All posts by kitch

4 - Good (buy), American Pale Ale, Ballast Point Brewing Company, Beer Reviews, USA

Ballast Point Grunion Pale Ale

Thursday, 31 December 2015 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Ballast Point Brewing Company
Country: USA
ABV: 5.5%
Style: American Pale Ale
Other Notes: 35 IBUs. Hoppy Pale Ale.

Brewer Description: (from website) A new Pale Ale where hops run the show. Our Grunion Pale Ale wasn’t born on a beach, but in a backyard. Originating from an employee-only home brew contest, this award-winning hoppy pale ale is named after the tiny local fish known for late night frolics on shore. A pair of new hop varieties lend strong yet balanced summer melon aromas and herbal flavors, while a soft caramel malt sweetness holds it all together.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.36
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.3

Intro: A 12 fl oz bottle with a bottled code date of 15217 which means 5th August 2015, and poured into a Duvel tulip glass.
Appearance: It poured a slightly hazy golden orange colour with a one finger white head that dissipated fairly quickly leaving nice lacing.
Aroma: Lots of tropical fruits in the aromas with mango and passionfruit as well as some citrus grapefruit in the background.
Taste: Much like the aromas the tropical fruit is strong, mainly mango, passionfruit and pineapple. In the background, is some light citrus grapefruit and biscuity, bready malts with a tea like finish.
Mouthfeel: Crisp, medium bodied with mid to high carbonation.
Overall: A very tasty and crisp APA with a wonderful tropicalness to it.

5 - Excellent (must buy), American Double IPA, Beer Reviews, USA, Victory Brewing Company

Victory DirtWolf Double IPA

Wednesday, 30 December 2015 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Victory Brewing Company
Country: USA
ABV: 8.7%
Style: American Double IPA
Other Notes: Malts – Imported two-row malts. Hops – Whole flower Citra, Chinook, Simcoe and Mosaic.

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Darkly heroic, Humulus Lupulus (hops) have empowered brews with bite and character since the 11th century. DirtWolf is a tribute to these untamed vines which rise from the earth with voracity of a ‘wolf among sheep.’ Hops have made an assertive comeback in American craft brewing. Revel in the best US varieties of hops, in their natural, whole flower form, as they bring a vital, pungent reality to the soul of a wild element in our dangerously satisfying DirtWolf. Cheers.

My rating: 5
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.49
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.4

Intro: A 12 fl oz bottle with an enjoy by date of 26th January 2016, poured into a Spiegelau IPA glass.
Appearance: It poured a slightly hazy golden straw colour with a one finger white head that dissipated quickly leaving some nice lacing.
Aroma: Very nice tropical and citrus aromas with mango, pineapple and grapefruit taking centre stage. Some light pine and citrus peel in the background.
Taste: Grapefruit, orange and pine but the lasting taste is a sweet candy orange with some light bitterness.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with mid to high carbonation.
Overall: A very nice Double IPA that I would love to be able to try super fresh. I would definitely buy this one again.

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

Victory HopDevil IPA

Tuesday, 29 December 2015 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Victory Brewing Company
Country: USA
ABV: 6.7%
Style: American IPA
Other Notes: Malts – Imported 2 row German malts. Hops – Whole flower American hops.

Brewer Description: (from bottle) The mythical HopDevil resides in the lore of farmers. Our HopDevil is the real deal. Bold, spicy and menacingly delicious. He’s the product of distinctive American hops and meticulous craftsmanship. Arising from the heady wilds of our hopback and gently tamed with time, this Devil makes a great companion.

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.78
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.6

Intro: A 12 fl oz bottle with an enjoy by date of 14th January 2016, poured into a Spiegelau IPA glass.
Appearance: It poured a clear copper orange colour with an off white one finger head that dissipated quickly but left nice stringy lacing.
Aroma: Citrus orange and lemon, pine with hints of tropical fruits and light caramel malt.
Taste: Grapefruit and pine bitterness with quite a strong malt sweetness backbone. The finish is a nice lingering bitterness.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with medium carbonation.
Overall: A nice IPA with good bitterness but maybe slightly too much malt sweetness.

Beer Haul

Beer Haul – 2015 October (Bangkok)

Monday, 28 December 2015 kitch Leave a comment

Central Food Hall Supermarket
Paulaner Salvator
Weihenstephaner Kristall Weissbier
Weihenstephaner Hefe Weissbier

Mikkeller Bangkok
Prairie Prairie Ale
Bøgedal No. 326
200ml Mikkeller tasting glass
Grassroots Brewing Arctic Soirée
Mikkeller George vs Brian Tequila
Mikkeller George vs Brian Calvados
Mikkeller Beer Geek Brunch Weasel
Beavertown Smog Rocket Smoked Porter
Beavertown Black Betty Black IPA
Beavertown Neck Oil Session IPA
Beavertown 8 Ball Rye IPA

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Belgian Strong Pale Ale, Belgium, De Struise Brouwers

De Struise Tsjeeses Reserva Port Barrel Aged

Saturday, 26 December 2015 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: De Struise Brouwers
Country: Belgium
ABV: 10%
Style: Belgian Strong Pale Ale
Other Notes: 2013 Vintage

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Belgian X-Mas Ale.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.32
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.2

Intro: A 330ml bottle of 2013 vintage, bottled on July 2014 with a best before date of 15th August 2019 and poured into a Duvel tulip glass.
Appearance: It poured a cloudy dark orange bronze colour with a fluffy two finger light tanned head with good retention that leaves nice spotty lacing.
Aroma: Sweet and fruity plum, apple, grape, fig and red wine with hints of caramel and vanilla.
Taste: Sweet apples, orange, port, grapes with oak woody notes and caramel malts.
Mouthfeel: Very rich, medium bodied with medium but strong prickly carbonation.
Overall: I wish I had the original non barrel aged version of this to compare to. However, this Port BA version is very good. Even at 10% the alcohol is well hidden and being Port BA I was a bit worried that it would be too sweet but its actually at a good level. A great barrel aged Belgian Strong Pale Ale that I would get again next year!

words of another dreamy traveller