Category Archives: 4 – Good (buy)

4 - Good (buy), Amager Bryghus x Surly Brewing Company, American IPA, Beer Reviews, Denmark

Amager x Surly Todd the Axe Man IPA

Friday, 9 October 2015 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Amager Bryghus x Surly Brewing Company collaboration
Country: Denmark
ABV: 6.5%
Style: American IPA
Other Notes: Malt – Golden Promise. Hops – Hercules, Citra and Mosaic.

Brewer Description: (from bottle) For quite some time the Amager crew has been discussing the question: which person is the most rock’n’roll in the whole craft beer world – is it Barnaby Struve of Three Floyds or is it Todd Haug of Surly Brewing? In the end it wasn’t really all that difficult to decide since only Todd has played for Laura Dern in a David Lynch movie (yeah, Nicolas Cage was in that same movie, but since when did he count?) AND Todd plays the guitar in both a speed metal band and a stoner band. Add to that that Todd and his wife Linda are some of the nicest people to hang out with. So Todd, here’s to you: “Todd – The Axe Man” – a potent IPA loaded with fresh American aroma hops on a base of rich Golden Promise malt, Surly’s signature malt. Raise a glass to Todd, world class brewer – and master of the axe! Bonus facts about Todd: yes, he DID actually have a perm in his younger days (his wife confirms) and he does indeed love cats an awful lot.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.19
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.2

Intro: A 500ml bottle from batch #911 with a best before date of November 2015 and poured into a Spiegelau IPA glass.
Appearance: A slightly hazy golden orange colour with a three finger fluffy white head that has pretty good retention and leaves thick sticky lacing.
Aroma: Tropical apricot and peach aromas, with some pineapple, orange and hints of lemon.
Taste: Light caramel malt sweetness gives way to citrus bitter grapefruit and orange peel. There’s even a hint of tropical mango.
Mouthfeel: Dry, medium bodied with medium carbonation.
Overall: I have not tried the Surly version yet, so I can’t say which I think is better, but apparently the difference is that Surly chose to use Warrior as the bittering hop whereas this Amager x Surly collaboration version uses Hercules. In any case, this collaboration version was a great IPA and very drinkable.

4 - Good (buy), American Double IPA, Beer Reviews, Stone Brewing Co., USA

Stone Ruination Double IPA 2.0

Wednesday, 7 October 2015 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Stone Brewing Co.
Country: USA
ABV: 8.5%
Style: American Double IPA
Other Notes: 100+ IBUs. Hops – Magnum, Nugget, Centennial, Simcoe, Citra and Azacca.

Brewer Description: (from bottle) When this double IPA first hit the scene in 2002, the hoppy beer landscape was far different that it is today. Ales offering an onslaught of resinous humulus lupulus were virtually unknown. Thankfully that is no longer the case. Terms such as “lupulin” and “IBU” are well established in the craft beer lexicon. And with the knowledge of all that hops have to offer comes the desire to go beyond bracing bitterness. Fortunately, Stone Ruination IPA has always been crafted to celebrate all facets of the hop – its beauty and poetry, its boldness and might. As craft beer has evolved, so too have techniques for extracting the best and the most out of hops. So we modernized Stone Ruination IPA, coaxing every last drop of piney, citrusy, tropical essence from the Centennial, Citra, Simcoe and Azacca hops that give this beer its incredible character. Join us in cheering this, the second stanza in our “Liquid Poem to the Glory of the Hop.”

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

Intro: A 22 fl oz bomber bottled on 17th July 2015 and with an enjoy by date of 15th October 2015. It was poured into a Duvel tulip glass.
Appearance: It poured a clear golden orange colour with a two finger white head which dissipates quite quickly but leaves lots of sticky lacing.
Aroma: Clear tropical fruit aromas to start mainly of mango, papaya, peach and pineapple before settling on pine hop and some citrus orange peel.
Taste: Starts with citrus orange, orange peel, sweet mandarin, maybe even a little soapy. Towards the middle there is a hint of tropical fruits but not much before it quickly finishes with a lasting grapefruit bitterness.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with medium carbonation.
Overall: Great aromas coming from this beer and although I prefer less citrus orangeyness and more tropical fruit, this was still a very good DIPA that I would continue to drink.

4 - Good (buy), American Strong Ale, Beer Reviews, Stone Brewing Co. (Arrogant Consortia), USA

Stone Arrogant Bastard Ale

Monday, 5 October 2015 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Stone Brewing Co. (Arrogant Consortia)
Country: USA
ABV: 7.2%
Style: American Strong Ale
Other Notes: IBU – classified. Hops – classified.

