Brewing by Westbrook Brewing Co., Mount Pleasant, SC

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Imperial Porter aged in bourbon flavored maple syrup barrels. BLiS Because Life Is Short

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.11
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.9

Intro: A 22 fl. oz. bomber with no bottled on or best before date. Poured into a snifter glass.
Appearance: Black in colour with a thin brown head that dissipated quickly to a ring around the glass and left only sparse to no lacing.
Aroma: Bourbon, chocolate, pancake batter, molasses and maple.
Taste: Sweet maple, oak, bourbon, chocolate, caramel and coffee with hints of vanilla and soy.
Mouthfeel: Creamy, full to medium bodied with low carbonation.
Overall: It’s sweet, but luckily only on the borderline of being too sweet for me. I also get some maple flavours, but prefer it to be even more distinct. But despite this, it was still a nice an enjoyable dessert beer.

3 - Indifferent (might buy, probably drink), Beer Reviews, Evil Twin Brewing, Stout - Imperial, USA

Evil Twin Michigan Maple Jesus

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Brewery: Evil Twin Brewing
Country: USA
ABV: 12%
Style: American Imperial Stout
Other Notes: Produced and bottled for Evil Twin Brewing at Dark Horse Brewing Co, Marshall, MI.

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Imperial Stout aged in maple syrup bourbon barrels.

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.92
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.7

Intro: A 12 fl. oz. bottle with no bottled on or best before date. Poured into a snifter glass.
Appearance: Black in colour with a minimal brown head and sparse lacing.
Aroma: Molasses, raisins, bourbon, brown sugar and chocolate with only hints of maple.
Taste: Sweet, dark fruit, raisins, char, light smoke, roasty malts, milk chocolate, vanilla, bourbon and booze with touches of maple (more so as it warms).
Mouthfeel: Creamy, smooth, full bodied with low carbonation.
Overall: Probably too sweet and boozy for me while not having enough maple flavours.