Monthly Archives: March 2020

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Garage Project, New Zealand, Wild Ale

Garage Project Oh What A Lovely Day Let’s Go Out And Pick Some… Hop Bine

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Brewery: Garage Project
Country: New Zealand
ABV: 6.8%
Style: American Wild Ale
Other Notes: Foraged flowers, spontaneous ferment no.5

Brewer Description: (from bottle) The latest release in our ongoing series of foraged flower ferments. For this brew, freshly harvested whole bines were plunged into a light golden base wort creating a spontaneous fermentation using only the wild yeast present on the hops. The beer was then allowed to age and develop for a year in oak barrels before being infused with another dose of fresh hops from the next harvest. The result of this brewery outing is a complex yet clean citrus like sour, bursting with a delightful fresh hop aroma.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.09
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.9

Intro: A 750ml bottle, bottled on 23rd May 2019. Poured into a 3 Fonteinen stemmed glass.
Appearance: A clear golden straw colour with a two finger white head that had decent retention, while leaving some nice lacing.
Aroma: Sour, tart, light funk, lychee, apricot, and white grapes.
Taste: Sour, tart, white grape, apricot, citrus notes, leafy, and a touch of vinegar.
Mouthfeel: A touch acidic, light bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: Although maybe slightly on the acidic side, the nose and taste were enjoyable.

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4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Belgian Quadrupel, Firestone Walker Brewing Co., USA

Firestone Walker Stickee Monkee

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Brewery: Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
Country: USA
ABV: 12.5%
Style: Belgian Quadrupel
Other Notes: 26 IBUs. Malts – 2 Row, Munich, Carmel, Torrified Wheat, Belgian Candi Sugar, Brown Sugar and Roast Barley. Hops – Styrian Golding

Brewer Description: (from 2017 vintage box) Since founding our brewery in 1996, we have specialized in the rare art of fermenting beer in oak barrels. In the Fall of 2006, we embarked on a program to barrel age a series of vintage strong ales that would later be used as components of a blended beer. That blend would become our first Anniversary Ale, “10”. After the release of “10”, we released limited amounts of the component beers on draft only. Many of these beers gained a cult following that craft beer fans raved about and begged for us to put in bottle. Stickee Monkee was one of these beers. We present the 2017 vintage of Stickee Monkee, a barrel-aged Quad. It has been said that the only constant is change and the same is true for barrel-aged beers. Cut from a similar recipe, this barrel-aged Quad evolves and shows a different face each year; a result of time spent aging in the barrel. Turbinado brown sugar from Mexico adds wonderful flavors that are reminiscent of Belgian candi sugar. It has a full body and lush texture with barrel expression all over; toasted oak, coconut, leather and rich cigar tobacco. This Central Coast Quad is a one-of-a-kind sipping beer build to last and will reward careful aging for years to come.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.22
My ratebeer.com rating: 4

Intro: A 12 fl. oz. bottle, 2017 vintage. Poured into a Chimay goblet glass.
Appearance: A cloudy murky dark brown colour with a thin beige head that dissipated quickly, but left some spotty lacing.
Aroma: Sweet dark malt, toffee, caramel, dark fruit, plum, prunes, raisin, bourbon, oak, vanilla, and a splash of coconut.
Taste: Moderately sweet, caramel, toffee, dark fruit, raisin, dates, prunes, brown sugar, oak, vanilla, coconut, with hints of bourbon, booze and cocoa on the finish.
Mouthfeel: Smooth, full bodied with soft carbonation.
Overall: At times it felt a little on the sweet side, but the aroma and flavours are complex and enjoyable, and as a sipper, it was good.

3 - Indifferent (might buy, probably drink), American Pale Wheat Ale, Beer Reviews, Carbon Brews, Hong Kong

Carbon Brews Zesty Feelings

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Brewery: Carbon Brews
Country: Hong Kong
ABV: 4.9%
Style: American Pale Wheat Ale
Other Notes: 15 IBUs. Malts – Pilsner, Wheat, Oats and Carapils. Hops – Citra and Cryo loral. Yeast – Chico. Fruit – Grapefruit and Lemon Zest. Experience – Fruity, citrus, smashable

Brewer Description: (from can) Citrus wheat.

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.2
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.1

Intro: A 330ml can, with a best before date of 5th September 2020. Poured into a Spiegelau wheat glass.
Appearance: A hazy straw blonde colour with an uncontrollable more than five finger white head that had fairly good retention, while leaving some lacing.
Aroma: Citrusy, lemon zest, lemon rind, and a floral character.
Taste: Light citrusy lemon zest, lemon rind, bready malt, wheat, and a splash of lime.
Mouthfeel: Light bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: Very light and crushable, but didn’t leave any sort of impression on me.

3 - Indifferent (might buy, probably drink), Beer Reviews, Lervig Aktiebryggeri, Norway, Stout - Milk / Sweet

Lervig Saskatoon Cheesecake Stout

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Brewery: Lervig Aktiebryggeri
Country: Norway
ABV: 12%
Style: Milk / Sweet Stout

Brewer Description: (from can) Imperial Stout with Saskatoon berry & cheesecake.

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.87
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.6

Intro: A 330ml can, with a best before date of 25th September 2024. Poured into a snifter glass.
Appearance: Dark brown in colour with a thin brown head that dissipated quickly and left only sparse spotty lacing.
Aroma: Sweet, blueberry, mixed berries, vanilla, cream cheese, chessecake, with hints of chocolate.
Taste: Moderate sweetness, light roast, chocolate, mixed berries, vanilla, with hints of caramel.
Mouthfeel: Slightly boozy, full bodied with soft carbonation.
Overall: On the borderline of being too sweet for me. Nice cheesecake and berriness in the aroma, but unfortunately I felt that the cheesecake didn’t translate into the taste, and it was mostly just sweet berries and booze.