Category Archives: 2 – Maybe (likely wouldn’t buy, might drink)

Pipeworks x Tired Hands Marilime Law

Saturday, 8 October 2016 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Pipeworks Brewing Company x Tired Hands Brewing Co.
Country: USA
ABV: 8%
Style: American Double IPA
Other Notes: Hops – Simcoe, Centennial and Sorachi Ace. Malts – 2-row, Marris Otter, White Wheat and Acidulated Malt. Other – lime juice, lime zest and dextrose.

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Warriors from two clans have teamed up and hit the seven seas to bring you an IPA like no other. Pipeworks and Tired Hands have set sail with Simcoe, Centennial and Sorachi Ace hops in hand. We’ve also added enough lime zest and juice to keep things tart. Enjoy this unique collaborative effort before you walk the plank, ya Scurvy dog!

My rating: 2
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.37
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.2

Intro: A 22 oz bomber with no visible bottled on date on the bottle. Poured into a Spiegelau IPA glass.
Appearance: It poured a golden straw yellow colour with a three finger white head that had pretty good retention and left nice lacing.
Aroma: Strong lime with a touch of grapefruit pith and lemons.
Taste: Like the aroma, tangy lime is at the forefront followed by some lemon, zest and grains.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: This was not bad but perhaps a bit too much lime such that it overpowers everything else.

2 - Maybe (likely wouldn't buy, might drink), 8 Wired Brewing Co., American Amber / Red Ale, Beer Reviews, New Zealand

8 Wired Tall Poppy

Tuesday, 13 September 2016 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: 8 Wired Brewing Co.
Country: New Zealand
ABV: 7%
Style: American Amber Ale
Other Notes: 60 IBUs. Malts – Pale, 3 shades of Crystal, Munich and Wheat. Hops – Warrior, Columbus, Simcoe and Amarillo.

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Every now and again you just want to have it all, so in this spirit we created Tall Poppy. This ale is not afraid of standing tall among other great beers, and head and shoulders above mass market mediocrity. It is intense, with a sharp and fruity hoppiness backed by a complex, caramel-like malty structure. The best characteristics of an American style IPA collide with a rich Amber Ale. The result is a beer that is big yet refreshing, bold but balanced. Cheers!

My rating: 2
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.23
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.1

Intro: A 330ml bottle from batch # 65 with a best before date of 25th January 2017, poured into a Moonzen teku glass.
Appearance: It poured a clear brown colour with a reddish hue and a just over one finger beige head that had good retention and left nice lacing.
Aroma: Strong caramel malt notes with some dark fruits like plum, prunes and raisins. There is also a touch of pine and earthiness.
Taste: A touch of booziness hits first followed by everything in the aromas. Caramel, dark fruit, prunes, plum and raisins. The finish gives a touch of tea, coffee, pine and citrus.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: More amber ale than IPA in my opinion. But it was overly boozy and caramel-ly on both aroma and taste for me to fully enjoy it.

2 - Maybe (likely wouldn't buy, might drink), American IPA, Beer Reviews, Deschutes Brewery, USA

Deschutes Hop Slice Session IPA

Sunday, 11 September 2016 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Deschutes Brewery
Country: USA
ABV: 4.5%
Style: American IPA
Other Notes: 45 IBUs. Malt – Pale, Carapils, Honey Malt, Munich and Crystal. Hops – Centennial, Galaxy, Cascade, Azacca and Amarillo.

Brewer Description: (from bottle) India Pale Ale brewed with Meyer Lemon.

My rating: 2
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.14
My ratebeer.com rating: 3

Intro: A 355ml bottle with a best before date of 5th October 2016 and poured into a Spiegelau IPA glass.
Appearance: It poured a clear golden colour with some orange hue. There was a big three finger white head with good retention and nice lacing.
Aroma: Lemon, tea, sweet mandarin, bready and dish soap.
Taste: Lemon zest, citrus rind, bready, light caramel malt and floral sweetness.
Mouthfeel: Light to medium bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: This was not bad, but I couldn’t really get around the aromas here. The dish washing detergent I use has a lemony smell, which is fine for washing dishes, but not something I want to drink. So getting that smell on the finish just didn’t work for me.

2 - Maybe (likely wouldn't buy, might drink), Beer Reviews, Hill Farmstead Brewery, Porter, USA

Hill Farmstead Shirley Mae

Friday, 2 September 2016 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Hill Farmstead Brewery
Country: USA
ABV: 4%
Style: American Porter

Brewer Description: (from website) Shirley Mae (1936 – 2015) was our cousin, daughter of Everett, and a beloved supporter of her family and Hill Farmstead. In her honor, this American session version of our Everett porter is crafted from American malted barley, English and German roasted malts, American hops, our ale yeast and water from our well. Chocolate, coffee, and light malty sweetness, this ale embodies her ebullient and generous spirit – a fitting tribute.

My rating: 2
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.15
My ratebeer.com rating: 3

Intro: On tap at Mikkeller & Friends (Stefansgade), Copenhagen, into a Mikkeller tasting glass.
Appearance: It was a dark brown colour with a one finger tanned head that had great retention and lacing.
Aroma: Wonderful coffee bean, chocolate, mocha and a touch of vanilla.
Taste: Surprisingly disappointing considering the great aroma. An un-complex mish mash with a bit of coffee here and a bit of chocolate there.
Mouthfeel: Light bodied with very light carbonation.
Overall: I guess this just wasn’t my thing. I easily preferred Everett over Shirley Mae.

2 - Maybe (likely wouldn't buy, might drink), Beer Reviews, Belgian Witbier, Brasserie du Comté, France

Bière du Comté La Blanche Bio du Mercantour

Thursday, 4 August 2016 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Brasserie du Comté
Country: France
ABV: 5%
Style: Belgian Witbier

Brewer Description: (from website) (in French) Bière blanche de fermentation haute. La Blanche du Mercantour est une bière fruitée et épicée qui pétille avec élégance. Ses notes d’agrumes et sa pointe d’amertume surprenante lui procurent un caractère rafraîchissant. Elle peut s’accompagner d’une rondelle de citron qui fera ressortir son côté fruité. Un dépôt de levure riche en vitamines et gage de qualité se forme naturellement dans la bouteille.

My rating: 2
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.07
My ratebeer.com rating: 3

Intro: A 750ml bottle with a best before date sometime in 2017 (I forgot to record the exact date), and poured into an old fashioned glass.
Appearance: It poured a cloudy straw yellow colour with a one finger white head with decent retention and some lacing.
Aroma: Lemon, wheat, zestiness and pepper spice.
Taste: Lemon, lemon zest, breadiness with a hint of orange and coriander. There was also some booziness on the finish.
Mouthfeel: Medium to light bodied with light to moderate carbonation.
Overall: Again like the Ambree, I was getting some booze on the finish which was not ideal.

words of another dreamy traveller