Monthly Archives: January 2019

3 - Indifferent (might buy, probably drink), Beer Reviews, Hong Kong, Lager - IPL (India Pale), Young Master Brewery x Cloudwater Brew Co.

Young Master x Cloudwater Be Water My Friend

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Brewery: Young Master Brewery x Cloudwater Brew Co.
Country: Hong Kong
ABV: 8%
Style: American IPL
Other Notes: DDH Brut Imperial Lager. 30 IBUs. Stealthy, hoppy, kick

Brewer Description: (from YM webshop) A colossal beer that seamlessly transcends rigid style barriers in one fluid motion. Brewed in collaboration with one of world’s best brewers, Cloudwater, it is an imperial lager that employs brut-style brewing techniques and combines it with double intensity (~40g/L pellet equivalent) cold side hopping with the highest quality hops we can find. With a measured finishing gravity of 0 plato and 100% apparent attenuation, using Bavarian lager yeast fermented cold, this beer is as dry and clean as it gets and has near zero residual sugar. Massive dry-hopping with a heady combination of Citra, Mosaic, Simcoe and Loral lupulin delivers a powerful tropical nose and a lush juicy mid-palate before a crisp and satisfying dry finish takes over and prepares you for the next sip. At 8%, it is sure to deliver a powerful kick that is as hoppy as it is stealthy. Drink it and be water, my friend.

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.91
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.8

Intro: A 330ml can, canned on 8th January 2019, and with a best before date of 8th October 2019. Poured into a Holy Mountain tulip glass.
Appearance: A nice clear golden colour with a one finger white head that dissipated fairly quickly and left only sparse to no lacing.
Aroma: Mango, passionfruit, blueberry, citrus rind, pine, lemon and grass.
Taste: Tropical and citrus mix, mango, passionfruit, blueberry, citrus rind, lemon zest, pine, biscuit malt and an interesting lightly bitter, pepper spice finish.
Mouthfeel: Dry, light to medium bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: Great aroma with balanced fruit and bitterness for an easy to drink hoppy lager.

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

Victory Storm King

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Brewery: Victory Brewing Company
Country: USA
ABV: 9.1%
Style: American Imperial Stout
Other Notes: Malts – Three imported and 2 row malts. Hops – Whole flower American hops

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Emerging from the deepest shades of darkness, a rolling crescendo of flavors burst forth from this robust stout. The thundering, hoppy appeal of Storm King subsides into the mellow subtleties of roasted malt, exhibiting an espresso-like depth of character in its finish. An exquisite blend of imported malts and whole flower American hops merge harmoniously in this complex ale. Discover the dark intrigue of Storm King, as it reveals the rich, substantial flavors that it holds within. Cheers!

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.73
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.7

Intro: A 12 fl. oz. bottle with an enjoy by date of 27th January 2021. Poured into a snifter glass.
Appearance: Dark dark brown to black in colour with a thin mocha head that dissipated fairly quickly and left some sparse lacing.
Aroma: Piney hops, roasted malts, chocolate and coffee.
Taste: Roasted malts, piney hops, chocolate, coffee, dark fruit, light herbal and a hint of liquorice.
Mouthfeel: Creamy, medium bodied with soft carbonation.
Overall: A nice Imperial Stout, although I’m not too fond of the liquorice and herbal mix on the finish.

3 - Indifferent (might buy, probably drink), American Brut IPA, Beer Reviews, Heroes Beer Co. x Young Master Brewery, Hong Kong

Heroes x Young Master Dom Houblon Pêche

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Brewery: Heroes Beer Co. x Young Master Brewery
Country: Hong Kong
ABV: 7%
Style: American Brut IPA
Other Notes: Vintage 2018. Bière Houblonnée Brut à la Pêche

Brewer Description: (from can) bière issue d’une collaboration entre les pantalons rouges et les saucisses. (Translation – beer from a collaboration between red pants and sausages?)

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.58
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.5

Intro: A 330ml 360 lid can, canned on 20th November 2018, and with a best before date of 20th August 2019. Poured into a Holy Mountain tulip glass.
Appearance: A hazy golden orange colour with a two finger white head that dissipated fairly quickly but left some nice sticky lacing.
Aroma: Peach, canned peach, a little plastic-y, with a dash of lime.
Taste: Tart, peach, mandarin skin, wheat and a lime finish.
Mouthfeel: Dry, light to medium bodied with moderate fizzy carbonation.
Overall: I like the aroma, but the fruity peach flavours, while there, don’t last long, maybe it’s the strong dryness that kicks in. I preferred the original version more.

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

Avery Uncle Jacob’s Stout

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Brewery: Avery Brewing Company
Country: USA
ABV: 17.1%
Style: American Imperial Stout
Other Notes: Batch No.5. Stout aged in Bourbon Barrels

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Jacob Spears, our 6th Great Grand Uncle, is credited as the first distiller to label his whiskey “Bourbon”. He built his distillery in Bourbon County Kentucky in 1790 – 203 years before we began brewing. While obviously a bit too late to produce Uncle Jacob’s wash, we’ve instead created something far more complex. In his honor, we present this robust, silky smooth, full-bodied and altogether extremely American rendition of an Imperial Stout aged for 6 months in the very finest bourbon barrels. This explains a lot about our penchant for big brews! It’s in our blood!

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.59
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.4

Intro: A 12 fl. oz. bottle, Batch #5, bottled on 19th February 2016. Poured into a snifter glass.
Appearance: Dark dark brown to black in colour with a one finger mocha head that had decent retention and left sparse spotty lacing.
Aroma: Bourbon, roasted malts, chocolate, espresso, dark fruit, prunes, plum, raisin, oak, brown sugar and booze, with hints of caramel and banana bread.
Taste: Boozy, sweet-ish, bourbon, oak, some dark fruit, prunes, with hints of roasted malts and chocolate.
Mouthfeel: Medium to full bodied with soft carbonation.
Overall: Lots of booze and bourbon, with minimal and not enough Imperial Stout, roasted malts and chocolate. Perhaps closer to a Scotch Ale / Wee Heavy. Definitely a sipper, but also could have been a better balanced Imperial Stout. Just not to my taste.

3 - Indifferent (might buy, probably drink), Beer Reviews, IPA - New England / Hazy, O/O Brewing AB, Sweden

O/O 50/50: Azacca/Citra

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Brewery: O/O Brewing AB
Country: Sweden
ABV: 6.5%
Style: New England / Hazy IPA

Brewer Description: (from can) 50/50 Series: Azacca and Citra hops.

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.77
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.6

Intro: A 440ml can, canned on 20th November 2018 and with a best before date of 22nd May 2019. Poured into a Lost Abbey teku glass.
Appearance: A hazy orange colour with a one finger white head that had pretty good retention and left some nice sticky lacing.
Aroma: Apricot, yoghurt, milk candy and citrus rind.
Taste: Sweet, tropical fruit, apricot, pineapple, lactose, milk candy, slight bitterness, citrus rind.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: Fruity milk candy sweetness was perhaps a bit too sweet for me. The light bitterness wasn’t enough to fully balance it out.