Category Archives: 3 – Indifferent (might buy, probably drink)

3 - Indifferent (might buy, probably drink), Beer Reviews, BrewDog, Rye Beer, Scotland

BrewDog Rye Hammer

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Brewery: BrewDog
Country: Scotland
ABV: 7.2%
Style: Rye Beer

Brewer Description: (from can) Jack Hammer has been single handedly ripping it up for quite some time. Now, the definitive bitter and twisted IPA, has spawned four Hammer Head off-springs. Rye Hammer is the fourth of our super-charged hyped up hybrids. Rye and American hops unite in an agricultural superpower. A grapefruit harvest of citrus melts away to sticky roasted caramel and rye warmth, all resting on a malted backbone. Then the Hammer Head’s trademark bitter finish reasserts its authority. Catch the Rye Hammer – a bitter sweet protagonist.

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.53
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.4

Intro: A 330ml can with a best before date of 10th December 2017. Poured into a Lost Abbey teku glass.
Appearance: A golden orange colour that is lightly hazy with lots of extremely fine floating sediment, a two finger white head that dissipates fairly quickly, but left some nice lacing.
Aroma: Orange, mandarin peel and grapefruit with hints of peach, pineapple, pine and malt.
Taste: Very bitter grapefruit, citrus rind and citrus peel followed by mild pineapple, peach and apricot. There was hints of caramel and the alcohol does come through at times. Finish was bittersweet, although definitely more bitter than sweet.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: This was ok, but a bit harsh through its bitterness and the alcohol that comes through.

3 - Indifferent (might buy, probably drink), Beer Reviews, Belgium, Brasserie Fantôme, Farmhouse Saison

Fantôme Pissenlit

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Brewery: Brasserie Fantôme
Country: Belgium
ABV: 8%
Style: Belgian Saison

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Belgian Ale brewed with spices.

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.7
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.5

Intro: A 750ml bottle with a best before end 2019 date. Poured into a d’Achouffe tulip glass.
Appearance: A lightly hazy amber-orange colour with a two finger light tan-orangey coloured head that had good retention and left nice lacing.
Aroma: Sweet Belgian yeast, breadiness, lots of fruit, plum, orange, apple with hints of clove and banana, lightly peppery, hay, grass and some spices.
Taste: Musty, apple juice, grass, orange, orange peel bitterness, some kind of floral herbal spice mix that’s not easy to describe and some pear and pepper lingering on the finish.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate to low carbonation.
Overall: This was interesting but perhaps that floral herbal spice mix threw me off a bit. I also felt the carbonation was too low. In the end I think I prefer their regular Saison a lot more.

3 - Indifferent (might buy, probably drink), Beer Reviews, German Pilsner, Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, USA

Sierra Nevada Nooner Pilsner

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Brewery: Sierra Nevada Brewing Company
Country: USA
ABV: 5.2%
Style: German Pilsner
Other Notes: 38 IBUs. Malts – Two-row Pale, Pilsner, Munich and Acidulated. Hops – German Perle, Saphir, Tettnanger and Strisselspalt

Brewer Description: (from website) A crisp, hoppy take on the original session beer. Gather your friends, pack the gear, and head out to wherever the day may take you. A midday go-to, Nooner is our take on the classic German-style pilsner – one of the original session beers. Nooner is easy drinking yet packed with the big flavor of spicy and floral whole-cone hops. Its brilliant golden color begs you to take a sip and sink your taste buds into an extremely welcoming beer, full of flavor and balanced by a crisp, dry finish.

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.39
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.2

Intro: A 12 fl oz can, packaged on 20th February 2017. Poured into a stemless tulip glass.
Appearance: A clear golden colour with a one and a half finger soapy white head that dissipated fairly quickly and left only sparse spotty lacing.
Aroma: Sweet, grainy malt, grass, floral, honey with a hint of corn.
Taste: Sweet and grainy malt with low bitterness, lemon, with hints of floral and herbal elements.
Mouthfeel: Crisp, light to medium bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: A nice crisp Pilsner, perfect for a hot day.

3 - Indifferent (might buy, probably drink), Almanac Beer Co. x Stillwater Artisanal Ales, Beer Reviews, USA, Wild Ale

Almanac x Stillwater Blueberry Jack

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Brewery: Almanac Beer Co. x Stillwater Artisanal Ales
Country: USA
ABV: 6.75%
Style: American Wild Ale
Other Notes: Collaboration with Stillwater Artisanal Ales

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Dry hopped and barrel aged sour ale brewed with blueberries and blackberries.

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.01
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.9

Intro: A 375ml bottle, bottled on 19th January 2017. Poured into a Lost Abbey teku glass.
Appearance: A hazy reddish colour with an orange hue and a one finger white head which fades quite quickly while leaving some sparse spotty lacing.
Aroma: Lightly tart blueberries amongst other berries, with hints of peach, apricot and mandarin.
Taste: Sour and tart berries with citrusy orange and lemon plus a hint of vanilla and oak. Finish is very sour.
Mouthfeel: Medium to light bodied with moderate prickly carbonation and a dry finish.
Overall: I wasn’t really sure the vanilla flavour went to well here. I was surprised as I didn’t get this much vanilla in other Almanac sour barrel aged beers. Other than that though, I thought it was pretty tasty.

3 - Indifferent (might buy, probably drink), Against The Grain Brewery x Moonzen Brewery, American Amber / Red Ale, Beer Reviews, USA

Against The Grain x Moonzen Cock Of The Wok

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Brewery: Against The Grain Brewery x Moonzen Brewery
Country: USA
ABV: 5.9%
Style: American Amber Ale
Other Notes: Collaboration brewed and bottle at Against The Grain

Brewer Description: (from bottle) A collaboration. Ancient Chinese proverb states: “Man with hole in pocket feels cocky all day.” So true… as true and righteous as this auspicious red ale brewed with Hibiscus and Bai Jiguan Oolong tea. Against the Grain and Moonzen collaborate to celebrate the Year of the Fire Rooster. Tso good you’ll frip out!

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.75
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.6

Intro: A 650ml bottle with no bottled on or best before date. Poured into a Lost Abbey teku glass.
Appearance: A clear copper amber colour with a slightly less than two finger off white head that dissipated fairly quickly and left only sparse lacing.
Aroma: Tea, sweet lychee, flowery with hints of biscuit malt (note: I do not know what hibiscus or Bai Jiguan tea smells or tastes like).
Taste: Sweet fruity like raspberry, light floral tea with a hint of biscuit malt and bitterness.
Mouthfeel: Light bodied with light carbonation.
Overall: Taste was a nice mix of fruity and floral. Carbonation was on the light side though which made it a bit tea like/watery. But still, it’s easy to drink and good on a hot day.