Category Archives: Country

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

West Coast RA

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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

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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.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Brasserie l'Apaisée, Switzerland, Wild Ale

l’Apaisée Prunus Persica Pêche Jaune

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Brewery: Brasserie l’Apaisée
Country: Switzerland
ABV: 6%
Style: Wild Ale
Other Notes: 2022 vintage

Brewer Description: (from bottle in French) Assemblage de bières de fermentation mixte élevées en barriques plus refermentées avec des péches jaunes demeter (Elegant Lady + Redskin).

(translated to English) Blend of mixed fermentation beers aged in barrels, refermented with Demeter yellow peaches (Elegant Lady + Redskin).

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.15
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.1

Intro: A 750ml clear bottle, 2022 vintage, to be enjoyed before 2028. Poured into a Tilquin stemmed glass.
Appearance: A hazy peach orange yellow colour, with a one finger white head that had pretty good retention, while leaving only sparse spotty lacing.
Aroma: Fruity, lightly tart, peach, peach skin, oak, funk.
Taste: Lightly tart, peach, peach skin, a splash of lemon juice, with notes of oak and funk.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: Loved the aromas, and while the peach flavours were nice, there was a lack of complexity that would have made it more interesting.

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

Crooked Stave Nightmare on Brett Port

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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 port barrels.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.3
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.2

Intro: A 375ml purple waxed bottle, bottled in July 2014, poured into a Tilquin stemmed glass.
Appearance: Pretty much black in colour with a thin beige head that dissipated quickly and left only sparse spotty lacing.
Aroma: Lightly tart, mixed berries, oak, raisin, port, and a splash of caramel.
Taste: Lightly sour, tart, mixed berries, blackcurrant, oak, port, raisin, with light notes of chocolate and caramel.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with soft carbonation.
Overall: Good aroma and flavours with the port barrel contributing nicely and it was just enjoyable.

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

Crooked Stave Nightmare on Brett Blueberry

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Brewery: Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project
Country: USA
ABV: 9.666%
Style: Wild Ale – Dark

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

My rating: 4-
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.11
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.9

Intro: A 375ml bottle, bottled in January 2016, poured into a Tilquin stemmed glass.
Appearance: Dark dark brown to black in colour with a half finger beige head that dissipated fairly quickly to a ring around the glass, while leaving some lacing.
Aroma: Tart, dark berries, a touch vinous, wood, and light notes of chocolate and whiskey.
Taste: Sour, tart, dark berries, light roast, chocolate, caramel, oak, vinegar, along with a splash of whiskey.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate to soft carbonation.
Overall: Possibly because of the age, while there wasn’t any obvious blueberry notes, there was a mix of dark berries that worked pretty well. Lost in my cellar, it would have been great to have tried this much earlier.