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

2 - Maybe (likely wouldn't buy, might drink), American IPA, Beer Reviews, Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, USA

Sierra Nevada Southern Hemisphere Harvest Fresh Hop IPA

Thursday, 6 August 2015 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Country: USA
ABV: 6.7%
Style: American IPA
Other Notes: Brewed with southern hemisphere hops, 100-day IPA, drink fresh, don’t store. The second of five beers in the 2015 Harvest series.

Brewer Description: (from bottle) We’re devoted to whole-cone hops, and we’re always on the hunt for rare and exciting hop flavors. Mirroring the fall US harvest, New Zealand hops peak during our spring. Southern Hemisphere, the second in our five-bottle Harvest series, highlights floral, citrus and fresh fruity aromas from fresh hops picked, dried and shipped halfway across the world and into our brew kettle in one week. Drink this IPA fresh and watch for the rest of this series that explores diverse hopping methods: single hop, fresh hop, wet hop and wild hop.

My rating: 2
My beeradvocate.com rating: 2.53
My ratebeer.com rating: 2.5

Intro: 2015 version. A 22oz bomber with a packaged date of 27th April 2015 i.e. day 99 for this 100-day IPA and poured into an IPA glass.
Appearance: The beer poured a clear amber ice tea colour with a big three finger off white cream head that lasts a long long time and leaves lots of lacing.
Aroma: Its all quite light as nothing stands out. Just some light caramel malts and maybe just a bit of apple, pear and pine.
Taste: For an IPA, this is rather malt driven. Initially sweet caramel and candied sugar followed by slightly bready, buscuity malt. It finishes with some floral hop bitterness.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: I prefer SN’s other IPA offerings over this one as the malt is overpowering here. The aromas were also a little light for me.

2 - Maybe (likely wouldn't buy, might drink), Beer Reviews, Belgian Witbier, Daviyun S.L., Spain

Sagra Blanca de Trigo

Monday, 3 August 2015 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Daviyun S.L.
Country: Spain
ABV: 5.2%
Style: Witbier

Brewer Description: (from bottle) The secret of Cerveza SAGRA lies in its brewmasters’ obsession to create a 100% Spanish flavoured product. Spanish craft beer inspired by the flavourful Belgian Wits with a distinct Spanish touch. Fruity flavour and citrus aroma and taste. Creamy body, refreshing bitterness and floral finish. Brewed using orange peel and coriander.

My rating: 2
My beeradvocate.com rating: 2.48
My ratebeer.com rating: 2.5

Intro: A 330ml bottle with a best before date of 30th April 2017 and poured into a Hoegaarden pint glass.
Appearance: The beer poured a hazy golden straw colour with a slightly less than one finger white head that dissipated slowly.
Aroma: Strong orange and lemon aromas. Very orange juice like.
Taste: Citrus flavours mainly lemon and orange, with a little wheat and a slightly bitter orange peel finish.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, light to medium carbonation, oily and creamy.
Overall: I thought it was ok but the citrus orange and lemon was a bit over the top. Not one of the better witbiers I’ve tried.

2 - Maybe (likely wouldn't buy, might drink), American Amber / Red Ale, Beer Reviews, New Belgium Brewing, USA

New Belgium Fat Tire Amber Ale

Sunday, 21 June 2015 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: New Belgium Brewing
Country: USA
ABV: 5.2%
Style: American Amber Ale
Other Notes: 22 IBU

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Fat Tire Amber Ale perfectly balances biscuit-like malt flavors with hoppy freshness. Named in honor of a storied bike ride through Europe. Fat Tire cruises with Belgian imagination and inspiration.

My rating: 2
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.01
My ratebeer.com rating: 2.8

Intro: A 12 fl oz bottle with an enjoy by date of 19th July 2015 and poured into a pint glass.
Appearance: It poured an extremely clear deep copper colour with a one finger white head that dissipates quickly.
Aroma: Slightly weak aromas, but there’s biscuit and bread like notes, slight caramel and also a touch of apple.
Taste: It’s quite similar to the aromas. I get biscuit malts, caramel and some apple juice. I’m not really getting that much hops.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied and medium to high carbonation.
Overall: This was decent and easy to drink but not amazing. I wouldn’t actively seek it, but if I could find a fresher bottle, I’d try it.

2 - Maybe (likely wouldn't buy, might drink), Beer Reviews, Denmark, Fruit Beer, Mikkeller ApS

Mikkeller Citrus Dream

Monday, 11 May 2015 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Mikkeller ApS
Country: Denmark
ABV: 5%
Style: Fruit Beer
Other Notes: Brewed and bottled by Mikkeller at De Proef Brouwerij.

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Pilsner brewed with orange and lemon peel.

My rating: 2
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.23
My ratebeer.com rating: 2.9

Intro: This was a 330ml bottle with a best before date of 26th November 2016 on the bottle cap.
Appearance: The beer was poured into a Duvel tulip glass a slightly hazy golden orange colour with a half finger white head that dissipated really quickly. There was some slight thin lacing.
Aroma: Initial whiff of mandarin orange, some tropical mango, and a finish of bittery lemon peel.
Taste: Very light fruity citrus orange to start but that quickly changes to a mixture of bready malts and bitter grassy hops.
Mouthfeel: Light bodied, mild carbonation and dry.
Overall: This was not quite what I was expecting from a fruit beer. While the aromas were great, I felt that the taste left the fruity phase way too quickly and it became almost lager like. I like Mikkeller but this one didn’t really work for me and was only ok.

2 - Maybe (likely wouldn't buy, might drink), Beer Reviews, Belgian Tripel, Belgium, S.A. Bières de Chimay

Chimay Triple (White)

Wednesday, 22 April 2015 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: S.A. Bières de Chimay
Country: Belgium
ABV: 8%
Style: Tripel
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 Triple stands out thanks to its flavours of hops and fresh yeast.

My rating: 2
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.2
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.27

Intro: 330ml bottle dated best before end of 2017 and poured into a Chimay goblet.
Appearance: It poured a hazy copper colour with a two finger cream head that has good retention leaving a thick curtain lacing.
Aroma: Initial aromas of apple, pear and bready malts followed by a sweet banana and honey finish.
Taste: Surprisingly strong alcohol taste, but also sweet candied sugar, banana, bread malts and some light apple and pear flavours.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with medium carbonation and a creamy feel.
Overall: I’m a big fan of Chimay, but this was not one of the better tripel beers. Ultimately I thought that it was too boozy and everything just kind of got lost behind that.

words of another dreamy traveller