All posts by kitch

3 - Indifferent (might buy, probably drink), Beer Reviews, Belgian Tripel, Belgium, Brouwerij St. Bernardus NV

St. Bernardus Tripel

Thursday, 11 June 2015 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Brouwerij St. Bernardus NV
Country: Belgium
ABV: 8%
Style: Tripel

Brewer Description: (from website) St. Bernardus Tripel is a traditional abbey ale brewed in the classic “Triple” style of Belgium’s best Abbey Ales. It has a blond to pale amber color with a wonderful head, slightly sweet aroma and the orangey-grassy flavors of hops in the finish. Wonderfully drinkable and surprisingly light.

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

Intro: Bought this 330ml bottle from Bangkok, Thailand and took it back to Hong Kong in my suitcase as mostly can only find the Abt 12 quad version in Hong Kong. It has a best before date of 7th August 2016 and was poured into a Chimay goblet.
Appearance: The beer poured a hazy murky dark gold colour with one finger creamy white head that has great retention but leaves a nice set of stringy lacing.
Aroma: Mainly floral and citrus lemon and lime aromas along with some bready buscuit malt.
Taste: Taste is sweet fruity pear and some caramelised banana, maybe even banana bread. The bready malts come through and the finish is slightly bitter and peppery.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, medium to high carbonation and somewhat dry.
Overall: This is a pretty good tripel but not my favourite. I still prefer the La Trappe and Westmalle versions more as this was less fruity overall.

3 - Indifferent (might buy, probably drink), American Pale Ale, Beer Reviews, Three Floyds Brewing Co., USA

Three Floyds Space Station Middle Finger

Monday, 8 June 2015 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Three Floyds Brewing Co.
Country: USA
ABV: 6%
Style: American Pale Ale
Other Notes: IBU 50

Brewer Description: (from bottle) From the dawn of time, humans have looked to the sky for answers. Space Station Middle Finger replies to all from its eternal orbit. Behold and enjoy Space Station Middle Finger. A bright golden american pale ale.

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.71
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.8

Intro: A 22 oz. bomber with no indication of any bottled on or best before date on the bottle. Poured into a pint glass.
Appearance: Pours a hazy darkish orange colour with a thin white head that does stick around for a while.
Aroma: Smells a little weak, but of pine, citrus hops and grapefruit along with some caramel at the end as well.
Taste: A strong malt background of bread and caramel at first followed by citrus grapefruit and orange turning tropical fruit mango. Finish is a lingering bitterness.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, with medium carbonation and slightly sticky.
Overall: This was decent from 3 Floyds. It starts sweet and finishes bitter but overall I still easily prefer Zombie Dust.

3 - Indifferent (might buy, probably drink), Belgian Strong Pale Ale, Belgium, Brewer, Brouwerij Duvel Moortgat NV

Duvel

Wednesday, 3 June 2015 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Brouwerij Duvel Moortgat NV
Country: Belgium
ABV: 8.5%
Style: Belgian Strong Pale Ale

Brewer Description: (from website) Duvel is a natural beer with a subtle bitterness, a refined flavour and a distinctive hop character. The unique brewing process, which takes 90 days, guarantees a pure character, delicate effervescence and a pleasant sweet taste of alcohol.

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.78
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.8

Intro: A 330ml bottle dated best before November 2015 and poured into a Duvel tulip glass.
Appearance: The beer poured a slightly hazy golden straw yellow colour with maybe just under a two finger creamy white head that dissipated slowly leaving nice stringy lacing.
Aroma: Main aromas of citrus lemon and banana with slight funk followed by some lighter grassy and flowery smells.
Taste: Starts with bitter, tart and slightly sour citrus lemon, pear and apple followed by banana and honey sweetness.
Mouthfeel: Light to medium bodied with high carbonation and a dry finish.
Overall: Overall this was not a bad beer. But if I was to compare to others in this style, off the top of my head I do prefer both Delirium Tremens and La Chouffe before Duvel and unfortunately for Duvel, both of them are as widely available in Hong Kong.

5 - Excellent (must buy), Beer Reviews, Belgian Dubbel, Belgium, S.A. Bières de Chimay

Chimay Première (Red)

Monday, 1 June 2015 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: S.A. Bières de Chimay
Country: Belgium
ABV: 7%
Style: Dubbel
Other Notes: Trappist beer. Ale is brewed at Scourmont Abbey

Brewer Description: (from bottle) The <> logo certifies that this ale is brewed in a Trappist Abbey and that the majority of sales income is intended for social aid. Chimay Red will win you over with its fruity taste accompanied by a slight bitterness.

My rating: 5
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.64
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.5

Intro: This was a 330ml bottle that was dated best before end of 2018 and poured into a Chimay goblet.
Appearance: It pours a very hazy brown colour with a very nice thick cream coloured two finger head that dissipates very slowly but when it does, leaves a nice curtain lacing.
Aroma: Aromas are fruity, mainly of dark fruits like plum, cherry, and fig. There is also some pear, apple and candied sugar and a hint of nuttiness.
Taste: Fruity cherry and plum upfront with hints of banana and pear. There’s also some light malt caramel and bready sweetness followed by a nice light bitter finish.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Smooth creamy and slightly sticky.
Overall: Admittedly, I used to think that this was just ok but I’ve grown to enjoy this beer the more I drink it. When I first tried it maybe ten years ago, Chimay Blue was far and away better and so I mostly bought that. However, clearly my taste changed and the last few years Chimay Red became one of my staple beers.

3 - Indifferent (might buy, probably drink), Beer Reviews, Irish Dry Stout, North Coast Brewing Co., USA

North Coast Old No.38 Stout

Friday, 29 May 2015 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: North Coast Brewing Co.
Country: USA
ABV: 5.6%
Style: Irish Dry Stout
Other Notes: Named for a retired steam engine on the California Western Railroad Redwood Route.

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Old No.38 Stout is a smooth, firm-bodied stout with the toasted character and coffee notes of dark malts and roasted barley.

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.52
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.5

Intro: Poured from a 12 fl oz bottle into a pint glass. There was no bottled or best by date on the bottle.
Appearance: The beer poured a rich opaque black colour with a bit less than one finger caramel tan head that dissipates quickly leaving a small amount of lacing.
Aroma: Aromas are a bit weak, but mainly of roasted malts, cocoa dark chocolate and brown sugar. There is also a slight amount coffee mixed in.
Taste: Sweet cocoa and roasted malts followed by brown sugar, milk chocolate, coffee and maybe a small amount of caramel.
Mouthfeel: Creamy, sticky, light to medium bodied with light carbonation and a small alcohol kick.
Overall: Overall this was a decent stout that may be a little bit on the sweet side. However when compared to Guinness, I have to say that I’m leaning towards Guinness for a variety of reasons. It’s not as sweet, only one-third of the cost, and a lot easier to find in Hong Kong since its available in every supermarket.

words of another dreamy traveller