Monthly Archives: November 2023

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Czech Pilsner, Czech Republic, Métaphore

Métaphore Those Who Dance

Leave a comment

Brewery: Métaphore
Country: Czech Republic
ABV: 5.3%
Style: Pilsner – Czech
Other Notes: “Those who dance are considered mad by those who can’t hear the music”

Brewer Description: (from can) This is my quest for a dream everyday lager beer with a touch of magic, deeply rooted in Czech brewing traditions and the local environment around us. A little nod to the olden days when time had a different meaning. This humble yet charming beer was brewed with only organic local ingredients and a very generous amount of raw spelt, then lagered to perfection for over a season. It’s a beer that I am proud to share with you, one that gently exudes a portrait of a local terroir with a sprinkling of magic (for those who can hear it). Na zdravi! Jiří.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.14
My ratebeer.com rating: 4

Intro: A 500ml can with a best before date of 28th October 2023. Poured into a winebar glass.
Appearance: A very nice clear golden colour with a one finger white head that had good retention and left nice lacing.
Aroma: Melon, grains, a touch grassy.
Taste: Lightly sweet, grassy, dry hay, with a nice lasting bitterness on the finish.
Mouthfeel: Crisp, light bodied, with moderate carbonation.
Overall: Clean, crisp, super easy drinking, and everything a pilsner should be.

3 - Indifferent (might buy, probably drink), Beer Reviews, Belgium, Brouwerij Hof Ten Dormaal, Wild Ale

Hof Ten Dormaal Zure van Tildonk Barbera

Leave a comment

Brewery: Brouwerij Hof Ten Dormaal
Country: Belgium
ABV: 7.5%
Style: Wild Ale

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Our Barbera is a special, annual release. We age this beer for 8 months on barbera grape must, giving it a distinct and complex tannic quality. The end product is an original, hand-crafted product from our family to yours without compromise. Fam. Janssens.

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.64
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.5

Intro: A 330ml bottle, with a best before date of September 2028. Poured into a Tilquin stemmed glass.
Appearance: A hazy dark amber orange colour with a very thin head that disappeared almost immediately, and pretty much no lacing.
Aroma: Tart, red wine grape skin, vinous, oak, yoghurt, with light citrus zest notes.
Taste: Sour, tart, redcurrant, unripe grapes, grape skin, fruited vinegar, caramel, oak.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with soft carbonation.
Overall: Aroma was quite good, but was hoping for more carbonation and less vinegar.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, IPA - New England / Hazy Double, Japan, West Coast Brewing

West Coast Freestyle Sandbox Vol.4

Leave a comment

Brewery: West Coast Brewing
Country: Japan
ABV: 8.5%
Style: IPA – New England / Hazy Double
Other Notes: Hops – Freestyle Peacharine, Freestyle Pacifica, Freestyle Southern Cross & Freestyle Wakatu

Brewer Description: (from website) This is the last of our 2022 Freestyle-ONLY brews – and we saved the best for last. V4 contains what very little amounts of Peacharine we were able to get our hands on, along with other Freestyle favs like Southern Cross, Pacifica and Wakatu. V4 has plenty of pineapple and mango / tropical feels, dry and refreshing and with a touch of Peacharine is a fitting finish to ‘22 (bring on ‘23!)🔥

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.28
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.1

Intro: A 500ml can, canned on 26th September 2023. Poured into a winebar glass.
Appearance: A hazy milky orange colour, with a big two finger white head that had good retention and left nice lacing.
Aroma: Juicy, mango, citrus, orange rind, with light grassy notes.
Taste: Juicy, tropical, mango, pineapple, orange rind, citrus pith, grass, light melon, and a touch of bitterness.
Mouthfeel: Creamy, medium to full bodied, with moderate to soft carbonation.
Overall: Good juicy aroma and flavours. Easy to drink.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, IPA - New England / Hazy Triple, Japan, West Coast Brewing

West Coast RA

Leave a comment

Brewery: West Coast Brewing
Country: Japan
ABV: 9.5%
Style: IPA – New England / Hazy Triple
Other Notes: Hops – Galaxy, Rakau, Citra & Citra CRYO

Brewer Description: (from website) Defeat of the Voidmaster meant recovery of the second sigil. Shaped similar to the one held by The Lightning Council, this stone glowed an almost violent shade of vermillion and read “RA” on the reverse side (the ancient Hop Dude word for “Simcoe”, if you can believe that). Our Hop Heroes had now found two and would begin the search for the third and final sigil. RA doesn’t actually have any Simcoe (boom!) but DOES come loaded with Citra, Citra CRYO, Rakau and a shake shake of Galaxy (we only allow it to go out and play when several chaperones are around). RA comes fit with hints of pineapple and ripe mango, with an almost yogurt-like sensory addition which gives it a very unique flavor profile unlike previous iterations in the series. RA also popped to a bold imperial level 9.5% ABV, but drinks dangerously easy.

My rating: 4-
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.98
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.9

Intro: A 500ml can, canned on 19th September 2023. Poured into a winebar glass.
Appearance: A hazy orange colour with a one finger white head that had good retention and left nice lacing.
Aroma: Juicy, pineapple, citrus pith, mango, orange, and maybe even a touch dank.
Taste: Sweet, pineapple, candied mango, citrus pith, orange rind, yoghurt notes, and a touch spicy.
Mouthfeel: Full bodied with moderate to soft carbonation.
Overall: Nice tropical fruits, especially pineapple and mango, but generally too sweet for me.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project, USA, Wild Ale - Dark

Crooked Stave Blackberry Dark Origins

Leave a comment

Brewery: Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project
Country: USA
ABV: 9.666%
Style: Wild Ale – Dark
Other Notes: Cellar Reserve 2014

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Dark Sour Ale aged in whiskey barrels with blackberries.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.34
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.2

Intro: A 375ml dark purple waxed bottle, bottled in February 2014, poured into a Tilquin stemmed glass.
Appearance: Dark dark brown in colour, with a half finger beige head that dissipated fairly quickly, while leaving only sparse spotty lacing.
Aroma: Caramel, oak, and whiskey sweetness, with a support of blackberries and blackcurrant.
Taste: Sour, tart, blackberry, dark berries, blackcurrant, oak, chocolate, caramel, whiskey.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate to soft carbonation.
Overall: A good enjoyable sipper with nice aroma and flavours supported well by the blackberries.