Brewer Description: (from bottle) This is an aggressive ale. You probably won’t like it. It is quite doubtful that you have the taste or sophistication to be able to appreciate an ale of this quality and depth. We would suggest that you stick to safer and more familiar territory–maybe something with a multi-million dollar ad campaign aimed at convincing you it’s made in a little brewery, or one that implies that their tasteless fizzy yellow beverage will give you more sex appeal. Perhaps you think multi-million dollar ad campaigns make a beer taste better. Perhaps you’re mouthing your words as you read this.

At Stone Brewing, we believe that pandering to the lowest common denominator represents the height of tyranny–a virtual form of keeping the consumer barefoot and stupid. Brought forth upon an unsuspecting public in 1997, Arrogant Bastard Ale openly challenged the tyrannical overlords who were brazenly attempting to keep Americans chained in the shackles of poor taste. As the progenitor of its style, Arrogant Bastard Ale has reveled in its unprecedented and uncompromising celebration of intensity. There have been many nods to Arrogant Bastard Ale…even outright attempts to copy it… but only one can ever embody the true nature of Liquid Arrogance!

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

Intro: A 22 oz bomber with an enjoy by date of 9th October 2015 and poured into a snifter glass.
Appearance: Poured a very nice clear dark copper amber colour with a one finger tanned head with low retention but leaves spotty lacing.
Aroma: Strong caramel malt aromas followed by maple syrup, toffee, almond and pineapple. There were also hints of minerals and also piney hops towards the finish.
Taste: Sweet-ish roasted caramel malts mixed with grapefruit and pine hop bitterness. The finish is a very nice long lasting bitterness.
Mouthfeel: Mid to full bodied with medium carbonation and nice light alcohol warmth.
Overall: I haven’t had the chance to try many American Strong Ales, but this one was really good. Great balance and the lasting bitterness at the end along with the light alcohol warmth make it really enjoyable.

4 - Good (buy), Bayerische Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan, Beer Reviews, German Doppelbock, Germany

Weihenstephaner Korbinian

Wednesday, 30 September 2015 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Bayerische Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan
Country: Germany
ABV: 7.4%
Style: German Doppelbock
Other Notes: 32 IBUs

Brewer Description: (from website) Our Korbinian, the full-bodied, dark Doppelbock with light brown foam, wins beer-lovers over with a balance of fruity hints of plums and figs, a dark malt aroma – reminiscent of toffee, nuts and chocolate. Its roasted flavour goes well with smoked meat and fish as well as venison and poultry. Brewed according to our centuries-old brewing tradition of the Weihenstephan hill.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.95
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.8

Intro: A 500ml bottle with a best before date of 3rd October 2015 and poured into a Riedel weizen glass.
Appearance: Poured a clear very dark brown colour with hints of ruby and a one finger chestnut coloured head that dissipated quite quickly with only light spotty lacing.
Aroma: Malty, treacle, brown sugar, milk chocolate and hints of vanilla.
Taste: Similar to its aromas, there’s malt, burnt sugar, brown sugar, caramel, chocolate and a hint of dark fruit like prune.
Mouthfeel: Creamy, velvety, mid to full bodied with low carbonation.
Overall: A very nice doppelbock from a great brewer. Just falls behind Celebrator in my book, but definitely something I’d drink again.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Belgium, Brouwerij Rodenbach N.V., Flanders Red Ale

Rodenbach

Tuesday, 29 September 2015 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Brouwerij Rodenbach N.V.
Country: Belgium
ABV: 5.2%
Style: Flanders Red Ale
Other Notes: Aged in oak vats with 3/4 young beer and 1/4 beer matured two years in oak.

Brewer Description: (from website) Rodenbach is the unique “Flanders Red-Brown Beer”, recognised as a traditional local product. Mixed main fermentation and maturation in oak casks (“foeders”) give it the same sweet-sour flavour and complex fruitiness as wine. Rodenbach consists of 3/4 young beer and 1/4 beer matured two years in oak. Rodenbach is highly refreshing and appetising: the perfect aperitif!

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.44
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.3

Intro: A 330ml bottle with a best before date of 3rd October 2015 and poured into a Duvel tulip glass.
Appearance: Poured a dark reddish brown colour with a thin tanned head (although on my second bottle, an extremely aggressive pour gave me a one finger head) that leaves plenty of stringy lacing.
Aroma: Nice strong tart cherry and grape aromas with hints of vinegar and oak.
Taste: Tart cherry with hints of vinegar and grape bubblegum.
Mouthfeel: Dry, light to medium bodied with medium carbonation.
Overall: The most basic of the Rodenbach line, this was very good. It was very refreshing, nice on the palate and easy to drink.

words of another dreamy traveller